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Why WhatsApp users are pushing family members to Signal

Why WhatsApp users are pushing family members to Signal

When WhatsApp users started freaking out about privacy on the messaging app last month, Kevin Woblick knew it was time to encourage his family to move to another chat service: Signal.

The 30-year-old German software developer had broached the topic after Edward Snowden leaked classified documents detailing America's mass surveillance program. But Woblick couldn't convince his family to delete WhatsApp despite the Snowden news and the global uproar over digital privacy that followed. So this time, he took a gentler approach. 

"It wouldn't be too inconvenient to have a second messenger on your phone right?" he asked his family. He found it amusing that his grandma was the first to agree to download the app. Then, the rest of his family followed.

Woblick and his family are among the exodus of WhatsApp users bolting from the Facebook-owned messaging app to services like Signal that are seen as secure alternatives. Making the move isn't easy, because people naturally gravitate toward apps their friends and family use, and then stick with them. In India, WhatsApp's largest market, switching to another messaging service is even tougher because of its enormous reach. 

WhatsApp, which Facebook bought in 2014 for $19 billion, is used by more than 2 billion people in over 180 countries. The popular app is an online space where people go to chat, shop and share news. More than 175 million people message a business on WhatsApp daily, allowing them to browse or buy items, ranging from cakes to flights. The messaging app, though, has also been criticized for not doing enough to curb the spread of misinformation that fuels violence. In 2018, false rumors about child kidnappers ignited mob violence and killings in India, prompting WhatsApp to limit message forwarding.

Outrage over privacy on WhatsApp began to grow in January, when the service notified users it was updating its privacy policy and terms of service. The update included details about how WhatsApp data could be used and shared when a user messages a business on the app. Some users thought the changes meant WhatsApp could read their messages and listen to their personal phone calls. WhatsApp said the messaging service can't read personal messages, because they're end-to-end encrypted, and that the changes wouldn't expand the app's ability to share data with Facebook. 

WhatsApp responded to the fallout, pushing back the update until May. It placed newspaper ads in India, shared more information on its website, and used Status, a tool that lets users post content that disappears within 24 hours, to assure people their personal WhatsApp messages remain private. 

By then, though, the damage had been done. 

From Jan.1 to Jan. 25, compared with Dec. 7 to Dec. 31, Signal installs jumped 4,868%, while downloads of WhatsApp fell roughly 16%, according to data from data analytics firm SensorTower. At one point, the surge in new users led to a daylong outage on Signal. A spokesperson for Signal said the app "had a record breaking January" but declined to say how many users are on the app. 

Unlike WhatsApp, Signal isn't owned by a company. It's funded by a nonprofit set up by Moxie Marlinspike and Brian Acton, who co-founded WhatsApp but left the social media giant in 2017. Besides the user outrage, the encrypted-messaging service has also been endorsed by high-profile figures, including Snowden and Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.

David Choffnes, an associate computer science professor at Northeastern University, said WhatsApp's policy updates could've rekindled concerns over Facebook's poor track record with privacy. He pointed to the scandal involving Cambridge Analytica, a British political consultancy, that harvested the data of roughly 87 million Facebook users without their permission. 

"The whole world has lost a lot of trust in Facebook," Choffnes said, adding that the WhatsApp backlash "was sort of like a powder keg ready to ignite."

Nidhi Hegde, director of strategy and programs at the American Economic Liberties Project in Washington, DC, said her family uses a mix of WhatsApp and Signal. Some didn't want to switch to a new messaging service, especially after WhatsApp delayed its privacy updates. On Thursday, WhatsApp was No. 3 in Apple's top apps for social networking, and Signal was No. 12.

"I think what it has done is make a lot more people (like my mom and older relatives) who are not particularly tech-savvy or thinking about privacy become more aware of Facebook's power and how their personal data is mined for targeted advertising to feed Facebook's business," Hegde said in an email. "And they are now significantly concerned that they have no choice but to accept the terms."

Last month, WhatsApp users got a notice telling them the app's 3,800-word privacy policy and 5,000-word terms of service were being updated to include information about processing of user data, the ability of businesses to use Facebook services for managing chats, and the relationship between WhatsApp and Facebook. The notice linked to the revised policies but didn't outline the exact changes users were agreeing to if they accepted the updates.

The changes spell out what happens to your data when you message a business on WhatsApp, which is different from chatting with friends and family. Some businesses might make communications available to a third-party service provider that manages their chats with customers, which can include Facebook, the revised privacy policy says. WhatsApp labels chats with businesses that use Facebook's services to manage their conversations. A WhatsApp FAQ on the changes also notes that when a person messages a business, the store might use that information for marketing, which could include Facebook ads. 

Some users thought the updates meant WhatsApp was going to force them to share personal data with Facebook for the first time. (But WhatsApp has already been sharing data with Facebook to suggest content and connections, and display "relevant offers and ads." The company updated its privacy policy in 2016 to reflect that and WhatsApp users that year were allowed to opt out of this data sharing.) 

