Vivo’s brand iQOO is setting up a sibling to their Neo9 devices with the iQOO Neo9 Racing Edition. It’s going to bring the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, along with a few slight perks over the vanilla Neo9.
TalkAndroid
Microsoft’s first attempts at foldables — the Surface Duo and Surface Duo 2 — didn’t stop anyone’s heart. But it looks like the company might be gearing up to try foldables again.
TalkAndroid
Android announced several new features that have started rolling out to devices, and they look like they might shape up to be very useful.
TalkAndroid
Soon, you won’t need to type a password to access your virtual accounts.
TalkAndroid
Xiaomi is getting ready to roll out its first batch of HyperOS updates starting from early 2024. Check to see if your handset or tablet is in the initial rollout.
TalkAndroid
We’ve got Mobvoi’s new TicWatch Pro 5 in for review and it was immediately noticeable that it was the the new standard upon which all other Wear OS watches should be judged by. Terms such as speedy, fluid, slick, and excellent battery life aren’t the usual adjectives used when describing a Wear OS smartwatch, but […]
Come comment on this article: Mobvoi’s TicWatch Pro 5 is getting a software update with new features and bug fixes
Now that the Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 powered TicWatch Pro 5 from Mobvoi is finally on sale and showing just what Wear OS can do with a modern processor, a new report has revealed that Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Watch 6 series will also get a new SoC. Well, new-ish anyway. We say that because it […]
Come comment on this article: Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 6 is getting a minor chip upgrade
Nintendo is launching a sequel to 1-2 Switch, its party title that features a robust collection of mini-games, on June 30th. It’s called Everybody 1-2-Switch!, because you don’t even need to use Joy-Cons to participate in some of its games — you can join in, as long as you’re using a compatible smartphone. The original 1-2 Switch launched with 28 mini-games meant to get people playing and to liven up get-togethers. Some of them were odd, such as the game where you have to get a crying baby to sleep, but some were oddly fun. There’s a mini-game where you have to pretend to be sashaying down the runway like a supermodel, and another where you have to milk a cow.
According to a report by Fanbyte last year, Nintendo has been working on the sequel for quite some time. However, testing groups reportedly excoriated the game, and families with kids, which are Nintendo’s prime reason for enabling matches with more than two participants, apparently found the mini-games boring. People were calling the sequel “Horseshit,” the publication wrote, because the host is a person wearing a horse mask. Was Nintendo able to fix its issues and create mini-games entertaining enough to change the testers’ minds? It’s not quite clear. In fact, the official product page for Everybody 1-2-Switch! is pretty bare and mostly just mentions the game’s multi-player capability. It also says that the title will “feature everything from balloons to aliens.”
The title will set you back $ 30 when it arrives. That’s much less than its predecessor’s $ 50 launch price, and, at this point, your guess is as good as ours on whether that’s a good sign or a bad sign.
#Everybody12Switch is coming to #NintendoSwitch on 6/30.
Pre-order now: https://t.co/Z2OfGsMa1Mpic.twitter.com/5Wm9WLsDpG
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) June 2, 2023
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nintendos-1-2-switch-party-game-is-getting-a-sequel-204206474.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics
Android 14 is in the beta phase, with a final release planned for later this year. When is your phone getting the update? Here’s everything we know!
Digital Trends
Disney’s Star Wars: The Bad Batch is coming back for one last ride with a third and final season with Lucasfilm announcing the news on the fourth day of the Star Wars Celebration 2023 event. The show follows the Clone Wars, depicting a group of experimental clone troopers, each with their own skill, who break away from their army units to form a mercenary group
Executive producers Athena Portillo, Jennifer Corbett, and Brad Rau shared the news during a panel at the celebration, available to watch through a recorded stream of the Star Wars Celebration. The teaser trailer debuted during the panel, but it hasn’t been independently released yet.
