Google announced its new Pixel hardware at the top of the month, releasing it the very next week to eager consumers. While the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro have received favorable reviews, the Pixel Watch is a bit of a mixed bag, with a majority of reviews stating that the battery life is, well, to be frank, terrible. So if Google is rating the watch to last up to 24 hours, you kind of start to wonder, how is it achieving these numbers?
Google is rolling out ChromeOS version 107 to Chromebooks across the world today. This release brings five tweaks to ChromeOS, with the biggest feature focused on making it faster to handle recently used files that you might have accessed before and need quick access to.
Despite being a year old, the OnePlus 9 is still a very capable handset. When it was first released, it might not have been that big of a draw, especially with its $729 price tag, but with its newly discounted price, this handset becomes even more intriguing in 2022.
October 26, 2012 marked a monumental date for Microsoft. When it came to Windows, everything changed in a way that we're still feeling the ramifications of today. That was the day that the company released its first PC, the Surface RT, and it was also the release date for Windows RT and Windows 8. A few months later, the Surface Pro arrived.
Xiaomi typically debuts its latest flagship smartphone lineup in China shortly after Qualcomm announces its latest flagship SoC at its annual Snapdragon Summit in Hawaii. Since Qualcomm has already confirmed that it will host this year's Snapdragon Summit earlier than usual, we expect Xiaomi to announce the Xiaomi 13 lineup towards the end of next month or early in December. Although Xiaomi has not shared any details about the lineup, a new leak has highlighted the hardware specifications of the upcoming Xiaomi 13 Pro.
Over the last few weeks, several manufacturers have released the first stable Android 13 update for their flagship devices. Shortly after Google released the update for the Pixel lineup, OnePlus rolled out OxygenOS 13 based on Android 13 for the OnePlus 10 Pro. Samsung followed suit with the first stable One UI 5 update for the Galaxy S22 series earlier this month. Now, Realme is joining the fray with the first stable Realme UI 3.0 update based on Android 13 for the Realme GT 2 Pro.
If the Google Pixel phones are meant to be (or at least trying to be) Android's answer to the iPhone, then the Google Pixel Watch is clearly Google's attempt at making an Apple Watch equivalent -- something that pairs and works seamlessly with Google/Android products.
Not that long ago, we were proudly declaring the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X as the biggest, baddest CPU on the planet. It wasn't without its flaws, but the results spoke for themselves. However, AMD is no longer in a league of one because Intel has answered right back with the Core i9-13900K. In some regards, this 13th-generation upgrade is a minor one over the 12th, but in others, it's a substantial leap.
Apple first revealed the iconic iPad back in 2010. At the time, the device was pretty much a 9.7-inch, stretched-out iPhone — ideal for reading and media consumption. Back then, the iPhone 4 had a 3.5-inch display, so it made sense to have a larger product that caters to those unhappy with the phone's tiny screen. The great iPhone would remain a phone that handles phone tasks, while the iPad executes tablet tasks, such as storing eBooks, TV content, and mobile games. In 2010, it was more of iPhone and iPhone Plus — rather than iPhone and iPad.
If you have a Steam Deck or are looking to pick one up, then you're probably familiar with how it's less of a handheld console and more of a small computer. It runs SteamOS, which is based on Arch Linux, and Valve hasn't locked down users' access You have full privileges to do whatever you want on the software front, and there's nothing stopping you from even putting Windows on it if you want. However, maybe you want to listen to music while you game. Thankfully, it's easy to install Spotify on the Steam Deck.
The CPU, or central processing unit, is one of the most important components of a PC. Choosing the right processor is a complex decision to make, but buying the best CPU is crucial as it plays an intricate role in deciding how well your PC performs in different workloads, how well it runs games and more. Intel really came back to the table in recent years with the 11th and then 12th Gen CPUs. And it continues with the 13th Gen Raptor Lake chips.
The iPhone 14 and OnePlus 10T make for an interesting comparison. The OnePlus 10T is one of the best affordable flagships in the U.S., offering a big display, Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset, crazy fast charging, and a rich software experience. In many ways, it's even better than its more expensive sibling OnePlus 10 Pro, packing a more powerful CPU, up to 16GB of RAM, and faster charging speeds.
Apple's new Watch Ultra is a maximal wearable with new features designed to make life easier for mountaineers, deep sea divers, endurance sports athletes, and people who don't spend their days in front of a laptop screen in general. I am none of these things, but even as a merely semi-active urbanite, I can see the appeal of the Apple Watch Ultra -- it's got a bigger, brighter screen that's easier to read even from a distance or under the most intense sunlight; it's built like a tank, so I don't stress when I accidentally clang my wrist against table edges and car doors; and battery life is much, much better -- enough that I can take it on a weekend trip without needing to bring a charger.
If you have a Steam Deck or are looking to pick one up, you'll know that it's not just a portable games console, but technically a mini-computer that runs SteamOS, which is based on Arch Linux. And Valve hasn't locked down access to that system. You can do whatever you want with it as if it were your own computer, and that includes installing your own software or even operating system.
Back in June 2022, Apple teased Freeform, its new whiteboard app. During the WWDC22 main keynote, the company highlighted some of its features and mentioned that it would ship by the end of the year as part of iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura.
Get ready to dig into Android 13! Google has officially started the update rollout via stable channel. For lucky owners of the Google Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 5a, Pixel 5, Pixel 4a 5G, or Pixel 4a, you’ll be among the first users to see what Android 13 QPR1 has to offer.
