Windows 11 build 22000.778 fixes issue with Wi-Fi hotspots and more

Microsoft has released a new cumulative update for Windows 11, this one being the optional monthly update for June. With this update (labeled KB5014668), you’ll receive Windows 11 build 22000.778, and it comes with the new search highlights feature as well as a wide range of fixes.

Search highlights is a feature that actually showed up first on Windows 10, and it’s been available for a couple of months there. It finally came to Windows 11 Insiders in the Release Preview channel last week, and now anyone can get it, if they want to get this optional update.

Essentially, it makes it so that when you open the Windows search interface in the taskbar and Start menu, you’ll see highlights of historical events and other things related to that particular day. You might see some articles in celebration of specific holidays, for example. For business users, this feature is a bit more useful, as it can surface important contacts and recent documents in your organization.

Aside from that, the update is all about fixes, as cumulative updates tend to be. One of the most notable ones is for a known issue that Microsoft acknowledged last week, which could prevent Wi-Fi hotspots from working. The issue would make it so that the host computer would lose connection to the internet after creating a hotspot, but now, that’s fixed. There are a lot more fixes, though. Here are the highlights in this release:

• New! Introducing search highlightsSearch highlights will present notable and interesting moments of what’s special about each day—like holidays, anniversaries, and other educational moments in time both globally and in your region. To see search highlights, click or tap on the search icon on your taskbar.

  For enterprise customers, search highlights will also feature the latest updates from your organization and suggest people, files, and more.

  Search highlights will roll out to Windows 11 customers over the next several weeks. We are taking a phased and measured approach. Broad availability will occur in the coming months. For group configuration information, see Group configuration: search highlights in Windows.

• Addresses an issue that might prevent you from upgrading to Windows 11 (original release). Note that this is related to the timing of certain operations within the OS and is not related to device eligibility.
• Addresses an issue that might prevent you from playing video clips in some games.

• Addresses an issue that causes certain games to stop working if they use certain audio technology to play sound effects.

• Addresses an issue that prevents Bluetooth from reconnecting to some audio devices after you restart the devices.
• Changes the name of the Your Phone app to Phone Link on the Settings page.
• Addresses an issue that causes the Microsoft Surface Dial customization settings page to stop working.

• Addresses a known issue that might prevent you from using the Wi-Fi hotspot feature.

If you want to check the full list of fixes, you can find it below:

Windows 11 build 22000.778 fixes and changes

• New! Adds IP address auditing for incoming Windows Remote Management (WinRM) connections in security event 4262 and WinRM event 91. This addresses an issue that fails to log the source IP address and machine name for a remote PowerShell connection.

• New! Adds Server Message Block (SMB) redirector (RDR) specific public File System Control (FSCTL) code FSCTL_LMR_QUERY_INFO.
• New! Makes the SMB client and SMB server cipher suite order configurable using PowerShell.
• New! Introducing search highlightsSearch highlights will present notable and interesting moments of what’s special about each day—like holidays, anniversaries, and other educational moments in time both globally and in your region. To see search highlights, click or tap on the search icon on your taskbar.

  For enterprise customers, search highlights will also feature the latest updates from your organization and suggest people, files, and more.

  Search highlights will roll out to Windows 11 customers over the next several weeks. We are taking a phased and measured approach. Broad availability will occur in the coming months. For group configuration information, see Group configuration: search highlights in Windows.

• New! Adds support for Transport Layer Security (TLS) 1.3 in Windows client and server Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) implementations.
• Addresses a race condition issue that might cause an upgrade to Windows 11 (original release) to fail.
• Addresses an issue that displays Japanese characters incorrectly in PowerShell.
• Addresses an issue that affects the Cloud Clipboard service and prevents syncing between machines after a period of inactivity.
• Addresses an issue that fails to hide the Windows Sandbox startup screen after Sandbox starts to run .
• Addresses an issue that causes a device that has a Japanese system locale to stop working when you disable end-user-defined characters (EUDCs).
• Enables the InternetExplorerModeEnableSavePageAs Group Policy. For more information, see Microsoft Edge Browser Policy Documentation.
• Provides the ability to use a network proxy during Universal Print operations.
• Addresses an issue that might cause playback of consecutive video clips to fail in games that use DirectX 12 (DX12).
• Addresses an issue that causes certain games to stop working if they use the XAudio API to play sound effects.

