SSPAI

Category: e-book

  • Editor’s Picks: The Best New Apps to Try

    Editor’s Picks: The Best New Apps to Try

    Cubox: A Brand-New Desktop Web Version

    • Platform: Web
    • Keywords: Read It Later, AI Assistance

    @ElijahLee: The read-it-later and knowledge management app Cubox has launched a brand-new desktop Web version, featuring an all-new visual design, multiple layout options, a powerful detail control panel, and support for AI-assisted reading.

    First, the desktop Web version adopts a multi-column layout that follows common productivity software conventions. From left to right, the interface is divided into article categories, article cards, the reading area, and an information panel on the far right. The article cards themselves also offer multiple layout styles: the default single-column, dual-pane layout combining cards and reading; and a multi-column grid that lays out all articles as cards on the screen, requiring a click to enter reading mode—ideal for users who primarily filter content by titles.

    In the upper-left corner of the reading area, an expand button allows you to collapse all functional panels and retain only the reader, enabling a full-screen immersive reading mode. In this state, using Command + arrow keys lets you quickly switch between the previous and next articles without returning to the multi-column layout, preserving the continuity of the immersive experience.

    Cubox also integrates AI-assisted reading. By opening the right-side information panel, users can access AI-generated quick interpretations of articles, key questions, and rapid highlights. The Q&A feature enables AI-based conversational queries, allowing users to type questions or topics related to the article and quickly receive answers. The app also provides a wide range of preset prompts, such as generating a brief summary, extracting key arguments, or writing a short shareable blurb.

    On the far right of the information panel is a detailed control panel that allows full customization of an article’s metadata, including the title, description, category assignment, and added headings. When you come across an interesting article, you can edit and organize it here at any time—adding it to favorites or assigning category tags to quickly save important materials for future reference or review.

    Batch editing is another standout feature of the desktop Web version. When you move the cursor to the checkbox in the upper-right corner of an article card, the selection box automatically enlarges. Clicking it enters batch selection mode, allowing you to quickly select multiple articles and edit their information, add tags, or apply star ratings from the right panel. In the multi-column grid layout, batch editing becomes even more efficient: all actions are arranged at the top, and you can complete operations by dragging multiple items to the target function, making the workflow extremely efficient.

    For features that users have frequently requested, the desktop Web version also introduces several improvements. These include: text items in the Inbox being marked as unread by default and disappearing automatically once reading is completed; annotation lists supporting both single-column and multi-column views, as well as batch operations. The search function retains both quick search and detailed search modes—the former for fast content location, and the latter for browsing or managing groups of items in bulk.

    Overall, Cubox’s desktop Web version is optimized for web performance, supporting immersive reading, batch organization, detailed annotations, AI assistance, and real-time syncing, while setting aside some non-core features. It is well suited for high-density long-form reading scenarios, as well as for systematic organization and repeated reference later on. You can access it via the official website.

    Cubox Pro is available for purchase on SSPAI, and the app supports iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Android, Windows, and more.

    Updatest: One-Stop Management, Updating, and Migration for Mac Apps

    • Platform: macOS
    • Keywords: App Updates

    @Vanilla: As Apple continues to tighten permission controls in macOS, more and more developers are choosing to distribute their apps outside the Mac App Store in order to offer more powerful features. At the same time, a large number of independent developers prefer not to pay the “Apple tax,” opting instead to distribute open-source apps through platforms like GitHub.

    As a result, I’ve found that the sources of apps installed on my Mac have become increasingly fragmented—ranging from the App Store and official websites to GitHub and Homebrew. Unless an app pops up an in-app update notification, I rarely think about proactively updating these apps scattered across so many channels.

    This is where Updatest comes in. It neatly solves this problem by automatically scanning all apps on your Mac and displaying real-time update information. With the exception of apps downloaded from the App Store, most updates can be completed in Updatest with a single click. Beyond that, Updatest also offers a complete solution for migrating apps between distribution channels, along with a range of other practical features.

    After being granted the system “App Management” permission, Updatest can scan all installed applications and CLI dependencies on your Mac. In the INSTALLED section, you can view a complete list of installed apps under the Apps tab. The app list also shows version information for apps with available updates, and clicking the Update button allows you to update them directly. Clicking on any app takes you to its detail page, where you can update it, migrate it, add a source, or skip/ignore updates.

    On the detail page, Updatest also displays the app’s release notes, update sources, app information, permission requests, and security details—much like an app page in the App Store.

    Under the Adoptable tab, you can see apps that are suitable for migration to Homebrew for unified management. Updatest intelligently matches these apps with their corresponding Homebrew cask names, saving you from manual searching or guesswork. Before migrating, you simply need to ensure the app is updated to the latest version, select your preferred version under Cask Options, and then click Adopt to complete the one-click migration. Once migrated, apps installed from other sources can be managed and updated through Homebrew going forward. All app data is preserved during the process, so there’s no need to start from scratch.

    In the CLI tab, you can view all dependency packages installed on the machine. If you do development work on this Mac, or use services that rely heavily on CLI tools, it’s easy to accumulate a large number of dependencies. Through Updatest’s interface, you can inspect each dependency’s details and relationships, and perform actions such as refreshing, ignoring, or uninstalling them.

    The UPDATES and SOURCES sections are essentially extensions of the INSTALLED section. The former filters out apps and Homebrew formulae that currently have updates available, while the latter categorizes all apps by source—including App Store, Homebrew, Sparkle, Metadata, Electron, GitHub, and Manual—making it easy to quickly review and manage them in batches.

    Updatest can be downloaded for free from the official website, or installed via Homebrew:

    brew tap updatest/tap https://github.com/updatest/tap.git && brew install –cask updatest

    After the initial installation, Updatest offers a 14-day free trial. Once the trial expires, a one-time license purchase is required: a personal license costs $12.99 and supports up to three Macs; a family license costs $24.99 and supports up to ten Macs; enterprise licenses require contacting the developer directly for pricing.

    Repo Store: A GitHub-Style Google Play

    • Platform: Android
    • Keywords: App Store

    @大大大K: Not long ago, we introduced GitHub Store, an “app store” that aggregates open-source app projects published on GitHub, making them easier for users to discover and install, while also helping developers promote their work. The app we’re introducing today—Repo Store—is a similar project, but with more effort put into its UI.

