Month: May 2025

Google rolls out a screenshot-reading feature

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Google Mapshas started to roll out a screenshot recognition feature for iPhones that aims to make finding locations saved in your camera roll much simpler.

We originally heard about the newscreenshot feature last month, but a new report from9to5Googlehas revealed that the rollout has begun on iOS, albeit later than originally anticipated. As Google originally promised, the feature appears to be for the U.S. only, as we have yet to find it on our iPhones in the U.K..

Also, Google has yet to confirm the release date on Android, meaning users with thebest Android phoneswill have to keep waiting to try the feature out.

>>>Replacement battery for Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold

(Image credit: 9to5 Google)

Google’s new feature aims to make finding directions to locations seen online and screengrabbed more streamlined. Instead of having to make a note of the name and address and enter them manually into the app, Google Maps, with assistance fromGemini, can now detect if a screenshot includes any location information and pull up a map listing with directions. Users can then quickly save these locations, which will appear in a new screenshots tab in the Google Maps app, under the “You” heading.

(Image credit: 9to5 Google)

Google Maps can access and scan your photo library, gathering together all images and screenshots with location information into a carousel of screengrabs that you can choose to keep or remove. You can also add screenshots manually, image-by-image, or elect to turn off the feature by using the large button that appears at the bottom of the carousel, if you’d prefer to keep your screenshots private.

>>>Replacement battery for Google Pixel Fold

Where does this leave Apple Maps?

Google Maps vs Apple Mapsis always a tricky choice, and some people will likely stick withApple Mapsas it comes preinstalled on most iPhones with full integration with iOS and other apps. However, many users prefer to use Google Maps. For example, I much prefer Google Maps’ UI to the point that I never use Apple Maps on myiPhone 15 Pro Max.

Another possible reason is that Google has been much better at implementing new AI-powered features into its products than Apple. For instance, last year sawGoogle add Gemini into Google Maps,which introduced new features such as generating ideas on where you can go, producing location review summaries and fielding follow-up questions about your destination.

(Image credit: Google)

Meanwhile, Apple has struggled to introduceApple Intelligenceinto Apple Maps in a meaningful way. However, that could be changing as Apple is reportedly planning on usingthe app to train its AI models, which could mean new and improved services later down the line. However, we don’t quite know what this will entail just yet.

Overall, this screenshot-reading ability is an addition that could make using Google Maps on thebest iPhonesthat much more appealing. With that said, let us know if this is an addition that will have you adopt Google Maps as your go-to navigation app, or if will you stick with Apple Maps for the duration.

A 13-inch Surface Pro now starts at $1,200.

Add Microsoft’s Surface lineup to the list of gear that now costs more.XDAfirstspottedprice hikes of around 20 percent for most existing models. The damage applies to the Surface Laptop and Surface Pro lines, as well as power bricks.

• Surface Laptop, 13.8-inch— now $1,199.99, up from $999.99
• Surface Pro, 13-inch— now $1,199.99, up from $999.99
• Surface 65W Power Supply— now $119.99, up from $89.99
• Surface 127W Power Supply— now $174.99, up from $124.99

The starting prices of the13.8-inch Surface Laptopand13-inch Surface Proincreased from $1,000 to $1,200. Of course, the new devicesMicrosoft launched on Tuesdaystand pat. (And their curiously high prices now make more sense.) Only the 15-inch Surface Laptop was spared, sticking to its original $1,300.

Even accessories like power supplies are part of the fun. The 65W Surface power supply shot up from $90 to $120, and the 127W variant went from $125 to $175.

PCMagnotesthat retail partners like Best Buy and Amazon still show the original prices. So, if you were considering a new Surface, that’s a good place to start.

>>>Replacement battery for Microsoft Surface Pro X 13″ Tablet

Surface Pro price on May 5 (Credit: Wayback Machine/Microsoft)

Surface Pro price on May 7 (Credit: Microsoft)

The move followslast week’s Xbox price increases. The Xbox Series X is now $80 more expensive, while an Xbox Series X costs an extra $100.

>>>Replacement battery for Microsoft Surface Pro 8

Unsurprisingly, Microsoft hasn’t explicitly tied the price hikes to President Trump’s tariffs. WhenXDA‘s Rich Woods asked the company about the surprisingly expensive entry-level Surface modelsintroduced this week, it neither confirmed nor denied the connection.

Making purchases from your iPhone just got a whole lot easier

It’s finally getting easier to buy ebooks on the iOS Kindle app after a major App Store rule change.

In response to a court order in the case ofEpic Games, Inc. v. Apple Inc.,Applehas been forced to stop charging a commission on purchases made outside of the App Store. This is good news foriPhoneusers in general, but solves an especially annoying issue with the iOS Kindle app, which has received an update to make buying ebooks on your iPhonemucheasier.

Thanks to this court order, making purchases from your iPhone just got a whole lot simpler.

>>>Replacement battery for Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 5

iOS Kindle app gets desperately-needed update after App Store rule change

If you opened the iOS Kindle app recently days, you may have noticed you now have the option to purchase books in the app… sort of.

Prior toa major App Store rule changeon May 1, you couldn’t purchase books through the iOS Kindle app at all (or the Amazon app) and instead had to go through the entire process in your web browser. Now, you can simply tap “Get Book” and the Kindle app will take you directly to the book’s purchasing page in your browser.

This is a far more streamlined process and it’s thanks to a recent court order that forced Apple to stop charging commissions on external purchases.

So, for instance, previously an app developer couldn’t include a link in their app taking the user to their web browser to make a purchase outside of the app. That rule was used to effectively force app developers to only allow purchases through their apps, which would force them to give Apple a 30% commission on every purchase.

