For more than half a decade, we’ve seen smartphone manufacturers partner with camera manufacturers. This helps bring better results for the smartphone camera experience, and that does not seem to be slowing down. Japanese camera manufacturer Canon is looking to partner with a smartphone manufacturer.
We know about different partnerships between smartphone makers and Camera makers. Vivo has partnered with Zeiss, Xiaomi partners with Leica, and Oppo/OnePlus has partnered with Hasselblad. So, this isn’t something that’s entirely different.
The camera maker doesn’t go in and build the camera for the phone, however. It would either contribute its optics or assist in the software development and tuning for the camera.
Canon is considering partnering with a smartphone manufacturer
Anyone in the photography world knows Canon as an all-around consumer-focused brand. The company has its flagship cameras that give you great results along with its mid-range and budget cameras that you will find at your local Walmart. So, the company knows what it’s doing.
According to a report from CNBETA, Hideki Ozawa, the chairman of Ken in China, said in an interview that the company has been studying the matter. So, this probably means that Canon does not have a particular brand in mind. However, we can imagine that it has a list of potential partnerships being written up as we speak.
So, since the company is just in the consideration stage, we shouldn’t expect to see any phones boasting Canon Optics anytime soon. As for what companies would need this, we could probably expect companies like HTC. Not to say that HTC’s cameras are bad, but this could definitely be a great marketing stunt to put HTC back into the consumer mindset.
The same could probably be set for Nokia. This company has been struggling to get back into the smartphone market, and posting the robust camera experience powered by Canon would definitely raise a few eyebrows.
It’ll be interesting to see what company Canon decides to shake hands with. Only time will tell.
If you’re old enough, you might remember when Apple introduced the App Store back on July 10th, 2008 which coincided with the release of the iPhone 3G. The opening of the App Store changed everything and all of a sudden, the iPhone became exponentially more useful. The App Store launched with 500 apps available. By the time Apple was advertising the iPhone 3GS in 2009, the ads were claiming that there were 75,000 apps in the App Store. That doubled to 150,000 apps by February 2010.
Apple releases its first-ever App Transparency Report
And the number kept growing. By 2011, just 34 months since the App Store opened for business, it had over 500,000 apps on the shelves. In 2012, the App Store had 700,000 apps. But by July 2013, the Google Play Store, which started life in 2008 as the Android Market on the T-Mobile G1 (with less than 50 apps) had passed the App Store. The Play Store was the first to hit the one million app mark topping the 900,000 that was then available from the iOS app storefront. Five months later, the App Store finally went over the 1 million app mark.
There are nearly a million more apps in the Google Play Store than the Apple App Store
Apple today released its 2022 App Store Transparency Report that indicated exactly how many apps were available in the App Store by the end of last year. That figure amounted to 1,783,232 apps which is more than 3566 times the number of apps in the App Store when it first launched 14 years before. According to Apple, it removed 186,195 apps from the App Store last year.
Apple notes that “Apps may be removed from the App Store for a number of reasons, including violations of local law, repeated violations of App Store policy, fraud, and demands by regulators.” Games (38,883 apps removed) and Utilities (20,045) were the two categories with the most removed apps in the App Store last year.
Apple removed 1,474 apps from the App Store due to government demand. As the company stated, “Apps are removed only from storefronts in which the entity demanding removal has jurisdiction, and they remain available in all other storefronts.” Perhaps it is not a huge surprise that 97% of the apps removed from the App Store because of a country’s request came from mainland China.
Even though developers make much more money from the App Store than the Google Play Store, the latter hosts nearly more than 1 million more apps than the App Store. The Android app storefront had 2,694,114 apps available at the end of last year according to Statista. Part of the theory that many have come up with to explain this discrepancy is that since those with an iPhone pay more for their phone, they have the wherewithal to purchase more apps than Android users.
