We have only a few months until September which has been officially booked by Apple to launch its iconic products, led by the iPhone lineup. I think if you are even a little bit interested in technology, you must already notice the buzz all over the internet and social media, filled with people’s predictions, guesses, early “confirmations” about Apple plans and leaks, a lot of leaks, from software updates to hardware wireframes. Yes, we love Apple but does it really love us back with such determination?

Okay, the figurative speech aside, there is a big group of people who don’t feel satisfied with what Apple does. Don’t get this wrong, they are still ready to pay more than a thousand dollars for a new iPhone, but the innovation they expect is coming very slowly, at least compared to Samsung, Apple’s biggest rival, which has already introduced its AI capabilities.

It’s important to consider the truth that Apple is not trying to impress with innovations but with safe and intuitive products, which require time to implement and then only pass to the customer. Meanwhile, someone is sitting in front of their Macbook and trying to play the latest game but gets more and more convinced that other PCs may perform way too well, for instance. So, let’s start with this part.

Let’s be real – Apple products excel in many areas, but hardcore gaming performance just isn’t one of their strong suits. I’m an Apple super-fan who loves their signature premium design and intuitive user experiences. But when it comes to running demanding game titles, even Apple’s top-tier hardware gets outpaced by custom gaming PCs.

If you wonder about the difference between Mac Vs. Windows gaming experiences, just look at the experience of playing a graphically intense open-world game like Cyberpunk 2077 on a maxed-out M1 Max MacBook Pro versus a high-end gaming device. While the $3,499 MacBook can handle the game at lower settings around 30 fps, a similarly priced $3,000 PC with an RTX 4090 GPU pumps out over 100 fps at ultra settings with raytracing enabled. You’re talking about the difference between choppy, compromised visuals and a completely immersive experience.

The reason is simple – gaming PCs are purpose-built systems optimized for these 3D workloads. They pack powerful discrete GPUs like Nvidia’s latest 40-series cards with up to 24GB of video memory, liquid cooling setups to sustain peak performance, and ultra-fast M.2 NVMe SSD storage to minimize load times. Apple’s all-in-one designs with integrated graphics simply can’t match that level of raw power.

I’m utterly obsessed with the Apple ecosystem, but there’s no denying Spotify’s streaming service seems to consistently out-innovate the music discovery experience versus Apple Music. While Apple has drastically improved their offering, Spotify’s cutting-edge data science and recommendation engines give them a decided advantage.

Take Spotify’s advanced ‘Audio AI’ features like their AI DJ or the all-new ‘AI Utterance’ voice models. These use machine learning to analyze your listening patterns, demographics, and taste profiles to craft incredibly personalized DJ commentary and seamless playlist transitions tailored just for you. It’s like having a knowledgeable music expert as your private curator.

By comparison, Apple Music’s recommendations still feel more rudimentary and standardized. Their approaches like grouping playlists by moods or genres just doesn’t achieve that hyper-personalized user experience Spotify nails so well.

The user numbers underline Spotify’s dominance too. As of Q3 2023, Spotify boasts over 236 million paying subscribers globally versus Apple Music’s estimated 93 million (as of 2024). That incredible scale means Spotify can ingest vastly more listening data to train their AI models. Industry data indicates Spotify tracks over 79 billion monthly plays across its platform versus Apple’s 35 billion.

So while both are excellent services, for music superfans craving that next-gen AI-curated experience, Spotify’s aggressive emphasis on personalization AI gives them the decided edge – at least for now.

We all saw that splashy Meta keynote video where Mark Zuckerberg threw unmistakable shade at Apple’s upcoming Vision Pro mixed reality headset. Calling the $3,499 device “expensive” while claiming Meta’s $1,499 Quest Pro offers a superior extended reality (XR) experience, Zuck was clearly attempting to get out in front of Apple’s invasion into his virtual territory.

In reality, both the Vision Pro and Quest Pro represent enormously expensive bets on an as-yet-unproven consumer XR market. While Meta enjoys a significant cost advantage thanks to their content-neutral, open ecosystem approach, Apple’s track record for premium industrial design and obsessive hardware optimization could give Vision Pro’s experience a serious edge.

