Tech news

Verizon's long-term ambitions of (possibly) in the 5G coverage field may have gotten a major boost earlier this week from the highly anticipated announcement of the big winners in , but in the short run, Big Red will need to continue to tout the controversial advantages of mmWave technology. Of course, the 5G Ultra Wideband network itself is pretty awesome, that T-Mo's low and mid-band signals will never be able to come close to. The problem is so few of the many people subscribed to the nation's largest wireless service provider can actually obtain those download () numbers, ... http://dlvr.it/RtdKHB

, T-Mobile's plan to shut its legacy 3G network could play havoc with Dish Network. Part of the deal made between and Dish that was done to gain FCC approval for the former's merger with Sprint allowed Dish to start selling wireless service through an MVNO agreement with T-Mobile. The deal, which runs for seven years, is an important one for Dish because it can start developing a wireless brand, start to create loyal customers, and collect revenue even without its own wireless network. An MVNO is a Mobile Virtual Network Operator and in the case of Dish, it buys wireless ... http://dlvr.it/RtdKH0

It's been a deal bonanza in these past few days, with and carrier discounts, so regardless of whether you decided on a device over the work week and are looking for the best price or are preparing to do it over the weekend, here's our roundup of the best fresh phone deals you can get.Samsung Galaxy Week deals As you may have recognized by the influx of Samsung phone and tablets promos, it is Galaxy Week, and Samsung has a number of great running deals. Many of these can be combined with generous trade-in offers – and even phones with cracked screens are accepted. ... http://dlvr.it/RtdKCY

Which phone has the fastest performance?  The battle between Android phones and iPhones has also carried over to chips, and there are two big names in the industry in that game: Apple which designs its A series of processors, and then Qualcomm, the company behind the Snapdragon series of chips that power most Android phones out there. There are other chip makers in the game as well: Samsung's Exynos series of chips is a worthy contender, and MediaTek processors are also quite popular with budget phones in developing nations. So what are ... http://dlvr.it/RtZFtt

Target on Thursday that it will be setting up Apple "mini-stores" in multiple locations within the retail giant itself. Customers will be able to take care of their retail, grocery, and top-of-the-line gadget needs in one quick stop at the Bullseye. Seventeen participating stores have been announced and are already beginning to set up (Apple) shop starting this month. Check the official list to see if you happen to live near any of the locations: 1811 Hillsdale Ave., San Jose, California800 Christiana Mall, Newark, Delaware2747 Gulf To Bay Blvd., Clearwater, Florida3970 SW Archer ... http://dlvr.it/RtZFtV

New revelations about the exciting launch of Apple's AR (augmented reality)  coming this year still continue to surprise and astound us.Self-cleaning, But It's Not an Oven Anyone who owns a pair of glasses is surely well familiar with the constant hassle of dealing with condensation, dust, dirt or debris smudging over the lens. It's annoying but it's one of those things we've accepted we just have to suck up and deal with, like exercise and balanced diets. Yet has just informed us that Apple may have actually found a way to beat this problem by filing for on ... http://dlvr.it/RtZFqF

Now that , the largest independent prepaid phone provider in the US, and , the no-contract plan sands have shifted tremendously in the US. Fret not, as we are here to guide you through the wonderful world of prepaid that may see your monthly phone bill in half if you are willing to part with extra services like HBO Max or Netflix you might not shed a tear over, and no, we aren't talking about sacrificing 5G network connectivity anymore. Best prepaid phone plans on the Verizon networkBest prepaid single line plan on Verizon at ... http://dlvr.it/RtVHhD

Vietnamese manufacturer VinSmart has officially entered the US phone market thanks to a deal with AT&T for "nearly 2 million smartphones". AT&T (and its Cricket prepaid brand) recently started selling two distinct entry-level phone models from VinSmart. Both are under $100 and are white-labeled, meaning they bear the AT&T or Cricket brand (instead of VinSmart or its Vsmart brand). AT&T has turned to Chinese manufacturer Tinno for such phones in recent years. But with the US government's hostile posture toward Chinese telecom companies in the last few years, AT&T may be looking to diversify its suppliers beyond China. The more affordable of the two models is the AT&T Fusion Z. It has a 6-inch HD display and USB-C, but its specs are otherwise minimal, including Android Go Edition, a Snapdragon 215 chip, and a 5 megapixel main camera. AT&T Prepaid shows the list price as $80 but is selling it for $40. Walmart is selling the same phone as the ...

