Google Pixel Watch: Everything You Need To Know

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Google Pixel Watch: Everything You Need To Know
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The Google Pixel Watch is official. Like, officially official. Yes Google showed it off at Google I/O back in May. But that was merely a teaser. This morning Google officially announced the Pixel Watch at its Fall Pixel event. And while we still have to put in some time with it for a proper review, we now know all there is (basically) to know about the ‘Google Pixel Watch.’

Whether you’re looking to move away from Apple or just another Wear OS option, Google is giving you another choice. And as a consumer that’s a good thing. Especially if you like the smooth domed glass design Google is offering. It’s also potentially the best smartwatch option for Pixel owners. Even more so for those looking to upgrade to the Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro.

So let’s break down the Google Pixel Watch and all its nitty gritty details. Or at the very least, the most important parts of the device that you may be wondering about.

What is the Google Pixel Watch?

Pixel Watch 8

It’s Google’s first actual smartwatch. It was designed in-house and like the company’s Pixel phones, the Pixel Watch is meant to be the flagship device. It’s the posterchild for Wear OS and is a showcase of how seamless, feature-rich, stylish, and functional Google wants the platform to be.

The watch has actually been rumored for years but nothing of substance ever came up. That is not until earlier this year when Google teased it. Now Pixel fans have something tangible they can wrap around their wrists. As soon as it ships, of course. Speaking of shipping…

When does the Google Pixel Watch launch?

Technically, it launches today if you want to think about it like that. But in reality it launches later this month, officially on October 13. You can pre-order the watch starting today and as it stands it shows that deliveries will be made between October 14 and October 19. Although that all depends on the color you choose. Some seem to be shipping out earlier than others. We would say don’t let that sway your decision. But we get it if it does. When you’re excited about a product you tend to want it as soon as possible.

Update: November 9, 2022

The Google Pixel Watch officially launched on October 13, 2022.

How much does the Google Pixel Watch cost?

This will depend on which you model you buy. There are two available models of the watch. A Bluetooth/Wi-Fi-only model, and one that will connect through Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or LTE. The Bluetooth/Wi-Fi model retails for $349.99, and the LTE model retails for $399.99. The color you choose has no impact on the cost. Keep in mind though that if you go with the LTE model, you might as well consider the additional cost of adding an LTE data plan to it. Which will be a recurring monthly fee you need to pay for as long as you want to use the LTE feature.

You can buy it directly from Google or from third-party retailers like Amazon and Best Buy.

Where will it be available?

For starters it will be available in 9 different counties. This includes the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Taiwan, and the UK. Google may launch the watch in other regions in the future, but it doesn’t confirm this. As for what stores or retailers you can buy it at, in the US you can grab the watch directly from Google, or from retailers like Amazon and Best Buy as we’ve linked above. It will probably be available from carriers as well in the LTE model.

Outside of the US, availability may vary and you’ll need to check with your local retailers.

What are the available colors?

Google Pixel Watch official image 4

Google will offer the Pixel Watch in three colors. Matte Black, Polished Silver, and Champagne Gold. And then the bands will come in a multitude of colors and styles, made from various materials. The band that comes with the watch is called the Active Band. This is essentially the Infinity Band that comes with the Fitbit Sense and Fitbit Sense 2. It has infinity-shaped loops and is made from a soft-touch silicone/rubber material. It’ll be available in Hazel with the Champagne Gold case, Obsidian with the Matte Black case, and either Chalk or Charcoal with the Polished Silver case.

You can also pick it up in Lemongrass as a standalone band option.

Additional band styles, you say?

Google Pixel Watch Band Colors Styles Materials

Yep. Google has actually designed and is releasing a handful of different band options for Pixel Watch owners. The one big downside is that you can’t use the Pixel Watch with third-party bands or straps. Due to the Pixel Watch’s unique twist and click locking mechanism for the bands. This means you’ll have to buy the bands from Google. At least for now, unless Google ends up working with partners to allow officially licensed bands for the watch. Though we don’t see that happening unless the watch is popular enough and other brands want to make accessories for it.

As for the official Google options, right now there’s the Active Band, a Stretch Band, a Woven Band, a Crafted Leather Band, and a Two-Tone Leather Band. As for colors, you can find them listed below.

Google Pixel Watch Band colors

  • Active Band – Charcoal, Chalk, Obsidian, Lemongrass, Hazel (Price: $49.99)
  • Stretch Band – Linen, Rose, Obsidian (Price: $59.99)
  • Woven Band – Lemongrass, Coral, Ivy (Price: $59.99)
  • Crafted Leather Band – Obsidian, Ivy (Price: $79.99)
  • Two-Tone Leather Band – Linen, Charcoal, Chalk (Price: $79.99)
  • Metal Mesh Band – Matte Black, Polished Silver, Champagne Gold (Price: $129.99)
  • Metal Links Band – Matte Black, Brushed Silver (Price: $199.99)

That’s all of the officially available Pixel Watch bands for now. But it is worth mentioning that Google will offer both a metal link band and a metal mesh band at some point next year. They’re expensive though, so be prepared to spend a lot. They aren’t available to purchase yet, but Google does show them off in an official photo and they were shown off during today’s event.

What are the biggest features?

There are two big feature categories we’ll split things up into. Help features, and Health features. The help features include everything you’ve come to know and love from Google. Including Google Assistant, Maps, Calendar, Wallet and more. The watch also has an Emergency SOS for fall detection coming in 2023.

The Health features are everything that revolves around your health and fitness. And it’s all handled by Fitbit. The big features on the health side of things include Fitbit’s famous Active Zone Minutes, an ECG app for AFib detection, Sleep Score and Sleep Stages, Mindfulness Sessions and a whole lot more. In fact there’s a good bet that a lot of the features available on the Sense 2, are available on the Pixel Watch also.

Google does own Fitbit now after all. Users will also get third-party app support from Adidas, MyFitnessPal, Calm, Strava, Spotify and others. And when you buy a Pixel Watch from Google you get 3 months free of YouTube Premium, and 6 months free of Fitbit Premium.

How big is the watch?

Google Pixel Watch AM AH 12

It’s not a massive chunky boi if that’s what you’re wondering. It measures 41mm in diameter which is actually kind of small. Though certainly not the smallest smartwatch on the market. It’s also 12.3mm in height, and without the band it weighs 36g. Obviously, the band you choose will change the weight. And each band is going to alter that slightly based on the material.

For example, the leather and metal bands probably weigh the most. So with those on the watch likely weighs more than when you use the Active Band, Stretch Band, or Woven Band.

How long is the battery life?

Google Pixel Watch AM AH 18

Ah yes, the point of contention for literally every smartwatch on the planet. How long is going to last me? It’s an important question to ask. Because you definitely need to know if you’re going to have to charge the watch up every night. Or in the morning if it charges quickly enough to be done before you need to jet off to work or school. Or anywhere else you need to go during the day when you finally leave the house.

