Tech News – Trusted Reviews

Google Maps change means you should act now to preserve your Timeline

Chris Smith — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 21:08:29 +0000

The Location History feature of Google Maps landed the company in hot water in the past with privacy advocates citing concerns about what data is collected and what it retained by the company.

A couple of years back, Google responded to the controversy by making it easier to automatically delete the places visited and routes taken after a set period of time, or turn the admittedly helpful feature (rebranded as Timeline) off entirely.

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Now Google is living-up to a vow to end support for the feature on the web completely and is advising customers to download their Timeline data to the Google Maps app on their device.

From today, Google is only saving Timeline information (for those who have it enabled) directly to the devices users are signed in on. Using multiple devices? You’ll have unique timelines for all devices, rather than one unified Timeline.

The company will take Timeline on the web offline on December 1, meaning those who don’t download the data to their device beforehand will lose the location history stored on the web older than 90 days.

In an email sent to customers today (published by Android Police), the company writes: “If you’d like to keep your saved visits and routes, choose your settings on your preferred smartphone by December 1, 2024. (You may first need to update the Google Maps app.) After you do this, you’ll only be able to use Timeline in the app. If you take no action, you may lose data.

“Google will try moving up to 90 days of Timeline data to the first signed-in device you use after December 1, 2024. Your older data will be deleted. Timeline will also remain on for your account, and your devices will continue saving new visits. Your visits and routes older than 3 months will be auto-deleted.”

If you switched your Location History / Timeline data off already, this is just a case of as you were. If you want to keep where you’ve been available, for posterity purposes, do as Google recommends above.

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iOS 18 OpenAI features to be 'opt-in' with Apple wary of backlash

Chris Smith — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 20:34:47 +0000

iPhone 15 Pro Max back angled

Apple users will not be forced to use OpenAI’s services in iOS 18, with a well-connected Apple reporter claiming the integration will be opt-in.

The company is expected to announce a partnership with the ChatGPT maker at WWDC on June 10. There, it’s expected to be confirmed that OpenAI will power some of the iPhone’s first steps into the generative AI era.

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However, with large scale scepticism about the technology and the company that has thrust it into the mainstream, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman is reporting Apple is conscious of scaring off loyal users who’ve placed their trust in Apple software.

According to the report, the scepticism also exists within Apple, with some executives concerned about a “rogue chatbot” damaging the company’s reputation. Gurman also reports some Apple employees have a “philosophical aversion” to having a third-party chatbot integrated within iOS.

Apple also understands that many customers will have the same aversions, which is why it’s making the service opt-in, today’s report says. pple believes giving users the option to opt-in to the features will insulate it from potential fall out, including privacy concerns.

Gurman writes: “Depending on how deeply Apple plans to integrate the chatbot with its software, it also could mean that OpenAI has access to personal information, which could unnerve some users. But Apple is expected to offer its new AI features as an opt-in service, according to the people familiar with the matter. So wary customers could easily steer clear of them if they’d prefer.”

In the end, the report says, Apple decided to proceed with the deal because it didn’t want to be seen as being left behind by rivals diving head first into AI. The report says Apple has decided to make the deal with the controversial company because its users would expect cutting edge features from a new iPhone.

In an ideal world, Apple would have its own large language models and a vastly upgraded version of Siri for this expansion. However, it’s not thought to be ready yet. Whether Apple is making the right decision by reportedly pressing ahead in an alliance that could undermine its repuation on multiple fronts remains to be seen.

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Android claims longevity crown, following Apple iPhone admission

Chris Smith — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 19:39:10 +0000

Pixel 8a in hand

Google is crowing about some Android phones potentially outstripping the iPhone in terms of length of support for operating systems and security updates.

A key Android executive has picked up on an Apple filing to UK regulators stating the minimum length of support for the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which suggests Pixel and certain Samsung Galaxy phones will supported for longer.

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The notice of compliance to the new Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (PSTI) regulations promises a “minimum 5 years from the first supply date” of September 22 2023. That means Apple will support the iPhone 15 Pro Max (and most likely the other devices in the range) until September 2028.

The regulations define the support period is the “minimum length of time, expressed as a period of time with an end date, for which security updates will be provided.”

Google and Samsung are currently promising 7 years of operating system and security updates and the VP of Engineering for Android Security Dave Kleidermacher isn’t about to let it go unnoticed (via Android Authority).

“For years, iPhone was known as having a longer security support lifetime than Android. Yet Apple never actually committed to a minimum support lifetime at purchase,” he wrote on LinkedIn.

“Thanks to the UK government’s PSTI regulation (which I had the pleasure of supporting via multiple testimonies and IoT security standards work) Apple has finally published a purchase-time commitment – 5 years – two years LESS than Android flagships from Google (Pixel) and Samsung.”

“Apple deserves a lot of credit for providing 5+ years of security updates for a long time. But now it’s time to acknowledge iOS is no longer offering the best security lifetimes in the smartphone industry. Android is.”

Of course, Apple is only stating the mimimim number of years it plans to support the iPhone 15 Pro Max, but traditionally it has offered longer. The iPhone XR, for instance, was released on September 12 2018 and is currently approaching six full years of support. If Apple doesn’t cut it off this year when iOS 18 arrives, it’ll match the Pixel and Samsung pledge of 7 years.

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iPhone 16 Pro and Max leak points to larger, heavier phones

Jon Mundy — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 11:56:10 +0000

The final dimensions of the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max have appeared online in a leak, and they suggest an increase in size and weight across the board.

We’ve heard from previous reports that the iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 16 Pro are set to have bigger screens than before, but that the bezels will be smaller than ever. This has led us to wonder just how big (and heavy) these new premium phones will be.

We may have just received our answer. According to a leak from established tipster Ice Universe (via MacRumors), the iPhone 16 Pro Max will measure 163 × 77.58mm × 8.26mm, with a 6.9-inch display and 1.15mm bezels. It’ll weigh 225g.

The iPhone 16 Pro, meanwhile, will measure 149.6 x 71.45 x 8.25mm, with a 6.3-inch display and 1.2mm bezels. Apple’s smaller Pro phone will weigh 194g.

According to the original X (formerly Twitter) post, “The iPhone 16 Pro Max will be the world’s closest smartphone to a borderless sci-fi form factor”.

While those bezels are indeed smaller than their predecessors for both phones, however, it won’t be enough to completely offset the increased screen size (up from 6.7 and 6.1 inches respectively). Both phones will be fractionally bigger and a few grams heavier than their predecessors.

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Meta Quest 3S: All there is to know about the cheap VR headset so far

Lewis Painter — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 11:34:49 +0000

The Meta Quest 3 is the go-to VR headset for those on the market in 2024, offering a high-end experience with high-res lenses, a powerful processor and advanced mixed reality capabilities, all for less than £500/$500 – but that’s still a little pricy for those yet to try VR.

That’s why Meta is rumoured to be working on a cheaper version of the Quest 3 to replace the outgoing Quest 2, unofficially dubbed the Quest 3S. Despite its rumoured budget focus, the headset is rumoured to offer similar levels of processing power to the Quest 3, although it might do away with bundled controllers to hit such a tempting price point.

With all that in mind, here’s everything we know so far about the Meta Quest 3S, previously dubbed the Meta Quest 3 Lite, from release date and pricing speculation to the latest leaks and rumours about the budget-friendly VR headset.

Meta Quest 3S or Meta Quest 3 Lite?

While most early rumours surrounding Meta’s new budget-friendly VR headset suggested that it’d be called Meta Quest 3 Lite, more recent rumours suggest it’ll likely be dubbed the Meta Quest 3S.

The first evidence of the official branding came via Reddit back in March, when an alleged screenshot of a Meta User Research Zoom meeting seemed to show both the Quest 3 and the yet-unannounced Quest 3S.

Meta Quest 3 Lite may actually be "Meta Quest 3S"

u/LuffySanKira on Reddit claims they were shown these graphics in what was likely a Meta User Research Zoom meeting.

I can't verify them, but I CAN verify Meta does feedback sessions like these. pic.twitter.com/DjkZnVMP6b
— Luna (@Lunayian) March 16, 2024

While that would’ve been relatively easy to spoof, the second appearance of the branding is a little harder to ignore. That’s because the Meta Quest 3S branding appeared once again, this time on the Meta Store. Yes, that’s right, Meta’s own app storefront.

According to The Verge, for a limited time in early June 2024, users were seeing the Quest 3S listed alongside the Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest Pro and Meta Quest 2 as supported devices in app listings. All mention has since been scrubbed from the storefront, but it seems the cat is out of the bag.

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This all but confirms that the budget-friendly Quest will be called the Meta Quest 3S and not the Quest 3 Lite as initially claimed.

When will the Meta Quest 3S be released?

The Verge published details of a leaked internal meeting at Meta in 2023 in which Vice President for VR, Mark Rabkin, claimed that a more “accessible” headset would make an appearance in 2024. “The goal for this headset is very simple: pack the biggest punch we can at the most attractive price point in the VR consumer market.”

The leak didn’t get any more specific than that as to when in 2024 it should make its debut, but Meta has a fairly tried-and-tested method for launching its VR hardware. It all focuses on Meta Connect, the company’s yearly VR-focused showcase that tends to take place in October.

It’s a place for Meta to not only showcase new consumer hardware but tease future concepts and tech advancements like AR glasses, which are also rumoured to make an appearance at this year’s Meta Connect sometime in October 2024.

Given that Meta has used Connect to launch not only the Quest 3 and Quest Pro but also the Quest 2 and even the OG Quest, it’s safe to assume that Meta will use this year’s show to reveal the Quest 3S, so expect an October 2024 reveal and release a few weeks later.

If, however, we hear anything differently, we’ll be sure to update this section.

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How much will the Meta Quest 3S cost?

This is probably the big question surrounding the Meta Quest 3S. As the name suggests, the headset is intended to be a less feature-packed variant of the Quest 3 to save on price. Given that the Quest 2 currently retails for just £299/$299, it’s safe to say that Meta will want to go cheap on this headset.

It’s likely that it’ll try to match the £299/$299 price tag of the Quest 2 or get as close to it as possible to tempt consumers away from the now-aging Quest 2 headset as the go-to budget option.

If it gets much higher, say closer to the £400/$400 price point, it’ll be a much harder sell considering the full-fat Quest 3 is available for £479/$499, and it gets even cheaper during sale seasons like Black Friday.

That said, there aren’t any specific rumours about Meta Quest 3S pricing just yet, so we’ll be sure to update this section once rumours and leaks begin to surface.

Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

Latest Meta Quest 3S leaks and rumours

Meta might not be ready to reveal the Meta Quest 3S just yet, but that hasn’t stopped the budget-friendly VR headset from becoming the focus of leaks and online rumours these past few months.

While rumours of this kind are always worth taking with a pinch of salt as they’re exceedingly hard to verify, they do provide some insight into what we could potentially expect from the Quest 3S when it does eventually make an appearance.

Let’s start with claims from a Chinese analyst who has been on the money with previous VR-related predictions. According to them, the Quest 3S will be a combination of the Quest 2 and Quest 3, sporting the same Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset as the Quest 3 but with older Fresnel lenses in place of the slimmer, higher-quality pancake lenses of the newer headset.

The analyst also claims it’ll sport a black-and-white passthrough like the Quest 2 to facilitate basic mixed reality capabilities, leaving the colour passthrough exclusive to the premium Quest 3 headset.

That aligns nicely with comments from the ever-accurate Mark Gurman who recently claimed that the Quest 3S “looks a lot like the Quest 3 but uses less costly components” while also describing it as a “mixed reality headset”, suggesting the use of some kind of passthrough system.

That approach was backed up by an alleged screenshot of a Meta User Research Zoom meeting that seems to show a headset with front-facing cameras, presumably both for tracking and passthrough capabilities. It also introduced us to the Meta Quest 3S branding for the first time before prematurely appearing on the Meta Store in early June 2024.

Meta Quest 3 Lite may actually be "Meta Quest 3S"

u/LuffySanKira on Reddit claims they were shown these graphics in what was likely a Meta User Research Zoom meeting.

I can't verify them, but I CAN verify Meta does feedback sessions like these. pic.twitter.com/DjkZnVMP6b
— Luna (@Lunayian) March 16, 2024

Both Gurman and the Chinese analyst agree that Meta is considering not including Quest controllers in the box to hit the lower price point. This might sound absurd at a glance, but given that Meta has significantly improved hand tracking since it was first introduced in beta form with the original Quest back in 2019, it makes sense.

There are also a bunch of apps that support hand tracking as well as controller input, though it’s far from universal, so those who want the top VR experience will still need to invest in controllers separately. But, for those more interested in AR and using their hands to interact, this could potentially work as a great way to save some cash.

While that sounds like it’s all but set in stone, Twitter leaker @ZGFTECH shared renders of the alleged Quest 3S, which throws a spanner in the works.

still pancake? https://t.co/Kr1EmRRjpd pic.twitter.com/4zHpuqeXFz
— VR Panda. Alex From CHN (@ZGFTECH) March 15, 2024

If true, the leaked headset render looks like a blend of the Quest 2 and Quest 3, sporting a similar design to the Quest 2 albeit with the same white plastic finish of the newer model. That backs up the claims of the use of Fresnel lenses, as they take up more space than the Pancake lenses of the Quest 3.

However, the eagle-eyed among you might notice there’s one key difference when compared to the Quest 3 – the lack of passthrough cameras. That goes directly in the face of claims that the headset will indeed be a mixed-reality device despite its cheaper focus.

Will Meta opt for a headset without mixed reality just months after a blog post from Meta’s Reality Labs Director of Engineering for XR Tech claiming that he’s “convinced that Passthrough and MR will be a standard feature on all future headsets”? It seems unlikely given that corporate blogs usually align with internal company goals, but we’ll have to wait and see for now.

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Google Gemini AI app now ready to assist in UK and Europe

Jon Mundy — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 08:13:01 +0000

Google’s high-profile Gemini AI assistant app is finally available in the UK and Europe.

While Google claimed that it rolled out its new Gemini AI app assistant globally back in early May, it omitted the whole of Europe in that equation (unless you went through third party app stores). Now the Gemini AI app has started rolling out across the continent.

Having checked from my UK location, I can confirm that it’s available to download for free now on the Google Play Store for Android. You should also find that you can activate it from a Google Assistant pop up.

Indeed, upon opening the Google Gemini app up for the first time on supported phones, it’ll offer to take over the usual role of Google Assistant in managing all your usual tasks, and will respond to your usual ‘Hey Google’ prompt or physical input. You can still switch between the two assistants in the Settings menu.

As for iPhone users, they’ll be able to access Gemini from a new tab in the Google app some time over the coming weeks.

If you missed the announcement earlier in the year, Google Gemini is the new name for Google’s Bard AI chatbot, and is so named for the large language model (LLM) that powers it.

Within this context, Gemini is Google’s answer to ChatGPT, OpenAI’s pioneering AI chatbot. It’s a multimodal AI tool, which means that you can ask it a question or set it a task using natural language, code, or visual media, and it’ll come up with an often scarily incisive response, all delivered in a conversational manner.

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Galaxy Watch FE leak sets-up a Galaxy Watch 4 rebrand

Chris Smith — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 20:03:38 +0000

While much of the recent Galaxy Watch speculation has centred on Samsung potentially launching a premium Apple Watch Ultra rival, it appears the company might be preparing to sneak an Apple Watch SE contender in on us too.

New purported renders posted on Twitter claim to show the design for a potential Galaxy Watch FE. The supposed leak comes little more than a month before Samsung’s next Unpacked event.

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The renders, published to the social media platform by Sudhanshu Ambhore (@Sudhanshu1414) on Tuesday, show a trio of colour options which look like black, silver and rose gold.

The images are also accompanied by some purported specs from the wouldbe leaker who speaks of a 1.2-inch AMOLED display with a 396 x 396 resolution, and a device powered by an Exynos W920 dual core chip (1.18GHz) with 1.5GB of RAM.

Exclusive: Samsung Galaxy Watch FE renders! pic.twitter.com/Jtzp9eUIaC
— Sudhanshu Ambhore (@Sudhanshu1414) June 4, 2024

That’s the same chip that appears on the Galaxy Watch 4 and, judging by the design and massive bezels, it could be Samsung is revamping and perhaps rebranding 2021’s Galaxy Watch 4 as a Galaxy Watch FE.

According to the leaker it will have Wear OS accompanied by the Samsung One UI Watch 5, which arrived last year on the Galaxy Watch 6.

The leaker claims there’ll be a 247mAh battery that’ll last for up to 30 hours, while he also reckons there’ll be 50m of water resistance from the 5 ATM and IP68 certifications. He also reckons there’s also dual-band Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth 5.0, and NFC on board.

It appears somewhat unlikely Samsung would look to debut this watch alongside its Galaxy Watch 7 range at the rumoured Unpacked event in July. Such a device would look decidedly old hat alongside the latest and greatest watches, especially if there was a Galaxy Watch Ultra involved.

Maybe Samsung could debut a Watch FE alongside the inevitable Galaxy S24 FE likely to go on sale at the end of the year. The Watch FE would be an entry level watch that may even retail for around the £100-£150 mark. Stay tuned.

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Lunar Lake: Intel brings out AI big guns to answer to Snapdragon X

Chris Smith — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 18:32:48 +0000

Computex is well underway in Taipei and Intel took centre stage on Tuesday to unveil its Lunar Lake generation of chips that’ll ship within PCs beginning this autumn.

The new x86-based chipset is designed for use within the new range of Microsoft Copilot+ AI Windows PCs and promises big gains in neuro processing, graphical performance and potential battery life.

Intel’s new chips will go head-to-head with the AMD Ryzen AI 300 chips and Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus set-ups.

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The headline appears to be the 48 TOPS (tera ops per second) from a brand new neural processing unit, which is a significant increase on the 10 TOPS NPU provided by the current generation Meteor Lake Core Ultra (15th Gen) chips. Essentially, it more than quadruples the AI acceleration potential.

In terms of brute force, Intel reckons chips at the same clock speed include 14% faster CPU performance, 50% improved graphics performance, and battery life that can last up to 60% longer than Meteor Lake models from last year.

Intel says: “New Performance-cores (P-cores) and Efficient-cores (E-cores) deliver amazing performance at up to 40% lower system-on-chip power compared to the previous generation. A new neural processing unit is up to 4x faster, enabling corresponding improvements in generative AI, versus the previous generation. And new Xe2 graphics processing unit cores improve gaming and graphics performance by 1.5x over the previous generation.”

Intel also says its new Lunar Lake line-up will include on board memory, rather than separate RAM chips. The chips will include 16GB or 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM and should boast some serious efficiency gains, thanks to the system-on-a-chip design. Specifically, it’ll mean 40% lower power consumption in some areas.

Efficiency is also boosted by what Intel is calling an “advanced low power island”, which will take care of the system’s less power hungry tasks. Supported connectivity standards include Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, PCIe Gen5 and Thunderbolt 4.

Intel says the advanced low-power island is “a novel compute cluster and Intel innovation that handles background and productivity tasks with extreme efficiency, enabling amazing laptop battery life.”

Intel says the chips will begin appearing in laptops later this year including more than 80 models from 20 different manufacturers. We’ll have further analysis of the Intel Lunar Lake line-up in due course.

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Netflix is abandoning these Apple TV models this summer

Chris Smith — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 17:56:57 +0000

If you’re a Netflix fan who is the owner of a trusty Apple TV model from way back yonder, it might be time to think about upgrading your media player.

According to an Apple Insider report, Apple is informing owners of the 2nd and 3rd generation Apple TV models that support for the players will cease at the end of next month.

In the email, Netflix is reportedly telling customers that it is making the decision to “maintain the best possible Netflix experience.”

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On a separate Netflix support page, the company warns users: “Netflix will no longer be available on Apple TV (2nd generation) and Apple TV (3rd generation) after July 31, 2024.”

In Netflix’ defence, the 3rd generation Apple TV is now over a decade old and other providers have dropped support for their apps. Even Apple itself classes the device as obsolete. The last bastion of hope for the second and third-generation models is the ability to beam content from an iPhone or iPad to a companion Apple TV device via AirPlay.

The second-gen model was sold from 2010 to 2012 and only managed 720p resolution before it was succeeded by the third-generation model. Neither of these had the App Store on board, but Netflix came as one of the pre-installed services.

If you’re the owner of the newer Apple TV HD that followed in 2015, or any of the 4K capable Apple TV models nothing will change, you’ll still be able to stream Netflix’s vast library of mostly mindrot until your heart is content.

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John Lewis' secret Asus laptop deal is out of this world

Chris Smith — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 17:25:13 +0000

The ASUS Vivobook 16X is a powerful laptop with enough oomph for big productivity tasks and the graphical nous to handle PC games. We’re amazed at how little it costs right now.

John Lewis is selling the Asus Vivobook 16X laptop for just £688.74. This is a model that Asus itself is selling for £1,299.99 right now, so you’re getting more than £611 off the RRP.

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The model is in stock online and comes in the attractive silver shade. However, there are hundreds of people currently viewing the product so it might be wise to act fast.

This is a particularly astonishing configuration for a laptop now under £700. The Windows 11 laptop offers 12th generation Intel Core i7 processor (10 Core) backed by the powerful Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD.

The 16-inch (WUXGA+) display comes with a 120Hz refresh range and a 1920 x 1080p resolution. There’s a 16:10 aspect ratio too. There’s plenty of ports, including Thunderbolt 4 with power delivery, 2 x USB 3.2 Type A, a 3.5mm Jack and HDMI 2.1. There’s also Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6E for wireless connectivity.

This model was launched in early 2023, so it’s still a relatively young machine, although there are configurations rocking newer 13th generation Intel Core processors.

We haven’t reviewed this particular model, but we’re big fans of the Vivobook range and its Pro level extension. This model is a significant upgrade over the Vivobook 16, which we reviewed here.

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 dummy unit spotted out in the wild

Jon Mundy — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 11:47:26 +0000

We’ve had our best look yet at the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, courtesy of a dummy unit that’s been spotted out in the wild.

Samsung’s next foldable flagship, the Galaxy Z Fold 6, has seen countless leaks and rumours appear online ahead of its likely announcement next month. But this latest leak offers us a close look at the foldable’s design.

X (formerly Twitter) user @ta_tech located these snaps on a South Korean forum. They appear to show a dummy unit of the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Such dummy units are often created by manufacturers and sent out to accessory makers so that they can start producing cases ahead of an official launch.

In other words, there’s no guarantee that these pictures are authentic, but there’s a very real chance that they are.

So what do we gain from these snaps? They seem to confirm previous rumours that Samsung going for a sharper, pointier, more industrial design language with its new foldable range.

They also seem to concur with claims that Samsung is mixing up the aspect ratio of both displays, resulting in a wider (and thus more ‘normal’) external display. Unfortunately, they also seem to suggest that the inner display crease is still very much a thing.

Conversely, there’s little evidence of the external hinge when the phone is closed up. It’s all pointing to a Galaxy Z Fold 6 that should be much more pleasant to look at and hold when closed.

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Pixel 9 Tensor G4 benchmarks suggest minor performance bump

Jon Mundy — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 08:01:07 +0000

The first Pixel 9 benchmarks have leaked online, revealing the kind of performance boost we can expect from the new Tensor G4 chip.

Russian website Rozetked (via Android Headlines) has seemingly gotten its hands on AnTuTu benchmark scores for all three of Google’s upcoming Pixel 9 phones. AnTuTu tests a number of aspects of a mobile device and assigns an overall score, so it can be a handy comparison tool.

According to these benchmarks, the Pixel 9 scored 1,071,616, while the Google Pixel 9 Pro scored 1,148,452 and the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL scored 1,176,410.

With the Pixel 8 (pictured) scoring in the region of 960,000 on the same test, it suggests that we’re looking at around a 12% to 20% performance bump overall. It’s a solid rather than spectacular improvement, considering that the Tensor G3 was already lagging quite far behind the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. The Galaxy S24 scores around the 1,600,000 mark, by way of a rough comparison.

