GadgetFreak

Update: April 30, 2024 (01:59 PM ET): We’ve updated our Google Pixel 8a hub with the latest leaks, including leaked marketing images, renders of official Pixel 8a cases, and the leaked US pricing. Google launched its first A-series phone in 2019 with the Pixel 3a and 3a XL. At the time, those were some of the best Android phones you could get for the price. Since then, Google has released a new A-series Pixel every year. We are now only a few days away from the expected announcement of the Pixel 8a. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/x4YOdmc via IFTTT

Credit: Ryan Haines / Android Authority iOS 17.5 beta 4 is now available as an over-the-air (OTA) update to those enrolled in Apple’s developer program. Past pre-release builds introduced support for app sideloading from the web in the EU and a new Quartiles puzzle game. The stable iOS 17.5 version will presumably become available to all iPhone users on Monday, May 13. iOS 17.5 developer beta 4 is now available to install on the latest iPhone models . Those enrolled in Apple’s developer program can proceed to download the OTA update using the Settings app. Otherwise, iPhone users on the stable channel can expect the final version to launch on Monday, May 13 — assuming Apple sticks to its usual schedules. What’s new in iOS 17.5 beta from Android Authority https://ift.tt/zSY0whb via IFTTT

Pour one out for CodeWhisperer, Amazon’s AI-powered assistive coding tool. As of today, it’s kaput — sort of. CodeWhisperer is now Q Developer, a part of Amazon’s Q family of business-oriented generative AI chatbots that also extends to the newly-announced Q Business. Available through AWS, Q Developer helps with some of the tasks developers do […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/RsUSTzJ via IFTTT

Financial losses, founder revolts, public firings and overflowing office sewage mark the storied institution’s annus horribilis. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/rOaLmyt via IFTTT

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority T-Mobile is launching a set of AI-powered tools called Superpowers to improve customer-employee interactions. Tools like GenAI Chat act as an internal expert for employees, while Promo Genius helps find the most suitable promotions for customers. T-Mobile will also begin using predictive tools to anticipate customer needs and potential concerns. T-Mobile is rolling out some impressive AI-powered tools, hoping to transform customer service within its retail and care channels. Internal documents obtained by The Mobile Report have revealed T-Mobile’s Superpowers project, which uses three core tools to streamline support for both retail stores and customer care channels. GenAI Chat: Think of it as T-Mobile’s own ChatGPT, an always-available expert that can sift through T-Mobile’s vast internal knowledge base resources and help employees who need quick, accurate answers to complex questions and support them during difficult cust

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority Google has added machine-learning models to the Chrome address bar in the latest browser update. The address bar will use ML to provide “more precise and relevant” web page suggestions. The company plans to explore training specialized versions of the ML model for different scenarios. The address bar in the Chrome browser just got a big update. Google says this update should help the address bar provide web page suggestions that are “more precise and relevant” than before. In a blog post , the Mountain View-based firm announced that the latest version of Chrome (M124) will bring a big improvement to the address bar, also known as the omnibox. Specifically, Google has integrated machine learning (ML) models into the omnibox, which will provide suggestions that more accurately align with what you’re looking for. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/UvDG6fF via IFTTT

Google told TechCrunch that Flutter will have new updates to share at I/O this year. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/6RF0Q1e via IFTTT

Credit: Adamya Sharma / Android Authority Google Contacts is redesigning the Create Contact page. It’s now less cluttered, has new buttons, and fresher options. The redesign is rolling out on version 4.30 of the Google Contacts app. Google Contacts is getting a handy redesign that makes it easier to add a new contact or edit an existing one. The new design is available on the latest version of the app — 4.30.50.628193927. Google hasn’t started rolling out this version through the Play Store yet, but Android Authority contributor and tipster Assemble Debug sideloaded it from APKMirror and alerted us about it. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/qJ7a0Kr via IFTTT

OpenAI is facing another privacy complaint in the European Union. This one, which has been filed by privacy rights nonprofit noyb on behalf of an individual complainant, targets the inability of its AI chatbot ChatGPT to correct misinformation it generates about individuals. The tendency of GenAI tools to produce information that’s plain wrong has been […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/N8Z1L3n via IFTTT