Samsung's new Galaxy Watch 5 series brings a lot of improvements over the last year's models to improve the overall user experience. The Galaxy Watch 5 checks a lot of the right boxes to become what is arguably the best Wear OS smartwatch on the market right now. But as seen in our Galaxy Watch 5 unboxing, the new smartwatch doesn't come with a lot of goodies inside the retail box. In fact, Samsung doesn't even provide additional bands for it, which is why we decided to round up some of the best bands and some other accessories you can buy for your Galaxy Watch 5. So here are the best bands, cases, and screen protectors you can buy for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 in 2022.
The Pixel 6a is the best budget smartphone from Google yet, featuring the same bold design and the Tensor SoC as the more expensive Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro in a compact package. But to achieve a cheaper price tag, Google had to cut some corners, and as a result, the phone doesn't use the same premium materials as its higher-end siblings. While the Pixel 6 sports Gorilla Glass Victus on the front and Gorilla Glass 6 on the back, the Pixel 6a uses Gorilla Glass 3 on the front and a plastic back. In addition, the Pixel 6a also has a fairly large camera island that sticks out from the back. If used without a case, your Pixel 6a can easily pick up scratches and, at worst, accidental damage. A case is your best bet to keep your shiny new Pixel 6a in the best shape and free from wear and tear. Luckily there are plenty of protective cases available for the device. To help you pick one, we have rounded up the best cases for the Pixel 6a below.
Accidentally losing your precious files is never a desirable situation. One wrong click and all your important files are gone within seconds. If you haven’t saved a copy of deleted files on an external drive or cloud storage, you aren’t completely out of luck here. Yet, you may wonder how to recover deleted files on Windows 10 and 11. Fortunately, Microsoft and Tenorshare 4DDiG make it quite easy to retrieve them.
YouTube recently debuted a revamped UI with a new "ambient" mode that adds dynamic colors from a video to the app background, a darker dark theme, an updated playlist UI, and a cleaner video page. The platform is now rolling out another much-needed UI change that removes YouTube Shorts from the Videos tab on Channel pages.
A lot is happening behind the scenes at OnePlus, and it's safe to say that it's no longer the same company that launched back in 2014. But it's still producing some great devices, and its portfolio has grown quite a bit. So to make your buying decision easier, we’ve compiled all the best OnePlus phones you can buy in the US across all segments. From the new OnePlus 10T with flagship specs to the budget-friendly Nord N20 5G, we've added a lot of great phones to this collection. We're confident you'll find something to your liking, so let's dive in.
While Apple offered iterative improvements on this year's iPhone 14 lineup, we might see some major changes on the iPhone 15 series next year. Apple recently confirmed it will ditch the Lightning port on future iPhone models, and the iPhone 15 series could be the first to launch with USB-C ports. In addition, Apple could drop the physical power and volume buttons on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, according to a recent report from renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are here, representing a modest upgrade over the last year's models. The new phones feature a slightly updated design, an improved chipset, and some other bells and whistles. Like with last year's phones, the new Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro aren't just bigger and smaller versions of each other. There are some noteworthy differences between the two, so we decided to put together a comprehensive Pixel 7 vs Pixel 7 Pro comparison to highlight everything you get by picking one over the other.
Windows 11 was released on Oct. 5, 2021, over six years after Windows 10 made its debut. Microsoft recently released the first major update for the OS — Windows 11 version 22H2 — but we've heard the next thing on the cards could very well be Windows 12. It sounds like Microsoft is doing away with major annual updates, and instead going for a big, new version of Windows every three years, similar to what happened before Windows 10.
What a day to be alive if you're a Pebble smartwatch owner. Although official support for the watch ended ages ago, the device has been kept alive thanks to the efforts of the team at Rebble. Recently, a new update was issued for Pebble smartwatches that provides compatibility for the Google Pixel 7 and Google Pixel 7 Pro. So if you're a long time Pebble user, and you've got a Pixel 7 series smartphone, it's now possible to get the watch up and running on your device.
Motorola unveiled its latest foldable, the Razr 2022, in China earlier this year. At the time, the company did not share plans to bring the device to international markets. But it's now finally available for purchase in the U.K. and Europe.
After rolling out the first stable build of One UI 5 based on Android 13 to the Galaxy S22 series earlier this week, Samsung is now bringing a couple of new camera features to the flagship devices. The company has announced a fresh update for the Expert RAW camera app with new astrophotography features and multi-exposure support. In addition, it's rolling out a new Camera Assistant app for the devices, which gives users easy access to additional camera settings.
With every new software update there's the potential to introduce new solutions while at the same time, creating new problems. That looks to be the case with the recent macOS Ventura update, as it is being reported that a new vulnerability has been created, leaving users unprotected and exposed. Thankfully, there's a workaround, but many might not be privy to the initial problem or its solution.
We've been hearing about Microsoft's game streaming dongle for quite some time, and while we did get confirmation of its existence several months ago and its status, it looks like the company is shelving the project for now, which means it probably isn't happening anytime soon.
Apple revealed the iPad 10 through a press release in October 2022. Typically, the company had included a minor spec bump with every annual refresh that revolves around the processor. This time around, the Cupertino firm went ahead and refreshed the entire tablet, and introduced a modern design and new colors in the process. Now, the iPad 10 matches the other recent iPads by featuring flat edges and round screen corners. It also has an edge-to-edge display with no physical Home button.
After releasing a minor update for the Nothing Phone 1 with Jio 5G support and bug fixes last week, Nothing has now started rolling out a fresh software update for the device. The latest update (firmware version 1.1.6) measures just over 62MB and brings a couple of new features and improvements.