Unfortunately, the Pixel Watch battery life isn’t great. Google’s official statement and spec sheet lists that it lasts up to 24 hours on a single charge. Which, is quite honestly very disappointing. Especially when you consider the competition. The Galaxy Watch 5 lasts for up to 50 hours on a single charge. And the Pro model boosts that up to a surprisingly long 80 hours. Though we never experienced times that long ourselves.

As for charging speeds, Google says the Pixel Watch can charge up to 50% in just 30 minutes. A full 100% will take about 80 minutes. Or if you don’t need quite the full amount, 80% will take about 55 minutes. All things considered, the charge times are quick enough. So even if the battery only lasts a day on a single charge, if you’re not averse to either brining your watch charger with you or buying a second one for travel, you can easily give it some juice when needed.

What are the specs?

We did a full breakdown post of all the Google Pixel Watch specs and you can find that here. But the key highlights are as follows. It has a 292mAh battery, 32GB of storage, 2GB of RAM, and it runs on the Exynos 9110 System On Chip with a Cortex M33 co-processor. It also has an altimeter, a compass, an optical heart rate sensor, a blood oxygen sensor, a multi-purpose electrical sensor, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and an ambient light sensor. It also comes running on Wear OS 3.5.

Is it waterproof?

It has a 5ATM rating, so, no. It’s not waterproof. It’s water-resistant. It can withstand being in up to 50 meters of water. Though not for more than 24 hours. So you can probably take it swimming, it’ll be fine in the rain, and it should hold up nicely to sweat. If you drop it in a shallow pool, it should be ok there too. But Google does recommend keeping it away from soapy water or other liquids. It also states that the watch shouldn’t be used during high-speed or high-impact water sports.

What about scratches?

The Pixel Watch comes with custom 3D Corning Gorilla Glass. Which is scratch-resistant. So it should be just fine if you stick it in a pocket with things like keys, coins, or accidentally bump it against stuff from time to time. That being said there’s no guarantee that continuously bumping it against walls or other hard surfaces won’t damage the display. So treat it like you would any other piece of electronic equipment you own. With care.

This isn’t the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro or the Apple Watch Ultra. Or any of the numerous watches from Garmin. All of which are built to withstand harsher conditions.

How long will Google support the Pixel Watch with updates?

Google Pixel Watch AM AH 06

At least three years. Google has officially guaranteed that the Pixel Watch will receive software support for three years. That means you can expect it to go from Wear OS 3.5 to how ever many versions Google can stuff into a three-year time frame. After that, there’s no more guarantees that the watch will be updated with newer versions of the OS. Or that it will receive any updates at all after that point.

Can you customize the watch face?

Of course. This is a Wear OS watch after all. Out of the box though, it will have 19 customizable watch face options. And it supports Google Photos for watch faces too. And don’t forget, you could just install Facer on it. Which has endless options for you.

Will it support the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro only?

Nope. It will support those phones, and Google does highlight that it will “work seamlessly with the Pixel portfolio.” But it will also work with any Android phone that runs on Android 8.0 or later. That should be most phones by now. Regardless of manufacturer. That being said, it wouldn’t be surprising if it worked best with a Pixel phone. Just as the Galaxy watches work best with Samsung Galaxy phones.

Google Pixel Watch


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Windows 11: Everything You Need To Know

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Windows 11: Everything You Need To Know
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Microsoft’s next version of Windows, Windows 11, is fast approaching, and the company has already put out a ton of detail about the latest version of its OS. As Windows is one of the most-used operating systems for personal computers around the globe, there’s a lot of reasons to brush up on what’s coming. From new features to security, and even a refreshed design, Windows 11 is poised to be a notable upgrade.

While it won’t look entirely different from Windows 10, it will look different enough to be eye catching. And if you’re a Windows user yourself, it’s important to know what to expect. That’s why we’ve put together this handy guide. Which details all the notable and important aspects of the operating system changes on the horizon.

If you want to learn more about Windows 11, from price to features to release date, check out the guide below.

When is Windows 11 releasing?

Windows 11 is releasing in 2021. More specifically, Microsoft has now announced that the Windows 11 software upgrade will begin rolling out on October 5. The update will start with new eligible Windows 10 PCs, and then continue on from there. Microsoft says PCs shipping with Windows 11 will also begin hitting the market on the same day.

So instead of upgrading, you could buy a Windows 11 PC if you wanted to. The update is also not hitting all devices at the same time. Instead, Microsoft is handling this as a phased and measured rollout. Though it does expect all eligible PCs to receive the update by mid-2022.

Update: October 5, 2021

As of October 4, Microsoft released Windows 11 one day earlier than planned. Some users have already received the upgrade to the new software, while others will be getting access to it as part of a phased rollout,  continuing into 2022. Consumers should also start seeing laptops and prebuilt PCs with Windows 11 pre-installed hitting the market.

For example, Razer just announced the new Razer Book and Razer Blade 15 Advanced now come with Windows 11 out of the box.

Update: May 12, 2022

Microsoft has now begun selling physical USB key copies of Windows 11 through Amazon, Best Buy, and other retailers.

Windows 11 Home

Windows 11 Pro

How much will the Windows 11 upgrade cost?

For everyone, the upgrade will be free. That is if you’re upgrading from Windows 10. If you’re on an older version of Windows, then you may have to buy Windows 10 to get the free upgrade to Windows 11.

If you’re already on Windows 10, then the upgrade won’t cost you anything, and your PC will need to meet the requirements for the software. Microsoft has a PC Health Check app that you can use to see if your machine is compatible. So you’ll want to do that before the software comes out down the road.

Having said that, the PC Health Check app is not currently available to download. As Microsoft pulled it offline a little bit earlier this year. The company will however be putting it back up sometime before Windows 11 launches this Fall. So you should still have plenty of time to use it and see if your PC meets the requirements, before the software arrives.

What are the biggest features and changes in Windows 11?

Windows 11 promises to bring more than a few new features and changes to the table. But not all of them are going to matter to everyone. And heck, some of them people likely won’t even notice unless they’re told that they’re there. Here are some of the biggest changes that you can expect with the upgrade when Microsoft releases it.

A refreshed look

The first thing you’ll notice is of course the design changes. Since the visual component is literally the first thing you’ll see when you boot up the OS for the first time. Microsoft didn’t drastically change the design this time around. In fact a lot of things still look similar enough that you might think there weren’t any changes at all.

But there definitely are. Even if they’re more subtle. For starters, the corners of windows will now have rounded edges. Some windows and the task bar will also now have more of a frosted glass look. Similar to the Aero design from Windows Vista. So you’ll be able to see through them slightly. It won’t necessarily look like this for every single window you have opened though. And it may depend on the theme you choose.

