One UI 9 on Samsung’s new foldables debuts one big Pixel-style change

TL;DR

• Samsung has been preparing a new home screen setting for One UI 9, with the option for a Google Search bar.
• With One UI 9 stable on the new Z8 series, we finally see this setting make its debut.
• Users can choose from Google Search, Finder, both, or neither.

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Samsung’s latest major platform release is here, as the Android 17-based One UI 9 hits stable for the launch of Samsung’s latest foldables, including the wide new Galaxy Z Fold 8. As we look forward to Samsung getting the ball rolling with updates for its existing Galaxy models, we wanted to briefly shine the spotlight on one very nice change that makes Samsung’s phones feel just a little more like Google’s own.

A couple months back, we spotted Samsung preparing to give One UI 9 the ability to let users choose between Finder and Google for their home screen search experience. And now, with the debut of One UI 9 stable, we’re seeing that change in action (Thanks: Dylan H).

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LG promises to stop McAfee spam ads following pressure from Microsoft

Following user outcry and pressure from Microsoft, LG has agreed to stop showing McAfee pop-up spam downloaded from its monitors.

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This highly rated AOC portable monitor is 17% off at Amazon

Working from a laptop on the road can feel cramped fast, and a portable second screen is one of the easiest ways to fix that. The AOC Portable Monitor V50 is built for that kind of setup, and there’s a deal on it at Amazon right now through an on-page coupon.

See the deal at Amazon

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Google is expanding access to its Gemini Spark agentic AI assistant

Gemini Spark is now available to more users.

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The most powerful Galaxy Z Flip 8 might not be available in your market

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGTGAkNOjCU

TL;DR

• The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 is available in both Exynos and Snapdragon variants.
• The phone has a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor in Canada and the US.
• However, it has an in-house Exynos 2600 chipset in South Africa and the UK.

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Samsung has just announced a trio of foldable phones at its Unpacked event, namely the Galaxy Z Flip 8, Z Fold 8, and Z Fold 8 Ultra. The latter two devices are exclusively powered by Snapdragon silicon, but the Galaxy maker is taking a different route with the Flip 8.

The Galaxy Z Flip 8 is powered by either the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy or the in-house Exynos 2600 chip, depending on your region. More specifically, we can confirm that the Snapdragon variant is available in the US and Canada, while the Exynos version is available in South Africa and the UK.

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Samsung will support the Galaxy Watch 9 and Ultra 2 with five years of updates

Samsung's new wearables will receive Wear OS updates until 2031.

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Bad news for S Pen fans: The Galaxy Z Fold 8 series doesn’t support Samsung’s stylus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGTGAkNOjCU

TL;DR

• The Galaxy Z Fold 8 series is official, and the phones come with impressive specs.
• However, neither the Z Fold 8 Ultra nor the Z Fold 8 supports Samsung’s S Pen.
• The company originally removed S Pen support with last year’s Galaxy Z Fold 7.

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Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, Z Fold 8, and Z Flip 8 at its Galaxy Unpacked event in London today. While the phones come packed with powerful specs and useful features, there’s one thing that’s missing yet again — the S Pen.

Neither the Galaxy Z Fold 8 nor the Z Fold 8 Ultra comes with S Pen support. That’s not entirely surprising, since Samsung removed support for its stylus back with the Galaxy Z Fold 7. However, if you were hoping the wider Z Fold 8 would bring back S Pen support, you’re unfortunately out of luck.

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Xbox is testing free, ad-supported cloud gaming

Microsoft is borrowing from the GeForce Now playbook with an ad-supported cloud streaming test.

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Samsung finally gives the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series the charging upgrade it deserved

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGTGAkNOjCU

TL;DR

• The Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra now support 45W wired charging (up from 25W) and 20W wireless charging (up from 15W).
• Samsung claims both phones reach 65% in 30 minutes, while our Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra testing hit 67% in the same timeframe.
• The Fold 8 Ultra packs a 5,000mAh battery, while the Fold 8 gets 4,800mAh, making this one of the most meaningful battery and charging upgrades the Fold lineup has seen in years.