After releasing the Google Home app for Wear OS on the Play Store shortly after announcing the Pixel Watch earlier this month, Google is now prepping a Wear OS version of the Google News app. The app has already made an appearance on the Play Store, giving us an early look at its UI and features.
After testing One UI 5 based on Android 13 on the beta channel over the last few months, Samsung recently rolled out the first stable release to the Galaxy S22 series. The company is now gearing up to release stable updates to other smartphones and tablets in its portfolio and has shared a release timeline for the same.
Today, Spotify announced its quarterly numbers for Q3 2022, sharing that it had amassed 195 million paid subscribers to its service. The number is impressive, especially since the company beat its earnings guidance number by a million. If that wasn't enough, the company is moving forward with a goal to push across the 200 million subscriber mark by year's end. Unfortunately, great subscriber numbers don't always translate to happy stockholders, especially when its gross margins were below expectations, resulting in the stock taking a small tumble during after-hours trading.
Google Nest users have been asking for a web experience for quite some time. While there was a ray of hope last year through a Reddit thread, it looks like the time has finally arrived, with Google posting on its Nest Community Blog that it's going to start rolling out a web interface starting this week.
Remember when overheating issues started appearing with the Nvidia RTX 3090? Fast-forward to 2022 and the RTX 4090, and we're right back in controversy town. Only this time it's potentially a little more serious. Reports are beginning to surface — such as this Reddit thread — that the 12VHPWR connector is overheating to the point of melting.
If you've been using WhatsApp, you'll probably have noticed something strange. That's right, WhatsApp has stopped working, leaving messages in limbo. At this point, it's tough to say exactly what the issue is, but many users are reporting on Twitter and other social media channels that private messages aren't going through, stuck with one check. This same issue is also occurring for group chats as well, with users reporting that the chats just aren't pushing through. If you're currently using the app, you can see it is struggling to connect to the server, with its connecting wheel spinning without end.
If you've been using WhatsApp, you'll probably have noticed something strange. That's right, WhatsApp has stopped working, leaving messages in limbo. At this point, it's tough to say exactly what the issue is, but many users are reporting on Twitter and other social media channels that private messages aren't going through, stuck in limbo with one check.
While it might seem like ages ago, Samsung originally released the Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Flip 5G in 2020. When it was released, it was loaded with One UI 2.1 running Android 10. For the most part, Samsung remains fairly committed to its older devices, and thankfully, the original Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Flip 5G will gain support for Android 13 through One UI 5. Although it has yet to arrive to devices around the world, the company has opened its One UI 5 beta program for Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Flip 5G owners in South Korea.
Today, Apple was finally able to make good on its promise, delivering some of the missing features it withheld during the initial release of iOS 16. While iOS 16.1 brings iCloud Shared Photo Library, third-party support for Live Activities, Apple Fitness Plus, and many other features, there are also smaller details that can often be overlooked, like the addition of Clean Energy Charging. We did have some details about this feature, but now, we know how it will work, thanks to a support page detailing the ins and outs.
This week, Samsung is having a sale to celebrate its 53rd anniversary, and a large number of its products on its website, including popular smartphones, monitors, and TVs, have received huge discounts. The sale will go on until November 1, so if you've been eyeing something from Samsung, be sure to check through all the product categories because there is something for everyone. In addition to all the products that are on sale, Samsung will be highlighting certain devices each day as part of its "Deals of The Day" event. While we can't list everything, these are just some highlights from the vast array of items that are currently being discounted.
The long-awaited launch of the Intel 13th Gen CPUs is now behind us, but the initial product family was far from everything we're going to see. Initially launching only unlocked, higher-end 13th Gen CPUs like the Core i9-13900K, we've always expected that the family would be padded out by other variants and some entry-level products.
Earlier this year, The Walt Disney Company announced that it would be introducing a cheaper, ad-supported tier of its Disney Plus service in the U.S. The upcoming budget-friendly plan would cost $7.99 per month, while the ad-free one goes for $10.99. So for $3 less, users get to enjoy the service, while dealing with occasional advertisements. According to the company, this plan will launch in the U.S. on December 8. Apart from that, it doesn't share much about the potential restrictions and the type of content users will be able to access. New evidence now suggests that Disney Plus might drop support for GroupWatch and SharePlay on the budget-friendly plan.
Today, OnePlus announced its latest handset, the Nord N300 5G. T-Mobile will be the exclusive wireless carrier in the United States to offer this device, and it's giving new and existing subscribers an amazing deal by offering it for free starting on November 3. This promotion will be available to former Sprint customers, and it will also extend out to T-Mobile's pre-paid wireless network, Metro.
About a week ago, OnePlus teased its upcoming handset, the Nord N300, revealing some of its specifications like its 90Hz display and 33W SuperVOOC fast charging. Now, the firm has revealed the handset in full, giving us our first look and all the important details.
If you're looking to pick up a pair of truly wireless earphones for your smartphone, the Google Pixel Buds Pro are definitely worth considering. We loved them in our review, though with one major issue - the tuning. They didn't sound as good as they should have, and that was because the default tuning out of the box made them sound muddy. The company recently released an update with a few sound profiles and the ability to tune them the way you like though, and with the balanced preset, they sound a whole lot better. If you've been eyeing them up, you're in luck, as you can now get them from Amazon or Best Buy at 25% off, bringing them down to $149.99.
Earlier this year, Google launched the Pixel 6a. This middle-range phone comes with the Pixel experience users appreciate and love, while shedding some of the higher-end Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro features. This makes it an ideal budget-friendly device for those not willing to invest in the highest-end Pixel 6 or Pixel 7 smartphones. Typically, the Google Pixel 6a costs $450. Though, thanks to a limited-time offer, you can now buy a unit for only $300. This means you save a whopping 33% (or $150). The deal is available on both Best Buy and Amazon — so you get to pick your preferred online retailer.
