Month: May 2024
Samsung Galaxy Watch FE: Latest news, rumors, and what we want to see
It seems as though there might be a Galaxy Watch FE arriving with the Galaxy Watch 7 sometime in 2024.
If Samsung sticks to its usual schedule, there’s every chance we’re going to get a Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 this year – but we’ve also seen leaks around a cheaper model, with the FE (Fan Edition) designation that Samsung has used before for more affordable electronics.
Below, we’ve rounded up all the Samsung Galaxy Watch FE leaks and rumors so far, and weighed up the chances of this particular device seeing the light of day. We’ll be updating this hub regularly, so check back for the latest information on this device.
The Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch FE are expected to launch alongside a bunch of other gadgets from Samsung, including the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, and the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 – and we’re likely to see the Galaxy Ring as well.
Cut to the chase
What is it? A cheaper Samsung smartwatchWhen is it out? July 10 looks likelyHow much will it cost? Probably around $199 / £199 / AU$399
Samsung Galaxy Watch FE: Expected launch date and price
Another Unpacked show is in the offing (Image credit: Future / Alex Walker-Todd)
The Samsung Galaxy Watch FE launch date is tied to the launch dates of the Z Fold 6, the Z Flip 6, the Galaxy Buds 3, and the Galaxy Ring – because it’s widely expected that all of these devices are going to break cover at the same Samsung Unpacked event.
We’ve already had an Unpacked January 2024 show, and according to those in the know, the next one is scheduled for Wednesday, July 10. That’s still unofficial for now, but that date has been mentioned by a second source as well, giving us more confidence in it.
If July 10 is indeed the date when the Galaxy Watch FE and the Galaxy Watch 7 see the light of day, it’ll be almost exactly a year after the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 – so there is some consistency in Samsung’s scheduling.
When it comes to price, we know that affordability is the reason for the existence of the Galaxy Watch FE, but we haven’t seen a specific number leaked. It’s possible the model will be based on a refreshed Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, which currently retails for $199 / £199 / AU$399.
As for the Galaxy Watch 6, prices on Samsung’s most recent flagship starts at $239.99 / £259 / AU$549, so the new Samsung Galaxy Watch FE might be somewhere between those two price points. How much it costs is certainly going to be crucial to its appeal.
Samsung Galaxy Watch FE: Leaks and rumors
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, launched in 2023 (Image credit: Samsung)
There haven’t been a huge number of leaks and rumors around the Samsung Galaxy Watch FE: most of the advance information we’ve had so far has simply said that this device is on the way.
A little tidbit of information that has emerged concerns the charging speed, which is apparently a paltry 5W (less than the Galaxy Watch 6). That’s not particularly encouraging news, but of course Samsung has to make cost savings somewhere.
Other rumors have been swirling about the name of this wearable. One well-known tipster reckons it won’t be called the Galaxy Watch FE after all – instead it’s going to be branded as the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 (2024). We’ll have to wait and see on that one.
For reference, the Galaxy Watch 4 has a 1.4-inch, 450 x 450 px Super AMOLED screen. It runs an Exynos W920 processor, and offers 1.5GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. We’d expect at least some of those specs to get a boost if it’s being refreshed for 2024.
According to regulatory filings, the Galaxy Watch FE name is indeed the name Samsung is going to go with – so while the innards might be similar to the Galaxy Watch 4, it now seems more likely that the FE moniker is going to get an outing.
In terms of official news, Samsung has confirmed that future Galaxy Watches are going to get a wealth of AI features for more detailed, personalized health stats. It’s possible that some or all of these will be available on the budget model.
One final rumor worth mentioning: we might also get a Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra edition this year. It would seem Samsung is keen to have its wearable line-up match Apple’s, specifically in the structure of a flagship numbered watch, the Apple Watch SE 2 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
Samsung Galaxy Watch FE: what we want to see
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, launched in 2021 (Image credit: Shutterstock / Geewon Jung)
While we wait patiently for Samsung to unveil the Samsung Galaxy Watch FE, we do have a few requests for the company. If there’s anyone from Samsung reading, here’s what we’d like to see from the Samsung Galaxy FE when it launches.
1. A low price
Let’s start with the obvious: the Galaxy Watch FE is being introduced to give consumers a cheaper alternative to the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7, so it needs to be substantially lower in price than the flagship models. The smallest Apple Watch SE 2, without cellular connectivity, comes in at $249 / £259 / AU$399 – and we’re hoping that the Samsung equivalent is going to arrive at a price point that’s significantly lower than that.
2. Great battery life
A constant request from wearable owners of course, but if Samsung is going to give the Galaxy Watch FE a slower internal processor and perhaps a less vibrant screen, then that should also mean more time between battery charges.
