Samsung patent shows off transparent display technology

It’s hard to believe but the first Samsung Galaxy Z Fold was released close to three years ago. Before 2019, a device with a foldable display was something you’d only see in technology demos or science fiction movies. In 2022, foldable smartphones are produced by nearly every major manufacturer, and it’s become quite common. So we ask ourselves, what’s next? A recent Samsung patent application has popped up on the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) website and shows off a display that could give us a potential look at the smartphones of the future.

While the wording in the patent sounds complex, mainly because it’s through an English translation, the folks at SamMobile seem to have broken things down, giving us a better idea of the technology involved. Looking at the images, there is a mobile phone with what looks like a secondary display on its rear. While this kind of technology has been seen before, Samsung’s version in the patent application is slightly different. Samsung’s rear display panel is apparently transparent and can work like a standard display or in a more subdued role like an always-on display. The panel can be customized to display different designs, device information, and more. Furthermore, when the display is paired with a camera, it can also display a live view feed from the unit.

Samsung did file this application, but there’s no telling how far the company has gone with it. But, of course, this is Samsung and we know that they are working on exciting things when it comes to displays. The company recently showcased some of its future technologies, showing off foldable, rollable, and even expandable displays. You can see some of these in the video above. So while the patent filing may never come to fruition, the future of Samsung devices looks bright.

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Source: World Intellectual Property Organization
Via: SamMobile

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Instagram updates sensitive content filters for teens

A couple months ago, Instagram made changes to its sensitive content filters, changing the existing labels to “More,” “Standard,” and “Less.” This change was meant to make it easier for users to understand, so that they could make better choices. By default Instagram sets its accounts to “Standard” but that’s now going to change for users under the age of 16, as the company has made new revisions.

The company announced that it is rolling out a feature that will automatically set the sensitivity filter for new users under the age of 16 to the most restrictive “Less” setting. The setting will not only apply to the Explore page, but all areas of Instagram like Search, Reels, Suggested accounts, Feed Recommendations, and more. The change will make it harder for teens to run into potentially sensitive content, or accounts that post such content.

Going forward, teens that are currently using the service will be prompted to update their privacy and safety settings. Instagram states that it will ask teens to review settings like: “controlling who can reshare their content, who can message and contact them, what content they can see and how they can manage their time spent on Instagram.” This is a small change that could go a long way.

Instagram has been adding features here and there that focus on the safety of minors. In the beginning of June, it introduced Amber Alerts for the app. The service would out an alert into a user’s feed, with details of a local child in danger. Instagram also implemented a feature that would “nudge” teens, persuading them move on from content that they might be fixated on. Lastly, the company introduced age verification in the United States, requiring those that sign up to the platform to provide a valid form of identification. All of these mentioned are just some of the changes that have been made over the past couple of years.

If sensitive content on Instagram is a concern for you, you can head to the Sensitive Content Control to make adjustments. First, you will go to your Profile, then the Settings menu, navigate to Account, and then Sensitive Content Control. From there you can see the options mentioned above. If you do not see the “More” option, it is because that option is restricted for people under the age of 18. The Sensitive Content Control is just a small set of tools to keep you safe, be sure to check out the other options available in the settings menu.

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Source: Instagram

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T-Mobile partners with SpaceX for satellite service, beta starting in 2023

SpaceX, better known for its spacecrafts and space missions, provides satellite internet service to remote and rural areas. The service is currently available in parts of the United States, Europe, Australia, and South America. Despite covering a large part of the United States, there are still plenty of major areas that don’t have service. Now, T-Mobile and SpaceX have announced a partnership that will shape the future of the internet.

T-Mobile CEO and President Mike Sievert delivered the news at SpaceX Starbase stating that the vision going forward was to “end mobile dead zones.” Currently, there are many areas that are not covered by cellular networks and never will be. In order to provide coverage to these areas, SpaceX will be launching satellites that will make it possible to connect. The satellites will launch next year and the technology will work with existing phones. The hopes are to have this service, Coverage Above and Beyond, available starting in late 2023. The initial rollout will support access to messaging, MMS, and select messaging apps. Eventually, the service will be expanded to include voice and internet.

Sievert declared that “nearly anywhere in the US where you can see the sky, you’re connected with your existing phone.” Of course, this is just the beginning and it won’t be happening overnight. He expressed interest in creating a global connection with other cellular providers in other countries so that anyone visiting the US could connect to the satellite service. In Un-carrier fashion, he also stated that this feature would be included in its popular wireless plans for free, with lower-tier plans having to pay a fee. The fee would be much less than the traditional satellite service currently available.