The FCC today announced the winners of Auction 107 for radio frequency licenses in the coveted "C-Band". Verizon spent $45.5 billion, well over half the $81.1 billion total spent in the whole auction. All major US carriers spent large amounts, with AT&T spending $23.4 billion, T-Mobile spending $9.3 billion, and US Cellular spending $1.3 billion. Auction 107 is for radio frequencies spanning 3.7 to 3.98 GHz. This band is unusually large at 280 MHz wide, giving it valuable high capacity for many users and/or fast data speeds. Spectrum in these "mid-band" frequencies is also valuable because it's ideal for building 5G networks that offer a good balance of fast data speeds and broad coverage. Most current 5G networks in the US offer only fast speeds or broad coverage, an issue that is particularly acute for Verizon at the moment. Auction 107 is likely to be the largest and most important of several C-band auctions the FCC is holding. Auction 105 was the first, ...

Today's the big day for T-Mobile customers who don't appreciate limits, caps, or speed bumps of any sort, and in order to celebrate , the "Un-carrier" is unveiling... . Just in case Magenta's services weren't already far more attractive than the competition for a large enough number of users across the nation, its newly released offer makes it that much harder for Verizon and AT&T to entice people aged 55 and over ever again. That's because "Dumb and Dumber", as former T-Mo CEO John Legere liked to call the long-time wireless industry duopoly, don't ... http://dlvr.it/RtQF0L

smartphones may be banned in the US but smartwatches and other wearable devices are running the company’s proprietary LiteOS and don’t breach any restrictions. Furthermore, Huawei smartwatches sport top-notch hardware and their battery can last for days. The only problem is the limited number of apps on the LiteOS but that’s about to change. Also Read: Huawei has just announced the first third-party app for wearable devices, and it’s big news for a number of reasons. First, this goes to show that the company is shifting its focus towards the wearable market, at least ... http://dlvr.it/RtQDzy

The latest update to Samsung's Galaxy Labs app has added a new feature that gives you control over when thermal throttling kicks in. This allows you to tweak the phone's CPU throttling temperature threshold by up to two degrees – a lower setting will deliver lower sustained performance but will make your phone run cooler, while a higher setting will have the opposite effect. Thermal throttling is a common power management technique that reduces the performance of a chip – your phone's Snapdragon or Exynos SoC, for example – once it ... http://dlvr.it/RtQDvq

Google is rolling out a major update to Android Auto. The new version includes car-optimized games such as trivia and "Jeopardy!". The feature can be activated by saying "Hey Google, play a game". Users can now "select from a variety of car-inspired backgrounds to personalize your car display". Finally, on "cars with wider screens", a new split-screen view "features a real-time view of Google Maps and media controls". The update will be available in the coming days for phones with Android 6 and above. http://dlvr.it/RtL7rc

Google has started rolling out an update to it Messages app that lets users schedule a text message to send at a later time. The feature is designed for people with "loved ones in another time zone or on a different schedule". To use the feature, simply press and hold the send button to reveal a new pop-up menu for scheduling. The menu provides several suggested times as shortcuts, plus an option to pick any specific date and time. The feature will be available in the next Messages update for phones running Android 7 and newer. http://dlvr.it/RtL7rW

Samsung today announced a new camera sensor featuring a number of new technologies that will offer improved HDR, low-light performance, and auto-focusing. The ISOCELL GN2 is a 50 megapixel sensor with 1.4-micrometer (μm)-sized pixels. The GN2 supports staggered HDR, which lets a device capture short and long exposures simultaneously, for HDR images with fewer motion artifacts. Staggered HDR can also enable computational HDR for video. Support for staggered HDR sensors is a key feature of Qualcomm's latest flagship chip for phones, the Snapdragon 888. Samsung also claims that staggered HDR is 24% more power-efficient compared to the traditional HDR technique. The GN2 also sports Dual Pixel Pro, an improved auto-focus (AF) system that uses all sensor pixels for focusing. While previous dual-pixel AF systems can only detect pattern changes horizontally, Dual Pixel Pro splits pixel elements diagonally, so it can also use vertical information to lock focus quickly. The GN2 also has Smar...