The new design also includes a new home for the start menu. The Start button will now live in the center of the task bar (which Microsoft is now calling the Dock) and the menu will pop up just above it. This new centralized location is meant to deliver ease of use.

New, more dynamic themes

Windows 11 Themes

Themes are nothing new but the themes in Windows 11 will be more dynamic and they appear to have more of an impact on the style and overall look of your own personal Windows experience. Some of these themes will apply the Aero look mentioned above. And in addition to each one having a specific color associated with it, there will be themes for both light and dark modes.

Android apps on PC

Windows 11 Android Apps

This is definitely one of the biggest changes with Windows 11, though really only if you’re an Android user. Microsoft has confirmed that Android apps (some of them) will work on Windows 11 devices. So you’ll be able to launch Android apps on your PC and use them natively without the need for any additional software. Such as Bluestacks.

However there is one big caveat to this. Apps can be found in the Microsoft Store, but downloading them will actually happen via the Amazon App Store. So the Android apps you want to use on your PC will have to be listed in the Amazon App Store. If they’re not, then you won’t be able to use them on Windows 11 natively. In which case, a third-party software like Bluestacks would still be extremely useful.

Snap Groups

Snap groups is another cool new feature to look forward to. While you can already snap windows in Windows 10, In Windows 11 they’re getting even more usability. This is because Microsoft is making it possible to switch back and forth to different currently running apps without having to snap them to their location again.

You can move back to your snapped windows from the dock, and they’ll snap back into place as if you never left. So everything more or less happens automatically. For multitaskers, or those that just always have a lot of apps open all the time, this will be a major benefit to productivity and efficiency.

A revamped Microsoft Store with improved content curation

Windows 11 Microsoft Store

Windows 11 will introduce an improved experience with the Microsoft Store that includes better curated content. It will also now include improvements to managing purchased content like movies and TV shows, games, apps and more.

Microsoft says all apps, books, movies, games, etc. will be easier to search for because of the curated stories and collections. So finding more of what you really want to download will be easier than it’s ever been.

Get fast information through the new personalized ‘Widgets’ Feed

Windows 11 Widgets Feed

Microsoft is introducing a new information feed with Windows 11 called ‘Widgets.’ Which the company is hailing as a personalized feed that brings you more of the news you care about and less of what you don’t. Widgets will live in the dock and be accessible from there at all times.

Microsoft also designed it to be non-obtrusive. So as soon as you open it it’ll slide to the left or right of the screen so it’s out of the way. Microsoft says it “slides across the screen like a sheet of glass,” which gives it a slick and elegant design. Widgets is also powered by artificial intelligence and the “best-in-class browser performance from Microsoft Edge.” So expect it to get smarter at delivering relevant content to you while also performing rather smoothly. You can also add widgets on your own for an even more personalized feel.

Connect much more quickly with the new Chat feature

Windows 11 Chat

Microsoft has integrated a new ‘Chat’ feature right into the dock so people can more quickly access all of their most important connections. This will let you access text, chat, video calls, and voice calls with all of your personal contacts. And it’s more or less platform agnostic.

So if you’re on Windows 11 and they’re on Android, iOS, or Windows, it won’t matter as you’ll still be able to contact them.

Will Windows 11 be good for gaming?

Windows 11 Gaming

Naturally. In fact, Microsoft is confident that Windows 11 will deliver the best PC gaming experience to date. Though how that actually works in real-world scenarios with everyday users remains to be seen. On paper, things seem pretty impressive. And as someone who plays a lot of games on PC, that sounds all too enticing.

According to Microsoft, the PC gaming experience on Windows 11 will include awesome features like Direct X 12 Ultimate. Which is supposed to enhance gaming with things like support for super high frame rate. While also delivering visuals that are amazing and immersive.

Microsoft is also touting faster load times thanks to DirectStorage. So you can spend less time waiting for your games to boot up and more time actually playing and enjoying them. Of course there’s also the newly revamped Xbox Game Pass app. Which has a more streamlined design and user interface navigation system so all of your favorite games are at your fingertips. And new ones that are waiting to be discovered are never more than a click or two away.

The new app will also have better game management. So you can buy games right from this app. And also easily remove titles you no longer want to play from your library and uninstall them with ease if you need to open up some space. While you have to currently download the Xbox app on Windows 10, Windows 11 will have it baked in. So if it’s not already on your PC now, it will be once you upgrade.

Improved experience for touch and multiple methods for input

Microsoft has made some big improvements to touch support in Windows 11. Making it even easier to navigate the UI. Not to mention all of the apps or tools you might use on a daily basis.

Input methods have been improved too. Allowing you to input anything you want typed up by actually typing. Or by using voice, or touch inputs with new keyboard themes and touch typing actions, like swipe typing.

In regards to the touch experience, it will now be easier to drag and expand or drag and shrink your windows while using touch input. There are even multi-finger gestures for swiping away apps and opening Task View.

What are the minimum specs required for Windows 11?

Chances are, if you’re on a device that’s already running on Windows 10, it’ll be compatible with Windows 11. That being said, Microsoft does have a list of minimum specs that are going to be required. Which should be no surprise to anyone that’s already a Windows user, or a user of any computing platform for that matter.

For Windows 11 to work on your machine, it will need to meet the minimum required specs listed below.

  • Processor: 1GHz or faster with a minimum of 2 cores. Must also be a compatible 64-bit processor or SoC, as 32-bit processors will not be supported
  • RAM: 4GB
  • Storage: 64GB
  • System Firmware: UEFI, Secure Boot capable
  • TPM: Trusted Platform Module 2.0
  • Graphics Card: Direct X 12 or later with a WDDM 2.0 driver
  • Display: 720p, 8-bit per color channel, and a minimum of 9-inches diagonal
  • Internet Connection/Microsoft Account: You will need to be connected to the internet and have a Microsoft account for the initial setup. This means the first time you boot your PC up after the upgrade, make sure it’s connected to the internet and sign into your Microsoft account to finalize setting up your Windows 11 PC experience. You won’t need an active internet connection for future use, unless you want to use apps or tools that require the internet to function.

Where will Windows 11 be available?

Windows 11 Everything You Need To Know

Windows 11 should be available anywhere that Windows 10 is currently available. Regardless of region, if you’re already running a PC where Windows 10 is installed, then it should have an upgrade to Windows 11 at some point. Keep in mind that Windows 11 is only supposed to start being rolled out to users this holiday. Roll outs will continue into 2022. So some users may not get to upgrade until next year.

Microsoft doesn’t really give a clear explanation of how this will all work. So some regions may get the upgrade later than others.