We need some reasons to pick the cheaper model besides the lower price, and if Samsung is able to give this edition of its smartwatch a better battery life, this could be one of them.
3. A solid build
One of the dangers of bringing out a cheaper version of an existing product is that build quality can suffer – and that’s something we don’t want to happen with the Galaxy Watch FE. Samsung should aim to make the watch feel as high quality as possible, without feeling plasticky.
The Galaxy Watch 4 comes with IP68 water resistance as standard, and complies with the MIL-STD-810 military standard. We’re hoping for the same here.
4. Some options
It seems likely that the main Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is going to come in a couple of sizes, and we’re hoping for the same when it comes to the Galaxy Watch FE – bearing in mind that we don’t all have the same sized wrists.
While we’re talking about options, we wouldn’t mind seeing a few fresh colors that we can choose from: this is often something manufacturers do to make a cheaper product range seem more appealing.
5. Plenty of smarts
We’ve already talked about the AI features that Samsung is rolling out to its future smartwatches – and we’re hoping that a lot of them (or at least the most useful ones) end up making their way to the Samsung Galaxy FE.
There have been rumors that Wear OS 5 will be coming to the Samsung Galaxy Watch series very soon, so we’re hoping the Galaxy Watch FE isn’t going to be let down by its software.
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US Slows Plans To Retire Coal-Fired Plants as Power Demand From AI Surges
The staggering electricity demand needed to power next-generation technology is forcing the US to rely on yesterday’s fuel source: coal. From a report: Retirement dates for the country’s ageing fleet of coal-fired power plants are being pushed back as concerns over grid reliability and expectations of soaring electricity demand force operators to keep capacity online. The shift in phasing out these facilities underscores a growing dilemma facing the Biden administration as the US race to lead in artificial intelligence and manufacturing drives an unprecedented growth in power demand that clashes with its decarbonisation targets. The International Energy Agency estimates the AI application ChatGPT uses nearly 10 times as much electricity as Google Search.
An estimated 54 gigawatts of US coal powered generation assets, about 4 per cent of the country’s total electricity capacity, is expected to be retired by the end of the decade, a 40 per cent downward revision from last year, according to S&P Global Commodity Insights, citing reliability concerns. “You can’t replace the fossil plants fast enough to meet the demand,” said Joe Craft, chief executive of Alliance Resource Partners, one of the largest US coal producers. “In order to be a first mover on AI, we’re going to need to embrace maintaining what we have.” Operators slowing down retirements include Alliant Energy, which last week delayed plans to convert its Wisconsin coal-fired plant to gas from 2025 to 2028. Earlier this year, FirstEnergy announced it was scrapping its 2030 target to phase out coal, citing “resource adequacy concerns.” Further reading: Data Centers Could Use 9% of US Electricity By 2030, Research Institute Says.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
The staggering electricity demand needed to power next-generation technology is forcing the US to rely on yesterday’s fuel source: coal. From a report: Retirement dates for the country’s ageing fleet of coal-fired power plants are being pushed back as concerns over grid reliability and expectations of soaring electricity demand force operators to keep capacity online. The shift in phasing out these facilities underscores a growing dilemma facing the Biden administration as the US race to lead in artificial intelligence and manufacturing drives an unprecedented growth in power demand that clashes with its decarbonisation targets. The International Energy Agency estimates the AI application ChatGPT uses nearly 10 times as much electricity as Google Search.
An estimated 54 gigawatts of US coal powered generation assets, about 4 per cent of the country’s total electricity capacity, is expected to be retired by the end of the decade, a 40 per cent downward revision from last year, according to S&P Global Commodity Insights, citing reliability concerns. “You can’t replace the fossil plants fast enough to meet the demand,” said Joe Craft, chief executive of Alliance Resource Partners, one of the largest US coal producers. “In order to be a first mover on AI, we’re going to need to embrace maintaining what we have.” Operators slowing down retirements include Alliant Energy, which last week delayed plans to convert its Wisconsin coal-fired plant to gas from 2025 to 2028. Earlier this year, FirstEnergy announced it was scrapping its 2030 target to phase out coal, citing “resource adequacy concerns.” Further reading: Data Centers Could Use 9% of US Electricity By 2030, Research Institute Says.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Swiss AI startup saving Swiss chocolate secures $16M
From semiconductors to chocolate, you’d be surprised how many products are already made with the help of AI. And it’s precisely on the factory floor where Swiss startup EthonAI is looking to gain a foothold in this emerging market. “Manufacturing is at a critical juncture, and companies that fail to adapt with AI risk falling behind,” said CEO Julian Senoner, who co-founded EthonAI after completing his PhD in AI systems at ETH Zurich. The budding company uses AI to spot problems in production lines. The idea is to help factories reduce the number of defective products that end up being…This story continues at The Next Web
From semiconductors to chocolate, you’d be surprised how many products are already made with the help of AI. And it’s precisely on the factory floor where Swiss startup EthonAI is looking to gain a foothold in this emerging market. “Manufacturing is at a critical juncture, and companies that fail to adapt with AI risk falling behind,” said CEO Julian Senoner, who co-founded EthonAI after completing his PhD in AI systems at ETH Zurich. The budding company uses AI to spot problems in production lines. The idea is to help factories reduce the number of defective products that end up being…
This story continues at The Next Web
Prime Video movie of the day: Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman deliver a powerful and compassionate drama in Rain Man
Dustin Hoffman steals the show but Tom Cruise showed he really could act in this touching and sometimes sad drama.
