Clicks Technology, a company known for making physical keyboards for smartphones, is launching two new devices ahead of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next week. In addition to a new, $79 slide-out keyboard for smart devices, the company is also unveiling its first smartphone: the Communicator, a smartphone with a physical keyboard, designed to be carried as your second device.
Yes, it looks a lot like a BlackBerry. (Quick, someone tell Kim Kardashian, famous BlackBerry hoarder.)
Image Credits:Clicks
The $499 smartphone is described as being “purpose-built” for people who carry two phones — one for work and one for personal use. That is, the company believes its market will be people who do a lot of actual work on their devices — meaning messaging, emailing, working with documents, or other things where using a physical keyboard could be an advantage.
While it offers a screen for viewing and responding to messages, the Communicator doesn’t provide access to addictive social media apps or games. Instead, the company partnered with the maker of an Android launcher, Niagara Launcher, to provide access to messaging apps and productivity tools like Gmail, Telegram, WhatsApp, and Slack.
The phone’s standout feature is its Signal Light, a light-up button on the side of the device that can be customized with different colors and light patterns to indicate when you’ve received messages from certain people, groups, or apps. For instance, you could make messages from VIPs glow purple while chats from WhatsApp are green.
Image Credits:Clicks
You can press on this button, known as the Prompt Key, to dictate messages when you’re in a text field, or otherwise take a quick voice note, if not. The company is teasing the possibility of integrating AI applications with this button — like note takers, voice recordings, or AI agents — but nothing like that is yet available.
Like Clicks’ other products, the Communicator features a tactile keyboard with ergonomic keys designed for faster typing. The keyboard is touch-sensitive, too, allowing users to scroll through messages, lists, and web pages without needing to use the touchscreen.
Image Credits:Clicks
The device also includes other old-school features, like a 3.5 mm headphone jack, physical SIM card tray (in addition to an eSIM), expandable microSD storage (up to 2TB), and a tactile switch for turning on or off airplane mode. This switch can also be configured to work with the Signal light or keyboard touch input, the company says.
The back cover can be popped off so you can change the device’s style by swapping to a different color. The phone itself comes in Smoke, Clover (dark green), and Onyx.
Image Credits:Clicks
The device will be offered at $399 for early-bird customers who place a $199 deposit before February 27. Customers who pay the full early-bird price of $399 up front will receive two additional back covers. The phone is expected to ship sometime later this year.
The phone’s full tech specs include:
Android 16 with 5 years of security updates
131.5 mm tall; weighing 170 grams
Global 5G, 4G LTE, and 3G/2G support, unlocked
4,000 mAh silicon-carbon battery
256GB onboard storage plus expandable microSD
50MP main camera with OIS and 24MP front camera
NFC with Google Pay, Bluetooth 5.4, Wi-Fi 6
USB-C and wireless charging
Interchangeable back covers in different colors to personalize the device
Image Credits:Clicks
Clicks CEO Adrian Li noted in an announcement that the company has shipped more than 100,000 of its earlier keyboards to customers in over 100 countries.
“That response validated something we strongly believed: There’s growing demand for purpose-built products that help people communicate with confidence and take action. Clicks Communicator is a natural evolution of that idea,” he stated.
Image Credits:Clicks
The company’s other new product is a slide-out keyboard that can be attached to smartphones, tablets, or even used with smart TVs, to save you from the tedious on-screen typing with your remote control.
The keyboard is powered by a built-in 2,150 mAh battery and attaches to phones via MagSafe or Qi2 magnetic connections. It can also be used with existing phone cases, the company claims. Multiple slider positions allow the keyboard to accommodate different phone sizes, and it can be attached when the phone is held in either portrait or landscape mode.
Image Credits:Clicks
When used with tablets, TVs, or other smart devices, like AR/VR headsets, the keyboard is used independently from the device it’s paired with.
Similar to other Clicks keyboards, the Power Keyboard offers tactile buttons, and its settings can be customized using the Clicks mobile app for iOS and Android
The Power Keyboard is priced at $79 for early-bird customers and will later retail for $109. Preorders start on January 2; the device should ship in the spring, the company says.
The caveat is that the iPhone user will need to switch AirDrop into the “Everyone for 10 Minutes” mode instead of “Contacts Only” mode. Google says this isn’t some kind of workaround solution. It’s a direct, peer-to-peer connection; your data isn’t routed through a server, shared content isn’t logged, and no extra data is shared. Naturally, iPhone owners will be able to send data back to Pixel 10 phones as well.
Google has not worked with Apple on this cross-compatibility, as the company says it “welcomes the opportunity” to work with Apple so that this sharing function can work in the Contacts Only mode. “We accomplished this through our own implementation,” a Google spokesperson tells WIRED. “Our goal is to provide an easy and secure file-sharing experience for our users, regardless of who they are communicating with.”
In a security blog post, Google says the underlying strategy for what makes this new synergy between Quick Share and AirDrop work is the memory-safe Rust programming language. “These overlapping protections on both platforms work in concert with the secure connection to provide comprehensive safety for your data when you share or receive,” writes Dave Kleidermacher, vice president of Google’s platforms security and privacy.
Google tapped NetSPI, a third-party and independent penetration testing firm, to validate the security of the new sharing feature. The findings? The interoperability is “notably stronger” than other industry implementations. That’s pretty important, considering what happened the last time someone tried to improve cross-compatibility between iOS and Android without Apple: the startup Beeper tried to make texts from Android phones show up as blue bubbles on iPhones and caused all kinds of drama.
The number of people who can actually use this feature is limited because it’s only available on Google’s latest Pixel 10 smartphones, which just launched this past August. However, Google says it’s looking to expand the feature to more Android devices in the future.
This new feature in Quick Share is rolling out starting today to the Pixel 10 series, which includes the Google Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold. As it’s rolling out, you may not see it immediately on your device. To use it, all you need to do is select something to share, whether it’s a file, contact, or photo, choose Quick Share in the sharing menu, and make sure the iPhone owner has their AirDrop set to “Everyone for 10 Minutes Only.” The iPhone will be able to see the Pixel 10 device and can receive or send data.
Arnold Toynbee’s “Cities on the Move” (1970) documents the history of big cities around the world becoming impoverished and insolvent—some never to recover. Many of the patterns he describes apply to New York now.
Real estate contributed roughly $35 billion of the $80 billion in city tax receipts in fiscal 2025, and personal taxes another $18 billion. The financial sector, real estate, construction, tourism and retail trade sectors are the major contributors to these revenues.
Despite laws meant to regulate robocalls by the Federal Communications Commission (as well as several state-specific laws), the problem isn’t going away. In August of this year alone, people in the U.S. received over 4.1 billion robocalls. A growing number of those are being funneled to customers’ cell phones as landlines shrink in popularity. Now, Apple is rolling out a new tool to block them.
Apple’s latest iOS 26 release includes a feature that screens calls to prevent both the annoyance of dealing with the call and the increased chance of fraud. The new feature lets iPhone owners decide how they want incoming calls from unknown numbers to be handled.
You can let the calls ring through, as they do now. You can mute them, sending them directly to voicemail. Or you can have the phone ask the caller to give more information about who they are and why they’re calling.
Should you choose this new, third option, the phone won’t ring on your end. Siri will answer the call, instead, and gather the information. A status message will appear on the phone’s lock screen, letting you read the replies and jump into the live call at any time, if you’d like.
An Inc.com Featured Presentation
To activate the call screening tool on your iPhone, you’ll need to follow a few steps:
Install iOS 26.
Open the Settings app.
Select “Apps,” then choose “phone.”
Scroll down and select “Screen Unknown Callers.”
Choose which of the three options you’d prefer.
The addition of the tool for iOS devices comes several years after Android began offering a call-screening option. The first of those features rolled out in 2018 for Android devices and it has been updated several times since, letting phone owners see a real-time transcription of the caller’s request. (It has also been integrated into Android Auto.)
Android owners can enable the feature by entering their phone app, tapping “More,” then “Settings,” then “Call Screen.”
There are, of course, a number of third-party apps that claim to block robocalls on cell phones, but the track record of most of those is so-so. Some let calls slip through, thanks to advances by scammers, which spoof legitimate phone numbers, letting them bypass the blockers. Others, meanwhile, unintentionally block numbers that are important themselves (including healthcare facilities and auto insurance companies).
Both Apple and Google have long allowed owners of their phone to send calls from unknown numbers to voicemail, but that option has also led to people missing important calls.
The new tool from Apple (and the existing one from Android) offers a middle-ground, where owners won’t have to risk dealing with a robocall, but are still able to take the call belatedly if they find it’s from someone they want to speak with.
Both Apple and Android also offer a separate tool in their texting/messaging apps that let users filter texts from unknown senders, which can eliminate job offer scams and attempts at identity theft.
