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Despite streaming services continuing to dominate the business of recorded music, theres still very much a place for physical media in that sector. The Recording Industry of America said in an annual report [PDF] that sales of vinyl records rose for the 18th straight year in the US to $1.4 billion the highest revenue for that format since 1984, when CDs started to emerge. Vinyl accounted for nearly three-quarters of physical format revenue in 2024. It was the third consecutive year that there were more shipments of vinyl records than CDs 44 million vs. 33 million. It perhaps helps vinyls case that the RIAA has factored in sales figures directly from indie labels for the first time this year. And that Taylor Swift released thirty-six variants of her most recent album, The Tortured Poets Department, including eight vinyl editions. Many fans prefer to own physical copies of music for many reasons, such as their belief that vinyl offers better audio quality and an all-round superior listening experience to streaming services, as well as a way to perhaps better support artists. Scouring the racks at a record store is a fun pastime as well. Vinyl records and CDs are also a hedge against the possibility of music vanishing from streaming services if rights agreements expire or an artist decides to yank their music from a platform. Still, streaming services hit a new milestone last year. The RIAA reports that the average number of paid subscriptions for the year hit 100 million in the US for the first time. Thats a three percent increase from 2023. Revenue from paid subscriptions rose by five percent to $11.7 billion, with the total revenue from streaming (factoring everything from ad-supported services to fitness apps) growing four percent to $14.9 billion. Streaming accounted for 84 percent of recorded music revenue for the third year running.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/vinyl-record-sales-continue-to-rise-amid-music-streamings-dominance-142131328.html?src=rss
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After a mountain of leaks, Google has finally announced the Pixel 9a. There's a good chance you clicked on this article to find out how the 9a compares to its predecessor. The good news is you came to the right place. Even better, it's a favorable comparison. Pixel 9a vs Pixel 8a For starters, the Pixel 9a features a new design. Instead of borrowing the design language of Google's more expensive devices, the new phone has its own identity. Gone is the divisive camera bar that has defined recent Pixel phones. Instead, the main camera module is nearly flush with the rear of the phone. Additionally, the new handset offers slightly better ingress protection. It's IP68-certified against water and dust, up from IP67 on the 8a. The Pixel 9a will also be available two lovely new colors: Iris and Peony. Sadly, Google won't offer an Aloe colorway this time around, at least not at release. Outside of those changes, the 9a sports a larger 6.3 display. Like with the 8a, Google has gone with a FHD panel, meaning the 9a's screen is slightly less dense due to it being a bit larger overall. However, it's the better display. The 9a's pOLED panel is capable of reaching a peak brightness of 2,700 nits, up from 2,000 nits on the 8a. It's also HDR10+ certified, with a 120Hz refresh rate. That additional brightness will make it easier to see the 9a's screen in bright sunlight. Internally, the 9a features Google's latest Tensor G4 SoC, paired once again with 8GB of RAM. Google has also outfitted the 9a with a larger 5,100mAh battery, up from 4,492mAh on the 8a. Just as importantly, the 9a is capable of charging at a faster 23W. That's still slow compared to a device like the Nothing 3a Pro, which is compatible with 50W power adapters, but an improvement over the 8a's glacial 18W. Oh, and if you were hoping for Qi2 support, I'm sorry to say the 9a is limited to charging at 7.5W wirelessly. As for cameras, Google hasn't changed its winning formula. The 9a features a 48MP main camera with f/1.7 lens and optical image stabilization (OIS). On paper, that might seem like a downgrade from the 8a's 64MP main sensor, but they both feature a 0.8m pixel pitch, meaning they're capable of capturing the same amount of light, and it appears Google sourced a newer sensor for