We should always take such preliminary benchmark tests with a pinch of salt, as they don’t always accurately reflect the final product. Also, benchmarks in general never tell the full story.

However, this leak does seem to confirm previous rumours that Google is saving its big processor changes for next year’s Tensor G5. It’s been said that Google will be moving from Samsung to TSMC in late 2025, which should bring about a more significant performance boost.

According to this AnTuTu posting, the Tensor G4 will be comprised of one 3.1 GHz Cortex-X4 core, accompanied by three 2.6 GHz Cortex-A720 and four 1.95 GHz Cortex-A520 cores.

In case you haven’t been keeping up with the steady drip of leaks and rumours surrounding the Pixel 9, Google is going to split its flagship line between smaller (Pixel 9 Pro) and larger (Pixel 9 Pro XL) models, with the smaller model being the all-new addition.

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Loewe's new OLED TVs aiming for a Stellar performance

Kob Monney — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 07:00:00 +0000

After launched its Kylian Mbappé themed wireless speakers, German luxury brand Loewe are back with a new range of OLED TVs they’re called Stellar.

Stellar in name, stellar in performance? Loewe will be hoping that’s the case, with this latest model coming straight of their own OLED assembly line in Kronach, Germany, having struck a deal with LG Display to purchase the “glass” OLED panels at an earlier stage of production and be able to design, develop, and build their TVs from the ground up. And they’re the only TV manufacturer in Europe that can claim this.

That ensures some rather tasty looking TVs to fit in with your home décor, with the rear display made from real concrete (don’t worry, it’s not crazy heavy), encased with a frame that’s made of brushed aluminium. When the TV is turned on, there’s a “distinctive light feature” that produces a synchronised light-show/ambient lighting beneath the bottom bezel that complements the illumintaed logo on the screen Just don’t call it Ambilight.

In true Loewer style, the TV can also be fitted with an optional motorised floor stand that’s operated view remote control (disappointingly, it doesn’t look like you can spin the TV round)

A WOLED (WRGB OLED) screen that features LG Display’s MLA META brightness technology for HDR content, the sound system boasts 200W of power for a sound that’s “rich and precise”. There’s a new operating system onboard in the Loewe os9, based on Samsung’s Tizen interface, and offers a huge number of stremaing services and smart applications. Gamers will appreciate the four HDMI 2.1 inputs as well as VRR support with up 144Hz refresh rates possible.

The Loewe Stellar OLED will be available to purchase in 42- and 55-inch sizes at launch, with 48-, 65-, 77-, 83- and 97-inch models arriving later in the year.

Prices for the models are as follows:

Loewe Stellar 42-inch SL8: £3299 / €3299
Loewe Stellar 48-inch SL8: £3799 / €3799 (July 2024)
Loewe Stellar 55-inch SL8: £4299 / €4299
Loewe Stellar 65-inch SL8: £5299 / €5299 (July 2024)
Loewe Stellar 77-inch SL8: £9499 / €9999 (October 2024)
Loewe Stellar 83-inch SL8: £18,999 / €19,999 (October 2024)
Loewe Stellar 97-inch SL8: (£TBC / €TBC, January 2025)

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Samsung is already going to war with Oura over Galaxy Ring

Chris Smith — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 21:04:58 +0000

Samsung Galaxy Ring at MWC 24 close up

Samsung is looking to protect its Galaxy Ring from becoming embroiled in patent wars by pre-emptively suing the makers of the product’s main rival.

Ahead of the Galaxy Ring launch, which the lawsuit says will be around August, Samsung is seeking a pre-emptive legal ruling against Oura, the company that makes the market leading smart ring.

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Samsung wants a judge to make a ruling that Samsung’s product doesn’t infringe on any of Oura’s patented technology prior to the launch of the Galaxy Ring.

The way Samsung sees it, Oura’s legal department is a little too litigious, having previously sued competitors like Ultrahuman and Circular for preceived patent infringements.

“Oura’s actions and public statements demonstrate that Oura will continue asserting patent infringement against other entrants into the U.S. smart ring market, including Samsung,” the lawsuit reads (via The Verge)

“Oura’s immediate response to the announcement of the Galaxy Ring was to point to the purported strength of its intellectual property portfolio.”

Indeed, Oura has pointed out that it has been granted 100 patents and has requested patents for a further 270. Oura had previously hinted it would be monitoring the technology Samsung brought to the tablet for potential infringements upon its IP.

Samsung is looking to avoid the possibility of those legal entanglements by getting the ball rolling before the Galaxy Ring’s release.

The patent reads: “This action arises from Oura’s pattern of indiscriminate assertion of patent infringement against any and all competitors in the smart ring market, and its statements confirming its intentions to assert its patents against all competitors in the market. Oura develops, manufactures, and sells the Oura Ring, and it also purports to own certain patents relating to smart ring technology. Each and every time a major competitor has developed and/or released a product that competes in the smart ring market, Oura has filed a patent infringement action against that competitor.”

The lawsuit says it plans to “sell the Galaxy Ring in the United States in or around August.”

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PSVR 2 PC support confirmed, but features pale in comparison

Chris Smith — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 20:07:47 +0000

Sony has announced the PlayStation VR 2 virtual reality headset will soon be compatible with Stream VR games on PC.

From August 7, the company will open up support for thousands of VR games, including the likes of Half-Life: Alyx, Fallout 4 VR, and War Thunder.

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In a blog post this morning, the company revealed a new PlayStation VR 2 PC adaptor that’ll cost $59.99 / €59.99 / £49.99 and will go on sale at a later date, presumably in time for support opening up. It’s the first time the second-generation headset will be available for use outside of the PS5 console.

Effectively, it does mean you won’t actually need a PS5 to use the PSVR 2 anymore. However, you’re probably not going to want to buy one exclusively for this purpose.

Sony points out that loads of the key features, “like HDR, headset feedback, eye tracking, adaptive triggers, and haptic feedback (other than rumble), are not available when playing on PC.”

Effectively, this makes the PSVR 2 more of a VR viewer, albeit a very good one as it does include the same 4K resolution, with 2000 x 2040 per eye, and 110-degree field of view.

There’s also support for “finger touch detection, and see-through view, as well as foveated rendering (without eye tracking) and 3D Audio in supported games” Sony says.

It’ll be a handy perk for PC gamers, who also own a PS5, as it will siginficantly increase the number of games and experiences they can access. As for the gaming PC you need, there are some minimum spec requirements, which you can see in the table below.

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Spotify US prices hiked again, but is the UK next?

Chris Smith — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 19:02:34 +0000

Spotify has raised the price of its Premium subscriptions in the US once again, and Brits could be next.

The company is raising the prices of all tariffs in the United States, and is beginning to notify subscribers. The individual tier is going up from $10.99 to $11.99, while the Duo plan designed for couples is going up to $16.99 a month from $14.99.

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The Family Plan, which offers up to six accounts, has gone up to $19.99 from £16.99 a month. That’s a rather obscene $3 a month increase.

“We’re increasing the price of Premium Individual so that we can continue to invest in and innovate on our product offerings and features, and bring you the best experience,” Spotify says in email that’ll begin going out to users next month. The price changes were rumoured in April.

In a blog post, the company added: “On Spotify, users discover and enjoy music, podcasts, and audiobooks. So that we can continue to invest in and innovate on our product features and bring users the best experience, we occasionally update our prices.”

This is the second time in less than a year Spotify has put the prices up on users in the United States following the July 2023 hike. It means the price of the Family subscription has gone up 30% in the last 11 months.

The price hike only applies to the United States right now, but it’s perfectly possible the company will expand the price hikes to the UK and other territories.

The July 2023 price hike saw the Premium prices in the UK go up by £1. We have contacted Spotify about whether it intends to raise prices in the UK.

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Samsung's Tizen OS is officially done as an Apple Watch rival

Chris Smith — Fri, 31 May 2024 19:35:20 +0000

Samsung is finally sunsetting support for its Tizen operating system for wearable devices, almost three years after it jumped back into bed with Google’s Wear OS.

In an unsurprising move the homegrown operating system that powered original Galaxy Watch in 2018 and endured into the 2021 Galaxy Watch 4, is going the way of the dodo.

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Samsung will shutter content support for all Tizen OS smartwatches one year from now, according to communications received by customers and published to Reddit (via Android Authority).

Screenshots published by Redditors explain Samsung is halting sales of all Tizen Watch content on September 30 2024. Downloads of all free Tizen watch content ends on May 31 2025, while downloads of purchased items from the Galaxy Store, like watch faces, will end on September 30 2025.

While existing content on the watches will remain available, and it seems watches will continue to function as they have been, it makes things a little more difficult for users who have to reset their watch. Essentially, it means content they’ve paid for won’t be available to them after the deadlines have passed.

Samsung had only promised to support the Galaxy Watch 3, the last to launch with Tizen, until August last year, so users have already had an extra year out of their watches since then.

“At Samsung, we always put customers at the heart of everything we do. That’s why we are committed to bringing them the best possible smartwatch experiences,” the company said in 2021 after shifting the range to Wear OS. “For customers who already own the Tizen OS based Galaxy smartwatches, we are continuing to provide at least three years of software support after the product launch.”

The next generation Galaxy Watch 7, which will certainly run Wear OS, is expected at an Unpacked event likely to take place in July.

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How to watch the Champions League Final for free in the UK

Chris Smith — Fri, 31 May 2024 18:59:59 +0000

How to watch Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League Final: You can watch the showpiece event for free in the UK. Here’s how.

Real Madrid are on track for a record-extending 15th triumph in the European Cup / Champions League and standing in their way are Germany’s Borussia Dortmund.

Despite the absence of English clubs this time around, there is English involvement as European football’s showpiece event takes place at Wembley Stadium this year.

England star Jude Bellingham, who has become such a lynchpin for Madrid since his arrival from Dortmund last summer, will take centre stage against his former club too.

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Madrid are big favourites for the title having seen off holders Manchester City in quarter-finals and Bayern Munich in the semi-finals. You’d be brave to bet against Carlo Ancelotti’s side getting their mitts on ol’ Big Ears once again.

Dortmund are this year’s surprise package, having beaten PSG in the semi-finals and having seen off the dangerous Atletico Madrid in the quarters. The charge to the final has been led by another Englishman, the Manchester United outcast Jaden Sancho, who has rediscovered his top form after rejoining his old club on loan.

A thrilling encounter awaits under the arch in North London. Here’s how to watch for free on the best TV you have in the house.

Champions League Final kick-off time

Borussia Dortmund vs Real Madrid will kick off at 8:00pm UK time on Saturday June 1. The game is being played at Wembley Stadium in London.

How to watch Dortmund vs Madrid for free live on TV and online?

In the past BT Sport (now TNT Sports) offered the European Finals for free via its YouTube channel, even for non-subscribers. That won’t be the case this year, but the game will still be available for free.

All you need to do is create an account via Discovery+ and you’ll be able to stream the game via the website or the various apps. If you’re a Sky Customer or an EE customer there are ways for you to watch for no extra cost too.

Full details on how to register are here.

How to listen to Dortmund vs Madrid for free

If you want to listen to the game on the radio or smart speaker, you can do so thanks to BBC Radio 5 Live. Here’s the link to listen on the BBC.

Watch safely with a VPN

If you watch live sports online, you can boost your online privacy within a virtual private network (VPN) – and we’ve reviewed all the best. A VPN works by masking your IP address from would-be snoops and wrongdoers and you can read our guide to the best VPNs before streaming the games.

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The iPhone's most unloved feature set for iOS 18 overhaul

Chris Smith — Fri, 31 May 2024 18:18:42 +0000

The Settings app might be the least exciting part of the iOS experience, which is probably why we haven’t seen Apple do all that much with it down the years.

That could change arrive in iOS 18, as well as iPadOS and macOS 15, according to the well-connected Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman.

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In a tweet on Friday, Gurman said there’ll be a brand new UI for the Settings app that makes it easy for users to navigate. The reporter said the app will be reorganised with a cleaner layout.

Gurman tweeted: “A lot of people using macOS 15 and iOS 18 keep mentioning the revamp to Settings. Obviously not a huge deal, but it’s getting a new UI with a reorganized, cleaner layout that’s more simple to navigate. It also has much improved search. There are also updates to Control Center.”

Gurman didn’t mention specifics on how Apple will revamp the Control Centre, which has been subject to several improvements and changes down the years, not least the switch from being loaded from the bottom of the display to a pull-down option.

Naturally, there are large differences between the iOS/iPadOS Settings apps and the Mac equivalent, which lives under System Settings (nee System Preferences), so it’ll be interesting to see how Apple handles the various revamps and whether it’ll need to a more uniform Settings app across the mobile and desktop platforms.

Elsewhere iOS 18, which is expected to be announced at WWDC on June 10, has been tipped to include a revamp for the Messages app. MacRumors reports there’ll be new text effects that will enable users to add animations to individual words within a message. These will be different to the existing bubble and screen effects, the report said.

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How to stream Furiosa: When will new Mad Max movie hit home?

Chris Smith — Thu, 30 May 2024 20:32:09 +0000

When is Furiosa: A Mad Max Story streaming in the home? The Fury Road prequel is currently in cinemas but we’re hopeful it’ll be avaialble to stream to your home TV soon.

Fans of Mad Max: Fury Road are currently flocking to cinemas to enjoy the newest installment in the long-running sci-fi franchise – Furiosa.

The new epic from legendary director George Miller features Anna Taylor-Joy as the titular lead in a story that spans five chapters of the character’s life. Along the way, the character meets a war lord named Dementus played by Thor actor Chris Hemsworth. He sounds stable doesn’t he?

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The movie is somewhat of a change of pace from the balls-out Fury Road, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing either. There’s a 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes for starters.

Right now you’re going to need to go along to your local multiplex to watch Furiosa. However, it won’t be long before the blockbuster is available in the home setting.

When will Furiosa be available to stream at home?

This is a Warner Bros. movie. The company hasn’t given us a date for when the device will be available to watch on the best TV in the home. However, previous form from the studio gives us clues.

Wonka, for example, became available to buy or rent in the UK on January 22 via the usual platforms like Prime Video, Apple TV and the Sky Store. That was released in cinemas on December 8. That was a 45-day window of exclusivity for the cinemas.

Dune: Part II arrived to rent or buy on the same platforms on April 15. It was released in cinemas on March 1. Again that’s a 45-day window for this Warner Bros. film.

Given Furiosa arrived in cinemas in the UK on May 24, the potential home cinema release could be as soon as July 8.

Following the buy and rent window, it’s likely the movie will eventually find a home on a UK streaming service as part of the subscription. However, neither Dune 2 or Wonka have made it to a streaming platform like Netflix yet. so this might be a while.

Furiosa plot and trailer

The official Synopsis reads: “Snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers, young Furiosa falls into the hands of a great biker horde led by the warlord Dementus. Sweeping through the Wasteland, they come across the Citadel, presided over by the Immortan Joe. As the two tyrants fight for dominance, Furiosa soon finds herself in a nonstop battle to make her way home.”

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New Fire TV AI search makes Alexa a movie buff that knows all the quotes

Chris Smith — Thu, 30 May 2024 19:36:54 +0000

The act of searching a smart TV platform for content would benefit from a fresh set of Gen AI eyes and that’s exactly what Amazon is doing with its Fire TV interface.

Research currently claims streaming service users spend more than ten minutes searching for what to watch every time, as they click, click, click through menus on the remote.

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Now Alexa has gained new powers that leverages generative AI to scour the Fire TV content library for more personalised recommendations, as Amazon explained in a blog post today.

Essentially, it comes down to the ability to ask Alexa for more nuanced recommendations. Amazon says the new tools enable you to speak to Alexa in the same way as you would a movie or TV buff pal. The assistant can now identify which movie a famous quote comes from.

“You can ask Alexa to search for streaming content recommendations in the same way you might ask a friend with encyclopaedic knowledge about TV shows and movies, using complex or nuanced language to ask for options based on topic, genre, plot, character, actor, and even by quotes. For example, you can say things like:
“Alexa, show me movies about dog and human friendships.”
“Show me psychological thrillers with surprise endings.”
“What movie has the line, ‘You’re killing me Smalls?’””
Amazon

You’ll be able to search by genre (“find me medical drama shows”), topics (“show me classic comedy series about roommates”), plot (“find the mystery movie set on a private island”), or quotes (“what movie has the line, ‘life is like a box of chocolates?'”).

The company says the abilities come from a new Amazon-built large language model (LLM). It could be a sign of things to come from the rumoured Alexa Plus service that could command a subscription fee in the months to come.

The company says the recommendations will also be conscious of which streaming platforms you subscribe to, so won’t necessarily surface something that’s gonna cost you a fiver to watch once, or twenty quid to own.

Amazon says it’ll be available to users in the US in the coming weeks. Hopefully it won’t be too long before Brits get access too because this sounds really, really useful.

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Android users can now edit RCS messages, as Apple adoption looms

Chris Smith — Thu, 30 May 2024 18:44:17 +0000

Google has announced another big update for its RCS-based Messages app, which enables users to edit messages after they’ve been sent.

The addition, which Apple brought to its iMessage platform in 2022, means users will have the opportunity to fix typos or clarify the meaning of a text for up to 15 minutes after it is sent. That’s the same timeframe as offered by Apple.

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All users will need to do is hold their finger down on the message in question and edit within the pop-up text box in order to make the changes

In a blog post today Google says: “With Google Messages you can say goodbye to the *asterisk and edit messages after they’re sent. Tap and hold a sent RCS message to edit typos, add missing words or clarify what you mean — up to 15 minutes after a message is sent.”

This is good news for Android users, but with Apple adopting RCS for its iPhone to Android conversations later this year, it could also mean iPhone users may be able to edit messages when exchanging them with Android counterparts, and vice versa.

Apple is planning to introduce RCS within this year’s iOS 18 update and it seems likely this will be discussed during the forthcoming WWDC 2024 keynote on June 10.

Elsewhere, Google is revealing some other new features coming to its various bits of hardware. Instant Hotspot, for example, will enable Android tablet or Chromebook users who mightn’t have a data connection, to quickly piggy back on a companion Android phone’s mobile connectivity in just a tap.

Google explains: “Coming soon, with instant hotspot, you’ll be able to connect your Android tablet or Chromebook to your phone’s hotspot with one tap — without needing to go through the extra step of typing in your password.”

There’ll also be the ability to switch devices mid-call when on Google Meet, whether its to your phone, tablet or web browser. There are new emoji mashups from the Emoji Kitchen, and the ability to add your favourite Google Home devices as a home screen widget on both Android phones and Wear OS.

Speaking of Wear OS, Google Wallet payments can now be made from a PayPal account (in Germany and the US initially). Finally, the digital car key functionality will soon be available on select Mercedes-Benz and Polestar vehicles.

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Advanced Garmin Fenix 7 is now cheaper than Apple Watch 9

Chris Smith — Thu, 30 May 2024 17:43:02 +0000

The Garmin Fenix 7 is one of the company’s most advanced fitness watches and, as such, has carried a significant price tag. This deal from Argos makes that more palatable.

The catalogue store is selling the Garmin Fenix 7 for just £359.10 when using the code ELEC10. That’s way down on the initial £599 asking price for this brilliant running, fitness and navigation watch.

Garmin Fenix 7 price crash

Get the brilliant Garmin Fenix 7 fitness watch for just £359.10 when using the code ELEC10 at Argos. It’s currently down from the £599 retail price.

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That’s cheaper than the Apple Watch Series 9, for instance, which starts at £399. The watch is available to click and collect at a store or collection point nearby or you can get it delivered from £3.95.

Released in 2022, the Fenix 7 is designed to make the most of the great outdoors, with multi-frequency GPS for pinpoint location data, 10 ATM of water resistance, and improved running features like a race predictor.

There’s also a touchscreen too, which helps give the watch more of a smartwatch feel, rather than a standard fitness tracker. Plus you’ll get all of your mobile notifications and enough storage for offline playback from music streaming apps.

If you want best in class navigation, mapping and fitness tracking, this is the wearable to get

Pros

Strong outdoor tracking accuracy
Responsive touchscreen
Improved battery life

Cons

It’s not cheap
Not the full smartwatch experience
Core experience similar to Fenix 6

It’s got a 47mm case with a 1.3 inch trans reflective display designed to enhance battery life to 18 days in smartwatch mode and a full 57 hours while in GPS mode. Stick it in battery saver mode and you’ll get 173 days out of it.

However, it’s the activity tracking where Garmin’s Fenix range really excells. Runners can benefit from a new Stamina metric that gives users an idea of how far they can go without emptying the tank. There’s a pulse ox sensor, for tracking your blood oxygen levels continuously, and an advanced optical heart-rate sensor.

There are also loads of activity and sports modes, including the likes of paddle boarding, hiking, climbing, skiing, snowboarding HIIT and strength training. They sit alongside the expected running, cycling, swimming and golf modes.

Our reviewer gave it a 4.5 star score, concluding: “If you want best in class navigation, mapping and fitness tracking, this is the wearable to get.”

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Nothing Phone (2a) Special Edition adds another dose of mid-range style

Jon Mundy — Thu, 30 May 2024 11:48:28 +0000

British tech startup brand Nothing has announced the Phone (2a) Special Edition, a particularly snazzy reworking of its latest mid-range smartphone.

The Nothing Phone (2a) impressed with its distinctive style and finely, balanced components, and appealingly reasonable price just a couple of months ago. Now the brand has given us an even more striking variant in the Nothing Phone (2a) Special Edition.

In a recent Nothing community blog post, the company revealed a version of its latest phone with a boldly colourful look. It features the phone in a white shade, but with a darker finish to the highlighted internal wiring. We also see some subtle red and yellow accents, as well as a blue camera surround.

“Phone (2a) Special Edition celebrates primary colours and their place within Nothing’s brand identity,” explains the blog post. “This new smartphone is the first time that all three colours have been used in one piece of Nothing hardware.”

Previous Nothing devices have largely focused on a monochromatic palette with a splash of red, though the recent Nothing Ear (a) earphones introduced bold yellow into the equation.

The Nothing Phone (2a) Special Edition is available with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for £349 GBP, which is the same price as the equivalent top model in the original colours.

However, it’s only available in limited quantities, so you might be fresh out of luck already. If you’re in London on June 1, Nothing is planning another limited release at the Nothing Store in Soho on a first come, first served basis.

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Galaxy Z Fold 6 leak confirms performance parity for global model

Jon Mundy — Thu, 30 May 2024 11:00:26 +0000

It’s all but confirmed that Galaxy Z Fold 6 performance will be consistently strong regardless of where in the world you buy it.

Last week we reported on claims from South Korea that the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6 would be running on Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip in every region, rather than equipping the global model with a custom Exynos 2400.

Now those claims have seemingly been confirmed by a leaked benchmark test. As spotted by SamMobile, having already seen the US variant (model name SM-F956U) appear on Geekbench 6 with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, now the international model (SM-F956B) has also appeared on the Geekbench results website.

While this isn’t completely unexpected news – Samsung has always gone exclusively Qualcomm with its foldable phones to date – there had been rumours that the company was looking to split its hardware provision along regional lines, just as it does with the Galaxy S range. After the Galaxy S23 had gone all-in with Qualcomm in 2023, Samsung reverted to a split approach with the Galaxy S24 family.

Last week’s report claimed that Samsung would likely keep its foldables on this single-chip path until its sales were significantly higher, at which point it would start to make sense financially.

While expected, this is good news as far as we’re concerned. We put the US and European variants of the Galaxy S24 head to head, and found that the US model (containing the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3) was quite a bit faster, especially in GPU terms.

As things stand, we’re looking at consistent performance for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 (and presumably the Galaxy Z Flip 6) wherever you buy it in the world, which is really how it should be for any phone.

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Galaxy Watch 7 is going to be all about Galaxy AI

Chris Smith — Wed, 29 May 2024 20:58:42 +0000

Samsung has revealed its Galaxy AI technology is coming to the wrist through the Galaxy Watch to help users with motivation to exercise and offer greater insights into their health.

