The best kind of drama starts with iOS and Android. That’s why our ears perked up at the latest Power On newsletter on Bloomberg over the weekend. A report from author Mark Gurman suggests Apple is coming directly for Google with an iPad that docks just like the recently teased Pixel Tablet.
There is a wide discrepancy between how small time and up-and-coming content creators on social media are being paid just as more folks are hoping to generate some new income by monetizing their content on social media.
Fossil is acting on its promise to release Wear OS 3 watches, but you might want to temper your expectations. The fashion brand has introduced its first Wear OS 3 model, the Gen 6 Wellness Edition, and the name says a lot about it — it’s a refresh of last year’s smartwatch that focuses on software. Google’s new software promises an easier-to-navigate interface with improved health tracking, including through Fossil’s in-house Wellness app. You’ll also get relevant watch faces, including a device-exclusive “Wellness Gauge” to monitor your vitals.
There are a few physical changes. The Wellness Edition includes a tweaked 44mm case in rose gold- or silver-hued steel with 20mm straps. Apart from that, though, it’s effectively the Gen 6 you saw in 2021. That means a 2020-era Snapdragon Wear 4100+ chip, a 1.28-inch circular display, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of storage and 3ATM water resistance. You’ll be disappointed if you were expecting a Snapdragon W5+ or more space for your apps and music.
Existing Gen 6 owners should be receiving Wear OS 3 as an update, and they’ll get much of the experience from the Wellness Edition. Gen 6 watches from Michael Kors, Razer and Skagen should also get the new software. Just be warned that you’ll need to erase your device data as part of the upgrade.
The Gen 6 Wellness Edition is available now for $299. Silicone straps to customize the look are available for $30 each. Fossil still makes some of the better-looking Wear OS watches outside of luxury models like the Montblanc Summit 3, but this is undoubtedly a tough sell if you’re looking for something genuinely new. Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 5 family offers a wider range of cases and more up-to-date processing power, while Google’s Pixel Watch compensates for its aging chip with Wear OS 3.5 and a truly stand-out design. If you weren’t thrilled by Fossil before, the refresh won’t change your mind.
The star of “The Crown” made a splash in London this weekend with a surreal, pet store-inspired ensemble.
Ducati is known for creating some of the most desirable and significant motorcycles of all time, but which are the 8 best Ducati motorcycles ever made?
The apocalyptic dread of Y2K, captured by the last era of camcorder users, looms large in V/H/S/99, the fifth in the V/H/S found-footage horror anthology series. Unlike last year’s V/H/S/94, this installment gathers five unconnected stories, mashed together by an unseen editor who has a good instinct for saving the…
Two newborn cheetah cubs at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Virginia are the latest stars of the Cheetah Cub Cam, a 24/7 stream of adorable spottedness and big cat cuddles.
Social media has fostered expectations of maximalism, hyper-beauty, and happiness, but this digital veneer has left some users craving connection over aesthetics. Gas is an app for teenagers that peels back the previous tropes of social media by focusing on cultivating positivity in a smaller social network.
TikTok is once again updating its livestreaming features, and this time the biggest improvements affect the people who can’t watch. For starters, the upgrade now lets TikTok Live users host adult-only broadcasts. If a stream is likely to include lots of colorful language or tackle traumatic subjects, you can make sure the audience is mature enough to handle it. The option will be available in the “coming weeks.” And no, it’s not an officially sanctioned alternative to OnlyFans — TikTok’s policies still forbid sexually explicit content.
The social video service is also raising the minimum age for hosts from 16 to 18 starting November 23rd. TikTok pitches this as a logical extension of its restrictions on teen content, but it also comes after incidents of abuse. Older viewers have sexually exploited teen hosts, for example, while teens have made threats against schools. In theory, the higher minimum age will reduce the number of school-age kids using Live to get into the kinds of trouble that wouldn’t be possible using pre-recorded clips. Accordingly, a feature arriving in the weeks ahead will remind creators to block keywords they’ve filtered out in the past.
There is one upgrade that brings more people into the fold. A recently expanded Multi-Guest feature now lets a host invite up to five other participants using either a grid or panel layout. This can be helpful for pro creators who want to air full-fledged shows, of course, but it could also be helpful for any streamer who wants to bring more friends into a conversation.
TikTok is facing government pressure to implement audience controls like this. American and British officials are worried the social network might harm children, whether through promoting unhealthy behavior or jeopardizing privacy. Age restrictions won’t necessarily prevent abuses of live broadcasts, but they could indicate that TikTok is addressing key concerns.
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