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Android Authority
12 hours ago
- Android Authority
8 smartphone marketing tricks that you really shouldn't fall for
C. Scott Brown / Android Authority While plenty of great phones are out there, manufacturers aren't above a bit of spin, truth stretching, or outright lying about their products to make them stand out. Don't believe me? We covered some sketchy smartphone marketing tricks many moons ago, and we've seen plenty more questionable tactics employed since. With that in mind, I'm taking another look at a few smartphone marketing tricks you shouldn't fall for. Which marketing tactic do you hate the most? 0 votes Shady foldable phone measurements NaN % Misleading camera zoom claims NaN % Speeding up AI features NaN % Misleading protective glass claims NaN % Bragging about peak brightness NaN % Shady charging measurements NaN % Promoting features before they're ready NaN % No warranty for water damage NaN % 1. Foldable phone thickness and weight measurements Paul Jones / Android Authority This is the most recent tactic on the list, as foldable phone makers are now using two ways of measuring device thickness. The first method sees the folded device measured from cover screen to rear cover without considering the camera bump. This method isn't perfect, but it's generally accepted on conventional phones. However, HONOR measures its foldables without considering the inner screen's protective film. This came to light after a leaker on Twitter discovered that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 was thinner than the supposed world's thinnest foldable phone (the HONOR Magic V5). Furthermore, it turns out OPPO also measures its foldables using this method. That's extremely questionable, as this inner film isn't meant to be removed by consumers. As far as we can tell, Google and Samsung use the first measurement method. Either way, you can't fully trust when a manufacturer says its device is the world's thinnest foldable phone. Furthermore, HONOR, OPPO, and vivo measure the weight of their foldables without including the inner screen's protective film. Again, this is a questionable way to make your device look better to consumers. It's also disappointing because today's foldable phones are slim and light anyway. 2. Fudging optical zoom I've said it before, and I'll say it again. You really can't trust some manufacturers when they talk about camera zoom. Perhaps the most egregious recent example is HUAWEI's Pura 80 Ultra. HUAWEI says the phone has one 50MP zoom camera that switches between 3.7x and 9.4x 'optical zoom.' However, a closer look at the spec sheet all but confirms that the company is doing a 2x crop from 4.7x optical zoom. Our testing also shows we can take a full-resolution 50MP shot at 3.7x, but not at 9.4x. HUAWEI isn't alone in muddying these waters. Google and Samsung are also guilty of shady zoom claims. These two brands refer to cropped 2x zoom from their main cameras as '2x optical-quality zoom.' By saying 'optical-quality,' they're presumably trying to fool people into thinking it's 2x optical zoom or that their 2x crops are as good as 2x optical zoom cameras. These 2x images look pretty good and maintain the same resolution as 1x shots, but they lose out on pixel-binning benefits like reduced noise, increased brightness, and improved dynamic range. Either way, 'optical-quality' is a vague term that doesn't really mean anything. It's a way for manufacturers to make an impressive-sounding claim without getting sued for it. My advice? Just assume that 'optical-quality' means 'pretty good' whenever you encounter this term. If you thought these aforementioned examples were bad, then I've got news for you. Apple goes a step further and describes its 2x cropped zoom as '2x optical in' and '2x telephoto' on the iPhone 16 specs page. No, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus don't have telephoto or periscope cameras. But Apple evidently wants you to think otherwise. 3. Snappy AI features that aren't really snappy Samsung Another trend is for smartphone companies to demonstrate AI features like Circle to Search running on devices. These brands often post short clips or GIFs on their product pages, showing how easy these features are to use. However, the fine print often includes a disclaimer about these clips. More specifically, companies like OnePlus and Samsung include fine print noting that Circle to Search demonstrations are 'shortened and simulated.' That is, Circle to Search is less responsive on a real-world phone. It's not a huge deal, but it's still a curious marketing tactic. We can understand using this for brevity, but it can lead to false expectations about the performance of AI features. And it wouldn't be the first time liberties were taken with a Google AI demo. Smartphone makers also include media showing other Google AI features like Gemini, Gemini Live, and Magic Compose. However, these OEMs include fine print noting that these materials are only for 'illustrative purposes.' In other words, don't be surprised if it doesn't work quite as shown. 