Mateusz Ługowik

Nex Computer started taking reservations Wednesday for the NexPhone, a $549 smartphone designed to run Android 16, boot Debian Linux on demand, and dual-boot into Windows 11. “NexPhone is the device I’ve wanted to carry for 14 years,” said founder and CEO Emre Kosmaz, describing it as “your Linux machine” and “your Windows PC” packed into a phone-sized slab. The pitch arrives as “phone-as-PC” concepts are making a comeback. Samsung’s DeX lets certain Galaxy phones display a desktop-like interface on an external monitor, while Android 16 expands desktop-style support to a broader range of devices.

A MakeUseOf guide released Thursday showed how you can turn a smartphone into a universal remote for TVs and other gear without adding hardware, using either Wi‑Fi controls or the phone’s built-in infrared. The article highlighted the Universal TV Remote App‑IR, which works via Wi‑Fi or an IR blaster. Timing is key as living rooms fill up with more boxes and screens, yet the remote chaos only grows. Take Apple: it claims the Apple TV Remote in the iPhone Control Center works with Apple TV and newer models, plus AirPlay-compatible smart TVs—all set up over the same Wi‑Fi network.

Leaks suggest Samsung Electronics will hold its next Galaxy Unpacked event on Feb. 25, with the Galaxy S26 phones going on sale March 11—pushing back the timeline compared to previous years. The Galaxy S25 launched on Jan. 22, 2025, and the Galaxy S24 hit shelves on Jan. 17, 2024, according to Android Authority. The timing is crucial—Samsung’s early-year launch often sets the tone for premium Android devices, with carriers lining up promotions accordingly. If the release slips into March, it can shift when competitors roll out their deals and how long previous models stick around at full price.

Utah Senate Majority Leader Kirk Cullimore introduced a bill to make Android—the software powering many smartphones—Utah’s official state mobile operating system. The move sparked a quick debate in the Senate over iPhone versus Android. “Is this a real bill?” asked Senate Majority Assistant Whip Mike McKell. Cullimore predicted that iPhone users might eventually see Android as “better” and joked about “discrimination” linked to green text bubbles. He also acknowledged he doesn’t expect the bill to advance past committee. At the start of Utah’s hectic legislative session, lawmakers wasted no time tackling phone use in schools, particularly among kids. On Wednesday, a Senate committee pushed forward SB69 with a 6-1 vote, proposing a default “bell-to-bell” policy that restricts students’ phone use