    At first glance, Repo Store looks exactly like an old version of Google Play. The UI structure of the “Apps” tab in particular—the search bar, category tabs, and bottom navigation bar—feels almost like a 1:1 recreation of the previous-generation Google Play design. The layout of the content area is also strikingly similar.

    That said, as a new product, its content is still relatively sparse, and there are no custom banner images. But this doesn’t mean Repo Store is just a pretty shell with no substance. Even without an “editor’s picks” section, you can still use the search function to find any project on GitHub that has a release. Just like GitHub itself, Repo Store lets you view the content of a project’s homepage. With a README.md serving as a built-in introduction, who understands an app better than its own developer?

    If you plan to use Repo Store as your primary tool for discovering open-source apps, it’s recommended to authorize GitHub access in the settings to avoid hitting API rate limits. Repo Store also supports GitHub mirror proxies—simply enable the proxy option in the download settings and enter the address.

    If you compare Repo Store with GitHub Store, the latter does feel more “down to earth,” as it directly pulls curated project lists and saves users the trouble of manually browsing recommendations. Repo Store, on the other hand, seems to have ambitions to grow bigger and stronger—given time, it might truly become a “GitPlay Store.” If this app store interests you, you can download it for free from GitHub or IzzyOnDroid, and users of the Obtainium manager can add it directly as well.

    BooxReader: A Local E-Book Reader App by Boox

    • Platform: Android
    • Keywords: E-reader

    Taking advantage of the tail end of the recent Double 11 sales, I bought a Boox Leaf 5 and started a very pleasant reading journey. After importing a few books into the device, I was pleasantly surprised by how good Boox’s built-in local reader felt, and ended up alternating between it and WeChat Reading. Recently, I learned that Onyx Boox has also developed a local e-book reader app for Android, so I decided to download it and give it a try—mainly to see whether it can deliver a good reading experience even without buying a Boox e-ink device.

    At the moment, BooxReader can be downloaded from the Play Store and various Chinese app marketplaces, though there is no obvious promotion on Boox’s official website. After installation, books can be added to the bookshelf either from within the app or by sharing them from other apps. In-app book importing supports automatic scanning, manual selection of local files, and even Wi-Fi transfer. The Wi-Fi transfer feature makes it easy to share books from other devices over the network, offering both browser-based transfer and QR-code transfer options, which work well whether you’re using a computer or another mobile device.

    For books on the bookshelf, you can choose between a list view and a cover view. You can also create book collections to better manage different categories. Tapping into a book’s detail page shows information such as reading progress, number of notes, and total reading time.

    When you enter the reading interface, the app’s onboarding is very minimal, covering only basic page-turning gestures and settings. Tapping the center of the screen brings up the settings panel. BooxReader includes four built-in reading themes—Default, Vintage, Focus, and Relax—each with its own preset font size and line spacing. You can select a theme and then further customize it. The customization options are quite rich and are almost identical to those found on Boox’s e-ink readers.

    Font selection, which has a significant impact on the reading experience, is another strong point. BooxReader comes with 18 built-in fonts, including six Chinese fonts such as Jinghua Old Song, Hanchan Regular Script, and Zhuque FangSong, all of which are also available on Boox devices. Some additional supplementary fonts are included as well. If these still don’t meet your needs, there is also a font import option, although at present it doesn’t seem possible to directly import fonts already downloaded locally.

    Beyond appearance, BooxReader offers a wide range of settings related to reading habits, allowing you to fine-tune the experience until it feels just right. Outside of reading, BooxReader also includes a text-to-speech feature. It supports multiple languages and offers different voices for each. When your hands or eyes are occupied, listening to a book can be a good alternative—provided you’re willing to spend a bit of time getting used to the machine’s flat, emotionless delivery.

    If you’re interested in BooxReader, you can download it from the Play Store or your phone’s built-in app marketplace and give it a try. The app is currently completely free to use.

    LiveGrab: Make Your Own Live Photos

    • Platform: iOS
    • Keywords: Live Photos

    @化学心情下2: Recently I came across a small utility app called LiveGrab. Its core features are extracting high-resolution still images from videos, and turning video clips into Live Photos.

    The app’s functionality is split into two parts: extracting HD photos and creating Live Photos. Extracting HD photos essentially means capturing specific frames from a video. You can choose the default preview album view, or tap the “Frame View” at the bottom to select frames. Personally, I prefer the frame view—it feels more like picking shots from a strip of photographic film.

    Once you’ve chosen a frame you like, simply tap Export in the bottom-right corner to share the extracted frame. You can save it to the system photo library, or send it to other devices or third-party apps for further editing.

    Creating a Live Photo works much like selecting a clip from a video. After choosing a video from your photo library, you can select a segment in the slicing window at the bottom. You can also drag the ends of the clip selection to adjust the range and duration. In the editing area above, you can control options such as whether to keep the audio and whether the clip should loop.

    You can download LiveGrab from the App Store.

    Desktop Composer: One-Click macOS Appearance Switching

    • Platform: macOS
    • Keywords: Desktop Themes

    @Snow: Desktop Composer is a theme-switching app for macOS. Unlike most similar apps that only change wallpapers and toggle light/dark mode, Desktop Composer lets you preset a wide range of appearance options within a theme—including wallpapers, system appearance, liquid glass effects, accent colors, icon styles, folder colors, and more. It even supports personalized theme color management for third-party apps such as Alfred and Bear.

    Desktop Composer divides its configuration into four columns. The first column is dedicated to wallpaper management. The app includes 23 built-in wallpapers across three categories—color blocks, solid colors, and gradients. You can also import custom wallpapers in advance based on these categories, making them easy to call up later when configuring themes.

    The second column focuses on system appearance adjustments. It covers most options found under “System Settings → Appearance,” including system appearance, liquid glass effects, accent colors, icon and widget styles, and folder colors. In this section, Desktop Composer also provides the Stage Manager toggle from “System Settings → Desktop & Dock,” along with various Dock-related settings. You can also choose whether to automatically hide the menu bar.

