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• Amazfit has unveiled a new health gadget to help you with your eating
• The V1tal is a camera that watches and analyses you while you eat
• It can track calories, macros, and your eating behavior

Amazfit is a household name when it comes to smart tech and wearables, and makes some of the best cheap smartwatches in the industry. But at CES 2025 the company unveiled a brand-new type of health gadget that promises to transform the way you eat food – as long as you don't mind eating on camera.

As reported by Digital Trends, the Amazfit V1tal is a camera that records and analyzes your eating. The device itself is straightforward enough – it's a simple camera with a viewfinder screen, and it looks a bit like a primitive GoPro or DJI.

But it's the technology under the hood, and what the V1tal does with your eating data that are impressive. You simply set your V1tal up on your table and record yourself eating your meal. Once you've finished eating, V1tal can use its recording data along with the Amazfit Zepp app to log what you've consumed, complete with a macronutrient breakdown of carbs, proteins, and fats. As the report notes, it's akin to the food-tracking chops of MyFitnessPal, but it's a purely automatic process powered by video recording.

Amazfit tackles nutrition

(Image credit: Amazfit)

While tracking your food consumption and calories isn't a novel concept, the technology right now is largely limited to scanning bar codes, so introducing video-recorded automation into the mix would be a big step up – but V1tal isn't just about running the numbers.

According to the report, V1tal can also monitor your eating behavior, such as whether you're skipping the healthy green bits of your meal, or whether you're rushing your food. That's insight that could not only help you count the calories and refuel, but also recalibrate your relationship with food.

It also sounds like Amazfit is positioning the V1tal as just one part of an ecosystem of health tech, which also draws on data and insight from other devices like its smartwatches and smart scales.

The V1tal isn''t just a camera either, with functionality that includes notifications from your phone, a to-do list, and even good old-fashioned video recording. Amazfit's execs reckon the V1tal could be a better version of the largely poorly received Humane AI Pin or Rabbit R1. It's a low bar, but it's a sign that Amazfit is perhaps envisioning a more integrated AI network rather than a standalone health gadget, which could be a smart strategy.

There are no firm details about the V1tal's price or release date yet, but Amazfit is reportedly targeting the first half of this year for a launch, and it certainly feels like more than a pipe-dream concept.

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• Professionally modified to Ringo Starr's exact specs
• Comes with a certificate of authenticity
• Expected to sell for at least €50,000 ($51,000)

Ringo Starr is one of the most famous people in the world, and not just for his voiceovers in the Thomas The Tank Engine animations. The former Beatle is a hugely influential drummer and still makes music today: his latest album of country and roots music, Look Up, came out just four days ago. And now you can own a unique bit of equipment from his very own recording studio.

The equipment in question is a Studer 80 Audio Recorder, the same recorder that was used in Abbey Road studios and many of the world's other major recording studios in the 1970s. It's being sold on the online marketplace Catawiki, where it currently has a bid price of €18,000 – lower than the reserve price. The bidding is open until February 2, 2025 and is expected to exceed €50,000.

Expect to pay a bit more for postage unless you're local to The Netherlands though: it weighs nearly 100kg.

What's so special about Ringo's recorder?

This particular Studer recorder has been modified by the Fab Four's sound engineer, Eddie Veale. And it's the real deal: current owner Lex van Coeverden, a celebrated Dutch mastering engineer and producer, has owned it since 1988 and it comes with a certificate of authenticity signed by Veale himself and detailing the modifications Veale made.

The auction is one of several Beatles-related listings on the Catawiki website, which describes itself as "the most-visited curated marketplace in Europe for special objects". Those objects include rare Pokémon trophy cards, a Chrysler Stratus Convertible from Real Madrid's European cup victory procession and the odd Banksy original too, as well as considerably more affordable items.

As for Ringo, he's touring the new album. You can see his currently planned US tour dates here. And with Record Store Day 2025 dates now locked in for April, there's never been a better time to get into vinyl. What better place to start than with Rubber Soul?

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• A Galaxy Unpacked teaser says "a true AI companion" is coming
• The video shows an AI assistant being given complex instructions
• This is likely to be an upgrade to Bixby, which could come to the Galaxy S25 and other Samsung phones

We were always expecting the Samsung Galaxy S25 series to feature new and improved AI features, and now Samsung itself has hinted that we could see some major AI upgrades.

In the company’s latest teaser for Galaxy Unpacked – the January 22 event at which the Samsung Galaxy S25 series will almost certainly be unveiled – Samsung has teased the arrival of “a true AI companion.”

The company uses those exact words in a brief video in which we see someone ask an AI assistant to find them a pet-friendly Italian restaurant with outdoor seating. They ask for all that in a single request, and also ask for the information to be added to their calendar and sent to someone else.

This sort of request is well beyond what Bixby, Samsung’s digital assistant, is capable of currently. Or at least that's the case outside China – Bixby has already had a ChatGPT-like overhaul in China, and this teaser suggests the same upgrade will be going global soon.

