Author: Akintayo Adams

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has given the green light for the first spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), marking a pivotal moment in the crypto space and anticipated to attract a wave of new retail and institutional investors. The approval encompasses 11 ETFs, with sponsors ranging from established players like Fidelity and Invesco to digital-focused newcomers such as Grayscale and Ark Invest. These ETFs, which trade on exchanges like stocks and receive special tax treatment in the US, are slated to commence trading soon, with BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust expected to lead the way. This regulatory breakthrough follows…

CES 2024 has been bustling with the anticipated array of new television releases, but amidst the excitement, LG and Samsung have made striking announcements in the realm of TV technology. While our TV/AV editor, Tom Parsons, has lauded TCL’s colossal 115-inch QM891G mini LED, the real spotlight for me came through LG and Samsung’s unveiling of new “transparent” TV displays. Samsung’s revelation, a proof-of-concept transparent micro LED TV, might not be intended for household use, aligning with the ongoing trend where most micro LED TVs carry exorbitant price tags. Yet, the sheer audacity and innovation behind these products deserve commendation.…

Samsung is gearing up to unveil its latest offering, the Galaxy S24 series, in a mere fortnight, and it appears that the price tags will remain consistent with their predecessors. Recent revelations shed light not just on the devices’ retail costs but also on repair and hardware replacement expenses, specifically within the European Union. Insights from a Slovenian repair center, Mobistekla, which previously shared spare part images, hint at unchanged repair rates. While the official prices haven’t been confirmed owing to the phones’ unreleased status, these quotes notably encompass genuine components. This suggests that fixing a shattered screen on the…

The latest spending report from Barclays paints an optimistic picture for the travel industry, indicating a steady rebound in travel-related transactions. According to the report covering the period between January 1 and November 25, 2023, comparisons with the same timeframe in 2022 show promising growth in various sectors. Transactions with travel agents saw a significant 11.8% increase year-on-year, while airline transactions surged by an impressive 28.7%. These figures signify a clear inclination among consumers to engage more actively in travel-related activities compared to the previous year. Moreover, non-essential spending demonstrated a notable uptick of 4.2% year-on-year during the same period,…

LG has unveiled its flagship TVs for 2024 just before CES, and they come with some substantial upgrades. The 2024 QNED range offers various sizes, from a massive 98-inch model to more moderately sized versions at 43, 50, 55, 65, 75, and 86 inches. The standout improvement is the introduction of the a8 AI processor. LG claims this processor delivers a significant boost in AI performance, a remarkable enhancement in graphics capabilities, and processing speeds that are 1.6 times faster. This empowers advanced image processing, enabling features like face, object, and background recognition, dynamic tone mapping, and Personalized Picture Mapping,…

In 2023, Samsung’s QD-OLED technology marked a significant shift in the TV industry, notably challenging traditional OLED displays. The Samsung S90C, an affordable entry-level QD-OLED model, emerged in 2022, altering the landscape of display technology. It swiftly garnered acclaim, securing the title of TV of the year at the TechRadar Choice Awards 2023, reinforcing its position among the finest TVs available. Its upscale counterpart, the Samsung S95C, received accolades as the ‘best premium OLED’ due to its exceptional picture quality, extensive gaming features, and a competitive price point, rivaling standard OLEDs. Conventional OLED TVs excel in delivering near-perfect images, courtesy…

Fuel forecourt prices in 2023 have been reported as the second highest on record by the AA. Despite a recent decrease in petrol prices at the pump, this year has still seen substantial costs for drivers, with the average cost per tank surpassing the figures from 2019. According to the AA, motorists have faced an increase of £12.50 to fill their tanks compared to pre-pandemic prices in 2019. This figure translates to an additional cost of £21.42 for van drivers per tank. However, there has been a slight respite this week in terms of fuel costs. The average price of…

Rumors and leaks surrounding the Samsung Galaxy S24 suggest that while the upcoming phone might not undergo significant external design changes compared to its predecessor, it’s anticipated to receive a substantial specs upgrade. Reports indicate that the external appearance of both the standard and Plus models of the Galaxy S24 might remain largely unchanged, apart from potential alterations such as titanium sides and a new array of colors. However, the focus seems to be on the internal improvements. Given the emphasis on AI-centric features, the Galaxy S24 series is expected to pack a robust chipset to power these functionalities. The…

In November, fuel prices saw a decline, marking a continued trend in falling petrol and diesel costs. However, despite this drop, the RAC asserts that drivers aren’t reaping the full benefits due to what they perceive as retailers withholding the total savings. According to the RAC’s Fuel Watch data, the average price for petrol dropped by 7.5p per litre, settling at 146.95p in November. Despite this reduction, the organization claims that this cost remains 10p higher per litre than it should ideally be. The typical retailer margin on each litre of petrol has surged to 17p, significantly above the standard…

Chinese smartphone manufacturer OnePlus has recently unveiled its inaugural foldable smartphone, the OnePlus Open. In doing so, OnePlus joins the ranks of other prominent brands such as Samsung, Google, and Xiaomi that have ventured into the foldable smartphone market. To gauge how this new entrant measures up, we’ve taken a closer look at the OnePlus Open in comparison to Apple’s latest flagship offering, the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The OnePlus Open shares a resemblance with the Samsung Galaxy Fold in its folding mechanism, opening much like a book. When in the folded configuration, the cover screen presents a 6.31-inch display,…