Clipper Card — the universal transit fare card for all 24 San Francisco Bay Area transit agencies — will be supported in Apple Pay and Google Pay digital wallets "this spring". Residents and visitors will be able to add a stored-value Clipper card to their digital wallet and tap their phones to ride transit, replacing a physical Clipper card. The system differs from those in cities (such as New York and Chicago) offering "open" fare payments made directly from a credit or debit card in Google Pay / Apple Pay. Apple has launched a page where people can sign up to be notified when Clipper is available for iPhone and Apple Watch. Separately, Google announced a new feature of Google Maps that lets users buy and present transit fare payments — including Clipper, when available — without leaving the Maps app, as part of turn-by-turn directions that include transit. http://dlvr.it/RtG2z0

Google Fi and Verizon Prepaid recently launched new introductory deals for new customers / added lines. Verizon Prepaid is offering the third month of service for free, while Google is offering half off the first three months of service. Verizon also offers "loyalty" discounts that kick in starting on the fourth month. http://dlvr.it/RtG2wk

Samsung today made a new commitment to provide security updates for its Galaxy phones and other devices for "a minimum of four years after the initial phone release." The promise covers phones launched in 2019 and later, including the S10 series, Note10 series, Z series, Fold, A50, A20, A10e, as well as newer models launch in 2020, 2021, and onward. Security updates protect users from security vulnerabilities discovered after launch. Such discoveries are relatively common. That means the longer a device has gone without a security update, the more vulnerable it is to hacking and malware. Security updates alone generally do not add new features nor update to a new OS version. Samsung made a separate commitment last August to provide three full OS upgrades for its higher-end Galaxy devices. http://dlvr.it/RtG2qC

The first Android 12 Developer Preview was released last week and , it carries a hidden UI that is similar to Samsung's One UI. For those unfamiliar with One UI, the software is designed to bring interface elements like buttons, toggles, check boxes, icons, sliders, progress bars and more closer to the bottom of the screen. This way, users won't have to perform calisthenics with their fingers in order to tap one of these elements in the upper reaches of the display. reveals that by enabling a hidden "Silky home" feature flag, ... http://dlvr.it/RtBGsF

Apple Watch users are familiar with Scribble, the finger-based text input that allows you to use your finger in lieu of a keyboard to type out texts. In iPadOS 14, Scribble was added as a tool for Apple Pencil compatible iPad models. Using the digital writing instrument, an iPad user can write out a letter, number, etc. in a text field and have it appear as a typed character. When it first launched, the feature was available in English and Chinese. However, , in the iPadOS 14.5 update Scribble gets support for additional languages.        The new ... http://dlvr.it/RtBGs3

, our gateway to an entire multimedia world, is getting more and more features as technology advances. Sometimes, one of Google's most important apps is getting a bit behind with times when it comes to some of the features that rival apps already offer to their users, but sooner or later YouTube is forced to implement these options to match the competition. The quality of the image YouTube offers on various platforms is strongly related to how good your internet connection is, but that mostly matters when you're watching videos on the go. As long as you have a smartphone that supports 4K ... http://dlvr.it/RtBGrH

Based on hidden code , Pixel 6 could feature both an in-display fingerprint scanner and a facial authorization system. You might recall that the featured Face Unlock while dropping the fingerprint sensor. The reversed that by removing Face Unlock and bringing back the rear-facing fingerprint scanner. in the Developer Preview which was first released yesterday. The code mentions enrolling in Face Unlock and fingerprint unlock. It also says, "Make unlocking your phone a breeze," "Save time unlocking phone in your pocket," ... http://dlvr.it/Rt7VDZ

