European Commission says Instagram and Facebook's addictive design breaches the Digital Services Act

Today, the European Commission (EC) has announced that it has preliminarily found Meta in breach of the EU's Digital Services Act for what it calls "the addictive design of Instagram and Facebook". Specifically, its investigation focuses on features like infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and the services' "highly personalized recommender systems". The EC's investigation indicates that Meta "did not adequately assess the risks of its addictive design on the physical and mental wellbeing of users, including minors and vulnerable adults". Highly personalized recommendations,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/european_commission_says_instagram_and_facebooks_addictive_design_breaches_the_digital_services_act-news-73680.php

Verizon will provide 5G connectivity services for new BMW vehicles in the US

KDDI, which is a company that provides IoT services and connected experiences to its OEM partners, has a partnership with BMW Group. KDDI, on the other hand, also has a long-standing relationship with Verizon, which in turn provides 5G and LTE connectivity. That's why Verizon just made its partnership with BMW Group and KDDI official. The newly formed partnership means that Verizon provides its 5G Standalone Connected Vehicles services to BMW, so all new BMW vehicles produced for the US markets will make use of Verizon's cellular network. The press release doesn't explicitly say which...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/verizon_will_provide_5g_connectivity_services_for_new_bmw_vehicles_in_the_us-news-73670.php

iPhone Ultra battery capacity leaks

According to Digital Chat Station on Weibo, one of Apple's usual battery suppliers just had a pair of batteries certified together, which means they are intended for a foldable smartphone (since these have split batteries due to the form factor). The batteries in question have a rated capacity of 1,921 mAh and 2,962 mAh, respectively, giving us a grand total of 4,883 mAh. This is rated capacity, which means the typical advertised capacity will be 5,000 mAh. So that's most likely what the iPhone Ultra will boast. iPhone Ultra speculative render Interestingly, it's on par with the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/iphone_ultra_battery_capacity_leaks-news-73674.php

Netflix is once again offering free trials

Netflix is once again offering free trials. These vary in length from 7 to 30 days, depending on user and not necessarily location. Even so, if you try visiting in an incognito browser window or clearing cookies beforehand, you may get offered the full 30 days. The offer weirdly seems to exclude the US and UK for whatever reason. For a lot of users, the trial makes you select which plan you want - and that will of course be automatically charged at the end of the trial period. Thus, you can even opt for the most expensive Premium plan, which includes 4K HDR streaming. It's unclear...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/netflix_is_once_again_offering_free_trials-news-73676.php

HMD Skyline 2 images and specs leak

The HMD Skyline is two years old this month, so you may be wondering when we should expect to see a successor. Apparently it is still in the works, but if you were hoping for a device with massively upgraded specs, you may be quite disappointed. According to a usually reliable source of HMD-related information, the Skyline 2 will be available in blue, black, and yellow, with a design that's very reminiscent of the original. HMD Skyline 2 leaked images At the helm will sit the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 SoC, paired with 8/12GB of RAM and 256GB of expandable storage. The...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/hmd_skyline_2_images_and_specs_leak-news-73657.php

Samsung is reportedly working on an AI accelerator chip for PCs

According to a new report from Korea, Samsung is planning to enter a new market very soon. The company is said to be working on an AI accelerator chip for PCs. It's codenamed Gaia and it's using a 4nm process. It comes with an optimized NPU architecture to enable more efficient AI computing on PCs. Samsung has allegedly already supplied prototypes of this chip to some unnamed "major clients", and the company wants to start mass production of the chip next year. Gaia is aimed at PC Edge AI computing and also the physical AI market (robots, for example). It's said to deliver great...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_is_reportedly_working_on_an_ai_accelerator_chip_for_pcs-news-73652.php

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra said to borrow Galaxy S26 Ultra's camera features

