Category: Digital world

Developing the Vision Pro was an expensive endeavor for Apple, which is why the device has such a high price tag. Although the product sold better than initially expected, the iPhone maker has had an uphill battle with trying to recoup the cost of development. In an attempt to salvage the money spent on creating the headset, the Cupertino firm wants to make more products that use the Vision Pro’s technology.

According to Bloomberg, Apple’s Vision Products Group is working on “at least” four new products. One of the new products is said to be smart glasses. Another product could be AirPods built with a camera within. Both are expected to arrive in 2027.

The smart glasses, in particular, wouldn’t be AR glasses, but rather glasses with a built-in camera, speakers, and mic. These glasses are said to be similar to the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.

If you’re wondering why Apple is working on smart glasses and camera-equipped AirPods, the report says Apple is attempting to salvage the billions of dollars it invested into the Vision Pro. The company wants to apply the Vision Pro’s visual intelligence — technology that allows it to scan and understand its surroundings — to more products. Outside of this, it’s unclear what would make these smart glasses more appealing than Meta’s solution or regular sunglasses.

Another product the team is said to be working on is a cheaper Vision headset, which could cost about $2,000. This low-end Vision headset is expected to have an inferior chip, be made of cheaper materials, lack EyeSight, and launch early next year. A second-generation Vision Pro is also mentioned, which would launch in 2026 with a more powerful processor.

My ideal bedtime routine is for my teeth to brush themselves as I stumble into pajamas and curl into a ball among an excess of pillows. In other words, I hit the sack hard, so if I am going to track sleep, it needs to be simple, comfortable, and easy to initiate.

The Philips Sleep Headphones with Kokoon introduce a unique sleep-tracking experience that stands apart from traditional methods I typically spend my nights testing like those you’ll find on smartwatches and smart rings. The headphones pack meditative experiences, sleep guidance, and the ability to keep tabs on your bedtime data. Above all, though, they offer the opportunity to tune into whatever you want to hear as you pass out. If you are only after truly base-level sleep specs and audio ambiance, they’re a pretty clever product. I don’t know that they are the best choice for me, but I am definitely more impressed than I expected.

The most successful aspect of the Kokoon Headphones is the product’s design. At its center is a slightly curved, pill-shaped unit intended to be worn at the nape of your neck. Measuring just 7cm, it’s fairly unobtrusive and tucked under the natural curve of my head in a way that never got between me and my favorite pillow. Branching from each side of the unit is a squiggly line of wire ending in a petite earbud. Each unit ships with alternative tips so you can swap into the silicone that fits your ears best. The overall impression is somewhere between wired headphones and a long-armed sea creature.

Most importantly, I found the headphones quite comfortable, especially for side sleeping. The earbuds stayed in place each night I wore them and quietly joined me for many middle-of-the-night bathroom breaks and jaunts for ice water. I can’t say the same for other audio devices I’ve attempted to use in bed. In fact, my AirPods have even journeyed through the washing machine after disappearing into my bedsheets without me realizing. The first few nights, I did tend to remove the headphones, forgetting in my sleep state that they were all-night stats and not just for bedtime audio. However, the adjustment period was quick.

I was also afraid the wires would tangle in my hair and I’d wake up to a painful rat’s nest like the time I used a rubber band as a hair tie. Miraculously this was never the case despite how much my typical bed head implies I move around. All in all, the device is well-designed for overnight comfort.

It doesn’t matter how comfortable something is if it doesn’t get the job done. In this regard, the headphones are a more nuanced sell. The device pairs with the Kokoon app, a simple companion app for managing your headphones that also houses a small hub of audio sleep resources. In the app’s Library tab, users find five categories of content: Going to Sleep, Feeling Anxious, Disrupted Sleep, Brighter Mornings, and Programmes. These files range from one minute in length to just shy of an hour and include a variety of formats, including music, meditations, coaching, stories, and white, brown, or pink noise (all of which sound like noise but are actually quite distinct).

Generally speaking, Kokoon’s library is a solid start, but it’s quite small, especially compared to popular apps like Calm. I tried out a bit of content from each format type and found the meditations satisfactory but the coaching pretty basic. The music includes mostly environmental sounds and is much more wind-down-friendly than my Spotify playlist. It turns out it’s a lot easier to fall asleep to mood-setting nature vibes than Lil Wayne.

With that said, the headphones can also be used to tune into your own personal audio as well. The headphones are compatible with Apple Music, Audible, Spotify, Calm, and Headspace. A deeply inconsiderate bedmate, I have a habit of playing audiobooks over my smart speaker at night, forcing my partner to buy into whatever book I’m on or retreat below a sound-smothering pillow. These Sleep Headphones gave us both the chance to hit the hay within our preferred soundscapes instead, mine being the wizarding world of Harry Potter, and his being silence.

Notably, the headphones do not offer active noise canceling. Instead, Philips offers noise masking, which uses an ambient level of sound across the full spectrum of frequencies to drown out external sounds. I can verify the effectiveness of this method because I often struggled to hear my partner asking me questions, like “Can you hit the light?” once my headphones were on. The device also offers automatic audio fade-out, which gradually turns down your content as it detects you’ve fallen asleep. This can be set to hit silence or colored noise after a determined amount of time.

Finally, unlike popular wearables that offer robust sleep-tracking platforms, the headphones only record bare-bones sleep data. With a small heart rate sensor tucked within the right earbud, the device records your total sleep including bedtime, wake time, and what time you slipped into sleep. Within the Kokoon app, you can review your sleep session timeline to check in on recorded sleep stages and view trends related to sleep time, bedtime vs target bedtime, and awakenings.

Again, the data is quite watered down. If you’re looking for more substantial metrics and guiding insights, this isn’t the sleep tracker for you. Still, the headphones did record very similar data to my Oura Ring and Apple Watch Ultra 2, especially in terms of total sleep duration. This is a good sign that while the device may only hit the basics, it does so with accuracy.

