Samsung has started rolling out the March 2024 security update for the Galaxy Z Fold 2 and Galaxy S20 in the US. The international variants of both smartphones started receiving the same update earlier this month. The Galaxy Z Fold 2’s carrier-locked and carrier-unlocked versions are getting the update. At the time of writing, only the carrier-locked models of the Galaxy S20 series are receiving the March update.
The March 2024 security OTA update fixes 45 issues
The March 2024 security update for the Galaxy Z Fold 2 and Galaxy S20 fixes as many as 45 vulnerabilities. The new firmware brings 36 fixes from Google and 9 from Samsung itself. The update is being rolled out over the air in a phased manner, so not everyone will get it right away. Users of these devices can go to Settings >> Software update >> Download and install to check for the update manually.
The Galaxy Z Fold 2’s carrier-locked and carrier-unlocked versions have the model numbers SM-F916U and SM-916U1 respectively. The firmware for the former has the build number F916USQS5KXC1, while the latter has F916U1UES5KXC1. As for the Galaxy S20 series, their carrier-locked variant’s firmware has the build number G98XUSQS8HXC1.
At the moment, the new firmware is only available for the Galaxy S20 units on US Cellular’s network. The company is expected to roll out the same update for the other networks and carrier-unlocked variants in the coming days. The upgrade also offers the usual performance and stability enhancements.
The Galaxy S23 received the March 2024 security update earlier this month
The Galaxy S23 series, Z Fold 5, Flip 5, and Tab S9 will be getting the One UI 6.1 update. The new version of One UI will offer various AI features like Circle to Search with Google and Live Translate. In addition, these devices will get Interpreter, Chat Assist, and Generative Edit.
To make it easier for users to search the items on their screens, Google is expanding the Circle to Search feature into a wider range of Pixel devices. Launched earlier this year in January, the feature will soon be available on devices such as Pixel 6a, Pixel 7a, Pixel Fold, Pixel Tablet, and even older models like Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, which are now two generations old.
Circle to Search expands to more Google phones including the older Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, and Pixel 6a
With Circle to Search now available on more Pixel gadgets, all a user needs to do is draw a circle around the object on their phone’s screen and initiate a Google search. This gesture is both simple and intuitive allowing users to avoid the tedious work of typing something out before searching. With its focus on AI integration into various products, Circle to Search enhances the user experience across Pixel lineups.
First launched in Galaxy S24 series phones’ Circle to Search has become popular for being an aspect of everyday life that slides into place. In other words, you can simply go around or pick any content such as texts or images without having to copy-paste or switch between apps just to look for it. Furthermore, Google adds text translation functionality into Circle To Search meaning that one can easily translate on-screen texts including restaurant menus.
This sudden increase in Circle to Search implementation follows the trend set by tech giants, who chase AI relentlessly. Google and Samsung have been quick to integrate their devices with AI features while Rabbit AI and Brain AI among others are thinking beyond what is next regarding AI’s impact on mobile device usage.
Apple will also participate in the AI rave with iOS 18
At the same time, it has been reported that Apple is mulling to integrate new AI-based functionalities in the iOS 18 update which signifies how AI is becoming increasingly important for future smartphone technology. As the cell phone industry changes, Google continues to use AI features like Circle to Search as a strategy for simpler user interaction as it enhances the usability of smart devices.
Xiaomi announced its ‘Ultra’ flagship not long ago, but it has plenty of competition on the market. Samsung’s ‘Ultra’ phone offering comes to mind, that’s for sure. In this article, we’ll compare those two phones, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Xiaomi 14 Ultra. These two smartphones are both excellent, but they do differ in a number of ways. If you’re in the market for a large flagship, these two are definitely worth considering.
As per usual, we’ll first list the specifications of both smartphones. Following that, we’ll compare them across a number of categories. We’ll compare their designs, displays, performance, battery life, cameras, and audio output. There is plenty to talk about, that’s for sure, so let’s get to it.
