News
Samsung SmartThings Family Care Aims to Support Caregivers
Samsung has introduced a new service called SmartThings Family Care aim to help caregivers in the United States. According to the Mayo Clinic, about 1 in 3 adults in the US provides some form of caregiving. This creates a demand for tech-based solutions that can help ease the burden of caregiving and SmartThings Family Care is designed to meet that need.
SmartThings Family Care is available for US-based owners of Samsung smartphones, and it will go live on August 16th. The service is tailored for the aging population and individuals who need assistance with their daily activities.
Family Care “harnesses SmartThings, Samsung’s global connected living platform, with Smart home devices to offer comprehensive schedule management, activity notifications, medication reminders, and location-based care”, the company explains in its press release.
Caregivers receive alerts if any unusual activities are detected in their loved ones’ daily routines. Family Care can recognize the first activity of the day like when a loved one uses their Samsung smartphone which reassures caregivers that everything is okay.
Caregivers receive reminders for their loved ones to check their blood pressure and blood sugar levels and can schedule doctor’s appointments directly through their Samsung smartphone or TV to ensure that their loved ones are staying on track with their medication.
Family Care provides alerts when loved ones arrive at or leave specific locations ensuring their safety. Samsung says this feature is useful for keeping track of scheduled medical appointments or regular visits to pharmacies.
Caregivers can set up automation to help their loved ones save energy by turning off appliances when no one is home. They can also improve air quality by automatically activating a Samsung air purifier when outdoor pollution levels are high.
This service will be accessible through the Life tab of the SmartThings app in the US. Samsung has promised to continue improving and expanding Family Care in the future.
Nothing
Nothing Phone (3) Promises Long-Term Support with 5 Android Updates, Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 Announced
The Nothing Phone (3) is set to launch globally very soon, and the company has already started revealing key details about its new flagship. Recently, the company has confirmed that its processor will be the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4. The Phone (3) will bring several improvements over the Phone (2), making it Nothing’s most advanced smartphone so far.
One of the biggest highlights is the software support. The Nothing Phone (3) will come with 5 years of Major Android updates and 7 years of security patches. This makes it the first Nothing device to offer such long-term support. In comparison, the Phone (2) provided 3 years of Android updates and 4 years of security patches.
On the hardware side, the Phone (3) will be powered by the latest Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 SoC, which is an upgrade over the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip found in the Phone (2). The company says users can expect 88% better GPU performance, 33% better CPU performance, and a 125% boost in NPU performance compared to the Phone (2). The new chipset is also expected to offer better battery optimisation.
In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Akis Evangelidis, co-founder and Head of Marketing at Nothing, called the Phone (3) “our first true flagship and a major step up from Phone (2).” He also shared that the camera is getting a major upgrade. The Phone (3) will feature a Spectra 18-bit Triple ISP, which can separate and enhance different parts of an image in real time. This will improve detail, colour accuracy, and overall image quality.
The Nothing Phone (3) will be officially launched on July 1, and more details about the device are expected to be announced at that time.
Nothing
Nothing OS 3.2 June Update Rolling Out for Nothing Phone (2a) Plus, CMF Phone 1, and Nothing Phone (1)
Nothing has started rolling out the latest Nothing OS 3.2 June update for its Phone (2a) Plus, CMF Phone 1, and Nothing Phone (1). The update is based on Android 15 and brings new features, improvements, and bug fixes to enhance user experience.
New Features in the Update
One of the key highlights of this update is the introduction of Privacy Space. This feature lets users swipe right in the app drawer to quickly access a secure zone for private apps and files.
Users can also now set separate passwords for the App Locker and the new Privacy Space, adding an extra layer of security.
Another useful addition is the Hotspot Manager, which allows users to easily view and manage devices connected to their hotspot.
Improvements and Fixes
The update brings several fixes and improvements across the devices:
Nothing Phone (2a) Plus: Fixes for Bluetooth headphone sound issues during Telegram calls, better accessibility in apps, and improved face and fingerprint unlocking. It also includes the June security patch and improved system stability.
CMF Phone 1: Fixes for incorrect volume display on Bluetooth headphones, zoom bar issues in the camera app, better app accessibility, and improved unlocking reliability. The phone also gets the June security patch and stability improvements.
Nothing Phone (1): Fixes for the light strip display issue in Glyph Composer, an option to turn off face unlock vibration on the lock screen, and better app accessibility. General bug fixes, system stability improvements, and the June security patch are also included.
The Nothing OS 3.2 June update shows the company’s focus on improving security, accessibility, and overall device performance. If you own one of these devices, you can check for the update in your phone’s settings and enjoy the new features.
Smartphone startup Nothing is set to bring its next flagship device, the Nothing Phone (3), to the U.S. market. According to TechCrunch, the phone will be sold through Nothing’s official website and Amazon. The Phone (3) will be unveiled early next month at an event in London.
Nothing, founded in 2020, has launched eight phones so far. However, only the Phone (2) was widely available in the U.S. Previously, American customers had to join a beta program to buy a phone, and there was no after-sales support except for a 14-day return window.
Carl Pei, CEO of Nothing and co-founder of OnePlus, shared that this launch marks an important step for the company. “We have always said we are building for the long term, and now we’re ready to take that next step in the U.S. Phone (3) is not just another launch. It is a signal of where we are as a company,” Pei told TechCrunch. He added that the U.S. market is ready for something different as it is currently dominated by just two major brands.
Pei believes the Phone (3)’s unique design and features will appeal to customers looking for an alternative to Apple, Samsung, and Google. The new phone will support AT&T and T-Mobile networks with better 4G and 5G coverage than previous models like the Phone (2a), Phone (2a) Plus, and CMF Phone 1.
In Canada, Nothing will partner with Best Buy to sell the Phone (3) along with its first over-ear headphones, the Nothing Headphone (1).
The Phone (3) is expected to feature premium materials, faster performance, and upgraded software. The price is likely to be around £800 in the U.K., or about $1,000 in the U.S., putting it in competition with the iPhone 16 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S25+.
Research shows that Nothing’s 2024 shipments were in the low millions, with India being its biggest market.