News
- Spigen has just launched a retro-themed Apple Watch charger
- The device is inspired by the iMac G3 from 1998
- It joins Spigen’s other accessories themed on classic devices
In the annals of great Apple products, the iMac G3 is generally seen as one of the company’s best Macs. Not only was it incredibly innovative when it launched in 1998, but it helped usher in the second Steve Jobs era and almost single-handedly saved Apple from bankruptcy. Not a bad resumé, that.
These days, it’s not easy to get your hands on a working iMac G3, given it’s approaching 30 years old. But you can now get the next best thing, as accessory maker Spigen has just released an Apple Watch charger shaped like the famous iMac G3 – and it’s giving me all sorts of nostalgic vibes.
Dubbed the Apple Watch Classic C1 Charger Stand, Spigen’s device comprises an Apple Watch charger housing designed to look like a miniature mockup of an iMac G3 (unfortunately, you need to supply your own Apple Watch charging cable).
To power up your smartwatch, you simply place it on the puck – positioned over the iMac’s display – and it’ll start juicing up in StandBy mode.
Where do I sign?(Image credit: Spigen)But the real delight is the range of colors at your disposal. The iMac G3 was famous for the vibrant shades it offered up, marking a striking departure from the contemporaneous world of bland beige PC boxes.
Mirroring that, Spigen’s charger is available in Tangerine, Graphite, and Ruby tones, as well as the renowned Bondi Blue that helped establish the iMac’s signature look.
And like the G3, the colorful elements of Spigen’s charger are translucent, letting you see into its (mostly empty) guts. With the iMac, this was intended to demystify the internal workings of the device at a time when most people were wary of computers. Apple’s designers even went to a jellybean factory to learn how to create the appropriate effect.
The iMac-inspired charger is not the only retro-flavored gadget Spigen is making. The company has a whole line of C1 products that are inspired by classic Apple creations. You’ll find iPhone cases, MagSafe wallets, AirPods cases, and more. If you’re a fan of the aesthetic, it might be worth a look.
You might also like- The Pixel Camera app is in line for a redesign
- We're still waiting for the revamp to go live
- More Material 3 Expressive updates are coming
Android 16 is out now for Pixel phones (and coming soon for Galaxy phones), and while the Material 3 Expressive redesign we've been promised is lagging behind, it looks as though it's going to arrive for the Pixel Camera app in the not-too-distant future.
As spotted by Android Authority, the latest version of the Camera app for Pixel devices features a settings menu revamp that fits in with the Material 3 Expressive redesign – a redesign intended to add more feeling and appeal to the visuals of Android.
The interface changes haven't actually been enabled yet, but the Android Authority team has been able to get them working: we've got subtle changes to backgrounds and spacing that really show off the potential of Material 3 Expressive.
While the difference in the visuals isn't huge, little touches – such as the checks and crosses on the toggle switches – make a real difference to how easy on the eye and intuitive the camera settings page is.
A taste of what's to comeA before and after view of the Pixel Camera app settings (Image credit: Hadlee Simons / Android Authority)It's frustrating that the Material 3 Expressive redesign is taking a while to roll out, but I'd rather Google took its time and got the new look right, rather than rushing it and leaving us with apps and interface elements that don't look their best.
While the settings page in the camera app might not be the most exciting screen you're ever going to come across, I'm really looking forward to the revamp: the look of Android has grown a little stale in recent years, especially on Pixel phones.
I'm a fan of simplicity and minimalism when it comes to interface design, but the Pixel version of Android could definitely use a bit more flair and emotion, without changing too much – and that's exactly what the Material 3 Expressive design is bringing here.
Of course, this is all happening while Apple beta tests its own Liquid Glass visual revamp for the iPhone and its other devices. That goes way beyond the changes in Android 16, with a host of tweaks inspired by glass and transparency.
You might also like- Europol takes down Archetyp Market after five years of investigation
- One person was arrested, and "measures" taken against others
- Millions in different assets were seized
A massive international law enforcement operation has seen one of the longest-standing dark web marketplaces finally taken offline.
Europol said a large-scale operation saw it dismantle Archetyp Market, described as a “drug marketplace” that allowed, among other things, the sale of fentanyl, one of the most dangerous synthetic opioids out there.
Archetyp Market operated for more than five years, numbering more than 600,000 users, and amassing a total transaction volume of more than $280 million. By the time it was dismantled, it had more than 17,000 listings, Europol claims.
Farewell Archetyp MarketThe infrastructure was found in the Netherlands, and was subsequently dismantled.
A 30-year-old German national was found in Barcelona, Spain, and arrested. “Measures” were taken against one alleged moderator, and six people described as “the marketplace’s highest vendors”.
The agency did not detail what these “measures” were, but added that it seized $9 million in assets.
“With this takedown, law enforcement has taken out one of the dark web’s longest-running drug markets, cutting off a major supply line for some of the world’s most dangerous substances,” commented Europol’s Deputy Executive Director of Operations Jean-Philippe Lecouffe.
“By dismantling its infrastructure and arresting its key players, we are sending a clear message: there is no safe haven for those who profit from harm.”
Europol said the action was the result of “years of intensive investigative work”, during which detectives mapped out the platform’s technical architecture and identified the individuals behind it. They were following the money trail, and analyzed digital forensic evidence, allowing them to determine key players and important locations.
The operation was conducted between June 11 and 13 in five European countries: Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, Spain, Sweden.
Besides national police forces and Europol, other agencies were involved as well: Eurojust, and the US Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and the Department of Justice (USDOJ).
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- The Nintendo Switch 2 doesn't include a warranty card to prevent scalpers
- Resellers in Japan are now required to have proof of purchase before they can resell their Nintendo Switch 2
- Switch 2 owners in Japan need to send in their receipt along with their console to request a repair
In an attempt to combat scalpers in Japan, Nintendo has excluded a vital component from the Nintendo Switch 2 box, making it harder to resell the console.
As reported by IGN, owners of the latest Switch model in Japan have noticed that the console doesn't come with a physical warranty card, which is typically required for in-store hardware repairs.
Alternatively, owners are now required to have proof of purchase in the form of a receipt to get their Switch 2 repaired by Nintendo Japan’s official repair service, a change which has also made reselling the console much more difficult for scalpers.
For this reason, resellers on Japanese online retailers are being forced to include their receipts; however, it appears that Mercari Japan is now prohibiting receipts, a marketplace where people have been buying and reselling the console.
"I'm reselling the Switch 2 on Mercari, but recently, more and more people are listing it with receipts. You need a receipt for the warranty. Buyers want that too," said TeamSubRockman (X / Twitter translate).
"In conclusion, this is a clear violation of Mercari's terms and conditions. It's out of the grey area. Nintendo, you've set up so many traps, it's amazing."
With the original Switch, which did come with a warranty card in Japan, owners only have to send in a copy of the card to request a repair.
Now, with the new proof of purchase rule, Switch 2 owners in Japan are required to send in their receipt along with their console to be repaired, according to Nintendo Japan.
According to Nintendo Switch 2 Hardware Warranty, in the EU, the Switch 2 warranty only covers the console for 24 months post-purchase and "does not cover the Product if it has been resold, or used for rental or commercial purposes."
Similarly, the Nintendo of America version of the warranty reads: "The original purchaser is entitled to this warranty only if the consumer can demonstrate, to Nintendo's satisfaction, that the product was purchased within the last 12 months."
In addition, proof of purchase is required for repairs outside of Japan, according to the Nintendo UK Terms of Service, and if owners are unable to supply a receipt, "the Product will be considered to be outside of your Nintendo Warranty and a service fee will apply for any repair work undertaken."
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