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mardi 2 août 2022

Sony’s canceling a PS5 launch feature because we don’t appreciate each other enough

Hot off the back of the latest PS5 Beta which introduces a whole heap of new features, Sony is canceling something else. Its hyped launch feature, Accolades is being put out to pasture because it doesn’t get used enough.

Here’s the official blurb, first spotted by Push Square: 

In fall of 2022, the Accolades feature on PlayStation 5 will no longer be supported. The feature hasn’t seen the level of usage we anticipated, so we are refocusing our efforts. We encourage the community to continue to send positive messages to one another.

Accolades on PS5

So what the heck even is Accolades? Chances are you didn’t use it, after all. Accolades were launched as a kind of achievement/reward system for multiplayer games and members of the PlayStation community. The idea was to help spread a little positivity when you played with a complete stranger, giving them an Accolade. You can’t send them to friends, and they’re anonymous. Accolades you receive are displayed on your profile as a virtual badge of honor showing you’re a good egg.

The idea is sound, lord knows it’s nice to see any tool help to spread positivity. But it seems we don’t appreciate each other enough for it to live on. And that’s a real shame.

Instead of feel-good rewards, Sony is in the process of introducing the PlayStation Stars program. This looks initially like a PlayStation take on Microsoft Rewards, the program that gives you points for completing quests, and achievements, or even just spending money on the Xbox. Sony’s initial plans suggest a similar kind of reward scheme for PS4 and PS5 players, along with “digital collectibles” which sound suspiciously like NFTs.

These are just some of the changes taking place in the PlayStation world right now. Recently, of course, the PS Plus program went through its own overhaul, introducing new tiers and folding in cloud gaming.

via Push Square

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VMware’s Fusion Tech Preview delivers Windows 11 support to Apple silicon Macs

VMware is looking for your help in the form of a new Tech Preview of its latest version of Fusion. The new edition brings Windows 11 support for Macs running Intel and Apple Silicon. Fusion 2H22 will allow users to run Windows 11, Linux, and more on their Mac through virtualization.

For the virtualization to work with Windows 11, WMware had to create a Virtual Trusted Platform Module (TPM). Since this module is a requirement for Windows 11, VMware created a virtual TPM with fast encryption, an auto-generating key with storage handled through Keychain. Speed is important for virtualization, so the new Fusion offers a “fast-encryption” mode that only encrypts the most critical parts of a virtual machine. This encryption method isn’t unique to just Windows 11 but can be used on all virtualizations that Fusion offers support for.

VMware2H22 preview on Mac

Fusion 2H22 also supports 2D graphics with a WDDM driver that allows resolutions up to 4K. Although there are graphics and network drivers in the current release, VMware states that its vmxnet3 networking driver is unavailable in the current build. The vmxnet3 networking driver is a custom driver, offering highly efficient data transfer rates and increased speeds with low latency. As mentioned prior, this software not only offers support for Windows but also other operating systems as well. For the time being, Linux will support 3D graphics with OpenGL 4.3 + GLES 3.1 using Mesa version 22.11 or later.

To keep things simple, VMware will offer up just one .dmg file that will be compatible with both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs. As mentioned prior, this is still a tech preview, which means that there can be issues with the software. There are also known limitations, like only being able to support M1 virtual machines on M1 units like the MacBook Pro 14 and 16. The same goes for Intel virtual machines only running on Intel Mac systems. If this intrigues you, you can download the file from here.


Source: VMware

The post VMware’s Fusion Tech Preview delivers Windows 11 support to Apple silicon Macs appeared first on XDA.



