Author: Richard

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Expert Perspectives on the Durability of QLED compared to OLED TVs

OLED and QLED displays. These two technologies lead the premium market. Given their elevated price points, it is reasonable to anticipate longevity, making durability just as significant as image quality when evaluating the two. Although both OLED and QLED provide superb visuals, they vary in the longevity of each panel technology.

QLED televisions typically offer a more extended lifespan compared to OLED variants due to the underlying technology — they utilize inorganic LEDs that endure prolonged usage more effectively. Nonetheless, this does not imply that OLED TVs lack robustness or quality. Their panel traits, however, make gradual deterioration more apparent over time, potentially leading to typical issues.

The disparity in durability between these two television screens is crucial for anyone considering a purchase, as image quality alone does not encompass the entire picture regarding future potential issues. Selecting the appropriate panel technology guarantees that the television remains an effective component of the home without a considerable decline in quality over time.

QLED TVs are resistant to the screen burn-in that impacts OLEDs

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Apple’s Imminent ‘Siri 2.0’ Signifies the Start of a Significant AI Evolution

Apple Intelligence, which debuted in 2024, is set for major progress in 2026, especially with the expected launch of ‘Siri 2.0’ this spring. The recent collaboration between Apple and Google marks a key milestone, expanding beyond Siri to include the next generation of Apple Foundation Models, utilizing Google’s Gemini models and cloud services.

This partnership signifies a strategic transition for Apple, focusing on greatly enhancing its AI capabilities. The official announcement emphasized that the upcoming Siri features are merely the start of a wider effort to advance Apple Intelligence.

With the forthcoming iOS 26.4 update, users should prepare for a new chapter for Siri, although it’s important to manage expectations. Initial features will be released this spring, while more sophisticated functions, like recalling previous conversations and offering proactive suggestions, are slated for introduction at Apple’s annual developer conference in June. This stepwise plan indicates that while the foundation for Siri’s evolution is being established, more significant changes will require time.

Looking to the future, iOS 27 is speculated to unveil numerous significant AI features, including a web search tool powered by AI and a redesigned Siri persona. With Google’s backing, Apple seeks to introduce innovative functionalities that improve the user experience across its devices.

As the AI landscape progresses, Apple’s strategic alliance with Google might reshape its method of engaging with artificial intelligence, promising a more cohesive and intelligent experience for users in the years ahead.

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Amazon’s Best-Selling HDMI Cable Now Offered for Only $7

save you a lot on batteries, this is one you should definitely look into.

Currently, Amazon offers a 3-pack of HDMI 2.0 cables at approximately the same cost as a 4-pack of Red Bull, and they are also highly praised by genuine users — naturally, Amazon holds them in high regard too. In addition to favorable ratings, these cables boast respectable specifications suitable for contemporary devices, and they can accommodate a range of gadgets.

There are numerous Amazon Basics that customers rave about, and if our compilation was slightly more extensive, it could have included the 3-pack of Amazon Basics HDMI Cables. Naturally, before purchasing any new cables for your devices, it’s crucial to ascertain which display port your device utilizes, as this can affect transfer speeds and similar factors when linking to a PC.

Get 30% off Amazon Basics HDMI 2.0 cables

It’s always a good idea to monitor when it’s necessary to replace outdated HDMI cables, but having a few spares is also wise depending on how many electronics you possess that require them. Right now, Amazon is providing its Amazon Basics 6-foot HDMI 2.0 cables in a 3-pack for $7.55, giving you a 30% discount from the usual price of $10.79. There are alternative choices available — in terms of both length and quantity — though not all are discounted.

The Amazon Basics 3-pack of 6-foot HDMI 2.0 cables comes with A Male to A Male ends for connections, and can support a diverse range of devices, including Blu-ray players, Amazon Fire TV, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox 360, and more. With 4K video compatibility up to 60Hz and 2160p, the cables also offer bandwidth support of up to 18Gbps, alongside 3D, Audio

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Meta Persists in VR Initiatives Despite Reduced Goodwill

Meta has encountered a myriad of obstacles over the years, yet the most recent layoffs have marked a turning point for numerous individuals. Between 2019 and 2024, Meta’s app store stood out as a premier platform, integrating user-friendly policies with robust developer partnerships. However, discontent among developers escalated following the launch of App Lab in 2024. The company’s evolving objectives and pursuit of trends have led to substantial upheaval, ultimately resulting in the shutdown of the majority of first-party game development studios on January 13, 2026.

The layoffs have impacted not just Meta’s in-house teams but also external developers. Cloudhead Games and Skydance Games have encountered considerable obstacles, with the latter halting a Harry Potter VR project. Analysts suggest that Meta’s strategies have harmed the VR gaming sector, which previously viewed Meta as a beacon of hope.