    The last two columns primarily serve third-party apps. Desktop Composer currently supports 10 apps, including Alfred, Bear, and Obsidian. If these apps are installed on your macOS system, you can customize their color schemes for the current theme under the Apps or Tools sections.

    Desktop Composer comes with nine built-in theme presets, and you can click the “+” button in the left sidebar to add new themes. After selecting a theme, simply click the activate button in the top-right corner of the configuration page to apply it instantly. The app also offers a menu bar shortcut: click the menu bar icon and select the desired theme from the pop-up window. If your daily work or study routine follows a relatively fixed schedule, you can set up timed automation in the app’s settings to switch themes automatically based on the time of day—useful both for adapting to different workflows and for avoiding being blinded by a light theme late at night.

    Desktop Composer is currently priced at $19.99 on the official website and offers a 30-day free trial. Since changing appearances is not a frequent need for most users and the app’s price is relatively high, it’s recommended to try it out first before deciding whether to purchase. Desktop Composer is also available on Setapp—if you’re already a Setapp subscriber, you can use it at no additional cost.

    App Brief

    ByteDance has released a new version of its video generation model, Seedance 2.0.

    After deepening AI integration, Windows 11 has faced considerable user skepticism. Recent reports suggest that Microsoft may scale back some AI feature expansion plans and refocus on improving the core user experience. Source

    Apple announced in a U.S. press release that the Xcode 26.3 update will introduce coding agents from OpenAI and Anthropic, enabling AI to directly manipulate code and execute tasks within Xcode.

  • What Editors Are Buying: New Stuff Vol. 235

    What Editors Are Buying: New Stuff Vol. 235

    @ph: Kindle Paperwhite 6

    • Reference price: ¥1,300

    The last time I used a Kindle was more than a decade ago—the Paperwhite 2 and the Voyage. Back then, e-ink displays were still a niche market, and Kindle was almost the only option with a reasonably complete user experience in China. Everyone knows what happened later: domestic brands increasingly took over Kindle’s market share, and Kindle officially exited the Chinese market in 2022. Since then, most of my e-ink devices have been from domestic brands.

    To be fair, I welcome the competition driven by local manufacturers. Today, more new e-ink products are released in a single quarter than used to appear in an entire year, and value for money has continued to improve. On the other hand, after using more than ten different domestic e-ink devices, I’ve become quite certain that the currently promoted color screens and Android systems are not what I want.

    When it comes to color displays, the mainstream Kaleido panel structure today (a black-and-white e-ink layer overlaid with a three-color filter) inherently limits clarity and transparency. I don’t read comics, so for text reading, Kaleido brings more drawbacks than benefits. As for Android, while it looks open and versatile on the surface, the hardware constraints and screen characteristics of e-ink devices mean that, for reading, it can’t match a dedicated system, and for functionality, it can’t compete with a regular tablet. Add to that the general lack of system optimization and long-term maintenance commitments among domestic e-ink brands, and the result is devices that are neither worry-free nor long-lasting.

    So when I recently found myself needing to read more e-books (background explained later) and started reconsidering an e-ink device, the now sixth-generation Kindle Paperwhite once again became my top choice.

    Since it has been out for over a year, the Paperwhite 6 now has stable availability and pricing in China. The 32GB version is easy to find online for under ¥1,300. (Of course, a trip to Sham Shui Po could be even cheaper—but once you factor in transport and meals, it evens out.) I bought the green Signature Edition. The back cover is plastic with a slight metallic sheen—not as prone to fingerprints as the soft-touch finish on the standard version, but the overall feel is still fairly ordinary. It’s definitely no match for the metal builds that have become common on domestic devices, so don’t expect too much.

    Of course, the main reasons to buy a Kindle are its screen and its services. While there are only a handful of commonly used e-ink panels, the actual experience depends heavily on optimization (refresh strategies, dithering algorithms, and so on), and results can vary widely between manufacturers. Among domestic devices, very few reach Kindle’s level. The Paperwhite 6 proves this once again—it’s clearer and more comfortable than any domestic device I’ve seen using the same Carta 1300 panel.

    On the services side, even if you ignore the Kindle Store, which isn’t particularly relevant for Chinese readers anymore, the convenience of the official Send to Kindle service and the breadth of third-party support still make Kindle highly competitive. Almost any service related to reading offers some form of Kindle integration. For example, the Readwise I use can send saved content directly to Kindle and also import highlights from Kindle.

    Kindle’s feature updates have always been fairly laid-back. Even after years of not using one, the core functions and interactions felt familiar, and I was able to pick it up again quickly. Over time, though, the native system has accumulated a number of genuinely useful features. Compared with the past, it’s now much easier to load external fonts, adjust line spacing and margins, and save layout settings as themes. Improvements like page preview interactions and long-press link previews also make skimming more efficient. Since 2022, Send to Kindle has supported direct EPUB uploads as well. So even though my firmware version is technically jailbreakable, I now just read EPUBs on the stock system, switching to KOReader (installed after jailbreaking) only when reading PDFs, for its more advanced cropping and contrast enhancement.

    (There have been regressions too—most notably, the device no longer appears as a mass storage disk when connected to a computer, making file transfers more cumbersome. But there’s no need to install Amazon’s Send to Kindle tool either; any tool that supports the MTP protocol will do, such as the open-source OpenMTP.)

    Finally, a word on e-book sources. As mentioned earlier, I’ve had a growing need for e-book reading recently, partly because I’ve found two relatively reliable ways to acquire books.

    The first is the Kobo online store. Because Kobo has a strong presence in Hong Kong and Taiwan, its catalog of traditional Chinese titles (including traditional Chinese translations of English books) is extensive and updated quickly—second only to purely Chinese platforms like Books.com.tw or Eslite. Pricing for traditional Chinese editions is also significantly lower than for English versions. And because Kobo uses the widely adopted Adobe Digital Editions DRM, it remains one of the few e-book retailers whose DRM is relatively easy to remove. All you need to do is (1) choose “Download” after purchase; (2) import the file into the ADE client and right-click to select “Show File in Finder”; then (3) import the encrypted file into Calibre with the ACSM plugin installed. You’ll then get an unprotected EPUB that can be sent directly to Kindle.

