Xiaomi Launches 2025 Creativity Competition with Google Gemini to Explore Future of Mobile Design.

Xiaomi, a global leader in consumer electronics and smart manufacturing, has officially inaugurated its 2025 Creativity Competition. Titled "Your Screen, Your Story," the contest aims to push the boundaries of design and innovation, inviting creators worldwide to redefine the mobile user experience.

The competition is a significant collaborative effort, jointly organized by Xiaomi's International Internet Business (IIB) Department and Google Gemini. This partnership highlights a focus on integrating artificial intelligence into creative workflows, anticipating the next generation of personalized mobile interfaces.

Three Avenues for Digital Expression.

The 2025 competition is segmented into three distinct categories, each designed to capture a different facet of digital creativity. These segments encourage participants to submit works ranging from pure aesthetics to functional user design.

The categories are "One Shot, One Moment" (Wallpaper Photography), "Vision Through Intelligence" (AI Wallpapers), and "Redefining UX" (Theme Design). This structure allows photographers, AI artists, and interface designers to showcase their specific expertise.

Significantly, creators in the AI Wallpapers and Photography categories are strongly encouraged to leverage the capabilities of Google Gemini. The integration demonstrates how generative AI tools can supercharge creativity and design processes within the mobile ecosystem.

Recognition and Rewards for Top Talent.

To attract and reward the world's most innovative minds, the competition offers substantial incentives. The prestigious Gold Award winner stands to receive a prize of up to $10,000, along with broad industry exposure.

Winning works will also receive potential commercial opportunities, allowing creators to monetize their designs through Xiaomi's vast international content ecosystem. Furthermore, select exceptional entries may be featured in dedicated offline exhibitions, granting global visibility.

A distinguished panel of international design experts will evaluate the submissions. The competition also includes special awards reserved for Xiaomi Fans, fostering engagement within its dedicated user community.

Key Dates for Submissions and Awards.

The submission window opened on September 10, with user voting currently underway, having started on September 30. Creators still have time to finalize and submit their groundbreaking concepts.

Expert reviews are scheduled to take place throughout November, leading up to the final announcement of winners and the awarding of prizes in December. This timeline sets the stage for a dramatic conclusion to the year of design innovation.

Google Play Store Rolls Out New In-App ‘Gift Card Mall’ for Top Brands.

The Google Play Store is significantly expanding its utility, with a new update rolling out that allows users to directly purchase and send digital gift cards from a variety of top retailers and brands.

This new functionality transforms the Play Store from solely a content distribution platform into a centralized digital gifting hub.

The feature is designed to create a streamlined, one-stop shopping experience for users on Android devices.

Dedicated Gift Cards Section Appears.

Users now have a new entry point for digital gifting that is accessible directly through the app’s main profile menu.

A new “Gift cards” option is appearing for some users, nestled between the existing “Payments & subscriptions” and “Play Protect” tabs.

This new section is currently rolling out widely, allowing users to discover and purchase cards without needing to leave the Play Store app.

Beyond Google Play Credit.

While Google Play credit gift cards are available in denominations from $15 to $100, the new feature extends far beyond its own ecosystem.

The section functions as an extensive “gift card mall,” offering digital cards from premier brands across numerous consumer categories.

These categories include Dining, Retail, Fashion, Beauty, Entertainment, and Electronics, making the selection highly diverse.

Seamless Purchase and Digital Delivery.

The in-app process for purchasing a gift card is designed for simplicity and convenience.

Users can select from various virtual card designs, choose their desired monetary amount, and then personalize the gift.

Delivery is handled digitally, requiring only the recipient’s email address or phone number, along with an optional custom gift message.

Powered by Blackhawk Network Partnership.

Google has partnered with global branded payment solutions leader, Blackhawk Network (BHN), to power this expansive new feature.

This collaboration leverages BHN’s extensive digital gifting portfolio and technology, providing the wide range of available third-party brand options.

The move simplifies the user journey, fulfilling Google’s goal to allow users to "discover, purchase and send value without jumping between apps or sites."

YouTube TV and NBCUniversal Ink Multi-Year Deal, Bringing Peacock to Primetime Channels.