The technology that debuted within the Galaxy S24 range earlier this year is coming to wearables with Samsung promising “comprehensive health insights, along with motivational encouragement to help you improve your daily wellness” from the AI.

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For example, there’ll be a new Energy Score that analyses sleep metrics, activity, and heart rate data with a view to helping you navigate the day.

The AI, for example will give you a score out of 100, while the smartphone will give you a summary of your status. You might hear that your consistent sleep patten, bedtime/wake time consistency and low stress scores is contributing to a high Energy score.

There’s also a new Wellness Tips section that Samsung says “helps you reach your personal health goals by offering insights, motivational tips and guidance based on the specific goal you’re looking to achieve.”

The data may inform you that you’re on pace to meet body fat goals, or that your regular workouts are succeeding in lowering your resting heart rate. You might also be encouraged to keep-up trends like going to bed at a certain time to match sleep goals.

Samsung says the features will debut on the next Galaxy Watch hardware via the forthcoming One UI 6 update. Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy Watch 7 range in July at Unpacked. That is also expected to include a Galaxy Watch Ultra model.

In a blog post, the company said: “This is only a small taste of what we have in store for our users, and we can’t wait to show the full power of Galaxy AI when integrated with the advanced hardware upgrades coming to the new Galaxy Watch series.”

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Apple TV+ set for Android phones and it's about time

Chris Smith — Wed, 29 May 2024 20:24:05 +0000

The Apple TV+ service is available via most smart TV and computing platforms, but there’s one conspicuous by its absence – Android for phones and tablets.

Although Android TV users can download the Apple TV app, the company hasn’t got around to building an app for smartphones and tablet devices yet.

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Now, according to a new report, Apple is planning to launch the Apple TV app and streaming service on devices that rival the iPhone and iPad.

The report from Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman draws attention to a job posting from Apple, which seeks an “Android Software Engineer – Apple TV App” to join the software and services team.

The listing seeks an experienced engineer to help build a new app. Considering the Android TV app already exists, it seems to indicate the mobile version is finally on the way.

The posting reads: “The Apple TV app team is looking for a proactive, hardworking and experienced senior Android engineer to lead the development of fun new features, and to help build an application used by millions to watch and discover TV and sports.”

Apple has been much better about sharing its apps and technologies across platforms in recent years, especially as more of its business relies on income from services rather than simply device sales.

Apple Music, for example, took a while to arrive on Android but finally rocked up in 2015. Launching Apple TV on Android makes sense as it allows Android users to access content they simply cannot get without signing up for TV+

Apple has exclusivity on Major League Soccer, as well as exclusive Major League Baseball games. Hit shows like Severance, The Morning Show and Ted Lasso are also only available via TV+.

Seeing as the job posting in question is seeking someone to help build the app, we don’t imagine it’ll be launching in the immediate future.

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Chrome Custom Tabs gives mobile multitasking a big boost

Chris Smith — Wed, 29 May 2024 18:56:16 +0000

Google has announced a new Chrome browser feature, that places web tabs in a floating picture-in-picture window that’ll remain in situ when browsing other apps.

Google says the new feature enables users to “effortlessly transition between native app and web content”. The firm says says users will be able to access a new down arrow from a web tab, which will minimise the window and place it in a floating tab.

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That’ll enable users to interact with another native app, such as Gmail, before quickly restoring the tab by tapping the floating window. Google says it’ll be great for multitasking across surfaces without constantly switching between apps.

The change is largely geared towards developers who can integrate the Chrome browser experience within their apps. So, for example, is an app needs to send you out to a web page to complete an order, sign up for an account or reset a password, for instance.

In the blog post today, Google says Chrome version M124 will feature the rollout.

“In the latest release of Chrome, we’re introducing Minimized Custom Tabs, a feature that allows users to effortlessly transition between native app and web content,” the company says.

“With a simple tap on the down button in the Chrome Custom Tabs toolbar, users can minimize a Custom Tab into a compact, floating picture-in-picture window. This seamless integration enables multi-tasking across surfaces, enhancing the in-app web browsing experience. By tapping on the floating window, users can easily maximize the tab, restoring it to its original size.”

The company adds: “Please note that this is a change in Chrome, and we hope other browsers will adopt similar functionality.”

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When to expect Prime Day 2024: Anticipated date for Amazon’s big sale

Thomas Deehan — Wed, 29 May 2024 15:54:43 +0000

Summer is almost here which means Amazon’s next Prime Day sale shouldn’t be too far behind. Here’s what we expect from the event.

With Amazon’s Spring Sale in the rearview mirror and quite a while to go until the Black Friday sale kicks off, we’re fast approaching the mid-point of the year which is typically dominated by Amazon’s member-exclusive Prime Day sale.

No event has cornered the summertime quite like Amazon Prime Day, and so if you are looking to bag a bargain on the latest tech, whether that be a new laptop or an extra Echo Dot for your smart home, Prime Day offers the next best chance to do so.

While Amazon hasn’t officially announced the date for Prime Day 2024, that hasn’t stopped us from combining a bit of speculation with our own expectations with regards to the retailer’s next big event. To give yourself the best chance of being prepared for Prime Day 2024, here’s our breakdown.

When is Prime Day 2024?

Amazon’s kept quiet on all things Prime Day 2024 at the time of publishing, but if history has taught us anything it’s that this year’s Prime Day is almost guaranteed to take place in July. This is because, with the exception of 2020, Amazon has typically chosen July as the go-to month for its biggest annual sale – for context, last year’s Prime Day took place July 11th and 12th.

What do we expect from Prime Day 2024?

The focus of Prime Day really does change from year to year. One iteration saw a handful of big discounts on games consoles while another chose to highlight Apple products. The only thing that you can count on from year to year are hefty price drop across Amazon’s own-brand products such as Echo speakers, Kindle e-readers and Fire TV sticks.

If we were lucky enough to pick which items go on sale this year, there are definitely a handful that come to mind. We’ve yet to see a big, jaw-dropping deal for the excellent Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones, which would be perfect for anyone heading on holiday and in desperate need of active noise cancellation for any impending flights. The Pixel Watch 2 also feels perfectly primed for a Prime Day discount after the price has wobbled a fair bit since launch.

We’d also recommend keeping an eye on Amazon’s own-brand Fire TV sets. These televisions have had a few lightning deals attached in recent memory, and they could offer up a bargain opportunity to upgrade your home entertainment set-up on the cheap.

Amazon Prime memberships cost $14.99/£8.99 a month or $139/£95 a year. You can sign up here. New customers get a 30-day free trial.

If you’re not an Amazon Prime member right now then you’re best waiting until the retailer officially announces the date for Prime Day 2024. This way you can make the most of the free month trial whilst also having the chance to access any deals that do drop during the event.

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YouTube makes its Playables game service available to all

Jon Mundy — Wed, 29 May 2024 07:55:37 +0000

YouTube has opened out its Playables game service to all users.

Google’s online video service started dabbling with a free integrated gaming service of sorts back in September, before rolling the Playables service out in a limited fashion to YouTube Premium subscribers in November. That experimental run ended on March 28.

Now, exactly two months later, Playables is available to everyone. Visit the YouTube website on your chosen browser, or through the mobile app, and you’ll find the Playables game service listed on the Explore menu to the side.

Click on that and you’ll be taken to a roster of more than 75 free games – around double the amount it had when it rolled out to Premium users in November.

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Don’t expect anything too in-depth or taxing. We’re talking about the kind of simple arcadey experiences that typified the early smartphone era. There are even versions of Angry Birds and Cut the Rope here, just to nail that 2010 vibe.

I had a quick blast on Angry Birds Showdown at the time of that initial limited launch, and after a brief loading screen it provided a stripped-back, windowed take on the classic game.

Straightforward as these games are, Google will keep track of your progress with them, so you can pick up where you left off, or attempt to beat your high-scores. Tap the three dot menu and you can share these games with your friends.

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Apple Beats Pill 2024 sounds like a worthy reboot

Chris Smith — Tue, 28 May 2024 19:10:25 +0000

Image credit 9to5Mac

Recently you might have seen images of high profile celebrities like LeBron James strutting around with a new version of what looks like a Beats Pill speaker.

The tidy little portable speaker has been unavailable since the Beats Pill+ was discontinued in 2020, but a reboot certainly looks on the cards judging by its visibility on the person of people who are photographed quite a lot.

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Now 9to5Mac reckons it has the inside scoop on what the Beats Pill successor will offer and, judging by the features detailed, it seems like it’ll be a worthy modern update for a once-loved, much-missed product.

The site says the battery life will double from 12- to 24-hours from a single charge. It adds there’ll be IP67 water resistance, which means it’ll have significant protection from the elements its predecessor lacked, and it’ll be compatible with both iOS and Android one-touch pairing.

Furthermore, there’ll be integration with Apple Find My and Google Find My Device, which makes it easy to track if lost or swiped. Bluetooth will be boosted to 5.3 from 4.0, while there’s also USB-C for charging the device and gifting charge to a companion playback device, the report alleges.

As we’ve seen in some of the leaked images, the report adds weight to the suggestions there’ll be a lanyard for easy carrying on the go.

From an audio perspective, it looks like things will sound better too. The site writes:

– 2024 Beats Pill will feature louder sound, bigger bass, and better tonality.
– It uses a reengineered racetrack woofer to drive 28% more motor force, displacing 90% more air volume, while reducing low-end distortion.
– Its redesigned tweeter has its own secured housing for added stability, crisp highs, and rich mid-range tones.
– It also introduces a 20-degree upward tilt angle for sending sound up to your ears and away from objects in the way.
9to5Mac

It’s not yet clear when Apple will decide to release the device or how much it’ll cost, but we’ll keep you posted.

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Microsoft confirms seismic Call of Duty change ahead of Black Ops 6

Chris Smith — Tue, 28 May 2024 18:37:26 +0000

As hoped and expected, Microsoft has announced the recently-confirmed Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will be available as a day one release for Xbox Game Pass subscribers.

Arguably the world’s most illustrious gaming franchise will be available at no extra cost to subscribers of the all-you-can-eat platform.

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“We’re excited to confirm that Game Pass members will be able to jump into Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 on day one with Game Pass,” Microsoft confirmed in a blog post on Tuesday.

The announcement lost some of its lustre after a push notification went out earlier on Tuesday morning via the iOS Xbox app, but it’ll still be exciting for Game Pass subscribers who had to fork over £69.99 to play on day one last year, when Modern Warfare 3 arrived.

The announcement is likely to dramatically boost Xbox Game Pass subscriber numbers as well as give the Xbox hardware platform a boost as gamers look for the best way to play the game.

If Microsoft also enables Xbox Cloud Gaming for Black Ops 6 – as it usually does with first-party day-one Game Pass releases – it’ll be the first in the series where gamers can stream from the cloud onto a huge number of connected screens without the need to fork over hundreds for a console.

Meanwhile, Microsoft is previewing the full announcement of Black Ops 6 following the next Xbox Game Showcase on June 9. Black Ops 6 Direct will take place on June 9 after the event at 6pm UK time.

You can see a new live action trailer below, while the image you see above looks like it’ll be the game’s cover.

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Motorola Razr 50 leaks in full

Jon Mundy — Tue, 28 May 2024 11:42:53 +0000

The Motorola Razr 50 foldable has leaked in full ahead of its announcement.

In the realm of smartphone leaks, nothing beats an official slip-up when it comes to nailed-on certainty about the status of a new device. Next in line is the classic government regulator leak, which offers its own brand of official stamp to pre-launch rumours.

That’s just what we’ve seen for the Motorola Razr 50 (aka the Razr 2024), which will be the brand’s next compact foldable. The phone has just appeared on China’s TENAA regulatory body. And when we say ‘appeared’, we mean it.

Images of the clamshell foldable have been posted to the TENAA website (via IT Home), revealing its expansive cover display and familiar dual-camera set-up. We also see the phone from the front and the side, which are less insightful as these things go.

Elsewhere, this TENAA listing gives us a rundown of the Razr 50’s specs. These will seemingly include a 6.9-inch OLED folding screen with a 1080 × 2640 resolution, as well as a 3.6-inch OLED 1056 × 1066 external screen. Those are the same specs as the Razr 40 Ultra, which signifies a step-up from the plain Razr 40 – particularly with that expanded cover display.

We also learn that the Razer 50 will weigh 188g, and that it’ll be 7.2mm thick. It’ll pack a 50MP main camera with a 13MP secondary sensor (almost certain an ultra-wide), as well as a 32MP selfie camera.

The Razr 50 will be powered by a 2.5GHz MediaTek 7300X chip, together with 8GB or 16GB of RAM and 128GB to 1TB of storage. There’s a 3950mAh battery capacity, too.

We liked the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra a lot last year, so seeing some of its magic sprinkled to the lower model this year bodes well.

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Apple hints it could change this classic iPad design feature

Jon Mundy — Tue, 28 May 2024 07:47:02 +0000

Back of the iPad Pro M2

Apple has revealed that it could change a classic iPad design feature, rotating the traditional portrait orientation of the Apple logo to landscape.

Talking with French website Numerama, Apple designer Molly Anderson was asked about the orientation of the Apple logo on the back of the iPad. After all, while it makes sense on the iPhone – a device that’s predominantly used in portrait view – most iPad users tend to use it to view or manipulate landscape content.

This is doubly so since Apple first rolled out the Magic Keyboard, started packing in its advanced M-series chips, and split iPadOS off into a more productivity-focused platform. Essentially, the iPad has turned into a laptop, and laptops screens are invariably landscape.

Indeed, with the latest iPad Pro M4, Apple has taken a step further along this path and relocated the web cam for a landscape orientation. So what gives with the Apple logo?

“I think this could change, I don’t think it’s engraved in stone,” Anderson said. “We are thinking about it. The iPad has long been a product that is used in portrait mode, but we are increasingly using it in landscape mode. We can’t say it’s fixed.”

While another Apple designer issues the caveat that the iPad is a device that’s used in all directions, it seems clear that the company is pondering a change. Its tightly media-trained employees aren’t ones to make such concessions easily.

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We're all four this exciting Samsung Galaxy S25 camera rumour

Chris Smith — Mon, 27 May 2024 18:49:19 +0000

Next year’s likely Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra release could see significant upgrades to the rear camera array, according to a longtime leaker renowned for having an inside track on Samsung products.

According to the often-reliable Ice Universe, Samsung is planning on improving at least two of the four lenses within next year’s flagship release.

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Ice Universe (via Android Authority) reckons the array will include the same 200-megapixel main camera and 50-megapixel 5x periscope lens, the latter of which was introduced last year.

However, the leak claims the current secondary 10-megapixel telephoto camera (with 3x optical zoom) will be boosted to 50-megapixel / 3x optical zoom.

Furthermore, the S24 Ultra’s 12-megapixel ultrawide snapper will jump to 50-megapixels if the leak (which comes via the Weibo social media site) proves accurate.

Those significant leaps would have Galaxy fans drooling ahead of a release that is still probably around 8-9 months away.

Beyond introducing the periscope lens, adding a fourth to the array, Samsung kept the camera array as it was for the Galaxy S24 Ultra, so we would expect the company to improve things somewhat with a larger leap for the next generation.

Our reviewer said that beyond the new addition, the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s “the camera experience remains solidly flagship-level – if not a little familiar.”

The main 200-megapixel camera was, for example, praised as being “just as capable as it was a year ago – and considering it delivered some of the best results around, that’s not that bad. The S24 Ultra can capture a stunning shot with little effort, with images usually packed with detail, vibrant colours (sometimes too much), and exceptional dynamic range.”

Samsung’s camera improvements are always a highlight of any Galaxy S-series launch, so this might be an early tease of big things ahead with the Pixel 9 models and iPhone 16 competition yet to be announced.

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YouTube's latest weapon against ad blockers spoils the ending

Chris Smith — Mon, 27 May 2024 17:43:33 +0000

YouTube has been waging war against the use of ad blockers for quite some time now and its latest trick is the craftiest one yet.

Some YouTube users determined to avoid the commercial interruptions – which are bloody annoying but provide revenue to both the service provider and people creating the videos for everyone to watch – have noticed videos are now skipping all the way to the end when playback is attempted.

According to some people on Reddit (via 9to5Google), only disabling their ad-blocker causes video performance to resume as intended. Some people said that if they have been able to work around the skip, the audio drops out completely.

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It might be some sort of problem with the ad blocker itself. It might also be the ad blocker causing inadvertent problems as it interacts with YouTube. However, judging by recent form, it seems most likely this is another ploy from YouTube to discourage use of the revenue-sapping tech.

YouTube, of course, gives users the option to remove the ads by paying for YouTube Premium, which is expensive but includes access to the YouTube Music service. However, that would involve ad-swervers having to pay for music too.

Naturally, Reddit is awash with folks who are aggrieved at the sheer audacity of Google interfering with their inalienable rights to free content on the internet and anything that might pay for that free content.

“I hate YouTube so much. Greedy Company,” writes _k1llswitch. “The Ads are ridiculous sometimes and I will NEVER pay a penny for your stupid premium service. I don’t use YouTube on my phone so that ain’t no problem and I guess I just have to wait until the AdBlock people find a way to get it working again.”

The apparent skipping issue comes after Google began warning that people with ad-blockers enabled would not be able to watch videos last autumn. Then playback slowed and, in some cases, unduly taxed the computer’s memory and caused slow performance of the machine itself.

One thinks this is a battle YouTube is probably going to continue fighting, as ad blockers and users continue to insist on finding new workarounds.

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Apple and OpenAI iOS 18 accord hands huge blow to Google – report

Chris Smith — Mon, 27 May 2024 14:28:11 +0000

Apple will reportedly reveal a partnership with the ChatGPT-maker OpenAI at WWDC 2024, paving the way for AI chatbot functionality to be integrated within iOS 18.

According to the Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, Apple has opted to go with OpenAI (which is part owned by Microsoft) rather than strike a deal with Google to use its Gemini technology.

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Apple has been working on developing its own generative AI chatbot, but the company has plenty of catching-up to do to match the sector’s trailblazers.

As such, the intention to partner with one of them has been reported for months now. However, until very recently it was thought Apple was close to a deal with Google – similar to the one it has to integrate Google Search as the default provider in Safari – to provide chatbot integration.

However, Gurman now believes the deal has come together with OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman. Would-be Miles Dyson Altman himself will be present at the WWDC keynote on June 10 to explain the extent of the functionality, the reporter believes.

In his weekly Power On newsletter, Gurman writes: “…the company has held talks with both Google and OpenAI about integrating their chatbots into iOS 18. In March, it seemed like Apple and Google were nearing an agreement, and people on both sides felt like something could be hammered out by WWDC. But Apple ultimately sealed the deal sooner with OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman, and their partnership will be a component of the WWDC announcement.

“The arrangement is a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, Apple is acknowledging that it can’t compete in the hottest area of AI. But its deal with OpenAI gives it the most advanced chatbot — and a potential edge over Samsung devices, since they use Gemini.”

As Gurman points out, it’ll be a slight black eye for Apple – the current global technology leader – to have to rely on an upstart to power this next generation of human interaction with machines. However, the inflexibility of the Siri architecture is believed to have contributed to Apple’s difficulties in matching the AI leaders. Integration with a third-party will allow Aple to catch up somewhat as it did with Google Maps during the early days of the iPhone.

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Will you need iPhone 16 to run iOS 18 AI? Apple tipster weighs in

Chris Smith — Mon, 27 May 2024 13:53:01 +0000

iPhone 15 Pro Max flat and angled

Apple’s AI-based enhancements for iOS 18 will be available for iPhones already on the market, according a reliable Apple insider.

In his weekly Power On newsletter, Mark Gurman says A-Series chips within iPhones from “the last year or so” will be powerful enough to handle the on-device elements of the AI tasks. That means if you bought an iPhone 15 in September, the device won’t feel out of date within a year.

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Other tasks that require cloud processing will be handled by M2 chips within remote server machines, the erstwhile Cupertino watcher writes:

“Apple is bringing the new AI features to iOS 18 and macOS 15 — and both operating systems will include software that determines whether a task should be handled on the device or via the cloud. Most of the on-device features will be supported by iPhone, iPad and Mac chips released in the last year or so. The cloud component, meanwhile, will be powered by M2 Ultra chips located in data centres.”

Gurman also says the iOS 18 AI-based features will include emojis generated by what the iPhone or iPad user is typing, beyond what the burgeoning emoji dictionary can produce.

It’s just one of the features coming to the phone as part of Apple’s attempts to catch up with rivals in the generative AI sector, according to Bloomberg reporter Gurman.

Others include the ability to use the power of AI to touch-up and edit photos, as well as suggested replies to emails and texts. These are powers Google users have become acquainted with as machine learning tech has slowly been incorporated into key apps and services.

Apple also plans on a transcription tool for voice memos, after already adding the tech to its Podcasts app. That would be handy for students (not to mention your humble tech journalist pals).

Elsewhere, Spotlight is getting an AI infusion for faster and more reliable search of the device, while Safari web search is also getting a boost, Gurman says.

As expected, Siri will see a major AI-based overhaul within iOS 18, with Gurman saying the voice assistant will benefit from “more natural-sounding interactions based on Apple’s own large language models.”

Gurman also says Apple wants to provide co-called ‘smart recaps’ for users to catch them up with all of their missed notifications and interactions since they last picked up their phones.

He writes: “A big part of the effort is creating smart recaps. The technology will be able to provide users with summaries of their missed notifications and individual text messages, as well as of web pages, news articles, documents, notes and other forms of media.”

Apple is likely to reveal its big AI plans at WWDC 2024, which begins on June 10.

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FIFA 2K25 rumoured again, but something doesn't add up

Chris Smith — Mon, 27 May 2024 13:18:10 +0000

2K Games could be the developer behind the next FIFA video game following the ending of the long-running partnership between the sport’s governing body and EA Sports.

The retailer MohPlay tweeted (via Eurogamer) an unsubstantiated claim that 2K has picked up the licence and will release the game later this year, with a view to a FIFA World Cup 2026 edition the following year.

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We aren’t familiar with the retailer in question, but the social media post says “the partnership is confirmed”. It adds that the first game in the series will be called FIFA 2K25 and adds it’ll be followed by a FIFA World Cup 2K26 update.

2K games – which is behind the successful, officially-licensed NBA and WWE franchises among others – would be the runaway favourite to pick up the FIFA license, with the governing body confirming more FIFA games would be coming following the split with EA.

Rumours back in February suggested FIFA and 2K games were in talks for the new franchise, but it’s been relatively quiet on that front in recent months. However, if a game were coming this year, we’d have likely heard about the partnership by now, and the game itself would have likely been confirmed.

Given the FIFA games traditionally arrived in September and we’re now at the end of May it would be quite a short turnaround if we were, for instance, to hear about the game at the beginning of June.

Considering 2K has never made a modern football game, the development would likely require a much longer lead time than EA Sports needed for its FIFA games, which were built upon a 30-year development legacy.

And there’s something a bit off about the timeline mentioned in the tweet. Any World Cup update is unlikely to arrive until late 2025 or early 2026, so the “just in time” phrasing feels odd.

Sorry footy fans seeking a renewal of the old Pro Evo vs FIFA rivalry, but we’re taking this claim with a huge punch of salt.

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How to watch the 2024 FA Cup Final for free: Man City vs Man United live stream

Max Parker — Sat, 25 May 2024 11:00:00 +0000

For the second year in a row, two teams from Manchester are battling it out for FA Cup glory. Here’s how to watch Manchester City vs Manchester United in the 2024 FA Cup live and for free in the UK.

It has been a season of contrast for these two clubs, with City romping to a fourth title on the bounce and United struggling to finish eighth – a loss here will mean no European football for the red side of Manchester next season.

