Lenovo’s new IdeaPad 5i Chromebook has a fast 120Hz display

Lenovo has launched a new Chromebook, two new Android tablets, and a new series of monitors at the IFA show in Berlin. The new IdeaPad 5i Chromebook is Lenovo’s first 16-inch Chromebook with a 120Hz display. Alongside it is the second generation Tab P11 Pro and Lenovo Tab P11 which are getting slight technical improvements. Capping out the announcements are five monitors, focused on the needs of both gamers as well as those looking to stay productive.

IdeaPad 5i Chromebook

The highlight of the announcements for most people will be the IdeaPad 5i Chromebook. This is a significant addition to Lenovo’s Chromebook lineup, as it’s the first that is 16-inches in size, but it doesn’t have a launch date or price in the United States. It is a decently specced machine, though.

The IdeaPad 5i Chromebook sports a 2.5K resolution borderless display, with a refresh rate of 120Hz, which will make the content on the screen look fluent and fast. This refresh rate isn’t quite common on Chromebooks, either, which makes it extra special.

Powering the device are Intel Core i3-1215U or Intel Pentium 8505 CPUs and either 4GB or 8GB of RAM. For storage, you can choose between an eMMC or an SSD. the eMMC options include 64GB or 128GB, and traditional SSDs will come in 256GB or 512GB.

There’s also an FHD webcam on board, and two user-facing speakers for added immersive feeling. Weight comes in at 4.10 pounds and the Chromebook is about 0.8 inches thick. Ports range from 2 USB-A Type-C ports, 2 USB 3.2 Type-A ports, a headphone jack, and a MicroSD card slot.

Lenovo Tab P11 Pro (2nd Gen) and Lenovo Tab P11 (2nd Gen)

The other two addition’s in Lenovo’s IFA launch are the second generation Tab P11 Pro and Lenovo Tab P11. The Tab P11 Pro will start at $400 and will come in September 2022. The Tab P11 will start at $250 and will come in January 2023. Both of these are generational improvements with slight jumps in processing power.

The Tab P11 Pro 2nd Gen will be Lenovo’s new flagship Android tablet, replacing the first generation when launched. It keeps a lot of the same design features as the first version but gets a bump in specs. Now onboard is the MediaTek 1300T SoC which Lenovo says can offer 120% more power than the last generation. RAM and storage options will range from 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, or 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The screen is still bright and vibrant, keeping an 11.2-inch 2.5K resolution OLED panel with up to a 120Hz refresh rate. The optional keyboard case is also unchanged, as is the Lenovo Precision Pen 3. Ports are just a single USB Type C, which was a complaint that wasn’t addressed from the last generation.

The Lenovo Tab P11 2nd Gen is the cheaper version of the P11 Pro. It comes with the MediaTek Helio G99 under the hood, for a 50% boost in power between generations. RAM and storage options include 4GB RAM and 64GB of storage, 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, or 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. It has a slightly less vibrant IPS display, but in a lower 2K resolution but still with the 120Hz refresh rate.

Both tablets are guaranteed to get two major Android OS updates up to Android 14. Lenovo will also include a subscription to Nebo, which is a note-taking, and drawing, app. MyScript is also included, which is a calculation tool.

Lenovo Legion Y32p-30 Gaming Monitor

As for the gaming monitor, Lenovo is launching the Legion Y32p- 30. This is a 31.5-inch display that has a 144Hz refresh rate, and 0.2ms response time. Of course, it’s 4K resolution, too, and has some bonus features like a sensor that can detect the brightness to adjust the screen for the best viewing depending on the time of day. RGB lights can be found under the bezel, too. The main ports include 2 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x DisplayPort 1.4, and a USB Type-C.

Note that Lenovo is including joystick navigation on this monitor. This has been a top requested feature and makes navigating the menus easier. The stand is ergonomic and can swivel, pivot, and move up and down. A cell phone holder is included at the bottom front of the stand for convenience.

The Lenovo Legion Y32p-30 Gaming Monitor is expected to start at $750. It will come in December of 2022.

New ThinkVision Monitors

Capping out Lenovo’s announcements are a series of new ThinkVision monitors. The notables on the list include the T34w-30, T32p-30, and the S25e-30.

If that confused you, don’t worry. Of the bunch, the most interesting is the ThinkVision T34w-30. This monitor is a 34-inch WQHD resolution display with a 21:9 aspect ratio and 1500R curve. This is a widescreen display for multitasking, which is why the refresh rate will cap out at 60Hz. Ports include USB Type-C, HDMI 2.0, and DisplayPort 1.4.

The ThinkVision T32p-30, meanwhile, is a new Lenovo monitor catered more toward everyday users. With slim bezels, it has a 31.5-inch panel tuned at 4K resolution.

Last up is the ThinkVision S25e-30. This is a monitor for small businesses. It sports a 24.5-inch panel at 1920 x 1080 resolution. The monitor can cover 99% sRGB color gamut and has a 75Hz refresh rate. Connectivity options include VGA, HDMI 1.4, and 3.5 mm audio out.

The ThinkVision T34w-30 Monitor starts at $849.00 and is expected to become available in January 2023. The ThinkVision S25e-30 starts at $179 and will come in January 2023. Lastly, the ThinkVision S25e-30 will start at $849 and will come out in January 2023.

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Apple iPhone 14 Pro may relocate privacy indicators to the hole-and-pill cutout

Rumors have been swirling since the beginning of the year about Apple replacing its iconic notch with a hole-and-pill cutout on the iPhone 14 Pro. As we get closer to the announcement of the next iPhones, we are hearing more and more news about how Apple may utilize the new design. While filling in the cutout with black seemed like a strange idea initially, we are getting new details about how Apple may use the blacked-out area.

