Harmony Evans's Blog, page 741
July 10, 2023
These Lightweight, No-Break-In Leather Flats Are Finally Back in Stock After Thousands of Shoppers Begged for Their Return
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Like so many millennials, I used to live in flats. While ballet flats were my footwear of choice through much of college and my early 20s, eventually, I ebbed into loafer territory—and I stayed there even when it wasn’t exactly hip to do so. There’s just something about the classic silhouette that feels both timeless and fashion-forward.
Which is why I have half a dozen different loafers lining my closet (in rainbow, metallic, velvet—the list goes on). But see, that’s the thing: None of the loafers I own are neutral and easy to style with everything I own. Because of this, I was particularly jazzed when I caught wind of Birdies’ big news: The brand’s coveted leather loafer—The Starling—is back in stock in leather after being sold out for quite some time.
What we love about the Birdies Starling loaferWhat makes the Birdies Starling ($150) such a swoon-worthy shoe? A few things, really. The style features a non-slip rubber outsole atop a modest 10-millimeter heel, the uppers are soft and flexible, and the footbed is nothing short of a dream. It’s the latter that’s especially noteworthy. After all, the key characteristic of all Birdies shoes is the 7-layer footbed that’s designed to make it feel like you’re walking in slippers, not going-out shoes.
Due to their thoughtful design, the Birdies Starling Flats have become a cult favorite among shoppers, to the point that the brand regularly releases new iterations of the shoe. The flats, which are available in women’s sizes 5 to 12, are sold in 21 seasonal colors, textiles, and prints, as well as six classic options. For many footwear brands, it’s the seasonal shades that sell out the fastest. But for Birdies, the classic leather silhouettes, which are sold in black, tan, and brown shades, earned such high praise, the brand has had trouble keeping them in stock.
Naturally, I snagged a pair as soon as I saw they were available once more (after thousands requested Birdies bring back the leather loafer). My thought? How stellar can a plain pair of leather flats really be? Sure, I adore my velvet Starling flats, but can leather really compete—especially in terms of comfort?
Photo: Rebecca Norris
Why yes, yes it can. From the moment I slipped my feet into these surprisingly lightweight leather flats, I’ve been a fan. The material is so buttery-soft that it flexes and bends with my feet, so I’ve not encountered any blister-causing chafing (despite not wearing socks), which I find is often par for the course when wearing most leather shoes. Meanwhile, the footbeds are just as glorious in the leather version as the velvet versions, though, potentially even more breathable. In the velvet Starlings, the footbeds have a satin lining; in the leather version, it has a cork-like appearance but is really just dotted leather.
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As much as I enjoy the Birdies Leather Starling flats, there are a couple of things you’ll want to keep in mind. For starters, the brand says that you should size down if you have narrow feet or are in between sizes. After years of wearing The Starling, I have found that going up a half size works better. Another thing? Since the leather uppers are so thin and flexible, I feel like they could develop wrinkles over time. TBD on how they wear in the long-term.
All in all, if you’re on the hunt for a pair of comfortable, flexible leather flats that you can run to work in just as easily as you could go on a miles-long walking tour of a new city, the Birdies Leather Starling is worth considering. But act fast! They won’t stay in stock long.
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Traitor John Kelly Claims in Sworn Statement Trump Discussed Using IRS to Retaliate Against FBI Lovebirds Peter Strzok and Lisa Page | The Gateway Pundit | by Cristina Laila
Trump’s ex-Chief of Staff John Kelly claimed in a sworn statement that Trump discussed using the IRS to retaliate against two FBI officials involved in Russiagate.
John Kelly, a retired General, served as Trump’s second Chief of Staff from July 2017 to the end of 2018.
Traitor John Kelly has been backstabbing Trump for years.
Now he’s claiming Trump sought to retaliate against FBI lovebirds Peter Strzok and Lisa Page.
Peter Strzok and Lisa Page
Recall, Peter Strzok and Lisa Page used the power of the FBI to sabotage Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.
John Kelly provided a sworn statement in connection with lawsuits filed by Peter Strzok and Lisa Page against the DOJ for publishing their private text messages.
The New York Times reported:
John F. Kelly, who served as former President Donald J. Trump’s second White House chief of staff, said in a sworn statement that Mr. Trump had discussed having the Internal Revenue Service and other federal agencies investigate two F.B.I. officials involved in the investigation into his campaign’s ties to Russia.
Mr. Kelly said that his recollection of Mr. Trump’s comments to him was based on notes that he had taken at the time in 2018. Mr. Kelly provided copies of his notes to lawyers for one of the F.B.I. officials, who made the sworn statement public in a court filing.