As with any device, the Philips Sleep Headphones with Kokoon do have some shortcomings. For starters, the Kokoon app requires a subscription. Users do receive a 12-month membership at purchase, but at the end of the year, renewing the membership costs $35 annually. This isn’t much, but the headphones are already pricey, and I resent ongoing fees at any denomination. I am also deeply irresponsible about canceling memberships I don’t use, and I feel like The Little Mermaid signing a witchy octopus’s contract every time I sign up for one I know I will inevitably forget about.

But I digress. Subscription aside, a set of headphones costs $230. If you’re coupled up and feeling generous, you can purchase two sets of headphones for $460. In case you didn’t mentally do that math, the price is the same whether you buy a solo set or a two-pack. I don’t know why they list the Couple’s Package at all if it doesn’t provide savings, but here we are.

Lastly, the battery life on the headphones isn’t anything to write home about, either. According to the company, the device offers up to 10 hours of music play per charge. On the evenings I started with 100% battery, I woke up with power measuring in the low 50s. By the time I tucked in the next night, the headphones weren’t charged enough to last another session. This is not great for a sleep tracker. Charging also takes about two hours via USB-C.

As I mentioned above, I like to expend minimal effort at night and prefer a device that won’t break my heart with low battery when I’m already emotionally committed to my bed. To avoid leaving users stranded with a dead device, many sleep-tracking smart rings offer nearly week-long battery life. Smartwatches typically offer less, but compensate with a substantially larger tool kit on top of sleep tracking. I would have loved to see these headphones land somewhere in the middle in terms of charge.

The Philips Sleep Headphones with Kokoon are a unique option within the sleep tracking market. Rather than a dedicated tracker with a data-driven companion app, the headphones are more of a bedtime companion, offering calming audio tools and content or access to the favorites already on your phone. They’re comfortable and effective, and can further elevate users’ bedtime with unique features like auto-fade.

As far as traditional tracking, however, the headphones aren’t in the same league as something like the Oura Ring. The Kokoon app is very simple and the data the device collects is foundational at best. In other words, unless you are specifically looking for headphones, not a dedicated sleep tracker, there are better options.

I can’t express my bias enough when it comes to sleep tracking. I like comfort, convenience, and enough data to make tracking worth my time. I don’t need a device to know I sleep very few hours, but insights and guidance are abundantly welcome. I also selfishly just find it easier to play content out loud than wear anything else on my head when I’m already rocking a retainer and a mess of hair. If you are more considerate and you’re just here for the basics and a tuneful night’s sleep, the Sleep Headphones are a solid buy. But at this price (plus a necessary subscription), anyone like me who is looking for detailed sleep data to pore over might be left wanting a little more.

Although Apple has had a fairly lackluster presence in the smart home industry, it’s looking to change its fortune. A new report says the company wants to conquer the space and is refocusing its efforts to do so.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is deploying a new aggressive strategy aimed at capturing the smart home market. To help achieve this mission, it is prioritizing the sector by creating a new Home Ecosystem team, which it has moved over some engineers from its canceled car project. Overall, the plan appears to be driven by three key components: artificial intelligence, screens, and software.

The first part of this strategy includes Apple Intelligence, which will be used to supercharge home automations. It’s also said that the AI will be used for precise control of applications, devices, and media.

The second part of the strategy involves smart displays. Apple is reportedly working on a new smart display that’s like an affordable iPad. People will be able to use the display for Apple TV Plus streaming, FaceTime calls, browsing the web, and accessing apps like Calendar and Notes. It was also previously reported that the company had a tabletop robot in development. This device is said to be a swiveling robotic limb with a smart display attached. It will use AI to detect who is looking at the screen, what people are doing, and who is speaking. The tabletop robot will focus on home security monitoring, advanced videoconferencing, and media playback with high-quality audio. Gurman predicts it could cost around $1,000.

As for the final part of the strategy, Apple is creating a new smart home operating system called homeOS. According to the report, the software is built on the underpinnings of tvOS.

Whether Apple’s strategy works remains to be seen. Its smart home offerings have paled in comparison to the likes of Google and Amazon. However, Google and Amazon don’t exactly have a tight grasp on the market either, so there is room for Apple to wiggle its way in.

The Gmail app comes pre-installed on the best Android phones you can buy. Gmail is also used by over 1.8 billion people — roughly 20% of the world’s population. Given the number of people who use the service, its pre-installation state on Android, all the fancy AI features in Gmail, and the fact that Google owns both it and Android, one would assume that Gmail on Android would be the best email experience you can get, right? However, I would argue it’s just OK. Well, at least that’s what I thought for a long time, anyway.

In the past, I had found the Gmail app’s features anemic when compared to the other best email apps for Android. I used Blue Mail for a really long time and recently switched to Outlook, which is actually pretty terrific. In September, though, I got a shiny new Google Pixel 9 Pro, which meant I needed to set up my phone all over again. While I was doing that, I said to myself, “Hey, I haven’t used the Gmail app in a while. I wonder if it’s gotten better than I remember it?”

Unfortunately, the app has not gotten much better. In fact, I would say very little has changed with it since the last time I actively used it, some seven or eight years ago. My experience brought me from saying that the Gmail app is “just OK” to saying it is actually not good. I posted about this on Threads, and someone asked why I think the app is bad. I realized I had too much to say for just one Threads post, so here are the biggest reasons the Gmail app for Android is not nearly as good as other competitor services — or, in many cases, the same app for iOS.

Let me start by saying I get a lot of emails. My Android Authority account is pummeled with messages from brands all over the world hoping I’ll write about their products. I also get emails from companies about coordinating travel arrangements and device deliveries, messages from readers like you who have something they want to tell me, and even emails from other writers hoping to score a guest post (Android Authority does not do guest posts). There are days when I wake up to over 50 new emails.

Navigating through all these messages is a chore — one that could end up taking up way too much of my day. One of the most efficient ways for me to deal with this torrent of messages is to mark an email as “read” straight from the notification. In most situations, seeing the sender, subject, and first few words of the email are all I need to judge whether or not it deserves more of my time. If it does, I either tap the notification to read it right there or swipe the notification away and read the message later since it will still be marked as “unread” in my inbox. If the email doesn’t deserve more of my time — which is the majority of emails I get — I want to mark it as “read,” so it still stays in my inbox for future reference but will allow me to move on to other matters quickly.