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The Iqoo 9T takes on the upcoming OnePlus 10T with Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 SoC

After launching the Iqoo 9 and 9 Pro earlier this year, Vivo’s sub-brand has now launched yet another power-packed device in India — the Iqoo 9T. This new smartphone enters Iqoo’s growing portfolio of high-performance devices bearing the latest and the greatest Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 SoC, 120Hz E5 AMOLED display, 120W FlashCharge support, and more. There’s even a white-colored variant of the phone with three rally stripes to highlight the brand’s partnership with BMW M Motorsport. With powerful specifications like these, the Iqoo 9T is clearly locking its sights on the upcoming OnePlus 10T. Here’s everything you need to know about the new Iqoo’s new flagship:

Specification Iqoo 9T
Build
  • Metallic frame
  • Glass back
Dimensions & Weight
  • Alpha variant: 164.55 x 77.10 x 8.37mm
  • Legend variant: 164.55 x 77.10 x 8.46mm
  • Alpha variant: 206g
  • Legend variant: 207g
Display
  • 6.78-inch E5 AMOLED display
  • 120Hz refresh rate
  • 2400 x 1080 resolution
  • 1,500 nits
  • HDR10+
SoC Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 SoC
RAM & Storage
  • 8GB+128GB
  • 12GB+256GB
Battery & Charging
  • 4,700mAh
  • 120W FlashCharge
Security In-display fingerprint scanner
Rear Camera(s) Primary: 50MP GN5 Ultra-Sensing camera (f/1.88)

Secondary: 13MP Ultra wide-angle camera (f/2.2)

Tertiary: 12MP portrait camera (f/1.98) with 2x optical zoom

Front Camera(s) 16MP f/2.45
Port(s) USB Type-C port
Audio Dual Stereo speaker
Connectivity
  • 5G
  • LTE
  • Wi-Fi 2.4Ghz/5GHz
  • Bluetooth 5.2
Software Funtouch OS 12 based on Android 12
Other Features
  • Real-time Extreme Night vision
  • Super Night Video
  • XDR Photo

The new Iqoo 9T has a Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 processor, up to 12GB of LPDDR5 memory, and up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. You also get a 6.78-inch 1440p 120Hz E5 AMOLED display on the front with a peak brightness of 1,500 nits. Iqoo is using a 4,700mAh battery for this phone and it supports 120W FlashCharge technology which can charge the phone to 100-percent within 20 minutes. It’s an impressive specification on paper, but the Iqoo 9T isn’t the only phone that supports insane charging speeds like this. We already have devices like the Realme GT Neo 3 and the OnePlus 10R on the market right now that supports 150W charging. It’ll be interesting to see how the Iqoo 9T will compete against those devices on the battery front.

Iqoo is once again betting big on the overall performance of this phone. The flagship chipset inside this phone is supported by the new V1 Plus chip to offer better performance overall by reducing the GPU workload. The device also packs a vapor chamber liquid cooling system to regulate the temperature under heavy loads. The camera system on the Iqoo 9T includes a 50MP GN5 1/1.57-inch sensor, a 13MP ultra wide-angle camera, and a 12MP IMX663 portrait sensor. Notably, the V1 Plus chip is said to improve image processing efficiency.

Iqoo 9T India launch: Pricing and availability

The Iqoo 9T is now available to purchase from Iqoo’s web store for a starting price of ₹49,999 (roughly $636). The 12GB+256GB variant can be had for ₹54,999, and you can take advantage of some exciting launch offers to bring the price further down. You can buy the phone in two colorways — the Alpha edition (black) and Legend edition (white with a triple-color stripe design). The device will go on sale on Amazon India starting August 4.

The post The Iqoo 9T takes on the upcoming OnePlus 10T with Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 SoC appeared first on XDA.



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lundi 1 août 2022

Android 13 Beta is now live for the Google Pixel 6a

Despite only being out for less than a week, the Google Pixel 6a is getting a welcome update. Google has released the Android 13 Beta, which is now available for download on the Pixel 6a. The update isn’t a major one when it comes to looks, but it does bring a wealth of new features and minor cosmetic changes.

If you are curious about updating your handset, you can do so in a few ways. First, you’ll want to head to the Android Beta Program website. If you log into your Google account, it will show which devices are eligible. Remember, if you have previously enrolled in an older beta program like Android 12, you must enroll again to update to Android 13. If your device is supported, opt-in, and you will receive beta updates. It is recommended to back up any information before starting this process as beta software can have issues.