4. Comparing protective glass to tempered glass OnePlus We've noticed more smartphone makers creating alternatives to Corning Gorilla Glass. That's no easy task, as Corning's products are considered the best protective glass solutions on the market. However, some companies don't help themselves by comparing their solutions to tempered glass. This is a problem because tempered glass has largely fallen out of favor on mid-range and flagship phone screens. It's also the weakest type of protective glass solution. That doesn't stop some brands from claiming their custom protective solutions are 2x, 5x, or even 10x tougher than tempered glass. Oh wow, your in-house glass protection is tougher than a $3 screen protector. Get outta here. A more appropriate comparison would be to pit a custom glass solution against one of Corning's Gorilla Glass products. It only makes sense as Gorilla Glass is the most popular solution and the most obvious point of reference for consumers. To HONOR's credit, it told us that its own NanoCrystal Shield glass, which is ceramic-based, should outperform chemically tempered glass like Gorilla Glass Victus. So it's a good bet that all ceramic-based glass solutions should be more durable than older Gorilla Glass products like Gorilla Glass Victus and 7i. I'm sure these manufacturers don't want to risk their relationship with Corning, but I'd argue that customers are more important. 5. Bragging about peak brightness OPPO This smartphone marketing tactic has become increasingly popular in recent years. Many phone makers now promote the peak brightness of their phone screens. For example, the Galaxy S25 Ultra has 2,600 nits of peak brightness while the OnePlus 13 enjoys 4,500 nits. However, peak brightness is a gimmick for the most part. Peak brightness only refers to a very small area of the screen, often triggered for HDR content, but has no real impact on how bright a display looks for general viewing. A more important measurement is high-brightness mode, sometimes called HBM or full-screen brightness. I've also seen Google refer to HDR brightness. Either way, this measurement applies to the entire screen and is the maximum auto-brightness you'll experience when you're in the sun. This maximum brightness level only kicks in for a few minutes before the phone turns things down to save battery life. But it's still handy when you're stepping outdoors. Some brands like Apple, OnePlus, Google, and Motorola list full-screen brightness on their product and/or spec pages. However, Samsung only seems to list peak brightness. In any event, you should check reviews and third-party websites if you can't find full-screen brightness figures for a specific phone. 6. Some shady charging measurements Ryan Haines / Android Authority One marketing tactic we've previously covered is fuzzy logic around 100% charging. Many smartphones will show 100% capacity but will continue to charge until that 100% figure becomes 'fully charged.' This makes sense if you don't want to stress the battery, but sneaky OEMs can also do this to make more impressive claims about charging times. For example, some brands might say their phone takes under 30 minutes to reach 100%, but the truth is that the device might have to charge for 10 more minutes to finish up charging the final bit of the battery. Another charging-related marketing trick is to measure the phone's charging time from 1% instead of zero. This does make some sense, as many people plug in when their battery is low rather than when it hits zero. Nevertheless, going from 1% instead of zero allows OEMs to shave a fraction more off their promoted charging time. Needless to say, a completely dead phone will take a little longer to charge than officially claimed. 7. Selling features long before they're ready Ryan Haines / Android Authority Another shady marketing trick is to promote features long before they're ready for prime time. Perhaps the most infamous example was Apple announcing an overhauled Siri assistant in June 2024. Guess what? This upgraded Siri has been delayed and is reportedly scheduled to launch in 2026. That's almost two years after the initial reveal. Apple isn't alone in promoting features before they're ready. Google is also guilty of this, as it announced the Zoom Enhance feature at the Pixel 8 series launch in October 2023. At the time of the reveal, Google said this feature would come to the Pixel 8 Pro via a 'future' Pixel Drop. Unfortunately, Pixel 8 Pro owners had to wait until August 2024 and the Pixel 9 series launch to receive this feature. That's a long time to wait for a feature that was used as one of the phone's selling points. 8. It's water-resistant, but your warranty says otherwise Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority One of the most enduring marketing tactics involves the promotion of water-resistant phones. Scroll down to the fine print, though, and you'll see that the phone's warranty doesn't cover water damage. This isn't a new tactic, either. I remember Sony coming under fire in the mid-2010s for refusing to honor water damage to its water-resistant Xperia models. In fact, Sony even described its phones as 'waterproof' during this time. There is some logic to this tactic, as phones gradually lose their water resistance over time due to rubber seals, gaskets, and water-repellent coatings wearing down. Dropping your phone can also result in cracks and other forms of damage that compromise the IP rating. Nevertheless, it still feels like a copout for manufacturers to promote IP67, IP68, and even IP69 ratings but refuse to put their money where their mouth is. 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. Follow
News.com.au