Elon Musk, who is SpaceX’s Chief Engineer, stated that this is a service that can potentially save lives, giving people access to service where there is no service. Musk stated that in order for this service to work, SpaceX is sending Starlink Gen2 satellites with special antennas into space, and it will also have large receivers in place in rural areas. While it is exciting, Musk was quick to fill in the details, stating that this is not a replacement for current mobile services and that it is more for emergencies. He expanded that each cell station on land would be able to up to thousands of calls and millions of messages. As mentioned before, this service will roll out in beta towards the end of 2023.

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Source: SpaceX (YouTube)

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Twitter rolls out podcasts with Spaces redesign

Twitter has been adding a lot of new features to its platform over the past few months like CoTweets and giving people the ability to follow users without creating an account. Starting today, Twitter will begin connecting people in a new way, allowing folks on the platform to enjoy podcasts from around the world.

While it had been rumored for quite some time and Twitter is now rolling out podcast integration into its app. While some suspected it would be a separate product, the podcasts are snuggly packed inside Twitter Spaces. Up until now, Twitter Spaces was an audio platform that allowed users to have live audio conversations. It had a host with the option for two co-hosts and an unlimited audience. Despite podcasts rolling out, this feature will still continue to exist.

In order to make podcast integration as smooth as possible, the company redesigned the Spaces tab by introducing hubs that can be personalized. Content is grouped by themes so listeners can find what they are looking for at a glance. There will be themes like news, music, sports, and more. Users will also have access to live and recorded content. The reason why the Spaces redesign is important is that it will continue to host Spaces, but will also incorporate podcasts.

The company will also try and curate content by utilizing existing user data, and giving podcast recommendations. Listeners will also be able to like and dislike content in order to improve their recommendations. This should be big for Twitter, as the company has stated that according to its research, 45% of the people on its platform in the U.S. listen to podcasts. Currently, the update is rolling out to select English-speaking Twitter users on iOS and Android. Now, if we can only get an edit button by the end of the year.

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Source: Twitter

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Windows 11’s Settings app now has animated icons

Microsoft is beta testing an interesting change to the Settings experience in Windows 11. While it is not really a major one, experienced Windows Insiders who are enrolled in the Dev channel of the Windows 11 beta testing program have noticed that Microsoft recently rolled out animated icons in the settings app.

The animated icons aren’t available for everyone in the program just yet, and Microsoft just appears to be A/B testing it with select Windows Insiders first. However, for those who have it on the Dev channel, it adds yet another touch of life to the one-year-old operating system. This was initially noted by Rafael Rivera on Twitter, who noted that Microsoft actually has a name for these features, dubbed as “delightful unexpected moments of joy.”

Microsoft is experimenting with the idea of animating Settings navigation icons (vso/feature 34878152, Windows Insider Build 25188)

The Microsoft Design team calls these delightful unexpected moments of joy with purpose https://t.co/rUIi924aIT pic.twitter.com/2zYmbqg97N

— Rafael Rivera (@WithinRafael) August 25, 2022

The animated icons look pretty nifty, and are a nice change from the static icons in the regular version of Windows 11. For example, for the system icon in the sidebar, a hover will cause the PC screen in the icon to glare on and off. On Bluetooth and devices, the Bluetooth icon will squeeze itself. Then, for network and internet, the icon for the Wi-Fi bar will fills itself up. In other examples, on gaming, the controller icon jumps up and down, and then for Windows Update, the refresh icon will spin around.

This isn’t the first time Microsoft has tested such an experience with Windows Insiders, either. Previously, Microsoft was spotted rolling out a new taskbar animation on login. With that change, taskbar icons in Windows 11 would zoom-in, instead of flying up.

As with all features in the Dev Channel of the Windows Insider program, it is not clear if this will make it to a final version of Windows 11, or the incoming Windows 11, Version 22H2 update. If you really want to try out this experience today and you’re a Windows Insider in the Dev Channel, you can tweak a few things using ViveTool, but this is not suggested.

Source:  Rafael Rivera/ Twitter

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LineageOS 19 is now available for the OnePlus 8 series, Galaxy A52 4G, and Galaxy A72

Since its debut earlier this year, the LineageOS team has extended LineageOS 19 support to quite a few Android devices. The Android 12-based custom ROM recently added support for the Xiaomi Mi 6, Moto G 5G, Moto G 5G Plus, Motorola Edge, and the ZUK Z2 Plus. Now, the LineageOS team is extending support to five more devices, including the OnePlus 8, OnePlus 8 Pro, OnePlus 8T, Galaxy A52 4G, and Galaxy A72.