Meta seems to be transitioning away from first-party game development towards a marketplace model akin to Valve’s strategy. The organization is also focusing on hardware advancements, intending to boost its smart glasses production. This strategic shift has left numerous developers pondering their prospects with Meta, given the diminishing funding for both AAA and indie projects.

The VR gaming landscape is experiencing a downturn, with fewer widely recognized titles anticipated. Developers are now required to navigate a more unpredictable terrain, meticulously prioritizing their investments and platform selections. Despite these hurdles, the VR community continues to engage with beloved games like Walkabout Mini Golf while looking forward to the subsequent wave of innovation and financial support.

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Leak Indicates Enhanced Battery Serviceability for Pixel 11 Pro Fold

A recent document has revealed a new Google patent that may indicate progress in the battery repair capability of future foldable devices, potentially affecting the forthcoming Pixel 11 Pro Fold. The patent proposes a transition from conventional glued battery configurations to a more repair-friendly design incorporating a metal frame and spring mechanisms for battery security. This advancement seeks to improve the durability and repairability of foldable smartphones, tackling earlier issues highlighted by events like the Pixel 10 Pro Fold’s battery explosion during a durability assessment. Although the patent suggests encouraging developments, it is still unclear if these enhancements will be incorporated into the next Pixel foldable variant.

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Opera One R3 Update Brings Advanced AI for a Better Browsing Experience

would significantly transform within a span of two years. Yet, it has already occurred: In 2025, a plethora of AI-driven browsers debuted, such as Opera Neon, OpenAI’s Atlas, The Browser Company’s Dia, among others. Although each possesses its unique characteristics, they all miss some of the essential features that contribute to a good browsing experience.

In prioritizing AI-driven functionalities, the initial versions of these browsers were devoid of features like bookmarks, favorites, importing extensions, and even the daily commands we typically rely on in a browser that weren’t present in these newcomers. Consequently, Opera is pursuing a different strategy by integrating agentic AI attributes from its Neon experience into its standard offering.

More than a year has passed since the last significant update with Opera One R2, and the Norwegian company has refreshed its primary browser with Opera One R3, which enhances it with several AI features and numerous quality-of-life enhancements for individuals like myself who have moved away from Chrome and Safari in search of a more intelligent experience.

Opera One R3: AI integration, enhanced tab experience, and beyond

A standout feature of Opera One is Tab Islands, enabling you to arrange tabs according to your interests, such as separating your work tabs from your shopping tabs or those related to an upcoming trip. With the R3 update, users have the ability to rename and select new colors to enhance this organization. However, beyond these visual improvements, the AI within the browser can now comprehend the context of these tabs (should you choose) to assist you in various tasks. For instance, the Opera AI functionality can retrieve the timestamp of a You

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Highly Rated Roku Streaming Stick According to User Feedback

you might want to think about opting for a Roku Streaming Stick. These affordable, easy-to-use devices require minimal setup, and once they’re hooked up to Wi-Fi, you can stream your favorite films and series on popular services like Netflix, Disney+, and HBO Max.

There are plenty of tips and tricks to optimize your Roku device, but if you’re aiming to purchase the top Roku Streaming Stick from the outset, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K is the one to grab. With a retail price of $50, the Streaming Stick 4K boasts a 4.7 out of 5 ratings on Amazon, derived from over 94,500 user reviews. Lauded for its straightforward installation and vast array of streaming applications, the Streaming Stick 4K stands out as one of Roku’s finest options for long-distance Wi-Fi connectivity.

This indicates that if your router is not situated in the same room as the Stick, the enhanced Wi-Fi receiver should still deliver minimal loading times and buffering — even for 4K HDR content. Not to mention, the Stick 4K is compatible with HDR formats, including Dolby Vision and HDR10+. If you’re patient enough to wait for a discount, the Streaming Stick 4K has previously fallen below $40, reaching prices as low as $25.

Why the Roku Streaming Stick 4K stands out

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Highly Rated Roku Streaming Stick According to User Feedback
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Verizon Service Disruption: Qualifying Customers Could Obtain Credits

Down Detector). By 10 p.m. EST on January 14, the issue was resolved, and Verizon released an official statement regarding the situation, expressing regret for the disruption and providing a $20 credit that “can be easily claimed by accessing the myVerizon app to accept.”