According to 9to5Mac, Apple will use the newly created space between the hole-and-pill to relocate the green and orange indicators that are currently on the iOS status bar. If you’re unfamiliar with these indicators, they were added in iOS 14, giving users a visual representation of when the microphone or camera was in use. If the camera was in use, a green indicator dot appeared in the status bar. The same would apply to the microphone, with an orange indicator appearing in the status bar when in use.

The problem with the current design is that both indicators cannot appear simultaneously, even if the camera and microphone are being used. If you are using an app that utilizes both, it turns orange and quickly shifts to green. The source states that with the upcoming change, iOS will be able to show both indicators at once. Additionally, Apple plans to allow users to tap on these indicators to see a list of which apps are using or have used the camera or microphone.

Furthermore, Apple may also redesign the Camera app, moving the advanced features to the top of the display. Currently, they reside in a sub-menu near the bottom near the shutter button. The change will give users more screen real estate, dedicating more of the display to the camera’s live preview. The source indicates that these new changes are being tested and that Apple plans to implement them in a future version of iOS. But, since they are in testing, there is always a possibility that they could be removed. Thankfully, we won’t have to wait long to find out, as Apple will hold its “Far Out” event on September 7.

Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro may use the hole-and-pill cutout to relocate privacy indicators.

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Source: 9to5Mac

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Going forward, Oppo will stop including chargers with some of its products

Over the past few years, many smartphone manufacturers have stopped including charging adapters with their phones. Apple is perhaps best known for being one of the first to start this trend, and soon many followed. While Oppo was a long time hold out, the company has now confirmed that it will also abandon the charger, withholding it from some of its products that will be released over the coming year.

The news was shared during the company’s European launch event of the Oppo Reno 8 Pro, the Reno 8, and the Reno 8 Lite. Billy Zhang, who is Oppo’s vice president of overseas sales and services, relayed the new strategy to press in attendance, stating, “We will take the charger out of the box in the next year for several products. We have a plan.” Oppo is in a precarious position considering that it has been working on and building up its proprietary charging technology, VOOC, and Super VOOC, since 2014. The company has included the adapters with many of its phones, allowing its devices to charge faster and more efficiently than the competition.

Zhang addressed this by stating, “It’s not that easy for consumers to get access to [SuperVOOC chargers], so we have to keep it in the box. However, as we are expanding our business operations, we are looking to taking chargers out of the box and put them in the store so that our users are able to buy the chargers and continue using them even when they upgrade their devices.” Unfortunately, Zhang didn’t dive any further into the subject, so it is unknown as of now what products will be affected. Of course, “the plan” could involve any number of moves, that will undoubtedly require numerous considerations.

As Oppo aligns itself with other companies by removing charging adapters from its products over the coming year, Zhang didn’t explain why the company was shifting its strategy. But like most of its competitors, the reason is usually linked to environmental reasons. Apple first announced it was removing chargers from its boxes with the launch of the iPhone 12. At the time, the company cited that:

“Power adapters use the largest amounts of certain materials. Using smaller, lighter packaging lets us fit up to 70% more iPhone boxes per shipping pallet, which helps further reduce our carbon footprint. Eliminating power adapters from device packaging lets us avoid more than 2 million metric tons of carbon emissions, equivalent to removing 500,000 cars from the road for a year. Leaving out those adapters was a bold change for Apple and a necessary one for our planet.”

Going forward, Oppo will also have to make bold decisions, deciding on what devices will and will not include charging adapters. While it is a big move for the company, one can only wait and see how its customer will react.

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Source: Android Police

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How to customize notification settings on Windows 11

Notifications can be a hugely important feature on our laptops, just like they are on our smartphones. They let us know when something needs our attention, and if you get distracted easily, that can help you stay on track. However, as we install more and more apps, notifications are constantly competing for our attention, and sometimes you just want to focus. Thankfully, you can customize notification settings in a variety of ways on Windows 11, and we’re here to help.

In this guide, we’re going to take a closer look at the options you have to customize notifications on Windows 11. These can help you make notifications less intrusive and allow you to focus on what’s truly important to you. With that established, let’s get right into it.

Navigate this article:

• General notification settings
• Focus assist
  • Priority list
• Per-app notification settings
• Changes in Windows 11 version 22H2
  • Focus

Customize general notification settings

Let’s start with the basics of notification settings. First off, if you want to get to notification settings on Windows 11, there are two ways to do it. The quickest way is to right-click the date and time section in the corner of your taskbar, then choose Notification settings.

Alternatively, you can use the Start menu to open the Settings app, then choose Notifications in the System section (which opens by default).

Here, you’re presented with an overview of your notification settings. You can disable notifications altogether, or click the first option, Notifications, to expand a drop-down menu. This menu has some additional options, such as turning off notification sounds. You can also choose whether you want notifications to show up on the lock screen, including a specific setting for reminders and incoming calls. Below that, there’s Focus assist, the Windows equivalent of Do not disturb. We’ll look at that in a bit.

You can also enable or disable notifications for each app. The apps shown here are only the ones that have sent you at least one notification, so the list may not show apps you just installed. You can click each app to go into more specific settings for that app, but we’ll explore that later.

At the bottom of the page, you can also find settings for certain notifications from the Windows system itself. For example, you can turn off suggestions on how to use certain features, or whether you want to see the Windows welcome experience after installing a new feature update. This welcome experience can teach you about new features in the update, so it can be useful, but it’s not for everyone.

Focus assist

Focus assist is the Windows 11 equivalent of Do not disturb, and it can block almost all incoming notifications as long as it’s enabled. When you clock the Focus assist option in the page shown above, you can customize various settings related to that feature. For starters, you can choose to leave it off, or use the Priority or Alarm settings. Priority mode lets you choose certain notifications that can break through Focus assist, while Alarm mode only lets alarms through.