Apple created the App Transparency Report as part of a class action lawsuit settlement
With the release of its 2022 App Store Transparency Report, its first-ever, Apple writes, “Our App Store Transparency Report provides data about how we operate the App Store in all 175 countries and regions where it’s available. Below you’ll find information about our efforts to help keep the App Store a safe and trusted place for users to find apps they love. This report covers data from 2022, and we’ll update the information annually.”
Apple didn’t create the report out of the kindness of its heart. The report was part of a settlement related to a $100 million class action lawsuit between Apple and app developers in 2021. Besides having to shell out some money to developers (half received a $250 check while only 1% were supposed to be sent a $30,000 payment from Apple), the settlement requires Apple to release this App Transparency Report every year starting with the one just posted by Apple covering 2022.
The plaintiffs alleged that Apple would not allow app developers to communicate with its customers. Apple did not want these developers to provide links to third-party payment platforms that would allow subscribers to make in-app purchases using a third-party payment platform. This would allow subscribers to bypass Apple’s own in-app payment platform which collects a 30% cut of the price of an in-app purchase from an app’s developer.
The report shows that the average number of customers searching the App Store each week during 2022 was an impressive 373,211,396. The total number of apps appearing in the top ten results of at least 1,000 searches was 1,399,741. At the end of 2022, the number of registered Apple developers was 36,974,015.
The average number of weekly visitors to the App Store was 656,739,889 and the average number of app downloads each week was 747,873,877.
We’re here to compare two absolute flagship-grade smartphones, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Sony Xperia 1 V. The Galaxy S23 Ultra launched in February, while the Xperia 1 V arrived earlier this month. Both of these phones are focused on photography, but not only on that, of course. They have a lot to offer in general, even though they’re quite different, in so many ways.
These two phones offer completely different designs, considerably different internals, and even their UIs are different. Still, they’re both outstanding phones. If you still cannot decide which one to buy, we’ll try to help out with that. We’ll provide you with a bunch of information that will hopefully help you make the choice. We’ll kick things off by listing their specs, and will then move to compare the two phones across a number of other categories.
Specs
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Xiaomi 13 Ultra
Screen size
6.8-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display (curved, 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, LTPO, down to 1Hz, 1,750 nits peak brightness)
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Sony Xperia 1 V: Design
Both of these devices are made out of metal and glass (Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the back of both phones), but they’re not similar at all. The Galaxy S23 Ultra has completely flat top and bottom sides, while its left and right sides are extremely curved. The Xperia 1 V is flat on the sides (all around). The Xperia 1 V actually has a ribbed textured on the sides, for better grip, and it also has a dotted pattern on the glass on the back. All of that does help with the grip. This handset is considerably more grippy than the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Of course, its size also helps with the grip. The Xperia 1 V is a lot narrower than the Galaxy S23 Ultra, 71mm vs 78.1mm. It is a bit taller due to a different aspect ratio, and slightly thinner. Sony’s flagship is a lot lighter in comparison, at 187 grams, compared to 234 grams of the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Even their front and back sides are vastly different. The Galaxy S23 Ultra has a slightly curved display with a centered display camera hole. The Xperia 1 V doesn’t have a camera hole or notch, while it has a flat display, and its top and bottom bezels are a bit thicker.
On the back, the Galaxy S23 Ultra has five separate protrusions, four of which are for the phone’s cameras. The Xperia 1 V has three cameras on the back, but they’re all a part of the same camera island. Both smartphones are IP68 certified for water and dust resistance. They do feel entirely different in the hand, so if you can try holding them before you buy either one, that would be great, actually.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Sony Xperia 1 V: Display
There is a 6.8-inch QHD+ (3088 x 1440) Dynamic AMOLED 2X display included on the Galaxy S23 Ultra. That display has an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz, and it supports HDR10+ content. The Galaxy S23 Ultra’s panel goes up to 1,750 nits of peak brightness. This display has an aspect ratio of 19.3:9, it’s slightly curved, and it’s protected by the Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
The Sony Xperia 1 V, on the flip side, includes a 6.5-inch 4K (3840 x 1644) OLED display. This display is flat, and it has a 120Hz refresh rate, which is also adaptive. It does support HDR content, and has an aspect ratio of 21:9. This panel is also protected by the Gorilla Glass Victus 2, in case you were wondering.
