Software

Microsoft has pushed a new change to Windows 11 with Insider Preview Build 22000.194, available to machines on the Beta channel. The change requires that all Virtual Machines require TPM 2.0 to function at all, bringing them in line with physical Windows 11 installations.

OPPO has made its latest OS skin official. It is based on Android 12, yet exhibits a considerably re-upholstered new UI rather than Google's new Material You design. It has also announced a roadmap that outlines which smartphones are eligible for the upgrade and the approximate date of upgrade per device.

Some recent leaks point to a new series of Motorola Moto E smartphones set to launch throughout the rest of 2021. They have been slated to be called the E20 and E30. Now, a new Geekbench-derived tip suggest there is also an E40 gearing up to join them.

The Fitbit Sense and Versa 3 have gained a new feature, albeit only for Fitbit Premium members. Both smartwatches can now track your noise levels as you sleep, and how loudly you are snoring, too.

Motorola has made its latest Moto E-series phone official, although it seems exclusive to a handful of markets such as Brazil and the Netherlands at present. The decided sub-US$200 phone comes with a Unisoc processor, minimal RAM and an interesting textured rear panel.

Hisense representatives have attended the 2021 Global Laser Display Industry Forum in Beijing, China to expound its success in making and selling laser TVs. The OEM now claims to have increased their shipping volumes even more in 2021 thus far. Therefore, it asserts that the display type is poised to take over the market.

The efficient M1 processors could soon become compatible with operating systems like Android and Windows, without the need for virtualization. Maynard Handley, one of the developers of the Apple QuickTime video format, is compiling a reverse-engineering M1 bible that is aiming to make the custom ARM-based architecture open source.

The property-tracking tech-maker Tile must have taken a knock on the launch of Apple AirTags. However, the OEM still insists it is going strong, with robust revenue growth in 2021 and hundreds of thousands of paid subscriptions sold. Now, Tile has also announced that it has attained a major round of funding from an investment group.

OPPO launched a first-gen premium smartwatch in 2020, then followed it up shortly afterward with a version certified to generate on-wrist electrocardiograms. This spec allowed the device to compete with the latest Apple Watches of the time. Now, a famous leaker asserts that an edition of the OPPO Watch 2 with the same ability is coming up.

Xiaomi is now gracing the Mi A3 with yet another update, in the guise of the September security patch. The OTA is currently rolling out to owners of the global model of the Android One phone and should get to the European variant of the device shortly after.

Microsoft has commenced rolling out its new passwordless accounts feature. Over the coming weeks, users will be able to sign in using its Authenticator app which also dramatically increases user account security.

The first batch of Xiaomi's MIUI 12.5 Enhanced Edition rollout began weeks ago and the company already has its sights set on the second batch. That rollout is scheduled to start on October 8, with seven devices listed as eligible.

Available for both desktop and mobile users, Vivaldi 4.2 includes a few interesting new features and improvements, such as the ability to translate text on a web page privately, URL sharing via QR codes, scrollable web panel buttons, Neeva as a new search option, all alongside the usual set of unseen tweaks and fixes.

Microsoft has released another Windows 11 Insider Preview Build as it works towards next year's stable update. Insider Preview Build 22458 contains more bugs than it does fixes and no real new features. There is no new build for Beta channel users today, either.

As part of its live-streamed product launch of today, (September 15, 2021) Xiaomi has announced when its electric Scooter Pro 2 will hit the German market in Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1-themed special edition form. It has many specs in common with the normal version, although the new branded theme boosts its price by quite a bit.

Dizo is Realme's latest sub-brand for 'ecosystem' devices, mostly lifestyle wearables thus far. To this end, a Watch 2 and Watch Pro under this new name have been unveiled. They offer large displays and health-tracking tech such as SpO2 monitors, although the Pro has more sports modes and a larger battery. They will sell in India via Flipkart from late September 2021.

