Lily Katz / Android Authority High switching costs have made it increasingly difficult to jump from one platform to the other. The Apple AirPods (3rd generation) build on the company’s dominance in the true wireless earbuds market by introducing more features limited to Apple devices. Similarly, Samsung has locked the software features of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 behind an app that is only available on Android devices. Even with these platform limitations in mind, Samsung and Apple users may be peering over the walls of their garden to see what the other side has to offer.

If you’ve ever wished for a Samuel L. Jackson Alexa voice, then Santa has come a bit early for you. Starting now, you can incorporate Jackson’s voice into your Amazon Alexa-powered devices and communicate with him at any time. And yes, Jackson’s voice is available in both clean and dirty versions, so you can hear him say “motherf***er” when you ask him for something such as the time of day.

Eric Zeman / Android Authority TL;DR Amazon will hold its fall hardware event on September 28, 2021, at 12:00 PM ET. There’s no word on what the company plans to unveil, though. We’ve seen updated versions of its Echo smart speakers, home security products, and more in previous years. Amazon is getting ready for its 2021 hardware showcase and has officially set a date for the event. According to an invite received by The Verge, the event will be next week on September 28, at 12:00 PM ET.

TL;DR A class-action lawsuit accuses Apple of lying to investors about poor iPhone shipments. The complaint says Apple knew that iPhones weren’t selling as well as anticipated but hid this information from investors. Although a federal judge has said the suit may move forward, it’s not clear what damages would come about if the plaintiffs win. A federal judge has given the green light to a class-action lawsuit against Apple related to falling iPhone shipments.

TL;DR Planet Computers has launched a 5G smartphone with a physical keyboard. The device has received a major downgrade and a few upgrades since its first reveal. Update: January 19 2021 (5:46 AM ET): Planet Computers has confirmed that its crowdfunded Astro Slide 5G Transformer smartphone will be undergoing several spec changes ahead of its new June 2021 shipment window. The firm has downgraded the chipset from a MediaTek Dimensity 1000 SoC to a mid-range Dimensity 800 processor, claiming that the former chip suddenly became unavailable for purchase.

TL;DR Chrome OS 64 enables Android apps to run in the background. The new feature is called Android Parallel Tasks and should allow for better multitasking. You can try out Chome OS 64 now in the beta channel. Google’s Chromebooks have been a tough sell for most people due to the lack of apps. When a person buys a Windows or Mac laptop, they naturally expect to be able to install some apps, set up their web browser, and be on their way.

TL;DR Huawei is introducing two new P20 Pro gradient colors at IFA at the end of the month. The first uses a spread of colors from black at one end to a hint of turquoise at the other. The other, which is much more subtle and based on the sea, uses white with hints of pink and yellow. 2018 has seen a year of incredible smartphones and one of the best is undoubtedly the P20 Pro.

Social media giant Facebook is rolling out a version of Messenger aimed at under 13s. The app, dubbed Messenger Kids, will be available on Android devices via the Google Play Store “in the coming months”, Facebook announced earlier today. Apple users with an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch in the US can check out the app now via a preview build. Much like Google’s similarly child-friendly video app YouTube Kids, Messenger Kids is a retooled, streamlined version of Messenger that’s been tailored to a younger audience.

Supplied by MediaTek TL;DR MediaTek has announced the Dimensity 900 chipset. It’s a mid-range 5G processor with the latest CPU and GPU tech. The first phones with the SoC are set to launch within the next few weeks. MediaTek was reportedly the biggest smartphone chipmaker in the world in 2020, edging out Qualcomm. A large part of its recent success has been due to its growing range of Dimensity 5G silicon, and the firm has now announced the Dimensity 900 as the latest member of this family.

TL;DR OnePlus has launched a new phone called the OnePlus Nord LE. The company will make a single unit of the phone that you can get for free if you’re lucky. When smartphone makers launch a new phone, they produce millions of units to distribute around the world. Not OnePlus. Not with the new OnePlus Nord LE. If you haven’t heard the name of the smartphone before, don’t be surprised.