Third-party Android launchers have been a staple of Google’s mobile operating system ecosystem for many years. Simply put, they are apps that replace your phone’s default home screen, typically offering advanced customization and tons of customizable settings. Some launchers go a step further and offer entirely different user interface paradigms to the stock Android application. In the early days of the operating system, popular home screen launchers like Nova Launcher were considered essential by many enthusiasts, as they added features that were often missing by default. Android itself has matured a lot in recent years, and now offers us a reasonable level of granular control over the appearance of our home screens. This goes doubly for customized OEM skins like Samsung’s One UI. Given the relatively feature-rich nature of the stock Android experience, is there still a strong need for launcher apps? Personally, download one

The release of The Bear’s third season arrives this week, which got me thinking: do you prefer shows to release all episodes at once? With Disney+, HBO, and Amazon Prime Video firmly committing to releasing their hottest titles weekly, and Netflix increasingly opting to split seasons for hits like Bridgerton, Emily in Paris, and Cobra Kai, it seems like the “all at once” model is dying out. I used to strongly prefer the instant gratification of the “all at once” model, but I’m increasingly drawn back to the weekly release model, as it allows me to properly “digest” shows I really like, and also allows fans to connect amongst themselves to discuss the show. I think a good argument for this type of model would be AMC+’s Interview with a Vampire, which is released weekly and has built up a pretty large community online, with people discussing each episode on TikTok and X. Such deep insights would not be possible if all episodes were released at once, and

Surprise! Disney is raising the price of Disney+ again. Amanda Kondolojy of Pocket-lint has all the information you need in the linked article, but the short version is: starting October 17, a single subscription will cost $10 per month for ad-supported users and $16 per month for premium subscribers. For comparison, when Disney+ launched less than five years ago, it cost $7 per month without ads. Do you think Disney+ is still worth it? And if so, do you plan to continue paying for the service in October?

Whether we like it or not, foldables seem to be here to stay — at least for now. Samsung dominates the North American market thanks to its solid Fold and Flip product lines. I used to not be a fan of foldables, but now that you don’t have to make huge compromises to get one, I’ve changed my mind. Gone are the days of having to settle for less-than-stellar build quality and poor camera quality to impress your friends and family with a foldable screen. Of course, foldables still have issues, but overall they’re pretty solid. I don’t really need a book-style Z Fold 6 because I don’t have a tablet in my pocket (and it’s ridiculously expensive), but the Flip 6’s cool design and satisfying snap are hard to resist (and that’s coming from someone who’s primarily an iPhone user). Its price is pretty reasonable, and it’s also in line with other high-end smartphones. Now that Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 have hit the market, think about

We’ve known about Nintendo’s plans for a museum for some time, and now it looks like the gaming giant is finally ready to reveal its plans for a dedicated place to preserve its history in Kyoto, Japan. The company’s Creative Fellow Shigeru Miyomoto offers a quick ten-minute tour of the soon-to-open attraction. During this Nintendo Direct livestream, available on YouTube, we were given an on-site look at product displays and interactive showpieces, as well as an official opening date of October 2nd. Products from the company’s 135-year history proudly adorn the walls of the building, and both a gift shop and cafe are gearing up for opening day. The game maker’s vast legacy of retro software, hardware, and intellectual property is unrivaled in the industry, with titles like Super Mario Bros 3, Super Mario 64, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time considered all-time classics that revolutionized gaming as a whole. The concept behind the m

I’ll be honest, I’ve gone back several times in my life and decided to hold a physical book while reading to save shelf space and used my Kindle instead. And both served their purpose – I read my book. I don’t have a particular preference and sometimes it comes down to whether my local library has the book I want, whether I have time to go to a bookstore, or whether I need to start reading at that exact moment. But many of my friends and family have very strong opinions about their physical books and e-readers and never deviate from their preference. Are you like me and use both, or do you have a particular preference?