• Addresses an issue that affects some certificates chains to Root Certification Authorities that are members of the Microsoft Root Certification Program. For these certificates, the certificate chain status can be, “This certificate was revoked by its certification authority”.

• Addresses an issue that prevents the use of Encrypted File System (EFS) files over a Web-based Distributed Authoring and Versioning (WebDAV) connection.
• Addresses an issue that causes a domain controller to incorrectly write Key Distribution Center (KDC) event 21 in the System event log. This occurs when the KDC successfully processes a Kerberos Public Key Cryptography for Initial Authentication (PKINIT) authentication request with a self-signed certificate for key trust scenarios (Windows Hello for Business and Device Authentication).
• Addresses an issue that prevents Bluetooth from reconnecting to some audio devices after you restart the devices.
• Addresses an issue that occurs when the Active Directory Lightweight Directory Service (AD LDS) resets the password for userProxy objects. When you try to reset someone else’s password and you are authenticated using a simple bind, the password reset fails. The error is like, “00000005: SvcErr: DSID-03380C23, problem 5003 (WILL_NOT_PERFORM), data 0”.
• Addresses an issue that causes Microsoft NTLM authentication using an external trust to fail. This issue occurs when a domain controller that contains the January 11, 2022 or later Windows update services the authentication request, is not in a root domain, and does not hold the Global Catalog role. The affected operations might log the following errors:
  • The security database has not been started.
  • The domain was in the wrong state to perform the security operation.
  • 0xc00000dd (STATUS_INVALID_DOMAIN_STATE).
• Addresses an issue that causes the LocalUsersAndGroups configuration service provider (CSP) policy to fail when you modify the built-in Administrators group. This issue occurs if the local Administrator account isn’t specified in the membership list when you perform a replace operation.
• Addresses an issue in which malformed XML inputs might cause an error in DeviceEnroller.exe. This prevents CSPs from being delivered to the device until you restart the device or correct the XML.
• Addresses an issue that might cause Windows 11 (original release) to stop working when you install an application and there is no network connectivity.
• Updates the Start menu to display Windows PowerShell when you right-click (Win + X) the Start button after you have uninstalled Windows Terminal.
• Changes the name of the Your Phone app to Phone Link on the Settings page.
• Addresses an issue that causes the Microsoft Surface Dial customization settings page to stop working.

• Addresses a known issue that might prevent you from using the Wi-Fi hotspot feature. When attempting to use the hotspot feature, the host device might lose the connection to the internet after a client device connects.

If you’re interested in downloading the KB5014668 update, you can simply head into Windows Update and check for updates to get the latest bits. You’ll need to actively install this update, since it’s optional. Otherwise, you can download the update manually here. If you don’t want to do either of those things, these fixes will be included in next month’s Patch Tuesday, when the updates will be mandatory and install automatically.

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Nothing Phone 1 pre-order details for India briefly surface online

After teasing various Nothing Phone 1 features over the last few weeks, Nothing finally lifted the covers off the device in partnership with popular tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee A.K.A. MKBHD this Tuesday. In a hands-on video, Brownlee showcased the device in all its glory, giving us our first look at its display and the unique Glyph lighting interface. In addition, Nothing revealed a few other details about the phone, including the fact that it would only be available via invitation at launch. Nothing Phone 1 pre-order details for the India region have now surfaced online, highlighting how users will be able to secure a slot to purchase the device ahead of its official launch on July 12.

