Micro-entrepreneurs use artificial intelligence as their first employee due to lack of hiring funds

Samsung is preparing the launch of the Galaxy S26 FE, and company executives indicate that the announcement may occur in the coming weeks. This new member of the Fan Edition line is expected to be launched with a price adjustment, unlike the previous two generations which maintained stable prices.

Confirmation and Cost Forecast

The existence of the device has been confirmed by Samsung executives. In addition to Justin Hume, Samsung's representative in South Africa, mobile division vice president Daniel Araujo validated the company's plans to Android Authority during the disclosure of the company's financial results.

Rumors suggest that the Galaxy S26 FE may have a higher cost than its predecessor. Recent leaks in Europe suggest that the device will follow the readjustment trend seen in the main S26 line, with increases that could reach 170 euros. It is relevant to note that despite these adjustments, Samsung recorded a loss for the first time in the mobile phone market in the second quarter of this year.

Price Details by Region

The traditional FE line offers Galaxy S series features at a more accessible price, but this positioning may be challenged in the Galaxy S26 FE. A leak indicates that in France, the 128 GB version would cost 799 euros (equivalent to R$ 4,675 in direct conversion). The 256 GB and 512 GB configurations would be priced at 899 euros (R$ 5,260) and 1,099 euros (R$ 6,430), respectively.

When compared to the Galaxy S25 FE, these values suggest increases of 50 euros on the entry version, 90 euros on the mid-range, and up to 170 euros on the most expensive model. In the United States, more cautious estimates from Phone Arena predict that the initial price may rise from US$ 649 to US$ 699 (R$ 3,549).

In Brazil, the line's history shows that Samsung frequently follows the adjustments observed in North America. Examples include the Galaxy S20 FE and Galaxy S21 FE, which were launched for R$ 4,499, and the Galaxy S24 FE, which had a price of R$ 5,499, maintained from the previous year.

Leaked Technical Specifications

Benchmark tests and certifications have already revealed parts of the Galaxy S26 FE's technical sheet. One highlighted point is 45W charging, which would be faster than the base Galaxy S26 version, limited to 25W.

In terms of performance, the device was seen in tests with the Exynos 2500 chipset and 8GB of RAM. Other leaked information points to a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen, with a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 1,900 nits. The battery capacity should be between 4,900 mAh and 5,000 mAh, keeping the device in a category similar to other major Samsung models.

Images captured by the Wireless Power Consortium suggest a design aligned with the Galaxy S26 family, including a camera module similar to those on the main models. Expected colors for the launch are graphite, aqua green, and an option between blue or purple.

The Direct Treasury application will be shut down on August 17, according to a notification sent by B3 to investors. To maintain access to information, users must migrate to the Investor Portal, which can be accessed through web browsers.

Replacement and Information Access

B3 informed Direct Treasury clients that the application intended for Android and iOS systems will be discontinued on this date. Clients will have the option to view all relevant information online using the Investor Portal. Currently, the application is no longer available in the Google Play or Apple App Stores, and the links provided on the program's website indicate that the application page was not found.

Guarantee of Existing Investments

In an official note, Direct Treasury confirmed the deactivation, assuring that participants' investments will remain unchanged. This includes titles, invested amounts, profitability, and all related data, requiring no action from investors regarding their current assets.

Investor Portal Functionalities

The Investor Portal, recommended by B3, offers an interface similar to the old application and can be accessed via browser on mobile or computer devices. Login can be done using the CPF or the Gov.br platform. This portal provides balances, statements, investment information, and redemption processes, while also maintaining areas for recently launched products, such as gift cards, retirement and education titles, and management of investments for minors.

Limitations and Alternatives

However, some functionalities present in the previous application, such as the profitability simulator and the My Dreams tool for organizing titles by goals, are not available in the Portal. An alternative mentioned is the B3's own application, although this is more restricted, allowing only the monitoring of values for Direct Treasury titles, stocks, and other investments.