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Warning: These emojis could mean your partner is cheating according to a private investigator
The Coldplay kiss-cam scandal – which saw a married boss and his alleged mistress caught in an embrace on the big screen – has become a global talking point. But, while the story went viral, there may be a far less public and more discreet way to spot your partner is cheating. A top private investigator told Fabulous the secret code cheaters are using to hide affairs on their phones. While some go to extreme lengths to cover their tracks, others are using something far more subtle: emojis. According to Paul Jones from ARF Private Investigators, apps like WhatsApp and Snapchat have become a hotbed for hidden relationships, with secret codes, archived chats and sneaky symbols replacing the traditional love letter. People often think of cheating as something obvious such as flirty photos, late nights or secret calls. But Paul says many of the cases he works on start with something as small as a random emoji. Sneaky symbols He told The Sun: 'Over the past year we've seen an increase in people using everyday symbols as a way to communicate without getting caught. 'On the surface, it might look innocent, but there's usually a deeper meaning.' One of the most common signs? A flurry of harmless-looking messages with the croissant or padlock emojis. If these symbols are in your partner's most-used emojis – found by clicking the emoji icon on the keyboard when typing a message – it could be an indicator they are being used for an affair. These symbols may mean nothing to you, but to someone cheating, they are code for dinners, hook-ups, or secret messages. Paul added: 'We've had people using a croissant emoji as a way of saying 'meet me for breakfast', or the letter emoji as a subtle 'text me when you're free'. 'It's like their own language, one that their partner isn't meant to understand.' Here are just a few examples Paul has seen used in real cases: The private investigator added: 'Used once or twice they don't mean much. 'But when you see them appearing regularly in chats with the same person, especially late at night, they start to mean something more.' Warning signs So what phone habits should you look out for with your partner? Paul continued: 'Start with your gut. 'If your partner suddenly starts hiding their phone, keeping conversations short, or you notice new contacts with strange names or emojis, that's when you should start asking questions.' There are other ways to find out your partner is having an affair – Carla Bellucci had a decade-long affair with her now husband Gio, and she text Gio's ex evidence of their relationship. If you're at a crossroads in your relationship, or feel you need advice and support, The Sun 's Dear Deidre team of qualified counsellors are available. Read their advice for a woman who's fallen pregnant with a wealthy man's baby, who is struggling to come to terms with the fact he wants to take no responsibility for their baby. Four red flags your partner is cheating Private Investigator Aaron Bond from BondRees revealed four warning signs your partner might be cheating. They start to take their phone everywhere with them In close relationships, it's normal to know each other's passwords and use each other's phones, if their phone habits change then they may be hiding something. Aaron says: 'If your partner starts changing their passwords, starts taking their phone everywhere with them, even around the house or they become defensive when you ask to use their phone it could be a sign of them not being faithful.' 'You should also look at how they place their phone down when not in use. If they face the phone with the screen facing down, then they could be hiding something.' They start telling you less about their day When partners cheat they can start to avoid you, this could be down to them feeling guilty or because it makes it easier for them to lie to you. 'If you feel like your partner has suddenly begun to avoid you and they don't want to do things with you any more or they stop telling you about their day then this is another red flag.' 'Partners often avoid their spouses or tell them less about their day because cheating can be tough, remembering all of your lies is impossible and it's an easy way to get caught out,' says Aaron. Their libido changes Your partner's libido can change for a range of reasons so it may not be a sure sign of cheating but it can be a red flag according to Aaron. 'Cheaters often have less sex at home because they are cheating, but on occasions, they may also have more sex at home, this is because they feel guilty and use this increase in sex to hide their cheating,' Aaron said. 'You may also find that your partner will start to introduce new things into your sex life that weren't there before.' They become negative towards you Cheaters know that cheating is wrong and to them, it will feel good, this can cause tension and anxiety within themselves which they will need to justify. 'To get rid of the tension they feel inside they will try to convince themselves that you are the problem and they will become critical of you out of nowhere,' Aaron warns. 'Maybe you haven't walked the dog that day, put the dishes away or read a book to your children before bedtime. A small problem like this can now feel like a big deal and if you experience this your partner could be cheating.'
Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Fontana Industrial Portfolio Acquired for $83.5 Million
Bridge Logistics Properties, a subsidiary of Bridge Investment Group Holdings Inc., acquired a recently constructed, three-building, industrial portfolio in Fontana for $83.5 million, or $251 per square foot. The 332,793-square-foot portfolio was acquired due to its proximity to dense population centers where there is limited new supply. 'Local municipal headwinds, AB 98, and general land scarcity are causing significant barriers to new development. Once economic conditions stabilize and tenant demand normalizes, we believe we will see value appreciation for existing assets,' said Paul Jones, managing director of Bridge Logistics Properties, in a statement. The company was founded in 2021 and now has more than 16 million square feet under management. It was founded by industrial real estate veterans with prior tenure at Brookfield, Prologis, IDI Logistics, Duke Realty, Hines and KTR Partners. Information for this article was sourced from Bridge Logistics Partners.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
This seemingly harmless clue is a telltale sign your partner is cheating, private investigator says
When it comes to infidelity in relationships — cheating partners are getting sneakier and sneakier. Oftentimes, suspicious partners will look through a person's text messages, emails or other messaging systems to catch them in the act. In doing so, private investigator Paul Jones from ARF Private Investigators shared with The Sun specific clues to be on the lookout for. If you're tempted to sneakily read through your partner's conversations on messaging apps like WhatsApp and Snapchat — popular options for cheaters — random, innocent-looking emojis could be a dead giveaway that your partner isn't being faithful. If you come across messages specifically with the croissant or padlock emojis in them — you might be in for a rude awakening. 'On the surface, it might look innocent, but there's usually a deeper meaning,' he told the outlet. 'We've had people using a croissant emoji as a way of saying 'meet me for breakfast', or the letter emoji as a subtle 'text me when you're free.'' Before you panic, an occasional use of these emojis might not mean much — but if the majority of messages include them, you most likely have a cheater on your hands. 'Used once or twice they don't mean much,' Jones told The Sun. 'But when you see them appearing regularly in chats with the same person, especially late at night, they start to mean something more.' If something feels off — it's best to confront your significant other about your suspicions. Getting cheated on is a devastating experience and psychotherapist and sex therapist of 45 years, Esther Perel, shared the one reason behind why many people do it. While sometimes people stray from relationships because of… 'rejection, betrayal, disconnection, or alienation. Loneliness is a big one. Other times, the reasons are internal and have little to do with the relationship itself,' she told the Telegraph. But she believes the main reason behind infidelity is 'deadness' in a relationship — which is when a partner feels like the other person no longer cares about them. As a result, the person feeling this way will look elsewhere to feel 'alive' again. 'It means exploration, discovery, active engagement with the unknown, and being alive. It's a good entry point,' Perel said. To avoid this, Perel advises couples to show curiosity about one another and ask questions — even if you think you know your significant other well and have been with them for years. 'Do you know how many people go out with friends, see their partner talking about a movie or band or experience, and then in the car or on the train, they ask, 'Who is picking up Johnny tomorrow after school?' or 'Did you get the groceries?' From there, not wanting to have sex or feeling distant isn't far behind.' People's interests, needs and wants often change in a relationship, since people evolve and grow over time. As a result, Perel said to never stop exploring one another as individuals. 'It's about giving your partner the chance to see you and themselves in a new light,' she said. Solve the daily Crossword
