mobile

What mobile charger to buy without spending a fortune and that is reliable

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You remove the seal from your new mobile phone, open it and… well, it’s no longer a surprise: it comes without a charger. Almost everyone has one (or several) with USB-C that could be useful to you, but What happens if your new phone has a very high fast charge? Well, it’s time to go to the checkout, but be careful when choosing what you buy: there is no need to buy a very expensive one nor do you need to stick with the first one you see that costs three euros. The important thing is to know what to look at before choosing and that is exactly what I am going to tell you below. Xiaomi 120W HyperCharge Combo USB Charger (1xUSB-A) + Cable (USB AC) The price could vary. We earn commission from these links The first filter will always be the power Let’s get down to business with the first filter that we are going to use when choosing a charger: charging power. This is not much of a mystery, since it is the energy it is capable of delivering and is measured in watts (you will see it reflected with a ‘W’). To know which one is ideal for us, the first thing is to look at the data sheet or specifications of our device. For example, let’s look at the POCO X8 Pro. If we look, we will see how this device has a maximum fast charge of 100 W, so, if we want to make the most of it, we should look for a charger that delivers this power. Be careful with this, since it is possible that our device also has wireless charging, in which case we will see two values ​​in your specifications. Small aside to answer a very recurring question: is fast charging harmful? Historically, this has been said repeatedly because This type of load causes more heat to be generated and this is one of the worst things there is for the degradation of a battery. However, there are already experiments that show that, although there is more degradation, The impact is much less than believed. Now, what happens if my charger has 100 W of power and I plug it into a mobile phone with 45 W fast charging? Short and to the point answer: nothing. The charger can have a lot of power, but it will always deliver to your devices the necessary. Imagine this power as a water faucet: it can pour a huge spout, but it can also be regulated so that a trickle of water falls. Let’s look at this more closely. Charging protocols are more important than it seems As we say, although a charger has very high power, it does not mean that it will deliver it to your devices. There is ua kind of negotiation between the charger and your mobile to determine how much power to deliver or to regulate it at certain times during charging (for example, before reaching the charging limit you have set). This is known as the loading protocol. There is a universal charging protocol called USB Power Delivery (or PD) that, yes or yes, your charger must have. Chargers without this standard are already somewhat outdated, so you may find them at ridiculous prices. Now, although this standard is the universal one, there are many others. And that’s where we might find a “problem.” In addition to PD, we already have other standards such as Programmable Power Supply (or PPS), an extension of USB Power Delivery, but there are also others that are specific to certain manufacturers. For example, brands like OPPO have VOOC, just as Samsung has Super Fast Charging or Huawei has SuperCharge. The important thing here is that you keep the idea that, if your mobile phone has one of these protocols in its specifications, the ideal is that, to make the most of its fast charging, so should your charger. What is GaN? If you start browsing chargers in stores like Amazon, it is very likely that you will find models that, in their description, indicate that they have something called GaN. What does this mean? It’s very easy to explain: while the vast majority of chargers use silicon (surely it sounds familiar to you with how fashionable they are). carbon-silicon batteries), GaN chargers use galli nitrideeither. In short, this material is better and more efficient than silicon. This implies that they have a better efficiency when charging and generate less heatsomething that, as we said above, is very good. Additionally, by dissipating temperature better, GaN chargers are more compact, which is also great. Is it mandatory for your new charger to have this material? No, but if you bring it, all the better. Don’t lose sight of certifications, the cable and the ports You already know the essentials for choosing a charger, but three more notes. The first thing would be to check that the charger is certified, especially with the most relevant certifications. It should have the CE seal yes or yeswhich means that it complies with European safety regulations. In addition to this, you may also have others from certain entities such as TÜV. There is no point in buying the perfect charger for your mobile if you do not accompany it with the correct cablesince these also have to be compatible with the power we need. It is important to look at this, but also its compatibility with the different charging protocols, its materials (if it is braided, better) and its length. And finally, there is the issue of charging ports. If you only plan to charge one device, as long as it has a port it will be enough for you. Now, as a personal recommendation, I wouldn’t lose sight of chargers with two or more portssince being able to charge several devices with a single charger is very convenient and saves you one less thing. Of course, be careful with the ports: not all of … Read more

