IT General

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge: The ultra-slim smartphone teased at Unpacked

Mashable - Wed, 01/22/2025 - 23:14

Samsung spent the bulk of its Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event this year talking about its brand-new AI features. In fact, it took about 30 minutes into the presentation to get to the new S25 line of smartphones before the company once again pivoted to the new AI features packed into the phone.

However, no matter how hard Samsung tried, the thing everyone is buzzing about from Unpacked isn't AI but a surprise Samsung tucked away at the very end of the event: the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge.

We don't know much about the new ultra-slim smartphone from Samsung officially. Samsung only showed a short teaser video that provided zero information about the Galaxy S25 Edge.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2025 live blog: Galaxy S25 series, AI tools, and more

However, rumors have been spreading about a super slim smartphone from Samsung. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is rumored to be only 6.4mm thick. That's really thin. It would be the thinnest Galaxy smartphone so far.

It's unclear if there are any differences between the S25 Edge and the other S25 models' capabilities that can be attributed to the S25 Edge's thinness. Being that it is part of the S25 series, we assume it'll be able to handle all the AI capabilities that the rest of the line was built for.

SEE ALSO: Samsung briefly teased XR headset 'Project Moohan' at Galaxy Unpacked

While the newly announced Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra models are all open for pre-order starting today and have a Feb. 7 release, the S25 Edge has no such launch date slated. The word is that Samsung is aiming for a release later this year for the S25 Edge, possibly in May 2025.

The only thing we can confirm from Samsung directly is what they showed in that short teaser video at the end of Unpacked. And the message we got from that is that the S25 Edge is indeed svelte.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Resources for people worried about Trumps anti-LGBTQ executive orders

Mashable - Wed, 01/22/2025 - 23:11

On his first day in office, President Donald Trump issued executive orders that transgender rights activists described as "hateful."

Invoking biological definitions of sex that are contested, one order effectively argues that "trans-ness is not real," and directs federal agencies to change their policies accordingly, said Chase Strangio, co-director of the ACLU’s LGBTQ & HIV Project, in a media briefing Tuesday.

He noted that the State Department, which issues passports, had already removed existing directions for how to update one's sex designation on a passport. During the Biden administration, the department began issuing passports with an X gender marker, and did not require applicants to submit medical certification to change their gender marker on the document. (A Trump administration spokesperson told The Washington Blade that current passports with an X marker would not be invalidated.)

SEE ALSO: All LGBTQ pages already deleted from White House website

Strangio said other real world implications of the order would become clear once federal agencies enacted new policies. Advocates are concerned that the order could be fear-reaching, and potentially devastating, affecting access to health care, protection from discrimination, and safety in school environments, among other things.

Additionally, Trump rescinded two executive orders, both signed by President Biden, that lifted the ban on transgender service members, and attempted to address discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex individuals.

"We see these executive orders for what they are—an attempt by hateful extremists to make it impossible for us to participate in public life," Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, executive director of Advocates for Trans Equality, said in a statement.

Heng-Lehtinen said that many of Trump's executive orders cannot go into effect immediately, and that the organization would closely monitor their implementation.

"We will use every resource at our disposal, from Capitol Hill to the courts, to hold the line against these attacks," Heng-Lehtinen said.

The ACLU and Lambda Legal also plan to mount legal challenges to Trump administration policies that implement the orders.

For transgender people worried about what happens next, Advocates for Trans Equality and GLAAD shared with Mashable a list of resources they can consult:

Legal Guides
  • Trans Legal Survival Guide, published by Advocates for Trans Equality. This 17-page report provides guidance on how to conduct a "legal checkup" for readers. Though it is not legal advice, it offers tips on planning for health care decisions, updating legal identification and documentation, and finding legal help.

  • Protecting Your LGBTQ+ Marriage and Family, published by COLAGE, Family Equality, GLAD Law, Movement Advancement Project, and the National Center for Lesbian Rights, this resource guide provides information about existing legal protections for LGBTQ+ families.

  • Keeping LGBTQ Families Safe: Recommendations and Best Practices, published by GLAAD. These "commonsense" tips are aimed at helping LGBTQ families and people can ensure that their "identities, families, and wishes are legally clear and respected."