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Sapphire Coast preview, best bets, inside mail for Sunday, July 27, 2025
A win on their home track would be the perfect end to a career best season for trainers Barbara Joseph and her sons Paul and Matt Jones. The stable set themselves a target of 52 winners for the year and enter the meeting on 51 winners with a strong hand to held them reach their goal. 'I like to set a target of 52 winners, that's a winner a week across the season,' said Paul Jones. 'This is clearly the best season we have had as a partnership but it would be great if we can get that last winner to reach our target.' Jones was extremely happy with the run of Graceful Ellen when a neck second at Narrandera two weeks ago and gives her a great chance to go one better in the Class 2 Handicap (1200m) with stable apprentice Claire Ramsbotham aboard. Nagadec gets there late on the outside to win the Sapphire Coast opener! ðŸ'¥ â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 13, 2025 The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here! 'She is a little filly who isn't overly robust but she is really well and I'm very happy with her,' he said. 'Claire rode her very aggressive the other day to suit how Narrandera was playing. 'The two speed horses around her dropped out and she was still fighting out the finish. It was a really good effort. 'She goes into this meeting as one of our best chances.' Although finishing down the track at both runs back from a spell, Jones feels Zouwase can figure prominently when he steps up to a suitable distance in the Class 1 and Maiden Plate (1600m). 'He has just been a bit immature in his action and changes stride two or three times in the straight,' he said. 'I just have to try and convince the jockeys to ride through it and he will hit the line. 'At home he is working very well. Billy (Owen) has ridden him once this week to get a feel for him. 'Walk The Pier is coming off a good win for a new stable and out of stronger races prior to that. He will be hard to beat but stepping up to the mile with the blinkers back on will help Zouwase.' Jones was pleasantly surprised by the debut performance of Texas Star when third behind Sir Franklin and The Main Event at Moruya and expects him to run well again in the Super Maiden Handicap (1200m) despite a wide draw. We're off and racing at the Sapphire Coast and it's She's High Society who goes home best in the opener! @JJRacing_ACT â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 2, 2024 'He was giving away a lot of experience but I was very happy with his run behind two pretty nice horses,' Jones said. 'Unfortunately, he has draw out wide so we might have to be a little negative early and try and get across to the rail and sneak some runs. 'I feel when the track is wet there, it's better to be closer to the rail as you turn into the straight.' Jones was pleased to see Kneel Down draw a good gate in the opening event, the Maiden Plate (1000m) after wide draws impacted on his two runs at Moruya. 'He drew well at his first start and was beaten a head but he drew wide at his next two starts where he had to be ridden backwards,' he said. We have freshened him up and blinkers on and his work on Tuesday was excellent.' Jones said She's High Society is ready to run a big race first-up in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1200m) despite not having a barrier trial or jumpout. 'With a lack of barrier trials jumpouts, we have given her eight or nine gallops to get her ready and she is working the house down,' he said. 