The Samsung Z Fold 4, on Sale Today, Has Been Turned Into a Windows Phone
The Samsung Z Fold 4, on Sale Today, Has Been Turned Into a Windows Phone
Starting Aug. 26, you can buy Samsung's best foldable yet, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4. And for people who miss the way Microsoft used to make phones, there's good news: With some third-party software, you can turn your new cutting-edge foldable into a Windows Phone.
YouTuber Mark Spurrell figured out a setup that showcases both older and modern Windows UIs in the same device. You'll need to download two separate third-party launchers, which are easy to find in the Google Play Store. Square Home will turn the Z Fold 4's outer display into the tiled look of Microsoft's Metro design, while Win-X Launcher turns the tablet-size inner screen into a more modern Windows 10-esque desktop look.
The clever part is getting both launchers to play nice together -- to do that, you'll need to download the Bixby Routines app and set up functionality that'll swap to the Win-X Launcher when the display is opened, as Spurrell explains in his video:
This is all software that's existed before, but it's cool to see it work in concert to bring past and present Microsoft mobile UIs together, which makes great use of the Z Fold 4's expansive 7.6-inch inner display. And thankfully, it's all pretty simple to download within the Google Play Store, no sideloading required.
Of course, you'll still need to fork over $1,800 for a Z Fold 4 to get this dual-launcher action working, but I'm sure there are some enthusiasts who are willing to pay Samsung's toll to be in elite company. Or maybe we could see more of the Windows Phone look on the next Surface Duo, as Android Central suggests.
Read more: Galaxy Z Flip 4 vs. Z Fold 4: Samsung's New Foldable Phones Compared, Spec by Spec
What Is Collagen? Benefits, Food Sources and Everything You Should Know
What Is Collagen? Benefits, Food Sources and Everything You Should Know
The benefits of collagen have been well-marketed in recent years, from stronger bones to more glowing skin. But regardless of all the hype, can boosting your collagen really accomplish these things?
As it turns out, the answer is yes. Several studies have found that adding collagen-rich foods or supplements to your diet offers a number of benefits and truly does help improve the health of your skin, joints, hair and bones.
However, there are a few things you should know about collagen before incorporating it into your daily wellness routine.
Below, you'll find an in-depth explanation about collagen, including what it is, where to find it and how you might benefit from it -- plus the drawbacks you should be aware of. In addition, be sure to check out the best food sources for every vitamin and mineral you need and 10 tips for budget-friendly meal prepping that's still healthy.
What is collagen?
Before discussing its benefits, what is collagen? In short, collagen is the most plentiful protein in the human body and accounts for one-third of all protein. It serves as a connective building block that holds together your muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones and skin.
There are nearly 30 known types of collagen, but type I is the most prevalent (it exists in all connective tissue and makes up 90% of all collagen in the body). Types II, III and IV are also common and found in various parts of the body including your joints, kidneys, ears and blood vessels.
All of this leads us to another pertinent question: What is collagen good for? Your body naturally makes collagen by combining multiple amino acids (like proline and glycine) with zinc, vitamin C and copper. However, as you get older, production slows and the existing collagen in your body starts to break down at a faster rate.
When that happens, you may notice your skin getting wrinklier, your tendons and ligaments becoming less flexible and shrinking muscles. To prevent or delay these effects, some people consume collagen (either via food or supplements) to make up for what their body has lost.
Adding collagen to your diet
fotograzia/Getty Images
If you're looking to amp up your collagen production, you should ensure that your diet includes foods with these essential ingredients:
Bone broth
Fish and shellfish
Chicken
Pork skin
Eggs
Beans
Citrus
Bell peppers
Nuts
Eating a well-balanced combination of these foods is the best way to boost your collagen levels. However, you can also consider taking supplements (typically in powder or capsule form) if you aren't getting enough collagen from diet alone.
For best results, experts advise taking a collagen supplement one hour before working out, but always check the label and speak with your doctor before starting any new wellness routine.
Benefits of collagen
Now that we've covered the fundamentals, let's explore some of the benefits of collagen.