Take the Vision Pro’s novel aluminum and curved glass design, for example. With an internal fan, vents, and over a dozen cameras and sensors, it represents a technical marvel of miniaturization and ergonomics – hallmarks of Apple’s renowned hardware chops. The Pro’s ultra high-res displays also output at a silky 120Hz refresh rate for life-like visual fidelity.

By contrast, Meta’s plastic Quest Pro headset looks comparatively toy-ish and low-rent, with LCD panels that max out at 90Hz and less than half the number of cameras. But as always with Apple products, that seamless user experience comes at a premium cost.

Telegram is implementing a new paywall feature for content creators, allowing them to place photos and videos behind a price tag. Snaps, Telegram, snaps!

There’s more than just getting that bag for creators, though. Telegram also announced the mini app bar, with users now able to collapse mini apps into a bar at the bottom of the screen. With this, you’ll be able to respond to messages or open other mini apps, then return to a mini app without waiting for it to load again. Extremely handy.

You can view how the paywall feature works in the short video below.

Other new features for the June update (yes, June) includes the ability to search through stories based on hashtags and location, plus a new Link Widget option for stories.

There’s a bunch of goodies in there. If you use Telegram for more than messaging, I recommend you check out the full blog post by following the link below.

// Telegram

For a limited time, the iPhone 13 mini will be available for $499 at Walmart Canada — an $860 drop from its regular $1,359 price tag.

While the phone is a little under three years old, this is still a pretty low-cost way to get an unlocked and relatively modern iPhone. (At least it’s not considered “vintage” like 2017’s iPhone X!) Note that the deal only applies to the 512GB model and it’s exclusive to Walmart.ca.

The deal is part of Walmart Canada’s ‘Big Save’ promotion, which runs from July 4th to 10th. Other notable tech deals include:

Walmart’s full ‘Big Save’ flyer can be found here.

Via: RedFlagDeals — 22GDealdone

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Stock trading, from a long time now, has always been considered as one of the most complex and perhaps risky endeavors that are far better left to the large brokerage houses or… the moneyed people of the nation. This is true to an extent, but the world of digitization has opened a new way where equality is given in terms where everyone starts their financial freedom.

In today’s world, where one can decide to work remotely too, one can choose from thousands of applications and websites that provide ‘mainstream’ tools that help anyone who wants – a beginner or a large investor – make money properly, with appropriate knowledge, planning, and support from experts.

Let’s take a look at the top collaborative investment applications and websites, including their distinctive features, capabilities, and potential for both rookie and seasoned investors.

And if you’re seeking a structured pathway to unraveling the world of investments, look no further than Quantum AI website. This website is dedicated to bridging the gap between eager learners and investment education, without indulging in direct investing advice. Its primary goal is to connect those interested in investing with educational institutions that can lead them through their learning experience!

Now, on to the list!

1. Fidelity

Fidelity offers hundreds of stock, mutual fund, ETFs, bond selections and other investments; the favorite of customers due to an easy to navigate Website and many tools, including 15 calculators and real-time quotes. Another feature of Fidelity is the possibility to choose between many managed and self-managed medical expense accounts variable and fixed, recommended for investors independently or by the company on the basis of suitable for novices and experienced investors.

Although it also has many other enticing offers that are exclusively for its consumers, that particular company specifically specializes in the digital estate plan that assists in the protection and passing on of wealth to your loved ones. Besides, the trading commission which was not observed in the platform ensure the individual of another source through which they can make maximum profits The team of professional traders in the respective areas of stock trading also helps the individual in acquiring adequate knowledge on how to succeed in stock trading businesses from the teaming professional traders in the relevant fields of stock trading.

2. Robinhood

Robinhood has grown into a phenomenon in the realm of investment, reshaping upon its entrance the concept of wealth creation for millions of Americans. Since its aim is to bring Accessibility in the conventional investment, this app has erased the hoods in the nature common with monstrously expensive apps, where users can invest with as much as one dollar.

Because of the two funds’ collaborative design, users have access to more than 1,700 stocks researched extensively for easier decision making based on retrieved data and analyses. Besides, the opportunity to invest in cryptocurrencies also falls within the app’s framework, which opens the door to the vast world of digital assets in your investment arsenal.

