How does GPT-5.5 compare to Claude Opus 4.7? We take a look at benchmarks, leaderboards, and overall feature set.
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Blog Posts
The Advantages of Regularly Utilizing Your Phone’s Low Power Mode
habits that deplete battery life more quickly, such as keeping apps running in the background or fully charging our phones every night, negatively impacting overall battery longevity over time.
It’s preferable when your phone’s battery endures as long as possible, and one excellent method to achieve this is by activating Low Power Mode. Various phones have different terminologies — Google Pixel refers to it as Battery Saver, while Samsung Galaxy calls it Power saving mode — but they generally function in a similar manner. You’ve likely activated Low Power Mode previously, as your phone alerts you when it drops to 20%. On an iPhone, once your battery reaches 80% charge, it automatically disables the feature.
Low Power Mode isn’t exclusively for low battery situations, however. It serves as a practical feature for extending your phone’s usage time, though it does come with certain trade-offs. Nevertheless, if you don’t require your phone to operate at peak performance and anticipate being without a charger for an extended period, it could be beneficial to keep it in Low Power Mode, even if it isn’t in immediate danger of running out of power.
What Low Power Mode really does
Polaroid’s Latest Photo Printer Serves as an Independent Unit as Well
Polaroid has introduced a photo printer designed for compact instant shots, producing physical images on exclusive Polaroid Hi-Print 3-inch by 3-inch sheets. You can connect pictures from your smartphone’s gallery to the printer using a complimentary app. Additionally, the printer serves as a photo frame. The front features a frame-like cutout that accommodates the 3×3 printed Polaroids. Simply lift the bezel, insert a photo, and snap it back into position.
The simple white aesthetics of the printer are understated, letting the colors of the photo stand out. It can be positioned upright, and images can be easily swapped and personalized in the Hi-Print Polaroid app before being printed. You have the option to customize using editing tools, add stickers and filters, crop as necessary, and include text overlays. This compact Polaroid photo printer is an ideal device for both digital and analog enthusiasts.
It provides swift physical prints of your fully personalized digital images, which can be shared, handed out, or displayed. The Polaroid Hi-Print starter package is priced at $135 and includes 40 sheets of paper. Replacement paper cartridges are available for $25 for 30 sheets, or you can purchase a triple pack for $70. You might also want to check out the trendy new hybrid camera gadget from Fujifilm that has a similar appeal.
Reasons to consider an instant printer
It’s important to mention that there are larger printers in the Polaroid Hi-Print range, such as a 2×3-inch version and a 4×6-inch model. However, these two options lack a built-in frame like the 3×3 Hi-Print. All these portable printers operate similarly to traditional Polaroid cameras, enabling quick photo printing. Instant cameras are nostalgic relics of the ’80s, sure to evoke feelings in “boomers,” although there are still digital-friendly alternatives available from brands like Instax today.
The Polaroid Hi-Print 3×3 is designed to be a supplementary device for your smartphone rather than a complete instant camera and printer. It’s portable, and as long as you have paper cartridges—which contain the ink—you can produce new physical photos nearly anywhere. It features a USB-C rechargeable lithium-ion battery, although there’s no information on battery life. Creating instant memories for sharing is likely the primary reason for wanting one.
Due to its recent release, online feedback is limited, yet the Polaroid Hi-Print has achieved a 4.6-star overall rating on Amazon thus far. The ability to edit images through the app before sending them to the printer—something that was not possible with the original Polaroid—makes it worth considering. Plus, if you happen to possess one of those early models, you might be surprised to find that some ’80s electronics now have significant resale value.
YouTube Mobile Unveils Less Obtrusive Livestream Advertisements, Accompanied by a Drawback
YouTube is introducing a new advertising format for mobile livestreams, designed to reduce ad intrusiveness while preserving video flow. Already trialed on desktop and television, this format shows ads in the lower half of the screen, permitting the livestream to keep running above. However, the livestream’s audio is silenced during the ad, which can be jarring as audiences lose out on immediate commentary and responses. Although this method maintains visual continuity, it hampers the audio experience, resulting in a quiet stream during advertisements. The sole method to eliminate these disruptions is by opting for YouTube Premium.
How Nothing’s Essential Voice Revolutionized Phone Communication by Addressing a Persistent Problem
In the continually changing landscape of technology, Nothing has unveiled a revolutionary tool that aims to alter the way we engage with our devices: Essential Voice. This cutting-edge voice typing tool captures the inherent flow of human speech, accommodating pauses, filler words, and other typical speech patterns without sacrificing transcription accuracy.
For numerous users, voice typing has been a mixed blessing. While it provides the ease of hands-free communication, it frequently falters in capturing the subtleties of human speech. Conventional voice typing tools often struggle when users take a moment to think or insert filler words like “um” or “uh,” which can result in frustrating transcription mistakes that necessitate manual adjustments.
Essential Voice, in contrast, is transforming the landscape. This tool is crafted to comprehend and exclude these natural speech components, delivering a smoother and more human-like transcription experience. By utilizing cutting-edge AI technology, Essential Voice can differentiate between significant content and filler, guaranteeing that the end text is both precise and indicative of the speaker’s intention.
This advancement is especially advantageous for multitaskers who depend on voice typing while partaking in other activities. Whether you’re cooking, driving, or simply have your hands occupied, Essential Voice enables you to communicate with ease, alleviating concerns about transcription mistakes arising from natural speech patterns.
