684 Stories
Surprise! Rabbit R1 is Just an App Disguised as AI Hardware
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Rabbit R1, the AI-powered device that used LAM that could learn and perform actions for you has just been revealed to be an app running on some sort of version of Android. Mishaal Reehman was able to install its APK on his Pixel 6A and it was working fine except for app integration which required system level permissions. However, Rabbit's CEO, Jesse Lyu, stated that Rabbit R1 runs on a bespoke AOSP, not an Android app.
A Look at Google’s Tablet Strategy: Time for a Course Correction?
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The Pixel tablet released last year was supposed to be Google's redemption in the tablet market but it did not work out for them. So for their next tablet, they should go back to the drawing board and put efforts in improving the hardware and software features while also ditching any gimmicks.
YouTube Now Wants to Show You Ads When You Pause Videos
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YouTube is exploring the idea of displaying ads on paused videos, following positive results from initial tests on smart TVs. The ads will pop-up when you pause a video shrinking the video down and you will have to dismiss the ad to continue playing the content you were watching. This could be a move to drive more users to YouTube Premium.
The Three Deaths of Nokia: A Look Back at What Led to Their Demise
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In this article, we take a look back at the history of Nokia as the different times the brand died, was given a new life and then died again. From refusing to adopt the touch screen to switching to Windows Phone and finally making the jump to Android with HMD. This story of Nokia is a brief lesson on what not to do as a smartphone manufacturer.
Threads Now Lets You Filter Out Offensive Content, Here’s How to Enable It
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Threads has expanded the Hidden Words functionality across the entire platform. Instagram head, Adam Mosseri, has announced that Hidden Words can now be used to let you filter unwanted content from your feed, search results, profiles, and replies. You can hide words and phrases on Threads by going to profile icon > globe or padlock icon > Hidden words > Custom words and phrases.
Does Nothing’s Ultra XDR Improve Photos? We Tested It Out!
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The Ultra XDR feature in Nothing OS 2.5.5 is a format that allows for more detail in bright and dark areas of images. It's a rebrand of the Ultra HDR feature found in Android 14 and above. The feature can be enabled in the camera settings and results in brighter images with more detail, but at the cost of larger file sizes. It's not exclusive to Nothing devices, with Samsung and OnePlus using similar features.
How to Create Events in WhatsApp Communities
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WhatsApp now offers the ability to create and schedule events directly within communities. The feature makes it easy for users to manage large groups and plan gatherings. You can create an event inside a community group using the attachment icon and from there, you can provide a clear title, detailed description, date, time, and location.
Nothing’s Sub-Brand CMF Rumored to Launch its First Smartphone
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CMF may be launching its first smartphone. A new device with model number "A015" and codename "Tetris" was spotted, possibly indicating a budget-friendly CMF smartphone. Since the model number does not match up with previous Nothing smartphones and the brand name appeared as "CMF by Nothing" in BIS certification almost confirming that it is not the upcoming Phone (3).
At the Smarter Living 2024 event, Xiaomi has launched two new products including Robot Vacuum Cleaner S10 and Handheld Garment Steamer. The vacuum cleaner offers pressure up to 4000 Pa and comes with a turbo fan to clean all types of dust. And the handled garment steamer offers steam surge technology, with power up to 1300 watts, to quickly wash off any stain on clothes.
Tinder Introduces “Share My Date” to Boost Safety for First Dates
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Tinder's new feature, Share My Date, allows users to share their date plans and the other person's profile for safety. Users can share details like date location, time, and the other person's name, age, and photos via a link. The link can be opened even if the recipient does not have the Tinder app installed however, it will only allow them to view limited information about the person you are going out with.
How to Enable Snapchat Solar System
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Snapchat's Friend Solar System is a feature that shows your closest friends based on planets closest to the sun. The feature is disabled by default, but users can re-enable it if they wish to use it. The reason to disable it by default comes from the criticism that it may negatively affect friendships among users.
How to Use Snapchat Web on PC or Laptop
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In this article, we discuss how you can use Snapchat on your laptop or PC by visiting Snapchat for Web on your web browser. This is a web client that offers similar features to the mobile app, including messaging, video calls, and sending Snaps. However, it lacks some capabilities such as opening Snaps, shooting video Snaps, and posting stories. It's a handy tool for basic chat functions but falls short of the full Snapchat experience.
YouTube Adds a Handy AI Chatbot to Answer Questions about Videos
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YouTube's new AI "Ask" button, allows viewers to ask video-related questions and receive real-time responses without pausing the video. It's currently available for YouTube Premium users in the US, for English videos only. It can provide summaries, discuss specific sections, or translate educational content into simpler language. This feature is a convenient tool, but could potentially affect video watch time.