Wear OS is the go-to operating system for smartwatches in the Android ecosystem unless you're looking at the likes of a Xiaomi or Fitbit fitness band. However, there's no easy way to switch from one Wear OS device to another, and you'll need to reset and start again whenever you move over. There's no easy backup system, unlike when you want to switch from one Android smartphone to another. That's set to change, as an APK teardown conducted has shown us what data is likely to be transferrable in the near future.
Apple is a business that manufactures high-end products. There's no denying that the hardware this company puts out is durable and built from premium materials. However, software can play a major role in determining how well a certain device behaves. So if you despise iOS, for example, using a great iPhone won't be a pleasant experience. Similarly, sometimes a software update throttles the performance of a certain product — which makes it feel more dated. Things become exceptionally problematic when, firstly, Apple isn't transparent about it, and, secondly, when there's no way to block it.
After months of beta testing, the Samsung Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22 Plus, and Galaxy S22 Ultra are getting a stable channel build of One UI 5 in Europe and in Asia. The update is based on Android 13 and is rolling out for both Exynos and Snapdragon users. Whether you were on the beta channel of One UI 5 or the stable channel of One UI 4.1 doesn't matter either, as users of both channels will be able to update.
Windows 11 first showed its face on June 24, 2021, and became officially available on October 5 of that same year. Today, most laptops sold come with Windows 11 installed out of the box, but the Windows development cycle never stops, and there's always something to look forward to. That's where the Windows Insider Program comes into play, as it lets fans try out new Windows 11 features in preview before anybody else.
As many of you may have already noticed, XDA looks a little different today. We wanted to take a moment to show off XDA Portal's new look to all of you, a redesign that serves the present and future needs of the website as it rapidly grows wider and deeper into its content niches.
Without a doubt, Dell's XPS laptops are some of the best laptops around. Indeed, year in and year out, I'm excited when one arrives at my door, and every time, I get to say that it's one of the best laptops on the market. The Dell XPS 13 9315 (the 2022 model) is no different, although things are a bit different this year.
If one update this week wasn't enough, Valve has pushed another update, just as the week comes to a close. The new update hit Steam Deck beta and preview channels, offering lots of bug fixes, UI adjustments, and some new optimizations.
It's been a couple of years since it was first released, but Apple still keeps the MacBook Air with M1 chip in its lineup because it offers a ton of power, and at a fair price. While it normally retails for a starting price of $999, the laptop has recently been discounted, knocking $200 off of its retail price.
Microsoft is testing a new app called PC Manager, which will give users an overview of their system's health. The app can help users clean temporary files, manage their running apps, and keep an eye on updates, all in the same place. Screenshots of the app were shared online by Twitter user Aggiornamenti Lumia, who often shares early looks at Microsoft products in development.
Weeks before Google announced the Pixel 7 series, we got our first look at the new Clear Calling feature that will make its way to the devices later this year. The feature is set to arrive with the December Pixel Feature Drop, but you can try it out early by installing the Android 13 QPR1 Beta 3 update on your Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro.
A lot is happening behind the scenes at OnePlus, and it's safe to say that it's no longer the same company that launched back in 2014. But it's still producing some great devices, and its portfolio has grown quite a bit. So to make your buying decision easier, we’ve compiled all the best OnePlus phones you can buy in the US across all segments. From the new OnePlus 10T with flagship specs to the budget-friendly Nord N20 5G, we've added a lot of great phones to this collection. We're confident you'll find something to your liking, so let's dive in.
During its Apple event in September, the company announced that an Apple Watch would no longer be required for its Fitness Plus service. Today, the company has made things more official, announcing the service will become available in 21 countries starting on October 24.
Instagram has evolved from a photo sharing service to something much more. While it has added a lot of features over the years, the social aspect of the app has become much more involved, offering users numerous ways to communicate with an audience. Thankfully, the app has also implemented lots of safeguards for its users, and with its latest update, it attempts to fortify some old features and also introduce new ones.
It's only been a few months since the release of Snapchat Plus, but what might come as a surprise is that the paid subscription service currently has over a million users. While the app usually provides general updates, it has been more aggressive lately, focused on providing value for its paid subscribers by debuting new features on a monthly basis.
If you've ever dabbled in video editing, chances are, you've come across DaVinci Resolve. The program offers a robust set of tools and features and can tackle even the most complex projects. Best of all, it has been available for free for PC and Mac for quite some time. Now, Blackmagic Design, the company behind DaVinci Resolve, is looking to bring its software to iPads, announcing that an app will be made available through the Apple App Store sometime later this year.
As part of iPadOS 16, Apple introduced a handy Stage Manager feature. This allows users with certain recent iPads to use multiple, resizable apps simultaneously, taking multitasking to the next level. It also brings compatible models closer to becoming laptop replacements. If you plan to buy an iPad 10, the latest base-level iPad on the market, you might be wondering if it also supports Stage Manager. Here’s everything you need to know about this handy offering and its availability.
Unfortunately, this feature is only supported on the iPad Air 5 and some recent iPad Pro models. So if you plan to use Stage Manager, don’t buy the iPad 10. The iPad 10 only supports the traditional iPadOS multitasking features, including Split View, Picture-in-Picture (PiP) video playback, and Slide Over. While many people find these offerings sufficient, it’s still a shame that the iPad 10 misses out on the advanced app window resizing capabilities.
