Posts Tagged: whole

Your Pixel 7 is about to get a whole lot less buggy — here’s why

The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro have seen their fair share of bugs since launch. A new Android 13 update aims to remedy things — a lot.
Digital Trends

Samsung’s 55-inch Odyssey Ark: Taking gaming monitors to a whole new dimension

2022 has been a great year for monitors. We’ve already gotten the world’s first QD-OLED monitor from Alienware with another on the way from MSI. And earlier this summer, Sony joined the fray with its new Inzone brand of gaming hardware. But now, Samsung is taking things to a whole new level with the Odyssey Ark.

Boasting a huge quantum mini LED panel with a 1000R curve, the Ark delivers an immersive experience with great visuals and surprisingly good sound. Not only does Samsung claim that the Ark is the world’s first 55-inch monitor with a 4K resolution, 165 Hz refresh rate and a 1ms response time, you also get support for HDR 10+ and Dolby Atmos audio. And while the sound on many monitors is often an afterthought (assuming they can even output anything at all), the Ark features a total of six speakers: one in each corner and two woofers in back. And when combined Samsung says the Ark’s speakers were designed to create a dome of sound.

And now, after getting the chance to check this thing out in person, I can say this monitor is unlike anything else on the market. Even compared to other ultrawide displays, the Ark’s dimensions allow it to wrap around you like some sort of high-tech cocoon. Colors are rich and, thanks to its matte finish, you don’t have to worry about reflections ruining your graphics. The monitor also supports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro for VRR, so you can get the best performance regardless if you’re gaming on a console or a PC. And while you won’t see pure blacks like you would with an OLED display, Samsung says the Ark’s contrast is 4 times better than its previous-gen monitors.

Meanwhile, to make controlling the Ark easy, Samsung includes not one but two remotes, both of which have built-in solar panels so you don’t have to worry about keeping them charged. The first remote is similar to what you’d get with a TV, but the one that feels a bit more special is the wireless Ark Dial. It lets you quickly change video settings, adjust volume and switch between the monitor’s special display modes. It’s super easy to use, and best of all, it means you don’t have to reach around back and fumble with hidden buttons or a joystick like you do with a lot of rival monitors.

Unlike most displayers this size, the Odyssey Ark supports portrait orientation, which Samsung calls Cockpit mode.
Sam Rutherford/Engadget

The best thing about the Ark is all the modes and features Samsung included to help you get the most out of this giant panel. First, there’s Flex Move Screen, which allows you to adjust the size of your content and move it around, you know, in case you don’t need the Ark’s full 55 inches. There’s also Samsung’s Gaming Hub which supports game streaming platforms like NVIDIA GeForce Now, Xbox Cloud Gaming and Google Stadia natively. You even get RGB lighting on the back, not that you can really see it with so muchscreen between you and the rear of the display.

But my favorite thing is the Multi View mode, which lets you have up to three different apps open at once, including the ability to move and resize windows however you like. That means you can game while having a movie and social media on the side, or you can double up by having two games open plus YouTube, or basically anything in between. And if there’s a layout you particularly like, you can save that arrangement so next time, you can open everything up with a single press. The one caveat is that due to a limitation of HDMI, you can only display content from the Ark’s built-in apps and one external device at the same time. So while you can have a console and a PC plugged in at the same time thanks to support for four HDMI ports (all of which are HDMI 2.1), you can’t output content from both simultaneously.

Finally, there’s the Ark’s special move, which is being able to rotate into portrait orientation, or as Samsung calls it, Cockpit mode. You still get support for all of the monitor’s features like Multi View and Flex Move, but now on a display that curves up and over your head. And you know what, it really does feel like you’re sitting in the pilot’s seat on a plane. My only regret is that I wish I could have installed a shoot ‘em up like Ikaruga, so I could really take advantage of the Ark’s verticality in Cockpit mode. And if you want a huge new display but don’t have a ton of desk space, Samsung even includes a VESA wall mount in the box.

That said, starting at $ 3,500, the Odyssey Ark is a big financial commitment for anyone. But if none of the other monitors released this year are big enough for you, Samsung’s new flagship gaming monitor could be the massive centerpiece your home battle station needs.

Pre-orders for the Odyssey Ark start today, and when combined with reservation discounts, potential customers can save up to $ 300 before sales officially go live sometime in early September.

Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

The Nothing Phone 1’s garish light show doesn’t tell the whole story

Should you believe the hype about the Nothing Phone 1? After all, there has been a lot of it. Here’s what it’s like behind those eye-catching flashing lights.
Android | Digital Trends

Good news sports fans! The One UI 2.5 update is coming to Samsung’s Galaxy S9 and Note 9 (and a whole lot more)

When Samsung announced that it would provide three years worth of OS upgrades for handsets stretching as far back as the Galaxy S10, it would have been reasonable to assume that the Galaxy S9 had reached the end of its support schedule and that it wouldn’t receive any further significant updates. Thankfully though, the Galaxy […]

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TalkAndroid

WhatsApp is (finally) adding dark mode for the web and desktop, animated stickers, QR codes, and a whole lot more

After a long, long wait, WhatsApp is finally bringing dark mode to its web and desktop interfaces, along with animated stickers, QR codes, improved group video chats, and the ability to share updates on KaiOS that disappear after 24 hours. The popular messaging platform You can check out the new features in the video embedded […]