In Rain Man, Dustin Hoffman delivers an extraordinary performance as Raymond Babbitt. Babbitt is savant, a rare kind of autism, and the movie is a warm and sympathetic exploration of what that means for both Babbitt and for his younger brother, played by Tom Cruise. At first Cruise seeks to exploit his brother, but as they travel together he begins to discover some truths about himself and his sibling.
It’s not perfect by any means – there have been legitimate criticisms of errors it contains and what many people consider to be its sometimes simplistic portrayal of autism – but it’s well-intentioned, well written and beautifully acted – and it’s streaming on Prime Video now.
A masterclass in acting from a legend and a legend-to-be
This was one of Tom Cruise’s best movies to date, said the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Mr. Cruise showed enormous promise in his early films, Risky Business and All The Right Moves. But since then, he’s been on Cruise control… Here, he’s back at work and it shows. In less obvious ways, the younger actor is every bit Mr. Hoffman’s equal.” And for the Charlotte Observer: “It’s a rarity for big-studio, big-star Hollywood: a $20 million picture in which nobody’s ego is showing.”
For the Kansas City Star, “Rain Man is the best American film of 1988. It features yet another superb performance by Dustin Hoffman, which isn’t surprising, and a deeply felt one by Tom Cruise, which is a surprise.” The Miami Herald felt similar. “The delight is in the fineness of the storytelling, by Barry Levinson from a wonderful script by Ronald Bass and Barry Morrow, and in the performances by Cruise and Hoffman.”
It’s a “thoughtful, and hugely enjoyable, classic,” Empire says, a film that helped shift public perceptions of autistic people. But the film is not an overly worthy polemic: “it not only made the audience think. It made them happy.”
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The Sims 4 ‘events’ system is nearly here and it’s bringing login rewards
Maxis and EA have renewed their commitment to continuing to add content to The Sims 4 for the foreseeable future… Continue reading The Sims 4 ‘events’ system is nearly here and it’s bringing login rewards
The post The Sims 4 ‘events’ system is nearly here and it’s bringing login rewards appeared first on ReadWrite.
Maxis and EA have renewed their commitment to continuing to add content to The Sims 4 for the foreseeable future and it seems that one of the ways they will be doing this is an ‘events’ system that rewards players for logging on frequently.
Although it hasn’t been officially launched or even explicitly confirmed by EA, there is an unlisted video on The Sims’ YouTube channel detailing the new system.
Daily Rewards in #TheSims4: Latest Preview (tip: @TheSims4it ) https://t.co/ysUqAFTQPy pic.twitter.com/GE3MNfhpvQ
— Sims Community (@TheSimCommunity) May 28, 2024
The Sims 4 ‘events’ feature is like a battle pass
Called ‘Login Events’, they run for a limited period (four weeks according to the example in the video, but that may change), and players can claim rewards by logging in a certain number of times in each week of the event – eight times in total across the four-week event, though not evenly spread. There are three rewards in the first week, two in each of the second and third, and one in the final week.
To put it simply, it’s a lot like a battle pass.
There are two key differences between the Login Events and more traditional battle pass systems. Firstly, Maxis’ Login Events look free for all players of The Sims 4, and no subscription is required. Secondly, they don’t need any specific in-game activities or a certain amount of playtime, just that users launch the game and claim the rewards in the timeframe.
The rewards seem to be a wide variety of in-game items, from hairstyles and clothing in Create-A-Sim, to build items and furniture, to a new trait to give Sims. A prominent Sims content creator, SatchOnSims has broken down all the rewards that seem to be available in the first event and has found that they are predominantly recolored or alterations of already existing items from paid expansions.
A user on The Sims’ Reddit community also claims to have found evidence of the items being in the game already, and they can be found by using the new event tag filter in buy mode. The trait can be found by randomizing the Sim’s traits repeatedly until it randomly appears.
Maxis and EA have committed to continue supporting The Sims 4, even while testing and developing Project Rene (likely the codename for The Sims 5). This seems to be their way to encourage people to keep playing the game, validating its continued support.
Featured image credit: Maxis/EA
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