State of smartphone design, Slate Truck breakdown, and soundbars underneath $600 | You Requested

That is being touted as a sub-$20,000 electrical truck after authorities incentives, and also you’ll be capable of customise it to your coronary heart’s content material. It stands out not a lot for what it gives, however for what it doesn’t supply as normal. There’s only one trim and one paint coloration. No touchscreen, no stereo, no Bluetooth, no electrical home windows.

So, what do you get? There are two seats. There’s a five-meter mattress, good for payloads as much as 1,400 kilos. There’s AC, metal wheels, and hand-cranked home windows, plus all the usual driver security assists you’d anticipate from a contemporary automobile. There’s a rear-mounted electrical motor, a roomy frunk, and a battery rated for about 150 miles, in accordance with Slate.

That isn’t nice on the planet of EV vary, however a bigger battery will likely be obtainable to push that determine as much as a extra cheap 240 miles. That greater battery is only one of over 100 add-ons Slate is making obtainable. These will likely be supplied not simply on the level of buy but additionally at any time throughout your possession, permitting you to swap and improve as your wants evolve.

Wish to add a splash of coloration? Take a look at the huge vary of vinyl wraps you’ll be able to apply and take away from the truck at will. There’s additionally an SUV improve equipment that converts your two-seater truck right into a five-seater automotive. Inside, infotainment is strictly “carry your individual system.” There’s no touchscreen, no built-in CarPlay, not even a stereo. As an alternative, you get a common cellphone mount and some USB ports. It’s also possible to add holders for a pill if you’d like a much bigger show, and a Bluetooth speaker if you wish to take heed to music whereas out for a drive.

All of that is genuinely intriguing. Slate is doing one thing very totally different from what conventional carmakers supply. And for anybody into DIY automotive customization and on the lookout for a low-cost entry into the EV world, the Slate Truck is price contemplating. The power to adapt your truck as your life adjustments is a compelling hook, and it is going to be fascinating to see how this performs out.

You may reserve your Slate Truck on-line now for simply $50 down. That quantity is totally refundable for those who change your thoughts. As for when the truck will begin exhibiting up in driveways, there’s no agency date but, however it’s anticipated to reach someday subsequent 12 months.

Cell tech speak with Gareth Beavis

Query from Christopher John: Hello group, I’m weighing my choices between Samsung Extremely Tab 10 vs Purple Magic Pill for each productiveness and gaming leisure. Which one will give me worth for my cash? Thanks. Watching your channel from Trinidad.

One factor I’ve all the time been impressed with is Samsung DeX. Within the early days, DeX didn’t work very effectively, but it surely has improved lots. You may solid to a number of screens, multitask with multi-windows, and the included S Pen is an actual bonus. Not like the Apple Pencil, which is bought individually, it comes within the field. You may sketch, apply filters, and experiment with creative kinds.

The efficiency is strong. It has a MediaTek Dimensity chipset, which didn’t gradual issues down in our benchmarks. The large 14-inch display screen shouldn’t be essentially the most moveable, but it surely gives loads of area for multitasking and sketching.

When you’re watching sports activities or working with a number of home windows, it performs effectively. For phrase processing, background duties, and even video modifying, it’s a robust system.

Now, for those who take a look at the ZTE, it’s clearly a gaming-first system. It has thermal cooling, low display screen latency, and a excessive refresh charge, which makes inputs very responsive. You may solid it to a bigger display screen, which helps since its LCD show doesn’t have the inky blacks or readability of Samsung’s AMOLED.

However for those who’re not involved about that, otherwise you plan to solid anyway, the ZTE works nice as a cellular console. It’s quick, has nice aesthetics, and is far more inexpensive.

By way of worth for cash, I’d say the ZTE Purple Magic Nova comes out forward. However it’s essential to learn the opinions, as these two units go in very totally different instructions. When you want S Pen productiveness, the Samsung is the higher selection, although it comes at the next value. When you prioritize gaming and may dwell with extra restricted productiveness, the ZTE is a strong choose.

