The Best Marketing and Sales Software to Boost Business Growth

In today’s digital-first world, the right marketing and sales software can make all the difference between struggling with manual tasks and running a streamlined, data-driven business. Whether you’re managing leads, automating workflows, or analyzing customer behavior, the right stack of tools empowers teams to scale faster and sell smarter.

At AlternativeKnot, we explore, review, and compare the best alternatives in software to help professionals make informed decisions. Below is a curated list of powerful marketing and sales tools that are transforming how businesses attract, engage, and retain customers in 2025.

1. Loops

Loops is an advanced email marketing and automation platform designed to help businesses communicate with their audience in a personalized and efficient manner. With features like automated workflows, analytics, and segmentation, Loops ensures every campaign is data-driven. Its intuitive interface allows even non-technical users to design and execute sophisticated marketing sequences with ease.

Why it stands out:

  • AI-driven campaign optimization
  • Seamless integrations with CRMs and ecommerce tools
  • Real-time performance tracking

2. RevenueCat

For companies that rely on subscription-based revenue models, RevenueCat is a game-changer. It simplifies in-app purchases, subscription tracking, and revenue reporting across multiple platforms. Developers and marketers can easily analyze churn rates, trial conversions, and recurring revenue without complex coding.

Key advantages:

  • Centralized dashboard for iOS, Android, and web apps
  • Real-time analytics and user segmentation
  • Integrates with analytics tools like Amplitude and Mixpanel

3. HubSpot

HubSpot remains a powerhouse in inbound marketing, CRM, and sales automation. From lead generation and email marketing to customer support and analytics, it offers an all-in-one platform that scales with your business. HubSpot’s CRM is particularly praised for being intuitive and completely free at entry-level.

Highlights:

  • All-in-one marketing, sales, and customer service hub
  • Comprehensive analytics and reporting
  • Built-in automation for email and social media

4. Tally

If you’re looking for a lightweight and elegant form builder, Tally is an excellent choice. It allows businesses to create forms for surveys, lead generation, and feedback without any coding knowledge. Its simple interface and powerful customization options make it ideal for marketers looking to gather data quickly.

Why marketers love it:

  • No-code form creation
  • Integrates with Notion, Airtable, and Google Sheets
  • Clean design with flexible question logic

5. Apollo.io

Apollo.io is one of the most comprehensive sales intelligence and engagement platforms. It provides access to a vast B2B contact database, helping sales teams identify prospects, automate outreach, and track engagement. With its integrated email sequencing and analytics, Apollo.io helps businesses close deals faster.

Core benefits:

  • 270+ million verified contacts
  • Automated email and LinkedIn outreach
  • AI-powered lead scoring

6. Zoho

Zoho is an established suite of tools covering CRM, email marketing, finance, and collaboration. Zoho CRM is particularly favored by small to medium-sized businesses for its customization, affordability, and automation capabilities. Its unified ecosystem helps businesses manage every customer touchpoint efficiently.

Why it’s effective:

  • Affordable all-in-one business suite
  • AI assistant (Zia) for insights and automation
  • Deep integrations with third-party apps

7. Ahrefs

No marketing stack is complete without a strong SEO tool — and Ahrefs leads the way. From keyword research to backlink tracking and competitor analysis, Ahrefs helps marketers increase organic visibility and build authority online. It’s an indispensable tool for SEO-driven growth.

Key SEO features:

  • Site audit and keyword explorer
  • Content gap and backlink analysis
  • Competitor performance tracking

8. Crisp

Crisp offers a modern live chat and customer messaging platform for sales and support teams. Beyond chat, it provides chatbots, shared inboxes, and CRM integrations that allow businesses to deliver real-time customer experiences across multiple channels.

Notable features:

  • Multichannel inbox (email, chat, Messenger, WhatsApp)
  • Automated chatbots for lead qualification
  • Customer timeline and engagement insights

9. Jotform

Jotform is another robust form builder but with advanced customization and data management options. It’s widely used for lead capture, feedback forms, and surveys. The platform’s automation and analytics tools help businesses collect, analyze, and act on data effortlessly.

Highlights:

  • 10,000+ ready-made form templates
  • Payment integrations and approval workflows
  • HIPAA compliance for healthcare businesses

10. Unicorn Platform

Unicorn Platform simplifies landing page creation for startups and SaaS businesses. With a drag-and-drop editor and pre-designed templates, marketing teams can launch professional-looking landing pages in minutes — no coding needed.

