There’s a good chance the Google Pixel 8 will be unveiled at Google I/O 2024 on May 14, so it’s perhaps no surprise the pace of the associated leaks is picking up – and the latest major leak we’ve seen covers Pixel 8a promo images and pricing.
This is via the usually reliable @OnLeaks and Smartprix, and to start with the pricing, it looks as though worries about a price hike may have been unfounded: the Pixel 8a pricing is said to be $499 ( with 128GB of storage), and $559 (with 256GB) in the US.
That’s exactly what the Google Pixel 7a cost when it went on sale in May 2023, though only a 128GB version of that phone is available. We’re assuming Google will keep the same pricing as last year internationally as well (though there’s always the possibility of variations between regions), which was £449 and AU$749 for the 128GB Pixel 7a.
In our Google Pixel 7a review, we didn’t feel like the mid-ranger was particularly good value compared with the Pixel 7, so we’ll have to see how the Pixel 8a measures up against the Google Pixel 8 (the new phone is rumored to have the same Tensor G3 chipset inside).
Pictures aplenty
enjoy all these nice hq pixel 8a images without watermarkshttps://t.co/d2OoSMfIB8April 29, 2024
Besides the pricing leak, we also get a plethora of promotional images for the Pixel 8a, which you can view over at Smartprix. We can’t guarantee these are genuine, but they certainly look authentic enough, and fit in with the style of previous Pixel promo pics.
We previously heard about four Pixel 8a colors – dark gray (or Obsidian), white-ish (Porcelain), light blue (Bay), and a bright-ish green (Mint) – and three of them appear here, together with the rear camera bar and what looks like someone using Circle to Search.
If you need even more leaked pictures, seasoned tipster @MysteryLupin has you covered with another batch. This collection includes a Pixel 8a case – but not a Pixel 8a phone – in the orangey Coral color you can buy the Pixel 7a in.
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All of this means we probably know just about everything there is to know about the Google Pixel 8a at this stage, ahead of its grand reveal at the Google I/O 2024 event. Here are 5 new things we’re expecting Google to announce.
I still find BitWarden to be a more economical choice for most people, but there are some very nice features in 1Password that you won’t find elsewhere. If you frequently travel across national borders, you’ll appreciate my favorite 1Password feature: Travel Mode. This mode lets you delete any sensitive data from your devices before you travel and then restore it with a click after you’ve crossed a border. This prevents anyone, including law enforcement at international borders, from accessing your complete password vault.
It’s worth noting that 1Password uses a combination of two keys to unlock your account, your password and an additional generated secret key. While that does add a layer of security that will protect against weak passwords, it also means part of what you need to unlock your passwords is something you did not create. 1Password does make sure you have this key as an item in your “emergency kit,” but I still prefer pairing a self-generated password with a Yubikey.
In addition to being a password manager, 1Password can act as an authentication app like Google Authenticator, and for added security it creates a secret key to the encryption key it uses, meaning no one can decrypt your passwords without that key. The downside is that if you lose this key, no one, not even 1Password, can decrypt your passwords. (This can be mitigated by setting up a custom group that has the “Recover Accounts” permission.)
1Password also offers tight integration wth other mobile apps. Rather than needing to copy and paste passwords from your password manager to other apps (which puts your password on the clipboard at least for a moment), 1Password is integrated with many apps and can autofill. This is more noticeable on iOS, where inter-app communication is more restricted.
I first encountered Dashlane several years ago. Back then, it was the same as its competitors, with no stand-out attributes. However, updates over time have added several helpful features. One of the best is Site Breach Alerts, something other services have since added as well. Dashlane actively monitors the darker corners of the web, looking for leaked or stolen personal data, and it alerts you if your information has been compromised.
Setup and migration from another password manager is simple, and you’ll use a secret key to encrypt your passwords, much like BitWarden’s setup process. In practice, Dashlane is very similar to the others on this list. The company doesn’t offer a desktop app, but I primarily use passwords in the web browser anyway, and Dashlane has add-ons for all the major browsers, along with iOS and Android apps. If a desktop app is important to you, that omission is something to be aware of. Dashlane offers a 30-day free trial, so you can test it out before committing.
