N e w s C e n t r a l

How to Get Around the US TikTok Ban

TikTok is now unavailable in the United States—and getting around the ban isn’t as simple as using a VPN. Here’s what you need to know.

Source: www.wired.com

Reception: Neutral

Canon has developed a 410-megapixel full-frame sensor

Canon announced that it has created a new <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://global.canon/en/news/2025/20250122.html">410-megapixel, 35mm full-frame CMOS sensor</a>, "the largest number of pixels ever achieved" in a sensor of its size. Because of the level of detail the new sensor can capture, Canon expects it to be used by"surveillance, medicine and industry," where there's demand for "extreme resolution." With 410 megapixels, Canon's sensor has a resolution of 24K, 198 times greater than HD, and 12 times greater than 8K. That makes it simple to crop and then enlarge a photo captured by the sensor without losing detail. Typically, sky-high megapixel counts are limited to <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/cameras/fujifilm-gfx-100-ii-the-king-of-medium-format-mirrorless-cameras-143009929.html">cameras with medium-format sensors</a>. But the beauty of Canon cramming this many pixels into 35mm is that it should be able to be used "in combination with lenses for full-frame sensors." Canon had to make more than a few design changes to make this happen. The new sensor has a redesigned circuitry pattern and a "back-illuminated stacked formation" where "the pixel segment and signal processing segment are interlayered." That translates to a readout speed of 3,280 megapixels per second, and video at eight frames per second. A monochrome version of the sensor can bin four pixels together at once to shoot even brighter images and capture "100-megapixel video at 24 frames per second," Canon says.  It doesn't sound like this kind of sensor is going to make it into a consumer camera anytime soon, but the fact this level of miniaturization is possible means one day it could, for the photography sickos who want it.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/canon-has-developed-a-410-megapixel-full-frame-sensor-001851969.html?src=rss

Source: www.engadget.com

Reception: Positive

Extremely OK Games has cancelled its follow-up to Celeste

Extremely OK Games has cancelled its upcoming game Earthblade. The followup to the team's beloved indie sensation Celeste was <a href="https://www.engadget.com/earthblade-is-the-next-game-from-the-team-behind-celeste-024059859.html"><ins>announced</ins></a> in 2022 and expected to release last year. Maddy Thorson announced the news on the studio's website today. "Noel and I…began to reflect on how the game has felt for us to work on day-to-day, and realized that it has been a struggle for a long time," she <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://exok.com/posts/2025-01-22-earthblade-final-update/">wrote</a>. "Sure, working on one project for so long is bound to become a slog, but this feels like a deeper problem. Celeste's success applied pressure on us to deliver something bigger and better with Earthblade, and that pressure is a large part of why working on it has become so exhausting." The studio, led by Thorson and Noel Berry, parted ways with EXOK co-founder Pedro Medeiros in November. However, Thorson was clear in her message that the rift between team members was not the reason for cancelling Earthblade. In fact, all of the public conversation between the former colleagues thus far has remained amicable. Thorson offered firm support for Medeiros and his new game project Neverway in her post: "If you were excited about Earthblade and angry about its cancelling, Pedro and the Neverway team aren't the enemy and anyone who treats them as such isn't welcome in any EXOK community."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/extremely-ok-games-has-cancelled-its-follow-up-to-celeste-000352550.html?src=rss

Source: www.engadget.com

Reception: Positive

GLAAD Media Awards nominates Paper Mario after Nintendo restored trans representation

