Hey, are you awake? I miss you, baby.
Now Android Messages can help you save those texts you’ll soon regret. This week, Google announced a series of new features coming to the Android mobile platform, the most useful of which is the ability to edit messages after they’ve been sent.
The update is for Google’s default messaging app and works almost exactly like the editing option in other messaging apps like WhatsApp. Once you’ve sent a text, tap and hold on the message, then tap “Edit” when the menu appears. From there, you can fix those dreaded text mistakes and make for a world of clearer communication.
Courtesy of Google
A few things to note: Messages can only be edited within 15 minutes of being sent (just like WhatsApp), and if you edit, you’ll see a small notice next to the timestamp that the message has been edited – and of course, if the recipient reviews the message and makes changes, all your embarrassing typos will be visible.
Other Android updates announced by Google this week include improved smart home controls, the ability to switch devices while on a call, and enhanced WearOS controls for devices like Google’s Pixel Watch.
Here’s more news from the consumer tech world:
Cursing Refund
Spotify has announced that it will offer refunds to users who bought Car Thing, the company’s first and only hardware device, launched in 2022. Spotify is discontinuing Car Thing just a few months after its launch, announcing this month that it will disable all devices by the end of 2024. The company initially said it wouldn’t offer replacements or refunds for the dash-mounted music streaming boxes, but after significant backlash from customers, Spotify has softened its stance. Or at least softened its stance, though it hasn’t guaranteed refunds for the $90 devices. (Instead, the company said customers can contact customer service to request a refund.)
This doesn’t look good on Spotify, which is currently facing a class action lawsuit from Car Thing users who are unhappy with the company’s decision to drop support for the device altogether.
Amazon drone takes off
Amazon’s delivery drone program has largely failed in recent years after it was plagued by slow and incomplete deliveries and a failure to get permission from the FAA to expand. But Everything Company’s drones may finally have a new lease on life: The company says it has received FAA approval to fly some of its drones outside the operator’s line of sight, which could significantly expand its business.
In its pursuit of a delivery monopoly, Amazon has made some ethically questionable decisions, from making it too complicated for customers to cancel their Amazon Prime subscriptions to forcing employees to urinate into bottles.
Even if the program gets the green light to take off, there are still several issues preventing drones from flying, including limited customer interest in the program and the drones being difficult to fly, especially on hot days.
Richard Mille Gets Ace
Let’s be honest, most collaborations between watch brands and celebrities are pointless. But no such criticism can be levelled at what Richard Mille and Rafael Nadal have been doing for the past 14 years. The original RM 027, a collaboration between the two men, launched in 2010 and started out as they were destined to continue, showcasing increasingly daring missions that were lighter, tougher and more technically crazy. The RM 027 weighed less than 20 grams, while the RM 27-01 was just 18.83 grams. In 2015, new case constructions were introduced. In 2017, the RM 27-03 boasted a shock resistance of 10,000 gs. Then in 2020, the RM 27-04 increased this resistance to 12,000 gs.
The new RM 27-05 continues the drive to reduce weight, coming in at 11.5 grams without the strap. This is thanks to a monobloc case made from Carbon TPT B.4, a material previously used in Formula 1 race cars. Compared to regular Carbon TPT, B.4 is denser, the fibers are stiffer and the resin is around 30 percent tougher. What does this mean? Thinner parts can be machined, reducing weight without losing rigidity. The manual movement inside has also been milled down to save weight, making it 0.6 millimeters thinner.
Finally, to ensure all was well, the RM 27-05 underwent a battery of tests no watch is ever subjected to, including vertical and horizontal shocks, and 300g acceleration. Sure, the watch is limited to 80 pieces, but with a price tag of $1.15 million per piece, Richard Mille should be able to recoup some of its considerable development costs.
WIRED’s Jeremy White contributed to this article on the RM 27-05.