Robocalls are on the rise this year. YouMail, which tracks the activity, says the first eight months of the year have seen 36.7 billion robocalls, a 7.1 percent increase over the same period in 2024. On average, Americans receive 133.9 million robocalls per day (or 1,550 robocalls per second).
Experts point to artificial intelligence as part of the reason for the surge, despite laws passed last year by the FCC that outlaw robocalls from using voices generated by AI.
Gaming Copilot will begin rolling out to players aged 18 and older on PC Game Bar today and for the Xbox app on mobile in October, with regional support everywhere except mainland China.
Players trying Gaming Copilot for the first time are encouraged to try Voice Mode, get help with what’s happening on their screen, or ask for recommendations, their achievements or play history.
We’ll continue to explore and experiment with new features as we bring this AI-powered assistant to more players and continue to optimize it for handheld devices and Xbox consoles in the near future.
AI has the potential to unlock new and exciting possibilities in how we work, learn, and play. At Xbox, we’re focused on how our innovations in AI can enhance and create more personalized experiences for players, save them time, and ultimately let them focus more on playing the games they love.
Today marks a major step in our journey to bring these AI-powered experiences to players. We’re excited to announce that Gaming Copilot, your personal gaming sidekick – which provides recommendations, help, insights, and more – is officially coming to Windows PC and Xbox on mobile. Starting today, PC players will begin seeing Gaming Copilot integrated directly into their Game Bar experience as the feature rolls out gradually over the next few weeks. It will then come to the Xbox mobile app on Apple and Android next month, where players will be able to access this personalized companion via a second screen without distracting from their gameplay.
The Journey So Far
Since announcing Gaming Copilot earlier this year, we’ve been experimenting with how to make Copilot more useful – to be there when you need help, and out of the way when you don’t. With the support and feedback from players on mobile and members of our Xbox Insiders program, we’ve since introduced new features to Gaming Copilot such as deeper in-game assistance, improved Voice Mode, and a better understanding of what’s happening on your game screen.
During this preview phase, the number one way we saw players using Gaming Copilot was to improve their gameplay, answering their questions around quests, strategies, builds, and more so they can stay in the game. Now, any Xbox player on PC or with the Xbox app on mobile will be able to leverage Gaming Copilot’s capabilities while playing, with new features and improvements like deeper insights and coaching to come as we continue to gather feedback and learn from our community.
Tips for Getting Started
For players trying Gaming Copilot for the first time, here are a few tips and suggestions to get started:
Try Voice Mode for a more seamless gameplay experience: When actively playing games on Xbox, use Voice Mode on either PC or mobile to talk to Copilot directly, get help about the game you’re playing, and ask questions without breaking away from gameplay.
On PC, there are multiple ways to interact with Gaming Copilot in Voice Mode:
Push to Talk – when you’re mid-game and want to quickly ask Gaming Copilot for help then jump back into the game, try the new “Push to Talk” feature. To do this, go to the “Hardware and Hotkeys” settings page where you can set your own key bind shortcut to “Push to Talk”.
Mini Mode – for a long-running voice conversation, try pinning the Gaming Copilot widget. To do this, launch and pin the Gaming Copilot widget, click on “Talk” in the left navigation bar to start a conversation, and click the upward arrow on the bottom right to minimize the widget. Now you can continue the conversation once you return to your gameplay, all while taking up minimal space on your screen.
In the Xbox mobile app, simply navigate to the Gaming Copilot tab, push the “Microphone” icon to talk, and ask Copilot any question or prompt to begin a seamless conversation.
In Voice Mode, get help by asking Copilot about what’s happening on your screen: Gaming Copilot not only knows the game you’re playing but can also understand what you’re doing in the game in real-time.
Want to learn more about that new enemy you just encountered? Use Voice Mode to ask Copilot about what you’re seeing and any tips for taking it down.
Can’t remember anything about that NPC you’re currently speaking to? Use Voice Mode to ask Copilot for a summary of who they are, when you first encountered them, or for their backstory.
Want to learn more about that new enemy you just encountered? Use Voice Mode to ask Copilot about what you’re seeing and any tips for taking it down.
Ask for recommendations, or about achievements and play history: Gaming Copilot is also here to help with your gaming library, achievements, and play history! If you’re new to Xbox, tell Copilot about your favorite genres and let it recommend new games to play, or ask it for game recommendations based on your play history. Copilot also knows what achievements you’ve already unlocked, so you can also ask it for help hunting down the next achievement to unlock in your favorite game.
We’ll continue to explore and experiment with new features for Gaming Copilot as we bring this AI-powered assistant to more players and continue to optimize it for handheld devices, such as the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X launching on October 16, and Xbox consoles in the near future.
How to Start Using Gaming Copilot
Gaming Copilot will begin rolling out to players aged 18 and older on PC Game Bar today and for the Xbox app on mobile in October, with regional support everywhere except mainland China.
To use Gaming Copilot in Game Bar, make sure you have the Xbox PC app installed on your Windows device. Press Windows logo key + G to open Game Bar over your game, app, or desktop. Look for the Gaming Copilot icon in the Home Bar, open the widget, and log into your Xbox account for the full experience.
To use Gaming Copilot on mobile, download the latest version of the Xbox mobile app, navigate to the Copilot section, and simply have the app open on your device for real-time, distraction-free support while you play.
You can visit our support page for more information about Gaming Copilot.
Help Us Shape the Future of Gaming Copilot
Your feedback is critical as we continue to develop Gaming Copilot and make it even more helpful for players’ needs and preferences. Anyone is welcome to share feedback directly in the experience by selecting “Give feedback” or by simply marking incorrect responses from Copilot with a “thumbs up” or “thumbs down”.
You can also provide direct feedback to Team Xbox by following the steps here under the “Report a problem online” section.
These phones are worth considering if you have yet to see something you like.
Xiaomi Poco F7 for $366: The latest release from Xiaomi’s Poco brand comes close to a place above, combining the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor with a lovely 6.83-inch AMOLED screen and a big 6,500 mAh battery. There’s no scrimping on the rest of the spec sheet, with Wi-Fi 7 support, an IP68 rating, and 256 GB of UFS 4.1 storage in the base model. The main camera even has a 50-MP Sony IMX882 lens, though the 8-MP ultrawide and 20-MP front-facing cameras aren’t great. I love the silver model, but it also comes in white or black. I think the X7 Pro above, now dropping in price, is a bigger bargain, but the F7 is a better phone and worth considering if you don’t mind spending a bit more.
Photograph: Simon Hill
Oppo Find N5 for $1,265: It’s a real shame that the Find N5 won’t even land in the UK or Europe, because the world’s slimmest book-style foldable (3.6 millimeters open) is a lovely phone. The 6.62-inch cover display and 8.12-inch inner display are excellent, and the Find N5 has top specs all the way (Snapdragon 8 Elite, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB storage, 5,600-mAh battery, 80-watt wired and 50-watt wireless charging). The triple-lens camera (50-MP main, 50-MP telephoto, 8-MP ultrawide) is the most obvious compromise, a necessity for this form factor. The slightly buggy software and bloatware are the only other detractors, but the potential pain of importing will be enough to put most folks off.
Xiaomi Poco F7 Ultra for £569 and F7 Pro for £449: While Poco has traditionally been a budget brand, the aptly named F7 Ultra takes it into new territory. This phone boasts a few flagship-level features, such as the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset with the VisionBoost D7 for graphics, a powerful triple-lens camera, and a lovely, high-resolution 6.67-inch display with a 120-Hz refresh rate. It also scores an IP68 rating and offers up to 50-watt wireless charging. The catch is a price hike over previous Poco F series releases, but at the early-bird price, the F7 Ultra is a compelling bargain. The F7 Pro is more in line with what we expect from the brand, with an older processor, limited camera, and no wireless charging. Both run Xiaomi’s HyperOS 2 and have too much bloatware, but Xiaomi now promises four Android version upgrades and 6 years of security patches.
Photograph: Simon Hill
Realme 14 Pro+ for €530: The color-changing finish may be gimmicky, but it’s fun, and this phone looks and feels far more expensive than it is. There are more highs than lows on the spec sheet. You get a triple-lens camera, an IP68/69 rating, a 6,000-mAh battery, and a 6.83-inch OLED display with a 120-Hz refresh rate, but the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset is limited, there’s no wireless charging support, and no charger in the box. It is still quite a bargain and should be landing in the UK soon.
Photograph: Simon Hill
Xiaomi 15 for £899: Folks seeking a more compact phone than the Xiaomi 15 Ultra could do a lot worse than its smaller sibling. The Xiaomi 15 feels lovely, with a 6.36-inch screen, a decent triple-lens camera, and top-notch internals. But it’s a conservative design, kind of pricey, and it has the same software and bloatware issues as the Ultra.