Samsung says its currently China-only Bixby upgrade can understand "complex user instructions" that combine multiple commands in a single sentence, which is exactly what we see in this teaser video.

It also has on-screen awareness, so you can ask it about things on your phone’s display, and it has a more modern interface than the Bixby we’re used to.

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An AI upgrade for phones new and old

So with the global launch of this Bixby upgrade presumably being announced at Galaxy Unpacked, it may well be available on the Samsung Galaxy S25 out of the box – and since this is already available in China we know it doesn’t require the power of the Galaxy S25, so we might well see this come to some existing Samsung handsets too.

That said, we’d expect some of the very best new AI features to be reserved for the Galaxy S25 series, either because they require the power of its new chipset, or just as a selling point. It’s also very possible that Bixby itself will run faster on the upcoming phones.

We’ll find out soon, and TechRadar will be in attendance at the Samsung Galaxy S25 launch, so stay tuned for that. In the meantime, stick with TechRadar and we’ll bring you all the Galaxy S25 news, leaks, and teasers ahead of the full announcement.

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• Leaks suggest that an The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion remake is in the works at Virtuos
• It will allegedly be fully remade using Unreal Engine 5
• Apparently multiple core mechanics will also be updated

An Unreal Engine 5 remake of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion is reportedly in the works at developer Virtuos. The latest leaks suggest that it will feature substantially reworked gameplay systems.

This comes from a new report by gaming website mp1st, which states that an unnamed former Virtuos employee has accidentally spilled the beans. According to the website, this employee worked on the game from 2023 to 2024 and uploaded some details of their accomplishments on a personal page.

They inadvertently not only confirm the existence of the long-rumored remake, but also provide our first real details about how it might turn out. Allegedly, substantial changes are being made to the title's core gameplay systems including stamina, sneak, blocking, archery, hit reaction, and the user interface.

The new blocking system will apparently draw on some Souls-like mechanics, presumably to give it a little more heft. Sneaking should also be easier, with highlighted icons giving the player information more clearly. As for the stamina system, it has seemingly been simplified to reduce the number of times that it negatively affects you.

Archery has been refined to work more smoothly in both first-person and third-person, while hit reactions have also reportedly been added to inflicted damage clearer. Finally, the HUD has been wholly altered to make it more modern and aesthetically pleasing.

All of this sounds incredibly substantial, and supports the idea that this is much more than a simple port of HD remaster. As for a potential release date, the site suggests that it could arrive as early as June this year.

We'll have to wait for an official announcement to learn more, so fingers crossed for the upcoming Xbox Developer Direct.

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Making a splash in the eSIM marketplace, Sim Local offers various plans for travelers who don’t wish to encumber themselves with physical SIM cards or pricey roaming fees. With coverage in over 150 countries, 5G-ready connectivity, and kiosks at major airports, this eSIM for international travel promises convenience and cost-effectiveness. But does it deliver? Let’s check out the deets.

Sim Local: Plans and pricing

(Image credit: Sim Local)

Sim Local’s worldwide presence comes with numerous plan options. You may choose local options for all of the supported countries, and even some specific territories within them (e.g. Azores). Then, there are regional eSIM packages that include Europe and the Caribbean, as well as the two global plans.

For instance, the United Kingdom-specific eSIM options range from 3 GB of data for 30 days (but no calls or texts included) via Smartroam (VN) at the cost of a mere $8.75, to the Unlimited plan that covers 30 days of unlimited data, texts, and local calls, and up to 180 minutes of international calls at the price of $50.50 via Everything Everywhere UK.

If you’re seeking coverage for the European Union, then the cheapest option, which will get you 12 GB of data, 200 texts, 30 international minutes, and unlimited local calls for 14 days via Orange FR, is available at the price of $21.50. On the other side of the pricing spectrum is the ‘Europe 50 GB’ plan via Smartroam (VN) at $56.75 which, in addition to the mentioned data, supplies you with unlimited texts and local minutes for the duration of two weeks.

Planning to spend more time traveling across Europe? That is no problem, as Sim Local has an option for you as well. With its ‘Europe 70 GB’ plan via Orange FR, you’re getting more time (28 days) and GBs, in addition to unlimited local minutes and up to 120 minutes for international calls. However, the texts are limited to 1,000 units, hence the price tag of $53.50, which is lower than the 50 GB plan.

Need coverage for both the UK and the EU? Then the combined plan via LycaMobile UK will do the trick. It costs $12.50 and gets you 20 GB of data, unlimited texts and local calls, and up to 100 international minutes, during 15 days. The other option is to pay $25.25 for 100 GB of data under the same conditions as the 20 GB subscription option.

Of course, there are quite a few global options that are good for both regions, ranging from a very limited $3.75 plan (500 MB, 1 day, 99 countries) via Smartroam to the more generous $32 package (10 GB, 14 days, 155 countries) courtesy of Orange FR. Both of these are data-only.