Want to retain more control over your data in the cloud? Sync your password vault yourself. The services below do not store any of your data on their servers. This means attackers have nothing to target. Instead of storing your passwords, these services use a local vault to store your data, and then you can sync that vault using a file-syncing service like Dropbox; NextCloud; or Edward Snowden’s recommended service, SpiderOak. There are two services to keep track of in this scenario, making it a little more complex. But if you’re already using a file-syncing file service, this can be a good option.
Courtesy of Enpass
Enpass does not store any data on its servers. Syncing is handled through third-party services. Enpass doesn’t do the syncing, but it does offer apps on every platform. That means once you have syncing set up, it works just like any other service. And you don’t have to worry about Enpass being hacked, because your data isn’t on its servers. Enpass supports syncing through Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, iCloud, Box, Nextcloud, or any service using WebDAV. Alas, SpiderOak is not currently supported. You can also synchronize your data over a local WLAN or Wi-Fi network.
All of the features you expect in a password manager are here, including auto-generating passwords, breach-monitoring, biometric login (for devices that support it), auto-filling passwords, and options to store other types of data, like credit cards and identification data. There’s also a password audit feature to highlight any weak or duplicate passwords in your vault. One extra I particularly like is the ability to tag passwords for easier searching. Enpass also makes setting up the syncing through the service of your choice very easy. Enpass recently added support for passkeys.
A few days ago, Samsung launched the Galaxy M55 in Brazil and India. Now, the mid-range smartphone has been launched in some European countries, bringing a Galaxy phone with a decently powerful Snapdragon chip to people who don’t want to spend a lot on devices like the Galaxy S23.
Galaxy M55 pricing in Europe
The 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant of the Galaxy M55 is priced at €479.90. However, until April 30, during a promotional period, the phone will be sold for just €439.90. The 256GB version of the Galaxy M55 is priced at €529.99. The Galaxy M15 has also reportedly been launched in Europe, but its pricing information hasn’t yet been revealed.
Galaxy M55 features
The Galaxy M55 features a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED+ screen with Full HD+ resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, and 1,000 nits peak brightness. It has an under-display fingerprint reader as well. The Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 processor powers the device. It has 8GB/12GB RAM, 128GB/256GB storage, and a microSD card slot. It runs Android 14-based One UI 6.1 and will get four major Android OS updates.
There is a 50MP selfie camera on the front and a 50MP OIS primary camera on the rear. There is an 8MP ultrawide camera and a 2MP macro camera on the rear. The front and primary rear cameras can record 4K 30fps videos with EIS. The Galaxy M55 has stereo speakers, 5G, a hybrid dual-SIM card slot, GPS, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, and a USB Type-C port.
The Galaxy M55 is powered by a 5,000mAh battery and supports 45W fast charging.
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In response to customer feedback and amidst mounting scrutiny from the industry and now regulators, Broadcom CEO Hock Tan has announced a significant backpedal on the company’s pricing model.
The move comes as the European Union has initiated an investigation into complaints about the company’s pricing practices following its November 2023 acquisition of VMware.
Since then and under its new leadership, VMware’s portfolio has seen significant changes, including the termination of perpetual licenses which left a bitter taste in the mouth of many long-standing customers.
In an announcement, Tan highlighted the company’s intention to shift towards simplicity and cost-effectiveness, noting that VMware’s and its customers’ previous pricing structure was complex and costly.
Tan also acknowledged that the company’s move toward a subscription-based model had left perpetual license customers unsupported. However, in an effort to pacify disgruntled users, Broadcom has now confirmed that it will provide “free access to zero-day security patches for supported versions of vSphere,” with more products set to receive a similar treatment in time.