Specs
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Xiaomi 14 Ultra, respectively
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Xiaomi 14 Ultra: Design
These two smartphones do look very different. You’ll notice that straight away. The Galaxy S24 Ultra has sharp corners, a flat display, and an entirely different backplate. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra prefers rounded corners and a slightly curved display. You will notice that both smartphones have a centered display camera hole. They both also have very thin bezels around their displays.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra includes five separate circles on the back, four of which are its cameras. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra has a large camera oreo on the back, which is centered, and includes four cameras. That camera oreo does protrude on the back more than the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s separate camera islands. The Galaxy S24 Ultra also comes with a stylus, which is accessible from the bottom.
Now, both smartphones have physical buttons on the right-hand side. The Galaxy S24 Ultra has a titanium frame, while the global variant of the Xiaomi 14 Ultra has an aluminum frame. Samsung opted for a glass back, while both variants of the Xiaomi 14 Ultra that are available globally come with ‘eco leather’ on the back. In other words, that’s vegan leather. The in-hand feel is immensely different. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is also the grippier of the two thanks to the eco leather back.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra is slightly taller, noticeably wider, and slightly thinner. It is also heavier than the Xiaomi 14 Ultra. It weighs 232 grams compared to 219.8 grams of the global Xiaomi 14 Ultra variant. More variants are available in China, but we’re focusing on the global one. Both devices are IP68 certified for water and dust resistance, by the way.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Xiaomi 14 Ultra: Display
Samsung’s flagship features a 6.8-inch QHD+ (3120 x 1440) Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display. That display is flat, and it supports HDR10+ content. It also offers a dynamic refresh rate which goes from 1 to 120Hz. The theoretical peak brightness of this display is 2,600 nits. The display aspect ratio is 19.5:9, and the screen-to-body ratio is around 88%. The Gorilla Armor from Corning protects this panel.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra has a 6.73-inch QHD+ (3200 x 1440) LTPO AMOLED display. This display is slightly curved, and it supports both Dolby Vision and HDR10+ content. It has an adaptive refresh rate which goes from 1 to 120Hz. The theoretical peak brightness of the display is 3,000 nits. The display aspect ratio is 20:9, and the screen-to-body ratio is around 89%. The Xiaomi Shield Glass protects this panel.
Now, both of these displays are outstanding. Both of them are very vibrant and offer great viewing angles and deep blacks. The touch response is great on both as well. Both have high PWM dimming to protect your eyes, and both have very good display protection. They’re also very bright in all conditions. The Galaxy S24 Ultra’s panel does have one advantage, the Gorilla Armor protection. Not because it’s much stronger in terms of impact or anything like that, but because of its ability to fight reflections. It’s beyond anything that is currently offered on the market at the moment.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Xiaomi 14 Ultra: Performance
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is fueled by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy SoC. It also comes with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 flash storage. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra, on the flip side, comes with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, along with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 flash storage. In other words, they’re basically on par when it comes to performance-related specs.
You’ll be glad to hear that they both deliver in the performance department too. Both of these smartphones can handle a lot in regards to performance. They can multitask with ease, while every single regular task is very easy for them, even when you really try to push them. Browsing, taking pictures, image processing, video processing, they both do all that without a hitch. The animations are also spot-on, and there’s no lag to speak of.
The same can be said for gaming as well. Even when we pushed them really hard with Genshin Impact, both smartphones did a fantastic job. They both did get warm, but not hot nor did the performance suffer. Other games are no issue either, everything runs perfectly fine. So you should be fine with either phone when it comes to performance, at least for the time being. Their fingerprint scanners also perform really well.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Xiaomi 14 Ultra: Battery
Both smartphones include a 5,000mAh battery. The Chinese variant of the Xiaomi 14 Ultra does come with a slightly larger battery, but we’re focusing on the global model. Their displays are similar in terms of size, and they have similar SoCs too. The software is different, though, of course, and thus is the optimization that the two companies did to them. Both phones provided us with very good battery life, but the Galaxy S24 Ultra had more to offer in that regard.