Unfortunately, Gmail for Android does not offer this feature. You can reply to an email from the notification, archive it, or delete it. By default, the notification just has “Reply” and “Archive,” but you can change this to “Reply” and “Delete” in the app’s settings. There’s no option for “Mark as Read,” which nearly every other major email app offers.

Confusingly, this feature is offered in the Gmail app for iOS. So Google is aware that people want and actively use the “mark as read” option, but it chooses not to offer it on Android, specifically. This makes zero sense.

Having a work/life balance is incredibly important, and a big part of that is having the ability to turn off notifications related to work. Slack offers this, as does Asana (two of the most-used and best Android apps for any Android Authority employee). All I need to do is tell Slack or Asana my working hours, and they turn off notifications during off time. That way, I can live my life without feeling like I’m just working non-stop.

Most email apps also offer this on a per-account level. Outlook for Android, for example, allows you to set a Do Not Disturb schedule for each account added to the app. In my case, this pushes notifications about personal emails during off-work time but not notifications for work emails. For me (and I’m sure many other people who work remote jobs), this is an essential feature. Well, it’s also a feature Gmail for Android doesn’t have.

It’s astounding that this is missing from Gmail, especially when you remember how much Google focuses on its Digital Wellbeing initiative. There’s an entire section of the Android operating system dedicated to this idea, yet the Gmail app doesn’t allow you to turn off work notifications at set times. How do those two things jibe?

Granted, I can use Digital Wellbeing tools to schedule a shutdown of all email notifications, but that isn’t what I want. I still want to see emails from my friends and family — I just don’t want to see work-related ones. It’s mind-boggling that Google doesn’t offer this.

Most people reading this use their email apps on multiple devices. If you buy one of the best Android tablets available right now and want to duplicate the Gmail experience you have on your phone on that tablet, you only have one choice, unfortunately, which is to build up that app from scratch. There’s no way to fully carry over everything about your phone install of Gmail to the new tablet without some degree of manual configuration.

Interestingly, most other Android email apps can sync many elements and settings to the cloud. Blue Mail probably offers the most robust system for this, which is called MagicSync. This allows you to add your primary email account to your new install, use the MagicSync code created on your other install, and poof: everything is automatically recreated on your new install. For security purposes, you still need to enter the passwords for your accounts, but your settings, signatures, and app customizations all carry over.

Gmail for Android can’t even touch this level of convenience. Your signatures, settings, and mailboxes do not transfer to a new install. Every time you set up a new Android device, you must do everything from scratch. This is especially infuriating for people who work at places like Android Authority, where we are constantly setting up Android devices. It’s a huge time suck.

Yet another way I attempt to manage the deluge of daily emails I receive is through filters and labels. Filters, in particular, are very useful for this (although one should be careful not to make filters that could cause you to miss important Gmail messages). As an example of how I use this tool, I might get multiple pitches a week from a brand asking me to cover their products. Most times, there’s no way to unsubscribe from these pitches, and I know we are unlikely ever to cover them, so every email is, quite literally, a waste of my time. So I’ll add that brand’s name into a filter and have every message with that name automatically marked as “read” and designated with a specific label (which moves it out of my inbox and into a folder). This happens at the server level, so I simply never see those emails unless I look for them.

However, to do any of this organization, I need to use the web version of Gmail. Not only can I not create new filters and labels in Gmail for Android, but I can’t even edit existing ones. If I’m on the go with no immediate access to my laptop, I need to make a note to myself to deal with that filter/label later. In most cases, when a message arrives that causes me to think, “I need a new filter for this,” I just leave that email in my inbox marked as “unread,” so I remember to attack it next time I’m at my computer. But there shouldn’t be any reason I can’t do this on my phone right when I come up with the idea.

It’s not like this is unprecedented, either. Popular open-source email app FairEmail offers the ability to write filter rules on the go. However, it is part of its Pro feature suite, so you’ll need to pay for it. Regardless, this is proof that Google could allow for this in Gmail for Android. It just doesn’t.

OK, I’ll admit that this one is a bit nitpicky, but hear me out. Let’s say I get an email that has something to it that makes me uneasy, like a suspicious URL. After doing a scan for Android viruses, I wouldn’t want that email hanging around my inbox, so I would delete it. But I know that the email will then sit in my Trash folder for at least 30 days before Google permanently destroys it, which is not ideal.

In that situation, I would want to go into my trash folder and permanently delete that one email. However, this is not possible with Gmail for Android. I could delete all the emails in that folder, but I can’t just delete one at a time. In order to do things one by one, I’d need to head to my laptop and use the web version of the app.

You might think this is pretty low on the totem pole for Gmail features, but here’s the kicker — Gmail for iOS has this feature! Yet another thing people with iPhones can do that Android users cannot, even though we’re using the same app from the same company. You know, the company that owns Android.

I saved the best (or worst) for last. I have four email accounts: personal, Android Authority, freelancing (not used much anymore), and one for my now-defunct podcast Skipped on Shuffle. Gmail for Android has a nifty “All Inboxes” section that pulls all emails from these four accounts into one feed. I love this because I can see everything together and know I have no unread messages without needing to bounce from account to account or scroll too far.

The problem, though, is that on Android, there’s no way to default to this “All Inboxes” filter. In other words, when I close Gmail for Android and then open it again, it will open up my last used inbox. I can’t go into Gmail’s settings and tell it to always start with All Inboxes.

I haven’t tried every email app ever, obviously, but I am pretty confident that Gmail for Android is the only one with over a million installs that doesn’t allow for defaulting to All Inboxes, which is patently insane. It becomes even more insane when, once again, you learn that this is something Gmail for iOS has.

Even if this were the only thing Gmail for Android was missing, it would be enough to make me not want to use it. But this, combined with everything else on this list (along with a few things I didn’t bother putting here), pushed me to abandon my attempt to use Gmail instead of something else.

