Latest news with #smartphones
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
The Dumbest Phone Is Parenting Genius
The Atlantic Daily, a newsletter that guides you through the biggest stories of the day, helps you discover new ideas, and recommends the best in culture. Sign up for it here. When Caron Morse's 9-year-old daughter asked for a smartphone last year, her reaction, she told me, was unambiguous: 'A hard hell no.' Morse is a mental-health provider in the Portland, Maine, public-school system, and she was firmly against smartphones, having seen how social media and abundant screen time could shorten students' attention spans and give them new anxieties. But she wanted her children to have some independence—to be able to call friends, arrange playdates, and reach out to their grandparents on their own. She also needed a break. 'I was so sick,' she said, 'of being the middle person in any correspondence.' So when her daughter turned 10, Morse did get her a phone: a landline. For that gift to provide all the benefits she wanted, Morse had to lay some groundwork. It would be annoying if her daughters—she also has an 8-year-old—were to start calling their friends' parents' smartphones all the time, so she told her neighbors about her plan and suggested that they consider getting landlines too. Several bought in immediately, excited for the opportunity to placate their own smartphone-eager kids. And over the next couple of months, Morse kept nudging people. She appealed to their sense of nostalgia by sharing photos of her older daughter sitting on the floor and twirling the landline's cord around her fingers. She wrote messages: 'Guys, this is adorable and working and important.' The peer pressure paid off. Now about 15 to 20 families in their South Portland neighborhood have installed a landline. They've created a retro bubble in which their children can easily call their friends without bugging a parent to borrow their phone—and in which the parents, for now, can live blissfully free of anxieties about the downsides of smartphones. In the past few years, interest in old-school technology has been rising, driven partly by desperate adults seeking smartphone alternatives for their kids. Fairs peddle 'dumb phones' to parents of tweens. On Reddit, one parent shared that they'd gone 'full '90s,' with a desktop computer installed in the living room, a Nintendo 64, and a landline. In March, after a Millennial mom posted on Instagram about getting a home phone for her kids, she received scores of comments from parents saying they'd done the same—or planned to soon. [Read: End the phone-based childhood now] But these are isolated examples. As Jonathan Haidt, the author of The Anxious Generation (which helped inspire Morse's landline purchase), told me, smartphones are so dominant in part because families are beset by a 'collective-action problem.' Many parents are concerned about how their children might use smartphones, and particularly social media. They're familiar with the research suggesting a correlation between social-media use and high rates of anxiety and depression among teens and especially teen girls. Still, parents can struggle to say no to a child asking for a phone when everyone at their school already has one. 'If your child is the only one who is kept away from phones or social media,' Haidt said, 'then you are isolating them.' That's why he encourages parents to band together to reset common norms: 'If you do it with a group, then you're actually fostering more real-world interaction.' When the South Portland landline pod formed, that's exactly what the parents started to see. The phone Morse got her daughter is light pink with a curly cord and sits atop a buffet table outside the family's kitchen. Morse wanted the phone to be in a 'centralized' part of the house, with a cord, so that her daughters couldn't whisk it off to their bedrooms for private conversations or take it with them while they played. 'Very rarely do we ask kids to be still and communicate,' she explained. 'I didn't want my kids to go play with slime when they're on the phone. Communication should be something you're actually focusing on.' Not all of the parents in her pod got corded phones. But everyone I spoke with told me that the devices, corded or not, had helped their children become better listeners and more empathetic communicators. At first, the kids took some time to adjust. Erin Masterson, whose children attend school with Morse's, recalled a time when her 10-year-old son shouted into the phone to a friend, 'ARE YOU HOME?!' And all of the children have had to practice greeting callers, identifying themselves when they place a call, and sometimes asking to speak to someone else. But after a few months, they grew more comfortable. Because audio-only calls tend to come with fewer distractions—no faces to look at, no enticing filters or emoji—Masterson sees her sons 'really tune in to what people are saying.' Mindy Hull, another parent in the neighborhood, has noticed a similar pattern with her 8-year-old daughter. 