Getting to around the 7.5-8-hour screen-on-time mark with the Xiaomi 14 Ultra was not a problem for us. The Galaxy S24 Ultra was able to push well beyond that, though. It also lasted considerably longer in our battery drain test, in case you’re wondering. We did use both of them on WiFi most of the time, though, and gaming was not included in those days. Your mileage may vary, of course, so keep that in mind. Both phones do offer great battery life, though.
When it comes to charging, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra simply destroys the Galaxy S24 Ultra. It supports 90W wired, 80W wireless, and 10W reverse wireless charging, while a charger is included in the box. The Galaxy S24 Ultra supports 45W wired, 15W wireless, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging, and it comes without a charger. Xiaomi’s 80W wireless charging is much faster than the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s 45W wired charging, by the way.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Xiaomi 14 Ultra: Cameras
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra features a 200-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide unit (120-degree FoV), a 10-megapixel telephoto camera (3x optical zoom), and a 50-megapixel periscope telephoto unit (5x optical zoom). The Xiaomi 14 Ultra, on the flip side, has a 50-megapixel main camera, a 50-megapixel ultrawide unit (122-degree FoV), a 50-megapixel telephoto camera (3.2x optical zoom), and a 50-megapixel periscope telephoto camera (5x optical zoom). Xiaomi’s flagship also comes with Leica lenses and expertise.
Xiaomi 14 Ultra
Both smartphones do a great job in terms of photography, but we prefered the results from the Xiaomi 14 Ultra most of the time. During the day, both smartphones do a great job. The Galaxy S24 Ultra does lean towards warmer tones, and some images do look a bit more processed, and more sharpening is noticeable. Both phones handle HDR situations really well, though very different at the same time.
When the light goes away, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra prowess comes to light. Low-light pictures from the phone are outstanding. The balance that the phone provides is top-of-the-line. The Galaxy S24 Ultra also does a fine job, but we did prefer the Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s output most of the time. The same goes for its secondary cameras, by the way. Do note that we used the Leica Vibrant option on the Xiaomi 14 Ultra most of the time. Macro shots from both smartphones looked very nice, but once again, we did prefer the Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s output in most cases. It’s hard to deny that both do a great job in terms of photography.
Audio
You will find a set of stereo speakers on both of these smartphones. They’re both more than loud enough, though the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s setup is slightly louder. Their output is great on both, and well-balanced.
Neither phone includes a 3.5mm headphone jack, though. You can always use their Type-C ports for wired audio connections, though. Alternatively, both smartphones support Bluetooth connectivity. The Galaxy S24 Ultra comes with Bluetooth 5.3, while the Xiaomi 14 Ultra offers Bluetooth 5.4 support.
Seeing the growing demand for AI across various sectors, companies are actively seeking to hire individuals with expertise in the field. This trend extends to Meta, where CEO Mark Zuckerberg reportedly reached out personally via emails to AI talent at Google’s DeepMind, inviting them to join his company’s AI project.
Zuckerberg makes aggressive push to hire AI talents
The information about Zuckerberg personally writing emails to Google DeepMind employees has been provided by two individuals to The Information. While they have requested to keep their identities anonymous, they said that the email from Zuckerberg stresses the importance of AI in his company along with using other persuasive tactics to attract them. They also mentioned that at least one individual has been headhunted by Zuckerberg through his email.
This isn’t the only move Zuckerberg has taken for his AI projects. Recently, Meta announced they would be bypassing traditional interviews and directly offering jobs to qualified individuals in the AI field. Additionally, Meta has increased the salaries of its employees who were considering offers from competing AI companies.
With Meta working on various AI projects, including AI wristbands and integrating AI into Facebook, the need for AI talent is only expected to grow. Considering this, Zuckerberg is going all-out on hiring AI talent. Whether it’s writing personal emails to attract employees from competitors or offering high incentives, Zuckerberg is taking all the necessary steps to become the next big name in the AI industry.
Meta has plans to accumulate more than 340,000 NVIDIA H100 GPUs by the end of 2024. This massive investment will allow them to integrate AI into their apps (Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp).
Highlighting the importance of these chips, Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas shared on the Invest Like the Best podcast that when he tried to recruit a senior researcher from Meta, the response was, “Come back to me when you have 10,000 H100 GPUs.”