Honor Magic 7 RSR for £1,550: Designed with Porsche, this souped-up version of the 7 Pro above has a fancier design with a hexagonal camera module, a slightly improved telephoto lens, 24 GB of RAM (likely largely pointless), 1 TB of storage, and a bigger battery (5,850 mAh). It’s lovely, but it doesn’t do enough to justify the additional outlay.
Oppo Find X8 Pro for £800: The last two Oppo flagships didn’t officially make it to the UK and Europe, so the X8 Pro marks a welcome return. This is a polished phone with a quad-lens camera (all 50 MP), but it feels like a downgrade from the Find X7 Ultra I used last year because of the smaller sensor. It is fast, with excellent battery life, speedy wired and wireless charging, IP68/69 protection, and no obvious omissions. But it’s pricey, and flagships should not have bloatware. I’d prefer to wait for the X8 Ultra.
Photograph: Simon Hill
Honor 200 Pro for £360: I don’t love the design of the Honor 200 Pro, but it has a versatile triple-lens camera with a capable portrait mode. There are also some useful AI features, and the battery life is good, with fast wired and wireless charging. It cost £200 more at launch, but at this new lower price, it is a far more attractive option.
Xiaomi Mix Flip for £629: Xiaomi’s first flip phone is surprisingly good, with two relatively bright and roomy screens, solid stamina, fast charging, and snappy performance. It’s a shame Xiaomi didn’t craft more flip-screen-specific features. It doesn’t help that the Mix Flip was too expensive at launch (£1,099), but at this reduced price, it’s a decent shout for folks craving a folding flip phone.
Nubia Z70 Ultra for £649: Much like last year’s Z60 Ultra, the Z70 Ultra is a value-packed brick with an excellent 6.8-inch display, Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, versatile triple-lens camera, and 6,150-mAh battery. Unfortunately, the camera is inconsistent and poor at recording video, and the software is shoddy (with only three Android version updates promised).
Photograph: Simon Hill
Xiaomi 14T Pro for £465: As the mid-year follow-up to Xiaomi’s flagship 14, the 14T Pro is a bit of a bargain and has dropped in price since I reviewed it. The basics are nailed, with a big screen, good performance, plenty of stamina, and a solid camera. But there is bloatware, Xiaomi’s software, and the lack of wireless charging to contend with.
OnePlus Nord 4 for £310: With a metal unibody, the Nord 4 stands out and also boasts an excellent screen, enough processing power for most folks, impressive battery life, and fast charging. The main camera is fine, and there’s a nifty AquaTouch feature that lets you use the phone with wet hands. But there’s no wireless charging, the ultrawide camera is disappointing, and there’s some bloatware.
Avoid These Phones
These aren’t bad phones necessarily, but I think you’d be better served by something above.
Oppo Reno 13 Pro 5G for £620: This slim, lightweight midranger boasts a 6.8-inch screen (brightness is limited), a triple-lens camera (solid 50-MP main and telephoto lenses with a disappointing 8-MP ultrawide), and an impressive IP69 rating. Battery life is good, and wired charging is fast, but there’s no wireless charging. It’s packed with bloatware but also AI features and tools covering transcription, summarization, image editing, and more that may add value for some folks. Performance-wise, it can’t keep up with the similarly priced Poco F7 Ultra above. After some time with the 13 Pro, I’m not convinced it justifies such a major price bump over last year’s 12 Pro (it costs an extra £150), and you can do better for this money.
Xiaomi Mix Fold 4 for $1,399: Only officially released in China, the Xiaomi Mix Fold 4 is a stylish folding phone with a 6.56-inch outer screen that folds open to reveal a 7.98-inch inner screen. It also offers solid performance and battery life, but despite having a large quad-lens camera module, the camera is underwhelming. The crease is also pronounced, and using a Chinese model is a bit of a pain as various things are not translated, and there’s work in getting the apps you want.
Photograph: Simon Hill
Realme GT7 Pro for $529: This potential flagship killer has a 6.78-inch OLED screen, a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, and an enormous 6,500-mAh battery. You also get a triple-lens camera, but the 50-megapixel main and telephoto lenses are let down by the 8-megapixel ultrawide. It also lacks wireless charging, and you’ll have to import it to the UK, as it only seems to be on sale in Germany.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro+ for £309: An attractive, durable design (IP68), a 200-megapixel Samsung camera sensor, and decent battery life with superfast charging (120-watts) must be balanced against middling performance, poor ultrawide (8 MP) and macro (2 MP) lenses, and a ton of bloatware. Ultimately, there’s little improvement over last year’s Redmi Note 13 Pro+, and it’s not just that there are better phones for the same money; there are better Xiaomi phones.
Photograph: Simon Hill
Xiaomi Poco F6 for £270: A real bargain when first released, the Poco F6 series is still tempting with a big screen, decent performance, and a pretty capable camera, but there’s bloatware, shoddy software, and limited long-term support. The F6 is a better value than the Pro.
Photograph: Simon Hill
Motorola Edge 50 Pro for £285: It may be falling in price, but the Motorola Edge 50 Pro (7/10, WIRED Review) only has a couple of Android upgrades to go. While the design is compact and there’s a lovely display, I found it lacked processing power, with sometimes sluggish camera performance, and there are better options above.
Nubia Flip 5G for £346: I had some fun with the Nubia Flip 5G (6/10, WIRED Review), and it was the cheapest flip foldable available for a while. The circular cover screen is cute, but it can’t do much. The performance was average a year ago, and the annoying software and update policy are major strikes against it.
Android’s open nature set it apart from the iPhone as the era of touchscreen smartphones began nearly two decades ago. Little by little, Google has traded some of that openness for security, and its next security initiative could make the biggest concessions yet in the name of blocking bad apps.
Google has announced plans to begin verifying the identities of all Android app developers, and not just those publishing on the Play Store. Google intends to verify developer identities no matter where they offer their content, and apps without verification won’t work on most Android devices in the coming years.
Google used to do very little curation of the Play Store (or Android Market, if you go back far enough), but it has long sought to improve the platform’s reputation as being less secure than the Apple App Store. Years ago, you could publish actual exploits in the official store to gain root access on phones, but now there are multiple reviews and detection mechanisms to reduce the prevalence of malware and banned content. While the Play Store is still not perfect, Google claims apps sideloaded from outside its store are 50 times more likely to contain malware.
This, we are led to believe, is the impetus for Google’s new developer verification system. The company describes it like an “ID check at the airport.” Since requiring all Google Play app developers to verify their identities in 2023, it has seen a precipitous drop in malware and fraud. Bad actors in Google Play leveraged anonymity to distribute malicious apps, so it stands to reason that verifying app developers outside of Google Play could also enhance security.
However, making that happen outside of its app store will require Google to take a page from Apple’s playbook and flex its muscle in a way many Android users and developers could find intrusive. Google plans to create a streamlined Android Developer Console, which devs will use if they plan to distribute apps outside of the Play Store. After verifying their identities, developers will have to register the package name and signing keys of their apps. Google won’t check the content or functionality of the apps, though.
Google says that only apps with verified identities will be installable on certified Android devices, which is virtually every Android-based device—if it has Google services on it, it’s a certified device. If you have a non-Google build of Android on your phone, none of this applies. However, that’s a vanishingly small fraction of the Android ecosystem outside of China.
Google plans to begin testing this system with early access in October of this year. In March 2026, all developers will have access to the new console to get verified. In September 2026, Google plans to launch this feature in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand. The next step is still hazy, but Google is targeting 2027 to expand the verification requirements globally.
A Seismic Shift
This plan comes at a major crossroads for Android. The ongoing Google Play antitrust case brought by Epic Games may finally force changes to Google Play in the coming months. Google lost its appeal of the verdict several weeks ago, and while it plans to appeal the case to the US Supreme Court, the company will have to begin altering its app distribution scheme, barring further legal maneuvering.
Among other things, the court has ordered that Google must distribute third-party app stores and allow Play Store content to be rehosted in other storefronts. Giving people more ways to get apps could increase choice, which is what Epic and other developers wanted. However, third-party sources won’t have the deep system integration of the Play Store, which means users will be sideloading these apps without Google’s layers of security.
It’s hard to say how much of a genuine security problem this is. On one hand, it makes sense Google would be concerned—most of the major malware threats to Android devices spread via third-party app repositories. However, enforcing an installation whitelist across almost all Android devices is heavy handed. This requires everyone making Android apps to satisfy Google’s requirements before virtually anyone will be able to install their apps, which could help Google retain control as the app market opens up. While the requirements may be minimal right now, there’s no guarantee they will stay that way.
The documentation currently available doesn’t explain what will happen if you try to install a non-verified app, nor how phones will check for verification status. Presumably, Google will distribute this whitelist in Play Services as the implementation date approaches. We’ve reached out for details on that front and will report if we hear anything.
Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket is all about the thrill of opening digital card packs, but it has another trick up its sleeve. Released to the public on Tuesday, the mobile game has a battle mode where people can make a deck and compete against each other. For longtime Pokémon fans who collect the cards but didn’t play, it’s giving them the chance to experience competitive Pokémon TCG for the first time.
Created by Creatures and Game Freak with additional development support from DeNA, Pokémon TCG Pocket allows players to open packs and collect digital Pokémon cards. The game largely focuses on the collecting aspects: You can open booster packs, design digital showcases to flaunt your collection online, and even upgrade the visuals of cards by combining duplicates. However, the app also features a streamlined version of the competitive tabletop game.
The app’s version of battling takes way less time. Instead of beating Pokémon to earn six prize cards, TCG Pocket gives players the win after they knock out three. Decks are condensed from 60 to 20 cards, and instead of drawing energy cards, players can automatically equip one energy counter per turn. Additionally, the attacks and the abilities of individual cards have been edited to fit this new system, so many cards have fewer attacks or simplified abilities.
This adapted battle system makes the once-intimidating tabletop card game a lot more approachable. It’s only been a day since the app’s release, and I’ve seen a bunch of long-term Pokémon fans who are battling for the first time. In this Reddit thread, the original poster says, “I collected cards when I was a kid and don’t think I ever actually battled with them once.”
One person responded by saying that the reduced number of cards helped encourage them to start playing. At present, TCG Pocket’s rolodex lists 226 unique cards, whereas the English sets for the tabletop version now total more than 9,100 cards.
“I became really interested in Pocket because the card pool is limited and so my understanding of card combos and strategies could grow with the game itself,” CobaltCool215 said on Reddit.
For some, TCG Pocket has inspired them to play the full tabletop version of the competitive card game. Reddit user Pufferpanda wrote, “[TCG Pocket] was also my first introduction to a pokemon tcg when i started playing last month but I eventually checked out the main tcg because I craved the competitive/ranked system.”
Based on my real-life anecdotal experience, this makes a lot of sense. I know several avid Pokémon card collectors who own hundreds — maybe thousands — of cards, but have never played the tabletop version of the game. For many, the Pokémon TCG is more about appreciating the art and building a collection — and keeping those cards safe from harm — than competing with others. TCG Pocket probably won’t change that. But at least now, longtime players get a chance to see a different side of the game.
Froakie and Rowlet have gotten Halloween costumes as part of the 2024 Pokémon Go Halloween event. Both Halloween Froakie and Rowlet can be found shiny.
What’s more is that both of these costumed Pokémon can actually evolve, unlike quite a few of the other costumed Pokémon that are doomed to stay as babies. That said, if you want meta-relevant Decidueye and Greninja, you’ll want their legacy Community Day moves on them (Frenzy Plant and Hydro Cannon, respectively), so you may need to use an Elite TM on them.
What is the shiny rate for Halloween Froakie and Rowlet in Pokémon Go?
As part of the Halloween 2024 Part 2 event, any Rowlet and Froakies received via 7 km eggs or raids have an increased shiny rate, but we don’t know what that shiny rate is. However, the shiny rates for finding them in the wild (just spawning as usual) should follow the standard shiny rate. This means that if you’re hunting for these shiny fellas during Spotlight Hour, they’ll still have the base shiny rate (one in 500).
What can I do to attract more shiny Pokémon?
Not much, unfortunately. It appears to be random chance. Shiny Pokémon catch rates are set by developer Niantic, and they are typically only boosted during special events like Community Days or Safari Zones, or in Legendary Raids. There are no consumable items that boost shiny Pokémon rates.
Where can I find a list of available shiny Pokémon?
Most people buy phones directly from their carrier, but if you’re reading this guide, I suggest you buy an unlocked smartphone. When you buy a carrier phone, it’s “locked” to that network. That means if you want to switch carriers, like move from Verizon to T-Mobile, you’ll have to ask your carrier to unlock the device, and this can be a huge headache. (Especially if you’re traveling and want to use an international SIM card.) Asking a carrier to unlock a phone usually has a few requirements, like making sure your device is paid off, or waiting for a set period of time. Unlocked phones, on the other hand, don’t have this problem. You’re free to use whatever carrier you want, whenever.
Carriers also mask the true cost of a smartphone. AT&T may entice you with a $36 per month payment for a shiny new Samsung flagship, when in reality, that means you’re paying $1,300 on a smartphone over 36 months. Did you really want to spend that much? Or will a cheaper phone suffice? Also, you’re more likely to get software updates faster as they come directly from Samsung, and there’s often far less preinstalled bloatware to deal with.
All to say, buy unlocked! You can buy unlocked Galaxy phones directly from Samsung and most third-party retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart.
Japanese Rural Life Adventure is what it says on the tin — it’s a 16-bit-style farming sim that takes place in the countryside, and it’s filled with hallmarks of the genre: You leave the city to arrive at a broken-down farm that you revitalize as you meet the townsfolk and become a part of their community. But this one doesn’t feel cramped or shortchanged on mobile. In fact, it’s designed for the medium.
Released on Apple Arcade on Sept. 15, 2023, Japanese Rural Life Adventure is not developer Game Start’s first foray into life sims nor pixel art — the studio is also responsible for Tiny Island Survival and Tiny Pixel Farm, both of which nail the nostalgic look.
“When developing a new game, we try to create pictures of various worlds using pixel art (for example, a deserted island, space, a museum, an amusement park, etc.),” Game Start founder Takeo Fujita said in an email interview. “When we drew ‘rural Japan,’ we thought ‘this will surely excite users,’ and uploaded the image to social media. The response was beyond our imagination, so we began full-scale development of a game with a ‘rural Japan’ motif.”
The original concept art for Japanese Rural Life Adventure.Image: GameStart/Apple
And that motif is extremely successful in the game — so much so that I’ve found myself searching for images of a real-life place that evokes the town in the game. It’s hilly and filled with relics of the past, like abandoned shrines and overgrown stone walls, and I can almost smell the petrichor of the foggy mornings on the mountainside. But according to Fujita, finding somewhere like this in real life is no easy feat.
“There is no electricity or gas infrastructure, and water is drawn from wells and rivers. It may be difficult to find a place like this in modern-day Japan,” Fujita said, clarifying that despite the rural nature of it, the game is set in the modern day. “An old folk house deep in the mountains, quietly left behind by the current of modernity. This is the setting of the game.”
Your aim in the game is not to bring more modernity, though — it’s simply to make the place more livable for you and the other people who live there. You’ll fix up a shrine, at which you can worship every day. You’ll buff the scratches and dirt out of a grumpy neighbor’s old car. You’ll work on your farm, growing food to cook and feed to your various pets.
The game includes the expected elements, like energy that wanes as you do tasks and gifts that increase your relationship standings with others. But those aren’t the focus of the gameplay. The motivation to keep playing lies in opening up new areas of the map — including the mystical realm that was just added in Oct. 17’s game update — and celebrating as many cultural moments as you can, some of which take the better part of an in-game year to prepare for.
Those cultural elements — like the recipes and the gosekku — shine a light on traditions old and new, religious and secular. For instance, in spring, you’ll engage in ohanami, which simply means to admire the blooming flowers. In winter, you’ll do the “big clean,” where you wash down your home in preparation for the new year.
“We also selected a balanced selection of traditional Japanese events that are held in each period — spring, summer, autumn, and winter. We also wanted players to get to know ‘Japanese food,’ so we developed a cooking mini-game,” Fujita said.
Image: GameStart/Apple
The cooking minigame is a joy to play, and fills the entire screen so you don’t have to squint to click on the right pot or bowl. Each minigame is well thought out, including fishing — optimized for touchscreens with a tap-to-reel mechanic.
Overall, the game is a pared-down version of a farming sim, but that doesn’t mean it lacks depth — it just means that instead of 28 days per month, there are two, and instead of endless missions, there are pointed quests that arise as you progress.
The daily quests could use some work, though. You can grab one of these per 24 real-time hours, but there’s no mechanic that reminds you to do them, nor any notification that you’ve failed when the time is up. Nonetheless, the game doesn’t really need those daily quests, as you could spend anywhere from two minutes to several hours playing Japanese Rural Life Adventure.
The Oct. 17 update, which throws players into a “mysterious world where spirits live,” isn’t the last that Game Start has planned.
“This year, and even next year, we will be adding new areas where you can experience Japanese culture and that are depicted in pixel art. We also would like to add as many requests as possible from players,” Fujita said. So if you’re looking for a mobile-friendly (that’s portrait mode and landscape mode, commuters) farming sim that you can play for weeks on end, Japanese Rural Life Adventure won’t disappoint. I’ve kept up with my farm on and off for the year since the game was released and haven’t run out of new discoveries.