Microsoft Edge Too Wants You to Circle to Search Like Google
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Microsoft is working on a Circle to Copilot feature that is similar to Circle to Search by Google. The feature is available to try out in the Edge browser on iPhone and iPad. The feature is still in development and there is no confirmation when it will come to Android devices.
TikTok has launched a new photo-sharing app called TikTok Notes. This standalone app is currently available in Canada and Australia, allowing users to sign in with their existing TikTok account. It features a For You and Following section, headings for posts, and options to control comments. The app layout resembles Pinterest feed instead of Instagram like speculated earlier.
Snapchat Now Watermarks AI-generated Images
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Snapchat is introducing watermarks to AI-generated images to prevent misinformation. The watermark, featuring the Snapchat ghost with sparkles, will appear when users export images created with AI features. This move aims to inform users that the image is not real but generated with AI.
New Chat Filters on WhatsApp Will Help You Find Messages Instantly
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WhatsApp is introducing chat filters to help users organize their messages. The filters will be available in three categories: All, Unread, and Groups. The feature is rolling out today and will be available on all devices in the coming weeks. It will make it easier to navigate through older messages and manage chats.
How to Create Polls on Discord
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Discord does not have a built-in option to create polls, but there are four easy workarounds to create and host polls on your Discord server. You can use emoji reactions, create a custom channel just for histing polls, use an external website, or add a bot to create polls. Each method is quite easy to setup and use.
Airchat Explained: What Is It, How It Works, and How to Use It
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In this article, I will be discussing Airchat, a new social media platform where you can only create posts, reply to them or private messages through voice notes. I will explain how the app works in detail, along with the process to setup your account, invite others and to follow other accounts on the app.
How to Fix Discord “Unable To Accept Invite” Error
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Discord's "Unable to Accept Invite" error can be caused by various reasons, including an expired invite link, exceeded link usage, or a poor internet connection or being banned by the server. To resolve the issue, try checking the invite link, requesting a new one rom the server admin, verifying your internet connection, using a VPN service or clearing Discord's cache.
Elon Musk Wants New X Users to Pay a Small Fee to Tweet
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X (formerly Twitter) will soon start charging a small fee for new users. With this change, new X users won't be able to post, bookmark, repost, or like content, but they can still follow accounts and browse for free. The fee could be around $1 and is intended to curb the spread of bots on the platform. It's also likely that new users may have to wait for three months to get free posting.
The Android Ecosystem Is Fractured: Here’s Why It Can’t Catch up to Apple
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In this article, I discuss the state of the Android ecosystem in 2024, highlighting the lack of a unified ecosystem. Going over some aspects of why it is that way and what can be done to change or fix it and whether there is a future for a well connected Android space just like Apple's.
How to Make a Post Shareable on Facebook
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This article shows how you can make your Facebook posts more shareable by changing the privacy settings from friends or Only me to Public. If the public option is grayed out, it means your profile is locked, and you must unlock it to allow public sharing.
I Tested Meta AI on WhatsApp And Here’s Everything It’s Capable Of
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Now that Meta AI is available to use from WhatsApp in India, I gave it a shot and in this read, I will be sharing my first impressions with it. It can provide answers to your questions, has access to the latest information, cites sources for the thing it fetched from the internet and can even generate images. So this is my overview and quick impressions of Meta AI.
Select WhatsApp Users in India Can Now Chat with Meta AI
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Some WhatsApp users in India are now getting Meta AI on their app. The feature was previously only available in the US, but is now expanding to other regions. While the chatbot's results are not influenced by users' chat history, it can use their chats with Meta AI for improvements and internal testing.
Android 15 Now Lets You Choose a Default Wallet App; Here’s How
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Android 15 Beta 1 is out and it comes with the option to change the default wallet app from the settings menu. This will facilitate NFC payments for your preferred app that you use regularly for making transactions. The feature only works with a limited number of apps as of now depending on the region but wider support should be available later down the line.
How to Go Frame By Frame on YouTube Videos
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If you want to go frame-by-frame on a YouTube video then you can do so by using the "." or "," keys on your keyboard. You can also use the left an right arrow keys to browse each frame after pausing the video. Additionally, slowing down the video's playback speed can also be a helpful solution if you want to analyze something in motion.
What Does the Peace Sign Mean on Snapchat?
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Snapchat's peace sign appears next to a group name on the Chat screen. It identifies a user's top group on the app. Engaging in group conversations increases the likelihood of receiving the peace emoji. However, there is no set time for it to appear.