'The progression from January until now' in the way her daughter 'can engage people in conversation is mind-blowing,' Hull told me. 'She's practicing listening,' and better understands the meaning in subtle verbal cues. Since the landline pod started, the kids have been arranging their own playdates (although they still have to ask their parents for permission). And when an in-person hang isn't possible, they've still been able to connect. Parents told me their children had called friends to ask questions about Dungeons & Dragons, to check on a friend after they were out sick from school, or just to chat on rainy days—all without their parents having to worry about what else the kids might be doing on the phone. The landlines have also given these parents a glimpse into their kids' social lives that they might not otherwise have enjoyed. Recently, Hull listened as her daughter, who uses their phone at least once a day, talked with a friend for an hour and a half. 'They were giggling and laughing and telling stories,' she said. 'I couldn't believe it.' [Read: How the loss of the landline is changing family life] Crucially, parents in the landline pod aren't just banning smartphones; they're giving their children an alternative—a method that's much more likely to make kids happy, Jacqueline Nesi, a psychologist who studies the effects of technology and social media on adolescents, told me. She recommends that parents simply ask their children why they want a smartphone: 'Do they want to be able to communicate with friends? Do they want to play a certain game? Think about what the goals are and then work from there.' The landline solution isn't perfect. Morse told me that when the house phone rings while they're watching a movie, it can be annoying; you can't silence a landline as easily as you can a smartphone. Occasionally, the phone makes a buzzing sound; her daughters have learned to smack it against the table—once, hard—to make it stop. And most of the parents I spoke with acknowledged that, eventually, they would probably get their children a smartphone; they were just trying to postpone that development as long as possible. (Hull is the one holdout I spoke with who thinks her daughter might never need a smartphone while under her roof.) For now, Morse and Masterson are considering limited-function smartwatches as their eldest children head to middle school and begin venturing out more on their own. Masterson wants to get her son a device with only call and text capabilities, so he can arrange rides and activities after school. Morse likes the idea of getting a watch that also has GPS, so she can track her daughter's location. When the time does come for a smartphone—if it comes—the parents hope their children will be better prepared to handle one responsibly. They'll be older and more emotionally mature, and will have passed the age at which experts say a child's brain is particularly vulnerable to the addictive qualities of smartphones. They'll also have communication skills, honed by landline, that could come in handy. After years of practice, they might be quicker to call someone instead of sending a text or leaving a social-media comment, leading to a potentially stronger connection with that person. After all, a smartphone's most basic feature—and, I would argue, its best—is one it shares with a landline: the ability to call a friend and talk. When you buy a book using a link on this page, we receive a commission. Thank you for supporting The Atlantic. Article originally published at The Atlantic
Phone Arena
2 hours ago
- Phone Arena
Galaxy S25 FE leak essentially suggests that Samsung's budget flagship will get the Edge treatment
In addition to three or four new foldable devices widely expected to see daylight in just a few weeks, Samsung is almost certainly preparing an upgraded non-foldable high-ender for an official announcement by the end of the year too. The existence and impending arrival of the Galaxy S25 FE have been basically set in stone by a number of recent rumors and leaks, and now we finally know exactly how the S24 FE's sequel is supposed to look on the outside. Predictably enough, the new inexpensive Android flagship is not tipped to completely reimagine its predecessor's design, although there are at least a couple of changes in the pipeline destined to put a big smile on the faces of a lot of cash-strapped power users and hardcore Samsung fans. As much as we'd all love to see companies like Samsung break new aesthetic ground with every upgraded member of families like the Galaxy S and Galaxy Z, it's important to acknowledge that reinventing the wheel (or the classic rectangular slab look) is not easy... or very feasible in this day and age. As such, maintaining a family identity and a