Japanese Rural Life Adventure was released Sept. 15, 2023, on iOS and Mac. The game was reviewed on an iPhone using an Apple Arcade subscription provided by Apple. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. You can find additional information about Polygon’s ethics policy here.
Truist was reminded of the importance of investing in both digital and in-branch offerings following the past month’s hurricanes, Helene and Milton. The need for both in-person and digital capabilities becomes clear after storms like these. “Those economies go to cash” when communities don’t have access to digital channels due to power and internet […]
BELLEVUE, Wash. — Since 2020, T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS)’s $10.7 billion Project 10Million (P10M) initiative has delivered reliable and affordable internet service to more than 6 million young learners across the U.S., but even with that progress the need for connectivity has only continued to rise. Technology use in education has seen a massive 226% surge over the past five years that spans classroom and homework. School-related tasks from digital assignments to research, video streaming, video lessons, and web calls require more data. And a vast majority of students are working from homes with multiple users. All of this on top of an up to 17 million school age children across the U.S. who still may not have reliable internet access at all, according to the FCC. To meet this continued demand, the Un-carrier announced that it is enriching its P10M program, increasing the data allowance for many students to better meet user needs and partnering with Boys & Girls Clubs of America and artist and activist Common to help even more youth get the access they need to be successful.
Starting Sept. 26, qualifying kindergarten through 12th grade student families who sign up for P10M with T-Mobile will now receive 200GB per year for five years, twice the previous 100GB allotment. Current Project 10Million families with T-Mobile will also enjoy increased data for the remainder of their five years. Student families will also be able to purchase a new highly discounted 10GB data pass for just $10 if they hit their data limit. And, starting in October 2024, school districts with the greatest needs served by P10M will have the opportunity to receive more data for their students — also up to 200GB.
To continue helping bridge the digital divide and reach more students, the Un-carrier is also partnering with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to hold enrollment campaigns and sign-up events nationwide. Two events were recently held alongside Oscar, Emmy and Grammy award-winning artist and activist Common, a champion of digital equity, education and T-Mobile’s Project 10Million; one was held on Sept. 6 in Dallas, and the other one in the Bronx, New York, on Sept. 24.
“We launched our groundbreaking Project 10Million program back in 2020 with a simple goal – to provide free or highly subsidized home Internet to up to 10Million students at home, so they won’t fall behind in school,” said Mike Sievert, CEO, T-Mobile. “And today, after providing more than 6 million students with the critical Internet access they need to succeed, we’re making the program even better than ever, with a set of program enhancements, to help our largest and most important community program to make an even bigger impact.”
“Our Club professionals are dedicated to ensuring all youth have the resources and support they need to achieve academic success. We believe strongly in the power of collaboration and community, which is why we’re joining forces with T-Mobile to make sure families with school-aged children have access to the essential connectivity that enables all youth to unlock their full potential,” said Jim Clark, President and CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
Additional Project 10Million back-to-school activations have been held or are to come in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Tacoma, Washington; Kansas City, Missouri; and Oklahoma City.
T-Mobile announced Project 10Million in 2019 and launched the program in 2020 with the goal of offering 10 million at-risk students a free hotspot, free data plans, and access to at-cost laptops and tablets and has continued to improve the initiative to include a portfolio of options for schools and families. To date the company has provided $6.9 billion in products and services and connected over 6 million students through P10M to help close the digital divide. To learn more and sign up go to www.t-mobile.com/project10million.
Data enhancements available for households eligible for the National School Lunch Program that sign up for Project 10Million directly with T-Mobile. Schools working with T-Mobile to provide access to Project 10Million for qualifying student populations may also be able to participate in these program enhancements. During congestion, Project 10Million customers may notice speeds lower than other customers due to data prioritization. Video typically streams in SD quality. Verify National School Lunch Program eligibility at signup.
About T-Mobile T-Mobile US, Inc. (NASDAQ: TMUS) is America’s supercharged Un-carrier, delivering an advanced 4G LTE and transformative nationwide 5G network that will offer reliable connectivity for all. T-Mobile’s customers benefit from its unmatched combination of value and quality, unwavering obsession with offering them the best possible service experience and undisputable drive for disruption that creates competition and innovation in wireless and beyond. Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile provides services through its subsidiaries and operates its flagship brands, T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile and Mint Mobile. For more information please visit: https://www.t-mobile.com
About Boys & Girls Clubs of America For more than 160 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA.org) has provided a safe place for kids and teens to learn and grow. Clubs offer caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Boys & Girls Clubs programming promotes academic success, good character and leadership, and healthy lifestyles. Over 5,400 Clubs serve more than 3 million young people through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. The national headquarters is located in Atlanta. Learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of America on Facebook and X.
eSchool Media staff cover education technology in all its aspects–from legislation and litigation, to best practices, to lessons learned and new products. First published in March of 1998 as a monthly print and digital newspaper, eSchool Media provides the news and information necessary to help K-20 decision-makers successfully use technology and innovation to transform schools and colleges and achieve their educational goals.
AMD launched a new artificial-intelligence chip on Thursday that is taking direct aim at Nvidia’s data center graphics processors, known as GPUs.
The Instinct MI325X, as the chip is called, will start production before the end of 2024, AMD said Thursday during an event announcing the new product. If AMD’s AI chips are seen by developers and cloud giants as a close substitute for Nvidia’s products, it could put pricing pressure on Nvidia, which has enjoyed roughly 75% gross margins while its GPUs have been in high demand over the past year.
Advanced generative AI such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT requires massive data centers full of GPUs in order to do the necessary processing, which has created demand for more companies to provide AI chips.
In the past few years, Nvidia has dominated the majority of the data center GPU market, but AMD is historically in second place. Now, AMD is aiming to take share from its Silicon Valley rival or at least to capture a big chunk of the market, which it says will be worth $500 billion by 2028.
“AI demand has actually continued to take off and actually exceed expectations. It’s clear that the rate of investment is continuing to grow everywhere,” AMD CEO Lisa Su said at the event.
AMD didn’t reveal new major cloud or internet customers for its Instinct GPUs at the event, but the company has previously disclosed that both Meta and Microsoft buy its AI GPUs and that OpenAI uses them for some applications. The company also did not disclose pricing for the Instinct MI325X, which is typically sold as part of a complete server.
With the launch of the MI325X, AMD is accelerating its product schedule to release new chips on an annual schedule to better compete with Nvidia and take advantage of the boom for AI chips. The new AI chip is the successor to the MI300X, which started shipping late last year. AMD’s 2025 chip will be called MI350, and its 2026 chip will be called MI400, the company said.
The MI325X’s rollout will pit it against Nvidia’s upcoming Blackwell chips, which Nvidia has said will start shipping in significant quantities early next year.
A successful launch for AMD’s newest data center GPU could draw interest from investors that are looking for additional companies that are in line to benefit from the AI boom. AMD is only up 20% so far in 2024 while Nvidia’s stock is up over 175%. Most industry estimates say Nvidia has over 90% of the market for data center AI chips.
AMD stock fell 3% during trading on Thursday.
AMD’s biggest obstacle in taking market share is that its rival’s chips use their own programming language, CUDA, which has become standard among AI developers. That essentially locks developers into Nvidia’s ecosystem.
In response, AMD this week said that it has been improving its competing software, called ROCm, so that AI developers can more easily switch more of their AI models over to AMD’s chips, which it calls accelerators.
AMD has framed its AI accelerators as more competitive for use cases where AI models are creating content or making predictions rather than when an AI model is processing terabytes of data to improve. That’s partially due to the advanced memory AMD is using on its chip, it said, which allows it to server Meta’s Llama AI model faster than some Nvidia chips.
“What you see is that MI325 platform delivers up to 40% more inference performance than the H200 on Llama 3.1,” said Su, referring to Meta’s large-language AI model.
Taking on Intel, too
While AI accelerators and GPUs have become the most intensely watched part of the semiconductor industry, AMD’s core business has been central processors, or CPUs, that lay at the heart of nearly every server in the world.
AMD’s data center sales during the June quarter more than doubled in the past year to $2.8 billion, with AI chips accounting for only about $1 billion, the company said in July.
AMD takes about 34% of total dollars spent on data center CPUs, the company said. That’s still less than Intel, which remains the boss of the market with its Xeon line of chips. AMD is aiming to change that with a new line of CPUs, called EPYC 5th Gen, that it also announced on Thursday.
Those chips come in a number of different configurations ranging from a low-cost and low-power 8-core chip that costs $527 to 192-core, 500-watt processors intended for supercomputers that cost $14,813 per chip.
The new CPUs are particularly good for feeding data into AI workloads, AMD said. Nearly all GPUs require a CPU on the same system in order to boot up the computer.