Flexing about the number of chips Meta is going to accumulate, Zuckerberg told The Verge, “We have built up the capacity to do this at a scale that may be larger than any other individual company.”
Meta isn’t the only company desperate to hire AI talent
The number of skilled AI professionals is very limited compared to the rapid growth of the AI industry. As reported by Fortune, in December 2023, an event that was considered the biggest machine learning conference eventually turned into a recruiting extravaganza.
Considering the growing need for talent, we are likely to see more approaches similar to what Zuckerberg has taken by other companies to hire AI talent.
Following the industry trends, Samsung introduced titanium to its Galaxy flagships in 2024. But closer inspection revealed that it wasn’t quite the same as the one used in the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
iPhone’s Grade 5 titanium is stronger but is also harder to work with
The iPhone 15 Pro series utilizes Grade 5 titanium as opposed to the Grade 2 material on the Galaxy S24 Ultra. A tipster PandaFlash X says “I have doubts about the rumors of the Highest-Grade Titanium in the Galaxy S25 Ultra.”
Notably, this Grade 5 titanium is an alloy of titanium which also consists of small amounts of aluminum and vanadium. Whereas the Grade 2 titanium is “all titanium.”
The difference between the two is that the Grade 5 one costs more and is also stronger. However, this extra strength also makes it harder to work with. This could be one of the reasons why Samsung may stick with the relatively soft Grade 2 titanium. It will also allow them to achieve a bit more competitive pricing for the Galaxy S25 Ultra as this year’s ultra flagship already costs $1300, $100 higher than last year’s model.
The Grade 2 titanium isn’t really inferior for a phone
And to be fair, there aren’t many downsides to using the slightly stronger Grade 2 titanium. Phones (even those with a much softer aluminum frame) generally don’t get damaged due to the frame not being strong enough. For cases where the aluminum gets ever so slightly deformed due to a corner drop and the glass brakes, the use of Grade 2 titanium should be enough, while it is also relatively easier to join with the aluminum chassis.
Speaking of the other aspects of the Galaxy S25 Ultra, its early prototypes have emerged, which showcases a relatively similar design to the Galaxy S24 Ultra. A minor improvement reflected in the prototypes is even slimmer bezels. Notably, there are three of them with uniform and non-uniform bezels. If the prototypes are authentic, it’s possible that Samsung is testing different front designs at this point.
However, you should take any rumors about the S25 series with a pinch of salt, as it’s still too early for the company itself to settle on a particular design, choice of equipment, or material. Nonetheless, we will keep you updated till the end.
Snapp Automotive, the famed infotainment system manufacturer, has unveiled its latest dynamic theming engine inside SnappOS. For those unaware, SnappOS is a modified version of Android Automotive that allows complete control of your car’s smart infotainment system. The company’s dynamic theme engine permits highly adaptable themes on the fly, thus providing users with a sleek and personalized UI instantly.
Instant UI theming feature arrives in Android Automotive ‘SnappOS’
Moreover, Snapp Automotive can use the JetPack Compose technology to develop a new UI theme for a vehicle within two weeks. It underlines how efficient and flexible Snapp’s specialized theme engine is. Changing your car’s UI theme on the go is convenient with Dynamic Themes, allowing one to switch the dashboard interface without disrupting other ongoing activities.
A seamless theme-switching capability in SnappOS enables users to alter their infotainment design directly via smartphone. This means that, unlike traditional in-car software, they do not have to reset the UI when changing themes, thus making it more user-friendly. In addition, this means that depending on various driving conditions such as parking or traveling; sometimes even while driving if required, then UI elements and tools will vary automatically based on the live status of vehicles.
Credits: Snapp Automotive
SnappOS’ versatility extends to “SnappOS Light”, a variation that focuses on giving the essential software for running Android Automotive or CarPlay. While the customizable UI isn’t present within Android Auto itself, users can get a taste of it through the phone projection software, making driving more fun.
