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  • New Pixel 10a Renders Confirm Few Hardware Changes for 2026

    New Pixel 10a Renders Confirm Few Hardware Changes for 2026

    Our first early look at Pixel 10a came all the way back in October, 2025. Since then, we’ve gotten an idea on potential pricing and launch, as well as reported specs to expect from Google’s next mid-range device.

    The latest is a few more device renders, this time showing off the black color option. It looks nearly identical to the Pixel 9a, but this shouldn’t come as a surprise. Its specs are reported to feature a 6.3-inch OLED display (120Hz), Tensor G4 chipset, 5100mAh battery, and dual rear-facing camera. We’re sure Google will make up a lack of physical differences with some AI-enhanced software features.

    What we can take away from these renders is that they essentially confirm what we saw in October. Whether you see it as a good thing or bad thing, not much is changing in 2026.

    Thoughts?

    // YTECHB

  • Google’s AI Mode Gets Personal Intelligence

    Google’s AI Mode Gets Personal Intelligence

    Google introduced its new “Personal Intelligence” feature into Gemini last week as a way to further connect several of your Google apps to Gemini to get a more personal experience. The idea here was to connect the dots between data, find nuance, and better understand context for your queries in order to get you better info. Now, Personal Intelligence is expanding to Google Search’s AI Mode to make your search experience even more personal.

    Google Search AI Mode Personal Intelligence: If you are a big AI Mode user, starting today, Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers should get an invititation to toggle on Personal Intelligence. Once on, your Gmail and Google Photos accounts will connect with AI Mode in Search, so when you go to search for something related to an upcoming trip or to shop, it’ll pull from those sources to help find better results.

    Again, the whole point of this all is to make these Google products better understand you, so that as you search or look something up, it can return results based on your life or interests or experiences or history. That might sound like a privacy nightmare, so also know that you don’t have to turn any of this on. It is off by default.

    OK, so what about examples of when you might use this? Google offered up the following to us:

    • Help me plan a weekend getaway with my family based on things we like to do
    • Make a scavenger hunt for [partner’s name] to celebrate our anniversary. For each location, include a hint about us
    • I’m decorating [child’s name] bedroom, give me ideas for a theme and suggestions for decor
    • If I were the heroine/hero from a book, who would I be?
    • What specific era of fashion do I actually belong in?
    • Recommend some books that fit where I am in my life right now
    • If I were a perfume [or cologne], what would my top notes and base notes be?

    So you aren’t really using this to just look up a bit of info on a random subject. Google envisions you using AI Mode with Personal Intelligence to help plan, find recommendations, etc.

    Personal Intelligence is still only available to personal Google Accounts, not Workspace accounts.

    // Google

  • Galaxy S26 Ultra Comes in Six Colors, Including Pink Gold and Cobalt Violet

    Galaxy S26 Ultra Comes in Six Colors, Including Pink Gold and Cobalt Violet

    Galaxy S26 Ultra buyers, you might be happy to learn that Samsung plans to launch the device in six colors variations. That’s plenty to choose from.

    There are the classics, such as Black Shadow and White Shadow, but the others are reported to include Silver Shadow and Sky Blue. Thanks to @evleaks, we’re also learning about the potential for what we assume are Samsung web shop exclusives, Pink Gold and Cobalt Violet. None of this is confirmed directly from Samsung, but @evleaks has a pretty reputable past of this.

    It’s going to be a busy year from Samsung. Galaxy Z TriFold demos arrive in the US tomorrow (January 23), then Unpacked will take place where we’ll see the launch of Galaxy S26 lineup (S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra). We hope to see more hardware from Samsung in 2026. That hardware might include an updated Galaxy Watch Ultra? That’s on the wishlist.

    We haven’t seen it yet, but sign me up for Pink Gold.

    // @evleaks | GSM Arena

  • Galaxy Z TriFold In US Samsung Stores Tomorrow, But You Can’t Buy It

    Galaxy Z TriFold In US Samsung Stores Tomorrow, But You Can’t Buy It

    Galaxy Z TriFold launch is literally right around the corner, with units headed to select Samsung Experience Stores across the US. The device will only be available for demo, with pricing and an actual release date still unknown. However, if you’ve wanted to get your hands on this unique device, here’s your chance.

    Here’s where to get hands on with Galaxy Z TriFold starting tomorrow, January 23.

    • Bloomington, MN – Samsung Experience Store, Mall of America
    • Cerritos, CA – Samsung Experience Store, Los Cerritos Center
    • Elmhurst, NY – Samsung Experience Store, Queens Center
    • Frisco, TX – Samsung Experience Store, Stonebriar Centre
    • Garden City, NY – Samsung Experience Store, Roosevelt Field
    • Glendale, CA – Samsung Experience Store, The Americana at Brand
    • Houston, TX – Samsung Experience Store, The Galleria

    US availability details will be made public soon, according to the email we received. Stay tuned.

    // Samsung

  • Magnetic Accessory Points to Galaxy S26 Adoption of Qi2 Standard

    Magnetic Accessory Points to Galaxy S26 Adoption of Qi2 Standard

    The Magnetic Wireless Powerbank (EB-U2500), designed for the upcoming Galaxy S26 lineup, has been detailed online ahead of official launch. While it seems like a perfectly cool accessory, the big takeaway is that Samsung’s adoption of the Qi2 charging standard appears to be confirmed for Galaxy S26 devices.

