Google Photos has finally caught up with a feature that iOS has had for years. A new Copy button is now rolling out in the Google Photos share sheet. It lets you copy an image straight to the clipboard, without having to download it to your device first (via Android Authority). 

What exactly does the new Google Photos feature do?

Until now, sharing a photo from Google Photos wasn’t as straightforward. First, you had to store the picture locally on your phone, which meant waiting for it to download before you could actually send it anywhere. 

Now, you can argue that a second of waiting doesn’t sound like much. However, Google Photos users had to go through the same process every single time. That’s a second multiplied by the number of times you try to share a photo each day. 

The new Copy button, spotted across multiple devices running the latest Google Photos version (7.71.0.895417930), eliminates that friction. You can simply tap Share on any image, hit the new Copy button, and the photo lands on your phone’s clipboard, good for pasting into a messaging app, a notes app, or wherever you want it to be. 

Does the new Google Photos feature have a catch?

Unfortunately, yes, and I’d prefer you know it upfront rather than realizing it later. The copied image isn’t a pixel-perfect copy of the original one. To keep things quick and efficient, Google Photos copies a compressed version of the picture, with a slightly reduced resolution. 

So, for casual sharing, the new Copy button does perfectly fine. However, I wouldn’t suggest relying on the feature for professional use or printing something. You’re better off spending those few extra seconds and downloading the entire file. 

On the brighter side, the new Google Photos Copy button works for videos too. Furthermore, if you’re using Gboard, copied media appears in the keyboard’s clipboard, remaining there even after you’ve copied something else.  

A new company needs to make a strong first impression. For Fender Audio, a new outfit owned by the legendary Fender Musical Instruments Corporation but operated by Riffsound, that introduction comes in the form of two speakers and a set of headphones. The Elie 6 ($300) and Elie 12 ($400) are portable Bluetooth speakers with sophisticated designs and unique features, offering similar functionality in two different sizes. These devices are essentially speaker/amplifier hybrids, since they both have ¼-inch/XLR combo inputs among their connections. Despite the unique mix of connectivity, the speakers still need to sound good and work well to compete with the many excellent portable options available today.

Fender Audio/Engadget

The Elie 12 is a large, powerful portable speaker with plenty of inputs, but weight and battery life could be deal breakers for some.

Pros

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• Excellent audio clarity
• Four inputs
• Refined design

Cons

• IP rated but there’s exposed wood
• Big and heavy
• No app for customization
• Battery life lags behind top competition

Fender Audio

The Elie 6 punches above its size in audio clarity and connectivity, but it’s heavy for such a small speaker and some competitors offer better battery life.

Pros

• Excellent audio clarity
• Four inputs
• Refined design

Cons

• IP rated but there’s exposed wood
• Limited playback controls
• No app for customization
• Battery life lags behind top competition

The good: Design, inputs and overall clarity

The first time I saw the Elie 6 and Elie 12 in person, my eyes were immediately drawn to the design. These certainly don’t look like your typical Bluetooth speakers. That’s due in large part to the refined, almost retro look that’s consistent across both models. The Elie duo are products you won’t mind showing off, while many portable speakers are too flashy or brightly colored to be kept in a prominent place.

All of the onboard controls are clearly labeled physical buttons or dials, so you’re not left wondering how anything works. Around back, both the Elie 6 and Elie 12 have combo ¼-inch/XLR inputs (with 48V phantom power) as well as buttons for two wireless inputs and a 3.5mm line out. That combo jack means both speakers can double as amps, and the dual wireless connections allow you to sync microphones for karaoke sessions or hosting trivia night. This expanded functionality speaks to Fender’s history as a guitar icon, but it also gives the Elie speakers an upper hand over much of the competition at these sizes. Typically if you want these types of inputs, you’ll need to consider a much larger party box-style speaker to get them.

Before I move on from the controls and inputs, I need to mention the dedicated three-way mode switch for single, stereo and multi-speaker uses. This is so much easier than what’s on most portable speakers, which usually entails some weird dance with Bluetooth pairing or an app to sync multiple units together. Enlisting a physical switch so you know exactly where things stand is a much better and faster experience.

In terms of sound, the best thing the Elie 6 and Elie 12 speakers have going for them is their overall clarity. The crisp, clear quality gives these Fender Audio units an advantage over the competition at these sizes. Throughout a range of genres — including bluegrass, alt-rock and heavy metal — both the Elie 6 and Elie 12 handled the varied styles with ease. The Elie 12 has twice the speakers as the Elie 6 (two full range, two tweeters and two subwoofers) and double the power output at 120 watts. So, of course, there’s more volume and bassy oomph on the larger speaker.

Both the Elie 6 and Elie 12 have a wider soundstage than many speakers of similar sizes. You can really hear this on American Football’s debut album, where the guitars ring clear, interlaced with drums while the vocals float on top. All of the elements stand on their own, but are seamlessly blended throughout every track. The Elie 12 features more bass and volume, but the overall sound quality, and importantly, clarity, is pretty similar for both speakers. I did notice more instrumental separation on the larger model though, so the album is a bit more immersive there.

