News/Mobile
Lenovo’s $700 Yoga Tab Plus struggles with outdated specs against competitors
Lenovo has released the Yoga Tab Plus, a $700 Android tablet positioning itself as a premium alternative to the iPad Air and Galaxy Tab S11 series. Despite an attractive design and solid build quality, the device suffers from underwhelming AI features, a two-year-old Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, and limited software support that undermines its value proposition in the competitive tablet market. What you should know: The Yoga Tab Plus offers impressive hardware specs but falls short on performance and longevity for its price point. Features a 12.7-inch 3K LCD display with 144Hz refresh rate and comes bundled with accessories...
read Oct 10, 2025Young Arab filmmakers use AI and smartphones to bypass traditional media gatekeepers
Young Arab filmmakers are revolutionizing storytelling across the Middle East by using smartphones, free editing apps, and AI tools to bypass traditional media gatekeepers. At this year's Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth, creators as young as 14 are producing documentaries and digital campaigns that reach global audiences, fundamentally changing who gets to tell stories in the region. The big picture: Mobile technology and AI have democratized filmmaking in the Arab world, enabling creators to produce professional-quality content without expensive equipment or institutional approval. 14-year-old Fajer Saeed Alyileili from Fujairah creates documentaries about pollution and scoliosis using only...
read Oct 7, 2025JEDEC unveils UFS 5.0 storage standard with 10.8GB/s speeds for AI apps
The Joint Electron Device Engineering Council (JEDEC), the organization that sets industry standards for semiconductor devices, has officially announced UFS 5.0, a new Universal Flash Storage standard that nearly doubles data transfer speeds to 10.8GB per second. The upgrade represents a significant leap from UFS 4.0's 5.8GB per second speeds and is specifically designed to meet the demanding performance requirements of AI-powered mobile applications and computing systems. What you should know: UFS 5.0 delivers substantial performance improvements while maintaining backward compatibility with existing hardware. The new standard reaches speeds of 10.8GB per second, compared to UFS 4.0's 5.8GB per second...
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Google Translate adds free AI practice mode for language learners
Google has rolled out Practice mode, a new AI-powered language learning feature within its Google Translate app that offers personalized lessons and conversation practice. The beta feature allows users to create custom learning scenarios on-demand and emphasizes speaking practice over traditional multiple-choice methods, positioning itself as a compelling free alternative to established platforms like Duolingo. What you should know: Practice mode currently supports French and Spanish for English speakers, with plans to expand to more languages as the beta progresses. Users can choose from recommended scenarios like ordering food, asking for directions, or greeting acquaintances, or create entirely custom lessons...
read Oct 6, 2025Google may drop Samsung modems for MediaTek in Pixel 11 series
Google is reportedly considering dropping Samsung's modem technology entirely for its upcoming Tensor G6 chip, potentially switching to MediaTek's new M90 modem for the Pixel 11 series. This shift could address longstanding connectivity and battery drain issues that have plagued Google's Pixel phones, marking a complete break from Samsung hardware after years of partnership complaints. What you should know: Google has already moved Tensor G5 chip production from Samsung to TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) for the Pixel 10 series but retained Samsung's Exynos modem technology. According to leaker Mystic Leaks, Google is now evaluating MediaTek's M90 modem, which was...
read Oct 6, 2025ChatGPT now connects to Spotify, Zillow, and 5 other apps directly
OpenAI has launched app integrations for ChatGPT that allow users to access third-party services like Spotify and Zillow directly within the chatbot interface. The feature represents what OpenAI calls an "evolution of ChatGPT" toward becoming more like an operating system, enabling users to interact with apps through conversation while displaying interactive interfaces within the chat. What you should know: The app integrations go beyond traditional plugins by allowing direct access within ChatGPT prompts and displaying interactive elements like maps, playlists, and presentations. Users can query ChatGPT to access Spotify for listing and playing tracks, or search Zillow for property listings...
read Oct 2, 2025Sora creates deepfakes of dead celebrities like Michael Jackson despite OpenAI policy
OpenAI's Sora video generation app allows users to create AI deepfakes of deceased celebrities like Michael Jackson, Tupac Shakur, and Malcolm X, despite the company's stated policy of blocking depictions of public figures. The policy exemption for "historical figures" raises questions about consent, misinformation, and the potential misuse of AI-generated content featuring dead celebrities who cannot approve their digital resurrection. What you should know: OpenAI explicitly permits AI-generated videos of deceased public figures while blocking living celebrities unless they consent through the Cameos feature. Users have created disturbingly realistic deepfakes of Michael Jackson, Bob Ross, Tupac Shakur, and Malcolm X...
read Oct 2, 2025Meanwhile, a half world away, Telegram founder unveils decentralized AI lab serving 1B+ users
Telegram founder Pavel Durov announced the opening of a new AI lab in Astana at Kazakhstan's Digital Bridge forum, marking a significant expansion of the messaging platform's AI capabilities. The lab will focus on developing decentralized AI technology that combines artificial intelligence with blockchain, potentially serving Telegram's billion-plus users while positioning Kazakhstan as a central hub for East-West technological collaboration. The big picture: The Digital Bridge forum showcased Kazakhstan's emergence as a major AI development center, with world leaders and tech executives emphasizing the country's strategic position to bridge Eastern and Western innovation.• Hungary's President Tamás Sulyok highlighted how Kazakhstan...