Crisis Lines
Categories: IT General, Technology

Galaxy S25 vs. Galaxy S24: Samsung Could Have Done Better

How-To Geek - Wed, 01/22/2025 - 23:07

The all-new Samsung Galaxy S25 comes with a deeper Galaxy AI integration and a more powerful chipset than its predecessor. However, does it offer enough upside for Galaxy S24 to upgrade? Let's find out.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Samsungs new Galaxy S25 smartphones come with free gift cards worth up to $200 at Amazon and Best Buy

Mashable - Wed, 01/22/2025 - 22:55

PREORDER BONUS ALERT: As of Jan. 22, shoppers who preorder an unlocked Samsung Galaxy S25 series smartphone from Amazon or Best Buy (starting at $799.99) will receive a free gift card worth $50 to $200, depending on the model.

Quick links: Amazon Samsung Galaxy S25 (128GB) $799.99 + free $100 Amazon gift card Pre-Order Here Amazon Samsung Galaxy S25+ (256GB) $999.99 + free $100 Amazon gift card Pre-Order Here Amazon Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (256GB) $1,299.99 + free $200 Amazon gift card Pre-Order Here Best Buy Samsung Galaxy S25 (128GB) $799.99 + free $50 Best Buy gift card and 1-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership Pre-Order Here Best Buy Samsung Galaxy S25+ (256GB) $999.99 + free $100 Best Buy gift card and 1-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership Pre-Order Here Best Buy Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (256GB) $1,299.99 + free $200 Best Buy gift card and 1-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership Pre-Order Here

Almost as soon as Samsung announced them during its Galaxy Unpacked livestream, the new Galaxy S25 series smartphones went up for preorder on Wednesday (Jan. 22). Several major phone carriers are giving them away for cheap or free, provided you trade in an older phone and/or sign up for a new line first. But for shoppers who prefer an unlocked device with no strings attached, two retailers are offering hefty preorder bonuses in the form of free gift cards.

Reserve an unlocked Galaxy S25, S25+, or S25 Ultra through Amazon or Best Buy ahead of the series' formal launch on Feb. 7, and you'll receive a gift card worth up to $200 that you can put toward a future purchase there. (A phone case, perhaps: Best Buy has select Galaxy S25 cases on sale for half off.) Best Buy's offer further includes a free one-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership worth $19.99, for those who want to give mobile gaming a shot.

SEE ALSO: Every Samsung Galaxy Unpacked announcement, including S25 phones

If you're planning on buying the 1TB configuration of the Galaxy S25 Ultra, though, reserve it directly through Samsung's website instead: It was randomly on sale for $240 off there at the time of writing.

Starting at $799.99, $999.99, and $1,299.99, respectively, the Galaxy S25, S25+, or S25 Ultra are priced the same as their Galaxy S24 series counterparts from early 2024. That's not the only thing they have in common with their predecessors: Their storage configurations, batteries, displays, and camera setups are mostly identical, save for a couple small tweaks in the higher-end S25+ and S25 Ultra variants. (Both have new "ProScaler" display technology for a bump in image quality, for example, while the latter has a new 50MP ultrawide camera sensor and a Corning Gorilla Armor 2 screen.)

Anyone coming from a Galaxy S24 phone (or even a Galaxy S23 model) is mainly getting more RAM, a new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor that's probably faster, and a slew of new agentic AI software features. That's our initial take on the Galaxy S25 series, at least — keep an eye out for Mashable's forthcoming reviews of all three phones.

The 6.2-inch Galaxy S25 and the 6.7-inch Galaxy S25+ both come in navy, mint, icy blue, and silver shadow finishes, while the 6.9-inch Galaxy Ultra is available in titanium black, titanium blue, titanium gray, and titanium silver.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Adobe Premiere Pro Can Now Find Your Clips With Text Searches

How-To Geek - Wed, 01/22/2025 - 22:30

Adobe is bringing new features to its Premiere Pro video editor, including caption translations and the ability to search videos by describing them.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This Free Mac App Checks Your Apps for Updates

How-To Geek - Wed, 01/22/2025 - 22:30

Some of the best Mac apps serve a single purpose. Latest is another tiny app you should install that can check for and apply outstanding updates.