There’s also an option here to let you see notifications you missed while Focus assist was on. With this enabled, when you disable Focus assist, you’ll see a notification with a summary of everything you missed.

Below these options, you a section for automatic rules, which are certain situations where Focus assist will kick in automatically. There are options to enable it during a specific time of the day, along with more special rules, such as when you’re duplicating your display or while running a full-screen app. These can be useful so you don’t get awkward notifications while you’re presenting your screen, or if you don’t want to get interrupted while playing a game. Oddly enough, there’s also a rule to disable notifications for the first hour after installing a feature update, and it’s enabled by default.

If you click any of these rules, you can choose whether you want Focus assist to turn on in Priority mode or Alarm mode, and you can also choose whether you want to be notified when Focus assist is enabled automatically.

Customizing your priority list

As mentioned above, one of the options Focus assist offers is called Priority, and this allows select apps to still send notifications if you consider them important. If you click Customize priority list, you can choose to allow VoIP calls to come through, as well as reminders. Then, of course, you can choose specific apps you want to add to your priority list, so notifications from those apps are always shown. A few apps are added by default, but you can remove them or add some others.

There’s also a section on this page to allow notifications from certain people to break through. This is based on the People app, however, which is basically unusable nowadays, and it only includes Outlook contacts. It doesn’t even work with Microsoft Teams contacts, despite the app being built into Windows 11.

Customize per-app notification settings in Windows 11

Finally, let’s talk about notification settings for individual apps. As we mentioned above, the notifications settings page (Settings -> System -> Notifications) lets you turn notifications on or off for each app. However, you can also click an app’s name to see more detailed notification settings for that app.

For example. let’s go with Microsoft Teams, since it’s built into Windows 11. When you open the notification settings for that app, you see a few options. First off, you can choose whether you want notification banners to show up – those are the little pop-ups that show up on the bottom right corner of your screen. You can also choose whether you want those notifications to be visible in the notification center, which you can open by clicking the date and time on your taskbar (or by pressing the Windows key and N on your keyboard).

Other options let you hide notification contents on the lock screen, so people can’t see your notifications without entering your password or PIN. You can also turn off notification sounds and choose the priority level of notifications from that app. A higher priority means notifications will be shown at the top of the notification center, and if you receive multiple high-priority notifications, you can also see up to three of them pop up on screen at once, as opposed to just one for normal notifications.

Notification settings in Windows 11 version 22H2

So far, we’ve talked about the notification settings in the original release of Windows 11, but you may already be running Windows 11 version 22H2. This is the first feature update to Windows 11, and it comes with a few important changes to notification settings. In this version, if you go to the notification settings page (Settings  -> System -> Notifications), things look a bit different, but most of the functionality is the same.

For starters, Focus assist has been renamed to Do not disturb, so it aligns with what you probably already know from other platforms. It’s been simplified, too, so it’s either on or off, and you can no longer choose between Priority or Alarms mode. Plus, all the Do not disturb settings are now directly available in the notifications page, without taking you to a separate page entirely.

It’s also worth noting that the page where you customize the priority list has been updated with a new design, and it removes the useless People section we mentioned above.

Focus

Something new you will notice in the new Notifications page is the Focus option. This is where you can choose options related to focus sessions, a feature that was introduced with Windows 11 as part of the Clock app. In this page, you can start a focus session, choose how long it will last, and hide taskbar notification badges and flashing (when an app on the taskbar turns orange to get your attention).

When you start a focus session, it will enable the settings you choose on this page. You can learn more about the Clock app with focus sessions in our deep dive if you’re interested in that.

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And that’s all you need to know about how to customize notification settings on your Windows 11 PC. If you’re keen on learning more about Windows 11, we have a few other guides for you. We have an general guide on how to use Windows 11 as a whole, which is a great starting point for new users.

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These are the Best Android Phones under $500 in 2022!

The budget smartphone segment has matured quite a bit over the last few years. Now, even the sub-$500 Android phones can provide a great experience, and you don’t need to shell out for a flagship to get decent performance. We’ve seen several excellent affordable smartphones launch this year, and if you’re in the market for a new phone, it’s a great time to get one. We’ve picked the best Android phones under $500 that you can consider in your buying decision.

Here are some of the best cheap phones you can buy right now in the US. We’ll also sneak in some non-US devices that are good enough to actually be worth importing, although we’ll mostly focus on devices that will work in the American market.

Navigate this guide:

• Best Overall: Samsung Galaxy A53
• Best Camera: Google Pixel 6a
• Best Performance: OnePlus 9
• Best bang for the buck: OnePlus 8T
• Best Compact: iPhone SE 3 (2022)
• Best Innovation: ZTE Axon 30
• Best phone with a stylus: Moto G Stylus 5G (2022)
• Honorable Mention: OnePlus Nord 2T

Best Overall: Samsung Galaxy A53

If you want the best smartphone that can do it all and will continue to receive software updates for a long time, look no further than the Galaxy A53 5G. The Galaxy A53 5G picks up where the Galaxy A53 left off. It packs a bigger battery, a faster chipset, and a tweaked design. The Galaxy A53 is a minor refresh, so if you are rocking the Galaxy A52, there’s probably no need to upgrade. What makes the Galaxy A53 so great is that it backs up the amazing hardware with equally great software support. Samsung promises up to four years of Android OS updates and five years of security updates, which is not only unheard of in this price range but also beats the best flagships out there, including Google’s own Pixel 6 series.