3. Invstr

Should you be experiencing minimal capital investment for the first time or if you are new in investment, Invstr is that suitable investment app to mentor you. Through the user-friendly design and no-commission purchases, this tool eliminates the scary stuff, letting you try the possibilities without investing a lot of money.

The customized portfolios on Invstr are easy to create and constructed with the support of in-built professional advisers for one’s individual goals and level of risk. Whether you are targeting to trade U. S. stocks and ETFs or exploring to try fractional shares and cryptocurrencies, with Invstr you are going to enjoy your investing experience and witness your portfolios’ performance.

4. Betterment

If moving towards a collaborative investment app user environment is the way to go, then Betterment should be regarded as a pioneer of such an interface, featuring an utterly convenient investment solution enhanced by modern technologies. Betterment is well-known as one of the biggest percentiles of robo-advisors and controls your funds very efficiently, adjusting them for your level of risk and preferences in receiving income.

If you want to invest in climate change and socially responsible investments then you might want to give Betterment a shot. In representing the company’s and your ethical standpoint, it is good for both you and the potential generations as it contributes to the formation of a sustainable environment. Betterment currently provides a strong offering in cash management, combined with specialized features for goal setting; overall, this enables you to have a professionally-managed portfolio at a low cost.

5. Acorns

Acorns savings application has perfectly positioned itself as one of the most popular ones for a reason. This simplicity-free solution relieves the rather cumbersome process of saving and investing from the burden of being complicated; through this platform, users can automate the process of investment, do dividend reinvestment, meaning that, from this platform, you can be assured of your wealth increasing, through investments, consistently. 

They also provide round-up investment functionality where Acorns rounds up users’ purchases to the nearest dollar and invests the additional change into a portfolio of ETFs. What sets it apart from other more traditional types of investment is that this method is highly integrated into what you are already doing in your daily life and there is no initial hefty capital required. Also, Acorns has offered specific investment plans for the family where you can open an investment account for your children/ Stock-Back® for debit products to make sure that the whole family is on the right track to accumulating wealth.

6. Charles Schwab

This is an investment app that offers financial advice for mutual funds to new, moderate, and advance-level investors. It is most notable for their extensive database of research and education materials; they provide a wealth of actionable information for people wishing to improve their financial literacy on finance and investing.

With regards to the criteria that value different approaches to commission- and fee-based trading services, US low-cost brokerage firm Charles Schwab still provides such options as fractional shares as well as commission-free trading for stocks and ETFs that enables investors to invest every single dollar that he or she earned into the securities of one’s’ preference. Moreover, the account has a feature whereby the clients are offered a cash bonus on behalf of the platform provided that a certain minimum amount is funded on the account: an added incentive for anyone who wishes to commence their investment.

7. J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing

For those who are searching for the no-frills, yet quite satisfactory brokerage firm, the J. P. Morgan is a suitable choice. This investment platform is for users to invest with other people and in addition it offers a multitude of Morningstar and CFRA research tools and other researching materials.

With equal efficacy, Self-Directed Investing Portfolio Builder effectively contributes to construction of a powerful and efficient portfolio with no impediment. The no-commission model, the convenient opportunity to link all the Chase accounts enhancing spending and saving experience like the mentioned by W. L. Silvester option contributes to the demand for this service. Hence, both the new investors and the experienced ones may get benefits with the offers that J. P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing offers its consumers.

8. M1 Finance

M1 Finance is a feature-rich money management software that appeals to both self-directed traders and those looking for automated investing solutions. It offers a wide range of services. From fractional shares and commission-free trading in stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies, to user-friendly interfaces and expert-designed portfolios, M1 Finance has something for every investor.

One of the standout features of this collaborative investment platform is its ability to balance multiple financial needs. Whether you’re seeking hands-on trading experience or prefer to let the experts handle the heavy lifting, M1 Finance provides a seamless solution. With low minimum deposit requirements and no extra fees for standard accounts, this platform empowers you to take control of your financial future without breaking the bank.

9. Ellevest 

While Ellevest started with the mission of closing the gender gap in investing, it has since evolved into a platform that welcomes and empowers individuals of all backgrounds, including non-binary and gender non-conforming individuals. This collaborative investment app is a true game-changer for those seeking personalized plans for individual investment and retirement accounts. 