There will be a single annual major update

Microsoft is cutting down the amount of major updates it pushes out to users each year. Starting with Windows 11, there will now be a single annual major update that rolls out. As opposed to two like Microsoft is currently pushing.

This should help the company maintain a more stable release each year for users. At least that’s likely what Microsoft is hoping. And it should work, as the development team should have more time to focus on the one major update.

Is there a Windows 11 Insider program?

As mentioned above, you can try Windows 11 out for yourself by downloading the Insider Preview build. Though again, it isn’t recommended unless you have a secondary Windows 10 PC to install it on. As you shouldn’t be installing it on your main PC just in case there are issues that impact your usage.

So in short, yes. There is an Insider Program for Windows 11 and you can participate in it if you like. You will need to register to become a Windows Insider, which is the only way to currently test Windows 11.


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Android Auto tests swapping panes in its new split-screen UI

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Android Auto tests swapping panes in its new split-screen UI
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Android Auto recently got a spiffy new Carplay-inspired layout that gave the UI separate panes for maps, music, and other tasks. This new look may now be getting another update where these dedicated panes can be switched around.

The new layout was unveiled at CES 2023 and has since then rolled out to the majority of Android Auto users in the United States. This improved split-screen user interface has been received by users with positive feedback as it allows you to juggle media playback and navigation duties without having to switch screens. When you divide the screen in this manner, it is much simpler to keep track of both what is being played and where you are going at the same time.
In the most recent beta release, a new configuration option has been added that gives users the ability to shift the media pane in the split-screen layout to be positioned either closer to the driver or closer to the passenger, depending on the user’s preference. The new option was spotted by a user who promptly shared the information on Reddit. The choice is available on the display of the car itself as well as in the settings for Android Auto on your phone.
Gianfcal (Reddit) - Android Auto tests swapping panes in its new split-screen UI

Gianfcal (Reddit)

Unfortunately, installing the beta version of Android Auto is almost impossible at this point unless you got in on the beta at the right time. Right now, all spots are taken and no new signups are being accepted. Furthermore, as reported by Android Police, installing an APK of the beta version doesn’t necessarily enable this feature for you, as it seems that it’s controlled service-side.

This hopefully means that the feature will be properly tested and will eventually make it to the production version of Android Auto for all of us to enjoy. I would definitely appreciate having the choice of which panel is closest to me when reaching out to control or view my Android Auto screen.


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Excellent hardware held back by software

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Excellent hardware held back by software
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Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold lineup doesn’t really have many competition out there. There are many great foldable phones in the market, but the vast majority of them are limited to China. That’s why I’m always excited when an interesting foldable device appears in global markets, a device like the HONOR Magic Vs. I got the chance to check out the Chinese variant of the HONOR Magic Vs a while back, for a couple of days. HONOR did promise that the device will launch globally, and I was waiting to use it. HONOR did send it out early. I’ve been using the global HONOR Magic Vs unit for a while now, and below you can check out my review.

This device does feel different compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 4, even though it comes sporting a similar form factor. Both phones are quite large, and both are book-style foldables which lean towards a portrait orientation. That being said, there are quite a few differences between them, and the HONOR Magic Vs does have some advantages. Let’s see what the phone has to offer.

Table of contents

HONOR Magic Vs Review: Hardware / Design

The HONOR Magic Vs has a similar profile to Samsung’s handset. It’s quite tall, and yet quite narrow for its display size, when folded. It is 72.6mm wide, and it weighs 261 or 267 grams, depending on whether we’re talking about the glass model, or a vegan leather variant. The phone actually feels really nice in the hand, better than most other foldables of its size. It is only 12.9mm thick when folded, and only the Xiaomi MIX Fold 2 beats it in that regard. That phone is not available globally, though. When unfolded, it’s only 6.1mm thick. This basically feels like a large phone with a case on it, and it’s a foldable, which is great.

It has a 4-component hinge which should be extremely durable

AH HONOR Magic Vs global KL image 1045

The phone feels like it’s a quality product, but quite frankly I’m not a fan of its folding mechanism, even though HONOR bets on durability. HONOR did wonders here with the hinge, it utilizes a 4-component hinge design, down from 92 components. Thanks to this, there are way less moving parts on the inside, and the phone can be folded flat. The thing is, the feeling when you’re folding the device is not as confident as with the OPPO Find N2, for example. When fully unfolded, the phone locks into place, basically, with confidence. The whole experience feels quite sturdy. That’s not really the case here. It actually feels closer to what I experienced on the Huawei Mate Xs 2, actually. When I unfold it, it stays in that position, but when you hold it, it feels like the phone is not really locked into place for 10-20 seconds. It has a small give when you try to move its sides forward, even with the slightest movement. It’s kind of difficult to explain, but it’s there. I experienced that on both units I used, actually. Once it does settle, it’s all good.

It feels different to use thanks to that hinge, though

Now, that doesn’t have to be a bad thing at all, that won’t damage the phone, or anything of the sort. It’s just a different implementation, and it feels different. I prefer what OPPO delivered, but this works really well too, so I can’t really complain. Plus this hinge seems to have less chances of breaking, at least on paper, so… there you go. And yes, you can fold the HONOR Magic Vs honor to certain angles, you’re not getting just folded and unfolded state here. You can prop it up to take a picture or something like that, no problem. It works well. I’ll talk about the crease in the display section.

Overall, it’s a nicely-designed phone

AH HONOR Magic Vs global KL image 1036

Overall, I enjoyed using the phone. When folded, it felt much better to me than the Galaxy Z Fold 4. It folds flat, and it’s quite noticeably thinner than Samsung’s offering, which is a huge plus in my book. Other than the folding mechanism I talked about, I really don’t have any complaints on this design. Everything worked well, and I had a feeling like I’m using a premium device. Design-wise, it’s definitely a nice contrast to the Galaxy Z Fold 4, it’s a shame it doesn’t offer water resistance, though.

A really nice, thin, soft-touch case is included

The HONOR Magic Vs does include a case in the box, and a really good, minimal one. This seems to be a plastic case, but with a soft feeling. It’s difficult to explain, it actually almost feels like soft vegan leather. It’s very thin, and it attaches to the back of the phone. There is a stick pad on the inside as well, for added protection. This is one of the best cases I’ve seen for foldables thus far. It’s quite grippy, and extremely thin, so it doesn’t add any bulk to the device. Foldable phones are bulky as it is, so the least they need is added bulk. You’ll be able to confidently place the phone on a table thanks to this case.

HONOR Magic Vs Review: Display

The HONOR Magic Vs has a 7.9-inch 2272 x 1984 Foldable OLED display. This panel can project up to 1 billion colors, supports HDR10+ content, and it has a 90Hz refresh rate. It gets up to 800 nits of peak brightness. The cover display, on the other hand, measures 6.45 inches, and it’s a 2560 x 1080 OLED panel. It also can project up to 1 billion colors, and supports HDR10+ content. This panel, however, has a 120Hz refresh rate. This display gets up to 1,200 nits of peak brightness.

