Up until now, you could alter the color of the sky but couldn't flip an image or video. Thankfully, according to Android expert Mishaal Rahman on social media platform X, Google Photos is getting a new button that finally allows you to flip images horizontally. This small change is now visible inside the "Crop" section of the editing tools in the Photos app on Android.

However, the feature is currently rolling out to select users and has not been widely released to all Google Photos users. It is anticipated that the feature will gradually arrive as a server-side update and may appear for more users in the coming days.

Users who haven't received the feature will see options such as rotate, resize, and improve the aspect ratio of the images in the Google Photos editing tools. After the arrival of this new button, you will see a new option to flip images horizontally. Interestingly, this feature applies to images as well as videos, allowing you to flip videos in Google Photos.

After flipping the image or video, you will have the option to save it as a copy, ensuring that the original image or video remains untouched. This feature is especially useful if you have taken a selfie or video using the selfie camera and forgot to enable the mirror option in your phone's camera app.

In addition to this update, Google has been working on several new features for the Photos app. This includes a spotlight feature for videos and the ability to create slow-motion snippets from your videos.

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Tipster Smart Pikachu on the Chinese social media platform Weibo (via PlayfulDroid), has revealed some key specifications of the Asus ROG Phone 9. The smartphone is rumored to be powered with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 processor and is expected to be paired with 24 GB of RAM. Xiaomi is expected to announce the Xiaomi 15 series as the world's first Snapdragon 8 Gen 4-powered smartphone.

The Asus ROG Phone 9 may feature an upgraded display, suggesting a brighter and high-resolution FHD+ 165 Hz screen than the ROG Phone 8 series. The phone could also come with 1TB of internal storage, the highest configuration of this year's ROG Phone 8.

Notably, the ROG Phone 9 is also tipped to feature 65 W fast charging, similar to that of the ROG Phone 8. The post also features a screenshot of China's 3C (China Quality Certification Centre) certification listing of the ROG Phone 9. The phone has appeared on the listing with model number ASUSAI2501A. For reference, the Asus ROG Phone 8 carries the model number ASUSAI2401D.

The rest of the specifications of the phone are under wraps. However, based on the current leaks, the alleged Asus ROG Phone 9 appears to be a beast of a gaming phone. There is no information about the design changes that the phone will bring, but it is speculated that it could take forward the ROG Phone 8's design.

The ROG Phone 9 is expected to launch in China by the end of 2024, following a similar timeline to the ROG Phone 8. There is no information about its US availability or launch in other regions, but it could launch sometime in the first quarter of 2025.

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iOS 18 brings new features for personalizing your iPhone. You can now tint Home Screen icons and place them anywhere you like or remove their labels. In addition, icons now support dark mode.

Control Center also received a big update, allowing users to add more controls from third-party apps, resize elements, scroll through different pages, and more. Many will also be happy about the ability to swap Lock Screen controls, which were locked to Flashlight and Camera, since the release of the iPhone X.

iMessage now supports text formatting, more emojis for tapback, messages via satellite, scheduled messages, and RCS (still green bubbles, though).

iOS 18 adds a new Passwords app, which is now a fully-fledged password manager with two-factor authentication, password sharing, and cross-platform support. It works on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Vision Pro, and even Windows via the iCloud app.

iPhones are now better at playing games. Dedicated Game Mode can minimize background activity to sustain performance and higher frame rates, reduce audio latency when connected to AirPods, and lower controller input lag.

Speaking of AirPods, you can now interact with Siri by nodding or shaking your head when wearing AirPods, thus replying yes or no. AirPods Pro now supports voice isolation for better mic quality when making calls in windy or noisy conditions.

The Notes app received live audio transcription, automatic calculations, collapsible sections, and text highlighting.

Other changes in iOS 18 include Eye Tracking, the ability to lock any app with FaceID, TouchID, and passcode, a reworked Calculator with Math Notes, Calendar improvements, call recording new features for the Home app, a redesigned Reader in Safari, updates to the Photos app, and more. Later this year, iOS 18 will also get Apple Intelligence support and improvements to the Mail app.

iOS 18 is compatible with the following iPhones:

• iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max
• iPhone 16 and 16 Plus
• iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max
• iPhone 15 and 15 Plus
• iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max
• iPhone 14 and 14 Plus
• iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 13 and 13 mini
• iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 12 and 12 mini
• iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max
• iPhone 11
• iPhone Xs and Xs Max
• iPhone Xr
• iPhone SE 2nd and 3rd generation

To update your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Software Update and tap iOS 18.

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Currently, when you receive a notification on one of your Android devices and you swipe to dismiss it, the same notification still appears in the notification panel of your synced Android device. Thankfully, some codes in the latest Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2 update show evidence of a new notifications feature called "Sync across devices" in the Settings app.