Launched at $449, the Galaxy A53 has now come down to $349, making it even more attractive. You get a beautiful 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 800 nits brightness. This is one of the best panels you can get for under $500. It gets plenty bright and offers punchy colors.

Under the hood, the Galaxy A53 packs Samsung’s in-house Exynos 1280 chipset, paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The Galaxy A53 houses the same camera setup as its predecessor, featuring a 64MP primary shooter, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and two 5MP depth and macro shooters. As we noted in our review, the phone delivers excellent photos in good lighting conditions, and it also fares surprisingly well in low light and at night. The phone’s large 5,000mAh battery won’t quit in the middle of the day and supports 25W fast charging.

If you like to hold onto your smartphones for a long period, the Galaxy A53 is an excellent value-for-money option as not only you’re getting the best-in-class hardware but also the best-in-class software support.

Samsung Galaxy A53

The Galaxy A53 offers a beautiful AMOLED display, Exynos 1280 chipset, and five years of software support.

Buy from Samsung

Best camera: Pixel 6a

The Pixel A series has long offered the best features of flagship Google phones at an affordable price tag. The new Pixel 6a is no different. It’s the best cheap phone from Google yet, bringing several notable improvements over previous phones. While old Pixel A phones featured unassuming designs, the Pixel 6a packs a bold design that stands out from the crowd. The Pixel 6a also packs Google’s in-house Tensor SoC, the same flagship chipset that powers the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro.

The Pixel 6a was launched at $449, but it has already seen price drops several times, bringing it down to $400. The Pixel 6a’s biggest strength is the flagship Tensor SoC, providing fast performance and enhancing features like voice dictation and Now Playing using on-device machine learning. The camera performance is excellent as always, but it’s sad to see Google not equipping the phone with the same camera sensors as the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. You get the same 12MP primary shooter found on all previous Pixel A phones.

The display is one of the weakest links of the Pixel 6a. While the 6.1-inch OLED panel offers good saturation, deep blacks, and sufficient brightness, it lacks a higher refresh rate. If you’re coming from a phone with a 60Hz display, this is unlikely to notice this difference, but it is nevertheless an odd omission given every phone at this price point at least offers a 90Hz display.

The phone packs a 4,410mAh battery which will easily last you a whole day. However, the 18W charging speed is nothing to write home about, and it also doesn’t help that Google doesn’t include a charger inside the box.

Software is a strong suit of the Pixel 6a. The phone runs a near-stock version of Android 12 with the Material You theme and is guaranteed to receive OS updates at least until Android 15.

Google Pixel 6a

The Google 6a packs Tensor SoC and excellent cameras.

Buy from Google Store

Best performance: OnePlus 9

If flagship-grade performance is what you’re after, the OnePlus 9 5G might just fit the bill. Although more than a year old at this point, OnePlus’ last year’s flagship still packs a powerful punch and can easily hold its own against any Snapdragon 8 Gen 1-powered flagship. But performance is not the only great thing about the OnePlus 9 5G. It also has capable Hasselblad-branded cameras, a bright, beautiful display, and a super-fast charging speed.

Originally launched at $730, the phone is often on sale for $499 on Amazon and OnePlus.com, making it an enticing option for anyone looking for an affordable flagship. You get a 6.55-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1100 nits brightness. On the inside, the phone is powered by a Snapdragon 888 chipset, paired with 8GB/12GB of RAM and 128GB/256GB UFS 3.1 storage. The back houses a 48MP primary camera, a 50MP ultra-wide shooter, and a 2MP monochrome lens. You also get a large 4,500mAh battery with 65W fast wired charging and 15W wireless charging support. The phone ships with Android 11 out of the box, but you can update it to the latest OxygenOS 12 software based on Android 12.

From design and performance to cameras and charging speed, you’re getting nothing short of a flagship experience here. OnePlus has promised three years of OS updates and four years of security updates, meaning the phone will remain up to date with the latest software innovations.

OnePlus 9

The OnePlus 9 is one of the best affordable flagships, packing Snapdragon 888 and capable cameras.

Buy from OnePlus

Best bang for the buck: OnePlus 8T

The OnePlus 8T launched in 2020, and while it may have been outshined by the OnePlus 8 Pro, it was still an amazing phone in its own right. It has a Snapdragon 865 processor, which is still a very capable mobile processor even though the Snapdragon 888 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 are already making the rounds. This was one of the phones that showed OnePlus was still able to deliver excellent bang for the buck, with prices for flagship smartphones in a seemingly permanent upward trend. It also enjoys amazing developer support in our forums, making it an amazing deal for enthusiasts.

You get an excellent 6.55-inch AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and DCI-P3 wide color gamut. The phone can be paired with 8GB or 12GB of RAM and 128GB/256GB UFS 3.1 flash storage. Cameras are not flagship-grade, but they’re far better than any similarly priced mid-ranger out there. You get a 48MP primary shooter, a 16MP ultra-wide shooter, a 5MP macro lens, and a 2MP monochrome lens.

The OnePlus 8T packs a sizeable 4,500mAh battery and offers 65W Warp Charge support. It lacks wireless charging, though. On the software front, the phone runs Android 11 out of the box, but an update to Android 12 with OxygenOS 12 is already available for the device.

It was an amazing device then and still an amazing device now for the price, even with the OnePlus 9 series available and the OnePlus 10 right around the corner. It’s available on the OnePlus website and on Amazon right now for $349, making it an excellent deal for a last-gen flagship.

OnePlus 8T

At $349, you're getting one of the best devices of 2020, with a Snapdragon 865 processor, up to 12 GB of RAM, and a 120Hz display. The new launches by OnePlus have only made it an even better deal now than ever.