Credit: HBO Game of Thrones captivated audiences like almost no other TV series since the turn of the century, but its final season left us with a disappointing ending. Luckily, we only had to wait a couple of years before HBO would announce a prequel series titled House of the Dragon. Billed as the first spinoff of many , House of the Dragon released to near-universal praise in 2022, which resulted in HBO greenlighting it for a second season. We’re now just weeks away from season 2 of House of the Dragon, so let’s quickly recap the events of the first season and what we can expect from the upcoming episodes. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/EbMBF3D via IFTTT

The savvy marketers at Boston Dynamics produced two major robotics news cycles last week. The larger of the two was, naturally, the electric Atlas announcement. As I write this, the sub-40 second video is steadily approaching five million views. A day prior, the company tugged at the community’s heart strings when it announced that the […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/1LDynGT via IFTTT

Last week, the UK announced its largest ever military support package for Ukraine. The bill takes the U.K.’s total support for this financial year to £3 billion — not quite the $50 billion the US pledged recently, but still substantial. But while most of those funds will be spent on very traditional military hardware, a […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/uFRxLc0 via IFTTT

Welcome, folks, to Week in Review (WiR), TechCrunch’s regular newsletter covering this week’s noteworthy happenings in tech. TikTok’s fate in the U.S. looks uncertain after President Joe Biden signed a bill that included a deadline for ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to divest itself of TikTok within nine months or face a ban on distributing it […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/SFN9rmL via IFTTT

President Joe Biden signed a bill on Wednesday that could ban TikTok – for real this time. After so many false starts and stops, some creator economy founders and their clients are rolling their eyes. They’ve been through this before. “I think two years ago, this would have been devastating,” Karat Financial co-founder and co-CEO […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/rDAf6gq via IFTTT

After a thorough review, Garmin’s Venu 3 earned Android Authority’s Editor’s Choice award and a whopping four and a half stars. In fact, I’ve been impressed by the Venu line over and over again as Garmin continues to enhance its top smartwatch with every new launch. While a brand-new generation may not be imminent, a Venu 4 is likely at some point, and there are a few more improvements I’d love to see. Advanced training and recovery tools from Android Authority https://ift.tt/IlJV67P via IFTTT

Meta’s new large language model, Llama 3, powers the imaginatively named “Meta AI,” a newish chatbot that the social media and advertising company has installed in as many of its apps and interfaces as possible. How does this model stack up against other all-purpose conversational AIs? It tends to regurgitate a lot of web search […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/Z18yqpa via IFTTT

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority T-Mobile’s acquisition of Mint Mobile, the popular budget-friendly wireless carrier, is now official with FCC approval. The deal expands T-Mobile’s reach in the prepaid market and could bring more flexibility for Mint Mobile and Ultra Mobile customers. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has officially approved T-Mobile ‘s acquisition of Ka’ena Corporation. Ka’ena Corporation is the parent company of Mint Mobile , a wildly popular direct-to-consumer wireless brand known for its disruptive pricing and savvy marketing, and Ultra Mobile, a provider specializing in international calling plans. The acquisition, first announced last year, could be worth up to $1.35 billion. T-Mobile has expressed its intentions to complete the deal by May 1st, pending regulatory approval. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/JGYpPBi via IFTTT

Welcome to Startups Weekly — your weekly recap of everything you can’t miss from the world of startups. Sign up here to get it in your inbox every Friday. Ticktock, TikTok: It’s been a wild week for TikTok. Even as the company starts testing its Twitter competitor in certain markets and launches its luxury secondhand shop […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/paAyw7Z via IFTTT

Hurry up! Our Call for Content ends tomorrow, April 26 at 11:59 p.m. PT. If you’re a startup expert eager to lead a session at TechCrunch Disrupt on October 28-30, now’s the time to apply! Submit your proposal to speak at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 before the deadline. Your topic should empower startup founders, builders, and […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/vJmqbeQ via IFTTT