This is a repeat of the FA Cup from last year. On that occasion, Ilkay Gundogan’s brace eventually handed City the win. Will it be a similar outcome this year? Keep reading for all the details on how to stream the game live and for free in the UK.

Man City vs Man United FA Cup final kick-off time

Man United vs Man City will kick off at 3:00 pm UK time on Saturday, May 25. As is traditional for this showpiece event, the game is being played at Wembley Stadium in London.

How to watch Man City vs Man United for free live on television and online?

BBC and ITV are showing the game on free-to-air TV in the UK.

The BBC One coverage – which spans TV, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website – begins at 1:50 pm. Former Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney will be part of the coverage, along with host Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and ex-Man City defender Micah Richards.

If you opt for ITV 1 (or the ITV X streaming service), coverage starts at 1:45 pm.

How to listen to Man City vs Man United for free

If you want to listen to the game on the radio or smart speaker, you can do so thanks to BBC Radio 5 Live or Talk Sport.

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Apple's most exciting MacBook ever could land with M5 next year

Chris Smith — Fri, 24 May 2024 19:00:00 +0000

MacBook Air M3 video playing

Apple is reportedly developing a MacBook computer with a creaseless foldable display and it could come sooner than expected with an M5 series processor.

According to the noted Apple watcher, the analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple has tapped LG Display to build a 20.2-inch folding display (which could end up being an 18.8-inch panel). That’d be the difference between a 14-15-inch laptop and a 13-14-inch laptop, according to Kuo.

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The analyst says Apple is aiming to overcome what, until now, has been the inherent aesthetic flaw with foldable displays – the visable crease where it folds. That might be why Apple has held off on building one in the first place.

Because of this, Apple is apparently spending top dollar on the panel and the hinge from LG and that’s likely to be passed onto the consumer. The maximum cost for the display would be $650, which could likely lead to an incredibly high price for any resulting consumer device.

According to Kuo, Apple would look to use the M5 series processor within such a device, which could mean a sooner-than-expected arrival.

Considering Apple just launched the first M4-based device with the recent iPad Pro launch, it means the M5 could be available from next year.

Kuo says the current plan is for the panel to go into production in the final three months of 2025 or the first three months of 2026. That could mean we could see this product within 18 months if all goes well. Previously, Apple had planned to create the display in time for 2027, according to the analyst.

Speculation in recent times has turned to a folding iPad or MacBook model, rather than an iPhone Fold. It’s arguable more people would like to see the smartphone form factor change, rather than the tablet or MacBook.

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Apple explains mysterious case of deleted iPhone photos reappearing

Chris Smith — Fri, 24 May 2024 18:15:00 +0000

The recent release of iOS 17.5.1 took care of an alarming bug that reared with the previous iOS 17.5 update.

Many users reported seeing long-deleted photos reappear on their iPhone after installing iOS 17.5. In some circumstances, that could cause upset or other problems as those photos had likely been deleted for a reason.

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There had been speculation over whether the issue was related to an iCloud bug restoring older versions of libraries, or a bug with images not being fully removed from the device itself.

According to Apple, it’s the latter. The company told 9to5Mac that the issue is down to a corrupt database on the phone’s file system.

However, some Reddit users complained that photos from more than a decade ago had resurfaced on their phone. And we don’t know anyone who is using the same iPhone as they were 10 years ago.

Given Apple says none of the photos were even uploaded to iCloud in the first place, it seems more likely the files were transferred onto new devices while backups were restored.

Currently, it doesn’t appear that the issue was that widespread, although it could have wide reaching consequences for those who did experience the bug.

One user on social media claimed their photos had reappeared on an iPad that had been sold on to a friend, who said they had erased the iPad beforehand. Apple isn’t having this for a second and told 9to5Mac that claim was false.

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How to watch WWE King and Queen of the Ring live in the UK

Chris Smith — Fri, 24 May 2024 15:42:26 +0000

How to watch the WWE King of the Ring 2024: Wrestling royalty will be crowned this weekend as the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments conclude. Here’s how to stream the event live in the UK.

It’s one of WWE’s bi-annual jaunts to the sportswashing captial of the world, Saudi Arabia. This time it’s for the revamped King and Queen of the Ring tournaments.

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The event has drifted in and out of favour with WWF/E since the 1980s. I have great memories of watching the likes of Bret and Owen Hart and Stone Cold Steve Austin win the events in the mid-90s.

The event returns in 2024 and the stakes have now been raised. The respective male and female winners will earn a world title shot at SummerSlam in August.

So who is in contention this year? On the men’s side, Gunther has already qualified for the finals and will take on the winner of the Randy Orton vs. Tama Tonga bout taking place on Friday Night Smackdown.

Vying for the Queen of the Ring are Raw newcomer Lyra Valkyrie and the winner of the Nia Jax vs. Bianca Belair match, also taking place on Smackdown.

As well as the coronations, some of WWE’s biggest titles are on the line. Cody Rhodes will defend his WWE Undisputed Championship against United States Champion Logan Paul, while Becky Lynch will face a challenge from Liv Morgan for the Women’s World Championship.

The Intercontinental Championship will also be up for grabs as champ Sami Zayn puts the gold on the line in a triple threat match against Chad Gable and Bronson Reed.

The event takes place on Saturday at the Jeddah Super Dome in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, which will mean a convenient time for Brits hoping to tune into the event.

So here’s how to watch the WWE King and Queen 2024 event on the best TV, best smartphone or best laptop you have in the house. Or any device for that matter.

King and Queen of the Ring UK start time

The main King and Queen of the Ring card starts at 6PM UK time on Saturday May 25. There’ll be a one hour pre-show which will be free to air on WWE’s YouTube channel that starts at 5PM.

Is the King and Queen of the Ring on Netflix?

No, you cannot watch the King and Queen of the Ring on Netflix.

In rearly 2024, WWE signed a wide-ranging streaming deal with Netflix, but that won’t come into effect until January 2025 when RAW, SmackDown, NXT and the monthly premium live events will switch to the streaming platform in the UK. Essentially, Netflix will replace the WWE Network from that point on.

How to watch the King and Queen of the Ring in the UK

For now, it’s “as you were” in the UK. King and Queen of the Ring will, as usual be screened on the WWE Network. If you don’t have a live subscription, you can sign up here for £9.99 a month. You can also sign up to watch the event on TNT Sports for £14.99.

The pre-show on WWE’s YouTube channel is available for free.

Watch safely with a VPN

If you regularly watch live sports online, you can boost your online privacy within a virtual private network (VPN). This works by masking your IP address from would-be snoops and wrongdoers. You can read our guide to the best VPNs before streaming the games.

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Monaco Grand Prix 2024: How to watch F1 live on TV and online

Max Parker — Fri, 24 May 2024 13:00:00 +0000

credit: Formula One

The Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix takes place this weekend, and here’s how to catch all the action from the street circuit live in the UK.

We’re in for a huge weekend of live sport, as the domestic football season comes to a close with the Championship Play-Off final and The FA Cup final. But for racing fans, all eyes will be on the streets of Monaco for the latest round of the 2024 Formula 1 season.

This season has really kicked into gear recently, with McClaren’s Lando Norris offering up some welcome competition to Max Verstappen’s dominance in the Red Bull. Can the Papaya team keep the good form going into one of the trickiest circuits on the calendar? Or can Ferrari or even Mercedes pull off something incredible?

What is the UK time for the F1 Monaco Grand Prix?

The highly-anticipated Monaco Grand Prix will be shown live on Sky Sports F1. The race starts at 2 pm BST on Sunday, May 27.

See below for the entire weekend schedule, including the all-important qualifying round. All times are in BST.

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Friday 24th May

12.30 pm-1:30 pm– Practice 1
4 pm-5 pm – Practice 2

Saturday 25th May

11.30 am – 12:30pm – Practice 3
3 pm – 4 pm – Monaco Grand Prix Qualifying

Sunday 27th May

2 pm- 4 pm – Monaco Grand Prix

Is the Monaco Grand Prix available in 4K HDR?

The Monaco Gran Prix is available in 4K HDR for those with the relevant subscriptions and equipment. You’ll need Sky Q, Sky Stream or Sky Glass to get started.

How to watch the Monaco F1 Grand Prix 2023

If you’re a Sky subscriber, the race will be Sky Sports F1 and F1 Ultra HD. This is the 24/7 channel broadcasting all things F1. It’ll also be on Sky Sports Main Event and available via the Sky Go app too for those who are on the go. Sky Sports is also available on platforms like Virgin Media.

For those who don’t have Sky Sports, you can pick up a NOW Sports Pass, which will cost either £14.99 for a Day Pass or £34.99 for a Monthly Pass. At the time of publishing, Sky has discounted down the Monthly Membership to £26 so that’s the one to pick if you want the best value.

Where time are the highlights for the Monaco Grand Prix?

If you’re not a Sky Sports or NOW subscriber then not all hope is lost. Channel 4 has the rights to the highlights package in the UK and these can be viewed either via the Channel 4 site or TV channel – all for free.

Qualifying highlights start at 6.50 pm on Saturday and Race highlights will be shown on Sunday at 6.30 pm. There will also be much shorter highlights available on YouTube.

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Samsung isn't interested in smartphone self-repair, says iFixit

Chris Smith — Thu, 23 May 2024 19:36:03 +0000

iFixit is ditching its self-repair program for Samsung device owners in the US over what the former says is a lack of commitment to the movement from the latter.

A two-year partnership between the repair specialist and the device maker, will not be renewed the CEO of iFixit has revealed.

“Samsung does not seem interested in enabling repair at scale,” said co-founder Kyle Wiens in comments to The Verge as part of an enlightening report.

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However, it won’t affect UK users because Samsung partners with a company called Ingram Micro for self-repair on these shores. iFixit does sell a limited number of Samsung parts in the UK, but mainly for older devices.

According to the iFixit boss, Samsung makes genuine parts prohibitively expensive, and has done little to make it easier for enthusiasts to repair the devices. As a result, few consumers are interested in buying the parts.

Furthermore, if you wanted to replace your phone’s battery, it costs $160 because they’re only sold pre-attached to a phone display. Meanwhile, you can get an iPhone or Google Pixel phone battery for around a third of that cost.

The iFixit deal also requires the company to, essentially, only sell parts to individual consumers. That makes it nearly impossible for iFixit to supply high street repair stores with the parts.

“We haven’t been able to get parts moving at the volumes needed to move the environmental needle,” says Wiens. Beyond that, acquiring parts for the newer phones has been incredibly difficult the company says.

As such, iFixit will simply stock aftermarket parts for Samsung phones rather than seeks to acquire new, genuine parts from Samsung. Repair guides will still be available, but won’t be published in collaboration with the manufacturer.

Overall though, it should mean the parts are cheaper for Samsung phone owners overall, and iFixit will still offer guides and tools.

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Spotify's ace little Car Thing is now deader than disco

Chris Smith — Thu, 23 May 2024 19:03:54 +0000

The Spotify Car Thing – a neat little piece of hardware that placed the Spotify UI on the car dashboard for vehicles without Android Auto and CarPlay – is being discontinued.

The $90 device, which only officially launched in 2022 for drivers in the United States, could be fitted to any car and included a touchscreen display and a large dial/button for moving through software.

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It also offered “Hey Spotify” voice commands as well as the ability to answer calls and was a nice alternative to the expensive after-market systems for integrating CarPlay and Android Auto.

Now, after a decent period of being unavailable, Spotify will halt support for the device it never really intended to graduate beyond the exploratory stage in the first place. At the time, the company said it was intended to help it understand how people interacted with the music app behind the wheel.

Spotify said the decision has been made to streamline the product offerings. Unfortunately, after December 9 the device won’t be operational and Spotify is advising people to restore it to the factor settings and then dispose safely. There’s no plans for a replacement and no option to trade the device in.

In a statement published on Spotify’s support site the company said: “We have made the decision to discontinue Car Thing. This means that Car Thing will no longer be operational. This decision wasn’t made lightly, and we want to assure you that our commitment to providing a superior listening experience remains unchanged.

“We acknowledge and deeply appreciate the support and enthusiasm you have shown for Car Thing. It has been an incredible journey, and we are grateful for all the miles we’ve shared.”

This is somewhat of a crappy move from Spotify. It would have been nice if the company Spotify had offered a trade-in for membership credit, or even a refund for this product that won’t have really sold that many.

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Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 confirmed as 2024's blockbuster shooter

Chris Smith — Thu, 23 May 2024 16:34:50 +0000

Activision has confirmed this year’s Call of Duty game will Black Ops 6 while confirming the game will begin a “dark new chapter” for the long-running franchise.

The first CoD game since Activision Blizzard’s sale to Microsoft, was confirmed in a tweet on Wednesday afternoon.

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Further tweets encouraged fans to join for a special Black Ops 6 Direct live stream that’ll take place after the Xbox Games Showcase on Sunday 9 June. That will happen at 8pm UK time, in what would’ve been the traditional E3 (RIP in peace, you’re with the angels now) timeslot.

There we’re sure to get further details about the plot. Recent rumours have suggested the game will be set during the Gulf War.

The materials published alongside the release suggest the Black Ops in question will centre on the cover-up of the covert acts to hide an inconvenient truth for the a US government.

We’ll also hear about this year’s game modes and gameplay during the showcase. However, in the meantime there’s still plenty to enjoy and build the excitement.

A “wake up (rushmore)” teaser trailer for the game has been published to YouTube (above) with the hashtag #thetruthlies. That tagline appears key to the plot of the game right now.

A video published to X to tie-in with the trailer shows a “fresh of the press” copy of the New York Post proclaiming an American Cover Up, as “Rushmore defaced in an unprecedented act!”

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Apple's iPhone foldable could feature a self-healing screen

Jon Mundy — Thu, 23 May 2024 11:43:16 +0000

iPhone XS Max front screen

Apple is working on a self-healing screen that could make its first foldable iPhone the toughest on the market.

As spotted by Patently Apple, the tech giant has just been granted a patent for a foldable display with a cover layer that can at least partially repair scratches and dents.

The patent states that this self-healing layer may be used across the entire display, or else just the flexible portion of the screen (as in the hinge).

Apple is understandably light on detail when it comes to the precise nature of this self-healing layer – current foldable displays are notoriously vulnerable, so this would be quite the breakthrough. However, it is stated that heat, light, or an electrical current might be applied to kick the process off.

In such an application, “transparent conductors” would form a heating layer in the display cover layer. This might kick in when a user charges their phone, it’s suggested.

While the crude illustration used in the patent suggests a foldable iPhone of some kind, Apple asserts that it could be applied to a MacBook or an iPad too. This would appear to tie in with previous rumours that Apple is working on a 20-inch foldable MacBook, as well as a foldable iPhone.

Needless to say, with this being nothing more than a patent, no one should be holding their breath for any sort of actual practical implementation. Apple issues patent applications all the time, and most of these never amount to anything concrete.

Still, if the company could implement such a self-healing screen, it’d address one of the biggest criticisms we have of current foldable devices. Now, about that dust resistance…

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Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6 performance should be better than Galaxy S24

Jon Mundy — Thu, 23 May 2024 08:03:42 +0000

Samsung’s next generation of foldable phones, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6, should have a performance advantage over the global Galaxy S24.

According to a new report from South Korean website The Elec, Samsung is leaning towards the exclusive use of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip with its next foldable phones, which are expected to launch in July.

This wouldn’t be an unusual decision if we’re talking strictly in terms of Samsung’s foldable line. Each and every Flip and Fold generation has gone with Qualcomm chips across the board.

Indeed, as Samsung has designed its foldable line around Qualcomm chip designs from the very start, adding another processor into the mix would apparently add yet more cost to what are already expensive products. Splitting the provision won’t make financial sense until Samsung is shifting a whole lot more foldables.

There was some worry, however, given that the company rolled back on a unified approach with its latest flagship phones. With the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy 24 Plus, Samsung performed its old trick of splitting SoC duties between the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the US and China and its own custom Exynos 2400 everywhere else.

As per our own direct head-to-head tests, this resulted in superior performance for American and Chinese customers across the board, especially when it comes to the GPU.

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iOS 18 New Emoji: Characters to sum up bleakness of modern life

Chris Smith — Wed, 22 May 2024 20:08:32 +0000

A new version of iOS usually brings new emoji as Apple integrates the characters approved by the Unicode Consortium, which is a sort of governing body of the emoji world.

iOS 18 will be no different, although there seems to be a lot fewer than we’re used to within the initial wave of characters for 2024.

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There are just seven emoji are set to be added to iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, macOS and, for the first time, visionOS. However, the integration mightn’t be until a later version of the software such as iOS 18.4, if recent precedent is followed

Some of them are, as it turns out, quite bleak. They new candidates are as follows:

Sleepy face
Leafless tree
Shovel
Splatter
Fingerprint
Root vegetable (mmmm turnips!)
Harp

Ok, the latter three are ok, but the first four could be considered to have a grim theme uniting them. You can see them in the main image but, as @TechLiandr on X points out, they’ll be redrawn by Apple in its own style.

https://x.com/TechLiandr/status/1793274681065193577

Earlier this year, in iOS 17.4 Apple added brand new six emoji to the keyboard, including: Head Shaking Horizontally, Head Shaking Vertically, Phoenix Bird, Lime, Brown Mushroom and Broken Chain. The rest were variations of existing emoji with diversity and direction considerations.

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AI 'Alexa Plus' subscription won't be a Prime freebie – report

Chris Smith — Wed, 22 May 2024 19:06:15 +0000

New reports have added weight to speculation Amazon’s AI revamp of Alexa will be accompanied by a subscription fee.

According to a new CNBC report, if you want Alexa to hold the same sort of two-way conversations as you can achieve in the latest version OpenAI’s GPT, you’re going to have to cough-up a few quid each month.

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Citing “people with knowledge of Amazon’s plans”, the report says the new Alexa capacities will not be a perk for Prime members either. The report also says Amazon hasn’t decided how much it will cost yet.

As the report points out, Alexa hasn’t moved on that much since its inception in 2014 as part of the first Echo speaker. It’s amazing at being able to summon content, control smart home devices, set timers and answer questions and it has got better at handling follow-up questions in context during that time.

However, it does feel a little bit old hat compared to some of the recent advancements from OpenAI’s GPT-4o and Google Gemini.

In a letter to shareholders, CEO Andy Jassy recently said: “We’re building a substantial number of GenAI applications across every Amazon consumer business” which will lead to an “even more intelligent and capable Alexa.” The company wouldn’t be drawn further on the plans when approached by the media for comment today.

Apple is also currently facing the same problem and we’re expecting to see how the company is attempting to address the shortcomings of Siri with AI (perhaps with Google’s help) at WWDC 2024 in June.

We first heard of Amazon’s reported plans back in January this year, when a Business Insider piece tipped a June 30 release for an Alexa Plus service.

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PlayStation console dominance is going mobile

Chris Smith — Wed, 22 May 2024 18:12:34 +0000

Sony is preparing to launch a PlayStation mobile gaming platform, offering free-to-play games on mobile devices, according to a new job listing.

The listing seeks an engineer to lead the charge on to phones by designing the platform and overseeing teams developing, publishing and operating these games.

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A successful candidate will be the “mobile platform architect” and responsibilities include the design of the system architecture, platform security, and the implementation of new innovations.

It’s clear that the games themselves will be designed by others for the PlayStation platform, whether they’re ported first-party PS titles and assorted classics, or first-or-third-party mobile-first games. They could also be mobile-centric versions of existing games.

Sony hasn’t had a mobile centric option since the PlayStation Vita was discontinued in 2019 and while the PlayStation Portal gives gamers the opportunity to play PS5 games via Remote Play, there’s no option to stream or download games directly. One wonders whether PlayStation Portal will be part of the new vision.

The listing (via Eurogamer) says: “PlayStation Studios Mobile is seeking an experienced software engineer to design PlayStation’s platform for developing, publishing, and operating free-to-play mobile games. An individual in this role will spearhead the design and implementation of this platform; work in partnership with internal teams to connect mobile games to PlayStation services; and ensure that all mobile games meet PlayStation’s quality standards.”

It’s clear Sony is looking to maximise the potential of the incredible numbers of mobile-first gamers out there, just as it has sought to bring its popular IP to PC gamers by porting PlayStation classics like God of War, The Last of Us, Uncharted, Returnal and plenty more.

While Sony prepares for a deeper push into mobile, its more traditional means of building and publishing games is coming under threat through studio closures. Sony’s 20-year-old PlayStation London – the creator of SingStar – has closed its doors for the final time this week.

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Samsung Galaxy Ring pricing leaks – and it's not cheap

Jon Mundy — Wed, 22 May 2024 11:55:10 +0000

Pricing for the forthcoming Samsung Galaxy Ring wearable has seemingly leaked online, suggesting it’ll fairly expensive, but also competitive with its most direct rival.

Samsung initially announced its Galaxy Ring health and fitness wearable at its Galaxy S24 Unpacked event back in January, but it hasn’t exactly been forthcoming with specific details since then. We had no idea how much it would cost, for example.

That may have just changed, courtesy of established leaker Yogesh Brar. The tipster has taken to X (formerly Twitter) with the claim that the Samsung Galaxy Ring will be priced at between $300 and $350 in the US.

As Brar notes, that’s a pretty expensive piece of kit. Notably, however, it would see the Galaxy Ring all but matching its key rival, the Oura Ring 3, which starts from $299 / £300.

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Of course, the Oura Ring also requires a subscription in addition to that initial outlay, and the Samsung Galaxy Ring could well follow suit. According to Android Authority, Brar has informed the site that the Samsung Galaxy Ring could require a monthly subscription of less than $10.

This would represent a fresh monetisation effort on Samsung’s part, as it requires no such subscription fee for its existing Galaxy Watch fitness wearables.

However, Samsung has already confirmed that the Galaxy Ring will offer additional and complementary capabilities compared to the Galaxy Watch 6, so it perhaps shouldn’t be viewed in quite the same terms.

Expectations are that Samsung will finally launch the Galaxy Ring at its next Unpacked even in mid-July.

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Nvidia GPUs coming to Copilot Plus PCs soon

Jon Mundy — Wed, 22 May 2024 08:06:17 +0000

Nvidia has announced that new Copilot Plus PCs will be boosted by Nvidia GPUs very soon.

Microsoft’s recent unveiling of its Copilot Plus PC programme heralded a future of efficient yet capable Windows laptops running on ARM architecture, starting with the Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus chips. However, it also mentioned that future Copilot Plus PCs would come with Nvidia power, and the Taiwanese company has confirmed that the first of these devices are just around the corner.

In a recent blog post, Nvidia announced that Copilot Plus PCs powered by Nvidia SoCs would be released onto the market in the coming months. Excitingly, the post specifically makes reference to the company’s RTX GPUs, which should make gamers sit up and take note.

“For gamers on RTX AI PCs, NVIDIA DLSS boosts frame rates by up to 4x, while NVIDIA ACE brings game characters to life with AI-driven dialogue, animation and speech,” notes Nvidia.

It also references NVIDIA RTX Remix’s provision of AI-accelerated tools to create RTX remasters of classic PC games.

It’s not just gamers who will benefit from these new Nvidia-powered Copilot Plus machines. The Nvidia R555 Game Ready Driver boosts AI performance by a factor of three.

Elsewhere, the post talks about content creators utilising the extra AI grunt of Nvidia’s RTX GPUs to automate and generally streamline workflows on apps like Adobe Premiere, Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve, and Blender.

NVIDIA Broadcast, meanwhile, enables AI-powered background subtraction and noise removal in live streams, while AI-powered upscaling and auto-high-dynamic range is handled by NVIDIA RTX Video.

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Huge Android 15 battery life boost likely, but why now?

Chris Smith — Tue, 21 May 2024 20:19:48 +0000

Android 15 phones could benefit from battery life improvements of up to three hours thanks to some back end wizardry within the operating system.

That’s because Android engineers have found a way to push the device into a “doze” mode 50% faster than before. Before being Android 14.

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That doze mode, which the device enters if the screen is off, attempts to conserve battery life by “restricting apps’ access to network and CPU-intensive services”.