With automated IRA and 401(k)/403(b) rollovers, as well as one-on-one sessions with certified financial planners, Ellevest offers a comprehensive suite of services tailored to your unique needs. Furthermore, the personalized suggestions provided by the platform, which are derived from longevity data and gender-specific wage curves, guarantee that your investments are geared towards long-term financial security and growth.

Conclusion

In the ever-evolving world of investing, the best collaborative apps and websites have emerged as game-changers, democratizing access to wealth-building opportunities and fostering a supportive community of investors. From user-friendly interfaces and comprehensive educational resources to advanced trading tools and real-time market insights, these platforms cater to the diverse needs of investors at every level.

Whether you’re a seasoned investor seeking advanced trading tools or a newcomer looking to dip your toes into the waters, the collaborative investment landscape offers a wealth of opportunities to grow your wealth, learn from others, and stay ahead of the curve.

So, embrace the power of collaboration, engage with like-minded individuals, and let these best collaborative investment apps and websites be your trusted companions on the path to financial freedom.

As a part of the Samsung reserve system for the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 6, Samsung is informing some customers of the total savings they’ll receive once pre-orders open. They initially gave us a vague $1,500+ number, but emails telling folks to “Reserve now. Save later.” have broken out the exact savings from each area.

In our initial write-up of the $1,500 number, we guessed that Samsung would give you at least $1,000 for trades and up to$150 as a value for a double-storage promo. As it turns out, Samsung is going higher on both numbers.

Here’s the breakdown of that full $1,500+ number that gets you the best Galaxy Z Fold 6 pre-order deal.

$1,200 TRADES FOR GALAXY FOLD 6: An email from Samsung suggests you could get up to $1,200 with an eligible trade-in for pre-ordering a Galaxy Z Fold 6. While we don’t know for sure, the likelihood of the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and the Galaxy S24 Ultra being the only devices to fetch that number are pretty high. There is a chance others will get you there, though. For Fold 5 pre-orders, Samsung offered a full trade-in price for several devices.

$240 DOUBLE STORAGE FREEBIE: Samsung is also going to double storage for you and that is apparently valued at $240. Does that mean a bump from 512GB to 1TB? Typically a bump from 256GB to 512GB is not worth $240 and typically only costs anywhere from $100 to $150. We’ll watch the storage options closely, but this could be a really big value add.

FREE SAMSUNG CARE+: As an added bonus ($156 value), Samsung might toss in Samsung Care+ for 12 months, which means more protection for your foldable device. Care+ offers you unlimited repairs, same-day cracked screens for $29, coverage for theft and loss, access to 24/7 support, and more. This could be a sneaky good service to have that most of us would rather not have to pay for.

Of course, all of this starts with a reservation, where Samsung is giving you $50 for sharing your name and email.

Samsung Reserve Link

You might not have known that George R. R. Martin, the writer of the beloved A Song of Ice and Fire book series, also wrote the lore of The Game Awards 2022 Game of the Year winner, Elden Ring.

Now, in a recent blog post, Martin commented on the rumours of an Elden Ring film or TV series.

“Oh, and about those rumors you may have heard about a feature film or television series based on ELDEN RING… I have nothing to say. Not a word, nope, not a thing, I know nothing, you never heard a peep from me, mum mum mum. What rumor?”

Martin doesn’t really say anything about the rumour and has “nothing to say,” but there is some meaning behind these words. For example, “mum’s the word” in British slang alludes to a hidden truth or secret.

An Elden Ring film is certainly a possibility. Even Hidetaka Miyazaki, the director of the fame game, said a movie could be possible if a “very strong partner” was involved. With Martin’s connection to HBO, I can definitely see this being a strong partner and a huge possibility. Even PlayStation has previously offered to partner with FromSoftware on a series.

Distributed also on: George R. R. Martin, IGN

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A cryptic teaser posted to Instagram suggests that DJI, a company most well-known for making drones and cameras, is expanding into making pedal-powered transportation methods. Both DJI and a new brand called Amflow Bikes have started hyping a new electric bike product on social media, but we’ll have to wait until later to see what it really is.

All we’ve seen so far is a a small animation that shows the central e-bike mechanism that holds the pedals to the frame, and in this case, they also appear to be attached to a small electric motor. It’s likely this outdoors focused E-bike that leaked a few days ago, but only time will tell.

