Latest news with #RyanWhitwam
Android Authority
5 hours ago
- Android Authority
Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra leak reveals battery and charging info
Ryan Whitwam / Android Authority TL;DR A new certification has revealed details about the upcoming Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra's battery and charging speeds. The Tab S11 Ultra will feature a minor upgrade in battery capacity over the last generation. However, there are no increments in charging speed, which remains unchanged at 45W. Samsung recently concluded the second major launch of the year, where it announced the latest foldables and a refreshed Galaxy Watch lineup. Besides these, we're still waiting for two major launches from Samsung this year, including the Galaxy S26 FE and the latest tablet portfolio. Of these, the Tab S11 has already been confirmed to launch soon, and we're now gathering details about it through trustworthy leaks. Earlier this year, we learned about Samsung downsizing the tablet lineup, as also expected of the upcoming Galaxy S26 series, and the likelihood of just two new tablets in the Galaxy Tab S11 series: the Galaxy Tab S11 and the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra. We have already seen the Tab S11 Ultra in leaked digital renders, revealing a notch-ed display and design that doesn't look much upgraded. However, a recent report informs us that Samsung may be looking at a battery upgrade on the Ultra tablet, after all. According to regulatory listing on the online portal of Finland's SGS Fimko, found by XpertPick, the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra will house an 11,600mAh battery. This is a meager 400mAh — or a 3.5% — increment over last year's Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra. The listing also reveals the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra will offer up to 45W fast charging, which remains unchanged from the previous generation. The listing further reveals the model numbers for different variants of the Tab S11 Ultra. Taking previous generations as guides, XpertPick notes SM-X936B, SM-X936N, and SM-X930 are identifiers for 5G, Wi-Fi-only, and Korea-specific models of the tablet. Additionally, previous Geekbench listings have also indicated the Galaxy S11 Ultra will be equipped with a MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ chipset, which is an overclocked variant of the standard Dimensity 9400. Although we look at Geekbench listings with skepticism, it aligns with our previous findings about the tablet's SoC. We have yet to learn other details about the Ultra, particularly, but we expect it to launch with the vanilla Galaxy Tab S11. We also expect the Galaxy Tab S10 Lite to launch sometime soon, though it may not arrive separately from the flagship lineup. Follow
Android Authority
19-07-2025
- Android Authority
I'm using Samsung's Voice Recorder to avoid this app's premium plan
Ryan Whitwam / Android Authority I can't be alone in wishing I'd kept a journal over the years. I'd love to reflect on what I was up to on certain days 20 years ago and how I was processing it all. Other than a few batches of photos and my increasingly fading memory, the records of my various travel adventures have mostly been lost. And those were the exciting times — the humdrum days in between have been almost entirely condemned to the mists of time. I don't beat myself up about not keeping a journal because I know I wouldn't have stuck with it. Having to sit down and write or type for 15 minutes in the evening would have fallen by the wayside pretty quickly. But recent advances in AI have made me rethink this. Now, belatedly, I'm journaling every day. It takes around two minutes before bed each night to do it via Samsung Voice Recorder, and I even realized I can use it to avoid the premium plan on one of the best journaling apps. A tale of two apps: Voice Recorder and Day One Matt Horne / Android Authority After upgrading to the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus last year, I started playing around with the new Galaxy AI features. The AI transcription in Samsung Voice Recorder inspired me to use it for journaling. I'm aware that some Android phones have had live transcription features for a while, but I was particularly impressed with how quickly and easily Voice Recorder can both transcribe the voice notes after the fact and use AI to tidy them up. This got me 90% of the way towards the plan of a quick brain dump each evening, but I was also wary of leaving the transcribed notes scattered about in an unordered fashion. You can arrange them in categories in both Voice Recorder and Samsung Notes, but what I really wanted was an organized journal setup in which I just dictate an entry, and it labels and stores it in an easy-to-reference way later. The simplest option was to use a journaling app with AI transcription baked in. That left me with two imperfect solutions I could combine to meet my needs. The Day One app fit the bill almost perfectly. It's a polished journaling app popular on both iOS and Android that lets you log text, photos, and audio entries, plus it can sync across devices. The only snag was that, while the app has a free tier to record entries, you have to pay for the premium plan if you want to use the transcription feature. That left me with two imperfect solutions I could combine to meet my needs. Now, each evening, I do the following. Open Voice Recorder and hit Record, then talk about my day for a minute or two. Stop the recording and save it, then tap on it and press Transcribe. A recording of that length takes around ten seconds to process. Tap and hold the text and select Copy all. Three taps to exit Voice Recorder, open the Day One app, and press New entry. Paste the text, and I'm done. The whole process takes two to three minutes. Admittedly, the Galaxy AI transcriptions aren't always perfect as I'm usually tiredly rambling into the phone. This isn't an issue for me as I'm not planning to publish my memoirs. I just want enough to jog my memory, and it's more than adequate for that purpose. Am I in the wrong for not paying? Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority For the record, I'm not against paying for premium plans on apps if they're offering a genuine benefit — Duolingo is one example of an app that has certainly done well out of me financially. Day One is a great app, and I'd urge anyone who can benefit from the premium tier to sign up if it fits your budget. In my case, I'm just minimally using the app while getting the one premium tier feature I need for free on my device. Almost all of the many premium perks would go unused if I signed up. At over $40 per year, I find that expense hard to justify. But I'll let you judge my actions in the poll below. Would you use a free workaround rather than pay for a premium app feature? 1 votes Yes, if it gets the job done it's fair game 100 % No, I'd rather pay for convenience and support the app 0 % Depends on how much it costs 0 % This setup might not work for everyone, but it's been a game-changer for me. I've finally found a low-effort way to keep track of my days, and it's made me weirdly excited to look back at them someday. If AI is going to take over our lives anyway, it might as well help us remember the good old days when it was just a novelty.