This new option appears under Settings > Notifications between "sensitive notifications" and the new "notification cooldown" option. Here is the code:

Sync across devices

According to the report, this new feature syncs the notifications between Android devices signed into the same account. Notably, once the feature goes live, if you open or dismiss a notification on one Android device, it will disappear from the other device.

This new "SyncAcrossDevicesPreferenceController" class is located under the "com.android.settings.notification.syncacrossdevices" path in the Settings app. Additionally, the location of the class is under "com.android.settings," suggesting that it could come to all Android devices, and may not remain exclusive to Pixel devices. However, its appearance in the beta version also hints that the feature isn't ready as of yet, and Google hasn't finished testing it.

It is also possible that the feature may not ship with Android 15 at all, and Google may keep the "sync across devices" feature exclusive to the Pixel devices, since the evidence hasn't been spotted in the Google Play Services app.

Google is also reportedly working on offering more customization options for mouse pointer such as changing the color and size of the pointer with Android 15. It could also make keyboard switching much easier and better for one-hand usage.

Source: Android Authority

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Today, the original creator of Flappy Bird, South Korean-based Dong Nguyen, posted a message on his X account. His brief post made it clear he has no relation to the revival of the title.

The message also stated, "I also don't support crypto." That could be a reference to Michael Roberts, who is reportedly leading the development of the revival under the Flappy Bird Foundation name. VGC reports that Roberts is also the head of a crypto company called 1208 Productions.

The original version of the game, which Nguyen stated in the past was created in just a few days, caught the attention of the entire mobile gaming world in early 2014, several months after its debut for Android and iOS. It was estimated that it got 50 million downloads. Nguyen reportedly made as much as $50,000 a day on the free-to-play title via banner ads for a while.

However, Nguyen decided to pull the game from Google Play and the iOS app store in February 2014, claiming the unexpected success and attention the game was generating was "ruining his life".

Meanwhile, the new version of Flappy Bird, which is supposed to add new characters and modes compared to the simple original version, will still be a free-to-play game. It is scheduled to launch sometime in 2025 for iOS and Android.

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However, in the Google Contacts app version 4.40.48.672619802, code sleuth Assemble Debug managed to activate the new contacts widget, which allows users to add more than seven favorite contacts.

In fact, the tipster managed to add 16 contacts to the widget, and supposedly, users can add even more contacts, as the widget now features a scroller that lets users swipe up and down to view more contacts.

The contact's widget also shows the contact's name along with the profile avatar. If the user doesn't prefer to use the scroller to scroll through the contact list, then they can resize the contacts widget to the entire home screen. Notably, resizing the widget to take up the whole home screen option was already possible even when the widgets were introduced.

This feature was spotted in an APK Teardown post, and there is a 50-50 chance that Google will add this feature to the stable version. Moreover, even if Google decides to add this feature to the Contacts app, there is no clarity on when that would happen.

Google was also spotted working on a feature that will let users use the Contacts app without an account. This would display all the contacts that are already synced, and users would be able to get their entire contacts list back by signing in with the Google account in the Contacts app.

Also, back in July, it was spotted that Google is making it easier to share a contact, add it to the home screen, delete it, or move it to another account by providing these options at the bottom of the contact page.

Source and image: Android Authority

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The Auto Frame feature automatically adjusts the framing of the selected subject, even if it requires expanding the image by using the powers of AI. On the other hand, the Reimagine feature lets you change backgrounds, such as change the clouds, roads, waters, etc.

Ih has been reported that Google is working on bringing the two new Magic Editor features, Auto Frame and Reimagine, to older Pixel phones. Code sleuth Assemble Debug has found evidence of the two features in the Google Photos app, suggesting that they are on their way to the Pixel 6, Pixel 7, and Pixel 8 series.

According to the Assemble Debug, the Google Photos app has three variants: one for non-Pixel phones, one for Pixel 6 and above, and one for the Pixel 9 series.

The Google Photos app for the Pixel 9 series has all the necessary codes related to the Reimagine and Auto Frame features. Now, the codes have also been spotted in the latest Google Photos app, v6.99, for Pixels launched between 2021 and 2023, suggesting that both AI features are soon coming to the older Pixel flagships.

The regular version of the Google Photos app, i.e., for non-Pixel phones, doesn't yet include any strings related to the Reimagine and Auto Frame features, meaning that they aren't ready for non-Pixel phones for now and will remain exclusive to Pixel phones.

There is no clarity on when Google will push the new AI features for older Pixel models. However, the new Magic Editor features are expected to arrive via a Feature Drop update soon.

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Now that is the name I have not heard in a very long time, but Flappy Bird is making a comeback.