Xiaomi's latest mesh networking system comes in a pack of just 2 tower-like "nodes"; nevertheless, the OEM asserts this is all that is needed to allow the AX3000 to emit fast Wi-Fi 6 signals over an area of just over 370 square meters. It is based on a Qualcomm processor and also offers Gigabit ports.

Sony’s PlayStation 5 is finally getting its eagerly awaited update that will bring with it support for its currently dormant M.2 SSD internal drive bay. The update also includes some other goodies with 3D audio support being added for built-in TV speakers and new UX features and customization options.

Canon has launched the EOS R3 as the "most technologically advanced full-frame mirrorless camera" it has ever produced. This is because it integrates the AI-based person- and even eye-detection features that allow the user to direct focus on what they are looking at through the EVF. The R3's CMOS is also rated to pick out and track specific subject types such as eyes and animals.

Against all odds, Samsung has now officially announced the release of the One UI 4.0 beta. The beta will arrive on Galaxy S21 series units shortly, with owners in China, Germany, Poland, the US, the UK, and India immediately eligible to sign up.

It seems that Google has decided upon Android 12's release date. The new OS will not arrive on Pixel smartphones this month, but it should debut before the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro do.

The overall eighth major update for iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 fixes two security flaws in the iPhone's operating system, which is why the download and installation of the update is highly recommended for all users of Apple's smartphones and tablets.

The employees who are working for Apple's maps team will walk through Canada's largest three cities in order to improve the material that is used for the "Look Around" feature that competes with Google Maps' street view. Pedestrians who encounter one of these surveyors and their technology-packed backpacks do not have to fear for their privacy.

VAVA asserts that its latest high-end 4K UHD laser projector can support a home-theater experience without the need for heavy curtains at any time of day. This is due to its 2,500-lumen brightness, not to mention the latest generation of clarity-enhancing ALPD technology. The Chroma has just debuted on Indiegogo, yet has already gone beyond its funding goal.

Huawei has launched the PixLab X1, a laser printer with a futuristic look thanks to the "suspended" design of its upper lid. It is also hyper-modern in that its controls are in the form of a touchscreen and it can produce documents on smartphones via NFC. However, its most interesting aspect is that it is slated to run on the same HarmonyOS of this OEM's full mobile devices.

LG is known for its UltraGear gaming-focused line of monitors; now, it has announced the speaker to match. The OEM claims to have devoted all its audio experience and prowess to optimize this new GP9 variant for communication as well as immersion during gameplay. Therefore, it offers an in-built mic in addition to a "Hi-Fi Quad" DAC and a battery rated for up to 6 hours of use per charge.

Xiaomi has upgraded another of its smartphones to MIUI 12.5 Enhanced Edition. The Mi 11i has received the update alongside the September 2021 Android security patch, albeit on MIUI's global branch.

MIUI 12.5 Enhanced Edition has been wreaking havoc for some POCO F3 handsets. The device's random reboot issue has been acknowledged though, and a fixed build will arrive later this week.

Oppo is set to reveal ColorOS 12 on September 16 with new devices also expected to debut at the launch. Also making an appearance is a new limited edition version of its Find X3 Pro made in collaboration with Kodak.

Samsung has yet again delayed the start of the One UI 4.0 beta program, but this time till October. Apparently, the company is taking its time with bug-fixing, a decision that will likely see the Android 12 stable release put off until late December or early January.

Motorola is currently rumored to have 2 new affordable phones in the works: the Moto E20, a name that has now popped up in multiple leaks, and the Moto E30, of which there have been far fewer signs. However, a device of this exact name has now surfaced on a benchmarking site for the first time.

Epic Games has failed to convince a US court that Apple has broken the country's anti-competition laws. Nevertheless, the Cupertino giant has now officially lost its monopoly on purchases made within apps that run on its operating systems and are bought through its App Store. Therefore, Fortnite may indeed return to iOS soon.

Sony's new A5000 supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, as do many premium soundbars these days. However, the OEM also seeks to set this product apart with its in-house Vertical Surround Engine, Sound Field Optimization and S-Force PRO Front Surround technology to help it create a convincing soundscape for any given space.