The second method is manually updating your device to the beta build. You can download the latest system image from Google and flash it to your device. Using Android Flash Tool, you can download and install Android 13 Beta 4.1 to your Pixel 6a. You can head to Google’s downloads page for further details. If you need a full tutorial on how to install Android 13, please be sure to check out our complete guide. Remember, any time you feel like you want to leave the beta, you can do so by opting out. Be warned that leaving the beta will erase your data from your phone, so again, be sure to have a backup of your information before opting out.

So what’s new in Android 13? There are plenty of changes, so you’ll want to check out the Android 13 guide. But to name a few, the OS gets visual enhancements with themed icons, support for large screens and tablets, privacy and security updates, and more. If you’re not adventurous and won’t be installing Android 13, you should at least update your phone with the first OTA that arrived on the first day of the Pixel 6a’s retail release. The OTA brought minor improvements like bug fixes and upped the Android security patch level to June 2022.

If you are interested in purchasing a Google Pixel 6a, hit the links below. If you’re on the fence, check out our in-depth review.

    Google Pixel 6a
    The Google Pixel 6a is a powerful smartphone coming in at under $500.

Source: Google

The post Android 13 Beta is now live for the Google Pixel 6a appeared first on XDA.



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The iPhone 14 could get a performance bump, despite packing a 2021 chip

Rumors revolving around the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro have been circulating the internet for months. If they were to be accurate, the exciting changes will be occurring in the Pro department later this year. The regular models could end up being tweaked iterations of the iPhone 13 — with minor tweaks here and there. Meanwhile, the higher-end versions might ditch the notch, introduce always on display (AOD) support, receive an upgraded rear camera system, and pack a faster processor (A16).

Apple is reportedly trying to further distinguish between regular and Pro iPhones through the included chips. However, reports also indicate that chip shortages have been a catalyst in this process. Though, considering that the A15 Bionic already tops mobile performance charts, Apple re-using it on this year’s lower-end iPhone 14 variants shouldn’t be a big deal. Ultimately, it’s still a capable chipset, and the A16 could be mightier than average users’ needs.

With the regular iPhone 14 models rumored to stick to 2021’s A15 Bionic chip, questions have arose. Will the new iPhones be as fast as last year’s? How will Apple sell the device if it’s almost identical to that of last year? Well, we have some potential answers now.

According to reliable leaker ShrimpApplePro, the regular iPhone 14 models could still get an overall performance boost. The tweet states that these phones could pack a new cellular modem and have a new internal design. Considering that their launch is still around a month and a half away, we can expect more leaks to surface by then. At this point, it’s almost always clear what a new device will look like from the inside out — prior to its official reveal.

Do you plan on buying the iPhone 14, or would an older processor in a high-end device be a dealbreaker for you? Let us know in the comments section below.

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YouTube Shorts can now be easily created from existing long-form videos

Short format media has been dominating lately, with bite-sized and easily digestible clips gaining a resurgence thanks to apps like TikTok. Because of this, YouTube introduced its take on short-form videos called Shorts, encouraging users to experiment with shorter media on its platform. From now on, YouTube will make it easier for creators to make Shorts, allowing them to take existing content in their library, edit it, and upload their new creations to YouTube.

Creators can head to the YouTube Studio app and choose from any long-form video in their library, select up to 60 seconds, and create Shorts. Users will have access to all of the same tools found in the web-based version of YouTube Studio, like the timeline editor, filters, music, and more. Furthermore, creators can add additional footage as needed from their gallery if it does not meet the 60-second requirement. Creators will also be able to fill in content by using the Shorts camera. Best of all, Shorts created using existing videos on YouTube will have links to the original videos. The feature is currently rolling out to iOS and Android devices.