OnePlus rolled out the official OxygenOS 12 update for the OnePlus 8 series earlier this year, bringing new Android 12 features to the devices. However, user reports suggest that the OxygenOS 12 update for the OnePlus 8, OnePlus 8 Pro, and OnePlus 8T is not entirely free from bugs. If you’ve been facing issues with OxygenOS 12 on your OnePlus 8 series device, you can now flash LineageOS 19 on it to see if it offers a better experience.

As for the Galaxy A52 4G and Galaxy A72, Samsung rolled out stable builds of One UI 4 based on Android 12 to both mid-rangers in January. The devices have since received stable One UI 4.1 builds with even more new features in tow. Unlike OnePlus’ Android 12 skin, users haven’t faced many issues on Samsung’s One UI 4 releases. But if you’re not a fan of the new UI and would like to run a near-stock version of Android 12 on your Galaxy A52 4G or Galaxy A72, you can give LineageOS 19 a shot.

The table below includes LineageOS Wiki Links to the respective devices page, where you’ll find the flashable ZIP file and installation instructions for your device. It also includes links to our device forums, where you’ll find even more Android 12 custom ROMs for your device.

Sr. No.	Device and Forum Link	Device codename and Wiki Link	Maintainer
1.	OnePlus 8	instantnoodle	jabashque
2.	OnePlus 8 Pro	instantnoodlep	LuK1337
3.	OnePlus 8T	kebab	LuK1337
4.	Samsung Galaxy A52 4G	a52q	Simon1511
5.	Samsung Galaxy A72	a72q	Simon1511

To flash LineageOS 19, you’ll have to unlock your device’s bootloader and install a custom recovery like TWRP. If you’re not sure how to go about that, you can follow the steps provided in our how to install a custom ROM and how to install TWRP guides. Once you’re done unlocking the bootloader and installing TWRP, go through the installation instructions and other linked documentation provided in the Wiki pages linked above. Also, take a backup of your data, or you might lose it during installation.

Note that LineageOS 19 does not come with Google apps pre-installed. You’ll have to flash a compatible GApps package after installing the ROM if you want to use any Google apps or services. Check out our guide on how to download and install the latest GApps for detailed instructions.

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Can the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 series measure your temperature?

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro launched recently, alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and the Galaxy Z Fold 4. While the watches bring a few new tricks to the table, they also bring back some older ones. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 series can technically measure your temperature, but it isn’t able to — yet, anyway. That’s because Samsung included a skin temperature sensor in the watch, but there’s no way to actually use it just yet.

The company hasn’t stated what the hold-up is yet, but it’s assumed to be something along the lines of regulatory approval. In some regions, Samsung needs to get approval to launch some of its medical-related features, which is why we have a situation where the Galaxy Watch ECG and Blood Pressure features require a modded app to use in other regions outside of a select few. As a result, it’s possible that even if the skin temperature sensor gets enabled in the future, it might be limited.

It’s not all bad news though. Samsung has continued to expand support for its watch features over the years to new regions continuously, so even if it’s not available right away in your region once cleared by some regulatory bodies, that doesn’t mean it won’t ever be. I wouldn’t go out and buy one purely in the hopes of using it for temperature readings, but it’s still likely.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5

The Galaxy Watch 5 is a fantastic Wear OS smartwatch with advanced wellness features.

Buy from Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro

The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is aimed at fitness enthusiasts and offers a more durable design.

Buy from Samsung

As for what you can use it for, because it’s a skin temperature reading, it’s not going to be completely accurate. It can be used to measure your temperature when working out or sleeping, and I’m sure can be used to give an indication of fever, rather than a conclusive statement. The company hasn’t given a lot of information about what features it’ll be used for when it does launch, so we’ll be waiting to see what it has up its sleeves!

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Android users could soon gain access to Tidal’s Early Access Program

Tidal isn’t the most popular music streaming service, but it offers things that are not available on other platforms. The most popular lure for most users is its high-quality audio. With its highest subscription tier, users can experience Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) music up to 9612kbps. It’s impressive, to say the least. If you’re a Tidal user on Android, the company is preparing to roll out its Early Access Program.