Ten video games have received <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://glaad.org/mediaawards/36/nominees/">nominations</a> for the 36th Annual GLAAD Media Awards. This program celebrates media works that feature "fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community and the issues that affect their lives." There are nominees for television, film, music, theater, journalism and comics as well as video games. One of the 2024 nominees for outstanding video game is the re-release of Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door for the Nintendo Switch. The original Japanese version of the GameCube title included a minor character named Vivian who was transgender. The game contained dialogue about her challenges being misgendered and her journey to understanding her own identity. However, the 2002 international translations of the game, including the English version released in the US, erased that side to the character, removing language around Vivian's gender and pronouns. Last year's Switch re-release restored the character's original lines and story arc for English-speaking players to finally experience. The video game nominees also include <a href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/dragon-age-the-veilguard-is-beautiful-in-every-way-193013807.html">Dragon Age: The Veilguard</a>. BioWare has a long history of portraying queer characters and romance options in their games, and it's great to see them continuing that practice with the latest title. Horror film outfit Blumhouse's first foray into games, the fascinating indie project <a href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/how-fear-the-spotlight-became-blumhouses-first-video-game-140044877.html">Fear the Spotlight</a>, also received a nod. Here is the complete list of game nominees: <ul> <li>Caravan SandWitch (Studio Plane Toast / Dear Villagers)</li> <li>Dragon Age: The Veilguard (BioWare / Electronic Arts)</li> <li>Dread Delusion (Lovely Hellplace / DreadXP)</li> <li>Dustborn (Red Thread Games / Spotlight by Quantic Dream)</li> <li>Fear the Spotlight (Cozy Game Pals / Blumhouse Games)</li> <li>Life is Strange: Double Exposure (Deck Nine / Square Enix)</li> <li>Minds Beneath Us (BearBone Studio)</li> <li>Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Intelligent Systems / Nintendo)</li> <li>Sorry We’re Closed (à la mode games / Akupara Games)</li> <li>Until Then (Polychroma Games / Maximum Entertainment)</li> </ul>This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/glaad-media-awards-nominates-paper-mario-after-nintendo-restored-trans-representation-232157090.html?src=rss

Source: www.engadget.com

Reception: Positive

Sega unveils a player account system

Sega has introduced a new system for player accounts. A <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://sega-account.com/">Sega Account</a> will connect all of a player's games and services from both Sega and Atlus. It will also be a place for the two studios to share news, events, updates and promotions about their titles. The accounts are free and anyone can register. To sweeten the pot, Sega will also offer bonuses and goodies to account members. The first reward people can unlock is a Kazuma Kiryu Special Outfit DLC for Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, which is due out <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-next-like-a-dragon-game-recasts-a-series-regular-as-an-amnesiac-pirate-142935001.html">next month</a>. The ensemble can be redeemed by anyone who sets up a Sega Account before March 7. With so many studios turning to games as a service, it's becoming standard practice to require players to create accounts or online profiles. Sega is a little slow to hop on this train, and there are some industry standard features in that are still in development for Sega Accounts, such as a page for records related to games played. There's no language on the website now about if or when an account might be required. In announcing this platform, Sega said there will be "various new services and features coming soon." We already know that Sega is working on a brand new <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/sega-apparently-has-a-new-virtua-fighter-game-in-the-works-235417627.html">Virtua Fighter game</a>, but we've also said good-bye to other <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/sega-will-delist-a-bunch-of-its-classic-games-from-major-storefronts-next-month-172823328.html">old-school classics</a> from the company. Seems like Sega is in a phase of transition, so it should be interesting to see what else they've got in store for this year.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/sega-unveils-a-player-account-system-221029962.html?src=rss