SnappOS themes seamlessly integrate into the UI and work with Google services
Built atop Android Automotive, SnappOS aims to speed up the adoption of this platform by vehicle manufacturers and third-party hardware suppliers. Despite its personalization, SnappOS remains compatible with Google’s services to ensure smooth integration with the existing Android ecosystem.
With its groundbreaking Dynamic Theming feature, Snapp Automotive is set to disrupt the in-car experience by allowing UI customization like never before. As Android Automotive takes root in the auto industry, solutions such as SnappOS show how these technologies can contribute to better user experience and quicker uptake of advanced tech in vehicles.
At this point, most of us have experienced using contactless payments before. Major companies are pushing us away from the days of using traditional wallets, and Google is one of the major players. However, we can’t forget about Samsung. The Korean tech giant has its Samsung Wallet platform that allows people to load different cards and payment methods and access them in one place. But, what is Samsung Wallet, what can it do, and why do you need to use it?
These are some pretty important questions to ask if you are considering using this feature. There is definitely competition around with Google Wallet, so, it’s important to know why you would want to use Samsung Wallet over Google Wallet.
Samsung Wallet vs. Samsung Pay
Google went through a similar issue with its wallet applications. To date, Google has used Google Wallet, Google Pay, GPay, and Android Pay to refer to its payment platform. These were all different payment platforms, and they’ve been juggled around over the years. Well, while not to the same extent as Google, Samsung did have a little bit of confusion with its payment platforms.
Some time ago, Samsung maintained both Samsung Wallet and Samsung Pay. So, if you’re unfamiliar with Samsung’s payment platforms, then you might be a little bit confused about which is which. If you’ve used Samsung Pay in the past, then you are now on Samsung Wallet.
Samsung Pay was the contactless payment platform that the company used. Released back in 2015, it allowed people to make payments at compatible POSs (points of sale).
Samsung Wallet came into play back in 2022. The company rebranded Samsung Pay as Samsung Wallet and added additional functionality to it. So, if you’ve been out of the loop for a while, and you still think that Samsung Pay is a thing, it’s not.
Setting up Samsung Wallet
So, you just got a brand-new Galaxy phone, and you’re ready to start making some contactless payments. How do you do so? Well, it’s easy. You will most likely have Samsung Wallet pre-installed on your phone. If you don’t, then you’ll need to install it. Open the Galaxy Store app on your phone. That’s right, you will not be using the Google Play Store. This app is available exclusively on the Samsung Galaxy store. Type “Samsung Wallet” in the search bar, and download it.
After it’s installed, open the application. At that point, you’re going to want to log into your Samsung account. Sign in with whatever method you choose. If you forgot your password, you can either reset your password by tapping the Forgotten password button or getting a one-time email sent to you. Also, if you have Samsung Pass, you can use that.
Once you’re in the application, you will choose how you would like to verify your identity. It could either be through your fingerprint or through a PIN. Either way, you will still have to designate a PIN. Be sure to pick a four-digit PIN that you will remember.
Using Samsung Wallet
Once you are all signed in and ready to go, you will then want to start adding your payment methods. The home screen of the Samsung Wallet app should have a blue Add button right in the middle of the screen under a looping animation. Tap on that button, and you will go to a new screen.
Samsung Wallet, just like Google Wallet, allows you to add a plethora of different cards, payment methods, and passes to the application. You can add one of 10 cards/forms of ID. These are payment cards, membership cards, gift cards, coupons, digital keys, digital IDs, health passes, boarding passes, event tickets, and digital assets. Digital assets include cryptocurrency.
Most of the time, people are just adding their payment cards like their credit cards and debit cards. To add a payment card, tap on the payment card button on the screen. The next screen will show you different ways that you can add payment cards. You have the option to directly import your credit card information, add your PayPal account, add a card through a QR code, get a Samsung Cash Card (basically a Samsung credit card), or get started with Samsung money by So-Fi.
If you pick the top option, you will be taken to a camera interface that will allow the app to scan your credit card and add it to your wallet. If you don’t want to do that, there’s also the option to manually add the card numbers.
Once your card has been added, you will see it on your home screen when you are at a payment terminal.
