Author: Richard

Google’s AI-Driven Concept Board Unveils Presentation Creation with Nano Banana Pro

Mixboard is capable of generating a visual deck or a presentation in read-only format using AI.

(Image credit: Google)

Essential information

  • The latest version of Mixboard, an experimental AI planning tool from Google, utilizes Nano Banana Pro.
  • Nano Banana Pro takes your concepts from Mixboard to create a presentation or slide deck.
  • Users have the option to select styles and provide text prompts for Nano Banana Pro, which will prepare the deck in approximately 20 minutes.

Notice

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Will Smith and Charlton Heston: Leading Actors in Different Adaptations of a Post-Apocalyptic Book

although this is how the majority of life on Earth is destined to conclude. The cinema has showcased numerous apocalyptic scenarios, alongside several post-apocalyptic series available on streaming platforms. One narrative that has been revisited numerous times stems from a Richard Matheson novel published in 1954. The pioneering sci-fi horror book “I Am Legend” chronicles the journey of Robert Neville, the sole survivor of a virus that has decimated most of humanity and transformed others into what he perceives to be vampires. At the forefront of the undead is Ben Cortman, Neville’s previous neighbor, who relentlessly attempts to persuade Neville to embrace the new order. It’s a brief, profoundly grim read that intertwines science with the supernatural, featuring a tragic protagonist caught in between.

In 1964, the tale was adapted into “The Last Man on Earth,” featuring Vincent Price. Regrettably, the result didn’t meet Matheson’s expectations, prompting him to request the removal of his name from the film and to be credited under the pseudonym Logan Swanson. Fortunately, Hollywood and viewers were somewhat more favorable towards the later adaptations. In 1971, Charlton Heston led “The Omega Man,” and eventually, a few decades afterward, we saw “I Am Legend” with Will Smith. While both films retained the essential theme of one man versus the world, they explored Matheson’s haunting story in distinctly different manners, introducing very different types of monsters along the way.

The Omega Man featured Charlton Heston defeating cultists in California

<div class="slide-key image-holder gallery-image-holder credit-image-wrap" data-post-url="https://www.bgr.com/2045684/will-smith-charlton-heston-i-am-legend-the-omega-man-adaptations/" data-post-title="Will Smith And Charlton Heston Starred In Two Different Adaptations Of The Same Post-Apocalyptic Novel"

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TicWatches Vanish from Retailers as Mobvoi Concentrates on AI, Further Diminishing the Wear OS Ecosystem

The Mobvoi TicWatch Atlas, introduced in 2024, signifies the newest and possibly last addition to Mobvoi’s smartwatch range. Although it debuted with Wear OS 4, the Atlas has not yet been upgraded to Wear OS 5 nor does it support Google’s Gemini, underscoring Mobvoi’s persistent difficulties in delivering timely software updates. The firm has encountered obstacles in keeping pace with advancements in Wear OS, a predicament worsened by the supremacy of Google and Samsung in the smartwatch domain. As Mobvoi pivots its attention towards home fitness and AI innovations, the TicWatch series has started to vanish from both retailers and the company’s website, indicating a likely withdrawal from the smartwatch market. This pattern mirrors broader challenges within the Wear OS community, where companies like Fossil and Tag Heuer have also exited, leaving Google, Samsung, OnePlus/Oppo, and Xiaomi as the remaining contenders. Mobvoi’s prospects in wearables remain ambiguous, as the company only offers minimal support for existing devices while venturing into new AI technology initiatives.

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Amazon Alerts Millions of Customers Regarding Possible Security Threats

USA Today addressed the issue, with Christy Vargas from Amazon’s public relations division stating, “We will keep investing in consumer protection and public education on how to avoid scams. We urge consumers to report any suspected scams to us so we can safeguard their accounts and notify law enforcement about malicious actors to help ensure consumer safety.”

Interestingly, Amazon’s awareness initiatives have coincided with a recent public service announcement (PSA) from the FBI, which cautioned consumers to remain vigilant against account takeover fraud (ATO). While the bureau’s advisory emphasized attackers posing as customer service and tech support representatives from financial institutions, the strategies employed by these fraudsters are akin to those recognized by Amazon.

Warning signs to be aware of

How to Effectively Utilize Siri on the iPhone 17

there are several concealed functionalities you can access to enhance your experience with Siri’s partnership with Apple Intelligence.