The CEO said that this was to recognize that “fast-moving change[s] may require more time,” indicating that customers had expressed concerns about balancing expenditures between capital and operating spending.
Still, Broadcom remains committed to transitioning VMware to a subscription-based company, claiming that work started in 2018, long after many rivals had already done so.
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Besides committing to backing VMware services with “billions of dollars in new investment,” Tan also announced that VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) would see dramatic price reductions.
A spokesperson for the European Union stated (via Reuters): “The Commission has received information suggesting that Broadcom is changing the conditions of VMware’s software licensing and support.”
Now, according to the report, EU antitrust regulators are enquiring with Broadcom about changes to newly VMware’s licensing conditions.
DJI is scheduled to announce its new Avata 2 on April 11 yet that hasn’t stopped a flood of information about it leaking onto the internet. We even saw the drone itself being unboxed out in public late last month in a low-quality video. This new leak saw a series of hi-res images and specifications for the Avata 2 as well as the Goggles 3 headset and RC Motion 3 controller posted on X (the platform formerly known as Twitter).
Many of the pictures come from leaker Roland Quandt and they give us our first clear look at the drone which has notable design changes when compared to the original Avata. The camera is now at the front inside a smaller housing rather than sitting prominently at the top. Additionally, the flight fans have three blades instead of five. This streamlined design is identical to the one seen in an earlier leak from industry insider Quadro News giving it some validity.
As for the Goggles 3, the headset looks similar to DJI’s Goggles 2. However if you look closely at the front, you’ll notice a pair of camera lenses. We know these are cameras because Jasper Ellens, another insider, shared screenshots of the Avata 2’s Quick Start Guide on X. Documents reveal the lenses enable the headset’s Real View PiP (Picture-In-Picture) mode, allowing users to see their surroundings without having to remove the Goggles 3. The reported “ultra-low-latency” video feed will then be shown on the device’s “micro-OLED high-definition” displays.
The RC Motion 3, like everything else we discussed so far, looks similar to the previous generation with several notable changes. DJI’s upcoming controller has a darker color scheme sporting a different shade of gray and black-accented inputs. The joystick is on the left side pushing the now-flat mode button down towards the middle. Also, the orange lock button has a bumpy texture and is much larger than before. The same goes for the side dial: it’s a lot bigger.
Specs
Moving onto the drone’s specs, they come from Quadro News. Some of the information mentioned is stuff we already know, like the 1/1.3-inch image sensor, although there are plenty of new details.
Starting with the Avata 2’s camera, the lens will have a viewing angle of 155 degrees with an aperture of f/2.8. It’ll be capable of shooting video in 4K resolution at 60FPS or 2.7K resolution at 120FPS. Future owners will be given 46 GB of storage. Video transmission distance maxes out at 13 km (a little over eight miles). DJI’s drone won’t be able to fly for very long. Battery life is set for 23 minutes and it’ll take about 40 minutes to fully recharge.
Pricing info comes from yet another leak, OsitaLV, who posted a photograph of the drone’s cost in China. It shows prices start at 2,988 Yuan (about $413 / £327 / AU$628) up to 6988 Yuan (about $966 / £765 / AU$1,468) for the presumed Fly More Combo package.
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One key acrobatics, that’s interesting. pic.twitter.com/BjPA7CmYO5April 3, 2024
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Quadro News goes on to claim the Goggles 3 has better specs than the old model, “but some things have been trimmed.” He doesn’t really elaborate exactly what has been trimmed. Rather, he highlights some of the headset’s key features like the two-hour operating time, 20-minute charging time, plus a viewing angle of 44 degrees.
Nothing else was shared about the Motion 3 controller. That’s pretty much everything regarding the Avata 2 and its accessories. There are still many things that we don’t know about, including any new features not mentioned. Considering April 11 is coming up soon, we won’t have to wait long to learn more.