What makes it stand out:

  • Beautifully designed SaaS templates
  • Built-in form and payment integrations
  • Fast and SEO-optimized pages

11. Dora AI

Dora AI is revolutionizing website building by allowing users to generate full websites through simple text prompts. Perfect for startups, Dora combines AI automation with intuitive design tools to bring marketing ideas to life in seconds.

Why marketers are excited about it:

  • AI-generated website layouts and content
  • Real-time editing and customization
  • Ideal for product launches and campaign landing pages

12. Phantom Buster

Phantom Buster automates repetitive lead generation and data extraction tasks. Whether it’s collecting LinkedIn leads, extracting emails, or automating outreach, this tool helps marketing teams save hours of manual work and scale faster.

Advantages:

  • Pre-built automation scripts (“Phantoms”)
  • LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter integrations
  • Ideal for cold outreach and prospect research

13. Leads Sniper

As the name suggests, Leads Sniper focuses on precision targeting in lead generation. It scrapes verified business data, helping sales professionals find high-quality prospects based on niche filters and industry parameters.

Why it’s useful:

  • Accurate B2B database
  • Custom targeting options
  • Export-ready lead lists

14. GetSales.io

GetSales.io automates outreach campaigns through email and LinkedIn with personalized messages at scale. Its smart sequencing and analytics features make it an ideal companion for outbound teams looking to optimize engagement.

Top features:

  • Smart email and LinkedIn automation
  • AI-based personalization
  • Unified dashboard for campaign performance

15. Taplink

Taplink is a simple yet powerful link-in-bio tool for social media marketers. It allows brands and influencers to create mini landing pages that showcase multiple links, offers, and calls-to-action — all within one Instagram or TikTok bio.

Best for:

  • Social media promotions and product links
  • Customizable design and analytics
  • Integrations with messengers and payment gateways

16. VidAU

VidAU is an emerging AI video creation tool that helps marketers turn text into professional videos within minutes. It’s ideal for creating social media content, explainer videos, and ad creatives without needing advanced editing skills.

Features marketers love:

  • AI-generated voiceovers and subtitles
  • Multiple templates for business use
  • Perfect for YouTube, TikTok, and ad campaigns

Final Thoughts

The marketing and sales landscape is evolving rapidly — and leveraging the right mix of tools can dramatically improve efficiency, conversion rates, and ROI. From CRM and automation (like HubSpot and Zoho) to AI-driven creativity (like VidAU and Dora AI), each of these platforms adds unique value to your marketing tech stack.At AlternativeKnot, we believe in exploring better software alternatives that fit your business needs and budget.
If you know a tool that deserves to be featured as an alternative to any of the software mentioned above, we’d love to hear from you! To share your suggestion: Contact Us.

Best Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) for Smarter Hiring

Recruiting top talent today requires more than just job postings — it demands streamlined workflows, collaboration, and automation. That’s where Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) help.

Whether you’re a startup, staffing agency, or enterprise, the right ATS can save time and improve hiring quality. Here’s a list of the 10 best Applicant Tracking Systems — covering features, pricing, and ideal use cases.

What to Look for in an ATS

Before you choose, ensure the platform offers:

  • Job posting & resume parsing automation
  • Collaboration tools for hiring teams
  • Workflow & email automation
  • Analytics and compliance tracking
  • HRIS or payroll integration

A great ATS should simplify hiring while improving candidate experience.

1. Rippling

Rippling combines HR, IT, and payroll management with a built-in ATS — ideal for end-to-end employee lifecycle automation.

Pricing: Paid only. Base HR plan starts at $35/month + $8 per user, with ATS modules as add-ons.
Best for: Mid to large companies needing full HR integration.

2. Zoho Recruit

Zoho Recruit offers flexible workflows and strong integrations across the Zoho suite. It’s ideal for SMBs and staffing agencies.

Pricing: Free plan available (limited). Paid plans from $25 to $75 per user/month.
Best for: Businesses already using Zoho or seeking a budget-friendly ATS.

3. CEIPAL ATS

CEIPAL focuses on AI-driven recruiting with automation and compliance tools for staffing firms.

Pricing: Paid. Plans start around $24 per user/month (min. 5 users).
Best for: Agencies and large teams managing high candidate volumes.

4. BambooHR

BambooHR is known for simplicity and a unified HR suite that includes a basic Applicant Tracking System.

Pricing: Paid only. Starts around $250/month for up to 25 employees.
Best for: Small to medium businesses wanting integrated HR + recruiting.

5. JobDiva

JobDiva blends ATS and CRM features, popular among recruiting agencies managing multiple clients.

Pricing: Paid only, custom quotes required.
Best for: Staffing and enterprise teams needing advanced recruitment analytics.