WIRED
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- WIRED
Italian YouTuber Faces Jail Time for Showing Android Handhelds With Emulated Games
Ryan Whitwam, Ars Technica The games on the devices shown by the content creator may not be entirely legal. That was enough for Italian law enforcement to ding him for 'promotion of pirated copyrighted materials.' Photo-Illustration: WIRED Staff; Photograph:There are countless Android-powered gaming handhelds, but they go beyond the usual slate of Android games by offering console emulation support. The problem is the game ROMs on these devices, which are not entirely legal. Italian YouTuber Once Were Nerd is learning how seriously some rights holders are taking game piracy after agents from the country's Guardia di Finanza showed up to confiscate his consoles. He now says the investigation could lead to criminal charges and the end of his channel. Once Were Nerd has produced YouTube content covering a plethora of gaming topics, including Android-based handheld game machines from the likes of Powkiddy and TrimUI. These devices usually run an older version of Android that has been heavily modified for gaming, featuring built-in emulation support for retro consoles like SNES, Nintendo 64, PlayStation Portable, GameCube, and more. They've become quite popular as the cost of mobile hardware has come down, making it possible to buy what is essentially an updated PSP or Game Boy Advance for $100 or less. Recently, Once Were Nerd attracted the attention of Italy's Ministry of Economy and Finance, which is tasked with policing copyright in the country. In the video first spotted by Android Authority (which has an AI-generated English language track), the YouTuber explains that Guardia di Finanza appeared at his door in April with a search warrant. Agents accused the creator of promoting pirated copyrighted materials stemming from his coverage of Anbernic handheld game consoles. While emulation software is not illegal, a surprising number of these devices ship chock-full of preloaded ROMs—the channel showed multiple Sony and Nintendo games running on the device. Once Were Nerd is far from the only channel posting about these devices, though. Officials seized more than 30 handheld consoles and demanded copies of Once Were Nerd's correspondence with the companies making these devices. Once Were Nerd says he has cooperated fully with investigators and contends that he has done nothing wrong. Legal Gray Area The firms making these handhelds all operate out of China, which is beyond the reach of Western copyright law. They still sell the devices internationally, sticking to vague language about the inclusion of game ROMs. For example, Anbernic offers bundles with microSD cards marked as "compatible 7000+ games." That makes this approach to revisiting retro games a legal gray area at the very least. Authorities believe Once Were Nerd's activities may still run afoul of Article 171 in Italy's copyright law, which allows for up to three years imprisonment for violations. It is unclear who made the original complaint against the channel. Once Were Nerd has seen documents that cite copyrighted material from Nintendo and Sony, but Guardia di Finanza doesn't need to reveal that detail until the preliminary investigation is finished, and cases can be brought by the agency itself. (Nintendo, for one, is particularly litigious when it comes to defending its intellectual property.) When the investigation is complete, the government will either file charges or dismiss the case. Current law also gives officials the power to shut down the Once Were Nerd channel while the investigation is ongoing. Italy has a history of heavy-handed copyright enforcement—the country's internet regulator recently demanded that Google poison DNS to block illegal streams of soccer. So it's not hard to believe investigators would pursue a case against someone who posts videos featuring pirated games on YouTube. This story originally appeared on Ars Technica.
