Google really wants Apple to “fix texting.” Their campaign to try and convince Apple to incorporate RCS into iMessage hasn’t slowed, and it’s an ongoing focus of their messaging pitch. In fact, at Google I/O a few weeks ago, Google made it clear once again that they would love to see Apple adopt advanced messaging capabilities like texting on Android.

Today, at Apple’s own developer conference, WWDC, we thought for three seconds, “Hey, I wonder if they’re going to surprise the world and announce RCS for iMessage?” Folks, they didn’t. They’ve talked a lot about Messages and some upcoming changes to iOS, but they haven’t announced RCS support at all.

They’ve dedicated an entire section to what’s new in Messages, talking through fancy new stickers made all from emoji, a person-to-person check-in tracking feature, search filters, and a new menu that remembers your most used things. Apple continues to advance Messages on the iPhone without the iPhone, which Google wants them to do.

RCS, again, was not a part of the conversation.

As Apple walked through everything new, with each pause I kept saying, “And guess what, we don’t want anyone to experience hate or bullying because of the color of their messaging bubble, so we’re adopting a text messaging standard that iPhones No they use.” They didn’t. They could. But we know where they stand on the matter. Apple and its executive team are well aware of the power of iMessage and how to keep users on Apple devices. They want you to give your mother a message instead of doing the right thing in messaging. Buy an iPhone.

There is a slim possibility that Apple will adopt RCS at some point in the future. The problem is that I’m not sure there’s much benefit to them doing this. Google needs to sell them something like, “You can fix texting for Android users and stop teenagers bullying each other!” Because Apple will never care about Android users, and for teenagers, they probably know that most will switch to an iPhone to solve that green and blue bubble problem.

Maybe next year.

With the launch of the Galaxy S22 line, Samsung has pledged to provide a full 5 years of support for their flagship phones. Those 5 years will be filled with monthly security patches for most of it, including 4 Android version updates. It’s this commitment that cements their claim as the “King of Android Updates.”

I bring this up because you can buy a year old phone from Samsung and still get updates year after year. The Galaxy S22 line is a perfect example, as it’s incredibly high-end and has just over 1 year of support. You still have 3.5 years of security patches and 3 more Android version updates including Android 14 which should be here in a few months.

As much as we’d all love to own the Galaxy S23 Ultra, it’s too expensive without the right trade-ins or fat wallets. So turning to a device like the Galaxy S22 Ultra, we’re starting to see some really great deals.

For the weekend, Amazon discounted the Galaxy S22 Ultra to $799.99. The deal also gets you 128GB of storage and the device in a nice green or black color. Purple burgundy color is also discounted. I would argue that green is the best color in the S22 line, but hey, you have your choice. Need more storage? The 256GB model costs $899 and is about $70 more than the 512GB.

At $799, you’re saving $400 off the S22 Ultra’s original launch price ($1,199). It’s also well under Samsung’s current price of $949.99.

Since it comes directly from Amazon, you are likely to receive the device the same day you order. You don’t even have to deal with the trade-in process – that’s a cash rebate, my friend. However, grab one and tell the world that they don’t always need something new, or something else.

Amazon deal link

Stray, the popular game where players take on the role of a cat in a futuristic cybercity, is coming to Mac for the first time.

The game was first announced in 2022 and was available on consoles and PC, but now it’s coming to all Apple Silicon Macs later this year. Publisher Annapurna Interactive has not confirmed when exactly it will launch.

Lost, alone and separated from family, a stray cat must unravel an ancient mystery to escape a long-forgotten cybercity and find their way home.

Stray’s announcement comes just after it was confirmed that No Man’s Sky is finally available for Mac after it was first announced nearly a year ago.

The fact that No Man’s Sky was announced directly after its arrival may indicate that Apple would normally have announced them during WWDC on June 5. But according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the event is already shaping up to last more than two hours. Multiple products on docket.

Apple is expected to announce the Reality Pro AR/VR headset on Monday, possibly with a gaming component. We’re expecting a 15-inch MacBook Air and upgraded Mac Studio, not to mention a whole raft of software updates, including the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV.

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Motorola announced the new Razr+ today, as well as a new regular ol’ Razr. The new Razr+ will cost $999 and arrive on June 23, with pre-orders starting June 16. The other Razr doesn’t have a price or release date yet, but will definitely be priced well under the Razr+.