Accessing your cards
So, you’ve added your cards, and you want to keep an eye on them. Well, this is as easy as going to the main menu in the Samsung Wallet app. When you open the app, you’ll be on the home screen or the Quick Access screen. At the bottom of the screen, you will see three tabs with two tabs flanking the Quick Access tab. Tap on the menu tab on the right side to get a rundown of all of the cards you’ve added.
You will see a grid on the screen with all of the types of cards that can be added. Under each item, you will see a number depicting how many of those cards you have added. If you want to check out how many cards you’re loaded onto your wallet, you have, tap on one of the card types.
This will take you to an overview showing you how many of those cards you have added. There, you’re able to tap on the cards you already have added and manage them. Also, if you tap on the “+” button at the top right of the screen, you will be able to add more.
Perks
If you go to the Perks tab right next to the quick access tab, you will see the feed of cash-back deals. This is basically Samsung rewarding you for shopping at different locations. Swipe up to scroll through the numerous cash-back deals there are. When you shop at either of those stores online, you will earn a certain percentage of money back for your order. This cashback will go right to your Samsung Wallet, and it will allow you to redeem the accrued cash back for purchases.
Why you should use Samsung Wallet
To be honest, other wallet platforms like Google Wallet also provide you with different forms of cards and cash-back deals. Also, it’s much further reaching by being available to the majority of Android devices. So, why should you use Samsung Wallet over Google Wallet?
Well, if you are into cryptocurrency, and you have either a Samsung Blockchain Wallet, Coinbase, or Gemini, then you may want to use Samsung Wallet, as you are able to add those platforms to it.
Also, if you are an avid Samsung user, and your accounts are all tied up in the Samsung ecosystem, then you may want to just stick with Samsung Wallet. This is especially true for people who have added their cards to Samsung Pay before the transition. Samsung has developed a very robust ecosystem of apps and services, so you know that you will have the company’s support.
Uninstalling Samsung Wallet
If you are all done with Samsung Wallet, then you can simply uninstall it from your phone. Find the Samsung Wallet application, hold your finger down on the icon, and wait for the little pop-up to appear. Tap on the little Uninstall button, and the software will remove it from your phone.
HMD, the new home of Nokia phones, may be planning to bring back the iconic Nokia 3210 handset. According to the gadget tipster Mukul Sharma on X, the legendary Nokia 3210 is making a comeback this year. Unlike the original offering, the new Nokia 3210 will be a 4G feature phone. In addition, some details about the first HMD-branded smartphones have been revealed.
Nokia 3210 may be making a comeback later this year
If the source is correct, the Nokia 3210 will be making a comeback after a long time. The original handset was launched 25 years ago in 1999. Nokia is said to have sold over 160 million units of the now-discontinued device. The tipster also revealed that the Nokia 3210 4G will be available in three color variants – Scuba Blue, Grunge Black, and Y2K Gold. Unfortunately, there’s no word regarding the features of the phone at the moment.
Apart from the new Nokia 3210, HMD is also planning to launch the Nokia 225 4G and 235 4G feature phones. The former will be available in Pink and Dark Blue variants, but there’s no word regarding the hues of the latter. All three feature handsets will be budget offerings. HMD is also planning to launch a Barbie-inspired flip phone later this year.
HMD could launch five self-branded smartphones and a tablet soon
Furthermore, the tipster has suggested that HMD could launch as many as five self-branded smartphones and a tablet soon. The phones will include the HMD Pulse+, Pulse Pro, Legend, Legend+, and the Legend Pro. The HMD Pulse+ will have a 6.56-inch display and will come in a Midnight Blue hue. The Pulse Pro will be offered in Twilight Purple, Black Ocea, and Glacier Green color variants. Both are said to offer 6GB of RAM and 128GB of native storage.
No details about the features or colors of the HMD Legend series handsets and the HMD T21 tablet are available. Since these devices have received certification from some regulatory agencies, we can expect them to be launched very soon. Most recently, HMD introduced the Nokia C22 and C32 budget smartphones with long-lasting batteries last month at the MWC 2024.
