There is no denying it OpenAI’s ChatGPT and other similar AI tools are providing powerful AI assistants in our daily personal and working lives. One method of using ChatGPT is to help you brainstorm ideas and also solve problems you may come across in your daily life. This quick guide will provide an overview of […]
Vauxhall has revealed that it is launching a new all-electric SUV this year and the car will be called the Vauxhall Frontera, this is a name that Vauxhall previous used for its SUVs back in the early 2000s. Vauxhall has announced the return of the Frontera nameplate in 2024. The name will make its comeback […]
OpenAI has recently made a significant update to its ChatGPT service, which is sure to be of interest to users who have been managing both individual and Team subscriptions. In a move that addresses the concerns of its user base, the company has introduced a new feature that allows for the merging of ChatGPT Plus […]
As useful as our powerful smartphones might be, they have also become the bane of modern society. Not only are they the source of most of the distractions that bombard our consciousness day in and day out, they also developed this rather odd scenario of paying more attention to a social circle of virtual strangers than to the people physically present around us. It’s practically too late to go cold turkey and turn our backs on smartphones, regardless of whether we actively use social media or not, which is why there have been attempts to distill the experience down to the essentials, both in software as well as in design. The latest attempt at a minimalist phone, literally called The Minimal Phone, puts a rather interesting twist to that idea by marrying the gentle and almost laid-back nature of an E Ink screen with a QWERTY keyboard that’s long been associated with productivity and busyness.
You’d be forgiven if you looked at this design and presumed it was a variant of the BlackBerry Passport or a shrunken-down old Kindle with a Keyboard (yes, those existed at one point in time) because that is exactly how this device would look like to those who have seen enough of tech history to know these devices. It’s a hardware combination that has been done before, albeit now in a smaller and more modern style, but the purpose is completely different. Rather than encouraging the use of the device, the design is, in fact, ironically meant to make you use the phone even less.
BlackBerry Passport
While E Ink is great for reading text for long periods of time without straining your eyes as much, their low pixel density, low refresh rate, and lack of vibrant colors would make them terrible for the most distracting uses of smartphones, namely social media, videos, and aimless web browsing. The relatively smaller size and square aspect ratio of the display, something familiar to BlackBerry users, is also less conducive to most online content that presumes a tall smartphone screen. The idea behind The Minimal Phone, then, is to still provide the common smartphone experiences but in an environment that would make you want to just get a reply out quickly or search for the correct information and then stop.
Kindle Keyboard
Strangely enough, The Minimal Phone almost does a U-turn by squeezing a QWERTY keyboard into the design, which would normally make typing and productivity easier. That said, typing on a slow E Ink screen can be an infuriating experience and would be contrary to the mindfulness that the phone wants to cultivate. A QWERTY keyboard offers a faster and more pleasant experience so that users can swiftly peck out a post and then put The Minimal Phone back in their pocket.
While the theory sounds reasonable, there is still a lot about the implementation that is unknown at this point, other than having a 4,000mAh battery that’s promised to last around 4 days. There will be a custom Android-based OS that will take advantage of the unique form factor and objectives of the design, but there’s no guarantee that Google Play will make its way to the unconventional device. A crowdfunding campaign set to launch next month will judge whether the concept will strike a chord with people tired of noisy smartphones or if it will be just another forgotten attempt at curbing our tendency to be distracted by every ping and buzz.
Are you ready to delve into the latest advancements of macOS 14.3 Sonoma? This version, though modest in size at 13.37 GB, is packed with exciting features and improvements that will enhance your Apple experience. The video below from Half Man Half Tech gives us more details on this update. Let’s explore what macOS 14.3 […]
Spotify will go through massive changes when the European Union's Digital Markets Act goes into full effect on March 7. The audio streaming service says EU residents will finally be able to purchase a Premium subscription or upgrade from Individual to a Duo or a Family plan from within the app itself. Spotify hasn't allowed users to pay for a subscription through Apple's in-app payment system since 2016 and has long been a vocal critic of the 30 percent cut the iPhone-maker takes from app developers. Last year, it even stopped accepting Apple payments altogether — it used to let iOS users who've had a subscription since before 2016 to keep paying through Apple's in-app system.
And since Spotify is launching its own in-app payments, users will also be able to easily purchase audiobooks while browsing titles within the application, as well. Yes, customers will be charged the actual amounts for subscriptions and purchases and will no longer have to pay extra to cover Apple's commission. The users who used to pay through Apple's in-app system were charged $3 on top of Spotify's subscription prices, but EU's DMA prohibits the practice.
In addition to being able to implement its own in-app payment system, Spotify will also be able to put prices in the app. At the moment, it shows a note for its products where the price is supposed to be, telling users that they can't be purchased from within the application. When the DMA takes effect, Spotify will display its products' pricing, and it will also be able to start informing iOS users about deals and promotions from within the application.