Indian e-commerce giant Flipkart briefly shared the Nothing Phone 1 pre-order details (via Mukul Sharma) on its website, revealing that users would have to purchase a pre-order pass to get their hands on the device. Although Flipkart has since removed most details from the listing, we now know that Nothing will email select users invite codes to access a ₹2,000 (~$25) pre-order pass on Flipkart. Those interested in purchasing the Nothing Phone 1 will have to purchase this pass to pre-order the device.

Nothing Phone (1) pre-order pass details (for India).#Nothing #NothingPhone1 pic.twitter.com/31uIM9Vlev

— Mukul Sharma (@stufflistings) June 23, 2022

The pre-order pass will guarantee buyers a shot to purchase the Nothing Phone 1 on launch day. Those who buy the pass will have to log into Flipkart at 9 p.m. on July 12 to select and pay for the Phone 1 model they want. Flipkart will deduct the ₹2,000 deposit for the pre-order pass from the final price of the phone. Nothing will also give pre-order pass holders exclusive rewards, like a special price on a Nothing Phone 1 accessory. The listing also mentions other “Exclusive pre-order offers,” but doesn’t go into any detail about them. In addition, Flipkart will provide exchange offers and no-cost EMI on the phone.

At the moment, we’re not sure if Nothing will opt for the same strategy in international markets. We’ll let you know as soon as we have more details.

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Source: Flipkart

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Instagram introduces new features to verify users’ age

In an attempt to keep things more transparent and safe on the platform, Instagram is introducing new options for age verification. Starting today, those in the United States will have to submit identification to use the service. This can be done in many ways, but as part of its new process, users will be able to submit a video selfie recording, or they will be able to ask mutual friends to vouch for their age. The company is partnering with Yoti for the verification, which specializes in online age verification.

The firm is implementing these new verification methods to make sure that users on the platform are given an age-appropriate experience. This can include “defaulting into private accounts, preventing unwanted contact from adults they don’t know and limiting the options advertisers have to reach them with ads”.

Instagram states that this is an expansion that started in 2019, when it began asking users to provide their age by providing their birthday. The firm states that “knowing people’s age allows us to provide appropriate experiences to different age groups, specifically teens.” The platform has always had a rule where its users must be 13 years or older to use Instagram.

As mentioned before, you can upload an ID, send a video selfie, or have people vouch for you. If you are sending a video selfie, your data will be processed by Yoti, a firm that specializes in digital identification and security. Yoti will then go on to verify your age. Once this is complete, the selfie is deleted from Meta and Yoti. Meta is upfront, stating that the technology involved doesn’t look for an identity but only tries to verify age. Instagram has tried video verification before, but its verification system was flawed. Let’s hope that things are better this time around and users aren’t able to verify themselves using a video selfie of a Barbie doll.

As for social vouching, mutual followers will be able to confirm how old you really are. There are only two  requirements to this method, one is that the person vouching for you is 18 years of age or older. The second is that they are not currently vouching for anyone else. This will require a total of three people and it will take approximately three days to complete.

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Source: Instagram

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Chromebooks get new features for tighter integration with Android devices

Google is bringing quality of life improvements by tightening up the integration between Chromebook and Android. New Phone Hub features, Nearby Share improvements, and Bluetooth connectivity optimizations make up a new batch of features rolling out to Chromebook and Android users.

Phone Hub is getting improvements aimed at giving Chromebook users a distraction-free experience. To date, Phone Hub users were able to respond to text messages, check their phone’s battery life, enable tethering, and more. Now, with the latest update, users will be able to access their most recent photos, even if they are offline. The photos will automatically populate the Phone Hub, appearing under the Recent Photos section.

If invested in Google’s ecosystem, Nearby Share has been a godsend, allowing Chromebook and Android phones to share files between each other seamlessly. With its latest update, Nearby Share will now allow users to safely share Wi-Fi credentials from their Android smartphone to a Chromebook.

By heading to the Wi-Fi network section in Android and tapping “Share”, users will be able to select “Nearby” and send it off to a nearby Chromebook. At this point, the Chromebook will be able to get online without typing any Wi-Fi passwords. Of course, it goes without saying but this will permanently save the Wi-Fi password to the device, allowing it to seamlessly connect going forward.

