Tag: Source: Androidcentral.com

The Reading Mode feature on the 17 Ultra has changed the way I utilize my phone.

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Here’s what’s coming next from the E-Ink tablet manufacturer mindful of screen fatigue.

Boox has revealed the introduction of the Go 10.3 (Gen 2) E-Ink tablet, crafted with screen fatigue considerations. The tablet comes in two variants: the Lumi, featuring a backlight, and the Standard, which provides a classic ink-on-surface experience. The Lumi variant includes adjustable dual-tone front lights that offer cool daylight and warm amber shades, while the Standard variant delivers remarkable clarity in direct sunlight.

The Go 10.3 (Gen 2) is impressively slender, with the Standard version at only 4.6mm thick. In spite of its sleek design, the tablet houses a 3,700mAh battery, ensuring weeks of usage on one charge, not counting connectivity consumption. Both versions are accompanied by an InkSense Plus stylus, which supports 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt detection, enriching the writing experience.

On the inside, the tablet operates on Android 15 and provides access to the Google Play Store, making it adaptable for reading and productivity purposes. It is powered by an Octa-core processor for enhanced multitasking capabilities and app performance, comes equipped with 64GB of storage, and is compatible with 26 digital file formats. The NeoReader app is also included, offering customizable reading and annotation features.

The Boox Go 10.3 (Gen 2) is priced at $449 for the Lumi variant and $429 for the Standard variant, available for consumers in the U.S.

The newest upgrade to Spotify’s Wear OS application brings along a variety of enhancements aimed at elevating the user experience on smartwatches. Major features encompass swipe gestures, an upgraded player interface, and faster access to vital functionalities. The update, set to roll out in the upcoming days, intends to make navigation more user-friendly and features directly accessible from the wrist.

A highlight of this update is the new Music-First Mode, which showcases album artwork and grants users the ability to control playback through gestures. A single tap will play or pause the music, while a double tap skips to the following track. This gesture-based control marks a first for smartwatch music applications and is anticipated to greatly improve user interaction.

Moreover, the app now enables users to navigate Home, Search, Library, and Downloads straight from their smartwatch, removing the necessity of using a phone for these tasks. This update transforms the Wear OS app from merely a playback control screen into a far more extensive music management instrument.

The revamped interface also introduces a new button on the playback screen for handling queues, setting sleep timers, or accessing a comprehensive context menu. These enhancements are part of Spotify’s continuous initiatives to improve the Wear OS experience, with additional updates scheduled for the forthcoming months.

To utilize these new features, users must update to the latest version of the app via the Google Play Store. As Spotify keeps innovating, these updates are projected to make music streaming on smartwatches more fluid and enjoyable.

Best Buy’s Techfest is taking $300 off the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL.

POCO has collaborated once more with Marvel to unveil a limited-edition phone, continuing the legacy of last year’s acclaimed model. The newest partnership introduces the POCO X8 Pro Iron Man Edition, an eye-catching device that distinguishes itself with its distinctive design and features.

The POCO X8 Pro Iron Man Edition belongs to the fresh X8 series, which comprises the X8 Pro and X8 Pro Max. These smartphones are currently available in major markets, including the U.K. and India. The X8 Pro starts at £289 ($385) in the U.K. and ₹33,999 ($367) in India for the 8GB/256GB variant. In contrast, the Iron Man edition is retailing at $399 and is offered in a 12GB/512GB configuration, priced at ₹43,999 ($476) in India.

This year’s Iron Man edition showcases a striking appearance featuring Iron Man clad in black-and-gold armor alongside the Stark Industries logo. The gold detailing imparts a level of sophistication, making the device a showstopper. It is presented in a special box accompanied by Marvel-themed accessories, such as a custom case, enhancing the unboxing experience.

The POCO X8 Pro Iron Man Edition features a compact 6.59-inch display, providing a more comfortable grip in comparison to its predecessor. The rear of the phone presents a smooth texture, with the camera housing being designed with minimalism in mind, ensuring the Iron Man theme remains the focal point. Additionally, the device includes a metal mid-frame, contributing to a premium feel.

On the inside, the phone is equipped with the Dimensity 8500 Ultra chipset, delivering strong performance for a mid-range smartphone. The robust 6,500mAh battery guarantees all-day use, and the phone supports 100W fast charging via USB PD, facilitating rapid charging with compatible chargers.

The POCO X8 Pro Iron Man Edition also features customized icons and software effects, further enhancing its distinctive charm. Although the camera setup does not match that of flagship models, it still provides satisfactory performance within its category.

In summary, the POCO X8 Pro Iron Man Edition represents an appealing choice for Marvel fans and individuals in search of a unique smartphone. With its striking design and solid performance, it presents an enticing option for consumers within the mid-range market.