coherent design language while slowly but steadily improving key little details like product weight and thickness is probably the best thing Samsung can do year in and year out. Enter the Galaxy S24 FE -similar S25 FE with a 7.4mm waist. Nowhere near as thin as the S25 Edge, the S25 FE could be just about as eye-catching as the Galaxy S25. That's considerably thinner than the S24 FE's 8mm measurement, and although it obviously can't rival the industry-leading 5.8mm thinness of the first-of-a-kind Galaxy S25 Edge, it's pretty clear that this is a trend now that Samsung plans to keep going for at least a little while longer. At 7.4mm, the S25 Fan Edition will be almost as slim as the "vanilla" Galaxy S25 (which rocks a very slender 7.2mm profile of its own), but hopefully, this won't impact battery life in any noticeable way. Interestingly, the Galaxy S25 FE is also expected to be slightly shorter and narrower than the S24 FE, at 161.4 and 76.6mm respectively (compared to 162 and 77.3mm), which means a reduction in bezel size is virtually guaranteed too. That's because the S25 FE is likely to retain its predecessor's 6.7-inch screen diagonal, as well as the super-high-quality AMOLED technology, 120Hz refresh rate support, and decent albeit not glorious resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels. Unfortunately, that's a strong possibility after today's highly detailed leak. Especially if Samsung manages to keep the 4,700mAh battery capacity unchanged, or even better, bump that up (somehow) to 5,000mAh. With great improvements comes a strong possibility of a (small) price increase. Under the hood, a few disappointing rumors have hinted at the use of the same Exynos 2400e processor found inside last year's Galaxy S24 FE, which would make it pretty hard for Samsung to justify any potential price hike. On the bright side, some insiders believe the Galaxy S25 FE could offer as much as 12GB RAM and 256GB internal storage space in an entry-level configuration, so if that ends up costing $700 in the US instead of the $650 list price of a Galaxy S24 FE with 8GB RAM and 128GB local digital hoarding room, the value proposition might prove extremely difficult to argue with. Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase This offer is not available in your area.
Globe and Mail
12 hours ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
ZTE showcases full-stack innovations at MWC Shanghai 2025, co-creating an era of AI for all
ZTE Corporation ( / a global leading provider of integrated information and communication technology solutions, has unveiled a full range of frontier innovations under the theme "Catalyzing Intelligent Innovation" at MWC Shanghai 2025. These innovations span AI + networks, AI applications, and AI-powered terminals. At immersive demonstrations, ZTE showcased its key advancements in AI phones and smart homes. Leveraging its underlying capabilities, the company is committed to providing full-stack solutions—from infrastructure to application ecosystems—for operators, enterprises, and consumers, co-creating an era of AI for all. AI + Networks: Systemic Innovations Bolster Intelligent Network Infrastructure The AI boom has driven rising demands for technological upgrades and industrial digitalization, unlocking new growth opportunities for operators. With systemic innovations, ZTE remains committed to comprehensively enhancing connectivity for operators and redefining network value with AI-native technologies across all domains. The company's new solutions include: 1. Full-scenario coverage solution: This solution incorporates advanced technologies, such as uplink three-component-carrier aggregation, and differential products including MiCell and qNCR. It delivers superior experiences and seamless coverage for both emerging business (AI-powered terminals, autonomous driving, VR, embodied AI) and scenarios with weak signals (elevators and underground parking lots). 2. Integrated low-altitude solution: ZTE has developed the industry's first " ISAC Foundation Model" and made comprehensive breakthroughs in "technology, ecosystem, and commercial deployment" to drive the low-altitude economy development. This solution has been deployed in over 100 commercial and pilot projects. 3. SAGIN solution: With a deep dive into 5G ATG and NTN technologies, ZTE is pushing the boundaries of wireless connectivity at high altitude and in space. Moreover, ZTE has rolled out a full range of innovative solutions for network intelligence upgrades. 