“Today’s AI is really about CPU capability, and you see that in data analytics and a lot of those types of applications,” Su said.
Pokémon Go is having a Sewaddle Community Day event on Saturday, Oct. 5, from 2-5 p.m. in your local time.
As expected with a Community Day event, Sewaddle will spawn in huge numbers with a high chance for it to appear shiny. There are also several other bonuses and perks, which we’ve listed out below.
How do I catch a shiny Sewaddle?
As per old research by the now-defunct website The Silph Road (via Wayback Machine), Shiny rates on Community Days are about 1 in 24, which means that if you keep playing throughout the three-hour window, you should find quite a few shiny Pokémon.
Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Niantic
If you’re short on time or Poké Balls, you can pop an Incense, then quickly tap each Sewaddle to check for shiny ones, running from any that aren’t shiny. Notably, any Sewaddle you’ve already tapped will face where your player is standing, so that should help identify which ones you may have already checked.
What Community Day move does Sewaddle’s evolution learn?
If you evolve Swadloon into Leavanny from 2 p.m. until 10 p.m. in your local time, it will learn the fast move Shadow Claw.
If you miss out on evolving it during this period, you will likely be able to evolve it during a Community Day weekend event in December to get Shadow Claw. If you don’t want to wait, you can use an Elite TM to get the move.
How does Leavanny do in the meta?
Leavanny is a “just OK” bug-type attacker for PvE content, but even with its best moveset (Bug Bite and X-Scissor), it fails to beat out Heracross, Pinsir, and as well as higher-investment picks like Pheromosa and Genesect (predictably).
Leavanny also isn’t much of a use in PvP. Though the addition of Shadow Claw to its moveset is new, it doesn’t improve its rankings much or do anything groundbreaking.
How do I make the most of Sewaddle Community Day?
The following bonuses will be active during Sewaddle Community Day:
1⁄4 hatch distance for eggs placed into Incubators during the event
Doubled candy for catching Pokémon
Doubled chance for level 31+ trainers to get XL candy from catching Pokémon
Incense lasts three hours
Lure Modules lasts three hours
Sewaddle special photobombs when taking snapshots
One additional special trade
Stardust cost halved for trading
That said, you should definitely put your eggs into Incubators, pop an Incense, and try to nab some powerful Sewaddle.
If you can Mega Evolve Venusaur, Beedrill, Pinsir, Scizor, Heracross, Sceptile, or Abomasnow, you’ll score additional Sewaddle Candy per catch. Using Primal Reversion on Kyogre or Groudon will work as well.
In addition to all this, Niantic is still running special four-star raids from 5-10 p.m., where if you clear the Swadloon raid, Sewaddle will spawn in a 300-meter radius around the gym for 30 minutes. These raids cannot be done remotely. If the usual 2-5 p.m. spawn increase doesn’t get you the Sewaddle you wanted, you can try raiding for another chance.
Many credit cards now offer mobile device insurance, and it’s easy to see why. Smartphones aren’t cheap, so having his type of insurance is a valuable perk that can save you a lot of money. Let’s break down how mobile device insurance works and look at the best credit cards in Canada that offer this credit card benefit.
What is mobile device insurance?
Credit card mobile device insurance typically includes $1,000 in coverage for a damaged or stolen phone, as long as you purchased the device or pay for the monthly contract using the credit card. The insurance covers only the phone itself—it doesn’t cover the battery or any accessories, such as headphones or a protective case. Pre-owned or refurbished phones are not covered, even if you use the credit card to make the purchase.
How credit card mobile device insurance works
As with any insurance policy in Canada, there are a few details to watch for when it comes to mobile device insurance.
Coverage period: When you buy a new mobile device on your credit card, the insurance doesn’t usually begin immediately. There’s often a delay of one to three months before it begins. Additionally, the coverage isn’t forever—typically, coverage applies for a maximum of two years from the purchase date.
Coverage limit: Mobile device insurance is usually capped at $1,000, meaning that any money you spend above that threshold will not be covered should something happen to your device.
Deductible: Like other insurance policies, mobile device coverage usually comes with a deductible—the amount you pay before receiving any insurance benefits. Some policies calculate the deductible based on the purchase price of the device, while others account for the purchase price and depreciation.
Depreciation: Mobile device insurance takes depreciation into account when determining the value of your phone. In simple terms: The longer you own the device, the less it’s worth. A standard rate of depreciation is 2% per month, meaning that in a year, your phone will have lost 24% of its value.
Lost or stolen devices: If you make a claim for a missing device, you have 48 hours to notify your provider and stop your wireless service. The insurance doesn’t cover devices stolen from checked luggage or baggage not in your possession.
Claim limits: You’re entitled to make one claim per year. In the case of some credit card companies, this limit applies across all cards.
Although there are some limitations with credit card mobile device coverage, it’s an attractive perk, because it doesn’t cost you anything extra and applies automatically.
The best credit cards with mobile device insurance
Here are some of the best credit cards in Canada that come with mobile device insurance.
RBC Avion Visa Infinite
At a glance: With the RBC Avion Visa Infinite, a generous $1,500 in mobile device coverage is complemented by several types of travel and car rental insurance for a must-have in travellers’ wallets. Plus, you can use Avion points to purchase your mobile device and it will still be insured.
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RBC Avion Visa Infinite
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Annual fee: $120
Welcome offer:Earn up to 55,000 Avion points ($1,100 value)
go to site
Card details
Interest rates
20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances and on balance transfers (21.99% for Quebec residents)
Income required
$60,000 per year
Credit score
None specified
Point value
1 RBC Avion point = Up to $0.023 when redeemed for travel using RBC’s Air Travel Redemption Schedule.
Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite
At a glance: The Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite includes $1,000 of mobile device coverage that is activated just 30 days from the time of purchase of the phone. When you consider the seven other types of insurance, and the ability to earn cash back, this card is worth your consideration.
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Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite
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Annual fee: $120
Welcome offer:earn 10% cash back on all purchases for the first 3 months (up to $2,000 in total purchases). No annual fee in the first year, including on additional cards. Offer ends October 31, 2024.
go to site
Card details
Interest rates
20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances, 22.99% on balance transfers
Income required
Personal income of $60,000 or household income of $100,000
Credit score
725 or higher
American Express Cobalt
At a glance: With a standard $1,000 in mobile device insurance, plus the ability to earn points and Amex membership benefits, the American Express Cobalt card has a solid offering.
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American Express Cobalt
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Annual fee: $156
Welcome offer:earn 1,250 points for each month you spend $750, up to a maximum of 15,000 points.
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Card details
Interest rates
21.99% on purchases, 21.99% on cash advances
Income required
None specified
Credit score
725 or higher
Point value
1 Amex Membership Rewards point = $0.01 when redeemed with the Flexible Points Travel Program, $0.015 on average with the Fixed Points Travel Program, and up to $0.02 with airline points transfers.
Tangerine World Mastercard
At a glance: For a no-annual-fee card, the Tangerine World Mastercard’s standard $1,000 new mobile device coverage policy is one of several nice add-ons, including rental car collision and loss coverage and free Wi-Fi through Boingo Wi-Fi for Mastercard.
Tangerine World Mastercard
Visit tangerine.ca for more details
Annual fee: $0
Welcome offer:earn an extra 10% back on up to $1,000 in everyday purchases within the first 2 months. Must apply by October 31, 2024.
Visit tangerine.ca for more details
Card details
Interest rates
20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances, 22.99% on balance transfers
Income required
$60,000 per year
Credit score
725 or higher
CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite
At a glance: When you pay for your new mobile device with the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite, you’ll have up to $1,000 in insurance protection for loss, theft and damage. This policy has more relaxed time requirements for reporting but the paperwork required to make a claim is rather onerous.
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CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite
go to site
Annual fee: $139
Welcome offer: You can earn up to $1,400 in value including a first year annual fee rebate.
go to site
Card details
Interest rates
20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances, 22.99% on balance transfers
Income required
Personal income of $60,000 or household income of $100,000
Credit score
760 or higher
Point value
1 point= $0.01 on average.
What if your credit card doesn’t have mobile device insurance?
Not all is lost. You do have a few options.
Insurance from the dealer or manufacturer
If you don’t get mobile device insurance through your credit card, you can still get coverage, but it might cost you a few hundred dollars.
Google Preferred Care is a two-year insurance package that covers accidental damage and loss. The cost depends on the model of your device, and there’s a service fee associated with making a claim, which is also model-dependent. You can enroll for up to 30 days after purchase and you can make two claims per 12-month period.
AppleCare, for Apple phones and other devices, extends hardware, software and technical support past the first 90 days included with your mobile purchase. The cost to insure your iPhone depends on the model, but it starts at $99 for two-year protection of an iPhone SE. Two years’ worth of coverage for an iPhone 15 is $269. There’s a service fee for each claim: $39 for screen or back glass damage, and $129 for other accidental damage, plus applicable taxes.