On social media, WhatsApp users quickly began sharing strategies about how to get family and friends to migrate to Signal or other messaging apps. 

Siddharth Rao created a public Google doc he shared on Twitter titled "How to start a conversation about the Signal app with your family." Rao, a security and privacy researcher in Finland, said he's trying to learn more from WhatsApp users about their experience migrating to Signal and whether they stayed after the move. Many of the people who added to the document still have "one leg" in WhatsApp and the other in Signal, he said. 

One strategy included in the document is to lie and tell people that WhatsApp is shutting down. Other tips include easing users into deleting WhatsApp after they've tried Signal, by disabling notifications for the Facebook-owned app.

Shachin Bharadwaj, an entrepreneur who splits his time between India and California, said he received anxious messages from his parents after the privacy changes were announced, concerned that WhatsApp was going to read their chats. The 38-year-old said he also recalled seeing videos, including one that called Facebook "evil" and claimed the company was planning to listen to users' conversations. 

Bharadwaj knows that private messages remain encrypted on WhatsApp, but that didn't stop him from downloading Signal last month. He's used WhatsApp to order items such as medication in India, but he feels like there's just "too much happening" on the Facebook-owned service and wants to keep his most personal chats, like his family chats, on Signal. He now splits his messaging between the apps.

"I don't think you can ever leave WhatsApp as of the situation in India today," Bharadwaj said, pointing to the amount of WhatsApp users in that country. "But my idea was to move quality conversations to Signal."

As for Woblick, he thinks it'll "take a lot of time" before he's comfortable deleting WhatsApp, because some of his friends stayed on the app. For now, however, he's OK with using both. "For me it was more important to do that first step and migrate the most important people and contacts to Signal so I'm able to work with them without needing to use WhatsApp," he said.

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Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G review: Samsung's premier phone is pretty badass

Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G review: Samsung's premier phone is pretty badass

The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, unveiled alongside Samsung's Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus phones, proves that sometimes you have to do something twice to get it right. While just as bold as last year's Galaxy S20 Ultra, the S21 Ultra is a refined second take on the concept. There's still the 100x Space Zoom, but it's easier to use. There is still the "big for the sake of being big" design, but it looks more appealing. And there's still a high price, but at $1,200 (£1,149, AU$1,849) it costs $200 less than the S20 Ultra in the US. 

If you want the absolute best specs and features, the S21 Ultra is undoubtedly appealing. The phone will also attract camera nerds, thanks to the improvements. The addition of S-Pen support -- it's the first Galaxy S phone to support the stylus -- will likely catch the eye of Galaxy Note users looking for a different option.

Like

• Gorgeous phantom black finish
• Two telephoto cameras
• The screen is spectacular
• S-Pen support

Don't Like

• It's heavy
• Lacks a microSD card slot
• $1,200 is still expensive

Last year's Ultra model seemed like it came out of nowhere. It was a phone all about excess that, by sheer fate, was launched at the beginning of a global pandemic and recession. Its bold, behemoth take on the Galaxy S line was undercut by its $1,400 (£1,199, AU$1,999) price and issues with its nearly domino-size camera system.

Overall, the S21 Ultra is a major update both in terms of hardware and software over the S20 Ultra. And when you factor in a lower price, it all kind of makes sense. And that's why the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra earned a CNET's Editors' Choice Award. The whole Galaxy S21 lineup is available to purchase -- here's how you can buy one.

Read more: Samsung Galaxy S21 vs. S21 Plus vs. S21 Ultra

The Galaxy S21 Ultra has the best black finish

I wouldn't call the S21 Ultra's design radically different, but my review unit has the best black finish I've ever seen on a phone. It's the stuff that goth dreams are made of. The color is called phantom black, and seeing it in person makes you understand why Samsung made a nearly three-minute video explaining the blackest black finish. The S21 Ultra also comes in phantom silver and there are limited-edition phantom finishes in titanium, brown and navy, which can only be found on Samsung's website.

The camera bump is large and melts into the sides of the phone, which are glossy black. And while the regular S21 and S21 Plus looks snazzy in their two-tone colors, the all-black S21 Ultra is cool, elegant and badass all at the same time.

Read more:  Galaxy S21 drop test: It broke on the first drop

The S21 Ultra is heavier than last year's S20 Ultra and the iPhone 12 Pro Max. It's the second heaviest phone I have tested in the past year, just behind the Asus ROG Phone 3.

The display is brighter and adds S-Pen support

Around the front is one of the most impressive displays I've seen. It has a Wide Quad HD resolution and a variable refresh rate between 10 and 120Hz, which is determined by what's on the screen. And just to be clear, it can be set to 120Hz without the hit to resolution that the S20 Ultra had. The 6.8-inch display is bright and the contrast is gorgeous. Covering the front and back is Corning's Gorilla Glass Victus.

Support for the S-Pen means you can draw, write, edit photos and sign documents on the S21 Ultra.