Bluetooth headphone and accessory users rejoice! Fast Pair is coming to Chromebooks later this summer. By turning on the Chromebook’s Bluetooth connection, it will automatically be able to seek compatible Bluetooth devices that are in pairing mode. Once detected, it will take just one step to get it set up and connected. Best of all, the connection will be saved to your Google account, making the previously connected accessories seamlessly connect going forward no matter the product. While these improvements should enhance the experience, Google states that there is more to come so stay tuned.

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Source: Google

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Solana Saga is a $1000 Android flagship focused on Web3

In surprising news, Solana, a public blockchain company has announced a new smartphone. The Solana Saga is being touted as a flagship-level Android smartphone that will offer a unique set of features integrated with the Solana blockchain. As you might expect with this kind of integration, Saga will be able to easily and securely perform transactions, while also being able to manage digital assets.

Built by OSOM, arriving in Q1 2023

During an event in New York, Solana introduced the Saga, along with a framework for Android that will allow developers to create mobile experiences for wallets and apps called Solana Mobile Stack. While the underlying experience might be from Solana, the Saga hardware is designed and built by OSOM. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because the company is made of the former Essential staff. The firm teased a new smartphone last year, announcing that its OSOM OV1 would arrive sometime in the final quarter of 2022.

Co-founder and CEO of OSOM, Jason Keats stated:

“Saga starts from first principles to create a mobile experience for individuals, developers, and ecosystem participants that opens a new era of mobility. The world needs novel hardware to embrace the future that is web3, and building out an ecosystem that looks to the future without being burdened by past legacy ecosystems is hugely exciting for us. ”

The Solana Saga will have a 6.67-inch display, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC, 12GB RAM, and 128GB of internal storage. The differentiating feature will be its software, which relies on the Solana Mobile Stack, delivering security and capabilities catering to Web3. If you’re wondering, the phone looks to be nearly identical to the OSOM OV1. Preorders for the device are now open, with a $100 deposit giving you a spot in line. The handset will end up costing $1000 and is expected to arrive in Q1 2023.

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Source: Solana

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Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro: Release Date, Price, Rumors, and more

Samsung released its Galaxy Watch 4 and the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic back in August 2021, meaning they’re both nearly a year old now. Still, we think they’re still one of the best smartwatches you can buy right now. As torch-bearers of Google’s new Wear OS 3, both the Galaxy Watch 4 and the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic had a lot to offer. But it’s 2022 now which means there’s a new model on the horizon — the rumored Galaxy Watch 5. We’re still a couple of months away from the official unveiling but we already know a lot about the new watch. So let’s catch up on some of the leaks, rumors, and pretty much everything we know about Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Watch.

Before we begin, it’s worth mentioning that we’re simply taking a look at all the leaked and rumored information about Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Watch models. Pretty much everything you are about to read is unofficial or speculative information unless mentioned otherwise. We’ll continue to update this particular page over time as we have relevant details, so keep your eyes peeled.

Navigate this article:

• Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 models
• Pricing & Availability
• Specifications
• Design
• Software
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 series wishlist

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 models

Samsung launched two variants in the Galaxy Watch 4 series last year, but it looks like we’re getting an additional model this year. That’s right, Samsung appears to be readying as many as three Galaxy Watches this year. The sources familiar with Samsung’s plans have revealed three codenames — Heart-S (model SM-R90x), Heart-L (model SM-R91x), plus a third model: Heart-Pro (SM-R92x).

The first two models appear to be the standard variant of the Galaxy Watch 5 in two different sizes. The Heart-Pro variant with model number SM-R92x is said to be the more premium Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. Samsung may end up calling it something entirely different. If we were to guess, we think it’ll be called the Galaxy Watch 5 Ultra, akin to the Ultra models of the Galaxy smartphone and the tablet. It will reportedly come in only one size but we suggest you take that info with a pinch of salt. There’s no official confirmation on this, but it looks like Samsung will drop the ‘Classic’ branding from this year’s premium Galaxy Watch in favor of this ‘Pro’ or the ‘Ultra’ moniker.