In 2013, a dude from Vietnam launched a casual game called Flappy Bird, where all you have to do is tap the screen to fly a pixelated bird through green tubes. Thanks to its simplicity and addictiveness, Flappy Bird exploded in popularity, ranked millions of downloads, and generated a lot of hype.

Sadly, Flappy Bird was short-lived. Dong Nguyen, the game's maker, overwhelmed by its popularity and fame, pulled it from the stores (it never made it to Windows Phone, though). The game's disappearance was quite shocking, and it led to people selling iPhones with Flappy Bird pre-installed for thousands of dollars (the same thing later happened with Fortnite). Now, eleven years later, Flappy Bird returns.

The upcoming release was announced on the flappybird.com website. The "rehatched" version of the game is coming to Android and iOS somewhere in 2025, and it promises some upgrades over the initial version. Updates include a set of new characters, "EZ mode" for the weak to build skills, rivals, hoops, and more.

Here is what the official website says about the resurrection of Flappy Bird:

Just a decade ago, I was the talk of the town and soaring to new heights with my 100 million friends. Sadly, I had to leave the fame and spotlight behind to go home and find out who I really am.

 

Thanks to my super Flappy Bird® fans, I’m refreshed, reinvigorated, and ready to soar again. The decade-long mission involved acquiring legal rights and even working with my predecessor to uncage me and rehatch the official Flappy Bird® game!

While you wait for the sequel to show up, you can waste some time playing the original via an unofficial web-based version.

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The discovery confirmed earlier rumors that the iPhone 16 series would have faster wired charging (20W) than the previous iPhone 15 lineup.

Faster wired charging is not the only energy-related upgrade in the new iPhone 16 lineup. Apple also finally increased the speed of wireless charging, allowing you to top up all four models at up to 25W using the new MagSafe charging accessories. Naturally, such charging speed requires a beefier charging brick, so Apple recommends using one that can output at least 30W of power.

Apple did not mention the increased wired charging speeds during the iPhone 16 announcement, nor is there any information on the official website. Also, we do not yet know how large the batteries inside all four new iPhones are. What is known is that the latest generation offers about two hours more of video playback from a single charge thanks to more efficient chips and larger batteries in the Pro models.

The iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max will be available for pre-order tomorrow, September 13, 2024. Apple will start selling the new iPhones on Friday, September 20, 2024. Prices start at $799 for the iPhone 16 and $999 for the iPhone 16 Pro.

If you are interested in getting one for yourself, check out our detailed spec-by-spec comparisons:

• iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 16 Plus vs. iPhone 16 Pro vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max
• iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 14
• iPhone 16 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro vs. iPhone 14 Pro

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You might sideload an Android app, or manually install its APK package, if you're using a custom version of Android that doesn't include Google's Play Store. Alternately, the app might be experimental, under development, or perhaps no longer maintained and offered by its developer. Until now, the existence of sideload-ready APKs on the web was something that seemed to be tolerated, if warned against, by Google.

 

This quiet standstill is being shaken up by a new feature in Google's Play Integrity API. As reported by Android Authority, developer tools to push "remediation" dialogs during sideloading debuted at Google's I/O conference in May, have begun showing up on users' phones. Sideloaders of apps from the British shop Tesco, fandom app BeyBlade X, and ChatGPT have reported "Get this app from Play" prompts, which cannot be worked around. An Android gaming handheld user encountered a similarly worded prompt from Diablo Immortal on their device three months ago.

 

Google's Play Integrity API is how apps have previously blocked access when loaded onto phones that are in some way modified from a stock OS with all Google Play integrations intact. Recently, a popular two-factor authentication app blocked access on rooted phones, including the security-minded GrapheneOS. Apps can call the Play Integrity API and get back an "integrity verdict," relaying if the phone has a "trustworthy" software environment, has Google Play Protect enabled, and passes other software checks.

 

Graphene has questioned the veracity of Google's Integrity API and SafetyNet Attestation systems, recommending instead standard Android hardware attestation. Rahman notes that apps do not have to take an all-or-nothing approach to integrity checking. Rather than block installation entirely, apps could call on the API only during sensitive actions, issuing a warning there. But not having a Play Store connection can also deprive developers of metrics, allow for installation on incompatible devices (and resulting bad reviews), and, of course, open the door to paid app piracy.

 

“Unknown distribution channels” blocked

Google's developer video about "Automatic integrity protection" (at the 12-minute, 24-second mark on YouTube) notes that "select" apps have access to automatic protection. This adds an automatic checking tool to your app and the "strongest version of Google Play's anti-tamper protection." "If users get your protected app from an unknown distribution channel," a slide in the presentation reads, "they'll be prompted to get it from Google Play," available to "select Play Partners."