Query from from @Talex-jb8bp: What are you most enthusiastic about in new telephones?

This one’s simple. Just a few years in the past, I obtained a bit tired of telephones. All of them began to feel and look related—rectangular blocks with flat screens, doing basically the identical issues. You couldn’t actually purchase a nasty cellphone anymore. That made opinions a bit boring in comparison with the early days after we had clear one-star and five-star units.

However what nonetheless excites me? Foldables.

Sure, they’ve been round some time, however I’ve adopted rollable and foldable shows even earlier than turning into a tech journalist. And solely now do I really feel like we’re reaching an thrilling turning level, particularly with trifold units.

Huawei confirmed us a three-screen fold-out system. That’s the place issues begin to get actually attention-grabbing. If a smartphone can actually flip right into a pill, we’re crossing right into a sci-fi future. Solely now it’s actual.

There are nonetheless methods to distinguish these units. One of many issues I’m most enthusiastic about is foldable telephones. Which may sound apparent, since we’ve had them for some time, however I’ve been following this area even earlier than I turned a tech journalist. I used to be rollable shows in additional of a B2B context, and the thrill round them has been alive for 20 years.

I believe we’ve lastly, and I imply lastly, gotten to the purpose the place foldable telephones are literally turning into thrilling. That’s largely due to the trifold units which are rising. Huawei launched a mannequin final 12 months with three screens folding out. That’s the place issues get thrilling for me. When you can actually flip a smartphone right into a pill, that’s after we enter the subsequent stage. It as soon as felt like science fiction, however now it’s turning into actual.

In fact, there are nonetheless issues that want to enhance.

The creases—everybody says they’re getting higher—however they’re nonetheless not adequate for me. They should disappear utterly. That manner, it feels such as you’re going from a Galaxy S25 to a Galaxy Tab seamlessly. That will be wonderful.

And the potential to go from one small, highly effective smartphone, which by itself is already first rate, to one thing that folds out into a complete different class of system? That’s the place it will get actually thrilling.

Based mostly on questions from our Instagram group: Has smartphone design innovation stalled?

Now, this comes within the context of the iPhone 17, which is being rumored as trying very very like the Google Pixel. I’d say sure—I believe smartphone innovation, particularly in terms of design, has stalled. I’d say round 5 or 6 years in the past, issues began to change into fairly related.

However most significantly, it handles what many individuals care about most: dialogue. There’s an AI dialogue mode that clears up these tough-to-hear conversations with out overpowering or degrading the remainder of the audio. That’s particularly useful if, for instance, your mattress is on the other wall from the TV or soundbar, and you continue to need to hear each element of your favourite present. And it’s $500, so it matches your price range with a little bit of room to spare.

Now, for those who’re seeking to save a bit extra and have the setup to help it, the Polk MagniFi Mini AX retails for $500—however on the time of publishing this video, it’s on sale for $400. The soundbar may be very compact, helps each Dolby Atmos and DTS audio, and options Polk’s VoiceAdjust, which boosts dialogue readability. The standout characteristic? It comes with a wi-fi subwoofer. So for those who’re after further bass to provide your bed room extra of a house theater really feel, this might be the one.

Personally, I don’t know if I’d desire a subwoofer in that area—however hey, it is likely to be enjoyable.

When you’re leaning towards one thing a bit extra conventional, I’ll additionally throw within the Klipsch Flexus Core 300. It’s equally priced—retailing for $500 and at the moment on sale for $400. It delivers massive sound as an all-in-one unit and, just like the others, helps Dolby Atmos. Klipsch highlights its devoted horn-loaded tweeter, which boosts vocal readability. Clearly, dialogue is a key focus.

Hope that helps, Jeff. Tell us which one you find yourself selecting.

Query from @andyhoughton1068: What are your ideas on streaming containers? And what’s the finest streaming field to purchase? 

Thanks for this query, Andy. That is one other one which comes with extra choices than you in all probability care to listen to me checklist, however I’ll offer you my prime three.