Just announced at #StarWarsCelebration:@StarWars: #TheBadBatch will return for a third and final season on @DisneyPlus in 2024. pic.twitter.com/3R2zSeMrKa
— Star Wars (@starwars) April 10, 2023
The annual Star Wars celebration serves as a platform to announce big releases as well as cultivate the franchise’s vast fanbase, such as connecting cast and crew with fans. This year’s announcements include Return of the Jedi‘s 40th anniversary return to theaters, cast members for upcoming releases Acolyte and Ahsoka, and over 20 new figurines from Hasboro Star Wars. Star Wars: The Bad Batch season three is already in production, but it isn’t slated to debut until sometime in 2024. In the meantime, seasons one and two are available to stream on Disney+.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/star-wars-the-bad-batch-is-getting-a-third-and-final-season-121235666.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics
Nvidia wants game developers to remember that ray tracing isn’t the end of the line. A new Cyberpunk 2077 technology preview (“Overdrive Mode”) supports path tracing, the next goalpost to make games look even prettier and keep you buying expensive new GPUs. The two-year-old game joins Minecraft, Portal and Quake II — titles with relatively primitive graphics — in supporting the technology. In addition, Nvidia announced the availability of a developer kit to pave the way for the next generation of bleeding-edge graphics.
While ray tracing follows a single beam of light across a virtual scene, path tracing follows the light as it bounces around an environment, more realistically mimicking how it works in the physical world. It determines how nearby surfaces reflect or absorb the light, producing physically accurate soft shadows that more easily convince our brains that we’re viewing a natural, real-life scene. And humans perceiving graphics as more realistic is (naturally) an advancement the gaming industry will pursue without hesitation. Hollywood has used path tracing for decades, but it was a slow and expensive process that couldn’t work on consumer gear or in anything close to real-time.
However, we need to keep our expectations in check for the moment: You’ll need the most powerful Nvidia RTX 40-series GPUs to enjoy Cyberpunk 2077’s path tracing (and those who do may run into performance issues). Still, Nvidia is eager to nudge the industry toward what will be increasingly possible for consumer graphics in the coming years.
Nvidia says two of its technologies were vital in producing this milestone: DLSS 3 (AI-based image upscaling without performance loss) and Shader Execution Reordering (more efficient ray tracing without losing quality). “DLSS allows games to render 1/8th of the pixels, then uses AI and GeForce RTX Tensor Cores to reconstruct the rest, dramatically multiplying frame rates, while delivering crisp, high-quality images that rival native resolution,” Nvidia explained in its announcement.
Although we’ll probably have to wait a while before this technology becomes widely accessible, Nvidia launched a new SDK this week to let developers prepare. Owners of the latest and greatest Nvidia GPUs can test the Cyberpunk 2077 “Overdrive Mode” tech preview starting on April 11th.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cyberpunk-2077-is-getting-a-path-tracing-overdrive-mode-in-april-171558980.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics
For the past several months, TikTok has been working on new ways to age-restrict certain types of content as part of a broader push to ramp up safety features for younger users. The app unveiled a new ratings system earlier this year, called Content Levels, to help it identify more “mature” content.
Now, the company has another update on those efforts. In a blog post, the company says that it’s launching a new version of its “borderline suggestive model,” which the company uses to automatically identify “sexually explicit, suggestive, or borderline content.” According to a TikTok spokesperson, the new model is better able to detect so-called “borderline content,” videos that don’t explicitly break the app’s rules, but may not be suitable for younger users.
TikTok isn’t the only platform to filter out this type of content from recommendations. Instagram has long attempted to weed borderline content out of its recommendations as well. But content with more “mature” themes, but that doesn’t contain explicit nudity, has long been more difficult for automated systems to consistently detect. TikTok didn’t offer specifics on how much more accurate the new system is, but it shared that in the last 30 days the company has “prevented teen accounts from viewing over 1 million overtly sexually suggestive videos.”
Elsewhere, the app is also rolling out the ability for creators to restrict their videos to adult viewers. This feature was previously only available for live videos, but will now be enabled for short-form clips as well.
If there’s one thing we do not need it’s being nagged to fork out extra dough to pay for some digital item that offers a similar investment value to a chocolate frying pan. While parents already have the ability to approve or decline purchases made via the family payment method in the Play Store, Google […]
Come comment on this article: Getting more IAP payment requests from your Family Group on the Play Store? This is why.
Android 13 is almost here. What phones are getting it, and when?
Android | Digital Trends
OnePlus has revealed the first details about OxygenOS 13, its new software based on Android 13, and the phones that will work with it.