 

Last year, Google introduced malware scanning of sideloaded apps at install time. Google and Apple have come out against legislation that would broaden sideloading rights for smartphone owners, citing security and reliability concerns. European regulators forced Apple earlier this year to allow for sideloading apps and app stores, though with fees and geographical restrictions in place.

 

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A Samsung phone with model number SM-S9380 has been certified by China's Quality Certification Center platform. Interestingly, the model number SM-S9280 corresponds to this year's Galaxy S24 Ultra. Thus, the SM-S9380 is most likely the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

According to the certification (via IceUniverse), the alleged Galaxy S25 Ultra is described as a "Satellite Mobile Terminal," which could likely mean that the phone offers satellite connectivity. If this is true, Samsung will join Apple, Google, and Huawei as the newest OEMs to include satellite connectivity in their devices.

Apple first introduced the satellite connectivity feature with the iPhone 14 series. Google, on the other hand, introduced the feature with its recently launched Pixel 9 series. Huawei has also integrated satellite connectivity features into a variety of its products, including smartwatches.

If the Galaxy S25 Ultra does indeed offer satellite connectivity, Samsung users will be able to get help and contact emergency numbers in times of need and places with poor network coverage. This would also make the Galaxy S25 Ultra the first Samsung device to feature satellite connectivity.

It's worth mentioning that Samsung's Exynos Modem 5400 enabled the satellite connectivity feature on the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. It's possible that Samsung could use the same Exynos Modem 5400 or an upgraded version of it on the Galaxy S25 Ultra. But that's just a wild guess, and you should take this information with a pinch of salt.

Furthermore, the certification reveals that the Galaxy S25 Ultra will support 45W fast charging. The device is expected to feature the highest level of display and camera upgrades ever on a Galaxy phone. It was also recently rumored that Samsung may go all in with the Snapdragon chipset for the Galaxy S25 series. The phone is also expected to be much thinner than initially tipped.

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You may also want to check out our other Specs Appeal articles:

• iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 14
• iPhone 16 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro vs. iPhone 14 Pro

Although this year's lineup shares more new features, the regular iPhone 16 differs from its Pro variant in the same four categories: materials, displays, cameras, and processors.

The entry-level iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are still made of aluminum, while the more premium titanium is only available in Pro models. However, to make up for that, you get to choose from much more eye-catching colors, while the iPhone 16 Pro still comes in quite muted colors.

What is not different are buttons and controls. The iPhone 16 now has the same Action Button (so long, Mute Switch) and the Camera Control. The latter is a special button with a touch-sensitive surface that lets you control various camera settings.

Despite similar looks, the displays in the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro have night and day differences. Apple still thinks it is okay to sell a $799+ smartphone with a 60Hz display, so the iPhone 16 Pro is your only option if you cannot stand low-refresh rate screens. Also, the baseline iPhone does not support the always-on display feature. On the bright side, all four iPhones have a maximum brightness of 2000 nits and a minimum brightness of just 1 nit. Finally, the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max have slightly larger displays (0.2-inch increase).

This year's iPhone Pro models have fewer differences in their cameras than before. All four models have a primary 48MP Fusion camera with new focus and depth controls. However, the Pro iPhone has a higher-resolution ultra-wide camera—48MP versus 12MP. It can also record Dolby Vision, Log, and ProRes video at up to 4K 120 fps. Finally, both iPhone 16 Pro models feature four "studio-quality" microphones for better audio recording.

Finally, the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max are powered by the A18 Pro chip, while the iPhone 16 and Plus have the slightly cut-down A18 chip with five GPU cores instead of six. Both processors, however, are paired with 8GB of RAM, so there are no differences in terms of memory.

Here are the key differences between the iPhone 16 Pro, the iPhone 16 Pro Max, the iPhone 16, and the iPhone 16 Plus:

• Chassis material difference: titanium in Pro and aluminum in entry-level models.
• A slightly better processor with more powerful graphics.
• Faster and bigger screens with adaptive refresh rate and always-on display support.
• Better cameras with a dedicated telephoto camera, a higher-res ultra-wide camera, and a LiDAR sensor.
• 1TB storage option.
• USB-C 3.0 instead of the slower USB-C 2.0.
• Longer battery life.

All four iPhone 16 models will be available for pre-order on Friday, September13. Shipments begin September 20, 2024.

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There is new hardware, which Apple calls "Camera Control", which sits on the right side of the phone. It lets you easily click photos and start video recording, replacing the need to use the volume buttons to get the job done.

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus now feature a horizontal camera module, suited for Spatial Recording. You also get various Apple Intelligence features bundled in the software, along with the upgraded 48MP ultra-wide lens. Apple launched the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus in ultramarine, teal, pink, white, and black color options.