“President Trump questioned whether investigations by the Internal Revenue Service or other federal agencies should be undertaken into Mr. Strzok and/or Ms. Page,” Mr. Kelly said in the statement. “I do not know of President Trump ordering such an investigation. It appeared, however, that he wanted to see Mr. Strzok and Ms. Page investigated.”
Mr. Kelly’s assertions were disclosed on Thursday in a statement that was filed in connection with lawsuits brought by Peter Strzok, who was the lead agent in the F.B.I.’s Russia investigation, and Lisa Page, a former lawyer in the bureau, against the Justice Department for violating their privacy rights when the Trump administration made public text messages between them.
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How to use tabletop mode on the Google Pixel Fold
Google’s first foldable, the Pixel Fold, has finally hit shelves and it comes packing a number of features that have become commonplace on similar devices – a form of tabletop mode being one.
Popularised through some of the best foldables like the Galaxy Z Fold, a tabletop mode allows you to use the foldable display of a phone to turn it into a mini laptop. By not fully unfolding the display, the lower portion of the screen becomes a stand allowing the phone to be rested on a table and viewed. it’s also a very handy feature for shooting photos and videos.
Enabling this mode on the Pixel Fold is very simple, and we’ll run through the steps below.
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AmazonSave £100Now £299What you’ll need:The Short Version Unlock the Pixel FoldOpen a supported app, like YouTubeStart a video playingFold the screen to the desired angleStep1Unlock the Pixel Fold
First off, unlock your Pixel Fold and head to the homescreen or the app drawer.
2Open a supported app like YouTube
For this demo, we’ll be using YouTube as it’s one of the few apps that supports this tabletop mode so far. It also works very similarly in the camera app and this is great for selfies, along with Netflix.
3Start a video playing
Once you’re in the YouTube app, start a video playing.
4Fold the screen to the desired angle
There isn’t a software toggle to enter tabletop mode, instead you simply fold the display to your desired angle and the video will move so it only appears on one side. Now you can watch videos without holding the phone.
The majority of video apps we tried support this tabletop mode, including YouTube, Netflix, BBC iPlayer and Disney Plus. Google has also said it’ll bring additional controls to the YouTube app in the future to make this mode even more useful. It also works in the camera app.
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What is MusicLM? We put Google’s text-to-music generator to the test
Calvin Wankhede / Android Authority
Have you ever wished you could create music without any knowledge of musical theory or instruments whatsoever? That’s now possible, thanks to a new Google AI experiment. Dubbed MusicLM, it’s a new kind of generative AI that can create brand-new music. It’s a lot like AI image generators where you simply type in a few lines of text and get beautiful art in return. So how well does Google’s new MusicLM work and how can you try it for yourself? Here’s everything you need to know.
What is MusicLM?
MusicLM is a language model that’s capable of generating music based on a text-based description. For example, the prompt “Calming, soft music I can study to” will generate a lo-fi track. Likewise, a prompt along the lines of “Epic orchestral track that builds tension in an action-adventure movie scene” yields music with a distinct sense of urgency that would feel right at home in Terminator or Mission Impossible.
While its current release is limited, MusicLM can do much more than just turn text into music. In an academic paper, Google’s researchers demonstrated that it can generate audio tailored to images and paintings. And in the future, you might even be able to convert a recorded clip of your humming into a full-blown music track.
MusicLM can now transform text descriptions into audio. Google is also working on adding support for image and melody inputs.
Google trained MusicLM on over 200,000 hours of music spanning over 5,500 clips. These were manually categorized by human experts, helping the machine learning model distinguish jazz from techno and even specific eras (90s pop) and styles (Afro-Cuban dance music). The company has released the labeled audio dataset with captions on Kaggle, allowing other AI developers to develop their own AI tools.
Do I need to pay for MusicLM?No, Google has released MusicLM for free but you’ll need to join a waitlist to gain access as outlined in a later section of this article.
How well does MusicLM work?
Calvin Wankhede / Android Authority
I’ll walk you through how to sign up for MusicLM in the next section, but let me first explain what using it is like. In MusicLM’s current state, you can only type in a description and hit the generate button. Think of it like Midjourney, but instead of four AI-generated images, you get two 20-second music tracks instead.
MusicLM surfaces three suggestions below the input box, including some bizarre ones in my case like “Bubbly, optimistic, cyber pizza party music at the underwater arcade”. I hit generate on that one out of curiosity and the result was an upbeat electronic mix. Not quite what I’d expect from a “cyber pizza party”, but it was certainly bubbly and optimistic.
I found MusicLM a bit hit-or-miss in practice, but it’s still a promising first glance.
