Is it worth importing the Nothing Phone 1?

It’s tempting to import the Nothing Phone 1. The combination of eye-catching design, well-rounded performance and a reasonable price can make it more appealing than other mid-range smartphones, and even some pricey flagships. But is it really worth the…

Dell’s XPS 13 Plus Developer Edition is the first laptop certified for Ubuntu 22.04 LTS

Dell’s XPS 13 Plus Developer Edition is the first laptop to be certified for the Ubuntu 22.04 LTS version of Linux, Canonical announced. That means you can buy one starting in August with Ubuntu pre-installed, while current owners of the XPS 13 Plus model sold with Windows 11 can download and install Ubuntu 22.04 LTS “and receive the same hardware-optimized experience.” 

The Ubuntu certification means all components will “work as expected” and the LTS (long-term support) designation means it will be supported for at least 10 years with “Base Package” maintenance and security updates. It also includes specific software or drivers different from the default distribution where required, installed automatically in the optimal configuration, according to Canonical. 

Ubuntu 22.04 brings a new version of the Gnome 42 Linux desktop environment offering boosted desktop performance with triple-buffering and enhanced power management settings. It also includes new workspace layouts, touchpad gestures and customization options, including a cross-desktop dark style. 

Dell has been offering XPS 13 laptops with Linux for years now, starting with its Ubuntu-based “Project Sputnik” laptop also aimed at developers, with the latest model being the 10th generation. As we noted in our hands-on review (above), the XPS 13 Plus itself is a sharp-looking minimalist ultra-portable laptop with capacitive touch keys replacing the function row, up to a Intel Core i7-1280P CPU (six performance and eight efficient cores), and more. It’s launching in August starting at $1,289. 

滴滴因違法蒐集資訊及「嚴重影響國家安全的數據處理活動」被罰 80.26 億人民幣

中國國家互聯網信息辦公室針對滴滴歷時一年多的調查終於有了結果，最終滴滴因違法蒐集資訊及「嚴重影響國家安全的數據處理活動」被罰款 80.26 億人民幣。

Samsung says it shipped almost 10 million foldable phones in 2021

Just a couple of short weeks before its next Unpacked event, Samsung has revealed that it shipped “almost 10 million foldable smartphones” worldwide. In a post on the Samsung Newsroom, the company’s chief of Mobile Experience (MX) Business, Dr. TM Roh, said that’s a 300 percent increase from 2020 and that he expects what he calls “fast-paced growth” to continue. Most of its foldable customers, 70 percent of them apparently, went for the clamshell-like Flip. That’s not surprising in the least: Samsung previously admitted that the Flip 3motivated more people to switch brands than its flagships did.

The 10 million units Roh claims Samsung shipped last year is considerably larger than the shipment numbers IDC previously published, though. In a report by the International Data Corporation in February, it said it “witnessed worldwide shipments of foldable phones, inclusive of both flip and fold form factors, reach a total of 7.1 million units in 2021.” Whichever figure is true, Samsung’s MX division posted an increase in revenue last year, mostly due to the strong sales of its foldables and its latest Galaxy S devices.

In addition to giving an update on how Samsung’s devices are doing, Roh has also confirmed that the company is introducing its next Flip and Fold models at its next Unpacked event. He also said Samsung made advancements to enhance users’ experiences with the upcoming devices:

“I am excited to see people to discover new ways to do more of the things they love with the new foldable…. At our upcoming Unpacked on August 10th, you’ll see that the impact of our innovation is not only about what technology can do. It’s about what you can do. We’ve once again taken our inspiration from the most important source — Galaxy users — to push the limits of what’s possible. I can’t wait to show you the potential of our new Samsung Galaxy foldables as the ultimate tool for both productivity and self-expression.”

Samsung’s upcoming Unpacked event will take place on August 10th at 9AM ET. Join us at our YouTube channel to tune into our coverage, which begins at around 8:40AM.

Apple’s latest iOS and macOS updates offer more control over live sports

Apple may be several weeks away from releasing iOS 16, macOS Ventura and other major updates, but that isn’t precluding one last hurrah for current-generation software. The company has released iOS 15.6, iPadOS 15.6 and macOS 12.5, all of which provide more control over live sports in the TV app. You can restart matches already in progress, and you’ll find typical playback options like pause, fast-forward and rewind.

The new software also fixes a Safari bug that could revert a tab to a previous page. You can expect the customary round of security patches (most of which fix holes allowing arbitrary code), including equivalents for older macOS versions like Big Sur and Catalina. Equally new watchOS 8.7 and tvOS 15.6 releases, meanwhile, deliver bug and security fixes to Apple Watch and Apple TV users alongside generic “improvements.”

The timing suggests these may be the last significant updates for existing software. Apple has historically shipped major versions of iOS, macOS and other software as soon as September, and there aren’t hints of iOS 15.7 or similar upgrades on the horizon. The company is shifting its priorities, and the modest changes in these latest updates reflect that changing focus.

App developers can now suggest Alexa routines for you

At an Alexa developer event, Amazon revealed some tools that will make it possible for developers to create Alexa routines and suggest them to users. With user permission, they can use the Alexa Ambient Home Dev Kit to integrate their devices and services with other products more seamlessly.

For instance, they might suggest a routine that instructs a robot vacuum cleaner to get to work after you leave home and arm your security system. The dev kit will also allow for changes made in one app to be replicated elsewhere. So if you rename a room in the app you use to control your smart lights, Alexa and other compatible connected services can automatically update the room’s name on their end too.

Another set of APIs is all about home states for scenarios such as Home, Vacation, Dinner Time and Sleep. Modes and settings can sync between devices and services based on the situation. So, when you go to bed, the home state function can make sure certain electronics turn off, the doors lock (it they haven’t already) and the thermostat adjusts the temperature to your preferred nighttime setting.

Allowing companies to create routines could be both a timesaver for consumers and open up their eyes to some smart home possibilities that they might not have previously considered. Amazon says there are now more than 300 million smart home devices that folks have connected to Alexa, so there are a lot of opportunities to improve or streamline people’s lives. That is, as long as they’re willing to put their faith in Amazon, a company that doesn’t exactly have a spotless track record when it comes to privacy in the home. While Amazon laid out more of its vision of the “ambient home” during the event, it said it’s years away from truly bringing that to fruition.

Other announcements the company made include more ways it’s playing nicely with alternative voice assistants. Universal Device Commands (UDCs) and Agent Transfers (ATs) will allow for simultaneous wake words on the same device, so that it can support multiple voice assistants. With UDCs, developers will be able to let users issue a command “using any compatible voice service’s wake word, even if the service was not originally used to initiate the request.” If a voice service can’t handle a request, it can be transferred to another assistant through ATs. Amazon expects both capabilities to be enabled on the cloud side in the next 12 months. In addition, certain Skullcandy headphones will be able to handle Alexa and “Hey Skullcandy” requests simultaneously.