Buy at Amazon

Best Compact: iPhone SE 3 (2022)

While the general smartphone trend is towards larger displays and smaller bezels, there are plenty of people who still prefer compact, mini phones. But compact phones often mean sacrificing power and performance. That’s not the case with the iPhone SE (2022). Featuring the flagship A15 Bionic chipset, the iPhone SE packs the same firepower as the iPhone 13 lineup in a compact, one-hand-friendly package.

The iPhone SE 2022 features a ridiculously small 4.7-inch display with chunky top and bottom bezels. And with its iPhone 8-era design, it looks rather outdated. Except for the flagship A15 Bionic chip, the iPhone SE (2022) doesn’t have much going for in the hardware department. It packs a 720p display with a 60Hz refresh rate, DCI-P3 wide color gamut support, and True Tone enhancements.

In a world where multi-setup cameras are all the rage, the iPhone SE 2022 only packs a single 12MP camera. But the powerful A15 chipset, Smart HDR 4, and Deep Fusion compensate for the outdated camera hardware. As Ben noted in his review, the phone produces great shots as long as lighting conditions are favorable, with photos showing above-average dynamic range and on-point colors. However, the camera struggles quite a bit when shooting in tricky lighting conditions, such as low-light settings.

Another area of concern is the battery life, as the iPhone SE’s tiny 2,018mAh battery struggles to last a full day under heavy load. And on top of that, the phone also charges very slowly, with the max charging speed topping out at 18W. Since it’s an iPhone, you have nothing to worry about software support. At the very least, you can expect Apple to provide up to four to five years of software updates.

If you don’t care about the looks and want a solid compact phone under $500 that you can hold onto for years, the iPhone SE 2022 is the best option, without a doubt.

Apple iPhone SE 3 (2022)

The iPhone SE 3 (2022) is the best compact phone on the market, packing powerful A15 chipset and a 4.7-inch display.

Buy from Best Buy

The iPhone SE 3 can also be considered as a contender for the best performant phone under $500, thanks to its flagship chip. But performance seen in the vacuum of a chip only does not paint a true picture. The smaller low refresh rate display does not lend to the best user experience that would take advantage of all that power under the hood, so you’re better off opting for a more rounded option if you’re looking for performance.

Best Newcomer: TCL 20 Pro 5G

TCL might not be the first brand you think about when choosing a smartphone, but as it turns out, they’re bigger than you think. They manufactured a lot of devices from BlackBerry quite recently, for example, and they also made the newest Palm ultra-small Android phone. This time, they’re making phones under their own brand. We got to know them last year with the TCL 10L and the TCL 10 Pro, both of which got a state-side release, and while they’ve been out in the market for several months and successors are already on the way, I’m still counting TCL as a “newcomer” because their brand name is still relatively unknown. TCL is now coming back to the market with the TCL 20 Pro 5G.

The TCL 10 Pro comes with a Snapdragon 750G, a very capable mid-range processor, and a marked upgrade over the previous Snapdragon 675 in the previous TCL 10 Pro (and an upgrade that also means the phone supports 5G connectivity), up to 6 GB of RAM, and 256 GB of storage, making it one of the best cheap phones under $500. The phone is running Android 11 with TCL’s own UI on top, and we expect it to get Android 12 once that’s out as well.

TCL is a rising player in smartphones in the USA, and their latest offering is an amazing proposition for what a lot of people will be using a smartphone for.

TCL 20 Pro 5G

The TCL 20 Pro 5G retails for $499 and brings excellent value to the table with a Snapdragon 750G, quad cameras on the back, a stunning display, up to 256 GB of storage, and 5G support. It's a fan favorite on Amazon, and we can see why.

View at Amazon

Best Innovation: ZTE Axon 30

Usually, smartphones that cost under $500 play it safe and stick to the tried and tested hardware. That means you don’t often see cool innovations on these mid-range devices. But the ZTE Axon 30 is an exception to that rule. The phone features an under-display camera, which allows it to have an almost seamless display without any cutouts or holes. The Axon 20 was technically the first smartphone to bring an under-display camera to the market. However, it was far from perfect and produced blurry photos. The new Axon 30 addresses many of these issues and represents a big qualitative leap over its predecessor. The second-gen under-display camera is no longer visible to the naked eye. You get a large 6.9-inch seamless display without a notch or cutout.

Beyond the under-display camera and the notchless camera, there’s plenty to like about the Axon 30. It’s powered by Qualcomm’s flagship-grade Snapdragon 870 chipset, paired with 8GB RAM and 128GB UFS 3.1 flash storage. As far as general performance is concerned, you have nothing to worry about.

As for cameras, the 64MP primary shooter is dependable and capable of producing stellar photos with a wide dynamic range and accurate colors. But ZTE’s claimed improvements and enhancements, the selfie camera is still disappointing, producing blurry images with quite a bit of bloom.

ZTE Axon 30

The ZTE Axon 30 packs an under-display selfie camera and Snapdragon 870.

Buy from Amazon

Honorable Mention: OnePlus Nord 2T

The OnePlus Nord 2T is an updated version of the highly successful Nord 2. It’s a fantastic mid-range smartphone. The only problem is the phone is restricted to Europe and India, like its predecessor. So instead of being one of our top picks, the phone has been relegated to honorable mentions. Furthermore, if you want the phone in the US, you’ll have to import it, which is a hassle and increases the device’s cost.

From a 6.43-inch AMOLED FHD+ 90Hz display to 65W fast charging support, the Nord 2T comes with all the right things. The new model packs an even faster chipset. It’s powered by MediaTek 1300 SoC, a tiny step up from the MediaTek 1200 on the Nord 2. The camera system is unchanged, with the phone still packing the same 50MP primary shooter, an 8MP ultra-wide camera, and a 2MP depth sensor. While the Nord 2T packs the same 4,500mAh battery, the charging speed has been boosted from 65W to 80W.

