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  1. (1/2)

    There is something about the smell of meadowsweet that has always been mysteriously appealing and charming to me. I can keep my nose sniffing the buds for minuts, being brought back to vague childhood memories visiting the pharmacy with my grandmother.

    #filipendulaulmaria #meadowsweet

  2. Well it’s been quite the couple of days for my beloved Buds #LeafsForever #leafs #Leafs365 New GM. Mats is back. And now the 1st overall pick?!?! Holy shit! Chayka better not fuck it up.

  3. A Moment But Forever (念无双) recaps and analysis

    Note: This has all the spoilers and lots of details about A Moment But Forever episodes. If you just want a less spoilery overview and review, do read my A Moment But Forever review.

    During the gods-demons war, the artifact “God’s Left Hand,” used by Heavenly God Taihe to seal demons, was severed and fell to the Mortal Realm, causing Taihe and the gods to fall into eternal slumber.

    The Youhu fox clan seized the artifact, using it to defeat their enemies, the War Demons, and establish dominion over the world, becoming its new gods.

    The goddess Wu Shuang is sent to reclaim the artifact, which would kill its host, Youhu Clan’s high priest Yuan Zhong. Disguised as maid Ji Tanyin, she infiltrates the clan but discovers Yuan Zhong is not the villain he’s believed to be.

    1. Episodes 1-6
    2. Episodes 7-10
    3. Episodes 11 and 12
    4. Episodes 13-15
    5. Episodes 16-20 (The weapon spirits)
    6. Episodes 16-20 (Yuan Zhong’s big plan)
    7. Episodes 21-24
    8. Episodes 25 and 26
    9. Episodes 27-30
    10. Episodes 31-33
    11. Episodes 34 – Hanvu
    12. Episodes 36 (Ending)

    Episodes 1-6

    Quick summary of plot: Our hero, Yuanzhong (Liu Xueyi) is both reviled and revered as the High Priest of the Fox clan (Youhu). Due to the disappearance of the gods, the Youhu are now the “gods” of the world, and he’s among the most powerful. Yuanzhou is reputed to be debauched, violent and basically not a nice demigod. (But of course he’s the opposite)

    (So far, so Kill Me Love Me. Murong Jinghe, is this your new life?)

    Anyway, Yuanzhong is powerful because of this artifact of the former deities, The Left Hand of the former god Taihe. The goddess Wushuang (Ji Tanyin) who made it, is sent to wrest it back from Yuanzhong.

    So far:

    ✅ Upcoming massive misunderstanding

    ✅ Torture of male lead

    ✅ Evil “Good” Sect

    ✅ Flimsy excuse for a kiss

    ✅ But very logical excuses for undressing male lead a few times

    ✅ Bath scene(s)

    Hilariously, A Moment But Forever trended on Weibo for Liu Xueyi’s bath scene (okay, his bare naked chest trended, and to quote one Weibo-er: “Better to trend for something than nothing”.)

    First, don’t be fooled by the promos!

    A Moment but Forever is one drama that I can 100% say that the promos did it dirty. Because when the first promo came out, I went: “Meh, another xianxia.” I barely even registered that Liu Xueyi was in it. And when it did, I went: “Tis a pity, I don’t think I can endure this factory-line xianxia for him.”

    (Fortunately, I came across a random post ranting about how the promo didn’t do the script justice; I found out more about the story and was intrigued. And the rest was history.)

    Anyway, the expectations for this drama were so abysmal that most people said it would be a failure. So, I was bracing myself for a tepid xianxia. Who knew that I ended up being surprised by:

    • the coherent storytelling.
    • how funny it was
    • the couple’s unique dynamic
    • the colour grading. The trailers made it look so washed out filtered to death that I’m glad it’s actually pleasing to the eye!
    • the careful world-building
    • the addictiveness of the episodes!

    Hilariously, on xiaohongshu, most of the comments I saw were: “I didn’t intend to watch the drama, but I ended up binging all six episodes and now I’m going to office with panda eyes”.

    Well, I almost did the same but I was on leave the next day, flying off to a tropical island, so that’s perfect!

    My favourite highlights of episodes 1-6

    You think your life sucks? Oh man, wait till you get tricked into putting on a heavy fugly gold necklace that seals your powers and then get shoved into a cave for 40 years, lose your mind, and start talking to your alternate selfs. (That said, dayum, another tour de force performance by Liu Xueyi. You really feel Yuanzhou’s agony, self-recrimination, regret and hatred in that scene.)

    That moment when you realize that the Youhu clan, especially the sect leader, is using Yuanzhou as a blood bag and pharmacy. 💀

    Liu Xueyi, I don’t know how you do it, not only can you look good in that wig *and* still look great when you’re half dead. That’s why you’re paid the big bucks.

    Darling, I know you pride yourself for your impeccable logic but I think you’re a little off with this thesis🫠

    Is there a reason for her to kiss him? Something to do with unsealing his gold chain? How? Does it matter? Many females around the world are now happy. Mission accomplished.

    So far, my radar is picking up vibes that Tang Hua is UP TO SOMETHING and is probably behind the whole demon possessing thing. Did he orchestrate it to liberate his former bestie from the clutches Evil Youhu Sect Leader With the Eyebrows of Doom? Probably!

    My big question is whether Yuanzhong is also in on it, knows Tang Hua is on his side or … really believes that his former best friend is his enemy like the rest of the sect?

    Episodes 7-10

    I’m dying. DYING. I just finished episode 10, and I’m like, NO DON’T END HERE. WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME??

    At this point, I feel that this is going to be a drama that will keep me up at night; it’ll probably kill my sleep for a couple of weeks. Luckily I’m doing this on a tropical island. (I’m on vacation.)

    It’s so rare for a Cdrama to do that to me. (But please god don’t break my heart at the end though.)

    Anyway, on to some highlights from the episodes!

    Tanyin’s Groundhog Day

    Lawd I did not expect to laugh as hard as I did in episode 8 when Tanyin was repeatedly killed like some NPC in a video game! And then poor Yuan Zhong trying to bury/cremate/freeze her again and again each time she died!

    Her explanation to Yuan Zhong about her resurrections though ;D

    Tanyin, I think you better stick to science and leave the lying to politicians lol.

    But poor Yuan Zhong, he thought he was getting a handmaiden, but he got a clingy stalker who could be a zombie instead.

    War Demons – not so bad, not so good either

    I really love that they showed the War Demons as a race that was made up of, well, normal people that joked, laughed and had families. But they have a really cruel social system that emphasizes increasing their numbers.

    This forces families apart, and this is where we meet our new antagonist Qian Lian, a man eager to find the mother who was separated from him due to said system. He has now stolen a special dagger given to the tribe by a mysterious deity to kill Yuan Zhong so that he can be reunited with his mother.

    Again, I really like that the writer has given the villains understandable motivations. For example, as evil as the Youhu elders were in sealing and imprisoning Yuan Zhong, they had a cold logic for it: How do you control someone as powerful as Yuan Zhong? How do you ensure he doesn’t enslave the clan?

    Likewise, Qian Lian is rather likeable and has an earnest wish to reunite with his mother. A part of me wants him to succeed, but I like Yuan Zhong more, so …

    The mysterious deity

    I wonder if the War Demons were as nasty as they were supposed to be during that war and that they were nearly wiped out? And seeing how devilish the Elders of the Youhu clan are, I can really see them being the true devils of the war. Or maybe the deity had something to do with it.

    But this drama has been surprising me with the unique paths it has taken, so I bet there’s a surprise waiting for us about the war.

    Flying ships!

    NGL, I felt like a little girl again when I saw that steampunk flying ship. I love that in this universe, the humans have their abilities. And their most defining strength is to invent machines.

    We are no longer besties

    I’m trying to decide if Yuan Zhong is talking about Tang Hua or Tanyin lol

    As I suspected, Tang Hua had a hand in deceiving Yuan Zhong and eventually getting him imprisoned. It was amusing at first to see Yuan Zhong being all bitchy about Tang Hua, but later, after the attempted assassination, Yuan Zhong bluntly said, “We are no longer friends.”

    And twisted the dagger by vividly describing the suffering he endured for 40 years. It was sad to see Tang Hua walk away dejectedly, but honestly, he deserved it. It’s going to take a lot more to mend their friendship … if it can even be mended because …

    There’s something off about Yuan Zhong

    Is he evil? Good? A bit of both? Or just crazy? It was something we, the viewers and Tanyin, were trying to figure out throughout the episodes.

    Seeing Yuan Zhong just stare at a man being pecked to death by one of those Grudge Birds was chilling. Seeing him just casually walk away from people screaming around him was jaw-dropping. Oh noes, all this while we thought he was misunderstood! Maybe he’s just evil.

    Like he told Tang Hua – after 60 years of suffering, nothing can reach his heart anymore, and our fox may not be “right in the head”.

    Man, Liu Xueyi is just so good at playing morally grey characters I can’t tell what he is right now!

    The attack

    To be honest, I had a tiny bit of worry when the plot slowed down a tad in episode 9 when they boarded the ship and Tanyin and Yuan Zhong played this cat-and-mouse game with each other. Loved that Yuan Zhong realised almost immediately that Xue was Tanyin in disguise. I wondered if this he-knows-she-knows-he-knows game would be dragged out, but I shouldn’t have worried. Because Qian Lian stabs Yuan Zhong with the deity’s demon dagger, and then the ship was blown up by terrorists and—

    And they left us there, just like that, wondering if Yuan Zhong is just going to watch everyone die. EURGH

    Some other thoughts

    I thought the criticisms against the special effects and styling were overblown. You young’uns try watching Cdramas during my time, where there were neon spandex hanfu and styrofoam demon spiders. A Moment But Forever’s special effects feel like award-winning special effects to me lol. (ok fine, not award-winning, but it doesn’t take me out of immersion.)

    OMG Tanyin and that whip were amazing. Surely by now Yuan Zhong suspects that she is something powerful, you know, like a god??

    Episodes 11 and 12

    We get a lull of sorts (surprisingly!) after the intense flying ship fracas. Our little fox finally gets to fall in love at last. And it’s shown in such subtle ways.

    What’s with Yuan Zhong’s expression on the ship?

    Question: How do you interpret Yuan Zhong’s expression? It’s bugging me. Is he resentful? Just indifferent? Full of suspicion? A bit of everything? I can’t put a finger on it and it’s driving me nuts. What is your interpretation of his expression here?

    Anyway, I’m glad that he ends up saving everyone, even if he didn’t seem very happy about it.

    What followed that scene is more iciness from Yuanzhong as he continues to doubt her motives; he tries to shake her off as he goes to the mountain where one of his weapon spirits are sealed, but then that ice is thawed when she blocks a heavenly lightning strike for him.

    See, girls, that’s what you need to do to win a guy’s heart – get struck by lightning.

    Tang Yin dies. Again.

    Look at that boy run

    LMAO. Seriously, woman. Stop dying! I don’t think Yuan Zhong can take another round of this lol.

    But Yuan Zhong’s reaction is so hilarious! (And how fox-like of him to try to smell to see if she has “gone off”.)

    This, at the heels of such a serious moment on the boat, is amazing. It’s honestly fascinating how this drama knows how to balance super angsty moments with laugh out loud moments.

    But on a more serious note, he is frankly confused, and like he told Mengshan, he can’t figure it out. Poor fox doesn’t understand why anyone wants to do anything good for him. Oh gawd the upcoming Misunderstanding is gonna hurt so bad, isn’t it?

    Also, it’s nice to see Teng She again

    To all you Love and Redemption fans, did you have a hoot watching Meishan annoying Yuan Zhong, because I did! (The actor for Meishan, Bai Shu, played Teng She, the sserpent god who constantly annoyed Bai Lin in Love and Redemption. There’s even this little scene where Yuan Zhong pushed Meishen down, a little callback to that scene between Hao Chen and Teng She.

    Yuan Zhong falls hard

    You were totally peeking, Yuan Zhong!

    Our man completely falls for her in this scene, and it’s really wonderful to see Liu Xueyi just act this with his eyes. (It’s honestly wonderful to watch good acting. And er, beautiful men doing it.).

    Seriously, that scene with Tang Yin and the crane was incredibly magical. And for the first time, in more ways than one, I feel as if I’m finally watching a classic xianxia.

    The compassion and love shining from Tang Yin’s eyes for the crane, the crane dancing for the goddess… Immortals often ride heavenly cranes, so I’m pretty sure the crane knew who she was. It was just goose-bump inducing for me, as it reminded me of the xianxia of my childhood.

    You see, in xianxias of old, it’s always emphasized that immortals are there to care for humanity and all creatures. After all, one needs to cultivate good virtues and values to become gods, after all.

    So, usually, it’s the most virtuous that become gods, though in modern xianxias that’s often brushed aside and simplified into cultivating some kind of mystical spell/energy. Also, in far too many modern xianxias, human beings and creatures are not even a consideration, so it’s delightful to watch a goddess showing delight and love for a “lower” creature for once.

    Tang Hua is the ultimate “did you do something with your hair” guy

    Imagine spending all that time looking for a magical sword and sacrificing a bright future to be a handmaiden on a mountain full of immortals only to have the object of your affection not remember your time together. And the only memory you have of her is her cleaning your room.

    Tang Hua, I get that you’re busy and all but are your eyes and brain cells only for Yuanzhong LMAO ?

    Glad our girl decided to quit her obsession, but Tang Hua’s is just beginning bwahaha

    Episodes 13-15

    Yuan Zhong meets his father-in-law
    I mean, despite what he thinks, Xie You is essentially that, even if he thinks that a 1,000-year-old man is his romantic competition (and even if Yuanzhong would rather die than admit he has the hots for Tanying lol.)

