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The Weekly Authority: 👀 Pixel 7a peek

Plus why you shouldn't go for a stroll in NYC with $95,000 in iPhones, free Steam Decks, and more...
By
‱
December 3, 2022
google pixel 6a call screen

⚡ Welcome to The Weekly Authority, the Android Authority newsletter that breaks down the top Android and tech news from the week. The 223rd edition here, with a first peek at the Pixel 7a, why you shouldn’t go for a stroll in NYC with $95,000 in iPhones, free Steam Decks, and more


🎼 I may have bought a Nintendo Switch in the Black Friday sales, and have spent more time adding games to my wishlist than actually playing it so far! Seeing all the cozy games aimed at younger gamers left me wondering just how safe our kids are online, which brings us nicely to our sponsor for this week:

Thanks to Wondershare for sponsoring today’s newsletter!

Wondershare FamiSafe

Wondershare FamiSafe is the app that gives you a heads-up display for your children’s real-time activity online. With the digital world at our fingertips, parents contend not only with the analog concerns of child endangerment but also with matters such as digital addiction, explicit content, and grooming.

FamiSafe offers a simple, all-in-one solution to these online concerns.

For more information, click the button below to start your first month of Famisafe by Wondershare! Full coverage for your entire family is available for a monthly subscription (up to five devices), but you can easily cancel at any time.

Popular news this week

Xiaomi:

Apple:

Space:

Elsewhere: 

Movies/TV:

Gaming: 

Google Stadia controller on table macro

Reviews

An iPhone displaying Apple Fitness Plus rests on a studio floor among tennis shoes, a water bottle, and an Apple Watch SE 2.

Features 

Spotify stock photo 1

Weekly Wonder

dabloons

This week’s wonder comes courtesy of our friends over at The Hustle. Have you heard of Dabloons? You’re probably thinking of “Doubloons,” the Spanish gold coins that pop up in old pirate films now and then. But Dabloons are something different entirely — a user-generated TikTok game surrounding a fake currency.

  • Cast your mind back to 2021 (we know, it feels like forever ago) when an image of a kitten’s paw with the caption “4 dabloons” went viral on Instagram, followed by a picture of a black cat and its paw.
  • Before you could say “Meow,” the meme was everywhere, including Tumblr and Reddit, before finally spreading to TikTok. When it hit the latter, users decided they would “earn” Dabloons whenever the cat appeared.
  • Ok, so Dabloons have no real-world value, but that doesn’t mean you can’t keep track of your earnings, which is exactly what some players started doing.
  • According to The Hustle, “The ‘Dabloon cat’ itself evolved into a fantasy RPG merchant, selling weary travelers ‘stew’ in exchange for Dabloons, while others began roleplaying characters such as Dabloon thieves, shopkeepers selling potions to protect against Dabloon theft, Dabloon cops, and Dabloon lawyers.”
  • Brands got on board too, including Ikea and Toys R Us.
  • Sad news though: with some accounts giving away large numbers of Dabloons, Dabloon inflation hit hard.

Umm, why?

  • It’s all a bit of fun really, and it could be that millennials and Gen Z using TikTok enjoy being part of an economy where inflation, the prospect of a recession, student loans, and other financial worries are non-existent.
  • It’s sort of fun to see people enjoying social media, for once.
  • But if you’d rather invest in real cryptocurrency, check out our guide for everything you need to know.
  • You’ll probably also want to eye up our glossary of crypto terms to help you decode the jargon, and while you’re here, take a peek at our comprehensive guide to cryptocurrency wallets. 

Tech Calendar

  • December 3-4: Indie Live Expo
  • December 6: New DLC for Back 4 Blood (PC, PlayStation, Xbox) and Far Cry 6 (PC, PlayStation, Xbox) released.
  • December 8: The Game Awards 
  • January 5-8, 2023: CES 2023 (Las Vegas)
  • February (date TBC): Samsung Unpacked (Galaxy S23?)

Tech Tweet of the Week

When you see it
😂

Volkswagen Italy, please never change your Instagram handle. pic.twitter.com/BD2efn63za
— Mick (@mikjcal) November 28, 2022

Something extra: It happened last week, but aww. Check out Winston, the winner of the 2022 National Dog Show!