Ever since the Google Pixel 6, the company has released two models of its flagship phones. There’s the regular model and the Pro model. However, back in the day, Google used to have an XL model of its phones. Well, it appears that the Pixel 9 will have an XL model along with a regular and Pro model.
Right now, information about these phones is still trickling in, so there are plenty of details yet to come. This means that you should definitely take this news cautiously. Between now and October, when we expect these phones to launch, anything could change.
We could see a Pixel 9 Pro XL this year
Back in January, we got a leak of what we thought were the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro. However, according to the latest reports, that’s not quite the case. What we were actually looking at were the Pixel 9 Pro and what could be the Pixel 9 Pro XL, allegedly. This bit of news is thrown us for a loop. Thanks to 91 mobiles, we have some leak specs and details for the vanilla Google Pixel 9. If all of this is true, then Google could very well launch three different devices in October under the Pixel 9 line.
First, the Pixel 9 specs
We are still getting information about these phones, but we were able to get some pretty in-depth information about the smallest of the trio. According to leaked specs, this phone will have a 6.03-inch display, which is relatively small. The dimensions could be 152.8 x 71.9 x 8.5mm, and 12mm including the camera bump.
We’re pretty sure that it’s going to maintain the 1080p+ resolution and similar technology to its bigger siblings. We will just have to see.
Moving on to the internals, we don’t have too much information about what will be powering this phone. However, according to the report, the Pixel 9 will most likely sport the Google Tensor G4 chipset. Along with that, you expect Qi2 wireless charging that can grant it up to 15 watts of wireless charging and magnetic alignment.
Below, we see a leaked video showcasing what this phone could potentially look like. In the video, we see the phone in a black color. We’re certain that Google is going to give this color some sort of “Google-ified” name.
It appears to share the same exact design as phones in the previous leaks. The main difference is the lack of a third camera sensor.
The Pixel 9 series could resurrect the XL name
Back when Google launched the first Pixel phone, it introduced us to the Pixel XL series of phones. These were always the larger of the two phones with a sharper screen. The XL tradition continued through the Pixel 4 Series with the Pixel 5 launching as a solo product. With the Pixel 6 series, Google brought the “Pro” moniker, and that pretty much took over the role of the XL phone.
However, with the news that the previously leaked phones were the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL, it appears that Google is looking to switch its strategy yet again.
We have no idea what will make the Pro XL version better than the Pro and Vanilla Pixel 9. One bit of speculation is that Google could launch the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL with the Google Tensor 4 processor and stick the vanilla Pixel 9 Pro with the older Tensor 3 processor. That could be a method to differentiate the Pro line from the vanilla line. However, that’s only speculation.
In any case, we are certain to get more information about these phones between now and the launch. So, stay tuned for more information about these phones to come. We expect Google to make these phones official sometime in the fall.
– But, Judge, I was watching YouTube videos with my eyes closed! Also, there was this construction noise from across the street and I couldn’t hear anything. – Irrelevant. 20 years of solitary confinement!
Are we getting closer to that dystopian reality? In the light of the recent revelations that the government seeks personal information about who watched certain YouTube videos, a lot of people would say: “Oh, yes, we are!”As the report goes, federal investigators have demanded information from Google about some undisclosed number of users: they needed their addresses, telephone numbers, and their YouTube activity.
One case involved undercover agents seeking to identify a suspect known as “elonmuskwhm”, suspected of illegal crypto transactions, by tracking viewers of certain YouTube tutorials.
This, of course, didn’t go well with privacy advocates, who raised concerns and argued such actions by the government may infringe upon constitutional rights, potentially treating innocent YouTube viewers as suspects.
Concerned activists say this is a trend that could expose sensitive personal information without probable cause, challenging the foundational principles of privacy and freedom in the digital age.
Let’s see what people almost 40 years ago thought about privacy leaks… and see if there’s a parallel to be drawn between then and now.