    That said, it’s such a hoot to see both of Tanyin’s favourite men bitch at each other like a pair of teenage mean girls. I guess when it comes to her favourite men, Tanyin has a type.

    I’m pretty sure if Tanyin knew that Yuan Zhong thought that she and her teacher had a romantic relationship, she would’ve died (again). And Xie You would’ve totally murdered him for real.

    Pretty sure Xie You was bitchy to Yuan Zhong because not only was he ordering his disciple around like, well, a handmaiden, he doesn’t think he deserves her. Like any father!

    How is Xie You 1,000 years old?
    Some of you may wonder how Xie You managed to live a millennia if he’s a human. I don’t think it’s explained very clearly in the drama, but in the novel, a human’s obsession can be so great they can ascend to immortality. (That’s how Tanyin and Hannu became immortals – they were so obsessed with their craft that their godlike abilities made them gods.)

    My theory: In Xie You’s case, while his obsession is great, he is unable to ascend to godhood because he never solved the last puzzle (which Tanyin solved). That obsession to solve the problem kept him alive; in a stasis of sorts.

    In a way, it’s a miserable way to be; obsessed about a problem he cannot solve instead of the craft itself.

    Once a master, always a master

    You know, in a typical xianxia, Xie You would’ve tried to rob/kill Tanyin or something, but instead, he’s more obsessed over the fact that he couldn’t solve a problem his student did. He felt so unworthy of his craft that he abandoned it to take up another craft, but he couldn’t let go of his obsessive love for it no matter what he did.

    I was super moved by the whole conversation Xie You and Tanyin had about their teacher-student relationship. Xie You believed that Tanyin should be his teacher now and bowed to her, but Tanyin said that he would always be her teacher, and bowed back to him.

    If you’re not Chinese, you may not understand the deep reverence for teachers in Chinese culture. But this whole scene is the epitome of that value (and many Chinese netizens were moved by that scene).

    I thought Xie You’s death was a great gift from Tanyin, even if it made her tearful to do it. Being stuck in stasis for so long was a miserable existence for her master, and it was time he was released from it.

    Context: In Buddhism, obsession or attachments is said to be the cause of life’s suffering. Unresolved obsessions, especially.

    Zhi Dai’s obsession

    Zhi Dai’s obsession was more tragic than I thought. I had assumed that she had learned to preserve her youth through some magic she learned on the Youhu mountain, but it turned out that she actually grew old! This really drums in the tragedy that she wasted her entire life on a man who barely remembered her.

    I’m glad she got a second chance, but who was the deity who returned her youth? I’m quite certain it’s Hannu, and I have a big feeling there’s no free lunch and she’s going to demand something in return soon.

    Truth or dare
    “I never approached anyone with ill intentions…”
    And Yuan Zhong’s look of deep disappointment when Tanyin hesitated, and when she said, “what if it’s for the good of the world?”
    Our fox is totally demanding to know what her true intentions were, and she kinda failed the test….
    Then: “I never had a crush” -> Yuan Zhong, you’re totally lying and you’re fishing! lol And that little pout he gave her when he asked if she had, and then she asked what it feels like.
    Yuan Zhong, how did you go from sad to cute in a few seconds??

    There’s no time
    Poor Yuan Zhong having to relive his worst moment and to be cruelly taunted by the image of his dead father rescuing him. That’s an ‘easy’ puzzle compared to the rest.

    Never in a million years did I think I’d have to think about the theory of relativity in a xianxia, but there we go.

    Okay, Theory of Relativity aside, I’m psyched that Yuan Zhong was the one who solved the time puzzle, but at the same time I was so sad: How many years must he have thought about the idea of time, stuck in that cave for decades?

    To me, his “wisdom” about time was borne through that awful period, and I think he must’ve convinced himself that time was an illusion to keep himself sane during all those decades of imprisonment.

    Hunt for the weapon spirits
    I really like this little adventure Yuan Zhong is going on, seeing the world, freeing his weapon spirits. Kai Shan is such a cutie! He’s not the brightest bulb in the chandelier, but he seems to be the sweetest weapon (and hungriest) spirit.
    I can’t wait to meet the other weapon spirits. I saw an image of all of them together, and they look so cool!

    But of course readers of the book will agree >!that things will get very exciting once Yuan Zhong gets all his spirits together …!<

    Tang Hua is … kinda forgiven?
    It’s more like Yuan Zhong has decided to 50% forgive him rather than be best buds, I think. I was very delighted to find out that Tang Hua’s two men who were involved in the whole “pretending to be possessed by war demons” campaign are still alive!

    So despite his deep hatred and anger for Tang Hua’s betrayal, there’s still a smidgen part of his heart that cares for Tang Hua.

    This is especially confusing to me, who have read the novel, knowing what Yuan Zhong is planning!!

    Episodes 16-20 (The weapon spirits)

    (From left: Zhi Fei, Kai Shan, Lu Chen, Ling Yao and A Xiu)

    The weapon spirits are 100% super cool. It’s like Yuan Zhong has his own band of Power Rangers.

    I’m going to do something different. Because these episodes is essentially several long arcs in one, and instead overwhelming you with a girnomous essay, I’m going to cover the same episodes in different posts, but focusing on different arcs.

    In this post I want to cover the arc of the weapon spirits.

    Hunt for the weapon spirits
    I really like this little adventure Yuan Zhong is going on, seeing the world, freeing his weapon spirits.

    Speaking of character writing. I love how the writer has infused each weapon spirit with such distinct personalities. In fact,
    what continues to amaze me is how the writer has fully fleshed out almost every character in this story, no matter how minor.

    Zi Fei – ah loyal Zi Fei, we know him well, but I think he may not be the most powerful of the lot.

    Kai Shan our foodie is such a cutie! He’s not the brightest bulb in the chandelier, but he seems to be the sweetest weapon (and hungriest) spirit.

    Pei Jiu/Lu Chen is my favourite yet. And I think he may be the most powerful (and serious) of the lot.

    Ling Yao – a female weapon spirit that Kai Shan and Zi Fei obviously has a crush with??

    A San – a weapon spirit that likes to eat … gold? (according to the previews.) Man, he has expensive taste.

    What do you think the weapon spirits represent?
    Some say they represent the five sins. Some say each represent a finger of the Divine Hand. What do you think?

    Pei Jiu/Lu Chen
    I have to admire this actor. He is able to distinguish himself as Pei Jiu, the simple, happy-go-lucky constable, from the powerful, serious Lu Chen. I really enjoyed his performance and the story.

    The whole arc of Yuan Zhong trying to take Pei Jiu as his disciple was hilarious! What tickled many Chinese viewers was that conversation Pei Jiu pooh poohing Yuan Zhong’s idea of a great life: That of a wandering swordsma His greatest ambition was to be a civil servant instead!

    Knowing what we now know of the real Lu Chen’s personality, this must have been so infuriating to Yuan Zhong who took a special joy in trying to beat some sense into the man lol.

    The innkeeper’s marriage

    Ah, I really feel for Yunniang and Pei Jiu (Lu Chen). I’m pleased that she survived it all, but what surprised me was Lu Chen obviously does remember their time together.

    I loved that Tanyin, Zi Fei and Kai Shan attended Pei Jiu’s pre-marriage dinner … even if they know that he’d probably never get married. That sad look Zi Fei threw Pei Jiu each time he mentioned the marriage was so sad.

    Such a beautiful, painful arc for the unlucky innkeeper who once again loses her groom. When Yunniang started the fireworks in broad daylight, it’s probably her way to say goodbye to him. I like how un-hysterical she is about this painful loss, even if it obviously very painful.

    Is there one tiny hope that Lu Chen will survive what’s coming and reunite with her one day?

    I can’t wait to meet the other weapon spirits and to see them get together. But of course readers of the book will agree that things will get very exciting once Yuan Zhong gets all his spirits together.

    Episodes 16-20 (Yuan Zhong’s big plan)

    Ever felt so disappointed in the world that you think the only solution is to burn everything down and start over on a clean canvas?

    Okay, I hope you are not like that but well, that’s Yuan Zhong in a nutshell.


    What do you think about Yuan Zhong’s ‘five sins’ plan??

    Remember what I said about not being interested in this drama initially, and then I got sucked in by discussions online about how it’s actually a fantastic script? It was this clip that made me realise – oooh, another powerful performance by Liu Xueyi! That’s worth seeing at least!

    This scene turned out to be so damn heartbreaking I can’t bear to see it again. Especially with that little basket of noodles and vegetables descended into his prison.

    Seriously, Youhu clan! Is this how you repay the hero who not only saved your clan but made it one of the most powerful in the world??

    Tanyin’s heartbreaking plea to Yuan Zhong to rest though … to imagine that this is really how his inner psyche is like, constantly turning over this theory of “five sins” over and over again …

    I find Yuan Zhong’s “Thanos” turn very understandable. To him, it was the only way to keep sane, to have a light at the end of the tunnel, the only way to justify his imprisonment. It was all a grand experiment, to make him realise the “reality” of what is. He can fix it! He can still be a hero. He’s not a useless discard. The Five Sins is also his way of understanding why he was imprisoned: It’s some heroic quest to make him realise that he had to save the world by destroying it.

    Well, he’s just well and truly mad.

    Were you shocked by the reverse uno card?

    At the end of episode 20, I love how they revealed how powerful and insane he was at the end, when he suddenly overpowered the demon effortlessly. And when the demon realised that Yuan Zhong was an even bigger demon that he was!

    That scene made my jaw drop because I DID NOT EXPECT IT.

    A standard xianxia would probably had Tanyin rescue him or something. Instead, Yuan Zhong kicked her out and burnt the demon alive. Gah!

    And we the audience realised that Yuan Zhong was the real demon here.

    To be honest, I’m not sure how I’ll see the funny cute scenes he’ll have with Tanyin now, knowing that he’s secretly planning the world’s death.

    The Mute Lady
    In episode 16, we learn about Xie You’s “other disciple”, the Mute Lady. We later discover that this was Ji Tanyin when she had just emerged from her long sleep. Because of her injuries, she couldn’t talk much but she left a mark everywhere she went, building schools, teaching the villagers science and turning bandits into good people. She ended up being worshipped till this day.

    I’m also quite pleased that by end of episode 17, Yuan Zhong quickly figured out that Tanyin was the Mute Lady. His fury made a lot of sense, not just because he was tricked but because he really wanted to believe that she followed him because she liked him, and that he was special somehow. Instead, he’s just one of the many people she helped, because that’s her nature, and he’s not special at all.

    On top of that, he believes that she has ulterior motives in approaching him.

    Zi Feng said something very important to him: That she’s distracting him from his true plans, and that’s the real danger.

    Episodes 21-24

    Yuan Zhong’s gradual turn to the light

    Again, I really love how the show doesn’t really spoonfeed us information, but shows rather than tells us things.

    Probably the most significant development is Yuan Zhong’s gradual thawing. This scene is especially moving because here we see Yuan Zhong in his sea of consciousness, in dark robes, possibly on the way to becoming a demon, but as he remembers Tanyin’s words asking him to travel the world, he literally begins to see the light.

    And right after that scene we see Taihe’s body disintegrating. It’s as if each time Yuan Zhong heads towards less dark places, Taihe suffers. Hmm! I wonder what’s up with that?

    Oh yes, there’s this strange scene where Yuan Zhong is standing in the middle of town and he is surrounded by blue light. I didn’t understand that until I got on to Chinese social media, and those who have read the script said that it was Yuan Zhong extending his senses to feel/see the life in town. Feeling the joy of life for the first time in a long while, he ran back home to read Tanyin’s travelogue, suddenly eager to experience how it’s like to travel the world.

    But just as Yuan Zhong starts to soften to Tanyin, she starts to get cold…

    One can’t blame her really, because Qian Lian’s remark that “he’s becoming a demon” and what she saw in his sea of consciousness are making her really wary. Remember, her sole purpose for taking back the Divine Hand from Yuan Zhong was because he was considered evil, thus not worthy of the hand. If he has truly become evil, she would have no choice but to kill him.

    And we know that Tanyin has started to love him in her own way, and she doesn’t want to do this at all.

    The back and forth between them was riveting to watch and it’s going to get helluva more intense in the next episodes!

    Is Yuan Zhong possessed or demonised?

    I’ve seen discussions online – some say Yuan Zhong is getting possessed by a demon, some say he’s becoming a demon. There’s a distinction between the two, and I think it’s the latter.

    What do you think?

    Personally, I think it’ll cheapen Yuan Zhong’s journey if he was possessed by another entity. It makes more sense that his tortured decades had twisted him to darkness, and it’s more gratifying to see him fight his way out of that rather than be rescued from possession by Tanyin.

    Fu Jiuyun

    I’m sure fans of the charming, flirty nearly thousand-year-old immortal Fu Jiuyun from Love of Thousand Years are delighted to see him here.

    At first, we think that he’s just here for comedic relief and to be Yuan Zhong’s love rival, but I think he’s here to prod (or tease) Yuan Zhong and Tanyin about their relationship.

    Also, if you know about his origins, you’d realise that he was actually being very literal, but because of the way he said it, it came off as smutty double entendre! Hilarious!

    There is a connection between Tanyin and Fu Jiuyun, as we’ll come to find out.

    Qian Lian’s gift is to be knocked out every episode

    … apparently. I couldn’t believe that he was once again knocked out in episode 20 lol

    I’ve taken to call him Mr. Third Wheel. Not that he’s much competition to Yuan Zhong at all! I’m really not sure why he’s here, to be honest lol

    To be honest, I found the War Demons arc mostly snoozeworthy. They seem not as well fleshed out as other races, just evil sidekicks right now. Besides Qian Lian, no one else seems to have a redeemable, 3-dimensional quality…. well, until the end of episode 20, when we find out that the War Demon that seemed semi-kind to Qian Lian was actually his half-brother.