Builds stronger bones
Bones are full of collagen, but as you get older, the protein starts to deteriorate. In turn, this can lead to a decrease in bone strength and density. However, by incorporating collagen supplements into your diet, you may be able to prevent some bone loss and reduce your risk of bone-related problems, including osteoporosis and fractures.
Decreases joint pain
Collagen also works together with cartilage to keep your joints properly functioning. Over the years, as it wears down, it can lead to stiff and achy joints and put you at a higher risk for osteoarthritis. The good news is that taking collagen has been found to reduce joint pain in physically active people. It may also serve as a pain reliever for people with existing joint problems.
Improves skin
Your skin also contains collagen, which gives it elasticity and hydration when you're young. But as you mature, your skin becomes saggier and more wrinkly due to depleting collagen levels. Interestingly, studies have shown that adding more collagen to your diet can boost skin firmness and hydration, visibly reducing the effects of aging.
Promotes healthy hair
Collagen is created with some of the same amino acids that are used to build keratin, the protein that makes up your hair. Because of this connection, there is some evidence that consuming more collagen may help with your hair health by promoting growth, reducing thinning and slowing graying.
Adds muscle mass
Muscle tissue consists of as much as 10% collagen. When the collagen in your body begins to break down, you could lose muscle mass and potentially develop a condition called sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss). Fortunately, studies have shown that collagen supplements, along with increased protein intake and routine resistance exercise, may help people with sarcopenia build back muscle strength.
Drawbacks to collagen supplements
Despite these benefits, there are also a handful of drawbacks to collagen supplements that you should bear in mind before incorporating them into your routine.
They contain animal products (and sometimes, allergens)
Traditional collagen supplements, and all dietary supplements in general, are made from animal products, so they aren't suitable if you follow a plant-based diet. While there are some vegan collagen options on the market, it's unclear how they compare to the ones made from animal products. Similarly, if you have any food allergies, make sure to read the label on your collagen supplements thoroughly. In some cases, they may contain common allergens like fish or eggs.
Regulation is a gray area
Collagen supplements are regulated as food (not drugs) by the US Food and Drug Administration, meaning their ingredients and production aren't monitored by an official governing body. These products aren't subject to the same regulations and stringent approval process as pharmaceuticals, so it can be tricky to find out about the quality, purity and safety of the ingredients.
Effectiveness studies are limited
Although there have been studies about the effectiveness of collagen (many of which we've cited above), more research needs to be done. Also, some of the existing studies have been funded by companies that produce collagen supplements, which may raise ethical questions about bias.
Similar supplements to collagen
Olga Shumytskaya/Getty Images
It's difficult to find other supplements that replicate the effects of collagen because its amino acid makeup is different from other proteins. However, you could try boosting your intake of glycine and proline, the key amino acids that are involved in creating collagen. They're most often found in protein-rich foods like meat and poultry, but they're also available in supplement form.
If you're most interested in how collagen can help improve your hair, nails and skin, you could consider keratin or biotin, which typically come in the form of shampoos and salon treatments but are also sold as dietary supplements. Biotin is also found in certain foods, including legumes, egg yolks, nuts and avocados.
For more advice on supplements, here are five fitness supplements that are proven to work. Plus, check out these three alternatives to melatonin for better sleep without drowsiness the next day.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.
Amazon hires Boeing vet to run Prime Air drone delivery unit
Amazon hires Boeing vet to run Prime Air drone delivery unit
Amazon has hired a former Boeing executive to run its Prime Air drone delivery business, signaling the retail giant's plans to expand the unit so that it can eventually start flying regular 30-minute shipments to customers' homes.
David Carbon, who left the troubled airline manufacturer amid problems at the factory he ran, joined Amazon this month, according to a company statement. He succeeds Gur Kimchi, who had run Prime Air for the past seven years. Kimchi's LinkedIn profile says he continues to work at Amazon.
"We're very excited David Carbon joined Amazon to lead the next phase of our mission to bring 30 minute delivery by drones to customers," Brad Porter, vice president of robotics at Amazon, said in a statement. "David has over 20 years of experience bringing ground-breaking aerospace innovations to scale safely and reliably and we look forward to his contributions as we scale up our manufacturing and customer delivery operations."