Sarah Tew/CNET

Under the screen is a larger ultrasonic fingerprint reader which feels peppy. I had a hard time telling if it was faster than the one on the S20 Ultra. The display also has S-Pen support.

The Galaxy Note phones line always tempted me, but I didn't think I'd use the S-Pen enough to justify getting one. I like the iPad Pro-Apple Pencil approach Samsung took with the S21 Ultra. Without an S-Pen, you can still enjoy using the S21 Ultra. But if you're S-Pen curious, you can buy a new S-Pen or find an old one and it will work. There's a lot you can do like draw, take notes and sign documents. I love editing photos and making adjustments with the S-Pen.

There are a few S-Pen considerations. The S21 Ultra doesn't come with an S-Pen and doesn't support Bluetooth or gesture functionality. For example, the S21 Ultra can't send you a notification if you leave your S-Pen behind. Also, the Ultra doesn't have a built-in slot to store an S-Pen. Samsung does sell cases for the phone that include S-Pen storage.

The S21 Ultra has two telephoto cameras

The S21 Ultra's camera system received several significant updates. There are four rear cameras: one wide, one ultrawide and two telephoto cameras. The time-of-flight sensor on the S20 Ultra is gone; in its place is a laser autofocus module.

The 108-megapixel sensor on the main camera is new and has better autofocus for both photos and videos. There's even a new focus enhancer tool that pops onscreen to help the phone focus faster. The tool looks like it might be switching to a wider view to do so.

Read more: S21 Ultra vs. iPhone 12 Pro Max vs. Pixel 5: Which phone has the best night mode?

There are four rear cameras: wide, ultrawide and two telephotos.

Patrick Holland/CNET

The dual-telephoto cameras add a number of benefits. One has 3x magnification and the other 10x. This means when you zoom in, there are two places in your zoom range where the image isn't cropped and where you'll capture the best image quality. Another benefit is stability. The two cameras are paired to help make zooming in, even at 100x, easier and more steady.

At 30x or higher, a zoom guide appears to help you find the specific spot that you're zoomed in at. You can lock it so the cameras  don't move, which turns the guide yellow. This works quite well. Obviously you have to be careful not to move the phone around too much, but it's less finicky and frustrating than the S20 Ultra.

Photos from the S21 Ultra are excellent, with good detail and a wide dynamic range. There is a 108-megapixel mode, but I found that the 12-megapixel photos that come from pixel binning look consistently great.

Below are several photos I took with the S21 Ultra.

The main camera was set to 12 megapixels, which uses pixel binning to combine nine pixels into one.

Patrick Holland/CNET

One benefit of pixel binning is that it can bring out the details in a photo. Notice the different textures and details.

Patrick Holland/CNET

I used the single-take mode in the camera app to capture photos and videos of this cute dog. Here's one of the pictures my S21 Ultra chose.

Patrick Holland/CNET

There's so much for the S21 Ultra to capture correctly here: the barren tree branches, the water and the white fluffy clouds in the blue sky.

Patrick Holland/CNET

Here are three different photos I took from the exact same spot using the wide 1x camera (left), the 3x telephoto camera (middle) and the 10x telephoto camera (right).

Patrick Holland/CNET

In low light, the S21 Ultra's night mode is outstanding. Flaring on the lens is minimized and photos look bright without a bunch of image noise or noise-reduction smearing. Below are a few night mode photos I took:

This might be my favorite night mode photo of the bunch.

Patrick Holland/CNET

Here's another night mode capture. I like how the S21 Ultra brought out the colors in the sculpture.

Patrick Holland/CNET

Night mode on any of the S21 Ultra's cameras. I took this shot with the ultrawide.

Patrick Holland/CNET

For selfies there's the same 40-megapixel camera that the S20 Ultra had. You now have an option to change the color tone to either bright or natural which is excellent.

Here is a selfie I took with the natural setting.

Patrick Holland/CNET

Samsung added the ability to take raw 12-bit color photos. There's a new video feature called Director's View, which gives you a thumbnail preview of the video feeds coming from all of the cameras on the phones. As you record, you can switch between them. Within Director's View, there's a vlogger setup that gives you a side-by-side video view or a stacked one if you're shooting vertically. This means you can record yourself with the selfie camera and show what you're seeing or reacting to with any of the rear cameras.

On paper, Director's View seemed like something I might try once and not really use. But after some time using it, some people will definitely be into the feature. A downside to Director's View is that the final video is saved in HD instead of 4K or 8K. I'd love to see a similar thumbnail preview interface of all the rear cameras when recording a regular 4K video.

I'm excited to pit the S21 Ultra and its cameras against the iPhone 12 Pro Max and Google Pixel 5. Each phone takes a different approach to photography and will appeal to different people.

S21 Ultra has a Snapdragon 888 chip and 12 or 16GB of RAM

Powering the S21 Ultra is the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chip, along with 12GB of RAM, or 16GB in the most expensive model -- which also has 512GB of storage (see the chart below for prices). In my benchmark tests, the S21 Ultra scored better than last year's S20 Ultra. And in use, it handled everything I threw at it, even playing Xbox Game Pass Ultimate games on it.