Moving on, I entered the prompt “Spooky, slow music that you’d hear in a haunted forest” and the resulting track fit the description quite well. However, it didn’t take long to see why Google considers MusicLM an experimental project.
Simply entering “rap music” produced a track with shrill, piercing sounds and a synthetic-sounding background vocal track. The latter seemed like MusicLM was reproducing something straight from its training data.
So while MusicLM doesn’t require any musical skill, it’s also not quite a musician. The results may or may not impress you, similar to chatbots before ChatGPT disrupted that landscape. Still, MusicLM represents the world’s first generative AI for music and that’s impressive in its own right. Here are some more facts about it:
You cannot ask for music in the style of a specific artist. MusicLM also cannot generate vocals reliably at this time.In many instances, MusicLM generated music with unintelligible vocals. Even when I specifically asked for instrumental tracks, the AI ignored my request.The current iteration of MusicLM only generates 20-second tracks, even though the underlying model is capable of much longer generations.You get two audio clips per generation, which I found were always mostly similar to each other. Still, Google lets you vote for your favorite via a trophy button.According to Google, MusicLM can reproduce electronic and classical instruments better than other kinds of music. However, it did decently well when I tried to generate Indian folk music and 8-bit soundtracks in the style of old video games.How to sign up for MusicLM
Calvin Wankhede / Android Authority
Google hasn’t released MusicLM publicly yet, opting instead to limit access via a waitlist. We saw Microsoft and Google adopt a similar strategy when they first released their chatbots in early 2023. But perhaps because MusicLM isn’t as popular, I only had to wait a few days to receive an invite. However, that can change at any time so don’t expect immediate access.
Here’s a quick guide on how to sign up for the MusicLM waitlist:
Navigate to Google’s AI Test Kitchen homepage and click on the Get started button.Click on Register your interest.Fill out the form. It essentially asks for your country of residence, profession, the reason for using AI Test Kitchen, and whether you’ll participate in voluntary surveys.In the next step, sign in using your Google account.Once logged in, you should see a success message confirming that you’ve been added to the waitlist.Google’s AI Test Kitchen isn’t available worldwide at the moment. So if you don’t receive an invitation email within a few weeks, that might be the reason.
As for a public launch, it may happen later in 2023 or early 2024 if Google commits to improving MusicLM. One of the biggest hurdles remains copyright infringement. The company’s researchers found that the AI would replicate existing work in around one percent of cases, which could invite lawsuits from music labels and artists.
Moreover, with virtually no major competition in the generative music space, it remains to be seen whether it remains a priority for the search giant. It’s entirely possible that Google prioritizes all of its AI resources on its Bard chatbot and the upcoming Gemini language model instead.
FAQsCan I use MusicLM music for commercial use?It’s unclear if you can use audio clips from MusicLM commercially at this point. So in the absence of a license, it’s best to assume that you do not have rights to Google’s AI-generated music.
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How Much Deep Sleep Do You *Really* Need?
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Sleep is paramount in the quest for well-being. While working out might help you live longer, cumulative poor-quality sleep can have a seriously detrimental effect on your mental and physical state. That said, do you know what the cornerstone of poor-quality sleep is? It’s not a lack of dreams. Rather, the overall quality of your sleep is largely determined by how much deep sleep you get. To find out how much deep sleep you need, we chatted with a few of the industry’s leading sleep experts to take a dive into the subject. Ahead, learn what deep sleep is, how it benefits your health, and why it should be your number one priority moving forward.
What is deep sleep?In order to understand deep sleep, you must first acknowledge the phases of the sleep cycle, as well as the stages of sleep. According to Sleepless in NOLA sleep consultant Nilong Vyas, MD, medical review expert at Sleep Foundation, the sleep cycle consists of two phases: REM (rapid eye movement) and NREM (non-rapid eye movement). “The NREM phase is further divided into three stages of sleep,” she explains. The three sleep stages are N1 (light sleep), N2 (medium sleep), and N3 (deep sleep). “The human body cycles through four to five stages of sleep every 90 minutes overnight,” Dr. Vyas says. “N1 is the lightest sleep, N2 is deeper and plays the most significant role in memory consolidation, and N3 is the deepest of the NREM phase.”
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Why is deep sleep so important?
While every stage of sleep plays a role in overall health and wellness, deep sleep is the most important because it’s responsible for strengthening the immune system, repairing tissue, and releasing growth hormone. All in all, it’s when the body heals itself, Dr. Vyas says.