For now, I’m invested in Outlook for Android, which is robust, simple, and offers almost everything I could want. I still need to make filters on my laptop, which sucks, but at least I can default to the All Inboxes folder, mark emails as read from the notification, not set up my email signatures over and over again, and most of the other things on this list.

See you later, Gmail. Maybe I’ll come back in another eight years to see if anything’s gotten better.

Update, October 13, 2024 (10:43 AM ET): We’ve updated this Nintendo Switch 2 rumor hub with information on a data breach that revealed the Switch 2’s codename and potential games.

Original article: Even if you love it and still use it daily, there’s no denying that the Nintendo Switch is getting old. Launched in 2017, the hybrid console celebrated its seventh birthday in March, which means it’s getting close to retirement. With this in mind, one can’t help but wonder: where is the sequel, presumably called the Nintendo Switch 2?

Thankfully, Nintendo has confirmed that a successor is coming soon. There have also been some rumors and leaks surrounding the sequel to Nintendo’s best-selling home console. We’ve rounded up the most trustworthy of them here. Towards the end of the article, we also have a few wishlist items — things we hope to see but don’t have any evidence for quite yet.

The Nintendo Switch is the company’s best-selling home console ever, with over 143 million units shipped to date. The only hardware Nintendo has released that has done better than the Switch is the Nintendo DS, which sold 154 million units, making it possible (even likely) that the Switch could become Nintendo’s best-selling hardware of all time. When you take this popularity into account, you can be relatively assured there will be a Nintendo Switch 2.

Nintendo has confirmed that it will announce a successor to the Nintendo Switch within this fiscal year, meaning that the Switch 2 (or whatever it ends up being called) will be revealed no later than March 31, 2025.

Since the announcement comes directly from the company, this is completely true and reliable as long as you believe their word.

Eurogamer reported on September 7, 2023, that Nintendo showcased the Switch 2 to developers behind closed doors at Gamescom. The outlet claimed that the firm showed a number of tech demos, including a higher resolution and frame rate version of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of The Wild. But it stressed that there was no hint that this game would be re-released.

It was also reported by VGC that Nintendo showed off Epic’s The Matrix Awakens Unreal Engine 5 tech demo, which was originally released to showcase the power of the PS5 and Xbox Series X. This doesn’t mean that the Switch 2 is as powerful as these consoles, however. The report says that the Switch 2 was relying on NVIDIA’s DLSS technology with advanced ray tracing enabled to upscale the resolution to the same level as current-gen consoles.

For the record, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa shot down these rumors in November 2023 while speaking with the Japanese publication Mainichi. Specifically, Furukawa says the rumors are “inaccurate” and “untrue.” Take that as you will.

However, Pokemon developer Game Freak confirmed in the middle of October 2024 that it was hacked. The hack was a sizeable one that revealed details on not only unannounced games and projects, but also the codename of the Switch 2. According to the stolen data, as reported by IGN, the Switch 2’s internal codename is “Ounce.”

Will it be called ‘Nintendo Switch 2’ or something else?

Sony sticks to a reliable naming scheme for its consoles. The first PlayStation was followed up by a PlayStation 2. After that, we saw a PS3 and a PS4. Even today, the newest console is the Sony PlayStation 5. It’s all very logical and reliable.

Nintendo doesn’t go this route. In fact, since the launch of the original Nintendo Entertainment System in 1983, there has never been a “2” in a Nintendo console’s name. That includes handheld consoles as well as the 2DS, which isn’t a direct sequel to the DS but instead a variant of the 3DS. So, the likelihood of a sequel to the Switch landing with the official name of Nintendo Switch 2 is relatively low.

Then again, the Nintendo Switch is unlike anything the company has done before. Its ability to act as both a home console and a handheld sets it apart from Nintendo’s historical roster, and its runaway success has created some serious brand recognition for the word “Switch.”

We also have to consider the Wii. While the Wii sold well, the Wii U name was confusing and didn’t help sales in the slightest. It’s possible the company could keep things simple and call the sequel a Switch 2.

Still, Nintendo tends to do its own thing, and it’s likely the Switch successor will follow these same rules while still trying to clarify this is indeed a new console. For what it’s worth, there have been some possible names thrown around, such as Super Nintendo Switch, New Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch Pro, among others. For now, though, we’ll just use “Nintendo Switch 2” as a shorthand.

As mentioned, Nintendo has officially teased that the company will make an announcement about the successor to the Nintendo Switch “within this fiscal year.” The current fiscal year ends on March 31, 2025, so the Switch 2 will definitely be announced between now and then, as per the company’s own words.

However, keep in mind that just because Nintendo will launch the new Switch between now and April 2025, that doesn’t mean you’ll actually be able to buy one then. It is very possible Nintendo could reveal the new console’s name, design, launch titles, price, and more, but not actually make it available for purchase. There have been numerous examples of this strategy in Nintendo’s past and competitors such as Sony and Microsoft.

With that in mind, it’s anyone’s guess as to when you’ll actually be able to get one of these for yourself. But, Nintendo will almost certainly reveal this information during the launch, so you don’t have long to wait.

We don’t expect Nintendo to reinvent the wheel with a Switch sequel. The original Switch is a massive hit and a cultural touchstone. Hopefully, Nintendo won’t mess with this success. As with the jump from the Nintendo DS to the Nintendo 3DS, we expect the company to keep the core of what the Switch is and make it better rather than wildly revamping things as it tried to do from the Wii to the Wii U.

A new design?

It is very unlikely that Nintendo would ship a Switch 2 that looks and functions just like the original Switch. As such, we are expecting at least minor changes to the design. However, as of now, what those changes might be are relatively unknown.

We have seen some leaks, but we would advise heavy skepticism about their accuracy. We’ve seen plenty of conflicting information from various sources, so we’re not quite sure who to believe. Regardless, here are the significant leaks we’ve seen so far.

The above CAD-based images allegedly show the Nintendo Switch 2. The images were found on Reddit, but are said to originate from an unverified source on a Chinese social media site.