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If you’ve been waiting for Samsung to finally do something about charging speeds on its foldables, this year’s launch might be the one you’ve been hoping for.

Samsung’s foldables have improved in plenty of ways over the years. They’ve become thinner, lighter, and more durable. But one thing barely changed: charging speeds. That’s finally different this year, and if you’ve ever found yourself plugging in your phone just before heading out, this upgrade could be one of the most useful additions to the Fold 8 lineup.

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Apple Maps will power navigation in Ford's upcoming slate of EVs

The car manufacturer is planning a big push into electric vehicles.

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Samsung’s new foldables are the first Galaxy phones with silicon-carbon batteries

TL;DR

• Samsung has confirmed that the Galaxy Z Flip 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8, and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra all have silicon-carbon batteries.
• These are therefore the first Galaxy phones with silicon-carbon battery technology.
• Samsung didn’t disclose more details about the tech but said you should expect battery health that’s “consistent” with previous products.

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Smartphones with silicon-carbon batteries have been around since 2024, when HONOR debuted the tech. We’ve since seen the likes of OnePlus, OPPO, Xiaomi, and others all embrace this battery technology. Samsung has been one of the few high-profile holdouts, but that changes today.

Samsung confirmed during a media briefing and a media roundtable that the Galaxy Z Flip 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8, and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra all have silicon-carbon batteries. That means these are the first Galaxy phones with this technology. Furthermore, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 also benefits from a silicon-carbon battery, making it quite possibly the first Samsung watch with this tech.

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Does charging your phone in your car waste gas?

Charing your phone in the car may technically use energy, but not enough to give a second thought.

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Samsung’s answer to Meta’s Ray-Bans is (almost) here, with a little help from Google

Credit: Paul Jones / Android Authority

TL;DR

• At the Unpacked event, Samsung showcased two new designs for its upcoming smart glasses with Gemini.
• These glasses are made in partnership with Google and eyewear brands Warby Parker and Gentle Monster.
• These are non-display versions with cameras for Gemini and would likely offer nine hours of battery life under heavy usage.
• While they’re being showcased today, these smart glasses won’t launch until fall this year.

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Google has been teasing its entry into the smart-glasses category with template designs and a dedicated software experience under the banner of Android XR. However, its previous troubles with smart glasses, primarily the Google Glass, may not set a good precedent for new ones. Admitting its shortcomings as a hardware company, Google is limiting itself to the software, especially the Gemini-powered AI bits, while letting other companies handle the hardware. And its choice of hardware partner is Samsung, which is now showcasing its upcoming pair of AI smart glasses.

In addition to the new devices it unveiled at Unpacked today, Samsung is also shedding light on the upcoming pairs of “Intelligent Eyewear.” At the event, it revealed two new designs for smart glasses with a variety of colors, both for the frame and the lenses.

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The latest Resident Evil movie trailer has lots of fun nods to the games

The film, from Weapons director Zach Cregger, hits theaters on September 18.

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The Galaxy Watch 9 is picking up one of the Pixel Watch 4’s best tricks

TL;DR

• The Galaxy Watch 9 is getting a raise-to-talk feature.
• Raising the smartwatch two to four inches from your mouth will activate Gemini without the need for a hotword or button press.
• Lowering your arm or interacting with the screen will cancel the prompt.

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After all the leaks and rumors, Samsung’s summer Galaxy Unpacked event is finally here. As expected, the launch event saw the debut of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series, the Galaxy Z Flip 8, the Galaxy Watch 9, and the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2. However, today’s show wasn’t just about introducing us to new hardware; Samsung also revealed a feature coming to the Galaxy Watch 9.

During Galaxy Unpacked, Samsung announced that the Galaxy Watch 9 would have Gemini raise-to-talk. Until now, raise-to-talk was only available on Pixel Watch 4 devices running Wear OS 6 or later. Now this function is expanding to Samsung’s latest smartwatch. Android Authority first spotted Samsung working on this feature back in March.

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