Need Razr+ specs? Here they are:

• main display: 6.9″ Polarized at 165Hz (FHD+, 2640 x 1080, 413ppi)
• External display: 3.6″ Polarized at 144Hz (1066 x 1056, 413ppi)
• processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1+
• ram: 8GB LPDDR5
• storage: 256 GB
• battery: 3800mAh
• charging: 30W fast wired, 5W wireless
• Rear camera: Main 12MP (f/1.5, OIS); Wide 13MP (f/2.2, FOV 108°)
• Front camera: 32MP (f/2.4)
• Software: Android 13
• security: Side-mounted fingerprint reader
• Durability: IP52
• connection: WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, Dual SIM
• other: Stereo speakers
• size (open): 170.83 x 73.95 x 6.99mm, 188.5g
• size (closed): 88.42 x 73.95 x 15.1 mm
• the color: Infinite Black, Saltwater Slide, Viva Magenta

Once available, you’ll find the Razr+ through carrier partners that include AT&T, T-Mobile, Spectrum Mobile, Google Fi Wireless and Optimum Mobile. Motorola will sell it unlocked at Best Buy, Amazon and Motorola.com.

Here are the cheap razors that are coming sometime in the next few months.

I got it all.

// motorola

Apple today released the second beta of iOS 16.6 and iPadOS 16.6 to developers, giving them another chance to put the updates through their paces before the official public release.

While this round of releases is only available to developers, those in the public beta program can probably expect to get their hands on it within a day or so, assuming no major issues are discovered between now and then.

Registered developers can now download the updated beta by selecting the Beta Update option in the Software Update area of ​​the Settings app. However, you must sign in with an Apple ID that is linked to a developer account.

The iOS 16.6 and iPadOS 16.6 updates aren’t expected to bring huge changes to the iPhone and iPad, but they seem to be tweaking things for iMessage contact key verification. This feature will allow owners of Apple devices to ensure that the people they are sending and receiving messages to are who they claim to be.

However, iMessage Contact Key Verification is not a feature that most people will need or use, and is instead aimed at journalists and officials who may find themselves exposed to security threats.

There’s no indication of when the feature will actually go live, but it’s expected before the end of 2023 which suggests it might not be that far off.

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Checking the weather on your Android phone is an easy task. Most phone manufacturers include their own app or a shortcut to access a built-in weather app via a widget. OnePlus has a weather app, Samsung lets you access it via widgets, and Apple recently released a fancy new version of their own. On the other hand, Google has always pushed you to the Google app for weather experiences. That may change soon.

Before we get into what’s going on, let me just say that Google Search Weather isn’t a bad experience, but it’s pretty dated as far as UI goes. On an Android phone, you get a weather UI that looks like it’s 7 years old, and that’s probably why. We believe Google is working on a redesign of this within Google Search, but they could also be working on a standalone weather app for everyone.

As seen in the code for the new Google Watch update, a reference to “com.google.android.apps.weather” has been made to make sure it’s referring to an app. The new watch update apparently has a lot of weather information on the backend (temperature, high and low temperature, weather conditions, etc.) that just needs that point of reference to power it. With the launch of a Google Weather app, it’s all lit up.

A standalone Google Weather app is something we’d like to see. Weather would be easier to access or at least more obvious. It’s a lot easier to go to your app drawer to find the “Weather” app than to search for weather in Google or hope you’ve added a random pop-up asking if you want a shortcut for it on your home screen.

Google can update a weather app more often or without the need to update the Google app and other parts around it. As I said above, the current weather experience is at least 7 years old, so you’d think Google could keep a standalone app updated with the times. And look, everyone else has a weather app – it’s time for Google to make one.

To see what the new Google Weather app will look like, take a look at the top of this post. Google previewed the new look at I/O a few weeks ago. When on a foldable (or tablet), you’ll see a two-column setup with location and an 8-day forecast on the left. The right side will then dive deeper into a specific day, starting with the hourly forecast, wind, humidity, UV index and sunrise/sunset times.

When can you download the new Google Weather app, you ask? It’s hard to say for sure, but Google is teasing it on the Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet, so when these launch in the next few weeks, we’ll hopefully see it roll out, even as part of the Zune Pixel update.

I’m weirdly excited about an official Google Weather app.

// 9to5Google

Apple’s MagSafe charger is available to buy now and has been available since the launch of the iPhone 12 It’s available in any color you like as long as that color is silver — but that may not always be the case

A new report claims that Apple intended to ship MagSafe chargers in different colors, similar to the colorful MagSafe charging cables that come with the current MacBook Air.

According to the sources of the Twitter account, this is known @Kosutamisan. Apple Prototype collectors say they have information that suggests the cards had colored MagSafe chargers, possibly to go with the current silver offering, including Space Grey, Midnight and Starlight.