Andrew Romero of 9to5Google states that the service is inviting users through email, and those that are willing to opt in will get “a sneak peek at the latest features.” Those that go forward and register for the program will be able to provide feedback to the app’s developers. If this sounds like something you want to be a part of and you have not received an email, you can join. But, there is one catch, and that is you must be subscribed to Tidal’s “HiFi Plus” tier.

Tidal currently offers three tiers of service. The free tier gives users access to 90 million songs with audio quality up to 160kbps with limited interruptions and curated playlists. The next tier up is “HiFi,” costing $9.99 a month and features everything the free tier offers, plus access to songs ad-free with audio quality up to 1411kbps. The paid tier will also grant access to over 450,000 videos, offline listening, playlists, and more. The HiFi Plus tier costs $19.99 and includes everything that the HiFi tier offers, but it will deliver the best fidelity audio (MQA music up to 9612kbps) with support for Dolby Atmos and Sony 360 Reality Audio. Furthermore, part of your subscription fee will go directly to the artist.

Checking the Tidal website and the Early Access page, it states that the Early Access Program is currently only available to iOS users. But, looking through the FAQ, there is a sliver of hope that says, “Stay tuned for an opportunity to join the Early Access Program if you’re an Android user!” If interested, you can download the app and be sure to sign up for the HiFi Plus tier so you can gain access.

Are you a Tidal HiFi Plus tier member? Have you received an email for the Android Early Access Program? Let us know.

TIDAL Music (Free, Google Play) →

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Source: 9to5Google

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Valve updates its shipping windows for Steam Decks again

Valve has been doing an excellent job of getting its Steam Deck console into the hands of more people. If you’ve been patiently waiting, there could be some good news. The company announced changes through its OnDeck Twitter account, letting everyone know that deliveries that were previously estimated for Q4 might now be fulfilled in Q3.

This means that if you were previously scheduled to get your Steam Deck from October through December, you could now potentially expect it to arrive by the end of next month. With that said, there is a small catch with the newly updated timeline. Unfortunately, not everyone will be bumped up to the Q3 timeframe. It will be completely dependent on when you reserved your console.

Great news! We are making more Steam Decks than ever, and have just updated shipping window estimates for reservation holders. If you were previously in the Q4 (Oct-Dec) window, take a look – you might be in Q3 now!https://t.co/AcuGmUy8LN pic.twitter.com/KinXBnFMSb

— Steam Deck (@OnDeck) August 24, 2022

Valve has continued to impress, continuously pushing up reservation windows for those patiently waiting. While shipments felt like they were being delivered at a snail’s pace at one point, Valve seemed to really turn the corner in June, announcing that it had completed its order for Q2 and was moving on to reservations in Q3. The company would add that it would be more than doubling shipments for the next round.

Last month, Valve issued a new update, stating that it was ramping up production and that it would be able to fulfill orders sooner due to improvements in the supply chain. It even boldly claimed that it would fulfill all existing pre-orders by the end of the year. Because of this, many folks who were previously in the “Q4 or later” category were bumped up to Q3. Those in the “later” part were bumped up to Q4.

While it has done an impressive job with shipments, it has also done an excellent job of improving the console through software. The firm has released several updates, improving the console’s performance and reliability. It has even managed to offer proper support for Windows through updated drivers, despite stating that it wouldn’t. If you are curious about the status of your order, you can head to the Steam Store to check to see whether your position in the queue has been changed.

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Source: Steam Deck (Twitter)

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Will there be a Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Ultra?

Samsung recently unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 along with a new lineup of Wear OS smartwatches during its mid-year Galaxy Unpacked event. Ahead of the launch, we saw various leaks about the new smartwatches, suggesting that the Galaxy Watch 5 lineup would include a new top-of-the-line variant with a titanium case and sapphire glass. Some speculated that this could be the Galaxy Watch 5 Ultra, but that wasn’t the case. Although the Galaxy Watch 5 lineup includes a new flagship model with a titanium case and sapphire glass, Samsung did not go with the ‘Ultra’ moniker for this variant.

The all-new Wear OS smartwatch lineup from Samsung includes three models — the Galaxy Watch 5 (40mm), the Galaxy Watch 5 (44mm), and the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro (45mm). Since we haven’t seen any leaks about a fourth Galaxy Watch for this year, it’s safe to say that there won’t be a Galaxy Watch 5 Ultra. If you eagerly waited for one, you can go with the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro instead. It’s a rugged version of the regular Galaxy Watch 5, featuring a larger 1.4-inch display and a bigger 590mAh battery pack.