President Joe Biden signed the bill this week that could ban TikTok from the U.S. if its parent company ByteDance doesn’t sell the platform. According to young political content creators, the ban could decimate Gen Z’s access to political news and information. “An unfortunately large amount of 18- to 24-year-olds find out information about local […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/Vz1mdIl via IFTTT

Credit: HMD Global Human Mobile Devices Global is launching the HMD Vibe in the US. The HMD Vibe is said to be capable of lasting two days between charges. The handset will be available for $150. After all the leaks and rumors, Human Mobile Devices (HMD) Global is announcing its first HMD-branded smartphones. While the rest of the world is getting the HMD Pulse , the US is getting the HMD Vibe. The Nokia maker’s new smartphone is a budget-level device that runs on a Snapdragon 680 processor. Along with that, you get 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage with 4GB of virtual RAM and support for a microSD card up to 512GB. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/G9QXwRo via IFTTT

Enterprises still don't trust OpenAI, while open source AI models are cheaper and more than sufficient for targeted specific tasks, Nova AI founder says. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/c0a4BNM via IFTTT

Android 15 could introduce a new Enhanced Confirmation Mode that makes it harder for malicious apps to exploit an OS loophole. Android blocks users from easily enabling the Accessibility or Notification Listener services of apps that are sideloaded from outside an app store. However, the method that Android uses for this has a loophole in it that Android 15 will close. Although most Android users download apps from preloaded app stores like Google Play, some users get their apps from alternative online sources, a practice called sideloading. This is possible because Android lets users install third-party apps without the Google Play Store so long as they get their hands on the necessary app installation files. The ability to freely sideload apps is a big part of what makes Android a more open platform than iOS. Unfortunately, it’s also the reason why people erroneously believe that Android is less secure than iOS. That’s because regardless of where you source apps from, Andro

Tesla profits fell 55% to $1.13 billion in the first quarter from the same year-ago period as a protracted EV price-cutting strategy and “numerous challenges” cut into the automaker’s bottom line. Tesla reported revenue of $21.3 billion in the first quarter, a 9% drop from the first quarter of 2023. Analysts polled by Yahoo Finance […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/8tlEh1B via IFTTT

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority T-Mobile has announced two new 5G internet plans — Home Internet Plus, available April 26, and Away, available May 8. Home Internet Plus offers expanded Wi-Fi coverage and 24/7 tech support for all smart devices and costs $70/month. Away provides a secure Wi-Fi solution for travelers, with options for unlimited or 200GB monthly data plans. T-Mobile has announced two new 5G Internet plans, “Home Internet Plus” and “Away.” Home Internet Plus targets a premium home internet experience with expanded Wi-Fi coverage and 24/7 tech support for smart devices. Away is designed for travelers, offering a flexible Wi-Fi solution that leverages T-Mobile’s extensive 5G network across the nation. The company describes itself as the fastest-growing internet provider in the U.S., reporting nearly 5 million customers since the 2021 launch of its 5G home Internet service. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/WQKg0yl via IFTTT

Pomelo, a startup that combines international money transfer with credit, has raised $35 million in a Series A round led by Dubai venture firm Vy Capital, TechCrunch has exclusively learned. Additionally, the company is announcing a $75 million expansion of its warehouse facility. Founders Fund and A* Capital also participated in the financing, along with […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/nT2eKy9 via IFTTT

It’s not uncommon for people to screenshot dating profiles and send them to their friends and loved ones, either to get feedback or to let them know who they’re seeing that weekend. Now, Tinder users are able to share their date plans directly from the app thanks to a new feature called “Share My Date.” […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/3wIkKjL via IFTTT

TikTok Shop, TikTok’s social commerce marketplace, is launching a secondhand luxury category in the U.K., putting it in closer competition with The RealReal, Vestiaire Collective, Depop, Poshmark, and Mercari, among others. The offering has already existed in TikTok Shop U.S. for over six months. The new category allows customers in the U.K. to purchase pre-owned […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/iaDoGCv via IFTTT

Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority ChatGPT has become an indispensable creative tool for many of us. Cutting-edge as it is, however, ChatGPT still suffers from occasional slowdowns that can leave you waiting for seconds or even upwards of a minute between responses. Switching to the paid ChatGPT-4 model won’t necessarily speed things up either. All of this begs two important questions: why is ChatGPT so slow and what can we do to improve it? Why is ChatGPT so slow? A technical overview from Android Authority https://ift.tt/WaxBmyu via IFTTT

Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility — your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation. Sign up here — just click TechCrunch Mobility — to receive the newsletter every weekend in your inbox. Subscribe for free. Tesla is back in the news cycle and our crystal ball says it’s one of those long-term affairs. The […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/0jVPdpF via IFTTT

Welcome, folks, to Week in Review (WiR), TechCrunch’s weekly news recap. The weather’s getting hotter — but not quite as hot as the generative AI space, which saw a slew of new models released this week, including Meta’s Llama 3. In other AI news, Hyundai-owned robotics company Boston Dynamics unveiled an electric-powered humanoid follow-up to […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/vmDTa3A via IFTTT

Ewa Luger, profiled as part of TechCrunch's series on women in AI, is co-director at the Institute of Design Informatics. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/oBPIqx9 via IFTTT

Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority Legislation that would force ByteDance to divest its ownership stake in TikTok to remain in the US has passed in the House of Representatives again. The legislation is now headed to the Senate, included in an aid package for Ukraine and Israel. The Senate is expected to vote on the bill next week, with President Joe Biden expected to sign it when it reaches his desk. TikTok is now one step closer to facing a ban in the US if parent company ByteDance chooses not to divest its ownership stake. The ban could take effect as soon as in the next few days. Despite massive lobbying efforts to keep TikTok in the US, the House of Representatives passed legislation today that would ban the app in the country, according to NBC News . The bill passed after 360 representatives voted in favor of the ban, with 58 saying no. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/tCak4fl via IFTTT

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill this afternoon that would require TikTok-owner ByteDance to sell the popular social media app or see it banned in the United States. Efforts to ban TikTok go back to the Trump Administration, but the issue has been revived in recent months. The House already passed a similar […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/oSc3aDB via IFTTT

Credit: Samsung Best Buy is currently running a deal for Samsung Galaxy A35 purchases. Buying the handset will get you a free $40 gift card. If you activate the unlocked phone, you can get $100 off of your purchase. Samsung announced the launch of the Galaxy A35 in the US only a day ago. If you haven’t picked one up yet but are planning to, one place you may want to consider getting it from is Best Buy to take advantage of its current deal. At the moment, the electronics retailer is offering quite a deal for the Galaxy A35. If you head over to the Best Buy website , you’ll notice a promotion offering a free $40 gift with the purchase of an unlocked Galaxy A35. In addition to that gift card, you’ll also get a one-month subscription for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/QumK43r via IFTTT

Welcome to Startups Weekly — your weekly recap of everything you can’t miss from the world of startups. Sign up here to get it in your inbox every Friday. After years of booming growth, the AI industry is now experiencing a significant slowdown in investment, as detailed in a recent report from Stanford’s Institute for […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/RyELfJD via IFTTT

Kenyan B2B e-commerce company MarketForce is winding down its B2B e-commerce business that served informal merchants (mom-and-pop stores) after a turbulent two-year period that saw it scale down operations severely. The shutdown of the B2B e-commerce arm dubbed RejaReja comes months after MarketForce withdrew the service from all its markets, including Nigeria and Kenya, save […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/JfkmRAt via IFTTT

It’s hard to keep track of which streaming service is premiering which new show or movie from week to week. Netflix used to be king, but the streaming field is full of alternatives , and they’re all regularly pumping out new content. So, what are the best new streaming shows and where can you watch them? Every week, we answer that question for you, offering some exciting new and returning titles, including streaming originals , from services like Max , Hulu , Prime Video , Paramount Plus, and, yes, Netflix .  We’ll be updating this list every week, so stay tuned for more new streaming shows on every major service. Looking for even more? We keep an archive of our recommendations going back at least 30 days.  from Android Authority https://ift.tt/ODbcjYH via IFTTT