read Oct 2, 2025Flagrantly fun Sora 2 tops iOS charts while sparking copyright lawsuits
OpenAI released Sora 2, an AI-powered app that creates high-definition videos from text prompts and allows users to insert realistic "cameos" of themselves and others into AI-generated content. The app immediately surged to become the most popular video app on iOS, but its ability to generate copyrighted characters like Mario and Pikachu has sparked significant copyright and deepfake concerns among legal experts. What you should know: Sora 2 represents a major upgrade from OpenAI's original Sora model, now featuring synchronized dialogue and sound effects alongside video generation. Users can create lifelike videos by providing simple text descriptions, and the app...
read Oct 2, 2025There can be only One UI 8.5: Samsung brings Google’s AI notification summaries to phone
Samsung is developing an AI-powered notification summary feature for One UI 8.5 that closely mirrors Apple's controversial notification summaries launched last year. The feature appears to leverage Google's work-in-progress notification summary technology rather than Samsung's own development, suggesting a collaborative approach to bringing AI-driven notification management to Android devices. What you should know: Samsung's notification summary feature was discovered in the latest One UI 8.5 firmware build by SamMobile, though it's not currently functional. The feature will use AI to summarize long messages and group conversations, identical to Google's approach. Users will see a pop-up explanation when pulling down the...
read Sep 30, 2025If you type it, they will come: Nothing debuts store with apps created by text prompts
Nothing has launched Playground, an app store featuring user-designed, AI-generated applications that can be created through written prompts alone. The London-based smartphone company positions this as the "first step towards an AI-native operating system," though the platform runs on Android and represents more of an interface layer than a true OS replacement. What you should know: Playground is part of Nothing's broader Essential product line, which includes several AI tools already in use. Essential encompasses "all our AI-related products," according to founder and CEO Carl Pei, including an existing AI search tool and Essential Space for organizing voice notes and...
read Sep 26, 2025Google rolls out 4 audio enhancements for Pixel Buds Pro 2 earbuds
Google has begun rolling out a significant software update for its Pixel Buds Pro 2 earbuds, delivering four major audio enhancements that were first teased at the company's Made by Google event last month. The update introduces adaptive audio technology, hands-free gesture controls, enhanced noise protection, and improved AI assistant functionality—features that collectively represent one of the most substantial upgrades the premium earbuds have received since their 2024 launch. This update arrives as competition intensifies in the premium earbud market, with Apple's AirPods Pro 2 setting benchmarks for adaptive audio features and other manufacturers racing to match sophisticated noise management...
read Sep 26, 2025Apple faces 69-plaintiff lawsuit over delayed iPhone 16 AI features
Apple has filed a motion to dismiss a class action lawsuit alleging the company misled customers about delayed Apple Intelligence features when marketing the iPhone 16. The case, which consolidated multiple lawsuits and features 69 plaintiffs, centers on Apple's promise of enhanced Siri capabilities that have been delayed until 2026, potentially setting a precedent for how tech companies can market products based on future promises rather than current capabilities. What you should know: The lawsuit, Landsheft v. Apple Inc., specifically targets Apple's marketing of two delayed Siri features: personal context awareness and in-app controls. Apple argues it cannot support the...
read Sep 26, 2025Samsung’s AI in One UI 8.5 fixes Android’s Wi-Fi switching problem
Samsung is developing AI-powered connectivity features for One UI 8.5 that will automatically switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data based on signal quality and user behavior patterns. The update represents Samsung's push to integrate machine learning into core smartphone functions, potentially solving common connectivity frustrations that plague Android users. What you should know: One UI 8.5 introduces two AI-driven connectivity features designed to optimize network switching without manual intervention. "Intelligent Link Assessment" learns from Wi-Fi link data to automatically disconnect from weak networks and switch to cellular data when needed. "Intelligent Network Switch" uses handover history along the user's movement...
read Sep 25, 2025Meta launches “Vibes,” a dedicated feed for AI-generated short videos
Meta has launched Vibes, a dedicated feed for AI-generated short-form videos within its Meta AI app and website. The feature allows users to scroll through AI-created content from other users, create their own clips from scratch or adapt existing videos, and share their creations via direct message or cross-post to Instagram and Facebook. What you should know: Vibes represents Meta's latest experiment in AI-generated content creation, building on the existing Meta AI platform that previously made headlines when users accidentally shared private conversations publicly.• Users can browse AI-generated videos created by others or produce their own content using the platform's...
read Sep 25, 2025iOS 18 uses Apple Intelligence to fix Wallet’s broken order tracking
iOS 18 has transformed Apple Wallet's long-struggling order tracking feature by leveraging Apple Intelligence to automatically extract purchase details from confirmation emails. This AI-powered enhancement finally delivers on the original promise of creating a centralized hub for all online purchases, addressing years of limited merchant adoption that had rendered the feature largely useless for most users. What you should know: Apple Wallet's order tracking feature, introduced in iOS 16, has been significantly underutilized due to poor merchant support until now. The feature required individual merchants to integrate with Apple's system, which few bothered to do despite being available for years....
