Author: Geek Planet

This article is part of our Confessions series, in which we trade anonymity for candor to get an unvarnished look at the people, processes and problems inside the industry. More from the series → Advertising industry professionals have been eyeing the creator economy — not only to understand it for their work with clients but also for themselves, as more agency employees consider becoming creators. Agency-based creators aren’t limited to the creative departments, either. Some employees outside of creative, like one marketing associate who works for a digital agency, have dabbled in becoming creators too. “It turns you into a…

Samsung is rolling out a new feature for its Galaxy range of smartphones that is designed to help users understand which apps will actually work when connected to a satellite network. There’s a new “Satellite-ready” apps section, which lists all the apps that remain functional even when the phone is outside of traditional cellular network connectivity. These apps still work via satellite connectivity, so now, users won’t have to guess which apps are functional and can quickly check in the system settings. This makes off-grid connectivity easier to understand Samsung has been gradually expanding satellite communication support across its devices…

Microsoft is quietly preparing Windows 11 for a new class of ultra-fast gaming monitors, even if most gamers won’t see them anytime soon. According to a recent Windows Insider blog post, new Release Preview builds 26100.8106 and 26200.8106 introduce support for monitors that report refresh rates higher than 1,000Hz. The change effectively removes a previous limitation in Windows’ display stack that prevented the operating system from properly recognizing extremely high refresh-rate panels. Microsoft appears to be future-proofing Windows as monitor manufacturers push refresh rates beyond current limits. While displays this fast are still rare, the software groundwork suggests Microsoft expects…

Motorola has expanded the mid-range Fusion lineup with a brand-new model. The Edge 70 Fusion+ just debuted in Brazil, positioned right above the standard Edge 70 Fusion. The big highlight here is the addition of a telephoto lens, bringing a versatile photography experience. You also get a slightly faster Snapdragon chip. What’s on offer for around $500? The company unveiled the Motorola Edge 70 Fusion+ with a triple camera setup on the rear. This consists of a 50MP Sony LYT710 main camera with OIS, a 50MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 10MP telephoto shooter with 3x optical zoom. In comparison, the…

For years, the dominant platforms of the internet have treated content moderation as both shield and scalpel — eulogized as “trust and safety,” enforced by a mix of algorithmic blunt force and human discretion, and backed by sprawling bureaucracies tasked with adjudicating whether a buttock or a stray word crosses the invisible line. Substack, the subscription publishing platform, is taking a different tack.  Rather than tinkering with the machinery of enforcement, it’s betting that the real problem lies not in the rules, but in the incentives — that a system built around advertising and virality will inevitably reward outrage, and that…

Despite the rising cost of hardware components, Samsung’s next ultra-premium smartphone might not see a price hike. A new report suggests that Samsung may decide not to raise the price of the Galaxy Z Fold 8, and the reason might come down to Apple. Apple’s first foldable iPhone could be the reason Samsung is considering keeping its upcoming foldables’ price closer to the current generation to remain competitive. Why Samsung is making this move Apple is widely expected to release its first foldable iPhone as early as this year. Reports are suggesting that Apple is increasing its initial production plans.…

Google is expanding its “Help Me Schedule” feature to group meetings in Gmail, fixing the one glaring gap that exists ever since it came out in October 2025.  Introduced in October 2025, Help Me Schedule (an AI-powered feature) helped with scheduling meetings between two individuals only. Which, if you’ve ever tried to coordinate a team meeting over an email, isn’t quite useful.  What’s actually changed? However, with the update, the feature can now organize meetings with multiple guests, directly from the Gmail compose window.  Google’s Gemini AI model — if it has access to your emails — will detect when…

With President Trump’s sweeping tariffs taking effect last week, and an additional 50% tariff threat to China yesterday plunging the stock market, companies are now tasked with the short order effects of the tariffs: Understanding how their brands will be impacted, what the increased costs will be and how they should manage those costs. “This is a massive hit for these U.S.-headquartered companies who serve a global economy,” said Eunice Shin, founder and CEO of brand consultancy The Elume Group. “It’s a massive increase in costs that they’re going to have to bear.” While President Trump sees the tariffs as…

WhatsApp is introducing a safer way for younger users to stay connected with friends and family. The messaging platform now allows parents to create protected WhatsApp accounts for kids under 13, giving guardians more control over how the account works. Instead of leaving safety decisions to automated systems, parents can be in charge of their child’s privacy settings and messaging environment. How to create and manage WhatsApp account for children under 13? You can follow these steps to set up a parent-managed WhatsApp account for preteens on both Android and iOS: Download WhatsApp from the Google Play Store or Apple…

In this saturated market, brands are hoping new mascots will tickle consumers’ nostalgia and help them stand out from the competition. In the last few months, Domino’s pizza launched Mac Scott, a penne-shaped mascot, fast-casual restaurant chain Cava rolled out Peter Chip, a pita chip with googly eyes, and candy brand Hi-Chew introduced Chewbie, the brand’s first official, self-described “ambiguous mascot with a big personality.” This is after Instacart’s first-ever Super Bowl ad this year featured notable brand mascots like Chester Cheetah, the Old Spice man, Mr. Clean, the Energizer Bunny, and the Kool-Aid Man. “They make more sense now…