Both of these displays are outstanding. They offer vivid colors, great viewing angles, and really good touch response. The blacks are deep, and both panels are immensely sharp. The Xperia 1 V’s 4K display goes up to that resolution only when you’re consuming 4K content, and quite frankly it may even be an overkill for this phone. The Galaxy S23 Ultra, on the other hand, has a brighter display to offer. You’ll be more than happy with either one of these two displays, as they’re both fantastic. In case you’re wondering, the Galaxy S23 Ultra does have a higher screen-to-body ratio.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Sony Xperia 1 V: Performance
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy fuels the Galaxy S23 Ultra, while the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is included inside the Xperia 1 V. The difference is in clock speeds, the ‘for Galaxy’ model has a higher clock speed. Truth be said, that’s not exactly an advantage you should be worrying about, they’re on the same level in that regard. Both phones include 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and UFS 4.0 flash storage.
You’ll be glad to know that both of these smartphones offer outstanding performance. They’re extremely snappy in basically every way. They can open apps really fast, they’re excellent for media consumption, image and video editing, and more. Even if you truly push them hard via demanding games, neither phone will fall, not even close to that. They offer outstanding performance.
One thing to note is that they do offer totally different UIs. Sony keeps things closer to stock Android, with the addition of some of its own apps. Samsung, on the other hand, has its well-known One UI skin on top of Android, and it’s different than stock Android, and packed with various features. It’s easily the most customizable Android UI out there. It all depends on what you prefer, as they’re on par performance-wise.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Sony Xperia 1 V: Battery
There is a 5,000mAh battery inside each of these two smartphones. The Galaxy S23 Ultra does offer a lot better battery life, however. Don’t get me wrong, the Xperia 1 V has really good battery life, but the Galaxy S23 Ultra goes above and beyond. Getting over 9-10 hours of screen-on-time on the Galaxy S23 Ultra is doable, very much so. In comparison, you should be able to cross the 7.5-8-hour screen-on-time on the Xperia 1 V, presuming you’re not a gamer.
Your mileage may vary considerably, of course. Each of us use different apps on our phones, and has different usage habits. On top of that, different signal strengths are in effect. One thing is for sure, however, both of these smartphones offer great battery life, and they’ll be more than enough for pretty much everyone. Even power users will likely be content with what both of them have to offer.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra supports 45W wired, 15W wireless, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. The Sony Xperia 1 V offers support for 30W wired, and also wireless and reverse wireless charging. The Galaxy S23 Ultra does charge faster, but neither phone ships with a charger in the box. They also offer rather slow wireless charging.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Sony Xperia 1 V: Cameras
The Galaxy S23 Ultra features a 200-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera (120-degree FoV), a 10-megapixel telephoto camera (3x optical zoom), and a 10-megapixel periscope camera (10x optical zoom, 120x digital zoom). On the other hand, the Xperia 1 V comes with a 48-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, and a 12-megapixel telephoto camera (3.5x-5.2x continuous optical zoom).
Both of these smartphones have outstanding camera setups and performance, but considerably different at the same time. The images from the Galaxy S23 Ultra tend to look more processed in comparison. Both smartphones do manage to capture a lot of detail, though, and offer outstanding results. If you like phones that brighten up things at night quite a bit, and make things less lifelike in the process, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is in that corner. The Xperia 1 V tries to keep things closer to life while offering great results during the night.
Neither phone is perfect in that regard, but both are outstanding. When it comes to a periscope camera, Samsung wins, but 3.5x shots from the Xperia 1 V are outstanding. Both devices have great ultrawide camera performance, and both do a great job of keeping things closer to the main camera (color temperature, amongst other things). The Xperia 1 V does have a completely different camera UI. In fact, it has three different camera apps, depending on whether you’re shooting photos, video, or cinema-style video. The Xperia 1 V even has a dedicated shutter button.