New Application in Testing

The discontinuation of the current application may be linked to the development of a new version. This new application is in the testing phase, and registration can be done on the program's website. According to the frequently asked questions section, this beta version allows new Direct Treasury clients to register directly through the application. However, possession of a Bank of Brazil account is required, and the only accessible investment is the Treasury Reserve.

The Treasury Reserve is currently available only at Banco do Brasil, but it is also being tested at other institutions. The goal is for this title to be tradable 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with a simplified process and a minimum value of R$ 1 for transactions.

Apple announced its third-quarter financial results on Thursday (30), demonstrating performance better than expected by the market, significantly driven by iPhone sales. Despite the positive indicators, the corporation's shares fell during trading after the market close.

Quarterly Financial Results

The company's total revenue reached US$ 109.4 billion (equivalent to R$ 555.8 billion), exceeding the projection of US$ 108.6 billion (R$ 551.9 billion) compiled by LSEG. Net income rose to US$ 29.7 billion (R$ 151.3 billion), corresponding to US$ 2.02 (R$ 10.26) per share, compared to US$ 24.4 billion (R$ 124.1 billion) or US$ 1.57 (R$ 7.97) recorded in the same period last year. Apple reported that this result was benefited by a positive impact of US$ 0.11 (R$ 0.56) per share derived from tariff refunds.

Earnings per share reached US$ 2.02 (R$ 10.26), surpassing the expectation of US$ 1.89 (R$ 9.60), although the company noted that this value is not directly comparable to analysts' estimates.

iPhone and Other Segment Highlights

The main driver for the quarter was the iPhone. Revenue from this smartphone line totaled US$ 54.2 billion (R$ 275.5 billion), surpassing the forecast of US$ 53.8 billion (R$ 273.6 billion) and representing a growth of almost 22% compared to the previous year. In an interview with CNBC, Tim Cook, Apple's CEO, described the performance as an 'extraordinary result,' attributing the success to the iPhone 17, whose commercial cycle is ahead of the new model launch scheduled for September.

Cook mentioned that the company observed strong behavior in trading old devices for newer models, stating: 'We had a significant boost in iPhone sales since the launch.' In addition to the iPhone, the Mac computer line also exceeded expectations, with revenue of US$ 10.3 billion (R$ 52.5 billion), above the predicted US$ 8.7 billion (R$ 44.4 billion). The iPad generated US$ 6.19 billion, falling short of the estimate of US$ 6.9 billion (R$ 35.1 billion).

The wearables division, which includes Apple Watch and AirPods, generated US$ 7.88 billion (R$ 40.02 billion), slightly above the expectation of US$ 7.82 billion (R$ 39.7 billion). On the other hand, the Services segment collected US$ 30.7 billion (R$ 156.1 billion), below the projection of US$ 31.2 billion (R$ 158.5 billion). The company's gross margin was 50.1%, a figure that cannot be directly compared to analysts' estimates due to the effects of tariff refunds. At the end of the quarter, Apple held US$ 146.5 billion (R$ 744.2 billion) in cash.

Future Outlook and Technological Challenges

The company did not release official projections for the next quarter, following a common practice before the investor earnings conference. This period marks the last reporting season under Tim Cook's management before the transition of his CEO role to John Ternus, Apple's current hardware division leader. During the conference call, Cook is also expected to address the global memory shortage, a problem the executive recently classified as a 'once-in-a-century flood.'

The competition for chip manufacturing capacity has already prompted Apple to raise prices for Macs and iPads. Although there are no announcements yet regarding adjustments for the iPhone, several analysts predict increases later this year. Concurrently, the company is preparing to launch, in September, a revamped version of Siri using Google technology, along with the new iPhone models. This launch is seen as a crucial test for Apple amid investor concerns about the company potentially lagging in the artificial intelligence race.

Despite the obstacles, Apple managed to record revenue growth of over 15% for the third consecutive quarter. Investors are also awaiting statements from John Ternus, a veteran of the company with 25 years of service, who had little participation in the previous earnings conference, held shortly after the announcement of the leadership change.