The Samsung Galaxy S25 has had a tentative early 2025 launch date for months now, but we might finally have an actual date to look forward to. The Korean site FN News (via Jukanlosreve) claims that Samsung will hold a Galaxy Unpacked event on January 23 next year in San Francisco.
At the first Unpacked event of the year, Samsung is expected to launch the next generation Galaxy S25 series, including the base Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus and the flagship Galaxy S25 Ultra,every phone to run on Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 8 Elite processors.According to FNN, Samsung will also debut the much-rumored Galaxy S25 Slim.
Previous reports suggested that Samsung wouldn't release the Slim until April. However, it's suggested that the Slim might be more of an experiment by Samsung with a launch of limited qualities to see how people respond to the device.
FN News is not a site from which we typically see rumors; however, Jukanlosreve has proven reasonably accurate with leaks.
Take this news with some skepticism, though, as Samsung has not confirmed any dates for its Unpacked event yet.
Samsung confirmed that the Galaxy S25 series would arrive in early 2025 during the Q3 earnings report while also discussing more foldable devices. That report says the S25 "plans to enhance the Galaxy AI experience to drive innovation in everyday life."
At the same time, Samsung is expected to launch its Android 15-based One UI 7 alongside the S25 lineup. Samsung announced in October 2024 that "the new Galaxy" would launch with the UI upgrade. One UI 7 is expected to considerably overhaul Samsung's Android skin. It sounds like Samsung is focusing on software upgrades over hardware ones.
Samsung is aiming to capitalize on the recent success of the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy AI. The S24 remained on Counterpoint Research’s top 10 smartphone sell-through list even over the past three months — a rare feat, considering that’s when the new iPhones released — and several midrange Samsung models also claimed a spot on the list.
Honor announced the Honor Magic 7 and Magic 7 Pro in October in China, both powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. During the launch event, the company confirmed that it would unveil the more advanced Magic 7 RSR Porsche Design in December of this year in China. Today, tipster Digital Chat Station shared a post on Weibo revealing the major specifications of this device.
As per the leak, the Magic 7 RSR Porsche Design will feature a 6.8-inch LTPO display with a quad-curved design. The display will offer a 1.5K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The front camera setup includes a 50-megapixel AON (Always-On) sensor and ToF 3D facial recognition.
The rear camera system boasts an OIS-enabled 50-megapixel OmniVision OV50K main sensor with a 1/1.3-inch variable aperture, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera, and a 200-megapixel 3x periscope telephoto lens with a 1/1.4-inch sensor and OIS support.
The device will operate on Magic OS 9, based on Android 15. It will support fast charging capabilities of 100W and 80W. While the leaker has not specified the battery capacity, it is anticipated that it will utilize the same 5,850mAh battery found in the Magic 7 Pro. Additional features of the Magic 7 RSR Porsche Design will include a single-point ultrasonic fingerprint sensor and an IP68/IP69 rating for water and dust resistance.
The CMIIT certification of the device (PTP-AN20 model number) has revealed that it will support dual satellite connectivity with TianTong (real-time voice calling) and BeiDou (two-way messaging) satellites. The company has already confirmed that the device will be available in two shades, Provence Purple and Agate Gray. It is speculated that the Porsche Design variant will be in two configurations, such as 24GB+512GB and 24GB+1TB.
Apple recently unveiled a new lineup of Macs, all powered by the next-generation M4 chips that deliver enhanced performance and efficiency. These models come equipped with either the M4, M4 Pro, or M4 Max chips. While the M4 powers the base models, the M4 Pro and M4 Max provide additional horsepower and incorporate advanced technologies like Thunderbolt 5, a high-speed data transfer protocol co-developed by Intel and Apple.
This' the first major bandwidth increase since Thunderbolt 3 debuted in 2015.
Thunderbolt 5 represents a significant leap in data transfer capabilities, supporting speeds up to 80 Gbps and up to 120 Gbps with the Bandwidth Boost feature, making it up to thrice as fast as Thunderbolt 4, which peaks at 40 Gbps. This allows for connections to high-resolution (up to 8K) high-refresh-rate monitors using a single USB-C port, though a Thunderbolt 5-compliant data cable is necessary.
Introduced in September 2023, Thunderbolt 5 is now available in Apple’s latest Macs, making them among the first commercial devices to support this technology.
With Thunderbolt 5, a device like the Mac Mini M4 can achieve up to 80 Gbps of bi-directional data transfer, meaning it can send and receive data at that speed simultaneously. This feature is perfect for high-resolution displays and enables rapid transfer of large files, such as 4K and 8K video footage.
A single Thunderbolt 5 port can power up to three 4K monitors at 144Hz or two 8K monitors, while also supporting connectivity to a wide array of accessories like monitors, external GPUs, storage drives, and more through a single connection. However, Apple Silicon currently does not support external graphics, limiting this feature to Intel-powered Thunderbolt 5 PCs.
A major benefit of Thunderbolt 5 is that it utilizes a standard USB-C port. To maximize the potential of Thunderbolt 5, you’ll need a certified Thunderbolt 5 USB-C cable, which is priced slightly higher than a regular USB-C cable.
Thunderbolt 5 is also backwards-compatible with Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 v2, so you can continue using existing accessories, albeit at Thunderbolt 4 speeds of 40 Gbps.
For most users performing everyday tasks like web browsing, document editing, or even photo editing, Thunderbolt 4's 40 Gbps bandwidth remains more than adequate. Even 4K video editing and working with large file sizes works smoothly with Thunderbolt 4 connections, as many professionals will attest. The new Mac mini and base 14-inch MacBook Pro with M4 chip includes Thunderbolt 4 ports that should serve most of these users.