Audio
Both of these devices include stereo speakers. Those speakers sound really good in both cases, actually. The ones on the Galaxy S23 Ultra did seem slightly louder, but the difference is not even worth mentioning. Both sets provide detailed sound, with even a bit of bass thrown into the mix.
If you still use wired headphones, the Xperia 1 V is the phone for you. It has a 3.5mm headphone jack, unlike the Galaxy S23 Ultra. In fact, it’s one of the very few flagship phones that includes that port. If you prefer wireless audio, both smartphones offer Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity.
Google is no stranger to accessibility. The tech giant recently released the Lookout app, which uses AI to help users who are blind or have low vision navigate their surroundings. But now, Google is taking accessibility to the next level by upgrading the accessibility app.
Google’s AI can now answer your questions about images
Google updated its Lookout app to include an “image question and answer” feature that provides context for uncaptioned images (via Engadget). The feature uses DeepMind-developed AI to elaborate on descriptions of images that lack captions or alt text.
“Now, whether or not images have no captions or alt text, Lookout can process the image and provide a description of it — then people can use their voice or type to ask questions and have a more detailed understanding of what’s in an image,” Google noted in a statement.
For instance, if you see a photo of a dog, you can ask via voice or text whether the dog looks playful.
The feature is currently in testing mode with a limited number of people with visual disabilities. Google noted it has plans to release the upgrade publicly soon.
Google Maps also now displays wheelchair-accessible labels
The upgrade to Lookout is merely one of Google’s recent accessibility updates. The company also upgraded Google Maps to display wheelchair-accessible labels, which are now available to everyone.
This means that before you go to a certain place, you’ll be able to see whether it has a step-free entrance, indicated by a wheelchair icon.
If a location doesn’t have an accessible entrance, you’ll see an alert for that too, as well as options for other accessibility measures.
These updates are another step in the right direction for Google to further improve accessibility and provide independence for people with vision-related disabilities.
Google recently announced significant updates to its Vulnerability Reward Program for Android OS and devices. As elaborated, Google will now employ new rating criteria for the vulnerability reports ensuring better security impact.
Google Android, Devices Vulnerability Reward Rules Update
According to a recent post from Sarah Jacobus, from Google’s Vulnerability Rewards Team, the tech giant is bringing upgrades to its Vulnerability Reward Program covering the Android operating system and Android devices.
Specifically, the latest updates revolve around how the firm handles various vulnerability reports. For instance, the firm will now rate the bug reports as High, Medium, or Low quality, considering the details given in the reports. This new parameter will encourage the security researchers to submit detailed reports, which, in turn, will facilitate Google in better remediation of the security issues.
Regarding Google’s requirements for the perfect vulnerability report, the post mentions the following parameters.
Details about the vulnerability with the respective device(s) name and version.
Full root cause analysis of the vulnerability alongside the respective source code that needs the patch.
Clear proof-of-concept in understandable formats (videos, debugger reports, etc.).
Information about the level of access or execution gained after exploiting the vulnerability.
While these parameters might sound daunting, Google has announced another perk to further motivate the researchers to submit detailed reports. Specifically, the firm has increased the bug rewards to $15,000 for the most critical vulnerabilities with the highest quality reports.
Besides, another important update to the existing VRP parameters is the limitation of CVE assignment to vulnerabilities. Google will no longer assign CVEs to moderate-severity flaws. Instead, it will only CVE IDs to critical and high-severity vulnerabilities.
While the new criteria go in place, Google will highlight any further changes to the VRP rules on the respective public rules page. Interested researchers must keep checking this page to stay updated with the latest rules before submitting their bug reports.
Samsung has released the May 2023 Android security patch for the Galaxy S21 FE, Galaxy S10 Lite, and Galaxy M52 5G. These phones follow dozens of other models to the company’s latest security update part. More eligible models will join in the coming days.