    The second option is mail-in scanning services. One side effect of Kindle’s exit from the Chinese market is that domestic titles are far less likely to be released simultaneously in e-book form. So recently, I’ve often used printing shops on Taobao that offer mail-in scanning services (there are many; no specific recommendations). I simply ship the physical book directly to the shop, and in most cases receive the scanned version the same day it arrives. For a typical 300-page book, the cost is around a dozen yuan, which is acceptable. From there, I compress the files and create an OCR version using methods I’ve described elsewhere. Note that this service involves cutting the book apart for scanning, so it’s probably only suitable for people like me who care solely about obtaining a digital copy. I’m sharing it here simply as an idea.

    Based on recent trends, Kindles typically receive around seven to eight years of software support, so this Paperwhite 6 should be usable until around 2030. (After all, my Paperwhite 2 still powers on and works.) If you’re overwhelmed by the noise of domestic e-ink options and your primary use case is simply reading, a Kindle might be a solid, low-stress, long-term choice.

    @一只索狗：

    iQOO 15 Ultra

    • Manufacturer review unit

    Back in 2019, I bought an iQOO Pro 5G. At the time, its leading-edge 5G connectivity, powerful performance, and the excellent gaming experience enabled by the Monster Touch pressure-sensitive buttons left a deep impression on me.

    I’m happy to see that, years later with the iQOO 15 Ultra, some of those standout traits have carried over. I was also able to get my hands on this new device early and spend some time with it in a brief hands-on.

    Smartphone camera deco designs come in all shapes and forms, but most mid-to-high-end models are constrained by product line positioning and find it hard to differentiate stylistically. The iQOO 15 Ultra is more daring. As a gaming-focused midrange product, it adopts what’s called a “Future Capsule” design—like a spacecraft cabin straight out of the future.

    On the camera module, you’ll definitely notice the shiny light strip. How long has it been since you last saw a notification light on a phone? The iQOO 15 Ultra brings it back. Officially dubbed the “Energy Light Blade,” the lighting effect is minimal and elegant. The system also offers extensive customization options, allowing you to set activation times, brightness, scenarios, and dynamic lighting effects.

    At first, I assumed the openings on the mid-frame were speaker grilles. After taking a closer look, I was surprised to discover that they actually form a complete air intake and exhaust channel together with the area beneath the camera. When I set the fan to its maximum level, the sound was about as loud as a handheld mini fan—brutally powerful, to say the least. According to iQOO, the “Ice Dome Air-Cooling System” features the largest active cooling fan in the industry.

    With such an aggressive cooling setup, paired with the fifth-generation Snapdragon 8 Elite, LPDDR5X Ultra Pro at 10,667 Mbps, and UFS 4.1 storage, every high-end mobile game you can think of delivers peak “gaming productivity.” For example, Honor of Kings supports native 144 FPS at maximum settings right out of the gate, and Delta Force can also run at 144 FPS with ultra graphics.

    The hardware is there, and when it comes to pushing the gaming experience to the extreme, iQOO has also added plenty of thoughtful software touches to make things more comfortable for players. For instance, downloading data packs on game login screens often tests my patience, but on iQOO’s Origin OS, the system automatically suggests running downloads in the background, so you don’t have to worry about the process being killed.

    Within the Game Space, there are dedicated settings for graphics, audio, background running, do-not-disturb mode, mistouch prevention, and other common pain points gamers care about—everything is covered.

    Aside from imaging flagships, many midrange phones have indeed started to feel a bit boring. The iQOO 15 Ultra, however, continues to commit to the path of “ultimate gaming experience,” staying true to its product identity, which is reassuring to see. If you’re looking for a performance-driven gaming phone and also care about build quality and feel, the iQOO 15 Ultra is well worth checking out.

    TRMNL Software License

    Reference price: ¥355

    I previously bought a YUEXINGTONG X4 in an SSPAI livestream (this product was also shared in New Stuff 226). It’s a small device, but quite a charming one—no wonder it’s attracted a lot of attention in overseas tech circles.

    As a result, the Reddit community around YUEXINGTONG (XTEINK) is fairly active as well, with plenty of posts sharing third-party firmware and usage tips. I happened to come across a post mentioning that a company called TRMNL had created firmware for the XTEINK X4, turning this e-ink reader into a small information dashboard—similar in spirit to Quote/0.

    TRMNL’s core business is actually selling physical hardware—essentially a roughly 7-inch e-ink display that can connect to the internet and update via plugins. Since many plugins and new ideas in this category come from DIY makers in the community, TRMNL naturally supports a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) model. If you have the relevant knowledge and experience, you can absolutely build your own hardware and flash it with TRMNL’s firmware.

    Which brings us to the key point: TRMNL’s software license is not cheap. It costs USD 50. Out of curiosity—and for research purposes—I went ahead and bought a license to try it out. I don’t recommend following my example. 🤣

    The flashing process itself is very simple. You just connect the device with a cable and use a web-based tool for one-click flashing. After rebooting, connect the device to Wi-Fi, fill in some authorization details, and my XTEINK X4 instantly became an e-ink information dashboard.

    I’ve always felt that Quote/0 has a small drawback: its screen is a bit too small, which limits how much information it can display. TRMNL plugins support larger-screen devices, allowing for much greater information density and more flexible layouts. There’s a Mash Up mode that lets you combine multiple widgets on one screen. For example, my current setup shows Steam discounts in the top-left, a GTA 6 release countdown in the bottom-left, and the weather on the right.

    According to TRMNL’s website, there are currently around 800 plugins available, covering categories like daily life, calendars, news, travel, education, and finance. That said, since it’s developed primarily for overseas users, support for domestic platforms is basically nonexistent.

    There are also plenty of customization options for how information refreshes and rotates. You can set the rotation interval, or get more granular and specify which days of the week and times certain views are shown. And if you don’t like the Mash Up approach of displaying multiple widgets at once, you can focus on a single view instead. Overall, it’s quite flexible.

    A single TRMNL software license costs about the same as buying three Quote/0 units. So unless you’re like me—driven by curiosity and a desire to tinker—buying it just to use as an information dashboard is really not cost-effective.