You can use the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate app to play Xbox games on your S21 Ultra.

Sarah Tew/CNET

Supplying juice to the phone is a 5,000-mAh battery. I've easily been averaging a day and a half on a single charge. Battery tests on the S21 Ultra for continuous video playback on Airplane mode clocked an average of 22 hours and 57 minutes with the refresh rate set to Auto 120Hz. That's actually an hour less than the S20 Ultra lasted in the same test. Though keep in mind, in real world use my colleague Jessica Dolcourt found the S20 Ultra's battery drained like it was being bitten by a "thirsty vampire."

Below are the results of my benchmark tests for the S21 Ultra.

3DMark Slingshot Unlimited

Note:

Longer bars indicate better performance

Geekbench v.5.0 single-core

Note:

Longer bars indicate better performance

Geekbench v.5.0 multicore

Note:

Longer bars indicate better performance

Android 11 and 5G support

The Galaxy S21 Ultra runs Android 11 with Samsung's OneUI 3.1 top layer. And I like it a lot. I can now default to Google Pay or Google Discover News feed instead of Samsung's versions. The look for everything from settings to pop-up windows is clean and contemporary. And with a phone this big, OneUI helps make it easier to use one-handed.

Last, the Galaxy S21 Ultra has 5G and supports both sub-6 and mmWave flavors of 5G. You shouldn't get the Ultra for its 5G. But as 5G networks get better, so will your 5G speeds and connection. And then we'll really have something to talk about.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra specs vs. Galaxy S20 Ultra, Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, Galaxy Note 20

	Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra	Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra	Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra	Samsung Galaxy Note 20
Display size, resolution	6.8-inch AMOLED 2X, 3,200x1,440 pixels	6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X	6.9-inch; 3,088x1,440 pixels	6.7-inch; 2,400x1,080 pixels
Pixel density	515 ppi	511ppi	496ppi	393ppi
Dimensions (Inches)	2.97x6.5x0.35 in	2.99x6.57x0.35 in	6.49x3.04x0.31 in	6.36x2.96x0.33 in
Dimensions (Millimeters)	75.6x165.1x8.9mm	76.0x166.9x8.8mm	164.8x77.2x8.1mm	161.6x75.2x8.3 mm
Weight (Ounces, Grams)	8.07 oz; 229g	7.76 oz; 220g	7.33 oz, 208g	6.84 oz, 194g
Mobile software	Android 11	Android 10	Android 10	Android 10
Camera	108-megapixel (wide-angle), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 10-megapixel (3x telephoto), 10-megapixel (10x telephoto)	108-megapixel (wide-angle), 48-megapixel (telephoto), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), time-of-flight camera	12-megapixel (ultrawide), 108-megapixel (wide-angle), 12-megapixel (telephoto)	12-megapixel (ultrawide), 12-megapixel (wide angle), 64-megapixel (telephoto)
Front-facing camera	40-megapixel	40-megapixel	10-megapixel	10-megapixel
Video capture	8K	8K	8K	8K
Processor	Snapdragon 888	Snapdragon 865 Plus	Snapdragon 865 Plus	Snapdragon 865 Plus
Storage	128GB, 256GB, 512GB	128GB, 512GB	128GB, 512GB	128GB
RAM	12GB, 16GB	12GB, 16GB	12GB	8GB
Expandable storage	No	Up to 1TB	Up to 1TB	No
Battery	5,000 mAh	5,000 mAh	4,500 mAh	4,300 mAh
Fingerprint sensor	In-screen	In-screen	In-screen	In-screen
Headphone jack	No	No	No	No
Special features	IP68 rating, 5G-enabled, 100x Space Zoom, 10W wireless charging, 10x optical zoom	5G enabled; 120Hz refresh rate; 100x zoom; water resistant (IP68)	120Hz screen refresh rate, 5x optical zoom, 120Hz display; UWB sharing, S-Pen stylus; 5G connectivity; Wireless PowerShare; water resistant (IP68)	S-Pen stylus; 5G connectivity; Wireless PowerShare; water resistant (IP68)
Price off-contract (USD)	$1,200 (128GB), $1,250 (256GB), $1,380 (512GB)	$1,399 (128GB), $1,599 (512GB)	$1,300 (128GB), $1,450 (512GB)	$1,000
Price (GBP)	£1,149 (128GB), £1,199 (256GB), £1,329 (512GB)	£1,199 (128GB), £1,399 (512GB)	£1,179	£849 (4G) and £949 (5G)
Price (AUD)	AU$1,849 (128GB), AU$1,949 (256GB), AU$2,149 (512GB)	AU$1,999 (128GB), AU$2,249 (512GB)	AU$1,849 (4G) and $AU$1,999 (5G)	AU$1,499 (4G) and AU$1,649 (5G)

First published Jan. 21.

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Who's Winning America's Electric Vehicle Race?

Who's Winning America's Electric Vehicle Race?