Android | Digital Trends
It seems that its bad news for those in the US waiting on the launch of Nothing’s Phone (1) in mid-July because it has now been confirmed that the brand will skip the North American market in its entirety. Serial leaker, Evan Blass, first alluded to Nothing choosing not to launch the Phone (1) in […]
Come comment on this article: Nothing confirms that the US is getting nothing – at least for now
The increasingly wild claims made about the battery life to expect from our phones, smartwatches and other devices are getting out of hand.
Mobile | Digital Trends
A new study found that children’s media use has grown more in the last two years than in the four years prior.
Mobile | Digital Trends
We’ve already seen the previously leaked but now official infographics for the Galaxy A33 and Galaxy A53 and now the two handsets have been officially unveiled by Samsung. The Galaxy A53 5G is Samsung’s new mid-range champion, gaining a performance bump and improved cameras with prices starting from $ 449 in the US and £399/€369 in […]
Come comment on this article: Samsung’s Galaxy A53 5G starts from $ 449 in the US with pre-orders getting free Galaxy Buds Live
The Galaxy S22 Ultra seems sturdy enough, but can it survive getting run over by a car? It turns out the answer is yes.
Mobile | Digital Trends
Google has released Android 12 to Pixels, and you might be wondering when you’ll get it on your phone. Here’s everything you need to know.
Android | Digital Trends
WhatsApp’s backups are now end-to-end encrypted in the cloud as Facebook rolls out a new update.
Android | Digital Trends
We’ve seen Samsung promise up to three years of OS upgrades to phones ranging as far back as the Galaxy S10, which is a huge improvement over its previous reputation as a brand that didn’t seem to care much about its customer’s needs. Seemingly ready to take up that particular mantle is Motorola whose list […]
Come comment on this article: Motorola confirms phones getting upgraded to Android 11 – kicks 2018 handsets to the curb
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is still developing its Gremlins project, which is apparently getting closer to grabbing drones out of the sky. The agency said it was "inches from success" during its latest round of test flights…
Engadget
By this point in the pandemic, chances are you’ve already used Zoom to not only attend work meetings but to take part in classes and workshops. So it should come as no surprise Zoom plans to capitalize on that trend. The company has started beta test…
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It’s about that time of year again when we dig into Google’s shiny new music streaming service. YouTube Music was designed to eventually replace Google Play Music, which seems like the most beloved music streaming app on the internet. But here we are, two years later, and we’re only just now starting to see YouTube […]
Come comment on this article: YouTube Music 2020 review: Getting better every year
Nokia has tried to be as transparent as possible about software updates in their lineup of phones, and for the most part, they’ve succeeded. We’ve been well aware of what Nokia devices are getting which updates, and HMD Global has rolled things out on time almost every time. The latest refresh update from both companies […]
Come comment on this article: These Nokia phones are getting an Android 10 update soon, despite coronavirus delays
If you thought 2020 was going to be the year of folding phones, game streaming, or the Linux desktop, you’d be wrong. This year is all about things getting canceled and ruined thanks to the coronavirus. Google I/O is the next on the reaper’s list, and Google has officially nixed the physical event for their […]
Come comment on this article: Coronavirus claims another victim: Google I/O 2020 is getting canceled, will be online only this year
State of Decay 2 is getting a major update — and it's no standard content patch either. The total overhaul — appropriately titled "the Juggernaut Edition" — will see the game's graphics and audio get a far-reaching remaster, as well as several oth…
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Google Fit does an excellent job of tracking all of your fitness goals, but one understated element of your daily health is how well you’re sleeping. If you have compatible apps and accessories you can pretty easily track your sleep by linking those things to Google Fit, but Google wants to take that a bit […]
Come comment on this article: Google Fit wants to track your sleep better, and it’s getting a dark mode, too
The Minilogue and Monologue are a few years old at this point, and approaching modern classic status in the synth world. But that doesn't mean that Korg is content to simply let them coast through life the same way they left the factory. Today the co…
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Yesterday afternoon, Google's hardware division made an unusually forthcoming announcement: the company will no longer build its own tablets. Instead, it will focus all its efforts on laptops. Given that Google released the Pixel Slate (its first Chr…