What if you scored a free trial of Apple TV+ for three months, or you have six free months of Apple Music through an offer you redeemed? Unfortunately, Apple One will cut those free trials down to the standard one-month period, after which you will start to pay the Apple One plan price you chose. Note: You don’t get any free trial allowance back if you cancel your Apple One plan.
Apple One Services
Courtesy of Apple
What exactly do some of these services offer? Here’s a closer look:
Apple Music
Apple Music appears in our Best Streaming Services guide because the entire library of more than 90 million songs is available in lossless format, and you get immersive 3D sound with albums tuned in Dolby Atmos. It has an excellent iPhone app and Siri support, but the Android app is just OK, and we’re not fans of the desktop app. Social playlist sharing and curation don’t quite match up to our favorite service, Spotify, but the gap is closing. If you want to switch from Spotify to Apple Music, you can also take your playlists.
Apple TV+
With a focus on quality over quantity, Apple TV+ isn’t competing with the enormous libraries offered by Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu, and it deserves its place in our Best Streaming Services guide. It’s light on movies, though there are highlights, like Killers of the Flower Moon, Wolfwalkers, and Finch. But the real appeal of Apple TV+ is unmissable hit shows like Severance, Foundation, Ted Lasso, and The Morning Show, and it boasts excellent music documentaries, too. Everything is offered in 4K with HDR, and no, you don’t need an Apple TV to watch content in Apple TV+.
Apple Arcade
Closing in on three years since its release, the impact of Apple Arcade on mobile gaming is still unclear. What isn’t up for debate is the fact it offers some of the best mobile games without ads or in-app purchases. There are more than 200 titles in the Apple Arcade now, many of them exclusive. Some of our favorites include Mini Motorways, Sayonara Wild Hearts, Sneaky Sasquatch, Bloons TD6, and Assemble With Care.
iCloud+
Everyone gets 5 GB of storage space in iCloud for free, but that soon fills up with device backups, photos, and videos. You can upgrade to iCloud+ to get 50 GB, 200 GB, or 2 TB, and each option supports family sharing. There are several alternative cloud storage services that work well with Apple devices, but iCloud is tightly integrated. Aside from the extra space, another reason to upgrade to iCloud+ is for HomeKit Secure Video. It allows HomeKit security cameras and video doorbells to record 10 days of activity, viewable in the Home app. The 50-GB plan supports a single camera, the 200-GB plan covers up to five cameras, and the 2-TB plan supports unlimited cameras. These HomeKit videos don’t count against your iCloud storage limit. Every iCloud+ subscription also includes Private Relay, which encrypts your Safari web browsing, and Hide My Email, which gives you unique, random email addresses to use when you’d prefer to keep yours private.
Apple News+
If you love to read great magazines like (ahem) WIRED, National Geographic, The New Yorker, Time, People, Vogue, Rolling Stone, and Popular Science, or newspapers like The Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times, you can find them and many more, cover-to-cover, in the News app with an Apple News+ subscription. The service saves you from paywalls, features slick presentation, and offers curation based on your interests. On the downside, it doesn’t include everything—The New York Times and The Washington Post are famously unavailable. It also only works on Apple devices.
Apple Fitness+
Workout subscription services grew popular at the start of the pandemic, as people could no longer visit the gym. Apple Fitness+ offers various workout types, from yoga to strength training, audio-guided walks and runs, and meditations, along with plenty of real-time metrics. It works via the Fitness app on an iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV, and it requires an Apple Watch Series 3 or newer. You can read more about it in our review, but the service has since expanded. (Apple adds around 30 new workouts and meditations every week.)
How to Subscribe to Apple One
If you are sold on Apple One, signing up on an Apple device is easy. Go to Settings, Account (tap on your name), Subscriptions, and you will see Apple One with the option to Try It Now. That’s it!
Earlier this week, Samsung silently launched the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2024) by listing the tablet on the company’s official website for Romania. However, the brand had neither revealed the price nor the availability details of the device. Well, that’s changing today. Samsung has launched the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2024) in the United Kingdom, and along with it, the company has revealed the tablet’s price and availability details for the region.