Categories: IT General, Technology

YouTube Premium Is Getting a Bunch of New Features

How-To Geek - Wed, 01/22/2025 - 22:27

YouTube Premium is adding more features and benefits for its paid subscribers. One big one is finally being able to watch YouTube Shorts in picture-in-picture mode.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Winter storm warnings: How to see online if more snow is heading your way

Mashable - Wed, 01/22/2025 - 22:08

A massive winter storm is blanketing large swaths of the Southern U.S. in snow and ice, leaving millions eager to track its path and prepare for what’s ahead. With warnings stretching across multiple states, from Florida to Texas, keeping tabs on the storm’s movement has become essential.

SEE ALSO: Florida snow looks otherworldly. See the wildest photos on social media from the winter storm How to see online if more snow is heading your way

Tools like the National Weather Service’s interactive snow maps and Windy.com’s real-time rain and snow tracking feature make it easy to see if more snow is in the forecast.

These platforms offer essential information, from snowfall predictions to wind patterns, helping residents stay informed and ready.

The National Weather Service offers detailed storm data, including state-specific warnings and localized snowfall totals, through its website and mobile app. Meanwhile, Windy.com provides an intuitive weather map that overlays rain, snow, and wind conditions for a comprehensive view of the storm’s impact.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2025 live blog: Galaxy S25 series, AI tools, and more

Mashable - Wed, 01/22/2025 - 22:06

Just when you thought you could catch your breath after CES 2025, Samsung is gearing up for a major tech reveal at today's Galaxy Unpacked 2025.

For its first Galaxy Unpacked event of the year, Samsung will unveil a first look at its new flagship mobile devices and a host of new AI features.

Of course, the highlight of the event will be the debut of the Galaxy S25 series. Expect a trio of smartphones: the Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra. While the design will likely stay familiar with rounded edges, the biggest upgrades are under the hood.

The S25 Ultra is rumored to get a slight makeover, with a larger 6.9-inch display and an upgraded 50MP ultra-wide camera. Perhaps the most exciting change is what's powering these devices: Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, built for generative AI.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy AI features leak ahead of Unpacked 2025

This means we could see some major AI-powered features that Samsung has yet to reveal.

Along with the new hardware, Samsung will likely officially unveil One UI 7 at Galaxy Unpacked. Already in beta, this updated version of Samsung's custom Android interface promises a more intuitive experience, with a tweaked notification system and a host of AI improvements. Samsung is hailing One UI 7 as the "first integrated AI platform," and with the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, expect to see new AI-powered capabilities that could really set the S25 series apart.

Following the trend of agentic AI, rumors even point to a Samsung "AI agent" that will offer personalized recommendations across a range of categories, from fashion to transportation.

Featured Video For You Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2025: Everything announced in 10 minutes
Categories: IT General, Technology

6 Useful Alexa Routines That Put Echo Sound Detection to Good Use

How-To Geek - Wed, 01/22/2025 - 22:00

Amazon Echo devices listen for your voice, but they can also recognize other sounds, too. Using Alexa's sound detection skills, you can create some useful routines that will trigger when specific noises are detected in your home.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Office of Gun Violence Prevention website goes dark under Trump

Mashable - Wed, 01/22/2025 - 21:59

In the first 28 hours of Trump's second term, the president rescinded the climate conscious Green New Deal, shut down the vital CBP One app used by undocumented migrants, accidentally declared that all Americans are female, and removed all LGBTQ-related content and pages from the White House website.

Representatives and advocates have pointed out another major casualty in Trump's executive-order driven, DOGE-led streamlining: The Office of Gun Violence Prevention.

The inter-agency office's website — which now displays a 404 error — was quietly pulled on Jan. 21, shortly after the new president finished signing a long list of executive orders repealing Biden administration declarations. The office was established by Biden in 2023, under the landmark Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, and overseen by former Vice President Kamala Harris.

SEE ALSO: The Stargate Project: Trump and OpenAI announce $500 billion AI venture

"We fought for years to make this office a reality and lives were saved because of it," wrote Democratic Florida congressman (and resident Gen Z member) Maxwell Frost. "Stay tuned because we’re not giving up on this. Trump might be okay with dissolving a life-saving office but the people aren’t."

