Hey,
It’s Pete Matheson with a new issue of Experiments in Progress.
A lot has been happening in tech recently. So this week I’m pulling together the updates that actually matter:
📦 Amazon is trying to build a smartphone again (AI-first)
Amazon is reportedly working on a new smartphone. More than a decade after the failed Fire Phone.
The idea is to build an AI-first device that replaces traditional apps with a more assistant-driven experience, deeply integrated with Alexa and Amazon services.
Which sounds great in theory. Here are a few of my thoughts on AI:
🤖 Samsung is doubling down on the “Galaxy AI ecosystem”
Samsung’s latest releases show a clear shift:
Less focus on raw hardware upgrades and more focus on AI across devices.
From phones to wearables, Galaxy AI is becoming a core layer across the entire ecosystem handling tasks like editing, summarizing, and real-time assistance.
👉 If you’re considering Samsung right now: watch my Galaxy Z Fold (2-week real-world test)
🧲 Modular accessories are making a comeback
Modular tech is quietly returning but in a different form.
Instead of fully modular phones (which failed), companies are focusing on snap-on accessories powered by magnets and new standards like Qi2.
Think:
smarter add-ons
data + power through attachments
more flexible ecosystems
Related:
📱 Foldables are still evolving (but not solved yet)
Foldables continue to push forward. Thinner designs, better durability, new formats.
Samsung recently pulled back on its tri-fold device after just a few months, while already experimenting with the next version.
Which says a lot:
👉 The form factor is exciting
👉 But the “final version” doesn’t exist yet
🎨 Nothing Phone (4a): design is back
The new Phone (4a) focuses heavily on:
bold design
visual identity (Glyph interface)
clean, minimal software
Source: CNET
👉 If you’re choosing a midrange phone right now watch BEST Midrange: Pixel 9a vs Nothing (3a) Pro vs Samsung A56 vs iPhone 16e
What should my next YouTube video be about?
📱 Enjoying this newsletter? Share it with a friend who’s as obsessed with tech as you are:
What are brand trips actually like behind the scenes?
Why are brands suddenly obsessed with short-form?
And is paying creators monthly to post the new normal?
In this episode of Aspiring Creator, I break down how the creator economy is really shifting right now: from sponsorship strategy to how brands decide who gets invited (and who doesn’t).
What brand trips are really like (and why creators go)
Why brands are prioritizing short-form over long-form
A smarter way to structure sponsorships
Why Adobe Creator Live stood out (and what others get wrong)
Why bigger creators are skipping brand trips altogether
AI vs the council (and how it saved me £3.5K)
🎧 New episodes every Wednesday