While this seems like a move out of left field for the company, DJI has traditionally been good at taking a core component of one of its products and using it across various industries. Using cameras as an example, the company got better at making drones with stabilized camera systems, and then it was able to break out the stabilization tech into its own product, the gimbal.

Taking that same logic, we’ve seen DJI expand into portable backup batteries, so more battery-powered machines makes sense as a next step. What will be more interesting to see is if DJI makes a full E-bike or if the company attempts to sell this component to others to be used, like its FPV drone equipment. The Amflow Instagram only has 12 posts on it, which suggests to me that it will be a new sub-brand under DJI, but all will be revealed today at the EuroBike 2024 event. DJI is scheduled to make an announcement at 3AM ET/12AM PT.

Distributed also on: DJI, AmFlow Bikes, Drone XL  Via: The Verge 

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Tap-to-pay and self-checkouts have felt critically under-utilized for years, so I’m extremely happy that a new concept from the NFC Forum is looking to change that.

The concept is simply called ‘Multi-purpose Tap’ and, in theory, it would allow you to tap your card, phone or smartwatch to a payment terminal, and then it would transfer money, loyalty points, check the ID and share the receipt all at once. This means you no longer need to navigate through endless screens on a self-checkout machine, and you could tap once to get all the information you’d want from a normal transaction.

There are worries that this could cause unwanted marketing spam to appear on your device and it could make opting out of a company’s email communications more difficult, according to The Verge. That being said, maybe there will be some kind of ‘Hide my email’ feature implemented that allows you to use a fake email address to help avoid some of these unwanted communications.

Overall, there’s a lot that can go right and wrong with this idea, but I think it’s worth it since it’s a concrete step towards making our phones arguably smarter in everyday use.

Header image credit: Shutterstock

Distributed also on: NFC Forum Via: The Verge

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Nintendo is dubious about the use of generative AI in video games.

In a recent Japanese Q&A with investors, as translated by TweakTown, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa said the company has no plans to incorporate generative AI in its first-party game development.

“In the game industry, AI-like technology has long been used to control enemy character movements, so game development and AI technology have always been closely related. Generative AI, which has been a hot topic in recent years, can be more creative, but we also recognize that it has issues with intellectual property rights,” he said.

“We have decades of know-how in creating optimal gaming experiences for our customers, and while we remain flexible in responding to technological developments, we hope to continue to deliver value that is unique to us and cannot be achieved through technology alone.”

As Furukawa notes, AI is intrinsically linked with video games, especially when it comes to the behaviour of non-player characters (NPCs). It can also be used to tighten up elements like lip-syncing in cutscenes to free up artists to polish other areas of the game.

On the flip side, there are understandable concerns regarding companies using AI to take away jobs from people, especially in the gaming industry. Recent examples of controversy include Ubisoft and Nvidia’s respective tech demos for AI-powered NPCs.

On top of these characters just looking and sounding incredibly robotic, developers have noted that using generative AI even for so-called “smaller” writing tasks for minor NPCs or character “barks” (brief lines of incidental dialogue, like battle cries) like this could take away valuable experience for entry-level writers who cut their teeth on such material. There are also situations like AI stealing art or manipulating real images of criminals, which also have to be carefully considered.

Of course, Furukawa’s words don’t completely rule out Nintendo turning to generative AI down the line, but it’s at least reassuring to see the company being more hesitant with the technology. For now, the company is focusing on its successor to its massively popular Switch system. The Japanese gaming giant has confirmed a full reveal of its new console will come sometime before April 2025, but that’s all we know officially for now.

Distributed also on: Nintendo Via: TweakTown

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The pink-coloured Pixel 9 has leaked once again in a new video.

This may not be the exact handset from yesterday’s pictures, but it’s now turned on in this new video showcasing the handset’s home screen.

The video shows the handset from all angles, including its flat iPhone-like frame, large camera visor with two sensors and a 6.34-inch display.

There isn’t much to see from the handset’s screen, but it continues to feature a lovely Pixel UI.

Google will officially unveil the Pixel 9 series on August 13th, alongside the Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL and Pixel 9 Pro Fold. The event will probably showcase Google AI and its artificial intelligence features.

Distributed also on: GSMArena

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