Latest news with #HarleyMaranan
Android Authority
11-07-2025
- Android Authority
Google Contacts just got two upgrades that'll help you clean up your address book
Harley Maranan / Android Authority TL;DR Google Contacts has recently started rolling out a couple changes we spotted in development earlier this year. Contact pages are picking up a new 'Recent activity' list, displaying message and call history. The app's settings add a new toggle to control whether or not you see view-only contacts from other apps. Our phones are full of apps we don't spend nearly enough time paying attention to, yet are critical for everything we do with them on a day-to-day basis. We would absolutely include Google Contacts on that list, as while it's incredibly easy to overlook its functionality, it helps empower us to communicate and share our favorite content with the people who matter to us most. Over the past few months we've identified some worthwhile-looking upgrades in development that should only further enhance the Contacts experience, and couple of them are rolling out now. Let's start with the first we spotted, as we found evidence back at the end of April pointing to work on a new 'Recent activity' section for your contacts. While we knew about the app's ability to report on recent activity through its widgets, it looked like Contacts was working to add a similar report to individual contact pages within the app itself. And this week, we're now seeing exactly that change become widely available. Stephen Schenck / Android Authority While we could already access a lot of this history in individual apps directly, having a central repository in Contacts makes a lot of sense. More recently, just last month, we shared with you that Contacts was working on a handy solution for managing increasingly messy lists of contacts, thanks to a new setting that would let you control how view-only contacts from other apps were displayed. These contacts are created with information that comes from other apps, and like the clearly implies, you can't edit these directly in Contacts. While we normally prefer to have them hidden away, we can imagine edge cases where we're trying to resolve contact details between entries in Contacts itself and these external ones, where being able to see them all in once place could really help. Just like recent activity, we're also now seeing this change present in Contacts, showing up at the bottom of the app's settings. IF you're still waiting for it, make sure your Contacts app is up to date in the Play Store. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Android Authority
08-07-2025
- Business
- Android Authority
Deal: Sony's WF-1000XM5 earbuds hit $198 in Prime Day pick
Harley Maranan / Android Authority If you're shopping for a new pair of true wireless earbuds, now might be the perfect time to grab the Sony WF-1000XM5. During Amazon Prime Day, you can snag these earbuds for $198. That's a 34% discount off the recommended retail price, bringing high-quality audio technology into a more affordable range. Sony WF-1000XM5 for $198.00 (34% off) The Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds pack a lot into a compact package, being 25% smaller and 20% lighter than the model before them. This makes them more comfortable to wear and easier to carry around. The advanced active noise cancelation features three microphones per earbud, working effectively to minimize the world outside so you can focus on your music. Sony WF-1000XM5 Sony WF-1000XM5 Cut out all the noise, keep all the fidelity. The Sony WF-1000XM5 have even better noise canceling than the WF-1000XM4. Sony made these its most comfortable earbuds by shrinking them and including XS-L memory foam ear tips. The WF-1000XM5 support advanced features like multipoint connectivity and spatial audio with head tracking. You also get plenty of customization options through the free mobile app. See price at Amazon Save $101.99 Limited Time Deal! These earbuds also feature an 8.4mm Dynamic Driver X, ensuring rich, high-resolution audio. Some users suggest the sound profile leans toward bass, which could be an attraction if you're into that kind of sound. Battery life is also solid, offering up to eight hours on a single charge with ANC on, and extending to 24 hours with the charging case. While the Prime Day event has triggered this offer, you don't need a Prime subscription to take advantage of it, so don't miss out.
Android Authority
13-05-2025
- Android Authority
Valve is making it easier to tell if a game will run on your Steam OS handheld
Harley Maranan / Android Authority TL;DR Valve is releasing a compatibility rating system for third-party devices that run Steam OS. The rating system will tell you if a game and its features are supported on Steam OS. This compatibility rating system will roll out over the next few weeks. There are plenty of handheld gaming PCs out on the market, but only the Steam Deck runs on Steam OS. However, it will soon be joined by the Lenovo Legion Go S, with more to follow. In preparation for the launch of these third-party Steam OS devices, Valve is rolling out a rating system that will let you know how compatible a game is for these devices. Valve has announced that over the next few weeks, it will launch the Steam OS Compatibility system. This rating system will cover all Steam OS devices that aren't a Steam Deck (this only includes the Legion Go S at the moment). These ratings are based on a subset of the existing Steam Deck Compatibility testing results. As the company explains, Steam OS Compatibility is designed to give players a glance at whether a game and its features are supported on Steam OS. This includes factors like the game launcher, anti-cheat support, and game functionality. However, this system will not gauge how well a game performs on the device. The game will be marked either SteamOS Compatible or SteamOS Unsupported, depending on whether it and all of its middleware are supported. Players will only see Steam OS Compatibility ratings if they are using a third-party device. It will be shown in the Steam Store and Steam Client. Valve says that it plans to have over 18,000 titles marked as compatible as soon as the system is available. Additionally, developers won't have to lift a finger as 'results are automatically generated from Steam Deck verification results without additional testing.' Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Android Authority
12-05-2025
- Android Authority
From concept to life: The ultra-thin TECNO SPARK Slim is becoming a reality