The phone’s software, which now includes the elements of Color OS, also doesn’t disappoint and will be appreciated by many people.

OnePlus Nord 2T

The OnePlus 2T is an updated version of the well-received Nord 2, offering a more powerful chipset, new design and faster charging speed.

Buy from Amazon UK

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These are the options we can recommend for different needs under the $500 price tag. Do you agree with our choices? What would you choose under the different categories? Let us know in the comments below.

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Microsoft adds 14 new functions to Excel and more in August

As we’re nearing the end of the month, Microsoft has rounded up the new features it added to Excel during August. These roundups include features for users in the stable channel, as well as Insider channels, and they cover all platforms Excel is available on. One of the highlights this month is the general availability of 14 new functions, mostly focused on text manipulation and dynamic arrays.

Starting with those new functions – which are available across the web, Windows, macOS, and mobile versions of Excel – they’ve been available to Insiders since March, but now they’re rolling out to everyone. Two new functions are TEXTBEFORE and TEXTAFTER, which let you output text from a cell only up to or from a specific point, simplifying the information in them. There’s also a TEXTSPLIT function that lets you split the text in one cell into two or more cells.

Other functions are related to dynamic arrays, which are also a relatively recent feature in Excel. These new functions let you combine, reshape, or resize arrays, so you can organize your data in a way that’s easier to understand.

Aside from this, the bulk of the changes seem to be in Excel for the web. The bigger changes including support for editing spreadsheets with legacy shared workbook features, as well as legacy data connections. Excel for the web also now supports Power Queries for Groups and you can also now create PivotTables that link directly to Power BI datasets. That last feature is also available in Excel for Windows if you’re in the Office Insider Beta channel.

The web version of Excel also now has a multi-line formula bar, and it supports rich text formatting in cells, so you can apply formatting changes only to specific parts of a cell.  Microsoft has also made it easier to delete data series from a chart by simply clicking the data series and pressing the Backspace key on your keyboard.  Finally, you can also now sort rows by color or icon.

On other platforms, most of the changes are exclusive to Office Insiders. If you’re in the Current Channel Preview on Windows, you can also use the new Show changes button, which lets you see the history of changes made to the entire workbook.

On Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, you can now display images directly inside a cell using the new IMAGE function to link to an image resource, as long as you’re in the Beta channel.

And that’s about it for the new Excel features Microsoft added in August. If you’re not an Office Insider, most of these features will likely be available in the next month or two, but we’ll have to wait to know for sure. Of course, as we’ve mentioned, the new features in Excel on the web are available to everyone now.

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Source: Microsoft

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Logitech’s cloud gaming handheld could pack the Snapdragon 720G and a 6,000mAh battery

Logitech is working in partnership with Tencent to bring a new cloud gaming handheld to the market later this year. While the company is yet to release any details about the device, a recent leak gave us our first look at its design. Now, we have a few details about its hardware.

A Google Play Console listing of the Logitech cloud gaming handheld reveals that the device will have the model number GR0006 and will pack the Qualcomm SM7125 SoC (AKA the Snapdragon 720G), the Adreno 618 GPU, and 4GB of RAM. The listing also reveals that the device will run Android 11 out of the box, and it includes a render that confirms the design we saw in the recent leak.

Via: Kuba Wojciechowski

An FCC listing of a Logitech device with the same model number further adds that it will pack a 6,000mAh battery and Wi-Fi 5 support. While there are no mentions of a cellular variant in the FCC listing, it does reveal that the device will likely be called Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld. A USPTO listing of the device also confirms this moniker.

First, the name. I’ve decided to start with this since it should set expectations for the rest of the thread. According to FCC filings and USPTO it’s “Logitech G Cloud”, which emphasizes the streaming nature of the device. pic.twitter.com/lDflSDdpHv

— Kuba Wojciechowski (@Za_Raczke) August 31, 2022

Based on these specs, we suspect that the Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld might just be an affordable console exclusively for cloud gaming services. It might not be great for mobile games, however, due to the older Snapdragon 720G chip, Adreno 618 GPU, and 4GB of RAM. If that’s the case, the Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld might prove to be a tough sell compared to a mid-range smartphone with a gaming controller.

Would you pick a dedicated cloud gaming device over a similarly-priced mid-range Android smartphone and gaming controller combo? Let us know in the comments section below.

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How to factory reset an Apple HomePod or HomePod Mini

Almost all of the time, Apple’s HomePod and HomePod Mini are simple to use and just get on with their job without fuss. But occasionally things go wrong. In those instances, you have options, like rebooting the HomePod. But in others, you’ll need to pull out the big guns and go for a full factory reset. You also need to do this before disposing off or selling your HomePod speaker.

Setting up the HomePod is such an incredibly simple process you’re probably hoping the same is true of resetting. That isn’t totally untrue, but as the settings and controls are designed to get out of the way, it’s not immediately obvious how to do it.

Never fear. Let’s dive in and explain it all.

What to try first if your HomePod is misbehaving

Resetting your HomePod should be the last resort if it’s misbehaving. There was a time also you would need to do this just to change to a new Wi-Fi network, but thankfully that isn’t the case anymore. But before resetting you should try simply restarting your HomePod to see if it fixes the problem.

You can do this in the Home app either on a Mac or on an iOS device.

1. Open the Home app.
2. On iOS, touch and hold on your HomePod. On Mac, right-click on it.
3. On iOS, scroll to the bottom and tap the settings cog. On Mac, select Settings from the right-click menu.
4. Select Reset HomePod.
5. Select Restart HomePod.