6. Breezy HR

Breezy offers drag-and-drop pipelines, branded career pages, and team collaboration. It’s one of the easiest Applicant Tracking System tools to set up.

Pricing: Free plan available. Paid tiers from $189/month (Startup) to $529/month (Business).
Best for: Startups and small businesses prioritizing ease of use.

7. Homebase

Homebase suits hourly and shift-based hiring, combining scheduling, time tracking, and applicant management.

Pricing: Offers a free basic plan with paid tiers starting around $24.95/month per location.
Best for: Retail, restaurants, and small businesses hiring hourly staff.

8. 100Hires

100Hires is an affordable, lightweight ATS with resume tracking, automation, and email tools.

Pricing: Paid plans from $99/month (basic) to $249/month (advanced).
Best for: Startups or small teams needing an affordable solution.

9. Greenhouse

Greenhouse is a leading enterprise ATS built for structured, data-driven hiring and advanced analytics.

Pricing: Paid only, custom quotes (typically $6,000–$10,000/year for SMBs).
Best for: Scaling companies with complex hiring workflows.

10. Lever

Lever combines ATS and CRM functionality to nurture passive candidates and manage pipelines.

Pricing: Paid only, custom quotes (commonly from $4,000/year for small teams).
Best for: Growth-focused companies emphasizing proactive recruitment.

Final Thoughts

Selecting the right Applicant Tracking System depends on your company size, budget, and goals.

At AlternativeKnot, we curate the best software alternatives to help users find smarter, cheaper, and more efficient solutions across industries.

If you know an emerging ATS or recruiting platform we should feature, we’d love to hear from you! Reach us at: info@alternativeknot.com or drop a message at: https://alternativeknot.com/contact-us

Google AI Mode now lets you search with pictures and get visual inspiration

Google has been constantly adding new features to the AI Mode in Google Search, and now, the company is introducing a new functionality that offers visual results.

In a blog post, the tech giant said that starting today, Google AI Mode users will be able to “ask a question conversationally and get a range of visual results in AI mode.” For example, if you are searching for design inspiration for your bedroom, AI Mode will help you turn your idea into a vision by showing visuals that match the things you are looking for.

For those not in the loop, Google Search’s AI Mode lets you ask “longer, more complex and nuanced questions”, which would previously require users to make multiple search queries. Initially available in English, Google has since then included support for other languages like Hindi, Brazilian Portuguese, Indonesian, Korean and Japanese.

Google says you can also ask AI Mode for more options and search by simply sharing an image or taking a photo and feeding it to AI Mode. Every image that you see will also have a link associated with it, allowing users to quickly check out a particular item or result.

This is really handy for online shoppers as they can simply describe what they are looking for using natural language and get results without having to use a bunch of filters. Powered by Gemini 2.5’s advanced multimodal and language capabilities, AI Mode can also recognise details and objects in a photo and search for them as well. In case you are wondering, you can also search for a specific thing in an image and ask follow-up questions about it.

However, the feature is currently limited to those living in the United States, but Google is expected to bring it to the rest of the world in the future.

Apple addresses iPhone 17 ‘scratchgate’ controversy: Here’s what happened

The iPhone 17 series, including the new iPhone Air, has performed well in durability and scratch tests. However, just weeks after launch, several customers and tech experts are reporting that their devices are picking up marks and scratches more easily than expected.

The issue seems to be affecting the Deep Blue, Cosmic Orange and Space Black colourways of the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max and the iPhone Air, with the scratches particularly visible around the sharp edges of the camera bump. In a video, popular YouTuber JerryRigEverything said that the scratches may be because the anodised aluminium layer on the iPhone 17 and the iPhone Pro Max “does not stick to corners very well.”

“For some reason, Apple didn’t add a chamfer, fillet or radius around the camera plateau, and I think it was intentional, so it looks cooler. But that decision to look cool out of the box is going to plague everyone who owns this phone down the road,” he added. As it turns out, if you happen to keep your iPhone 17 Pro or the iPhone 17 Pro Max in the same pocket with everyday items like coins or house or car keys, the metal can chip away at the coating around the camera island, but these items won’t most likely affect the flat rear panel.

Last week, when the iPhone 17 series went on sale, Bloomberg had reported that some of the display models in Apple retail stores already had some scratches on them. The publication also stated that the magnetic MagSafe charger may leave a fairly visible circular mark on the back panel of the iPhone 17 Pro models.

Commenting on the iPhone 17 Pro’s scratchgate controversy, an Apple representative told 9to5mac that the scratches were caused by the worn MagSafe stands that were used in some stores. The tech giant went on to say that they aren’t actually scratches, but the material transfer from the stands to the phone and that they can be removed by cleaning. Apple also claimed that the same issue also affected the iPhone 16 models.

