Ryan Haines / Android Authority TL;DR OnePlus has revealed that the OnePlus 13 supports a local high refresh rate feature. This will allow different areas of the screen to run at different refresh rates. This function should make for a more efficient screen, resulting in longer battery life. OnePlus has just issued more details about the OnePlus 13 screen as part of an event in China with display supplier BOE. The two companies made a number of claims about the phone screen, but one cool feature caught our eye and we hope rival brands adopt it. OnePlus confirmed that the…

Nick Fernandez / Android Authority TL;DR US-based Prime Video users are now able to subscribe to and watch Apple TV Plus using Amazon’s service. The Apple TV Plus add-on costs the same $9.99 monthly fee, but Amazon will handle the billing instead. The add-on’s availability will expand to other unspecified territories down the road. Update: October 15, 2024 (6:50 AM ET): Amazon has confirmed that the Apple TV Plus add-on is now available in Prime Video. Apple’s service still costs $9.99/month when used via Prime Video. Furthermore, you don’t need to download a separate Apple TV app or make an…

Joe Hindy / Android Authority TL;DR At least one YouTube Music user can now upload custom playlist thumbnails using the service’s web client. So far, there is seemingly only a single report demonstrating the feature, which suggests a very slow or limited rollout. YouTube Music currently lets its users personalize their playlists by picking from AI-generated thumbnails. YouTube Music is the go-to music streaming app for millions of users around the world. Optionally bundled with YouTube Premium, the service offers unofficial tracks and covers that aren’t necessarily available elsewhere. Despite its popularity and exclusives, however, a key feature remains missing…

Hadlee Simons / Android Authority TL;DR Remote Lock lets users lock their phones remotely using just their phone number. However, there is scope for mischief here. Google mentioned that Remote Lock will be upgraded with a “security challenge,” and we have managed to activate the security challenge as a date picket. Google has been ramping up the overall health and security of the Android ecosystem, and the recent rollout of Theft protection features is testimony to that. These features aim to make stealing an Android flagship less desirable by adding roadblocks to its unauthorized use and resale. However, some of…

Robert Triggs / Android Authority TL;DR Samsung and Apple enjoyed were neck-and-neck at the top of the global smartphone market in Q3 2024. The two brands both grabbed 18% of the market, while Xiaomi was in third place. Apple traditionally leads in the following quarter as the full impact of a new iPhone release is felt. Samsung and Apple both enjoyed major launches in the past quarter, with new foldable phones and the iPhone 16 series, respectively. Now, a tracking firm has revealed that the two brands are neck-and-neck when it comes to market share. Canalys reports that Apple and…

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority TL;DR Google announced the Profiles feature in Google Messages last year, but it is still in the process of rolling out this profile discovery feature to all users. We’ve spotted settings that indicate Google is adding some privacy options for this profile discovery feature. This would give users control over who can see their profile name and picture. Google Messages is back in the limelight these days as the primary medium for RCS messaging on the Android platform. More and more companies are ditching their messaging apps in favor of Google Messages, so it is…

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority TL;DR AI technology is enabling increasingly sophisticated scams, including a Gmail takeover scheme where scammers impersonate Google. IT consultant Sam Mitrovic encountered this scam, receiving a spoofed call and email that appeared legitimate but contained subtle red flags. Users are urged to be vigilant and take steps to secure their accounts, such as changing passwords and enabling two-factor authentication. With AI assistants and tools now widely accessible, scams are getting even more sophisticated. One such Gmail takeover scam is currently going around, wherein users are tricked into thinking they are interacting with Google. The scammers…

We got our hands on the newest gadget from Nintendo. No, it’s not a new Switch. It’s a clock and it’s aptly called the Alarmo. The design is very Nintendo, bright red with a soft plastic knob that lights up and doubles as a dial and button. You can select from a bunch of clock faces and soundscapes from popular Nintendo games – Zelda, Mario, Ring Fit and download more. Sensors help it react to your movements and track your sleep patterns. Tons of quirky features that evoke a sense of nostalgia and might help hardcore fans justify a steep…

Lanh Nguyen / Android Authority TL;DR Samsung is accepting Care Plus enrollment for Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy Z Flip 6, Galaxy Z Fold 6, Galaxy A25, and Galaxy A15 models. Phones must be in good working order and pass Samsung’s Device Quality Certification to be eligible. Open enrollment will continue through November 24, and new sign-ups will get 20% off the going rate. Phone insurance, like all insurance, is a gamble. What are the odds you damage your phone, in a way that’s covered by your plan, to an extent that would cost more to fix than you’d pay for…

Google announced today that it has signed a deal with nuclear startup Kairos Power to build seven small reactors to supply electricity to its data centers. The agreement promises to add around 500 megawatts of carbon-free electricity at a time when energy demand for data centers and AI is surging. The new power plants are scheduled to come online by the end of the decade, according to Google. It’s not clear whether the reactors would hook up to Google’s sites directly — an arrangement known as “behind the meter” — or if they would feed into the grid with Google…