How to measure the distance between two points in Google Maps on PC and mobile

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Let’s explain to you how to measure distances in Google Mapsso that you can have better references of how far away the points that interest you are. It is not about measuring distances on roads or paths, for that you can make routes on Google Mapsbut to draw a line between two points and know their physical distance. You will be able to do this to measure streets, roads, or anything you want on the map. A virtual ruler will be generated telling you the distance. We are going to teach you how to do both on the Google Maps website and in the application. Measure distances on the Google Maps website If you are using the Google Maps website, you have to do right click on one of the points of the measurement you want to make. This will open a context menu, where you have to click on the option measure distance that will appear at the bottom. Now all you have to do is click on another point on the map. Come on, you right click on the starting point, and then when you choose the option, click on the final click. This will generate a ruler that will show you the distance between these two points. Now you can continue marking new points that will be joined with the previous ones, and you will be able to see the distance between each of the points. Besides, At the bottom you have a local distance indicator which will tell you the total of the sum of all the distances. Measure distances in the Google Maps app Distance measurement is different in the Google Maps app, since it only shows you the total distance and not point by point. But the way to do it is quite similar. The first thing you have to do is click with your finger on the place on the map that you want to be the starting point. This will open a menu with many options, and in it you must click on the option measure distance that you will have inside at the bottom. Now, there will be an aiming point in the center of the screen, and with your fingers you will have to move until you go pointing to where you want to add new points. When you do, click on the button Add pointand everything will stay the same so you can add new points. At the end, you also have an indicator at the bottom left where it will tell you the total distance that all the points add up. In Xataka Basics | Google Maps: 45 functions and tricks to get the most out of both your website and your mobile app

expensive literary retreats to overcome mobile addiction

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February weekend, Welsh coast. A group of women sits around a table accompanied by appetizing portions of pasta and fruit. They ignore each other very politely. Nobody looks at their cell phones, but at the voluminous books they carry with them. They open them, begin to read their own in silence, and pay 1,200 euros (or more) for that strange privilege. Expanding business. In the United States and the United Kingdom, a new category of travel experience has been born: reading retreats. A group of people meets in a rural house or hotel boutique during a weekend to advance their personal readings, in friendly silence and without obligation to read a common book, as happens with reading clubs. Very expensive and exclusive, prices vary from company to company Page Break (between $1,000 and $1,200 per weekend) up to Ladies Who Lit (£3,450 for four days in Mallorca) or Bad Bitch Book Club (between $950 and $1,750). It’s his thing. Although today it is perceived as a solitary activity, reading as something introspective is a historically anomalous perception. For centuries, reading was a social practice: families gathered by the warmth of the fireplace to listen to loud sermons, women sharing stories while they sewed, travelers exchanging books in train cars. In fact, the appearance of the railway in the 19th century generated an entire industry: the publisher Henry Walton Smith began selling cheap novels on the platforms of London stations, and Allen Lane installed a vending machine for books from the Penguin publishing house (the Penguincubator) in the subway lobbies. It is read less.The decline in reading rates is well documented. From 2003 to 2023, the share of Americans who read for pleasure daily fell from 28% to 16%, approximately 3% annually. The report from which these data come, prepared from more than 236,000 participants, indicates that the drop is more pronounced among the population with the lowest income and lowest educational level, although the decline affects all demographic groups. Teleworking has also affected a historical reading space: the commute to work. The importance of BookTok. But in the face of this general decline in reading rates, especially in more modest classes, there is a demand for reading as a form of leisure that disconnects from the connected and hyperactive rhythm in which we live. Paradoxically (coming from a social network), the TikTok reading community has a lot to do with this new vision of reading: with 200,000 million views under the hashtag booktokthis social network is already a sales engine that rescues titles from oblivion and catapults works by independent authors to the best-seller lists. According to the founder of The Literary LeagueAccording to Gabi Valladares, who has organized reading retreats at the Scribner’s Lodge resort in the Catskills, “book vacations offer a built-in connection point,” adding that they are “undemanding,” combining time with authors and other fans with free hours to simply read. It disconnects. The idea, even though the Internet is the platform for disseminating this type of retreat and its philosophy, is to disconnect from the online world, in search of recovering uninterrupted reading. As Leah Price points outauthor of ‘What We Talk About When We Talk About Books’, the current problem is not work, historically the main competitor to reading, but “the competition from short-form digital content.” The year 2018, when Wi-Fi reached the entire New York subway network, was described as “horrible” for reading in the subway by Uli Beutter Cohen, who interviews travelers about their reading for his Instagram account Subway Book Review. Some clubs. Bad Bitch Book Club was born in 2018 as a Facebook group of friends with common interests. By 2020, confinement boosted the page to 38,000 members worldwide, receiving income of around $200,000 annually through a Patreon subscription of 14 per month. Their summer camps in The Forks, Maine, received 500 applications for 240 spots spread over three weekends. Page Breakfounded in 2024 by Mikey Friedman, has a different proposal: participants read aloud (in turns, we imagine) the same novel throughout the weekend, interspersed with frugal meals and themed games, getting closer to the idea of ​​a traditional book club. For a recent retreat in the Joshua Tree, California desert, the company received 50 applications for 15 spots, which were assigned by lottery. Your goal: millennials and zetas too busy to commit to a conventional book club. Women. The profile of attendees is overwhelmingly female. Emma Donaldson, founder of Boutique Book Breaks (spa hotel retreats in the English countryside), notes that to date she has only had one male guest. The organizers attribute this bias to the feminization of the publishing industry in recent decades and to marketing for these retreats that adopts the language of well-being: candles, bath salts, non-alcoholic cocktails… Theorist DeNel Rehberg Sedo connects the popularity of these women’s reading clubs with the awareness groups of the 1960s and 1970s, speaking of spaces that “continue the training of women and distance them from domestic responsibilities.” The metaphor of well-being is not accidental. When the debate Often focused on choosing between reading as accelerated consumerism or as a reflective practice, these retreats offer a middle ground. The possibility of reading slowly, without being accountable to any algorithm, in the company of other people who also do not understand why the hell reading a book has become something that costs so much work these days. Header | Photo of Michael Kyule in Unsplash