In December 2020, it was reported that BOE has been approved as the third OLED supplier for the . Per that , BOE will supply 10 million to 20 million units this year, depending on the demand for newest phones. now claims that the Chinese company has only been given the go-ahead to provide panels for refurbished models.  This is only the beginning as the publication adds that BOE has set up a new facility (Fab B11) in Menyang exclusively for Apple. The company is currently said to be manufacturing OLED samples for the , which an increasing number of reports ... http://dlvr.it/Rt7VDN

Out of nowhere and helped rather than inconvenienced by the coronavirus pandemic, around the world over the last year or so. While Apple continues to easily dominate the thriving market with its very productive, powerful, and increasingly eye-catching iPads, thanks to an excellent mix of high and mid-end models.  Among others, the Korea-based tech giant essentially pulled off the impossible by designing quite possibly the first ever costly Android slates worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as the latest and greatest . The Galaxy Tab S7 and Tab S7+ blend powerful ... http://dlvr.it/Rt7VCw

Apple has added a new App Store rule for "health pass" apps "based on testing and vaccination records". Commercial developers of such apps must prove that they are "working with entities recognized by public health authorities, such as test kit manufacturers, laboratories, or healthcare providers." The rule is intended to prevent fraudulent digital vaccine passports, ensuring valid ones can be trusted. http://dlvr.it/Rt4S6q

Samsung today announced the availability of its One UI 3.1 software update, which brings select software features of the new Galaxy S21 series to most higher-end Galaxy phones from 2020 and 2019. New features include an improved "Single Take" camera mode, which captures a variety of still and video formats simultaneously. It also brings Object Eraser (shown), an intelligent photo editing tool to cut out unwanted parts of photos. "If you want to edit out distracting objects, simply tap the area you wish to remove and it will be automatically selected and deleted." Other new features include Private Share, to control who is allowed access to the content you send and how long it is available, and Eye Comfort Shield, which automatically adjusts the display's blue light output based on the time of day. Finally, there's Multi Mic Recording, which, when in Pro Video mode, allows you to simultaneously record audio through both your phone and a connected Bluetooth. T...

Google has released the first preview version of Android 12 to developers. As a developer release, it focuses on APIs and other developer-focused aspects, rather than necessarily representing the final look and feature set for consumers. Several new features are notable, though: * Project Mainline continues to expand, with Google adding the Android Runtime (ART) module to the list of software that Google can update directly through the Play Store, instead of requiring a full OS update approved by manufacturers and carriers. ART handles compiling app code into processor instructions. * Better support for newer image and video formats. Specifically, support for the AV1 image file format (AVIF), and better support for the HEVC video format. * Rich content insertion, which makes it easier for apps to support copy-and-paste of styled text and multimedia. The new API for rich content also supports drag-and-drop. * Haptic-coupled audio effect, which lets apps more easily add haptic effe...

Undeterred by the coronavirus pandemic that made its network upgrading and expansion work much more difficult than in a "normal" year, . The "Un-carrier" managed to just a few months after completing its long-in-the-works Sprint acquisition, spending the rest of the year trying (and mostly succeeding) to close the gap to Verizon with the help of killer deals, affordable plans, and perhaps most importantly, huge 5G improvements. While across the country attracted by far the largest amount of attention from both the media and regular consumers, there was at least one other major ... http://dlvr.it/Rt0Z85

OnePlus first adopted a higher refresh rate in 2019 with the 90Hz OnePlus 7 Pro. That got upgraded to 120Hz on last year’s OnePlus 8 Pro, and now there's another upgrade planned for OnePlus' next flagship that'll make it a strong contender for of the year. A 120Hz LTPO display is coming to the OnePlus 9 Pro Tipster has revealed that the will feature an LTPO (low-temperature polycrystalline oxide) OLED display, much like the Galaxy S21 Ultra and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. The presence of LTPO tech on ’ next flagship is important because it means the display will automatically adjust its ... http://dlvr.it/Rt0Z7X

Between the following in the footsteps of 2019's Tab S5e and the sporting a large 10.4-inch screen, you could say that Samsung's 2020 Android slate portfolio has been a tad all over the place. Of course, consumers don't really care about things like confusing branding or convoluted product rosters as long as they can get devices to fit their needs and preferences at fair prices. That's arguably one of the company's strongest points in the increasingly competitive (and successful) , which explains why Samsung managed to considerably boost its sales ... http://dlvr.it/Rt0Z1N