    And that’s about time, to show that War Demons are people too, like Tanyin said to Qian Lian when she rescued him from the slave traders.

    I continue to be bored by Tang Hua

    Tang Hua and Zhi Dai are doing something, and I’m really bored lol. Each time they come onscreen I have to fight the urge to push the fast-forward button. I’m sure their plot has something to do with Wushuang Society and I’m certain that Zhi Dai’s brother is involved with them, but at this point of the story I just want to focus on our main couple, is that too much to ask?

    Raising a child is really expensive

    As a fellow fire sign, my favourite weapon spirit has been replaced by A Xiu!

    That said, I really love this little interlude between Yuan Zhong, Tanyin and A Xiu because it gave Yuan Zhong a taste of a life beyond the Grand Plan.

    When Tanyin told him that he could travel the world once he freed the weapon spirits, it’s as if this thought had never occurred to him before.

    You see a sense of wonder slowly descending on him, and a gradual reluctance to execute his Grand Plan. (Him not feeding A Xiu gold to hasten his growth is one big sign.)

    As he starts to love life again, he begins to doubt his Grand Plan …

    I really love this arc, that’s all I can say, and I wish they could stay like this forever, being pseudo-parents to the precious A Xiu, just worrying about raising an expensive kid …

    Episodes 25 and 26

    You know what I think? Nobody has the right to be this beautiful when destroying the world lol.

    Anyhoo, this is going to be a short one because I just landed from my week-long vacation. (And I swear this is the best thing, being able to chase this drama on a beautiful tropical island.) Also, I feel that these episodes don’t need much exposition because we all know what happened here: Yuan Zhong and Tang Yan are suspicious of each other, and there are full of emotional scenes between the two of them.

    Anyway, these episodes were Ah-mahzing! I keep rewatching the emotional scenes in these episodes because They. Are. So. Good!

    This is mostly because I like to watch Liu Xueyi suffer I love Liu Xueyi’s Shakespearean scenes. It’s incredibly hard to do monologues in general, and he did two in these episodes.

    If he wasn’t this good of an actor, those scenes would’ve been hammy and awkward, but he was able to imprint different emotions just through his voice, at times!

    The one when Tanyin entered his sea of consciousness and he had this major blow out demanding, “Why should I forgive them?” I really felt his fury. And I wanted to go, you know what, don’t forgive them Yuan Zhong! They don’t deserve it. Burn them all!

    And yet I understand Tanyin’s POV as well. There’s so much beauty in the world too, and she wanted him to emerge from this terrible darkness.

    But my favourite scene has to be that pivotal moment when he was about to unleash hell on the world. He started out reverent, almost, as he talked to Wushuang. Then it slowly turned bitter, then menacing as wrathful. And then through a series of expressions, Liu Xueyi conveyed Yuan Zhong’s pain as he hesitated, remembering the beauty of this world. His simple declaration, “Never mind”, was like a bomb going off (emotionally speaking).

    I love that he was the one who “saved” himself, and that he flinched for the first time when the orb showed him the terror that he was about to unleash. I like romance like the next person, but despite liking our couple very much I want Yuanzhong to be the one making the decision to turn away. I don’t want him to turn away because the heroine declared her love for him, or if she was in danger. I want him to come to the realisation that he didn’t need to destroy the world.

    The scriptwriter is brilliant.

    It makes their eventual embrace on the bridge so meaningful. Tanyin was relieved that Yuan Zhong chose not to destroy the world, and that he did this himself. And Yuan Zhong smiled and was relieved as well, because Tanyin didn’t turn away from him after seeing him at his darkest; a literal demon. Instead, she was running towards him.

    Some folks online complained that they wished there was more love demonstrated between the two of them, that it took so long for them to even show any kind of affection towards each other, but I thought it was just perfect. This is how two people from very different, polarising positions, can fall in love. And I am happy they didn’t take the short cut by giving us skinship or accidental kisses and embraces (bleargh) so rife in xianxia, even if there was one kiss at episode 6, but that was for totally logical reasons!

    So which emotional scene did you prefer? The one in the sea of consciousness or the tower when he was about to unleash hell?

    Episodes 27-30

    Seriously, the problem I have with express episodes is how do I balance discussions for those who have watched the express episodes and those who have not? So what I’ll be doing is to follow the current non-Express airing episodes and hope you guys are patient, I will be releasing the discussion on the finale at the end of the week. So, do be patient, Express viewers!

    By the way, those who have seen the Express episodes: PLEASE PUT ON SPOILER TAGS WHEN YOU COMMENT ABOUT EPISODES BEYOND 30. Those who do not will get their comments removed. All right then, let’s go ahead with the discussion.

    So, did you like the kissing scene? hehe

    I want to say that watching Yuan Zhong and Tanyin being all sweet with each other, and THAT KISS OMG was the highlight of these episodes.

    Of course we know that the writer is giving this sweet moments before drowning us in bittergourd juice, sigh.

    Also OMG please make Liu Xueyi do more kissing scenes. Honestly, I just tolerate most kissing scenes in Cdramas, but with LXY, I literally savour them because they’re just so natural that you feel that you’re spying on a couple! The best kisser in CDramaland, that’s for sure.

    BTW (some melon gossip) It’s said that he’ll be the male lead in a Ming dynasty costumed drama with Tan Songyun drama soon and omg my girl cannot reciprocate if you know mean. So, if it films, I wonder how the kissing scenes will look like (if there’s any lol).
    Two ways to exist in the world

    One of the themes that resonated with Chinese audiences about A Moment But Forever, but would probably make us international audiences blink, is that they see China’s geopolitical situation reflected in the drama.

    I’m not going to much detail into this as I don’t want to turn this into a political post, but I can at least talk about how episodes 26-31 offer a glimpse at two ways to exist in the world:

    a) At A-Xue’s house, did you notice that a deity, War Demon, Youhu fox spirit and a human being sat down together to have meals and watch fireworks together?

    b) However, this idyll is shattered when, in a bid to help the Youhu clan, Yuan Zhong is brutally attacked by War Demons, the Youhu clan (seriously, if Yuan Zhong eventually cuts all ties and stop helping them they 100% deserve it), humans and yes, even deities (Hanvu)

    These two sets of people exists at the same time in the world:

    We can either treat each those alien to us as equals and have meals with them to forge friendships.

    Or we can scheme and manipulates and destroy and kill instead.

    I’m so proud that Yuan Zhong is of the first group now; it was really lovely to see his development after he gave up destroying the world.

    Instead of isolating Qian Lian, he helps heal him and develop into a Perfect War Demon. Of course he couldn’t resist sliding in a few barbs and petty moments, but that Yuan Zhong for ya.

    Despite seeing Dingxu spying on him, he lets him go. (Though I wouldn’t have mind if he made an exception, ya know?)

    I also loved A Xue, how accepting and grounded she is despite having powerful people in her house!
    The attack on Yuan Zhong was brutal to watch 😦

    Oh gawd, seriously why is anyone in the Youhu clan still listening to Dingxu and the parasitic elder cohorts?? Please someone tell me why. The Youhu elders are a bunch of moronic, ungrateful, lazy bunch and seeing them literally betray Yuan Zhong, who came to help them is just …! (Seriously Tang Hua, I know it’s not your fault but you did drag Yuan Zhong from his peaceful life to this mess, ugh. Could you like, stop.)

    This whole sequence was so distressing to watch. Imagine, after sparing the world destruction, everyone conspires to kill him. (It was gratifying to watch Qian Lian come to his rescue though! What a cool guy.)

    Yet, despite using the Divine Hand, it wasn’t deadly enough to annihilate everyone – Yuan Zhong held back when he could’ve easily used it to level the city. And that scene when Tanyin swoops in and catches him, and two flowers land on his blood stained hands and he tells Tanyin that such beauty exists in this flithy place? (EUHGH)

    He paid dearly for his kindness but this time, he did not destroy the world. This is a lot of growth because old Yuanzhong would’ve just unleashed hell on the world. (And I would’ve secretly cheered him on a little.)

    Also loved Tanyin’s little trick of shrinking the city and flicking it thousands of miles away. Wait, does that mean Yandu is now at a different part of the world?? Did it move back later?? lol

    All in all exciting episodes even if it was brutal to watch Yuan Zhong so seriously injured and Tanyin desperately trying to bring him to safety as they are chased by his enemies …

    Episodes 31-33

    Now that Yuan Zhong is safe, Tanyin has to leave to deal with Hanvu in the Divine Realm. Yuan Zhong takes desperate actions, triggering a cascade of events…

    The Green Tea Fox

    (PS: “Green tea” is slang for someone who pretends to be innocent, pure, and sweet on the outside but is actually manipulative and calculative.)

    Tanyin had no choice but to leave physically this time because all access to the Divine Realm is barred to her now that she’s no longer a goddess, and Hanvu closed the ascension platform.

    However, she discovers one more way: use Juanjuan’s spatial magic technique—but she needs to do it physically, not via spirit like before.

    Never did I expect Yuan Zhong to pretend to be blind, frail, and worsen his injuries just to keep Tanyin around. But he’s a fox after all (specifically a green tea fox!). I love this, though.

    I like that they didn’t outright show he was faking his injuries and blindness immediately. Instead, we get a clue at the start of Episode 32 when they’re stargazing: as Tanyin gently guides his hand to “see” the stars, he sneaks a glance at her. This cunning fox!

    But we don’t know why he did it until much later.

    By then, Yuan Zhong suspects she’s more than just the immortal Mute Lady—she’s a goddess. Fu Jiuyun’s words must echo in his head: that they’re mere passersby in her life, and her path lies beyond mortals like them.

    I deeply empathize with Yuan Zhong when he asks Tanyin (paraphrased): “Do you know what it’s like to wait for someone without any clue where they’re going or when they’ll return?”

    And when all tactics fail, he demands to marry her—his way of forcing proof that she truly loved him. Desperate actions, unfortunately. Not exactly my ideal proposal! Lmao.

    Though these scenes were sweet, they felt “heavy”, steeped in doom. I couldn’t fully enjoy them knowing what was coming.

    I’m Mad at Zhi Dai

    Tanyin’s inability to confess her love (thanks, Heavens, and your stupid Three Oaths—ugh) leads to Yuan Zhong’s extreme reaction when Zhi Dai, under Hanvu’s orders, reveals that Tanyin is the goddess he’s worshipped for years.

    Like, woman! I thought you’d gained brain cells after your second life, but you regressed the moment Tang Hua flashed a smile. Okay, fine, you were possessed by Hanvu—but you didn’t have to lead her to him!

    I get her motivations, but I loathed her hesitance and selfishness. Surely she knew there’d be catastrophic consequences, especially after what happened with her brother.

    Are You Annoyed at Yuan Zhong?

    Many on Chinese social media were furious at Yuan Zhong’s actions in these episodes. They called him silly for being so insecure that he forced Tanyin to stay, fell for Hanvu’s schemes, and sparked a chain reaction…

    Frankly, I see their point. I, too, groaned: “Yuan Zhong, must you? Couldn’t you just cherish your time with Tanyin, even if she had ulterior motives?”

    But our fox isn’t mentally healthy. Turning away from world-destruction doesn’t mean instant recovery. Darkness still surrounds him—his clan, war demons, and even the gods want him dead. How much can one man take?

    Though he chose to spare the world, Tanyin became his only light (especially after Yandu’s cruelty). That’s… not ideal.

    Nightmare Wedding: Why Did Yuan Zhong Do It?

    “I have never been this afraid in my life.” —Yuan Zhong

    Did you dread the wedding as much as I did? With Tanyin’s nightmare vision of Yuan Zhong in red, how couldn’t we? Alas, her fear came true.

    Why?

    1. He wanted to be special to her. Not just one of many loved by a goddess.
    2. He believed Tanyin stayed only for Taihe’s mission—no love involved. If his Divine Hand kept her from leaving, he’d rather give it to her and end the farce.
    3. The Hand symbolized a lifetime of pain. This was the final straw.

    Was it understandable? Yes. Maddening? Also yes.

    Could Yuan Zhong have been “reasonable”? Maybe. But consider: a man imprisoned for 60 years by the clan he protected, who finally finds hope in a woman’s devotion—only to learn it’s conditional.

    In his mind, their marriage was just a means for her to retrieve the Hand. Why endure that toxicity? With his limited understanding of her mission and his fractured mental state, he saw no other way out.

    And she was leaving—perhaps forever. That’s why he said, “I let you go.”

    Novel vs. Drama: A Key Difference

    In the novel, Yuan Zhong only considered cutting off his hand:

    “He imagined cutting off his left hand in a fit of rage… hoping to fill the void with her tears and regret.”

    But drama Yuan Zhong actually did it!

    While the novel’s pear-tree scene felt tepid (Tanyin’s reaction was oddly muted), the drama’s version made Yuan Zhong seem unstable—but it was earned. His mental decline was well-foreshadowed.

    That said, drama Tanyin’s agony over his death sold their love better than the novel’s more detached portrayal.

    Episodes 34 – Hanvu

    One of the problems the show had toward the end, and when it truly stumbled, was explaining the motivations of its archvillain, the seemingly saintly Hanvu.

    This is where the book did it better. In the book, every god goes through tribulations in the world, and it often revolves around Obsessions. Hanvu being trapped in her obsessive hatred for her sister was her tribulation. To “pass” her tribulation, she had to rise above it.

