News

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked Will Take Place On February 1st

Journalists expect the new Samsung Galaxy S23 series to be the main focus of the San Francisco event.

Published

2 years ago

January 11, 2023

Nour Nasir

Samsung

Readers may remember us reporting that Samsung’s Colombian website had inadvertently revealed the date of an upcoming Galaxy Unpacked event. Now, it seems those rumors have been proven correct.

The Korean tech behemoth has just announced the first Galaxy Unpacked event of 2023, which will take place at The Masonic Auditorium, San Francisco, on February 1st at 1PM Eastern time. Unlike last year’s conference, which happened under COVID-19 restrictions, this year’s event will be held in person.

Also Read: Razer Reveals New Products, Including Leviathan V2 Pro Soundbar

Samsung remains tight-lipped about what to expect, but fans tuning in to the event’s live stream can expect to see the launch of the Galaxy S23, featuring a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. The S23 Ultra version of the handset could also pack a massive 200-megapixel front camera, with an improved selfie shooter, emergency satellite messaging, and quite possibly a flat display.

We can’t wait to watch the live stream and eventually get our hands on the new hardware when it hits the market!

News

Will Upcoming Changes Turn Instagram Into A TikTok Clone?

Updates are rolling out for the grid layout and Reels length, while new editing tools clearly imitate those of the rival Chinese platform.

Published

1 day ago

January 24, 2025

Nour Nasir

Instagram

Instagram recently faced backlash for swapping its iconic square grid for rectangles, disrupting the aesthetic of thousands of carefully curated profiles. However, the Meta-owned platform isn’t stopping there, after announcing more incoming TikTok-like changes designed to give users greater control over their profiles.

“We launched a new tall grid on profiles this week and I got a lot of feedback, both positive and quite negative,” Instagram head Adam Mosseri shared in an Instagram caption on Monday. “The goal is a simpler, cleaner place that maintains, and even increases, creator control”.

Here are some of the details about further changes we can expect:

Customizable Grids: Users will soon be able to tweak how their posts appear on the grid, including adjusting image crops and reordering posts entirely.
Direct-To-Grid Posts: A new option will allow users to post directly to their profile grid without automatically adding it to their main feed.
Highlights Relocation: Instagram’s Highlights feature will move from above the grid into a dedicated tab, while also becoming part of the profile grid itself.
Longer Reels: Reels are getting a significant upgrade, with the maximum video length jumping from 90 seconds to 3 minutes.

The updates are part of Instagram’s ongoing effort to compete with TikTok, which narrowly avoided a US ban following a 75-day delay granted by President Donald Trump. With the Chinese video platform’s future remaining uncertain, Instagram seems eager to capture disillusioned users by offering features that feel increasingly similar to those of its rival.

Also Read: How To Find & Cancel Pending Instagram Requests

In fact, Instagram’s recent changes go beyond just the app’s layout: On Sunday, parent company Meta launched the standalone Edits app, a clear imitation of TikTok’s popular video-editing tool, CapCut. Additionally, Meta has been enticing creators with cash bonuses to encourage them to post their videos on Instagram and Facebook.

It’s clear Instagram is shifting its strategy to appeal to the short-form video crowd. Whether these changes will win over users or continue to spark discontent remains to be seen.