One Store becomes a CROSS validator, bringing a 38-million-device app market onto the gamechain

egamers.io Jul 23, 2026

One Store becomes a CROSS validator, bringing a 38-million-device app market onto the gamechain

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Jul 23, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Nexus announced that One Store, a Korean app marketplace pre-installed on over 38 million devices, has joined the CROSS Protocol network as a validator. This appointment makes One Store the third validator on the network, following H Lab and CertiK. The platform now operates node infrastructure responsible for block production, transaction validation, and network security on CROSS Mainnet 2.0. This development follows Nexus’s acquisition of an 89.03% stake in One Store for 62.6 billion won. The move supports Nexus’s roadmap to rebrand the CROSS mainnet as OneChain and the $CROSS token as $ONE. One Store, originally created by major telecom carriers and Naver, is pivoting from a Web2 distribution model to a Web3 network operator. It will integrate wallets, stablecoins, and decentralized exchanges into its ecosystem. The validator role allows One Store to secure the chain that may soon bear its name, leveraging its significant market presence in South Korea’s gaming sector.

💡 Why It Matters

· One Store’s transition from app distributor to infrastructure operator demonstrates how legacy tech giants are embedding blockchain security directly into consumer hardware ecosystems.
· By controlling validation on a chain with 38 million pre-installed devices, Nexus creates a closed-loop Web3 environment that bypasses traditional app store gatekeepers.

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The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is Samsung preparing for battle, but is…

Samsung unveiled its Galaxy Z Fold 8 series at the Unpacked keynote, introducing a new “standard” foldable shape alongside an “Ultra” variant, while also announcing the Flip 8, Watch 9, Watch Ultra 2 and Android 17 updates. The launch arrives as Apple prepares its first foldable iPhone, intensifying competition in a market Samsung has dominated for seven years. Samsung’s branding emphasizes the new form factor as the “right” choice, effectively rewriting its own product hierarchy. Critics note the rapid stagnation of foldable designs after only a few generations and question whether Samsung’s strategy is reactive rather than innovative. Pre‑orders for the Fold 8 are open, and a detailed review is pending.

💡 Apple’s entry could validate foldables for mainstream consumers, forcing Samsung to prove its lead isn’t just legacy advantage.

notebookcheck.net · Jul 25

Vivo X500 Pro to feature square front camera while Vivo X Fold…

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💡 By pushing front‑camera resolution well beyond Apple’s standard, Vivo aims to redefine selfie quality and set a new benchmark for premium smartphones. Its decision to stick with the existing foldable shape signals a strategic bet on proven design over speculative market shifts.

9to5google.com · Jul 25

I’m using my phone way less, and it’s making me happier

Tech journalist admits his smartphone addiction and details a self‑imposed digital detox that has improved his mood and health. After reviewing his Pixel 10 Pro Fold, he discovered an alarming screen‑on time and traced the habit to habitual Twitter scrolling, which intensified after Elon Musk’s takeover. He deleted his Twitter account, then migrated to Threads, Instagram and Bluesky, only to find the same pattern repeat. Frustrated with ineffective Android Digital Wellbeing limits, he locked social apps to a PC browser, making access cumbersome and reducing usage. Months later, he recognized a new dependence on Reddit, prompting another round of restriction. He now replaces phone checks with alternative activities and even avoids taking the device into the bathroom during his daily routine often.

💡 Adding friction to app access forces even the most connected users to rethink compulsive scrolling, turning a habit into a conscious choice. His shift demonstrates that personal wellbeing can be reclaimed without abandoning essential mobile functions.

us.headtopics.com · Jul 25

Google Confirms Price Increases for Pixel 11 Series Due to Memory Crisis

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💡 The price jump underscores how global chip shortages can directly reshape consumer pricing, testing Google’s ability to keep Android devices competitively affordable.

tomsguide.com · Jul 25

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, Fold 8 Ultra, and Flip 8 battery…

Samsung’s latest foldables—Galaxy Z Flip 8, Z Fold 8, and Z Fold 8 Ultra—feature silicon‑carbon batteries that boost capacity without adding bulk. In lab tests, the Flip 8 achieved 12 hours 50 minutes on a 4,300 mAh cell, a 3.5 % improvement over the Flip 7, while the Fold 8 ran 12 hours 20 minutes on 8,800 mAh and the Fold 8 Ultra delivered 14 hours 9 minutes on 5,000 mAh. The devices pair these batteries with the power‑efficient Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, aiming for some of the longest‑lasting foldables yet. Motorola’s Razr Ultra still tops the flip segment with 16 hours 20 minutes.

💡 Samsung’s silicon‑carbon approach signals a shift toward lighter, higher‑capacity batteries, potentially redefining endurance expectations for foldable smartphones.

9to5google.com · Jul 25

Google Maps rolling out Immersive Navigation, speedometer in Android Auto to more…

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💡 By delivering richer navigation cues and real‑time speed data without requiring beta enrollment, Google pushes a more advanced, universally accessible driving experience that could set new expectations for in‑car mapping services.