The Galaxy S21 FE started picking up Samsung’s May SMR (Security Maintenance Release) last week. The initial rollout was limited to users in select Latin American countries.
Today, the Korean firm has released the new SMR for the device in several more markets. The update is available in a host of European countries. Depending on the model number, the updated firmware version for the phone is G990BXXS4EWE3 or G990B2XXS3EWE3 (via).
Samsung should expand the availability of the May update for the Galaxy S21 FE to more regions in the coming days, including the US. Don’t expect anything major here, though. The latest firmware release for the “affordable flagship” only brings this month’s security fixes. That’s unless the company has other plans when it comes to the May update for the phone in the rest of the world. In that case, we will make sure to let you know.
Meanwhile, the May SMR is now rolling out to the Galaxy S10 Lite in Latin America. A screenshot shared on Twitter confirms the release in Brazil, though it may also be available in other countries in the region. The new firmware build number for the phone is G770FXXS7HWE1. The device doesn’t appear to be getting anything apart from the latest vulnerability patches. A wider rollout should be just around the corner.
The Galaxy M52 5G is also getting Samsung’s May 2023 security update
The Galaxy M52 5G is another Samsung smartphone that has just started receiving the May security update. The company has begun the rollout in Latin America. The update appears to be widely available in the region, including in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, and Peru. Once again, there are no additional goodies to look forward to here. You can check out the official changelog here. The new firmware version is M526BXXS2CWE3.
The latest security update will reach more eligible Galaxy smartphones and tablets in the coming days. Samsung has already revealed that the May SMR patches more than 70 vulnerabilities, including at least six critical flaws. We will let you know when the company seeds these patches to other Galaxy devices. Meanwhile, you can manually check for new updates from your phone’s Settings app.
Ever since Elon Musk bought Twitter last year, the platform has gone through a slew of changes aimed at generating more revenue and bringing new users to the platform. Now, in an effort to make the platform the go-to destination for job seekers, Twitter has reportedly acquired Laskie, a two-year-old startup that specializes in matching candidates with tech jobs.
This decision comes just weeks before Elon steps down as the CEO of Twitter, and while the specifics of the deal remain unknown, experts speculate that the Laskie acquisition could be a game-changer for Twitter as the platform can leverage its massive user base to facilitate connections between job seekers and employers in ways never seen before.
What’s different about Laskie?
Founded in 2021 by Chris Bakke, Laskie quickly gained recognition for its user-centric approach, as it positioned itself as a dating app-like platform for connecting job seekers and employers.
On its now-deleted “About” page, Laskie stated its aim to match job seekers with opportunities that truly aligned with their interests and skills while also attracting genuinely interested companies. As a result, over 80% of the users found success with the jobs offered through the platform. However, following the acquisition news, Laskie’s website has mysteriously vanished, leaving its users and followers confused.
While Twitter’s decision to acquire Laskie may be surprising given its declining user base in the US due to Musk’s erratic changes, it aligns with the company’s goals to become “X, the everything app,” similar to popular apps like WeChat and Kakao.
Currently, LinkedIn is the clear leader in the recruitment space, but with Twitter’s substantial engagement rate, the platform can not only help job seekers discover new opportunities that might have eluded them through traditional channels but also enable companies to target a wide pool of talent from around the world.
WhatsApp now empowers users to protect specific chats from others holding their devices. The new Chat Lock feature enables WhatsApp users to lock select chats with passwords or biometric authentication to prevent unwarranted exposure.
WhatsApp Rolls Out Chat Lock
According to a recent post from Meta, the tech giant has finally addressed a common privacy issue for WhatsApp users. Previously, anyone accessing WhatsApp messenger on the target device could read and access all chats of the target user.