    (Obviously, she couldn’t in the end. The book vividly portrayed her ‘stuckness’ when Tanyin saw her ‘true form’ – that of a woman still burning alive in that fire. I always remember her saying that Tanyin had been in that firepit for centuries, unable to move away. In that sense, Hanvu was suffering for centuries with that pain.)

    It’s All About Obsessions

    Personally, I don’t think the show explained the magic system of this world very well.

    The Buddhist philosophy that obsessions lead to suffering gets a twist in the story.

    In this universe, one’s obsession can result in great feats, immortality, and even divinity. But on the other side of the coin: it can also lead to great misery and demonization.

    • Yuan Zhong was obsessed with judging the world based on the five sins.
    • Hanvu was obsessed with the betrayal of her sister, which led to her violent death.

    That’s why Yuan Zhong said: “Gods and demons are just a thought apart.”

    What obsession makes you a god? What obsession makes you a demon?

    Hanvu and Yuan Zhong were on the same journey, but they responded differently.

    Hanvu’s hatred had no outlet

    Like Yuan Zhong, Hanvu was deeply wronged when she was alive. Despite being a caring sister, she was framed by her sibling and ended up being burned alive by a mob.

    Like Yuan Zhong, she had a guide to lead her to a better path: Taihe. However, unlike Yuan Zhong, Hanvu couldn’t absorb Taihe’s guidance. (This is partly due to Taihe’s lack of empathy—a result of his “ruthless path”—where he only taught her to suppress her desires.)

    When her sister died, her opportunity for revenge slipped away from her because, as a goddess, she couldn’t interfere with the cycle of reincarnation or enter it like her sister.

    She wasn’t able to let go of her grudge as a result, and as she said, “Where can my grudge go? Forgive? I cannot forgive!”

    So, instead of feeling gratitude for Taihe, she ended up hating him. She poisoned Taihe by unleashing all the darkness he was suppressing, which turned into a literal demon. She blamed the world for her unjust death, and she used Taihe as her weapon, and later, Yuan Zhong.

    A lot of people on social media couldn’t understand her motivations. It may seem lame—to destroy the world based on something you suffered thousands of years ago—but think of it as hatred morphing into something “alive.” In Hanvu, we see the destructive force behind an Obsession; because she couldn’t let go, she needed an outlet for her hatred. She chose a new target: the world.

    Yuan Zhong could say, “Never Mind”

    Like Hanvu, Yuan Zhong’s target was also the world. But unlike Hanvu, he learned to love his guide, Tanyin, who was gentle and empathetic and gave him love in return. Unlike Hanvu, he could let his grudge go and say, “Never mind.”

    That’s why I loved that little scene so much. Just two words, and it said so much—Yuan Zhong was able to let go of his obsessive need to destroy the world and justify his suffering. Hanvu wasn’t.

    (PS: That’s why some fan theories say he had already attained godhood then, because he passed his tribulation right there—but it’s complicated, haha, since he replaced this Obsession with Tanyin.)

    Unfortunately, Hanvu used Yuan Zhong’s love (or rather, Obsession) for Tanyin against him, resulting in this:

    The Problem Lay in the Direction and the Script

    The director, Guo Hu, has a rather spotty track record. While he was responsible for The Mysterious Lotus Casebook, he was also responsible for the really poorly received Only for Love.

    So, I was holding my breath for most of the drama. On the whole, while he may struggle with some camera angles, etc., I thought he executed the story very well. But then he started stumbling after Episode 31.

    And when Hanvu agreed to give Tanyin a “presentation” about why she was doing what she was doing, I could only facepalm. Really, director? You decided to turn Hanvu into the “villain who monologues her plan”? Until then, the drama had been pretty strong in the “show, don’t tell” department.

    Of course, not all the blame can be placed on the director. I’d say the scriptwriter shares a fair bit of it. And that puzzled me because the writing had been consistently strong until the last arc, which leads me to conclude that another scriptwriter probably took over (the style is just too different) or… there was interference from above.

    Probably a combination of both. Producers and the studio (and this is an iQIYI production) are notorious for dictating story direction, and all I can say is: something happened to the last few episodes.

    I also read that originally, Hanvu’s motivation was that she was jealous Tanyin had Taihe’s attention in the past. The director nixed that plot, and I’m glad he did!

    However, if only he could’ve laid out more foreshadowing for Hanvu to hint at her Obsession, her world-destroying motivations would’ve been more understandable—just like Yuan Zhong’s.

    By the way, if you want to discuss the finale next, head over to the finale thread, which was originally for express viewers.

    I have one more post coming explaining my opinion about the ending, and why I think it’s actually a good ending, even one leading towards happy.

    Episodes 36 (Ending)

    Evil Taihe is cool, I guess?

    A lot of people were impressed with Evil Taihe/Yuan Zhong combo but I thought it was not Liu Xueyi’s strongest performance in the drama. (I thought it was rather cheesy, forgive me.) But I was super impressed that he used a totally different voice for him!

    Did Evil Taihe die too easily? Yeah, weirdly for such a much-feared demon! haha

    Why did Hanvu self-destruct?

    Hanvu’s death was very confusing. What prompted her to self-destruct into a tapestry again? Someone explain to me.

    Zhi Dai and Tang Hua’s ending was appropriate

    Honestly, I’m suprrised Tang Hua got to live, his anime and novel version – he didn’t survive lol. Anyhoo, that relationship was doomed from the begginning and tbh I didn’t feel anything for this ‘ship, so it’s fine to me ;P

    Is Meishan dead?

    I think he’s in the same state Tanyin was, his body dead, but unless his primordial spirit is irrevocably destroyed, he could return. But, unfortunately, we do not know for sure.

    Why did Yuan Zhong inherit Taihe’s powers?

    Personally, I think it’s because he finally passed his tribulation and was deemed worthy enough to become Taihe version 2. (In xianxia, gods ascend to a new level after much suffering, but they need to overcome them to do so.) But again, they didn’t quite explain.

    So, will Yuan Zhong accept the deity’s invitation to cultivate the ruthless path and be Taihe version 2?

    I swear, if he does, he has learned nothing from his 60 years of confinement by the Youhu and deserves a tight slap from Tanyin when she returns.

    The entire conversation was way too similar to Dinxu’s appeal that “he can become a god”. He’d be an utter fool to be tricked again just so that he can see Tanyin. So, no I doubt it. Being a god is no longer appealing, all he wants is Tanyin and yes, it’s a dirty tactic that the deity used Tanyin as bait but I’m confident Yuan Zhong is wise and smart enough to know that the ruthless path will only prevent him from reunited with Tanyin (because he has to supress his emotions).

    Also, surely he knows that Taihe’s path wasn’t as pristine and pure as they made it out to be. So I doubt Yuan Zhong will fall for this scheme.

    But he smiled because he finally have hope (after years grieving for her loss) that Tanyin can return one day.

    But won’t he die before Tanyin returns?

    It’s said that the Youhu foxes only live up to 500 years (if I’m not mistaken). I doubt that’s Yuan Zhong’s lifespan, being a host to the Divine Hand. Remember, Dinxu used to drain Yuan Zhong to make elixers to prolong his life. With that blood in his body, I’m sure his life is extended by a lot, and now that he has “inherited” Taihe’s full powers, his already god-like. He just chose not to ascend officially and take his place in the Divine Realm. And I doubt he’d ever do that.

    The final question: Will Tanyin return?

    Yes, to me she will. Reasons below.

    Dashed expectations … only if you are a modern xianxia viewer with ‘love conquers all’ expectations

    I firmly believe A Moment But Forever ended happily—but this depends on how you interpret the drama’s central themes. Modern audiences, especially newcomers to xianxia, often expect fairy-tale romances where love conquers all.

    However, classic xianxia (the one I grew up with) was never solely about romance. Instead, it explored philosophical themes— what is good? What’s evil? What is the true nature of a deity? The immortals in more classic xianxia were far more concerned with mortal welfare than their own love lives.

    And if they have some romance, they will prioritise their mission to care for mortals and sacrifice their love lives. That’s the nature of gods, and that’s how they became gods in the first place. Well, at least in old xianxia. Not so, modern xianxia, unfortunately. (They’d rather wreck the world for love!)

    Over the years, the xianxia genre came to be dominated by the idol factory, so young actors and romance-heavy plots have became its trademark, almost.

    This shift explains why A Moment But Forever faced the ageist criticism in China as “middle-aged xianxia.”

    Anyway, if you watch A Moment But Forever expecting a modern xianxia, alas your expectations will be sorely dashed.

    But if you approach it as a classic xianxia tale—centred on moral redemption, the responsibilities of the divine for humans—the ending will be logical … albeit unsatisfactory.

    But to me, the ending is not just good but happy

    Okay, happy-ish.

    The core narrative about the drama isn’t about Tanyin and Yuan Zhong’s love story. It’s about Yuan Zhong’s redemption—a man destined to seemingly commit great evil. It’s also the story of a benevolent deity (Taiyin), who acts as his guide to sway him from this dark path.

    The story’s “mission” completes when he chooses light over darkness, and saves the world.

    Tanyin’s sacrifice—breaking heavenly laws to save him (the ultimate sacrifice for a goddess)—earns her a reprieve from judgement and a chance to live again.

    A bad ending would be Yuan Zhong going completely evil and Tanyin dead!

    I also liked the fact that Yuan Zhong and Tanyin several years as husband and wife. Tang Hua mentioned that he spent a few years travelling the world, and then we see Yuan Zhong and Tanyin at the tail end of their six-month travels.

    I like that Yuan Zhong got to have this time with Tanyin, really truly love each other and lived as husband and wife before they parted.

    To quote a Weibo-er, “our fox is no longer a virgin in the world and is now a right and proper widower.”

    So what does it mean that she’s in the world, in a blade of grass etc?

    The drama hints strongly that Tanyin survives as sentient energy and is able to influence creatures around her or even reincarnate into them – butterflies, dragonflies. Think of it as a higher level of existence.

    In the novel, all gods who “die” reunite with a ‘central hub’ of primordial energy. So gods who ‘die’ become this energy, but Tanyin didn’t reunite with this central hub because she was granted the reprieve, and got to be free to rejoin the world.

    But it will take time.

    I firmly believe she will eventually return, mirroring the novel’s resolution where she reforms in a new body after centuries.

    Why I’m convinced Taiyin will return:

    1. The Deity’s Revelation: The god at the end confirms Taiyin’s primordial spirit lingers between heaven and earth, and Yuan senses her presence.
    2. 2. Foreshadowing:
      • The fortune teller’s prophecy: Yuan will have “joy with his descendants.”
      • Taiyin gave Yuan Zhong her divine energy in episode 6. In the novel this is the key to her return. Her body is remade with immortal lotus, her teacher gave Yuan Zhong the “lotus gift”. I feel that he probably wanted to protect her too, and I think this “lotus energy” will facilitate her body’s reformation.
    3. Novel Parallels: In the source material, Taiyin returns after centuries, her energy merging with a lotus to recreate her body. The drama’s open ending implies the same outcome.

    But I get why you want a kissy reunion

    Let me ask you: Why should all “happy endings” be about a wedding and babies?

    For a classic xianxia tale, a “happy ending” means evil was thwarted, and our heroes ascend their tribulations, ofter after great sacrifice.

    I get it though. Modern xianxia viewers are so used to the idea of a romantic conclusion that they get furious when it’s thwarted, but classic xianxia prioritizes the themes I mentioned.

    Yes, the frustration stems from mismatched genre expectations. But also, well, I get it. After the many tribulations we just want our couple to cuddle their babies and snog!

    Why is it the ending ‘unsatisfying’ then?

    Partly because we want to see Tanyin fulfill her promise that “she will definitely return, I promise you.” But didn’t get to see that (even if it’s heavily hinted).

    Also, the drama was amazing up to episode 33. I felt that the drama jumped the shark after the Red Wedding (lmao). It’s as if they ran out of money or was told to hastily cut down lots of scenes.

    That’s why it’s unsatisfactory to me – the drama was excellently plotted, the logic very solid until episode 33. Then after that it was a return to xianxia cliches. (I wasn’t super enthused with the demon lord arc.)

    So many things were left lightly hinted at towards the end. For example, many people didn’t catch that the Weapon Spirits are still alive! Little A Xiu is back at the last episode.

    A definite ending for many of our beloved characters would’ve made so many people happier.

    Well, at least we understand why the Chinese title of the drama is 念无双 (Thinking/Longing for Wu Shuang). It sure lived up to it!

    In the end, all of us know exactly how Yuan Zhong felt at the final scene. LOL

    PS: Apparent the scriptwriter said an extra scene was filmed but never allowed to release. There’s some confusion about whether it’s filmed or not. But there was indeed a happy ending, either as an extra episode or a happy ending, but they decided to lop it off so that it has a more open ending instead. Make it make sense, c-ent!

    So what are your theories?

    #China #AMomentButForever #CDrama #CDramas #ChineseDrama #ChineseDramas #Fantasy #LiuXueYi #LiuXueyi #reviews #romance #TV #Xianxia

  4. One UI 8 Full Changelogs (Final) (Galaxy S25)

    Samsung has rolled out One UI 8.0 for the Galaxy S25 series devices, including the Galaxy S25 Edge, in Korea today and it will expand the availability to other countries and models in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, Samsung has finally published the official changelogs for the Galaxy S25 series’ One UI 8.0 update.

    Here’s the final changelogs:

    Please note that the below changelogs are machine-translated from Korean to English, so inaccuracies can show up. In case European countries or any other country gets the update, we’ll update the changelogs to the official English version.

    One UI 8.0 (Android 16)

    Galaxy AI

    Call subtitles
    With call captioning, your conversation with the other person is displayed on screen in real time during a call. You can follow along with the on-screen content and carefully check to make sure you don’t miss anything.