You’ll still get a lot of new stuff with the iPad 10 (2022). The biggest is the all-new, modern design, which is the first this particular model has seen in many, many years. The entry-level tablet now has flat edges and rounded screen corners. Don’t let the flat edges fool you — the iPad 10 still doesn’t support the Apple Pencil 2. Instead, you must use a dongle to pair an Apple Pencil 1 with its refreshed USB Type-C port.
In terms of performance, this iPad packs the A14 Bionic chip found in the iPhone 12 series (2020), which is why the iPad 10 doesn’t support the Stage Manager feature. Apple is limiting this iPadOS utility to more powerful processors. Ultimately, this particular model doesn’t cater to power users. It’s mostly for those looking for a light note-taking device or a media streaming hub.
Do you plan on buying an iPad 10, or is the lack of Stage Manager support a dealbreaker? Let us know in the comments section below.
The post Does the Apple iPad 10 support the Stage Manager feature? appeared first on XDA.
Apple launched the entry-level iPad 10 in October 2022, equipped with a completely refreshed chassis and an upgraded A14 Bionic processor. Thanks to the redesign, users now get to take advantage of flat edges and rounded display corners. Don’t let the flat edges fool you into believing it supports the Apple Pencil 2. The iPad 10, despite dropping the Lightning port, still only supports the Apple Pencil 1, and only through a dongle. Speaking of the redesign, the iPad 10 comes in four bold colors to pick from — Silver, Pink, Blue, and Yellow.
This is a lot, so you might be wondering if you should buy an iPad 10. There are other considerations as well, like if it’s waterproof. Do you need to buy a case for that protection? Here’s what you need to know.
Before diving in, let’s clear a common misconception. Most of the electronic devices you come across today are water-resistant, not waterproof. So no, the iPad 10 is not waterproof.
If you want to find out how water-resistant a device is, you have to look at the IP rating, which reflects the endurance against dust and water a certain product has. Apple includes an IP rating on some of its devices, such as recent iPhone models. Water resistance, like many things in life, wears down with time. So while a device might be water-resistant when it’s new, this could change down the road. So always treat your devices as if they’re not resistant to water. Leave the resistance as a Plan B, just in case you accidentally spill a liquid on it.
So now that you know about the iPad 10 not being waterproof, let’s see if it has an IP rating. As of 2022, Apple still hasn’t released a single iPad model with an IP rating. This doesn’t mean it’s completely unprotected from the elements, since most devices have some degree of protection, but it means submerging it in water or liquids will likely damage it. In short, keep it away from water.
To clean the screen, use a damp cloth that doesn’t actually soak the iPad with water. If you accidentally spill water on your iPad 10, shut it down and leave it alone for a few hours to dry.
You should always be careful with your devices though, regardless of the IP rating. You wouldn’t want to ruin your new great iPad just after buying it.
The post Is the Apple iPad 10 waterproof? Does the tablet have an IP rating? appeared first on XDA.
Some people can’t imagine using Android without root access. While the Google Pixel smartphones are among the easiest devices to unlock the bootloader, root, and install aftermarket software, it might come as a surprise that the typical boot image patching technique is no longer applicable to the latest Pixel 7 series.
If you bought the Pixel 7 or the Pixel 7 Pro and want to learn how to root it, we’ll show you how in this tutorial. You’ll need to have your PC handy and know your way around ADB.
Google Pixel 7 XDA Forums || Google Pixel 7 Pro XDA Forums
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Before we get into how to root the Pixel 7, remember to take an off-device backup. That’s because the rooting process requires wiping all the data on your phone, including the files on the internal storage.
For devices launching with Android 13 like the Pixel 7 series, the generic ramdisk is removed from the boot image and placed in a separate place called “init_boot.” The boot.img only holds the Generic Kernel Image (GKI).
As a result, patching the boot.img for root access won’t work for these devices. Rather, we need to get our hands on the image corresponding to the init_boot partition that matches the current software build the phone is running.
Fortunately, we don’t need any specialized tool to rip the init_boot image from the target device. It can be easily extracted from the Google-published factory image for the Pixel 7/7 Pro.
To make sure you download the right factory image, you need to check which software version your phone is currently running. To check this, go to Settings > About phone. At the bottom, look for the Build number section. Find the matching build number on the factory image download page and download that file.
Download Android 13 for Google Pixel phones
Next, unpack the factory image ZIP file. Locate the image-[device codename]-[version].zip file (yes, there’s a ZIP within a ZIP) and extract the init_boot.img file from it. This is the file that you need to transfer to your phone’s internal storage for patching.
Now that we have our hands on the init_boot image, we can easily patch it with Magisk. In fact, you can patch it on a different Android device than the Pixel 7, but you need to install the Magisk app on the secondary device as well.
While the current stable version of Magisk can patch the Pixel 7’s init_boot image, you might want to opt for the bleeding edge Canary build of Magisk for additional fixes.
Download Magisk: Stable || Canary
After installing the Magisk APK, open the app, and locate the Install button on the topmost card. Choose Select and Patch a File under Method, and select the stock init_boot image. This will open the Android file picker. Go ahead and find the init_boot.img you transferred from your PC and select that. The Magisk app will patch the image to the Download folder on the phone. You must transfer this patched file (should be named “magisk_patched_[random_strings].img”) back to your PC because next, we’re going to unlock the bootloader which will wipe all data as we warned previously.
Notably, if you browse the XDA Forums for the Pixel 7 or 7 Pro, you may be lucky enough to find a pre-patched init_boot image. That being so, we always recommend grabbing the official firmware and patching the stock boot image yourself to avoid unforeseen glitches due to image version mismatch.