Android Authority
10-07-2025
- Business
- Android Authority
It's not to late to catch the record $415 price drop on the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Ryan Whitwam / Android Authority Massive discounts on the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold are here, and it's a chance you don't want to miss. You can now save $400 on this foldable beauty, with the price slashed to $1,384. This is a 23% reduction relative to the retail price of $1,799 and marks its lowest cost since it launched. Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold for $1,384 (23% off) The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold shines with its top-notch display technology. It features a 6.3-inch Actua cover display and an impressive 8-inch Super Actua Flex inner display, both boasting 120Hz refresh rates and peak brightness of 2,700 nits. Under the hood, the device is powered by the Tensor G4 chip paired with 16GB of RAM, ensuring smooth performance. You'll also appreciate the storage options of 256GB and 512GB. Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold The Fold goes Pro. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is Google's most impressive foldable to date, offering a 6.3-inch exterior display, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of internal storage. When you're ready for more, unfold to access the 8-inch interior display. Solid cameras, a decent battery, and top-notch software support round out this monster of a device. See price at Amazon Save $415.00 Prime Deal For photography enthusiasts, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold's triple rear camera system with AI-enhanced features is a significant draw. It includes a 48MP main camera, a 10.5MP ultrawide, and a 10.8MP telephoto lens. The device also offers features like IPX8 water resistance, 21W wired charging, and 7.5W wireless charging. Running on Android 15 with a promise of updates for six more years, it also brings useful AI tools like Gemini Live and Pixel Studio into the mix. If you haven't yet, subscribing to Amazon Prime gives you access to this and other exclusive Prime Day deals. Remember, a 30-day free trial is available, making it the perfect time to join and take advantage of these savings.
Android Authority
09-07-2025
- Android Authority
Samsung drops S Pen support from Galaxy Z Fold 7 — here's why it had to go
TL;DR Samsung's new Galaxy Z Fold 7 has a significantly thinner and more ergonomic design. To achieve this slim profile, Samsung has removed the digitizer layer from the inner display, consequently dropping S Pen support. Samsung has just launched the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which finally features a noticeably thinner design that is easier to hold. While everyone gushes over how good it feels in the hand, this thinner design comes at a cost: the Fold 7 no longer supports the S Pen. Samsung hasn't mentioned S Pen support as part of the Galaxy Z Fold 7's launch. We asked Samsung about S Pen support on the Galaxy Z Fold 7, and the company confirmed to us that the new flagship does not support the S Pen. Samsung had to get rid of the digitizer layer within the display assembly in its quest for a thinner foldable. Hadlee Simons / Android Authority The situation is similar to that on the Galaxy Z Fold SE, which also got rid of the digitizer layer and dropped S Pen support in lieu of a thinner profile. The digitizer layer is needed to detect and transmit the stylus's position to the device. Samsung brought S Pen support to the Galaxy Z Fold lineup with the Galaxy Z Fold 3. Users could buy and use the S Pen Pro or the S Pen Fold Edition, both of which came with a retractable nib so you don't put too much pressure on the Fold's inner display and damage it. Ryan Whitwam / Android Authority Galaxy Z Fold 4 Unlike the Galaxy S Ultra lineup, the Z Fold lineup never had a built-in S Pen slot, nor was the S Pen included in the box. However, you could buy first-party cases that let you store the S Pen alongside the phone. Alex Walker-Todd / Android Authority Since the S Pen was a separate purchase and was only supported on the inner display, not the cover display, not a lot of people used the S Pen on the Fold. So Samsung's decision to do away with the S Pen support in favor of a thinner design that many more people would appreciate makes sense. At the same time, die-hard S Pen fans have one less option to choose from, and they barely had any to begin with. Did you use the S Pen on a Galaxy Z Fold foldable? 0 votes Yes, I use the S Pen on my Galaxy Z Fold daily, at least once a day. NaN % Yes, I use the S Pen on my Galaxy Z Fold frequently, about once a week. NaN % Yes, I used the S Pen on my Galaxy Z Fold occasionally, about once a month. NaN % I bought the S Pen but barely used it on my Galaxy Z Fold. NaN % I did not buy the S Pen and never used it on my Galaxy Z Fold. NaN % Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Thinnest, lightest Z Fold to date • More durable design • 200MP primary camera • Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy MSRP: $1,999.99 Thin, light, high-powered, and it folds! The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 offers an 8-inch OLED screen, a 200MP camera, the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset, and a 4,400mAh battery. The Galaxy AI experience is baked in, offering tools across the camera, Circle to Search, and much more. Best of all, Samsung continues to evolve their fold folding hinge assembly, promising reduced visibility of the crease. See price at Samsung See price at Amazon 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.