The launch of Essential Voice exemplifies Nothing’s dedication to improving user experience through state-of-the-art technology. By recognizing and accommodating the complexities of human speech, Nothing is leading the way for smarter, more intuitive voice interactions that resonate with our natural communication styles.
As we persist in integrating technology into our everyday lives, tools like Essential Voice signify a crucial advancement in rendering our interactions with devices more intuitive and efficient. With its capability to manage pauses and filler words adeptly, Essential Voice is set to become an indispensable resource for anyone aiming to enhance their digital communication.
Xreal’s Best AR Glasses: Now Only $599
The Xreal One Pro are the companyâs best AR glasses, touting thin optics that keep out reflections so you can enjoy a crisp, contrast-rich image of whatever content youâre watching. Xreal has permanently cut their price from $649 to $599, making them $150 more than its entry-level (but still good) 1S glasses that debuted shortly […]
How Project Maven Introduced the Military to Embrace AI
In the first 24 hours of the assault on Iran, the US military struck more than 1,000 targets, nearly double the scale of the “shock and awe” attack on Iraq over two decades ago. This acceleration was made possible by AI systems that speed up the targeting process. Chief among them is the Maven Smart […]
High-Priced Mac Minis Overrun eBay Due to AI-Induced Shortages
Appleâs sold-out Mac mini is spawning marked-up eBay listings as demand surges for the compact desktop, now favored for running local AI models and tools.
Cornell’s Complimentary iPhone Application Unveils Solutions to Nature’s Springtime Enigmas
### Merlin Bird ID: An Free Application for Bird Identification by Sound
As spring arrives, the melodies of birdsong resonate throughout the environment, leading many to contemplate the different species involved in this natural concert. For those interested in pinpointing these avian performers, the **Merlin Bird ID** application from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology provides an outstanding option without requiring a paid membership.
#### Characteristics of Merlin Bird ID
Merlin Bird ID is freely available on both iPhone and Android devices, featuring an impressive 4.9-star review rating from over 109,000 feedbacks on the App Store. The application employs your geographical location and avian sounds to assist in identifying their species. Users can also capture images of birds to label them; however, many find the Sound ID function especially beneficial for recognizing birds by their calls.
A notable aspect of the app is the **Life List**, enabling users to monitor their bird sightings by date, location, and species. This attribute converts casual birdwatching into a more involved pastime, motivating users to investigate and record their observations.
#### Utilizing Merlin Bird ID
To recognize birds in your backyard or nearby surroundings with the application, simply launch it and allow it to listen to the surrounding sounds. The app will evaluate the audio and offer recommendations for possible matches based on the birds typically seen in your area. This interactive method not only assists in identification but also enriches your comprehension of local avian species.
For those wishing to enhance their birdwatching journey, combining the app with a camera-equipped smart bird feeder can create extra chances to photograph visiting birds, further enhancing the identification experience.
#### Final Thoughts
Merlin Bird ID serves as a significant resource for anyone fascinated by birds, whether you are an experienced ornithologist or a casual nature lover. With its intuitive interface and thorough features, it renders bird identification accessible and enjoyable. To find out more about the app, visit the [Merlin Bird ID website](https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org) or download it at no cost from the [App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/merlin-bird-id-by-cornell-lab/id773457673).
iOS 26.5 Brings New Functionality to Three Well-Known iPhone Apps
iOS 26.5 is arriving shortly with an array of new features for users. Below are the new functionalities being introduced in iOS 26.5 to three widely-used iPhone applications.
## #1: Messages
Apple’s Messages app is set to receive a significant enhancement in iOS 26.5 for RCS messaging. RCS presents the optimal messaging choice for users with green bubbles, offering numerous iMessage-like capabilities that SMS lacks. In iOS 26.5, Apple has incorporated end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging in beta. According to Apple’s fine print:
> End-to-end encryption is in beta and is not accessible for all devices or carriers. Conversations marked as encrypted are secured end-to-end, ensuring that messages remain unreadable during transmission between devices.
Apple had tested this RCS upgrade in iOS 26.4 but withdrew it prior to release. However, they informed testers this would occur, and no similar warning has been issued for iOS 26.5, suggesting the new feature will be included this time.
## #2: Apple Maps
Apple Maps is introducing a helpful feature to the search interface in iOS 26.5. ‘Suggested Places’ is a new functionality that proposes two locations each time you engage with the search field. These recommendations depend on several different criteria:
– Nearby trending locations
– Your previous search history
– “And more” according to Apple
This feature feels like a great enhancement to the search functionality, as it does not congest other areas of the application and serves as an excellent tool for discovery. Ultimately, Apple indicates that one of these ‘Suggested Places’ spots might include promoted locations (e.g., advertisements). However, this is anticipated to have an overall positive impact.
## #3: App Store
The App Store is set to introduce a new option for in-app subscriptions. Apple allows developers to choose which subscription plans they provide, with the most favored being monthly and annual subscriptions. With iOS 26.5, Apple will launch a new subscription alternative that combines elements of these popular plans. It’s an annual subscription divided into 12 monthly payments, or as Apple describes it, a “monthly with 12-month commitment” plan.
From Apple’s developer beta release notes:
> You can specify the billing plan type to use for subscriptions that have a monthly with 12-month commitment billing plan configuration.
This plan could attract more users to enroll for a year of service and obtain a discount while avoiding a significant upfront fee.