This story is part of Plugged In, CNET's hub for all things EV and the future of electrified mobility. From vehicle reviews to helpful hints and the latest industry news, we've got you covered.

A tsunami of electric vehicles is set to arrive on US shores in the next few years. Practically every automaker around the world, from small boutique operations to goliath multinationals is hard at work developing battery-powered cars and trucks. But among America's traditional manufacturers, who's winning the EV race?

The old guard

GM, Ford and Stellantis (Chrysler, if you prefer), Detroit's Big Three automakers, are each spending vast sums of money to design and manufacture next-generation cars and trucks. GM is set to shell out more than $35 billion by 2025 to develop electric and autonomous vehicles. Through 2026 -- the year it expects to produce more than 2 million EVs -- Ford is on track to spend some $50 billion globally on the technology. As for Stellantis, this amalgamated American/French/Italian concern plans to invest around $32.5 billion (30 billion euros) in electrification and software through 2025.

American automakers are practically all-in on EVs, but plenty of their rivals are spending big bucks, too, from BMW and Mercedes-Benz, to Hyundai, Nissan, Volkswagen and Volvo. For the purposes of this article, however, to keep it from dragging on for days, we're focusing primarily on the Detroit Three.

The new Hummer EV Pickup is absolutely massive.

GMC

The Tesla effect

But you can't talk about EVs without mentioning a certain company with an eccentric CEO and cult-like following. "There's no question Tesla's winning the race right now, by a wide margin," said Michelle Krebs, executive analyst at Cox Automotive. This organization keeps track of the most-shopped electric vehicles, and she said this company's products absolutely dominate the list. "It's going to be tough for anyone to catch up with Tesla," admitted Krebs.

Aside from strong sales, this American automotive upstart also leads when it comes to market capitalization -- being worth a record-breaking $1 trillion -- and mindshare. "Tesla, whether you want to give them the credit or not … [created] the modern EV market," said Edward Sanchez, senior analyst at Strategy Analytics. He noted that the Model S "flipped the script" and proved electric cars could be sexy, desirable and luxurious.

But not all is perfect in Musk-land. The company's been dogged by longstanding quality problems, it's facing labor woes at manufacturing plants, and is suffering from a lack of promised new products -- where's the Cybertruck, Roadster and Semi? No new launches are expected in 2022 and likely for part of 2023, so the automaker's lead will likely erode as more and more rival electric vehicles start showing up at dealerships. During the company's recent first-quarter earnings call, Elon Musk promised its robotaxi will be ready by 2024, but forgive us for not believing him.

Tesla is still the one to beat in the electric vehicle space. 

Mike Cutler/CNET

A classic rivalry

If Tesla is miles ahead of the competition, who's trundling along in second place? Sanchez said, "It's a very dynamic space," one that's "hard to armchair quarterback" because the situation changes from year to year and even month to month. Still, right now, he sees Ford pulling ahead, something echoed by other analysts.

According to Bob Gritzinger, editor-in-chief of Wards Auto, "Right now, for all appearances, Ford is in the lead. Give it a minute and I think you're going to see GM jump [ahead] in a hurry." The Blue Oval put some distance between itself and other domestic car makers, thanks to hit products like the Mustang Mach-E SUV and F-150 Lightning pickup, both of which are sold out, a happy problem for Ford, if not its customers. Still, the battery-powered E-Transit commercial van shouldn't be forgotten, either. "That's another win, an early win for Ford," said Gritzinger, as is the hot-selling Maverick compact truck, which is not offered as a pure EV but comes standard with a hybrid drivetrain.

Of course, it remains to be seen whether it's as well optimized as pickups built on dedicated EV platforms, but Ford was super smart getting the F-150 Lightning out as soon as possible. All-electric rigs like the Lightning could be absolute gamechangers and the Blue Oval has a huge advantage in this space right now.

The Ford F-150 Lightning is expected to be a game-changing EV.

Nick Miotke/Roadshow

One potential area of weakness for Ford, though, is Lincoln. The luxury brand is aiming for more than half of its global sales to be EVs by the middle of this decade, but almost nothing is known about the vehicles it plans to introduce. Lincoln did, however, just show off its new Star concept, a handsome SUV design study that previews some of the features and styling cues we can expect on the four EVs it plans to introduce by 2026. Fortunately, it sounds like we won't have to wait too much longer to learn about Lincoln's electrification strategy.

"Ford is definitely beating GM on sales and shopping data," said Krebs, leveraging its early-to-market advantage. GM has a lot planned, but it has to execute and avoid having issues like it did with the Chevy Bolt hatchback and its combustible battery pack, something Sanchez said severely humbled the automaker.

"There's no denying Ford's strategic advantage with Mach-E, being an early mover," noted Sanchez, but GM has a torrent of new EVs in the works, an unprecedented onslaught that has only just begun. The GMC Hummer EV Pickup is finally available and the Cadillac Lyriq SUV entered production about a month ago. Beyond those models, an all-electric Chevy Silverado is in the works, as are Blazer and Equinox utility vehicles as well as a Hummer SUV and even a new flagship-caliber electric luxury sedan, the Cadillac Celestiq. "My concern with GM is they're kind of almost going overboard," Sanchez said.