    Create animal photos in various styles
    Apply AI effects to transform your pet’s photos into something special. Now, in Portrait Studio, you can apply a variety of styles, such as fish-eye and oil painting, to your dog and cat photos to make them truly special.

    Clean audio
    Apply the audio eraser to automatically reduce background noises, such as wind, when someone speaks. This feature is available in the Gallery, Video Player, Samsung Notes, Voice Recorder, and Phone.

    Smarter everyday life with Now Brief
    Receive concise briefings of essential information tailored to your interests and daily timeline. Access Now Brief via the Edge panel, home screen widget, and Now bar notifications.

    Disaster Text Translation
    Even if you receive disaster alerts in a different language, you can still see important information without missing anything. Galaxy AI will automatically translate emergency alerts in languages ​​other than your system language.

    Faster AI Select
    After running AI Select, you can select the desired area right away without waiting any longer.

    View AI results more easily
    When using apps that support summary and translation in landscape mode, you can summarize or translate content and then view the original and translated content side by side at once.

    Stay safe from voice phishing
    Calls from unknown callers are analyzed by AI based on data from the National Police Agency. If conversations suspected of being voice phishing are detected, you will be notified to avoid damage. Call analysis is processed only on your device, and call details are not shared.

    Customization

    New clock style for lock screen
    Discover a stylish new clock that will make your lock screen stand out. It blends seamlessly with your wallpaper, and the font size and position flexibly change based on the shape of your portrait or animal image, allowing you to create your own perfect style.

    Newly designed wallpaper
    The range of wallpaper options has been expanded. Gradient wallpapers and dynamic wallpapers that change color over time have been added.

    Set my photo as wallpaper
    Get recommended wallpapers and set them. Choose from a variety of categories from your gallery, including landscapes, cities, flowers, pets, and people.

    Productivity

    Check stock prices without unlocking
    If there’s a significant price change in a stock you’ve added to your watchlist in Google Finance, it will appear in the Now bar at the end of the trading day.

    File sharing made easier
    Sending and receiving files is easier than ever. Tap the Quick Share button in the Quick Settings panel. Easily receive new files while the Quick Share screen is open, or select and share files directly from Quick Share.

    Add a sticky note
    Samsung Notes now features Sticky Notes. You can add and delete ideas at any time without altering the original note. Add unlimited Sticky Notes on top of your notes.

    Quickly find downloaded files
    You can now filter files by downloaded apps. This feature is available in the Downloads and Recent Files sections of the My Files app.

    The new Samsung Internet
    We’ve improved the menu screen to allow you to access frequently used functions more quickly. Easily find frequently used features and configure the screen to your liking.

    Supports engineering calculator in portrait mode
    You can now use the scientific calculator without having to rotate the screen horizontally. The scientific calculator now supports both landscape and portrait modes.

    Multitasking

    DeX usage has become more convenient
    When connected to an external display, use DeX more conveniently with a mouse and on-screen keyboard. You can also add widgets to your home screen.

    More diverse display settings
    The new Samsung DeX offers more options when connecting to an external monitor or TV. You can choose an optimized display resolution up to WQHD, and you can also rotate the screen 90, 180, or 270 degrees.

    Split screen made more convenient
    When you open two apps in split screen mode, you can slide one app to the edge of the screen to focus on the current app. When you want to use another app, simply tap the app you’ve just pushed. The app will instantly switch between them, making it convenient to use.

    Reminder

    Redesigned Reminder
    The Reminder app’s screen layout has been revamped. You can now easily see how many reminders you have in each category at the top of the screen. Custom categories can be easily collapsed and expanded, allowing you to customize the Reminder main screen to your liking.

    Add useful reminder templates
    We provide a variety of templates to help you make the most of your reminders. You won’t have to worry about how to set reminders for important tasks.

    Add reminders easily
    To add a reminder, simply type it in the input field at the bottom of the screen. Based on your input, templates and previously used reminders will be recommended. Using the buttons below the input field, you can easily create checklists, set locations, attach images, and more. You can also create a reminder by voice by pressing the microphone icon instead of typing.

    Skip notifications on holidays
    When adding a reminder, you can set it so that the event notification does not sound on weekends and public holidays.

    Calendar

    Manage reminders in your calendar
    Now you can add reminders directly from the Calendar app without opening the Reminders app. Simply tap the + button on the calendar to easily add events or reminders. To change a reminder time, simply drag it to the desired date or time.

    Add a schedule quickly
    When creating a schedule using the Quick Add menu, you’ll receive recommendations for schedule names and times based on existing schedules. Selecting a recommendation will immediately add the schedule without any additional input.

    View lunar dates together
    You can set the lunar date to always be displayed on the monthly calendar. Go to Calendar Settings and set it to Always display lunar dates.

    Skip notifications on holidays
    When creating a schedule, you can set it so that schedule notifications do not sound on weekends and public holidays.

    Samsung Health

    Your own personalized running coach
    Run farther and faster without worrying about injury with Samsung Health’s new Running Coach. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, you’ll find training programs and practical tips tailored to your needs. This feature is available on the Galaxy Watch8 and Galaxy Watch Ultra.

    Bedtime Guide for Tomorrow
    Get recommendations for your optimal bedtime and start the next day feeling refreshed. The new Bedtime Guide analyzes your sleep data to recommend the optimal bedtime each night.

    Add a running challenge to Together
    In addition to walking challenges, a running event has been added, allowing you to challenge your friends to a run. Compete to see who can run a set distance faster. For example, you can set a goal of 50 km and see who can reach it first.

    Antioxidant index for aging management
    Anti-aging starts with managing your diet. The watch’s Antioxidant Index (Lab) feature detects the levels of carotenoids in fruits and vegetables, helping you manage your antioxidant status and slow down the aging process. This feature is available on the Galaxy Watch8 and Galaxy Watch Ultra.

    Keep track of your meals with meal logs and reminders
    Set meal log reminders to help you consistently reach your calorie goals. Samsung Health will send you notifications at set times.

    Vascular stress measurement
    Easily measure your vascular stress (the degree of strain on your blood vessels) with the Galaxy Watch. First, wear the watch for three or more nights while you sleep to establish a baseline, allowing you to directly monitor changes in your vascular stress. This feature is available on the Galaxy Watch8 and Galaxy Watch Ultra.

    Check your medical records easily and securely
    You can collect, store, and view medical records from multiple hospitals and clinics in one place in Samsung Health.

    Share your health data with family and friends
    You can now share your health data not only with your family group but also with friends. Now, manage your health records with more people.

    Photos and videos

    Swipe up and down to open quick controls
    Usability has been improved by allowing you to quickly access quick controls by swiping up or down anywhere on the camera screen. Try changing the Swipe up or down setting in the camera settings to Open Quick Controls.

    Capture the perfect brightness with the exposure monitor
    Try the Exposure Monitor feature in Pro and Pro Video modes. It helps you capture photos and videos with the right amount of brightness. It displays overexposed areas with a zebra pattern, and provides false color, which displays different colors depending on the exposure value.

    Professional-level editing experience with Log videos
    You can shoot video in Log format and then professionally edit it. Simply turn on Log in the camera settings and shooting screen to instantly record in Log format. This feature is available in both Video and Pro Video modes.

    Audio

    Quickly set up your Galaxy Buds
    You can now easily control your Galaxy Buds from your phone’s settings—no need to open the Galaxy Wearable app separately.

    Oracast, Connecting Easier
    Oracast lets you simultaneously transmit audio from one device to multiple devices. Simply scan a QR code to easily connect to the audio you’re playing, or you can generate your own QR code so others can connect to your audio.

    Communication

    Profile card improvements
    The layout of the profile card editing screen has been improved to make it easier to create and edit profile cards. You can now share your created profile cards so that callers can see who you are.

    Check call recordings in Contacts
    You can easily review previous calls. If a call with the other party is recorded, it will appear on the contact’s history screen.

    Security and Privacy

    Upgraded Secure Folder
    You can keep your important apps and data even more secure. When the Secure Folder is locked, all apps within it will be closed and notifications will be muted. For even greater security, you can completely hide the Secure Folder and encrypt all apps and data within it.

    Enhanced device security
    Knox Matrix periodically checks all devices logged into your Samsung account for security risks. If a security risk is detected on a device, it is automatically logged out of your Samsung account to prevent the risk from spreading to other devices. You can check the security status of your device in the Security & Privacy settings.

    Set whether to display notifications when the screen is locked
    On the main screen of the Notifications settings, you can choose to show or hide notifications when your phone is locked. Select Always show notifications to view them when your phone is locked, or Hide notifications when locked to prevent others from seeing them.

    Accessibility

    Added screen zoom option to the submenu
    A new way to easily zoom in and out has been added to the submenu. You can zoom in and out by dragging with one finger, or adjust the zoom level by pressing the on-screen zoom level button.

    Use mouse gestures with your keyboard
    You can now use your keyboard to perform mouse actions. By enabling the Mouse Keys option in Accessibility settings, you can conveniently use your keyboard to perform mouse functions, such as moving the mouse pointer, clicking, long-pressing, and scrolling.

    Enlarge the keyboard on the screen as well
    The keyboard has been improved to enlarge when the screen is zoomed in, making it easier to type. Try enabling the Zoom Keyboard When Typing option in the Zoom settings.

    Easily connect your Bluetooth hearing aids
    You can register and connect your Bluetooth hearing aid directly from the Hearing Aid Support screen in Accessibility Settings.

    Modes and Routines

    Easily set up routines with new templates
    New routine templates are available, utilizing weather and various detailed conditions. You can use the templates as is, or customize the settings to your liking.

    Detailed configurable routines
    By importing data from various apps, including Watch, Calendar, and Samsung Notes, you can now configure a wider range of actions in your routines. Imported data can be used as conditions or actions.

    Other enhanced features

    Improved alarm groups
    Usability has been improved by allowing you to directly add existing alarms to a group by pressing the + button on the Alarm Groups screen. You can also add an Alarm Group widget to the home screen to turn multiple alarms on and off at once.

    More convenient app notification settings
    You can manage various notification options at once, such as how notifications are displayed and whether they are displayed on the lock screen, from the notification settings screen of each app.

    Get quick support
    You can receive more convenient support with a quick check-in at a Samsung Service Center. By using NFC or scanning a QR code, you can avoid manually entering information like your name and phone number. Your data is encrypted and only accessible by Samsung service representatives.

    Intuitive weather expression
    The Weather app has been improved to provide an intuitive view of the weather. Appropriate animations are applied to the app’s main background based on current weather conditions.

    Change weather data provider
    The Weather Channel has changed its weather information provider. Some registered location names may change.

    To update to One UI 8.0, you’ll need to have an eligible device, such as the Galaxy S25, Z Fold/Flip 6, and Tab S10, before you can continue. Afterwards, go to Settings > Software update > Download and install.

    #Android #Android16 #AndroidB #AndroidBaklava #GalaxyS25 #GalaxyS25Edge #GalaxyS25Ultra #GalaxyS25_ #news #oneUi #OneUI8 #OneUI80 #S25 #S25Edge #S25Ultra #S25_ #Samsung #SamsungGalaxyS25 #SamsungGalaxyS25Edge #SamsungGalaxyS25Ultra #SamsungGalaxyS25_ #smartphone #Tech #Technology #update

  5. One UI 8 Full Changelogs (Final) (Galaxy S25)

    Samsung has rolled out One UI 8.0 for the Galaxy S25 series devices, including the Galaxy S25 Edge, in Korea today and it will expand the availability to other countries and models in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, Samsung has finally published the official changelogs for the Galaxy S25 series’ One UI 8.0 update.

    Here’s the final changelogs:

    Please note that the below changelogs are machine-translated from Korean to English, so inaccuracies can show up. In case European countries or any other country gets the update, we’ll update the changelogs to the official English version.

    One UI 8.0 (Android 16)

    Galaxy AI

    Call subtitles
    With call captioning, your conversation with the other person is displayed on screen in real time during a call. You can follow along with the on-screen content and carefully check to make sure you don’t miss anything.

    Create animal photos in various styles
    Apply AI effects to transform your pet’s photos into something special. Now, in Portrait Studio, you can apply a variety of styles, such as fish-eye and oil painting, to your dog and cat photos to make them truly special.

    Clean audio
    Apply the audio eraser to automatically reduce background noises, such as wind, when someone speaks. This feature is available in the Gallery, Video Player, Samsung Notes, Voice Recorder, and Phone.

    Smarter everyday life with Now Brief
    Receive concise briefings of essential information tailored to your interests and daily timeline. Access Now Brief via the Edge panel, home screen widget, and Now bar notifications.

    Disaster Text Translation
    Even if you receive disaster alerts in a different language, you can still see important information without missing anything. Galaxy AI will automatically translate emergency alerts in languages ​​other than your system language.

    Faster AI Select
    After running AI Select, you can select the desired area right away without waiting any longer.

    View AI results more easily
    When using apps that support summary and translation in landscape mode, you can summarize or translate content and then view the original and translated content side by side at once.

    Stay safe from voice phishing
    Calls from unknown callers are analyzed by AI based on data from the National Police Agency. If conversations suspected of being voice phishing are detected, you will be notified to avoid damage. Call analysis is processed only on your device, and call details are not shared.

    Customization

    New clock style for lock screen
    Discover a stylish new clock that will make your lock screen stand out. It blends seamlessly with your wallpaper, and the font size and position flexibly change based on the shape of your portrait or animal image, allowing you to create your own perfect style.

    Newly designed wallpaper
    The range of wallpaper options has been expanded. Gradient wallpapers and dynamic wallpapers that change color over time have been added.

    Set my photo as wallpaper
    Get recommended wallpapers and set them. Choose from a variety of categories from your gallery, including landscapes, cities, flowers, pets, and people.