The same Twitter account also suggested that Apple is working on a colored version of an undisclosed MagSafe charging stand.

This stand will allow iPhones to charge in a vertical but landscape position, possibly allowing for media consumption while still charging. The stand didn’t finally ship, but that doesn’t mean it won’t in the future.

Apple is said to be ready to add Qi2 compatibility to future iPhones, with the standard based on Apple’s own MagSafe wireless charging offering.

Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 15 lineup in or around September, with the updated Apple Watch lineup to be announced around the same time.

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Extended teaser campaign for Nothing phone 2 Continued, this time with doing an interview with Carl Pei Forbes. In the interview, the upcoming Phone 2 is discussed, compared to the iPhone and given a month for when the phone will launch.

Nothing announced through the interview suggests that the Nothing Phone 2 will launch this July, which is a bit more specific than the “summer” timeframe we were given earlier this month. The only thing specific about the device that was shared was the battery size: 4,700mAh, a bump from last year’s 4,500mAh. If you want more, we also know it will run a Qualcomm-made Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset.

Speaking about transparent hardware design, Pei noted that, “We’ve seen numerous concept designs online inspired by our products, which is a testament to their influence. Moreover, we observed a few established brands following the path we followed by introducing our transparent design.”

Nintendo would like a word, Carl.

We believe what he’s referring to are the Beats Studio Buds, which come in a transparent option. Perhaps Beats was inspired by Nothing Buds? Of course, we’ll give them that, but I think there’s nothing to claim from the company that TriBlazed transparent hardware is a bit of a stretch. It has been around for quite some time.

July Transparent phone 2. Big battery. Premium

// Forbes

Apple is getting ready to call time on its My Photo Stream feature. The feature was first introduced in 2011 as part of iCloud but was later replaced by other features including iCloud Photo Library.

My Photo Stream was a free offering that worked for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV, and would make photos and videos temporarily available on all devices before being replaced by new media. Media were held optimally for only 30 days.

And while iCloud Photo Library has always been a good option because it syncs full-size versions of photos and videos, Apple continues to offer My Photo Stream because it doesn’t use iCloud storage for people. This will change on June 26, 9 to 5 Mac Report

And while Apple has maintained its 5GB of free iCloud storage since 2011, it will no longer sync photos for free starting July 26. My photo stream will then go offline. Since My Photo Stream holds photos for 30 days, Apple will stop uploading photos to My Photo Stream starting June 26.

Apple is now saying that people should migrate to iCloud Photo Library, though that may mean handing over some money to upgrade their storage.

Apple has shared more details on how to make sure users save their photos and videos from My Photo Stream before it shuts down for good.

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Regular viewers of Twitch should know about Twitch Turbo. Twitch’s subscription plan that lets you enjoy all ad-free streams is just as important to life’s happiness as YouTube Premium. And because of that importance, Twitch will pay you more for it.

Announced today, Twitch said that Twitch Turbo will see price increases in most locations and is notifying customers. As a customer myself, I actually received an email alerting me of the upcoming increase, but saying I would have to enjoy a few more months of the original price before paying anything more.

For the US, Twitch Turbo is increasing from $8.99 to $11.99 per month. In Canada, the price jumps up to $13.99. To see the full list of price changes, if you’re elsewhere and want to read Droid Life, you’ll find them in this help article.

Due to the price change, Twitch is telling all customers that they must “Renew My Turbo” by subscribing again. That said, they are giving some customers at least three more months to enjoy the old price before the new price kicks in. For me, it’s an extension worth $8.99 until August. Once September hits, I have to renew.

Not sure what Twitch Turbo is or why you need it? Well, if you don’t watch a lot of Twitch, you don’t need it. However, if you use the various live streams on the platform, I can tell you first hand that this is a must – the amount of ads that have flooded the platform over the past year is kind of wild.

With Twitch Turbo, you get the following benefits, according to the Turbo Overview FAQ:

• Ad-free viewing across Twitch – Watch your favorite streamers without videos or banner ads except as part of channel sponsorship You can still see streamer-enabled promotions on channels and Twitch-promoted content on non-channel pages.
• Expanded emoticon set – Choose from 2 additional sets of emoticons. Glitch or monkey; (You can always change it later).
• Custom chat username colors – Stand out in chat with a custom username color.
• Chat badge – Proudly represent Turbo with an exclusive chat badge.
• Expanded storage – Save your past broadcasts on Twitch for 60 days instead of the standard one 7 days*.

Check out that email here:

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