    That said, if you rely heavily on overseas services, already happen to own a XTEINK X4, and enjoy doing a bit of programming and DIY on the side, it’s worth studying the official plugins and developer documentation first. Once you’re sure it fits your needs, then you can decide whether it’s worth paying for the license.

    @Lincoln: tomtoc passport holder

    • Reference price: ¥154.16 (including government subsidy)

    I used to never understand why products like passport holders—basically “oversized wallets”—even existed. That changed the year my previous passport and my Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan somehow “disappeared” at home and were never found again. Only then did I truly realize the point of a passport holder.

    In the past, when traveling far, I liked to stuff my wallet, passport, a small power bank, and various tickets into a waist bag. But if, like me, you have a camera hanging on your chest and a backpack on your back, a waist bag quickly becomes inconvenient. First, the camera often blocks the waist bag, so every time you want to grab something, you have to push the camera aside to even see it. Do that often enough and it gets genuinely annoying. Second, there’s the waist bag itself: once it’s packed with too many items, it never feels comfortable around the waist. And whenever you’re rummaging through it, you either have to look down or bend forward—otherwise the backpack pulls you backward, or all the camera’s weight shifts onto your neck. There’s always something that makes the experience unpleasant.

    So I bought a passport holder mainly because it’s an “oversized wallet” you can carry in your hand. When choosing this type of product, though, it’s essential to check whether it supports RFID protection. Many contactless bank cards and transit cards contain RFID chips, allowing payment simply by being near a reader (no direct contact required). If they can be read normally, there’s naturally a risk of unauthorized scanning. If someone with a reader gets close to a wallet without RFID shielding, there’s a chance of theft.

    After some comparison, I found that Bellroy’s Travel Folio has excellent build quality and design, but it lacks a wrist strap and a dedicated slot for an AirTag, and it’s not officially sold by domestic distributors. So I turned to tomtoc instead. While tomtoc’s passport holder doesn’t stand out for its exterior design, the internal layout is still very well thought out and meets all the needs I mentioned above.

    Easy to carry in hand, easy to stow in a bag

    When you need to use it frequently, you can carry the passport holder in your hand; when you don’t, you can hang it inside your bag. On the one hand, the pull strap on the holder provides a secure grip and can also be clipped directly inside a backpack. On the other hand, there’s a hidden slot for an Apple AirTag inside the holder, so you don’t need to attach an AirTag externally. While attaching an AirTag to the outside would still allow tracking, it’s very obvious and easy for a thief to remove. As a side note: if you want to put an AirTag in a camera bag, you can find Velcro-style AirTag accessories on Taobao or 1688—they’re discreet and leave no marks.

    Hidden AirTag slot

    As for the holder’s core functionality, tomtoc has designed space for four passports and four bank cards. Whether you’re traveling or at home, you can keep your (or even your family’s) important documents and cards together. Hopefully, my documents won’t mysteriously vanish again.

    Internal compartments—useful even if you don’t have that many passports (image source: official)

    Tomtoc clearly remembers this is a passport holder, so it includes quick-access pockets both inside and out for boarding passes, booking confirmations, and other loose papers. Whether at the airport or at immigration, you can find what you need by “zone” instead of rummaging through a waist bag like before. The efficiency improvement is very noticeable.

    This tomtoc passport holder also includes a dedicated compartment for banknotes and a mesh pocket for coins. If you don’t feel like bringing a separate wallet, it can easily double as one. And of course, no long passport holder would be complete without a place for a pen and SIM cards—this tomtoc has both. When filling out forms or swapping SIMs, these small details really come in handy.

    SIM card pin and slots look like this (image source: official)
  • SSPAI Morning Brief: OpenAI announces the launch of ChatGPT Health, and More

    SSPAI Morning Brief: OpenAI announces the launch of ChatGPT Health, and More

    Morning Brief

    1. OnePlus unveils the Turbo 6 smartphone series
    2. Aqara releases the U400 smart door lock with UWB support
    3. Lenovo showcases the Legion Pro Rollable concept device
    4. RayNeo presents the X3 Pro Project AR smart glasses with eSIM support
    5. Krono launches a black-and-white e-ink phone–style e-reader
    6. Sony introduces the new Hyperpop series shells and controllers for PS5 Slim
    7. TCL releases the P50 mobile router and BE36 Wi-Fi router
    8. MSI showcases multiple new products
    9. The world’s first ultrasonic kitchen knife, the C200 Ultrasonic, makes its debut
    10. OpenAI announces the launch of ChatGPT Health
    11. Rumors You Can Just Glance At

    OnePlus unveils the Turbo 6 smartphone series

    On January 8, the OnePlus Turbo 6 series was officially released, consisting of two models: the Turbo 6 and the Turbo 6V.

    The OnePlus Turbo 6 adopts a minimalist design language with a strong emphasis on in-hand feel, and is available in silver, black, and teal color options. It is powered by the fourth-generation Snapdragon 8s processor, paired with OnePlus’s self-developed “Fengchi Gaming Kernel.” According to OnePlus, this combination can reduce gaming power consumption by around 8%, lower kernel load by approximately 15.24%, and improve scheduling efficiency by about 35.46%.

    In terms of display, the OnePlus Turbo 6 features a 1.5K-resolution 165Hz screen, supporting three refresh-rate modes at 165Hz, 144Hz, and 120Hz. Select games also support native 165 fps gameplay, including titles such as Call of Duty: Mobile and Honor of Kings. For imaging, the Turbo 6 is equipped with a Sony 50-megapixel main camera with OIS optical image stabilization, ultra-clear Live Photos, portrait algorithms, and AI-powered photo editing features.

    For battery life, the OnePlus Turbo 6 series is fitted with a 9000mAh battery, supporting 80W fast charging and bypass charging technology, as well as up to 27W wired reverse charging. In other areas, the OnePlus Turbo 6 supports IP66 / IP68 / IP69 / IP69K dust and water resistance, runs ColorOS 16, and offers features such as one-tap Flash Notes, AI real-world conversations, Game Fluid Cloud, and a variety of gaming assistance tools. It also supports interoperability with the Apple ecosystem. Pricing for the OnePlus Turbo 6 starts at RMB 2,099, or RMB 1,784.15 after national subsidies.