Source: www.engadget.com

Reception: Positive

Dozens of subreddits are banning X links from their communities

Dozens of subreddits have opted to block links to X in their communities over the last 24 hours in a movement that appears to be gaining momentum across Reddit. <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.reddit.com/search/?q=banning+x+links&t=day&iId=5418b50f-2a18-46b5-87e6-6d57a5164b62"><ins>Hundreds more</ins></a> appear to be actively discussing or considering a similar move with their members. Engadget counted more than two dozen subreddits, which collectively have millions of members, that have already restricted their communities’ ability to post content from X in some way in recent days. These include large subreddits, like <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/formula1/comments/1i78lvs/starting_today_we_are_banning_twitterx_content_on/"><ins>r/formula1</ins></a>, which has nearly 5 million members, and smaller communities like <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Ultraman/comments/1i783jd/were_banning_twitter_links_starting_today/"><ins>r/ultraman</ins></a>, which has 30,000. The movement seems to have been popularized, at least in part, by r/newjersey, whose mods announced a ban on X links Tuesday. “Fuck this guy. X links are now banned from r/newjersey,” they shared in a post that now has more than 65,000 upvotes. Accompanying the post was <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/newjersey/comments/1i6txcn/fuck_this_guy_x_links_are_now_banned_from/"><ins>a photo</ins></a> of Elon Musk extending his arm, Musk made two apparent Nazi salutes during a speech at Donald Trump’s inauguration which have been <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/elon-musk-salute-reaction-right-wing-extremists-1235241866/"><ins>widely celebrated</ins></a> by fascists online. A number of other subreddits quickly followed suit, with many sharing a link to the r/newjersey post. X links have been barred from<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Military/comments/1i6of4m/twitterx_has_been_added_to_the_disallowed_domains/"> <ins>r/military</ins></a> (489,000 members)<ins>,</ins><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/comics/comments/1i6sjwa/blacklist_for_links_to_twitter_xcom/"> <ins>r/comics</ins></a> (2.7 million), <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/casualnintendo/comments/1i73qzp/rcasualnintendo_joins_other_subreddits_in_banning/"><ins>r/casualnintendo</ins></a> (184,000),<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Spiderman/comments/1i75j2r/twitterx_blacklist/"> <ins>r/spiderman</ins></a> (1 million),<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/pcgaming/comments/1i6v0j5/as_of_today_rpcgaming_has_added_xcom_to_the/"> <ins>r/pcgaming</ins></a> (3.8 million),<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/rupaulsdragrace/comments/1i6zzqw/petition_to_ban_x_links_on_rupaulsdragrace/"> <ins>r/rupaulsdragrace</ins></a> (1 million),<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/KingdomHearts/comments/1i72491/twitterx_links_screenshots_banned/"> <ins>r/KingdomHearts</ins></a><ins> </ins>(345,000),<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/therapists/comments/1i7gspv/xtwitter_links_are_now_blocked/"> <ins>r/therapists</ins></a> (142,000), and many others. “We weren't trying to start a trend, and we never expected to go viral,” the mods of r/newjersey said in a statement to Engadget. “Not everyone will agree with our choice, but Reddit has always been a place where each community gets to decide these things individually. If our announcement has inspired discussions about the role social media is playing in our current times, we think that's a good thing.” Many mods, in announcing their ban on X links have also cited the fact X has made it increasingly difficult for users to view posts if they aren’t logged in. “There’s no doubt that over the past years Twitter has become a low-quality source: the login requirements, the flood of bots, the prioritization of content from paying users and promotion of sensationalist content,” r/formula1’s mods <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/formula1/comments/1i78lvs/starting_today_we_are_banning_twitterx_content_on/"><ins>wrote in a post</ins></a>. “But unlike with news sites in our source-rating system, for Twitter there wasn’t really an alternative.” The subreddit is instead encouraging members to share content from Bluesky, which doesn’t require a login to view posts. The mods said they will allow “screenshots of relevant posts by teams, drivers & F1” when the same content isn’t available elsewhere. Moderators for <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/antiwork/comments/1i743br/can_we_please_ban_twitterx_links/"><ins>r/antiwork</ins></a>, which has 2.9 million members, noted that their rules prohibit links and screenshots to X and all other social media sites, including Facebook, Instagram and even LinkedIn. “We'd prefer for the message of antiwork to come organically from you, here, in OC form, but if it comes from a picture or post of something else, that catches hold, we want that, too,” <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/antiwork/comments/1i743br/comment/m8hqkb5/"><ins>they wrote</ins></a>. “Just not Twitter.” Many other subreddits are considering similar measures. Mods of <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/DnD/comments/1i7g846/should_rdnd_ban_twitterx_plus_questions_about_ai/"><ins>r/dnd</ins></a> (4 million members), <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://sh.reddit.com/r/baseball/comments/1i6l2mj/meta_poll_regarding_the_use_of_twitterx_on/"><ins>r/baseball</ins></a> (2.8 million), <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AlanWake/comments/1i7chyx/regarding_the_banning_of_twitterx_links_poll/"><ins>r/AlanWake</ins></a> (80,000) and <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/xmen/comments/1i6p7w3/vote_should_linkscontent_from_twitterx_be_banned/"><ins>r/Xmen</ins></a> (270,000) are currently running polls among their members. Moderators in <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/hockey/comments/1i6h6sm/can_we_ban_twitter_links_now/"><ins>r/hockey</ins></a> (2.7 million), <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Georgia/comments/1i7031e/can_we_ban_x_links/"><ins>r/georgia</ins></a> (237,000) and <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/popheads/comments/1i7bqpn/banning_twitter_opinions_wanted/"><ins>r/popheads</ins></a> (2.8 million) have also shared that they are discussing a potential ban. Not all moderators have been receptive when such a ban has been raised. A mod in <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/1i6kj9w/proposal_to_ban_xcom_links/"><ins>r/chess</ins></a> <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/1i6kj9w/comment/m8ejf6h/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button"><ins>said</ins></a> that such a ban would “pose a bit of a logistical problem” for the community. “The unfortunate reality is that Twitter is the source of a big portion of content on the subreddit,” they wrote. “A ban would thus require some rule changes. We're open to suggestions, but can't promise anything at the moment.” Likewise, a moderator of <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Fauxmoi/comments/1i7325j/are_we_banning_all_links_from_x_too/"><ins>r/fauxmoi</ins></a>, a subreddit dedicated to gossip, <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Fauxmoi/comments/1i7325j/comment/m8hq29d/"><ins>noted</ins></a> that “we do prefer to still have the link so we can ensure that people are not submitting fake or doctored screenshots.” While this is far from the first time that Redditors have joined together in a <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/reddit-sees-more-than-6000-communities-go-dark-in-protest-over-api-changes-095311637.html"><ins>form of protest</ins></a>, it’s notable that so many are calling to remove a popular source for Reddit posts.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/dozens-of-subreddits-are-banning-x-links-from-their-communities-215441510.html?src=rss