"It should be this easy for every single Spotify customer everywhere," the company said in its announcement. "But if you live outside certain markets, you will continue to encounter frustrating roadblocks because of Apple’s ridiculous rules. That's why developers everywhere are continuing to ask other governments to pass their own laws like the DMA."
Spotify
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/spotify-will-launch-its-own-in-app-payment-system-for-ios-users-in-the-eu-110046271.html?src=rss
Spotify will go through massive changes when the European Union's Digital Markets Act goes into full effect on March 7. The audio streaming service says EU residents will finally be able to purchase a Premium subscription or upgrade from Individual to a Duo or a Family plan from within the app itself. Spotify hasn't allowed users to pay for a subscription through Apple's in-app payment system since 2016 and has long been a vocal critic of the 30 percent cut the iPhone-maker takes from app developers. Last year, it even stopped accepting Apple payments altogether — it used to let iOS users who've had a subscription since before 2016 to keep paying through Apple's in-app system.
And since Spotify is launching its own in-app payments, users will also be able to easily purchase audiobooks while browsing titles within the application, as well. Yes, customers will be charged the actual amounts for subscriptions and purchases and will no longer have to pay extra to cover Apple's commission. The users who used to pay through Apple's in-app system were charged $3 on top of Spotify's subscription prices, but EU's DMA prohibits the practice.
In addition to being able to implement its own in-app payment system, Spotify will also be able to put prices in the app. At the moment, it shows a note for its products where the price is supposed to be, telling users that they can't be purchased from within the application. When the DMA takes effect, Spotify will display its products' pricing, and it will also be able to start informing iOS users about deals and promotions from within the application.
"It should be this easy for every single Spotify customer everywhere," the company said in its announcement. "But if you live outside certain markets, you will continue to encounter frustrating roadblocks because of Apple’s ridiculous rules. That's why developers everywhere are continuing to ask other governments to pass their own laws like the DMA."
Spotify
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/spotify-will-launch-its-own-in-app-payment-system-for-ios-users-in-the-eu-110046271.html?src=rss
The world of 3D printing is witnessing a significant shift with the introduction of the NAW 3D Pellet Printer, a device that brings the capabilities of industrial-grade pellet material printing right to your desktop. This new printer is capturing the attention of both professionals and hobbyists alike, as it offers a more versatile and efficient […]
Tesla is reportedly working on compact crossover EV codenamed "Redwood" with production set to start in June 2025, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. The company reportedly sent requests for quotes for the new model to suppliers last year, predicting a weekly production volume of 10,000 vehicles.
The rumor lines up with Elon Musk's comments at a May 2023 shareholder meeting that Tesla was working on two new EV models that could sell up to 5 million a year combined. "Both the design of the products and manufacturing techniques are head and shoulders above anything else that is present in the industry," he said at the time.
Tesla has also been promising a $25,000 car for some time, with Musk dropping the idea then reviving it due to high consumer interest rates (the cheapest Model 3 is $38,990). However, Reuters' sources didn't mention the price of the vehicle set to arrive in 2025.
The report arrives at a convenient time for Tesla, as critics have recently been after the company for sitting on its haunches with the relatively stale Model 3 and Y designs. The timing of any new EVs was one of the most voted questions from investors for Tesla's earnings call, set for this afternoon (January 24).
If the new vehicles live up to Musk's description, they could help allay those concerns. At the same time, Tesla is starting to ship its Cybertruck EV to decidedly mixed reviews, with some users decrying quality issues and others lauding the performance and audacity of the vehicle.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/tesla-is-reportedly-building-a-compact-crossover-codenamed-redwood-103223757.html?src=rss
Tesla is reportedly working on compact crossover EV codenamed "Redwood" with production set to start in June 2025, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. The company is said to have sent requests for quotes for the new model to suppliers last year, predicting a weekly production volume of 10,000 vehicles.
The rumor lines up with Elon Musk's comments at a May 2023 shareholder meeting that Tesla was working on two new EV models that could sell up to 5 million a year combined. "Both the design of the products and manufacturing techniques are head and shoulders above anything else that is present in the industry," he said at the time.
Tesla has also been promising a $25,000 car for some time, with Musk dropping the idea then reviving it due to high consumer interest rates (the cheapest Model 3 is $38,990). However, Reuters' sources didn't mention the price of the vehicle set to arrive in 2025.
The report arrives at a convenient time for Tesla, as critics have recently been after the company for sitting on its haunches with the relatively stale Model 3 and Y designs. The timing of any new EVs was one of the most voted questions from investors for Tesla's earnings call, set for this afternoon (January 24).
If the new vehicles live up to Musk's description, they could help allay those concerns. At the same time, Tesla is starting to ship its Cybertruck EV to decidedly mixed reviews, with some users decrying quality issues and others lauding the performance and audacity of the vehicle.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/tesla-is-reportedly-building-a-compact-crossover-codenamed-redwood-103223757.html?src=rss