As for the marks on or near the camera bump, Apple says that the camera island’s edges have the same anodised aluminium finish as MacBooks and other iPhone models, but users may see normal wear and tear, like small abrasions over time. iFixit, an online resource for repairing consumer electronics, said that the problem lies in the iPhone 17 Pro’s sharp camera bump, where the anodization process is uneven. Right now, the only way to prevent these scratches from appearing is to put on a case.

OpenAI’s hardware push may include a Humane-like pin and smart wearables

A few months ago, OpenAI acquired io Products, the AI hardware startup led by former Apple design chief Jony Ive, and was reportedly working on several AI-powered gadgets.

Now, a new report by The Information, citing people “with direct knowledge of the matter”, claims that the ChatGPT developer is considering making a device that “resembles a smart speaker without a display”. It goes on to say that OpenAI has already secured contracts with Luxshare and Goertek – two Apple suppliers who make parts for iPhone, AirPods, HomePods and Apple Watches for its speakers.

As it turns out, OpenAI and io Products may also be working on smartglasses, a digital voice recorder and a wearable Humane-like “pin”. The publication also claims that these devices will launch sometime in late 2026 or early 2027 and will have OpenAI branding.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman had previously said that one of the devices would be a pocket-sized, contextually aware screenless device, but the report now hints at other form factors like eyewear. However, as previous rumours suggested, it looks like there won’t be any in-ear devices. The Information also says that OpenAI has started using Apple’s supply chain in China to make these devices and that the Cupertino-based tech giant cancelled a meeting with its suppliers in China to prevent OpenAI from poaching talent from Apple.

In the last few months, Apple employees who were part of the company’s AI division have jumped ship to OpenAI ever since the Sam Altman-led company announced its partnership with the original iPhone’s designer ,Jony Ive. Tang Tan, Apple’s former design head, left the tech giant to become OpenAI’s chief hardware officer.

However, OpenAI is yet to show a prototype of any of their devices and hasn’t said anything about form factor and price either, but if true, this might mean that we can see OpenAI taking inspiration from Apple for its debut products.

Trump to impose $100,000 fee per year for H-1B visas, in blow to tech

The Trump administration said on Friday it would ask companies to pay $100,000 per year for H-1B worker visas, prompting some big tech companies to warn visa holders to stay in the U.S. or quickly return.

The change could deal a big blow to the technology sector that relies heavily on skilled workers from India and China.

Since taking office in January, Trump has kicked off a wide-ranging immigration crackdown, including moves to limit some forms of legal immigration. The step to reshape the H-1B visa program represents his administration’s most high-profile effort yet to rework temporary employment visas.

“If you’re going to train somebody, you’re going to train one of the recent graduates from one of the great universities across our land,” said Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Train Americans. Stop bringing in people to take our jobs.”

Trump’s threat to crack down on H-1B visas has become a major flashpoint with the tech industry, which contributed millions of dollars to his presidential campaign.

Microsoft, JPMorgan and Amazon responded to the announcement by advising employees holding H-1B visas to remain in the United States, according to internal emails reviewed by Reuters.

They advised employees on the H-1B visas who were outside the U.S. to return before midnight on Saturday (0400 GMT on Sunday), when the new fee structures are set to take effect.

“H-1B visa holders who are currently in the U.S. should remain in the U.S. and avoid international travel until the government issues clear travel guidance,” read an email sent to JPMorgan employees by Ogletree Deakins, a company that handles visa applications for the U.S. investment bank.

Microsoft, JPMorgan, law firm Ogletree Deakins, which represents the bank on the issue, and Amazon did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

Critics of the H-1B program, including many U.S. technology workers, argue that it allows firms to suppress wages and sideline Americans who could do the jobs. Supporters, including Tesla CEO and former Trump ally Elon Musk, say it brings in highly skilled workers essential to filling talent gaps and keeping firms competitive. Musk, himself a naturalized U.S. citizen born in South Africa, has held an H-1B visa.

Some employers have exploited the program to hold down wages, disadvantaging U.S. workers, according to the executive order Trump signed on Friday.

The number of foreign science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workers in the U.S. more than doubled between 2000 and 2019 to nearly 2.5 million, even as overall STEM employment only increased 44.5% during that time, it said.

MOVE COULD DETER GLOBAL TALENT

Adding new fees “creates disincentive to attract the world’s smartest talent to the U.S.,” said Deedy Das, partner at venture capital firm Menlo Ventures, on X. “If the U.S. ceases to attract the best talent, it drastically reduces its ability to innovate and grow the economy.”

