Twenty-two years ago, Silicon Valley executive Henry Evans had a massive stroke that left him mute and paralyzed from the neck down. But that didn’t prevent him from becoming a leading advocate of adaptive robotic tech to help disabled people – or from writing country songs, one letter at a time. Correspondent John Blackstone talks with Evans about his upbeat attitude and unlikely pursuits.
#robotics #activist039s #remarkable #crusade
One of these phones is arguably the most mundane and boring, and that’s certainly the Galaxy S25 Ultra. It has a great camera, but the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, the Vivo X200 Ultra, and the Oppo Find X8 Ultra certainly beat it in terms of hardware.
Many of these phones have exceptional 1-inch main camera sensors, which certainly matters when it comes to raw optical image quality. Camera software features are also more intriguing on either one of the Galaxy S25 Ultra‘s rivals.
In terms of battery, the Samsung flagship takes another “L,” dragging its feet at the back with its fairly minuscule 5,000 mAh battery when the norm is a 6,000 mAh Silicon-Carbon battery at the minimum.
There’s also the financial aspect: the Galaxy S25 Ultra is slightly pricier than some of its Ultra rivals (except for the Xiaomi 15 Ultra).
| Phone | Unit sales by end of June 2025 |
|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | 8,390,000 |
| Xiaomi 15 Ultra | 586,000 |
| Vivo X200 Ultra | 219,000 |
| Oppo Find X8 Ultra | 210,000 |
*-all figures rumored and approximate
So, why does the Galaxy S25 Ultra sell so well when it’s arguably the least exciting Ultra phone out there?
Yes, the reasons that the Galaxy S25 Ultra sells so well are numerous and immediately obvious. I think there are a few of them.
Firstly, it’s the exceptionally strong brand name that Samsung holds pretty much everywhere across the world. After Apple, it’s Samsung that holds the most brand power in the world of smartphones.
Next up, we have Samsung’s reliability and pledge for long software support. Seven years? That’s a whole eternity in the world of tech, and none of the other Ultra phones can boast a similar long support window.
The dependability of the software is yet another major reason why the Galaxy S25 Ultra is such a hit. In the early days of Android, there was a lot of variety in terms of manufacturers, devices, and Android interfaces. Yet, as the market matured and many of those dropped out of the race, it’s Samsung that easily positioned itself as the undisputed leader of the Android world. In fact, for most people, One UI might as well be the face of Android.
So, at the end of the day, Samsung hit it out of the park. The arguably more interesting rivals of its Galaxy S25 Ultra superphone failed to beat it in the most important aspect for any business, the bottom line.
#boring #Ultra #phone #crushed #rivals #sales
The offer is available at Woot and is for the JBL Flip 6, which is discounted by a whopping 38% and can be yours for only $79.95. That’s a phenomenal deal, especially considering that its usual price is around $130. Moreover, the device is in brand-new condition, and while it doesn’t come with the standard one-year manufacturer’s warranty, you still get Woot’s 90-Day Limited Guarantee. Just act fast and save now, as this is a limited-time deal and may expire soon.
Would I get the JBL Flip 6 with this deal if I were in the market for a top-quality speaker right now? Well, I definitely would. In addition to being compact and easy to carry around, this bad boy delivers powerful sound for its size. Plus, you can pair it with other JBL speakers via its PartyBoost feature in case you need more power.
It also comes with a high IP67 rating, which means it has complete protection against dust and can withstand being submerged in water up to three feet deep for around 30 minutes. Now add a battery life of up to 12 hours on a single charge, and you get a reliable speaker that you can take anywhere.
In other words, the JBL Flip 6 is an absolute steal at its current price at Woot, so if it fits the bill for you, I strongly encourage you to get one for less now!
#JBL #Flip #goodsounding #speaker
It’s amazing what you can create when you ask the right questions. Learn more about #Pixel10 during #MadeByGoogle on 8.20: https://t.co/TSR6mFhVqrpic.twitter.com/jVPZN3kOk8
— Made by Google (@madebygoogle) August 13, 2025
For example, “What if the camera could get super, super, super close while being really, really, really far?” This refers to Super Res Zoom, which is a feature that uses computational photography and AI to enhance and add detail to zoomed-in photos of people or animals physically far away, making it appear as though you were right in front of them. This would be a great AI feature for those watching performers on a stage, while sitting in the cheap seats.
The next question, “What if you could be in the group photo even if you snapped the group photo?” is about the feature “Add Me.” Let’s say you want to take a group photo and add yourself to the photograph later. With “Add Me,” you take the shot of the group, making sure to leave room for yourself. Someone else takes a second photo of just you. AI seamlessly merges the two photos together, making it appear as though you were in the original shot to begin with even though you took the picture.
Google then says, “While you used to be on the other side of the camera, now the camera is on your side.” The teaser ends with this deep thought, “What if you asked more of your phone and your phone answered?”
#Google #teases #Pixel #features #video
The folks at Android Headlines are now sharing some detailed leaked renders of the Galaxy S25 FE’s colors:
For all the color variants, we have aluminum sides with a silver-looking finish. Apparently, the bezels have been reduced somewhat, but apart from that, the phone looks quite a lot like its predecessor with three cameras on the back.
Previous rumors indicate that you can expect a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2x screen with a fast 120Hz display refresh rate and Full HD+ resolution. The phone is said to boast an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance, stereo speakers, and an in-display fingerprint sensor.
It may be lighter than its predecessor, though, with rumors suggesting a weight of 190g, 23g lighter than the S24 FE.
The same chip will likely power it, though, Samsung’s Exynos 2400. You can expect 8 gigs of RAM and 128 or 256 gigs of storage. As for the cameras, no surprises here either: expect a 50MP primary camera, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and an 8MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom.