Your HomePod will now reboot itself and when it comes back to life hopefully rectified your issues. If it didn’t or you’re getting rid of your HomePod, then you’ll be looking at a full factory reset.

How to perform a factory reset on a HomePod

The process of doing a factory reset in the Home app is a little misleading. It involves following the steps from the previous section up to step four. But when you tap Reset HomePod you don’t actually have an option in the next menu that just says reset.

Instead, you have to remove the HomePod from your Home entirely. This triggers the factory reset. So, instead of choosing the restart option as above, select Remove Accessory instead. You can now set it up again as a new device and hopefully, your issues have been resolved.

Alternative methods to reset a HomePod

There are a couple of alternative methods to reset a HomePod that don’t involve the Home app. You shouldn’t need to use these, but if the app method isn’t working it’s handy to have something to fall back on.

The first thing you can do is hook up your HomePod to your Mac or PC directly using its integrated cable. On the Mac, you’ll see the device show up inside Finder, but on Windows, you’ll need to have the latest version of iTunes installed.

iTunes (Free⁺, Microsoft Store) →

Whichever you’re using when your HomePod appears, click on it, then click the box that says Restore HomePod. Your Mac or PC will now go through the restore process to put your HomePod back to factory settings. Once the light on the top is no longer orange, the process is complete.

Alternatively, you can try the hardware method.

1. Unplug your HomePod and wait for about 10 seconds.
2. Plug it back in and wait for the same time.
3. Touch and hold on top of the HomePod.
4. Wait for the light to turn red and keep holding.
5. When you hear a message from Siri about resetting followed by three beeps, release your finger.

As before this will restore the HomePod to factory settings and you can now set it up again using your Mac or iOS device.

Apple HomePod Mini

Apple's HomePod Mini is small in size but big in sound and is a great partner to the Mac, iPhone and iPad.

See at Best Buy

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Instagram will begin testing a potentially powerful content filtering tool

Instagram has been busy as of late, adding lots of new features to its platform. While the company currently does have a way to customize what ends up on the Explore page, it doesn’t have a precise way to refine the images and videos that pop up daily. Thankfully, the firm has announced that it is testing a couple of new ways to hopefully allow users to improve the content on the Explore page in the future.

The new test will allow users to refine their feed further and, hopefully, have recommended content delivered that is more in line with what they are looking for. Users can currently refine their feed by selecting content and marking it as “Not Interested.” While this is a great solution, sometimes it can be slow if several items need to be marked at once. The new test allows users to mark multiple items at once, making it faster and more efficient to filter out content they don’t want to see. Furthermore, Instagram will take things a step further, allowing users to filter out suggested content using words, phrases, or even emoji found in the caption and hashtags. Currently, the more granular filtering option is not live in the test. Instagram did not offer a timeline for when it would become available.

Recently, Instagram has put a lot of focus into creating a safe place for teens. Last week, it updated the Sensitive Content Control, showing less sensitive content by default to teens 16 years and under. The firm has also introduced age verification in the United States, requiring users to provide a valid form of identification when signing up for Instagram. But, being able to filter content will take things to another level. If this kind of filtering goes live, it could become an extremely powerful tool for the platform and its users.

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Source: Facebook

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Apple iPhone 14 Pro rumors indicate a better camera, stronger MagSafe, and more

We are a little over a week away from the release of the next iPhone, and more rumors and leaks are starting to roll in. As we count down the days to the “Far Out” event, let’s take a look at some of the more recent rumors that have popped up regarding the Apple iPhone 14 Pro.

While many things will change with the introduction of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro, one of the most important changes rumored so far has been the look of the iPhone 14 Pro. The Pro devices this year will get a facelift, with the display notch being whittled down to a new pill and hole cutout. But, it appears the Pro model will get another improvement in the form of its camera. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the ultra-wide camera on the iPhone 14 Pro will be getting an upgrade to a larger sensor going from the current 1.0µm to 1.4µm. This should allow the upcoming phones to take better images in lower-light scenarios, relying less on computational photography.

Although the new parts will be good for the phones, Kuo does state that the parts are going to be considerably more expensive, with an increase of up to 70 percent. Kuo did not state whether this cost would be passed on to consumers. There have been rumors over the past few months that indicate that the Pro models could see a price increase. When it comes to colors, as expected, for the new Pro models, last year’s Sierra Blue will be retired, and a new color, purple, will be brought in to replace it. Apple will most likely have a better moniker for the color when it debuts at the Apple event. There is also the possibility that a variation of the Alpine Green color will stick around.

In addition to the color change, Naver reports that MagSafe for iPhone could be gaining a small improvement, with Apple using stronger magnets to create improved connections with accessories. This should greatly improve the experience with heavier accessories like the MagSafe Battery Pack and Wallet with MagSafe. The source also discusses a new battery accessory, although specifics of this device were not mentioned. Furthermore, those hoping to get their hands on a titanium model of the iPhone might be disappointed, as it might not come to fruition in this release. Apparently, a prototype was made, but due to cost and the difficulty in manufacturing, it has reportedly been canceled. Last but certainly not least, coming from the same source, the new iPhone Pro models will start at 128GB of storage and will once again top out at 1TB.

While there is certainly a lot of information coming out about the iPhone ahead of its release, it’s important to note that none of these have been confirmed by Apple. Although some of the sources have had good track records, things can always change. With that said, we have a little over a week to go before we hear official news from Apple, so what are some of the things you are looking forward to from the September event?