MediaMarkt’s new Day without VAT is coming strong with discounts on OLED TVs, mobile phones and even video games

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Just a few hours ago, MediaMarkt started a new edition of its star promo: Day without VAT. As usual, we have available a huge list of technology offers where we can find very good prices on cell phones, televisions, scooters, watches, air purifiers and, essentially, anything we need right now. The promo, which will last only until tomorrow at 9 in the morninghas very sweet offers. Below we leave you a selection of five that we find interesting: HW-Q990F/ZF Sound Bar by 698.35 eurosone of the best sound bars on the market. Xiaomi 15T Pro by 453.72 eurospowerful mobile with a 144 Hz screen and Leica camera. Galaxy S25 Ultra by 1,197.72 eurosa great Android mobile that still has some juice left in it for a while. LG OLED55B56LA by 798.35 eurosa 55-inch TV with bright colors that is ideal for watching movies. ‘Pokémon Pokopia‘ by 61.15 eurosone of the best games on Nintendo Switch 2 and in 2026. HW-Q990F/ZF Sound Bar We start with a Samsung sound bar and, in fact, it is one of the best from the Korean manufacturer. We are looking at a sound bar that comes with two independent speakers and a subwoofer to offer a total sound power of 756 Wideal if you want to set up a cinema in the living room. In addition, it is compatible with Dolby Atmos and, if you have a Samsung television, you can pair it with the TV speakers with Q-Symphony and thus achieve a better experience. It is available for 698.35 euros. Soundbar – Samsung HW-Q990F/ZF, Bluetooth, 756 W, Subwoofer and wireless Dolby Atmos, 11.1.4 channels, WiFi, Titanium Black The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Xiaomi 15T Pro If we are looking for a new Android mobile, this Xiaomi 15T Pro It is a very good option. We are looking at a device that has a 6.83-inch screen with a refresh rate of 144 Hzsomething that is not usually seen on many mobile phones and is ideal for having a fluid experience or reading text. In addition, it has a Leica signature photographic system, good battery and notable performance. comes out for 453.72 euros. Mobile – Xiaomi 15T Pro, Black, 256 GB, 12 GB RAM, 6.83 ” AMOLED, MediaTek Dimensity 9400+, 5500 mAh The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Galaxy S25 Ultra It is true that the new one is now available S26 Ultrabut he Galaxy S25 Ultra It is still a great buy in 2026. It has a 6.9-inch screen with one of the best anti-reflective treatments there isideal so that not even the sun bothers you when you are outdoors. In addition, plenty of power with the Snapdragon 8 Elite, a very complete camera system and it has six years of guaranteed updates left (it came out with 7, but a year ago). Costs 1,197.72 euros. Mobile – Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, Titanium Black, 512 GB, 12 GB RAM, 6.9″ WQHD+, Snapdragon 8, 5000 mAh The price could vary. We earn commission from these links LG OLED55B56LA This LG OLED55B56LA television is perfect for taking the leap into this technology, since it is a model with a good price right now (it costs 798.35 euros). It is a TV that offers pure black and very vivid colors, which will give you a great experience when watching movies at home. In addition, it also offers 0.1 ms and 120 Hz response time with VRR on its HDMI 2.1 ports, which is ideal for gaming. 55″ OLED TV – LG OLED55B56LA, 4K OLED, α8 AI Processor 4K Gen2, Smart TV, DVB-T2 (H.265), Umber brown The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Pokémon Pokopia We close this selection of offers with a video game, in this case with one of the best releases so far this year. ‘Pokémon Pokopia‘ is a title that is very far from what this franchise usually is with a video game where there is a lot of exploration, puzzles and tons of things to discover. It is, without a doubt, one of the best exclusives of nintendo switch 2 until now and comes out 61.15 euros. Nintendo Switch 2 Pokémon Pokopia (Game Key Card) The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Other interesting offers from MediaMarkt’s VAT-Free Day Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Images | MediaMarkt In Xataka | The best mobile phones, we have tested them and here are their analyzes In Xataka | Best televisions in quality price. Which one to buy and seven recommended 4K smart TVs