Prime Air and drone deliveries could significantly change the retail world, encouraging even more people to buy online and weakening already struggling brick-and-mortar stores. Amazon has talked up its drone delivery plans since 2013 though the service is still unavailable for customers due to aviation regulations. Carbon's expertise is primarily in assembly and operations, but his many years in aviation could also help on the regulation front too.
The hiring of a longtime Boeing vet underscores Amazon's confidence in Prime Air though the business may still have a long way to go before it becomes a reality for customers. Aviation and safety regulations in the US currently restrict drone deliveries except in very limited and controlled settings.
Those regulations haven't stopped Amazon from developing its drones in the hopes regulations will eventually change. The company has already piloted 30-minute deliveries in England and tested the service in controlled settings in the US. Meanwhile, UPS is working on drone deliveries within US medical campuses.
Carbon's hiring doesn't come without baggage. He stepped down from Boeing last May following a New York Times investigation that revealed shoddy workmanship and weak oversight at the South Carolina airplane factory he was running. The Times found these problems existed for a decade at the plant and continued after Carbon took over in 2016.
An Amazon spokesman declined to comment on the Times investigation. Carbon didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
This story is part of War in Ukraine, CNET's coverage of events there and of the wider effects on the world.
Artyom Fedosov was confused when his cab driver announced his credit card had been declined. Luckily, the 27-year-old Ukrainian photographer had a backup card. But when he offered it, that one strangely didn't work either. In a last-ditch effort, Fedosov went to an ATM to try to withdraw money from his debit account. The machine rejected him too.
"That's how I found out," Fedosov told me in a recent interview via Zoom, "I'd lost access to my savings."
This "terrifying" moment was in late February, days after Russia's invasion into Ukraine. Fedosov wasn't in his home city of Kiev, but rather in Kazakhstan. It was supposed to be a weeklong stay at the end of a photography trip to the Middle East, but Russia's invasion meant Fedosov could no longer go home.
Since his ill-fated taxi ride, Fedosov been living off cryptocurrency. He found a bitcoin ATM in Kazakhstan, which allowed him to exchange fragments of the cryptocurrency for Kazakhstani tenge. He has since opened a bank account in Kazakhstan, funded exclusively by selling cryptocurrency, and moved to Germany. To bolster his funds, Fedosov is also selling photographs as NFTs -- people buy them in ether, which he converts to cash -- and he expects that will fund a few more months' worth of expenses.
Fedosov is one of approximately 5.5 million Ukrainians who own cryptocurrency. His ability to live off bitcoin and ether is music to the ears of cryptocurrency proponents. They point out that situations like Fedosov's, when the financial system stutters or fails, are the precise reason bitcoin was created. Using a cryptocurrency wallet -- as opposed to going through an intermediary exchange like Binance -- holders can access their cryptocurrency with nothing more than an internet connection and a 12-word seed phrase.
Fedosov opened a bank account in Kazakhstan, which he funded by selling his cryptocurrency.
Artyom Fedosov/Twitter
Millions of Ukrainians and Russians lost full access to their money in the days following the invasion. Hoping to access ATMs, queues of people snaked around city blocks in both countries. Banks quickly placed restrictions on cash withdrawals. This was particularly acute in eastern Ukraine, where much of the fighting is taking place. The central bank of Donetsk, a region of 2 million people which has declared itself autonomous from Ukraine, limited citizens to withdrawals of just $130 a day. There are anecdotal reports of people in the east being completely unable to withdraw their savings or access their credit.
"It was crazy," said Fedosov. "In the beginning, the rules would change several times a day."
Thankfully, banks' worst fears have so far been unrealized. Most Ukrainians, including ones abroad like Fedosov, have regained at least limited access to their funds. Yet the situation is still fraught. The central banks of both Russia and Ukraine have placed restrictions on foreign currency withdrawals. Ukraine's biggest commercial bank, PrivatBank, issued a plea on Twitter, asking for armored trucks with which to transport cash to ATMs. In the days following war's outbreak, Russians fearing what sanctions would do to the ruble chose to plow money into bitcoin. (The ruble is down around 30% to the dollar since the invasion.)