You may also be able to purchase protection directly from the store. Best Buy, a big box retailer, offers Canadians protection plans. The replacement plan is for defective phones. Once you send in your phone, you’ll receive a Best Buy gift card for the purchase price amount. You can replace or repair your cell phone up to two times.
Insurance from the cell phone provider
You may also have the option to buy mobile device protection from your cell phone provider.
Rogers offers device protection plans for Apple and Android products that include loss or damage coverage, starting at $7.99 per month. The device protection plan for iPhone users features Apple Care services, which includes unlimited service requests and one device replacement for loss or theft. Android users get up to three service requests per 12 month period and one device replacement. One of the benefits of insuring your device this way is the speed of service: repairs can often be done on the same day, and replacements can often be received the next day.
Similar to Rogers, Telus partners with Apple to give the Apple Care iPhone protection plan to clients, with coverage starting at $9 per month. For $15 per month, Android users can buy Device Care Complete, which includes unlimited repairs for cracked screens and liquid damage, as well as free battery replacements. Repairs through Apple Care are handled by Apple, while phones protected by Device Car Complete have to be repaired at a Mobile Klinik location.
Wobbuffet, the patient Pokémon from Johto, can be found in the wild in Pokémon Go. Yes, Wobbuffet can be shiny in Pokémon Go!
Neither Wynaut nor Wobbuffet see use in PvP or PvE, but it does sport a great pink shiny. Notably, female Wobbuffet have lipstick on (which you can see in the lead image) and male Wobbuffet don’t (which you can see in the image directly above). Hilarious.
What is the shiny rate for Wobbuffet in Pokémon Go?
As per old research by the now-defunct website The Silph Road (via Wayback Machine), the shiny rate for Pokémon on a regular day is approximately one in 500. Wobbuffet is not a confirmed Pokémon that gets a “permaboost” (meaning that it’s a rare spawn and thus gets a boosted shiny rate).
What can I do to attract more shiny Pokémon?
Not much, unfortunately. It appears to be random chance. Shiny Pokémon catch rates are set by developer Niantic, and they are typically only boosted during special events like Community Days or Safari Zones, or in Legendary Raids. There are no consumable items that boost shiny Pokémon rates.
Where can I find a list of available shiny Pokémon?
For Apple devotees, the biggest tech day of the year is finally almost here: The Apple iPhone 16 launch event. It’ll take place tomorrow, September 9, at 1PM ET in Cupertino, CA, and you can stream it live on YouTube or the company’s website. We’ll also be live-blogging the news and hopefully will get a chance to check out the new iPhone after the event.
The biggest news we’re expecting from Apple’s It’s Glowtime event is the iPhone 16 lineup. Following past events, we’re also anticipating a new Apple Watch or two — maybe even three, if Apple showcases a new SE.
Beyond that, rumors have been swirling about a refresh of the standard AirPod earbuds. And what about new M4 Macs, HomePods, iPad mini or even the baseline iPhone SE? Some of those may hit later this year, while others probably won’t see the light of day until 2025 or beyond. But until Tim Cook takes the (virtual) stage, however, everything is pure speculation. With that said, let’s get into the most likely leaks and rumors ahead of the Apple event.
iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro
No matter what else happens, these new handsets will take center stage during the Apple event. That’s good news for people ready for an upgrade. The bad (ish) news? The vast majority of leaks and rumors indicate that this will be another year of iterative improvements, so don’t expect a game-changing new hardware feature.
Cherlynn Low / Engadget
There’s likely to be four new models announced at the event, which is similar to what Apple did last year. The new phones will allegedly be called the iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max, according to industry analyst Mark Gurman. This is the exact same naming convention as last year’s iPhone 15 reveal, so the rumors of Apple adopting an “iPhone Ultra” moniker seem to have been greatly exaggerated.
Even if Apple doesn’t use the Ultra naming, the Pro models might be getting slightly larger screens, which is always nice (if you like big phones, that is). The regular Pro is likely to move to 6.3 inches from 6.1 inches, while the Pro Max should hit 6.9 inches, an increase from 6.7 inches. Finally, there will likely be a new color or two, as always. Bloomberg’s Gurman suggests that Apple is ready to ditch the blue model in favor of the return of rose gold. Separately, 9to5Mac has reported on a new “gold-colored titanium” hue for the iPhone 16 Pro model. Based on a source who apparently nailed last year’s gray titanium color, they are showing off what appears to be more of a dusky sand hue than gold.
On the hardware side of things, look for a new chipset that takes advantage of the company’s recent push toward AI, also known as Apple Intelligence. Beyond that, the upgraded A18 chip will be an iterative improvement, specs-wise. As is typical, the Pro and Pro Max will likely get a more powerful chip than the standard models. It looks like the base amount of RAM here will be 8GB, so as to handle those aforementioned AI tasks.
It’s also been rumored that the standard iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will get the Action Button, a feature introduced last year for the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. This multi-purpose button is a direct replacement for the mute switch, by default, but can be adjusted to control a bunch of different things. The Action Button can be used to to change ringer settings, turn on the flashlight, launch the camera and more.
Cherlynn Low/Engadget
There’s also talk of another new button, this one on the right side of the phone. This will control camera features, operating like a button on a DSLR. Reporting indicates that a soft press will trigger autofocus and a harder press will take a photo. Consumers may also be able to swipe along the button to zoom in and out while shooting photos or taking videos. It’s been reported that this camera button will only come with the Pro and Pro Max, which makes sense since the high-end models typically offer a more robust camera experience.
To that end, new iPhones always get a camera spec bump, but we don’t know exactly what that will look like this time. It’s been reported, however, that the iPhone 16’s camera module could be getting a design refresh. Apple might be ditching the square and going with a vertical orientation. This might only apply to the base iPhone 16 and maybe the Plus, as the Pro and Pro Max phones tend to place a much higher emphasis on photos and videos.
Apple
We already know what’s coming on the software side of things, thanks to the recent WWDC event. Based on previous years, iOS 18 should be available within the week following the event. The software update features a more customizable Control Center and Home Screen. It’ll also finally bring RCS support to iPhones.
As for Apple Intelligence, you’ll have to wait a bit. It was announced as part of iOS 18, but it’s been delayed until iOS 18.1. This isn’t a huge deal, as that OS refresh is expected in October, but does mean that early adopters of the iPhone 16 won’t be able to fool around with AI right away.
The new iPhone drop may also spell the end of Apple’s widely panned FineWoven case, which was just introduced last year as an alternative to leather but has been criticized for durability issues. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman recently reported that FineWoven inventory is getting low, suggesting the company is either phasing it out or planning a refresh. One leaker on the Saturday ahead of the event shared a look at an array of iPhone cases in neutral colors, claiming these may be coming out in a new material to replace FineWoven.
Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra 3
Ever since 2016, iPhone events have also included a deep dive on the latest Apple Watch. This year looks to be no different. As a matter of fact, this is a big year for the Apple Watch. We are coming up on the gadget’s tenth birthday, so there are conflicting rumors as to whether the next entry will be called the Apple Watch Series 10 or the Series X.
No matter what it ends up being called, Apple’s next standard smartwatch is reported to have a bigger screen that’s more in line with the Ultra. It’s expected that the company will ditch the 41mm form factor and introduce a 49mm design.
Rumors have also suggested that Apple has completely redesigned the band system and added new connectors. This will likely make these straps easier to adjust, but there’s a downside. This move could make it so all of those old bands no longer work.
Cherlynn Low / Engadget
Of course, there’s going to be a new chip to power these watches, but we don’t have any specifics. It’s been suggested that these chips have been designed to accommodate Apple’s recent foray into AI, but that integration is likely to happen later on. For now, Apple Intelligence will be tethered to iPhone, iPad and Mac.
There are likely to be two watches revealed at the event, which are codenamed N217 and N218. It’s possible one of these will be the Apple Watch Ultra 3, though Mark Gurman at Bloomberg says the high-end smartwatch won’t get a major redesign this time out. It’ll likely be an iterative refresh.
On the software front, it looks like Apple has run into some snags while developing long-anticipated health tracking tools. Health monitoring is one of the key features of the Apple Watch, so the company has been working on new sensors to detect high blood pressure and sleep apnea. However, the tech will likely not be ready for this year’s smartwatch. Apple’s also been developing a glucose sensor for almost a decade so, who knows, maybe it’ll finally show up with the Series X.
Finally, it’s highly possible that Apple announces a new version of the budget-friendly Watch SE. This was last updated in 2022, so a refresh is overdue. There has been some reporting that Apple will be swapping out the aluminum exterior with a rigid plastic shell. This should help get costs down even further. As it stands, the Apple Watch SE is $250, but Samsung’s cheapest wearable is the $200 Galaxy Watch FE. Apple may want to compete closer to that price range.