So perhaps you’ve been feeling under the weather and can’t seem to muster up any energy—deep sleep will help; maybe you had a super long day that started with a killer workout and felt absolutely wiped by the end of it—deep sleep will help; perhaps you’re navigating a breakup or other stressful life event—deep sleep will help.
But here’s the thing: It doesn’t only have an immediate impact on a person’s well-being—it’s cumulative, meaning that it can offer benefits that last a lifetime, or at the very least, extend your lifetime.
“During deep sleep, the brain’s ‘waste management system’ comes in and removes certain proteins that if not removed are thought to lead to Alzheimer’s and cognitive decline,” says sleep expert and clinical psychologist Michael Breus, PhD, aka The Sleep Doctor.
Which is better: REM or deep sleep?While REM sleep is a different phase of the sleep cycle, it’s considered the fourth and final stage of it. Since rapid eye movement is tied to dreaming, many people mistakenly assume that it must be a very deep form of sleep in which the subconscious has the uninterrupted ability to soar. In reality, Dr. Vyas says that REM sleep is actually considered to be less restful.
That doesn’t mean that REM sleep isn’t important, though. “REM and deep sleep are completely different and both necessary for different reasons,” Dr. Breus says. “As an example, during REM sleep is when you move information from your short term memory to your long term memory, and when you process emotions; deep sleep is needed for more physical areas.” Though, it plays a role in long term memory, too.
How much deep sleep do you need each night?TL;DR: It depends. How much sleep you need depends on your age, gender, medical condition, fitness level, and environment, Dr. Breus says. “As a general guideline, we recommend seven to nine hours of good quality sleep, but this can vary widely,” he adds. (Not sure where you stand? Check out our story on sleep calculators.)
If you’re over the age of 65, Abhinav Singh, MD, FAASM, medical director of the Indiana Sleep Center and a medical review expert at Sleep Foundation, says that seven to eight hours will typically suffice.
No matter your age, if we’re breaking it down by stage, Dr. Singh says that 20 to 25 percent of your total sleep should be deep sleep, while another 20 to 25 percent should be REM.
What happens if you don’t get enough deep sleep?Considering the vital role it plays in our overall well-being, Dr. Breus reveals that not getting enough deep sleep is what’s officially considered sleep deprivation. “Sleep deprivation affects every organ system and every disease state—literally everything you do, you do better with a good night’s sleep,” he says.
More specifically, Dr. Breus points out that a lack of deep sleep can lend to a notable physical and cognitive decline, including slower reaction time, lower testosterone, memory issues, riskier decisions, trouble focusing, and more. And then there’s the emotional impact of sleep deprivation. When you don’t get enough of it, you’ll become more anxious and could experience deeper depression. Together, all of these side effects make one thing very clear: Deep sleep should be your priority—each and every night.
When does deep sleep take place?While a full sleep cycle is roughly 90 minutes long and is comprised of all four sleep stages (N1, N2, deep sleep, and REM sleep), the amount of time you spend in each stage changes throughout the night. According to The Sleep Foundation, you typically get the most deep sleep during the first half of the night. Then, by the later sleep cycles, you spend less time in the N1, N2, and N3 stages, and more time in REM sleep.
What happens if you wake up during deep sleep?Since the N3 stage is the deepest sleep stage, it makes sense that it’s the hardest to snap out of. According to Dr. Breus, the deep sleep stage is the hardest to awaken from. If someone does wake up during this stage, he says it’s not uncommon to feel especially groggy. “This experience is what’s known as sleep inertia,” he reveals on his website. He compares it to Isaac Newton’s Law of Inertia and points out that unless a pressing force is at play to entice someone to wake up, it’s totally normal to wish you were still asleep—or even fall back asleep in the process. This is a sign that you’re within a deep sleep stage and need it to feel rested.
If you continually wake up each morning wishing you could just sleep a little longer, however, it might be time to re-evaluate your sleep hygiene and routine, as certain habits can make falling and staying asleep much easier. For example, eating a snack comprised of foods that help sleep, taking OTC sleep aids (like the Olly Sleep Gummies, $13), wearing breathable cotton PJs (like the Printfresh Bagheera Sleep Shirt, $118), sleeping on soft, moisture-wicking sheets (like the Purple SoftStretch Sheet Set, $189), and waking up with a sunrise alarm clock (like the Hatch Restore 2, $200) can all make a big difference in the quality of your sleep.
If after adjusting your sleep routine you still find that falling and staying asleep is a challenge, or that you’re experiencing poor sleep quality overall, you may want to consult a doctor to discuss the possibility of prescription sleeping pills and best next steps overall.
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BREAKING: Box-Office Hit “Sound of Freedom” Projected to Make $40 Million in Opening Week! | The Gateway Pundit | by Jim Hoft
Actor Jim Caviezel’s latest film Sound of Freedom opened at select theaters on the 4th of July across the United States.