If the leaks are something to go by, then it looks like the smaller Galaxy Watch 5 will have a 40mm case and it’ll be available to purchase in Phantom Black, Silver, and Pink Gold color options. The larger version of the Galaxy Watch 5 is said to have a 44mm case, but this one’s said to be available in Phantom Black, Silver, and Sapphire colors instead of the Pink Gold. Lastly, there’s the rumored Galaxy Watch 5 Pro variant that’s expected to have a 46mm case. It looks like this variant, however, will only be available in Phantom Black and Silver color options.

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Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro: Pricing & Availability

We haven’t heard much about the pricing of the Galaxy Watch 5 series, but we can make some educated guesses based on the Galaxy Watch 4 series’ prices. Samsung launched the Galaxy Watch 4 at $250 for the 40mm version, with an option to spend as much as $330 on the 42mm version with LTE. The Classic variants all cost $100 more.

We expect the standard variant of the Galaxy Watch 5 to cost the same as the non-Classic Watch 4 models. You can expect to see some slight variation but we doubt if the Galaxy Watch 5 series will see a major price difference compared to the Watch 4 series. The new rumored “pro” variant is likely to cost more, though. It could even be more expensive than the 46mm variant of the Watch 4 Classic. We say that because the Watch 5 Pro is rumored to be fitted with sapphire glass and titanium casing. The Apple Watch Series 7 with a titanium case and even some of the Garmin watches with sapphire glass cost around $800.

(2/2)

Watch 5 (40mm)
Phantom Black, Silver, Pink Gold

Watch 5 (44mm)
Phantom Black, Silver, Sapphire (blueish color)

Watch 5 Pro (46mm)
Phantom Black, Silver

Announcement / pre-orders Aug 10
Launch Aug 26

— Jon Prosser (@jon_prosser) June 8, 2022

As for the release date and availability, popular tipster Jon Prosser has given us tentative timelines for the Galaxy Watch 5 release date. According to Prosser, Samsung will announce the new Galaxy Watch 5 at an event on August 10 alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and the Galaxy Z Flip 4. It looks like we’ll be able to pre-order the new watches the same day but they won’t ship until August 26.

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Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro: Specifications

The last year’s Galaxy Watch 4 series was a huge improvement from its predecessors in terms of performance. The Galaxy Watch 4 series models are also fitted with better sensors to make them more useful. This means there’s a good chance of Samsung offering the Galaxy Watch 5 series as an iterative upgrade. There’s not a lot of leaked info or rumors when it comes to the internal hardware of the upcoming Galaxy Watches, but it looks like they’ll use the same chipset as last year’s watch.

The Galaxy Watch 5 series models are expected to be powered by the same Exynos W920 chip that we saw last year. There’s no official confirmation on this, of course, but it’s likely to be the case given how Samsung used the same Exynos 9110 chip for the first three generations of Galaxy Watches. We’re also expecting the Watch 5 series to have the same amount of RAM and storage — 1.5GB memory and 16GB internal storage. It’s safe to assume that we may not see a significant upgrade over the Galaxy Watch 4 series this year. That being said, the rumored “Pro” model could pack a few surprises, but we’re yet to learn anything meaningful about this particular variant.

All the leaked information so far points toward bigger batteries this time around for the new watches. The smaller Galaxy Watch 5 model is said to ship with a rated battery capacity of 276mAh, whereas the larger Galaxy Watch 5 is expected to use a 398mAh battery.  The rumored Galaxy Watch 5 “Pro” is said to offer a massive upgrade in the battery department, coming in at a 572mAh battery. Notably, Samsung is also said to offer 10W fast charging support on the Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. While that may not seem too fast, it’s nearly double what’s currently offered by the Galaxy Watch 4 series. Overall, it looks like the Galaxy Watch 5 series will offer big improvements in the battery department.

