Kalakshar US

If you’re looking for a phone a little more unique than just another iPhone or Galaxy, Nothing is happy to oblige. With its second phone, it’s finally launching in the US. This time, it’s a flagship device, with a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, bigger screen and better cameras. The Nothing Phone 2 has updated 50MP primary and ultra-wide rear cams, with 2X super-res digital zoom and object tracking.

Nothing is playing to its custom-software strengths, with deeper customization in its low-key dot-matrix fonts and design. There are more advanced widgets, like shortcuts to quick settings, and a new array of custom color themes to stretch you beyond white, black and red. You can also set up an “essential app” that lights up a region of the phone’s glyph lighting on the back when it has notifications. This means you could prioritize WhatsApp or text messages with a special visual flourish, separate from all the other smartphone notifications.

Despite those upgrades, the Nothing Phone 2 will be a competitive $599 when it arrives in the US on July 17th at 4 AM ET. Expect to hear our impressions very soon.

– Mat Smith

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Microsoft’s Activision acquisition moves ahead

A judge has rejected the FTC’s injunction.

A judge has rejected the Federal Trade Commission’s request for a preliminary injunction to prevent Microsoft from buying Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion. Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley wrote the acquisition “has been described as the largest in tech history,” and it deserved to be scrutinized. She noted Microsoft’s commitment to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation and deals the company has to bring its games and Activision Blizzard titles to Nintendo Switch and cloud gaming services. Later yesterday, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it has also agreed to take a break from its legal battle to negotiate a compromise that could allow the deal to move forward. It might finally all happen.

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Rolls-Royce won’t let customers buy another car if they flip its new EV for a profit

‘You will never ever have the chance to acquire again.’

The first Rolls-Royce EV, the Spectre, is going on sale soon at a cool $425,000 – and at that price, purchasing slots will be limited, to say the least. But any buyers planning to flip one for a quick profit may want to think twice. CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös said the company will ban for life anyone attempting to resell their Spectre for profit. It’s not the first to make a move like this. Last year, GM said it would ban buyers from flipping Hummer EVs, Corvette Z06s and other vehicles within 12 months, under the threat of limiting the transferability of certain warranties.

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Samsung adds an 83-inch set to its affordable OLED TV lineup

It’s even larger than the company’s highest-end OLED models.

Samsung has introduced an 83-inch model to its relatively affordable S90C series. The 4K screen shares the smaller models’ 144Hz QD-OLED panel technology, AI-powered HDR mapping, Dolby Atmos support and soundbar syncing. The 83-inch S90C will be available for $5,400 (affordable?). That’s a lot more than the 77-inch TV’s $3,600 price. However, there’s no high-end S95C equivalent of this 83-inch size – at least not yet.

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Intel will stop making its own NUC mini PCs

It wants other companies to make them instead.

Intel is bowing out of its own mini PCs. The chip designer has confirmed it’s ending its “direct investment” in its Next Unit of Compute (NUC) business. Instead, the company plans to help partners to create NUCs in its stead. The company doesn’t explain why it’s ending production of first-party NUC machines, but it’s likely because of the bleak computer market, prompted by both a rough economy and the early pandemic surge in sales.

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NASA expands developers’ contracts for its next-gen spacesuits

Axiom Space and Collins Aerospace will modify their designs for new purposes.

In 2022, NASA chose Axiom Space and Collins Aerospace to develop next-gen spacesuits to finally replace the decades-old gear astronauts are still using. Now, the space agency has expanded its existing contracts and is giving them $5 million apiece to design and develop new spacesuits not included in the original orders. Axiom unveiled a prototype for its original order in March, showcasing a suit with joints, which allow wearers to move around with ease, and a helmet equipped with a light and an HD camera.

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-nothings-phone-2-is-coming-to-the-us-for-599-111520921.html?src=rss 

Somehow it still feels complicated to schedule a meeting with someone over email, whether it will take place in person or online. It typically requires using a third-party system like Calendly or sending random times back and forth until you finally narrow it down. Well, Google is attempting to integrate an easier system into Gmail (and save us all a headache) with the addition of a calendar icon right in your outgoing message toolbar at the bottom of your draft.

Two options will appear when you click on the calendar: “Offer times you’re free” and “Create an event.” The first feature is entirely new and allows you to select and share specific times you’re available to meet. When you click the option in your toolbar, Google will open your calendar on the right-hand side without closing out of your draft. You can then highlight specific times and days that work for you and send them right in your message. The recipient can choose one right from the email you sent, and then you’ll both receive a calendar invite.

The option to create an event is a smaller but potentially significant organizational change, with Google moving the prompt to generate an event from the three dot menu at the top right to directly in the main toolbar. Creating an event while drafting an email will autofill with the recipient’s information and produce a summary in the body.

Google is rolling out these calendar updates for Rapid Release domains over the next two weeks and to Scheduled Release domains over the first half of August. Initially, you’ll only be able to utilize the “Offer times you’re free” feature for your primary calendar, and if you send the blocks of time to multiple people, Google will only add the event to your first respondent’s calendar.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gmails-new-tools-make-it-even-easier-to-set-up-a-meeting-113522199.html?src=rss