Coming to the Pro models, the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, pack the A18 Pro processor, the slimmest bezel of any iPhone, a Camera Control button, 4K at 120FPS shooting, and a 5x telephoto lens on both Pro models. The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will be available in Black Titanium, Neutral Titanium, White Titanium, and the all-new Desert Titanium.

Now, we have our hands on the wallpapers of the entire iPhone 16 lineup, courtesy of Beebom. The high-resolution wallpapers contain five wallpapers of the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, which match the color variants. We have four wallpapers of the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max models, each matching their respective colors.

The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus wallpapers are available in 945x2048 resolution. Whereas, the wallpapers for iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max models are available in 1320x2868 resolution.

Please note that to grab the high-quality version of the wallpapers, you need to use the link below:

• iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus wallpapers
• iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max wallpapers

Did you like the new iPhone 16 series wallpapers? Do share your thoughts about the devices and wallpapers in the comments section below.

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The iPhone 16 Pro and its bigger 16 Pro Max are now official. Apple's latest flagship smartphone features larger 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch displays, better battery life, a new color, the Apple A18 Pro processor, and more.

Developing...

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Apple has officially revealed the AirPods 4, the next major version of its earbuds as part of its Apple "Glowtime" event. They will be released in two versions including one with active noise cancelation features.

During the event, Apple said the new AirPods 4 has a new design that was created to be more comfortable to wear, based on examining and analyzing "thousands of ears" Inside, the AirPods 4 include a new H2 chip which will offer improvements in audio quality as well. They will also have voice isolation features as well, along with

The AirPods 4 will come in a new charging case as well which will include a USB-C port for the first time which should allow for more options for charging the case. The AirPods 4 will have up to 30 hours of use when they are charged with the new cases. The more expensive version will not only have active voice cancelation but will support wireless charging as well.

The standard Apple AirPods 4 will be sold for $129, and the version with active noise-cancellation features will be sold for $179. Both are available to preorder today and will go on sale on September 20.

Apple also announced that the AirPods Max headphones will be getting a small refresh. The biggest new feature is adding USB-C charging which also should be a big help for owners. They will also get some new color options as well.

Also, the current AirPods Pro 2 earbuds will be getting a software update in the near future. Among other things, it will launch a new passive noise cancellation feature if you are wearing them in especially loud settings, It will also add a new hearing aid mode, although that feature is currently being tested by the US Food and Drug Adminstration before it is generally released.

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Besides brighter and bigger displays (now 45 mm and 49 mm), the Series 10 features faster charging, which can top up the battery to 80% in just 30 minutes. It also has a new S10 SoC, which makes it even faster. Another change is the ability to play media on a built-in speaker, something that is not possible on previous-gen Apple Watch models.

Also, the Apple Watch Series 10 inherited the new Depth app from its more expensive sibling, the Apple Watch Ultra, paired with the ability to measure water temperature.

The Series 10 comes with new health features, such as sleep apnea detection (it is also coming to Series 9) and more. It is now available for preorder starting at $399 for the GPS version and $499 for the GPS + Cellular.

Developing...

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According to Aaron Perris on social media platform X (via MacRumors), major US retailer Target has listed all three variants of the EarPods, including the Lightning, 3.5mm, and USB-C models, as "Non-Carry Forward." This purportedly suggests that Apple may discontinue its wired earbuds soon.

Notably, there is no clarity on when this may happen, but the timing of the news, right ahead of Apple's "It's Glowtime" event, hints that it could happen very soon. If that happens, it would mark the end of the EarPods after 12 long years of being in the business.

Apple introduced the EarPods in 2012 as an in-box iPhone and iPod accessory, replacing the circular earbuds. Initially, the EarPods had a 3.5mm jack. With the launch of the iPhone 7 and AirPods in 2016, Apple removed the headphone jack from its devices. Therefore, a new version of EarPods with a lightning port was released to allow users to use the wired earbuds with their iPhones

With the shift to USB-C last year with the iPhone 15 series, Apple launched the EarPods with a USB-C connector. Now, reports of EarPods getting discontinued may disappoint fans, as they were affordable and came with a high-quality microphone.

Recently, it has been tipped that Apple may not launch the Apple Watch Ultra 3 but instead re-launch the Watch Ultra 2 in black. Also, it is speculated that the launch of the Apple Watch SE, rumored to be made of plastic instead of aluminum, has been delayed.

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The Galaxy S23 series will join the party on September 12. However, for now, there isn't any information on when the Galaxy S22 series, released in 2022, will pick up the One UI 6.1.1 update. But if you own any of the Galaxy S22 series phones and wondering which features will land on your device, then you will be glad to know that if not all, then most of the One UI 6.1.1 features will eventually be available on these devices.