As for the sensors, we expect the Galaxy Watch 5 series models to retain the same 3-in-1 BioActive sensor with support for optical heart rate, blood oxygen, blood pressure, ECG, and Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis. There were some rumors about the Galaxy Watch 5 rocking an infrared thermometer to track your skin temperature, but those claims were contradicted by the popular analyst Ming-Chi Kuo stating that Samsung might not use them due to algorithmic limitations.

(2/3)
The challenge in implementing precise body temperature measurement is that skin temperature quickly varies depending on outside environments. A smartwatch can’t support core temperature measurement in terms of hardware, so it needs an excellent algorithm to work together.

— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) May 1, 2022

Other details about the new watches are still murky, but we expect to learn more about them in the coming weeks. We’ll update this specifications section with a fully fleshed-out specs table as soon as we have more concrete information, so check back for more.

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Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro: Design

Samsung is expected to retain the same circular watch face for the Galaxy Watch 5 series. However, the company is all but confirmed to abandon its Classic design for new watches. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, for those that don’t know, has a more traditional design with a stylish look and fan-favorite rotating bezel for navigating through the UI. With the absence of a Classic variant, it remains to be whether or not the Galaxy Watch 5 series will get the rotating bezel. It could still be a part of the rumored “pro” model, but we’ll refrain from speculating further in this regard.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 3

We’ve already discussed the different Galaxy Watch 5 models and the case sizes above in the ‘Models’ section, so be sure to check it out if you haven’t already. Besides that, we expect the new Galaxy Watch 5 series watches to share some other traits with its predecessors like the IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, MIL-STD-810G protection, support for GPS, NFC, and more. The new watches are also likely to sport a Super AMOLED display, but that’s pretty much what we know so far about these watches.

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Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro: Software

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic next to the Galaxy Watch Active 2

Samsung ditched its home-grown Tizen software in favor of Google’s Wear OS 3. The Galaxy Watch 4 series run a heavily-customized interface, changing almost the entire look and feel of the software. We suggest you read our dedicated article about the software experience to know all the details. As for the software on the Watch 5 series, we’re expecting the Wear OS 3 to make a comeback, complete with support for Google Assistant. It’ll be interesting to see how the Wear OS 3 software on the Watch 5 will end up being different from the one that runs on Google’s Pixel Watch that’s also scheduled to come out later this year.

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Our wishlist for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 series: What we want to see in the next smartwatch series

We didn’t have too many gripes with the Galaxy Watch 4 series, but we can think of many ways in which Samsung can improve the upcoming watches. Since the product development cycle is in fairly advanced stage by now, we don’t expect these to get fulfilled. But anyway, here’s our wishlist for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 series:

Better battery life

The Galaxy Watch 5 series models are likely to get bigger batteries but there’s no official confirmation on the same just yet. We hope the new models will have bigger batteries that’ll allow us to go multiple days without having to worry about charging. It would be nice to have a Galaxy Watch 5 that lasts for more than two days with all the useful features such as sleep tracking enabled. It’s obviously not that easy to cram a massive battery inside a tiny device like a smartwatch, but we wouldn’t count on anyone but Samsung to innovate in this space. It’s also a nice segue to our next wishlist — faster and more convenient charging.

Support for Qi wireless charging

In case you’re wondering, no, the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic do not support Qi wireless charging. This means that only very specific Samsung wireless chargers can charge them, making it that much more difficult to top up their batteries. The new watches are rumored to support faster charging, but we hope Samsung will allow us to charge them with any Qi wireless chargers too. That by itself could be enough for many to upgrade to the new watch from their existing Galaxy Watch 4 models.

Better quality band out of the box

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is one of the best-looking smartwatches out there right now. We’ve got a lot of good things to say about the design of the watch itself, but not so much about the band that’s bundled with it. You can always visit our best Galaxy Watch 4 bands collection to find some good alternatives, but we think Samsung should consider adding a better quality band out of the box. It doesn’t have to be an expensive one to spruce up the look, but anything that looks and feels good in the hand than the current ones would do.