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Huawei’s ongoing troubles with the US government’s decision to place it on the ‘entity’ list came just before the launch of the Honor 20 Pro on May 21st. The impact of the blacklisting meant that although the regular Honor 20 achieved Google certification before the cutoff date of May 16th, the Pro version was left […]
Come comment on this article: Honor 20 Pro could go on sale soon after finally getting Google certification
October was already a crazy month for tech launches in the world of Android with the LG V40 ThinQ, Google’s Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, Honor 8X, Huawei’s Mate 20 Pro, the Razer Phone 2, and the ASUS ROG Phone having already been announced. If that isn’t enough, Xiaomi is preparing to launch the Mi […]
Come comment on this article: OnePlus settles on October 29th launch date for OP6T to avoid getting juiced by Apple
Google has been updating a lot of their apps and services recently, but one that has not received much attention is YouTube TV. However, users of the service may notice a new pop-up message the next time they launch the app on their smartphone letting them know that a new “voice remote” feature is available. […]
Come comment on this article: YouTube TV finally getting voice remote feature
Google has big plans for podcasts soon, but that doesn’t mean you have to abandon your third-party apps. Pocket Casts is still by far one of the most popular options, and with good reason. But you know what would make it just a bit better? A slick new Material Design interface. One of Google’s partner […]
Come comment on this article: Pocket Casts is getting a huge Material re-Design very soon
After a few busy weeks for Samsung smartphone owners in the U.S., the last group of Galaxy owners finally have something to rejoice over. Favoring carrier sold models, Samsung has been pushing out an Android 8.0 Oreo update to owners of the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8 devices. That left owners of the unlocked […]
Come comment on this article: Unlocked Samsung Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+, Galaxy Note 8 getting Android Oreo update in U.S.
Good news, Galaxy Note 8 owners. You might be getting an OTA update soon, at least if you’re on Verizon or Sprint. Both carriers are currently rolling out the Android 8.0 Oreo update to Samsung’s late-2017 flagship, bringing a ton of new features and a more advanced OS to your device, catching both of those […]
Come comment on this article: Galaxy Note 8 is getting its Android 8.0 Oreo update on Verizon and Sprint
Dropbox is a pretty fierce competitor to Google Drive and was arguably the first big name to bring mass cloud storage into the mainstream. Despite that, Google and Dropbox have managed to come to an agreement that will see the cloud company merge its products into Google Drive and Gmail. They’re still working out details, […]
Come comment on this article: Dropbox is getting integrated into Google Docs and Gmail
Although the LG G6 launched several months before the much improved V30, it’s finally dipping its toes into Oreo waters. The V30 started receiving Android 8.0 Oreo in South Korea on December 26th, so it’s nice to see LG paying attention to the G6 as well. This only a beta version and limited to China […]
Come comment on this article: LG’s G6 is finally getting a taste of Oreo, but only in China for now
It was just last week that Google announced that it had begun rolling out Android 8.0 Oreo to Android Wear devices, starting with the LG Watch Sport. Now the search giant has posted a list of Android Wear watches that are eligible for the OS upgrade. Join us below to find if your smartwatch is […]
Come comment on this article: These are the Android Wear watches getting the Oreo update
Turns out that SNES-themed 3DS XL isn't a Europe exclusive after all. As Twitter user @Wario64 (who else?) points out, the handheld is currently available for pre-order in the US for $ 199.99. It will ship a whole two weeks after the Europe release on…
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Motorola has revealed the smartphones that will be receiving an update to the Android 8.0 Oreo operating system upgrade. The list covers 10 different devices in three of the many Motorola series of phones. One group of owners that will not be happy if they were looking forward to Android Oreo will be owners of […]
Come comment on this article: Motorola phones getting Android 8.0 Oreo revealed
Taylor Swift must have shaken off any bad blood left between her and Spotify, because you'll soon be able to listen to her music on the service again. In fact, you'll be able to access her entire back catalog not just on Spotify, but also on every ex…
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Domino's Pizza has already enabled people to track the location of their pizza as it comes from the shop to their home. But that's not enough for the company, which has teamed up with If This, Then That, to connect the platform to your smart home. Ye…
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