    OnePlus also introduced the Turbo 6V model alongside it, available in white, blue, and black. It is powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 processor and features a 144Hz eye-care display, while also packing a 9000mAh battery. The Turbo 6V starts at RMB 1,699, or RMB 1,444.15 after national subsidies. Source

    Aqara releases the U400 smart door lock with UWB support

    At CES 2026, Aqara officially unveiled the Smart Lock U400. The product supports ultra-wideband (UWB) technology, enabling hands-free automatic unlocking through high-precision positioning with an iPhone or Apple Watch. When an authorized user approaches the door from outside, the lock can automatically unlock. By combining ToF distance measurement with AoA trajectory detection, the system reduces false triggers and enhances security to guard against relay attacks. In addition to UWB, the lock also supports unlocking via Apple Home Key, passcodes, fingerprints, and physical keys. It supports Matter over Thread and carries an IP65 water-resistance rating. The Smart Lock U400 is currently available in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. Source

    Lenovo showcases the Legion Pro Rollable concept device

    At CES 2026, Lenovo unveiled the Legion Pro Rollable concept gaming laptop. Built on the Legion Pro 7i platform, the device is equipped with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card and a high-end Intel Core Ultra processor. It features a 16-inch OLED display by default, which can be horizontally expanded via a rollable mechanism to 21.5 inches or 24 inches. Lenovo positions it as a premium mobile device for professional esports players, offering three display modes tailored to different sizes: focused training, tactical observation, and competitive play.

    According to Lenovo, the Legion Pro Rollable adopts a dual-motor tension-controlled rollable OLED solution to ensure stability and reliability during screen extension and retraction. The device also demonstrates a range of AI-powered gaming assistance features, including key visual element recognition, information magnification, cursor tracking, AI guidance, and dynamic lighting effects. The product remains in the concept stage, with no official release date or pricing announced. Source

    RayNeo presents the X3 Pro Project AR smart glasses with eSIM support

    At CES 2026, RayNeo officially unveiled the X3 Pro Project eSIM AR smart glasses. The product adopts a binocular full-color optical engine design, which the company says delivers a 3D spatial visual experience equivalent to a 43-inch display. On the hardware side, it is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon AR1 computing platform and features a built-in RayNeo AR application virtual machine, supporting apps such as WeChat, Douyin, and Bilibili.

    The X3 Pro Project eSIM AR smart glasses also integrate an eSIM communication module, allowing users to make calls, engage in real-time AI conversations, perform live translation, and stream online content without needing to connect to a smartphone or Wi-Fi network. Source

    Krono launches a black-and-white e-ink phone–style e-reader

    Dutch company DuRoBo unveiled the Krono monochrome E-Ink reader at CES 2026. The device adopts a smartphone-like form factor and features a built-in AI assistant. Krono is available in black and white color options, with dimensions of 154 × 80 × 9 mm and a weight of 173 grams. On the front, it is equipped with a 6.13-inch Carta 1200 monochrome E-Ink display, with a resolution of 824 × 1648, a pixel density of 300 PPI, and adjustable dual-tone front lighting.

    On the left side of the body, Krono includes a “smart dial” that allows users to turn pages and adjust settings through rotation or pressing. In terms of hardware, the device features built-in speakers and Bluetooth connectivity, an unspecified octa-core processor, 6 GB of RAM, and 128 GB of storage. It runs Android 15 out of the box and integrates the Libby AI assistant. The Krono is priced at €239.99. Source

    Sony introduces the new Hyperpop series shells and controllers for PS5 Slim

    Sony PlayStation unveiled a new color lineup, The Hyperpop Collection, on January 8, introducing three high-saturation color options for the DualSense controller and PS5 console covers. The collection includes Techno Red, Remix Green, and Rhythm Blue, with an overall aesthetic clearly leaning toward an RGB-inspired visual style.

    The collection will go on sale on March 12, with pre-orders opening on January 16. Sales channels include PlayStation Direct and selected partner retailers, depending on regional availability. The Hyperpop DualSense controller has a suggested retail price of USD 84.99. The Hyperpop-series PS5 console covers will be available for a limited time in select markets, with a suggested retail price of USD 74.99. It is worth noting that these covers are compatible only with the PS5 Slim, and do not support the original PS5 or the PS5 Pro. Source

    TCL releases the P50 mobile router and BE36 Wi-Fi router

    TCL unveiled two new networking products at CES 2026—the TCL 5G Mobile Wi-Fi P50 and the TCL Wi-Fi Router BE36—covering a wide range of scenarios from outdoor travel to home networking.

    The TCL 5G Mobile Wi-Fi P50 is designed for business travel and outdoor use. It supports both mmWave and Sub-6 full-band 5G, with peak download speeds of up to 3.97 Gbps, while Wi-Fi 7 delivers peak speeds of up to 5.8 Gbps. The device can connect up to 64 devices simultaneously. It features a built-in 5,000 mAh battery that provides around 12 hours of continuous use and can also function as a power bank to charge smartphones. A 2.4-inch touchscreen displays real-time data usage and network status, and a Gigabit Ethernet port is included for wired connections.

    Aimed at home users, the TCL BE36 router offers dual-band Wi-Fi 7 connectivity with speeds of up to 3.6 Gbps, using a 5 GHz 3T3R configuration to significantly improve signal coverage. It supports EasyMesh R6, making it easy to build a seamless whole-home Mesh network. With support for up to 512 connected devices, it is well suited for smart homes with a large number of IoT devices. On the security side, the router includes anti-malware, anti-tracking, and brute-force attack protection. For gamers, the BE36 integrates game acceleration features that intelligently optimize traffic to reduce latency. In terms of connectivity, it also provides a 2.5 G Ethernet port. Source

    MSI showcases multiple new products

    MSI showcased several new products at CES 2026, including the MPG CoreFrozr AP15 and AP17 dual-tower air coolers, as well as the MPG 272QRF X36 27-inch QHD 360 Hz monitor.

    Among them, the MPG CoreFrozr AP15 features a segmented digital display dubbed “Digi-Display.” The screen is divided into four sections, allowing real-time display of key system information such as CPU temperature, system load, and fan speed. The lower-left corner also integrates a weekly calendar display.