The not so great: Controls, no app and battery life

While I appreciate the physical controls on the Elie 6 and Elie 12, the playback options are limited, which means you’ll be reaching for your phone often. There’s only a play/pause button on both speakers, and no controls for skipping tracks. And no, you can’t skip forwards or backwards with a double or triple press on the play/pause button. Plus, only the Elie 12 has bass and treble dials, so there’s currently no option for adjusting the sound on the Elie 6.

That’s because Fender Audio is still working on an app for its speakers and headphones. The lack of customization was an issue for me on the Mix headphones, and it continues to be one here. Customers need access to features and settings on devices like this, even if a company decides to offer audio presets instead of a full EQ. Some type of visual interface would also help when you’re using a few of those inputs at once. A basic mult-channel mixer maybe? Hey, a boy can dream.

Going back to the controls, the volume dials on both speakers could use refining. First, a listenable volume doesn’t happen until halfway. Anything below that and that excellent clarity isn’t present, and you can’t really hear the content well at all. There’s plenty of power at 50 percent and above, so that’s not a concern, but the control needs to be recalibrated for more even increases. What’s more, adjustments are slightly delayed: when you turn the dial, it takes a second or two for the speaker to catch up. To me, it feels like that should be instantaneous.

When it’s time to venture outdoors, both the Elie 6 and Elie 12 are IP54 rated for dust and water splashes. However, both speakers have a wood panel on top, which certainly won’t withstand much moisture. As such, I find the IP ratings confusing, since it’s obvious the entirety of the designs aren’t up to that task. If you’re careful about water though, both speakers have enough volume for open-air use.

One other consideration for the Elie 6 and 12 is their weight. The smaller speaker weighs just over five pounds, while the larger model is a whopping 8.8 pounds. For comparison, the Sonos Play is just 2.87 pounds and JBL’s Xtreme 4 tips the scales at 4.63 pounds. This means the Elie 6 and 12 are portable options, but they aren’t the grab-and-go type of speakers some of the competition offers — especially when weight matters.

Battery life is one other area the Elie 6 and Elie 12 fall behind some of their competition. The smaller Elie 6 offers 15 hours of use while the larger Elie 12 should last up to 18 hours. That sounds like more than enough since it’s longer than a full day, right? Well, JBL Bluetooth speakers at comparable prices last 24 and 34 hours. The new Sonos Play is rated at 24 hours, and one of my personal favorites, the Bose SoundLink Max, lasts up to 20 hours.

Wrap-up

There’s no doubt Fender Audio built two versatile, great-looking speakers here. Both the Elie 6 and Elie 12 are capable devices, and you don’t have to sacrifice much if you opt for the smaller of the two. The unique collection of inputs is typically only available on much larger speakers and the overall sound quality is well-suited for a range of genres.

Speakers like these really need an app though, especially when a company offers four inputs to juggle. I’m sure would-be customers would also like to dial in the EQ to their preferences, too. Sure, you can find longer battery life elsewhere, but the blend of design, sound and connectivity stands out at these prices. I’d call that a solid first impression.

Slightly more than 20% remained unemployed

Private institution graduates faced a tight job market in 2025, with fewer than half landing full-time employment. However, median salaries remained steady, according to the latest Private Education Institution (PEI) Graduate Employment Survey released by SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) on Wednesday (Apr 8).

Only 46.9% of fresh graduates found full-time work, a figure similar to 2024’s 46.4%. At the same time, the median gross monthly wages of those in full-time jobs in 2025 remained the same as in 2024, at S$3,500.

In comparison, of the 83.4% of graduates from autonomous universities who found employment in 2025, 74.4% secured full-time positions, compared to 79.4% in 2024. The median gross monthly salary for graduates who secured jobs within six months remained steady at S$4,500.

The PEI Graduate Employment survey was conducted between Oct 2025 and Jan 2026, across 3,800 participants of the 6,150 fresh graduates of full-time bachelor’s degree programmes across 26 private institutions. This includes the Singapore Institute of Management and PSB Academy.

Overall, among the 2,600 graduates surveyed who were working or seeking employment, 78.9% of them landed a job within six months of graduation, a slight uptick from 78.6% in 2024.

Almost one-fourth of graduates (24%) found part-time or temporary work in 2025, similar to the year before. Those who were doing freelance work grew slightly at 5.1%, up from 4.2% in 2024.

Meanwhile, 21.1% remained unemployed. 2.4% had accepted offers but not yet started, and a small 0.6% were striking out on their own as entrepreneurs.

Not all private university graduates fared the same

Among the surveyed private university graduates, not all fared equally.

Health science graduates led in both employment and pay: 76.5% are in full-time permanent roles, with median salaries at S$3,935. This is followed by the Sciences at 57.5% employment, while engineering trailed at 49.4%. Information and digital technologies tied engineering for the second-highest pay at S$3,900.