1. AIR RAN solution: deeply integrating AI to fully improve energy efficiency, maintenance efficiency, and user experience, driving the transition towards value creation of 5G 2. AIR Net solution: a high-level autonomous network solution that encompasses three engines to advance network operations towards "Agentic Operations" 3. AI-optical campus solution: addressing network pain points in various scenarios for higher operational efficiency in cities 4. HI-NET solution: a high-performance and highly intelligent transport network solution enabling "terminal-edge-network-computing" synergy with multiple groundbreaking innovations, including the industry's first integrated sensing-communication-computing CPE, full-band OTNs, highest-density 800G intelligent switches, and the world's leading AI-native routers Through technological innovations in wireless and wired networks, ZTE has built an energy-efficient, wide-coverage, and intelligent network infrastructure that meets current business needs and lays the groundwork for future AI-driven applications, positioning operators as first movers in digital transformation. AI Applications: Deep Integration Brings Greater Industry Value AI applications are revolutionizing vertical industries at a faster pace—from technological exploration to value creation. At the booth, ZTE showcased its use cases for various sectors such as government affairs, transportation, automotive manufacturing, education, and healthcare, as well as AI applications for typical scenarios like intelligent manufacturing and businesses' global compliance, demonstrating how AI truly amplifies productivity. Notably, ZTE AiCube all-in-one machine has played a key part in such fields as education, healthcare, enterprise management, automotive design. 1. Education: ZTE collaborated with Zhejiang University in deploying Zhihai AI Education AiCube that offers AI general courses, specialized courses, and practical training courses to accelerate the popularization of AI education. 2. Healthcare: ZTE's Medical-Care AiCube deployed in top-tier hospitals enables minute-level generation of diagnostic reports with over 95% accuracy. Additionally, ZTE partnered with Shanzhen, a Chinese healthcare service provider specialized in medical examinations, to launch the AI check machine, offering efficient, precise, and standardized medical report review services for medical institutions and examination centers. 3. Automotive design: ZTE worked with Dongfeng Motor in AI-driven automotive design, which boosts both efficiency and creativity. ZTE Digital Nebula has been applied in key scenarios such as ports, rail transit, and government affairs. The success cases include: 1. Smart fire and smoke detection system for the Taicang Port, significantly reducing hardware costs and false alarms through its visual intelligence platform and computer vision foundation model 2. LLM and AI agent for Qingdao Metro, delivering higher operational efficiency across key urban rail systems 3. Unified network management and analysis system, further increasing urban governance efficiency of Jiangning District of Nanjing City At the event, ZTE highlighted how AI powers sensing, interaction, cognition, decision-making, and behavior at its Nanjing Binjiang Base, effectively upgrading and redefining industrial manufacturing. Additionally, AI agents on the ECSS platform, leveraging ZTE's 30 years of global operational experience, deliver comprehensive compliance services to enterprises expanding internationally, ensuring their sustainable growth overseas. These achievements are driven by ZTE's continuous innovations in intelligent computing. Its full-stack intelligent computing solution fosters a sustainable ecosystem through openness and decoupling, and maximizes resource efficiency via software-hardware synergy. On the hardware side, ZTE unveiled SuperPOD servers with next-gen architecture, Out-of-the-Box AiCube, and a full range of in-house chips, AIDC switches, and full-band OTN products—enabling high-speed interconnects and holistic computing resource scheduling. On the software side, the company's innovations deliver efficient, stable training and cost-effective inference, unleashing huge computing potential. ZTE also launched Agent Factory Co-Sight to enable minute-level application development. In green computing, its prefabricated modular DC solution reduces construction time by 40%, while power and battery products deployed in 850,000 5G base stations worldwide have lowered annual carbon emissions by 6 million tons, setting a new industry benchmark for sustainable development. AI-Powered Terminals: Large Models Redefine Smart Experiences While large AI models are reshaping interactive experiences and ecosystem value, ZTE actively diversifies its product offerings for consumers and homes, forging the frontiers of industry innovation. At the exhibition booth, visitors can be immersed in "A Day with AI" with a fusion of "2D culture + gaming" experiences. In the home terminal market, ZTE AI Home establishes a family-centric vDC and employs MoE-based AI agents to deliver personalized services for each household member. Supported by an AI network, home-based computing power, AI screens, and AI companion robots, ZTE AI Home ensures a seamless and engaging experience—providing 24/7 all-around, warm-hearted care for every family member. The product highlights include: 1. AI FTTR: Serving as a thoughtful life assistant, it is equipped with a household knowledge base to proactively understand and optimize daily routines for every family member. 