Let’s begin along with your first query: my ideas on streaming containers. Briefly, they’re superior—particularly when configured accurately. They’re fairly plug-and-play, however for those who’re curious in regards to the deeper settings, we have now numerous movies and guides on the channel and DigitalTrends.com that dive into the small print.

Streaming containers are particularly useful when you will have a most well-liked working system like Google TV, Apple TV, or Amazon Hearth TV. They allow you to select the expertise you need, somewhat than counting on the built-in software program out of your TV. And if it’s not a more moderen or higher-end TV, the streaming field may really run quicker than your TV’s OS.

Plus, some TVs allow you to customise which HDMI enter hundreds when the TV activates. That manner, along with your most well-liked streaming field, you’ll be able to skip the TV’s native interface totally if you’d like.

My prime choose can be the Google TV streamer—or for a bit much less, the Google Chromecast with Google TV—primarily due to how simple it’s to arrange and use. One account homes your apps, manages logins, and retains issues seamless. The structure is clear and works effectively with all kinds of apps.

The streamer is quicker and smoother than the Chromecast in terms of navigation, and it gives extra storage. It’s an excellent main-room setup, which is why most individuals are inclined to want it over the Chromecast.

Subsequent up, having used it for just a few years myself, I’m additionally a fan of Roku’s lineup. And as a matter of reality, they simply launched some new merchandise. The brand new Streaming Stick Plus is their prime choice for 4K streaming and solely builds on what’s already been a dependable selection for efficiency and ease of use. Additionally price noting: it’s simply $40.

That stated, each the Google and Roku choices I discussed can embody advertisements on the house display screen. Welcome to 2025. So if that bothers you, the Apple TV 4K is price contemplating. Simply understand that a brand new Apple TV is predicted someday in 2025. When you lean that manner, it’s price checking to be sure to’re getting the most recent tech—particularly for those who’re shopping for close to the top of the present mannequin’s life cycle.

Query from @6cmcnc6: Keep in mind after we all use to complain about black bars? Why do director assume 21:9 is an efficient side ratio now? Nobody’s shopping for extremely huge screens simply to observe motion pictures. 

Nicely, my pal, I see your logic. However riddle me this, Batman: do you assume administrators are making motion pictures for theaters or for residence viewing on God-knows-what system?

Spoiler alert: it’s not the latter. Many administrators and cinematographers have a particular imaginative and prescient for a way their film ought to be seen—on the large display screen, in a theater. Particularly now, with so many extravagant display screen choices, motion pictures can play higher and really feel extra immersive in a large format. Or generally, that’s simply how the creators supposed the movie to be introduced.

Take a current absolute masterpiece like Sinners, for instance. Director Ryan Coogler and director of pictures Autumn Durald Arkapaw shot it on movie to be proven in ultrawide, tall IMAX, and common codecs, amongst others. They even took the time to indicate how every model gives a novel viewing expertise. It’s actually cool to listen to him clarify it, for those who haven’t already.

Different cinematic creators shoot their movies based mostly on how they need them to look on the large display screen, and as soon as these movies hit streaming providers, everybody else simply has to take care of it until it’s been particularly tailored. Typically, it’s out of those creators’ palms in terms of how their work is delivered throughout the wide range of streaming containers, TVs, screens, and different units that each one help totally different codecs.

Talking of which: for reveals and flicks which are created particularly for streaming—particularly these with massive budgets from Netflix, Disney+, Prime, and Max—a lot of that content material is shot with the expectation that it is going to be seen on a typical 16:9 TV. So it is sensible to make use of a 1.77 or 1.78:1 ratio, and it usually appears to be like phenomenal.

These are premium productions, so when motion pictures use an ultrawide side ratio for theatrical launch, it’s yet another technique to make them stand out. And to reply your query immediately: administrators have lengthy favored the 21:9 format—identified in movie as 2.35:1 or 2.40:1.

You may verify IMDb for an extended checklist of films shot this manner, together with The Matrix trilogy, Forrest Gump, Indiana Jones, the Alien and Die Exhausting franchises—the checklist goes on.