Source: www.engadget.com

Reception: Positive

Everything Samsung announced at the Galaxy S25 Unpacked event

Samsung’s first Unpacked event of 2025 delivered the Galaxy S25 series — as expected. Although the phones don’t have dramatically upgraded specs, the company stuffed — you guessed it! — more AI into the devices. This latest batch is more context-sensitive and predictive, and some of it even squeezes more out of the phones’ mildly upgraded hardware. <h2 id="jump-link-galaxy-s25-ultra">Galaxy S25 Ultra</h2> <figure> <img alt="Galaxy S25 Ultra" src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2025-01/91ac29d0-d8ee-11ef-befb-a2c7923831e9" style="height: 576px; width: 960px;" /> <figcaption></figcaption> <div class="photo-credit"> Sam Rutherford for Engadget </div> </figure> The <a href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsung-galaxy-s25-ultra-hands-on-faster-curvier-and-way-more-ai-ier-180054396.html">Galaxy S25 Ultra</a> is still the biggest, best and most expensive of the bunch. It has a 6.9-inch display and a more rounded edge for a “comfortable grip.” Samsung says it’s the “slimmest, lightest, and most durable Galaxy Ultra device ever,” rocking a titanium body with Corning’s Gorilla Armor 2 for “advanced drop protection” and scratch resistance. Unlike the two smaller models, one of the Ultra’s camera sensors got a spec upgrade: Its ultrawide lens is now 50MP, up from the mere 12MP one in last year’s model. Like its siblings, the S25 Ultra is powered by a customized version of the <a href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsung-galaxy-s25-smartphones-are-powered-by-a-custom-snapdragon-8-elite-soc-180050277.html">Snapdragon 8 Elite processor</a>, which lets the trio of phones process many of their AI experiences on-device. Of course, that’s better for privacy. Although the phone continues the tradition of including an S Pen (it’s now essentially the long-retired <a href="https://www.engadget.com/samsung-galaxy-note-20-ultra-review-snapdragon-865-plus-5g-s-pen-price-140017843.html">Galaxy Note</a>), Air Commands — which bridged the gap between the two — have bit the dust. Samsung told Engadget in a briefing that fewer than one percent of S Pen-toting customers used the feature. And those who did mostly used it as a camera shutter, which is easily replicated in other ways. Samsung says the removal let it shed some weight and boost the S Pen’s durability. Engadget’s Sam Rutherford <a href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsung-galaxy-s25-ultra-hands-on-faster-curvier-and-way-more-ai-ier-180054396.html">got an early hands-on with the Galaxy S25 Ultra</a> and said it “looks like a good phone” and described Samsung’s AI suite as “much more cohesive and easier to get into," but also felt the company "could be doing more for its most expensive non-folding phone.” The Galaxy S25 Ultra has 12GB of RAM, and it ships in 256GB, 512GB and 1TB storage tiers. It’s still quite the investment, though — starting at $1,300. <h2 id="jump-link-galaxy-s25-and-s25">Galaxy S25 and S25+</h2> <figure> <img alt="Galaxy S25 and S25+" src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2025-01/b50451f0-d8ee-11ef-976f-cd426d4d93a0" style="height: 1200px; width: 2000px;" /> <figcaption></figcaption> <div class="photo-credit"> Sam Rutherford for Engadget </div> </figure> <a href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsung-galaxy-s25-and-s25-hands-on-180017460.html">The Galaxy S25 and S25+</a> saw their RAM upgraded to 12GB (same as the Ultra), up from 8GB in their 2024 predecessors. It combines with the Snapdragon 8 Elite to better handle the phones’ many AI features. (More in a minute.) The rest of their hardware is remarkably similar to the <a href="https://www.engadget.com/samsung-galaxy-s24-and-s24-review-a-taste-of-generative-ai-in-everyday-use-160041639.html">S24 and S24+</a>. They still have 6.2-inch and 6.7-inch displays, respectively. But Samsung’s new ProScaler AI tool can upscale images in real time to perhaps make up for the unchanged specs. Samsung says it can boost the quality of what you see by 40 percent. Engadget’s Mat Smith <a href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsung-galaxy-s25-and-s25-hands-on-180017460.html">tried the Galaxy S25 and S25+</a> and praised the phones’ “premium and solidly