    Productivity

    Check stock prices without unlocking
    If there’s a significant price change in a stock you’ve added to your watchlist in Google Finance, it will appear in the Now bar at the end of the trading day.

    File sharing made easier
    Sending and receiving files is easier than ever. Tap the Quick Share button in the Quick Settings panel. Easily receive new files while the Quick Share screen is open, or select and share files directly from Quick Share.

    Add a sticky note
    Samsung Notes now features Sticky Notes. You can add and delete ideas at any time without altering the original note. Add unlimited Sticky Notes on top of your notes.

    Quickly find downloaded files
    You can now filter files by downloaded apps. This feature is available in the Downloads and Recent Files sections of the My Files app.

    The new Samsung Internet
    We’ve improved the menu screen to allow you to access frequently used functions more quickly. Easily find frequently used features and configure the screen to your liking.

    Supports engineering calculator in portrait mode
    You can now use the scientific calculator without having to rotate the screen horizontally. The scientific calculator now supports both landscape and portrait modes.

    Multitasking

    DeX usage has become more convenient
    When connected to an external display, use DeX more conveniently with a mouse and on-screen keyboard. You can also add widgets to your home screen.

    More diverse display settings
    The new Samsung DeX offers more options when connecting to an external monitor or TV. You can choose an optimized display resolution up to WQHD, and you can also rotate the screen 90, 180, or 270 degrees.

    Split screen made more convenient
    When you open two apps in split screen mode, you can slide one app to the edge of the screen to focus on the current app. When you want to use another app, simply tap the app you’ve just pushed. The app will instantly switch between them, making it convenient to use.

    Reminder

    Redesigned Reminder
    The Reminder app’s screen layout has been revamped. You can now easily see how many reminders you have in each category at the top of the screen. Custom categories can be easily collapsed and expanded, allowing you to customize the Reminder main screen to your liking.

    Add useful reminder templates
    We provide a variety of templates to help you make the most of your reminders. You won’t have to worry about how to set reminders for important tasks.

    Add reminders easily
    To add a reminder, simply type it in the input field at the bottom of the screen. Based on your input, templates and previously used reminders will be recommended. Using the buttons below the input field, you can easily create checklists, set locations, attach images, and more. You can also create a reminder by voice by pressing the microphone icon instead of typing.

    Skip notifications on holidays
    When adding a reminder, you can set it so that the event notification does not sound on weekends and public holidays.

    Calendar

    Manage reminders in your calendar
    Now you can add reminders directly from the Calendar app without opening the Reminders app. Simply tap the + button on the calendar to easily add events or reminders. To change a reminder time, simply drag it to the desired date or time.

    Add a schedule quickly
    When creating a schedule using the Quick Add menu, you’ll receive recommendations for schedule names and times based on existing schedules. Selecting a recommendation will immediately add the schedule without any additional input.

    View lunar dates together
    You can set the lunar date to always be displayed on the monthly calendar. Go to Calendar Settings and set it to Always display lunar dates.

    Skip notifications on holidays
    When creating a schedule, you can set it so that schedule notifications do not sound on weekends and public holidays.

    Samsung Health

    Your own personalized running coach
    Run farther and faster without worrying about injury with Samsung Health’s new Running Coach. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, you’ll find training programs and practical tips tailored to your needs. This feature is available on the Galaxy Watch8 and Galaxy Watch Ultra.

    Bedtime Guide for Tomorrow
    Get recommendations for your optimal bedtime and start the next day feeling refreshed. The new Bedtime Guide analyzes your sleep data to recommend the optimal bedtime each night.

    Add a running challenge to Together
    In addition to walking challenges, a running event has been added, allowing you to challenge your friends to a run. Compete to see who can run a set distance faster. For example, you can set a goal of 50 km and see who can reach it first.

    Antioxidant index for aging management
    Anti-aging starts with managing your diet. The watch’s Antioxidant Index (Lab) feature detects the levels of carotenoids in fruits and vegetables, helping you manage your antioxidant status and slow down the aging process. This feature is available on the Galaxy Watch8 and Galaxy Watch Ultra.

    Keep track of your meals with meal logs and reminders
    Set meal log reminders to help you consistently reach your calorie goals. Samsung Health will send you notifications at set times.

    Vascular stress measurement
    Easily measure your vascular stress (the degree of strain on your blood vessels) with the Galaxy Watch. First, wear the watch for three or more nights while you sleep to establish a baseline, allowing you to directly monitor changes in your vascular stress. This feature is available on the Galaxy Watch8 and Galaxy Watch Ultra.

    Check your medical records easily and securely
    You can collect, store, and view medical records from multiple hospitals and clinics in one place in Samsung Health.

    Share your health data with family and friends
    You can now share your health data not only with your family group but also with friends. Now, manage your health records with more people.

    Photos and videos

    Swipe up and down to open quick controls
    Usability has been improved by allowing you to quickly access quick controls by swiping up or down anywhere on the camera screen. Try changing the Swipe up or down setting in the camera settings to Open Quick Controls.

    Capture the perfect brightness with the exposure monitor
    Try the Exposure Monitor feature in Pro and Pro Video modes. It helps you capture photos and videos with the right amount of brightness. It displays overexposed areas with a zebra pattern, and provides false color, which displays different colors depending on the exposure value.

    Professional-level editing experience with Log videos
    You can shoot video in Log format and then professionally edit it. Simply turn on Log in the camera settings and shooting screen to instantly record in Log format. This feature is available in both Video and Pro Video modes.

    Audio

    Quickly set up your Galaxy Buds
    You can now easily control your Galaxy Buds from your phone’s settings—no need to open the Galaxy Wearable app separately.

    Oracast, Connecting Easier
    Oracast lets you simultaneously transmit audio from one device to multiple devices. Simply scan a QR code to easily connect to the audio you’re playing, or you can generate your own QR code so others can connect to your audio.

    Communication

    Profile card improvements
    The layout of the profile card editing screen has been improved to make it easier to create and edit profile cards. You can now share your created profile cards so that callers can see who you are.

    Check call recordings in Contacts
    You can easily review previous calls. If a call with the other party is recorded, it will appear on the contact’s history screen.

    Security and Privacy

    Upgraded Secure Folder
    You can keep your important apps and data even more secure. When the Secure Folder is locked, all apps within it will be closed and notifications will be muted. For even greater security, you can completely hide the Secure Folder and encrypt all apps and data within it.

    Enhanced device security
    Knox Matrix periodically checks all devices logged into your Samsung account for security risks. If a security risk is detected on a device, it is automatically logged out of your Samsung account to prevent the risk from spreading to other devices. You can check the security status of your device in the Security & Privacy settings.

    Set whether to display notifications when the screen is locked
    On the main screen of the Notifications settings, you can choose to show or hide notifications when your phone is locked. Select Always show notifications to view them when your phone is locked, or Hide notifications when locked to prevent others from seeing them.

    Accessibility

    Added screen zoom option to the submenu
    A new way to easily zoom in and out has been added to the submenu. You can zoom in and out by dragging with one finger, or adjust the zoom level by pressing the on-screen zoom level button.

    Use mouse gestures with your keyboard
    You can now use your keyboard to perform mouse actions. By enabling the Mouse Keys option in Accessibility settings, you can conveniently use your keyboard to perform mouse functions, such as moving the mouse pointer, clicking, long-pressing, and scrolling.

    Enlarge the keyboard on the screen as well
    The keyboard has been improved to enlarge when the screen is zoomed in, making it easier to type. Try enabling the Zoom Keyboard When Typing option in the Zoom settings.

    Easily connect your Bluetooth hearing aids
    You can register and connect your Bluetooth hearing aid directly from the Hearing Aid Support screen in Accessibility Settings.

    Modes and Routines

    Easily set up routines with new templates
    New routine templates are available, utilizing weather and various detailed conditions. You can use the templates as is, or customize the settings to your liking.

    Detailed configurable routines
    By importing data from various apps, including Watch, Calendar, and Samsung Notes, you can now configure a wider range of actions in your routines. Imported data can be used as conditions or actions.

    Other enhanced features

    Improved alarm groups
    Usability has been improved by allowing you to directly add existing alarms to a group by pressing the + button on the Alarm Groups screen. You can also add an Alarm Group widget to the home screen to turn multiple alarms on and off at once.

    More convenient app notification settings
    You can manage various notification options at once, such as how notifications are displayed and whether they are displayed on the lock screen, from the notification settings screen of each app.

    Get quick support
    You can receive more convenient support with a quick check-in at a Samsung Service Center. By using NFC or scanning a QR code, you can avoid manually entering information like your name and phone number. Your data is encrypted and only accessible by Samsung service representatives.

    Intuitive weather expression
    The Weather app has been improved to provide an intuitive view of the weather. Appropriate animations are applied to the app’s main background based on current weather conditions.

    Change weather data provider
    The Weather Channel has changed its weather information provider. Some registered location names may change.

    To update to One UI 8.0, you’ll need to have an eligible device, such as the Galaxy S25, Z Fold/Flip 6, and Tab S10, before you can continue. Afterwards, go to Settings > Software update > Download and install.

    #Android #Android16 #AndroidB #AndroidBaklava #GalaxyS25 #GalaxyS25Edge #GalaxyS25Ultra #GalaxyS25_ #news #oneUi #OneUI8 #OneUI80 #S25 #S25Edge #S25Ultra #S25_ #Samsung #SamsungGalaxyS25 #SamsungGalaxyS25Edge #SamsungGalaxyS25Ultra #SamsungGalaxyS25_ #smartphone #Tech #Technology #update

  6. One UI 8 Full Changelogs (Final) (Galaxy S25)

    Samsung has rolled out One UI 8.0 for the Galaxy S25 series devices, including the Galaxy S25 Edge, in Korea today and it will expand the availability to other countries and models in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, Samsung has finally published the official changelogs for the Galaxy S25 series’ One UI 8.0 update.

    Here’s the final changelogs:

    Please note that the below changelogs are machine-translated from Korean to English, so inaccuracies can show up. In case European countries or any other country gets the update, we’ll update the changelogs to the official English version.

    One UI 8.0 (Android 16)

    Galaxy AI

    Call subtitles
    With call captioning, your conversation with the other person is displayed on screen in real time during a call. You can follow along with the on-screen content and carefully check to make sure you don’t miss anything.

    Create animal photos in various styles
    Apply AI effects to transform your pet’s photos into something special. Now, in Portrait Studio, you can apply a variety of styles, such as fish-eye and oil painting, to your dog and cat photos to make them truly special.

    Clean audio
    Apply the audio eraser to automatically reduce background noises, such as wind, when someone speaks. This feature is available in the Gallery, Video Player, Samsung Notes, Voice Recorder, and Phone.

    Smarter everyday life with Now Brief
    Receive concise briefings of essential information tailored to your interests and daily timeline. Access Now Brief via the Edge panel, home screen widget, and Now bar notifications.

    Disaster Text Translation
    Even if you receive disaster alerts in a different language, you can still see important information without missing anything. Galaxy AI will automatically translate emergency alerts in languages ​​other than your system language.

    Faster AI Select
    After running AI Select, you can select the desired area right away without waiting any longer.

    View AI results more easily
    When using apps that support summary and translation in landscape mode, you can summarize or translate content and then view the original and translated content side by side at once.

    Stay safe from voice phishing
    Calls from unknown callers are analyzed by AI based on data from the National Police Agency. If conversations suspected of being voice phishing are detected, you will be notified to avoid damage. Call analysis is processed only on your device, and call details are not shared.

    Customization

    New clock style for lock screen
    Discover a stylish new clock that will make your lock screen stand out. It blends seamlessly with your wallpaper, and the font size and position flexibly change based on the shape of your portrait or animal image, allowing you to create your own perfect style.

    Newly designed wallpaper
    The range of wallpaper options has been expanded. Gradient wallpapers and dynamic wallpapers that change color over time have been added.

    Set my photo as wallpaper
    Get recommended wallpapers and set them. Choose from a variety of categories from your gallery, including landscapes, cities, flowers, pets, and people.

    Productivity

    Check stock prices without unlocking
    If there’s a significant price change in a stock you’ve added to your watchlist in Google Finance, it will appear in the Now bar at the end of the trading day.

    File sharing made easier
    Sending and receiving files is easier than ever. Tap the Quick Share button in the Quick Settings panel. Easily receive new files while the Quick Share screen is open, or select and share files directly from Quick Share.

    Add a sticky note
    Samsung Notes now features Sticky Notes. You can add and delete ideas at any time without altering the original note. Add unlimited Sticky Notes on top of your notes.

    Quickly find downloaded files
    You can now filter files by downloaded apps. This feature is available in the Downloads and Recent Files sections of the My Files app.

    The new Samsung Internet
    We’ve improved the menu screen to allow you to access frequently used functions more quickly. Easily find frequently used features and configure the screen to your liking.

    Supports engineering calculator in portrait mode
    You can now use the scientific calculator without having to rotate the screen horizontally. The scientific calculator now supports both landscape and portrait modes.

    Multitasking

    DeX usage has become more convenient
    When connected to an external display, use DeX more conveniently with a mouse and on-screen keyboard. You can also add widgets to your home screen.

    More diverse display settings
    The new Samsung DeX offers more options when connecting to an external monitor or TV. You can choose an optimized display resolution up to WQHD, and you can also rotate the screen 90, 180, or 270 degrees.

    Split screen made more convenient
    When you open two apps in split screen mode, you can slide one app to the edge of the screen to focus on the current app. When you want to use another app, simply tap the app you’ve just pushed. The app will instantly switch between them, making it convenient to use.