Harley Maranan / Android Authority Ultra-thin phones often make for eye-catching tech demos, but they rarely make it to market. That's not the case with the TECNO SPARK Slim. First revealed as a concept device earlier this year, TECNO has confirmed that it plans to launch a global production model in the second half of 2025. That means this isn't just a design experiment — it's the beginning of a new product trend built around what TECNO calls 'millimeter-level' slimness. Unlike past concept phones that sacrificed practicality for style, the SPARK Slim Concept is designed to be both stunningly thin and functionally excellent. At just 5.75mm thick, it will be the world's thinnest smartphone to pack in a 5,200mAh battery — a feat that TECNO says redefines what's possible in ultra-slim smartphone design. With a 3D curved AMOLED display, 144Hz refresh rate, 1.5K resolution, and peak brightness of 4,500 nits, the SPARK Slim isn't just thin — it's ambitious in nearly every spec. TECNO describes it as a phone that's ready for daily multitasking, gaming, and entertainment, not just one that looks good in press shots. Fast charging, long-lasting performance, and refined ergonomics are all part of the package. However, the bigger story might be that TECNO sees this as more than just a one-off. The company is positioning the SPARK Slim as the spearhead of a broader strategy — one that challenges the industry trend of increasingly bulky phones and aims to deliver flagship design to more affordable segments. What makes the SPARK Slim so thin — and so different TECNO Designing a phone under 6mm thick is more than a cosmetic challenge; it's a fundamental rethink of how smartphones are built. TECNO says it pushed beyond conventional engineering methods to make the SPARK Slim possible, relying on a mix of miniaturized components, creative internal layouts, and new materials. At the heart of the device is TECNO's innovative Honeycomb-Structure Stacking Technology. This allows the internal parts to be compressed and arranged with extreme precision, increasing component density without sacrificing performance. By reducing the spacing between memory modules and packing elements tightly onto the main board, TECNO managed to keep things compact while maintaining speed and responsiveness. Connectivity was another obstacle in a chassis this thin. The SPARK Slim rethinks antenna design with a split-recombination layout, allowing Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS to operate reliably even with reduced internal clearance. In short, you won't lose signal just because the phone is slim. Perhaps most impressively, TECNO managed to fit in a large battery and keep the device cool. The SPARK Slim uses an Ultra-Crystalline Graphene Cooling System with a thermal dissipation area of over 24,000mm², designed to significantly enhance heat transfer efficiency. That means users can stream, game, and multitask without the risk of thermal throttling or overheating, which is a common concern in thin phones. Altogether, it showcases how smart engineering and materials innovation can flip the script on what ultra-thin phones are capable of. With the SPARK Slim, TECNO isn't just aiming for the slimmest phone, it's aiming for the most complete one at this size. Rethinking durability in slim phones TECNO When you hear 'ultra-thin smartphone,' you might also hear 'fragile.' It's a fair assumption — slimming down often means cutting corners somewhere. But TECNO's approach with the SPARK Slim turns that expectation on its head. Despite measuring just 5.75mm thick, the phone is built with durability in mind. The frame incorporates modified high-strength materials, reinforced through over 2,000 high-precision simulations. That's not just marketing fluff — it means the structure has been digitally stress-tested to handle the knocks and pressure of everyday life. On the outside, Corning Gorilla Glass 7i provides top-tier scratch resistance and impact protection, helping the device survive the kind of drops and scrapes that thinner phones usually fear. But strength isn't just about surviving a fall. It's also about lasting power. TECNO has equipped the SPARK Slim with a 5,200mAh battery — an impressively large capacity for such a slim phone. To support battery health over time, the device uses a low-current self-repair algorithm and AI-optimized charging, which together help extend lifespan and reduce wear from daily use. That means you're not just getting all-day power, you're getting all-year endurance, too. And when it comes time to top up, the SPARK Slim supports 45W fast charging, getting you back to full power in no time. For a phone that's focused on looking sleek and feeling light, TECNO has made sure it's tough under the hood. TECNO's big picture with its slim strategy TECNO The SPARK Slim might be a hardware marvel, but it's also a signal of where TECNO wants to go next. While other brands push for bigger batteries, larger camera bumps, and thicker designs, TECNO is betting that a new generation of users is ready for something sleeker. According to the company, demand for slim and lightweight devices is growing, particularly in emerging markets where users want stylish, capable phones that don't weigh them down, physically or financially. The SPARK Slim answers that call by pairing ultra-thin design with performance specs that don't require compromise. And despite competing with the likes of Apple and Samsung, TECNO isn't trying to charge flagship prices. Its goal is to bring ultra-slim innovation to more accessible price points, redefining what mid-range smartphones can look and feel like. As TECNO SPARK Product Manager Protos Guo says, 'Pain points exist—consumers just grew accustomed to them.' For years, bulky phones with oversized camera modules and stacked batteries were seen as inevitable trade-offs. TECNO is betting that users are ready to move on, and that now, with the right technology, they finally can. This push toward making advanced design available to more users extends beyond the SPARK Slim. TECNO has already experimented with sustainable materials and bold aesthetics in recent models, and the company says it sees plenty of room to keep innovating. Whether it's eco-conscious design like coffee-ground back covers, or new ways of balancing form and function through ergonomics and CMF technology, TECNO wants its future products to feel as fresh as they look. The SPARK Slim may have started life as a concept, but it's quickly becoming the blueprint for TECNO's next chapter. An era where thin doesn't mean weak, stylish doesn't mean expensive, and innovation doesn't come at the cost of usability.