Android engineering boss Dave Burke reckons the company has seen some serious gains for Android devices in testing following the optimisations.

Speaking to Android Authority, the VP of Engineering for the Android Platform, said: “For Android 15, we’ve sped up the time to doze by 50%. So we get into doze 50% faster, and the result is on some devices we tested up to 3 hours longer standby power. And that’s sort of a general improvement in 15 that applies to all devices.”

Why Google didn’t just shorten the time window to enter doze mode and gift Android users those battery gains before now remains to be seen.

It’s probably much more complicated than just coding in a time to enter doze mode, but it does seem like major gains could have been harnessed before now. Of course, three hours is probably a best case scenario for this tweak, and we’ll have to see how this optimisation plays out in testing.

Android 15 is currently in beta with an expected release in October, primarily on the Pixel 9 range of phones, rolling out to Pixel devices on day one, and third party manufacturers in the winter.

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Microsoft Build Live Stream: Watch the AI show live right here

Max Parker — Tue, 21 May 2024 14:02:29 +0000

two surface devices

It’s developer conference season and next to take the stage is Microsoft with its annual Build event. Here’s how to catch the opening keynote live.

Coming just after Google’s I/O and a few weeks before Apple’s WWDC, Microsoft Build is likely to have a heavy focus on AI advancements inside Windows 11 and beyond.

Microsoft has already held an event before Build, announcing a new Copilot Plus PC category headlined by a duo of Surface devices powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X chips. We’ll likely hear more about Copilot Plus during the Build keynote, alongside new features like Recall.

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When is the Microsoft Build keynote?

Microsoft Build: Day 1 begins on Tuesday, May 21 2024 in Seattle and the developer conference runs until May 23. Expect a lot of the initial announcements to kick off the show, with developer events taking place throughout the week.

How to watch Microsoft Build

While Microsoft didn’t live stream its Surface event, it is streaming Build. The show will be available to watch on YouTube at 12 PM ET/9 AM PT/5 PM BST and you can easily catch it live from the embedded link below

You can also stream the show through Microsoft’s dedicated Build site. Registering here will give you access to other events from Build, along with more in-depth information about the announcements.

What do we expect to see?

AI was the main focus of Google’s I/O conference and we expect Apple to follow suit next month when WWDC rolls around. Microsoft’s Build will also focus on AI. According to the show notes, topics covered during the event will include “building copilots, generative AI, securing applications, cloud platforms, low-code, and more.”

We’d also expect Microsoft to go over announcements it has already made this week, including a deeper look at CoPilot Plus PCs and the very exciting Recall feature.

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Sonos Roam 2 speaker is a minor update with better Bluetooth controls

Chris Smith — Tue, 21 May 2024 13:52:40 +0000

Sonos has announced the Roam 2, the second generation of its truly portable speaker, alongside the new Sonos Ace over-ear headphones.

While Sonos’ first ever pair of headphones will make the headlines, the revamped Roam 2 is more of a mild upgrade and arrives featuring simpler and more refined controls, and lighting-fast set-up. It’s also got a slightly more subtle design thanks to a monochromatic company logo.

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Available for £179 from today, the Sonos Roam 2, now includes separate power and Bluetooth button, and the ability to connect with Bluetooth right out of the box before full set-up, for off-piste use.

That’s backed by a 10-hour battery life from a single charge and Sonos users will hope this stands the test of time a little more than the predecessor, which was criticised for deteriorating over time.

Outdoor use is aided by the IP67 dust and waterproof rating, which means it’ll withstand a significant encounter with the wet stuff.

For in home use, Wi-Fi controls and the ability to play nice with the rest of your Sonos speakers. However, the useful Automatic Trueplay technology for the best audio experience in the playback environment works over both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

It’s available in Olive, Sunset, Wave, Black and White. Given this is quite the minor update and certainly not a fully-fledged sequel, it might be an idea to keep your eyes open for good deals on the original, 2021 Sonos Roam.

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The biggest announcements from the Microsoft Surface Copilot Plus PC event

Max Parker — Tue, 21 May 2024 13:44:49 +0000

Microsoft campus

On the eve of the Build developer conference, Microsoft held a special event to unveil its rethink of the PC. Trusted Reviews was in attendance at that event and here are the biggest announcements.

The Copilot Plus PC

The big news of the event was the reveal of the Copilot Plus PC, a new category of computers powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon Plus and Elite Arm chips. All the new machines revealed were part of this product line, including the new duo of Surface devices.

Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

All these Copilot Plus PCs have a powerful NPU (neural processing unit) for a huge focus on AI performance within Windows 11, long battery life and performance that Microsoft consistently said was a step up from the M3 MacBook Air.

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Microsoft goes big with Qualcomm

Microsoft revealed two new Surface devices during the event, both of which fit into the Copilot Plus category and come with Qualcomm chips. The latest iteration of the Surface Laptop has thinner bezels for a modern look, fresh colours and a whopping 22 hours of offline video playback.

There’s a new Surface Pro too, and both options can be purchased with either the Snapdragon X Elite or X Plus chipsets. Microsoft was keen to point out that whichever model was chosen, the AI performance would be the same.

Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

App compatibility has been an issue with Arm-based Windows machines before and Microsoft was keen to dismiss any worries that that would be a problem this time. There are Arm versions of Adobe’s suite of creative apps, the DaVinci Resolve video editing app and services like Disney Plus, Spotify and WhatsApp.

Recall could redefine PC search

Out of all the AI skills coming to Copilot Plus PCs, Recall was the one that intrigued us the most. Recall keeps an eye on everything you do on your computer and allows you to search through it all with natural language.

OLED comes to the Surface Pro (finally) along with a redesigned keyboard

The Surface Pro, now in its 11th generation, has been a mainstay in Microsoft’s PC range since the beginning and this new Copilot Plus version offers a range of big upgrades.

Starting at $999, the 2-in-1 PC can be specced out with a glorious new OLED display, either the Snapdragon X Plus or X Elite and can be paired with a new Flex keyboard that can be used independently of the tablet.

Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

Partners go big on PC releases

It wasn’t just Microsoft showcasing Copilot Plus PC devices at the event as other OEMs were out in force showing new models and refined options too.

Samsung unveiled the Book 4 Edge, HP rebranded its entire PC offering with the Omnibook and Asus, Lenovo, Dell and Acer showed what they’ve got in store too.

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iPhone 16 Pro Max tipped for double camera upgrade

Jon Mundy — Tue, 21 May 2024 11:38:01 +0000

iPhone 15 Pro Max back camera

The iPhone 16 Pro Max could be in line for a double camera upgrade, according to the latest rumour to emerge online.

This year’s flagship Apple phone could feature at least two all new camera sensors, according to Weibo leaker OvO Baby Sauce OvO.

Apparently, the iPhone 16 Pro Max will have a new 48MP main sensor based on the Sony IMX903, while the regular iPhone 16 Pro will have the same Sony IMX803 as the iPhone 15 Pro.

The leaker also claims that the iPhone 16 Pro Max will feature a new 48MP ultra-wide camera, which will be capable of capturing more light than the current 12MP example. This would produce improved ultra-wide shots in low lighting conditions.

As MacRumors points out, this isn’t the first leaker to suggest that the iPhone 16 Pro Max would utilise a Sony IMX903-based main camera. Established tipster Digital Chat Station made the same claim back in January.

That other rumour claimed that the iPhone 16 Pro Max sensor would benefit from a larger size (1/1.14-inches over 1/1.28 inches), a stacked design, a 14-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC), and Digital Gain Control (DCG) for superior dynamic range.

Nor is this the first time that we’ve heard it said that the iPhone 16 Pro would be in for a 48MP ultra-wide camera upgrade. A separate report back in August of 2023 said as much.

All that remains now is that telephoto camera, though reports suggest we might see it joining the 48MP club with the iPhone 17 Pro in 2025.

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iPhone SE 4 could be set for a price hike

Jon Mundy — Tue, 21 May 2024 07:48:12 +0000

Apple’s next affordable phone, the so-called iPhone SE 4, might not be quite as affordable as previous models.

Established leaker Revegnus has taken to Twitter (formerly X) with the claim that Apple is pondering a price hike for its next iPhone SE model. There’s a chance it’ll stay the same price, but it could also increase by around 10% in the US.

For reference, the current iPhone SE (2022) model costs from $429, so a 10% rise would bring it up to around $469. The leaker claims that Apple’s intention is to keep the price in the sub-$500 bracket whatever it decides.

Whether this would mean price rises elsewhere, including here in the UK, is unclear. But you’d have to suspect that it would be more than a localised move.

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To be fair to Apple, all indications suggest that the iPhone SE 4 will be a considerable advance over the iPhone SE (2022). Numerous rumours have suggested that Apple is finally ditching its old iPhone 8 design and moving to something a little more modern, potentially a mixture of the current right-angled look from the front, and the single-camera design of old from the back.

This would involve Apple finally ditching that Touch ID home button and supplying Face ID right across the range. It would also mean the death of the last ‘small’ phone option in Apple’s range, with the new iPhone SE set for a 6.1-inch OLED display.

Recent rumours place an iPhone SE 4 release some time in the spring of 2025.

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Surface Laptop 6 with Snapdragon is gunning for the MacBook Pro

Chris Smith — Mon, 20 May 2024 18:12:46 +0000

Surface Laptop 6 ARM

Microsoft has announced the new version of the Surface Laptop 6, which it believes is primed to go head-to-head with the MacBook Pro M3 with a much cheaper price tag.

During the Build keynote in Seattle, the Windows-maker unveiled its vision for the ultimate laptop for creatives with an eye-catching design with four colours and super-thin bezels, a high-spec display, oodles of CPU power from the newest-gen ARM processors for PC, and long lasting battery life.

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Microsoft hopes the starting price tag of just $999 (16GB RAM / 256GB storage) will be a huge tempter for those seeking a powerful PC with creative nous. As for the specifics, naturally, there’s a heavy focus on the AI capabilities from the leader of a new category of laptops Microsoft is calling Copilot+ PCs.

Surface Laptop specs

The heavy lifting here will be done by the new Snapdragon X Elite chipset, which is designed to compete directly with Apple Silicon’s M-Series tech, by harnessing all of the major processing units under one roof in order to benefit from the system synergy and advanced efficiency.

In terms of comparing with the last-generation Surface Laptop 5, Microsoft says the Surface Pro 6 is a whopping 80% faster and includes up to 22-hours of video playback from the battery. The processors can be backed by up to 64GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.

Surface Laptop screen, keyboard, connectivity

As for the screen, there’s the choice of 13.8– and 15-inch touchscreen models which support Dolby Vision HDR, 120Hz refresh rate, and up to 600 nits of brightness. Creatives will be enthused by the news Adobe’s suite of apps, including Photoshop, are coming soon.

Microsoft is finally catching up to the MacBook models, with the presence of a trackpad with feedback powered by haptic motors too and overall the trackpad is 14% larger than its predecessor. Connectivity wise, Microsoft introduces Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 to the range, as well as the option to include 5G.

Surface Laptop release date

We’re following this developing story and will have more details when available. Trusted Reviews’ editor Max Parker is in attendance at Build 2024 and is hoping to go hands-on with the Surface Laptop 6, which goes on sale on June 18 with pre-orders starting today. We’ll also have a look at the new Surface Pro 2-in-1 Microsoft announced today for every day PC users with a need for productivity and portability.

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The weird and wonderful stuff we saw at Munich High End 2024

Kob Monney — Mon, 20 May 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Munich High End 2024 ended on the May 12th, so we’re a little late at getting our show report up, but there was so much to see and hear that it’s taken us a bit of time to compile our thoughts.

High End has become the show for audio brands to show their wares, becoming the CES for audio products as brands come from all over the world to launch their latest products.

We were there to take in the sights and sounds of the MOC event centre in Munich, and here is the weirdest, wildest, and most wonderful audio gear we saw at High End 2024.

Aeries Cerat

Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

Let’s start with a speaker system that summed up how weird, wild, and wonderful High End can be. The Contendo II is from Greek audio company Aeries Cerat and has, as far as we can tell, been out for a couple of years; but seeing it up close is a sight to behold.

This three-way horn system looks utterly ridiculous, with some parts of the system taller than a human being in a space that’s closer in size to a conference room than your standard living room. It fetches a price well over €1million and sounds fabulously natural once you’ve stopped gawping at the size of the horn speakers.

ESD Acoustics

Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

We’re sticking with the theme of horn speakers, especially horn speakers that look like they could shoot a person from one side of the room to the other.

ESD Acoustics (who label themselves as “one of the best audio hi-fi manufacturers” on their website) had its Super Dragon system on show, and while not as ornate in appearance as the Contendo II, it was still stupendous in size.

How did they sound? Well, those who were sitting seemed to be listening with reverence, while we saw a video from another journalist that showed someone kneeling and bowing in front of the system. It’ll cost you just a snip at €811,111.

Final

Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

After a string of affordable, mainstream efforts, Japanese headphone brand Final previewed their latest high-end headphone in the X8000. As per usual from Final’s more expensive models, it’s ambitious headphone that reaches for the stars.

It’s designed to be ultra-lightweight for a pair of wired headphones (only 220g), comfortable to wear (whether you’re male or female) with its unique looking headband; as well as newly designed diaphragm for the 50mm drivers.

These headphones have taken inspiration from the springs in watches to the connecting cables used by supercomputers. If there were a pair of headphones you could call ‘space age’ in terms of design, the Final X8000 would fit that label.

They’re due to go on sale Q4 2024 for around €5000.

Q Acoustics

Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

British hi-fi brand Q Acoustics announced its new 3000c series of loudspeakers at the show, acting as an affordable entry-point into its line-up. Incorporating technology that’s trickled down from its 5000 line-up and M40 speakers, a brief listen to them in Munich confirmed that they’re a polished line-up of loudspeakers that are very much in the Q Acoustics’ mold.

Loewe

Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

Loewe are best known for their TVs and soundbars but that’s all set to change in 2024, marked by their first appearance at Munich High End.

They’re bringing out two pairs of hi-fi loudspeakers though the name escapes us at the moment. One is a floorstanding unit and the other is a standmount, with both featuring AMT tweeter and fancy looking woofers (although these appear to be just dynamic drivers).

No word yet on pricing or release date, but we do know that Loewe will build all the speakers on-site in Germany.

DALI

Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

DALI’s Rubikore speakers draws inspiration from its KORE series, featuring five different models that allow owners to configure it for hi-fi or home cinema listening.

Though they look familiar, everything inside is new – the drivers, crossovers, ports etc. The demo session we heard revealed a musical sounding performance with an excellent sense of fine detail, fast response, and a well-judged performance whether playing quietly or loud. A speaker series to keep an eye on when they launch in June 2024.

Pro-Ject

Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

Pro-Ject Audio Systems had a rather large space in one of MOC’s halls, and right at the centre of it was its new EVO 2 turntable which, at least in the context of the promotional materials, looked bloody great.

Replacing the original EVO, the EVO 2 will arrive in a range of colours, is able to play records at 33.3, 48, and 78RPM (via electronic speed change), and comes with the Pick It MM Evo cartridge. Otherwise there’s not much more info to part given the EVO 2 debuted at High End.

FiiO

Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

Sticking with turntables, FiiO exhibited the TT13 automatic turntable. It changes colour depending on its operation mode, supports Bluetooth streaming, features an Audio Technica cartridge, and after spending a few minutes in its presence, it’s very simple for users to operate with just the touch of a button getting your record up and running.

That’s all we know about the TT13, other than a mooted release date of July 2024.

Clearaudio

Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

An updated version of Clearaudio’s Statement V2 turntable (which first launched in 2016) is incoming for 2024. It’s constructed out of aluminium, stainless steel, and bullet proof wood (yes, bullet proof wood); and supports 33.3, 48, and 78RPM speeds with the press of a button (or two).

Considering the previous model was priced at nearly £100,000, you can expect this one to be in a similar realm of expense.

WiiM

Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

We got a closer look at WiiM’s new streaming amp and streamer at High End, but for more in-depth details on specs and price, you can read this article over here.

Focal

Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

Focal had two headphones at the show with the Hadenys and Azurys, and you can read more about them over here. We hope to go more in-depth with our first impressions in hands-on with the former.

Goldmund

Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

Swiss audio brand Goldmund had the Asteria active wireless speaker on show at High End, and compared to the massive horn speakers at the show, this speaker exuded a more graceful and minimalist presence.

Powered by 600W of power from its built-in Telos amplifier, the Swiss brand say the aim is to deliver a “spectrum of crystal-clear and accurate” sound, with the speaker’s DSP aiding this effort with its support for 24-bit/96kHz audio. Weighing 70kg each, the speakers are delivered in a flight case. Not only do they look stylish, they’re delivered with pizazz too.

Marten

Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

Swedish brand Marten were displaying the Coltrane Quintet, which looked like the type of rockets people imagined they’d be back in the 1920s. A four-war bass reflex floorstanding, the Coltrane Quintet features a custom pure diamond tweeter, custom pure beryllium high midrange unit, a custom convex carbon fibre mid-bass unit as well as a Aluminium sandwich bass unit.

The cabinet is 25% bigger than the original for better low bass response, while also being more rigid to control resonances within the speaker. There are seven finishes to choose from, which include piano gold and matte oak.

Quad

Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

Not much info to write about here, other than to say Quad revealed its new 303 power amplifier and the 33 preamplifier at the show. All will be revealed at an unspecified point in the future…

Sonical

Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

The type of contraption that you’d have to see to believe it. Sonical have come up with what is probably best described as series of modules that can be attached the headband of your headphones. You can swap these out for different modules but the configuration we saw comprised of a DAC, transmitter and the Remora Pro module that allows you download apps/plugins.

You could turn your wired headphones into wireless ones, or rather than download apps to your phone, download them straight to the module. Our concern is that it’ll make headphones look a) even bigger and b) it’ll make you look a bit daft, but it’s an interesting concept.

Stein Music

Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

More stylish looking horn speakers were provided by Stein Music’s TopLine series, which consisted of the amusingly named Bob L, Bob M, and Bob XL.

They feature DSP controlled active subwoofers for the low frequencies, while the mids and highs are managed passively for a “cohesive sound profile”. The diaphragms are treated with carbon composite with high quality crossovers for low distortion and high fidelity performance. They can be partnered with amplifiers starting from 30 watts, which suggests they’re fairly easy to drive.

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How to watch Fury vs Usyk: Undisputed heavyweight title fight UK live stream

Chris Smith — Fri, 17 May 2024 16:31:39 +0000

How to watch Tyson Fury vs Olexandr Usyk: The first undisputed heavyweight boxing champion of the world in a quarter of a century may be crowned this weekend. Here’s how to stream Fury vs Usyk live in the UK.

Where’s your money? The biggest prize in boxing is up for grabs when The Gypsy King, Britain’s Tyson Fury takes on the Ukranian hero Olexandr Usyk with all the heavyweight marbles on the line.

Fury’s WBC title and Usyk’s WBA, IBF and WBO belts will all be defended with the winner unifying the championships to become the first to hold all four recognised world titles since Lennox Lewis achieved the feat in 1999.

Both fighters are undefeated at professional level and, barring a draw (and you never know with boxing when there’s money to be made on a rematch) on Saturday night, something has to give.

The unpredictable Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs) has an impressive physical advantage at 6-feet 9-inches and a reach of 85-inches, while “The Cat” Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) is 6-foot 3-inches and has a 78-inch reach.

It’s those physical gifts that make Fury a favourite with the bookies to unite the titles, but no-one’s counting out the Ukranian who soundly defeated Britain’s Anthony Joshua twice to win the gold in the first place.

This promises to be a the biggest heavyweight match-up in a generation. Here’s how to watch on the best TV, best smartphone or best laptop you have in the house.

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Fury vs Usyk ring walks and bell time

The fight is taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, meaning Brits will be able to watch at a reasonable time, rather than staying up ’til the early hours for the Las Vegas main events.

Ring walks are expected at 11pm UK time with the action to commence shortly thereafter.

Here’s the undercard:

Jai Opetaia vs Mairis Briedis
Mark Chamberlain vs Joshua Oluwaseun Wahab
Sergey Kovalev vs Robin Sirwan Safar
Isaac Lowe vs Hasibullah Ahmadi
David Nyika vs Michael Seitz
Moses Itauma vs Ilja Mezencev
Agit Kabayel vs Frank Sanchez

How to watch Fury vs Usyk on TV and online?

The Fury vs Usyk fight is available on three UK PPV channels services. You can enjoy Fury vs Usyk on Sky Box Office, TNT Sports, and DAZN PPV. All three channels are offering the fight for £24.95 or £24.99.

Here’s how to book Fury vs Usyk via Sky Sports Box Office online, although you can sign up via your Sky box too. This is where you’ll sign-up for the fight on DAZN PPV. Finally, TNT Sports is also offering PPV access to Fury vs Usyk. You’ll be able to acheive this via a Discovery+, EE TV and Virgin Media boxes too.

Once you’ve signed up you’ll be able to watch via the portal of your choosing, be it your home TV, or the various smartphone or tablet apps and services.

Unfortunately, neither BBC nor Talksport were able to agree a deal to broadcast the fight on the radio in the UK.

Watch safely with a VPN

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This Apple Pencil Pro secret UI tool is guaranteed to make you grin

Chris Smith — Thu, 16 May 2024 21:53:48 +0000

The new iPad Pro M4 models are now available, alongside the new Apple Pencil Pro. However, it has emerged the accessory itself offers far more than meets the eye.

The new Apple Pencil Pro’s headline feature is the ability to squeeze to bring up the pen selection tool. However, going beyond that it has emerged the pencil will cast an artificial shadow on the display that correlates with the pen tool selected.

In a video posted to X by Quinn Nelson (@SnazzyLabs) on Twitter, the user shows a fountain pen shadow displayed on the screen that responds to the various turns of the pen and nib. This is a UI feature that Apple didn’t choose to showcase during the reveal event earlier this month.

Apple’s attention to detail is INSANE. You can’t watch this and not smile. pic.twitter.com/cbUknR2wQu
— Snazzy Labs (@SnazzyLabs) May 16, 2024

It did say that a gyroscope enabled users to rotate the pencil thanks to the gyroscope, but the shadow element wasn’t explained by Apple.

You can see the video showcasing the new feature in the embedded tweet above. When people talk about Apple’s magic touches with an almost enchanted demeanour, this is the kinda thing they’re talking about.

It’s not essential. Far from it. it just… rules.

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Your iPhone can now play classic PlayStation games – here's how

Chris Smith — Thu, 16 May 2024 18:00:00 +0000

The rise of retro game emulators on Apple platforms continues with the arrival of the PSP emulator PPSSPP.

The free emulator can be downloaded from the App Store from today. Previously you’ve only been able to install through unofficial means, but Apple now likes emulators.

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In a blog post today, the developer said: “After nearly 12 years, PPSSPP has finally been approved for the iOS App Store! Thanks to Apple for relaxing their policies, allowing retro games console emulators on the store.”

Henrik Rydgård says that App Store rules pertaining to the JIT compiler (which ensures games run smoothly on the unintended platform) will mean CPU emulation performance is reduced, but it shouldn’t cause any issues with running PSP games on the iPhone at full speed. Modern iPhones are so much more powerful than the PSP, they could probably handle them at about 50% of the CPU/GPU capabilities of the near-20-year-old PSP.

“Fortunately, iOS devices are generally fast enough to run nearly all PSP games at full speed anyway, as the PSP CPU is not that expensive to emulate, thanks to our efficient IR-based caching interpreter, which also has further room for improvement,” the developer says.

Also missing out of the gate is support for the Magic Keyboard for iPad, which isn’t that big of a deal because of the wide range of Bluetooth controller support on iOS and iPad OS. Naturally there are no games included, so it’ll be a case of loading ROMs onto the device, or converting existing games to compatible .ISO or .CSO files.

