News
More Android users are switching to iOS, survey says
The reasons are just as surprising
If you’re reading this article now, you almost definitely own a smartphone. If you own a smartphone today, probability dictates that you own either an Android or iOS phone. For years, both mobile operating systems have dominated the phone industry.
With that, you will likely have a friend who owns a phone with the competing OS. Anyone who’s ever had those friends knows how difficult it is to convert them to your own system. Both Android and Apple users are notoriously hard to convert to the other.
Yet, the converting market does exist. From a recent PC Mag survey, 29 percent of consumers have switched between Android and iOS. More specifically, 18 percent have converted from Android to iOS. Meanwhile, the remaining 11 percent switched from iOS to Android. Surprisingly, more converters prefer Apple over Android, contrary to a previous study.
Besides the actual numbers, the survey also tallied why these users converted.
For those who switched to iOS, Apple’s more streamlined user experience played a huge part in the conversion. Forty-seven percent of converters cited the reason as their main motivator. Meanwhile, a smaller 25 percent cited Apple’s better features. Not surprisingly, only 11 percent switched because they thought Apple is a cheaper alternative.
On the other hand, switchers to Android are much more varied. Thirty percent still cited a better user experience as a motivator. However, an almost equal portion — 29 percent — cited the system’s often cheaper offerings. Finally, a smaller 24 percent prefers Android’s better features. (However, this final portion is debatable since Android phones often source their hardware without Google’s say-so.)
The survey proves that brand loyalty isn’t an ironclad deterrent in the phone industry. If you’ve been thinking about switching phones, always consider the other side. Regardless of your leanings, the market will have what you’re looking for.
SEE ALSO: Android Oreo users are still too few, even as Android Pie launches
In a world with a love-hate relationship with extra buttons on a phone, Apple has gone to the deeper end and included two buttons in the latest iPhones: the Action Button and the Camera Control. Next year, Apple might consolidate the two buttons into one, ridding itself of the Action Button.
According to a Weibo leak from Instant Digital, Apple will merge the two buttons starting with next year’s iPhones. Though technically a new button in itself, the merged version will, based on the leak, retain more Camera Control than the Action Button.
Of course, both functions can coexist in the same button. The Camera Control activates with a single press, while the Action Button needs a longer press. In the merged button, a single press can still open the camera and a longer press can activate whatever the user sets it to.
Both buttons have had a storied past. The Action Button came in 2023, replacing the Ring/Silent Switch. Meanwhile, the Camera Control debuted a year later, offering control over the camera with a capacitive button. The current iterations retain both buttons on the same phone.
Personally, as someone used to creating content, the Camera Control button is ultimately a boon to get those shots quickly while in the moment. Retaining that functionality is definitely worthwhile.
Enterprise
NVIDIA CEO admits to having an affair with alleged Chinese spy
The company is currently investigating the allegations.
In one of the craziest headlines this year, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang has admitted to having an affair with an alleged Chinese spy.
Over the weekend, a heavy allegation claimed that the NVIDIA CEO had a relationship with a person actively involved in Chinese intelligence. Since Huang is involved in business globally, the accusation isn’t a light one. In fact, it’s serious enough that Huang admitted to the affair late this past Sunday.
In an internal letter reported by Associated Press, the CEO acknowledged the existence of the affair with a business executive. Of note, Huang did not confirm the executive’s ties to Chinese intelligence. NVIDIA, however, will conduct its own investigations regarding the allegations. Despite the allegations, Huang will remain as the company’s CEO. The company is also confident that the alleged spy did not compromise NVIDIA’s secrets.
According to The New York Times, the executive, Alice Huang, was reportedly feeding information back to Beijing, despite being an executive of the Singapore-based Megaspeed, which is already a serious customer of NVIDIA.
Now, NVIDIA is currently in a prime position when it comes to the industry today. Formerly a huge proponent of gaming peripherals, the company is now one of the biggest names in AI hardware, allotting a lot of its products for data centers. Huang’s allegations come at an interesting time.
Sony is bringing back one of its iconic Walkman-era headphones with the MDR-3R. The new wired headphones modernize the original MDR-3 with USB-C connectivity and updated features.
Introduced in 1979, the original Walkman and MDR-3 headphones helped popularize portable music listening. The MDR-3R carries that legacy forward with a familiar design and modern conveniences.
The headphones retain the original’s lightweight, open-ear construction. They also feature interchangeable blue and orange ear pads. Sony even gives the packaging and instruction manual a design inspired by the original model.
The MDR-3R connects to compatible smartphones and other devices through USB-C. Users can listen to music without charging, pairing, or installing updates. A built-in microphone and in-line remote also make calls and playback controls more convenient.
Sony equipped the headphones with the same 23mm driver units as the original MDR-3. The company also tuned them to closely reproduce the original’s sound signature. They deliver balanced audio, natural vocals, and the emotional richness associated with Sony headphones.
Sony MDR-3R gets a Stranger Things edition
Sony is also launching a special MDR-3R Stranger Things Edition. The collaboration celebrates the 1980s inspiration shared by the Walkman era and Netflix’s popular series.
Inspired by Max’s signature headphone style and the mysterious Upside Down, the special edition features exclusive design details. These include an engraved Stranger Things logo and custom packaging.
Sony also considered environmental impact when developing the headphones. Approximately 25 percent of the plastic used in the product comes from recycled materials. The packaging is also plastic-free.
Price and availability
Sony has opened preorders for the MDR-3R and MDR-3R Stranger Things Edition. Availability and pricing vary by market.
In the United States, the standard MDR-3R costs US$59.99, while the Stranger Things Edition costs US$79.99. The standard model is available through Sony and authorized retailers.
In Singapore, both models will launch in December 2026. The standard MDR-3R costs SG$89, while the Stranger Things Edition costs SG$129. Both are exclusive to Sony Stores and Sony Store Online.
In the Philippines, Sony has yet to announce local pricing and availability. Based on US pricing, the headphones would cost approximately PHP 3,500 for the standard edition and PHP 4,700 for the Stranger Things Edition, before local taxes and retail adjustments.
-
Lifestyle1 week agoYour coffee nook is getting a makeover with Starbucks’ holiday collections
-
Lifestyle1 week agoSticker season is back, and so is the planner your ~friends~ might fill in for you
-
Gaming1 week agoWild Rift Patch 7.3, celebrates K/DA comeback
-
Gaming2 weeks agoROG G700 review: The best prebuilt PC you can get off the shelf
-
Gaming2 weeks agoPlayStation unveils Prism Collection
-
News4 days agoSony revives classic Walkman headphones with USB-C MDR-3R
-
Laptops2 weeks agoApple unveils MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR display and Touch
-
Gaming2 weeks agoFromSoftware’s The Duskbloods delayed to 2027