Both displays are nice, though the main one could be brighter

AH HONOR Magic Vs global KL image 1028

During my usage, I didn’t really miss 120Hz refresh rate on the main panel. Its 90Hz refresh rate is plenty for everything to feel smooth, and the vast majority of people won’t really notice the difference. I’m just glad HONOR avoided using a 60Hz panel. The display feels good to use, it doesn’t feel plasticky like on some other foldables. The colors are good, and the display is vivid, but I’ve seen better foldable panels thus far. The main thing that managed to irk me is the brightness. Its 800 nits peak brightness wasn’t exactly enough outdoors, and sunny days started early in my region, so it’s definitely something I’ve noticed. Another thing that I noticed is that the crease isn’t exactly as minimal as on the OPPO Find N2. Truth be said, I didn’t expect it to be, but it is less noticeable than on the Galaxy Z Fold 4, which is a good thing.

The cover panel is really good, and wide enough

AH HONOR Magic Vs global KL image 1040

The phone’s second panel is really good, actually. It’s very responsive, and its high refresh rate does improve the overall feel. This panel does get a bit brighter at 1,200 nits, and that is a difference you do notice when you’re using the phone outdoors, especially on sunny days. This display is curved on the right side for the ease of use, as is one many other foldable phones that feature this style. The viewing angles on this panel are also really good. I don’t have any major complaints here, I enjoyed using this display.

HONOR Magic Vs Review: Performance

The HONOR Magic Vs is fueled by the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC. That is no longer Qualcomm’s flagship SoC, but it’s not far behind. It’s an excellent SoC, and paired with 12GB of RAM, and HONOR’s software, it performs great. HONOR did a really good job polishing out this software, when it comes to performance. It’s a bit different to what you’re used to, but we’ll talk more about that in the software section.

The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 keeps the performance at a high level

The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is an outstanding SoC, and I really had no issues with performance here. The device was quite snappy regardless of what I was doing. Even when I was switching between the main and cover display frequently, it managed to keep up without a problem. You’ll also find out that running apps on this phone feels great. The phone’s performance only emphasizes that fact. HONOR did include some gaming-related features here too, which only helps with the experience. I was able to run basically anything without a hiccup. Even Genshin Impact ran really well, and that is the game that I use to make phones lag, basically. There’s really nothing to worry about here.

HONOR Magic Vs Review: Battery

HONOR included a 5,000mAh battery pack on the inside here, and that battery will provide you with enough juice… well, at least most of you. I, personally, was able to get around 6 hours of screen-on-time with around 15-20% of battery left in the tank. Now, those are not bad results, especially if you consider that my usage was about 50:50. I cannot be sure, of course, but I was using the main display a lot. Of course, some days were stronger than others, and on some days I landed below that point. Those days were mostly when I used 5G more, instead of being connected to a WiFi network. Do note that gaming will likely decrease your battery life numbers as well. Also, your mileage will likely vary based on a number of factors.

66W charging can charge the phone in only 45 minutes

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Having said that, HONOR does include a charger in the box, and the phone supports 66W charging. Yes, you do get a 66W charger, so you can take full advantage of the charging speeds. You will charge up this phone’s 5,000mAh battery rather fast, as it will take you only 45-46 minutes to do so. At least that was the case with our unit. Wireless charging is not supported, however, so keep that in mind.

HONOR Magic Vs Review: Camera

From the hardware standpoint, the HONOR Magic Vs has a really compelling camera setup. The device includes a 50.4-megapixel main camera (IMX800 sensor), a 50-megapixel ultrawide camera (122-degree FoV), and an 8-megapixel telephoto camera (3x optical zoom). Those cameras do perform well in general, and can go head-to-head with what Samsung is offering on its foldable. They’re not on the same level as what the best camera smartphones have to offer, though.

The camera is not perfect, but it’s good enough

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In any case, let’s talk about the main camera. Most of the time the pictures looked very nice. At times, I’ve noticed, the focus is a bit soft when you’re taking indoor shots of objects. The same goes if you’re taking macro shots of objects, especially if it’s an overcast outside or something of the sort. As far as the negatives go, I’ve also noticed some oversharpening, but only in specific cases. When I was taking pictures of my cat, for example. It did not happen that often, though. In general, it handles photos well, even in low light. The consistency is not the best, though, and that’s what bothered me the most.

The ultrawide camera keeps up with the main camera when it comes to the color profile. What I didn’t like all that much is the telephoto shooter. It did a good job when the light was good, but I just wish HONOR opted for a bigger sensor here. It can be useful, though, far from it. The video recording is good, but nothing to write home about. It’s a bit janky at times, especially when there’s not plenty of light in the shot.

HONOR Magic Vs Review: Software

This phone does sound really nice thus far, doesn’t it? Well, it is nice, but it could use better software, in all honesty. Don’t get me wrong, the software works fine, aside from a tiny bug here and there, but the problem are the features. It feels like HONOR didn’t have time to implement everything it wanted to implement here. I tried asking HONOR about this, and they said that more features are coming in future updates, but I didn’t get any specifics. Also, MagicOS, which comes pre-installed here, work a bit differently than what you’re used to.

The software does feel a bit iPhone-ish

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Let me give you an example. When you swipe top-down across the display, HONOR Search will activate. Which is basically a powerful search feature baked into the phone. You can disable it, but you cannot assign anything instead of it. So, you cannot call upon the notification shade, for example, as you can on other phones. HONOR said that they’re trying to do things differently, and I can see that, but this just felt a bit iPhone-ish, and the fact there’s not alternative option is not that great. HONOR may introduce something soon, though, who knows.

The app drawer is not here, but it’s coming soon

Also, MagicOS, by default, doesn’t give you an app drawer. You can usually change that via the settings, but this phone doesn’t offer that option. I have confirmed with HONOR that the feature will be rolling out very soon, so that won’t be a problem for much longer. At the moment, you’re stuck with all your apps across various home screens, without the ability to alphabetize them. That may change by the time the phone ends up in your hands, though.

Some features are missing, but they’ll hopefully be added

There are some other issues I’ve spotted. For example, you cannot swap the two apps if you’re running them side-by-side. HONOR also decided not to take advantage of the app bar for foldables/tablets that Google offers in Android. It does have its own offering which is a bit different, though. There’s no camera shortcut for when the phone is off (double-tap the power button, or something like that), there’s also no gesture to take a selfie with the main camera. You also can’t quickly swipe from right-to-left to dismiss a notification, only the other way around, and so forth. These are just rather noticeable annoyances if you’re used to some of those features. Some are easy to ignore, others not so much. The good news is, HONOR can fix this, easily, if it deems it wants to, that is. The company obviously wants to do things differently, but some of these features are truly required, to say the least.

