With unique features like RCS messaging and a handy web client, Google Messages has become an essential SMS/MMS app for Android. It seems that later this year, Google intends for its Messages app to stop working on uncertified Android devices.
About APK Insight: In this “APK Insight” post, we’ve decompiled the latest version of an application that Google uploaded to the Play Store. When we…
Quick Charge Podcast: January 19, 2021
January 20, 2021
Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from Electrek. Quick Charge is available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.
New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded Monday through Thursday and again on…
AirPods Max teardown reveals removable headband, iOS 14.4 hints at ‘headband type’ identifier
January 20, 2021
iFixit shared an initial look at its AirPods Max teardown last month, and now it has completed the intricate process. The final result has revealed some really interesting details about AirPods Max like the headband actually being user-removable which could hint at…
Facebook improves its AI that generates photo descriptions on iOS for visually impaired users
January 20, 2021
Facebook today announced a major update to its Automatic Alt Text (AAT) system, which automatically generates photo descriptions for people with visual impairments. Based on AI, the system can now recognize 10 times more objects and scenes in photos shared on Facebook and also Instagram, providing detailed descriptions for screen readers like Apple’s VoiceOver.
According to Facebook, the…
Apple no longer signing iOS 12.5 for older devices, blocking downgrades from iOS 12.5.1
January 20, 2021
Apple today stopped signing iOS 12.5, which is available for older iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad models. This comes after the company released iOS 12.5.1 for these devices last week with bug fixes for the COVID-19 exposure notification feature.
Although iOS 12 was released…
New Zealand-based FTN Motion is preparing for the launch of the company’s first electric motorcycle.
While New Zealand might not strike you as a two-wheeled EV powerhouse, the plucky island nation is no stranger to electric motorbikes.
But unlike the workhorse electric…
Americans’ electricity bills jumped nearly 10% from 2019 to 2020
January 20, 2021
Since COVID-19 officially arrived in the US, average electrical usage increased 9.3% from April through August 2020 compared to 2019, a reflection of people using more electricity while they stayed home, combined with wildfires in the West and heat waves across the US.
Electricity bills jumped in 2020
Electricity demand rose by 22% from March 10 to April 10 as people stayed home. This was…
SONDORS unveils affordable 80 mph electric motorcycle [Update: Get your questions answered]
January 20, 2021
SONDORS has just pulled up the curtain on its first-ever electric motorcycle, the SONDORS Metacycle. The new commuter electric motorcycle may just be the first truly low-cost electric motorcycle capable of both city and highway riding.
Of course terms like…
GM announced that Cruise, its self-driving startup, has raised a new $2 billion financing round led by Microsoft.
The software giant is putting some skin in the self-driving game.
GM Cruise
Unlike other automakers having their automated driving divisions, GM went a…
First look at Tesla’s new structural battery pack that will power its future electric cars
January 20, 2021
Electrek obtained the first picture of Tesla’s new structural battery pack with a honeycomb architecture that will power its future electric vehicles.
Tesla structural battery pack
At its Battery Day event last year, Tesla not only unveiled its new 4680 battery cell but also a new battery architecture built around the new cell.
Inspired by the aerospace innovation of building airplane wings as…
