Are you ready for Samsung’s summer salvo of foldables, wearables and peripherals? Yes, it’s that time again, and the company’s Unpacked event is likely to share two foldable smartphones, a new Pro wearable, and probably some new software tricks.
Judging by the leaks, it won’t be a major change, but the new Galaxy Z Fold may borrow design cues from the S22 Ultra, ensuring a more contemporary look. The next-generation Galaxy Z Flip, the clamshell, looks even more like its predecessor, so we’re waiting for confirmation of what exactly has changed. This is the series that helps Samsung sell its foldable family to the world; hopefully, the company has ways to capitalize on that enthusiasm. And throw a bigger battery.
Samsung looks set to unveil its Galaxy Watch 5 Pro next week as well. You might not get the knurled bezel of previous Samsung smartwatches, but the Pro would switch from a steel case to a light but strong titanium one. Samsung inadvertently hinted at the Pro name in its Health app, though it didn’t provide any further clues.
Samsung Unpacked airs Wednesday, August 10 at 9:00 ET, and we’re reporting live on all the big reveals. We’ll probably get some new opinions on flip phones.
—Matt Smith
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The Switch continues to approach the status of Nintendo’s best-selling “home console,” with seven Switch games already outselling the Wii U console. That’s thanks to the Switch’s unique hybrid format and a library of ever-growing games with unusually strong third-party support. However, the Switch’s online store isn’t the easiest to navigate, so this guide helps the uninitiated start their journey on the right foot, once again updated for 2022.
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It’s not just based on Star Trek. Well, not quite.
ViacomCBS has revealed that Paramount+ added 3.7 million subscribers in the second quarter, with more than 43 million total users. And this after withdrawing from Russia. The company credited the increase in part to expansions into more countries, including the UK, Ireland and South Korea. Those gains are good, but Paramount+’s total number of subscribers is still small compared to Netflix (220.7 million) and Amazon Prime Video (over 200 million).
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A negative split second may be required to correct the clocks.
TMA
Sure, it sounds like a bleak sci-fi premise, but it’s happening. According to scientists, midnight on June 29 came 1.59 milliseconds earlier than expected. It was the shortest day in more than half a century. Scientists believe that earthquakes, stronger winds during El Niño years, melting and freezing of ice caps, the Moon and climate could all affect the rotation rate. Some have suggested that Chandler’s wobble, a small deviation in the point of Earth’s rotation, may also have an effect.
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People in Ireland and Colombia can try it now.
After months of rumors, Microsoft is starting to test an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate family plan in the wild. Xbox Insiders in Colombia and Ireland can try out the new offer that lets them add up to four more people to their plan, as long as they’re in the same country. These people will have access to all the benefits of Game Pass Ultimate, including a library of hundreds of console, PC and cloud gaming titles. If you’re in either country, you can purchase the Xbox Game Pass — Insider Preview plan from the Microsoft Store, although enrollment is limited.
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The app began a public test of NFTs in feed posts, messages and stories in May.
Once we’ve all collectively sighed, Instagram is doubling down on digital collectibles. After a test launch in May, the app is expanding its NFT features to more than 100 countries in Africa, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and the Americas. Instagram users can include NFTs in their feed and messages, as well as augmented reality stickers in Stories. NFT creators and collectors are automatically tagged for attribution. You can’t buy or sell NFTs on Instagram yet, but the company has hinted that it’s working on a marketplace. Perfect timing, Meta: The non-fungible token (NFT) market has just fallen off a cliff.
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