Samsung will unveil the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra later this month as the successor to the Galaxy Z Fold7. Ahead of its launch, a new leak suggests the flagship foldable may finally deliver a flagship-level camera experience. In a blog post on the Korean platform Naver, tipster Lanzuk claimed that the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra will "inherit key camera features of the Galaxy S26 Ultra." Leaked Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra render According to the tipster, the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra will support video LUTs for professional colour grading, along with improved low-light performance and enhanced...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsungs_galaxy_z_fold8_ultra_said_to_borrow_galaxy_s26_ultras_camera_features-news-73650.php

iPhone 18 Pro Max's weight and thickness leak and it's chunky

A few days ago a rumor doubled down on some previously leaked claims about the iPhone 18 Pro being noticeably thicker than its predecessor, by about 2mm. Today the prolific leaker who goes by Ice Universe has revealed the iPhone 18 Pro Max's weight and thickness, and if these numbers are accurate, it will be a bit chunkier than last year’s model. Apparently, it's going to weigh 240g and be 9mm thick. iPhone 17 Pro Max For comparison, note that the iPhone 17 Pro Max weighs 233g and is 8.8mm thick, so the increase isn't really as big as previously rumored. If last year's model feels...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/iphone_18_pro_maxs_weight_and_thickness_leak_and_its_chunky-news-73656.php

Apple loses bid to overturn its designation as a gatekeeper under EU's Digital Markets Act

In 2023, the European Union designated iOS, the App Store and Safari as “gatekeepers”. Apple has been unhappy with the rules this designation entails and has been fighting a lengthy legal battle. Apple tried to argue that it in fact has five app stores – one each for iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, Apple TVs and Macs – and that they should not be treated as a single Core Platform Service (CPS). These are services which “play an indispensable role as an intermediary between businesses wishing to offer their services online and end users.” And in Apple’s view, only the iOS App Store cleared...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_loses_bid_to_overturn_its_designation_as_a_gatekeeper_under_eus_digital_markets_act-news-73632.php

Apple's largest US manufacturing investment is official in partnership with Broadcom

Today Apple has announced its largest investment that's part of its American Manufacturing Program (AMP), which was initially unveiled in August of last year. Through AMP, Apple committed to investing a whopping $600 billion to bring manufacturing back to US soil. The just unveiled $30 billion agreement with Broadcom is part of that plan. Apple's new multi-year commitment with Broadcom is about designing and manufacturing custom silicon components and cutting-edge wireless connectivity technologies for a wide range of Apple products. This agreement will lead to the production of...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/apples_largest_us_manufacturing_investment_is_official_in_partnership_with_broadcom-news-73631.php

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, Fold8 Ultra, Flip8, Watch9, and Watch Ultra2 renders leak

Samsung is holding its next Unpacked event on July 22 in London, the company has recently confirmed. Ahead of that, today a series of leaks has brought us official-looking renders for all of the smartphones and smartwatches that are expected to be unveiled at the event. So, without further ado, let's take a look, starting with the Galaxy Z Fold8, which will be the wide foldable intended to compete head-on with Apple's upcoming iPhone Ultra. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 leaked renders It will be available in Cream, Graphite, and Lavender, with Pistachio being a colorway...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_z_fold8_fold8_ultra_flip8_watch9_and_watch_ultra2_renders_leak-news-73637.php

Apple iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max's battery details surface in regulatory filings

A recent rumor claimed that the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max's eSIM model will pack a 5,425 mAh battery, while the version with a physical SIM tray will come with a 5,235 mAh battery. We are now looking at new information that paints a slightly different picture. New filings in China's 3C database, spotted by tipster Digital Chat Station and likely referring to the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, reveal the battery capacities of both smartphones. Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max The iPhone 18 Pro Max's eSIM model will come with a 5,567 mAh battery, whereas the physical SIM tray model will...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_iphone_18_pro_iphone_18_pro_max_battery_capacity_3c_certification-news-73603.php

US states sue Meta, seeking $1.4 trillion in damages over young user safety

Meta, Facebook’s parent company, could be on the hook for $1.4 trillion in penalties. The astronomical sum is the potential damage from an ongoing trial against the company over allegations from several US states that Meta designed its platform to be addictive to young users. California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey are leading the charge with the trial itself being held in Oakland, California in front of US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers. The states' filings are kept under wraps for now, but a hearing that took place in June revealed some details. The $1.4 trillion is the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/us_states_sue_meta_seeking_14_trillion_in_damages_over_young_user_safety-news-73605.php

