Daily Authority: 👏 Samsung's marvelous multitasker

😃 Greetings all, and welcome to a new week and Monday’s edition of the Daily Authority. I hope you had a good weekend! I delayed all my outdoor chores; now it’s windy and rainy. That’ll teach me never to procrastinate again… 🙄.

Marvelous multitasker

Thanks to our Ryan Haines, our Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 review is in. It was tough to be impressed by Samsung’s minor nips and tucks on paper. But in reality, these changes create what could be the best ultra-premium smartphone on the market. Read on for more.

We do a little improving

• You’ll barely notice an aesthetic difference between the incoming model and the outgoing Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3.
• The device still packs a 6.2-inch outer screen with a 10MP punch hole camera, a 4,400mAh battery beneath it, and an almost identical rear camera array design.
• However, look closely, and you’ll find millimeters gained and grams shed. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 brings a slightly larger, sharper 7.6-inch inner display and an 8g lighter body.
• It’s also tougher to spot that under-display selfie camera on the main screen.
• You’re also getting a new 50MP primary camera at the rear, with 10MP 3x telephoto and 12MP ultrawide cameras playing support. Performance is excellent.
• We get a chipset refresh, too. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 steps in to improve the phone’s productivity abilities substantially.

The unsung hero

• Despite these minor hardware changes, the software sets the Galaxy Z Fold 4 apart from the limited competition.
• Thanks to Android 12L, the foldable now has an incredibly useful taskbar that makes managing running apps a breeze.
• “It’s similar to what you’d find along the bottom of your computer screen, and it’s likely to become one of your new best friends,” Ryan noted.
• This addition unleashes the foldable’s true multitasking potential and turns what many still consider a novelty form factor into a pocketable productivity powerhouse.
• Android 12L isn’t supported by every app just yet, though. However, Samsung’s committed to supporting the Galaxy Z Fold 4 through to Android 16. There’s plenty of time for this software to mature.

Is this the foldable for me?

• Okay, yes. There’s still the issue of price.
• You could still buy a capable and affordable phone, tablet, and laptop for the price of a Galaxy Z Fold 4.
• And, despite its improvements, there are some drawbacks. Battery life hasn’t seen any marked improvements, while the S Pen is a premium optional extra.
• But, if you’re in the market for an ultra-premium and surprisingly practical foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is the most mature option yet.

Roundup

📸 The dawn of 200MP smartphones is upon us, but should you wait for them? Our Rob Triggs has the answer (Android Authority).

🍿 Mark your calendars: US theaters are dropping movie ticket prices to $3 on September 3 for National Cinema Day (Engadget).

🚀 Today’s the day! In a few hours, NASA will launch Artemis I, its first mission to the moon this century. You can also watch official launch coverage here (NASA).

🎶 Have an old iPod lying around? Transform it into a wireless music box with these nifty LG earbuds (Android Authority).

🥃 Whiskey lover? In the wake of the northern hemisphere heatwave, here’s how temperature, humidity, and air pressure affect the beverage’s quality (BBC).

🔥 HBO Max and Warner Bros. Discovery seem to be on fire, and that’s on purpose (The Verge).

🍎 Review: The Apple MacBook Air M2 is the company’s best Air to date, but it’s down to more than just the chipset upgrade (Android Authority).

⛔ Stay far away from this “30TB” portable SSD, which seemingly features two SD cards hot-glued to a circuit board. Instead, invest in proper external storage for backup purposes (Ars Technica).

🔌 The only affordable electric car worth buying right now is used (Bloomberg).

🌟 The quest for clean power: 2022 could be the year of big progress for nuclear fusion, but we may still be years away from mastering it (Washington Post).

💁 The anti-Instagram? Here’s everything you need to know about BeReal, a social network that’s seen massive growth this year (Android Authority).

🐜 “If one animal was made the size of a whale, which would be the scariest?” (r/askreddit).

Monday Meme

Finally, let’s talk about the one thing that sucks about true wireless earbuds and Bluetooth headphones…

I can think of a few annoying first-world tech problems. Being forced to update your PC immediately after booting is one. Plugging that USB in the right way around is another. But one that’s by far the most grinding is that obnoxious BATTERY LOW chime you get with some Bluetooth audio devices.

• We get it. You’re low. Now shut up, and let me finish this podcast episode.
• In all honestly, the best true wireless earbuds carry enough juice to last through a commute or a short office stint.
• And their carry cases provide plenty of juice (maybe not including the Google Pixel Buds Pro case, that is.)
• But honestly, many of us would still prefer using wired earbuds. Me included.
• What’s your stance on the current state of Bluetooth audio devices?

On that note, remember to charge your devices!

Until next week,
Andy Walker, Editor.