how it affects the ecosystem. Cement manufacturing is among the most carbon-heavy industrial activities worldwide. Until we initiate large-scale fabrication of cement-free concrete, it remains a significant contributor to global emissions. To achieve greener urban areas and more sustainable infrastructure, it is essential to comprehend the functionality of these materials.
The Netflix subscription has consistently provided access to global content that viewers might not otherwise experience. I’m clearly not the only one; millions of Netflix users in the U.S. share a similar craving for the streaming service’s international offerings, as shown by the rise of “Fall for Me,” a steamy German film set in picturesque Mallorca, which has reached the #4 position on Netflix’s Top 10 movies chart in the U.S. (as per the app’s daily ranking). Flixpatrol, as it stands, currently ranks the movie at #1 on Netflix — a claim I find hard to believe, given that “KPop Demon Hunters” is still performing exceptionally well and has just set yet another record. But that’s beside the point.
Netflix — at least in its promotional materials — is marketing the new German film (directed by Sherry Hormann) as a blend of “365 Days” and “The Tinder Swindler.” In other words: Picture a tantalizing thriller infused with deception and treachery. The narrative centers around two sisters, a marriage proposal, and a high-end bed-and-breakfast plot that turns out to be questionable. Add in a secretive club manager and the allure of a fleeting romance, and you can begin to understand why this film is rising up the rankings.
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Read More### Apple’s AI Efforts: A Summary of Ongoing Hurdles and Rivals
In recent times, the conversations about Apple’s progress in artificial intelligence (AI) have gained momentum, particularly as fresh reports surface about challenges in their AI endeavors. Common queries arise, such as “What exactly is Apple falling behind on?” or “Catch up? Catch up with what?” These questions reflect an increasing unease among tech fans and industry analysts concerning Apple’s standing in the swiftly shifting AI arena.
Traditionally, there has been a considerable disparity between the theoretical capabilities of AI and their real-world applications for average users. Nonetheless, this gap is closing as breakthrough AI features become increasingly available and beneficial. The excitement around AI tools, especially chatbots and sophisticated applications, is now being bolstered by concrete instances of AI improving user experiences in everyday settings.
#### Key AI Features from Rivals
Two key instances demonstrate how rivals are employing AI to boost productivity and user interaction, showcasing areas where Apple seems to be falling behind.
##### 1. **COPILOT Feature in Excel**
Microsoft has rolled out a trial feature known as the **COPILOT** function in Excel, which is currently being distributed in its Beta Channel. This feature enables users to incorporate prompts directly into their formulas, allowing the AI to assist with intricate calculations and data management. This capability marks a substantial productivity enhancement, making advanced tools accessible to a wider demographic, including those not skilled in spreadsheet use.
Though still in beta, the promise of the COPILOT function is evident, particularly for users of Apple’s Numbers app. The contrast between Microsoft’s offerings and Apple’s current capabilities raises concerns about Apple’s competitiveness in this domain.
##### 2. **Magic Cue by Google**
At a recent presentation, Google introduced **Magic Cue**, a feature intended to improve communication through anticipatory suggestions. This tool integrates effortlessly into Google Messages, offering users contextually appropriate replies based on details from their emails or calendar events. For example, if a user asks for an address related to an event, Magic Cue can automatically propose the pertinent information.
This function, which works locally on the device, is exclusive to the forthcoming Pixel 10 series. Although it is not yet launched, Google’s continual provision of cutting-edge features via its Gemini AI platform establishes it as a strong competitor in the AI field.
#### Apple’s Current Status
As competitors like Microsoft and Google persist in deploying advanced AI features, Apple seems to be struggling with its AI approach. Reports suggest that Apple is still figuring out how to successfully weave AI into its ecosystem, leaving users pondering the prospects of AI in Apple’s offerings.
The question persists: what AI-driven features do users hope Apple will introduce as integral functionalities? As the AI landscape progresses, Apple will need to confront these hurdles to uphold its competitive advantage and satisfy user demands.