"Bitcoin is kind of the perfect war asset, unfortunately," said Sam Callahan, an analyst at Swan Bitcoin. "You have wealth stored in your head with 12 words, it's a lot different than even gold or art, hung up in the banks or in vaults. People can cross the border with nothing that can be confiscated, and with 12 words in their head have their wealth."
Callahan's statement would be contentious in traditional finance circles. Critics say that cryptocurrencies are too volatile to act as hedges against inflation, much less the collapse of a monetary system. But after two years of dizzying price movements, it's a reminder that bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies were designed to be more than speculative assets.
Already, cryptocurrency has had an outsized role in the war. The Ukrainian government has managed to raise over $60 million for the resistance effort merely by posting its bitcoin and ether wallet addresses on Twitter. Millions more have been raised for local charities and NGOs. Not all crypto prospects are positive, though. Some are concerned that Russian oligarchs will use cryptocurrency to evade the historic sanctions the West has placed on Russia. Just like global charities are likely to emulate Ukraine's crypto fundraising, Fedosov worries that repressive regimes in Iran and Syria would follow Russia's example if the country could evade Western sanctions using bitcoin and ether.
Callahan says this is unlikely. The combined market cap of bitcoin and ether is around a trillion, too little for a country as large as Russia to meaningfully circumvent sanctions. Some oligarchs may be able to move some funds around, though Callahan argues it would be difficult to convert large quantities of money from cryptocurrency to fiat without alerting blockchain analysis firms. Still, he concedes that bitcoin can be used by those with nefarious intent.
Fedosov has been selling his photography as NFTs, which he says has given him funds to live "for an extra few months."
Artyom Fedosov
"It's an open-source network, it's going to be used by enemies, it's going to be used by friends," he said. "It'll be used by drug traffickers, but it'll also be used for charities. A knife can be used by a surgeon, it can also be used by a murderer."
Fedosov's story is a fortuitous one. He has about $5,000 in ether, he says, because just three months before the invasion he decided to convert money to ether in order to begin trading NFTs -- nonfungible tokens, which are recorded on a blockchain . He only has bitcoin because, back in 2017, Fedosov worked for a Dutch company and said it was easier and quicker to be paid his salary in bitcoin. In the years since moving to a new job, the leftover fraction of a bitcoin in his wallet increased in value from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.
Back then, Fedosov thought bitcoin was a novel alternative to traditional money. Now he thinks it may be just as reliable -- and is thankful he didn't happen to spend his last chunk of bitcoin all those years ago. When asked how he had crypto to fall back on, he simply replied: "It's pure luck, actually."
Apple WWDC 2022 Keynote Live Blog: iOS 16, WatchOS 9, MacOS Ventura, M2, Gaming and More
Apple WWDC 2022 Keynote Live Blog: iOS 16, WatchOS 9, MacOS Ventura, M2, Gaming and More
Apple says its new Stage Manager will make multitasking a lot easier on the iPad, and it'll work with external displays.
With Stage Manager, you can resize windows, and the dock is visible.
You can see recently used apps on the screen, and you can format the layout however you want -- even with overlapping windows. (I've been hoping for this one!)
"Like you saw earlier, I can resize windows and rearrange everything just the way I want," Federighi says.
With an external display, the iPad looks very MacOS-y. You can have up to eight apps running simultaneously, with four apps running on each screen. You can drag and drop across displays as well.
"It's an entirely new way to multitask," Federighi says, highlighting the "full external display support."
Samsung's Galaxy Tab S7 FE is coming to the US, preorders start Aug. 5
Samsung's Galaxy Tab S7 FE is coming to the US, preorders start Aug. 5
Samsung's next big Unpacked event may be set for Aug. 11, but that doesn't mean the Galaxy-maker doesn't have some other new products in the works before then. On Wednesday the company announced its latest tablets, the Galaxy Tab S7 FE and Tab S7 FE 5G.
The new "Fan Edition" devices, which will be available in the US starting on Aug. 5, will sport 12.4-inch LCD displays with support for the company's S-Pen stylus, which is included in the box. The tablets will also feature 4GB of RAM to go with 64GB of storage (expandable up to 1TB through microSD), run on Android 11 and pack two cameras: an 8-megapixel shooter on the rear and a 5-megapixel main lens upfront.