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TalkAndroid

OPPO’s new Reno 2 and Reno 2Z offer a whole lotta bang for your buck

We recently reviewed OPPO’s Reno 10x Zoom Edition and came away with a good impression of the company’s first foray into Europe’s premium smartphone segment. As Huawei’s troubles with the US government continues to affect its access to Google apps and services, the second wave of OPPO phones has reached Europe in the form of […]

Come comment on this article: OPPO’s new Reno 2 and Reno 2Z offer a whole lotta bang for your buck

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TalkAndroid

‘Blade Runner’ fan project recreates a whole set in VR

If you're a movie buff, you've probably wished that you could walk into a scene and explore it on your own terms. Well, so did software engineer Quentin Lengele — and he's close to making his dream a reality. He recently released footage of Blade Ru…
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Wearable fingerprint sensor uses whole hand to control multiple smart devices

Move over Touch ID! Tapdo is a wearable fingerprint sensor that lets you map a variety of shortcuts for your different smart devices to various parts of your hand. Here’s how it works.

The post Wearable fingerprint sensor uses whole hand to control multiple smart devices appeared first on Digital Trends.

Mobile–Digital Trends

YouTube VR: A whole new way to watch… and create

We’re inspired every day by the videos people share on YouTube. The idea that anybody, from any part of the globe, can create something that all of us can watch, laugh at, cry to, or relate to. Not only has this turned YouTube into a home for just about any idea imaginable, it’s made it the place where new video formats, new ways to connect, and new ways to tell stories are born.

We want to continue to provide you with new ways to engage with the world and with your community, and we believe virtual reality will play an important role in the future of storytelling. More than just an amazing new technology, VR allows us to make deep, human connections with people, places and stories. That’s why we’re committed to giving creators the space and resources they need to learn about, experiment with, and create virtual reality video. In fact, we’ve already started working with some awesome creators, recording artists, and partners who are producing VR videos across a wide variety of genres and interest areas on YouTube.

Want to spend some time with beauty vlogger Meredith Foster? Check out an immersive tour of her apartment. More of a foodie? Tastemade’s VR cooking videos breathe new life into learning new recipes. Rooster Teeth reimagines their gaming comedy “Red vs. Blue” for some fresh laughs. You can even watch breaking news in VR from HuffPost RYOT.

We’ve also been working to allow you to have experiences or visit places you might not be able to (or might not dare to!) in real life. Go swimming with sharks thanks to Curiscope, get a first-hand look at a living, breathing dinosaur at the Natural History Museum in London, travel to Belize with StyleHaul, hike a trail a thousand miles away with Daniel and Kelli at Fitness Blender, or watch Tritonal in concert no matter where you are.


And today you can experience all of this amazing content in a more immersive way with the brand new YouTube VR app, available first on Daydream. This new standalone app was built from the ground up and optimized for VR. You just need a Daydream-ready phone like Pixel and the new Daydream View headset and controller to get started. Every single video on the platform becomes an immersive VR experience, from 360-degree videos that let you step inside the content to standard videos shown on a virtual movie screen in the new theater mode. The app even includes some familiar features like voice search and a signed in experience so you can follow the channels you subscribe to, check out your playlists and more.

YTVR-Watch-Spherical-Player.jpg

We can’t tell you how inspired we all are after watching the amazing VR videos made by creators on YouTube. We can’t wait to see what you dream up next!

Erin Teague, Product Manager, and Jamie Byrne, Director of YouTube Creators, recently watched “Tour of Man At Arms: Reforged Shop in 360° – The Forging Room!


YouTube Blog

Samsung’s latest chip could make bulky smartwatches a whole lot thinner

Smartwatches are getting better, but they still have a few drawbacks, such as their bulk. Samsung hopes to change that with a new chip that offers faster processing and compatibility for LTE, but in a smaller package.

The post Samsung's latest chip could make bulky smartwatches a whole lot thinner appeared first on Digital Trends.

Wearables–Digital Trends

A whole bunch of new Google Pixel device info surfaces

Yesterday we posted a new video outlining our wish list for the new Google Pixel smartphones coming to market in early October. Although it does not look like we have much more clarity regarding the items we are hoping for, several new pieces of data about the devices have surfaced over the past day as […]

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TalkAndroid

Transparent sound takes on a whole new meaning with this directional glass speaker

At E3 next week, Turtle Beach will be showing off the HyperSound Glass, a directional speaker that also happens to be the world’s first speaker made using a transparent pane of glass.

The post Transparent sound takes on a whole new meaning with this directional glass speaker appeared first on Digital Trends.

Cool Tech–Digital Trends

SkinTrack turns your whole forearm into a smartwatch interface

Imagine if you could use your whole forearm as as interface for your smartwatch, instead of the tiny display it comes with. That’s the idea behind SkinTrack, which uses a ring and range of sensors to let you use your arm as a touch display.

The post SkinTrack turns your whole forearm into a smartwatch interface appeared first on Digital Trends.

Wearables–Digital Trends

Apple has been rickrolling us this whole time

Apple has a subtle sense of humor — so subtle that no one noticed the Cupertino company has been rickrolling the public with its Apple Watch support page. Oh Apple, we’re never gonna give you up, either.

The post Apple has been rickrolling us this whole time appeared first on Digital Trends.

Wearables»Digital Trends