However, with the latest update, WhatsApp users can now avail themselves of the “Chat Lock” privacy option. Enabling this feature allows them to select and lock their preferred chats with their fingerprint or the device’s password. Once done, the locked chats and all the related content will move to a protected folder. Moreover, such chats won’t appear in notifications, ensuring complete privacy.
Meta believes this feature will help users who share their WhatsApp devices and/or numbers with other users. If they don’t want others to access a certain chat or who fear accidental exposure of a chat to someone else holding their device, users can simply lock such chats to eliminate such risks.
The Chat Lock feature now works via biometric or device password authentication. But Meta has pledged to roll out more upgrades to this setting over the next few months. These upgrades include setting up custom passwords (which will benefit users who share devices, making multiple users know the device password) and locks for companion devices.
The new setting will automatically arrive to WhatsApp users globally. Nonetheless, WhatsApp users must update their devices with the latest app versions, particularly if they have disabled automatic updates.
Is Chat Lock Secure Enough?
While Chat Lock sounds impressive, it remains unclear if this feature will protect locked chats from spyware and malware intrusions. Spying on WhatsApp has long been a menace, with numerous exploits available publicly to target WhatsApp chats.
Perhaps, Meta might also consider working on such improvements that prevent third-party app access to WhatsApp to prevent intrusions.
The Google Pixel 7a is a fantastic phone for just $449, and already has a ton of great features that are included. But with a few accessories, you can get even more out of your phone. So here, we are going to go over all of the best accessories that you can pick up for the Pixel 7a.
Best Google Pixel 7a Accessories
As always, this list has a variety of different accessories that you might want to get for your Pixel 7a. From wireless chargers, to smartwatches, to chargers, and even some battery packs. So let’s get started.
The new Anker 735 charger is a really impressive charger to pick up, since it has two USB-C PD ports and a USB-A port available for charging.
Both of the USB-C ports can do up to 65W, while the USB-A port can do 22.5W. However, if you are using multiple ports, the first USB-C port will do up to 40W and the second will do up to 12W. This is a great charger to use if you are traveling or need to charge multiple things.
The Google Pixel Watch is the company’s first smartwatch, and while it works with all Android devices, it will work even better with the Pixel 7a. It does come in WiFi and LTE variants, with the LTE variant costing $50 more. It uses eSIM and can be added to any carrier.
The Pixel Watch is running on Wear OS 3.5, with Fitbit integration. Remember that Google owns Fitbit, so that should come as no surprise. It’s a fairly small watch, coming in at 41mm. And you can check out our full review here.
The PopGrip from PopSockets is a really good accessory for really any phone. And the reason why this is the best PopSocket you can buy right now is because it does allow you to swap out the top. So if you want to change the color, you can do so.
PopGrip is really great because it allows you to hold onto your phone much easier, especially for larger phones, but even works great on smaller ones like the OnePlus 10 Pro. But it also doubles as a sort of kickstand for your smartphone. Allowing you to use it on long flights to watch a movie or two, without having to hold your phone the whole time. It’s a really genius invention, and it’s something that everyone should have.
You can attach the PopGrip to your case, so that it doesn’t ruin your phone too.
The Google Pixel Stand 2 is an expensive wireless charger, a lot like other first-party accessories. But where it has a leg up over the competition is in the charging speed. The Pixel Stand 2 is the only one that can charge your Pixel at the full 23W.
It also has a few other tricks up its sleeve. Since it does sit at an angle, it’s great for having a Google Meet or Zoom meeting while it’s charging. It can also give you quick access to media controls and smart home controls right there on the screen, while it is charging. Nothing major, but definitely useful.
RAVPower Portable Charger 20000mAh PD 3.0 Power Bank
The RAVPower Portable Charger 20000mAh PD 3.0 Power Bank is a really great option for a battery pack for the OnePlus 10 Pro. It offers fast charging, though you likely won’t need that for the OnePlus 10 Pro, since it does offer some really good battery life.
It also uses two USB-A ports with fast charging, so you can charge other devices at the same time. RAVPower also includes two more USB-C ports for input, which is really nice, when you need to charge this battery up pretty quickly.
