The updated Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 is a really nice gen. 2 product. It’ll still be really expensive, but it looks like the ultimate in mobile computing! Samsung announces the Galaxy Z Fold 2 with bigger screens and better cameras - The Verge

Yesterday the European Commission (EC) announced that it will open an in-depth investigation into the proposed acquisition of Fitbit by Google. Google agreed to purchase Fitbit in November 2019, but the purchase has not yet been formalised as it is being looked at by Authorities. Specifically, the EC’s main reason for opening this investigation is: The data collected via wrist-worn wearable devices appears, at this stage of the Commission’s review of the transaction, to be an important advantage in the online advertising markets.

In 2014, Google purchased Nest. After many years of product and brand strategy changes, it seems that Nest is finally within Alphabet the brand for all home tech (home assistants, thermostat, security cameras and even wireless home networking). Yesterday, Google made an important next step for the Nest brand by investing 450 million USD in ADT, an alarm system company. This should give ADT access to smarter cameras and Google to a new sales channel.

It is so nice to see competition heating up in this segment. After the iPhone SE, OnePlus Nord, now Google has announced the Pixel 4A. Pixel’s selling point is its still camera. Pixel 4A review: Google’s smartphone camera for $349 - The Verge

It is pretty crazy how the mobile services industry has evolved in the last 20 years ago. Ringtones were a billion dollar industry just 20 years ago and now practically gone. This article has its history, in case you were curious. Then, in 1998, a Finnish engineer tired of Nokia’s preset monotone interfering with his weekday hangovers (no joke) found a way to transfer audio files directly to his phone through text message and the ringtone revolution began in earnest.

My name is Bas Heetebrij. I love anything related to tech, from hardware, to software all the way to services. I don’t work in a tech company, though, so it’s really “just” personal interest. I work in a market research company, where I help companies develop new products and services.