The move could add millions of dollars in costs for companies, which could hit smaller tech firms and start-ups particularly hard.

Reuters was not immediately able to establish how the fee would be administered. Lutnick said the visa would cost $100,000 a year for each of the three years of its duration but that the details were “still being considered.”

Under the current system, entering the lottery for the visa requires a small fee and, if approved, subsequent fees could amount to several thousand dollars.

Some analysts suggested the fee may force companies to move some high-value work overseas, hampering America’s position in the high-stakes artificial intelligence race with China.

“In the short term, Washington may collect a windfall; in the long term, the U.S. risks taxing away its innovation edge, trading dynamism for short-sighted protectionism,” said eMarketer analyst Jeremy Goldman.

INDIA ACCOUNTS FOR MOST H-1B VISAS

India was the largest beneficiary of H-1B visas last year, accounting for 71% of approved beneficiaries, while China was a distant second at 11.7%, according to government data.

In the first half of 2025, Amazon.com and its cloud-computing unit, AWS, had received approval for more than 12,000 H-1B visas, while Microsoft and Meta Platforms had over 5,000 H-1B visa approvals each.

Lutnick said on Friday that “all the big companies are on board” with $100,000 a year for H-1B visas.

“We’ve spoken to them,” he said.

Many large U.S. tech, banking and consulting companies declined to comment or did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Indian embassy in Washington and the Chinese Consulate General in New York also did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Shares of Cognizant Technology Solutions, an IT services company that relies extensively on H-1B visa holders, closed down nearly 5%. U.S.-listed shares of Indian tech firms Infosys and Wipro closed between 2% and 5% lower.

IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy director of the American Immigration Council, questioned the legality of the new fees. “Congress has only authorized the government to set fees to recover the cost of adjudicating an application,” he said on Bluesky.

The H-1B program offers 65,000 visas annually to employers bringing in temporary foreign workers in specialized fields, with another 20,000 visas for workers with advanced degrees.

Nearly all the visa fees have to be paid by the employers. The H-1B visas are approved for a period of three to six years.

Trump also signed an executive order on Friday to create a “gold card” for individuals who can afford to pay $1 million for U.S. permanent residency.

Microsoft seizes 340 websites linked to growing phishing subscription service

Microsoft Inc said on Tuesday that it seized nearly 340 websites tied to a rapidly growing Nigerian-based service that allowed users to carry out phishing operations that stole at least 5,000 Microsoft user credentials. Microsoft obtained an order from the U.S. District Court in Manhattan earlier this month to seize domains associated with Raccoon0365, the subscription service that allowed users to carry out massive phishing campaigns, which sometimes involved thousands of emails at a time, according to Steven Masada, assistant general counsel for Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit.

Raccoon0365’s service, which operates through a private Telegram channel with more than 850 subscribers, enables users to impersonate trusted brands and get targets to enter Microsoft login credentials on phony Microsoft login pages, Masada said in a blog posted on Microsoft’s website. The service has generated for its small group of operators at least $100,000 in cryptocurrency payments since launching in July 2024, Masada said in the blog.

Microsoft said the seizure of the websites occurred over a period of days earlier this month. Microsoft identified Nigeria-based Joshua Ogundipe as the leader and main operator of Raccoon0365. Ogundipe did not immediately respond to an email request for comment sent to the email address identified by Microsoft in its court filing. “Cybercriminals don’t need to be sophisticated to cause widespread harm,” Masada said. “Simple tools like Raccoon0365 make cybercrime accessible to virtually anyone, putting millions of users at risk.” Raccoon0365 subscribers have targeted a wide swath of industries, Masada said, and separate court filings allege that “a significant portion” of Raccoon0365 activity targets organizations based in New York City.

Masada said Microsoft identified what it said was a Raccoon0365-related effort using tax-themed phishing emails to target more than 2,300 organizations, mostly in the U.S., between February 12 and February 28 this year, according to a company blog posted in April. Errol Weiss, chief security officer of the Health Information Sharing & Analysis Center (Health-ISAC), which provides cybersecurity services to member health organizations and is a co-plaintiff alongside Microsoft, said Raccoon0365 has been linked to successful credential harvesting through phishing campaigns at at least five unnamed healthcare organizations, while targeting 25 health sector organizations overall.