Sim Local also offers a full money-back guarantee if you change your mind or cancel the trip, but under the condition that you haven’t yet activated your plan.

• Also, take a look at our pick of the best eSIM for Europe.

Sim Local: Features

(Image credit: Sim Local)

Let’s take a look at what makes Sim Local eSIM a go-to solution for travelers, both occasional and frequent:

5G coverage

As long as your device supports 5G and you’re in an area where Sim Local offers 5G coverage, you’ll be able to take advantage of the technology and its high speeds, low latency, and ultra-connectivity. If 5G isn’t active by default on your phone, you can enable it in ‘Settings’.

Hotspot-ready

Supporting the same features as physical SIM cards, the Sim Local eSIM includes the ability to set up mobile hotspots and data tethering, allowing you to share your connection without any restrictions. For example, if two people are traveling together, they can purchase one eSIM and share data through tethering.

Kiosks in over 100 airports

Sim Local has physical stores and kiosks at more than 100 airports around the world, including at London’s Heathrow, Gatwick, and WHSmith, as well as in Glasgow, Madrid, Copenhagen, Athens, Dublin, Vienna, Brussels, multiple airports across the United States, and more. This way, their employees can help you on the go.

• Also, take a look at our pick of the best eSIM for Turkey.

Sim Local: Installation

(Image credit: Sim Local)

From the get-go, Sim Local is very straightforward and intuitive. Just head over to the website, browse through the options on offer and, once you’ve made a selection, tick the box to confirm your device “is unlocked and eSIM-enabled” on the order summary page.

You’ll find the list of supported devices and models, organized in categories, on the Sim Local website. If you don’t see your phone or tablet listed here, you can ask the team directly through email or web chat. This is crucial because you don’t want to end up buying an eSIM that doesn’t work on your device.

Hitting the ‘Continue to Payment’ button will take you to the payment page, where you can select to pay via card or PayPal (whichever you feel more comfortable with). Sim Local also allows payments through Apple Pay and Google Pay if buying via phone. Enter your payment information and click on ‘Place Order.’

After your order is confirmed, it’s time to download and set up your eSIM. You can do this by scanning the QR code from the Sim Local website via the camera app on your phone. As the prompt appears on your screen, tap it and follow the instructions to install the eSIM.

Another option is to visit your device’s ‘Settings', select ‘Network & Internet’ (for Android devices), and tap the plus sign (+) next to ‘Mobile Network’ (also known as ‘SIMs’). Select ‘Connect to mobile network’ and then ‘Download a SIM instead?’. Tap ‘Use a different network’ and scan your QR code.

Alternatively, after tapping ‘Download a SIM instead?,’ select ‘Use Activation Code’ to copy and paste the provided codes. That said, just scanning the QR code is arguably the easiest option.

For iOS, the process is similar, with the exception of the particular setting called ‘Cellular or Mobile Data’ where you’ll select ‘Add eSIM’ (or ‘Add Cellular Plan’ or ‘Add Data Plan’) and ‘Use QR Code.’ If you’re installing manually, you’ll copy and paste the ‘SM-DP+ Address’ and ‘Activation Code’ sent to you with your plan details.

Regardless of which method or device you used to install your eSIM, the next step is to make sure your mobile data is using the eSIM and not your primary line (and that ‘Allow Data Switching’ is off for iOS). The aim is to avoid accidentally roaming on your existing plan and incurring massive charges.

Sim Local: Support

(Image credit: Sim Local)

Sim Local’s website has a pretty solid collection of instructions and helpful articles that cover nearly every aspect of installing and using its eSIM. If you can’t find what you’re looking for in the Help Center, then your next stop is to contact the team.

This can be done in multiple ways: by submitting a request via the website form, using live chat, messaging the team on WhatsApp, sending them an email inquiry, or calling them directly on the phone. It doesn’t matter which way you contact them - the customer support agents are available 24/7.

• Also, take a look at our pick of the best eSIM for Asia.

Sim Local: Final verdict

Sim Local delivers a compelling eSIM solution for international travelers, combining affordability, ease of use, and robust customer service. Its broad coverage and regional plans cater to various travel needs, from quick trips to extended stays. Features like 5G readiness and hotspot support add value, while the ability to buy plans in a few clicks ensures a hassle-free experience.

FAQs Is Sim Local eSIM data-only?

Yes and no. Sim Local offers multiple plans depending on your needs and preferences. Some are data-only while others support texting and calling - much like your home provider’s physical SIM but without robbing you blind with exorbitant roaming charges.

Can I install Sim Local eSIM using a QR code?

Of course! Installing Sim Local eSIM using a QR code is supported and straightforward. However, if for any reason the QR method isn’t working for you, manual installation is described step-by-step on the website.

Which countries/regions are covered by Sim Local eSIM?

Thanks to a wide array of packages with different features, Sim Local eSIM covers over 150 countries around the world. That said, it also offers bundled plans, like the UK + Europe, and individual locations like the Azores.

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