Caviezel, who is most famous for his role of Jesus in The Passion of Christ, went on the War Room to promote his upcoming film “Sound of Freedom” by Angel Studios. The film is based on a true story that exposes the evil of child trafficking.
** You can purchase your tickets here for an exclusive showing on July 4th in theaters across America.
Caviezel worked with several former federal agents and 30 Navy SEALS while filming in Colombia.
Sound of Freedom reportedly beat out Indiana Jones last weekend.
And on Sunday night Angel Studios reported that Sound of Freedom has now hauled in $40 million in sales.
(Provo, UT—July 9, 2023) Angel Studios–a platform and studio empowering filmmakers to crowdfund, create, and distribute films and TV series globally, backed by thousands of Angel investors–is announcing its July cumulative-to-date and opening weekend results for SOUND OF FREEDOM. The Jim Caviezel driven film achieved the number 1 spot on its opening day with the film kicking off its wide US release, and the number 3 spot over its first weekend.
“As with our July 4th numbers, today’s numbers exceed our expectations, and we’re going to continue this momentum. SOUND of FREEDOM has taken on a life of its own. We’re getting messages from all over the country telling us about packed theaters, sold-out theaters, and spontaneous standing ovations for the film in numerous locations. Seeing this film has become a must thanks to incredible word-of-mouth,” said Brandon Purdie, Head of Theatrical Distribution at Angel Studios. “We’re deeply grateful to AMC, Cinemark, Regal, and all our theater partners—and their hard-working theater staff members—for working with us to accommodate the surging demand for this film and having the courage to release SOUND OF FREEDOM during the busiest movie season of the year.”
SOUND OF FREEDOM: Box Office Projections
Theater count: 2,850
Weekend Box Office Projection: $18,200,000
Opening Week Box Office Projection: $40,200,000
SOUND OF FREEDOM: Audience Scores
CinemaScore: A+
Rotten Tomatoes: 76/99
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What is a bezel? | Trusted Reviews
The tech world is filled with terms and jargon that may not make a lot of sense the first time you hear them.
If you’ve been looking into buying a new smartphone, laptop or even TV, you will have heard the term bezel, with our team often mentioning the impact of bezels in our reviews.
Here is everything you need to know about bezels so you can make an informed decision when buying your next piece of tech.
What is a bezel?A bezel is essentially the ‘frame’ that sits around the display on a device. Any device that has a screen has a bezel, including smartphones, tablets, wearables, laptops and TVs.
While the bezels may seem insignificant at first, they can have a big impact on the user experience. The current trend has seen bezels thinning down; a thinner bezel allows for more screen space and is generally thought to be more aesthetically pleasing.
Bezels can be made out of many materials depending on what it’s being used for. These materials include glass, metal, rubber or hard plastic. Premium handsets such as the Pixel 7 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max both feature metal bezels to create a premium look, with both reviews mentioning that the screen manages to blend into the material fairly well.
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Mobiles.co.ukNo upfront costOnly £36.99/monthWhat are the advantages and disadvantages of a bezel-less design?Some devices tout having a ‘bezel-less’ design. Despite the name, these devices do still use a bezel to keep the phone display attached to the device itself, but they have been thinned down to keep them as unobtrusive as possible. The Xiaomi 13 Pro is a great example, with incredibly thin bezels at just 1.81mm.
One of the biggest benefits of a bezel-less display is that it increases the screen size. Usually, the height of the screen is improved over the width, but that will depend on the design of the handset and if it houses any physical buttons on the front of the device or a front-facing camera.
Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)Having more screen space can be a drawback, as increasing the display can make the handset harder to navigate and use in day-to-day life. This will depend on the size of your own hands and your own personal preferences about phone sizes, with some people preferring a compact phone that packs a lot of power. Check out our best smartphone roundup to see the most powerful and premium handsets on the market.
In terms of computing and TVs, there are few disadvantages to slimming down the bezels as much as possible since you rarely interact with the screen itself. In the same vein as smartphones and tablets, there are no true bezel-less products that have a screen.
Overall, technology companies are trying to thin down bezels as much as possible in almost all products that use them. Depending on what product you’re buying and what experience you are looking for, you may want to look for the thinnest bezels out there or look for something in the middle.
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July 9, 2023
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 release date: Is it official?