While OnePlus undoubtedly disappointed a lot of its budget-conscious US-based fans last year by selling the company's latest high-end smartphones at higher prices than their forerunners and never releasing the mid-range stateside, the second and third members of that latter family ultimately put a big smile on the faces of many consumers in the region . Yes, the ultra-affordable and are officially available in the US in both unlocked and carrier-specific versions, and , the two handsets are absolutely "blowing up" at one particular mobile network operator. This ... http://dlvr.it/RswYNQ

Last week, Epic Games reportedly help float a bill (no. 2333 for those who keep track) in the North Dakota Senate in the state under certain conditions. For example, a company like could not force developers to use its in-app payment platform. In addition, Apple and Google would be banned from retaliating against developers who choose to offer their apps through a different means of distribution or use a different payment system.Bill that could have banned the App Store in North Dakota fails to pass the State Senate by a vote of 11-26 This past weekend, ... http://dlvr.it/RswYLp

Amazon's products are quite often on sale, so if you've been searching for a cheap tablet, smart speaker, or other such devices, then you know you have a lot of offers to choose from. Now, if you're not particularly looking to save some money, we might have the perfect deal for you. That is if you're in the market for a smart speaker, obviously. The all-new Echo (4th Gen), Amazon's mid-range smart speaker, is available for purchase for $80. To make it more appealing without actually offering a discount on the device, Amazon now offers customers who purchase the Echo (4th Gen) a pair of Philips ... http://dlvr.it/RswYJp

The  and  could be the last models of the Note line. With the Galaxy S21 Ultra and its S-Pen capabilities, the Note line is in peril. It's a real shame, because these are great phones and many people truly love them. Being now 6+ months old, the Note 20 lineup ... http://dlvr.it/RsrZyd

A has been in development for some time and rumor has it that the wearable could make its debut next month alongside the . But what will it look like? Read on. Here's what the OnePlus Watch might look like has unearthed several sketches of two round smartwatch designs that were submitted by to the German patent and trademark office at some point last month. The first smartwatch design, visualized above, depicts a sleeker model with what could be some form of leather strap. It features two buttons on the right side, and a heart rate sensor seems to be included on the bottom. The ... http://dlvr.it/RsrZyZ

Nothing, Technologies, a new startup from former OnePlus executive Carl Pei, has purchased the Essential brand. Essential was a phone startup founded by Android creator Andy Rubin after he left Google. http://dlvr.it/RsrZx5

At first glance, the could pass as a standard, modern smartphone. It's thin, light, with rounded corners and quad cameras on the back. Like most Android mid-rangers and flagships, the phone has minimal bezels, with only the "chin" being mildly larger than the rest. It's all very traditional for a phone that came out in late 2020. But on close inspection, you may be surprised to find that the ZTE Axon 20's display is entirely uninterrupted by hole-punch selfie cameras or notches of any kind. Where's the selfie camera? This would be a fun, if not an eerie question ... http://dlvr.it/RsmhB3

2021 is still far from gone; however, Music’s Replay 2021 feature is now available for you to track your favorite songs more easily, . The feature is similar to Spotify’s Wrapped, however, the latter is available at the end of the year as a recap of your favorite music tracks. Replay 2021 is a playlist of your favorite music in Apple Music that updates every week on Sunday. Until now, it wasn’t available for 2021, but starting now you can check out the music you’ve listened to most in the last month and so. It will continue to get updated when you listen to new songs throughout the ... http://dlvr.it/Rsmh9K

While everyone is waiting for the and the to be released in a month or so, now is a clever time to get yourself a brand-new for as low as $250 at Best Buy. The offer is up for a limited time and you can buy Samsung's 5G-enabled mid-range phone from 2020 with a generous $250 discount on the three major carriers, as well as a $200 discount for the unlocked variant. $250 off ... http://dlvr.it/Rsmh6c