The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is the top-of-the-line Wear OS smartwatch from Samsung for this year.

The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro also features an improved D-Buckle Sports Band, which is more durable than the silicone strap on the non-Pro variant. In terms of features, the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro offers everything you get with the regular model, along with GPX support that allows you to record and share your hikes with fellow-trail lovers on the Samsung Health app. If you’re into hiking or cycling, you can also use the smartwatch to track download hiking and cycling routes for offline use and utilize its Track Back feature to get back home safely.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro

The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is the latest flagship Wear OS smartwatch from Samsung and, while it doesn't have the 'Ultra' moniker, it still offers some improvement over the regular Galaxy Watch 5.

Pre-order at Samsung.com

The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro will go on sale in the U.S. starting August 26. It will be available in two standard colorways — Gray Titanium and Black Titanium. The Gray Titanium variant features a matching gray strap, while the Black Titanium model comes with a black band. Samsung is also offering the watch in a special Golf Edition model, which has a black case and a white strap. The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro comes in Bluetooth and LTE variants priced at $449.99 and $499.99, respectively.

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Google Play Games on Windows comes to more countries with lower system requirements

Google has announced that Google Play Games beta on Windows is available in a couple more countries starting today. The service originally launched back in March in South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, and now it’s also expanding to everyone in Thailand and Australia. The service is still in beta, but Google has also made some improvements to make Play Games more accessible on Windows.

Now, the app has lower system requirements, so more hardware configurations should support it. For one thing, you no longer need a dedicated GPU in order to run Google Play Games, so devices with integrated GPUs should be just fine. Google recommends at least Intel UHD Graphics 630 (or equivalent), which is an integrated GPU that’s already a few years old, so most PCs should be fine.

Google has also changed the CPU requirements, so instead of eight logical cores, it now requires four physical cores. This will enable support for processors that only have one thread per processor, which could include some lower-end CPUs, and even some older mid-range processors like the AMD Ryzen 5 4500U, which has six physical cores but only one thread per core (thus, only six logical cores).

Finally, Google has also lowered the storage requirements, so you should be able to use Google Play Games with just 10GB of free internal storage, as opposed to the 20GB that were required previously.

As Google continues to work towards a full release of Google Play Games on Windows, this will ensure many more people are able to play these games on their PC, in addition to their phones. Since its initial launch, Google says it has more than doubled the catalog of Android games available on PC, with over 50 titles now supported. These include some popular games such as Summoners War, Cookie Run: Kingdom, and Last Fortress: Underground.

If you’re in any of the supported regions, you can sign up for the Google Play Games for Windows beta here. You can also register your interest for when the service launches in other markets in the future,

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Sony unveils DualSense Edge wireless controller for the PlayStation 5

During the Gamescom Opening Night Live event, Sony unveiled a new controller for the PlayStation 5 dubbed the DualSense Edge wireless controller. While it was a long time coming, Sony has finally created its own “pro” model controller for the PS5. As you might expect, it features the ability to customize the experience through hardware and software modifications.

Software

The DualSense Edge wireless controller can remap or deactivate specific buttons on the controller. The stick sensitivity can also be adjusted, and dead zones can be dialed in. Furthermore, the triggers are also adjustable, with users having the option to adjust travel distance and dead zones. Players can also save customized control settings and create profiles, making it easier to adjust the controller on the fly when hopping from game to game. A dedicated function (Fn) button also allows quick access to settings like controller profiles, game volume, chat, and more.

Hardware

It wouldn’t be a pro controller without the ability to modify the hardware. The DualSense Edge wireless controller has three different types of swappable caps for the left and right sticks. It will also have replaceable options for the back buttons. It takes things further with replaceable stick modules. Sony didn’t provide details but stated that they would be sold separately. It will also come with a braided USB Type-C cable that can lock into the controller, preventing it from coming loose during intense gameplay.

The DualSense Edge wireless controller will retain the standard DualSense controller’s native features like haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, built-in microphone, motion controls, and more. It will come with a carrying case to keep everything together in one nice package. It can even be charged through USB while stored in the case. Sony did not announce a launch date or a price but stated that it would have more to share in the coming months.

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Source: PlayStation Blog

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Can the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 series detect a fall?