Ryan Haines / Android Authority
While Samsung hasn’t officially confirmed the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 by name yet, we can be all but certain that it is coming. The manufacturing giant is launching new foldable devices later in the year, and the Z Flip line is its star performer. Contrary to what some might assume, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 outsold the Z Fold 4 last year. So with Samsung keen to pivot more of its focus toward foldable lines, there’s no reason to believe there won’t be a Z Flip 5. The big question is, what will the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 release date be?
We’ll answer that and several related questions in this quick guide.
THE SHORT ANSWER
While there hasn’t been any official announcement, we’re expecting to see the Galaxy Z Flip 5 launched at a Galaxy Unpacked event on or around July 26, with the phone then likely to be released on August 11.
KEY SECTIONS
When is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 coming out?
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip — February 14, 2020Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5G — August 7, 2020Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 — August 24, 2021Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 — August 10, 2022Until recently, we had assumed that we would see the Galaxy Z Flip 5 launch in August 2023. This was based on the fact that the last three iterations of the phone have launched in August in consecutive years. The only outlier was the first generation of the device, which arrived in February 2020. Even then, a 5G model followed that August.
Recent developments suggest that our guess was a little off, although only by a matter of days. Samsung recently confirmed that it would launch its new range of foldable phones — undoubtedly including the Galaxy Z Flip 5 —at the end of July in its home country of Seoul during its 27th Galaxy Unpacked event.
That’s as much as we’ve had officially confirmed, but we can be a bit more specific with some degree of certainty. According to Korean media outlet Chosun, the event will be held on July 26, which makes sense to us. Samsung historically likes to hold these events on Wednesdays. Given that this is the last Wednesday of that month, and perhaps the only one that could be considered as ‘late July,’ it’s very credible that this will be the day to mark on your calendars.
Will the Galaxy Z Flip 5 be available at launch?
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
We can’t say this for sure, but both history and leaks suggest that you won’t be able to buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 on the launch date.
Samsung’s preferred approach in recent years has been to launch the latest flagship phones at a Galaxy Unpacked event and make them available for pre-order on the same day. The phone would then hit the shelves a couple of weeks later. This was what we expected on the launch of the Galaxy S23 line, and that’s how it unfolded. It’s also true of the release schedule for previous generations of the foldable devices. The Galaxy Z Flip 4 launched on August 10, 2022, and became available to buy 16 days later on August 26.
This 16-day pre-order period tallies with the aforementioned leaks from Chosun, with the source claiming that the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 release date is Friday, August 11, 2023. This would also fit Samsung’s tendency to have a Wednesday-Friday launch and release schedule.
It will remain to be seen if we can rely on history and leaks to know when the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 release date will be. These assumptions aren’t always a definitive guide. While it’s a different manufacturer, Google took us all a little by surprise at releasing the Pixel 7a on the same day of the announcement in May, contrary to its own prior convention for a pre-order period on the line. We’ll keep you posted when we hear more.
Will there be a livestream of the Galaxy Z Flip 5 launch?
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
There will undoubtedly be a livestream of the Galaxy Z Flip 5 launch. Samsung is releasing its latest foldable flagship devices, which it is hoping is big news in the tech world. They’re going to make a song and dance about it for this reason, which is why the Galaxy Unpacked events are always live-streamed.
The two best places to try and catch the Galaxy Unpacked livestream on July 26 will be on Samsung.com or on Samsung’s YouTube channel. We’ll also link the stream live on Android Authority and give you the latest insight on what’s coming out of the event.
What other products will Samsung be announcing at the Z Flip 5 launch event?
Samsung has already confirmed that it is launching its latest set of foldables at the upcoming event, so the most obvious candidate to appear alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is, naturally, the Galaxy Z Fold 5. The rumors and announcements regarding the Galaxy Z Fold 5 are the same or mirror those of the smaller sibling, so we would be amazed if it didn’t make an appearance. Facing fresh competition in the face of the Google Pixel Fold, Samsung will be looking to release a solid upgrade to its premium foldable and retain its dominance in this market.
It’s a bit early to be talking about the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. Unlike the flagship phones, Samsung doesn’t tend to release a new set of earbuds in each line every year. But there are two ranges of Galaxy Buds, and the original wireless earbuds are due for an upgrade. We think it’s a pretty good bet that we’ll see the Galaxy Buds 3 unveiled at the upcoming Unpacked event. The original Galaxy Buds were released in March 2019, and the second generation debuted in August 2021. If this approximate two-year gap is to be maintained, it stands to reason that this will be the audio hardware to accompany the new handsets.
The Galaxy Watch 6 is a strong contender.