The depressing future of cheap mobile phones, in two graphs that are a death sentence for the low-end

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Quick, make a wish. The motive behind these lines is more difficult to see today than a four-leaf clover: the Realme C71 (which we tested less than a year ago) came on the market with 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage and a RRP of 149 euros. A species in extinction, something impossible in 2026. We are facing a paradigm shift in the mobile industry. In recent years we have seen how manufacturers benefited from an excess supply of memories that made it possible to build combinations of RAM and storage at ridiculous prices. That era is over: a recent report from Counterpoint Research confirms that the cost of components is suffering its greatest pressure in a decade and the outlook is bleak: either brands sacrifice their profits or pass the cost on to the consumer. Or both and an extra: the entry range is disappearing in every sense. What has happened to the price of NAND and DRAM. The price increase in the first quarter of 2026 has been abysmal and without close precedents: RAM memory (DRAM) has suffered a quarterly increase of more than 50%. NAND Flash has seen an even more aggressive rise, exceeding 90% compared to the previous quarter As a picture says a thousand words, the graph prepared by Counterpoint Research: Source: Counterpoint Research Price Tracker Why is it important. This phenomenon is not a simple fluctuation or a temporary shortage, it is a structural change that puts the economic viability of many manufacturers in check. DRAM (speed and multitasking) and NAND (storage capacity) are essential in the user experience. Until now, scaling these memories was cheap, but not anymore. In the entry range, the cost of memory already represents almost half of the manufacturing “ticket”, sometimes exceeding the cost of the processor or the screen itself. With current profit margins, absorbing this impact is impossible: either the price is raised, or it is sold at a loss. The market has already revised downwards global shipment forecasts for 2026: Counterpoint estimates a drop of 2.1%, while IDC is more pessimistic and projects a decline of 12.9%, which would exceed the 12% contraction recorded in 2022. Context. The culprit has its own name: generative artificial intelligence. More specifically, the explosion of artificial intelligence infrastructure. The data centers that power AI models are demanding memory on a large scale, thus becoming direct competition with mobile manufacturers for the production of Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron. Capacity is finite and AI takes priority for reasons of profitability. If we also take into account that the latest generation processors manufactured in 2nm they have become more expensivewe have the perfect storm. Retail. The increase in the price of memory does not affect all mobile phones equally. This is how the weight of memory is distributed in the total cost of the device: The entry range ($200 or less) is the most affected. With a typical configuration of 6 GB + 128 GB, memories already represent 43% of the total cost of the device. An increase of 30 dollars per unit is estimated. In the mid-range (400-600 dollars) the combination goes from 25 to 36%, which can mean 60 to 80 dollars per unit. In the premium range (over 800 dollars), the increase is more diffuse and they are also exposed to double pressure, that of the most expensive memories and that of the processors, which translates into increases of between 100 and 150 dollars that we will begin to see reflected in the launches of the second half of the year. How will the user notice it?. Counterpoint has estimated these price increases between $30 and $150 depending on the range, but the cushioning is not always going to be so obvious and direct. In the entry range, where the margins are so small, another way out is to cut the catalog to a minimum. We will see manufacturers “killing” the base model to force the jump to the next price step, much smaller catalogs and, above all, technical stagnation. The old 128GB will return as standard and, in the worst case, we will see steps backwards with the use of slower and older memories (LPDDR4X) to try to save the furniture in the mid-range. In Xataka | Best mobile phones in quality price. Which one to buy based on use and seven recommended models In Xataka | Having an AI on my phone that works without an Internet connection is more useful than I thought: this way you can start it Cover | Xataka, Pepu Ricca

Gemini is fine. But the local AI that Google has just launched for mobile phones is amazing

