Apple and Qualcomm announce surprise settlement

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In an unexpected move, Apple and Qualcomm have reached a settlement and agreed to drop all ongoing lawsuits, which have spanned the globe and started at least a couple years back. Apple will also pay Qualcomm an undisclosed amount and the two have reached a six-year global patent licensing deal that extends for another two years. Qualcomm will also supply parts to Apple for multiple years, which as The Verge suggests could mean we'll see Qualcomm modems in the iPhone again. 

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Netflix and Mark Millar announce next comic book project called ‘Space Bandits'

Netflix is publishing another Mark Millar comic book called Space Bandits. Millar describes it as “female Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid set in space.” It’s a story involving two of the most wanted felons in the universe who run their own heists across the galaxies until a betrayal sends them down a path of revenge. Matteo Scalera will be illustrating the story. Industry veteran Howard Chaykin will illustrate five limited edition covers, the first of which will sell for 75 cents. The others will sell for US$4 when the first issue comes out in stores and digital platforms on July 3rd.  

Netflix bought Millar’s publishing house in 2017 and has worked with the writer to publish his books as well as turn his existing properties into TV shows and movies. 

Source: Variety 

‘Something big’ is coming to the Google Pixel universe

Dovetailing with the first day of the Google I/O conference, the company will be holding an event on May 7th that will introduce “something big” into the Google Pixel universe. The associated video clip shows a promo for Avengers: Endgame-themed augmented reality stickers, but as Engadget points out, there should be more than that.  

Rumour has it that Google might launch Pixel 3a phones. The rumoured Pixel 3a reportedly has a 5.6-inch display with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 processor, 4GB of RAM, and a 12-megapixel rear camera with the same Pixel Visual Core found in the high-end Pixel 3. There’s also supposedly a Pixel 3a XL that would push the screen to a 6-inch display and runs on a Snapdragon 710 processor. The goal supposedly for these new phones is to bring the essentials of the Pixel back down to a more affordable price. 

Facebook brings dark mode to all Messenger users

You no longer have to send a moon emoji to activate dark mode on your Facebook Messenger. The social network rolled out an update to all iOS and Android users to let them toggle dark mode on or off. Facebook joins a number of apps that offer this feature. And if this is something you’ve been waiting for, then it’s time to update your app.