The UI does looks a bit dated, but some of you may like it

I’m also not a fan of the design of the UI, to be quite honest, but you may like it. There’s nothing especially wrong with it, but after using it across a number of devices, it feels a bit dated. Truth be said, HONOR usually caters its phones towards the younger generations, so this somewhat cartoonish UI may be what appeals to some people. The bottom line is, Magic OS does work really well, I’ve only had one or two bugs when I tried to launch apps, but other than that, it works fine. So as long as HONOR tweaks some things, and introduces a couple of new features, it could actually become a lot better.

The upsides

There are upsides to this software, of course. It’s immensely fluid, some of you may actually like the style, even though it feels a bit disconnected in some places. The phone comes with an excellent image and video editor built-in, the knuckle gestures are immensely useful, and so forth. There’s a lot to like here as well, but with some changes, MagicOS could be so much better. That goes for both foldable-related and non-foldable-related features.

HONOR Magic Vs Review: Should you buy it?

So, with all that being said, should you buy the HONOR Magic Vs? Well, only you can answer that question, but we can help you come to a conclusion. This is a very good phone. It does have some advantages over the Galaxy Z Fold 4, its direct competitor, but HONOR has to offer more software-wise. If you’re annoyed by the gap on the Galaxy Z Fold 4, or simply want a thinner foldable, this could be the phone for you. It offers great performance, really good battery life, solid cameras, good audio, and has good displays. There’s really not much to complain about here. Well, the price is quite high, so that may put some of you off. If that’s not a problem, however, do consider the Magic Vs.

AH HONOR Magic Vs global KL image 1071

You should buy the HONOR Magic Vs if:

  • You want a gapless foldable phone experience
  • You want fast charging in a Galaxy Z Fold 4 competitor
  • You’ve been waiting for a global book-style foldable that is of a larger format
  • You want a rather durable hinge
  • You want good battery life in a large foldable
  • You waited for a non-Samsung large format foldable
  • You need a great capacitive fingerprint scanner

You shouldn’t buy the HONOR Magic Vs if:

  • You have high software expectations
  • You need wireless charging
  • You want water protection
  • You don’t want to spend a lot on a foldable

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ESPN to Offer Comprehensive Sports Streaming Guide Across Multiple Platforms

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ESPN to Offer Comprehensive Sports Streaming Guide Across Multiple Platforms
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Streaming sports these days is, very complicated. But now, according to a new report out of CNBC, it looks like ESPN wants to change that.

Apparently, ESPN has been reaching out to other media companies that offer sports streaming, with a rather intriguing idea. It wants to use the ESPN app to show users where they can watch any sporting event currently being streamed. That would include on a competing service. Now, ESPN kind of already does this with other sports. But some networks will not appear in the app.

But, ESPN wants to take this a bit further. They want you to open the ESPN app and see what Premier League soccer matches are happening on Peacock right now. And then you could jump right into Peacock and start watching. It’s a pretty interesting idea, especially with sports being so fragmented right now.

A sports aggregator is desperately needed

The world of sports streaming is super fragmented right now. For instance, with the upcoming MLB season, you could watch games on FOX, FS1, ESPN, TBS, MLB Network or Apple TV. Some of which you might have from a streaming service like YouTube TV, and others you won’t have. Not to mention, most of your local games will be on a regional sports network (that might or might not be around by Opening Day). But being able to open up the ESPN app and see what games are on TBS today, or the MLB Network, would be a huge help.

This is a move that is desperately needed, but it makes you wonder, what could ESPN get out of this? Well, it’s pretty simple. That would mean more people are opening the ESPN app. Which leads to more ads being viewed and of course, that’s more revenue. ESPN knows that it can’t get all the sports rights, do this should still help them increase revenue.


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Best Streaming Devices – March 2023

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Best Streaming Devices – March 2023
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The best TV streaming device available do tend to change from time to time. And that’s why we are here to help you find the best device for you. Whether it’s an Android TV device, Amazon Fire TV, Roku or something else. We’ve used all of these devices in our own home, and know why they are good, or why they aren’t so good.

There’s so many great streaming devices on the market these days, though they all run on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV/Google TV, Roku or Apple TV. So here are the best streaming devices you can buy today.

Best TV Streaming Devices

This list of the best TV streaming device includes a number of different options, and different platforms. So you can choose the best TV streaming device for your needs. Whether you want to use Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Or use Android TV or Roku. There’s something here for everyone. Prices range from as low as $30, to as much as $200. So depending on your budget, we have something for everyone.

CostWhere to buy
onn. Android TV Streaming Stick$14.88Walmart
Mecool KM2 Android TV Stick$78.99Amazon
Roku Streaming Stick 4K (2021)$49Amazon
Chromecast With Google TV$49Best Buy
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max$55Amazon
Xiaomi Mi TV Stick$49Amazon
NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro (2019)$199Amazon
Roku Ultra$79Amazon
Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite$29Amazon

Best Streaming Device overall

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Roku Streaming Stick 4K (2021)

Roku Streaming Stick 4K (2021)

The Roku Streaming Stick 4K got refreshed for 2021, and it’s still the same great 4K Roku streaming device that you’ve come to know and love, thankfully.

It supports 4K HDR as well as Dolby Vision. So you’re going to get a really great experience out of this one. This time around, it has up to 2x faster WiFi, so you’re going to be able to stream 4K content a whole lot easier and faster. Say goodbye to buffering.

With The Roku Channel, there are now over 150 live streaming TV channels available to watch, among the many other apps that are available on Roku.

Roku Streaming Stick 4K (2021) – Amazon

Best streaming device to keep it simple

chromecast with google tv
Chromecast with Google TV

Chromecast with Google TV

Google unveiled the new Chromecast with Google TV last month, and it quickly became one of our favorite streaming devices. That is because it brings all the familiarity of Android TV, to a smaller dongle, with an actual remote. Which is something the Chromecast was always missing.

Chromecast with Google TV runs Android TV, but it has a new user interface on-top called Google TV. Which works extremely well. It makes it much easier to find something to watch, and the recommendations will get better over time. Additionally, it has a “Live” tab for YouTube TV (other streaming live TV services will be added in the future, apparently), which makes it easy to see what is live on TV right now. Without jumping into the app, which can be a bit slower.

The remote has all the buttons you’d want, including buttons to control your TV. Which makes the Chromecast with Google TV incredible, and worth buying.