The Cadillac Lyriq SUV is one of many electric vehicles GM plans to introduce.

Cadillac

GM's much-publicized Ultium platform is set to underpin these upcoming vehicles, and many more. A relatively plug-and-play affair, "They're investing in one technology they'll be able to spread across the entire portfolio," explained Paul Waatti, manager of industry analysis at AutoPacific. With shared underpinnings, GM can bring a load of vehicles to market without doing a lot of costly and time-consuming reengineering work. Compared to Ford, Waatti said, "I think GM is a couple years ahead on the technology curve," though Ford is "catching up quick."

Stellantis: The dark horse

While those two automakers duke it out, the other leg of the Detroit Three stool is quietly plugging away in the shadows. "I think the dark horse in all this is Stellantis," said Gritzinger. "They've done a lot of work with hybrids and with their 48-volt system," he added. "I think they will be surprisingly strong once they start putting product out there, in large part because they're a European company and Europe is going 100% EV." Historically, Chrysler has almost always been smaller than its main rivals, but it's scrappy and willing to take risks, something that could give it a leg up in the electric vehicle space.

Sanchez said Stellantis is probably behind its major domestic rivals in EV technology, but this isn't necessarily a bad thing as "they're kind of taking advantage of the early adopters paying the price." As electric vehicles start to gain traction, the cost of batteries and related technologies should come down, which would be great for Stellantis. "Sometimes it's not always the worst thing to be late to the game," said Sanchez.

According to Waatti, AutoPacific forecasts that EVs will capture about 15% market share by 2027, something that leaves a ton of room for other propulsion systems, like plug-in hybrids. "Stellantis is probably taking that strategy, mostly because they're behind on straight-EV technology," he said. Plug-ins, like the new Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, give customers the best of both worlds: Silent, emissions-free (from the tailpipe, at least) motoring with the ability to drive cross-country without needing to charge. At least in the near term, this should be a good plan for Stellantis, "[and] from a business standpoint," explained Waatti, "They're making money on these right away."

Ram teased its upcoming electric pickup truck in this shadowy image.

Ram

It may not be as sweeping as Tesla's, but another potential advantage for Stellantis is its passionate fan base. Sanchez said even though the Dodge Charger and Challenger are absolutely ancient, their sales continue to grow. "If they can somehow leverage that enthusiasm for their EV models, they could surprise everyone."

Don't forget the smaller companies

Beyond Tesla and its Detroit rivals, a range of new independent automakers has come out in recent years. This old-school term was used decades ago to describe now-defunct brands like Hudson, Packard, Studebaker and Willys, but it works just as well in the 21st century. Today's independent makes include the likes of Fisker, Lucid and Rivian, companies that are focused solely on building EVs. Bollinger, Lordstown Motors and Nikola are in the same camp, too, though, for various reasons these brands have largely failed.

Whether any startup automakers will succeed remains to be seen. Waatti said they don't have the baggage legacy companies do, plus they're "something new and exciting," which could translate into more sales, though as Krebs noted, it's way too early to tell if any of these brands will take off.

For many reasons, the Lucid Air is a damn good electric sedan.

Lucid

This isn't to say today's EV independents aren't doing some great work. "I think Lucid, from a technological standpoint … I would consider them probably the closet peer to Tesla," said Sanchez. The company's Air sedan is not only beautiful and luxurious, it's loaded with clever features and offers storming performance. "[But] the big thing with Lucid is how quickly they can scale, that's the determining factor," Sanchez added.

Exciting times in the automotive industry

We're living in a transformative period as the car industry shifts from internal combustion to electric powertrains. Right now, Tesla is the undisputed American EV champion, a position it will likely maintain for some time. Waatti predicts, "They're still going to be the powerhouse into the end of the decade." But as more and more electric vehicles come out, Tesla's market share will almost inevitably decline. When GM's EV salvo hits, plus battery-powered offerings from myriad other companies, "All of a sudden, there's a lot of competition in your part of the sandbox," said Gritzinger.

As for the Detroit Three, it seems Ford is leading the electric vehicle race right now, thanks to its speedy introduction of the Mach-E and Lightning, vehicles that proved to be extremely popular. GM, however, probably has a technological advantage and could overtake its rival in the coming years once its flurry of new products launches. Of course, Stellantis is hard at work, too, and it's made some big promises, including the introduction of four dedicated EV platforms, though the finer details of its electrification plan are a little murkier. As Krebs said, aside from Tesla's dominance in the EV space, "The race has only begun."

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Take a 360-degree GoPro ride on winning horse American Pharoah

Take a 360-degree GoPro ride on winning horse American Pharoah

The view from American Pharoah includes this other horse. Video screenshot by Amanda Kooser/CNET

Most of us are simply physically too big to even think about becoming professional horse jockeys and riding a fleet-footed equine to Triple Crown glory. You don't have to watch your weight or spend years in training to hitch a ride on American Pharoah, the latest winner of horse racing's elusive trifecta of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes. A new GoPro video lets you saddle up and go.