In order to flash third-party software on the Pixel 7, we have to unlock the bootloader. To do so, go to Settings > About phone > Build number and tap on this entry 7 times to enable Developer options. After enabling it, go back to the main settings page and tap on System, then go to Developer options. From there, toggle the OEM unlocking option. Keep in mind that you need to enter your password/pattern/PIN to validate some of the actions.
It is important to note that some US carriers like Verizon don’t allow bootloader unlocking at all, making it impossible to root your phone. Sometimes, though, people find unofficial workarounds, and we’ll let you know if any are found.
After enabling OEM unlock, turn off your phone. Hold both the Volume down and Power buttons to turn your phone back on and boot into the bootloader menu. Assuming you have the latest ADB and Fastboot binaries installed already, you can also use the following command to reboot to the bootloader mode directly from Android.
adb reboot bootloaderMake sure to keep your phone plugged into your PC/Mac/Chromebook. Next, in a terminal window, type:
fastboot flashing unlockYou will see a screen telling you that you are about to initiate the bootloader unlocking process. Use the volume button to navigate and the power button to accept. Again, this will wipe all the data on your phone, so make sure you have your data backed up before proceeding.
After the bootloader of your Pixel 7 (or 7 Pro) is unlocked and the init_boot image is patched, you are just one step away from root.
As soon as the bootloader unlocking process completes, the phone will boot back up after a few minutes. Skip the setup wizard at this stage and turn off the phone. You now want to boot back into the bootloader by holding the volume down and power buttons again. Once you are there, connect the phone to your PC/Mac/Chromebook and execute the following command:
fastboot flash init_boot path/to/magisk_patched.imgAs soon as you hit Enter, the patched init_boot image will be flashed to your phone. Next, reboot using fastboot reboot and the Magisk app should appear on your home screen and/or app drawer. If it doesn’t (e.g. you can only see a stub icon), just install the Magisk APK manually. You’re now rooted!
Screenshot courtesy: XDA Member edcsxz
Keep in mind that you’ll have to repeat steps 1, 2, and 4 every time you update your phone because the init_boot image changes with each update. To know more, take a look at our tutorial on how to install OTA updates and keep root on your Google Pixel phone.
Once your Pixel 7 is rooted, you open up the device to some interesting modifications such as Magisk modules and Xposed modules. Of course, there are already a ton of things you can do without root on Google devices, but having root access is an added benefit nonetheless, especially if you consider the best root apps.
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Today, Google announced its new Lock Screen widgets for iOS 16, which are now officially available. The widgets were announced last month and give quick access to some of its most popular apps. The widgets can also provide you with information at a glance. If you’ve never tried to customize your lock screen before, check out our in-depth guide on how to do it so that you can try some of the new widgets from Google.
One of the most significant benefits of having a Lock Screen is that you can set up different layouts for different times of the day. You can have one for work and one for personal use; it’s easy to switch between the two. As for the newly released Google Lock Screen widgets, several apps take advantage, like Search, Chrome, Drive, Google Maps, Gmail, and Google News.
Having access to Search straight from the Lock Screen allows you to search for something instantly using voice or typing it in. If you need to take things further, you can utilize the power of Google Lens and even do quick translations on the fly. With the Chrome Lock Screen widget, you can also initialize a search or use Incognito mode. Furthermore, if you want to play a quick game, pop into Chrome’s exclusive Dino Run game.
Sometimes it’s essential to have easy access to your files. With the Drive widget, you can access suggested files and folders and even continue working on a project from your computer. As for Maps, this widget is robust, offering real-time traffic updates, and can provide estimated travel times from home and work. As expected, the widget can also help navigate shops, restaurants, hotels, and more. With Gmail, the widget will show messages in your inbox and how many emails have arrived for each inbox category.
In addition, it has also implemented some entertainment widgets with YouTube and YouTube Music. You can tap to watch Shorts and new videos or search for a video right from the widget. You can also gain easy access to your favorite music, song, or artist with just one tap. Finally, Google News will offer real-time headlines, allowing users quick access to daily news worldwide. If this sounds interesting, it might be worth trying it out, so be sure to take a look.
Source: Google Blog
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Today, SpaceX announced that it is expanding its satellite internet service to cover airplanes. The new service, Starlink Aviation, will launch next year and will offer speeds up to 350Mbps, which is quite a bit faster than what we currently see on commercial flights.
Starlink Aviation states on its website that it will be able to provide high-speed, low-latency, in-flight internet, something that is not all that common. With speeds up to 350Mbps, those traveling would be able to do a lot more than just check email and could easily use the service to watch streaming video, make video calls, and maybe even do some online gaming. At least that last one is what Starlink thinks could be accomplished with its service.
Since this is a satellite-based internet service, it states that it would be able to provide coverage anywhere around the world. Starlink’s low-profile Aero Terminal would be able to maximize its network with its “electronically steered phased array antenna,” which provides “new levels of reliability, redundancy, and performance.” Of course, this specialized antenna needs to be installed on the plane but the company states that it doesn’t require too much time. The kit will include the aforementioned terminal, a power supply, two wireless access points, and a harness.
While all of this sounds great, the kicker is that the service will cost anywhere from $12,500 to $25,000 per month. In addition to the monthly service fee, there will also be a one-time charge for hardware that will cost $150,000. I guess the silver lining here is that there are no long-term contracts involved, and all the plans offered include unlimited data. Furthermore, the company will guarantee the equipment for as long as you are subscribed to its service. Starlink is currently taking reservations, stating that it will launch in 2023.