According to the Reddit post, we’re dealing with a console that has an 8-inch screen, magnetic Joy-Cons, and USB-C ports on the top and bottom. Additionally, it’s claimed that the system will have 12GB of RAM, support for HDMI 2.1, and 256GB of internal storage. Notably, other rumors contradict these leaked specs.

Based on the images, it looks like the SL and SR buttons on the Joy-Cons may have been revised. In addition, it appears that the release button on the controllers have been changed as well.

While you should remain skeptical of this leak, the images reportedly match what Nintendo’s partners have been told to expect, according to VGC‘s source who has not seen the Switch 2 but has been briefed on the plans. The details also appear to align with previous leaks suggesting an 8-inch display.

Meanwhile, a reshared leak from CentroLeaks, citing Famiboards community member “mjayer,” includes a purported scale mockup of the Switch 2’s size based on leaked parts, comparing it to the original Nintendo Switch and the Steam Deck. Keep in mind that this is a size mockup, not a design mockup. The final product will almost certainly look significantly different from this mockup, but it could retain similar dimensions:

Switch accounts

Whenever Nintendo switches (pun intended) to a new console, those consoles tend to have their own account systems. So unlike PlayStation and Xbox, where players carry their accounts over from generation to generation, Nintendo players typically need to create a new account. But that won’t be the case for the Switch’s successor.

Nintendo of America boss Doug Bowser spoke with Inverse about the Switch’s future in October. While he didn’t confirm or deny the existence of a Switch 2, Bowser did talk about making the transition easier by allowing accounts to carry over to whatever comes next.

“Well, first, I can’t comment — or I won’t comment, I should say — on the rumors that are out there,” Bowser told the publication. “But one thing we’ve done with the Switch to help with that communication and transition is the formation of the Nintendo Account.” He then said that the new overarching Nintendo Account would “allow us to communicate with our players if and when we make a transition to a new platform, to help ease that process or transition.”

As for why Nintendo is embracing this change of approach, Bowser stated:

“Our goal is to minimize the dip you typically see in the last year of one cycle and the beginning of another. I can’t speak to the possible features of a new platform, but the Nintendo Account is a strong basis for having that communication as we make the transition.”

So, it appears whenever the Switch 2 — or whatever the next console is — comes out, you’ll still have the same account as you did with the original Switch. This strongly suggests at least some level of backward compatibility.

A better processor

Inevitably, the Nintendo Switch 2 would need to be more powerful than the original. The need for better CPU/GPU performance is painfully evident for Switch games like Pokémon Scarlet/Violet, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, and even The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. These titles sap so much from the Switch’s meager processor that dropped frames, glitches, and even outright crashes are common.

As such, we are confident Nintendo will include an upgraded processor with a Switch sequel. The system on a chip (SoC) in the Switch is based on the Tegra X1, which NVIDIA launched in 2015. Recently YouTube content creator Paul Eccleston put together a spec sheet that is supposedly made from info that combines his own sources with a report from the Korean United Daily News. In this report it is claimed the Switch’s successor will have a Cortex-A78AE processor with 8GB of RAM and 64GB of internal eMMC. This is a paltry amount of built-in storage but not out of character for Nintendo in the slightest, as the company has always had relatively low internal storage compared to its contemporaries.

Nintendo will also need to finely balance performance with power consumption due to the ostensibly portable nature of the Switch 2. Though the same spec sheet claims this won’t be an issue as the company will offer improved battery life which hints at a bigger battery and a possibly bulkier design.

Most recently, we’ve heard that the performance of the Nintendo Switch 2 could be on par with a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One. This comes from an Activision employee with direct knowledge of Nintendo’s plans, which came to light through heavily redacted documents unearthed for the Activision-Microsoft litigation. This makes us feel pretty confident that the Switch 2 will be much more powerful than the original and it an upgrade to nearly Xbox One quality graphics feels reasonable even for a system designed with portability in mind.

Launch games

The rumor mill appears pretty confident that the Switch successor could support backward compatibility with current Switch titles. That would be terrific news, as it would enable you to continue playing your favorites from the past seven years without needing to keep your original Switch.

One “new” game we do think might launch with the Switch 2 is Hi-Fi Rush. Per a report from Insider Gaming, the Xbox/Windows-exclusive title is confirmed to be coming to other consoles, including the PlayStation 5. However, the Switch was curiously left out of this announcement, and IG thinks it might be because it’s actually coming to the Switch 2. If so, we likely wouldn’t hear confirmation until deep into 2024.

Regardless of the status of Hi-Fi Rush, you should expect at least one launch title from Nintendo’s various first-party franchises. This could be Mario, Donkey Kong, Zelda, Metroid, or any other, but it is unlikely Nintendo would launch a new console without a first-party exclusive attached.

In the Game Freak data breach mentioned earlier, we learned that there is a 10th-generation mainline Pokemon game with the codename “Gaia.” There are reportedly two versions of the game, one with the designation “K” and the other “N.” This suggests Nintendo plans to release one version for the Switch and another for the next-gen successor. It’s unknown if this game will be ready by or around the time the Switch 2 launches. Meanwhile, it’s unknown if the already-announced Pokemon Legends: Z-A will also come to Switch 2, but the leak says it has the codename “Ikkaku.” There was also mention of a game codenamed “Synapse,” which is said to be an MMO-like Pokemon game in co-development with another studio.

One reason for the runaway success of the original Switch is its price. At $299, it is significantly less expensive than a PlayStation 5 and the same price as an Xbox Series S. However, that does not mean the Switch 2 would be priced similarly.

If Nintendo does keep the original Switch in production when it launches a follow-up console — which is very possible considering Nintendo’s official statements on its continuing support for the original Switch — it could easily justify charging more for the Switch 2. For example, Nintendo could price a Switch 2 at $399. In fact, a reliable source, VGC, points to that number in a recent leak from January 2024.

That’s expensive, yes, but still $100 less than an Xbox Series X and the same price as the original digital-only version of the PlayStation 5 (the slimmed-down version of the digital PS5 got a price increase in late 2023). The success of the Switch has perhaps earned Nintendo the right to charge more, especially if it sees a ton of spec upgrades.