built” slim designs and “vivid, bright and gorgeous” displays. However, he was skeptical of the phones’ AI-centric focus. “In just a few years, Samsung has built up a substantial collection of artificial intelligence tricks, features and apps,” he wrote. “While some of them have been impressive, like live translation and annotation, others (often involving generative AI) aren’t actually helpful — or notable — enough to warrant regular use." Storage is also unchanged from the S24 series: 128GB or 256GB in the Galaxy S25 and 256GB or 512GB in the Galaxy S25+. Fortunately, pricing is also unchanged. You’ll pay $800 or more for the S25 and $1,000 and up for the S25+. <h2 id="jump-link-galaxy-ai"></h2> <h2 id="jump-link-galaxy-ai">Galaxy AI</h2> <figure> <img alt="Galaxy S25 AI" src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2025-01/d6dfec30-d8ee-11ef-b7ed-59ed48eb6f3e" style="height: 4000px; width: 6000px;" /> <figcaption></figcaption> <div class="photo-credit"> Sam Rutherford for Engadget </div> </figure> With most hardware upgrades (apart from the Snapdragon chip) coming in soft this generation, Samsung is <a href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsung-galaxy-ai-becomes-more-personal-and-cohesive-180029521.html">leaning hard on AI features</a> to make you want to throw down hard-earned cash on the new models. This year, <a href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/samsungs-one-ui-7-is-out-in-beta-and-its-chock-full-of-security-features-163820698.html">Samsung’s One UI 7</a> on top of <a href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/android-15-is-now-here-a-month-later-than-expected-180045026.html">Android 15</a> combines to create what Samsung calls “a new AI-integrated OS.” It aims for a more personalized and context-sensitive AI, rather than just a series of one-off tools. AI plays a central role in the phones’ camera features, with the Qualcomm chip making the phones better at analyzing noise — leading to what Samsung says is better low-light performance. Audio Eraser is a tool that Samsung claims will use AI to remove unwanted noises from videos like wind or a random stranger talking. Samsung gathers its new collection of on-device AI tools into what it calls the Personal Data Engine. The series of multimodal (text, images, video, audio) machine learning agents leads to features like AI Select, which builds on Samsung’s legacy Smart Select tool. The new AI-powered version can scan your screen and suggest context-aware tasks — like creating a GIF from a YouTube video you’re watching. <figure> <img alt="Galaxy S25 Now Brief" src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2025-01/9ffbb320-d8f3-11ef-bf5d-4ae80f75d7fa" style="height: 2356px; width: 4188px;" /> <figcaption></figcaption> <div class="photo-credit"> Sam Rutherford for Engadget </div> </figure> You could say the AI-powered Now Bar is Samsung’s answer to <a href="https://www.engadget.com/apple-iphone-14-pro-dynamic-island-181347737.html">the iPhone’s Dynamic Island</a>. The pill-shaped bar sits at the bottom of the lock screen and below the digital clock when the phone is unlocked. It generates a series of reminders based on context. Within the Now Bar is another AI feature, the Now Brief, which generates morning, midday and evening summaries of info it thinks will be relevant to you. Samsung’s Sketch to Image tool has been rebranded as Drawing Assist, and Samsung says the feature is more polished and accurate. It also adds an option to import existing images for your prompt. The S25 series also adds an upgraded version of <a href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/circle-to-search-now-offers-one-tap-actions-for-phone-numbers-emails-and-urls-180005330.html">Google’s Circle to Search</a> (activated by long-pressing the home button). It can now recognize phone numbers, emails and URLs, letting you trigger their corresponding actions with a single tap. <h2 id="jump-link-galaxy-s25-edge">Galaxy S25 Edge</h2> <figure> <img alt="Galaxy S25 Edge" src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2025-01/dfc877f0-d8fc-11ef-bf7d-6a1b3130e1db" style="height: 338px; width: 601px;" /> <figcaption></figcaption> <div class="photo-credit"> Samsung </div> </figure> Well, I hope you like being teased because, well, there isn’t much to go on