Satellite service has been getting quite popular lately, with Amazon getting closer to launching its own satellites. T-Mobile has also partnered with SpaceX to launch its own service in 2023. Apple has also utilized the service in its latest iPhone 14 devices, making it possible to communicate with emergency services if in a remote area.
Source: SpaceX Starlink
Via: The Verge
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It’s a new month, and that means a new update has arrived for the Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox One. The update brings new enhancements that will no doubt improve the user experience. The update comes packed with the ability to control TV volume from the Xbox console, mute all sounds on start-up, offers a more streamlined home Xbox setup process, and more.
With the latest update, the Xbox Series X and Series S will be able to take advantage of Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) and send commands to connected devices like TVs. That means, going forward, those with compatible setups will be able to control their TV using their Xbox console. While there isn’t a whole lot that can be done currently, at least volume controls will be available, making it more seamless to turn up, turn down, or mute the TV. While you no longer have to reach for a remote, you will have to open up the settings menu and navigate to the audio section.
In addition to CEC, a new fan-requested feature has made it into the update, giving users the ability to mute all sounds on start-up. Also, it will now be easier to set up or change the home Xbox setting, thanks to a new streamlined menu system for this option. Furthermore, there will be new power options for Xbox consoles, allowing users to choose their preferred power mode. The power settings have also been renamed to Sleep and Shutdown (energy saving). Xbox passkeys have also been renamed to Xbox PINs, still retaining the exact same functionality of adding an additional layer of protection on consoles.
The Xbox controller will also receive a new firmware update, featuring multiple bug fixes and one specifically for accessories that plug into the Xbox Adaptive Controller. The Xbox app on Android and iOS will also receive an added feature, now being able to trim video clips to a user’s desired length. Those using Xbox Game Bar on PC will gain the ability to export clips directly to Medal.tv. Microsoft has been on a roll recently, announcing the ability to now customize the Elite Series 2 controller using Xbox Design Lab.
Source: Xbox Wire
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Although Google’s latest flagships, the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, already have the latest Android security patches, the devices are running a Google Play System update from July. The Security hub on the Pixel 7 series even prompts users to update to the latest Google Play System update as the “device hasn’t had a system update in 90 days,” but checking for updates did not bring up any available updates until yesterday. Google now seems to be rolling out a fresh Google Play System update for the devices, but you can’t download it.
9to5Google reports that the new Google Play System update started showing up for Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro users recently, and we can confirm that it’s available on all our units. The update measures just 7.6kB, and its description states: “Latest security update from Google. Update now to keep safe and improve device stability.” However, it fails to download, and tapping the Download & Install button brings up the following error: “Updates are temporarily unavailable. Try again later.”
Basic workarounds like rebooting the device, clearing the cache, and switching to a different network connection don’t seem to be of any help, and the download fails every time. We’re not sure what the underlying issue is at the moment, but we expect Google to shed some light on it soon.
It’s worth noting that Google started rolling out the Google Play System update for October 2022 earlier this month with Play Store changes, bug fixes, and updates to system management services. However, this update is currently not available for the Pixel 7 series. According to a recent comment from a Product Expert on Google’s support forums, the July 1, 2022 update is the latest Play System update available for the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro.
Have you received a new Google Play System update on your Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro? Were you able to download and install it? Let us know in the comments section below.
Via: 9to5Google
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It’s that time of year again! Android 12, i.e. the next major release of Android is now available via stable channel. Google has also started rolling out Android 12L as a feature drop that brings several optimizations and improvements for large screen devices. For lucky owners of the Google Pixel 3a, Pixel 3a XL, Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 5, Pixel 5a, Pixel 6, or Pixel 6 Pro, you’ll be among the first users to see what new OS update has to offer.
If you have any of the aforementioned Pixel smartphones running and older stable build and wondering how you can install Android 12 or 12L, just scroll down as we have a tutorial ready for you. Keep in mind that Google will be providing an incremental OTA for existing beta users to move to the stable release, but they can also opt for a manual flashing. You will need a PC/Mac with ADB and Fastboot installed to successfully execute the installation process, once you have downloaded the relevant Android 12 release packages.
Alongside supported Google Pixel devices, Android 12/12L is also made available in the form of a GSI that can be flashed on a much wider range of devices. OEMs have joined in on the party as well, and you can flash Beta 1 on the following phones:
The three methods to install the update are:
To install the stable build, you need to sideload the appropriate OTA package for your device from Recovery through ADB. This method will also work for Google Pixel devices with a locked bootloader.
adb reboot recoveryadb devicesThis should return a device serial with the “sideload” next to its name, indicating that your device is connected to the computer in sideload mode.
adb sideload "filename".zipWhere “filename” is to be replaced with the name of the file downloaded in Step 1
If you have an unlocked bootloader on a Google Pixel device, you need to flash the full factory image of the Android 12 or 12L via Fastboot. Usually, this is done through a flash-all.sh or flash-all.bat script file that is included in the downloaded file, but its default configuration also wipes the device completely. You can, however, retain your data by deleting the “-w” wipe attribute from the command within the script.
fastboot update command. This will skip the data wipe for your phone. To avoid compatibility issues, a data wipe is recommended though.adb reboot bootloaderThis will reboot your phone into Fastboot mode.
flash-allThis command executes the flash-all.sh script file, which will then install the necessary bootloader, baseband firmware, and operating system. If you are on Windows, you can simply double click the flash-all.bat file.