If you think about it, that hypothetical $399 price would make a lot of sense. On the low end, you’d have the Switch Lite at $199. The original Switch would remain at $299, and the Switch OLED Model would be an upsell at its current price of $349. The Switch 2 could top the list as the newest and best model at $399. Of course, Nintendo could make the Switch 2 feel more premium by eliminating the original Switch and dropping the Switch OLED Model to $299, too.

Regardless, we do not expect the Switch 2 to cost the same as the original at launch since both products will likely exist simultaneously.

In fact, it’s very possible the Switch Lite could continue on for a while longer with a focus on smaller games and more DS-like experiences, which is a lot of like what we frankly saw from the OG Switch and Switch Lite in 2024 anyhow.

Additionally, games will likely be more expensive. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom controversially launched at $70, which is $10 more than the average first-party Switch game. This may have been a test run, as VGC says Switch 2 games might be at $70 as a default.

Should you wait for the Nintendo Switch 2?

At this point, yes, if you are thinking about a Nintendo Switch this late in the game, we’d wait for a Switch 2 unless you’re willing to buy used. The only exception is maybe the Switch Lite, as it’s very likely a Switch Lite 2 won’t come until further down the road.

Simply put, the Switch is too old to spend full price on, and it’s very likely the system will see step discounts next year when its successor arrives.

Of course, if you have young kids who have just come of age for gaming and don’t want to wait another year, the Switch is still a great system. Just be aware it’s showing its age hard.

A performance-boosting dock

The Switch’s dock is incredibly simplistic. Really, it’s just a plastic box with an HDMI adapter attached. The Switch OLED model slightly increases complexity by incorporating an Ethernet port, but it’s still just an adapter box. We’d love to see the Nintendo Switch 2 have a dock that also increases the power of the Switch itself.

The dock could act the same way as an eGPU, boosting the graphical abilities of the Switch when it’s connected. This could allow for higher refresh rates, higher resolutions (4K please!), better audio, etc., when playing the Switch 2 on your television. When you take it out of the dock to use it in handheld mode, the performance would drop — but it wouldn’t matter on that tiny screen. Obviously, this would increase the cost of the Switch 2 significantly, but it would make the console so much better. Even if this is a “Dock Pro” that’s sold separately, we’d love to see Nintendo do this.

Support for higher refresh rates

Whether playing on your TV or in handheld mode, all three current Switch models are capped at 60Hz. The Xbox Series X/S and the PlayStation 5 — both three years old at this point — support higher refresh rates. Even budget Android smartphones have 90Hz displays nowadays, so Nintendo needs to get with the times. We’d love to see 90Hz in handheld mode and 120Hz when docked. This would make the Switch 2 more of a modern console and would make it more future-proof. It would also help differentiate the Switch 2 and the original Switch models.

Better Joy-Con

Without a doubt, the weakest aspect of the original Switch is the Joy-Con controllers. The rumble tech is cool, and the multiple control options are neat, but the stubby sticks, questionable ergonomics, and cheap, tiny buttons leave much to be desired when using the Switch on the go. Nintendo probably isn’t going to reinvent the wheel with a Switch 2, so the sequel console will probably have Joy-Con that are very similar in design to the originals. But there’s a ton of room for improvement there. Besides, Nintendo would need to avoid the “Joy-Con drift” debacle that still pervades to this day with Switch hardware. Once again, this could also be a simple differentiator for why the Switch 2 is more expensive than other Switch models.

Have any Nintendo Switch 2 leaks to share with us? Send us a tip, and we’ll check it out.

It appears that within the vast Google ecosystem, AI is now omnipresent, providing answers at every turn. Whether on smartphones, tablets, or various applications, Google is actively infusing Gemini‘s intelligence into its offerings. However, one notable exception stands out: Google Chrome seems to be overlooked when it comes to a Gemini integration that makes sense.

I don’t know about you, but for the longest time now, I’ve felt frustrated with the slow integration of Gemini on the desktop version of Chrome. Not only is Google’s pace for bringing Gemini features to Chrome desktop leisurely, but it’s also the way the company is doing it that’s troublesome to me.

AI is supposed to make life simpler, and Google is doing just that on mobile. You can use Google Assistant to summarize web pages in Chrome on mobile. Alternatively, you can use Gemini on your phone to ask what’s on your screen. Google is also expanding Gemini Extensions on mobile, making it so much easier to interact with various apps. Want such features on the desktop version of Chrome? You’re out of luck.

This is the state of affairs on Chrome desktop right now: If I want to use Gemini for summarizing a web page — the most basic feature — I have to fire up the AI by typing @Gemini in the taskbar, then manually copy-paste the URL of the webpage I want the AI to summarize. Why can’t Google just make this process more intuitive? Why the need for all these extra steps and the presumption that I should know how to perform them? If AI is supposed to make tasks like summarization easier, surely there’s a better way to implement them in Chrome for desktop.

In fact, I feel the handful of other AI features Google has for Chrome on desktop are all integrated in a way that is most user-unfriendly. Want to apply a custom AI theme on Chrome? You’ll have to head to the Customize Chrome button at the bottom right of a new tab, an area most people tend to ignore in the browser. Want to search for things visually? There’s a great Google Lens integration for it in Chrome for desktop, but it will only appear when you actually click inside the address bar or right-click on an image — or press a key combination if, like me, you have a MacBook. Then there’s the “Help Me Write” tool that’s great for writing tips but only comes up with a right-click on a text field. Why am I expected to remember these unnecessary steps to bring up these AI tools?

Google also recently announced AI-based Tab Compare and History Search features for Chrome on desktop. The first one will provide an AI-generated overview of products you’re searching for from across multiple tabs, while the latter will let you search your browsing history in a more natural manner. Now, I’m all for these features, but I am very sure Google is going to scatter them all over the place and make discovering or using them a proper chore when they finally arrive.

An official Gemini extension or side panel for Chrome is a no-brainer

What’s the solution for all of this? Well, it’s staring Google right in the face — create a single, unified home base for Gemini and all things AI in Chrome. I would give anything for an official Google-made Gemini extension or side panel for Chrome on desktop. It’s such a no-brainer.