Once hackers gain that access, any number of things can happen, Weiss said. “So many of the attacks start because somebody gave up their user name and password to a bad guy,” Weiss said in an interview. “Once that cybercriminal has access to the network, then it’s just up to the imagination in terms of what comes next and how they monetize it.” The Raccoon0365 operators used services provided by Cloudflare to help hide the service’s backend infrastructure, the internet services firm said in its own blog post. Cloudflare worked with Microsoft and the U.S. Secret Service to disrupt Raccoon0365 operations on its platform and prevent the operators from establishing new accounts, the company said. Blake Darché, the head of threat intelligence at Cloudflare, said in an interview that the Raccoon0365 operators made some key operational security mistakes but were highly effective. “They’re in people’s accounts, they compromise lots of people, and it needs to obviously be stopped,” he said.

Vivo G3 5G Launch Goes Official with 6,000mAh Battery & Dimensity 6300

Vivo G3 5G Launch Goes Official with exciting new features. It is the successor of Vivo G2 launched earlier in January 2024. The phone brings a large 6,000mAh battery, Dimensity 6300 processor, fast charging support, and improved design.

It also provides strong durability, balanced specifications, and useful connectivity options. However, Vivo has not confirmed any international availability yet.

also read: Vivo X Fold 5 Launching on June 25th with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3

Vivo G3 5G Launch Goes Official: Price and Availability

The Vivo G3 5G has been introduced in China. The base variant carries 6GB RAM with 128GB storage. It is priced at CNY 1,499, nearly Rs. 18,300.

The higher-end version carries 8GB RAM with 256GB storage. It costs CNY 1,999, nearly Rs. 24,300. The smartphone is available only in Diamond Black color option. Vivo has not shared global release plans yet.

Display and Performance

The smartphone includes a 6.74-inch LCD display. The screen resolution is 720×1600 pixels with a 90Hz refresh rate. It features a 20:9 aspect ratio and 1500:1 contrast ratio.

The device is powered by MediaTek Dimensity 6300 SoC. Graphics are handled by Mali-G57 GPU. Memory options include 6GB or 8GB LPDDR4X RAM. Storage options are 128GB eMMC 5.1 or 256GB UFS 2.2.

Camera and Software

The phone comes with a single 13MP rear camera. On the front, users get a 5MP selfie camera. It runs Android 15 operating system with OriginOS 15 skin.

The camera setup is simple but focused on essentials. Despite limited camera numbers, it ensures basic photography requirements. The software provides updated features, smoother interface, and easy user experience.

Battery and Connectivity

The major highlight is the 6,000mAh battery capacity. Vivo claims battery health can last for five years. The phone supports 44W fast charging for quick recovery. Connectivity features include 5G, Bluetooth 5.4, dual-band WiFi, and GPS.

It also includes an IR blaster, 3.5mm audio jack, and USB 2.0. A side-mounted fingerprint sensor provides secure unlocking. The device measures 167.3×76.95×8.19 mm and weighs 204 grams.

The Vivo G3 5G Launch Goes Official with strong specifications, powerful battery, and durable design. Though only available in China for now, global buyers expect more updates soon. Overall, it looks like a dependable choice for mid-range users.

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold Leaks: Full Specs, Design, Camera, Battery, and Launch Date

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold’s Information Leaked before official launch. The foldable will be introduced during the Made by Google event on August 20. Google will launch Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold.

Complete specifications have surfaced online, covering design, performance, camera, software, battery, AI features, and durability upgrades.

also read: Google Find Hub Gets Satellite Location-sharing Upgrade for Offline Safety

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold’s Information Leaked: Design and Display

Pixel 10 Pro Fold brings premium design with aviation-grade aluminum. It is Google’s first foldable with IP68 water resistance. The phone will launch in Moonstone and Jade colours.

Dimensions are 155.2 × 76.3 × 10.8 mm folded. Unfolded, it measures 155.2 × 150.4 × 5.2 mm. The phone weighs 258 grams and uses eco-friendly recycled materials.

The foldable features a 6.4-inch OLED Actua outer display. Resolution is 1080×2364 pixels with 408ppi density. Brightness reaches 3,000 nits for outdoor clarity. The screen supports HDR and 120Hz refresh rate.

The inner display measures 8.0 inches with OLED Super Actua Flex. Resolution is 2076×2152 pixels with 373ppi density. It supports HDR, adaptive 120Hz refresh rate, and maximum 3,000 nits brightness.

Performance and Features

The device runs on the Google Tensor G5 processor. It includes a Titan M2 chip for strong security. The phone offers 16GB LPDDR5X RAM for multitasking. Storage options include 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB with UFS 4.0. This is the first Pixel with upgraded storage speed.

Pixel 10 Pro Fold runs Android 16 operating system. Google promises seven years of updates and new features. AI tools include Gemini Nano, Gemini Live, Call Assist, and Circle to Search.