Following the solid success of the Galaxy Watch 4 series, Samsung is back again with a pair of new smartwatches: the Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. Instead of reinventing the wheel, the new Galaxy Watch 5 series keeps the best features of the last lineup while bringing some much-needed improvements such as a bigger battery and a stronger design. Just like its predecessor, the new smartwatches offer a plethora of health and wellness features, allowing you to monitor your sleep, heart rate, stress level, post-workout recovery, and even your body temperature. What’s more, your Galaxy Watch 5 can also detect falls and provide emergency assistance.

Fall Detection on the Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro

The Galaxy Watch 5 series offers a feature called Hard fall detection, which can be a lifesaver in emergencies. Once enabled, the Galaxy Watch 5 can detect hard falls and alert you if emergency assistance is needed. When a fall is detected, the Galaxy Watch 5 will display an alert for 60 seconds with a popup, sound, and vibration. If you fail to respond within the timeframe, the watch will automatically send out an SOS to the authorities and your emergency contacts.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5

The Galaxy Watch 5 offers a plethora of health and safety features including sleep tracking, heart rate monitoring, and fall detection

Buy from Samsung

How to set up the Fall Detection feature

Fall Detection is turned off by default. To set it up, open the Samsung Wearable app on your phone and navigate to Watch settings > Advanced features > SOS > When hard fall detected. Turn on the toggle to set up the feature. The Samsung Wearable app will need the Location, SMS, and Phone permissions. After that, choose which people from your phonebook you want to set as your emergency contacts.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro

The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro offers the largest battery in a Galaxy Watch, advanced sleep tracking, and fall detection

Buy from Samsung

The Fall Detection feature itself isn’t new. It was first introduced on the Galaxy Watch 3 and is also available on the Galaxy Watch 4 series. In particular, it can be of great help to the elderly and to those who regularly engage in dangerous outdoor activities such as mountain climbing and bungee jumping.

The Galaxy Watch 5 series was unveiled alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4. It’s now available for pre-order in multiple markets.

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Nothing Phone 1 Android 13 update slated for 2023

It’s tough launching a new smartphone company in 2022. The competition is fierce, and the stakes are high. While we don’t know the financials behind the business, from the outside looking in, Nothing has done an excellent job so far. The phone has been released, it’s getting into the hands of buyers, and the company has been releasing software updates at a feverish pace. But, it looks like one software update for the phone won’t be landing until much later, slated to arrive sometime in the first half of 2023.

The folks at Android Authority got word from Nothing’s PR team, explaining that Android 13 wouldn’t be ready until next year. This interaction was perhaps prompted by the fact that last week, Nothing CEO Carl Pei sidestepped the Android 13 question when asked about it through Twitter. Now, if you’re a Phone 1 owner, you might be asking yourself why it will take anywhere from four to ten months for the update to arrive. The company stated that it wanted to “fine tune the software upgrade with Nothing’s hardware.”

A product is more than just its specs, features, and version numbers

— Carl Pei (@getpeid) August 17, 2022

 

Currently, Android 13 is only available for Pixel devices. While it isn’t a significant update like Android 12, the refinements and minor enhancements are welcome. Some will also welcome the improved stability over Android 12. This year’s update comes sooner than anticipated, dropping much earlier than the release of the upcoming Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. Last year, Android 12 was released just a few weeks before the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro releases.

Recently, Nothing delivered Nothing OS version 1.1.3. The update offered several improvements, most dedicated to the camera. The update also added support for Google’s Adaptive Battery, which should help further optimize battery life on the phone. If you are interested in the update, check your system update menu, as it is currently being rolled out over the air. You can download the image and sideload it if it hasn’t arrived. If that sounds intimidating, don’t worry, we have a guide just for beginners.

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Source: Android Authority

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Here’s our first look at the upcoming Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II

Audio equipment manufacturer Bose is gearing up to launch an updated version of its premium noise-canceling QuietComfort Earbuds. Although the company hasn’t officially announced the QuietComfort Earbuds II, a new leak has revealed their updated design and highlighted a few key details.

The leak in question comes from trusted leaker Roland Quandt (via WinFuture) and includes official renders of the QuietComfort Earbuds II in two colorways. As you can see in the attached images, the upcoming earbuds feature the same general shape as their predecessors, but the leak claims that the newer model is much more compact. You’ll also notice some minor design changes, but these are purely aesthetic and won’t impact usability or performance.

Credit: Roland Quandt (via WinFuture)

The leak also highlights that the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II will offer up to six hours of battery life on a single charge, but it’s not clear if this battery life spec is with ANC or not. Based on the battery life rating for the previous model, we believe that the QuietComfort Earbuds II will last up to six hours with ANC off unless Bose offers significantly larger batteries in the earbuds. Like the older models, the QuietComfort Earbuds II will offer capacitive touch controls and a charging case with a USB Type-C port.