Microsoft has already created something similar for Copilot on Edge. You can simply tap the Copilot button on the right corner of the Edge browser, and a side panel pops up, letting you summarize a webpage, ask questions about it, compare products you want to purchase, summarize PDFs, and more. I also love how you can just select any text in Edge, and it will give you a quick list of things you can do, including asking Copilot about that specific bit of text. These are features someone like me, who scours the web all day for work, could really use. I want all this in Chrome and more.

Imagine a Gemini side panel or extension seamlessly integrated into the Chrome browser, consolidating all AI features into one organized and accessible location. Such an enhancement would significantly improve the experience of using AI tools in the browser. Need a summary? Simply tap the extension. Want writing assistance? The Gemini extension would intelligently recognize a text field and offer relevant suggestions. Looking for a product comparison? Activate the Gemini side panel, and it will generate one for you. Want an AI-designed wallpaper? Just head to the Gemini sidebar and create it with ease.

Now, that’s intelligence I can get behind! This is the level of integration I envision for Gemini in Chrome — not the current state, which feels like navigating a treasure hunt through a disorganized array of limited features. What would be even better is if Google offered feature continuity for AI searches and queries between mobile and desktop versions of Chrome. Now, that would be truly intelligent.

Now, why don’t I just use the countless Gemini extensions available in Chrome already, you ask? Well, because I don’t trust them. AI features on a browser require sharing some very sensitive information with the service provider. I can get on board with Google handling my data, but I don’t want some random developer having access to my browsing history or other personal identifiers.

So let’s make this happen, Google. Like me, there are others who want a similar experience in Chrome. It’s the world’s most used browser, and with Gemini going from strength to strength, it’s time to marry the two with a proper ceremony. No more making people guess how to make Gemini work on their desktop. No more making us wait for simple features like AI summaries. Just give us a Gemini side panel with the basics in place and keep adding all future AI features to it.

I’m a bit addicted to Duolingo in the quest to improve my Spanish. I know it isn’t the best tutor, but I’m too lazy to take traditional classes. Plus, I can dip into the educational app a couple of times per day and feel as if I’m improving. I happily embrace my mild addiction — how bad can an addiction to learning be? Except it’s not learning Spanish that I’m actually addicted to, which is why stumbling upon this Duolingo cheat has slightly ruined the app for me.

Some of you might be interested in why I’m disappointed, but more of you probably want to know about the Duolingo cheat. I’m happy to share it.

It’s more of a bug than a cheat, but it’s a way of generating XP quite quickly and, crucially, without learning a thing. You can see me exploiting it in the video above.

On the mobile app, go to the Exercises section and choose the Speak practice. This exercise is already quite an easy way to score cheap XP. If your reading and pronunciation are good enough, you can interrupt the demonstration and repeat the text. If not, you just have to make the same sounds that the Duolingo character does. Either way, the app doesn’t want to punish strange accents, so you usually don’t have to be anywhere near perfect to get the congratulatory ping.

The bug I discovered is that if you press Tap to Speak immediately as the next question appears, it’s too early for the app to register it as interrupting the demonstration. The on-screen character goes ahead and says the phrase while the voice recorder is running. With the app on speakerphone, the microphone hears the correct answer being perfectly pronounced by the Duolingo character, and you get the win.

You then press Continue and immediately hit Tap to Speak again. Rinse and repeat.

This doesn’t involve me actually speaking other than to complete the first question. You don’t even need to look at the phrase and can complete the whole ten-question exercise in around 60 seconds. With your 2x Boost enabled for 15 minutes — do one lesson before midday and one after 6 PM each day to have these gifted to you — you can rack up 500 to 600 XP in a quarter of an hour without engaging your brain much.

Pressing Tap to Speak quickly is the important part, and I suspect it’s why I can’t use the method for the first question or recreate it on the desktop version. It may even be specific to phones that don’t run the app too quickly — I’m using my old OnePlus 10 Pro. Even if you can’t replicate it, there are other ways to cheat at Duolingo out there on the internet if you want to find them. I wish I hadn’t found it at all.

Duolingo actually works quite well for my Spanish, but mainly because the intentionally addicting aspects of the app keep me practicing. The bright colors and dopamine-inducing sounds have their intended effect, but it’s the XP leaderboards that trigger my competitive nature. Accumulating XP is my goal, and learning Spanish is a helpful byproduct.

I now have the option to dispense with the learning part altogether. It’s always tempting to fall back on this method when I’m tired and only need a few more XP to seal a certain league place. As handy as that is, the sense of achievement isn’t the same. Not only am I not required to do those crucial lessons when I’m not in the mood, but I’m also less inclined to practice overall.

Gamers will be familiar with this feeling. I never seek out cheat codes until I’ve completed a game because the artificial improvement, while fun, takes the sport out of it. I quickly lose interest after that. At least if you cheat on school exams, you might get qualifications out of it. It’s completely pointless if you’re doing it to beat an app that’s designed for self-improvement.

Hopefully, someone from the Duolingo team will read this. I doubt I’m in the running for any kind of bug bounty, but I’ll settle for the glitch being fixed.

The Pixel 9 series has a nice minimalist design, but if you’re looking for something more ostentatious, the dbrand Grip Case is worth a look. It combines the unique, flashy designs of dbrand’s skins with a very nice case that’s worth buying in its own right.

It’s a premium case, and as such, it arrives in premium packaging. dbrand definitely went overboard here, but if you like the unboxing experience you won’t be disappointed. It includes the case itself plus any skins in a little pouch on the side. Note that the images of the skins you see in this review are early prints, so they don’t include the sticker for the camera module. Personally, I think it looks better without this sticker, but you can make that decision for yourself.

While the case slips easily onto the phone, I had some trouble with the skin placement. The new pill-shaped camera bar on the Pixel 9 series means the skin is one large piece with a huge cutout in the middle. That makes it difficult to line up, especially on the thin sections next to the camera. You can always swap it out for a new skin, but it’s an expensive mistake to make.

