Welcome to SMART TECH NEWS - our rapid weekly roundup of the latest in the world of technology, where we bring you the most noteworthy news and developments from the week. From ground-breaking innovations to major industry shifts, we aim to keep you informed and up-to-date with everything shaping the future of technology. In this roundup, we'll delve into the top five news stories that have dominated headlines, offering insights into the latest trends shaping our digital future.
European Union Fines Apple €2 billion for abusing its dominant position
The European Union fined Apple €2 billion for allegedly abusing its dominant position in the iPhone market. The European Commission found Apple guilty of abusing its dominant position in the music streaming market through its App Store policies, which allegedly put competitors at a disadvantage. This fine is one of the largest ever imposed by the EU for antitrust violations and highlights increasing scrutiny over big tech companies' practices. Apple intends to appeal the decision, stating that it is unjustified and that its policies create opportunities for developers.
Image: msn.com
HP is in the Rent-a-Printer Business By launching its All-in-Plan Printer Subscription service
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Image: HP
HP has launched a new subscription service called "All-in-Plan" for its printers, which includes printer rental, ink, and maintenance. Customers pay a monthly fee based on the number of pages printed, with prices starting from $6.99. The service aims to provide a hassle-free experience for consumers and small businesses by offering predictable costs and eliminating the need to purchase ink separately.
The printer you receive is determined by the plan you select, ranging from $6.99 per month for 20 pages' worth of prints with the current HP Envy model, up to $35.99 per month for an OfficeJet Pro and 700 pages. If you exceed your page limit, HP offers additional pages for $1 per block of 10–15 pages.
However, each plan entails a two-year rental commitment, rather than a lease-to-own arrangement. Should you decide that HP All-In isn't suitable for your needs, you'll need to return the printer and resort to using public printing services like FedEx. Exiting the agreement after the initial 30-day trial or before the two-year period incurs a fee of up to $270, depending on the plan and timing of cancellation.
Check it out on: HP All-In Plan FAQs | HP® Official Site
Apple Launches New MacBook Air Models with Faster M3 Chips
Apple has introduced new MacBook Air laptops featuring faster M3 chips, aiming to enhance performance and efficiency for users. The M3 chip is expected to provide improved processing power compared to previous models. The new MacBook Air models come with 13-inch and 15-inch screen sizes and are up to 60% faster than the model with Apple's M1 processor, the company said on its website.
MacBook Air laptops with its latest M3 processors, betting that the more powerful models would attract consumers looking to upgrade to artificial intelligence-powered personal computers. Prices for the smaller model start at $1,099 in the United States, while the base version of the bigger MacBook Air costs $1,299.
Image: Apple
Samsung Galaxy Z FOLD 6 - What do we know so far | Rumoured Price and Release Date
Image: Digital Trends
Going by the history of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold releases, we should expect the next generation of Samsung foldables sometime in the summer. For example, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 came out on August 27, 2021. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 was released on August 25, 2022, and the latest Galaxy Z Fold launched on August 11, 2023.
That said, it looks like we may see the Galaxy Z Fold 6 a little earlier than August this year. The reason for an earlier-than-usual release date is that Samsung could be looking to take advantage of marketing around the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, starting on July 26. The Galaxy Unpacked event could also be happening in Paris this year as well.
Foldables have never been very affordable, with prices that are typically around the $1,800 range. The Galaxy Z Fold 5, for example, starts at $1,800 for the base model (12GB/256GB) and goes up from there, with 512GB costing $1,920 and the 1TB version being an eye-watering $2,160. Rumors have suggested that we may see a more expensive Galaxy Z Fold 6 “Ultra,” making the Galaxy Z Fold 6 a “cheaper” base model.
Other rumors also suggest that the Galaxy Z Fold 6 will have a titanium body and three color options. It’s also likely that there won’t be an S Pen slot but with the possibility of a more expensive Ultra version, that could also change. t’s a good assumption that we will see Samsung implement the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip into the Galaxy Z Fold 6 series as well. The Galaxy Z Fold tends to get an annual chip upgrade, and with the S24 series already using the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, that’s probably what the Z Fold and Z Flip will get, too.
Let us know your thoughts on the above and what shocked you the most! Stay tuned till next week, when we come back with more BREAKING TECH NEWS.
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