The back of the Galaxy Tab S7 FE.
Samsung
The Wi-Fi variant of the Tab S7 FE will run on Qualcomm's SM7325 chipset while the 5G device will be powered by Qualcomm's 750G processor.
As with the FE versions of its Galaxy S phones, the Tab S7 FE seems to be a compromise of an existing Samsung device by offering several slightly scaled-down versions of features while costing a bit less. With these new tablets, the reference seems to be last year's Galaxy Tab S7 Plus, which offered a more robust 12.4-inch, 120Hz Super AMOLED display and ran on Qualcomm's 865 Plus chipset.
Read more:Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 appear in leak
That tablet, however, is a little pricier, with a starting price of $850 for the Wi-Fi model or $1,050 for a 5G version. The Wi-Fi edition of the new Tab S7 FE will be available for preorder Thursday for $530, with availability "beginning in September."
The Tab S7 FE 5G will run $669 and be available for orders starting on Thursday at Samsung.com, AT&T and Verizon. Samsung says that the 5G tablet will also be heading to T-Mobile, US Cellular and "other retailers," with additional details in the "coming days."
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Samsung's ready to update its foldable devices. The company on Tuesday said it will host a virtual Unpacked event on Aug. 11, where it's expected to show off less expensive foldables that aim to move the devices beyond niche products.
The company sent invites to reporters, saying its virtual keynote will take place at 7 a.m. PT on Aug. 11. While parts of the world are reopening in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, tech companies aren't yet holding product launches in person. The invite touted: "Get ready to unfold."
Samsung's next Unpacked event will be Aug. 11.
Samsung
While Samsung hasn't yet detailed what it will announce at Unpacked, it has already opened up its Reserve Now system for Galaxy fans to claim a device in advance. Customers who reserve early are eligible for perks such as 12 months free of Samsung Care Plus, up to an extra $100 trade-in credit and a special pre-order offer that Samsung hasn't yet detailed.
The event on Aug. 11 is Samsung's third Unpacked of the year, and it's expected to continue a trend set by previous launches -- making devices more affordable for consumers. In January, the company unveiled its flagship Galaxy S21 smartphone, which it sold for $200 less than its predecessor. Then in March, it highlighted its inexpensive Galaxy A line of smartphones.
TM Roh, the company's head of mobile, said in a December blog post that Samsung planned to expand its foldable lineup and make the devices "more accessible," which likely means more affordable.
"The Z Fold 2 was praised as a smartphone that reimagines what's possible with mobile technology, and I'm excited to say, it's just a hint of what's to come as we continue to explore, evolve and expand this category-changing space," Roh wrote at the time.
Samsung's bigger push with making devices more affordable reflects the reality we're all living in. Phone designs aren't changing much from year to year, and consumers are holding onto devices for longer, about three years in the US versus two in the past. At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic has hurt millions of people financially. While high-end specs and cutting-edge features are nice for attention and buzz, people still care about what they're spending on phones -- especially right now.
Samsung typically uses its August Unpacked event to show off its newest Galaxy Note devices. The Note line, which kicked off the craze for big-screen phones, used to showcase Samsung's latest and greatest technology. But that title now goes to the company's foldables lineup. The devices, which first hit the market in 2019 with the $1,980 Galaxy Fold, incorporate bendable displays that let them expand into tablets or fold smaller to protect the inner screen. While Samsung likely won't introduce a new Note this year, the company has said the line isn't dead.
Samsung followed up the Fold with its Z Flip in February 2020. That device, which retailed for $1,380, was a clamshell design that folded outward -- a sort of high-tech flip phone. Samsung updated it with 5G connectivity and boosted the price to $1,450 in July of that year. Samsung's latest device, the Z Fold 2, fixed the original Fold's problems and packed in bigger screens and 5G connectivity. Priced at $2,000, it became the company's most expensive phone.
Samsung's first Galaxy Fold, which folded outward from a phone into a tablet, wowed most people who tested early versions of the device. But foldables have been too expensive to attract mainstream buyers, and so far, they've remained niche products.