Now, developers are allowed to include buttons and links directing users to external purchase mechanisms, mainly web browsers, without being forced to pay a commission. As a result, buying things like ebooks on your iPhone is now much more straightforward and user-friendly.

>>>Replacement battery for Amazon Kindle HD Fire

The court case slowly opening iOS to third-party app stores

As one might expect,Apple is appealing the rulingthat led to this change in the App Store rules. However, I hope for the sake of iOS andiPadOSusers that the rule change stays in effect since it contributes to a much better user experience with apps like Kindle and others that allow for digital purchases.

In fact, Epic Games, the plaintiff in the case that led to last week’s App Store change, has had an ongoing dispute with Apple over its restrictions and commission system for purchases made on iOS. Epic currently doesn’t have an iOS/iPadOS app available in the U.S. due to those restrictions.

Users in the European Union can download the Epic Games Store on their iOS and iPadOS devices thanks to the Digital Markets Act, which forced Apple to allow the use of third-party app stores, but that ruling only applies to users in the EU. Luckily,that may change soonthanks to rulings in Epic’s case against Apple.

I’m hoping Epic continues to score wins in its case against Apple since this case is finally bringing more freedom to iOS, giving users more choice over the apps they download, where they download them from, and how they purchase digital items like ebooks. Although, admittedlyI still prefer my ereaderover the Kindle app.

Only Pixel 8 and newer devices will get the update

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• Google’s Android 16 beta includes new battery health tools
• It has seemingly confimed they’ll be exclusive to Pixel 8 and newer devices
• We might learn more at Google I/O on May 20, 2025

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One of the most useful features coming to devices withAndroid 16will be new battery health tools found in your Pixel phone’s settings app – and we now know which devices will get them when they launch for everyone.

Android 16 will likely get detailed atGoogle I/O, but before then some software betas are cluing us into some of its features.

This includes new battery health capabilities.

The main tool is a stat at the top of the battery health page, which represents your phone’s current max battery capacity as a percentage of what a new standard battery’s capacity would be. For example, if it reads 93% that’sGooglesaying that your phone’s 100% charge is equivalent to a new battery (that is otherwise identical) being 93% charged.

It also highlights if your phone’s battery health is normal or not – all batteries degrade over time, but you’ll know if it’s degrading faster than it should be – as well as links to articles which could improve your battery health.

>>>Replacement battery for Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold

Better battery, better life

Android 16 should be detailed soon

It doesn’t necessarily add new protective measures – like theGoogle Pixel 9a’s Battery Health assistance– but it should nevertheless be a handy tool for contextualising why battery health measures are useful, and offer you useful tips if you are struggling to look after your phone’s battery.

So it’s a shame to discover that,according to Googlein an Android 16 beta bug report (via, the feature which is currently “supported in Beta 3 onPixel 8aandPixel 9products including 9 Pro Fold” won’t be coming to older Pixel devices due to “product limitations.”

Google’s phrasing strongly suggests only Pixel 8 phones and newer will get the latest battery health tools – it does leave open the door for it to come to older devices when Android 16 launches in full, though we aren’t holding our breath.

>>>Replacement battery for Google Pixel Fold

Battery health is one of the least flashy but most useful tools software updates can provide.

Whether you replace your phone every two years or every five, knowing your device will be as reliable as possible for as long as possible is something we all appreciate. Afterall, no one likes those moments of terror as your phone’s battery ticks down at the worst possible time.

Alongside battery changes Android 16 will includea major visual refresh, anew and improved desktop mode, andUSB hack protections.

Thin and light laptops now pack in enough performance to get you by most CPU or GPU-intensive tasks you throw at them, and yet, a few bucks spent on laptop accessories can skyrocket your productivity. An external monitor is inarguably the most effective way to do so, allowing you to view and work with multiple app windows without having to furiously alt-tab every few seconds.Setting up an external monitor is straightforward — you hook it up to a power source and connect it to your laptop or desktop over HDMI or DisplayPort. This works well if you often dock your laptop in a designated workspace, but most monitors simply aren’t portable enough, given their size and the fact that you would need to carry around a bulky power adapter. Seeing how universal and convenient USB-C has become, the idea of connecting and powering an external display using just one cable must have struck your mind, but can it actually be done?The short answer is yes, but you will need a compatible display as well as a relatively modern laptop that offers this functionality. With exponential leaps in charging speeds and data transfer rates, the right USB-C port and cable can not only carry a video signal to a portable monitor but also power it over the same connection. Here’s how to check if your laptop can power a monitor via USB-C and what to look for when shopping for one.>>>Replacement battery for Lenovo ThinkPad L16 Gen 1Exploring plug and play portable monitors

A quick search on Amazon reveals several listings for portable monitors from various brands, often coming in at sizes quite similar to most laptop screens. This way, you’re essentially doubling the screen real estate without being affixed to a traditional desk setup. Some of these options even offer touchscreen functionality, which can open interesting opportunities for working with interactive content. However, it’s important to go through each of the options you’re considering and look at how the portable monitor is being powered. Products like the Arzopa Portable Monitor that we went hands-on with feature this functionality, meaning you get a fully working external display powered by USB-C and displaying a video feed using the same connection. Displays that support both video and power over USB-C will list this feature explicitly, so be sure to look for it in the tech specs section.>>>Replacement battery for Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5 14IMH9A plug-and-play portable monitor is only half the equation — in order to use USB for displays, you will also need to make sure your laptop features a USB-C port with both Power Delivery and DisplayPort Alt Mode. Most modern laptops, including MacBooks, offer this convenience, but it’s best to look for this functionality by visiting the product page. You can also directly connect a portable display to a smartphone or handheld consoles like the Nintendo Switch — although certain scenarios may have you relying on an external power source such as a power bank.