Samsung’s very first Galaxy Z TriFold went on sale last Friday, but it sold out in minutes. This folding phone differs from the 7th generation Galaxy Z Fold7 in the sense that its screen can extend up to 10 inches, rotating in a suitable tablet. This also means it costs an incredibly high price of $2,899. This is the first device of its type here in the West, although Huawei has its own version in China.
You’ll need to sign up on Samsung.com to receive notifications when the next batch of Galaxy Z TriFolds becomes available. The company says it has limited units at select Samsung Experience Stores in the United States, in states including New York, Texas, California, and Minnesota.
Leak gives us a glimpse of Google’s Aluminum OS
Google has not been silent in hinting at its future plans for converge Android and Chromebooks into a single operating system, apparently known as Aluminum operating system internally. But now we can get a first look at what it will look like, as taken up by 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Google. Granted, the preview is a bit limited, but a few official images and a video were taken from a bug report revealing the interface, which has since been removed by Google.
The brief overview shows that Aluminum OS really looks like Android and ChromeOS stitched together. The windowing and browser elements seem to be taken from ChromeOS, while the rest of the interface seems to take more inspiration from Android. Specifically, the taskbar and Start screen look a lot like Android 16’s desktop mode. The video shows two instances of Google Chrome running in split-screen, a common setup for Chromebooks, before briefly opening the Google Play Store in a separate window. Regardless, from what we see here, Aluminum OS doesn’t appear to be a significant divergence from what’s available. This will be important if Google hopes to maintain the Chromebook business in education markets.
Although Aluminum OS is expected to replace ChromeOS in the long term, it could take years. Chromebooks themselves aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. But rumors indicate that we will see an official launch of its cross-platform operating system later this year, as Google gradually integrates its platforms. —Luc Larsen
Vivaldi’s new update avoids AI
Vivaldi via Scott Gilbertson
Vivaldi, a alternative web browserrecently released an update to its tab organization tools, but the update is more notable for what it doesn’t include: AI. “While all the major browsers are racing to integrate AI assistants into their products, Vivaldi is giving the whole approach the middle finger.” writing Jon von Tetzchner, CEO of Vivaldi.
With Google’s Chrome browser now incorporating the company’s Gemini 3 LLM model To handle tasks like booking flights and finding apartments, Vivaldi positions itself as the browser that remains AI-free. Instead, Vivaldi plans to double down on tools for humans, because “human intelligence, equipped with truly powerful tools, beats artificial algorithmic assistants every time,” says Tetzchner.
The new “powerful tools” in this release include some improvements to Tab Tiling, Vivaldi’s functionality for having two tabs (two or more web pages) side by side in the same window. Vivaldi 7.8 adds a new feature that lets you tile tabs using drag and drop. Grab any tab from your tab bar and drag it onto the current tab, and Vivaldi will tile the two side by side. Where you drag it determines how the tab is arranged, left, right, up, or down, depending on where you want it.
Other new features in this update include easier access to Vivaldi’s built-in email client and a user-requested feature that lets you restrict pinned tabs to a single domain. Vivaldi 7.8 can be downloaded from the Vivaldi website. —Scott Gilbertson
Samsung makes a durable screen
Courtesy of Samsung
Samsung is always experimenting with new display technologies, but sustainability enthusiasts will be particularly interested in its most recent innovation: phytoplankton-based bio-resin in displays. The material is part of a new e-paper color display from Samsung, where it is used in the case.
“The display casing has been independently verified by global safety and sustainability certification body UL to be made from 45 percent recycled plastic and 10 percent phytoplankton-based bioresin,” Samsung says. “This material innovation was developed as an alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics, which can reduce carbon emissions during the manufacturing process by more than 40 percent.”
The use of modern and advanced plastics is intended for these screens; The new display is designed largely for retailers who might use traditional paper signage, allowing people to change displays and images without printing new paper with each change of season or sale. They are rechargeable via USB-C and have a resolution of 1600 x 1200 in 4 x 3 format. —Parker Room
Split launches a revolutionary Full-Glow chrono
Courtesy of Split
As a relatively new London-based brand launching in 2024, Spilt’s winning aesthetic has been described (rather fancifully) as a MoonSwatch and Royal Oak mashup. But with a portion of every sale supporting mental health charities, luckily there’s more to Split than just nice watches. My favorite piece so far was the Burning yellow Sub-7. This new In the skies The model, however, could have simply replaced it. For what? Well who doesn’t love one all white watch? This piece, however, has a special party trick, one for when things get dark.
After approximately 18 months of development, the 42mm In The Skies is the first full glow watch to reach production, beating IWC’s highly anticipated model. Céralume Chronograph to the punch. And at just £1,800 (about $2,480), it’s a safe bet that this watch will be considerably cheaper than the IWC when it hits stores.
Inside is a bi-compax automatic chronograph movement (allowing for two subdials at 3 and 9 o’clock) from Seiko, visible through an exhibition caseback. And to protect you from the elements, there’s a screw-down crown and 100-meter water resistance. The much-needed all-over glow is achieved by infusing a “secret ratio” of Japanese luminous powder directly into the strap and case materials during manufacturing. If you love it as much as I do, you better hurry, because it’s a limited edition of only 250 pieces. —Jérémy Blanc
Frankfurt Airport tests Auracast for gate announcements
Courtesy of Fraport Group
If you’ve ever had trouble hearing your flight’s gate announcements (let’s face it, we’ve all done it at some point), you’ll be happy that Frankfurt Airport is testing Bluetooth Auracast to send gate announcements directly to the passenger. hearing aids, wireless earphonesAnd smart phones. Forget muffled loudspeaker announcements, because Auracast can send boarding calls, changes, or delays directly to supported smartphones, like Pixel or Samsung phones, and then to Auracast-compatible earphones or wearables. It also works with Auracast-enabled GN hearing aid apps.
Auracast is the biggest breakthrough for the popular Bluetooth wireless connectivity standard in years. It allows multiple people to connect to the same audio stream simultaneously and has many possible uses, from watching a movie together on a smartphone in the back of a car to audio from TVs in public spaces like the gym. It can also improve accessibility for the deaf and hard of hearing, allowing them to stream audio directly to their hearing aids in public places.
Initially tested at two busy gates at Frankfurt Airport, Auracast has been integrated into German company Sittig Technologies’ PAXGuide announcement platform, which could allow it to be rolled out across the country without airports having to replace their existing systems. It’s exciting to see such well-known technology evolving to improve accessibility in public spaces. —Simon Hill