read Sep 25, 2025What do you have for me today? ChatGPT delivers personalized morning briefings to Pro users
OpenAI has launched ChatGPT Pulse, a new mobile feature that delivers personalized daily updates to Pro subscribers based on their chat history and connected apps. The preview feature represents OpenAI's latest push toward proactive AI assistance, with the AI model conducting overnight research to surface relevant information each morning rather than waiting for users to initiate conversations. How it works: ChatGPT Pulse analyzes user chat history, preferences, and optional Gmail and Google Calendar connections each night to generate morning updates. Users receive visual "cards" containing topic summaries that can be expanded for detail, covering areas like project follow-ups, dinner suggestions,...
read Sep 25, 2025AI-powered fraud apps surge 300% on iOS, even worse on Android
A new study reveals a dramatic surge in fraudulent mobile apps powered by artificial intelligence, with iOS seeing a 300% increase and Android experiencing a 600% spike in fake applications during 2025. The research from DV Fraud Lab, a digital fraud detection company, highlights how AI tools are enabling cybercriminals to create more convincing fraudulent apps that can bypass traditional app store security measures, targeting both unsuspecting users and advertisers. What you should know: DV Fraud Lab's research shows fraudulent apps are using two primary attack vectors to exploit mobile ecosystems. Fake versions of popular apps like Facebook attempt to...
read Sep 25, 2025Penny for your talks? Neon app pays users $0.30 per minute to record calls for AI training
Neon, an app that records phone calls and sells them to AI companies for training data, has climbed to No. 2 on Apple's US App Store in the Social Networking category. The app pays users $0.30 per minute for calls with other Neon users and $0.15 per minute for calls with non-users, suggesting many people are willing to trade privacy for compensation. How it works: Neon records phone conversations and sells the audio data to AI developers to help train speech recognition systems. Users earn money for each minute of recorded conversation, with earnings capped at $30 per day plus...
read Sep 24, 2025Qualcomm CEO plans to bring AI everywhere with next-gen chips
Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon appeared on CNBC's "Closing Bell Overtime" to discuss the company's next generation of mobile and PC processors designed to integrate AI capabilities across devices. The interview focused on Qualcomm's strategy to embed artificial intelligence into its semiconductor offerings and the broader outlook for the chip industry as AI becomes increasingly central to consumer and enterprise technology. What you should know: The discussion centered on Qualcomm's vision to democratize AI access through its chip technology. Amon emphasized the company's commitment to "bring AI everywhere" through its latest processor developments. The conversation covered both mobile and PC processors,...
read Sep 23, 2025Perplexity launches AI-powered Comet browser in India with Pro-only access
Perplexity has launched its AI-powered Comet browser in India on September 22, 2025, marking the company's expansion into the competitive browser market. The launch brings AI-enhanced browsing capabilities to Indian users, though availability remains limited to specific platforms and user tiers. What you should know: The browser is currently available with significant platform restrictions across different user categories. Android users can pre-register for Comet on the Google Play Store, though no specific launch date has been announced for actual usage. Windows and macOS users with Perplexity Pro subscriptions can already download and use the browser. iOS availability has been delayed...
read Sep 23, 2025Google launches Gemini AI gaming assistant with real-time overlay
Google is rolling out a new Gemini AI integration that will help users with mobile gaming by providing real-time assistance through an overlay on Google Play Store games. The feature mirrors Microsoft's Gaming Copilot and represents Google's push to make AI assistance more contextually aware and accessible during gameplay. How it works: The Gemini Live integration appears as a sidebar overlay that can "see" what's happening on your screen while you play. Players can ask questions aloud during gameplay and receive audible responses from Gemini AI. The AI assistant tailors its suggestions based on what's currently displayed in your game....
read Sep 22, 2025Google tests AI-style voice search redesign in Android app
Google is testing a redesigned voice and song search interface in its Android app that aligns with the company's AI Mode aesthetics. The new interface removes recent search suggestions and incorporates pulsing animations similar to those used in Google's AI features, signaling a broader shift toward AI-integrated user experiences across Google's mobile applications. What you should know: The redesigned interface represents a significant departure from Google's current voice search functionality. The new design eliminates previous and suggested searches that currently appear below the "listening..." prompt. Voice search now uses the same pulsing animation found in Google's AI Mode, asking users...
read Sep 22, 2025Google’s Gemini tops App Store with 3 major visual AI updates
Google's Gemini AI assistant recently claimed the top spot as the most downloaded app on both Apple's App Store and Google Play, surpassing OpenAI's ChatGPT in a significant milestone for Google's artificial intelligence ambitions. This achievement coincides with Google's September Gemini Drop, a comprehensive update package that introduces powerful new capabilities across the platform. Gemini, Google's flagship AI assistant, competes directly with ChatGPT and other conversational AI tools by offering text generation, image creation, and voice interaction features. For business users and consumers alike, these latest updates represent a substantial leap forward in practical AI functionality, particularly in areas like...
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