Consolidation continues apace in the world of security. Sources tell us that Lacework — a cloud security startup that was valued at $8.3 billion post-money in its last funding round — is in talks to be acquired by another security player, Wiz, for a price of just $150–$200 million. Sources close to the negotiations said […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/nbBhL0K via IFTTT

TechCrunch Early Stage is gearing up for another insightful event on April 25, and one roundtable session promises to be particularly illuminating for early-stage founders. Titled “Finance Fundamentals Before Your First Finance Hire: A Founder’s Guide to Navigating Early Financial Decisions,” this roundtable will offer invaluable insights into navigating the financial complexities that often accompany […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/vB1fjcZ via IFTTT

Should you buy the Smartish Wallet Slayer Vol. 1 for Samsung Galaxy S24? from Android Authority https://ift.tt/yb6dVZC via IFTTT

The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) has published new guidance which has major implications for adtech giants like Meta and other large platforms. Since November 2023, the owner of Facebook and Instagram has forced users in the European Union to agree to being tracked and profiled for its ad targeting business, or else pay it […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/n2xjlqZ via IFTTT

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority Google is working on a new shortcut to start Gemini conversations directly in the Chrome address bar. The feature is part of an experimental Chrome flag currently being tested in Chrome Canary. Google could be making it easier than ever to access its AI chatbot, Gemini , directly within the Chrome web browser . First spotted by Windows Report , a new Chat with Gemini shortcut may soon appear in the Chrome address bar, offering a streamlined way to start a conversation with Gemini without visiting the Gemini website. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/iSIk9m6 via IFTTT

A crypto wallet maker claimed this week that hackers may be targeting people with an iMessage “zero-day” exploit — but all signs point to an exaggerated threat, if not a downright scam. Trust Wallet’s official X (previously Twitter) account wrote that “we have credible intel regarding a high-risk zero-day exploit targeting iMessage on the Dark […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/mvHfqPS via IFTTT

The streaming service will launch in three phases and will focus on "news networks" and "religious channels," as well as "family-friendly" offerings. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/D8VoTW2 via IFTTT

Elon Musk is planning to charge new X users a small fee to enable posting on the social network and to curb the bot problem. In reply to an X account that posted about changes on X’s website, Musk said charging a small fee to new accounts was the “only way” to stop the “onslaught […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/EZzpxA8 via IFTTT

The tech-wide reckoning that began in 2022 and ran throughout into 2023 has continued into this year. And while 2024’s losses are not at that scale, they’re still significant, driven by big names like Pixar, Google, Microsoft, Mozilla and TikTok. It remains to be seen if this year’s layoff trends follow last year’s, in which layoffs […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/reKZmk4 via IFTTT

Pula, an insurtech based in Kenya, has since 2015 been keen on enhancing the access to agricultural insurance by small-holder farmers across emerging markets, shielding them against losses from pests, diseases and/or extreme weather events like floods and droughts. So far, the insurtech has supported 15.4 million farmers in Africa, Asia and Latin America to […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/NIeoTcy via IFTTT

Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority Apple’s initial rollout of AI features in iOS 18 will reportedly function entirely on-device, keeping user data local. This on-device approach emphasizes privacy but may limit access to the more sophisticated AI features, which often require cloud support. Apple could potentially address this with third-party cloud-based AI features. As Google and Samsung increasingly integrate AI capabilities into their flagship smartphones , Apple is poised to follow suit with the release of iOS 18. According to Bloomberg’s  Mark Gurman , the initial rollout of Apple’s AI capabilities will function entirely on the user’s device, eliminating the need for cloud-based processing. “As the world awaits Apple’s big AI unveiling on June 10, it looks like the initial wave of features will work entirely on-device. That means there’s no cloud processing component to the company’s large language model, the software that powers the new capabilities,” Gurm

Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility — your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation. Sign up here — just click TechCrunch Mobility — to receive the newsletter every weekend in your inbox. Subscribe for free. It was another wild week in the world of transportation, particularly in the EV startup and automated driving industries. […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/0Dh3K8j via IFTTT