2. AI Wi-Fi 7: Featuring the industry's first omnidirectional antenna and smart roaming solution, it ensures high-speed and stable connectivity. 3. Smart display: It acts like an exclusive personal trainer, leveraging precise semantic parsing technology to tailor personalized services for users. 4. AI flexible screen & cloud PC: Multi-screen interactions cater to diverse needs for home entertainment and mobile office, creating a new paradigm for smart homes. 5. AI companion robot: Backed by smart emotion recognition and bionic interaction systems, the robot safeguards children's healthy growth with emotionally intelligent connections. For consumers, ZTE's "AI for All" strategy shines with its full-scenario ecosystem products: 1. RedMagic product series: dominating mobile gaming with extraordinary breakthroughs in display, battery life, performance, and cooling 2. Nubia series: delivering photography excellence and meeting the young generation's needs; especially for nubia Z70S Ultra Photographer's Edition that redefines personalized flagship smartphones 3. 5G MBB/FWA products: maintaining market leadership 4. Various AI phones: launched with operators to benefit more people with technologies The digital and intelligent evolution is unlocking an infinite future. Ushering in a new era of AI, ZTE will anchor its strategy on "Connectivity + Computing". Collaborating with industry partners, the company is committed to driving industrial transformation, and achieving computing and AI for all, thereby contributing to a smarter, more connected world. Media Contact Company Name: ZTE Corporation Contact Person: Stella Zhao Email: Send Email Country: China Website:
GSM Arena
14 hours ago
- GSM Arena
OnePlus rumored to be working on new gaming series
OnePlus is apparently working on an entirely new line of products, which will be very gamer-oriented. The smartphones in this line will have bigger batteries than the other OnePlus devices, flagship chipsets, and dedicated gaming triggers. The bad news is that initially this new series will only be available in China. But of course, if it proves to be a huge success over there, it may then make it to international markets. OnePlus 13 Unfortunately, no other details about this line or any member device have been outed so far, but we'll let you know when we find out more. In the meantime, let us know in the comments whether you're excited to see something more gamer-oriented from OnePlus. This sounds like it would compete head-on with RedMagic, for example. Source
GSM Arena
16 hours ago
- GSM Arena
Leaked images show off Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 colors, storage info also leaks
Leaked info shows that the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 will be widely available in three colors: Jet Black, Blue Shadow and Coral Red. Traditionally, there are a few additional colors that are available exclusively through (those have not leaked yet). The first leaked official images of the phone offer a better look at what a couple of those colors will look like. Here is the Z Flip7 in Jet Black: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 in Jet Black (leaked images) For comparison, here are images of last year's Z Flip6. The widely-available Silver Shadow is a light gray, leaving the exclusive Crafted Black as the only darker option. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 in Silver Shadow and Crafted Black Next up, the Z Flip7 in Blue Shadow: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 in Blue Shadow (leaked images) The Blue color of the Galaxy Z Flip6 is a light pastel, there wasn't anything as deep as Blue Shadow. Unfortunately, the Coral Red color didn't leak. Here is the old Galaxy Z Flip6 in Blue, Peach, Yellow and Mint: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 in Blue, Peach, Yellow and Mint The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 will be available in two memory configurations, 256GB and 512GB, based on leaked model numbers. There is no mention of a 1TB model. Meanwhile, the more affordable Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 FE will be a step lower starting at 128GB storage and having 256GB as the upgrade. The FE foldable will come with a simple color palette of Black and White, but there are no images to go with this leak. This leak does not cover RAM, though we can turn to Geekbench results for a clue – the Z Flip7 was spotted with 12GB and the Z Flip7 FE with 8GB. Keep in mind that those were just individual units - it's still possible that Samsung will offer higher RAM capacities as an upgrade (but it has been a while since we've seen 16GB from Samsung). Source 1 | Source 2 (in Finnish)