While short-form videos are having a moment, flourishing on platforms like TikTok and YouTube, other platforms like Instagram are struggling to capitalize. Recently, Instagram released a new change to its feed, displaying full-screen images and videos. Unfortunately, this change didn’t go down well, as users began to complain en masse, requiring Instagram’s CEO to address the changes. As a result, the company eventually back-peddled, reverting the feed to its previous incarnation.  Despite this, Instagram has committed itself to evolving and pursuing a future that is leaning more toward videos and away from its roots of still images. It’s hard to tell how this will all pan out, but one thing is sure, today’s trend could quickly and abruptly end as soon as tomorrow.


Source: YouTube Help 

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The Samsung Galaxy S23 series could see Snapdragon chips in more regions

Samsung has historically used both Qualcomm’s Snapdragon and the in-house Exynos chips in its flagship phones over the years. That’s also true for the company’s Galaxy S22 series which is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip in markets like the US, while many of the units destined for other markets like Europe got Exynos 2200. India got a Snapdragon chip in the Samsung Galaxy S22 series for the first time, and it looks like future Galaxy S series flagships will carry a Snapdragon chip in more regions as the company is strengthening its partnership with Qualcomm. The collaboration between companies involves widening the usage of “Snapdragon platforms for future premium Samsung Galaxy products, including smartphones, PCs, tablets, extended reality, and more.”

Qualcomm’s press release for the media doesn’t explicitly mention the Galaxy S23 flagship or the regions in which it’ll carry the Snapdragon chip, but the company’s CEO Cristiano Amon made it quite clear during the earnings call that more regions will see Snapdragon-powered Galaxy flagship products — specifically S23 and beyond — as a result of this multiyear agreement.

Qualcomm - Samsung partnership

A multi-year agreement to power more Galaxy flagships globally

Qualcomm head Amon shared additional info to add more clarity to the matter. Here’s a transcript of the statement shared by the Qualcomm head while addressing some questions during the earnings call:

Michael, thank you for the question. Yes. Look, it’s — besides the record in auto and IoT revenues, the Samsung agreement is probably my favorite thing in the quarter. And here’s the way I would describe the growth opportunity for the chipset business.

We would average over the many years of this relationship, if you remember, about 40% share versus their in-house solution with the Galaxy S22, which was prior to signing this agreement. Our share climb up to about 75%. And now we’re announcing a multiyear agreement to power the Samsung Galaxy smartphones globally.

So very excited about that. It provides incredible stability for our mobile business. I cannot think of anything better to validate our strategy to be focused on share of wallet in premium and high tier than this agreement.

So very, very exciting. I remember — I would like to remember you all that, that’s a very good trade. When I think about the silicon content of a Snapdragon 8 Series, at least equal or better than revenue and earnings of 5 modem for another OEM.

Now the second part of this multiyear agreement is the opportunity for growth tied up with our diversification. So it expands beyond Galaxy smartphones to include Galaxy books, Windows PCs, Galaxy tablets, future extended reality devices and other devices. So a very significant agreement, very excited and really the companies are much closer together.

Samsung isn’t giving up Exynos though

The fact that Samsung splits the shipments of its flagship devices across two different chipset doesn’t sit well the consumers. That’s because there’s often a clear difference in performance between Snapdragon and the Exynos-powered variants of the same phone. We ended up testing the Galaxy S22 Ultra powered by both chipsets, only to find out that the Snapdragon Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is way better than the Exynos. The new partnership between the two companies may result in the arrival of Snapdragon-powered Galaxy flagships in more regions, but it doesn’t gurantee it for all buyers in every market.

This could mean the company will continue to plant its in-house chips inside its flagship phones in select markets. A better — perhaps a long term plan — would be lay low for sometime and come back stronger with better chipsets. If anything, this “multiyear” partnership gives more time to invest and make meaningful improvements to its SoC. The company can also leverage its recent partnership with AMD to produce morre powerful mobile GPUs. The idea of seeing more Qualcomm-powered Galaxy flagships is sure to put a smile on many faces, but it’ll be interesting to see the in-house chip making a comeback with in the future with more raw power and features.


Source: Qualcomm, Earnings call transcript

Featured image: Samsung Galaxy S22

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