Connectivity features are WiFi 7, Bluetooth v6, NFC, UWB, GPS, and USB-C. It supports dual SIM with one nano SIM and eSIM. Audio features include stereo speakers, microphones, surround sound, and noise cancellation.

Camera and Battery

Pixel 10 Pro Fold carries three rear cameras. It has a 48MP primary wide-angle sensor with f/1.7. It includes a 10.5MP ultra-wide lens with 127-degree FoV. A 10.8MP telephoto lens supports 5x optical zoom. Cameras offer optical and electronic image stabilization.

The foldable also has a 10MP front-facing camera. Another 10MP selfie camera is placed inside. Video recording supports 4K at 60fps. Features include HDR10+, Video Boost, slow-motion, and Audio Magic Eraser.

The battery capacity is 5,015mAh with long endurance. It supports 30W fast charging with 50% in 30 minutes. Wireless charging supports the 15W Qi2 certified standard. Extreme power saving mode extends the battery up to 72 hours.

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold’s Information Leaked reveals impressive specifications. Launch will happen on August 20, though shipping may start in October. With these upgrades, Pixel 10 Pro Fold becomes a strong foldable competitor.

The spectacular comeback tour of a crypto overlord

As the creator of Silk Road, a dark web market that used bitcoin to facilitate millions of dollars in sales of heroin, cocaine and other drugs, he had been sentenced to life in prison in 2015 without the possibility of parole.

One afternoon in May, Ross Ulbricht strode into a banquet hall at the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas, the venue for one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency conventions.

Dozens of crypto enthusiasts rose to applaud, cheering as he made his way to a table at the front. Dressed in a dark suit and red tie, Ulbricht sat next to several of his biggest supporters, who had paid $5,000 apiece to dine with him at a luncheon advertised as a “personal” welcome back celebration.

“I have been in an alien world for a long time,” Ulbricht, 41, said as the applause died down. “Now this world is alien to me.”

The walk was far different from the one Ulbricht had taken four months earlier, when he was released from a high-security prison in Tucson, Arizona, wearing a gray sweatsuit. As the creator of Silk Road, a dark web market that used bitcoin to facilitate millions of dollars in sales of heroin, cocaine and other drugs, he had been sentenced to life in prison in 2015 without the possibility of parole.

Ulbricht seemed destined to spend the rest of his life inside a cell. After he was arrested, he lost access to bitcoin that would now be worth billions and was ordered to pay nearly $200 million in penalties.

But then Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, made a promise to the Libertarian Party, whose members were some of Ulbricht’s staunchest supporters. If they voted for him in the 2024 election, Trump told a party leader, he would commute Ulbricht’s sentence. A day after Trump’s inauguration in January, Ulbricht received a full pardon.

Ulbricht has embarked on a strange and unexpected afterlife. His comeback is the type of surreal spectacle that has defined the Trump era, where rap sheets are no barrier to reinvention. And he has come to embody the growing bond between Trump and the crypto world, a once-lawless industry that now wields astonishing influence in Washington.

Ulbricht seemed destined to spend the rest of his life inside a cell. After he was arrested, he lost access to bitcoin that would now be worth billions and was ordered to pay nearly $200 million in penalties.

But then Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, made a promise to the Libertarian Party, whose members were some of Ulbricht’s staunchest supporters. If they voted for him in the 2024 election, Trump told a party leader, he would commute Ulbricht’s sentence. A day after Trump’s inauguration in January, Ulbricht received a full pardon.

Ulbricht has embarked on a strange and unexpected afterlife. His comeback is the type of surreal spectacle that has defined the Trump era, where rap sheets are no barrier to reinvention. And he has come to embody the growing bond between Trump and the crypto world, a once-lawless industry that now wields astonishing influence in Washington.

Ulbricht’s visit to Las Vegas was the first stop on a cross-country speaking tour that has, at times, resembled a political campaign.

Ulbricht has leaned on powerful allies in the crypto industry to help fund his new life, accepting digital currency donations worth about $31 million. He has visited the Grand Canyon and chronicled a camping trip and spa session on the Instagram account he shares with his wife, Caroline Ulbricht.

The comeback tour has appalled many of the people who put Ulbricht in prison, according to seven of those officials who spoke with The New York Times but declined to be identified for fear of upsetting his supporters. They called his release and subsequent ascent a perversion of justice.

Exactly what Ulbricht aims to achieve is unclear. (He declined to be interviewed.) On social media, he said he gave the speeches to “thank all of you who supported me at my lowest.”

But friends and associates said his speaking gigs were also motivated by a desire to reframe the narrative around Silk Road, which was linked to the drug-related deaths of at least six people. Ulbricht has been working on a memoir, according to emails and audio recordings obtained by the Times, and hired a lawyer to try to prevent the release of a documentary featuring detailed interviews he conducted while he was in prison.

