Meta's Threads is paying some creators thousands of dollars for… forum

What you need to know Google is expanding the motion-sickness feature to more Android phones through Google Play services. You’ll need an Android 17 or newer device running Google Play services v26.37. Motion Assist uses your phone’s motion sensors to move on-screen bubbles in sync with the vehicle. Google is taking one of the more unusual features from its September Pixel Drop and bringing it to a much wider audience. Motion Assist, the company’s attempt to reduce motion sickness while you’re using your phone in a moving vehicle, is now rolling out through Google Play services. The feature arrived on Pixel phones a few weeks ago, but the latest update to Google Play services v26.37 extends support beyond Google's hardware. You’ll need an Android 17 or later phone and the latest version of Google Play services. For starters, Motion Assist places small visual bubbles around the edges of the display. Then, it uses the phone’s motion sensors to move those shapes in sync with the vehicle. This works pretty much like Apple’s own take on the feature, which has long been available on iOS devices. The idea is to provide your eyes with a visual reference that correlates more closely with what your body is experiencing. This might lessen the mismatch that can cause motion sickness. The appearance of the feature can also be customized, including the opacity, color and shape of the bubbles. Motion Assist can turn on when your phone detects that you are in a moving vehicle, or you can tur

I have a never-ending pile of books to read, and I try to take at least an hour a day to read. That usually involves sitting on the couch with the Kobo Libra Colour , and while I enjoy using the 7-inch e-reader (a lot), it isn't what I'd call portable; I mostly use it while at home or on a flight. This is the biggest advantage with the Boox Palma 2 Pro solves. As it has roughly the same dimensions as a phone, it is seamless to take anywhere, and I just throw it in my EDC bag. While I was initially hesitant to use the device because of the smaller size, I now see it as a huge advantage, and I ended up using the Palma 2 Pro much more than I imagined in the last six months. Starting at $399 , it isn't an impulse purchase by any measure, and it costs more than most high-end e-readers; I like the DuRoBo Krono as well, and that retails for $279 as of writing. That said, the unique size and feature-set of the Palma 2 Pro make it a great choice to use just about anywhere, and I'm outlining three areas where it's made a real difference. The Palma 2 Pro allowed me to read everywhere (Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central) When I take out the Kobo, it is intentional. I plan my reading sessions and try to minimize distractions. That hasn't been easy in recent years because of a busy schedule and a toddler, and there are weeks where I don't get any reading done. This isn't an issue with the Palma 2 Pro; I have it with me while going out, so if I'm just waiting around, I just us

What you need to know Xiaomi has confirmed the Xiaomi 18 Pro will feature a hardware-based smart privacy display similar to Samsung's. The screen will remain clearly visible from the front, while side brightness reportedly drops to around 1% beyond 60 degrees. Privacy protection will also be able to work with specific lock screen notifications as well as floating windows. Xiaomi has already confirmed that the Xiaomi 18 series is arriving very soon with a magical rear display . And now, the company has revealed another major feature coming to its new flagship smartphone lineup. Similar to the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, Xiaomi has confirmed that the Xiaomi 18 Pro will feature a new smart privacy display. For those who don't remember, Samsung introduced Privacy Display with the Galaxy S26 Ultra , which uses the display hardware itself to make it difficult for people looking from the sides to see what's on your screen. And now, Xiaomi is bringing similar technology to the Xiaomi 18 Pro. In a teaser posted on Weibo , Xiaomi confirmed that the Xiaomi 18 Pro will ship with what it calls a smart privacy screen. Similar to Samsung's implementation, the privacy effect is built into the display itself rather than relying on software or a third-party privacy screen protector. (Image credit: Xiaomi / Weibo) When the mode is active, the person directly in front of the phone will still be able to see the display properly, while someone looking from the side will instead see a much darker, ne

What you need to know Googlebooks are finally here, and Google says pre-orders have begun as promised today (Sept. 21). The Googlebooks feature touchscreens, haptic glass trackpads, backlit keyboards, and strong Android phone pairing. The company says users can cast apps or stop and start projects from their Android phone on their Googlebook. Googlebooks from ASUS, Dell, HP, and more start at $899; available at Best Buy, Google Store, and other retailers ahead of an October 4 market release. In case you haven't checked your phone, it's September 21. Googlebook pre-orders officially begin today, and Google's full announcement is finally here. Today (Sept. 21), Google announced that pre-orders for the first wave of Googlebooks have begun. The post states that Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, and Lenovo build this initial wave. Pre-orders are open, and laptops begin at $899. Each brand features distinct craftsmanship , ranging from custom keyboards to cinematic audio. Google states these laptops from these brands were crafted in "premium materials like aluminum, magnesium alloy, and carbon fiber, making them exceptionally light, sleek, and durable.." These Googlebooks provide touchscreens with up to 2.8K OLED displays, haptic glass trackpads, and backlit keyboards. Powered by Qualcomm and Intel processors (depending on the brand), these laptops also offer up to 14 hours of battery life. It's also hard not to mention that the Glowbar is back. Google says this illuminates on startup and offe