here. Much like it did a year ago with its grand reveal of a... <a href="https://www.engadget.com/samsung-announces-a-render-of-its-new-fitness-device-the-galaxy-ring-192012919.html">render of the Galaxy Ring</a>, Samsung gave Unpacked viewers a teeny-weeny glimpse of its rumored “Galaxy Slim” phone, which will <a href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsung-teased-a-very-slim-phone-called-the-galaxy-s25-edge-193553033.html">instead be called the Galaxy S25 Edge</a>. The teaser shows a quick glimpse of a phone that’s indeed slimmer, but the company showcased its vapor chamber, cameras and metallic frame more than the full-on handset. (And the engineers go wild.) We also don’t know its price or release date. However, Bloomberg <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-22/samsung-to-beat-apple-to-ultrathin-phone-with-s25-edge-in-first-half-of-2025">reports</a> that it will use many of the same components as the S25 Ultra but cost less. <h2 id="jump-link-samsung-wallet-updates">Samsung Wallet updates</h2> <figure> <img alt="A person’s hands holding a Galaxy S25 series phone showing Samsung Wallet." src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2025-01/526a61c0-d8f7-11ef-aabf-cf2db49add22" style="height: 1200px; width: 2000px;" /> <figcaption></figcaption> <div class="photo-credit"> Sam Rutherford for Engadget </div> </figure> The company added <a href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsung-borrows-from-the-apple-wallet-playbook-with-layaway-and-tap-to-send-for-wallet-181052578.html">two new payment features</a>: Instant Installment and Tap to Transfer. As its name suggests, Instant Installment is a “buy now, pay later” service that lets you turn purchases into an offline payment plan experience. It’s managed entirely on-device and available for Visa and Mastercard purchases. Engadget’s Cherlynn Low was <a href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsung-borrows-from-the-apple-wallet-playbook-with-layaway-and-tap-to-send-for-wallet-181052578.html">briefed by Samsung on the service</a>. “It’s not that Samsung is pivoting to becoming a credit provider and taking on loans,” she wrote. “Instead, it facilitates your purchases and turns your payments into what the company’s rep said is ‘the first offline payment plan experience.’’ Meanwhile, Tap to Transfer is a peer-to-peer payment service, rivaling the likes of <a href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/how-to-use-the-new-apple-cash-tap-to-cash-feature-in-ios-18-151915913.html">Apple’s Tap to Cash</a>. Like the iPhone equivalent, you only need to bump phones with someone you want to pay (or be paid by). But it isn’t limited to Samsung Pay; you can use it with third-party apps, too, since it’s instead tied to the associated card or account. Like Instant Installment, it works with Visa and Mastercard. <h2 id="jump-link-galaxy-watch-for-kids">Galaxy Watch for Kids</h2> <figure> <img alt="Galaxy Watch for Kids" src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2025-01/65d7ff20-d8fb-11ef-a37e-80e239e8065b" style="height: 544px; width: 959px;" /> <figcaption></figcaption> <div class="photo-credit"> Google </div> </figure> The <a href="https://www.engadget.com/wearables/samsungs-galaxy-watch-for-kids-software-makes-wear-os-a-family-affair-190332986.html">Galaxy Watch for Kids</a> may sound like a new piece of gear, but it’s instead a new setup option for the cellular <a href="https://www.engadget.com/samsungs-galaxy-watch-7-and-ultra-will-get-first-dibs-on-wear-os-5-151009264.html">Galaxy Watch 7</a> (and likely future wearables). You know, kinda like <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.apple.com/apple-watch-for-your-kids/">Apple Watch for Kids</a>. Samsung, which partnered with Google on the experience, says parents can set up a child’s watch from their phone and activate its eSim. From there, the kid can use the smartwatch without a paired phone. As you’d expect, parents can set up guardrails — like which apps are installed or a do not disturb status during school hours. Location sharing is optional, and Samsung and Google are offering new kid-focused apps and watch faces to keep things fun.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/everything-samsung-announced-at-the-galaxy-s25-unpacked-event-183331979.html?src=rss