Chromecast with Google TV – Best Buy

Best Amazon Fire TV Device

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Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max is now the best Fire TV device that you can buy. It takes everything that the Fire TV Stick 4K was already able to do, but makes it a bit faster. The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max has WiFi 6 support, allowing for faster speeds for streaming different shows and movies.

It also boosts RAM to 2GB, and now supports Dolby Vision. Giving you a really great picture on your Dolby Vision-compatible TV. Which is always nice to see.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max – Amazon

Best Android TV streaming device

xiaomi mi tv stick

Xiaomi Mi TV Stick

The Xiaomi Mi TV Stick is the best Android TV streaming device on the market right now. Though there aren’t many competitors to choose from. It doesn’t do 4K though, so if you want 4K, check out the NVIDIA SHIELD TV listed below.

This stick from Xiaomi does the absolute bare minimum for Android TV, and that’s not a bad thing. It’s keeping things simple. As mentioned, it does 1080p only, it has a gigabyte of RAM and 8GB of storage as well. Which should keep it decently speedy.

With Android TV running on the Xiaomi Mi TV Stick, you’re going to be able to watch all of your favorite movies and TV shows here. From apps like YouTube, Sling TV, Fubo TV, Disney+, Hulu, Netflix and much more.

Xiaomi Mi TV Stick – Amazon

Best streaming device for gamers

tv streaming devices
NVIDIA SHIELD TV PRO

NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro

The NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro is the best streaming device for gamers, because it is also a gaming  console and works with GeForce Now. So you can play your favorite PC games on the big screen.

This runs on Android TV, as you might have expected, and that allows it to run a bunch of great apps. Like Fubo TV, Netflix, YouTube TV, Hulu, Disney+, HBO MAX and much more. There are hundreds of thousands of games available on the NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro.

Of course, with it running on Android TV, you also get the Google Assistant here. So you can control your smart home products from your TV, find something to watch and much more.

NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro – Amazon

Best Roku streaming device

tv streaming devices
Roku Ultra

Roku Ultra

The Roku Ultra is the best Roku streaming devices without being the overall best. It offers some really cool features, but it’s more of a set-top box, instead of a streaming stick. It does do 4K HDR, and even HDR10. Giving you some really great looking content on your 4K HDR TV.

It does also include a number of great apps, like Hulu, SHOWTIME ANYWHERE, STARZ, Philo, ESPN+, Disney+, Netflix, YouTube TV and much more. There are over half a million TV shows and movies available on the Roku platform. There’s also the Roku Channel, that allows you to watch all sorts of movies and TV shows which are ad-supported.

There is also support for both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. So you can use whichever one you want with the Roku Ultra. On top of that, it also has Google Cast, allowing you to Cast your favorite content to your TV with ease. Which is a really popular feature.

Roku Ultra – Amazon

Best budget Amazon Fire TV device

tv streaming devices
Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite

Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite

The Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite is not only the cheapest Fire TV device on this list, but the cheapest streamer period. It comes in at just $29.99 and does all of the basics. So don’t expect anything crazy from this one, like 4K HDR.

But it does support 1080p HDR, with support for HDR, HDR 10, HDR10+, HLG. It also has Dolby Audio via HDMI pass-through. It’s a good streamer to use in a pinch, especially if you’re looking for something that can get the job done without spending a fortune.

Since it runs on Fire TV, you still get access to most of your favorite apps. Including YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, ESPN+ and much more.

Fire TV Stick Lite – Amazon

Best cheap Android TV Stick

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onn. Streaming Stick

Walmart has been making a lot of its own electronics lately, a lot like Amazon does with Amazon Basics. And onn. is their own brand. Which also makes an Android TV streaming stick. This streaming stick is just $15, making it the cheapest on this list.

It supports WiFi 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks, so you’re going to get some fast speeds here. Which is needed for streaming at up to 2K resolution. Unfortunately, there’s no 4K available here, but that’s what you expect for a $15 streaming stick.

onn. Streaming Stick – Walmart


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Underground Carding Marketplace BidenCash Leaked 2 Million Credit Cards

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Underground Carding Marketplace BidenCash Leaked 2 Million Credit Cards
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BidenCash, a new entrant in the underground carding business, has announced a 1-year anniversary promotion in which it is offering the data of 2 million credit cards for free.

This leaked dataset comprises credit card information sourced from various regions globally, with a considerable proportion of the cards issued in the following locations:-

  • The United States
  • China
  • Mexico
  • India
  • Canada
  • The UK

It has come to light that the compromised data includes over 500,000 email addresses, each of which is linked to its corresponding credit card number and even the CVV code. 

To make matters worse, all this sensitive information was in plain text, making it easy for unauthorized access and potential misuse.

EHA

Types of Data Involved

There are a number of cardholder details that have been leaked, including:-

  • Full names
  • Card numbers
  • Bank details
  • Expiration dates
  • Card verification value (CVV) numbers
  • Home addresses

It is a common practice for cybercriminals to trade stolen information via the dark web. However, in the case of BidenCash, the situation is unique as the individual responsible for managing the carding site has opted to release a massive amount of sensitive data into the public domain, which could have severe repercussions.

According to the report, It’s important to highlight that the screenshot mentioned above displays a whopping 260 MB of data that has been exposed. Furthermore, this leaked information has found its way onto a renowned Russian-language hacker forum, which could lead to further illicit activities.

It has come to light that malicious individuals, commonly referred to as threat actors, resort to procuring payment cards that have passed their expiry date to acquire additional details regarding potential targets.

The compromised data in question comprised a minimum of:-

  • 740,858 credit cards
  • 811,676 debit cards
  • 293 charge cards

Debit cardholders face a comparatively greater degree of risk than credit cardholders because of varying fraud protection policies.

Records Leaked by Country

As a result of the data leaks, the following countries have the most records:-

  • UNITED STATES: 965,846
  • MEXICO: 97,665
  • CHINA: 97,003
  • UNITED KINGDOM: 86,313
  • CANADA: 36,906
  • INDIA: 36,672
  • ITALY: 23,009
  • SOUTH AFRICA: 22,798
  • AUSTRALIA: 21,361
  • BRAZIL: 19,700

Most Impacted Banks

Below is a list of the top ten most impacted banks in order of impact:-

  • CHASE BANK USA, N.A.: 118,826
  • BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.: 98,631
  • WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.: 62,650
  • CAPITAL ONE BANK (USA), NATIONAL ASSOCIATION: 50,832
  • CITIBANK N.A.: 47,851
  • BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION: 35,249
  • BBVA BANCOMER, S.A.: 28,296
  • CAPITAL ONE BANK (USA), N.A.: 27,192
  • Others: 1,696,173

The exposure of email addresses and complete personal information in the compromised data makes the affected individuals susceptible to a host of additional cyberattacks, such as:-

  • Phishing
  • Identity theft
  • Scams

Despite the expiration of their card details, the risks associated with these cards can persist for a considerable period of time.