Even if you don’t own a compatible Pixel smartphone, you can still install Google’s official GSI binaries to test Android 12 or 12L, provided your device is compatible with Project Treble. You also need an unlocked bootloader. The last thing that we need to say is that flashing a GSI will require you to factory reset your device, so be sure you’re prepared to lose app data before you proceed with this! We recommend you make an off-device backup (such as on your PC or an SD Card) in case anything goes wrong.
adb shell getprop ro.product.cpu.abiadb reboot bootloaderThis will reboot your phone into Fastboot mode.
fastboot flash vbmeta vbmeta.imgfastboot erase systemfastboot flash system system.imgfastboot -wfastboot rebootBe sure to follow our Android 12 and Android 12L tags for all the latest news on the new Android version!
The post How to install Android 12 and 12L on Google Pixel and other Android devices appeared first on XDA.
Google has warned employees about impending changes for months, and it has more recently started cutting costs across the company. In September, the firm canceled projects and began winding down its internal incubation project Area 120, and perhaps the biggest story was it shutting down Stadia, its online game streaming service. While more changes are undoubtedly on the horizon, a new report states that Google is shifting its strategy so that it can double down on its hardware division.
The Information by way of Ars Technica reports that while there have been sizeable cuts within the company, but it looks like most of the hardware divisions are safe. In fact, Google has recognized that the tide is turning in the Android market, with even its top competitor, Samsung, slowly losing market share to Apple. Furthermore, Google thinks that it can occupy this space by leveraging its own hardware and doubling down on its Pixel hardware lineup.
Apparently, in order to accomplish this, the firm will shift labor from non-Google devices to focus more on its own products. As for what areas are seeing shifts internally, the report states that there might be adjustments with staff working on Google TV, reassigning them to work on Wear OS and the Pixel Tablet. Furthermore, the report also seems to discuss cuts to teams working on Google Assistant for devices such as TVs, headphones, speakers, and more. As stated before, the bulk of the change will have to do with third-party manufacturers of these kinds of devices.
While this certainly looks bad for manufacturers, some will apparently be supported, like Samsung, Xiaomi, and OnePlus. Unfortunately, that’s a really small number when compared to all of the manufacturers around the world that produce Android products. Of course, these are just reports, so it remains to be seen whether we will see the ramifications of these actions in the near future.
Source: The Information
Via: Ars Technica
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Today, Netflix announced its quarterly earnings, and the results were actually pretty impressive. The company has made a turnaround, exceeding its goals, adding more subscribers, and also generating more revenue. While it looks to the future, the company has started to make new moves, as it will debut a new ad-supported tier in November, and it will also be committing more to its gaming segment with plans to bring even more titles to the platform. Apparently, the company has plans to dive even deeper into gaming, announcing during the TechCrunch Disrupt conference that it was looking at cloud gaming and, most surprising, that it was opening up a new game studio.
During the TechCrunch Disrupt, Nike Verdu, who is the VP of Gaming at Netflix, shared that the company was “seriously” looking at offering a cloud gaming service. While most companies currently offer the service as a standalone product, if Netflix were to offer such a service, it would be part of the current subscription service, or as Verdu put it, a “value-add.” Competitors like Amazon have already started dabbling, with it currently offering Luna, its own game streaming service. Just recently, Google announced it would shut down its service because it hadn’t been able to attract subscribers. From what we can see, clearly, this space is not an easy one, so if Netflix were to engage, it would have to be extremely cautious.
In addition to its cloud gaming ambitions, Verdu also revealed that Netflix was going to open a brand new game development studio in Southern California. Previously, Netflix purchased game studios, but this will be the firm’s first from the ground up. The new studio will be helmed by industry veteran Chako Sonny, who was previously the executive producer of Overwatch. While this is tremendous news, it will be interesting to see just how far Netflix’s gaming journey goes.
Source: TechCrunch
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Xbox Design Lab has offered customization options for Xbox controllers since 2016. But the Elite Series 2 controller was never part of the offering, leaving many gamers out of luck. Now, for the first time, Microsoft is including the ability to customize Elite Series 2 controllers, along with new customization options.
Starting today, gamers can head to the Xbox Design Lab website to customize their own Elite Series 2 Controller. The customization part is quite detailed, with the option to change the color of the body, back case, D-pad, bumpers, triggers, thumb sticks, and more. You can take things even further by swapping the D-Pad for a cross-shaped version if you want. Also, for the first time in Xbox Design Lab history, customers will have the option to customize the thumb stick base and ring, which definitely adds a nice accent of color. If you want the complete package, you can also add an engraving on the front of up to 16 characters.
The Elite Series 2 Controller is one of the best from Microsoft, constructed of high-grade materials and components and featuring numerous customization options. The rubberized grips and tensioned thumb sticks provide maximum control, especially when paired with short hair trigger locks. You can even enable a custom button mapping option and expect the controller to last up to 40 hours on a single charge. Best of all, the new Core model is quite a bit cheaper than the standard Elite Series 2 model, coming in at $50 less. Microsoft was able to accomplish this by removing some of the accessories that come packaged with the original model. But the good thing is that you can still purchase these accessories separately if you want. Microsoft offers the accessory bundle through its Complete Component Pack costing $59.99.
As a final touch to the customization process, users will be able to change the color of the Xbox button using the Xbox Accessories app as long as they also have the Xbox September update. This option will expand beyond color, giving users the option to set the brightness level as well. While you have the option to customize an Elite Series 2 controller, Microsoft still offers the ability to customize a standard Xbox Wireless controller as well. The Elite Series 2 Controller will cost $129.99, but if you want to customize it, you can pick up the controller with customization service for just $20 more. If you’re looking to customize an Xbox Wireless controller, it will cost substantially less, coming in at $69.99. If interested, be sure to head to the source link down below.
Source: Xbox Design Lab
Via: Xbox News
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