    Reminder

    Redesigned Reminder
    The Reminder app’s screen layout has been revamped. You can now easily see how many reminders you have in each category at the top of the screen. Custom categories can be easily collapsed and expanded, allowing you to customize the Reminder main screen to your liking.

    Add useful reminder templates
    We provide a variety of templates to help you make the most of your reminders. You won’t have to worry about how to set reminders for important tasks.

    Add reminders easily
    To add a reminder, simply type it in the input field at the bottom of the screen. Based on your input, templates and previously used reminders will be recommended. Using the buttons below the input field, you can easily create checklists, set locations, attach images, and more. You can also create a reminder by voice by pressing the microphone icon instead of typing.

    Skip notifications on holidays
    When adding a reminder, you can set it so that the event notification does not sound on weekends and public holidays.

    Calendar

    Manage reminders in your calendar
    Now you can add reminders directly from the Calendar app without opening the Reminders app. Simply tap the + button on the calendar to easily add events or reminders. To change a reminder time, simply drag it to the desired date or time.

    Add a schedule quickly
    When creating a schedule using the Quick Add menu, you’ll receive recommendations for schedule names and times based on existing schedules. Selecting a recommendation will immediately add the schedule without any additional input.

    View lunar dates together
    You can set the lunar date to always be displayed on the monthly calendar. Go to Calendar Settings and set it to Always display lunar dates.

    Skip notifications on holidays
    When creating a schedule, you can set it so that schedule notifications do not sound on weekends and public holidays.

    Samsung Health

    Your own personalized running coach
    Run farther and faster without worrying about injury with Samsung Health’s new Running Coach. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, you’ll find training programs and practical tips tailored to your needs. This feature is available on the Galaxy Watch8 and Galaxy Watch Ultra.

    Bedtime Guide for Tomorrow
    Get recommendations for your optimal bedtime and start the next day feeling refreshed. The new Bedtime Guide analyzes your sleep data to recommend the optimal bedtime each night.

    Add a running challenge to Together
    In addition to walking challenges, a running event has been added, allowing you to challenge your friends to a run. Compete to see who can run a set distance faster. For example, you can set a goal of 50 km and see who can reach it first.

    Antioxidant index for aging management
    Anti-aging starts with managing your diet. The watch’s Antioxidant Index (Lab) feature detects the levels of carotenoids in fruits and vegetables, helping you manage your antioxidant status and slow down the aging process. This feature is available on the Galaxy Watch8 and Galaxy Watch Ultra.

    Keep track of your meals with meal logs and reminders
    Set meal log reminders to help you consistently reach your calorie goals. Samsung Health will send you notifications at set times.

    Vascular stress measurement
    Easily measure your vascular stress (the degree of strain on your blood vessels) with the Galaxy Watch. First, wear the watch for three or more nights while you sleep to establish a baseline, allowing you to directly monitor changes in your vascular stress. This feature is available on the Galaxy Watch8 and Galaxy Watch Ultra.

    Check your medical records easily and securely
    You can collect, store, and view medical records from multiple hospitals and clinics in one place in Samsung Health.

    Share your health data with family and friends
    You can now share your health data not only with your family group but also with friends. Now, manage your health records with more people.

    Photos and videos

    Swipe up and down to open quick controls
    Usability has been improved by allowing you to quickly access quick controls by swiping up or down anywhere on the camera screen. Try changing the Swipe up or down setting in the camera settings to Open Quick Controls.

    Capture the perfect brightness with the exposure monitor
    Try the Exposure Monitor feature in Pro and Pro Video modes. It helps you capture photos and videos with the right amount of brightness. It displays overexposed areas with a zebra pattern, and provides false color, which displays different colors depending on the exposure value.

    Professional-level editing experience with Log videos
    You can shoot video in Log format and then professionally edit it. Simply turn on Log in the camera settings and shooting screen to instantly record in Log format. This feature is available in both Video and Pro Video modes.

    Audio

    Quickly set up your Galaxy Buds
    You can now easily control your Galaxy Buds from your phone’s settings—no need to open the Galaxy Wearable app separately.

    Oracast, Connecting Easier
    Oracast lets you simultaneously transmit audio from one device to multiple devices. Simply scan a QR code to easily connect to the audio you’re playing, or you can generate your own QR code so others can connect to your audio.

    Communication

    Profile card improvements
    The layout of the profile card editing screen has been improved to make it easier to create and edit profile cards. You can now share your created profile cards so that callers can see who you are.

    Check call recordings in Contacts
    You can easily review previous calls. If a call with the other party is recorded, it will appear on the contact’s history screen.

    Security and Privacy

    Upgraded Secure Folder
    You can keep your important apps and data even more secure. When the Secure Folder is locked, all apps within it will be closed and notifications will be muted. For even greater security, you can completely hide the Secure Folder and encrypt all apps and data within it.

    Enhanced device security
    Knox Matrix periodically checks all devices logged into your Samsung account for security risks. If a security risk is detected on a device, it is automatically logged out of your Samsung account to prevent the risk from spreading to other devices. You can check the security status of your device in the Security & Privacy settings.

    Set whether to display notifications when the screen is locked
    On the main screen of the Notifications settings, you can choose to show or hide notifications when your phone is locked. Select Always show notifications to view them when your phone is locked, or Hide notifications when locked to prevent others from seeing them.

    Accessibility

    Added screen zoom option to the submenu
    A new way to easily zoom in and out has been added to the submenu. You can zoom in and out by dragging with one finger, or adjust the zoom level by pressing the on-screen zoom level button.

    Use mouse gestures with your keyboard
    You can now use your keyboard to perform mouse actions. By enabling the Mouse Keys option in Accessibility settings, you can conveniently use your keyboard to perform mouse functions, such as moving the mouse pointer, clicking, long-pressing, and scrolling.

    Enlarge the keyboard on the screen as well
    The keyboard has been improved to enlarge when the screen is zoomed in, making it easier to type. Try enabling the Zoom Keyboard When Typing option in the Zoom settings.

    Easily connect your Bluetooth hearing aids
    You can register and connect your Bluetooth hearing aid directly from the Hearing Aid Support screen in Accessibility Settings.

    Modes and Routines

    Easily set up routines with new templates
    New routine templates are available, utilizing weather and various detailed conditions. You can use the templates as is, or customize the settings to your liking.

    Detailed configurable routines
    By importing data from various apps, including Watch, Calendar, and Samsung Notes, you can now configure a wider range of actions in your routines. Imported data can be used as conditions or actions.

    Other enhanced features

    Improved alarm groups
    Usability has been improved by allowing you to directly add existing alarms to a group by pressing the + button on the Alarm Groups screen. You can also add an Alarm Group widget to the home screen to turn multiple alarms on and off at once.

    More convenient app notification settings
    You can manage various notification options at once, such as how notifications are displayed and whether they are displayed on the lock screen, from the notification settings screen of each app.

    Get quick support
    You can receive more convenient support with a quick check-in at a Samsung Service Center. By using NFC or scanning a QR code, you can avoid manually entering information like your name and phone number. Your data is encrypted and only accessible by Samsung service representatives.

    Intuitive weather expression
    The Weather app has been improved to provide an intuitive view of the weather. Appropriate animations are applied to the app’s main background based on current weather conditions.

    Change weather data provider
    The Weather Channel has changed its weather information provider. Some registered location names may change.

    To update to One UI 8.0, you’ll need to have an eligible device, such as the Galaxy S25, Z Fold/Flip 6, and Tab S10, before you can continue. Afterwards, go to Settings > Software update > Download and install.

    #Android #Android16 #AndroidB #AndroidBaklava #GalaxyS25 #GalaxyS25Edge #GalaxyS25Ultra #GalaxyS25_ #news #oneUi #OneUI8 #OneUI80 #S25 #S25Edge #S25Ultra #S25_ #Samsung #SamsungGalaxyS25 #SamsungGalaxyS25Edge #SamsungGalaxyS25Ultra #SamsungGalaxyS25_ #smartphone #Tech #Technology #update

  7. One UI 8 Full Changelogs (Final) (Galaxy S25)

    Samsung has rolled out One UI 8.0 for the Galaxy S25 series devices, including the Galaxy S25 Edge, in Korea today and it will expand the availability to other countries and models in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, Samsung has finally published the official changelogs for the Galaxy S25 series’ One UI 8.0 update.

    Here’s the final changelogs:

    Please note that the below changelogs are machine-translated from Korean to English, so inaccuracies can show up. In case European countries or any other country gets the update, we’ll update the changelogs to the official English version.

    One UI 8.0 (Android 16)

    Galaxy AI

    Call subtitles
    With call captioning, your conversation with the other person is displayed on screen in real time during a call. You can follow along with the on-screen content and carefully check to make sure you don’t miss anything.

    Create animal photos in various styles
    Apply AI effects to transform your pet’s photos into something special. Now, in Portrait Studio, you can apply a variety of styles, such as fish-eye and oil painting, to your dog and cat photos to make them truly special.

    Clean audio
    Apply the audio eraser to automatically reduce background noises, such as wind, when someone speaks. This feature is available in the Gallery, Video Player, Samsung Notes, Voice Recorder, and Phone.

    Smarter everyday life with Now Brief
    Receive concise briefings of essential information tailored to your interests and daily timeline. Access Now Brief via the Edge panel, home screen widget, and Now bar notifications.

    Disaster Text Translation
    Even if you receive disaster alerts in a different language, you can still see important information without missing anything. Galaxy AI will automatically translate emergency alerts in languages ​​other than your system language.

    Faster AI Select
    After running AI Select, you can select the desired area right away without waiting any longer.

    View AI results more easily
    When using apps that support summary and translation in landscape mode, you can summarize or translate content and then view the original and translated content side by side at once.

    Stay safe from voice phishing
    Calls from unknown callers are analyzed by AI based on data from the National Police Agency. If conversations suspected of being voice phishing are detected, you will be notified to avoid damage. Call analysis is processed only on your device, and call details are not shared.

    Customization

    New clock style for lock screen
    Discover a stylish new clock that will make your lock screen stand out. It blends seamlessly with your wallpaper, and the font size and position flexibly change based on the shape of your portrait or animal image, allowing you to create your own perfect style.

    Newly designed wallpaper
    The range of wallpaper options has been expanded. Gradient wallpapers and dynamic wallpapers that change color over time have been added.

    Set my photo as wallpaper
    Get recommended wallpapers and set them. Choose from a variety of categories from your gallery, including landscapes, cities, flowers, pets, and people.

    Productivity

    Check stock prices without unlocking
    If there’s a significant price change in a stock you’ve added to your watchlist in Google Finance, it will appear in the Now bar at the end of the trading day.

    File sharing made easier
    Sending and receiving files is easier than ever. Tap the Quick Share button in the Quick Settings panel. Easily receive new files while the Quick Share screen is open, or select and share files directly from Quick Share.

    Add a sticky note
    Samsung Notes now features Sticky Notes. You can add and delete ideas at any time without altering the original note. Add unlimited Sticky Notes on top of your notes.

    Quickly find downloaded files
    You can now filter files by downloaded apps. This feature is available in the Downloads and Recent Files sections of the My Files app.

    The new Samsung Internet
    We’ve improved the menu screen to allow you to access frequently used functions more quickly. Easily find frequently used features and configure the screen to your liking.

    Supports engineering calculator in portrait mode
    You can now use the scientific calculator without having to rotate the screen horizontally. The scientific calculator now supports both landscape and portrait modes.

    Multitasking

    DeX usage has become more convenient
    When connected to an external display, use DeX more conveniently with a mouse and on-screen keyboard. You can also add widgets to your home screen.

    More diverse display settings
    The new Samsung DeX offers more options when connecting to an external monitor or TV. You can choose an optimized display resolution up to WQHD, and you can also rotate the screen 90, 180, or 270 degrees.

    Split screen made more convenient
    When you open two apps in split screen mode, you can slide one app to the edge of the screen to focus on the current app. When you want to use another app, simply tap the app you’ve just pushed. The app will instantly switch between them, making it convenient to use.

    Reminder

    Redesigned Reminder
    The Reminder app’s screen layout has been revamped. You can now easily see how many reminders you have in each category at the top of the screen. Custom categories can be easily collapsed and expanded, allowing you to customize the Reminder main screen to your liking.

    Add useful reminder templates
    We provide a variety of templates to help you make the most of your reminders. You won’t have to worry about how to set reminders for important tasks.

    Add reminders easily
    To add a reminder, simply type it in the input field at the bottom of the screen. Based on your input, templates and previously used reminders will be recommended. Using the buttons below the input field, you can easily create checklists, set locations, attach images, and more. You can also create a reminder by voice by pressing the microphone icon instead of typing.

    Skip notifications on holidays
    When adding a reminder, you can set it so that the event notification does not sound on weekends and public holidays.

    Calendar

    Manage reminders in your calendar
    Now you can add reminders directly from the Calendar app without opening the Reminders app. Simply tap the + button on the calendar to easily add events or reminders. To change a reminder time, simply drag it to the desired date or time.

    Add a schedule quickly
    When creating a schedule using the Quick Add menu, you’ll receive recommendations for schedule names and times based on existing schedules. Selecting a recommendation will immediately add the schedule without any additional input.

    View lunar dates together
    You can set the lunar date to always be displayed on the monthly calendar. Go to Calendar Settings and set it to Always display lunar dates.

    Skip notifications on holidays
    When creating a schedule, you can set it so that schedule notifications do not sound on weekends and public holidays.

    Samsung Health

    Your own personalized running coach
    Run farther and faster without worrying about injury with Samsung Health’s new Running Coach. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, you’ll find training programs and practical tips tailored to your needs. This feature is available on the Galaxy Watch8 and Galaxy Watch Ultra.

