Wednesday, August 16, 2023

Twitter Throttling Links to Facebook, Threads, and More

Twitter Throttling Links to Facebook, Threads, and More

Twitter has reportedly begun throttling traffic to a number of websites and competing social networks. The company is using its long-standing t.co link shortener to slow down links to Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Substack, the New York Times, and more.

The common theme among all of the affected websites and services is that they are ones for which Elon Musk, the Tesla CEO and potential future owner of Twitter, has a strong and vocal disdain. Musk has been critical of Twitter's moderation policies, which he believes are too restrictive. He has also expressed support for platforms that allow for more free speech, such as Substack and Minds.

The throttling of links to these websites is likely seen by Musk as a way to reduce the visibility of his critics and competitors. It is also a way to discourage users from sharing links to these websites on Twitter.

The throttling is not immediately obvious to users. When you click on a link to one of the affected websites, there is a noticeable five-second delay before the actual website's URL starts to load. This delay is caused by Twitter's t.co link shortener, which is used to process all links posted to Twitter.

It is unclear how long Twitter will continue to throttle links to these websites. The company has not yet commented on the matter.

In the meantime, users who want to share links to these websites on Twitter can do so by copying and pasting the full URL into their tweets. This will bypass the t.co link shortener and prevent the throttling from taking effect.

Here are some additional steps that users can take to link a Twitter thread to Facebook:

  1. Find the tweet that you want to share.
  2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner of the tweet.
  3. Select "Copy Link to Tweet."
  4. Paste the copied link into a new Facebook post.
  5. Click on "Post."

This will create a new Facebook post that includes the Twitter thread. The post will also include a link that will allow users to view the Twitter thread on Twitter.

It is important to note that Twitter may still throttle the traffic to the Twitter thread on Facebook. However, this will not prevent users from viewing the thread.

Tuesday, August 15, 2023

Samsung Galaxy A6+ Review & Specifications

Samsung Galaxy A6+ Review & Specifications

The Samsung Galaxy A6+ is a mid-range smartphone that was released in 2018. It has a 6.0-inch Super AMOLED display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 processor, 3GB or 4GB of RAM, 32GB or 64GB of storage, and a 3500mAh battery. The rear camera is 16 megapixels and the front camera is 24 megapixels.

Here are some of the pros and cons of the Samsung Galaxy A6+:

Pros:

  • Great display: The Super AMOLED display is one of the best features of the A6+. It's bright, colorful, and has deep blacks.
  • Long battery life: The 3500mAh battery easily lasts a full day on a single charge.
  • Good camera: The rear camera takes great photos in good lighting conditions. The front camera is also good for selfies.
  • Affordable: The A6+ is a very affordable phone for its features.

Cons:

  • Slow processor: The Snapdragon 450 processor can be a bit slow at times, especially when multitasking.
  • No expandable storage: The A6+ only has 32GB or 64GB of storage, and there's no microSD card slot for expansion.
  • No 5G support: The A6+ does not support 5G, so it's not future-proof in that regard.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy A6+ is a good mid-range smartphone with a great display, long battery life, and a good camera. However, it's held back by a slow processor and no expandable storage.

Here are the full specifications of the Samsung Galaxy A6+:

  • Dimensions: 160.2 x 75.7 x 7.9 mm
  • Weight: 186 g
  • Display: 6.0-inch Super AMOLED, 2220 x 1080 pixels, 411ppi
  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 450
  • RAM: 3GB or 4GB
  • Storage: 32GB or 64GB
  • Rear camera: 16MP, f/1.7
  • Front camera: 24MP, f/1.9
  • Battery: 3500mAh
  • Operating system: Android 8.0 Oreo
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, GPS, 4G LTE

The Samsung Galaxy A6+ was released in 2018 and is no longer available for purchase. It was replaced by the Samsung Galaxy A7 (2018).

Monday, August 14, 2023

Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 to Feature Ceramic Fiber Back

Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 to Feature Ceramic Fiber Back

Xiaomi is set to announce the Mix Fold 3 foldable smartphone later today, and ahead of the launch, the company has released a teaser image that reveals one of the key features of the device: a ceramic fiber back.

Ceramic fiber is a lightweight, yet strong and durable material that is often used in high-end applications such as aerospace and automotive. It is also resistant to scratches and corrosion, making it an ideal material for a smartphone back.

The ceramic fiber back on the Mix Fold 3 is said to be 15% lighter than the glass back on the previous model, while also being 50% stronger. This should make the phone more comfortable to hold and use, while also making it more resistant to damage.

In addition to the ceramic fiber back, the Mix Fold 3 is also expected to feature a number of other high-end specifications, including a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, a 120Hz foldable display, and a triple-camera rear system.

The phone is expected to be officially announced later today, August 14, 2023. Stay tuned for more details.

Here are some additional details about the ceramic fiber back:

  • It is made from a combination of ceramic and carbon fiber, which gives it its strength and durability.
  • It is also lightweight, making the phone more comfortable to hold.
  • It is resistant to scratches and corrosion, so it should be able to withstand everyday wear and tear.
  • It is a premium material that gives the phone a high-end look and feel.

Xiaomi Mix Fold 3

About the Xiaomi Mix Fold 3:

  • It is a foldable smartphone that was released in China on August 14, 2023.
  • It has a 8.02-inch foldable AMOLED inner display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 6.52-inch AMOLED outer display with a 60Hz refresh rate.
  • It is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor and has 12GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage.
  • It has a triple-camera rear system that consists of a 50MP main sensor, a 13MP ultrawide sensor, and an 8MP telephoto sensor.
  • It has a 10MP front-facing camera.
  • It has a 5020mAh battery and supports 67W fast charging.
  • It runs on MIUI 13 based on Android 12.

The Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 is available in three colors: black, white, and green. It starts at CNY 9,999 (~$1,500).

Here are some of the key features of the Xiaomi Mix Fold 3:

  • Ceramic fiber back: The Mix Fold 3 is the first foldable smartphone to feature a ceramic fiber back. This material is lightweight, yet strong and durable, making it an ideal choice for a foldable phone.
  • Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor: The Mix Fold 3 is powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, which provides excellent performance for both everyday tasks and demanding apps.
  • 120Hz foldable display: The Mix Fold 3 has a large 8.02-inch foldable AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. This makes the display smooth and responsive, even when scrolling through web pages or playing games.
  • Triple-camera rear system: The Mix Fold 3 has a triple-camera rear system that takes great photos in a variety of conditions. The main sensor is a 50MP sensor that takes sharp and detailed photos. The ultrawide sensor is perfect for capturing wide-angle shots, and the telephoto sensor is great for zooming in on distant objects.
  • 10MP front-facing camera: The Mix Fold 3 has a 10MP front-facing camera that takes great selfies and video calls.
  • 5020mAh battery: The Mix Fold 3 has a large 5020mAh battery that provides long-lasting battery life.
  • MIUI 13: The Mix Fold 3 runs on MIUI 13, which is the latest version of Xiaomi's custom Android skin. MIUI 13 is a feature-rich and polished skin that offers a great user experience.

Overall, the Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 is a great foldable smartphone that offers a lot of features and value for the price. It is a great choice for anyone looking for a powerful and versatile foldable phone.