Judging by the leaks, it won’t be a major change, but the new Galaxy Z Fold may borrow design cues from the S22 Ultra, ensuring a more modern look. The next-gen clamshell Galaxy Z Flip looks even more like its predecessor, so we’re waiting for confirmation on what exactly has changed. This is the series that’s helping Samsung sell its foldable family to the world — hopefully the company has ways to capitalize on that excitement. And throw in a bigger battery. Samsung looks set to unveil the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro next week as well. You might not get the angular bezel of Samsung’s previous smartwatches, but the Pro would upgrade from a steel case to a light but strong titanium one. Samsung accidentally hinted at the Pro name in the Health app, though it didn’t provide any further details. Samsung Unpacked will air on Wednesday, August 10 at 9am. ET, and we’re reporting all the big reveals live. We’ll probably get some fresh opinions on foldable phones as well. — Matt Smith
The biggest stories you might have missed
A beginner’s guide, from A to Z trigger.
The Switch continues to approach the status of Nintendo’s best-selling “home console” ever — and seven Switch games have already outsold the Wii U console. That’s thanks to the Switch’s unique hybrid form factor and an ever-growing library of uncharacteristic games strong third party support. However, the Switch’s online store isn’t the easiest to navigate, so this guide helps the uninitiated get their journey off on the right foot, updated again for 2022. The story continues Continue reading.
It’s not just based on Star Trek. Well, not quite.
Continue reading.
A negative leap second may be needed to correct the clocks.
TMA Sure, it sounds like a bleak science fiction scenario, but it happens. According to scientists, midnight on June 29 arrived 1.59 milliseconds earlier than expected. It was the shortest day in over half a century. Scientists believe that earthquakes, stronger winds in El Niño years, ice sheets melting and refreezing, the Moon and climate could all affect the rotation speed. Some have suggested that the Chandler oscillation—a slight deviation in the Earth’s spin point—may also have an effect. Continue reading.
People in Ireland and Colombia can try it now.
After months of rumors, Microsoft is starting to test an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate family plan in the wild. Xbox Insiders in Colombia and Ireland can try out the new offer that lets them add up to four other people to their plan as long as they’re in the same country. These people will have access to all the benefits of Game Pass Ultimate, including a library of hundreds of console, PC and cloud gaming titles. If you’re in any country, you can purchase the Xbox Game Pass — Insider Preview program from the Microsoft Store, although enrollment is limited. Continue reading.
The app began a public test of NFTs in stream posts, messages and Stories in May.
As we all sigh together, Instagram is doubling down on digital collectibles. After a test launch in May, the app is expanding NFT capabilities to more than 100 countries across Africa, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and the Americas. Instagram users can include NFTs in their feed and messages, as well as augmented reality stickers in Stories. NFT creators and collectors are automatically flagged for performance. You can’t buy or sell NFTs on Instagram yet, but the company has strongly hinted that it’s working on a marketplace. Perfect timing, Meta: The non-tradable token (NFT) market just hit a cliff. Continue reading.