One of the most exciting advancements is Siri’s capacity to grasp context. For instance, imagine you’re looking up showtimes for a re-release of “Babe: Pig in the City.” Just as you inquire about showtimes, you begin to ponder how the movie was received by critics in 1998. Rather than restating the film’s title in a new question, you can straightforwardly ask, “Did the film receive positive reviews upon its initial release?” Siri comprehends the context and provides the information — no additional steps needed.

Remember that Apple Intelligence is still technically in beta, even with over a year of limited release. This indicates that the contextual features are still developing. Not all apps are compatible yet, but updates in the future are expected to broaden support.

Type, tap, or ask — Siri’s here for you

MKBHD Chooses iPhone 17 as Smartphone of the Year

The victors of this year’s MKBHD Smartphone Awards have just been announced, with Apple achieving four accolades across 10 categories, one of which isn’t particularly commendable. Here are the specifics.

### Three Devices Earn Four Recognitions

Whether you appreciate or dislike MKBHD’s annual endeavor of equally annoying smartphone enthusiasts from all sides, the reality is that his Smartphone Awards provide a fascinating glimpse into the ever-flattening landscape of the smartphone industry.

Although much of the spotlight typically falls on the winners, he consistently offers considered observations on the runners-up and his decision-making methodology, often emphasizing merits and drawbacks that prove to be more enlightening than the award itself.

For this reason, his Smartphone Awards 2025 video is definitely worth watching, beyond simply identifying the winners in each category.

That being said, if you simply want to get to the point without the background or knowing which devices competed against each iPhone, Apple secured four selections this year:

– Best Design Award for the iPhone Air
– Most Improved for the iPhone 17
– Bust of the Year for the iPhone 16e
– Phone of the Year for the iPhone 17

While discussing his selection of the iPhone 17 for this year’s top honor, Marques Browlee remarked that this phone “leveled up to be the most complete and actually kind of a great deal,” given that it finally features a 120 Hz display, along with the chip and camera enhancements.

Again, make sure to view the complete video, as it presents a thorough overview of the smartphone market’s current state, including some forward-looking insights on foldables and prevailing trends.

What’s your opinion on MKBHD’s choices? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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iPhone 16 Dominates Q3 2025 Sales, Apple Holds 5 of the Top 10 Best-Selling Gadgets

**Apple and Samsung Lead Global Smartphone Sales in Q3 2025**

A new analysis from Counterpoint Research indicates that Apple has reaffirmed its dominance in the global smartphone arena, with the iPhone 16 topping sales for the third consecutive quarter. This piece offers a comprehensive overview of the latest data.

### Apple and Samsung at the Forefront

The analysis reveals that the iPhone 16 accounted for 4% of the overall smartphone volume share last quarter. Apple has made considerable progress compared to last year, when it occupied four places in the top 10. This year, Apple secured five positions, reflecting its robust market influence.

The highest-selling models for Apple in Q3 2025 are:
1. **iPhone 16**
2. **iPhone 16 Pro**
3. **iPhone 16 Pro Max**
4. **iPhone 16e**
5. **iPhone 17 Pro Max** (ranked #10 despite constrained availability towards the quarter’s conclusion)

This achievement is due to various factors, including effective holiday promotions in India and a continued recovery in Japan, which helped offset the usual seasonal drop associated with new iPhone releases.

### Competitive Landscape

Though Apple led the rankings, Samsung also made an impact. The Galaxy A16 5G was the top-selling Android smartphone this quarter. The rivalry between these two technology leaders continues to influence the smartphone market, with both firms innovating to win over consumers.

### Market Trends and Future Predictions

Counterpoint Research highlights that last semester’s sales were driven by consumers looking to upgrade their smartphones post-COVID-19 pandemic. Moving forward, the report anticipates that AI capabilities are set to foster growth in the mid-range category, possibly affecting future rankings.

For more detailed information, you can view the full report from Counterpoint Research

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Apple Fitness+ Broadens Market Presence and Launches Dubbed Workout Offerings

Following reports that Apple is dissatisfied with the subscriber numbers for Apple Fitness+ and is uncertain about the service’s future direction, the company has unveiled a considerable expansion of its fitness program to 28 new markets, along with the addition of dubbed episodes in three new languages. This initiative aims to enhance the service’s accessibility to a wider audience while preserving its position as one of the most innovative fitness programs available.

As stated in a press release, Apple Fitness+ will launch in Chile, Hong Kong, India, the Netherlands, Norway, the Philippines, Poland, Singapore, Sweden, Taiwan, Vietnam, and 17 other countries and regions beginning December 15. Customers in Japan can expect support early next year.