Many online ironically referenced the office's apparent shuttering in light of the nation's most recent mass shooting, in which at least one student was killed at Antioch High School in Nashville, Tennessee on the morning of Jan. 22. In response to the outrage, others argued the office's mandates could be subsumed under the Department of Justice, part of its previous mandate.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

National gun violence prevention organizations also cried out against the website's demise. Brady, formerly known as Brady United and the the nation’s oldest gun violence prevention organization, issued a statement articulating the potential impact of losing the office and its mandates. "While gun violence in the U.S. surged under President Trump’s first term, the creation of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention led a cross-agency public health approach to preventing gun violence," the organization wrote. "This contributed to a significant drop in the proliferation of unserialized and untraceable ghost guns, the largest-ever decrease in the homicide rate, and historic funding for Community Violence Intervention (CVI) programs."

Brady president Kris Brown wrote: "The White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention wasn’t about politics – it was about strengthening the government’s ability to protect Americans (more than 300 of whom are shot every single day) from guns. By shuttering it, Trump is putting the interests of the gun lobby above our kids, our communities, and our country. Trump can claim he will 'make America safe again.' But these words are empty without action on guns. Trump’s decision today – coupled with the release of gun-wielding domestic terrorists back on our streets – will make all of us less safe."

Tweet may have been deleted

Taking to X, youth-led gun violence prevention organization March For Our Lives added: "This is what happens when you abandon progress. People will die."

Categories: IT General, Technology

Every Samsung Galaxy Unpacked announcement, including S25 phones

Mashable - Wed, 01/22/2025 - 21:55

Alright, Samsung fans. Strap on in because this year's Samsung Galaxy Unpacked was a ride.

Samsung delivered at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2025, with a multitude of big announcements. Of course, there were the mobile announcements regarding the next generation Galaxy S25 line of smartphones – but we also saw AI take the spotlight and even some surprises. 

Here's everything you need to know about this year's Samsung Galaxy Unpacked.

Samsung Galaxy S25 series

Say "hello" to the Samsung Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25+, and Galaxy S25 Ultra. 

The new Galaxy S25 line was officially launched at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked today. However, it took Samsung a long time to get to the main event. Unlike previous events where the latest smartphones kicked things off, it took 30 minutes for Samsung to start talking about the S25 and a whole hour to eventually even show off the S25 line. 

SEE ALSO: Where to preorder Samsung's new Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra smartphones

Anyway, the new phones are officially available for pre-order and will be on the market in just a few short weeks on February 7.

The biggest upgrade on these new Galaxy smartphones? That's easy. It's the Qualcomm Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chip that powers the S25 line. This chipset was designed to handle intense processes required by Samsung's newest and latest AI features. It'll also be a boon for gamers looking for a smooth mobile gaming experience. According to Samsung, the S25 line will receive a 40 percent NPU boost when compared to its predecessor.

Samsung also highlighted its ProScaler display technology found in the S25 line which reduces noise and enhances images and videos on the screen.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy S25 vs S24: Comparing price, specs and features

After its chipset, the next biggest S25 series upgrade is likely its camera capabilities. The S25 models have an upgraded 50MP ultrawide camera sensor, which is a leap above the 12MP ultrawide camera found in its predecessor. The line also features Galaxy's next-generation ProVisual Engine for superior camera range and control as well as a new virtual aperture. 

Samsung also announced log video shooting, the ability to create photo filters based on the color profile of existing photos, and an AI-powered noise detection feature to provide automatic audio corrections to video shot on the phone.

One UI 7

While it's been in beta for a bit, Samsung has now given its custom interface built on Android an official release.

"Our most personalized interface" is how Samsung described it.

And the big draw for One UI 7? All the AI features packed into it such as AI agents.

Galaxy AI

AI might steal the headlines out of Samsung Unpacked. And Samsung certainly made sure of it.

Surprisingly, Samsung began Unpacked with its AI announcements, bumping the usual smartphones announcement back to much later in the show.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy AI adds agentic features. What it will do for you.