### Conclusion
The present condition of Apple’s AI efforts underscores a pivotal moment for the corporation. As competitors achieve major advancements in offering practical AI solutions, Apple must hasten its initiatives to innovate and incorporate AI into its products. The craving for advanced AI capabilities is evident, and how Apple reacts to this challenge will influence its trajectory in the technology sector.
Read MoreApple’s iPhone 17 event is officially imminent. As new devices are introduced, Apple is expected to retire seven products currently available for sale.
The iPhone 17 is the main attraction of the event. With the launch of four new iPhones, it’s anticipated that Apple will cease selling three existing iPhone models in its store.
Earlier this year, Apple phased out the outdated iPhone SE in favor of the more contemporary iPhone 16e. It’s expected that Apple will continue to update its budget-friendly iPhone annually, so it will remain for now.
Nevertheless, it’s likely that Apple will discontinue both the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus after the iPhone 17 event wraps up. While other retailers may still stock these two models, don’t expect Apple to retain them in its inventory. If this happens, every iPhone offered by Apple will support Apple Intelligence for the first time.
Looking at the iPhone lineup, we anticipate that both the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will stay available. Apple usually maintains its two standard flagship models with a $100 price reduction. iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air will take their positions in the new lineup.
Next are the Pro models. Apple will stop selling both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. These will be replaced by the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Instead of reducing the price of its older Pro models, Apple simply removes them from sale.
To summarize, we should expect four iPhones to be discontinued on September 9: the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
The upcoming iPhone lineup will likely be as follows:
– iPhone 16e starting at $599
– iPhone 16 starting at $699
– iPhone 16 Plus starting at $799
– iPhone 17 starting at $799
– iPhone 17 Air starting at $949
– iPhone 17 Pro starting at $1,049
– iPhone 17 Pro Max starting at $1,199
This reflects the rumored $50 price increase for double the storage on the iPhone 17 Pro and the $50 premium for the iPhone 17 Air over the original iPhone 16 Plus price. One analyst forecasted the iPhone 17 Pro Max could be priced at $1,249, which is also a possibility. Any additional changes would be unexpected.
For the other three products set to exit next month, we have the Apple Watch Series 10, Apple Watch Ultra 2, and potentially the AirPods Pro 2.
Apple consistently updates its Series model watches, and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 replaced the original Ultra model two years ago. The AirPods Pro 2 succeeded the original AirPods Pro, but both AirPods 2 and AirPods 3 were sold concurrently until two versions of AirPods 4 were released. One unexpected twist could involve the AirPods Pro 2 remaining available at the same or lower price should the AirPods Pro 3 be priced higher.
The Apple Watch SE (second-gen) is now as outdated as the initial SE was at its replacement time, but there’s not much discussion around that at the moment.
For now, we can reasonably forecast that Apple will discontinue four iPhones, two Apple Watch models, and one version of AirPods.
In case you did not catch it, Apple announced its iPhone 17 event today with the tagline “Awe dropping.” As anticipated, the event is scheduled for September 9. 9to5Mac will be at Apple Park covering all announcements related to the event.
Read MoreApple’s iPhone 17 event is officially scheduled for September 9. For those eager early adopters, the slim iPhone 17 Air will undoubtedly be considered alongside the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. Here are five benefits the iPhone 17 Pro will possess over the eye-catching new Air model.
## Battery Life
This shouldn’t be surprising, but it’s an important distinction nonetheless. The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are anticipated to provide noticeably superior battery life compared to the ultra-slim iPhone 17 Air. This would hold true even if Apple made no alterations to the Pro lineup this year. However, specifically for the Pro Max, the gap is expected to widen this year. Reports suggest Apple aims to make the 17 Pro Max even thicker this year to accommodate a larger battery than ever before. There’s no instance where the 17 Air will approach that kind of capacity.
## Rear Camera System
Apple’s Pro models will still boast the finest rear camera systems. This year, for the iPhone 17 series, here’s what that will entail:
– iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max: 48MP Main, Telephoto, and Ultra Wide cameras
– iPhone 17 Air: 48MP Main camera
Indeed, Apple’s new Air model will feature only a single rear camera.