With the skin installed, the case has a nice texture on the back, but it’s still smooth enough to provide a solid connection for the magnets. These magnets unlock a huge ecosystem of chargers, stands, wallets, and more. There aren’t many good magnetic cases for the Pixel 9 series, but this one is easily among my favorites.

Of course, I have to mention what gives this case its name: the incredibly grippy microdot texture all along the sides. It’s the grippiest case I’ve ever tested, for better or worse.  There are also some glossy grip strips where your hands rest, but it’s still fairly abrasive in hand. If you’re sensitive to textures, it might be too much.

Personally, I liked the extreme grip, but what impressed me more was the small detail around the camera bump. Instead of a raised platform, it features slightly raised rails at the top of the sides. This eliminates the hard edges of the camera bump and prevents any rocking while on a table. Overall, it’s a very clever design.

Another nice detail is that the lip on the front of the case is slightly lower on the sides. This makes using swipe gestures very comfortable while protecting your Pixel 9’s OLED panel.

And now for the bad news—the price. The dbrand Grip Case for the Pixel 9 series starts at $50, but that’s just for skins with matte colors. If you want a more interesting skin, you’re looking at $55-60. Additional skins are another 10-20 bucks. 

That makes it one of the most expensive cases on the market, but considering everything it offers, it’s still a good value. With excellent drop protection, integrated magnets, and a virtually undroppable design, there isn’t much more you can ask for.

If the dbrand Grip Case for the Pixel 9 is too grippy or too expensive for you, here are a few more options worth considering:

• Casetify Impact Case ($59.99 at Casetify): Casetify offers even more customization than dbrand, albiet with printed patterns. The case is still very protective, but it’s thinner with a more standard TPU feel in hand. It’s still pretty pricey, though.
• Caseology Athlex ($15.99 at Amazon): For something more affordable, check out the Caseology Athlex. It has a similar microdot pattern all around the sides, with a more subdued pattern on the back. It’s not as interesting to look at, but it’s a third the price.
• Cyrill Ultrasheer ($21.99 at Amazon): This one is a clear case, but the printed patterns offer a more feminine option than anything dbrand puts out. There’s still a grippy microdot texture around the sides, but it’s definitely not as premium as the Grip Case.

Although Samsung already launched the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6, the company is expected to release one more foldable before the end of the year — the Galaxy Z Fold 6 Special Edition. There have been quite a few leaks about the device since we first learned of its existence, but new information is still coming forward. A new leak has now set expectations for the handset’s display crease.

With each iteration, Samsung has found ways to further minimize the ever-present crease on the displays of its foldables. This time, however, it may not take a full generation to see an improvement.

Today, well-known tipster Ice Universe shared some details about the Galaxy Z Fold 6 Special Edition’s display. According to the leaker, the firm has done a solid job with crease control on the Special Edition, claiming that it’s “better than ever.” This would suggest that the crease is even less noticeable than it is on the regular Galaxy Z Fold 6.

Earlier leaks have said that this Special Edition will have a wider cover display than the Galaxy Z Fold 6, as well as S Pen support, a thinner body, a 200MP main camera, and more. Add a less noticeable crease to the mix, it really sounds like the Special Edition is the version to have.

Unfortunately, the Special Edition is believed to only be coming to South Korea and China. Leaked promotional material suggests that pre-orders could start later this month.

Like millions of others, I was a die-hard Spotify fan for years. But lately, I’ve been having a bit of a music app mid-life crisis, and I’ve found myself straying toward YouTube Music. With most music streaming services offering practically the same songs, features, and price tag, how do you choose “the one?” For me, it all boils down to how well the app can read my mind.

You see, my musical taste is anything but simple. I enjoy a wide range of genres, from lyrical rap to 90s Bollywood to 140 BPM techno bangers and everything in between. This creates a couple of challenges when it comes to music streaming. First, I’m often unsure what I’m in the mood for. Second, I’m mostly in the mood for a mix of things at once.

It’s all good when I know exactly what I want to listen to; I can pick a song or mood and let the app handle the rest. In those instances, both Spotify and YouTube Music get the job done. But even then, I’ve noticed that YouTube Music’s “song radio” feature works better for me, and a lot of you seem to agree.

The real struggle starts when I’m in musical limbo, wanting to listen to something awesome but having no clue what that something is. Spotify tries to solve this with its “Daily Mix” playlists. You get individual playlists for rap, EDM, and whatever else you’re into. They’re not bad, but it feels like these playlists often put me in a box.

Spotify also generates “personalized” playlists based on my listening habits,  like “upbeat mix,” “rap mix,” or “2010s mix.” But these mixes are again genre-based and, in my subjective opinion, include more “popular” songs than tracks I connect with.

YouTube Music also has “My Mix” playlists, which function similarly to Spotify’s genre-based offerings. But then, there’s the “Supermix” —  and that’s where the magic happens. It’s chaotic, unpredictable, and precisely what I didn’t know I needed.

Supermix is like a musical rollercoaster, a beautiful chaos of songs that perfectly reflect my eclectic taste. It’s an automatically updated playlist that doesn’t just collect what I’ve been listening to lately; it also digs deep into my listening history, bringing back some forgotten favorites that I haven’t heard in ages. And the best part? It throws genre out the window.

As you can see, my Supermix playlist is wild. Case in point: the playlist section visible in the last screenshot starts with the song “Calm Down” and ends with “Melt ur Brain.” It’s like a DJ with no rules but with exactly my taste, and that’s why it all just works.

Sure, sometimes you want your playlists to stick to a consistent mood — like keeping it chill or staying groovy. But I’ve realized that there’s something really freeing about letting the Supermix surprise you. My wife and I have had the best road trips recently, just letting the Supermix do its thing. Every few songs, we’d look at each other like, “Wait, this is on here too?” It’s an endless shuffle of surprises, and it keeps things fun.

The Supermix is just one of the many features that are making me consider switching to YouTube Music for good. What’s your experience been like with Spotify, YouTube Music, or any other streaming apps? Please drop a comment, and let’s compare notes.