Instagram Test Lets You Watch Shared Reels Without Opening DMs
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Instagram is testing a new feature that allows users to watch shared reels in the chat screen without opening it. The reel preview appears as a thumbnail and plays the oldest unseen reel. Users can scroll down to watch all shared reels. Once all reels are seen, the app shows recommended reels. This feature is currently in beta and not available in the stable version.
Spotify AI Playlist is Here: Curate Music using Text Prompts
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Spotify's new AI Playlist feature allows users to create personalized playlists by entering a prompt, which the AI will use to generate a playlist based on the user's listening history. The feature is currently available for Premium members in Australia and the UK, and will soon expand to other regions.
It’s About Time We Get a Budget Wear OS Smartwatch
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Android Wear or WearOS has been out for a decade now and still no sign of a smartwatch in the budget segment. Keeping it out of reach from most enthusiasts and users who would actually want to buy one. In this read, I discuss why it is high time Google should consider making a budget Android smartwatch.
Best Secret Codes for Your Android Phone
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Secret codes on Android devices let you access hidden settings and information. These codes are entered through the phone's dial pad, can be divided into two categories: MMI (Man Machine Interface) codes, which are specific to the device's manufacturer, and USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) codes, which are used to connect with the mobile service provider.
WhatsApp Now Lets You Disable Link Previews for Enhanced Privacy; Here’s How
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WhatsApp's latest feature allows users to disable link previews, enhancing privacy by preventing IP addresses from being exposed to third-party websites. The feature is available in the beta version for both Android and iOS. You can enable it by navigating to 3-dots icon > Settings > Privacy > Advanced > Disable link previews.
CMF Buds Review: A Colorful Twist on Budget TWS
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CMF Buds are the latest budget TWS by the Nothing's sub-brand. They offer a lot of features like 42 dB of ANC, large 12.4mm drivers, an unorthodox design and Ultra Bass 2.0 for those bass heavy tracks. So in this read, I deliver my in depth review of these buds after a week of usage and share my thoughts to help you make the decision of whether you should buy them or not.
OnePlus Ace 3V First Impressions: Eagerly Awaiting the Nord 4
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The OnePlus Ace 3V recently launched in China and it is highly likely to be rebranded as the OnePlus Nord 4 for global markets. I was fortunate to get my hands on the OnePlus Ace 3V recently, so here are my first impressions of what will be the Nord 4.
Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Benchmark Comparison
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Qualcomm's newly released Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 is making headlines because of its sheer performance in the mid-range segment. In our benchmark tests, we found that it rivals the flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC from 2022. The Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 comes very close to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in Geekbench, and AnTuTu benchmark tests. In fact, in the CPU Throttling test, it does better than the SD 8 Gen 2.
Instagram Tests New Stories Design Inspired by Facebook
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Instagram is testing a new stories design, making it look like Facebook stories. This server-side update, currently available in the latest Instagram beta version for Android, features a rectangular thumbnail with a preview of the story's content and the user's profile icon at the center. The update brings Instagram Stories closer to a unified design language across Meta apps.
Ads Are Coming to Discord, But You Might Be Able to Turn It Off
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Discord plans to introduce ads in the coming weeks to increase revenue. The ads will be relevant to users and may offer rewards for completing certain in game tasks. Users can opt out of ads, but it's unclear if this feature will be free or paid. This comes after years of resistance from adopting ads on the platform.
How to Pause Snapchat Location Without Turning It Off
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In this article, we have laid out a few different methods to pause Snapchat's location sharing without turning it off. Workarounds include disabling Live Location, staying off Snapchat, using Ghost Mode, revoking precise location accuracy, or removing location permission. These methods help maintain privacy while using Snap Maps.
ChatGPT Now Cites the Sources for Its Answers
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OpenAI's ChatGPT will now cite sources in its responses similar to Microsoft's Copilot, providing transparency and legitimacy in reponses. This feature is limited to paid versions: ChatGPT Plus, Team, and Enterprise unlike Copilot which offers it for free. The announcement for this was made by OpenAI through an X post on Friday.
Instagram Tests “Blend” to Curate a Shared Feed of Reels
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Instagram is reportedly developing a feature called "Blend" that allows users to create a private feed of curated Reels with a friend. The feed recommendations are based on shared and liked reels. The feature is still in development and not yet available to the public.
There is a new trend used by Big Tech to plaster the term "AI-powered" in their marketing for features that are iterative improvements of features we have seen before. This tactic is being used quite freely by manufacturers to highlight of their new smartphones, catch attention and sell more phones. I took a deep dive into this matter and here are my thoughts on it.