AI agents with multimodal capabilities played a leading role in Samsung's AI announcements. These AI agents enable its new Galaxy S25 line to interpret text, speech, images and videos for wholly immersive interaction.

Samsung kicked things off by talking about its AI integrated platform and showcased its partnership with Google in integrating its AI model Gemini to provide AI agent features. Google showcased screen sharing and live video sharing capabilities with Google Gemini, allowing users to talk with AI agents regarding the content in screenshots and livestreams.

Thanks to Google Gemini integrations, users can have live conversations about specific photos, videos, websites, and more with AI. Samsung showed off an example of Google Gemini giving photography advice based on a photo that the user took.

Google Gemini will be accessible with the touch of a button on the S25 line. Gemini will also be able to connect with Samsung apps like calendar and clock.

Speaking of Google, Samsung also demonstrated new Circle to Search capabilities like how it can now automatically identify phone numbers, web addresses, music being played, and more.

Samsung also shared that generative AI works like AI-generated photos will be watermarked and its metadata will signal that the piece was created by AI.

Galaxy AI: Personal Data Engine

Probably the biggest AI-related feature is the Personal Data Engine that enables personalized AI services that live locally on device and not in the cloud. Samsung came back to this multiple times and cited it as powering many of its new AI features.

For example, Samsung debuted Now Brief, a personalized AI-powered lock screen page with notifications, news, and reminders for the day ahead. The Now Bar located at the bottom of the screen provides real-time updates throughout the day. Galaxy AI is able to do this thanks to the personal data engine, which allows Samsung to tailor features for the individual user while still keeping their data private and secure.

These capabilities also allow Galaxy AI to automatically provide AI tools based on what the user is doing on screen. For example, by just writing a text, a user's S25 will automatically open AI writing tool options without the user having to do anything.

In addition, Samsung highlighted other new AI features such as Galaxy AI's ability to provide transcripts and summaries for phone calls live in real-time on the call screen.

Samsung also showcased a feature where a user can search for a specific photo by just talking to their phone and describing the content of the picture.

The company provided updates for its health and connected home capabilities as well, showing how the personal data engine can provide personalized insights and recommendations.

Surprises Unpacked

There were two surprises at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked this year.

SEE ALSO: Samsung briefly teased XR headset 'Project Moohan' at Galaxy Unpacked

The company teased an Android XR based headset, including a photo of the device, and ended the show with a brief clip of its upcoming ultra-slim Galaxy S25 Edge.

The company kept both devices shrouded in mystery and didn't mention either specifically beyond what was shown on screen.

However, there are rumblings online regarding the S25 Edge. Samsung provided zero details about the phone besides its thinness but recent leaks suggest that the S25 Edge could be released in the U.S. later this year, possibly in May 2025.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Samsung briefly teased XR headset Project Moohan at Galaxy Unpacked

Mashable - Wed, 01/22/2025 - 21:41

The rumors are true. Samsung did have a few surprises in store at its Galaxy Unpacked 2025 event – and one of those surprises was its "Project Moohan" XR headset.

However, the surprise was nothing more than a brief mention of a XR headset and a teaser photo, which I guess is better than nothing at all!

Codenamed Project Moohan, Samsung's XR headset is a joint venture between Samsung, Google, and Qualcomm and it signals Samsung's intent to get into the currently booming immersive 3-D content business.

SEE ALSO: Where to preorder Samsung's new Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra smartphones

Samsung's XR headset hasn't really been much of a secret in the industry as the companies have been demoing the device. However, this appears to be the first time the company has publicly acknowledged its existence to consumers.

When Mashable covered CES earlier this year, AR/VR glasses and headsets were everywhere. We tried out hardware from big names like Sony to a multitude of known and upcoming AR/VR startups in the space. The industry is definitely having a moment right now.

Samsung's XR headset is reportedly powered by an upgraded Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 chipset – the chip that's currently found in Meta's Quest 3, which makes Samsung's offering more powerful than arguably the most popular headset currently on the market.

Project Moohan is built on Google's Android XR operating system, which should further Apple and Google's ongoing mobile device feud among consumers that pit iOS and Android smartphones against each other. Samsung's XR headset is clearly the company's answer to the Apple Vision Pro, which has struggled after a highly-anticipated launch.