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At the end of last week, Google launched Gemma 4. Gemma is a family of generative AI models with a small footprint: models with effective parameters between 2B and 4B created primarily for deployment on mobile devices. Despite their size, they are dense models, and during the weekend the topic of conversation has been mainly this. How to install Gemma 4. You can install Gemma 4 so that it works offline on your phone, regardless of whether you have an internet connection or not. The installation process requires an additional app signed by Google: Google Edge Gallery. This open source app allows you to interact with AI models downloaded to your phone, without the need for an internet connection. And, since the launch of Gemma 4the model can run on mobile phones. Gemma 4 models are available in 4 parameter sizes: E2B, E4B, 31B and 26B A4B. The greater the number of parameters, the greater the capacity, but the more energy and memory is consumed. What does Gemma 4 do. Gemma 4, to date, is one of the best local smartphone models. According to Google, it surpasses the latest versions of DeepSeek, qwen and Kimi. We can use it as a chatbot (taking into account its limitations as it is not connected to the internet), ask it questions about any image we have in the gallery, as well as transcribe and translate audio. Because yes, now Google’s local models are compatible with audio and even real-time vision (if we give it camera permissions). In addition to these uses, it has its own skills: these allow us to use specialized functions to create interactive maps, perform local searches within tools such as Wikipedia, perform calculations, etc. For the average user, these models represent a gigantic pocket encyclopedia that does not require any type of connection. What advantages does it have?. The first advantage of using local models like Gemma 4 is the processing speed. There is no lag, the response is immediate, and it is surprising when we come from connected tools like ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude. The second is security: the model does not have an internet connection and the data does not leave your device. You can use them in airplane mode or in any area without coverage. Currently these models are not a replacement for large connected AIs, they are a perfect complement for situations in which we do not have a connection, and we want to continue having a model for very specific tasks. Why is it important. That Google is redoubling its efforts in local AI responds to several current and future demands. Running AI on servers is worth a fortune and is generating crisis like that of RAM. Winning in local alternatives is increasingly important. The war for open models is one in which it does not want to be left behind: Llama, Mistral, DeepSeek. Companies, governments and a small portion of users do not want (or cannot) send their data to external servers. Local models solve the problem. Google is doing its homework well with Gemini, but without connection the mobile phone is left without AI. Google’s commitment to Gemma and its implementation through its own app leaves certain clues about possible offline Gemini functions in the future. In Xataka | Having an AI on my phone that works without an Internet connection is more useful than I thought: this way you can start it