Samsung confirms that the Galaxy Z Fold8 and Z Fold8 Ultra will use a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

Qualcomm and Samsung posted this on Instagram, confirming that the upcoming Galaxy Z foldables will be powered by the custom Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy. Well, there is an asterisk to that. First, there is no phone visible in the video – just the outline of one. The aspect ratio suggests that this is the Galaxy Z Fold8, aka Z Fold Wide. When opened, this will have a 4:3 display inside. In its closed state, this phone is not as tall and narrow as the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra (the new name of the classic book-style foldable). You can see the two side by side (in dummy form)...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_confirms_that_the_galaxy_z_fold8_and_z_fold8_ultra_will_use_a_snapdragon_8_elite_gen_5-news-73611.php

This is what Samsung had to sacrifice to make the Galaxy Z Fold8 and Fold8 Ultra crease-free

Samsung is expected to introduce the Galaxy Z Fold8 and Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra at an Unpacked event taking place in London on July 22. Ahead of that, today a new rumor from Ice Universe has revealed the tradeoff that the company has made in order to ensure that the new foldable phones are practically crease-free. This feat was achieved by entirely reworking the hinge mechanism for both devices compared to last year’s Galaxy Z Fold7. However, the new hinge inevitably comes with a folding and unfolding action that is described as "more decisive". Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 (left) and Galaxy Z...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/this_is_what_samsung_had_to_sacrifice_to_make_the_galaxy_z_fold8_and_fold8_ultra_creasefree-news-73593.php

Sky will acquire ITV, the combined company will edge out YouTube for second place in the UK

Comcast-owned Sky will acquire ITV’s media and entertainment divisions in a £1.6 billion deal. ITV’s broadcast channels and the ITVX streaming service will remain free-to-air. Negotiations started back in November and this is what the two companies agreed on. Sky will pay ITV £1.2 billion in cash and it will transfer Love Productions (which makes The Great British Bake Off among other things). Additionally, Sky will pay £200 million to ITV in 2028, though that is dependent on meeting advertising revenue goals. This acquisition does not include ITV’s studio arm. That said, as part of...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/sky_will_acquire_itv_the_combined_company_will_edge_out_youtube_for_second_place_in_the_uk-news-73592.php

Galaxy S27 Pro will use a Snapdragon chip only in select regions, Exynos 2700 everywhere else

For a bit, the Samsung Galaxy S27 Pro sounded like a “mini Ultra” with leaks about a Privacy Display feature for its 6.47” screen. We were reminded that this wasn’t the case when it came out that the Pro and Ultra will use different telephoto cameras (but they will have the same main, ultra-wide and selfie cameras). And now here’s another reminder. The Samsung Galaxy S27 Pro will use an Exynos 2700 chipset everywhere outside of North America, reports Korea’s Money Today. China traditionally gets Snapdragon too, but that wasn’t mentioned in the report. The S27 Ultra will use the new...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/galaxy_s27_pro_will_use_a_snapdragon_chip_only_in_select_regions_exynos_2700_everywhere_else-news-73587.php

Huawei Pura 90 series' global launch date confirmed

Following their announcement in China back in April, Huawei has now confirmed that the Pura 90 series is set to launch globally on July 14. The keynote event will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This development follows a similar approach to last year’s Pura 80 series global launch, which took place on July 10. Last year, Huawei brought over its Pura 80, Pura 80 Pro and 80 Ultra to the global stage but it remains to be seen if we will get all three Pura 90 models this time around. Pura 90, Pura 90 Pro and Pura 90 Pro Max For more details on the Pura 90 Pro and 90 Pro...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_pura_90_series_gets_global_launch_date-news-73582.php

Xiaomi 18 Pro Max battery specifications surface

The Xiaomi 18 Pro lineup is expected to debut in China this September. Ahead of the rumored launch, a new leak has revealed the battery details of the flagship Xiaomi 18 Pro Max. Well-known tipster Digital Chat Station shared the information on Weibo. According to the tipster, the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max will pack a battery with a capacity exceeding 8,000mAh. Xiaomi 17 Pro Max The phone is also said to support 100W wired charging and wireless charging. Notably, the leak reiterates several previously rumored specifications, including a 2nm chipset, likely Qualcomm's upcoming Snapdragon...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_18_pro_max_battery_specifications_surface-news-73581.php