Google and NBCUniversal have successfully concluded long-term negotiations, securing a multi-year commitment that will keep the entire NBCUniversal portfolio on YouTube TV.

The agreement resolves a contract dispute, ensuring millions of YouTube TV subscribers will not lose access to critical channels.

The deal also marks a significant expansion of the partnership, integrating the Peacock streaming service into the YouTube ecosystem.

Full Portfolio Retained for YouTube TV.

The new commitment guarantees the continued carriage of all NBCUniversal networks on the popular live TV streaming service.

Subscribers will retain access to channels including NBC, Telemundo, USA Network, Bravo, CNBC, MSNBC, Syfy, E!, and Universo, among others.

Furthermore, the new NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) is set to launch and become available on YouTube TV later this fall. This addition will provide fans with broader access to NBCUniversal’s extensive sports programming, complementing the content already on the main NBC broadcast network.

Peacock Joins YouTube Primetime Channels.

Perhaps the most impactful element of the new deal is the arrival of Peacock on YouTube Primetime Channels.

In the coming months, the NBCUniversal streaming service will be available as an add-on subscription directly through the YouTube platform.

Peacock joins a growing roster of services on Primetime Channels, which already includes competitors like Paramount+ and HBO Max. This integration streamlines the subscription process, allowing users to manage their streaming services all within the native YouTube interface.

Broader Ecosystem Commitments.

The agreement extends beyond YouTube TV and Primetime Channels, solidifying NBCUniversal's content presence across Google’s wider digital ecosystem.

The partnership includes a multi-year extension ensuring Peacock's continued availability across all Google Android platforms, including Google Play and Google TV. Additionally, Universal Pictures films and TV shows will remain available for purchase or rental via Google TV and YouTube.

The deal also maintains the rights for short-form clips, highlights, and shows from NBCUniversal to be featured across YouTube.

Snapchat Is Putting a 5GB Cap on Free Memories Storage.

Snapchat is significantly changing how it handles user-saved content within its platform. The company has officially announced the end of its nearly decade-long policy of providing unlimited free cloud storage for "Memories," the platform's internal archive for saved photos and videos.

This move marks Snapchat's latest effort to better monetize its core features and align with industry standards for cloud-based storage.

A New 5GB Limit for Everyone.

Effective immediately, all Snapchat users will now be limited to 5GB of free cloud storage for their saved photos and videos.

The company stated that this infrastructure shift was necessary after users saved a staggering total of over a trillion Memories since the feature’s introduction nine years ago.

This vast accumulation of user data has created a substantial overhead, forcing the platform to temper down its generous unlimited backup offering.

Paid Plans Mimic Cloud Giants.

For users who require more space, Snapchat is introducing a set of new paid storage tiers, closely mirroring models used by competitors like Apple iCloud and Google Photos.

The new plans start with a base 100GB option for users who only need a slight expansion beyond the free limit.

Larger, higher-capacity plans are also available, including 250GB and a massive 5TB tier.

Bundling with Subscriptions.

These larger tiers are set to be integrated with the platform's existing subscription services.

The 250GB option will be included as a benefit for subscribers of Snapchat+.

Meanwhile, the top-tier 5TB storage capacity is reserved for subscribers to the premium subscription tier, Snapchat Premium.

Rollout Details and Grace Period.

While the news has been made public, official pricing for the base 100GB plan and details on the exact upgrade process are still pending. The new plans do not yet appear to be fully functional within the application interface.

Snapchat is providing a major concession for power users who are already over the 5GB limit.

These existing users will be given a generous 12-month grace period to decide their next step, allowing them time to either export their extensive data library or upgrade to one of the new paid plans.

Google Adopts New Gradient 'G' Icon Company-Wide to Mark 'AI Era' Evolution.

Google is officially making its vibrant, gradient "G" logo the company's universal icon, replacing the familiar segmented four-color design.

This visual refresh, which started with Google Search earlier this year, signifies a major, company-wide branding push. The unified look aims to represent Google’s entire identity as it expands deeper into Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The new icon features brighter, blending hues where the four signature colors gently bleed into each other, creating a fluid and modern aesthetic. This gradient effect contrasts sharply with the previous logo's more distinct, partitioned quadrants.