Credit: Roland Quandt (via WinFuture)

Quandt further reveals that the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II will retail for $299 in the U.S., making it $20 more expensive than the previous model. At the moment, we don’t have any further information about the upcoming earbuds. But Bose will likely announce the earbuds in the coming weeks and we’ll make sure to share more details as soon as they become available.

What do you think of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II based on this leak? Would you purchase it over premium TWS earbuds from Sony or Samsung? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Source: WinFuture

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Apple might inject ads into its Maps app as soon as next year

Apple is a business, so its ultimate goal is growing and maximizing its profits. At first, the Cupertino firm was mostly focused on selling its hardware and software. At some point, it entered the subscription services field with a wide range of paid offerings. This acts as an additional revenue stream that builds upon its hardware sales. For the longest time, the company’s dependence on ad revenue has been minimal. After all, the corporation typically sells high-end devices for expensive price tags. By refraining from the aggressive use of ads, its customers feel like they’re truly getting a premium experience. However, we recently learned that Apple could be aiming to more than double its ad revenue. It seems like its new strategy could start affecting users as soon as 2023.

I believe the engineering work is already underway to launch search ads in the Apple Maps app, and we should begin to see it be implemented sometime next year.

In his Power On newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has stated that Apple could be injecting ads into its Maps app next year. Right now, the Cupertino overlord’s ad division is generating around $4 billion annually. Apple reportedly wants to increase that to at least $10 billion per year. The new tactic could mean users having to see ads in more of its built-in apps, such as Maps, Podcasts, etc.

The ads in Apple Maps — which users could start seeing in a few months — likely won’t be in the form of banners. Instead, the company might allow businesses to pay money for top slots. This way, when users search for a certain restaurant, paid places appear in top results as ads. By doing so, Apple is ruining the user experience to make an extra buck.

By sacrificing its user experience for the sake of ad revenue, do you think Apple will make more money or lose customers? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Source: Bloomberg’s Power On Newsletter

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This app lets you adjust the flashlight brightness on some Android 13 devices

Shortly after Google rolled out the first developer preview build of Android 13 to users, we learned that it included two new APIs to help users control the flashlight brightness on their phones. The finding led us to believe that Android 13 would introduce a new toggle to help users easily adjust the flashlight brightness. Sadly, there is no such feature in the stable build of Android 13 that rolled out to Pixel devices earlier this month.

While Google hasn’t added a native option to help users control the flashlight brightness in Android 13, you can now use a third-party app for this purpose. Flashlight-Tiramisu by polodarb is a handy app that lets you control the flashlight brightness on Android 13 devices. As you can see in the attached screenshot, the app has a barebones interface with just a slider that lets you adjust the flashlight brightness.

The app works as intended on the Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, and Pixel 6a running Android 13, and you can also use it on the Galaxy S22 Ultra running the One UI 5.0 beta. On the Pixels, the app offers granular control over the brightness, while on the Galaxy S22 Ultra you only get five brightness levels. Flashlight-Tiramisu doesn’t work on all devices running Android 13. In our testing, we found that it doesn’t work on the Oppo Find X5 Pro running ColorOS 13 beta and 9to5Google‘s Max Weinbach reports that it doesn’t work on the OnePlus 10 Pro running OxygenOS 13 beta either.

A few months back, I posted about an API in Android 13 that lets apps adjust the flashlight brightness on supported devices. There’s now an app you can download that uses this feature!

Download on GitHub: https://t.co/4U6PcswMok

Video credits: @Nail_Sadykov pic.twitter.com/RSuDaqXh40

— Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) August 11, 2022

As Esper‘s Mishaal Rahman noted in their previous coverage of the new APIs, the app doesn’t work on some devices as it requires an update to the camera hardware abstraction layer (HAL). “[Since] Google has frozen its new HAL requirements to ensure that vendor implementations built against version N will be certifiable for up to version N+3…device makers can upgrade their devices to Android 13 while reusing a vendor implementation designed for an older Android release that doesn’t include the new camera device HAL and its support for LED brightness control,” Rahman wrote.

This is likely the reason why the app doesn’t work on the Oppo Find X5 Pro and the OnePlus 10 Pro. If you own any of the other supported devices, you can give it a go by downloading the APK from the link provided below.