According to Samsung’s official website for the UK, the 64GB storage variant of the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2024) costs GBP 349 and the 128GB storage variant of the tablet costs GBP 379 in the country. Both models are readily available to purchase from the website. However, unlike in Romania, the tablet is available in only one color option in the UK, and that’s Grey. It’s also worth mentioning that the device comes in a Wi-Fi-only variant in the country. There’s no cellular model on offer in the region.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2024) specifications
The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2024) is a refreshed version of the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2022) which was a refreshed version of the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2020). The latest model shares most of its specifications with its predecessor, except for having a less capable processor and better connectivity options.
The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite has a 10.4-inch LCD with 2,000 x 1,200 pixels resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate. The tablet used the Exynos 1280 SoC at the helm. It comes in two memory configurations globally: 4GB RAM + 64GB storage and 4GB RAM + 128GB storage. There’s a microSD card slot onboard.
It runs on Samsung’s Android 14-based One UI 6.1 software customization. You get an 8MP camera at the rear and a 5MP sensor at the front. The tablet packs a 7,40mAh battery. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v5.3, and USB Type-C port. The device also comes bundled with an S Pen.
Every Google account comes with 15 gigabytes of free cloud storage shared across Google Drive, Google Photos, and Gmail. But with videos of your kids, hi-res photos of your pets, and work files, that space doesn’t stretch far these days. Google One is the company’s subscription service, with several tiers to expand your cloud storage for a monthly fee. Storage can be shared with your family, but it’s just the start—there are other benefits to subscribing.
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100-GB Plan: For $2 per month or $20 per year, you get 100 gigabytes you can share with up to five family members, plus access to Google experts, Play Store credits, special editing features in Google Photos, discounts on Google hardware, and deals on select hotels.
200-GB Plan: For $3 per month or $30 per year, you get 200 GB with the same perks as above, plus 3 percent back on purchases from the Google Store.
2-TB Plan: For $10 per month or $100 per year, you get 2 terabytes with family sharing, the same perks as the first tier, 10 percent back on purchases from the Google Store, and a VPN for Android and iOS.
In the unlikely event that 2 TB is not enough, you can increase your storage, but the option to upgrade to an even larger plan is available only for current subscribers and in select countries. Here are the plans (no annual discount on the 10-, 20-, or 30-TB plans):
Apple has not approved a Spotify app update that adds information on subscription pricing and links its website, Spotify complained today in an email to the European Commission (via The Verge). Spotify says that Apple has not “acknowledged nor responded” to its App Store submission.
The European Commission on March 4 fined Apple almost $2 billion and said that Apple abused its dominant position in the market by preventing music streaming services from telling users about more affordable subscription prices outside of their iOS apps. The EC said that it is “illegal under EU antitrust rules” for Apple to keep developers from telling customers about cheaper music subscription options.
Apple was told that it must “remove anti-steering provisions” in the European Union, and so on March 5, Spotify submitted an app update that included subscription pricing tiers and options to pay without using in-app purchase. Spotify says that it has not had a response from Apple since submitting the update.
Spotify told the European Commission that Apple’s lack of response is “yet another example” of how Apple “will seek to circumvent and/or not comply with the Commission’s decision.” Spotify asked the EC to require Apple to approve the app update.
In a statement to The Verge, Spotify also said that Apple’s delay “directly conflicts” with Apple’s statements about processing app submissions within 24 hours, and “flies in the face of the timeline for adoption” from the EC.
It’s been nine days now and we’re still waiting to hear from Apple about our app submission to show EU consumers pricing and a link to our website, which we are now authorized to do by the European Commission’s decision on the music streaming case. Apple’s delay directly conflicts with their claim that they turn around reviews on app submissions within 24 hours, and it also flies in the face of the timeline for adoption the Commission laid out.