Source: www.engadget.com

Reception: Positive

Amazon includes a $200 gift card when you pre-order the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

Samsung <a href="https://www.engadget.com/samsung-unpacked-2025-live-updates-on-the-galaxy-25-launch-galaxy-ai-and-more-110043358.html">just held its Unpacked event</a> and the company announced all kinds of new products. The most notable of the bunch, however, was likely the Galaxy S25 Ultra flagship smartphone. It's the most powerful of the just-announced S25 line and Amazon is offering a pretty swell pre-order bonus, <a class="rapid-with-clickid" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=f7b41262-274c-4c58-b8fa-4d781270d952&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2RwL0IwRFNRWldCTDYvP3RhZz1nZGd0MGMtMjAiLCJjb250ZW50VXVpZCI6ImY3YjQxMjYyLTI3NGMtNGM1OC1iOGZhLTRkNzgxMjcwZDk1MiIsIm9yaWdpbmFsVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYW1hem9uLmNvbS9kcC9CMERTUVpXQkw2LyIsImR5bmFtaWNDZW50cmFsVHJhY2tpbmdJZCI6dHJ1ZSwic2l0ZUlkIjoidXMtZW5nYWRnZXQiLCJwYWdlSWQiOiIxcC1hdXRvbGluayIsImZlYXR1cmVJZCI6InRleHQtbGluayJ9&signature=AQAAARdAcnsBWOQLNAR3SUOee6G665cuzgcKXj1Tj6I6b2ck&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0DSQZWBL6%2F">to the tune of a $200 gift card</a>. That’s right. If you pre-order a Galaxy S25 Ultra handset, you get a $200 Amazon gift card that can be used on just about anything. This can help shave off some of the sticker shock <a href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsung-galaxy-s25-ultra-hands-on-faster-curvier-and-way-more-ai-ier-180054396.html">of that $1,300 price tag</a>. If the price still isn’t right, Amazon is offering similar promotions for the <a class="rapid-with-clickid" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=f7b41262-274c-4c58-b8fa-4d781270d952&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2RwL0IwRFNRU1dKWlg_dGFnPWdkZ3QwYy0yMCIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiZjdiNDEyNjItMjc0Yy00YzU4LWI4ZmEtNGQ3ODEyNzBkOTUyIiwib3JpZ2luYWxVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2RwL0IwRFNRU1dKWlgiLCJkeW5hbWljQ2VudHJhbFRyYWNraW5nSWQiOnRydWUsInNpdGVJZCI6InVzLWVuZ2FkZ2V0IiwicGFnZUlkIjoiMXAtYXV0b2xpbmsiLCJmZWF0dXJlSWQiOiJ0ZXh0LWxpbmsifQ&signature=AQAAAWjCOl0saZOUYOeigLwTrhziZfSBm3-YHzJjo4sswdPg&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0DSQSWJZX">standard S25</a> and the <a class="rapid-with-clickid" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=f7b41262-274c-4c58-b8fa-4d781270d952&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2RwL0IwRFQ0WEtQN1E_dGFnPWdkZ3QwYy0yMCIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiZjdiNDEyNjItMjc0Yy00YzU4LWI4ZmEtNGQ3ODEyNzBkOTUyIiwib3JpZ2luYWxVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2RwL0IwRFQ0WEtQN1EiLCJkeW5hbWljQ2VudHJhbFRyYWNraW5nSWQiOnRydWUsInNpdGVJZCI6InVzLWVuZ2FkZ2V0IiwicGFnZUlkIjoiMXAtYXV0b2xpbmsiLCJmZWF0dXJlSWQiOiJ0ZXh0LWxpbmsifQ&signature=AQAAAcQmZuVlnEJn6KI1br7zPmEUdC4XLL4TPJaYveZ7THTn&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0DT4XKP7Q">slightly beefier S25+</a>. However, the gift card amount shrinks to just $100. The regular S25 starts at $700 and the S25+ starts at $1,000. <div id="eb556eaec7804f22bf16ce9ea8d33339"> </div> Pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy S25 series <a href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/how-to-pre-order-the-new-samsung-galaxy-s25-galaxy-s25-and-galaxy-s25-ultra-smartphones-180021435.html">are open right now</a>. Deliveries should start going out on February 7. We have full reviews of all three phones coming soon, if you want to wait make sure the handsets are worth the cost. Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/EngadgetDeals">@EngadgetDeals</a> on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/amazon-includes-a-200-gift-card-when-you-pre-order-the-samsung-galaxy-s25-ultra-195455473.html?src=rss