More and more women track and monitor it through mobile apps

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Applications to record daily steps, glasses of water we have drunk, books read, movies watched, progress in the language we are learning… Measuring and quantifying different aspects of our lives has gone beyond the workplace – where tasks, calls or overtime are recorded – to extend to the field of sport, culture or leisure. Technology today allows us to record activities, habits and daily changes that not so long ago were outside of any measurement. This logic has also been extended to the field of health, and especially women’s health. Applications to follow the menstrual cycle They are already common tools: some of the best known, such as Flo or Clue, exceed 100 and 50 million downloads, respectively. And that trend is not limited to women of reproductive age. In recent years, applications designed specifically for perimenopause and menopause have also begun to proliferate, a stage traditionally much less visible. Kala Health, My Menopause either Balance are some examples of this new niche – although many apps focused on the menstrual cycle also incorporate functions to detect hormonal changes or accompany the transition to menopause. From taboo topic to public conversation The menopause –biological event characterized by the permanent cessation of menstruation and the end of the reproductive period as a result of the loss of ovarian follicular activity– and perimenopause –transition stage before menopause– have historically been described by professionals as invisible periods in a woman’s life. There are research that delve into how “the stigma and taboos” surrounding these stages “foster a culture of silence and a marked lack of support.” However, professionals such as Juan José Escribano Tórtola, head of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Service of the Severo Ochoa University Hospitalcelebrate the move from “absolute ostracism” – even among health professionals – a few years ago to “greater information about these periods of women’s lives.” He comments: “More and more women come to our consultations to find out about possible treatments and/or measures related to their health at this stage, and more and more professionals are concerned about finding complete solutions (…) to improve the quality of life of our patients.” (Pexels) Although media coverage continues to be scarce, according to Irene Mira, a journalist specialized in women’s health, social networks, specialized associations – such as Spanish Association for the Study of Menopause (AEEM)— and other dissemination channels – such as books, podcasts, websites or blogs – are facilitating the dissemination of information about menopause and perimenopause. And it is precisely in this increase in visibility (and greater predisposition of women to inform yourself) where the rise of applications that allow tracking these stages is framed. In fact, Dr. Pilar Valenzuela Mazo, a gynecologist specializing in menopause at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile and creator and host of the podcast Menopause for everyonesees a clear trend in her patients: “More and more women come to the consultation using applications, either to record symptoms or to learn about menopause.” This is how menopause apps work Although each platform has its own focus, most apps focused on menopause and perimenopause share the same promise: helping users understand what is happening to them in this new stage of their lives. These tools usually combine several layers. The first is the symptom log: hot flashes, insomnia, menstrual irregularities, mood changes, vaginal dryness, changes in libido, pain, energy or sleep problems are some of the parameters that allow writing down to detect patterns. Added to this is a second, also common function: explanatory health content. Many include articles, guides or “encyclopedias” on menopause and perimenopause, with information on symptoms, treatments, healthy habits or sexual health. In addition to this offer, some applications include digital accompaniment. It is the case of Kala Healthone of the few tools available completely in Spanish. Talia Leibovitz, CEO of Kala Health, highlights the “community of support among women” and “the possibility of accessing professionals from different areas, such as gynecology, nutrition or mental health.” Explain to Xataka that the intention is to “offer reliable information, monitoring tools and professional support in one place” for a phase that can last years and affect both physical and mental health. Although these are applications with a very specific audience, some of these applications are beginning to show that there is real interest. In the English-speaking market, tools like Balance already have more than 100,000 downloads, while in Spanish the development is much more incipient: applications like Mi Menopause or Kala Health currently have around 10,000 and 3,000 downloads respectively. They can be useful (but not a substitute) For medical professionals and those in the technology sector, the main value of these applications is found in their ability to organize an experience that is often experienced as chaotic. In perimenopause, for example, symptoms can appear intermittently and be confused with stress, insomnia, anxiety or specific changes in the cycle. Recording them can help detect patterns and better understand what is happening in the face of a medical consultation. That’s where doctors and developers agree: digital tracking can be useful if it works as a support tool. The gynecologist specializing in menopause Valenzuela Mazo explains that keeping a record of symptoms helps women come to the consultation with the information “more organized” and, when the data is consistent, it can help the professional better understand the evolution of the condition. (Unsplash) Along the same lines, the head of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Service Escribano Tórtola maintains that this type of monitoring can be “very useful” for doctors and that, in fact, it is already being implemented in many specialized units. The usefulness, furthermore, is not only clinical. In a field marked by the historical deficit of research in women’s health, the data collected by these applications is also beginning to have scientific value. Some are already being used as a basis for studies on quality of life during menopauseas occurs with research supported by the information collected by My Menopause, the app developed by the AEEM. And furthermore, beyond clinical … Read more

There was no mobile coverage inside.

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Sometimes, luxury objects are witnesses and even protagonists of great stories around them. There are many examples of jewelry or works of art that have experienced more adventures, thefts or historical events than many real people. Luxury yachts too They are a good example. The superyacht Dubaibefore becoming the floating whim of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, Emir of Dubai, also accumulated more adventures before even sailing than many ships in their entire useful life: a disgraced prince, an embargo, two countries and a construction that lasted almost a decade. Despite all that odyssey, the most surreal chapter would come right at the end, when the ship was already finished and almost ready to deliver. What starts badly… The history of Dubai began in the 90s, when Prince Jefri Bolkiah, the controversial brother of the sultan of Bruneicommissioned the construction of a megayacht from the German shipyard Blohm+Voss (today a subsidiary of Luerssen Yachts), with exterior design by the British studio Winch Design. The project got off to a strong start, but its construction came to a screeching halt when the prince entered in conflict with his family when it was discovered that he was squandering billions of dollars. Its assets were confiscated, and the yacht, with the steel hull and part of the aluminum superstructure already built but unfinished, ended up in the hands of the managers charged with trying to recover part of the fortune that Bolkiah had defrauded. Such how they counted in Boat Internationalthe yacht, half built, went up for auction and ended up being acquired by the government of Dubaibut the path there was not direct. Before arriving in the Arab Emirates, the project went through some shipyards in Türkiyewhere they tried to continue with its construction. However, the project was not progressing at the planned pace and the cost overruns did not stop growing. Therefore, the Dubai authorities decided to move its construction to the Emirates, where Platinum Yachts, a subsidiary company of Dubai WorldI would finish it. The yacht (well, its shell) had been lurching around half-built for years, but its adventure would still have a long way to go. The problem is that, despite what its name may indicate, Platinum Yachts was not exactly a company with a tradition in shipbuilding. The team that took the reins of the emirate’s most ambitious project actually did not know how to build boats. Even less one of super luxury like the one that should have been the Dubai. According to counted the company’s CEO, Kostis Antonopoulos, that forced them to do accelerated and on-the-go learning. So that the workers themselves understood what they were building, Antonopoulos took them to the Monaco Yacht Showone of the most prestigious nautical fairs in the world. “It was a great experience for them and a quantum leap in their knowledge and understanding,” he explained. At its busiest time, the construction of the Emir of Dubai’s yacht mobilized nearly 800 direct workers, in addition to subcontractors. The Burj Al Arab, but let it sail Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum’s brief for the interior design team left no room to skimp on luxuries: he wanted “a Burj Al Arab floating”. Just weeks before the official handover, the Emir of Dubai came on board for an in-person inspection. At some point during that visit, he went down to the lower decks and tried to make a call with his cell phone. However, as happens inside many buildings, as meters of steel were interposed with the exterior, the losing mobile coverage. For someone used to everything working the first time, this was unacceptable and had to be resolved immediately. His proposal was not going to please those in charge of the project: all the ceilings that had just been completed, with their impeccable luxury finishes, had to be dismantled again to install signal amplifiers and their wiring throughout the boat to guarantee the maximum mobile coverage in every corner of the yacht. Thus, the yacht valued at around 500 million dollars, built for almost ten years and with a story worthy of a novel, had to wait a little longer to be delivered because its future owner I didn’t have mobile coverage in the living room.. This is luxury when it doesn’t admit half measures. According to the expertsthe interior of the Dubai It can accommodate 48 guests and a crew of 88, with a master suite, five VIP suites and six staterooms with balconies, plus a 21.3 meter wide atrium, cinema, nightclub, gym, spa and helipad with the capacity for a Blackhawk helicopter to land on it. When the ship was delivered in 2006 and became the largest and most luxurious yacht in the world at that time, thanks to its 162 meters in length and a weight of 12,488 tons. In Xataka | Sleeping in the most luxurious room in the world comes at a price. Specifically $100,000 and a flight to Dubai Image | Wikimedia Commons (Ukrainian Government, Imre Solt, trolvag), Charterworld