The Galaxy S25 FE may sport a 4,900mAh battery and support 15W wireless and 45W wired charging.
The phone is said to cost more or less the same as its predecessor, which means around $649.99. As an upper mid-range device, it’s going to face the Pixel 9a, the iPhone 16e, the OnePlus 13R, and the fancy-looking Nothing Phone (3a) Pro for the title of the best mid-range phone.
As for the colors, they’re more on the muted side in my opinion. I like the Navy option, but at the same time, this color has been on tech everywhere in recent years, and I feel like I’m starting to get bored with it a little bit. Sadly, there seems not to be a yellow FE this year, which would’ve been the color I would’ve gone for if I were going to buy one.
#Galaxy #S25 #colors #leaked #fully #angle #freak #excited
Alternatively, Samsung may switch to the silicon-carbon tech to increase battery capacity without increasing the footprint. An earlier rumor claimed that the Galaxy S26 would use this tech to increase the capacity to up to 7,000mAh.
The leaker also commented on the rumors, which said that the base model would be replaced by the Galaxy S26 Pro, and in place of the Galaxy S26 Plus, we will get the Galaxy S25 Edge.
They have thrown more confusion into the mix, claiming Samsung is undecided on whether the Plus model should be superseded by a Pro variant or continue to exist in its current form.
Even though there’s still uncertainty about what the lineup will end up looking like, one thing is for sure: Samsung is determined to shake things up, and that’s a good sign.
#Galaxy #S26 #models #benefit #design #tweak
With Waze, you can have your turn-by-turn directions given to you by Christina Aguilera, the Jonas Brothers, Jennifer Hudson, a scary clown, or your own voice. To do that, from the Waze app, tap the hamburger menu icon found at the upper left corner of the screen. Tapping on that will take you to another menu with your name on tap. Press Settings > Voice and sound. At the top of the Voice and sound screen is an icon that looks like a speaker. Tap on it, press the plus button next to “Add a voice,” and follow the directions.
Drive a rock star’s car…as your icon on Google Maps. | Image credit-PhoneArena
You can see that using Waze might make you laugh while navigating. Waze also allows you to select an icon for your vehicle from a rather lengthy list that includes brand partnerships. To customize your ride, once again tap on that three-line hamburger menu at the upper left corner. Tap on Settings > Map display > Car icon and select the one you want. Hell, you can even have a dirigible (Airship, or blimp) represent your vehicle. There are more than 65 different options to choose from.
Starting this past Thursday, Google Maps users can replace the default vehicle icon or the arrow used to represent their current position on Google Maps with the classic Mustang owned by American singer and songwriter Benson Boone. To change the icon to Boone’s Mustang, start navigating anywhere, even if you’re not going anyplace. Tap the current arrow or vehicle icon and swipe until you see the Mustang option. If you don’t know a Mustang from a Jeep, don’t worry. A caption underneath the vehicle will tell you when you’re at the Mustang.
This partnership is part of an effort by Google to bring more Waze-like features to Google Maps. Besides Benson’s Mustang, you can select other vehicles such as a generic sedan, SUV, or pickup truck. As we already noted, you can change the colors of these vehicles. It should be noted that Benson’s Mustang isn’t available to Canadian Google Maps users.
Speaking of Benson Boone, if you happen to check out directions to any of the venues where Boone will play during his upcoming U.S. tour (like Madison Square, for example), you will find the Google Pegman icon dressed in Benson’s attire. This is available only on the desktop version of Google Maps.
#Google #Maps #put #rock #stars #Mustang
Here are the finalists (the numbers don’t represent ranks):
#Home #screen #contest #Vote #favourite #design
Material 3 redesign for the Chrome settings page in Android. | Image credit-Android Police
Another look at the Material 3 redesigned Chrome settings page for Android. | Image credit-Android Police
Google Photos face picker. | Image credit-Forbes
New tabs found on the top of the app will allow you to filter out all albums except for those shared by others, or those you’ve created yourself. Using these filters will stop you from having to scroll through a long list of albums or search for albums by typing in album names in the search bar, and taxing your memory.
New filters found on the Material 3 redesign of Google Photos. | Image credit-Forbes
The update containing the new Google Photos Material 3 Expressive redesign is rolling out now, although it seems that the Material 3 face picker might need some more work before Google releases it.
#Android #Chrome #Photos #apps #makeover #courtesy #Google
The deal is available on Amazon, where this capable speaker is discounted by $80. Thanks to this discount, you can snatch one up for just under $220 instead of splurging about $300. On top of that, both the black and white options are selling at the same discount, so you can get the one that fits your taste the most.
Sure, the offer comes from a third-party seller, but you’ll still have 30 days to return the device if there’s something wrong with it. Sadly, there’s no telling when the promo could expire, so it’d be wise to pull the trigger as soon as possible. After all, the SoundLink Revolve+ (Series II) is a Bose speaker through and through, and you won’t regret getting one for $80 off.
With its rich 360-degree sound, it offers an incredible listening experience, while its built-in microphone lets you control playback with just your voice via Siri or Google Assistant. It also boasts a solid IP55 dust and water resistance rating, giving it high protection against dust particles and allowing it to withstand water splashes and even low-pressure water jets from any direction. However, it won’t survive being completely submerged, so it’s not exactly waterproof.
On the flip side, it packs a dependable battery, delivering up to 17 hours of listening time on a single charge. Plus, it sports a dedicated handle for easier carrying. So, overall, the Bose SoundLink Revolve+ Series II is a solid choice, especially at its current price on Amazon. Don’t miss out!
#Boses #SoundLink #Revolve #sizzling #summer #discount