Quick Shots-21

Twitter opens Super Follow subscriptions for some creators

Twitter is finally flipping the switch on “Super Follows,” its new subscription feature that allows creators to charge their followers for exclusive content. Starting today, the company is making the feature available to a “small group” of creators, with plans to expand the lineup in the coming weeks (Twitter has been taking applications for Super Follows since June).

For now, creators can set monthly rates of $2.99, $4.99 or $9.99 in order to access “subscriber-only” tweets. Twitter says it will eventually incorporate other features, such as Spaces and newsletters. But until then the feature essentially amounts to.. paying for tweets, which might explain why the company is trying it out with just a few people to start.

Read More at Engadget

Qualcomm is about to give your next wireless earbuds a CD quality boost with aptX Lossless

Qualcomm has announced the next generation of Bluetooth audio with its new aptX Lossless Technology. The new feature is coming to next-generation earbuds equipped with Snapdragon Sound technology and will enable CD-quality audio over a Bluetooth connection.

While many smartphones and computers are capable of lossless audio, Bluetooth connections often hinder the experience due to a lack of bandwidth. Current codecs like those from Sony can offer near-lossless audio, but there are still limitations that Qualcomm has apparently addressed with aptX Lossless.

Read More at Android Central

Microsoft announces September Surface event, may unveil Surface Duo 2

On September 1, Microsoft released a cryptic tweet teasing its fall hardware event, which “you’re invited” to attend. Online only, the event will focus on new Surface hardware.

Microsoft hasn’t given any hints of what products to expect at the event. However, we know from numerous leaks that the company is developing the Microsoft Surface Duo 2, a foldable phone set to clash against the Galaxy Z Fold 3.

Read More at Android Central

Google is reportedly planning custom chips for Chromebooks and tablets

The Pixel 6 is the first significant reinvention to Google’s smartphone series we’ve seen in years. It’s not just a design change, either — thanks to the new Tensor SoC, we’re hoping to see the company’s most powerful flagship device yet. Pixel phones are only one entry in Google’s ever-expanding lineup of hardware, of course. If you’ve been waiting to see a Chromebook powered by custom silicon, you might not have to wait too much longer.

According to a new report from Nikkei Asia (via 9to5Google), Google is developing CPUs for both Chromebooks and Chrome OS-powered tablets, currently slated for a 2023 launch. As you might expect, these processors are based on ARM rather than x86, just like this year’s Tensor SoC. Although Intel processors still power plenty of mainstream Chromebooks today, chips like Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7c are slowly appearing in more devices.

Read More at Android Police

How to Use Your iPhone As an Official ID

In this digital age, why do we still have physical IDs? I don’t need my credit card when I can use Apple Pay; I don’t need my MetroCard anymore with Express Transit; but still, I need to bring the whole wallet with me anywhere that requires a driver’s license. Luckily, it looks like that’s changing with iOS 15, as Apple is making it possible to add an official ID to your Wallet app.

The new feature is tied to iOS 15, so it isn’t live yet. But we already know quite a bit about it; Apple will let you add your driver’s license or state ID to Wallet, so long as your state supports the feature. Once added, you can use it when going through new security lanes at participating airports. While that’s the initial use case, we hope to see this ID in Wallet feature accepted in more forms in the future, such as when buying alcohol or other age-restricted goods.

Read More at Life Hacker

Alexa Might Yell at You Now, But For Good Reason

Amazon’s Alexa already has a “whisper mode” where the assistant will talk softly during quiet times, but now they’re working on solving a problem on the other end of that spectrum. If you’ve ever found it hard to hear Alexa over the TV, kids, or something like a dishwasher, Amazon’s new “adaptive volume” option aims to help out.

First reported by The Verge, with adaptive volume, Alexa will be able to tell when you’re in a noisy environment and speak up loudly as a result. So while your digital assistant won’t necessarily yell at you, it’ll definitely talk a lot louder. That could be fun with certain celebrity voices.

Read More at Review Geek

Google app on Android makes it easier to control SafeSearch with ‘Hide explicit results’ setting

SafeSearch, which “filter[s] out explicit content in Google’s search results,” has been around for so long that it has entered the cultural lexicon. The Google Search app on Android is now making it easier to access with a new “Hide explicit results” settings page.

Previously, “SafeSearch” for websites, images, and videos could be accessed from Google app settings > General. It was just another toggle in that long list of options. 

The company has now moved it to the main preferences page alongside Google Assistant, Notifications, Channels & interests, Languages & region, and homescreen widget customization.

“Hide explicit results” opens a full Google settings page to turn on/off the Explicit results filter. There’s a brief description, and you can get a longer one by expanding “More about SafeSearch” with links to help documents at the bottom. 

Read More at 9to5Google

The Pixel 6’s wireless charging speeds reportedly go up to 23 watts

Google’s next generation of Pixels is coming with even faster wireless charging speeds than what current models offer. As proof, a new report from Android Police claims that Google is planning a Google Pixel 23-watt WL Stand for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro.

Alongside the Pixel phones, Google regularly debuts accessories such as cases and wireless charging stands. The Pixel 6 is likely not bucking that trend, as the report, which cites a retail source, notes. The retail source works for a carrier that has already begun to input support for the new accessories as the launch date approaches. The accessories include the Google Pixel 23W WL Stand and a Demo Google Pixel 23W WL Stand, the latter of which is likely for showcasing the phones in stores.

Read More at Digital Trends

Samsung’s Walkie Talkie app lets you talk to the one other person you know with a Galaxy Watch4

When smartwatches first started to appear on the market, every commercial had people using them to talk on the phone. That’s still possible with most of them, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone doing it in the real world. But Samsung isn’t giving up the dream of a comic book future: the company’s latest app is a walkie talkie feature exclusive to the new Wear OS-powered Galaxy Watch4.

It’s called WalkieTalkie. Samsung isn’t great at naming things.

Read More at Android Police

Apple Reportedly Planning Multiple New Apple Watch Health Features, Including Temperature and Blood-Pressure Monitoring

Apple is planning to add a raft of new health features to the Apple Watch, including blood-pressure trends, a thermometer for fertility and sleep tracking, sleep apnea detection, and diabetes detection, as well as a number of updates for existing models, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Read More at Macrumors