Once you’ve fulfilled the criteria (legally, of course), you’ll be able to enjoy classics from yesteryear like Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, God of War: Ghost of Sparta, GTA: Vice City Stories, Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles, and Gran Turismo PSP.

PPSSPP is the latest emulator to land on the App Store, with Delta bringing Game Boy Advance games to the platform, while the popular and longstanding multi-platform emulator RetroArch also arrived this week.

Which ROMs are you most enjoying revisiting on iPhone? Let us know @trustedreviews on Twitter.

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Samsung destroys a guitar to mock Apple for iPad Pro 'crush' ad

Chris Smith — Thu, 16 May 2024 16:13:27 +0000

The new iPad Pro M4 might be even tougher than it predecessor, but considering it’s what Apple’s marketing suggested would emerge fom a hydrauic press when all manner of creativity tools had been sacrificed, then perhaps that’s to be expected.

Apple has been roundly cricised for a withdrawn advertisement that saw musical intruments, old video games, an artist’s easel, and plenty more items pulvarised by the industrial machinery. Many interpreted as Apple symbolically crushing analog creativity in favour of its new sleek, do-it-all 5.1mm slate – a far cry from its famous ‘1984’ Macintosh ad.

Now Samsung has become the latest adversary to put the boot in. Apple might have quickly pulled and apolgised for its commercial for missing the mark, but that hasn’t stopped Samsung seizing a point-scoring opportunity with its own ad entitled: “you cannot crush creativity.”

In it, the Korean firm shows a woman surveying the supposed wreckage of Apple’s handiwork and finding a decimated guitar, which has barely survived the catastrophic crush.

She promptly sets up a Galaxy Tab S9 on the easel and plays along to some sheet music on the old six string with the help of Galaxy AI. The post on X featuring the video carries the hashtag #UnCrush.

How the guitar itself got in such a state of disrepair remains to be seen, but there’s a decent possibility Samsung crushed it to show why someone else crushing it is bad. Nice one.

We would never crush creativity. #UnCrush pic.twitter.com/qvlUqbRlnE
— Samsung Mobile US (@SamsungMobileUS) May 15, 2024

Samsung is never one to miss an opportunity to poke fun at Apple’s misfortune. Just last month, Samsung piled on Apple for the alarm clock glitch that has seen many iPhone users sleep through their wake-up calls.

Samsung UK posted a reel to Instagram with the caption: “Samsung users woke up on time today.”

Apple is generally above such banter, but this stuff is meat and drink to Samsung, which has been taunting the company and its fans for well over a decade now, dating back to the “next big thing is already here” commercials lampooning Apple fans for lining up for hours to buy phones with features Galaxy S-Series devices already possessed.

In the iPad Pro’s defence, that experience with the hydraulic press seems to have created one tough cookie. In tests by the tech terrorisers at JerryRigEverything, it seems those 5mm slates could be tougher than the previous generation 2022 model, despite being much thinner.

The destruction-happy site has been running stress tests on the 11-inch iPad Pro M4 (5.3mm) and the new 13-inch model, which is just 5.1mm thick.

If being carried in a backpack, for instance, there have been fears a natural bend across the spine might cause lasting damage, but the gentle bends across the horizontal axis showed no lasting damage.

In the bend test videos the tablet holds-up to strenuous horizontal bends (although the display does come away from the frame), but strenuous vertical bends caused the tablet to snap around the charging port.

“The M4 iPad Pro might be a bit bendy out of the box, and will definitely not be straight after a few months of regular use, but that central spine is definitely providing enough structure for horizontal bends. I’m very impressed,” says JRE host Zack Nelson.

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iPad Pro vs MacBook Air: Tablet or laptop?

Jessica Gorringe — Thu, 16 May 2024 16:03:00 +0000

First launched in November 2015, the iPad Pro series is Apple’s most premium-level tablet, boasting features that can’t be found on any other Apple device.

In comparison, the MacBook Air launched further back in 2008 and has remained the go-to choice for most users seeking an Apple computer. But does one triumph over the other? Is one better value for money or perhaps packed with more features?

Rather than focusing on specific models, we’ve put together this comparison guide to highlight the key differences between the iPad Pro and the MacBook Air ranges as a whole. Read on to see which device is better suited for you and your specific needs.

Pricing and availability

The most up to date iPad Pro that’s available from the Apple website is the newest iPad Pro M4 which was announced recently. Starting from £999/$999, this is the most expensive iPad offering to date.

If you were to add a Magic Keyboard to your iPad Pro, to create your own makeshift laptop, then this would set you back another £349 for the keyboard made for iPad Pro.

Both the MacBook Air M2 and MacBook Air M3 models are both still readily available, starting from £999/$999 for a 13-inch M2 model and £1099/$1099 for a 13-inch M3 model.

Design

The clearest difference between the iPad Pro and MacBook Air is that the former is a tablet and the latter is a laptop. The iPad Pro is predominantly a touchscreen tablet but is compatible with Apple’s Magic Keyboard, so you could create your own makeshift laptop if you wanted the best of both worlds.

Both the iPad Pro and the MacBook Air have always had a front-facing camera, making it ideal for video calling and taking the occasional selfie. While the MacBook Air’s camera can be found in the landscape position, until recently the iPad Pro’s camera was portrait, however this has now changed with the new iPad Pro M4.

If storage space is important to you then it’s worth noting that both the iPad Pro and MacBook Air have models that boast a massive 2TB capacity, although this is a new upgrade to the iPad Pro. Prior to this, the iPad Pro only offered a 1TB max of storage.

Screen

Digital designers and creatives should especially consider the new iPad Pro thanks to its Ultra Retina XDR display, which has been hailed by Apple as the “world’s most advanced display.” This is a first for the iPad Pro, as all previous iterations of the tablet, plus all MacBook Air devices, have just had Apple’s Liquid Retina display.

As a tablet, the iPad Pro has remained a touchscreen device first and doesn’t require a trackpad or Bluetooth mouse to navigate. However, the iPad Pro is compatible with Apple Pencil, which launched back in 2015and makes using the iPad Pro feel smoother, whether you’re drawing, handwriting notes or editing videos. The MacBook Air has never featured a touchscreen display and always included a trackpad built into the device.

Performance

Upon its launch back in 2018 the iPad Pro 1st Generation ran on the A12X Bionic Chip, which was built specifically for the iPad Pro. From here the iPad Pro continued to upgrade its chipsets and now even runs on the M-series, Apple’s desktop-level chips. In fact, the iPad Pro has actually surpassed the base MacBook Pro with its chipset, running on the new M4 instead of the M3 which is found in the current MacBook Air.

It’s fair to assume that the new iPad Pro M4 would be slightly faster than the MacBook M3, although there likely won’t be a huge perceptible difference.

The two devices run on different operating systems, iPadOS and macOS. While the iPad Pro is still an impressively fast device, it still has more in common with iOS. In addition, while Macs are able to run iPadOS apps, iPads aren’t able to run macOS apps.

The MacBook Air has run on the M series since 2020 when Apple shifted away from Intel and focused on their own Apple Silicon.

Battery life

Neither the iPad Pro and MacBook Air have made any changes to their battery life in recent years.

While the battery life of the MacBook Air has improved since the 2020 move to the M-Series, leaping from 12-hours to up to 18-hours, the iPad Pro has maintained its 10-hour battery life throughout its lifespan.

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New iPad Pro M4 isn't the bendy liability many feared

Jon Mundy — Thu, 16 May 2024 09:06:49 +0000

Apple’s new iPad Pro M4 has been shown to be surprisingly robust in initial testing.

The new iPad Pro M4 is thin. Very thin. Like, 5.1mm thin in the case of the 13-inch model.

This has led to inevitable worries and suspicions that Apple’s new £1,300 toy might fold like a piece of cardboard under moderate pressure. Anyone remember the Bendgate 2 incident back in 2018, where iPad Pros started curving like bananas?

We needn’t have doubted Apple (again), it seems. Renowned smart device torturer JerryRigEverything has put the new premium iPad through its usual gauntlet of stress tests, and discovered that it’s very robust indeed.

Under normal pressure, the new iPad Pro returned to its normal shape as you’d hope. You’ll need to put a fair amount of force into it if you wanted (for some sick reason) to cause permanent damage.

That new reinforced internal structure seems to be doing its job, with “suspicious black magic levels of structural integrity” according to the accompanying video.

That was under regular horizontal pressure. It didn’t hold up quite as well to vertical bend pressure, which tells you where that strengthened spine’s efforts have been directed – as well as the weakening effect of USB-C ports on such slim devices.

Elsewhere, in a head-to-head with the previous generation’s iPad Pro M2 (a relatively thick 6.4mm), fellow tester AppleTrack found that the slinky new iPad Pro M4 performed the better of the two in similar bend tests.

It seems the verdict is in, and the new iPad Pro M4 really is as almost as tough as its is thin and fast.

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LG is back with new XBOOM speakers and Tone Free headphones

Kob Monney — Thu, 16 May 2024 08:52:24 +0000

If our memory is right, it’s been a couple of years since we last heard news about LG’s wireless speakers and headphones. Well that’s all changed.

LG has announced the expansion of its XBOOM speaker series along with a new entry in its Tone Free true wireless range.

The XBOOM 360 XO2 aims to deliver omidirectional audio (i.e. in all directions), but in a more compact form factor to allow for placement on tables or shelves. It comes with a 15-hour battery life and an IP55 rating to protect against water, liquids, dust. You also get some mood lighting to bring colour to whichever space the speaker is in.

The portable XBOOM Go line-up has been expanded with new models in the Go XG8. Taking cues from LG’s soundbars, it features a “high-quality woofer” to produce a powerful low-end performance; and you also get lighting effects to help “heighten the mood and atmosphere of any setting”.

You can carry it around with its adjustable shoulder strap and it features military-grade durability with its IP67 rating to resist against water and dust. The 15-hour battery life means it won’t last a whole day, but long enough for a lazy time outdoors.

credit: LG

The Go XG2 also joins the line-up for those after a “powerful, robust audio performance” while out and about. It too has military grade duability and IP67 rating alongside 10 hours of playback. There’s an adjustable shock cord to securely attach it to a variety of items.

If you thought that was the last XBOOM speaker, you’re mistaken. The XL9 has dual 8-inch woofers to deliver deep bass but maintain a “well-balanced sound” with its Dynamic Bass Optimizer mode. It also has 1000W of power at its disposal. You probably won’t want to use this speaker in a flat-share.

Again you’ve got lighting effects with its Pixel LED Lighting system featuring colourful patterns, visual EQ effects, customisable text and graphics; while the Multi Color Ring Lighting system creates syncrhonised lightshows replete with flashing and rotating effects.

Its IPX4 rating offers splash resistance, and there are inputs for a microhone and guitar in case you feel like belting out your favourite karaoke tune or guitar riff.

The Tone Free T90S true wireless are said to deliver “an enriched audio experience with improved accuracy and clarity” thanks to its use of lightweight but tough graphene drivers.

Like the previous model, there’s support for Dolby Atmos Head Tracking across all “content and devices”; with it now bumped up to support 24-bit/96kHz audio. And the Dolby Atmos Optimizer can boost a track into surround sound with three adjustable levels.

LG’s partnership with Meridian Audio contines with the earphones featuring Meridian’s Headphone Spatial Processing (HSP) to deliver a clear centre image to give listeners the impression that they’re listening a track in a stereo sound system.

ANC is supported, and LG claims these buds will be able to deliver crystal clear call quality.

The UVnano charging case is back, eliminating 99.9% of bacteria on the earbuds within 10 minutes of its charging cycle. Also returning is the Plug & Wireless feature whereby you plug a cable into the case and use it to transmit audio to the earphones. It’s the type of feature that’d be well-suited to in-flight entertainment systems or even at the gym.

Bluetooth support equals AAC and SBC as well as aptX Adaptive, and Bluetooth multi-point is included to support multiple devices at once.

There’s no mention yet on the price, but you can expect the T90S to be available in the UK soon as it goes on sale May 2024.

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Microsoft announces accessibility-focused modular Xbox controller

Jon Mundy — Thu, 16 May 2024 08:14:48 +0000

Microsoft has announced a new modular Xbox controller aimed at those with accessibility needs.

Launched on Global Accessibility Awareness Day, the Proteus Controller is an all-in-one Xbox and PC video game controller kit featuring a unique ‘snap and play’ set-up.

It’s got quite a different set-up to Microsoft’s own Xbox Adaptive Controller. The Proteus lets you easily snap together various vaguely cuboid components, each with interchangeable control surfaces (including Hall effect analogue sticks), to get the precise shape and configuration that meets your specific needs.

It comes with two central Power Cubes, each with its own battery and ability to pair to the Bluetooth Dongle provided in the starter kit. There are also snap-on handholds for a more traditional controller look.

It’s estimated that you can built more than 100 million different custom configurations. You can also combine more than one kit, and it’s possible to incorporate up to 30 modules in a single build. Individual buttons are mappable within an associated app.

Peripheral specialist ByoWave, which is making the Proteus Controller under the Designed for Xbox program, calls it an ideal control system for “one-handed gamers, gamers with chronic pain and generally anyone who is still able to press standard buttons and inputs, but who find the layout of standard controllers problematic or cannot hold a controller.”

The Proteus Controller is available to pre-order now. There’s a $299 (about £236) cost attached, but an initial VIP price knocks 15% off if you’re quick.

Units are expected to ship this autumn.

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iOS 18 could make iPhone motion sickness a thing of the past

Chris Smith — Wed, 15 May 2024 21:00:55 +0000

Recent iPhone and iPad models will soon be completely controllable by the user’s eyes and could potentially cure motion sickness, Apple has announced today.

The latter new accessibility feature, expected to arrrive in iOS 18 later this year, will help people who experience motion sickness use their phone or tablet in a moving vehicle.

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It’s called Vehicle Motion Cues and will place animated dots on the display to represent the motion of the vehicle. Apple says it’ll reduce sensory conflict caused by the car moving and the screen staying still.

“Research shows that motion sickness is commonly caused by a sensory conflict between what a person sees and what they feel, which can prevent some users from comfortably using iPhone or iPad while riding in a moving vehicle,” Apple says.

“With Vehicle Motion Cues, animated dots on the edges of the screen represent changes in vehicle motion to help reduce sensory conflict without interfering with the main content. Using sensors built into iPhone and iPad, Vehicle Motion Cues recognizes when a user is in a moving vehicle and responds accordingly.”

The Eye Tracking feature (pictured in the main image) is one of a number of new accessibility features designed for Apple fans with physical disabilities. It uses artificial intelligence and the front facing camera to enable users to move through the user interface.

“With Eye Tracking, users can navigate through the elements of an app and use Dwell Control to activate each element, accessing additional functions such as physical buttons, swipes, and other gestures solely with their eyes,” Apple says in a Newsroom post today.

Apple says it works across the suite of iOS and iPadOS apps and doesn’t require any additional hardware. Set up only takes a few seconds, Apple says, and all of the data will be kept on the device.

The company has announced loads more accessibility features are coming later this year – including Music Haptics, which will use the iPhone’s Taptic Engine to give deaf or hard of hearing users the ability to experience “refined vibrations to the audio of the music”.

It’ll be available via millions of songs within Apple Music, while the company is making it available within an API to encourage developers to make their apps compatible.

There are plenty more features Apple announced today, which you can read all about in the blog post.

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Android Automotive is getting way more apps, plus Google Cast tech

Chris Smith — Wed, 15 May 2024 19:48:52 +0000

Google is adding Cast support to its Android Automotive OS, enabling non-drivers to beam entertainment to the vehicle’s main display, while also accessing new apps and games via the built-in software.

As part of Android 15, the casting tech previously known as Chromecast, will arrive on cars with the Android Automotive OS built-in later this year.

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The range of fancy Rivian electric cars will be first in line later this year, but Google hasn’t said which others makes and models will be available thereafter.

Google says this will enable passengers to “easily cast video content from your phone or tablet to the car, opening up even more entertainment options.”

Elsewhere, Google says there are some new streaming apps coming to cars with Google Built-In. The Angry Birds game (amazed that’s still a thing tbh) is one of them, as well as the Max and Peacock streaming apps.

Google says there are now 200 million vehicles on the road with some form of Android Auto – wired or wireless – available to drivers and passengers.

However, these updates are coming to vehicles with Android Automotive with Google Built-In (around 40 models including the Nissan Rogue, Renault R5, Acura ZDX, and Ford Explorer), which don’t require any connection to a smartphone.

In this realm, Google is also planning to make it easier for developers to make their apps available within the automotive realm without doing too much additional work.

In a blog post Google says: “As part of this program, Google will proactively review mobile apps that are already adaptive and large screen compatible to ensure safety and compatibility in cars.

“If the app qualifies, we will automatically opt it in for distribution on cars with Google built-in and make it available in Android Auto, without the need for new development or a new release to be created. This program will start with parked app categories like video, gaming and browsers with plans to expand to other app categories in the future.”

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Wear OS 5 watches will keep on running as long as you do

Chris Smith — Wed, 15 May 2024 18:56:37 +0000

Google has announced Wear OS 5 is coming this year and, although the scale of the updates are somewhat paltry initially, there’s great news for those who love to extend their workouts beyond convention.

The company says running an outdoor marathon will consume 20% less power than watches running Wear OS 4, meaning the battery is less likely to conk out before you do.

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“Central to our release of Wear OS 5 is continuing to enhance battery life,” Google said, upon announcing the Developer Preview of Wear OS 5, which is based on Android 14.

“Wear OS 5 brings performance improvements over Wear OS 4. Tracking your workout is now more efficient; for example, running a marathon consumes up to 20% less power on Wear OS 5 than on Wear OS 4.”

Google also says improvements to fitness apps are coming, thanks to support for data types like ground contact time, stride length and vertical oscillation.

Elsewhere Google is announcing the next iteration of its Watch Face Format creation tools for Wear OS 5, which include more complications when customising the look and feel of the watch.

Devs will be able to incorporate goal progress (“where the user has a target, but that target can be exceeded. A good example is step count”), as well as weighted elements like pie charts. Weather data will be available in the latest version of Watch OS too, which has been a requested feature by the developer community.

There’ll also be a new Flavors distinction for watch faces, which the company says will “allow the watch face developer to configure useful and attractive combinations of the watch face’s configuration options, and allow the user to visualize and select from these with ease.”

Considering the examples shared by Google for last year’s Watch Face Format developer creations (below), we’re hoping for a little better this time around. Gee whizz!

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Android 15 will make your phone worthless to thieves

Chris Smith — Wed, 15 May 2024 18:01:10 +0000

Google’s Android 15 operating system update is due this summer and a major focus will be discouraging thieves from stealing it in the first place.

A key feature of the new operating system will be a new private space within your phone that can be locked with a separate pin. You can place your bank apps and social apps there to prevent thieves doing damage by harnessing that data.

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Beyond that, a new factory reset mode will also prevent a thief from quickly performing a factory reset of the phone in order to sell it as a fresh device.

Once Android 15 lands, even a fresh set-up will require the owner’s Google account credentials in order to commence proceedings. In a blog post, Google says this “renders a stolen device unsellable, reducing incentives for phone theft.”

Elsewhere, Google is offering automatic protection from the moment your phone is robbed. Naturally, this Theft Detection Lock feature uses AI to lock the screen when your phone is snatched from you, to prevent ne’er do wells from accessing your apps and data.

Google says the AI can sense “if someone snatches your phone from your hand and tries to run, bike or drive away. If a common motion associated with theft is detected, your phone screen quickly locks – which keeps thieves from easily accessing your data.”

This sounds like a super useful feature and another example of Google using AI in beneficial, non-threatening ways, which seems to be a theme of Google I/O this year.

Furthermore, the company is including an Offline Device lock that’ll protect your data and lock the screen even when your phone is off the grid. It’ll be handy if a thief tries to stop you remotely resetting your device by taking the device offline.

The company is going a little farther with a Remote Lock feature if your handset has been taken. This will lock the screen without having access to your Google account. If you have your phone number and can answer a quick security question, you’ll be able to “recover your account details and access additional helpful options in Find My Device, including sending a full factory reset command to completely wipe the device.”

If you do want to disable the handy Find My Device, or change other sensitive device settings you’ll need a PIN, password or biometric authorisation. This is similar to the Stolen Device Protections Apple has introduced this year.

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The pros and cons of overclocking your GPU for better performance

Ryan Jones — Wed, 15 May 2024 13:46:42 +0000

Every PC builder has likely come across the term overclocking. It’s a good way of eeking every last drop of performance out of your system, without needing to pay for an upgrade.

If you’re not sure what the term means, overclocking refers to boosting the performance of components such as your GPU beyond the default factory settings. This is done by raising a component’s clock speed and power limits, which can easily be done with various software, including popular options such as MSI Afterburner.

Overclocking has both its advantages and disadvantages, so it certainly isn’t for everyone. We’ve created this guide to highlight the main pros and cons, so you can decide yourself whether it’s worth pursuing.

Pro: You can maximise your PC’s performance

The most obvious advantage for overclocking is that you can get a performance boost without upgrading any of your components. Depending on your system, it’s possible to get a 10% to 15% increase in your GPU’s performance.

Overclocking a GPU is particularly popular in the gaming community, as a boost to the frame rate performance can make a huge difference if your PC isn’t quite powerful enough to play a demanding game with a smooth performance with default settings.

Pro: You can save you money

Overclocking is a very cost-effective option for improving your GPU’s performance. Overclocking software such as MSI Afterburner is free to use, and you don’t need to worry about purchasing extra hardware.

Graphics cards are one of the most expensive components you can purchase for a PC, with Nvidia’s most expensive offerings surpassing the £1000/$1000 mark, while even mid-range options that target a 1080p resolution can still cost you a few hundred.

If you’re using a gaming laptop, you’d otherwise need to purchase an entire new system to boost the performance, as most laptops don’t allow you to upgrade the graphics chip. This makes overclocking a popular option for those on a tight budget.

Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

Con: Can result in an unstable performance

In the end of the day, there’s a reason why manufacturers place limits on their GPU, as increasing the performance further can result in an unstable performance. With overclocking increasing the odds of your GPU overheating, it also heightens the risk of your PC crashing and shutting down unprompted.

These days, it’s unlikely that overclocking will cause damage to your PC, as it will automatically shut down before there’s any chance of that happening, but it can still prove to be a frustrating issue when it occurs in the middle of a game.

There is generally a sweet spot where you overclock your GPU without seeing an increase to system crashes, but it can take a lot of time fine tuning your PC to accomplish this.

Some GPUs offer more headroom for overclocking too, especially those made by third-party partners which are often designed for overclocking, with elaborate built-in cooling systems to keep temperatures as low as possible.

Cons: Can shorten the lifespan of your GPU

It’s unlikely that overclocking will damage your GPU in the short-term, but it can have long-lasting effects that will reduce the lifespan of your component.

Like with any component, prolonged exposure to high temperatures can reduce the longevity of the GPU. This can result in GPU’s performance degradation occurring earlier than typically expected.

That’s not to say it’s impossible to overclock a GPU without still maintaining a high lifespan, as it’s possible to keep temperatures at a moderate level while simultaneously boosting performance.

Cons: Increases the power consumption of a GPU

Overclocking requires you to supply additional power to your GPU, which will increase the overall power consumption of your PC. This could be an issue if you’re already hitting the limit of your PSU, or you’re concerned about your energy bill becoming even more costly.

That said, overclocking shouldn’t cause the power consumption to increase by a significant degree, and so probably won’t have a big impact on your energy bill. Nevertheless, it’s yet another factor to consider, especially if you’re using a laptop since overclocking will drain the battery at a faster rate.

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Nvidia and MediaTek could be teaming up on gaming handheld chip

Jon Mundy — Wed, 15 May 2024 11:42:40 +0000

Nvidia and MediaTek are reportedly working together to produce a new chip that could power the handheld gaming PCs of tomorrow.

It all starts with an X (formerly Twitter) post from analyst Dan Nystedt, which reveals an industry rumour that the two chip giants are co-developing an Arm-based AI processor for PCs. Apparently, the design will apparently be finalised in the third quarter of 2024, and verified in the fourth quarter.

