The iPhone 14 Pro Max was the fastest smartphone in terms of download speed when it launched last fall, beating out Samsung’s Galaxy S22 series. However, according to the latest report from Ookla – a leading internet testing organization – two Android devices have now surpassed Apple’s best offering.

The fourth quarter mobile performance report from Ookla showcased the most popular smartphones in the US and compared them across downloading and uploading speeds, latency, and availability. The results showed that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 claimed the top spot for median download speed with a rate of 147.24 Mbps, followed closely by Google’s Pixel 7 Pro at 137.11 Mbps. Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro Max came in third with 133.84 Mbps, and its predecessor – the iPhone 14 Pro – scored 130.14 Mbps for download speed. All four smartphones performed similarly when it came to uploading speed and latency, but the Pixel 7 Pro took first place with 15.53 Mbps for uploads and 50 ms latency.

Interestingly, Samsung phones had an advantage over all iPhones by approximately seven megabytes per second in terms of median download speeds, which could be indicative of where they were used more heavily or had better coverage during Q4 compared to their Apple counterparts. It is also worth noting that though Apple‘s device lost its title as ‘fastest,’ its speed still remained within a close range of the other top performers, ranging between 125-147Mbps in Ookla’s tests.

Analysts believe that this drop in performance may have been due to more iPhones being used by customers in areas with weaker carrier coverage than before, leading to lower overall speeds for Q4 compared to Q3, when fewer people had access to them. Despite this slight drop, users can still expect strong download speeds on any of these top four models regardless of their operating system of choice, proving that technology is advancing rapidly and allowing us to glean greater performance from our pocket-sized gadgets than ever before!

For those needing a more substantial smart speaker, the company now offers one at an attractive price point of $299.

Apple has released an updated version of its HomePod speaker, a device that first debuted in 2018 and was previously focused on the cheaper mini version. This new edition boasts several notable updates, including advanced audio capabilities and improved smart home abilities. It also comes at a more affordable price than the original model.

The HomePod’s audio system has been custom-engineered for rich, deep bass, stunning high frequencies, and optimized sound quality regardless of where it’s placed in the room. Its design features a custom-designed woofer with a diaphragm motor, bass EQ mic, and five tweeters to deliver a powerful audio experience. It offers room-sensing technology to adjust the sound depending on where it is situated near walls or free space. A computational S7 chip helps maximize the potential of this unit. Plus, users can enjoy Spatial Audio via Apple Music by connecting two HomePods together.

The new HomePod also offers several handy smart home tools to give users better control over their home environment. For example, it has a built-in temperature and humidity sensor, which can help automate tasks such as closing blinds or turning on fans when the environment shifts outside your ideal settings. Additionally, it has sound recognition technology, which will send alerts to your iPhone if it detects smoke or carbon monoxide alarms; this feature is set to be released later this spring and should not be relied upon for emergencies.

For those looking to take advantage of Matter compatibility in their homes, this latest edition of the HomePod supports controlling devices compatible with this smart home standard with Siri requests that are end-to-end encrypted by default, so even Apple wouldn’t be able to read them. Furthermore, once an action is made from one of these requests, Siri will play an audible tone confirming that your command was successful, even if the connected device does not show any visible changes.

Apple has also taken special care in making sure their latest HomePod addition is as environmentally friendly as possible, from 100% recycled gold for circuit boards to 100% recycled rare earth metals for its magnet and 100% recycled mesh fabric for its Midnight color option – they’ve managed to reduce plastic use while still offering a great product experience.

The new HomePod is now available for preorder from Apple at $299, which is $50 less than what the original model sold for upon its initial launch in 2018; delivery starts February 3rd, 2023, so make sure you place your orders soon!

Merchants employing Salesforce Commerce Cloud now have the opportunity to provide their customers with a simplified pickup and delivery experience through Walmart’s cutting-edge store fulfillment technologies and on-demand local services.

Walmart and Salesforce have recently partnered up to help retailers leverage the same innovative and advanced technologies used by Walmart in their pickup and delivery experiences. Through this collaboration, retailers can access Store Assist, an app developed by Walmart Commerce Technologies that helps optimize in-store fulfillment. It increases picking accuracy, speed, and efficiency while providing a seamless handoff between employees, customers, and third-party delivery drivers.

In addition, Walmart GoLocal has enabled smaller retailers to use a white-label, delivery-as-a-service technology that provides customers with an easy and frictionless experience. The Senior Vice President of Technology Strategy & Commercialization at Walmart Global Technology, Anshu Bhardwaj, said, “Retailers can now leverage the same technology that we use to fulfill 830 million orders across 4,700 stores”. Rob Garf from Salesforce added to this, claiming, “Shoppers expect brands to deliver highly connected experiences across both physical and digital touchpoints – 1 in 5 online orders were picked up from stores over the weekend before Christmas”.

With the collaboration between Walmart and Salesforce, retailers can now offer their customers buy online pickup in-store (BOPIS) options through Store Assist. This way, customers get access to the products they want quickly and efficiently without waiting for delivery services or dealing with shipping costs. Furthermore, with GoLocal local deliveries are made easier than ever, as it allows customers to rely on same-day delivery under a white-label experience kept within their brand name.

Salesforce Commerce Cloud & Order Management also allows retailers to efficiently manage customer omnichannel experiences across one platform while leveraging AI & real-time data to give them more personalized experiences. As Harsit Patel mentioned, “Retailers are always looking for ways to improve cost efficiency while meeting customer needs no matter where they shop from,” making this technology even more beneficial for those businesses who take advantage of it.

In conclusion, the partnership between two giants like Walmart & Salesforce will revolutionize localized commerce experiences for all types of businesses by allowing them to access advanced technologies that could otherwise be inaccessible due to budgeting constraints or lack of knowledge when it comes down to IT solutions & services. In addition, Salesforce Commerce Cloud & Order Management also allows for seamless omnichannel experiences that customers can enjoy as they shop from their favorite stores.