    In terms of performance, the AP15 is optimized for AMD Ryzen X3D series processors. To address heat buildup from high-performance gaming CPUs, it uses a solid copper base paired with six heat pipes. Positioned as a higher-end model, the MPG CoreFrozr AP17 is equipped with a 6-inch LCD screen that, in addition to system monitoring, supports fully customizable content, enabling users to tailor visuals to match their system’s overall aesthetic. For cooling, the AP17 uses a nickel-plated copper base and increases the number of heat pipes to eight to improve thermal conductivity. Both the AP15 and AP17 feature detachable display modules. Source

    Also on display was the MPG 272QRF X36 G-SYNC Pulsar gaming monitor. This model features a 2560 × 1440 resolution Rapid IPS panel with a 360 Hz refresh rate, a 0.5 ms GtG response time, 400 nits of SDR brightness, and 500 nits of HDR brightness, while supporting 10-bit color (8-bit + FRC). The monitor includes a built-in ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts color temperature and brightness.

    The display supports VESA 100 × 100 mm mounting and offers a range of ports, including one DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.1 ports, three USB-A 5 Gbps ports with KVM support, and a 3.5 mm audio jack. It incorporates NVIDIA G-SYNC technology, delivering variable refresh rate support and up to four times effective motion clarity, ensuring precise aiming and clear visuals even in fast-paced games. The monitor is currently available on domestic e-commerce platforms, priced at 4,999 yuan. Source

    The world’s first ultrasonic kitchen knife, the C200 Ultrasonic, makes its debut

    Seattle Ultrasonics unveiled the world’s first ultrasonic kitchen knife, the C200 Ultrasonic, at CES 2026. The core idea behind the product is to use high-frequency micro-vibrations to reduce cutting resistance, allowing the blade to penetrate ingredients more easily while also minimizing food sticking to the knife.

    The operation is straightforward: a button on the handle activates the ultrasonic vibration. Once turned on, the blade shows no visible shaking, but the user can feel a subtle buzzing sensation in the hand, similar to a faint electric current. When cutting high-density or starch-rich ingredients, its performance is noticeably superior to that of a conventional kitchen knife. The product is priced at USD 399. Source

    OpenAI announces the launch of ChatGPT Health

    OpenAI has announced the launch of ChatGPT Health, a dedicated health consultation area within ChatGPT that operates independently from the main chat experience. Users can ask health-related questions in this section and receive reference-oriented interpretations based on their personal data, but the service does not provide medical diagnoses or treatment recommendations.

    In terms of functionality, ChatGPT Health supports integration with multiple health services, including Apple Health, MyFitnessPal, and Peloton. It can read users’ exercise, sleep, and activity data, and can also incorporate medical records to help users understand lab results and prepare for medical appointments—again, without offering specific diagnostic or treatment advice. Regarding privacy and security, OpenAI states that the feature uses multi-layer encryption, runs as a separate space, and that related data is not used for model training by default.

    Currently, ChatGPT Health is available to users in select regions via a waitlist. The medical record integration feature is temporarily limited to the United States, with plans to gradually expand availability to the web and iOS platforms. Source

    Rumors You Can Just Glance At

    • According to a report by Beijing Youth Daily, China’s National Medical Products Administration has recently approved Apple’s “Mobile Pulse Rate Atrial Fibrillation Indication Recording Software” as a Class II imported medical device (registration). The software corresponds to the Atrial Fibrillation History feature on Apple Watch, which analyzes users’ pulse rate data and records potential signs of atrial fibrillation. Apple told Beijing Youth Daily reporters that it is currently advancing follow-up procedures in accordance with relevant regulations and processes, and looks forward to officially making the feature available to users in mainland China in the near future. Source
  • SSPAI Morning Brief: Samsung Unveils Galaxy A17, NVIDIA completes a $5 billion investment in Intel, and More

    SSPAI Morning Brief: Samsung Unveils Galaxy A17, NVIDIA completes a $5 billion investment in Intel, and More

    Morning Brief

    1. The 2026 “National Subsidy” plan is unveiled
    2. Luo Yonghao hosts an annual technology innovation sharing event
    3. 2026 GAC Trumpchi M8 “Xiangwang” officially launched
    4. Xiaomi responds to reports of a loose Leica master zoom ring on the Xiaomi 17 Ultra
    5. Samsung releases the Galaxy A17
    6. TCL Note A1 NXTPAPER announced
    7. NVIDIA completes a $5 billion investment in Intel
    8. Rumors You Can Just Glance At

    The 2026 “National Subsidy” plan is unveiled

    On December 30, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the Ministry of Finance released a notice on the implementation of large-scale equipment upgrades and consumer goods trade-in programs in 2026. The notice includes the following measures:

    • Support for home appliance trade-in programs. Individual consumers who purchase products meeting Level 1 energy efficiency or water efficiency standards in six categories—refrigerators, washing machines, televisions, air conditioners, computers, and water heaters—will receive a subsidy equal to 15% of the product’s sale price. Each consumer may receive a subsidy for one item per category, with a maximum subsidy of 1,500 yuan per item.
    • Support for new purchases of digital and smart products. Individual consumers who purchase products in four categories—smartphones, tablets, smartwatches or fitness bands, and smart glasses—will receive a subsidy equal to 15% of the product’s sale price. Each consumer may receive a subsidy for one item per category, with a maximum subsidy of 500 yuan per item.
    • Support for subsidies on new smart home product purchases. Specific subsidized categories and subsidy standards will be independently and reasonably determined by local governments based on local conditions.

    The 2026 “National Subsidy” plan further optimizes the scope of support. On the basis of continuing overall equipment upgrade policies, it expands to include areas such as adding elevators to old residential communities, elderly care institutions, firefighting and rescue, inspection and testing, and offline commercial consumption facilities. In terms of consumer goods trade-ins, the plan supports vehicle trade-ins, while home appliance trade-ins focus on six categories: refrigerators, washing machines, televisions, air conditioners, computers, and water heaters. It also supports new purchases of digital and smart products, including smartphones, tablets, smartwatches (bands), smart glasses, and smart home products (including age-friendly home products).