As observed in the case of BidenCash, cybercriminals often engage in fraudulent activities by making use of illegally obtained credit cards, which they procure from online carding marketplaces. This is a common practice among malicious actors seeking to make a quick profit through illegal means.

Network Security Checklist – Download Free E-Book


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Galaxy A32 modified with 30,000mAh battery

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Galaxy A32 modified with 30,000mAh battery
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Smartphones have evolved a lot over the past few years. We now have 200MP cameras, 300w charging speeds, and 3nm processors, none of which existed a couple of years back. But amidst all this, smartphone batteries have largely remained static in terms of capacity. Even the biggest phones today hardly go beyond 5,000mAh.

However, Redditor Downtown_Cranberry44 took battery capacity to a new level with their modded Samsung Galaxy A32 5G. They have modified the phone with a ludicrous 30,000mAh battery.

The Galaxy A32 5G is a mid-range Samsung phone from 2021. The handset, which currently sells for less than $200, ships with a 5,000mAh battery out of the box. As said earlier, that’s the industry standard today, though the average may still be well below it.

Unless you seldom use it, a 5,000mAh battery will struggle to power the phone for two days without charging. The Redditor has solved the problem by giving the device six times its original battery capacity.

The modification involves replacing the internal battery with an external pack that consists of six Samsung 50E cells (5,000mAh each) wired in parallel for a total capacity of 30,000mAh.

The handset doesn’t look pretty, of course. It’s like a brick strapped on the back of the phone. The whole package weighs about a pound (over 450 grams). The original device weighs 205 grams, so it’s more than two times heavy now.

The 30,000mAh battery took seven hours to charge fully

According to the Redditor, the device doesn’t recognize the external battery pack and still shows its original capacity. It no longer reads the battery level as well, and always reports 1%.

The modified Galaxy A32 5G reportedly took seven hours to charge fully (likely externally determined a full charge). At the time of posting, they used the phone for two days. Since it doesn’t note the battery level correctly, it’s unclear how much charge is left. But the handset may last over a week before running out of power.

It’s not just the battery that they replaced, though. This modified Galaxy A32 5G also gained multiple charging ports. It supports fast charging via USB Type-C, Apple lightning, and MicroUSB ports, though it’s unclear if all ports charge the phone at the same speed.

Moreover, it supports reverse fast charging through two USB Type-A ports and a USB Type-C port. So the handset can be used as a 30,000mAh power bank as well.

That said, you shouldn’t do this. It’s a safety hazard. You may not be able to carry it around as well. The TSA doesn’t allow batteries above 27,000mAh capacity. This modification is just a fun project for experts and enthusiasts. Don’t try this at home.


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Microsoft may get EU approval for its Activision Blizzard purchase

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Microsoft may get EU approval for its Activision Blizzard purchase
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Microsoft seems to have addressed the European Union’s antitrust concerns over its purchase of video game company Activision Blizzard. Sources have told Reuters that the EU will soon approve the $69 billion acquisition. The Windows giant’s licensing offers to rivals reportedly helped it win over the European watchdog. The Union previously raised concerns that the deal could stifle competition in the market.

Microsoft reached an agreement to purchase Activision Blizzard in January last year. The acquisition, its biggest ever, would equip the Windows maker with tools and resources to take on videogaming giants Tencent, Sony, and others. Unsurprisingly, the deal faced regulatory hurdles as the company could leverage Activision Blizzard to gain an unfair advantage in the booming video gaming market.

In November, the European Commission launched a full-scale investigation into the deal. The regulators said that the purchase may “significantly reduce competition”. Microsoft could block competitors from accessing Activision Blizzard’s “high-profile and highly successful games,” including Call of Duty. Dedicated gaming devices like the Steam Deck may lose business because of this, while Windows could greatly benefit from it.

Amongst the possible solutions to alleviate these concerns was the sale of asses like Call of Duty. EU is scheduled to announce its findings and decision on the matter on April 25. However, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters that it may no longer demand an asset sale. Last month, Microsoft pledged to keep these popular games on competing platforms for at least ten years. That seemingly proved enough to win the EU’s trust.

“Our commitment to grant long-term 100 percent equal access to  Call of Duty to Sony, Steam,  NVIDIA, and others  preserves the deal’s benefits to gamers and developers and increases competition in the market,” Reuters cites a Microsoft spokesperson as saying. The EU may not release an official statement on the matter until the original schedule of April 25.

Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard purchase is also facing regulatory hurdles in other markets

Microsoft may have won over the European Commission, but its Activision Blizzard acquisition is still under scrutiny in other regions. The UK competition agency is demanding it to divest Call of Duty, while the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has mulled blocking the deal altogether citing antitrust concerns. Microsoft has until July of this year to address all of these concerns. If it fails to get a green light for the purchase by July, it will have to renegotiate or forfeit the agreement, which would incur a hefty breakup fee. We will keep you posted.


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Garmin’s latest running watches feature AMOLED displays

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Garmin’s latest running watches feature AMOLED displays
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Garmin has unveiled a fresh set of new running watches called the Forerunner 265 and the Forerunner 965, both of which feature AMOLED displays. These are Garmin’s first running watches with AMOELD displays and are designed to deliver advanced training metrics, recovery insights, and everyday health stats for runners who want assistance with training. This includes features like checking your heart rate variability and daily suggested workouts, as well as a morning report to see how well you slept.

The Garmin Forerunner 265 will come in two variations. The standard 46mm Forerunner 265 and the Forerunner 265S, which is 42mm. The Forerunner 965 meanwhile comes in only one size and sits around 47mm. You’re also looking at slightly different battery life for all three watches. The Forerunner 965 can last you up to 23 days in smartwatch mode, for example. The Forerunner 265 and 265S will last you up to 13 days and 15 days respectively. And naturally tuning it to GPS mode will reduce that down to just about a day in all three cases.

All three watches come with Garmin’s Body Battery feature to help you track and manage your body’s energy levels. This way you can decide on the best time for training or know when to rest instead. The slate of usual sport watch features are there too, such as Vo2 Max and Pulse Ox sensors, women’s health tracking, stress tracking, sleep tracking and more.

Garmin adds AMOLED display to its latest watches for even more visibility

There are a lot of features to love about both watch models, but the AMOLED displays deserve just as much attention. With the AMOLED displays on board, the watches are more visible no matter what the weather conditions are like. The displays are also full color and brighter than displays on past models. Garmin says you can also optionally keep them set to always-on, though keep in mind this will contribute to faster battery drain.

The Garmin Forerunner 265 and 265S are available today for $449.99 in multiple colorways. The Forerunner 965 is also available starting today at $599 and comes in multiple colorways as well.


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