Samsung’s new folds, flips, and Apple clones | The Vergecast

Samsung Unpacked Event

• Samsung's Unpacked event in Paris was compared to Apple's events, with Samsung trying to create spectacle and cultural relevance by inviting celebrities and influencers.
• Samsung launched several products, including the Galaxy Buds and Galaxy Buds Pro, which resemble Apple's AirPods and AirPods Pro in design.
• The new Galaxy Buds have LED lights on them, which were found amusing but impractical.
• Samsung's new Galaxy Buds closely resemble Apple's AirPods in design, which may be a strategic move to capitalize on the popularity of AirPods and gain market share.
• The Galaxy Buds come in two versions: the Pro, which are in-ear, and the regular ones, which are similar to AirPods in design.
• The Galaxy Watch Ultra is heavily criticized for its striking resemblance to the Apple Watch, including design elements like the menu switcher, home screen, orange band, and quick button.
• Both the Apple Watch Ultra and the Galaxy Watch Ultra are criticized for having too much screen real estate, making them visually overwhelming.
• Samsung's approach to health sensors, particularly the bioactive sensor with additional LED colors, is mentioned, but its effectiveness, especially in measuring blood sugar, is uncertain.
• Samsung introduced new features for its Galaxy Watch 5 series, including an experimental Advanced glycation end products index metric that tracks blood sugar levels.
• The watch also offers an all-in-one health score, but it lacks actionable insights and may lead to misinterpretation.
• Samsung received FDA clearance for sleep apnea monitoring, but the device cannot diagnose the condition and requires consultation with a healthcare professional.
• The Galaxy Ring is the most innovative product, offering multiple sizes and better integration with Samsung devices compared to competitors like the Oura Ring.
• Samsung's approach of providing a ring sizer for $10 before purchasing the ring is seen as a clever move.
• The Samsung Galaxy Ring has a better design compared to other smart rings, with a lightweight, thin, and concave shape that makes it more comfortable to wear.
• It offers various sensors, including heart rate tracking, skin temperature monitoring, and sleep tracking features.
• Unlike other smart rings, the Galaxy Ring comes with a proper case for storage and protection, making it more convenient to carry and less likely to be lost.
• The battery life of the Galaxy Ring is long, and it does not require an additional subscription.
• Despite its potential, the Galaxy Ring still faces the challenge of providing significant value to users, as it currently lacks compelling reasons for everyday wear beyond sleep tracking.
• Samsung's focus on incremental improvements rather than groundbreaking innovation in their foldable phones (Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 6) is criticized.
• Samsung's market-driven approach and lack of bold ideas hinder the advancement of their foldable phones, resulting in stagnant sales.

Paramount and Skydance Potential Merger

• Paramount and Skydance are in talks for a potential merger, with David Ellison, son of Oracle founder Larry Ellison, expressing enthusiasm for the deal.
• Ellison plans to use AI and cloud-based technology to enhance content creation and advertising at Paramount.
• Some industry experts are skeptical about Ellison's plans, citing the challenges faced by other tech companies entering the media industry.
• Ellison's partnership with Skydance Animation, led by former Pixar executive John Lasseter, raises concerns due to Lasseter's past controversies and the studio's lack of recent successes.
• The deal is seen as an attempt to alleviate Sher Redstone's anxieties about tech companies and provide her with financial incentives.
• Paramount is in talks to be acquired by a tech company, potentially bringing significant changes to the studio.

Redbox Shutdown

• Redbox, the DVD rental company, is shutting down due to financial struggles and the rise of streaming services.
• Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, the parent company of Redbox, has been making poor business decisions and is responsible for Redbox's downfall.
• The name "Chicken Soup for the Soul" is considered a bad name for a company, especially when it is no longer connected to the original book series.
• Companies should have a plan B if their business model is based on physical media distribution, as streaming services continue to grow.

Streaming Services and Advertising

• Pause ads are becoming more common on streaming services like Hulu and Sling TV.
• While some users find pause ads to be non-interruptive and acceptable, others dislike the static image ads that freeze on the screen.
• Hulu has a feature where viewers can choose their ad experience before a show, but some users find this annoying and time-consuming.

Instagram's Focus on Short-Form Video

• Instagram head Adam Mosseri announced that the platform will not be pursuing long-form video content, focusing instead on short-form videos like those on TikTok.
• Instagram's previous attempt at long-form video, called IGTV, failed to gain traction.
• Mosseri believes that short-form videos are more likely to be shared and watched all the way through, making them more suitable for Instagram's platform.
• YouTube remains the dominant platform for long-form video content, despite competition from other streaming services.
• Instagram's focus on short-form videos is compared to drive-thru margarita bars, which offer quick and convenient treats, while long-form video is likened to fine dining at a drive-thru, which is not what users are looking for.

Nothing's New Gadgets

• Nothing, a sub-brand of CMF, launched several new gadgets, including earbuds, a smartwatch, and a new smartphone called the CMF Phone (1).
• The CMF Phone (1) is a $199 Android phone with a unique design that allows users to replace the back of the phone with different accessories or colors.
• The phone has received positive reactions from people who are excited about its affordability, fun design, and potential for various use cases.
• The Nothing earbuds and smartwatch also received positive attention for their design and features.

AI and Copyright

• There are ongoing legal battles related to AI and copyright, with lawsuits involving companies like GitHub Co-pilot, record labels, and the New York Times.
• The legal battles focus on issues such as copyright infringement and violations of open-source licenses in AI-generated code.
• The future of AI and copyright law remains uncertain, with different cases setting various precedents and the potential for significant legal battles that will shape the industry.
• Many lawsuits are being filed against companies for using content without permission, and this could change the economy.

AI-Generated Content

• The former Apple blog, TUAW, was acquired by Apollo and then sold to an unknown entity that filled the blog with AI-generated content.
• Former TUAW reporters, including Christina Warren, were upset that their bylines were used on AI-generated articles.
• Google has been trying to prevent AI-generated content from ranking well in search results, but it continues to be a problem.
• The internet is becoming filled with AI-generated content, and it will likely get worse before it gets better.
• Google's AI overviews for web searches are still bad and are constantly changing.
• AI-generated answers to questions can be incorrect and even dangerous.