Seemingly, the Galaxy S22 series should get enhanced Live Effects, Motion Clipper, Portrait Studio, Sketch to Image, and Overlay Translation. These features will also be available on 2023 and 2024 flagship models.

Here is in detail what you will be able to do with these Galaxy AI features, once they arrive on your Galaxy phone:

1. Live Effects: You can enjoy photos with people and animals in them in three dimensions.

 

2. Motion Clipper: You can create moving stickers and GIFs by long-pressing on a Motion Photo to select it.

 

3. Portrait studio: You can save your photos by selecting from a variety of styles through AI generation.

 

4. Convert sketch: You can add a sketch drawn on top of your photo by creating an image.

 

5. Overlay Translation: The company provides natural translation results by maintaining the text and background color of the original image and improving readability by overlaying it on the image.

Samsung hasn't officially announced when the One UI 6.1.1 features will start rolling out for the Galaxy S22 series, but it's expected that new features will be bundled with the September 2024 update. Recently, four Samsung Galaxy devices reached the end of their software update cycle, suggesting it's time to get a new phone.

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Outlook Lite was later made available worldwide for any Android device. In December 2023, Microsoft revealed that the app had been downloaded over 5 million times since its launch. Today, Microsoft announced in a blog post that Outlook Lite has now reached and surpassed the 10 million download mark, less than a year after hitting the 5 million download milestone.

Microsoft added that in the past year, it has introduced a number of improvements and new features to Outlook Lite. We have already reported that the app added support for SMS features in May.

In addition, the Outlook Lite team has revealed it has added the following features to the app in the last 12 months:

• Multi-account support, allowing you to manage multiple email accounts in one place.
• Seamless Gmail account integration, making it easier to access and manage your Gmail accounts.

The development team also said they have worked to put in improvements for the 'overall performance and user experience" in Outlook Lite. It added:

Every download and piece of feedback you've shared has been incredibly important to us, driving us to ensure each update is better than the last. Please continue to share your thoughts; your input is invaluable as we grow and improve. It's incredible to see how many of you have embraced Outlook Lite as part of your daily routine. With over 10 million downloads, we feel an even greater responsibility to help you stay connected, stay organized, and accomplish your tasks. We are deeply grateful for the trust you've placed in us.

If you have yet to check Outlook Lite out, it's available for Android in the Google Play Store.

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Speaking of the One UI 6.1.1 update for the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra, a South Korean community member by the name "Sombra," shared a screenshot of the update along with its changelog, which lists down all the new features the update brings for the Galaxy S24 series.

The One UI 6.1.1 update for the Galaxy S24 arrives with build S921NKSU3AXH7, for Galaxy S24+ with build S926NKSU3AXH7, and for the Galaxy S24 Ultra with build S928NKSU3AXH7. The update, which is rolling out in Korea weighs roughly 2.9GB in size and carries a September 2024 security patch.

Here is the official changelog of the One UI 6.1.1 update for the Galaxy S24 series:

One UI Update

 

Galaxy AI

 

• Turn simple sketches into stunning works of art

 

- After drawing whatever comes to mind, choose a style and the Galaxy A| will turn it into a stunning work of art.
- The Sketch Conversion feature is available in Samsung Notes, Photo Editor, Air Command, Smart Select, and Edge Panel.

 

• Portraits with personality

 

- Transform your photos into unique AI-generated styles.
- You can change not only your own photo but also other people's photos in various ways.

 

• Complete writing with simple input

 

- You can write easily with the Samsung Keyboard writing function.
- When you enter a short sentence or keyword, it automatically completes the text in a style appropriate for each situation, such as email or SNS.

 

• Translate calls across multiple apps

 

- Real-time interpretation is available not only in the Samsung Phone app, but also in other voice calling apps such as Google Meet, WhatsApp, and KakaoTalk.
- To start interpretation, tap Live Interpretation in the Quick Settings window during a call.

 

• Translate text in images

 

- When you translate a webpage on Samsung Internet, you can see all the content at a glance in your language.
- You can understand the entire content at once by translating the text in the image together without having to translate it separately.

 

• Listening Mode for Interpreting Don’t worry if the other person is speaking in a foreign language.

 

- Listening mode allows you to interpret the other person's language in real time, such as during a lecture or presentation.

 

• Record voice and convert text simultaneously in notes

 

- You can record your voice while taking notes and have it converted directly to text.
- Converted text can be pasted into notes or viewed as a summary.

 

• Use the summarize and translate feature directly from your PDF files

 

- You can use the Note Assist feature without converting your PDF file to a note file.
- The translation feature allows you to use your PDF files in a variety of ways.