We've already told you about . If the rumors pan out, the next version of the Apple Watch will be able to deliver blood glucose readings; this information is needed by insulin dependent diabetics to compute how much insulin they need to take before eating their next meal. This happens to be a very painful and expensive test since it requires diabetics to draw blood from their fingertips, put a sample of blood on a test strip (the strips are quite expensive) and insert it into a machine called a glucometer.Apple seeks patent on technology that will be used to monitor Apple Watch ... http://dlvr.it/Rsj4tr

Just in case you were not impressed by the first-ever deals available recently on Amazon for buyers of 's unlocked , there's now a way to save even more than $200, and no, you don't have to trade anything in or commit to a lengthy carrier agreement. That's right, Google Fi is offering a flat $300 discount on all three hot new Snapdragon 888 powerhouses for both new and existing customers. If you already subscribe to the increasingly popular and (mobile virtual network operator), all you need to do to qualify for the hefty aforementioned price reduction is activate your Galaxy ... http://dlvr.it/Rsj4tk

Foldable iPhone concept by According to a couple of recent reports, is currently  for a possible bendable iPhone. The scope of the work is apparently only the development of a foldable screen at the moment and the company hasn't locked in plans to launch an actual device. Still, a foldable iPhone seems very likely, given that foldable smartphones are expected to be the fastest-growing category of flagship phones in the coming years and every major manufacturer is expected to have a bendable portfolio by 2025.  Apple ... http://dlvr.it/Rsj4sY

It's unlikely that many still remember . For reasons unknown, the development cycle of this mobile game took a lot longer than usual. We doubt anyone is still waiting for Slightly Mad's mobile racer, but in case you're into this type of game, you'll be happy to know that Project CARS GO is set for release in about a month from now. GAMEVIL and Slightly Mad Studios have just revealed that Project CARS GO will be launched on Android and iOS on March 23. Not only that, but the game is now up for pre-registration via and . As it is accustomed, those who pre-register will receive some freebies; ... http://dlvr.it/RsfJ11

It was back in September when we told you that GPU designer NVIDIA had agreed to pay $40 billion for ARM Holdings. The latter's main business is the design of CPU cores and the company was owned by SoftBank. The Japanese tech firm will reportedly turn an $8 billion profit on the transaction once it closes. To close, the purchase of ARM by NVIDIA will need to be approved by regulators around the world. , U.S. chip designer Qualcomm has relayed its opposition to the deal with regulatory agencies including the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the European Commission ... http://dlvr.it/RsfJ0r

Last month, Facebook called a ‘significant’ future competitor. Those comments were understood to be a reference to their respective AR/VR efforts, but a adds another layer to the matter. Facebook's Apple Watch and Fitbit rival will launch in 2022 The Information reports that is building a smartwatch as part of its ongoing hardware efforts, which already include Oculus VR headsets and the Portal smart display. It will use an open-source version of Google’s Android software and include its own cellular connection, meaning owners won’t need to rely on a smartphone for internet access. Feature-wise, ... http://dlvr.it/RsfJ08

Disney+ became an instant success when it launched in November 2019 and the streaming service is showing no signs of slowing down, as Disney itself confirmed in its most recent earnings call. Disney+ finished 2020 with almost 95 million subscribers The rival had 94.9 million subscribers worldwide as of January 2, 2021. That’s an increase of and puts it within touching distance of the coveted 100 million subscriber milestone. Perhaps more impressive is the fact that this success was completely unexpected. Disney originally predicted 90 million Disney+ subscribers by late 2023, but ... http://dlvr.it/RsbDdP

You may not remember this now, but before iPhones and Android-based smartphones became a thing, Nokia's biggest rival at the top of the mobile device vendor ranks was a fruit-themed brand that's not Apple. While HMD Global is (barely), after trying (and largely failing) to pair the mainstream appeal of the Android ecosystem with traditional physical keyboard designs for an entirely new generation of mobile productivity enthusiasts. Although it didn't take long for a new brand licensee to step in and back into the limelight, it's been several months ... http://dlvr.it/RsbDdH