Rodney Bridge, a resident of Perth, Australia, whose 16-year-old son took a hallucinogen bought from Silk Road and then jumped off a hotel balcony in 2013, called Ulbricht’s comeback tour “a disgrace.”

“He’s got $31 million someone’s given to him, and the guy’s wealthy as can be,” Bridge said. “Well, I’ve lost my son, and other people have lost their children and parents over this.”

Ulbricht had a strikingly ordinary life until 2013. He lived with roommates in picturesque neighborhoods in the Bay Area and spent most of his days hunched over his computer, like any other Silicon Valley professional.

Then in October that year, federal agents arrested him at a public library. They had finally put a face to the mysterious online figure known as the Dread Pirate Roberts, creator of Silk Road.

For more than two years, the Dread Pirate Roberts had befuddled the government with his expansive marketplace, which could be accessed only through a special anonymizing online software. Silk Road became the world’s best-known dark web purveyor of illicit drugs, where anyone could use bitcoin to order narcotics and rate them like any other product.

At a federal trial in New York City in 2015, prosecutors accused Ulbricht of making “it easier for drug dealers to get users hooked.” He maintained his innocence. While he created Silk Road, his lawyers argued, he didn’t run it day to day.

As his case made international headlines, Ulbricht became a cause celebre for libertarians and crypto enthusiasts, groups already inclined to distrust authority. They considered Silk Road a digital utopia, where bitcoin was the basis of a liberated online economy.

In February 2015, Ulbricht was convicted on charges including money laundering and distributing narcotics online. Judge Katherine Forrest called his actions “terribly destructive to our social fabric” and gave him two life sentences, a punishment that surprised even the prosecutors.

Almost immediately, Ulbricht’s supporters began campaigning for his release. Lyn Ulbricht, who raised her son in Austin, Texas, spoke at libertarian gatherings, casting the case as a miscarriage of justice.

She eventually exhausted the appeals process, leaving a presidential pardon as his only way out.

“Ross is condemned to die in prison, not for selling drugs himself but for creating a website where others did,” his mother wrote in a 2018 petition to Trump.

Trump’s first term ended without a pardon, crushing Lyn Ulbricht, whose personal life was falling apart as she dedicated herself to the cause. She divorced her husband and moved to Tucson near where Ross Ulbricht was imprisoned.

Her son’s life was changing, too. Shortly after Ulbricht was sentenced, he received a letter from a French tech worker in Los Angeles, Caroline Debrion. She told him that she had followed the trial and thought he could use support. They exchanged letters almost every day.

Debrion posted from her own Twitter account, and began working with Ulbricht’s mother to secure his release. Eventually her relationship with the inmate turned romantic. They married last year.

Against the wishes of Lyn Ulbricht, who had shielded her son from the media, Debrion helped persuade Ulbricht to participate in a Silk Road documentary, a last-ditch effort to sway public opinion. (Both women declined to be interviewed for this article.)

Over the next four years, filmmaker Blake Harris recorded more than 80 hours of prison phone calls with Ulbricht. Seemingly resigned to a life behind bars, Ulbricht spoke openly about running Silk Road, according to Harris, countering a core legal defense that he had stopped operating the site before it exploded in popularity.

A week and a half after Trump’s inauguration, Ulbricht emailed Harris from a new account. “I’m free :),” read the subject line.

But the real purpose of his note was business. Ulbricht informed Harris that he was interested in buying the documentary.

Through a lawyer, Ulbricht offered $1.77 million for the documentary. Harris said he knew any sale to his subject would be ethically suspect. Harris made his subject a counteroffer of about $10 million, two people familiar with the discussions said. Ulbricht walked away from the negotiations.

Ulbricht has reveled in postprison life. He has traveled across the United States, while remaining wary about crossing international borders because he could be arrested in another country, a person close to him said.

Ulbricht has also been embraced by the newly ascendant crypto industry.

Industry executives have shown support. The day after Ulbricht was pardoned, the crypto exchange Kraken, one of the largest in the country, donated $111,111 in bitcoin to a digital wallet that Ulbricht controls.

In June, the same wallet received an anonymous donation of 300 bitcoin, or about $31.4 million at the time. It’s unclear where the money came from. But online sleuths have pointed to evidence that the donor was someone involved in AlphaBay, a now-defunct drug marketplace that had emerged as one of Silk Road’s successors.

The same month, those funds moved to an account on Kraken, suggesting that Ulbricht may have cashed them out, according to analysts at the data firms Arkham and Nansen.