Privacy breached: a judge rented Hitchcock movies
It’s 1987, Michael Jackson’s Bad album is making teenage girls faint, Hulk Hogan beats Andre the Giant in front of 93,173 people, Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket is on the big screen and Ronald Reagan says to the USSR leader Mikhail Gorbachev: “Tear down this wall!”
Also, a judge by the name of Robert Bork was nominated to the Supreme Court. Some thought he had controversial views on privacy, so they pulled a practical joke on him and the media released his rental tape list.
This episode is known as the Bork Tape saga.
According to the list, Judge Bork’s favorite actor appeared to be Cary Grant, who appeared in 12 of the 146 videotapes, along with Roger Moore and Alec Guinness. His favorite director seemed to be Alfred Hitchcock, who directed 12 of the rented films. No X-rated titles and nothing scandalous, right?
The leak of Bork’s video rental history was intended to illustrate the potential dangers of allowing someone with certain views on privacy to have a significant influence on the Supreme Court. It highlighted the ease with which an individual’s private activities could become public and was used to argue the importance of protecting personal privacy rights.
The incident led to a broader public debate on privacy and, ultimately, to the passage of the Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA) in 1988, which made it illegal to disclose an individual’s video rental or sale records without their consent, underscoring the importance of privacy protections.
Even his opponents came to his defense
When the rental list was made public, Bork got aid from the last place to expect – from those opposed to him and his nomination. Several groups complained that this act had violated Bork’s right to privacy and questioned whether it’s anyone’s business what movie one views on Saturday night.
One of the people who criticized Bork’s nomination most severely urged the District of Columbia to pass a law banning video stores from releasing movie titles rented by private citizens. The American Civil Liberties Union, another Bork opponent, complained to the editor of the paper that leaked the list that its story was “tantamount to breaking into the judge’s home to determine what books he reads“.
Howard Simon, then-executive director of the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) of Michigan, said:
That’s what privacy is all about. It is generally the right to impose limits on what information is collected on you and what information is in general circulation.
Ah, these quotes sure don’t feel like they come from 1987. On the contrary, they sound up to date.
SIM swap scam – can the drama turn into a tragedy?
I can almost hear you say: “Yeah, well, that’s none of my problem, since I only watch these ten YouTube channels. Also, I don’t ever let anyone else use my phone… so I’m good!”
This isn’t going to help you in the slightest when things go south, as we’ll discuss in a moment.
SIM swap fraud is a type of identity theft where criminals deceive a carrier into transferring a victim’s phone number to a SIM card in the fraudster’s possession. By doing so, the attacker gains control over the victim’s phone calls, text messages and potentially access to secure services.
Usually, SIM swap scams are performed to empty one’s bank account. Meanwhile, if the thief decides to watch a bunch of no-no videos while being logged in your account, you’ll have a hell of a time trying to explain to the FBI or some other three-letter institution what you did or didn’t do.
The two problems with someone looking at your YouTube history
There are two privacy problems with the idea of exposing one’s YouTube history. Both are severe, but one can be fatal.
The first problem is what leaks, the second one is who does what with the leak.
For example, you’re wearing a Cannibal Corpse t-shirt and your YouTube history leak reveals that you’re actually headbanging to Taylor Swift, and you’re watching The Kardashians in private.
Joking aside – the real danger, in my humble opinion, is when the concept of a crime changes overnight. You know, if tomorrow’s rulers decide that all of a sudden the same things that were legal yesterday are punishable today. If you think that’s impossible, better think again.
So, is there any bulletproof solution to the problem? Are we 100% sure our web activity won’t get us in trouble in the future? Is there a set of DOs and DON’Ts, when it comes to the way we use our phones and browse the web?
I don’t think there is any solution right now, as these digital times of ours are completely unknown. It’s the wild, wild web years. A whole lot of shakin’ going on will precede the moment when the dust settles. It’s up to the months and years ahead to come up with some sort of adamant rules, if that’s even possible.
I think we’re still navigating through the dark of the night with our eyes wide shut. Whether we raise our phones to capture a beautiful dawn, or we stay in the dark (literally) because of our YouTube history, remains to be seen.
Until that day comes, you can check out various VPN solutions and see if there’s anything that works for you.