“This credit isn’t intended to compensate for what occurred. No credit truly can. However, it’s a means of recognizing our customers’ time and demonstrating that this is important to us,” states Verizon’s announcement. In addition to extending apologies and committing to work diligently “around the clock to deliver the exceptional network and service that customers expect from Verizon,” the company does not disclose the reason behind the outage, detail the steps being taken, or indicate plans to avert similar occurrences in the future. The positive aspect is that if you were impacted, like me, you should soon be able to log in to the myVerizon app and receive the credits, if you haven’t already.

It struck many Verizon users as peculiar that their home internet was functioning perfectly, and even the Wi-Fi on their phones, while the mobile network displayed no signal at all — or in some instances, an SOS icon. I was among those affected for several hours on January 14. There was no ability to send or receive text messages, make or receive calls, or manage any data-related activities, at least not over mobile networks.

What led to the January 14 Verizon outage?

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Apple Forced to Strive for Chip Availability and Confront Higher TSMC Costs, Per Report

Apple’s previously dominant status as a TSMC client is encountering new hurdles as the AI surge amplifies GPU demand from firms like NVIDIA and AMD, according to a recent report.

### Fresh report examines the evolving partnership between Apple and TSMC

Tim Culpan reports at Culpium:

When CC Wei visited Cupertino last August, he brought disappointing news for his largest customer. TSMC’s CEO informed Apple’s executives that they would need to accept the biggest price increase in years.

Tim Cook and his team absorbed the news without complaint. Wei had been signaling price increases during earnings calls throughout the past few quarters, and the rising gross margins of the Taiwanese chip manufacturer reflected its growing pricing leverage.

However, this wasn’t the most alarming information, according to my sources.

Apple, which previously maintained a strong presence on TSMC’s customer roster, now finds itself competing for manufacturing capacity. With the ongoing AI boom, and each GPU from clients like Nvidia and AMD occupying a larger space per wafer, the iPhone manufacturer’s chip designs no longer hold guaranteed placement at TSMC’s nearly two dozen fabs.

What Wei likely did not disclose to Cook is that Apple might no longer be his largest customer.

Apple and TSMC have enjoyed a long, mutually beneficial collaboration. Yet, it’s not surprising that the rise of AI is significantly affecting their changing dynamics.

We’ve heard previous reports that hinted at impending changes.

Last fall, there was a China Times report suggesting that the upcoming A20 chip for the iPhone would be considerably more costly for Apple due to TSMC’s price increases.

Additionally, multiple reports have surfaced regarding Apple and Intel renegotiating a partnership to manufacture both Mac and iPhone-class chips. While it’s unlikely that Apple will completely part ways with TSMC, the rumors suggest that Apple now requires a more diversified supply chain than it did previously.

What effects will these adjustments have on consumers? It’s uncertain. However, if the iPhone 18 series turns out to be pricier than its predecessors, we may have a clearer understanding of the reasons.

What are your insights from this report on the relationship between Apple and TSMC? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Budget Android Smartphone Brand Reveals Upcoming Price Hikes

The Nothing Phone 3a Pro, a mid-range Android phone, is depicted.

Wongsakorn 2468/Shutterstock

For several months, there have been indications that smartphone prices will rise in 2026 due to the demands imposed by a flourishing artificial intelligence sector. Sophisticated AI capabilities, similar to those provided by numerous smartphone manufacturers, depend on cloud computing and significant infrastructure funding. The servers that handle some of your prompts necessitate processors, specialized GPUs, RAM, and storage. It appears that memory and flash storage chips designed for iPhones and Android devices are also applicable in AI data centers, leading to a notable increase in demand. Semiconductor companies have raised prices for these components recently, with experts cautioning that certain smartphone manufacturers may need to transfer the additional costs to consumers.

Jump to mid-January, and the British smartphone company Nothing, known for its budget-friendly entry-level and mid-range models, has acknowledged that the price increases are indeed happening. The unsettling news that some Android phone shoppers might have dreaded was communicated directly by Nothing CEO Carl Pei, who shared a detailed post on X entitled, “Why Your Next Smartphone Will Have a Higher Price Tag.”

Just a few weeks ago, IDC analysts cautioned that “the global smartphone market, especially among Android manufacturers, is encountering a challenge in 2026,” in a report outlining the memory scarcity issue. IDC emphasized that smartphone makers focusing on the premium segment, such as Apple and Samsung, are in a more advantageous position compared to those producing low-cost Android devices. Android manufacturers like TCL, Transsion, Realme, Xiaomi, Lenovo, Oppo, Vivo, Honor, or Huawei operate with minimal profit margins, the IDC noted, mentioning that such firms are “likely to face significant hardships.” Their only recourse is to transfer the expense, or part of it, to consumers. Nothing was not specifically mentioned in that report, but the British company is relatively new to the industry compared to more established brands.

Nothing primarily markets affordable Android smartphones

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