the 9a. Otherwise, the Pixel 9a appears to feature the same ultrawide and selfie cameras as its predecessor. As always, when you buy a Pixel phone, you're buying it for Google's computational photography features, and you get all the usual standouts like Night Sight, Best Take and more. Pixel 9a vs iPhone 16e and Nothing 3a Pro The iPhone 16e continues to confound since its announcement in February. At $599, it's a full $100 more expensive than the Pixel 9a, and comparing the two based on hardware alone, Google's new midrange phone is the better deal. You get a significantly bigger battery, a 120Hz display and an entire extra camera. Of course, whether you should buy the 9a over the 16e will entirely depend on your preference for Android over iOS. If you like prefer Apple's software, the Pixel 9a won't do it for you. The more interesting comparison is between the 9a and Nothing's new Phone 3a Pro. For $40 less, you get an even bigger screen, a more original design and, most notably, a periscope camera that offers 3x optical zoom. A great telephoto is really hard to find at this price range, so the 3a Pro might be worth considering for that reason alone. The tradeoff is Google's software support is unmatched, and 3a Pro comes with a limited warranty in the US. Pixel 9a Pixel 8a iPhone 16e Nothing 3a Pro Price $499/$559 $499/$559 $599 / $699 / $899 $459 Dimensions 154.7 x 73.3 x 8.9 mm (6.09 x 2.89 x 0.35 inches) 152.1 x 72.7 x 8.9 mm (6 x 2.9 x 0.4 inches) 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm (5.78 x 2.82 x 0.31 inches) 163.52 x 77.5 x 8.9 mm (6.44 x 3.05 x 0.33 inches) Weight 186g (6.56 ounces) 188g (6.7 ounces) 167g (5.88 ounces) 211g (7.44 ounces) Screen size 6.3 inches 6.1 inches 6.1 inches 6.77 inches Screen resolution 1080 x 2,424 pixels (421ppi) 1,080 x 2,400 pixels (430ppi) 1,170 x 2,532 pixels (460 ppi) 1,080 x 2,392 pixels (387ppi) Screen type pOLED pOLED OLED AMOLED SoC Tensor G4 Tensor G3 Apple A18 Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 RAM 8GB 8GB 8GB 12GB Battery 5,100mAh 4,492mAh 4,005mAh 5,000mAh Storage 128 / 256 GB 128 / 256 GB 128 / 256 / 512 GB 256 GB Rear cameras Wide: 48MP, f/1.7 Ultrawide: 13MP, f/2.2 Wide: 64MP, f/1.89Ultrawide: 13MP, f/2.2 Wide: 48MP, f/1.6 Wide: 50MP, f1/1.9 Ultrawide: 8MP, f/2.2 Periscope telephoto: 50MP, f/2.6 Front camera 13MP, f/2.2 13MP, f/2.2 12MP, f/1.9 50MP, f/2.2 Water / dust rating IP68 IP67 IP68 IP64 Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 6E Wi-Fi 6E Wi-Fi 6 Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth v6.0 v5.3 v5.3 v5.4 OS Android 15 Android 15 iOS 18 Android 15 / Nothing OS 3.1 Colors Obsidian / Porcelain / Iris / Peony Obsidian / Porcelain / Aloe / Bay Black / White Black / Gray This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/heres-how-the-pixel-9a-compares-to-the-competition-141043690.html?src=rss
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Gone are the days of kids asking their parent to borrow cash or their card when going out with friends. Instead, parents can now give their kids access to Google Wallet for making in-store payments with their Android device. Google first announced that this feature was coming back in October. Kids can also use Google Wallet to store passes to things, including a library card, ticket for an event or a gift card. But, parents have a lot of oversight, such as receiving an email every time their child makes a purchase. They can also monitor everything within Family Link, along with remove a payment card or shut off access to all passes. Google Right now, Google is just rolling out the new feature for families in the US, UK, Australia, Spain and Poland. Parents in any of these locations should see the option pop up within the next few weeks. Apple users can already access a similar feature with Apple Cash Family. Parents can set up anyone in their Family Sharing group and let them make purchases, or send and receive money through their wallet or messages. Just like on Android, parents can see their kids' purchases and get notifications each time they buy something. Plus, parents can view the remaining balance or send an allowance through Apple Cash by creating a recurring payment. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/google-wallet-is-now-available-for-kids-140039676.html?src=rss
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