In the middle of 2026, a childhood without mobile phones sounds impossible. A town in Ireland is doing it

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Greystones is a small town on the coast of Ireland, more specifically in County Wicklow. 22,000 inhabitants, semi-detached houses, coastal landscapes, a railway network which allows you to reach Dublin in just over half an hour… A priori, it is the perfect town to enjoy a peaceful life just a stone’s throw from the bustling Irish capital, where companies such as Google or Apple. However, in recent years the town has been in the news for another, very different reason: his crusade against the use of smartphones among the children. His case shows that it is still possible to live a cell phone-free childhood. What has happened? That the small town of Greystones (Ireland) has strived to teach the world a lesson: to show that in 2026 it is possible to keep children away from mobile phones, Instagram, TikTok and the rest of social networks. We just need to join forces to change the sign of social pressure. The initiative is actually not new. Greystones launched their crusade in 2023when it already aroused the curiosity of the rest of the world. However, the unknown remained as to how the experience would turn out. Now we already know. Where does the idea come from? The debate around what age Children should start using mobile phones or social networks and the influence that these have on them is not new. It’s not a concern unique to Greystones, either. There however it happened something interesting during the pandemic. When students returned to classrooms after lockdown, Rachael Harper, headteacher at St Patrick’s School, found that some children were having trouble sleeping or struggling to concentrate. She wasn’t the only one to notice. Other colleagues confirmed that they perceived similar attitudes among their primary school students. What caused them? It didn’t take long for teachers to focus on the use of cell phones. They even encountered children who controlled their calories with apps. Eoghan Cleary, a teacher at another Greystones school, also found that his students admitted seeing violent content on the Internet. The sum of all these factors led several primary schools to send a survey to around 800 parents When asked about the topic: more than half acknowledged that they noticed their children were anxious. In some cases they had even sought professional help. It was enough for the city to decide to make a move. What exactly did he do? We mentioned it before: join forces. Eight primary schools in the Greystones and Delgany area came together to launch an initiative they named ‘It Takes a Village’ (‘It takes a whole village’). Its main tool was the ‘voluntary code without smartphones’, a community pact that basically encourages residents to prohibit children from using mobile phones during their primary education period. In practice this is equivalent to keeping young people away from networks and smartphones until they turn 12 and enter secondary school. The pact is of course voluntary, free and failing to comply with it does not result in fines, but the idea is that whoever signs it applies it both at school and at home. Were you that worried about the issue? It seems so. “As principal of St. Patricks Elementary School I have observed growing concern among parents and teachers,” Harper admitted in 2023 in a column opinion published in Guardian. “The level of anxiety of children in schools has grown steadily, since easy access to online and mobile content has become a threat to childhood. We felt the need to act. The process started with a realization: childhood is becoming increasingly shorter.” Has it worked? That was three years ago. Now we finally know how the initiative is working. Recently The New York Times dedicated an extensive report in which, among other issues, it confirms that the campaign has had a more than reasonable reception. They have supported her 70% of parents and above all it has penetrated the town, moving to businesses and politicians. He has even made his mark beyond Wicklow. Shortly after it was launched ‘Smartphone Free Chilhood’a citizen movement that advocates delaying children’s access to smartphones at least up to 14 years. How has he achieved it? In 2023, Harper herself insisted in that, if it really wanted to work, the initiative had to go beyond the classrooms. “It’s not about enforcing a code. It’s about building a strong network of services that helps children, families and teachers deal with anxiety-related challenges.” The report of The New York Times suggests that goal is also being achieved at Greystones. Beyond what parents do at home, the campaign is completed with training workshops and events such as phone-free beach parties. Even with the commitment of local businesses. For example, one store has offered to help children who need to locate their parents. Is it so important? Yes. And for a simple reason. The very name of the initiative (‘It takes a whole village’) makes it clear that, to succeed, the campaign must play with collective pressure. And it seems that he is achieving it. “In networks everything is collective. Addressing it jointly is the best option,” recognize Jennifer Whitmore, member of the Irish parliament and mother in Greystones. In other words: delaying a child’s access to mobile phones and social platforms is very easy when they are surrounded by other kids of the same age who also do not use them. “What Greystones demonstrates is that parents and communities are not powerless,” agree Clearly. Is it that dangerous? Harper insist in that the initiative is not based on “anti-technology stances” nor does it want to deny children the use of smartphones. The key lies rather in rethinking the times and what it means to have a mobile phone. “Our goal is to ensure that they are adequately prepared and emotionally capable to take on the responsibility that comes with having a smartphone when accessing secondary education”, claims before citing a UNESCO report that suggests it can take up to 20 minutes for a child to concentrate … Read more

