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Bill Gates believes Microsoft losing to Android is his ‘greatest mistake’

He regrets that Microsoft didn’t beat Google

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It’s no secret that Microsoft is enjoying the dominance of Windows on PCs, but its mobile counterpart didn’t do well while it was still alive. Windows Phone or Windows 10 Mobile failed to compete with Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android in the mobile scene. Unsurprisingly, Microsoft’s founder Bill Gates saw this as a missed opportunity.

During a talk with venture capital company Village Global, Bill Gates admitted that he regrets that Microsoft lost to Google in making a “standard non-Apple phone platform.”

The whole interview is available for viewing on YouTube and it’s more than an hour long. A lot of topics were discussed with useful insights about startups, investments, major world issues from Bill Gates himself.

One of the interesting answers from Gates was the revelation of his “greatest mistake ever,” which was Microsoft failing to take the opportunity Android had before.

In his own words, “In the software world, particularly for platforms, these are winner-take-all markets. So the greatest mistake ever is whatever mismanagement I engaged in that caused Microsoft not to be what Android is. That is, Android is the standard non-Apple phone platform. That was a natural thing for Microsoft to win. It really is winner take all. If you’re there with half as many apps or 90 percent as many apps, you’re on your way to complete doom. There’s room for exactly one non-Apple operating system and what’s that worth? US$ 400 billion that would be transferred from company G to company M.

Gates’ owning the mistake is somewhat surprising because it was assumed that it was Steve Ballmer, former CEO of Microsoft, who didn’t saw the touchscreen revolution coming. Ballmer even laughed at the iPhone and called it unappealing to business customers because it lacks a keyboard. Hence, the company stuck with phones with keyboards.

We all know it was a big mistake for Microsoft as a company to ignore the iPhone. Google, on the other hand, took the golden chance and now they are on top of the mobile operating system chain.

Microsoft eventually came up with Windows Phone and launched it in 2010. It was pretty good, although it lacks the apps people are already enjoying on an iPhone or any Android device.

SEE ALSO: Microsoft’s Project xCloud game streaming service is coming in October

Gaming

PlayStation goes all-digital in 2028

Physical discs are ending

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PlayStation 30th Anniversary Edition

Sony PlayStation will stop producing physical game discs for all new PlayStation titles starting January 2028.

The company says the move reflects changing consumer habits. More players now buy games digitally instead of on disc.

Games released before January 2028 will not be affected. Those titles will continue to receive physical editions as planned.

After the transition, all new PlayStation games will launch in digital format only. Players can buy them through the PlayStation Store or from retailers selling digital game codes.

Sony says the shift will help it focus on digital distribution. It also wants to give players more ways to purchase games while continuing to improve the gaming experience.

The move also signals a major change for the industry.

Players will no longer be able to buy physical copies of new PlayStation games after January 2027. That could reduce the second-hand game market since digital purchases cannot usually be resold.

Collectors may also see fewer special editions that include game discs. Future collector’s editions could instead bundle digital download codes with physical merchandise.

The transition also makes reliable internet access more important. Every new game will need to be downloaded, and players may need to upgrade their storage as game sizes continue to grow.

For Sony and game publishers, the move could lower manufacturing and shipping costs. It also gives them greater control over pricing, distribution, and digital sales.

While the company did not mention game preservation, some players may also raise concerns about long-term ownership. Unlike physical discs, digital games depend on online storefronts and account access.

Sony thanked players for their continued support and said it remains committed to delivering a world-class gaming experience as the industry continues its shift toward digital.

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Accessories

Nothing confirms Ear (3a) is coming this month

It launches alongside the Phone (4b) on July 7.

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Nothing Ear (2)

From being told to not expect anything this year, Nothing fans suddenly have a lot to look forward to. The brand already launched the Phone (4a) series earlier this year, and the new Phone (4b) is likewise coming this month. Now, the Ear (3a) has also been announced.

Through an official teaser on X, Nothing announced that the Ear (3a) is launching alongside the Phone (4b) on July 7. Unfortunately, the short teaser doesn’t spill what the earbuds will look like. However, it does confirm that there will be four colorway options: White, Black, Yellow, and Pink.

Despite being under a relatively new brand, the Ear series carries a lot of history for Nothing. It is, after all, the brand’s first consumer-ready product which came out before the Phones. Since then, the earbuds typify Nothing’s iconic transparent designs. Now, there’s no indication that the Ear (3a) will depart from this tradition, but we’ll see a lot more color, at least.

The Ear (3a) isn’t the only spotlight in this teaser. Nothing also says that the video was shot with the upcoming Phone (4b). Though the video doesn’t spoil the phone’s camera hardware, it’s clear that it can shoot decent videos under relatively low-light conditions. (Of course, we’ll need a better look to confirm that.)

The Phone (4b) and the Ear (3a) are scheduled to launch worldwide on July 7.

SEE ALSO: No new CMF phones this year, Nothing confirms

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Samsung is working on the Galaxy Ring 2

It will have better health tracking and a longer battery life.

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Though the wearable launched with a lot of promise, the Samsung Galaxy Ring never really took off. That said, Samsung isn’t giving up. The company is already working on a Galaxy Ring 2.

In a new Forbes interview (via SamMobile), Dr. Hon Pak, head of Samsung’s Digital Health, has confirmed the development of the wearable’s sequel. The Galaxy Ring 2 will reportedly feature better health tracking and a longer battery life. Additionally, it will add support for iPhone pairing.

Because of its form factor, the original Ring comes off as a convenient health tracker for those who don’t prefer the larger nature of a smartwatch or a fitness band. However, it did have issues including a relatively short battery life and an incident where it swelled over a man’s finger.

Currently, there is no timeline for the upcoming Galaxy Ring 2. For reference, the original wearable launched all the way back in 2024. A follow-up is a reasonable ask at this point, but it’s still good that Samsung decided not to make the Ring an annual release.

Besides the Galaxy Ring 2, Samsung has a lot of tricks up its sleeve. Just today, the brand finally teased its first wide foldable phone. It’s also set to launch the Galaxy Glasses soon. On top of all this, Samsung is also experimenting with the trifold market via the Galaxy Z Trifold.

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