One Gmail inbox for everything we need Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority Gmail is working on a subscription management feature that promises to help you declutter your inbox. The feature will intelligently categorize senders by email frequency, making it simple to spot potential spam and forgotten subscriptions. It will gather all your subscriptions in one place and provide an easy unsubscribe option. We all know how it goes: a tempting discount pops up in exchange for your email address, or a website subtly forces you to opt in to receive updates. Before you know it, you’ve forgotten to unsubscribe, and your inbox is overflowing with thousands of unread messages. Gmail ‘s upcoming feature aims to give users more control over this common problem. Google is seemingly developing a new “Manage Subscriptions” feature for the Gmail inbox, designed to isolate and organize the barrage of newsletters and promotional emails that often contribute to inbox chaos. from

Heya, folks, welcome to Week in Review (WiR), TechCrunch’s regular newsletter that recaps the past few days in tech. Google’s annual enterprise-focused dev conference, Google Cloud Next, dominated the headlines — and we had plenty of coverage from the event. But it wasn’t the only thing afoot (see: the spectacular eclipse). Lorenzo wrote about how […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/zTj6Fcu via IFTTT

Should you buy the Peak Design Everyday case for Samsung Galaxy S24? from Android Authority https://ift.tt/yFjHgWo via IFTTT

Airchat is a new social media app that encourages users to “just talk.” A previous version of Airchat was released last year, but the team — led by AngelList founder Naval Ravikant and former Tinder product exec Brian Norgard — rebuilt the app and relaunched it on iOS and Android yesterday. Currently invite-only, Airchat is […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/O2xQblN via IFTTT

Spotify is working on mixing tools that would allow users to remix songs on the streaming service, according to screenshots captured by tech veteran and app researcher Chris Messina. While music aficionados use software like Adobe Audition or Ableton Live to create mixes of their favorite songs, the new capabilities would allow people to do […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/OwEcJAX via IFTTT

What does Taylor Swift have in common with a group of improv comedians pretending to be wizards? They can both sell out Madison Square Garden (… and also, their fans kind of hate Ticketmaster now). Dropout’s Dungeons & Dragons actual play show, Dimension 20, is getting pretty close to selling out a 19,000-seat venue just […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/i3NXAjh via IFTTT

We are thrilled to unveil our latest innovation: ScaleUp Startups Exhibitor Program at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024. Tailored specifically for startups in Series A to B funding stages with $35 million or less in funding, this program offers unparalleled access to 10,000 tech leaders, invaluable networking opportunities with investors, and exclusive sessions focused on scaling strategies […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/hV01XbW via IFTTT

It actually makes sense that in an era of oversaturation, people would escape to a more quiet and rather peaceful corner of the internet to dream once more.   © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/VRCFUYH via IFTTT

Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority It’s no longer required to have a Pixel or a Google One subscription to use Magic Editor, Magic Eraser, or other Google Photos AI tools. Android and iOS users will get ten Magic Editor saves per month, while Pixel users will get as many as they want. Availability will start opening up on May 15 and over the following weeks to all devices that meet Google’s minimum requirements. Google Photos offers various AI-powered editing tools, such as Magic Editor , Photo Unblur, and Magic Eraser. However, if you wanted to use these tools, it required you to have a Pixel or paid Google One subscription. Earlier this week, we saw evidence that Google could do away with this exclusivity , and now the company is making that change. In a major shift, Google announced today that it is dropping the subscription requirement for a handful of its Photos app AI editing tools. Starting on May 15 and over the following weeks, any Google Photos user o

A growing effort to attract more women and people of color into the space industry has shared some of its first results and a new occasion to rally around: National Space Day, May 3, when thousands of students will learn that not only can they do space stuff, but they really should start now. Space […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/lenaz5K via IFTTT