What you can do with MiDNI and what things you cannot do with the Electronic DNI app on your mobile

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Let’s tell you what you can do and what you can’t do with the Electronic DNI on the mobile. As of April 2, 2026, the application of MyDNI It is mandatory acceptance. This means that It will have the same value as the physical DNI to identify you. In this way, if we have left our ID at home we will continue to be able to identify ourselves and prove our identity in person from our mobile phone. However, There are some things you can’t do with this system, and we are going to tell you them along with those that you can do. What you can do and what you can’t What is the ID used for on the mobile? why the ID is not useful on the mobile Prove our identity in person when there is an internet connection. Prove identity in person when there is no internet connection. Establish any type of legal relationship in person. Prove our identity through the internet. Sign deeds before a notary in person. Use it for border crossing as an electronic travel document. Prove our identity in face-to-face procedures in the public administration. Prove our identity in other countries, with or without an internet connection. Carry out in-person administrative procedures in public or private Universities and Teaching Centers. Carry out telematic procedures that require authentication and/or electronic signature. Prove our majority in person. Exercise our right to vote. Open a bank account in person. Formalize insurance of any type in person. Check into a hotel in person. Rent a vehicle in person. Buy tickets or nominative tickets in person that require identification. In-person commercial transactions in which they ask us for a valid DNI or to prove our identity. Carry out access control to buildings in person. Access entertainment venues such as cinemas, theaters or concerts. Parcel collection. Withdrawal of medications from pharmacies. As you can see in our table, the first thing to keep in mind is that to use the MiDNI app you will need an internet connection. It is an essential requirement, because if you do not have the connection you simply will not be able to access the DNI and you will not be able to show it. For the rest, the electronic DNI on the mobile phone basically serves to prove your identity in all face-to-face procedures. The idea is that teaching it is the same as showing the physical DNIwhich has exactly the same usefulness, and all establishments are obliged to accept it. There is one exception, and that is you cannot use MiDNI to vote. The idea is that it would be valid to prove our identity when voting in elections, but this implementation has been canceled for the moment. Come on, it’s still too early to know if it is 100% effective in identifying us, and to avoid problems, being able to use it to vote has been postponed. Otherwise, You cannot use it in online procedures either.for this you already have other methods like your digital certificateincluding the FNMT certificate and that of DNIe. You can’t use it in other countries either.neither to identify you within them nor to do so at border controls. The MiDNI app is a standard for Spain, but it is not valid outside our borders. In Xataka Basics | MiDNI and My DNI: why is there another app that is called like the official one and what are the differences

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