    Bedtime Guide for Tomorrow
    Get recommendations for your optimal bedtime and start the next day feeling refreshed. The new Bedtime Guide analyzes your sleep data to recommend the optimal bedtime each night.

    Add a running challenge to Together
    In addition to walking challenges, a running event has been added, allowing you to challenge your friends to a run. Compete to see who can run a set distance faster. For example, you can set a goal of 50 km and see who can reach it first.

    Antioxidant index for aging management
    Anti-aging starts with managing your diet. The watch’s Antioxidant Index (Lab) feature detects the levels of carotenoids in fruits and vegetables, helping you manage your antioxidant status and slow down the aging process. This feature is available on the Galaxy Watch8 and Galaxy Watch Ultra.

    Keep track of your meals with meal logs and reminders
    Set meal log reminders to help you consistently reach your calorie goals. Samsung Health will send you notifications at set times.

    Vascular stress measurement
    Easily measure your vascular stress (the degree of strain on your blood vessels) with the Galaxy Watch. First, wear the watch for three or more nights while you sleep to establish a baseline, allowing you to directly monitor changes in your vascular stress. This feature is available on the Galaxy Watch8 and Galaxy Watch Ultra.

    Check your medical records easily and securely
    You can collect, store, and view medical records from multiple hospitals and clinics in one place in Samsung Health.

    Share your health data with family and friends
    You can now share your health data not only with your family group but also with friends. Now, manage your health records with more people.

    Photos and videos

    Swipe up and down to open quick controls
    Usability has been improved by allowing you to quickly access quick controls by swiping up or down anywhere on the camera screen. Try changing the Swipe up or down setting in the camera settings to Open Quick Controls.

    Capture the perfect brightness with the exposure monitor
    Try the Exposure Monitor feature in Pro and Pro Video modes. It helps you capture photos and videos with the right amount of brightness. It displays overexposed areas with a zebra pattern, and provides false color, which displays different colors depending on the exposure value.

    Professional-level editing experience with Log videos
    You can shoot video in Log format and then professionally edit it. Simply turn on Log in the camera settings and shooting screen to instantly record in Log format. This feature is available in both Video and Pro Video modes.

    Audio

    Quickly set up your Galaxy Buds
    You can now easily control your Galaxy Buds from your phone’s settings—no need to open the Galaxy Wearable app separately.

    Oracast, Connecting Easier
    Oracast lets you simultaneously transmit audio from one device to multiple devices. Simply scan a QR code to easily connect to the audio you’re playing, or you can generate your own QR code so others can connect to your audio.

    Communication

    Profile card improvements
    The layout of the profile card editing screen has been improved to make it easier to create and edit profile cards. You can now share your created profile cards so that callers can see who you are.

    Check call recordings in Contacts
    You can easily review previous calls. If a call with the other party is recorded, it will appear on the contact’s history screen.

    Security and Privacy

    Upgraded Secure Folder
    You can keep your important apps and data even more secure. When the Secure Folder is locked, all apps within it will be closed and notifications will be muted. For even greater security, you can completely hide the Secure Folder and encrypt all apps and data within it.

    Enhanced device security
    Knox Matrix periodically checks all devices logged into your Samsung account for security risks. If a security risk is detected on a device, it is automatically logged out of your Samsung account to prevent the risk from spreading to other devices. You can check the security status of your device in the Security & Privacy settings.

    Set whether to display notifications when the screen is locked
    On the main screen of the Notifications settings, you can choose to show or hide notifications when your phone is locked. Select Always show notifications to view them when your phone is locked, or Hide notifications when locked to prevent others from seeing them.

    Accessibility

    Added screen zoom option to the submenu
    A new way to easily zoom in and out has been added to the submenu. You can zoom in and out by dragging with one finger, or adjust the zoom level by pressing the on-screen zoom level button.

    Use mouse gestures with your keyboard
    You can now use your keyboard to perform mouse actions. By enabling the Mouse Keys option in Accessibility settings, you can conveniently use your keyboard to perform mouse functions, such as moving the mouse pointer, clicking, long-pressing, and scrolling.

    Enlarge the keyboard on the screen as well
    The keyboard has been improved to enlarge when the screen is zoomed in, making it easier to type. Try enabling the Zoom Keyboard When Typing option in the Zoom settings.

    Easily connect your Bluetooth hearing aids
    You can register and connect your Bluetooth hearing aid directly from the Hearing Aid Support screen in Accessibility Settings.

    Modes and Routines

    Easily set up routines with new templates
    New routine templates are available, utilizing weather and various detailed conditions. You can use the templates as is, or customize the settings to your liking.

    Detailed configurable routines
    By importing data from various apps, including Watch, Calendar, and Samsung Notes, you can now configure a wider range of actions in your routines. Imported data can be used as conditions or actions.

    Other enhanced features

    Improved alarm groups
    Usability has been improved by allowing you to directly add existing alarms to a group by pressing the + button on the Alarm Groups screen. You can also add an Alarm Group widget to the home screen to turn multiple alarms on and off at once.

    More convenient app notification settings
    You can manage various notification options at once, such as how notifications are displayed and whether they are displayed on the lock screen, from the notification settings screen of each app.

    Get quick support
    You can receive more convenient support with a quick check-in at a Samsung Service Center. By using NFC or scanning a QR code, you can avoid manually entering information like your name and phone number. Your data is encrypted and only accessible by Samsung service representatives.

    Intuitive weather expression
    The Weather app has been improved to provide an intuitive view of the weather. Appropriate animations are applied to the app’s main background based on current weather conditions.

    Change weather data provider
    The Weather Channel has changed its weather information provider. Some registered location names may change.

    To update to One UI 8.0, you’ll need to have an eligible device, such as the Galaxy S25, Z Fold/Flip 6, and Tab S10, before you can continue. Afterwards, go to Settings > Software update > Download and install.

    #Android #Android16 #AndroidB #AndroidBaklava #GalaxyS25 #GalaxyS25Edge #GalaxyS25Ultra #GalaxyS25_ #news #oneUi #OneUI8 #OneUI80 #S25 #S25Edge #S25Ultra #S25_ #Samsung #SamsungGalaxyS25 #SamsungGalaxyS25Edge #SamsungGalaxyS25Ultra #SamsungGalaxyS25_ #smartphone #Tech #Technology #update

  8. I have a new book out!

    amazon.com/dp/B0C95Q24LD

    It's a silly mostly-wholesome story of a teenage transgirl(?) getting talked into some Prom Shenanigans by her best friend.

    Donnie and Sandy have been best buds since they were little kids, and have always done everything together -- sometimes even in matching dresses. Why should prom be any different, even if Donnie is (technically) a boy?

    #trans #transjoy #books #kindle #BCTS #technicallyanadbutallproceedssupportBCTSsowhateveritsokayIthink?

  9. So I moved from mstdn.ca to mstdn.social but my old posts did not. #merde Let's start fresh, shall we?

  10. Reader’s Choice/Tom’s Top Tunes…Song #73/250: Always Love by Nada Surf.

    As I type these words today, Spring is slowly returning to my piece of the world. Our tulips are just beginning to stretch up and out of the soil as they reach for the sun. The ground is becoming softer and squishier as winter releases its cold iron grip. Buds are appearing like pearls on the branches of our trees. The days are sunnier and warmer. Renewal is underway. In the natural world, life seems ever hopeful.

    As much as we all live in the natural world, we also live in a world filled with artificially created human constructs. In that world of finances, politics, information media, consumerism and fear, it is not as easy to feel optimistic about the current state of the world’s affairs and the future that awaits us all. It doesn’t seem like it was all that long ago that a term such as doom scrolling didn’t exist. There was no need for it. But as many of us are discovering, to the detriment of our mental health, it is becoming increasingly difficult to navigate our way through our social media feeds. Where once our timelines were filled with the comings and goings of those we loved, now they are filled with alarmist posts about lost rights, rising prices, state sanctioned cruelty towards ordinary people and the taunting laughter of those presently occupying the seats of power in our world. There are now many days when I cannot even find any posts from those I love. There are no birthday party photo shoots. No anniversary dinners. No sporting triumphs. Those posts have become swept away in a tsunami of misery-laden proclamations about how bad our world has become and how much worse it shall surely be. It is almost as if the information gatekeepers want there to seem as if there is no hope at all for a brighter tomorrow. No hope at all.

    But there is always hope. 

    There has to be.

    Today’s song is called “Always Love” by a band named Nada Surf. This band formed in the 1990s in New York. A chance meeting with Ric Ocasek of The Cars resulted in an offer from him to produce their debut album called High/Low.  From this album came one of the songs of the summer in 1996 called “Popular”. *(I wrote a previous post about “Popular” which you can read here.)  The sudden success of “Popular”, the professional recording of their first album, the signing of a record contract and all that comes with instant fame caused the members of Nada Surf to feel uneasy about their music careers. It is easy in such circumstances to feel as if things are spiraling out of control from an artistic sense. The members of Nada Surf (Matthew Caws, Daniel Lorca and Ira Elliot felt pressured to instantly release more songs like “Popular” and keep churning out the hits. Eventually the band rebelled. Their record contract was terminated. They then began touring and recording new songs on their own terms as, perhaps, befits a group of young musicians just learning their craft and exploring their world. A decade or so later, they released an album called The Weight is a Gift.  On that album was arguably their most radio-friendly song since “Popular”. That song was called “Always Love”. In a music scene that embraces straight-ahead guitar driven rock n’ roll, Nada Surf had returned to the limelight with a song about the only thing that matters…love. It has always been easy to champion a song that promotes the concept of love trumping the idea of hate. But never has its message found more fertile ground than it has today. In our ever darkening world, audiences are warming to Nada Surf’s positivity the same way my tulips are turning to follow the sun each warmer day of Spring. In many ways, the career of Nada Surf is turning full circle. After exploding out of the gate as a new band many decades ago, Nada Surf spent the majority of their career relentlessly touring the world quietly on their own terms. But now, thanks to the state of our world, many people have rediscovered them and are flocking to their live shows. And at those shows, the song “Always Love” is always welcomed enthusiastically by those in attendance. It seems as though in these times we could all use a little reassurance that the things that really matter to us all actually still matter, even if we are not seeing that reflected in our social media feeds or in news reports. 

    Nada Surf: Daniel Lorca, Ira Elliot and Matthew Caws.

    Love still matters. It matters more than hate. It matters more than money. It matters more than power. There is nothing vainglorious about caring for others beyond yourself. Being kind-hearted is something to strive for. Being a good friend and neighbour still counts for something. As cliche as it sounds, honesty remains the best policy. And nothing is more important than love. 

    There are certain uncomfortable realities about how the world around us is increasingly operating. We ignore those realities at our peril. Being prepared and knowledgeable is always a good thing when it comes to protecting ourselves and the ones we love. But never allow those currently calling the shots to take away your sense of hope for a better tomorrow. Your moral compass will guide you to brighter days if you continue to follow your own form of north star which is to believe in the power of love. There is always love. There is always hope. Just as the earth awakens and blossoms in the warmth of the sunshine, better days remain. Always love, folks. Always love.

    The link to the official video for the song “Always Love” by Nada Surf can be found here. ***The lyrics version is here. The link to a live version (with a great audience sing-along from Montreal) can be found here.

    The link to the official website for the band Nada Surf can be found here.

    ***As always, all original content contained within this post remains the sole property of the author. No portion of this post shall be reblogged, copied or shared in any manner without the express written consent of the author. ©2025 http://www.tommacinneswriter.com

    #AlwaysLove #Hope #Love #Music #NadaSurf #ReadersChoiceTomsTopTunes

  11. Discover Healthy Foods That Tantalize Taste Buds Like Junk Food?

    #HealthyEating #Foodie #HealthyChoices Hey there, food lovers! 🌱🍽️ Have you ever found yourself craving comfort food but worried about the health impact? I mean, pizza and fries are delicious, but they don’t always love us back, do they? 😅 So, here’s a fun question to ponder: What healthy food tastes just as good as u...
    mymetric360.com/question/disco

  12. Sensory inputs are tiresome. (OK, maybe not for neurotypicals.) Here's what I do to minimise sensory inputs:

    1. Noise cancelling headphones, sometimes over noise cancelling ear buds playing something I do not mind hearing at that moment
    2. Ceiling lights always turned off (except when cleaning or searching for something in the room)
    3. Everything in dark mode, browser plugins to put every website into dark mode, low screen brightness
    4. Editing documents, spreadsheets etc. with dark background (and grey, not white text, low contrast as well), then changing the colours before sending it (but try sending the dark background document at least once to each person, they might prefer it)
    5. White walls, almost no art, mirrors instead of art to soften the contrast between the parts next to the window and the parts away from the window
    6. No TV, children, pets, or flatmates
    7. Grocery shopping just before the closing time (midnight where I live)
    8. Odour neutralisers that do not emit scent of their own (or very mild)
    9. At home wearing clothes inside out
    10. Transferring products into neutral looking packaging, removing the labels, or wrapping the packaging into beige postal paper

    #minimalism #sensoryOverload

  13. @pluralistic @HyL
    I love my friends too, but still left FB 8 years ago. The friends and family, I want to keep in touch with have phones and email. I got the info from everyone I wanted to, signalled my intentions and said my goodbyes. Do I hear from most of the “friends” I had on FB? Nope and that’s just fine.

    Most people are either too selfish, lazy or just don’t give a fuck. #Fuckerberg #DeleteFacebook

  14. @jimray Does anyone really give a flying fuck about #Fuckerberg ‘s apologies? They were never sincere. He’s just another creepy tech bro with a superiority complex. All power to the AGs trying to rein him in. Don’t forget to do Musk.