Two new sets of AirPods
Billy Steele/Engadget
It’s been reported that Apple’s prepping two new variants of its standard earbuds. According to a Bloomberg roundup that was published on September 6, Apple will introduce an entry-level model and a mid-tier version, which would effectively replace AirPods 2 and AirPods 3.
The big news here is that both new AirPods versions are likely to transition to a USB-C case to keep pace with the iPhone and the second-gen AirPods Pro. It’s been suggested that the cheaper of the two forthcoming models would lack wireless charging, but that the mid-tier version would support this technology. This is the same strategy Apple followed with previous generations, so it makes sense. The case for the more expensive AirPods may also include a speaker, which would make it easier to find with Apple’s Find My feature.
Both versions should feature similar designs, though the mid-tier variant is likely to support active noise cancellation like the Pro model. If that’s the case, it’s not really clear what’s left to differentiate those earbuds from the AirPods Pro, but we’ll find out soon enough.
As for the AirPods Max, there will likely be no refresh of Apple’s high-end Pro earbuds at this event. It’s been four whole years since these premium cans hit store shelves (and they’re still stuck using a Lightning port for charging), so a refresh is long overdue. Mark Gurman says they’ll get USB-C and new colors eventually but the timing remains unclear.
One more thing
The iPhone event doesn’t typically have a “one more thing” moment, but there’s one piece of hardware that could get a surprise shout out. It’s been rumored that Apple is preparing a massive redesign of the Mac mini, which would include ditching the USB-A port, according to Gurman. Analysts have suggested that this will be the company’s smallest ever desktop computer and could be around the same size of an Apple TV streaming box.
There will reportedly be two versions of the upcoming Mac Mini, one with the standard M4 chip and another with the more powerful M4 Pro chip. The base model is rumored to start shipping from suppliers this month, so it’s possible Apple will spend a few minutes on the computer at the iPhone event. However, don’t count on it. This is an event for iPhones and smartwatches and a miniaturized desktop could feel out of place. And, just like it did last fall, Apple could easily hold a Mac-specific event later this year.
There’s also a lot of noise online about an upcoming iPad mini refresh. Apple’s smallest iPad hasn’t had an update since 2021, and is currently “considered ‘constrained’ internally,” according to Gurman. While a new model is likely to come soon, it’s not common for Apple to announce iPads during its iPhone event.
Beyond that, a whole bunch of software updates are about to drop. There’s iOS 18, which we’ve written about extensively, and iPadOS 18. As for smartwatches, watchOS 11 is also coming out sometime this fall. Apple already detailed all three operating systems at WWDC, but the upcoming iPhone event would be a good time to announce official release dates.
One… early thing?
Here’s something we know for sure: Apple has a updated Beats Powerbeats Pro update coming next year. Beats teased an update to the earbuds on its Instagram account on September 4 with a short Reel. In the clip, Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani swings a bat while wearing the upcoming earbuds, before a “Powerbeats Pro 2” wordmark and “Coming 2025” flash up on screen.
That’s it — there’s no mention of specs, pricing, or a tighter release window, but we do at least see a tweaked design. You can read senior reporter Billy Steele’s analysis of this glimpse here. Chances are we won’t hear about this new set of buds at the iPhone event, but expect to see them adorning many more athlete and celebrity ears before long.
The Engadget Podcast with special guest Mark Gurman
In preparation for Apple’s September 9 event, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman joined Engadget Podcast hosts Cherlynn Low and Devindra Hardawar to talk all things Apple. The trio talked at length about the latest Apple rumors, including the new camera button for iPhone, tweaks to screen sizes, the new AirPods lineup and what to expect from the latest Apple Watch models. There’s also a little more detail on the future of Apple, from next year’s “super slim” iPhone redesign through to the company’s burgeoning ambitions in home robotics. You can listen to the episode above, and a full transcript is available here.
Update, September 6 2024, 9:30AM ET: This story has been updated multiple times since its original publishing. The updates were as follows, in chronological order:
Added the time and date of the Apple event.
Added some details on the iPad mini being stock-restrained.
Added a recap of the Engadget Podcast with Mark Gurman.
Added a link to 9to5Mac‘s reporting on a new color for the iPhone 16 Pro.
Added a link to Mark Gurman’s reporting on the Mac mini.
Added a section on the surprise announcement of the Powerbeats Pro 2.
Added more details about the two new sets of AirPods.
Samsung, meanwhile, says its lithium ion batteries do best when kept above 50% charge. It advises against running the battery down.
“Repeatedly allowing the battery to drain fully may shorten its life and decrease its overall capacity,” the company says in an online guide. “If this happens, you’ll need to charge the battery more frequently and it may last only a few hours before needing a charge, for example.”
Avoid extreme temperatures
Apple says says that batteries warm up as they charge, which can shorten their lifespan. It warns against using your phone or charging it in very hot temperatures, above 95 degrees (35 Celsius), “which can permanently reduce battery lifespan.”
Samsung also says extreme heat or cold can damage batteries and warns people not to, for example, leave their phones in a car’s glove box when it’s very hot or cold. And don’t put your phone in a freezer either, it’s a myth that it can prolong battery life. “This is not correct and can damage your battery,” Samsung says.
Google, which makes the Android operating system and Pixel phones, says hot batteries drain faster, even when they’re not in use, and that can damage the battery.
Adjust your power options
Tweak your device settings so apps or features use less power, which extends your battery’s daily life and the time between charging cycles.
You can turn down your phone’s screen brightness, turn on the dark theme and reduce the time for the screen to power off. Enable the auto-brightness feature, which adjusts screen brightness according to the level of ambient light. Also check battery usage in your settings to see if there are any power-hungry apps you can switch off or uninstall.
If the power level dips below 10%, iPhone users can turn on low power mode to stretch their battery’s life before it need recharging. Samsung’s Android phones have a similar “power saving mode.” You can also leave it on all the time, but it might affect your phone’s performance.
The newest version of Sonos’ mobile app is still very bad—so bad, the company is considering ditching the newly redesigned version of the app and bringing back the older version. This news, reported by The Verge, comes along with reports that Sonos is also laying off 100 employees. Indeed, not a great time for the swanky speaker company.
Things first went awry for Sonos when it released the new version of its app in May. It was met with almost universal disdain. Users found the new app format made it difficult to connect to a network, queue up songs, or even change the volume. One of the key complaints was that many of the accessibility features in the legacy app were either poorly implemented in the redesign or removed from the platform entirely. Some users say the app is nigh unusable for blind Sonos owners.
Sonos has at least acknowledged its blunder since the bungled rollout, but the company has yet to fix many of the issues at hand. CEO Patrick Spence has said the fiasco may cost the company upwards of $30 million and has led to it delaying two new hardware products.
Hence the potential frantic backtracking to a version of the Sonos app that actually worked. It isn’t clear whether Sonos will actually let users switch to the previous app version or when such a capability will be available. For now, Sonos users will just have to keep slogging through it.
Here’s some other news from the world of consumer tech this week.
BMW Uno
Great news for anybody who loves the card game Uno and also owns a BMW: You can now combine both of those interests without worrying about losing cards beneath the floor mats.
Uno Car Party! will let riders play Uno together in the vehicle, using a combination of their own phones and the display screens on the car’s dashboard. The new feature—coming to the BMW X3 and select Mini models on August 21—is a joint effort of the game company Mattel and the cloud-based game service AirConsole. This is the same partnership that brought the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? quiz game to BMW cabins a couple of years ago.
It’s sure to be good fun, but just know that you can’t play card games while driving down the road, lucky for all the other humans and robots on the road. Save it for ferry rides.
Browser Hell
Descend into Hell via Google Chrome, because Diablo is playable on a web browser now. This capability comes via a fan-made, open-source project called Diabloweb that is available on GitHub. The game includes the 1997 Diablo, along with its expansion, Hellfire. It takes a teensy bit of setup (you need to download the game and run it locally), but before long you’ll be able to hack and slash some demons on just about any browser you choose.
Sure, it’s not quite as impressive as running Doom on a pregnancy test or strain of gut fauna, but being able to smoothly play one of the most renowned video games right there in your browser is still pretty nifty.
Starlunk
Starlink, the satellite internet division of Elon Musk’s SpaceX, plans to start offering direct-to-cell access, which will beam its connectivity to cell phone users in a partnership with mobile provider T-Mobile. Other cell providers like Verizon and AT&T don’t seem to like that development very much.
This week, Starlink’s competitors filed petitions to deny Starlink’s efforts to implement its cell service with the US Federal Communications Commission, which regulates how satellite internet is distributed in the US (and beyond, once the satellites are up there).
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