The tech-wide reckoning that began in 2022 and ran throughout into 2023 has continued into this year. And while 2024’s losses are not at that scale, they’re still significant, driven by big names like Pixar, Google, Microsoft, Mozilla and TikTok. It remains to be seen if this year’s layoff trends follow last year’s, in which layoffs […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/akVTLzg via IFTTT

Credit: Hadlee Simons / Android Authority An APK teardown of the latest version of Google Photos suggests Android users will be able to choose the backup quality of their photos and videos. Backups that are compressed will be saved in a permanently reduced size. The option to compress full-resolution photos and videos was previously only available on the web. If you take pictures or record videos frequently, you’ll likely find yourself running up against Google Photos’s free 15GB storage limit sooner rather than later. While you have the option to buy extra space, the tech firm also offers a free alternative that compresses backup photos and videos, reducing their size. This feature was only available on the web, but it looks like it could be coming to Android as well. In the latest version of the Google Photos app, we have spotted strings of code that appear to reference Google Photos’s Storage saver setting. This setting allows the user to choose the backup quality o

After opening its developer API to select companies for testing in March, Meta’s Twitter/X competitor Threads is now introducing developer documentation and a sign-up sheet for interested parties ahead of the API’s public launch, planned for June. The new documentation details the API’s current limitations and its endpoints, among other things, which could help developers […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/kfZIruN via IFTTT

TikTok’s upcoming Instagram competitor app for sharing photos could be named TikTok Notes, according to screenshots posted by users. TikTok also confirmed the app was in development. Over the last few days, TikTok users have been getting pop-up notifications about a new TikTok Notes app to share photos. The notification says that the company is […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/lxheMwc via IFTTT

The United States Department of Commerce Monday proposed investing as much as $6.6 billion to fund a third Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSMC) fab in Arizona. The funding would arrive by way of the CHIPS and Science Act, in a bid to foster more domestic semiconductor production. The move represents a broader push to […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/Hfr7vc1 via IFTTT

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority The Google app for Android is all set to gain a Gemini toggle. The new feature will allow Android users to use Gemini without downloading its dedicated Android app that forcefully replaces the Google Assistant. Google launched a dedicated Assistant-replacing Gemini app on Android in February. However, it seems the search giant is not yet done “Gemini-fying” your Android phone. If you haven’t downloaded the Gemini app before, Google is planning to give the AI chatbot prime real estate inside the Google app. According to tipster Assemble Debug ‘s findings (via Piunikaweb ), Android users will soon see a Gemini switch inside the Google app on their devices. This is similar to how Google offers Gemini on its iOS app. Toggling to Gemini within the Google app lets you start an interaction with the AI by typing, talking, or sharing an image. So essentially, you move away from the traditional Google Search and Discover interface to t

Credit: Ryan Haines / Android Authority A total solar eclipse will pass over Canada, the US, and Mexico on April 8. NASA has released some tips on how to best take pictures of the event. If you haven’t heard by now, a total eclipse will be passing through North America on April 8. For those wanting to catch the event as it happens, NASA has provided a few tips on how to best capture the moment with your phone or camera. It doesn’t matter if you’re a professional or amateur, anyone is capable of taking great photos of an eclipse. As NASA points out in its blog post , you don’t even need a fancy DLSR camera to get the results you’re looking for. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/P0NyzbI via IFTTT

AI playlists will initially become available to users on Android and iOS devices in the U.K. and Australia and will be iterated on in the months ahead. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/jvtBxlM via IFTTT

Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility — your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation. Sign up here — just click TechCrunch Mobility — to receive the newsletter every weekend in your inbox. Subscribe for free. Automakers reported auto sales for Q1 and, welp, turns out that pricing sure does matter if you want to […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/VJAkWBn via IFTTT

Credit: Jimmy Westenberg / Android Authority Google has filed a patent for fall detection via smart home devices using a radar system. The feature would notify an emergency contact or emergency services in the event of a fall. This suggests that the radar-equipped second-generation Nest Hub could gain fall detection support. Fall detection is one of the most important features on smartwatches and trackers today, allowing elderly people and other users to get help in the event that they’ve fallen and can’t get back up. Now, it looks like Google could be thinking about bringing this feature to its Nest Hub line. The company filed a patent with the US Patent and Trademark Office ( USPTO ) titled ‘Privacy-preserving radar-based fall monitoring.” This patent describes the use of a stationary “smart home device” or “home assistant device” that uses radar waves to detect whether a nearby person has fallen. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/lFsNL3I via IFTTT