The shift marks the first significant visual identity change for the iconic 'G' in a decade, underscoring its importance.

Symbolizing the AI-Driven Future.

According to an official announcement from the company, the updated logo now "represents all of Google — both our brand and the company."

Crucially, they state the new look "visually reflects our evolution in the AI era."

Google designed the brighter colors and gradient to symbolize the "surge of AI-driven innovation and creative energy" across its technology portfolio. The new design maintains fidelity to Google's iconic four-color palette.

Gradual Product Rollout.

While the change is now official, many users have already seen the updated 'G' in various places.

The gradient version first appeared for Google Search back in May, updating homescreen apps and web favicons.

Following this, the design was integrated into the official "Gemini spark" icon in June, signaling the visual integration of the company's AI efforts.

Google confirms the updated logo will officially roll out to "more products, platforms, and services over the coming months," standardizing the look across its entire ecosystem.

This move is more than a simple visual tweak; it is a strategic branding statement. By standardizing the gradient 'G', Google is positioning its entire product and service landscape under a unified, modern banner that reflects its AI-first commitment.

Travel Back in Time Using Google Earth Historical Imagery Feature.

Have you ever wished you could see what your neighborhood looked like a decade ago? Or maybe you've been curious to see how a new skyscraper was built from the ground up? While we can't hop into a real-time machine just yet, there's a powerful tool right at your fingertips that can take you back in time: Google Earth's historical imagery feature. It's a digital archive of our planet, captured over years of satellite and aerial photography.

This isn't just a fun gimmick; it’s a portal to the past, revealing dramatic transformations in urban landscapes, the slow march of deforestation, and the powerful impact of natural disasters. In this article, we’ll show you exactly how to unlock this hidden feature and turn your computer into a time machine. Get ready to explore the world not just as it is, but as it once was.

What is Google Earth's Historical Imagery?

Google Earth's Historical Imagery is a feature that allows users to view past satellite and aerial images of a location, essentially creating a digital time-lapse of the planet. Instead of showing just the most current image, it provides a timeline slider that lets you scroll through decades of captured data. It's a powerful tool that reveals how a place has changed over time, from subtle shifts in landscapes to major urban development.

The data for this feature is a massive collection of images from various sources, including satellites like the USGS/NASA Landsat program and high-flying aircraft. Google continuously updates this archive with new imagery, while also organizing older photos. This massive, layered database is what enables you to witness the growth of a forest, the construction of a new highway, or the before-and-after of a natural disaster, all from a single viewpoint.

How To View Historical Imagery in Google Earth?

The process for viewing historical imagery differs slightly between the desktop application and the web version of Google Earth. For the most comprehensive experience, we recommend using the desktop version.

Let's Go Back in Time With Google Earth 🌍

Method 1: Using Google Earth Pro (Desktop).

Google Earth Pro is a free desktop application that offers the most robust tools, including the full historical imagery timeline.

1. Download and Open: First, download and install the free Google Earth Pro application from Google's official website if you don't already have it.

2. Navigate: Search for and fly to the location you want to explore.

3. Activate Historical Imagery: In the top toolbar, look for the "Show historical imagery" icon. It looks like a clock with a counter-clockwise arrow. Click it.

   

4. Explore the Timeline: A timeline slider will appear in the top-left corner of the viewing window. Drag the slider to the left to go back in time. You will see small white dots on the timeline, each representing a date when imagery is available for that specific location and zoom level. Simply click a dot to see the image from that time.

Note: To save a high-resolution image of what you see, go to File > Save > Save Image. This feature allows you to export the picture with a title, a legend, and a compass, which is perfect for presentations or to show the exact difference.

Method  2: Using Google Earth for Web.

The web version of Google Earth is more streamlined and has a simplified historical imagery feature, which is great for quick looks but isn't as detailed as the desktop app.

1. Open Google Earth: Go to the Google Earth website in your browser.

2. Find a Location: Navigate to your area of interest.

3. Check for Imagery: The web version doesn't have a dedicated clock icon for all locations. Instead, the feature is often found in the "Voyager" tab on the left sidebar, under curated "Timelapse in Google Earth" stories. For some specific locations, a time slider may appear automatically at the bottom of the screen.