“Thanks to its smooth integration with Apple devices, Fitness+ has motivated users to lead healthier lives each day,” declared Jay Blahnik, Apple’s vice president of Fitness Technologies. “From experiencing real-time, personalized metrics directly onscreen with Apple Watch or AirPods Pro 3, to being able to take the service with you wherever you are on iPhone or iPad, we’re providing unparalleled motivation to users. We couldn’t be more thrilled to extend this experience to even more users worldwide with our largest expansion to date.”

Apple Fitness+ has seen considerable enhancements over the last five years. Starting December 15, the company will roll out its most significant feature yet: dubbed workout programs. These digitally dubbed versions of workouts and meditations will be offered in Spanish and German, with Japanese dubbing to follow early next year as the service becomes available in Japan.

The dubbed workouts and meditations will feature the actual voices of each of the 28 Fitness+ trainers. While this approach enables a broader audience to engage with the workouts, it is noteworthy that Apple opted for a Workout Buddy-like method rather than hiring actual individuals for dubbing. This decision comes despite Apple’s recent focus on human-driven projects over AI, as evidenced by their new Apple TV service launch and holiday film.

Moreover, Apple is tackling one of the main challenges faced by the Fitness+ service by advancing beyond subtitles to provide dubbed programs. The company also intends to incorporate K-pop into its workout options.

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New AirPods Configuration in iOS 26 Tackles Frequent Bluetooth Problems

### iOS 26 Unveils ‘Keep Audio with Headphones’ Feature for AirPods

iOS 26 has introduced a range of new functionalities for AirPods, one notable feature that might go unnoticed is the ‘Keep Audio with Headphones’ option. This capability enables users to stop their AirPods’ audio from being automatically redirected to other Bluetooth devices, including in-vehicle audio systems.

#### Comprehending the Problem

Numerous AirPods users have faced the irritating situation of their audio unexpectedly relocating to adjacent Bluetooth devices. This often happens without any input from the user, resulting in sudden loud sound from the speakers rather than the desired private listening experience via the AirPods. This issue can be especially disruptive during car audio use.

#### The Fix: ‘Keep Audio with Headphones’

With the launch of iOS 26, Apple has presented a remedy to this enduring issue. The ‘Keep Audio with Headphones’ feature is crafted to ensure that audio playback continues through AirPods or other wireless headphones, even when other Bluetooth gadgets try to link to the iPhone.

To activate this feature on an iPhone with iOS 26, users can adhere to these steps:

1. Launch the **Settings** application.
2. Select **General**.
3. Choose **AirPlay & Continuity**.
4. Switch on **Keep Audio with Headphones**.

Apple portrays this feature as a means to guarantee that audio stays with the headphones when other devices, like speakers or cars, connect to the iPhone.

#### User Choices and Consequences

Although the ‘Keep Audio with Headphones’ option is disabled by default, it grants users increased authority over their audio experience. Some users might favor the earlier automatic switching behavior, which is why Apple decided to keep this feature off at first. Nevertheless, many users are likely to value the ability to avert unwanted audio disruptions.

This feature may also enhance Apple’s improvements to CarPlay, providing a more fluid audio experience when utilizing AirPods alongside in-car systems.

#### Summary

The launch of the ‘Keep Audio with Headphones’ feature in iOS 26 is a beneficial update for AirPods users who have encountered audio hijacking problems with Bluetooth devices. By offering users the choice to manage their audio flow, Apple improves the overall user experience and tackles a prevalent annoyance. Users are encouraged to turn on this setting to experience continuous audio through their AirPods.

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The Effect of Aged Text Messages on Android Device Performance

slow down your device when the storage space is limited.

As individuals have primarily transitioned from standard text messaging to instant messaging platforms and social media applications like WhatsApp, Signal, Instagram, and Snapchat for conversing and sharing media with friends, the Messages application on Android devices is now predominantly utilized for verifying one-time passwords, delivery updates, and two-factor authentication.

Frequently, the application becomes cluttered with messages from financial institutions, insurance providers, retailers, travel services, and various businesses. Promotional messages typically encompass several megabytes of information. Unwanted messages further contribute to the issue. These messages often include heavy attachments like images and link previews. When they accumulate over months, they consume substantial storage and increase the burden on the Messages application, which in turn slows down your device as well.

Reasons messages are bulkier than previously and tips for managing them