'She drawn well and if she can hang on the back of Sir Franklin, I think she can run in the top three.' ADAM SHERRY'S TOP SELECTIONS BEST BET Debuted for a new stable with a big win last start. The one to beat again. NEXT BEST Race 5 No.6: LONDON STAR Came from a long way back when runner-up to Walk The Pier. Can go one better. BEST VALUE Race 3 No.4: GRACEFUL ELLEN Game effort for second after a tough run last time out. Placed both runs here. QUADDIE Race 4: 3, 4 Race 5: 6, 11 Race 6: 2, 3, 6, 7 Race 7: 1, 2, 3 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW BILLY OWEN has three rides and all are capable of winning. INSIDE MAIL – SAPPHIRE COAST YOUR MAGIC (3) was spelled after dropping out to last on debut here in December. Resumed with a handy second to I Show Speed on the Acton at Canberra on July 4. Visors on and can go one better. KNEEL DOWN (1) is better than his last two starts after drawing wide gates. Was a head second on debut over 1100m at Nowra. Blinkers go on and drawn to get an ideal run. SMOLENSKI (8) is a first starter by Farnan. Was good after sitting wide when third to Exiled Prince and sixth to Duke Of Bronte in his two Goulburn trials. Bet: Your Magic to win â– â– â– â– â– DENI GAL (2) has had a long campaign but continues to race well. Appreciated a drop in grade to storm home and win at Moruya last Monday. In the same grade is a winner at this track and distance. SIR FRANKLIN (1) finished runner-up in his first four starts including on debut here over 1000m behind Southern Deel. Rewarded for his form with an all-the-way win from The Main Event at Moruya on July 11. SHE'S HIGH SOCIETY (9) scored a nice win from Zoutemus over 1000m here back in December. Only two runs last prep after some bad luck. Will make her presence felt. Bet: Deni Gal to win â– â– â– â– â– GRACEFUL ELLEN (4) kicked off her campaign with a narrow win at Bathurst after being taken wider on the turn. Raced up on speed and kept fight when a neck second to Sundrop who had the sit on her at Barrandera last start. ALOTTOSAY (2) ran three consecutive placings to start her career including a long neck second to Throw One In here before breaking through with a nice win at Nowra on Apr 20. Resumed with a barn storming win from Winnie Fortune at Moruya on July 11. TIMELESS GRACE (5) won well on debut at Wagga but disappointed at Moruya last start. Blinkers go on. â– â– â– â– â– WALK THE PIER (3) had some handy provincial form including a debut second to Correon at Kembla before changing stable and scoring a three length win from London Star at Moruya. Drawn well and can go back-to-back. ZOUWASE (4) was beaten as favourite first-up over 1435m at Moruya then raced-wide without cover over 1400m at Narrandera. Will appreciate the step up to 1600m. Stepped up to 1600m third-up here last campaign and scored a big win from Ideelic. Blinkers back on and can bounce back. PLAYFUL PUZZLE (8) won nicely at Queanbeyan two runs back before getting second on protest at Moruya. Bet: Walk The Pier to win â– â– â– â– â– LONDON STAR (6) sat second chasing Badhatharry and kept fighting to a length second at Wagga. Was bumped at the start and settled near last before running on strongly along the rails to finish second behind Walk The Pier. SABLONNEUSE (11) was a handy third in his Kembla trial and debuted with a fourth to Gooloo Bucky at Moruya. Will take improvement from the run. CLOSETHEDOORDARCY (4) has finished runner-up in three of her last five starts including a nose second to Chebici at Queanbeyan. Her two recent failures have been on heavy tracks. Bet: London Star to win â– â– â– â– â– MISS STALWART (7) ran home strongly to beat Tom Cruising here on June 8 then got a long way back and made up some ground when ninth to Donwon at Moruya. Came from a clear last when fifth to all-the-way winner Pretty Vegas and Tonkatsu Goddess at Goulburn last start. CAPITAL HEART (3) was a length-and-a-half third to Donwon at Moruya two starts back but was disappointing in beating just one home behind Your Not The Boss there last start. Drops back in grade. EPAULLO CREED (2) has placed two of his last three. Up in grade but drops 4kg on his last start nose second to East Harlem. â– â– â– â– â– BROOKLYN LIGHTS (1) rolled along in front and just faded in the straight but wasn't disgraced when fifth behind Fleeting Spirit on debut on the Kensington on March 26. Returns from a spell after two nice trials behind Bandi's Boy and Cambar. THE MAIN EVENT (3) returned from a long spell with a string closing run from last of 12 on the corner to finish a three-quarter length second to Sir Franklin over 1010m at Moruya on July 11. Step up to 1200m suits and drawn to settle closer. TEXAN STAR (3) was on debut when coming from the send half of the field to finish third to Sir Franklin. Will be prominent again.