    The state has recently allocated in advance the first batch of 62.5 billion yuan in ultra-long-term special treasury bonds for 2026 to local governments, earmarked to support consumer goods trade-in programs and meet peak consumption demand during periods such as New Year’s Day and the Spring Festival. Source

    Luo Yonghao hosts an annual technology innovation sharing event

    On the evening of December 30, Luo Yonghao held the “Luo Yonghao’s Crossroads” Annual Tech Innovation Sharing Conference at the Shanghai West Bund International Convention and Exhibition Center. The event is widely seen as the return of his signature “Tech Spring Festival Gala” after a seven-year hiatus. At the conference, Luo introduced a range of innovative tech products, including the DJI Neo 2, Jike exoskeleton robot, Bambu Lab desktop 3D printer, Yingling panoramic drone, Qingxian ergonomic chair, and Like dishwasher, and also presented awards to outstanding video creators on the Douyin Featured platform. Source

    Image from the news source

    It is also worth noting that Thin Red Line’s app Qie Ting officially debuted at the event. Positioned as “an AI-era audio library for in-depth interpretation and analysis of great books,” Qie Ting is now available for download on major app stores. Source

    2026 GAC Trumpchi M8 “Xiangwang” officially launched

    On December 30, the 2026 GAC Trumpchi Xiangwang M8 was officially launched. A total of three variants are available, with official guide prices ranging from 309,900 to 389,900 yuan.

    The 2026 Xiangwang M8 features the brand’s “Yipin Qilin front fascia” design and comes equipped with electric sliding doors, a floating roof, and hidden B-, C-, and D-pillars. It also offers features such as a 192-line LiDAR, intelligent welcome projection, and more. Inside, the cabin uses soft-touch materials and wood-grain trim, and is fitted with a 12.3-inch dual-screen setup, the ADiGO intelligent system, and the HarmonySpace 5 HarmonyOS cockpit, along with a rear-seat entertainment screen. In terms of comfort, the second row offers five-star SPA dual zero-gravity seats, while the third-row power seats support freely adjustable backrest angles.

    For power, the 2026 Xiangwang M8 is equipped with a 2.0T plug-in hybrid system, delivering a combined maximum output of 300 kW and a combined peak torque of 645 Nm. It offers a CLTC-rated pure electric range of 248 km and a WLTC-rated combined driving range of 1,177 km. Source

    Xiaomi responds to reports of a loose Leica master zoom ring on the Xiaomi 17 Ultra

    On December 30, Xiaomi’s official smartphone Weibo account published “Xiaomi 17 Ultra Series: Answers to Questions from Users,” responding to recent online reports claiming that the “Master Zoom Ring on the Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition is loose.”

    According to the statement, the Master Zoom Ring on the Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition is designed with allowable movement in both the radial and axial directions. This is intended to prevent deformation of the phone’s outer frame in the event of a drop, as well as to avoid jamming caused by dust or liquid ingress. As a result, slight movement may be felt when shaking the Master Zoom Ring, and a faint sound may be heard when tapping it—both are considered normal phenomena. These do not affect the functionality of the Master Zoom Ring, nor do they compromise the device’s dust and water resistance. The statement also addressed topics such as optical zoom focal length selection, the so-called “clicking” sound from the lens, and product availability issues. Source

    Samsung releases the Galaxy A17

    On December 30, Samsung unveiled a new A-series smartphone, the Galaxy A17. It is powered by the Exynos 1330 processor, paired with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, with support for microSD card expansion. The device is rated IP54 for dust and water resistance, and features a 6.7-inch 90Hz FHD display, a 5,000mAh battery, and 25W wired charging. In terms of imaging, it comes with a triple rear camera setup consisting of a 50MP main camera, a 5MP ultra-wide camera, and a 2MP macro camera, along with a 13MP front-facing selfie camera.

    Samsung promises six years of Android OS version updates and security patches for the Galaxy A17. It will be available in blue and black color options, and is set to go on sale first in the United States on January 7, 2026, with a price tag of $199. Source

    TCL Note A1 NXTPAPER announced

    On December 30, TCL unveiled the TCL Note A1 NXTPAPER, an e-reading device based on its NXTPAPER display technology. It features an 11.5-inch NXTPAPER Pure screen using an LCD panel, with a resolution of 2200 × 1440 and a 120Hz refresh rate. The device is equipped with an 8,000mAh battery, 256GB of storage, and support for TCL’s own T-Pen Pro stylus. It also includes eight built-in microphones, as well as a 13MP rear camera dedicated to document scanning.

    Unlike previous NXTPAPER tablets, the TCL Note A1 NXTPAPER is positioned as a note-taking and productivity assistant. It runs the Android operating system and supports AI-powered real-time translation and handwriting beautification. The device is currently live on Kickstarter and is scheduled to officially go on sale by the end of February 2026, priced at $549. Source

    NVIDIA completes a $5 billion investment in Intel

    According to regulatory filings disclosed on December 29, NVIDIA completed a $5 billion investment in Intel on December 26 by acquiring 214.7 million Intel shares through a private placement at a price of $23.28 per share.

    The transaction was first announced in September and is regarded as one of the most significant strategic shifts in the semiconductor industry in 2025. As a result, it drew the attention of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, with the relevant approvals ultimately granted on December 18.

    In addition, under the agreement, Intel will provide NVIDIA with customized x86 CPUs for its AI infrastructure platform, and the two companies will also develop a new type of processor featuring integrated NVIDIA RTX graphics and NVLink technology, with transmission bandwidth reaching up to 1.8 TB per second. Source

    Rumors You Can Just Glance At

    According to a report from Calcalist, NVIDIA is planning to acquire the Israeli AI startup AI21 Labs for between $2 billion and $3 billion. Source

    Well-known leaker @OnLeaks released a hands-on video of a Galaxy S26 Ultra dummy unit. The video shows that, compared with the S25 Ultra, the overall design has not changed much, though the rear camera module has been slightly redesigned and appears to protrude more noticeably.

    Marvel Entertainment’s official YouTube channel has released the second teaser trailer for Avengers: Doomsday. Similar to the previous teaser, this one focuses on Thor and his adopted daughter Love from Thor: Love and Thunder.