This year, Samsung is expected to introduce a new Galaxy Z Fold 3 and an updated Z Flip 3. The former device is expected to feature a front-facing camera embedded beneath the screen, refined rear-facing cameras and support for a special version of the S Pen, which has gradually moved beyond the Note to work with other devices. The Z Flip 3 could have a new two-tone color scheme and a larger exterior screen for when the phone is folded shut.
Along with foldables, Samsung's Unpacked is expected to include a new Galaxy S21 FE 5G phone, adding a second device to the less expensive FE lineup. The Galaxy S20 FE, which hit the market in September for $300 less than the S20, proved to be popular with buyers. A Samsung executive told CNET in March that the company planned to introduce future versions of the device.
Samsung also likely will unveil Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic smartwatches and Galaxy Buds 2 wireless earbuds.
Virtual private networks have become a cornerstone privacy tool in the fight against pervasive data tracking, whether you're using a device with MacOS or Windows. While there are a growing number of VPNs to choose from, even the best still struggle to secure a key weakness in your privacy protection: your IPv6 address.
IPv6 is the successor to the traditional IPv4 -- what you would normally consider your IP address -- but IPv6 can also reveal potentially personally identifiable information about your location. That's why our top VPN recommendations all include some form of IPv6 leak protection. Sometimes, however, if your other software or your own device's configurations conflict with your VPN, you may not be able to get the full benefit of that IPv6 protection.
Because disabling IPv6 on a Windows takes just a few clicks, finding tutorials for the process is just a quick internet search away. While it takes less than 5 minutes to disable an IPv6 on a MacOS device, the process takes a few more steps. And the method you use will depend on your device's configuration.
Here are the two most common methods for disabling IPv6 on a MacOS, right along with the steps you can take to re-enable it if you change your mind.
Read more: All the VPN terms you need to know
How to Disable IPv6 in MacOS in System Preferences
1. From your Apple menu, open System Preferences.
2. Click the Network icon that's shaped like a globe. A new window will open. On the left side of the window, you'll see a list of the networks you've previously connected to, including the one you're currently connected to which will have a green dot on its left. Click it to highlight the network.
3. Click the Advanced button at the bottom of the window. A new window will open with several tabs near the top. Among those, select TCP/IP.
4. In the TCP/IP tab, you'll see two drop-down menus. Click the dropdown menu beside Configure IPv6, and select Off.
5. In the bottom right corner of the window, click OK. Once the TCP/IP window closes, and you're back at the Network window, click Apply in the bottom right corner and then close the window.
If your version of MacOS doesn't have an option labeled Off in the drop-down menu beside Configure IPv6, you can manually disable IPv6 through your MacOS Terminal.
Read more: You Need to Be Using a VPN on Your Phone. Here's How to Set it Up in Under 10 Minutes
How to Disable IPv6 on MacOS in Terminal
These steps will lead through disabling IPv6, but you'll also find steps to re-enable it in case you change your mind.
1. Open a Finder window and click Applications.
2. Scroll down to a folder labeled Utilities. Click to open it, then select Terminal.
3. Once you've opened Terminal, a small black window will open. Type the following command into the window and Terminal will show you a list of all your current network types:
sudo networksetup -listallnetworkservices
You may or may not be prompted by Terminal to enter a password. That'll be the one you have to type every time you wake up your Mac. Once you enter it, your list of network types will appear.
4. Find the type of network you're currently using. It's likely you're using either Wi-Fi or Ethernet right now to read this. We're going to tell the computer to disable IPv6 on this particular type of network, however that network is labeled in your list.
If you're connected via Wi-Fi, type the following: sudo networksetup -setv6off Wi-Fi
5. You won't see any confirmation that you've turned IPv6 off but Terminal may again ask you for your password. Once you've entered your password correctly, IPv6 will be disabled. You can close Terminal and you're done.
If you change your mind for any reason and need to re-enable IPv6 on your MacOS, you can go through the same process with a small change to the command. Just open Terminal and type the following command: sudo networksetup -setv6automatic Wi-Fi.
For more tools to enhance your privacy when working with Apple devices, check out our list of the best Mac VPNs for 2022.