One way Google entices you to buy its latest smartphones — including the Google Pixel 11 , Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold — is through its subscriptions. Like most tech companies, Google upsells you a subscription to keep you inside its ecosystem, but unlike most tech companies, Google reaches a large swathe of most people’s daily lives. For years, Google subscriptions were fragmented and separate, and while they still are to a degree, this year has been transformative for those of us with multiple Google products. I personally had four different subscriptions to Google products on my personal account — Google One storage, YouTube Premium, Fitbit Premium, and Gemini Advanced — and in the case of the latter, it’s one that I often forgot to cancel the renewal on. Now, Google has a new proposition: the Google AI Pro bundle. The $20 starting price tag will be familiar to anyone who uses ChatGPT, Cursor, Claude, or any other AI model. What will surprise you is how much value is packed into that $20 price tag. Even better? You can get up to six months free with one of the latest Google devices. This is the best AI subscription for everyone, even iPhone users. Here’s why. Google AI Pro bundle offers phenomenal value for money (Image credit: Google One AI Plans) Like any human being, I love a bargain, or at least the perception of one. The Google AI Pro bundle is the definition of an absolute bargain, especially if you use one or two of the services. First, it replaces the pr

You probably wouldn't have noticed unless you're constantly searching for Samsung and Google Pixel phone deals like I am, but Verizon has had a noticeable shortage of offers over the past few weeks. Fortunately, it looks like the lull has come to an end, as the Big Three carrier just launched a promotion that will give you a FREE Google Pixel 11 Pro when you add a line with the Unlimited Plus or Unlimited Ultimate plan. Google Pixel 11 Pro 256GB: $1,099.99 FREE with new line on eligible unlimited plan at Verizon The Google Pixel 11 Pro is a powerful Android phone with feature-rich software, versatile cameras, and seven years of guaranteed updates, and now you can get your own for FREE by simply adding a line with the Unlimited Plus or Unlimited Ultimate plans at Verizon. View Deal Meet the Google Pixel 11 Pro The Pixel 11 Pro wasn't a dramatic transformation for Google, but I'm certain it'll still end up on our list of the best Android phones of 2026. The compact flagship comes equipped with a vibrant 6.3-inch OLED 120Hz display and the new HiLight LED array for notifications, while under the hood you get a powerful Tensor G6 chipset with 12GB of RAM, some upgraded camera hardware, and the advanced Titan M3 security coprocessor. As one would expect from Google, the Pixel 11 Pro also features the latest AI-boosted software features and seven years of OS and security upgrades, plus you get Qi2.2 charging support and a thinner and lighter form factor than ever before. The proble

Deals on smart glasses can be hard to find, but Amazon attempting to change all of that with its latest offers. Weeks ahead of the Big Deal Days sale (sometimes known as October Prime Day), the retailer is offering the Viture Pro 2 XR smart glasses at a 21% discount , marking $81 off the normal purchase price and bringing them back to their lowest price ever recorded. These are a good pick for anyone looking to use their AR glasses for gaming, watching movies and TV shows, traveling, or other AR-based activities. They also have the benefit of selling for far less than many other smart glasses options, making them a budget-friendly pick as well. They also come with adjustable frames, three different nose pad sizes, and seven fit customization options overall. To be sure, these aren't the most powerful or versatile smart glasses ever built, but for most casual users consuming media or tackling simple work tasks, they're a great pick. Prime Big Deal Days returns Oct 6-7: see the full list of deals Viture Pro 2 XR/AR Glasses: $379.00 $298.99 for Amazon's early October Prime Day sale Some of Amazon's October Prime Day deals are going live early, including a 21% discount on the Viture Pro 2 AR glasses. This is an affordable pair of AR/XR smart glasses that's well-suited for gaming, watching media, and hands-free activities while traveling. View Deal ✅Recommended if: you're looking for XR smart glasses that feature a user-friendly UI and a nice display without having to break the ba

Vivo just unveiled the X500 Pro Max at an event in Shanghai, China, and there's a lot to like with the phone. The X500 Pro Max is the clear highlight, but there's also a standard X500, and the X500 Pro. With the Pro Max, Vivo is delivering a bigger phone with a huge 6.85-inch AMOLED panel, and an 8,000mAh battery — the largest on one of its devices yet. It's the cameras that are the main highlight of these phones, so let's start with what the X500 Pro Max has to offer. It uses a 1/1.28-inch 50MP main camera that uses Sony's new Lytia 910 sensor, and it's joined by a 200MP telephoto lens with 3.5x optical zoom — the same as the X300 Ultra — and a 50MP wide-angle module. Elsewhere, the X500 Pro Max is powered by MediaTek's latest 2nm Dimensity 9600 Pro platform, and it is a clear powerhouse. The switch to 2nm brings huge gains in efficiency, and with the phone having an 8,000mAh battery, it should easily last three days without any issues. There's also a bigger 6.85-inch AMOLED panel with higher resolution than last year (3168 x 1440), and the latest connectivity. Just like the X300 Ultra earlier this year, the X500 Pro Max focuses on video, with Vivo bringing most of the features over to Pro models. Vivo says it has achieved vertical integration through what it calls the BlueImage Dynamic Imaging Technology Stack, with the brand working closely with Sony (who made the camera modules), MediaTek (to customize the Dimensity 9600 Pro), and ZEISS (to deliver gimbal-level stability)