It’s always a good idea to get another USB-C cable or two, to have around your home. While you probably don’t need one at your office right now, since the majority of us are not actually going to work. It is good to have one in the car and other places around your home.
This is a USB-C to USB-C cable that is capable of USB-C PD speeds, so it can charge your phone pretty quickly too. That’s important in this day and age of fast charging.
The Pixel Buds Pro are the best pair of earbuds to go along with your new Google Pixel 7a. These are also $199, so they are pretty pricey, but worth the price.
Pixel Buds Pro sport about 11 hours of continuous battery life, which is quite impressive, to say the least. Additionally, you can get about 31 hours of usage with the included charging case. Google has also added active noise cancellation and transparency mode here.
The Fitbit Charge 5 is one of Fitbit’s most popular fitness trackers, and it’s better than ever. The Charge 5 has all of the great features that you come to expect from Fitbit. That includes tracking your workouts, your activity, sleep, calories burned and so much more. The battery life here can also last a solid 5-7 days, which is really nice to see. And much better than most smartwatches.
The Anker PowerPort Atom PD 1 is the perfect USB-C PD charger to use with the Pixel 7a. While it does still come with one in the box, it never hurts to have a spare somewhere in your home or at work.
This is a 30W charger – and yes, the Pixel 7a does top out at 20W, but this will work on other devices too. It also uses Gallium Nitride or GaN, which makes this charger a lot smaller than you’re probably used too. Which is why we think it is the best option. Since you can easily toss this into your bag when you’re traveling – if we are ever able to do that again.
This is one of the most interesting looking car mounts out there, and it really doesn’t even look like a car mount.
The Spigen Kuel S40 stealth Car Mount is a minimalist car mount for those that don’t want to use magnets. This is a car mount that folds down when it is not in use. Just open it up and stick your phone in the mount, in landscape mode and you are good to go. It’s a good option, because it is fairly small when it is not in use, so that it is not blocking your view of the road all that much.
Spigen offers the Kuel S40 Stealth car mount in only one color. Which is black and blue, so it can blend in with your car a bit more.
The Google Pixel 7a is only able to charge at up to 20W, so the Google USB-C charger is also a great option to pick up. It will charge other things as well. Though, we’d still recommend one of the other chargers on this list, since you will be able to charge more stuff, and at faster speeds (for other devices).
Large companies like Meta, Google, and Microsoft just cannot stay out of trouble with the government. Google has just settled a lawsuit against it which claims that the company profited from using location tracking without its users’ consent. The company had to Shell out almost 40 million dollars to settle, according to Android Authority.
Asking large companies whose revenue depends largely on ads to stay out of trouble with the government is like asking a fish to walk on land. These companies do whatever they can to soak up as much revenue as possible. In the case of Google, that means a lot. In 2021, ad revenue made up about 80% of the company’s yearly income.
Google settled a large location tracking lawsuit
Security and privacy are some of the biggest topics in tech today. And, no one ever likes knowing that their location is being tracked by mega-corporations. This is what prompted Washington State to sue Google over its use of its users’ location data.
The state claims that Google tricked its users into thinking that they have control over their location data. Allegedly, even when users had their location permission turned off, Google was still able to access the location data. This means that the company was still able to profit from its users’ location even with a disabled.
That was a huge no-no for Washington State, and the State dragged Google into court. We’re not sure how much Washington State wanted, but Google did settle for $39.9 million. That’s, obviously, not much for the trillion-dollar company.
That’s not the only lawsuit that Google went through over this matter. Last year, Arizona State brought a lawsuit against Google for much the same thing only, Google settled for more than twice as much as the Washington lawsuit. The company had to Fork over $85 million.
Not only did Google have to pay, but the company will be required to be more transparent with how it’s using users’ data. So, Google will need to explain how it’s using your location data on its website. This could be a major win for users all around the world.