Kuo: iPhone Ultra may have limited supply at launch and ship later

The iPhone Ultra, Apple’s foldable phone, is rumored to go official in September alongside the iPhone 18 Pro lineup. However, a new report suggests the foldable iPhone won't be available for pre-orders immediately after its unveiling, with shipments likely to begin at a later date. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone Ultra will be available in limited quantities at launch due to manufacturing challenges. As a result, pre-orders are expected to begin later than those for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Kuo says Apple could begin shipping the foldable iPhone in the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/kuo_iphone_ultra_may_have_limited_supply_at_launch_and_ship_later-news-73580.php

Weekly poll: will you buy the Honor Magic V6?

We’ve been waiting since March, but it’s finally here – the Honor Magic V6 is available in Europe and... wait, how much? Until the end of the month, the flagship foldable will be available at a discounted price of €1,700. Plus, you get a free Honor Pad 10 along with a 24-month screen protection plan. If you want to buy a V6, however, you should do it before the end of the month – because come August, the price will shoot up to €2,300. Honor Magic V6 in: Red • Gold • White • Black The Honor Magic V6 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. It boasts a 6.52” (1080p+, 20.1:9)...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/weekly_poll_will_you_buy_the_honor_magic_v6-news-73550.php

Deals: Galaxy S26 and S26 Ultra prices drop further, Xiaomi 17T and 17T Pro get first price cuts

It’s the week after Prime Day, but that doesn’t mean that the deals are over. Today, we will look at the middle and upper segments of the market. Starting with the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. A 12/512GB unit costs €60 less now than it did a couple of weeks ago thanks to a hefty discount. You can read about how the S26 Ultra compares against its predecessor, the iPhone 17 Pro Max and the Pixel 10 Pro XL. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra €530 off Read our review 12/512GB - €1,120...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/deals_galaxy_s26_and_s26_ultra_prices_drop_further_xiaomi_17t_and_17t_pro_get_first_price_cuts-news-73564.php

WhatsApp starts testing green dot online contact indicator on iOS

Last month we learned that WhatsApp started testing a green dot on Android to indicate that a contact is online. The Meta-owned company has now started testing this feature on iOS as well. This revelation comes from the folks at WABetaInfo, who discovered the development on beta version 26.26.10.72 of WhatsApp for iOS. If you are a WhatsApp beta user on iOS with the latest version of the app installed, you'll see a small green circle at the bottom-right of a contact's photo in the "Contact info" screen when the contact is online. This works in real-time, so the green circle will...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_green_dot_online_contact_indicator_ios_beta-news-73576.php

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra gets a limited-time discount in India

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, launched in India with a base price of INR139,999, is available at a discount on Samsung's official website. Samsung launched the Galaxy S26 Ultra in India with three memory options - 12GB/256GB, 12GB/512GB, and 16GB/1TB, priced at INR139,999, INR159,999, and INR189,999, respectively. Now, the Galaxy S26 Ultra's 12GB/256GB model is available at a discounted price of INR124,999, while the 12GB/512GB and 16GB/1TB models are available at INR144,999 and INR174,999, respectively. Note that this discount is part of the limited-time Samsung Days offer,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s26_ultra_india_price_discount-news-73579.php

iOS 27 source code reveals a new Apple wearable supporting Visual Intelligence

An X user @samhenrigold unearthed a reference inside the iOS 27 source code that mentions a new Apple wearable device with model number B790. The reference itself isn't very revealing, but it confirms that the device supports features related to Visual Intelligence. Visual Intelligence is a new feature that allows users to ask Siri about an object using the default Camera app on iOS 27-running iPhones. The feature is available on iPhone 15 Pro and newer. Unfortunately, we have no clue which device is referenced in the source code, but it's surely an upcoming one, and it has a...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/ios_27_source_code_reveals_a_new_apple_wearable_supporting_visual_intelligence-news-73578.php