## Anti-Reflective Display
Apple has been swiftly increasing its implementation of nano-texture displays that diminish glare over the past few years. Now, the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are rumored to incorporate their anti-reflective technology. While it likely won’t match nano-texture exactly, it should provide similar advantages. The iPhone 17 Air, on the other hand, is not expected to feature an anti-reflective display. However, it is anticipated to receive always-on and 120Hz variable refresh rate capabilities that were previously exclusive to Pro models.
## Fully Powered A19 Pro Chip
Speculation suggests that the iPhone 17 Air and Pro models will be surprisingly alike in specifications. Both are set to include 12GB of RAM, for instance, and even feature the A19 Pro chip. If maximum performance is your goal, however, the Pro models will hold an advantage. The A19 Pro chip in the iPhone 17 Air is rumored to be a binned version with one GPU core turned off. Therefore, to achieve the complete GPU count, one would need the iPhone 17 Pro or Pro Max.
## Wildcard: Reverse Wireless Charging
Reports indicate that Apple has evaluated reverse wireless charging in its iPhone 17 Pro models. This feature is anticipated to be exclusive to Pro models and would enable you to charge other Apple devices placed on the back of your iPhone. This is the latest rumor concerning the iPhone 17 Pro, and some skepticism is warranted. Nevertheless, it would certainly serve as another excellent way to utilize the additional battery benefits of the Pro Max this year.
Are you more intrigued by the iPhone 17 Air, Pro, or Pro Max? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Read MoreDev Channel update for Windows Insiders. As stated in the announcement, Microsoft is gradually deploying the functionality as part of Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5761 (KB5064093), and it will also be accessible to users with the latest beta channel builds.
Initially, the feature will be somewhat restricted, primarily enabling you to continue listening to music on Spotify between your Android device and Windows 11 PC. From the phrasing in the blog entry, it appears that the feature will necessitate the Spotify app available in the Microsoft Store. If you haven’t installed it yet, Microsoft mentions that clicking the notification will initiate a “1-click download” to obtain the app from the store. Naturally, you’ll need to be logged into the same Spotify account on both devices.
It’s important to mention that the capability to resume music playback on Spotify between a PC and Android device is already integrated into the app through a functionality known as Spotify Connect. However, this approach should facilitate the process and integrate it more seamlessly into your PC environment. You will need to ensure your device is linked via Bluetooth through Phone Link. It is feasible to utilize Phone Link without Bluetooth, but its capabilities are more constrained, and you’re likely already connected if you’re using Microsoft’s phone mirroring feature.
Although this is currently a weak imitation of Apple’s Handoff feature, it represents a
Read Morebrowser utilizing the Amazon Fire TV Stick.
With the Fire Stick, you have the ability to manage your TV’s sound level. This proves beneficial if you possess multiple remotes. Handling all functions of your TV solely through the Fire Stick simplifies the experience and prevents any conflict between two different remotes conveying opposing signals to your television.
To adjust your TV’s volume using the Fire Stick remote, you first need to sync the remote with your television. Following this, navigate to your TV’s Settings to authorize it to manage the sound. Occasionally, complications may arise, so it’s important to verify factors such as battery levels or the status of the HDMI-CEC port being turned on for optimal remote functionality.
This is a significant issue that is affecting certain users daily.
Key points to note:
– Users on Reddit have highlighted a troubling bug related to One UI 8’s DND (do not disturb) feature on Samsung’s newest foldable devices.
– This bug is making their specific DND preferences revert, such as allowing calls, texts, and particular app notifications to come through.
– One user mentions that “every few days,” their settings will revert, leading them to unknowingly overlook essential calls and texts.
Samsung users with the brand’s latest foldable devices are encountering an unsightly issue with One UI 8 that’s creating substantial difficulties.
A post by SamMobile emphasizes problems that users have begun reporting repeatedly on the Galaxy Fold and One UI subreddits. The original poster (OP) on the Fold subreddit indicates that their DND (do not disturb) settings will “reset every few days” automatically, which is causing significant disruptions in their daily routine. DND, naturally, would silence notifications from interrupting you if you’re occupied or otherwise engaged.
