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2026 could end the annual smartphone upgrade cycle
features
19.555 min22 days ago

2026 could end the annual smartphone upgrade cycle

Android Authority contributor Roydon Cerejo argues that 2026 has delivered some of the dullest smartphone launches, with minor hardware upgrades and higher prices, while six to seven years of OS updates means many users can safely stretch to three-to-five-year upgrade cycles. The piece calls for rethinking the yearly release model to focus on meaningful hardware upgrades and better software at launch, pointing to examples like the Pixel 10a, Motorola Razr 2026, and Samsung Galaxy S26 as evidence that the current cadence is breaking down.

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Foldables aren’t worth buying yet in 2026 — wait for the next wave
features1 month ago

Foldables aren’t worth buying yet in 2026 — wait for the next wave

2026 brings a flood of foldables (Razr Fold, Galaxy Z Fold/Flip 8, and Apple’s folding iPhone Ultra), but the author advises delaying a purchase for a couple of months to ride anticipated discounts and see the new models; expect Razr Fold discounts soon, Galaxy Z Fold/Flip 8 launches around July, and the iPhone Ultra due in September.

Gemini's Neural Expressive: a visually striking redesign that raises Android UI questions
features2 months ago

Gemini's Neural Expressive: a visually striking redesign that raises Android UI questions

Google's Gemini app refresh uses a Neural Expressive design that looks nicer and adds smoother interactions, but the author warns it could slow usability and destabilize Android's UI language due to thinner typography, redesigned prompts/attachments, a bottom account switcher, and other changes that require users to relearn common tasks.

Senior-strength: an 83-year-old trainer’s practical plan for staying strong after 65
features2 months ago

Senior-strength: an 83-year-old trainer’s practical plan for staying strong after 65

An 83-year-old trainer, Harry King, shares a senior-friendly strength routine: begin with a 5–10 minute cardio warm-up, then 45–60 minutes of resistance training (three sets of 12 reps) targeting upper- and lower-body muscles, with workouts on separate days and two rest days before repeating. The program includes six upper-body moves (e.g., chest press, lat pulldown, pec fly, seated row, biceps curl, triceps pushdown) and six lower-body moves (leg press, seated hamstring curl, leg extension, hip adduction, hip abduction, squats), with guidance to adjust weight to hit 12 reps and to vary the routine after 2–3 months for motivation and safety. Always consult a doctor or trainer when starting new exercise, especially in older age.

Steroid Olympics in Las Vegas sparks debate over sports, science, and health
features2 months ago

Steroid Olympics in Las Vegas sparks debate over sports, science, and health

The Verge reports on the inaugural Enhanced Games in Las Vegas, a controversial biohacking-inspired sporting event where athletes competed under medically supervised enhancement protocols and access to performance‑enhancing drugs; while some records and personal bests were achieved, critics – including WADA/USADA – warn about health risks and the lack of generalizable data, even as organizers frame the event as scientific evolution and plan future competitions and a telehealth-based business model.

Ocarina of Time remake wishlist: six features fans want on Switch 2
features4 months ago

Ocarina of Time remake wishlist: six features fans want on Switch 2

A speculative wishlist for a Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake on Switch 2, covering six ideas: a refreshed combat system with flashier sword moves and limited weapon durability, selective voice acting for major cutscenes, a post-game epilogue bridging to Majora’s Mask, a non-Breath of the Wild engine to preserve the game’s feel, a built-in item randomizer for replayability, and a premium collector’s edition. The piece also argues for 60fps, remastered (but switchable) music, deeper characterizations, new side quests, and clarifications on timelines—while noting nothing official has been announced.

Strixhaven Spoilers Spotlight: Top Cards Redefining Multiple Formats
features4 months ago

Strixhaven Spoilers Spotlight: Top Cards Redefining Multiple Formats

MTG Rocks’ Secrets of Strixhaven spoiler roundup highlights standout cards across Standard, Pioneer, and Commander, including Traumatic Critique, The Dawning Archaic, Improvisation Capstone, Planar Engineering, Erode, Witherbloom, Flow State, and others, explaining how they could enable explosive plays, new combos, and price movements as a set that could reshape multiple formats.