Tech Advisor -julkaisun June 2025 -irtonumeron sisällysluettelo

The Trump tariffs have eased on most technology products, even those from China, according to a new amended executive order the Trump administration filed 11 April. The latest order (tinyurl.com/ywedrshz) is a ‘clarification of exceptions’ to Trump’s earlier order on 2 April, regarding tariffed goods imported to the United States from China. That order raised tariffs on Chinese goods to 125 percent. Those tariffs of 125 percent remain in place, but reduce the tariff on a broad swath of the PC industry, plus smartphones. Essentially, it provides relief for PC and component buyers, which has already been plagued by high prices on computers and components. Specifically, the order excepts several classifications of products found on the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), which in turn provides an esoteric…

Google is rolling out the ability for its Gemini AI assistant to search your photos. 9to5Google (tinyurl.com/bdhs2v8z) has spotted that Google has commenced updating the Gemini app on Android with a powerful new Google Photos extension. This means that you can ask Gemini to find particular photo types using natural language. This can include searching for descriptions of photos, such as ‘photos shot from train windows’ or ‘old selfies’. It’ll also pick up on any relationships you’ve set in the Photos app, so you can search for specific people. More advanced applications include the ability to ‘ask for important details found in your photos’. Some of the examples cited include ‘what did we eat at the hotel in Stanly?’ or ‘what’s my driver’s licence number?’. Tapping on the Gemini results…

There are good reasons why Apple’s cheapest tablets, such as the 9th- and 10th-gen iPads, have been big sellers. In theory, Apple’s standard iPad models are designed primarily for educational institutions, but in reality, they offer everything most users want. Most of the time a basic iPad is completely sufficient. The last of these standard iPads, which came out in 2022, sold quite well. This model was the first in the line to have a more modern design, featuring a USB-C port and a Touch ID sensor in the power button, which brought it closer to the top models. But there were compromises too: buyers had to make do with an older chip and mediocre features. With the new 11th-gen iPad model – also known as the iPad (A16) –…

If you’re a smartphone owner – and chances are that’s everyone reading this – you’ve probably encountered an eerie, but all too common scenario: One day you’re talking about a random topic while your phone is next to you and the following day you notice ads start popping up related to that same topic. It’s unsettling. How do these ads know what you were talking about? Your smartphone may be the culprit. Every smartphone has its built-in microphone constantly turned on in order for the virtual assistant to hear your voice commands. So, could it be that these devices are also secretly eavesdropping on your conversations in order to serve you ads? Here’s everything you need to know, plus a simple test to find out. HOW TO FIND OUT IF…

Samsung may have fixed one of the biggest problems with foldable phones, and Apple could be ready to benefit. According to a recent report in Business Korea (tinyurl.com/yzpkdbw7), Apple has decided to go with Samsung Display as the exclusive supplier for the bendy screen in its forthcoming iPhone foldable, set for the second half of 2026. That would be a rather unusual move for modern day Apple, which is all about diversifying its component supply when it can’t make the component itself. WHY HAS APPLE GONE ALL-IN WITH SAMSUNG ON FOLDABLES? There must be a very good reason why Apple is going all in with Samsung on foldable screens, and the report believes it has the answer. It seems Samsung has achieved a ‘technological edge’ over LG Display and BOE…

Meta’s forthcoming smart glasses could emulate the Meta Quest headset by running on Android. That’s the claim being put forward in a new Bloomberg report (tinyurl.com/47jh8spf). Apparently, the forthcoming compact smart wearable, codenamed ‘Hypernova’, will run on a “highly customised version” of Google’s mobile operating system. This wouldn’t be the first time Meta has used Google’s platform as a base, with the likes of the Meta Quest 3 and Meta Quest Pro also running on a version of Android. ANDROID, BUT NOT AS WE KNOW IT To be clear, this isn’t believed to be a reference to the Android XR platform that Google announced last year. Android XR (Extended Reality) is an operating system tailored specifically for such mixed reality headsets, and was developed jointly by Samsung, Google and Qualcomm.…

The Xiaomi Watch S4 sees Xiaomi update the cheapest of its trio of smartwatches where its party piece once again is the ability to remove the bezel to change its look. Along with refining the way that bezel-switching works, Xiaomi is also adding in the latest version of its HyperOS operating system that brings a new user interface look, gesture features and also wants to make it easier to take control of Xiaomi’s smart home devices. Like the Xiaomi Watch S3, the Watch S4 price remains very reasonable at just £129, making it an option for both Android and iPhone users that don’t want to spend big on an Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch or Google Pixel Watch. It won’t give you all of the features those smartwatches will, but…

Google has finally ended support for Android 12, according to well-sourced reports, meaning it’s finally time to upgrade those old smartphones and tablets. In Google’s recently published Android Security Bulletin for April 2025, which runs through the latest patched up security vulnerabilities for its mobile OS, Android 12 and Android 12L are notable by their absence. According to Android Authority’s sources (tinyurl.com/bdzanjfw), Google stopped supporting Android 12 with security patches on March 31, following the Android Security Bulletin for March 2025. This means Android 12 devices will more than likely no longer receive fixes for any new security vulnerabilities to emerge. If you’re running an Android 12 device, it’s time to upgrade. WHO STILL USES AN ANDROID 12 PHONE ANYWAY? If you think that this is all rather irrelevant, and…

Microsoft has arguably done more to shape the evolution of the PC than any other company. The tech giant celebrated its 50th anniversary on 4 April, 2025. Fifty years is a long time for anyone, let alone a company which has driven itself to move at the pace of the computer, than the Internet, and now AI. That’s decades of decisions, of launches (and lawsuits) and apps both good and bad. Most changed how you live and work. But which ones? Here are 25 key moments in the long, storied history of Microsoft! For each, you’ll find a bit of background, a quirky fact or two, and what it has all meant for Microsoft and for you. Happy birthday, Microsoft! 1975: GATES AND ALLEN SHOW OFF THEIR BASIC INTERPRETER In…

While tablets haven’t quite replaced laptops when it comes to productivity, they remain very useful in a variety of scenarios. Even if you don’t plan on using it to get work done, the tablet can serve as a portable TV, video calling device or mobile gaming machine. Or you could just use it to browse the web, scroll social media and stay in touch with friends and family. However, to achieve these things, you probably don’t want to pay the high price tags of many of the very best tablets around. All that power is overkill for more casual tasks. Below, you’ll find 10 devices that deliver a compelling tablet experience without breaking the bank. All the Android and Amazon Fire tablets below cost under £300, but the best affordable…