The video was taken on July 18 at Del Mar Race Track in California during a morning workout. It was recorded with a GoPro Hero4 camera and released on the GroPro YouTube channel Thursday.

The video starts off with a view of the grandstands, moves to the stable area and then steps out onto the track itself. You can spin the view around to see other horses working out, flashes of American Pharoah's tail and the tips of the horse's bouncing ears in front.

If you want to access the full 360-degree swiveling-head features, you'll need to use the Chrome browser or download the Kolor panoramic video app. The interactive footage is a fun way to show off the capabilities of the Hero4 combined with Kolor's video-stitching services.

The jockey's-eye view is exhilarating and the beat of the thoroughbred's hooves is mesmerizing. It's not quite the same as being in the middle of an actual race, but it does give you a sense of the buzz and excitement surrounding the horse. American Pharoah is scheduled to race again on August 2 at Monmouth Park in New Jersey.

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DJI Phantom 4 Advanced is the Phantom 4 with a better camera

DJI Phantom 4 Advanced is the Phantom 4 with a better camera

The DJI Phantom 4 is officially dead dead -- or it will be as of April 30. Enter the new Phantom 4 Advanced.

Joining the Pro model released last November, the Advanced is essentially the year-old Phantom 4 with the nicer camera found on the Pro. That camera features a much larger 1-inch image sensor that can snap 20-megapixel photos and capture 4K-resolution video at 60fps. It has a mechanical shutter and adjustable aperture from f2.8-f11 for greater control while you're shooting. (It's also better in low light.)

Most of the Phantom 4 Pro's capabilities trickle down to the Advanced, but the latter doesn't have rear vision sensors or two infrared sensors, so you'll have to worry a bit more about obstacles and flying backward. It's a little less capable when you program it to fly on its own. Also, its controller doesn't support the 5.8GHz frequency band.

As compared to the old Phantom 4, along with the camera upgrade and more intelligent flight modes, you get the option to buy DJI's controller with an integrated high-brightness display, a slightly faster maximum speed in P-mode of 14 meters per second (46 feet per second), increased transmission range to 7 km (4.4 miles) and obstacle-sensing range to 30 meters (98 feet). Flight time is up to 30 minutes.

The DJI Phantom 4 Advanced is available now for $1,349. Add another $300 if you want it bundled with the 5.5-inch 1080p screen integrated into the controller.

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What affects hydrangea color what changes the color of hydrangeas what changes the color of hydrangeas what changes color of hydrangeas what will make hydrangea bloom what determines the color of a hydrangea what determines the speed of a computer

What Determines Hydrangea Bloom Color? An Expert Breaks Down the Science

What Determines Hydrangea Bloom Color? An Expert Breaks Down the Science

This story is part of Home Tips, CNET's collection of practical advice for getting the most out of your home, inside and out.

Growing up in Eastern North Carolina, the cloud-like blooms of hydrangea shrubs became synonymous with the spring and summer months. I have vivid memories of driving around my neighborhood and seeing the vibrant pink, white and lilac blooms in almost every front lawn. 

My family even had a few bushes in the back lawn where the hydrangeas could enjoy a lot of direct sunlight with pockets of shades scattered throughout the day. And while I loved the soft pink blooms on our hydrangeas, my mom would remark how they never bloomed bright blue like she intended them to.

This is a common mistake made by novice and seasoned gardeners alike. You probably assume that the blooms will surely look the same planted in your yard as they did at the nursery, right? Well, not necessarily when it comes to hydrangeas. There's a particularly scientific explanation as to why your hydrangeas might not achieve the color you want. 

To get the lowdown on hydrangea colors, I spoke to expert Mal Condon, curator of hydrangeas at Heritage Museums and Gardens -- or more aptly known as "the Hydrangea Guy" -- to find out what make hydrangeas change color and get a few tips on how to actually get the color bloom you want. 

Read also: This Sweet Flower Is a Secret Garden Killer. Here's How to Get Rid Of It

What colors are possible?

Hydrangea blooms come in a variety of shapes, colors and sizes. While the most common colors are pink, blue and purple, hydrangea blooms can also be red, white and green. 

Over his 50 years of working with hydrangeas, Condon gets asked all the time about why hydrangeas aren't blooming in the colors intended. Here's what he has to say. 

What changes the colors?

While you might desire a specific color hydrangea -- a raspberry red or a brilliant blue -- it actually isn't up to you. Condon said it depends on the makeup of the soil. Specifically, it depends on the aluminum available in the soil. 

Many resources will say the hydrangea colors depend on soil pH, which isn't quite true. 

"Many talk about pH, and that is important, but the first requirement in the soil is you have to have aluminum," Condon said. "It's a strange thing because aluminum is toxic to most plants, but hydrangeas, particularly the macrophyllas and serratas, tolerate a small amount of it and that's what gives us blue." 