   

4. Limitations: The historical imagery on the web is not available for all locations, and the timeline isn't as extensive or easy to navigate as the one in the desktop application. For a deep dive into history, the Google Earth Pro desktop app is the superior tool.

The availability of imagery is not uniform across the globe. Some locations, especially older, developed areas, have data going back decades. Other, more remote areas may only have a few years of images. This is because satellite and aerial data collection is not a constant process for every single spot on Earth.

Time lapses in Google Earth.

Google Earth also showcases how our planet has changed since 1984 through its time-lapse feature available in the Historical Imagery section. Unlike the "Historical Imagery" which shows specific photos for a single spot, this tool provides a broader, global overview of change, visually demonstrating everything from urban sprawl and the melting of glaciers to deforestation over the past four decades.

To play a time-lapse video of any place on Google Earth, simply click on View > Historical Imagery, and on the left side, you will see a clock icon (Switch to Time-lapse), and the video will start playing. You can also adjust the zoom and play speed to see a better view.

Conclusion: Your Next Adventure is Just a Click Away.

Google Earth's historical imagery is more than just a cool technical feature; it's a window into the past that allows you to be an armchair historian, urban planner, or environmental scientist. The ability to watch a city rise, a glacier melt, or a forest recover is a powerful reminder of how dynamic our world is. With these tools at your disposal, you're ready to start your own journey through time. 

Now it's your turn. We'd love to hear about the changes you discover. What's the most surprising transformation you've found in your neighborhood or a place you've always wanted to visit? Share your discoveries in the comments below!

Samsung Galaxy TriFold Leaks Show Multitasking Mastery.

According to a series of newly leaked software animations, Samsung’s highly anticipated triple-folding device, the rumored Galaxy TriFold, is shaping up to be a true productivity powerhouse. These animations offer the clearest look yet at how Samsung's One UI will be optimized to manage the massive screen real estate.

The leaks, which appear to be official system demonstrations, confirm the TriFold's laser focus on advanced multitasking, effectively blurring the lines between a smartphone, a tablet, and a small PC.

Fluid Multitasking on a Giant Screen.

The animations showcase incredibly fluid app management, a necessity for a device that unfolds into a display speculated to be around 10 inches.

Users are shown seamlessly launching apps on the cover display and having them "continue" onto the main, unfolded screen without any noticeable lag or layout shift.

One key demonstration feature of Samsung’s Internet app running with a large Galaxy AI sidebar, yet the main webpage content remains highly readable and well-formatted.

Floating Windows and DeX Integration.

The ability to use apps as movable floating windows is prominently featured, a familiar yet elevated tool that gives the user a desktop-like experience.

In one scenario, the call interface transforms into a small, movable overlay, allowing users to continue working on the expansive screen without interrupting their workflow.

Furthermore, a glimpse of the DeX interface suggests the TriFold will integrate deeply with Samsung’s desktop environment, running with the same powerful capabilities as a Galaxy Tab S-series tablet.

You'll obviously have the option to copy over your homescreen from the cover display over to the main display like current foldables. pic.twitter.com/4OMvne6BFt

— Highest (@TechHighest) September 26, 2025

Camera Hints at Flagship Zoom.

A surprising detail emerged from the camera app animation, which clearly displays a 100x zoom option.

If this feature makes it to the final product, it would mark the first time Samsung has included its ultra-telephoto or periscope zoom technology on a foldable device.

This move would position the TriFold's camera hardware on par with the brand's top-tier Galaxy S Ultra flagship series.

A New Form Factor for Work and Play.

When fully unfolded, the TriFold is shown operating in a portrait orientation, similar to an e-reader, with the home screen layout adjusting to accommodate more apps and widgets than the current Z Fold series.

The leaked animations strongly suggest the device is designed to handle at least three, and possibly more, apps simultaneously on its massive screen.

While a release date and global availability are still unconfirmed, these sophisticated UI leaks solidify the Galaxy TriFold as Samsung’s most ambitious foldable project to date, likely targeting a late 2025 debut.