When it came to salaries by institution, James Cook University graduates took home the most at S$3,700 a month, followed by those from the Management Development Institute of Singapore at S$3,580.

SSG’s director-general for private education, Angela Tan, struck an optimistic note.

“The employment outcomes for PEI graduates have remained steady, reflecting their adaptability and readiness for the workforce in today’s fast-changing job market,” she said, adding that SSG will continue working with partners to provide skills and career guidance.

• Read other articles we’ve written on Singapore’s current affairs here.

Featured Image Credit: Pexels

The vacuum failed to clean up two of the three test Cheerios that I strategically placed around my main floor to see which nooks and crannies it could reach. Both had small overhangs (one was an Ikea Billy bookshelf and the other a freestanding cabinet) that the Spot+Scrub couldn’t get under. It doesn’t have an extendable arm to help fix the issue.

I ran into a similar issue upstairs. My bathroom cabinets are the same basic builder-grade set as my downstairs kitchen, but the Spot+Scrub managed to wedge itself underneath my primary bathroom cabinets and then struggled to remove itself. It did the same thing with my low bed frame, forcing itself underneath after many attempts, and then it couldn’t get out. I marked the bed as a no-cleaning zone in the app, but, like the kitchen island, since the Dyson map doesn’t know where my bed is, I had to guesstimate, leaving a good portion of the bedroom without any vacuuming.

Photograph: Nena Farrell

Still, it did a good job of cleaning my upstairs carpet. While this robot vacuum can map multiple floors, the operation wasn’t as completely smooth as I had hoped. When the Spot+Scrub finishes cleaning on a floor without a base station, it’ll return to the starting position. Once you move it to the dock, it’ll just start charging without emptying. That means when it goes to work on my main floor, the mop pad isn’t cleaned, dry debris is still left in the vacuum, and the dirty water chamber isn’t dried. It’s almost like it resets itself, forgetting its last function.

So if you’re using it on multiple floors, save the one with the docking station for last. I ended up having the Spot+Scrub clean my main floor after the upstairs, just to make sure the vacuum would be fully emptied and dried. You also have to activate the cleaning function while the robot is still in its docking station, so it can prep for mopping, then pause the cleaning (you can do this in the Dyson app or on the vacuum itself) once it rolls out of the docking station to then lift and move it to another floor.

AI Wars

Photograph: Nena Farrell

Of course, there’s the feature this vacuum is named for: its built-in AI that spots stains and scrubs them away. The Spot+Scrub uses an HD camera to inspect the floors, then uses AI to analyze what it sees and know when to scrub trouble spots. It’ll go back and forth over those spots, and the AI will calculate how often it needs to do so to remove the stain.

OnePlus has been everywhere in the news lately, and not always for the calmest reasons. Reports recently suggested the brand was pulling back from several major markets, right after the exit of its India CEO, which is a pretty big deal considering how important India is for the company. And yet, here it is, doing the exact opposite of slowing down.

Just this month, OnePlus dropped the Nord 6, and now fresh reports hint that it’s stepping into the handheld gaming space as well. It’s an interesting move, especially in a year that already feels like a turning point for the brand. If anything, this new direction makes it clear that OnePlus isn’t retreating, it’s reshuffling and trying something bold.

OnePlus just teased something that refuses to be boring

A well-known tipster, Digital Chat Station, has shared what appears to be the first look at OnePlus’s upcoming gaming handheld on Weibo. And from that single image, there’s already quite a bit to unpack. The device seems to lean into a clean, almost boxy design, with a square-ish profile that makes it stand out from the usual rounded handhelds. Interestingly, there’s also a rear camera module on the back panel, which adds a bit of curiosity to the mix.

Another tipster, Bald Panda, also on Weibo, claims the handheld could feature an 8-inch display and run on a MediaTek Dimensity chipset. While the exact processor hasn’t been confirmed yet, all signs point towards MediaTek being the brains behind it. As for the design, it’s got a sleek black finish paired with a contrasting purple hand rest, which honestly sounds like a bit of a flex. It gives the device a premium, slightly playful look, rather than going all-in on the usual serious gamer aesthetic.

I’m genuinely excited to see OnePlus step into a completely new space. It’s not an easy category to crack, and building credibility here will take time. That said, OnePlus doesn’t exactly have a history of doing things halfway. When it commits to something, it usually brings a certain level of polish and thoughtfulness to the table. So while this handheld might be new territory for the brand, there’s a good chance it won’t feel like a first attempt. If anything, this could be OnePlus testing its limits a little, and that’s where things tend to get interesting.

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 has earned a reputation as one of the most capable over-ear headphones at its price point, and this discount makes a strong case for picking one up right now.

A $250 discount makes that case even harder to ignore, bringing the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless down to $199.95 from its original $449.95 on a pair of noise-cancelling headphones that genuinely punch above their discounted price.