Credit: David Imel / Android Authority Google TV is giving users a way to experience the eclipse happening on April 8. On April 7-8, Google TV will show local and national coverage of the eclipse in the For You tab. Each channel will appear with a custom eclipse-themed title card. Certain parts of North America are going to be treated to a rare occurrence soon. An eclipse will be visible in Mexico, the US, and Canada on April 8, with the path of totality hitting a number of cities along the way. If you don’t want to miss out on the event, Google TV is giving users a way to experience the total eclipse from the comfort of their homes. Starting on April 7 and lasting through April 8, Google says it will highlight a collection of content on Google TV to celebrate the eclipse. During this time, Google TV will show a selection of free, ad-supported (FAST) local and national channels covering the moment. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/5c4GA6g via IFTTT

Mahbod Moghadam, the controversial, never-boring co-founder of Genius and Everipedia, as well as an angel investor, passed away last month at age 41 owing to “complications from a recurring brain tumor,” according to a post attributed to his family and published on Genius. The startup world appears to have caught wind of his passing just […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/XHCV46T via IFTTT

Heya, folks, welcome to Week in Review (WiR), TechCrunch’s newsletter recapping the noteworthy happenings in tech over the past several days (and change). Famed startup accelerator Y Combinator had its Demo Days, and the venture desk took it all in with an appropriately skeptical eye. You can read their day one and day two coverage, […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/IKMWD8U via IFTTT

At the upcoming TechCrunch Early Stage 2024 event taking place in Boston on April 25, one session will stand out for early-stage companies seeking to navigate the turbulent waters of tech and staffing strategies. Titled “How to Evolve Your Tech and Staff Strategies for Future Rounds,” the session will be led by Brad Stanton, the […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/s3NpYHj via IFTTT

Amazon has quietly introduced a “special store” called Bazaar in India, featuring affordable and trendy fashion and lifestyle products, as it ramps up efforts against Walmart-owned Flipkart and Reliance’s Ajio, which have made deeper inroads in the Indian fast-fashion market. The world’s largest e-commerce firm has rolled out the new store on its India Android […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/wmFiBxY via IFTTT

It was a notable appearance because Pichai's been having a bit of a rough go lately. Google is widely perceived to have gotten a late start on generative AI. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/364RWDC via IFTTT

Credit: C. Scott Brown / Android Authority Google is suing two scammers it says have threatened the integrity of the Play Store. The two fraudsters are accused of uploading a total of 87 fake crypto apps to the marketplace. Over 100,000 people worldwide were affected by the scams. The Google Play Store implements a variety of measures to protect users from harmful apps. Despite this, it appears two app developers were still able to get a large number of their fake apps on the marketplace. Now Google is suing the developers for ruining the integrity of the Play Store. Business Insider reports that Google has filed a civil lawsuit in New York federal court against two app developers. The firm accuses the two of being crypto scammers who tricked it into hosting fraudulent apps in its app store. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/BFfMtUs via IFTTT

Android 15 will add a new feature that can automatically turn on Bluetooth the day after you’ve disabled it. Your phone’s Bluetooth radio is used for several key Android features, such as Quick Share and Find My Device. Disabling Bluetooth will slightly improve battery, but the trade-off is that your device won’t be able to contribute to Google’s Find My Device network. Google is finally set to launch its long-awaited Find My Device network in the next couple days. Potentially billions of Android devices will start pinging each other via Bluetooth, creating a massive lost device tracking network that’s on par with or even bigger than Apple’s Find My network. How it works is that participating devices will use Bluetooth to broadcast a beacon that other nearby devices can receive. The broadcasting device’s location is then encrypted by receiving devices and uploaded to Google’s server so that only the owner of the broadcasting device can see its location. Bluetooth is an absolu