Download Flashlight-Tiramisu

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WhatsApp Stories start appearing in the main chat list for iOS and Android beta users

WhatsApp is one of the best instant messaging apps available out there. With over a billion users actively depending on it, the service has become very popular in many regions. In fact, it has almost replaced SMS in several countries across the world. Lately, Meta has been actively developing this platform, introducing visual changes and notable features in the process. For example, users can hide their online status, create larger group chats, and more. Now, WhatsApp Statuses (also knows as Stories) are starting to appear in the main chat list for users running the latest beta versions on iOS and Android.

As the screenshots above reveal, WhatsApp Statuses are now appearing in the main chat list for some beta users. The dedicated Status tab remains accessible from the navigation bar. So the new user interface (UI) change only acts as a shortcut — rather than a replacement to the aforementioned tab. It very much reminds us of the Direct Messages UI on Instagram.

This new change is available for select WhatsApp beta testers. Considering it’s a server-side rollout, there’s seemingly no way for you to force it. You just have to be patient until the company releases it to more users. If you already see it but aren’t fan of it, there’s a workaround you might want to consider — muting.

Unfortunately, you would need to manually mute the status updates for each contact individually. So there’s still no way for WhatsApp users to hide all Statuses from the chat list automatically. While this might annoy some users, the company is likely trying to get more people to take advantage of this feature — by placing it in the tab we use the most.

What do you think of this change? Do you like it, or do you think it’s too intrusive? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Source: WABetaInfo

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Some content might be available ad-free on Netflix’s upcoming ad-supported tier

In a bid to attract more subscribers, Netflix is currently working on a cheaper, ad-supported tier. Although the company has not revealed much about the upcoming tier so far, recent reports suggest that it might not give users access to all of Netflix’s content library. In addition, we’ve learned that users on the ad-supported tier will lose out on some app functionality, like downloading content for offline viewing. While these omissions make the ad-supported tier seem like a bad deal, a new report reveals that Netflix might offer users some respite from ads in select programming.

Sources familiar with Netflix’s plans have revealed (via Bloomberg) that the service won’t run commercials during original kids programming and newly-released original movies, at least at first. In addition, some studios won’t allow the streaming giant to show ads during licensed kids programs. If this turns out to be true, the upcoming ad-supported tier might become a lucrative option for new parents and those who only use the service to watch original movies. But we’ll have to wait a few months to see how things pan out.

At the moment, Netflix has not confirmed these details. The company is likely still in the process of finalizing plans for its ad-supported tier, and it may make further changes by the time it rolls out to users. Recent reports suggest that the ad-supported tier will go live sometime early next year, and it will cost less than the service’s current subscription tiers. The pricing details are still under the wraps, but we expect to learn more in the coming months.

Will you subscribe to Netflix’s upcoming ad-supported tier if it doesn’t show ads during kids programming and newly-released original movies? Or have you already canceled your Netflix subscription and don’t plan on going back? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Source: Bloomberg

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Does the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 support wireless charging?

Samsung recently introduced its latest flagship phones, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4, featuring number of upgrades over their predecessors. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, specifically, comes with a wider cover display, a more compact hinge, along with obvious improvements to performance. One thing that hasn’t changed, however, is the battery, which is still a 4,400mAh unit. And if you’re wondering about wireless charging support, nothing has changed on that front, meaning it’s still supported and to the same level as before.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 supports fast wireless charging at 10W, provided you have a compatible charger. No charger is included in the box, whether that’s wireless or wired, though you do get a USB Type-C cable you can use for wired charging if you already have a power adapter. If you don’t have one, we have a list of the best chargers you can buy for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, including both wireless and wired options.

In addition to that, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 also supports reverse wireless charging – which the company calls Wireless Powershare – at 4.5W. This means you can place another phone, or an accessory like the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro or the Galaxy Watch 5 (it can be any other brand that supports Qi wireless charging, too) on the back of the phone to charge them. It’s a quick way to get your accessories ready to go if you forgot to charge them at home.

As for wired charging, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 still supports fast charging at 25W, so that’s still the fastest way to charge, albeit not as convenient. Aside from that, the phone packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chip, 12GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of internal storage. There’s also a 6.2-inch cover display with a 120Hz refresh rate, and a 7.6-inch main display, also with a 120Hz refresh rate.

If you’re interested, you can buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 below, or you can check out the best deals you can get on it, in case you can find a cheaper price elsewhere.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is a top-tier foldable phone with a 4,400mAh battery that supports wireless charging and reverse wireless charging.

See at Samsung

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