What you need to know Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite is powering Googlebook, a new laptop category built specifically for Gemini Intelligence. Equipped with a 12-core Oryon CPU (up to 4GHz) and a Hexagon NPU pushing 45 TOPS, the platform is engineered to run complex generative and agentic AI directly on-device. Preorders are open now for the first wave of hardware, including the HP Googlebook 14 and new models from Dell. Qualcomm today announced it will bring its Snapdragon X Elite platform to the first Googlebook laptops, a collaboration with Google to power a new breed of computers built around Gemini Intelligence. Dell and HP are the first manufacturers to release Googlebook devices , and both models are currently available for preorder. The collaboration pairs Google’s Gemini-based software with the Snapdragon X Elite’s emphasis on performance, efficiency, and on-device AI. Qualcomm’s platform also features a 12-core Oryon CPU that can clock up to 4GHz and a Hexagon NPU that can deliver up to 45 TOPS, meaning Googlebook will have dedicated hardware for generative and agentic AI workloads. Googlebook also aims to make Android devices feel more connected to the laptop. Qualcomm's press release mentioned features including Cast my Apps, Magic Pointer, and Rambler, which are designed to provide information from e-mail, calendars, and on-screen content. Native Android app and game support also broadens what users can run directly on the laptop. The Snapdragon hardware also has

What you need to know MediaTek's Dimensity CX C10 Max is the company’s first chip for its new Compute Experiences family, targeting premium Googlebook devices. The 3nm chip packs an all-big-core octa-core CPU, 11-core GPU, and eighth-generation NPU for demanding workloads. The Imagiq 1090 ISP supports cameras up to 32MP, HDR video, smoother zoom, cinematic video, and continuous focus. MediaTek is officially bringing its silicon chops to high-end laptops. The chipmaker has announced the Dimensity CX C10 Max, a new processor specifically designed for the upcoming new wave of AI-first Googlebook devices . The chip is the first product in MediaTek’s new Dimensity Compute Experiences family and is expected to power an upcoming premium ultra-portable laptop. The C10 Max is built using TSMC’s 3nm process and takes a very unusual approach to laptop performance, with an all-big-core octa-core CPU, paired with an 11-core GPU. MediaTek also brings its 8th-generation NPU that provides dedicated hardware for AI workloads to the platform, rather than just relying on the CPU or GPU. According to the company's press release, the MediaTek NPU 890 can deliver up to 55 trillion operations per second (TOPS). MediaTek is promoting the NPU as the engine behind the Gemini Intelligence features for upcoming Googlebook hardware. The company says that keeping more AI processing on the device can also improve response times and provide additional privacy benefits. The device has more capabilities beyon

What you need to know Gmail now shows a Copy Code button when an OTP or verification code arrives directly in your email inbox. The shortcut can appear inside the email and directly in the main Gmail inbox alongside the message preview. Google's new verification code shortcut is rolling out through the Gmail app on both Android and iOS. Gmail now offers an easier way to copy verification codes directly from the app. Android already makes it pretty easy to copy OTPs and verification codes when they arrive through the Messages app. But now, Google is bringing similar functionality to verification codes that land directly in your Gmail inbox. The company is rolling out a new integration for the Gmail app on both Android and iOS that adds a small Copy Code shortcut whenever an OTP or verification code arrives. Now, when an OTP lands in your inbox, Gmail shows a small card at the top of the email (below the subject line) containing the verification code alongside a Copy Code button. You can simply tap the button and paste the code wherever you need it, instead of manually typing it out or selecting and copying it from the email. (Image credit: Future) In addition to showing the shortcut inside the email, Gmail has also started displaying the Copy Code button directly in the main inbox alongside the email preview. That implementation doesn't seem to work every time just yet, but I've found the shortcut inside emails containing verification codes to appear much more consistently. Th

What you need to know Gmail now shows a Copy Code button when an OTP or verification code arrives directly in your email inbox. The shortcut can appear inside the email and directly in the main Gmail inbox alongside the message preview. Google's new verification code shortcut is rolling out through the Gmail app on both Android and iOS. Gmail now offers an easier way to copy verification codes directly from the app. Android already makes it pretty easy to copy OTPs and verification codes when they arrive through the Messages app. But now, Google is bringing similar functionality to verification codes that land directly in your Gmail inbox. The company is rolling out a new integration for the Gmail app on both Android and iOS that adds a small Copy Code shortcut whenever an OTP or verification code arrives. Now, when an OTP lands in your inbox, Gmail shows a small card at the top of the email (below the subject line) containing the verification code alongside a Copy Code button. You can simply tap the button and paste the code wherever you need it, instead of manually typing it out or selecting and copying it from the email. (Image credit: Future) In addition to showing the shortcut inside the email, Gmail has also started displaying the Copy Code button directly in the main inbox alongside the email preview. That implementation doesn't seem to work every time just yet, but I've found the shortcut inside emails containing verification codes to appear much more consistently. Th