Source: www.engadget.com

Reception: Positive

Samsung teased a very slim phone called the Galaxy S25 Edge

Samsung is making a thin version of the <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/the-galaxy-s25-and-s25-have-more-ram-and-context-sensitive-ai-180013432.html">Galaxy S25</a>. The Galaxy S25 Edge was teased at the end of the company's <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/samsung-unpacked-2025-live-updates-on-the-galaxy-25-launch-galaxy-ai-and-more-110043358.html">Unpacked event</a>, and it does appear to be meaningfully thinner than the other phones Samsung launched today. There's very little to go off of in Samsung's tease. Voiceover describe the phone as "a culmination of our most innovative technology" and hypes up the device's apparent sleekness. Scrub through Samsung's livestream and you'll see components like a vapor chamber, cameras and metallic frames, but only the barest glimpse of the Galaxy S25 Edge's actual silhouette. At Samsung's live event in Korea, the new phone was actually on display. You can get a look at it in the embed below. <div id="379ac0dc8ac14854ad23f132b1eb1b35"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Galaxy S25 Edge、理想的すぎるwwwめちゃくちゃほしい.... <a href="https://t.co/L1JBl8DCRD">https://t.co/L1JBl8DCRD</a> <a href="https://t.co/zofJ3BLyGX">pic.twitter.com/zofJ3BLyGX</a>— ちえほん📱モバイルドットコム (@chehonz201) <a href="https://twitter.com/chehonz201/status/1882146154852540772?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2025</a></blockquote> </div> Samsung didn't share any more details about when the Galaxy S25 Edge will come out at its event, but <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-22/samsung-to-beat-apple-to-ultrathin-phone-with-s25-edge-in-first-half-of-2025?sref=10lNAhZ9">Bloomberg reports</a> that the phone will launch "in the US and other markets by the middle of the year." The device will also "use some of the same technologies as the new Ultra model," just in a slimmer package. "Samsung hasn’t settled on a price," Bloomberg writes, "but acknowledged it will be cheaper than the $1,299-and-up Ultra." The company won't be the only one trying to woo customers with thinness in 2025. Apple is also reportedly introducing the <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/this-year-could-bring-the-iphone-air-and-an-entry-level-ipad-with-apple-intelligence-175059162.html">iPhone 17 "Air"</a> later this year.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsung-teased-a-very-slim-phone-called-the-galaxy-s25-edge-193553033.html?src=rss

Source: www.engadget.com

Reception: Positive

Samsung's Galaxy Watch for Kids software makes Wear OS a family affair

Samsung and Google are introducing a new Wear OS software experience called <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://blog.google/products/wear-os/galaxy-watch7-kids-family-link/">"Galaxy Watch for Kids"</a> that's designed to make the <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/samsung-galaxy-watch-ultra-hands-on-didnt-fall-far-from-the-apple-tree-130030349.html">Galaxy Watch 7 LTE</a> (and presumably future wearables) safe and fun for children to use. The new software features and setup process is similar to Apple's "Apple Watch For Your Kids" just with Android devices rather than iOS ones. <a href="https://news.samsung.com/us/how-to-use-new-samsung-galaxy-watch-experience-for-kids-unpacked2025/">According to Samsung</a>, parents will be able to set up their child's Galaxy Watch 7 directly from their phone and activate its eSIM. After that, kids don't need a phone to use the Galaxy Watch. The core features of Wear OS are available, just with added guardrails for kid's safety and parent's peace of mind. Those include the ability to enable location sharing, manage who kids can contact through the Galaxy Watch, and set up a Do Not Disturb mode that's enabled during school hours. Settings can be tweaked at any time from Google's Family Link app. To make being tracked more enticing, Galaxy Watch for Kids will come with new kid-friendly customization options, like a Rubik's Cube or Tech Deck watch face (admittedly right up my alley when I was 10), Wear OS apps featuring characters from Barbie, Marvel, or PBS Kids and new colorful watch band options. Activity tracking and health data are accessible in the Galaxy Watch for Kids experience, too. Samsung isn't reinventing the wheel with this feature — <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/wearables/fitbit-ace-lte-review-a-kids-activity-tracker-that-was-fun-for-me-an-adult-140043586.html">Google's Fitbit Ace LTE</a> kid smartwatch just launched in 2024 — but parents love being able to keep track of their kids, and a smartwatch might ultimately be a healthier to make your children always-connected than a phone. Galaxy Watch for Kids is available to use now on Galaxy Watch 7 LTE models from Samsung, AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon.  This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/samsungs-galaxy-watch-for-kids-software-makes-wear-os-a-family-affair-190332986.html?src=rss

Source: www.engadget.com

Reception: Positive

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