 

• Automatically recognizes language when listening to voice recordings

 

- The recorded language is automatically detected, so it is converted to text right away without having to select the language directly.
- You can edit recorded voice recordings and converted text files by converting them to text.
- You can also select and delete unwanted portions from the recording file.

 

• Special wallpapers that change depending on the weather and time

 

- Watch your photos change with the weather and time of day in the Weather & Time wallpaper.
- If it snows or rains in the selected area, the same weather will be reflected in the photo, and the sun rising and setting will also be expressed in the photo.

 

Create creative images

 

Live effects that make your photos come alive Do you want to see people or animals in your photos move with life? Try applying live effects to still photos.

 

• Quickly save and share your videos in instant slow motion

 

- When watching a video, you can watch certain parts in slow motion,
- You can also save it as a separate clip. When sharing the original video, you can preview the part you saw in slow motion and share it as a separate clip.

 

• Create stickers and GIFs in various styles

 

- Create fun stickers or GIFs using photos taken with Motion Photo.
- Long press on a person or object to automatically separate the background and make it into a sticker or GIF.
- Express your emotions with stickers and GIFs of various styles and share them with others.

 

• Quickly cut out only the necessary parts

 

- If there's a person or object you want to cut out from a photo, just long-press on it without any complicated editing process.
- You can select just one subject or multiple subjects at once.
- The cut out parts can be made into stickers or pasted directly onto the desired location.

 

The beginning of a healthy daily life

 

• Get personalized insights for your health

 

- Get help managing your health with new wellness tips from Samsung Health. Analyze important health indicators and trends, such as exercise, sleep, and diet, to better understand the condition of your body.
- Achieve your health goals more easily with a variety of health information and encouraging messages.

 

• Find a balance between activity and rest

 

- Check your daily condition with your energy score and plan a healthy day.
- It analyzes your sleep activity, heart rate, etc. to provide a score that makes it easy to understand your current condition.
- If your energy score is low, get plenty of rest, and if your score is high, try to set a new record for your favorite exercise.
- Get one step closer to a healthy life with personalized insights and motivation from Galaxy AI.

 

• Sophisticated and smart sleep monitoring

 

- To more accurately analyze your sleep quality, we measure more diverse data during sleep, including heart rate, breathing rate, and the actual time it takes to fall asleep.
- Wearing a watch or ring while you sleep can help you manage your sleep more closely.

 

• Share health data between family members

 

- Share health data with your family and take good care of each other's health. You can help them practice healthy lifestyle habits by referring to various data such as steps, exercise, and sleep.
- Start with confidence knowing that you can share only the data you want with the people you want, and that you can change or stop sharing at any time.

 

• Support for personalized exercise routines

 

- Do you usually do several different exercises at once? Create your own workout routine by combining different exercises.
- When you reach the goal of the previous exercise, you will automatically move on to the next exercise, and you can also add a rest period in between. Once the routine is completed, you can check the results of all the exercises in one place and manage them efficiently.

 

• Connect a cycling power meter

 

- Collect more accurate and rich information about cycling exercise.
- Samsung Health now supports connecting power meters attached to your bike.
- A power meter can help you estimate your lactate threshold power (FTP), which is the maximum exercise intensity you can sustain for an hour, and help you improve your performance.

Now, for the US and European Galaxy S24 users, Samsung in an official newsroom post has said that the update will start rolling out currently in South Korea on September 5, followed by North America and Europe on September 9.

One important thing that the newsroom posts' footnotes read is that the One UI 6.1.1 will be displayed as One UI 6.1 for the Galaxy S24 series, S23 series, and S23 FE. However, it will be known as One UI 6.1.1 for the Galaxy Z Fold5, Z Flip5, and Tab S9 series.

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On iOS, the update brings the ability to close background tabs from the Tab Bar, finer control of the Address Field, and Supporter Badges. The Android version also gets Supporter Badges and introduces completely revamped Settings.

On iOS, you can now select an option in Settings to show the close button on background tabs. People already like the desktop tabs on mobile, and with the option to add close buttons to all tabs, it feels even more like the desktop experience.

With respect to the finer control in the Address Field, Vivaldi has made it possible to display the whole URL in the Address Field, giving you a clearer view of what pages you're on. There is also an option to disable the quick search engine switching.

On Android, the Settings Menu has been redesigned so that you can find what you're looking for quickly. It has received a visual upgrade, and categories have been reorganized so you can find things where you expect to find them.

Finally, both platforms now feature Supporter Badges in the Sync Settings if you have donated to Vivaldi. This badge is a way for Vivaldi to acknowledge and thank you for your contribution to the project.