However, the user explains, “I have different exemptions set on Do Not Disturb,” but it proves ineffective since One UI 8 resets those exemptions independently at times. The user mentions they are using a Galaxy Z Fold 7, which operates on One UI 8. Two additional users have contributed to the discussion, sharing similar experiences, with one stating it’s “troubling me daily.”
This situation is resulting in users missing crucial notifications, as with DND enabled, you can choose to mute calls, texts, app alerts, and alarms. The OP likely had these more vital notifications enabled (calls, texts), but due to DND resetting, they’re missing them. A user referenced this Galaxy Fold subreddit concern on the One UI subreddit, indicating they may have discovered a temporary solution.
They noted that they set up a Routine on their device to activate DND only while charging. They assert that since implementing this, “the settings no longer reset.”
Software Bugs
The publication conducted its own tests with its Fold 7 and observed that the same bug was affecting them. After enabling DND and configuring their exemptions, the software would revert those settings, silencing their calls, texts, alerts, and more once again. These reports will undoubtedly draw Samsung’s attention, but the timeline for an appropriate fix remains uncertain.
In addition to unusual bugs in One UI 8, during the fourth beta phase, users reported a peculiar purple hue on their moon photos. This bug affected Galaxy S25 Ultras participating in the test. Furthermore, it only occurred when users zoomed in by 30x, 50x, or 100x with the Intelligent Optimization feature enabled. Samsung appeared quick to address this issue, urging users to utilize its Samsung Members app to provide thorough feedback.
More recently, we’ve received One UI 8 Beta 5, which is (hopefully) indicating that we’re nearing a full release. The 1.78GB update encompasses several software improvements and the August security patch for testers.
Read MoreThe enhancements for Gemini come from a newly developed model by DeepMind.
Google has introduced a substantial update aiming to enhance the possibilities for photo editing within Gemini.
This morning (Aug 26), Google announced via a blog entry that the Gemini app’s integrated AI image editor is getting an upgrade that allows for unique modifications based on user prompts. The key feature of this update is that the improved image editing in Gemini results from a novel model from Google DeepMind. Google emphasizes that users only need to provide an image for Gemini to modify.
Users are able to utilize Gemini’s enhanced prompt-driven photo editing in multiple ways.
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Samsung’s upcoming Ultra model might feature subtle design adjustments that enhance the ease of holding it. Although earlier leaks have hinted at what’s inside the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, this information specifically emphasizes its ergonomics and “in-hand” comfort.
Well-known leaker Ice Universe shared on X that the forthcoming Samsung S26 Ultra may exhibit even rounder corners compared to its earlier model, mentioning that the “four corners of the S26 Ultra’s body have become rounder.”
Samsung previously maintained sharp edges with its past Ultra versions, including the Galaxy S22 Ultra, Galaxy S23 Ultra, and Galaxy S24 Ultra; however, it embraced the rounded design with the new Galaxy S25 Ultra, moving away from its “Note-like” corner style, which some users criticized for being hard to handle.
A poll conducted by PhoneArena revealed that more than 52% of participants preferred seeing design modifications; while some believe the rectangular design of the S24 Ultra was “unique,” the S25 Ultra’s rounded edges were widely considered a significant enhancement for comfort.
It appears that Samsung aims to confer an even more luxurious appearance to the Ultra, reminiscent of the Galaxy S25 Edge, which felt exceptionally sleek in hand. However, the transition to rounded edges raises concerns about the phone slipping from your grip, as a smoother, rounder surface can sometimes feel less secure, and with a high-end device like the Ultra, a drop could be quite costly.
As indicated by earlier leaks, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra may retain its predecessor’s 5,000mAh battery, and another certification reportedly given for the device reinforces that the battery capacity may not be seeing an increase.
Sam Mobile seems to have identified the upcoming Ultra being examined by China’s Quality Certification Center this week, with its battery labeled as “EB-BS948ABY,” indicating a rated capacity of 4,855mAh, similar to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
However, it’s not entirely negative; the charging speed of the new Galaxy S26 Ultra could potentially rise to 60W fast charging. If this is accurate, it would mark the fastest charging speed ever achieved on a Galaxy flagship.