The ruling from the European Commission that requires Apple to eliminate anti-steering rules is separate from the app ecosystem changes that Apple made in the European Union with iOS 17.4 to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
Under the terms of the DMA, Spotify is allowed to distribute a Spotify app to EU users outside of the App Store, but it would be required to pay Apple’s Core Technology Fee for each user. Spotify currently does not pay Apple any commission.
The DMA also permits Spotify to direct users to make purchases on its website while also providing information on in-app promotions, discounts, and deals, but again, Spotify would need to agree to Apple’s updated business terms and fees to implement these changes. Spotify has not clarified if it adopted Apple’s new terms or if its update has been submitted without doing so.
OpenAI the company and team of researchers responsible for creating ChatGPT have announced its latest series of updates, which are designed to enhance the capabilities of its AI models while also making them more affordable for users.. At the forefront of these enhancements are the new embedding models introduced by OpenAI.
Embedding models
These models, known as text-embedding-3-small and text-embedding-3-large, are engineered to improve the performance of AI tasks across multiple languages and are specifically optimized for English. The small model, in particular, has been priced lower, making it an attractive option for developers and businesses looking to integrate AI into their operations without incurring high costs. The large model, while remaining competitively priced, is designed to handle complex embeddings with high efficiency.
ChatGPT
In addition to the new embedding models, OpenAI has made significant improvements to its existing GPT-3.5 Turbo and GPT-4 Turbo models. The GPT-3.5 Turbo model has received performance enhancements and a notable price reduction, with input prices being halved and output prices cut by 25%. This makes the model more accessible to a broader range of users, from individual developers to large enterprises. The GPT-4 Turbo model has also been updated to improve task completion, especially for non-English UTF-8 text generations. An alias feature has been added to ensure that users always have access to the latest version of the model.
Another noteworthy update is the introduction of a robust moderation model, text-moderation-007, which provides stronger content moderation tools. This is particularly important for platforms that rely on user-generated content, as it helps maintain high-quality standards and a safe environment for users.
Here are some other articles you may find of interest on the subject of
API usage
OpenAI has also focused on enhancing API usage management by introducing new tools that give users greater control over their API usage. These tools include the ability to assign specific permissions to API keys and to monitor usage metrics more closely. This not only improves oversight but also helps users manage their costs more effectively. One of the innovative features that OpenAI has added is the ability to adjust the length of embeddings, which allows users to tailor their usage to their specific needs and budget.
The company has made it clear that user privacy is a priority, stating that data sent to their API is not used for training or improving models by default. This reassures users that their information is handled with care and that their privacy is respected. OpenAI has also hinted at future enhancements to API usage management, indicating that the company is continuously working to refine its services and provide users with the best possible experience.
OpenAI ChatGPT updates
These updates from OpenAI are set to enhance the way users interact with AI technologies. By making these tools more efficient and cost-effective, OpenAI is empowering developers, business owners, and AI enthusiasts to explore new possibilities and drive innovation in their fields. The company’s commitment to improving its offerings and making AI more user-friendly is evident in these latest enhancements, which are likely to have a positive impact on the AI community and beyond.
As AI continues to integrate into various aspects of our lives, the importance of advancements like those introduced by OpenAI cannot be overstated. These updates not only improve the technical capabilities of AI models but also address the practical concerns of cost and accessibility. By doing so, OpenAI is helping to democratize AI technology, enabling more people to leverage its potential for creative solutions, problem-solving, and progress in numerous industries.
The AI landscape is one of constant change and innovation, and OpenAI’s recent updates are a clear indication that the company is at the forefront of this dynamic field. Overall, the latest updates from OpenAI are poised to make a significant impact on the AI community. By offering more efficient and cost-effective tools and models, OpenAI is enabling developers and researchers to tackle a wide array of tasks, from natural language processing to code development and ensuring AI safety.
These advancements are not only enhancing the capabilities of AI technology but are also equipping users with the resources they need to drive innovation and achieve success in their various projects. As OpenAI continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in AI, these updates are a clear indication of their ongoing efforts to support and empower the community.
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