    Like we saw from Google with the Pixel 10 lineup, the Qi2 standard outlines the usage of magnets to better align the wireless charging coils inside a device and on any given accessory. There are a lot of accessories designed to take advantage of these magnets, not just powerbanks. With Samsung moving to adopt the standard, this means that there will be potentially millions of more people looking to buy these types of accessories. That’s good for everyone.

    Samsung’s MWP (EB-U2500) charger, for those interested, features a 5,000mAh capacity and wireless charging speeds of up to 15W. With an included cable, you can get speeds of up to 20W. With a leaked price of around €59, that doesn’t seem too bad at all.

    It’s late January, which means Unpacked 2026 should be right around the corner. Hang on tight.

    // WinFuture

  • Many T-Mobile Bills Will Increase Starting Today

    Many T-Mobile Bills Will Increase Starting Today

    Earlier this month, we spotted an upcoming increase to the fees that some of T-Mobile’s customers will pay starting January 21. Since we’re now on that date, we thought we’d remind you that your bill is about to go up and you might be wondering why.

    In our story about the increased fees, we pointed out that T-Mobile was actually increasing this fee for the second time in less than a year. The fee is the “Regulatory Programs & Telco Recovery Fee,” which is not a forced-government fee by any means and is simply a fee you pay to help T-Mobile cover costs. It sounds super official by name and as if the government is forcing them to pay this, but that’s not the case.

    This fee, which increased in April 2025 by $0.50, is going up by another $0.50 per line. For those with a single line and who have been with T-Mobile for around a year, your bill is now a full $1.00 more expensive. If you have more lines, well, you can do the math there. The fee was $3.49 less than a year ago, but is now $4.49.

    So we are clear, this increase only affects those on a T-Mobile plan that does not include taxes and fees. If you have an older plan with those included, your bill should remain the same. However, if you are a newer T-Mobile customer who came over because of their shiny new Experience plans, increases like this will show up on your bill and likely continue to increase going forward.

  • AT&T to Sell One-Time VIP Passes to Faster Network During Live Events

    AT&T to Sell One-Time VIP Passes to Faster Network During Live Events

    You pay monthly for access to a network. The problem is, you aren’t the only one, and when you attend live events, there are thousands of people in the same exact spot trying to use the same bandwidth as you. This congestion creates a slower network. To offer a fix, AT&T will begin to sell one-time passes to a VIP network called Turbo Live.

    AT&T customers can access this network for a TBD one-time fee starting in February, but the beauty is, customers of T-Mobile and Verizon will also be able to access it and buy passes (device eligibility requirements will need to be met). AT&T says that devices may need to be unlocked and have an open eSIM slot for activation. So long as your device is eligible, any carrier getting access to this VIP network seems like a nice treat.

    The timing of this, and planned stadium rollout, is perfect. You’ll notice that Levi’s Stadium is on the list. Anyone with tickets to the Super Bowl will be able to try this VIP network out. Here’s the full list of stadiums soon to get access.

    • Alabama (Bryant Denny Stadium)
    • Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
    • Chicago (United Center)
    • Houston (NRG Stadium)
    • Las Vegas (Sphere)
    • Los Angeles (Intuit Dome)
    • Miami (Hard Rock Stadium)
    • New York/New Jersey (MetLife Stadium)
    • San Antonio (Alamodome)
    • San Francisco Bay Area (Levi’s Stadium)
    • Seattle (Lumen Field)

    Coming soon, we are expanding Turbo Live to stadiums across America, including Dallas (AT&T Stadium), Foxborough (Gillette Stadium), Los Angeles (SoFi Stadium), and many more—so every fan can enjoy the VIP connection.

    What the heck did people do at sporting events do before the invention of the cellphone?

    // AT&T

  • Nova Launcher Changes Ownership Again, Won’t Be Shut Down

    Nova Launcher Changes Ownership Again, Won’t Be Shut Down

    It was announced today that Nova Launcher has been acquired by Instabridge, a Swedish company that “builds products that help people get online.” The announcement starts off rather positive. It confirms that Nova is not shutting down and that Instabridge wants to, “keep Nova stable, compatible with modern Android, and actively maintained.”

    While all of this is great news, we can’t expect these new owners to start handing out Nova for free and make it open source. They have a business to run. With regard to the introduction of ads, the new owners said the following.

    Nova needs a sustainable business model to support ongoing development and maintenance. We are exploring different options, including paid tiers and other approaches. As many of you have already anticipated, we are also evaluating ad based options for the free version.

    If ads are introduced, Nova Prime will remain ad free. Our guiding principles are clear: keep the experience clean and fast, avoid disruptive formats, and provide a straightforward way to keep the experience ad free.

    However, Instabridge was quite clear that anyone who purchased a Prime membership would have that honored. “We intend to honor existing Prime purchases, and Prime features will continue working for existing Prime users. Nova Prime will also remain ad free,” they wrote.

    The post has a whole FAQ available which has plenty of good info if you find yourself having questions about the announcement. If you’re a Nova fan, I recommend you check it out.

    What do you think, Nova users? Is this welcomed news?

    // Nova Launcher