Metro by T-Mobile today announced the launch of the Motorola one 5G ace, a relatively affordable 5G phone at just $280, a significant discount from the $400 Motorola charges for the unlocked version. T-Mobile will also launch the one 5G ace soon. The more-affordable moto g play (2021) also just launched on both T-Mobile and Metro, for $150 and $160, respectively. Motorola charges $170 for the unlocked version. Separately, Cricket just launched the moto g power (2021) for $120 (plus $25 upgrade fee for existing customers). The g power sells for $250 unlocked. Metro is offering launch deals on the Motorola 5G ace for a limited time: New customers can get the phone for just $20, while existing customers adding a line can get the phone for $90. All three phones were announced in early January and went on sale unlocked January 14th. http://dlvr.it/RsbDbp

Google today announced a new video editor as part of Google Photos. The company also announced that some advanced, AI-powered features previously available only on Pixel phones will now be available on more phones, but only for Google One subscribers. The new video editor adds features to "crop, change perspective, add filters, apply granular edits (including brightness, contrast, saturation and warmth) and more." This is in addition to existing features to trim, stabilize and rotate videos. It's available now in Google Photos for iOS, and "will be rolling out to most Android users in the coming weeks". In the coming months, iOS users will also get the revamped photo editor that rolled out to Android users late last year. Google One subscribers on Android will also get several new features that were previously restricted to Pixel phones. In the coming days, those users will see an updated Google Photos app that includes Portrait Blur, Portrait Light, and new ...

A US appeals court has issued a new ruling declaring that Customs and Border Protection agents can conduct both basic and "advanced" searches of electronic devices at US borders without needing a warrant nor reasonable suspicion. The new ruling overturns a district court decision from January 2020 that ruled such searches unconstitutional. In the new ruling, First Circuit Judge Sandra Lynch says "Electronic device searches do not fit neatly into other categories of property searches, but the bottom line is that basic border searches of electronic devices do not involve an intrusive search of a person". Although the the rules for border searches are intended for persons entering at border crossings, they technically apply to all CPB agents working within 100 miles of any US border, which includes many major US cities. The ACLU, which backed the lawsuit in question, issued a statement: "We are disappointed with the ruling and evaluating all options to ensure we d...

Google Fi today announced that its free VPN service is exiting beta for Android, and will "roll out ... to iPhone starting this spring." The VPN service protects against IP address tracking and hacking while using unsecure Wi-Fi networks. http://dlvr.it/RsWMss

Let me begin this editorial with a disclaimer - for years and years, I’ve been a huge advocate of the microSD card slot in phones. Hell, I gave so much flak to Apple for not including one that I’m honestly ashamed of this clickbaity title. What made me change my mind? A certain present that I got a couple of years ago. The path to obsolescence - a personal story For my 36th birthday, my girlfriend bought me a Huawei Mate 20 Pro. Back then Huawei was enjoying exponential growth in Europe and all future troubles were just a speck in the crystal balls of the most gifted fortune tellers. ... http://dlvr.it/RsRQVb

The Galaxy S21 series recently beat the Galaxy S20 and S10 to set a . And as Samsung has now  (via ), it turns out the 2021 devices have proven popular in another important market. Samsung Galaxy S21 sales are 30% higher in South Korea During the first eleven days of availability (January 29 to February 8) in South Korea, sales of the were an impressive 30% higher than those of the Galaxy S20 series in the equivalent period last year. Unlike the UK, which preferred the S21 Ultra, customers in Samsung’s home market favored the vanilla Galaxy S21 5G model. It accounted for 40% ... http://dlvr.it/RsRQSH

Bullitt Group will soon launch a new range of rugged mobile phones bearing the Motorola brand. Bullitt specializes in rugged phones, and already makes rugged phones for the CAT and Land Rover brands. This long-term "strategic brand partnership" gives Bullitt the exclusive global license to develop and market rugged mobile phones bearing the Motorola brand. In this "unique strategic alliance", "Motorola and Bullitt will combine their expertise". Although Bullitt will lead the development and marketing, the phones "must meet Motorola's strict quality, safety, and reliability standards, and Motorola also maintains 100% control over merchandising, marketing and customer experience". Bullitt will reveal details of the first phones (plural) from this partnership later this quarter. http://dlvr.it/RsRQR0