**Android Central Verdict: OPPO Find N6**

**Rating: 4 out of 5 stars**

With the Find N6, OPPO is demonstrating its supremacy in the foldable market — this is undoubtedly the finest foldable available today. A significant factor contributing to that is the crease-free design for the inner display; the absence of a noticeable crease is a major advantage, making the Find N6 render the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Pixel 10 Pro Fold feel obsolete. Additionally, the Find N6 features the latest hardware, exceptional cameras with Hasselblad enhancements, a substantial 6,000mAh battery that comfortably lasts throughout the day, and highly adaptable software crafted to leverage the foldable space. In fact, there isn’t a single aspect of the foldable that I dislike, and that in itself is a remarkable feat; the only downside is that the Find N6 isn’t set to launch outside of Asia. If you plan to switch to a foldable in 2026, there truly isn’t anything that surpasses this.

**Pros:**
– Creaseless inner display offers a notable advantage
– Stunning design that’s enjoyable to hold and operate
– Outstanding cameras
– Superior internals and battery performance
– Vibrant OLED screens inside and outside
– Practical multitasking capabilities

**Cons:**
– Not being released outside Asia
– Lacks IP68/IP69 ingress protection

Another beta is commencing for Premium subscribers, focusing on taste.

Spotify’s new beta updates spotlight Taste Profile, a feature that enables users to view how the platform interprets their musical preferences and allows them to manage it. Taste Profile will provide an overview of a user’s recent artists and genres, while offering a text box for users to indicate what they want more or less of. Recent enhancements for Spotify include offline lyrics and a Prompted Playlists beta for the United States and Canada.

Spotify’s method for assessing your musical tastes for recommendations is receiving an upgrade following a beta that is set to launch soon.

In a Newsroom announcement, Spotify revealed its plans to initiate a Taste Profile beta in a selected international market. Right from the start, Spotify states that Taste Profile will serve as the user’s direct gateway to understanding how the platform perceives their music listening preferences. It further explains, “Taste Profile is meant to capture new facets of your taste, like your ongoing interests and habits.” As part of its initiative to enhance personalization and “transparency,” Spotify mentions that users in this beta can adjust their Taste Profile.

A brief video demonstrated that, upon entering the Taste Profile beta, Premium testers in New Zealand will observe a complete breakdown. This breakdown will feature your “recent taste,” including artists you’ve favored and genres. Nevertheless, the key focus here is when you scroll down to locate the “Tell us more” box.

This text box allows the user to denote what they’d like to hear more of. If you’ve been really into metalcore, Sabrina Carpenter, or perhaps the K-Pop group, Itzy, you can inform your profile. Conversely, as Spotify mentions, you can also direct the platform on what to omit from your Taste Profile. If it has been delivering too much of a particular genre or artist simply because you listened to one or two tracks someone suggested, you can instruct it to remove those.

The announcement notes, “Your feedback influences what gets prioritized, what gets reduced, and what you encounter next on the Spotify homepage.” As noted earlier, this is a test for Premium users launching in New Zealand “over the coming weeks.”

Navigating the personalized path

In the spirit of personalization, Spotify initiated a beta at the start of the year named “Prompted Playlists.” This feature has now extended its beta to users in the United States and Canada, allowing Premium users to convey to Spotify’s systems the type of music they wish to hear. Prompted Playlists would take into account the user’s account history, moods, cultural influences, and more. After clicking “generate,” Spotify would assemble a playlist that (ideally) aligns with the description you’ve provided, alongside a text overview at the top of the list.

Spotify has recently introduced additional updates, such as one for “About this song,” which offers users background information about an artist’s creative inspiration. Early February brought offline lyrics to users and the official rollout of lyric “Previews” when viewing the Now Playing screen.

Android Central’s Perspective

Our musical preferences can spark intriguing conversations. I know individuals whose musical tastes contrast with mine, and I’ve explored their preferences along with my own. I frequently use Spotify, particularly while writing, and there are instances when a song seems like an outlier. This might be due to something I listened to briefly or perhaps a song from years back. However, from my understanding, this beta can assist us in fine-tuning our experience, ensuring we hear only what we desire. Considering it this way, I’m eager for its arrival in the States.

Chrome on Android is introducing a bookmarks bar similar to the desktop version, specifically for tablets and foldable devices, which enhances the user experience on bigger screens. This feature, included in Chrome version 146, enables users to easily reach their bookmarked sites, mirroring the functionality found on desktop Chrome. The bookmarks bar shows site names and icons and provides the option to expand for viewing all bookmarks simultaneously.

This enhancement is part of Google’s continuous drive to refine Chrome’s capabilities. By adding a bookmarks bar, Google seeks to streamline the browsing experience for Android tablet and foldable users, making it more effective and accessible. Users can activate this feature by going to the Chrome app settings, selecting “Appearance,” and toggling on “Show bookmarks bar.” If the bookmarks bar doesn’t show up right away, users might need to stop the app and restart it.

The implementation of the bookmarks bar makes it easier to access often-visited sites, removing the requirement to go through various menus. This update is anticipated to be positively received by users who enjoy a desktop-like browsing experience on their mobile devices. The feature is being widely deployed, and users can update their Chrome application through the Google Play Store to utilize it.