Samsung didn't mention any product names, but that XR headset said to be codenamed "Project Moohan" officially made its debut at Samsung Unpacked. Mashable will continue to monitor news regarding specs, pricing, and possible pre-order and launch dates.

Featured Video For You Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2025: Everything announced in 10 minutes
Categories: IT General, Technology

Samsung Galaxy AI adds agentic features. What it will do for you.

Mashable - Wed, 01/22/2025 - 21:35

Samsung is charging ahead with its plan to pack AI into every nook and cranny of its devices.

At Samsung Galaxy Unpacked on Wednesday, the tech giant unveiled a slew of AI-powered features for its Galaxy S25 lineup that are both user-facing and operate behind the scenes to automate various tasks. Notably, this includes a step further into agentic AI with features that can perform actions on the users behalf.

The Galaxy S25 series weaves AI into practically every function

Underpinning the Galaxy S25 series as what Samsung describes as a "true AI companion," is the One UI 7 operating system. In partnership with Google, the Galaxy S25 series uses the Gemini AI model to provide contextual awareness and personalized actions based on a user's behavior and data.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2025 live blog: Galaxy S25 series, AI tools, and more

New features include customizable multimodal agents, the ability to activate Gemini with the side button, on-screen awareness, Google Circle to Search, and natural language search. That's on top of pre-existing AI features introduced with the S24 series, like writing and summarization tools, live translation and transcription, and Circle to Search.

Via Giphy Samsung and Google deepen partnership for agentic AI capabilities

Samsung kicked off the event by touting its Google partnership which integrates the Gemini AI model with Samsung Galaxy devices. Based on Google's Project Astra which develops agentic AI, the new S25 lineup showcases Gemini's reasoning capabilities with screensharing and live video streaming, which enables the device to understand what's on your screen, like whether dough has been kneaded enough or shopping for the right pants size.

With Gemini Live, users can share images, files, and videos with the AI assistant and have a conversation in real-time for things like troubleshooting or asking specific questions about whats on the screen.

The event also showed off the side button to invoke Gemini, which brings up a way to interact with the model and recommended next actions to take.

Featured Video For You Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2025: Everything announced in 10 minutes SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy S25 announced: Price, release date, and upgrades for each model Galaxy AI agents working on your behalf

Users can also check in realtime updates with the Now Brief, and AI-powered report, throughout the day, which compiles information from third-party apps and can be customized with suggestions accessible in the Now Bar. Kind of like Apple's Live Activities for iPhone, but with more AI features.

Google's Circle to Search capabilities on the S25 series are getting an upgrade by being able to recognize phone numbers, email, and URLs on the screen "letting you call, email or visit a website with a single tap," according to the announcement.

Speaking of searching, with the S25 series, Samsung also introduced something called AI Select, which makes suggestions based on highlighted information like adding a calendar event for a friend's birthday party from an invitation that was texted to the user. Generative edit can suggest and execute ways to summarize, proofread, and generate images based on what's on your screen.

Galaxy AI's multitasking and proactive suggestions is made possible Gemini's ability to work across apps. Gemini works with Samsung Calendar, Notes, Reminder, and Clock and third-party apps to perform tasks for the user without having to switch between apps.

The S25 series has improved searching for image, documents, etc. on the device by understanding natural language. For example you can find recent pictures of a wedding you attending by saying, "show me pictures of wedding in Pittsburgh," or finding a picture of your beloved dog getting a bath.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Where to preorder Samsungs new Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra smartphones

Mashable - Wed, 01/22/2025 - 21:19
Everywhere you can preorder the Samsung Galaxy S25 series: Amazon Samsung Galaxy S25 series Starting at $799.99 (Get a free Amazon gift card worth $100 to $200) Pre-Order Here Best Buy Samsung Galaxy S25 series Starting at $799.99 (Get a free Best Buy gift card worth $50 to $200 and a free 1-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership) Pre-Order Here Samsung.com Samsung Galaxy S25 series Starting at $799.99 (Get a free Samsung.com credit worth $50 to $100) Pre-Order Here AT&T Samsung Galaxy S25 series Starting at $799.99 (Or free with eligible trade-in and new line or line upgrade) Pre-Order Here T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S25 series Starting at $799.99 (Get up to $1,000 off with new line and/or trade-in) Pre-Order Here Verizon Samsung Galaxy S25 series Starting at $799.99 (Get up to $1,000 off with a trade-in and new line) Pre-Order Here

Samsung's new AI-forward flagship smartphones are on deck.