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Source: Ming-Chi Kuo (Twitter), Naver, DuanRui (Twitter)
Via: 9to5Mac

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The Pixel Watch could cost more than the Galaxy Watch 5

While Google showcased the long-awaited Pixel Watch at its I/O developer conference this May, the company did not reveal all the details about the upcoming Wear OS smartwatch. So far, the company has only given us a glimpse of its design and confirmed that it would hit the shelves alongside the Pixel 7 series this fall. But, thanks to various leaks, we already know that the Pixel Watch will feature an Exynos 9110 chipset, a 300mAh battery, LTE connectivity, and a magnetic charging puck with a USB-C connector.

Although we’re still a few weeks away from the official launch, a new report has now revealed the pricing details for the Pixel Watch. According to 9to5Google, sources familiar with the matter say that the LTE variant of the Pixel Watch will be available for $399 in the U.S. This means that the Pixel Watch will be slightly more expensive than the LTE variant of the recently released Galaxy Watch 5, but cheaper than the premium Galaxy Watch 5 Pro.

For the unaware, the Galaxy Watch 5 starts at $330 for the 40mm LTE variant and goes up to $360 for the 44mm LTE variant. The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, on the other hand, will set you back $500 for the LTE model.

Given that the Galaxy Watch 5 series comes with the newer Exynos W920 chip, the premium price tag might make the Pixel Watch a tough pill to swallow. But we’ll have to wait till the official announcement to see how things actually pan out. At the moment, we don’t have pricing details for the Bluetooth/Wi-Fi variant of the Pixel Watch. But it will likely be a bit more affordable than the LTE model.

What do you think of the alleged Pixel Watch pricing? Would you pick it over the Galaxy Watch 5 at this price? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Via: 9to5Google

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Google’s “Developer Support” images allow Pixel 6 series to downgrade to Android 12 without bricking their device

A couple of weeks ago, there was excitement in the air for Android fans. After months of betas, Google finally released Android 13 for Pixel devices. It wouldn’t take long for the community to realize something was wrong. Although a PSA quickly went out, it was too late for some, as multiple reports were coming in of bricked Pixel 6 devices after attempting to roll back to Android 12. It appeared that going from Android 13 to Android 12 would trip the phone’s anti-rollback protection. Unfortunately, those wanting to do a bit of tinkering were forced to stick with Android 13. Luckily, Google has issued “Developer Support Images” for Pixel 6 owners, now giving users the possibility to roll back to Android 12.

In order to allow developers to continue with their work on Android 12, Google has released a new set of Android 12 images for Pixel 6 devices. The Developer Support images for Pixel 6 handsets are modified Android 12 system images that are based on public and stable builds of Android 12 and Android 12L. The way the new system images differ from the old ones is that there is an updated version of the bootloader that includes new security fixes and “an incremented anti-rollback counter.” Of course, this is great news, but some details must be heeded. Per Google’s support page:

“A Pixel 6, 6 Pro, or 6a device that is running Android 13 can be rolled back to an Android 12 Developer Support image but can’t be rolled back to any other Android 12 images. A device that is running a Developer Support image can be flashed to the latest public build but can’t be flashed back to any previous Android 12 images.”

Google also offers some other warnings as well, like how they aren’t suitable for general use and how the Developer Support images won’t receive OTA security updates like their consumer counterparts. Also, the builds aren’t Compatibility Test Suite (CTS)‑approved, so developers that require CTS-approved builds or use SafetyNet APIs might run into issues. With all of that said, if you’re a Pixel 6 owner and ready to go back to Android 12, you can download the appropriate build. If you need help flashing the build, you can look through our extensive “How to install Android 12” guide.

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Source: Android
Via: Mishaal Rahman (Twitter)

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Download: Android 12 Developer Support images are now available for Google Pixel 6 devices

With the release of Android 13 for Pixel devices, many Google Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, and Pixel 6a users ran into the issue of not being able to roll back to Android 12. For a time, it appeared that those users would have to stick with Android 13. Luckily, Google has released Android 12 Developer Support images that allow Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, and Pixel 6a users to roll back without tripping the phone’s anti-rollback protection as these images contain the updated bootloader from the Android 13 update. With its official release today, Google has a proper support page, files, and the documentation needed to start the process.

Android 12 Developer Support images

The Developer Support images are important since they will allow Google Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, and Pixel 6a users running Android 13 to roll back to Android 12. The Pixel 6 (codename: oriole) and Pixel 6 Pro (codename: raven) both have two Developer Support images. The Pixel 6a (codename: bluejay) only has one. You can see the details of the images down below.

Google Pixel 6 (codename: oriole)

• Pixel 6 (codename: oriole) – Android 12 (API level 31) – oriole-sq1d.220205.004.x2-factory-1b9d8fc0.zip
• Pixel 6 (codename: oriole) – 12L feature drop (API level 32) – oriole-sq3a.220705.004.x2-factory-c5a02422.zip

Google Pixel 6 Pro (codename: raven)

• Pixel 6 Pro (codename: raven) – Android 12 (API level 31) – raven-sq1d.220205.004.x2-factory-ca630efc.zip
• Pixel 6 Pro (codename: raven) – 12L feature drop (API level 32) – raven-sq3a.220705.004.x2-factory-56c65af2.zip

Google Pixel 6a (codename: bluejay)

• Pixel 6a (codename: bluejay) – 12L feature drop (API level 32) – bluejay-sd2a.220601.004.x2-factory-6f661e14.zip

Download Android 12 Support Images: Google Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, and Pixel 6a

Before going through the process, you will want to know about some of the warnings that have been issued by Google. First, the Developer Support builds are intended for use by developers. As such, they are not intended for general use. The builds do not offer OTA security updates like the traditional version of Android, and the only security fixes that have been made are for the “incremented anti-rollback counter.” Last is that the developers might experience issues with the builds if they need to test apps that are Compatibility Test Suite (CTS)‑approved or use SafetyNet APIs. There are also more warnings, but it is better to read through the support page for all of the details before proceeding.

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