Hydrangeas act as a sort of mood ring to tell you the soil conditions of your garden. Generally speaking, more aluminum will give you blue blooms, while soil with little to no aluminum will bloom more pink or red. Condon explains that to achieve blue blooms, you must have soil that is decidedly more acidic with a pH lower than 5.5. 

Alkaline soil -- with a pH of 7.0 or above -- generates pink and red blooms, while white hydrangeas will bloom in soils with a neutral pH between 6.0 and 6.2.

Can you change the color of your hydrangea?

Hydrangeas are unique in that, unlike most other plant or flower varieties, the color of their blooms can change with a little chemistry. 

The easiest way to acidify your soil and turn those blooms blue is with aluminum sulfate, which can be found at almost any garden center. Condon explained the best way to add aluminum sulfate to soil is to apply it as a drench, using a watering can with one tablespoon per one gallon of water. 

"The reason to do this is because you can subject the plant to over-acidification," Condon said. "If we gave it dry aluminum sulfate or sulfur -- another good acidifier -- you can deter the plant's growth process, even kill the plant." 

To get pink blooms, you can apply a high-phosphorus fertilizer to discourage the uptake of aluminum, or Garden Lime, an all-natural plant supplement formulated to raise pH in soils to turn hydrangeas more pink. 

Condon did say the best practice when altering hydrangea color is to be patient -- don't be overzealous. He recommends adding materials to the soil only twice a year. "It's not something you want to go nuts about," he said. 

For more hydrangea information, you can check out Condon's hydrangea care tips here. 

More hacks for your yard and garden

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Tesla sold its bitcoin tesla purchase of bitcoin does tesla still hold bitcoin did tesla sell their bitcoin kept secret kept a secret kept kept back tesla already sold its bitcoin how much did tesla pay for bitcoin tesla model s sales data tesla sold near me

Tesla Sold $936M of Bitcoin, Kept its Dogecoin Reserves

Tesla Sold $936M of Bitcoin, Kept its Dogecoin Reserves

Elon Musk is an icon within crypto. That's due in large part to his association with the dogecoin meme token -- for a few months last year Musk was known as the "Dogefather" -- but it's also because Tesla is one of the most prominent institutional investors in bitcoin. Or at least, it was.

In Tesla's latest earnings report, released Wednesday, the company revealed it has sold the majority of its bitcoin: "We have converted approximately 75% of our Bitcoin purchases into fiat currency. Conversions in Q2 added $936M of cash to our balance sheet."

In a subsequent earnings call, Musk explained the sell-off was related to ongoing COVID lockdowns in China, the world's biggest car market and also where many Tesla vehicles are manufactured.

"The reason we sold a bunch of our bitcoin holdings is we were uncertain as to when the covid lockdowns in China would alleviate, so it was important for us to maximize our cash position given the uncertainty," Musk said. "We are certainly open to increasing our bitcoin holdings in future, so this should not be taken as some verdict of bitcoin."

"We have not sold any of our dogecoin, we still have our dogecoin," Musk added. 

Tesla has $621 million in cash, according to Wednesday's earnings report, which means it would have been cash flow negative were it not for the $936 million bitcoin sale. 

Tesla's $1.5 billion purchase of bitcoin, revealed in an SEC filing in February 2021, contributed to the market's euphoria for cryptocurrency that caused bitcoin's price to explode from around $20,000 in December 2020 to $60,000 in March 2021. Tesla's reserves of bitcoin at one point hit a high of $2 billion in value. Tesla originally bought bitcoin to "provide us with more flexibility to further diversify and maximize returns on our cash," the company said in its 2021 SEC filing. 

Spurred in large part by tweets of encouragement from Musk, dogecoin hit 70 cents last May and briefly reached a marketcap of $70 billion. It's not known how much dogecoin Tesla owns, though the company's earning report states it holds $218 million in digital assets. Much of that is likely to be Tesla's remaining bitcoin. 

Crypto prices have since fallen precipitously from their 2021 highs. Bitcoin is down 48% since the year began, while ether, the second biggest crypto, has fallen 57% since Jan. 1. Dogecoin is currently sitting at just above 7 cents. 

Though Musk is championed by bitcoin and crypto communities, he's made statements both touting and criticizing the technology. "Bitcoin is almost as bs as fiat money. The key word is 'almost,'" he said in February. "However, when fiat currency has negative real interest, only a fool wouldn't look elsewhere." 

After announcing that Tesla would accept bitcoin as payment for its electric cars, Musk reneged and said it would pause such payments out of environmental concerns, given the amount of fossil fuel-fired energy its production requires. "Cryptocurrency is a good idea on many levels and we believe it has a promising future, but this cannot come at great cost to the environment," he tweeted. 

Tesla didn't respond to a request for additional comment. 

Correction: This story initially misstated the amount of cash Tesla got for its sale of cryptocurrency. The company gained $936 million in cash through the transaction.

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