Manufacturing is said to be set for the first half of 2025 on TSMC’s 3nm process, and we could hear official news on the chip from MediaTek at Computex Taipei 2024 in June. With a price said to be around the $300 mark, this will be one premium PC chip.

Yep and Mediatek is also working on gaming handled SoC with Nvidia GPU as Jensen is frustrated by Nintendo and he sees a good market potential.
PS: its different than the new NV semi-custom div that tries to reenter the console market (some CN clients are already interested) https://t.co/sBuYVLJILc
— AGF (@XpeaGPU) May 15, 2024

Leaker XpeaGPU followed this up by confirming the rumour, as well as claiming that Mediatek was also producing a gaming handled SoC, with Nvidia providing the GPU.

With Nvidia already tipped to be supplying Nintendo with a custom Tegra chip for the Switch 2 next year, 2025 could be a big year for handheld gaming machines.

Indeed, the suggestion here is that Nintendo’s habit of using mature technology (which is both proven and cheap) is causing some frustration at Nvidia HQ – the ‘Jensen’ being mentioned here a reference to Jensen Huang, co-founder and CEO of Nvidia. The Taiwanese company apparently sees a great deal of potential in the handheld gaming SoC space, and seems eager to press forward with a more advanced solution.

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Canon will launch its flagship EOS R1 camera this year

Hannah Davies — Wed, 15 May 2024 11:13:59 +0000

Canon has revealed that its first flagship EOS R System camera, the Canon EOS R1, will arrive later this year.

According to Canon, the EOS R1 will be marketed toward professionals looking for top-class performance, strong durability and cutting-edge technology. This includes those working in sports, news reporting, and video production.

The camera will also offer improved performance when shooting both stills and video compared to the brand’s current top-of-the-line camera, the Canon EOS R3.

Many of the EOS R1’s improvements will come down to a fresh image processing system compromised of Canon’s newly developed image processor Digic Accelerator combined with the existing Digic X and a new CMOS sensor.

This combo will enable the flagship to process large volumes of data at high speeds and deliver new advancements in autofocus, including improved subject recognition, and subject tracking. Canon uses the example of a team sporting event where the camera will lock onto its target and retain focus on that person even when other players pass in front of them.

The camera will also feature an Action Priority mode which analyses the scene to determine which player is performing an action – such as shooting the ball – automatically shifting the focus to that person.

You can also expect to see improvements in image quality thanks to the image noise reduction function which will now be available in-camera.

This isn’t the first we’d heard of the Canon EOS R1. The mirrorless camera has been slated as Canon’s replacement for its flagship DLSR, the EOS-1D X Mark III, since 2021. The camera was also basically confirmed by Canon exec Go Tokura in an interview with Photo Trend last year.

However, this is the first official announcement we’ve received from Canon regarding the EOS R1. Even better, it gives us a time frame to look forward to as the company aims for a 2024 launch.

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The Sony Xperia 1 VI is official, and it's lost its signature feature

Jon Mundy — Wed, 15 May 2024 08:28:36 +0000

Sony has officially announced its new flagship phone, the Xperia 1 VI, and it’s lost arguably the most unique thing about the series.

The company’s flagship smartphone range has never been a huge seller, but it has always gone above and beyond on the spec front. Most notably, at least from a back-of-the-box vantage point, the Xperia 1 range has always had a 4K display, including with last year’s Sony Xperia 1 V.

That’s finally changed with the Sony Xperia 1 VI, which has switched to a 6.5-inch FHD+ OLED display, skipping the QHD+ and even so-called 1.5K resolutions altogether.

Admittedly, 4K has always felt like overkill in a smartphone form factor, but it made sense with Sony’s media heavyweight branding. The Xperia 1 VI was the niche phone for cinema buffs, and we kind of always liked that.

There’s been another step away from Sony’s cinema-first focus with the Xperia 1 VI ditching the signature tall and thin 21:9 aspect in favour of a more ‘normal’ 19.5:9. It means that the latest film releases will no longer fill the screen, though it will likely be better at handling day to day tasks like web browsing.

Sony is still pushing this display as a film buff’s dream, highlighting its ‘Powered by Bravia’ AI image adjustment technology, which apparently reproduces the image quality of Sony’s TV sets. It’s also the brand’s first LTPO screen, which means it’ll be far more energy efficient, while Sony has cranked the maximum brightness up 50%.

The stereo speakers, too, have apparently received a buff, while adding a Premium Audio Circuit to the 3.5mm wired headphone jack is a reassuringly Sony touch.

Elsewhere, the Sony Xperia 1 VI is all upgrades. The other signature element of this range has been its steady drip of camera innovations, and the Xperia 1 VI brings a new and improved telephoto camera to the table. We’re talking a 12MP optical telephoto lens with a superior zoom range of between 3.5x and 7.1x – or a focal length of between 85mm and 170mm.

The main 52MP Exmor T sensor is the same as before, though it remains unique to Sony. The company has applied its own AI magic this time, this time to improve its already class-leading autofocus and subject tracking.

Sony’s camera hardware has never been an issue, of course. While its camera UI has always been extremely powerful, it’s hardly been intuitive, spread across several separate apps. The company is supplying a “significant update” to the app with the Xperia 1 VI, with a more user-friendly interface, and all functionality rounded up into the main app.

There’s a 5,000 mAh battery, which Sony claims can support double the video playback (probably down to that new display), as well as support for Wi-Fi 7. It’s all powered by the latest flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor too, as you might expect, this time backed by vapour chamber cooling. Previous Xperia 1 phones could run a little hot.

The design looks very similar to previous Xperia 1 phones, with the same ridged industrial look, lozenge-shaped camera module, and textured rear that we’ve seen before.

The Sony Xperia 1 VI launches in Black, Platinum Silver, and Khaki Green this June, with preorders starting on Sony’s website today. If you were expecting that climb down from 4K to produce a cheaper phone, you’d be mistaken – it’ll still cost £1299 / €1399.

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Panasonic's 2024 TVs are simpler, more accessible, and smarter

Kob Monney — Tue, 14 May 2024 16:02:29 +0000

Another week and another TV launch, as Panasonic unfurled its banners and presented a preview of its 2024 range.

And despite rumours circulating that perhaps Panasonic wasn’t as interested in the TV market as it has been in the past, it brought out its entire range of models for the UK and Europe at a preview event in Dusseldorf, including its flagship Z95A OLED TV all the way down to its HD Ready 24-inch model.

As has been previously announced, Panasonic has teamed up with Amazon to provide Fire TV across its premium TVs, which means its My Home Screen interface has been quitetly shuffled off to a peaceful sleep, especially as the remainder of Panasonic’s TVs will take up either Google TV or TiVO depending on where you’re based.

Both the Z95A and Z93A will feature Panasonic’s HCX Pro AI Processor MKII, which appears to be a big enough jump to allow each model to support Dolby Vision IQ with Precision Detail; a feature that until now only certain LG OLEDs were powerful enough to support.

There’s also the 360 Soundscape Pro, which has been tuned by the expertes over at Technics to ensure “immersive 3D surround sound” from a flatscreen TV.

Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

More OLEDs appear (five in total) with the Z90A, Z85A, and Z80A. The first model includes the Master OLED Pro panel and the same processing that’s found in the flagship mode. The Z85A comes with 120Hz refresh rate, and the advanced MkII HCX Pro AI processor.

The step down Z80A is, we believe, more of a standard WRGB OLED TV, and gets the less powerful HCX Processor. While prices haven’t announced yet, we’d expect this model to hit a fairly affordable price for an OLED.

Next up are the LED models, of which the W95A tops the range. This is effectively replacing the MX950 from 2023 with its Mini LED panel for a brighter image, and better processing with the MkII processor onboard. Like with the OLEDs the Fire TV interface is built-in, enabling Alexa voice control, and you get premium game features too, with the 144Hz Game Mode Extreme (for PC gamers) and the colour accurate True Game mode.

Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

The W90A is a Full Array Local Dimming (FALD) model, keeping the same processor and gaming features as the model above.

We swiftly move onto the W80 and W60, the former supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+ formats, as well as the colour accurate Filmmaker mode; with Fire TV build into this model to offer a wide range of streaming options. The W60 is powered by TiVo, and will offer just as wide a streaming experience with its comprehensive line-up of content.

Lastly, there’s the HD models in the S55/S50, S45/S40 and N30. The top S-series models come with Fire TV built-in, with the step down models get TiVo. If you choose to get the N40, this is primarily a TV to watch TV on and doesn’t come with smart features.

Pricing and availability haven’t been revealed yet, but we’d imagine Panasonic’s latest line-up will launch towards the summer months as has been the case for the last several years.

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Samsung might not release a cheaper Galaxy Z Fold 6 foldable after all

Jon Mundy — Tue, 14 May 2024 11:40:44 +0000

Samsung is reportedly having second thoughts about releasing a more affordable Galaxy Z Fold 6 foldable.

Back in January we reported on industry tittle tattle suggesting that Samsung was looking to introduce a new cheaper variant of its full-sized foldable smartphone in 2024.

This was followed in February by claims that the manufacturer was actually looking to go in completely the opposite direction, and release an ‘Ultra’ model of the Galaxy Z Fold 6.

If you’re sensing some indecision on Samsung’s part, then a new report from South Korean website The Elec would seem to support that. According to this fresh report, Samsung has now fully reconsidered its 2024 foldable plans, and has ditched – or at least delayed – its plans to launch a cheaper foldable.

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Apparently, the manufacturer has been unable to make its cheaper foldable prototype as thin as rival efforts from Huawei. It was thought that by omitting the technology needed for S Pen support, Samsung would be able to create a device that was lighter on your pocket in every sense, but that hasn’t borne fruit as yes.

Besides this lack of a crucial differentiating factor (aside from the price), the report cites general industry uncertainty as a reason for Samsung’s hesitancy.

There’s no mention of the Ultra model at all, though claims that the company will only release two foldables in 2024 – a Galaxy Z Fold 6 and a Galaxy Z Flip 6 – would suggest that this rumour too won’t be coming to pass. At least not in 2024.

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Pixel 9 range photos leak on eve of Google I/O

Jon Mundy — Tue, 14 May 2024 08:19:28 +0000

Pixel 8 Pro home

The first live images of the Pixel 9 range have seemingly appeared online in a live photo leak just ahead of Google I/O.

Less than a day ahead of the big Google I/O event, photos of the company’s next flagship smartphone range have seemingly leaked online.

The images, from Russian-language website Rozetked (via Android Police), appear to show the three-strong Pixel 9 series. This includes the Pixel 9 itself, as well as the Pixel 9 Pro and the provisionally titled Pixel 9 Pro XL.

Said images serve to confirm Google’s forthcoming design language overhaul, which involves dropping the curves of the Pixel 8 series in favour of a more angular, flat-edged look. Meanwhile, the iconic camera visor no longer melds into the side frame, but stands apart as a distinct lozenge, rather like the Pixel Fold.

The Pro models seemingly got with a matte back and glossy sides, while the regular Pixel 9 goes with a matte frame and glossy back. The corners seem rounder than before.

Image: Rozetked

We’ve heard previously that Google would be splitting its Pro range between smaller and larger models. It might sound like the Pixel 9 Pro XL is the new device here, but really it’s that smaller Pixel 9 Pro, which crams many of the same Pro features into a body the size of the Pixel 9.

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It seems the Pixel 9 has a 6.2-inch display, while the Pixel 9 Pro has a 6.3-inch and the Pixel 9 Pro XL a 6.7-inch screen, all with 120Hz refresh rates. The Pixel 9 Pro apparently offsets that slightly bigger display with smaller bezels compared to the Pixel 9.

The Pixel 9 Pro duo will apparently have three 50MP cameras, with the telephoto capable of a 5x zoom. The Pixel 9 will have a dual camera set-up, like previous non-Pro Pixels.

Products routinely leak in the days leading up to their launch, of course, but here’s the thing: the Pixel 9 series likely won’t be announced until November. With the Pixel 8a already out there, and the Pixel Fold 2 rumoured to now be part of the Pixel 9 line-up, Google may not have any Pixel phone hardware on show at tonight’s Google I/O keynote.

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Dyson WashG1 is the company's first dedicated cordless hard floor cleaner

David Ludlow — Mon, 13 May 2024 23:01:00 +0000

Given the prevalence of hard flooring, it’s a little surprising that it’s taken Dyson so long to launch a dedicated hard floor cleaner, with the Dyson WashG1. Still, the wait looks like it’s worth it, with the product having a few features that make it stand out from the competition.

Dyson first entered the hard floor cleaning market with the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine, which added a floor cleaning attachment to the V15 vacuum cleaner. Although that product was good, it had a limited cleaning range and required vacuuming most solids before cleaning.

Vacuuming and mopping in one

With the WashG1, you have one device that can mop and collect larger debris simultaneously, saving time on daily cleaning. As with most hard floor cleaners, Dyson’s uses a combination of water and soft rollers.

There’s a 1-litre clean-water tank, which can be used with detergent, provided it’s mixed at the correct ratio. Water is automatically dispensed onto the dual microfibre rollers using 26 hydration points located along the rollers’ length.

Three water modes are available (low, medium, and high), with higher modes suitable for deeper stains. There’s also a boost mode button, which uses the maximum amount of hydration for the most stubborn stains. A single tank of water can cover up to 290m² of flooring, which should be enough for the average home.

As the modes only affect the hydration level, not the rollers’ spin speed, battery life remains consistent at 35 minutes. Similar to the company’s vacuum cleaners, the remaining battery life is shown in minutes on the cleaner’s LCD screen.

The rollers counter-rotate, cleaning in either direction. Dyson engineers tuned the rollers to move at a consistent speed, letting the machine glide across the floor. That’s similar to how the Dyson Omni-glide works, and having tried the WashG1, I can say that it’s incredibly nimble and light to move.

As well as removing stains and liquids from the floor, the rollers can also pick up solids, so the WashG1 cleans the floor and clears up larger particles, so there’s no need to vacuum before you mop.

Dirt separation

Rather than dumping everything into one tank, the floor head has a debris tray. This tray has a 500-micron mesh that separates dirty water from large debris. The tray can be removed and cleaned, and solids can be tipped into a bin.

Dirty water alone is deposited in the 0.8-litre dirty tank. Given that some water will remain on the floor, one full clean tank will give you roughly one full dirty tank.

At the end of a clean, the WashG1 has an automated washing routine, that cleans the rollers with fresh water. There’s no hot-air drying on this machine, so the rollers should be removed and left to dry naturally.

There’s no filter to clean, removing one maintenance job, and the water tanks have been designed with smooth interiors and large openings that makes them easy to empty and wash out.

Price and availability

The Dyson WashG1 will be available soon, and will cost £599.99. We’ll have a full review once review samples are available.

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Apple and Google release shared stalking protection for item trackers

Chris Smith — Mon, 13 May 2024 20:19:11 +0000

Apple and Google have finally settled on the industry standard for alerting iPhone and Android users when a Bluetooth tracker like an AirTag is moving with them.

The standard, which goes live today within iOS 17.5 will see users on both platforms get an “[Item] Found Moving With You” notification, regardless of whether that device has been paired with and Android or iPhone handset. It’s available on all phones running Android 6.0 and up from today too, Google says.

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That closes a major security loophole in the fight against these super-useful trackers being used for nefarious means – namely to stalk unsuspecting people, as has been documented.

“Apple and Google have worked together to create an industry specification — Detecting Unwanted Location Trackers — for Bluetooth tracking devices that makes it possible to alert users across both iOS and Android if such a device is unknowingly being used to track them,” Apple says in a Newsroom post. “This will help mitigate the misuse of devices designed to help keep track of belongings.”

The company goes on to explain how iPhone users will be able to view the tracker’s identifier, have it play a sound, and then set about disabling it. This will work for Bluetooth trackers made by the likes of Chipolo, eufy, Jio, Motorola, and Pebblebee, the post says.

Conspicuous by its absence in the post is the field’s pioneer Tile, with the company said to be considering its own overriding network powered by satellite.

Google announced the Find My Device network was finally going live last month, following its announcement at Google I/O last year.

The release was delayed until Google and Apple could agree on a shared standard to ensure users were protected regardless of the platform they’re using. Now Apple has finally got its ducks in a row with iOS 17.5, the protections have arrived.

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Mindblowing ChatGPT-4o real-time translation should terrify Google

Chris Smith — Mon, 13 May 2024 19:28:32 +0000

With Google I/O set to focus on the increasing talents of the Gemini AI app tomorrow, OpenAI is getting in there first by launching the latest version of Chat-GPT – ChatGPT-4o.

The new Chat GPT-4o – the ‘o’ stands for ‘omni’ because of its ability to handle audio, images, video and text – is partly headlined by the speed of real-time translation.

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For the iteration of ChatGPT-4 the company says it “trained a single new model end-to-end across text, vision, and audio, meaning that all inputs and outputs are processed by the same neural network. Because GPT-4o is our first model combining all of these modalities, we are still just scratching the surface of exploring what the model can do and its limitations.”

For people speaking different languages, this system could reap incredible rewards. It acts as a real-time go between with very little latency between hearing repeating the utterances back in the intended language.

If the demonstration showcased during OpenAI’s presentation today is the experience users get, it throws down the gauntlet to Google – the long time kings of mobile language translation through its powerful and brilliant Translate app.

One of the videos below video (there are other examples too) shows a man asking ChatGPT to act as a translator.

The man asks the AI to translate everything it hears in English into Italian, and then the other way around. Then, the OpenAI CTO Mira Murati speaks in Italian and the English response comes very rapidly, with an impressively conversational tone.

Real-time speech translation, acting as a Universal Translator from StarTrek

Quite fast. Hear @miramurati speaking Italian. #openai's new ChatGPT app https://t.co/CpvCkjI0iA pic.twitter.com/tVlAcy2kj0
— Andrew Gao (@itsandrewgao) May 13, 2024

Interestignly, the AI refers to the speaker of the original language in the third person (“she said that…”) rather than simply translating the utterance. It is informed by the nuances in the user’s voice and can generate voices in “a range of different emotive styles”. OpenAI says it outperforms rivals like Google and Meta in terms of speed too.

Elsewhere videos published by the company shows users being able to interject and correct the AI and have it quickly shift course and respond in kind. Check out the faster counting video below, for example. The company also showcased the ability the incredibly lifelike conversational tone of voice and the ability to recognise its surroundings.

Fast counting with GPT-4o pic.twitter.com/3KfVbaAM6c
— OpenAI (@OpenAI) May 13, 2024

Say hello to GPT-4o, our new flagship model which can reason across audio, vision, and text in real time: https://t.co/MYHZB79UqN

Text and image input rolling out today in API and ChatGPT with voice and video in the coming weeks. pic.twitter.com/uuthKZyzYx
— OpenAI (@OpenAI) May 13, 2024

OpenAI says text and image input for GPT-4o is coming today, while the voice and video input will be added to the API in the coming weeks.

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Google I/O Preview: 5 Things to expect and how to watch

Chris Smith — Mon, 13 May 2024 17:05:54 +0000

Google I/IO takes place on Tuesday May 14, with Brits able to tune-in after work. We’re expecting Android 15, loads of Google Gemini AI advancements, and perhaps even a little hardware sprinkled in.

Google fans will have had May 14 circled on the calendar for weeks now, as the search and mobile giant preares to put its best foot forward for the rest of the year.

Google I/O is traditionally where the company reveals its latest software advancements, sprinkles in a bit of hardware, and adds loads of the old Google magic to its products to make life that little bit easier for users.

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How to watch Google I/O 2024

You can tune into the Google I/O keynote address from 10am local time on Tuesday May 14. That’s 6pm UK time. As usual, the event is being live streamed on YouTube.

Bookmark this page as you’ll be able to watch in the embedded video below.

Gemini everywhere

It’s been a long, long 12 months in AI. Last year’s Google I/O might as well have been called Google A/I and we expect that trend to intensify on May 14. Google’s Gemini LLM (fka Bard) is ready to replace the Google Assistant for those opting in.

We’re also likely to hear how Gemini is going to benefit a host of core Google services like Search, Maps, YouTube, Gmail, Photos, as well as its productivity apps like Docs and Sheets.

It may not be just Android users who benefit either, with persistent rumours Apple has struck a deal with Google to bring Gemini to iPhone users in iOS 18. We’re liable to hear all about that at WWDC though, rather than at Google I/O.

Android 15

The new version of Android is usually the Google I/O headliner, but Android 15 is likely to be overshadowed by the masses of new Google Gemini enhancements the company will be infusing into its entire product line, regardless of the version of Android.

However, Android 15 is likely to be a key reason for the masses to tune into the keynote. The beta is already out in the wild, but Google I/O is likely to be where the company puts some meat on them bones.

Recent indications suggest Google is planning to offer satellite messaging, new Bluetooth features, a display mode designed to reduce eye-strain further, while there’ll be improved video stabilisation judging by recent dives into the Android 15 beta back-end code.

Android 15 is highly likely to launch on the Pixel 9 series this autumn, and be available on day one to existing Pixel owners.

Pixel Fold 2

With the Pixel 8a release pre-dating Google I/O this year the hardware charge might be led by the oft-leaked Pixel Fold 2 handset, which is potentially a significant update on last year’s model with a lighter design, a larger cover screen, thinner bezels, and a new camera array that eschews the Pixel series’ camera bar in favour of a square camera bump. It’s also possible Google might debut the Tensor G4 processor within the Pixel Fold 2 rather than wait for the Pixel 9.

It’s also possible the Pixel Fold 2 will be a Pixel 9 Pro device that won’t be announced until later this year.

New Chromecast with Google TV

Hardware announcements are unlikely to be plentiful at Google I/O this year, but it’s rumoured Google could launch a new version of the Chromecast with Google TV device with 4K capabilities. It’s been four years since Google announced the original.

Wear OS 5

As well as Android 15, Google could renew its wearable operating system with a fresh version of Wear OS, which powers the Pixel Watch series as well as the Samsung Galaxy Watch and others from the TicWatch series. Google revealed Wear OS 4 at the event last year, so it’s possible the next update drops here.

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Android 15 looks to improve video stabilization on third-party apps

Ruben Circelli — Fri, 10 May 2024 22:18:49 +0000

A peek into Android 15 code has revealed new video stabilization tech: Eyes Free.

Mishaal Rahman of Android Authority has spotted something in Android 15 code that suggests new video stabilization tech is on the way, called Eyes Free, which looks like it’ll work with a variety of third-party camera apps on Android.

According to Rahman, every Android camera app is built around the Camera2 API, and as of Android 14, the Camera 2 API supports five extension types: Auto, Bokeh, Face retouch, HDR, and Night. However, Rahman has found a sixth extension type within the Android 15 code, Eyes Free.

Reportedly, Eyes Free is set to be Camera2’s first video capture extension, and it’s meant to “lock and stabilize a given region or object of interest” — says a description. That’s what folks in the videography business call video stabilization.

In simple terms, video stabilization tries to remove unwanted camera movement that might result from, for example, an unsteady hand holding a phone. Eyes Free looks to be video stabilization in the form of a new Camera2 API extension.

As mentioned above, the Camera2 API is the foundation which every Android camera app is built off of, so a new extension could be incorporated into tons of third-party apps, instead of being limited to a particular application.

Rahman notes that such an extension would merely be something that manufacturers could implement, but he goes on to speculate that it may be possible to add Eyes Free support entirely through software, likely by way of a toggle in Android settings. Of course, we’ll have to wait and see.

At the moment, it’s not confirmed if Eyes Free will be a part of Android 15, and even if so whether it will be incorporated into camera apps, but the future definitely looks bright for Android users hoping for better video stabilization tech.

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Apple M4 benchmarks suggest it's the king of single-core performance

Ruben Circelli — Fri, 10 May 2024 22:06:50 +0000

Apple’s M4 CPU is beating out Intel i9-14900K chips in benchmarks.