In addition to these mobile app updates, the Vivaldi team has also announced a new minor update to the desktop version. It includes security fixes from Chromium upstream and resolves various issues, including several crashes.

What do you think of these updates? Let us know in the comments.

Source: Vivaldi 6.9 for iOS and Vivaldi 6.9 for Android

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According to the Android Developers Blog, Android 15 will be coming to supported Pixel devices in the coming weeks. In the coming months, it will also arrive on select devices from Samsung, Honor, IQQQ, Lenovo, Motorola, Nothing, OnePlus, Oppo, realme, Sharp, Sony, Tecno, vivo, and Xiaomi. New high-end models are probably going to receive the update first.

Here is a list of new features in Android 15, based on the notes provided in the announcement:

• Better text display for different languages, including Chinese, Japanese, and Korean
• Support for old Japanese writing styles, useful for displaying ancient documents
• Improved screen brightness control when mixing regular and high-quality (HDR) content
• Smarter audio volume adjustment based on your device and surroundings
• Better camera performance in low light conditions
• More precise control over camera flash strength
• Enhanced music creation apps with improved connectivity between virtual instruments
• Ability to save favorite app combinations for split-screen view
• Option to pin the taskbar on screen for easier app switching on large screens
• Improved support for Braille displays, making Android more accessible
• Easier tap-to-pay transactions with NFC-capable apps
• Support for small cover screens on foldable devices
• More customization options for Do Not Disturb mode
• App archiving feature to save space while keeping user data
• Changes to how apps run in the background to improve battery life and performance
• Option for a "Private Space" on your device to keep sensitive apps hidden
• Simpler sign-in process using passkeys (an alternative to passwords)
• Ability for apps to detect if they're being recorded
• Enhanced security measures to prevent unauthorized app launches

The supported Pixel phones that will start receiving the update in the coming weeks include the Pixel 6 Series onwards, including the Pixel 6a and above.

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One of the main differences would be the processor powering the Pixel 9a. It will pack the Google Tensor G4 chip, just as the flagship Pixel 9 series, but it will use a slightly different variation of the silicon.

Pixel 9a will reportedly use IPoP (Integrated Package on Package) packaging, instead of the FOPLP (Fan-Out Panel Level Packaging) found in regular G4 chips. This might enable Google to provide the device at a cheaper rate without really cutting down on its performance too much.

The Pixel 9a will allegedly retain the Exynos Modem 5300 from the preceding Pixel 8 series, while the Pixel 9 lineup gets the newer, more capable Exynos Modem 5400. This could be a strategic move whereby Google has intentionally wanted to draw some line of distinction between flagship and budget models.

It also is rumored that its design differs a bit from the familiar design of the A-series devices and the Pixel 9 itself. A recent photo leak suggests it might be entirely different, though how much this can be relied upon for accuracy isn't yet certain.

These supposed changes suggest that Google may have finally figured out what it wants to do with the Pixel A series— make it a product in its own right, rather than just a watered-down version of its flagships. The Pixel 9a is expected to be released in the spring of 2025. Nevertheless, take these claims with a grain of salt for now.

Source: Android Authority

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According to a fresh report by Nikkei Asia, Apple will soon be moving away from LCDs on iPhones and is set to stop working with two Japanese display panel suppliers, Japan Display (JDI) and Sharp, for iPhone screens.

Since the introduction of OLED displays with the iPhone X in 2017, Apple has gradually replaced LCDs with OLED panels in its high-end iPhones. Nearly a decade ago, Japan Display (JDI) and Sharp had a combined share of 70% of iPhone displays.

However, this number significantly dipped to around 20 million, since Apple started adopting OLED panels. With rumors suggesting that next year's iPhone SE 4 model will also be equipped with an OLED display, the two Japanese display suppliers are speculated to be let go by Apple.

Reportedly, since Japan Display (JDI) and Sharp don't mass produce OLED displays for smartphones, they will continue to provide LCDs for the iPhone SE 3, and exit the iPhone supply chain when Apple switches to the iPhone SE 4.

Meanwhile, Apple has reportedly begun placing OLED display orders for the iPhone SE 4, expected to launch in 2025, from China's BOE Technology Group and LG Display. The iPhone SE 4 is expected to use the displays used in the iPhone 13 and 14 since the device is expected to feature an iPhone 14-like design.

Recently, it was reported that the iPhone SE 4 will be more powerful than the iPhone 15, as it is expected to launch with Apple Intelligence features. For context, the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus lack the necessary power to support Apple Intelligence.

The iPhone SE 4 is expected to feature a single camera setup, a 6.1-inch OLED display, Face ID (replacing Touch ID and the Home button), a USB-C port, and a chassis made of 7000 series aluminum with glass on the front/back.

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