Another strong contender you can hang your hat on is the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 range. Samsung’s flagship wearable has been a hit each year following annual releases, so it would be very strange for the OEM to mothball it now. The last three iterations of the Galaxy Watch have all launched at an Unpacked event in August, leading us to conclude that the smartwatch will appear alongside the Z Flip 5 in late July. What is less clear is if there will be a Classic version, as there was in the Galaxy Watch 4 range, or a Pro version, as in the most recent line. The latter may be a bit more likely, but maybe we’ll see both. Watch this space.
We’re expecting a crowded field at this event, as the rumors and speculation don’t stop there. There are credible leaks suggesting that this will be the event at which the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 will arrive, with Plus and Ultra versions to match that of the current Tab S8 lineup. There were around 18 months between the launch of the Tab S7 and the Tab S8. The July 26 showcase comes more or less 18 months after the latter in February 2022, and with leaks including model numbers already across the internet, you can expect to catch a first glimpse of the latest slates that will undoubtedly dominate the Android tablet market.
We can’t rule out Samsung introducing more hardware on top of all of this, with leaks earlier in the year pointing to a second generation of the Galaxy SmartTag seeming very credible. The second iteration of the tracker is likely to feature improvements to wireless range, security, and battery life.
Will the Galaxy Z Flip 5 be available globally?
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 release date may vary a little in different regional markets, but broadly, we expect the device to be available in every country that Samsung usually operates. There doesn’t appear to be any reason why Samsung would have more restricted reach for its new foldables as it had for the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Z Fold 4, especially in the face of new competition from Google and Motorola in the biggest markets.
The 2022 Samsung foldable lineup eventually became available in over 130 countries worldwide. We’re expecting the same from the Galaxy Z Flip 5. Those countries include the US, Canada, Europe, Australia, India, and of course, South Korea.
FAQsHow much will the Galaxy Z Flip 5 cost?This is an aspect that could change right up until launch, but one reliable tipster indicated that the price would be $999.99 in the US for the 128GB base model of the phone. This pricing makes sense as it is the same retail price as the base model Galaxy Z Flip 4. Samsung has recent form for keeping prices unchanged from the 2022 flagships in the Galaxy S23 range, so it seems plausible to us.
Is the Galaxy Z Flip 5 waterproof?We think so. One tipster with a less than 100% track record revealed earlier in the year that both the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Z Fold 5 handsets may boast an IP_8-level of waterproofing. The Galaxy Z Flip 4 has the same rating, so we think it’s a pretty safe bet.
Will the Galaxy Z Flip 5 come with a screen protector?Probably. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 came with a pre-applied screen protector out of the box. This is pretty standard from Samsung by now, so we expect to see the same on the Galaxy Z Flip 5.
Will the Galaxy Z Flip 5 have a headphone jack?We’d be amazed to see a headphone jack on the Z Flip 5. The previous generations of the phone didn’t have one, and Samsung has generally phased out the feature on its flagship devices. You’ll probably have to get a USB-C headphone adapter or make do with Bluetooth earbuds such as the Galaxy Buds 3, which Samsung will also be hoping to sell.
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Turn Your Grill Into an Oven for Grilled Banana Bread
Heading to a barbecue? You might want to pack the essentials: burgers, hot dogs, and lots of SPF. But aside from the usual seared shrimp on the barbie and chicken kebabs, we strongly encourage you to give your grill a shot at baking, too.
Let me clue you in on a little secret: A grill can easily be transformed into an oven. As someone that’s lived the majority of their lives in one of the most hurricane-prone areas in the country, when either A) the power is out or B) your house is too darn hot to even fathom the idea of turning on the oven, making baked goods outside on the grill (!) is a genius idea. And we’re not just talking about your normal campfire spread like s’mores and grilled banana boats (though they’re delicious, too).
On the menu this summer is real-deal slice of grilled banana bread that’s moist, fluffy, and browned to perfection. More on how to configure your grill into a makeshift oven ahead using the effortless “MOM” method.
How to turn your grill into an ovenAccording to Weber Grills, using your grill as an oven is much easier than you might think. On their company website, they note that an “outdoor grill should be an extension of your indoor kitchen.” IMO, truer words have never been spoken. Making the switch is simple: You do pretty much the exact same thing as your usual grilling routine, with just a few small modifications.
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First things first, start by preheating the grill for about 10 to 15 minutes, as you usually would. The only difference? You’ll want to implement the “MOM” or “medium-off-medium” trick. This entails turning the outside burners on medium or medium-low while keeping the center ones off. In doing so, it mimics the indirect heat of an oven to bake food rather than char it. Easy enough, right?
You’ll want to implement the “MOM” or “medium-off-medium” trick. This entails turning the outside burners on medium or medium-low while keeping the center ones off. In doing so, it mimics the indirect heat of an oven to bake food rather than char it.