The South Korean tech giant unveiled the Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra during its Galaxy Unpacked livestream on Wednesday, Jan. 22, showcasing their sweeping integration of AI features but otherwise minimal spec upgrades. Set for release on Friday, Feb. 7, the Galaxy S25 series is now available for preorder at major retailers and phone carriers starting from $799.99, $999.99, and $1,299.99, respectively, or the same prices as their predecessors. Note that Amazon and Best Buy are giving preorderers free gift cards worth up to $200.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2025 live blog: Galaxy S25 series, AI tools, and more

All three phones in the Galaxy S25 series will run on One UI 7, an all-new version of Samsung's Android operating system that brings a redesigned interface and support for agentic (e.g. autonomous) AI capabilities. A company press release says One UI 7 will make the Galaxy S25 series "a true AI companion," adding that it will roll out "gradually" on other Galaxy devices.

The Galaxy S25 series is powered by a custom new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor, which supposedly translates to a significant performance boost in CPU, GPU, and NPU tasks compared to the high-end Galaxy S24 Ultra from last year. (Our near-future testing will confirm this.) Samsung said it also makes the phones capable of more on-device AI processing, making them less reliant on the cloud for "AI experiences" — i.e., faster and more secure. They have a tweaked heat dissipation structure that should keep them running cool amid these intense workloads.

Featured Video For You Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2025: Everything announced in 10 minutes Samsung Galaxy S25: Specs and pricing Credit: Alex Perry / Mashable

The Galaxy S25 is the series' base model, and design-wise, it's slightly thinner and lighter than the previous-generation Galaxy S24. It also features more memory: Samsung's upped it from 8GB to 12GB of RAM. Otherwise, its specs are quite similar to those of its predecessor. It features the same 6.2-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, the same 4,000mAh battery, and the same storage options (128GB or 256GB). It also has the same stacked rear camera setup with a 50MP wide lens, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a 10MP telephoto lens — though the Galaxy S25 supports new AI-powered photo and video features like a Virtual Aperture tool and 10-bit HDR recording by default.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy S25 vs S24: Comparing price, specs and features

As Mashable's Alex Perry writes, the Galaxy S25's software, not hardware, will probably be the deciding factor in most people's "upgrade from the S24" debate.

The Galaxy S25 is available at Amazon, Best Buy, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon in new navy, mint, icyblue, and silver shadow finishes. Samsung's online storefront carries additional blueblack, coralred, and pinkgold variants.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy S25 (128GB) $799.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, Samsung, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon
Pre-Order Here Samsung Galaxy S25+: Specs and pricing Credit: Alex Perry / Mashable

The Galaxy S25+ improves upon the base model with a slightly larger and nicer 6.7-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display featuring new "ProScaler" technology, which delivers a 40 percent improvement in image quality compared to the Galaxy S24 series (so Samsung claims). The Galaxy S25+ also has a bigger 4900mAh battery.

That battery is a holdover from last year's Galaxy S24+, as are your configurables: The Galaxy S25+ still has 12GB of RAM with either 256GB or 512GB of storage. It's a hair thinner and a few grams lighter than its predecessor, but otherwise looks identical. Again, the new AI-integrated OS and processor are supposed to be the stars of the show here.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy AI adds agentic features. What it will do for you.

The Galaxy S25+ comes in the same hues as the Galaxy S25, including the same Samsung exclusives. It starts at $999.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, Samsung, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy S25+ (256GB) $999.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, Samsung, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon
Pre-Order Here Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Specs and pricing Credit: Alex Perry / Mashable

Samsung reserved most of its exciting hardware tweaks for the premium Galaxy S25 Ultra, which has a 6.9-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display (with ProScaler support). Its slimmer, lighter frame has newly rounded edges for a cleaner look and a screen made from Corning Gorilla Armor 2, which the company describes as a "first-of-its-kind material that is more durable than glass." On the back, there's a new 50MP ultrawide camera sensor — up from a mere 12MP in the previous generation. It joins a 200MP wide lens and 10MP and 50MP telephoto lenses, which made appearances on the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max: Which one should you buy?