Apple recently announced its M4 chip, and now, benchmarks of the new chip are starting to pop up on the Geekbench benchmark site. Impressively, the M4 is beating Intel’s premium i9-14900K in single-core performance.

M4 scores are cresting 3800 points, while i9-14900K scores hover around 3600 points when it comes to single-core performance. Perhaps the most impressive thing about all this is the power consumption at hand. Traditionally, the more power a chip draws, cooling requirements go up and so does performance.

With Apple’s M4 chip, though, Apple claims “compared with the latest PC chip in a thin and light laptop, M4 can deliver the same performance using just a fourth of the power.” Intel’s i9-14900K, on the other hand, is a power-hungry chip that can draw up to a maximum of 253W at its max boost clocks.

iPads, where you’ll see the first M4 chips popping up, require far less power, thanks to how thin and light they are and their inability to rely on any sort of powerful cooling system. So, the M4 scores are all the more impressive considering how far Apple’s been able to push mobile kit.

Not only is Apple’s continued chip development impressive, but so is its pace. The M3 chip was unveiled not even a year ago in October 2023, so to see the next-generation arrive so soon is another feather in Apple’s CPU-maker cap.

All that being said, a chip like the i9-14900K significantly outcompetes an M4 in multicore performance, and you can’t (and likely wouldn’t want to) just slot an M4 into your next gaming PC, so these benchmarks are more of a testament to the power of the M4 rather than Apple trying to take Intel down.

Nonetheless, if you’re looking for a powerful tablet, it only makes sense to check out Apple’s latest iPads with the brand’s M4 chip, like the new iPad Pro.

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OpenAI reportedly announcing Google Search competitor on Monday

Ruben Circelli — Fri, 10 May 2024 21:55:22 +0000

OpenAI to announce Google Search competitor this coming Monday.

Via a report from Reuters, OpenAI plans to launch an AI-powered search platform this Monday, May 13th, to compete directly with Google Search.

Though this particular date is subject to change, according to the report, it has been previously reported that OpenAI is working on an AI-powered search platform intended to go toe-to-toe with big names in the space. This includes not just giants like Google but others such as Perplexity, too.

OpenAI posted on May 10th that the company would be streaming on Monday to “demo some ChatGPT and GPT-4 updates.” Though, CEO Sam Altman went on to clarify in an X post of his own: “not gpt-5, not a search engine, but we’ve been hard at work on some new stuff we think people will love! feels like magic to me.”

Whether or not an AI-powered search platform is announced at this upcoming event, it certainly seems timed to happen before Google’s I/O conference begins on Tuesday, May 14th, where the company is expected to reveal new AI products.

With Reuters’ sources “familiar with the matter” and sources telling TheVerge “that [OpenAI] is aggressively trying to poach Google employees to work on its own search offering”, it certainly seems like OpenAI is working on search.

At the time of writing, it’s unclear whether CEO Sam Altman’s words suggest that an OpenAI search platform will be coming, just not on Monday, or if perhaps something related to search, just not a full-scale Google Search competitor, will be announced on Monday. Naturally, we’re not likely to learn more until then.

Either way, Monday is just a few days away, so you won’t have to wait long to find out what OpenAI has to announce. Tune in to the OpenAI site at 10am PT / 1pm EST / 6pm BST to find out more, or check back here for our reporting.

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Loewe presents Kylian Mbappé themed We. HEAR pro Bluetooth speaker

Kob Monney — Fri, 10 May 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Loewer has partnered with superstar French footballer Kylian Mbappé to launch its latest range of Bluetooth wireless speakers.

This is a limited edition wireless speaker, with this speaker marking the first product collaboration in a new partnership with the PSG frontman.

The We. Hear Pro x Kylian Mbappé features 100W of power (Class-D amplifier), and an array of drivers and passive bass radiators to produce what Loewe claims is a “deeply immersive listening experience”, outputting a sound described as both powerful and pristine.

The sound output has been optimised for horizontal placement, and you can customise the sound to have it the way you want it.

Though fairly big for a portable speaker, it does come with an adjustable shoulder strap for carrying about; and when used outside it’ll be able to repel splashes of water and dust with its IPX6 certification. Battery life is up to 24 hours, and fast-charging functionality can top the speaker up in just two hours. If you find other devices are short of battery life, you could plug them into the speaker and have it doubled up as a power bank.

Also onbaord is Loewe’s true wireless multi-pairing functionality that allows the user to sync up to 14 speakers (if you have that many!) all at once to create a big, enveloping sound. If you get a call when your smartphone is connected to the speaker, the built-in microphone allows you to take it hands-free.

Available in denim, neon, and black finishes, the Loewe We. HEAR pro x Kylian Mbappé goes on sale in May 2024, priced at £255.

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Xbox Game Pass price hike could be sweetened by Call of Duty

Jon Mundy — Thu, 09 May 2024 11:41:57 +0000

Microsoft could be considering another price hike for its Xbox Game Pass subscription service, which might be sweetened by the inclusion of future Call of Duty games.

The company’s beleaguered gaming division has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons of late, with its underperformance underlined by the recent shuttering of a couple of highly regarded internal studios.

In a recent piece examining Microsoft’s Xbox troubles, The Verge journalist Tom Warren has made a couple of noteworthy claims about potential solutions being discussed at MS HQ.

One of those solutions is apparently a straight up price hike for the company’s prestigious Xbox Game Pass game subscription service. Given that we’ve not long received such an increase, it might not go down too well with customers – especially in light of those developer closures. Why pay more for a service that has technically just gotten worse?

Perhaps the second solution being discussed can help out here. According to the report, Microsoft has been discussing adding future Call of Duty games to the Xbox Game Pass roster. Apparently, such discussions have been taking place internally for quite some time now.

It’s easy to see why this would be appealing, given that Call of Duty is one of the biggest properties in gaming, and one that’s almost synonymous with online play.

However, there are clear misgivings about the lost revenue this would incur on Activision Blizzard. Call of Duty is a juggernaut of a money maker as things stand, and the idea of giving its £70 games away for ‘free’ seems counterintuitive, if not downright perverse.

We’re sure Sony would have something to say about such a move, too.

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Nintendo Switch 2 spec leak points to major hardware upgrade

Jon Mundy — Thu, 09 May 2024 11:05:49 +0000

Fresh hardware specs for the Nintendo Switch 2 have leaked online, pointing to a significant hardware upgrade and a new microphone.

No sooner has Nintendo officially confirmed that the Switch 2 is a real thing (they can be remarkably coy about such things), then some solid hardware spec leaks have begun to flow forth.

Established Pokémon tipster CentroLeaks has taken to X (formerly Twitter) with a batch of convincing-looking details, apparently taken straight from the Switch 2 manufacturing line.

Nintendo Switch 2 new leaks. It appears information from manufacturing is starting to leak out.

– 12 GB RAM (two 6 GB 7500 MT/s LPDDR5 modules)
– 256 GB of UFS 3.1 internal storage
– Seems like both the console will include a built-in microphone (and thus maybe controllers too?)
— Centro LEAKS (@CentroLeaks) May 9, 2024

According to this leak, the Nintendo Switch 2 will ship with 12GB of RAM, with the extra elaboration that it will come in the form of “two 6 GB 7500 MT/s LPDDR5 modules”. It’s such minor details that add extra credibility to such supply chain rumours.

By way of a comparison, the original Nintendo Switch ships with 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM, so this is a hefty upgrade, and points to serious ramping up of processing power and a scaling up of resolution output.

While 256 GB of UFS 3.1 internal storage might not sound like a huge amount for a portable device, meanwhile, it’s a massive ramping up compared to the original Switch’s 32GB. This points to a significant scaling up in game file size, again pointing to a significant increase in resolution.

Perhaps the most interesting tidbit here is that the Switch 2 could feature a built-in microphone, whether that’s in the body of the console or the controller. It’s not a quirky feature on a par with the 3DS’s 3D display or the Wii’s motion-controllers, but it might suggest that online social play is a focus for Nintendo’s next console.

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Google Find My Device can find a Pixel several hours after powering down

Jon Mundy — Thu, 09 May 2024 10:08:21 +0000

Google has revealed that its new Find My Device network can help you locate a Pixel phone even several hours after it has powered down.

The company launched its updated tool for locating lost or stolen phones in North America last month, leveraging the vast number of Android devices out there to pinpoint where a registered phone is.

We knew at the time that Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro owners would get a bonus feature – the ability to locate your phone even when it’s offline or powered down. All we got by way of an explanation at the time was that this was thanks to “specialised Pixel hardware” that Google is working to bring to other manufacturers.

Now this feature has begun cropping up on Pixel 8-family devices, including the brand new Pixel 8a, along with a little more explanation.

As spotted by 9to5Google, the company has begun sending notifications to Pixel 8 phones that are signed up through the Find My Device app, revealing that the phone can be located for “several hours” after it has powered down.

In a related support page, Google explains that you’ll need to have your Pixel 8 device set to ‘With network in high-traffic areas only’ or ‘With network in all areas’ in the Find My Device app, and that you’ll need to have both Bluetooth and Location turned on.

Any device within the Find My Device network will use Bluetooth to scan for other nearby devices, and will then send secure location information where detected. The aforementioned “specialised Pixel hardware” in the Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, and now Pixel 8a can evidently keep this function going for a while after the handset has been powered down or run out of battery.

This expanded Find My Device feature only seems to be operating in the US and Canada at present, but the UK appears to be next up to gain support. Keep those eyes peeled, British Pixel 8 users.

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New Asus ROG Ally handheld gaming PC set to be announced later today

Jon Mundy — Thu, 09 May 2024 09:23:06 +0000

Asus will announced a new ROG Ally handheld gaming PC later today, it’s been confirmed.

The company has posted a YouTube premiere video that’s set to go live at 8PM tonight, GMT. Its title is a fairly unambiguous “The next ROG Ally is coming…”.

Given that it’s been only a year since the launch of the original Asus ROG Ally – an expensive (£699), technically advanced gaming handheld – it seems unlikely this is going to be a full-blown ROG Ally 2 follow-up.

Rather, we’re expecting a relatively subtle refresh. Indeed, such a minor overhaul was predicted in a Videocardz report earlier this week. The website called this new handheld the ‘Asus ROG Ally 2024’ in reference to its “mid-product refresh” status.

That report claimed that the new ROG Ally would pack much the same hardware set-up as the first generation model, including the exact same Ryzen Z1 chip. On the improvement front, it may feature a larger battery, and should also fix the widely reported SD card reader issue that has plagued some units.

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We gave the original Asus ROG Ally a positive 4-star review, praising it as “a more powerful alternative to the Steam Deck”. We particularly appreciated its streamlined design and its Full HD display.

On the negative side, there are obvious issues with the ROG Ally’s battery life, so rumours of a model with a larger capacity cell would make a certain amount of sense.

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Audio-Technica shows off limited edition wood headphone at Munich High End

Kob Monney — Thu, 09 May 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Audio-Technica affair with wooden headphones continues with the ATH-WBLTD, which builds upon the success of the ATH-WB2022.

Only 300 pairs are to be made available for this pair of portable (yes, portable) headphones when they go on sale.

The headphones have been tuned specifically for analogue connections, its new 45mm HD drivers are intended to help create a “responsive and expressive soundscape”. The integration of a diamond-like carbon (DLC) coated diaphragm is claimed to be able to reveal the “subtlest tones in audio from the “lowest frequencies to the highest”.

The earcup housings are made from three layers of solid flame maple, walnut, and mahogany; which have been chosen to produce a beautiful grain finish and “superior acoustic and vibration-damping properties”. The hosuings have been hand polished by the artisans at Fujigen Inc., a leading manaufacturer in Japane of guitars.

The stitched earpads and headband are made from smooth, highly durable sheepskin to help keep comfort levels high, while the mageniusm alloy headphone arm is angled to provide the best fit when worn.

While the headphones can’t be folded inwards, they can be folded flat to slip inside the carry case, while accessories include two detachable 1.2m cables with A2DC (Audio Designed Detachable Coaxial) connectors, one with a dual-sided balanced cable with 4.4mm 5-pole plugs, and the other with a 3.5mm stereo mini plus. A 6.3mm adapter is also included for connecting to other audio sources.

You may want to take a sharp intake of breath once you hear the price, however, with the Audio-Technica ATH-WBLTD priced at £1599 / €1799. They’re on sale right now, so if you don want to get this limited edition pair of headphones, stop reading this article and head to the Audio-Technica website now.

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TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro toughens up one of the best smartwatches around

Jon Mundy — Thu, 09 May 2024 08:08:29 +0000

Mobvoi has announced the TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro, an altogether tougher take on last year’s excellent Wear OS smartwatch.

As the name suggests, the TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro is closely related to the TicWatch Pro 5, but with a little extra – you guessed it – endurance. At least from a physical perspective.

It runs on the same Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 chip, together with the same 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. Despite what that name might suggest, it also packs the same 628 mAh battery.

Not that the latter is remotely an issue. Together with a unique 1.43-inch dual-display (which switches between punchy OLED and efficient ULP), the TicWatch Pro 5 was capable of truly epic battery life – we’re talking several days on a single charge.

Where Mobvoi has made improvements is with the external build. The TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro has a new sapphire crystal display that’s way more resistant to nicks and scratches than before.

It also gains new reinforced bezel curves, so the area immediately around that new glass is also tougher. The body itself is formed from the same 7000-series aluminum and nylon as before, but it’s fractionally slimmer overall at 11.95mm (vs 12.2mm). The rotating crown is now bigger and more ergonomically crafted.

Mobvoi has swapped out the TicWatch Pro 5’s silicone band for a sportier “Fluororubber” one.

These are relatively minor embellishments to an already superb smartwatch, so it’s good to see that Mobvoi is keeping the pricing the same. It’s available to buy now at £329.99 / $349.99.

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The WiiM Ultra and Amp Pro are a super-affordable streaming combo

Kob Monney — Thu, 09 May 2024 08:00:00 +0000

The launches are arriving in their droves at Munich High End with the news that WiiM has revealed two new products in its smart home line-up.

And those products are the Ultra streamer and Amp Pro. The former acts as a digital hub within your home, a Swiss Army knife of a streaming device in that it can connect to array of devices within your home. The Amp Pro is an upgraded model of the Amp that was launched in 2023, that looks to give TV speakers or a record player a boost both in sound and in wireless connectivity.

The Ultra streamer mirrors the same compact form factor of WiiM’s previous products, but features a 3.5-inch full colour touchscreen, physical volume dial and a selection of audio inputs and outputs that includes HDMI ARC, line-In, phono-in, and optical inputs, along with line-out, optical, coaxial, USB, subwoofer, and a dedicated headphone output port.

Because of those connectivity options, WiiM says it can be connected to a “wide range of devices” too, a list that includes turntables, TVs, AV receivers, subwoofers, smart speakers, and headphones.

And wireless options are plentiful with Bluetooth 5.3 streaming and Wi-Fi, the latter enabling AirPlay 2, Google Chromecast, Alexa Cast, DLNA, Spotify Connect, and TIDAL Connect. Within the WiiM Home App, there is access to music services such as Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer, Qobuz, TIDAL, Pandora, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, and SoundCloud.

Inside is a 32-bit/384kHz ES9038 Q2M SABRE DAC, allowing for bit-perfect hi-res audio streaming, and the Ultra packs in room correction technology to optimise the audio performances for any connected speakers or subwoofers.

The WiiM Amp Pro features upgrades based on consumer feedback from the previous model, with the internal circuitry having undergone a redesign, along with minor cosmetic updates to its form factor. WiiM describes it as not “just an amplifier [but] a 2-in-1 solution for the home audio ecosystem.”

credit: WiiM

It offers 60W per channel at 8ohms or 120W at 4ohms, and is capable of powering four speakers at once. Like the WiiM Ultra you get Wi-Fi 6E support and Bluetooth 5.3 streaming, built-in room correction technology, and the same 32-bit/384kHz ES9038 DAC along with a TI TPA3255 Class-D amplifier.

All that’s left to mention is when they’ll be available and the price. Both devices are due in Q3 2024, for the price of $329 for the Ultra and $369 the Amp Pro.

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Q Acoustic's 3000c loudspeaker series offers "affordable, high-performance" sound

Kob Monney — Thu, 09 May 2024 08:00:00 +0000

Q Acoustics has revealed its latest affordable loudspeaker series in the 3000c, building on the legacy of its well-regarded 3000i speakers.

With the 3000c, Q Acoustics once again looks to offer a “sonic performance and high-quality design and build” above its price rivals, presenting an entry-point into “modern audiophile” world for an affordable price.

The series is made up of 3010c bookshelf, 3020c standmount, the bigger 3030c standmount, 3050c floorstander, with the 3090c centre-channel for those wanting to create a home cinema surround system.

There’s trickle down technology from the 5000 series and M40 micro-tower speakers with the 3000c featuring the C3 Continuous Curved Cone mid/bass driver. Q Acoustics claims the 3000c will be able to deliver an articulate but fast mid-range performance, with controlled but powerful bass, alongside “nuanced and detailed high frequencies”.

Other technology that features in the speakers includes Q Acoustics’ P2P bracing to minimise low-end reverberation, improving the stereo image and soundstage as a result. The 3050c floorstander integrates Helmholtz Pressure Equaliser tubes, which are intended to disrupt the build-up of standing waves within the cabinet, smoothing out the frequency response and reducing distortion.

credit: Q Acoustics

The 3000c series continues Q Acoustics’ recent minimalist design approach with its speakers, with no discerning joints or bolts noticeable on the spealer itself. There’s also a one-piece driver trim in satin nickel and satin chrome (white finish only) to help give the 3000c models a more sophisticated air.

The line-up comes in four new finishes, which includes a lighter (Pin Oak) and darker wood (Claro Rosewood) alongside Satin White and Satin Black finishes. The stabilizer from the M40 makes an appearance on the 3050c that features adjustable spikes to level the speakers.

We’ve been given details on pricing and availability, but the former could potentially change as we get closer to its August release date. At the time of going to press, the pricing is:

3010c bookshelf: £329 / € 399 / $399
3020c standmount: £399 / € 499 / $499
3030c standmount: £499 / €649 / $649
3050c floorstander: £899 / € 1199 / $1199
3090c centre channel: £299 / € 399 / $399

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The Dali Rubikore speakers look to bring immersive sound to your home

Kob Monney — Thu, 09 May 2024 08:00:00 +0000

It’s the week of Munich High End and hi-fi brands are littering the interwebs with new product announcements. One of them is Danish brand Dali, which has announced its Rubikore speaker series.

The series consists of five models, two of which are floorstanders in the Rubikore 8 and Rubikore 6. The Rubikore 2 is a bookshelf model, while the Rubikore on-wall is… the on-wall model. Completing the series is LCR home cinema speaker the Rubikore Cinema. The use cases for these speakers involve both hi-fi and home cinema listening.

Drawing inspiration from Dali’s Kore speaker series, the Rubikore series comes packed with “several cutting-edge technologies” that include Clarity Cone technology SMC Drivers, SMC-KORE Inductors, Hybrid Tweeter Modules with a brand new Low-Loss Dome Tweeter, and Continuous Flare Bass Reflex Ports.

Breaking those technologies down, the Clarity Cone bass/midrange driver diaphragms are to ensure “unparelled” natural midrange clarity without any artificial colouration. The SMC motor systems are there to achieve minimal distortion and optimal efficiency.

The Rubikore 8 and 6 floorstanders feature SMC Kore inductors within their crossover circuits to reduce signal loss, while the entire range features high-performance Mundorf capacitors.

The Rubikore 2, 6, and 8 speakers have enclosures equipped Continuous Flare Reflex Ports to maximise efficiency and in the same breath reduce turbelence and noise.

Inspiration from Dali Kore comes from its Evo-K Hybrid tweeter, with the new Rubikore series introducing a new Low-Loss Dome Tweeter to achieve what Dali claims is the highest resolution in high-frequency sound.

Dali says that each Rubikore Series loudspeaker is “meticuously hand-crafted and assembled” by Dali in Denmark. Finishes come in high gloss black, high gloss maroon, natural walnut, and high gloss white.

Availability begins in June 2024, with prices for the loudspeakers as follows.

Rubikore 8: £5999
Rubikore 6: £4499
Rubikore 2: £2299
Rubikore On-wall: £1299
Rubikore Cinema: £1799

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Sky Sports Plus offers more ways to watch your favourite sports

Kob Monney — Wed, 08 May 2024 11:54:47 +0000

Sky Sports has announced of a new dedicated channel in Sky Sports+, and it’ll be available to sports subscribers at no extra cost.

The new channel launches in August, allowing customers the ability to watch a wide range of sports via live streams, the Sky Sports mobile app, and the new dedicated channel. Sky Sports says you’ll be able to watch 50% more live sport when it launches.

The channel has the capability to show up to 100 live events via concurrent streams, and has been integrated into Sky TV, NOW, and the revamped Sky Sports mobile app. And of course, you’ll be able to watch on a range of Sky devices, including Sky Glass, Sky Stream, Sky Q and NOW.

The channel will show coverage from the men’s Super League, as well as coverage from the ATP and WTA tours, US Open, PGA Tour golf and other events.

EFL fans will be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the new channel, as the 2024/25 seasons marks the beginning of a new long-term partnership with Sky, with over 1000 EFL games a season set to be broadcast through Sky Sports. The first weekend of the season will see every game from across all three divisions streamed live in a broadcasting first.

Live pause and rewind functionality will be available on all concurrent streams, and the ‘Recap’ feature that was previously available on Premier League and Championship matches will make its way to all EFL games shown on the Sky Sports+ linear channel. NOW sports subscribers will also be able to pause and rewing live sports content for the first time.

The refreshed mobile app will offer personalisation features to help fans keep track of their favourite teams, while the design and navigation have also been retooled, with a new dark mode to improve usability.

Sky says it’s not just live events that the channel will be host to either, with exclusive access to Sky’s sports documentaries, with the Darts documentary that’s coming later this year set to be broadcast on the channel two weeks before it’s seen anywhere else.

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Could the Galaxy S25 finally close the Exynos performance gap?

Jon Mundy — Wed, 08 May 2024 11:39:50 +0000

The Galaxy S25 could finally be the phone that sees Samsung’s home-brewed Exynos chip line catching up to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon equivalent.

That’s the claim being made by established tipster Revegus over on X (formerly Twitter).

E2500-related news:

Internally at Samsung, it's judged that the E2500 doesn't lag behind the 8G4 in terms of quality. (However, it's unclear whether this is because the Nuvia cores of the 8G4 are not good, making the E2500 relatively better, or if the E2500 itself is good.)
— JH.C (@Revegnus1) May 8, 2024

The tipster is suggesting that Samsung is confident the E2500 – that is, the next-gen Exynos 2500 chip that will presumably power the global variant of the Galaxy S25 – won’t struggle for performance up against the 8G4 – that is, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 that will power the vast majority of Android flagship phones in 2025, including (presumably) the US model of the Galaxy S25.

Now, we’ve been burned too many times by Samsung’s assurances regarding its own processor efforts. Anyone remember the Exynos 2200 of 2022, with its AMD GPU support and bold claims of a console-style ray tracing?

While such Samsung efforts are generally fine for day to day usage, they almost invariably fall short of their off-the-shelf Qualcomm counterparts, whether in terms of performance or power efficiency.

Indeed, for a moment there in 2023 when Samsung went with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 across the line, we thought (hoped?) it might have thrown in the towel altogether. However, the Galaxy S24 has launched in recent months with the Exynos 2400 powering the global model, and it’s back to the old Exynos/Snapdragon performance gap.

You’ll forgive us for taking these latest claims with a pinch of salt, then. Indeed, the tipster throws an interesting question of their own into the mix – is Samsung confident that its next chip is really good, or is the company finding that Qualcomm has dropped the ball with its own next-gen effort?

We won’t know for sure until around February 2025, we suspect.

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