In addition to only turning on the select burners, you’ll want to use a grill that shows the internal temperature or a thermometer to regulate how hot it is inside. Note: The temperature will drastically change when opening and closing the lid for long periods of time—which is important to account for, especially when making baked goods. You’ll want to keep a close eye throughout the cooking process and regulate the temperature by using the control knobs on the grill.
Generally speaking, a grill with a “medium-off-medium” setup should result in a 300° to 350°F oven-like temperature. That said, it’s important to keep in mind that this trick only works when using a grill with a lid that’s closed for obvious reasons. What’s more, you’ll need to keep the food at the center (the area away from direct flame and heat) to achieve a roasted, oven-like effect and not burn the food.
If working with charcoal (and not gas grills), you can also create a makeshift “MOM” setup by placing a heat-proof aluminum pan at the center of the grill and the coal around the perimeter to create a safe space that shields the food from a direct source of high heat.
Time to make grilled banana breadIn a TikTok video by @bitemebbq, we learn how to make grilled banana bread—and, yes, it’s as life-changing as it sounds. First, you’ll make the banana bread batter (super-ripe bananas are a must, obvi). For the mixture, you’ll need the usual culprits: banana, sugar, egg, butter, salt, baking soda, baking powder, flour, and boatloads of chocolate chips. (Sart by mixing the wet ingredients together before incorporating the dry ones into the mixture.) Finally, transfer the batter onto a greased loaf pan to prep it for the oven grill.
@bitemebbq Banana Bread #bbq #grilling #baking #culinary #seeya #fyp #foryoupage #traeger #traegergrills #tiktokfoodie #foodie ♬ Memories (Drinks Bring Back) – Ajay Stephens
Once it’s evenly spread out on the pan, you’ll transfer it to a preheated grill (in the video, they use a Traeger Pellet Grill, which has an already ideal indirect heat source as it primarily functions as a smoker). Then, they cook the loaf at 375ºF for 25 to 30 minutes. The result is moist, chocolatey, tender banana bread that has even more flavor than when cooked in a regular ‘ol oven. But if this recipe isn’t your jam, we have tons of other options for you to try, like gluten-free banana bread, protein-packed banana bread, and vegan banana bread, which are also great for grilling. Take your pick.
Pro tip: If you want to reheat or “toast” a slice of the cooked banana bread, simply turn that grill on and plop the bread directly on the grates over direct heat for just a few seconds. Like magic, you’ll have toasty bread with beautiful grill marks for bonus presentation points.
An easy, breezy banana bread recipe:
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Mark Levin: Trump Attorneys Must File Motion to Investigate the Biden DOJ and Jack Smith – Leaks Against Trump Are Biggest Leaks in History of United States – VIDEO | The Gateway Pundit | by Jim Hoft
Mark Levin shows his audience the pile of illegal leaks by the Biden DOJ against President Trump – used to interfere in the 2024 election.
Mark Levin called on the Trump attorneys to immediately file motion for order the Office of Professional Responsibility to investigate the series of illegal leaks by Joe Biden’s corrupt Department of Justice and Special Counsel Jack Smith used to interfere in the 2024 presidential election.
Mark Levin told the Trump attorneys to “wake the hell up!”
Here are a few important lines from Mark Levin’s Sunday Night show open.
Mark Levin: This Department of Justice is destroying America. It’s destroying the 2024 election. It’s violating every norm, every tradition, everything it inherited to ensure that that department could be trustworthy and could be reliable. It has criminalized politics.
It will destroy this country and we won’t be able to claw our way back. This is not hyperbole. I’m not trying to be provocative.
And the goal of the leaking is to make sure they don’t have a jury that’s objective anywhere in the United States of America.
The Trump lawyers need to wake the hell up and do something about this.
A motion needs to be filed on behalf of Donald Trump, and I’m saying this publicly. They need to move the court to order the Office of Professional Responsibility. I know this for a fact, that’s the office that is asked to investigate allegations or possibilities even of attorney misconduct or employee misconduct within the Department of justice, they need to be directed by a court, by the judge in Florida who’s under attack. They’re trying to intimidate her, no doubt, but she needs to be as brave as this guy, Judge Doughty in Louisiana,
The Department of Justice does leak investigations all the time. And this is the biggest leak and series of leaks in the history of the United States against a former president who’s running for reelection for a second term against the people, I would argue, who are doing the leaking.
The court should give OPR 30 days, not a year and a half, 30 days to complete the investigation, issue its public findings to the court, and maybe we’ll find that the Department of justice and Mr. Smith and his people have absolutely clean hands. What do you think?
Via Midnight Rider.
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