Ability to use more health monitoring features with other phones

Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 4 offers a lot of great features including ECG and blood pressure monitoring. However, those features will only work with a Samsung phone. There’s no particular reason why these features — if they’re available in your country — won’t work on other Android phones. Opening up all the life-saving health monitoring features outside of Samsung phones will make the upcoming Galaxy Watch 5 series even better. You shouldn’t need to use a modded Samsung Health app just to use the Watch with non-Samsung devices.

A watch face builder

The customization options are fairly limited when it comes to the watch faces on the Galaxy Watch 4 series. Sure, you can add a lot of different watch faces to your device but you know what would be nice? A custom watch face builder. Being able to create custom watch faces within the companion app for the Galaxy Watch 5 would be a solid addition. It’ll add more creative ways for the Galaxy Watch 5 users to customize their watch and truly make it their own.

Ability to share and complete activities with friends

While there are some reservations around the idea of gamifying activities and exercising, there’s no doubt that it adds an element of fun. Being able to share our activity with friends pushes us to do more, and do it every day. Fitbit and Apple Watch are perhaps the best in the business when it comes to the gamification of health and exercising. You get rewarded for hitting your milestone, receive notifications about daily activity goals, and more. We want to see something similar from Samsung this time around with the Galaxy Watch 5 series.

Wider availability of features

Lastly, it’d be nice to see a wider rollout/availability of features. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, for instance, doesn’t support Samsung Pay with NFC in India. Similarly, the Galaxy Watch 4 doesn’t support blood pressure monitoring in the US. We assume a lot of these features are locked in certain regions due to the local regulatory approvals, but it would be great to see the Galaxy Watch 5 be the device that finally brings a wider rollout of features to offer a similar user experience.

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Closing Thoughts

We’re still a couple of months away from the official unveiling of the Galaxy Watch 5. We’ll continue to update this page with more details leading up to the launch, so stay tuned for more info. In the meantime, share your thoughts on the Galaxy Watch 5 series with us. Are you looking forward to the new rumored Galaxy Watch 5 “Pro” variant or will you be sticking with the standard one? Let us know by dropping a line in the comments below.

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Fitbit Sleep Profile offers better sleep data for Premium users

Can you put a price on a good night’s sleep? Of course, you can and so do lots of companies. Fitbit has long had sleep tracking features in its app, but now, after analyzing 22 billion hours of sleep data, the company thinks its users are interested in understanding even more about their sleep and sleep patterns. Because of this, Fitbit is introducing Sleep Profile as a part of its $9.99 Fitbit Premium service that offers a deeper analysis of your sleep behavior.

Fitbit claims that getting a good night’s rest isn’t as simple as getting a standard seven to eight hours of sleep every night. Using its data, which has been analyzed by various specialists and authorities, Fitbit was able to pinpoint ten different sleep metrics that are essential in promoting a better night’s sleep. Some of the metrics include: sleep schedule variability, time before sound sleep, disrupted sleep, sleep duration, REM sleep, and more.

Sleep Animal

Using the data, users will be provided an ideal range, giving people a better grasp of where they lie within that metric. This will allow users to understand their data at a glance and where improvements might be needed. Fitbit is making things cuter as well, providing users with a designated Sleep Animal. The six animals will be used to show users what kind of sleeper they are.

What Sleep Animal will you be?

Fitbit is able to give accurate assessments by having users wear a FitBit device for at least 14 nights during a month’s period. The more you wear it, the better the data gets. The data will be presented at the end of the month, along with what kind of Sleep Animal you are. Sleep Profile is now available to Premium subscribers using the Fitbit app. Of course, you will also need compatible hardware, which can be any of the following: Sense, Versa 3, Versa 2, Charge 5, Luxe or Inspire 2. If you’re using the Fitbit Ionic, you might want to reconsider wearing it to bed.

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Source: Google 
Via: Android Authority

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