It's worth considering Thunderbolt 5 if you work with 8K video, require multiple high-resolution displays, or regularly transfer extremely large files. The technology will be particularly beneficial if you work with virtual reality, 3D rendering, or high-end video production where every bit of bandwidth matters. However, remember that taking full advantage of Thunderbolt 5 requires compatible peripherals, which are just beginning to enter the market and typically command premium prices.
For most users, the presence of Thunderbolt 5 shouldn't be the deciding factor when choosing between M4 and M4 Pro/Max Macs. The standard M4 models with Thunderbolt 4 will continue to serve the majority of users well, making Thunderbolt 5 a "nice-to-have" rather than a necessity for typical Mac buyers. The technology's true benefits will likely become more apparent as compatible peripherals become more available and affordable over time.
Apple has placed a lot of emphasis on health and fitness features in recent years, particularly visible in the Apple Watch. Now the company seems to want to take the next step by introducing similar health features to the world of headphones. Renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests that Apple could integrate health-related technologies into future AirPods models, and the Powerbeats Pro 2 may be a first indication of this. These headphones could not only set new standards in terms of sound and comfort, but could also be particularly interesting for sports and health.
A key new feature of the Powerbeats Pro 2 is heart rate monitoring. During your workout, you can use these headphones to continuously monitor your heart rate without having to wear additional devices, as MacRumors now reports based on iOS 18 code. The data is recorded directly and can be transferred to your iPhone. In the Health app and other supported fitness apps, you get a central overview of your health data, which allows you to track your training progress precisely. This heart rate monitoring should be of interest to a wide range of users - from competitive athletes who want to accurately measure their performance to people who simply want to track their health and fitness. The advantage here is that the Powerbeats Pro 2 sit firmly in the ear and thus offer a stable and reliable measurement that optimally complements your training.
Based on the iOS 18 code, it is clear that the Powerbeats Pro 2 can be connected to fitness equipment such as treadmills. This means that the headphones automatically exchange data with your fitness equipment during training, giving you a more precise measurement of your heart rate and other relevant training data. This integration into the Apple ecosystem makes it particularly easy to manage all your health data in one place. The connection to fitness equipment extends the functionality of the Powerbeats Pro 2 and can significantly improve your training experience. All data is seamlessly synchronized and stored so that you can access a detailed analysis in the Health app even after training. This is a significant step as it allows you to comprehensively record your training data and track it over the long term.
There has been speculation for some time that the AirPods Pro 3 could also be equipped with heart rate monitoring. However, this function has not yet been implemented. However, the launch of the Powerbeats Pro 2 and its heart rate measurement could mark the start of the development of this technology in the AirPods. Analysts such as Ming-Chi Kuo assume that the third generation of the AirPods Pro - expected to be on the market next year - could also have a health function such as heart rate monitoring integrated. This would be a big step, as the AirPods would then be more than just headphones; they would become a mobile health monitoring tool and could expand the entire user experience in Apple's ecosystem.
Another exciting rumor revolves around the possibility that future AirPods models could also offer body temperature measurement. Temperature measurement via the wrist was already introduced in the Apple Watch Series 8. The AirPods could theoretically also take on such a function, which would open up many new application possibilities, especially in the health and fitness sector. This would mean that the AirPods could not only improve your music enjoyment but also provide you with valuable health data.
Apple has confirmed that the Powerbeats Pro 2 is expected to be launched in 2025. For users, this means that they will need a little patience before the new functions are available in the headphones. However, the delay suggests that Apple is working hard to optimize the technology and ensure that heart rate monitoring and device connection work seamlessly and reliably.
The Powerbeats Pro 2 have the potential to take the use of headphones to a new level by combining sound, comfort and health functions. They are an exciting choice, especially for fitness and health-conscious people, and could become the ideal companion for your workout thanks to heart rate monitoring and integration into the Apple ecosystem. It remains to be seen whether these functions will also find their way into the AirPods. But the development shows that Apple remains innovative and is increasingly oriented towards the needs of users in the health and fitness sector.
China's Baidu Inc, opens new tab unveiled a slew of new applications for its artificial intelligence technology on Tuesday, including an enhanced text-to-image generation technology and a tool that enables users to develop software applications without coding expertise.
The country's leading search engine company is among tech firms shifting their focus to the commercialization of large language model (LLM) applications after nearly two years of heavy investment in research and development in models that they tout as alternatives to OpenAI's GPT.
At the annual Baidu World Conference, CEO Robin Li introduced I-RAG, a text-to-image technology that leverages Baidu's search capabilities to address the "hallucination" issue, referring to the generation of images that deviate from the input text or contain non-existent elements.
These interactions include tasks such as generating text, answering questions, and assisting with various applications utilizing AI.The company integrate the technology into its existing product lineup and offering it to external users via its cloud services.
Baidu also unveiled a pair of glasses featuring a built-in AI assistant, developed by it hardware division, Xiaodu. The device will run on the company's ERNIE generative AI technology and was designed to "become a private assistant".Users will be able to interact with the device using their voice and ask it questions about what it sees in their current environment. They can also tell it to play music and even track their calories consumption. And since the glasses are equipped with cameras, they can ask it to snap photos or take videos.
The company is not aiming to create a "super app" based on AI, Li said, signalling a divergence in strategy from other companies such as ByteDance, which has launched multiple standalone AI apps this year.
Baidu also introduced Miaoda,the no-code platform, will allow users who don’t have coding knowledge to create app prototypes. The company says the platform will use Ernie’s LLM to generate code that can be easily modified and edited.
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