Under its hood, the Galaxy S25 Ultra also packs the same 5000mAh battery, 12GB of memory, and storage options as its predecessor: 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB. It still comes with an embedded S Pen.

Shoppers can choose from several new colorways, including titan black, titan gray, titan whitesilver, and titan silverblue, plus the Samsung-exclusive titanium pinkgold, titanium jetblack, and titanium jadegreen. The Galaxy S25 Ultra starts at $1,299.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, Samsung, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (256GB) $1,299.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, Samsung, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon
Pre-Order Here
Categories: IT General, Technology

Xbox Has a Laggy Media Streaming Problem, but Microsoft Is Working On It

How-To Geek - Wed, 01/22/2025 - 21:17

Xbox is looking into some reports of media apps slowing down after they've been used for a long time. A few users are experiencing this problem, which shows up as slow performance in apps after they've been streaming or watching media for a while.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Celtic vs. Young Boys online for free

Mashable - Wed, 01/22/2025 - 21:03

TL;DR: Live stream Celtic vs. Young Boys in the Champions League for free on RTÉ Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Champions League has been tough going for Young Boys. The Swiss team sit at the bottom of the standings with zero points from six games. Celtic have fared much better, and still have a strong chance of making the knockout rounds of the competition.

If you want to watch Celtic vs. Young Boys in the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Celtic vs. Young Boys?

Celtic vs. Young Boys in the Champions League kicks off at 8 p.m. GMT on Jan. 22. This fixture takes place at Celtic Park.

How to watch Celtic vs. Young Boys for free

Celtic vs. Young Boys is available to live stream for free on RTÉ Player in Ireland.

If you're abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to unblock RTÉ Player. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Champions League from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Celtic vs. Young Boys on RTÉ Player by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Ireland

  4. Sign in to RTÉ Player

  5. Watch Celtic vs. Young Boys for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Celtic vs. Young Boys (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for RTÉ Player?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on RTÉ Player, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including Ireland

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Celtic vs. Young Boys in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

4 Ways to Check If a Game Will Run on Linux

How-To Geek - Wed, 01/22/2025 - 20:30

One of the most complicated aspects of Linux gaming is the question of compatibility. If you want to find out whether your favorite games will run on Linux, here are some resources that can provide an easy answer.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Android announces new hearing aid and screenreader connectivity for Galaxy and Pixel

Mashable - Wed, 01/22/2025 - 20:28

Android users who use assistive devices can anticipate in a new era of connection and control, right on their phone.

New to the Samsung Galaxy S25 and harnessing its wireless audio LE Audio tech, Android will be adding next generation Bluetooth connectivity compatible with GN Hearing and Oticon Intent hearing aid devices. According to the company, this enables users of such devices to more efficiently access controls like hands-free calling, settings presets, and lower latency Bluetooth connections.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2025 live blog: Galaxy S25 series, AI tools, and more

Bluetooth LE Audio technology is a relatively new standard in hearing aid tech, with lower latency connection significantly reducing the delay between sources of audio and the hearing aid itself.

The update was announced as part of Samsung's annual Unpacked event, and will also be available to Google Pixel 9 users who opt-in to the Android 16 beta. It will be added to the Galaxy S24 with Android 15 in the coming weeks, according to the company.

Credit: Google / Samsung

Android will also introduce new updates to TalkBack, its on-device screen reader for users who are blind or low vision. Samsung Galaxy S25 users will have first access to new HID connection options for external braille displays, for example, which will come to all Android 15 devices in coming months. In addition to connectivity updates, Android will also incorporate Google's Gemini models to enhance accessible image descriptions on Galaxy S25 devices.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Acer Just Revealed a $329 Chromebook Tablet

How-To Geek - Wed, 01/22/2025 - 20:13

Acer has announced the Acer Chromebook Tab 311. This is a tablet aimed at schools and designed for educational use, and it seems like a solid choice for anyone needing a ChromeOS tablet, as long as performance isn't the most important thing.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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