Huawei has started to extend invitations to a new event set to take place later in 2021. The OEM has divulged a location and host for this launch that strongly hints at an international debut for the product in question. Then again, the company has kept this device's identity a mystery for now.

Samsung has become the latest Android OEM to claim that it can increase your smartphone's RAM. 'RAM Plus' is rolling out to the Galaxy A52s 5G first, of all the devices that Samsung could have chosen.

The popular online video platform Vimeo has announced that content created, shared and viewed through its medium now has the option of Dolby Vision integration. This may unleash the potential for enhanced detail with improved brightness for many creators. However, there is a catch: the upgrade is available for certain Apple devices only.

Previous leaks have hinted at an upcoming OPPO smartphone with a new design intended to recall Xiaomi's Mi 11 Ultra in its camera hump. Now, the latest tips assert that this device will indeed launch soon as the K9 Pro. It is slated to arrive with an up-to-date MediaTek Dimensity SoC and an AMOLED display.

LG has introduced a new addition to the XBOOM Bluetooth speaker series to the US market. The new 360 variant's design might make it an ideal fit for the high-tech home. The resulting "conical-cylindrical" form factor is rated for up to 120W of audio power, generated by dedicated drivers rated for a multi-dimensional sound-stage.

The Spine PlayStation 4 emulator on PC recently received a major update. Spine’s v20210901 version significantly increases the emulator’s compatibility with commercial PlayStation 4 games. While performance still isn’t anywhere near playable in 3D titles, Spine can now actually run over 300 PlayStation 4 games.

Not only has Facebook made its first ever pair of smart glasses official, it has also made them Ray-Bans thanks to a collaboration with this iconic brand. The new wearable device is equipped with speakers for calls and audio, not to mention the cameras necessary for point-of-view video or photos at will. The Stories spectacles are available in certain markets from now.

YouTube Music can finally be installed on Wear OS 2, despite Google and YouTube's intransigence. Officially, only Wear OS 3 supports Google's music streaming service, so just the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic.

Amazon has announced that the latest version of its Fire TV Stick is called the Max variant. The accessory still streams in 4K; however, its new MediaTek processor supports Wi-Fi 6 and is paired to more RAM in this generation. It is shipped with an updated remote that has the OEM's smart assistant built in.

With Windows 11's shipping date right around the corner, Microsoft has turned its attention to next year's update. The company still has time to push out another Windows 11 21H2 build though, even if it only addresses two bugs from last week's build.

TCL has announced the most budget variant of its latest 20 5G smartphone series. The new R model offers a 6.52-inch display driven by a 4,500mAh battery and runs on Android 11. Then again, the OEM has modulated its specs in order to launch it at an attractive price in Europe.

Google has published Android 12 Beta 5, Android 12's final beta and the first for the Pixel 5a. Google states that the final Android 12 version will arrive for Pixel smartphones in a few weeks.

A Thursday at GeForce NOW means it's time for the streaming platform to reveal the latest additions to its library. However, despite the potentially welcome new arrivals involved this week, they may be overshadowed by another announcement that Ubisoft's most hotly-awaited upcoming releases will also become available on NVIDIA's service right from their launch.

Samsung has delayed the rollout of One UI 4 beta, its Android 12-based update. The new OS was supposed to start arriving on Galaxy S21 devices in South Korea from today, before reaching handsets in other markets throughout September.

The Xiaomi 11T and Xiaomi 11T Pro launch nears, with Xiaomi set on unveiling the pair a day after Apple reveals the iPhone 13 series. Xiaomi has now confirmed that the 11T series will be its first devices to receive 3 Android OS updates and 4 years of security patches, matching the software support offered by other Android OEMs. Sadly, other Xiaomi devices are 'not included at this time'.

OPPO has announced new pricing and availability data for the Reno6 5G, a phone destined to stand out in the mid-range European market due to its MediaTek Dimensity 900 SoC. The device also offers an FHD+ AMOLED display, fast 65W charging and triple rear cameras.

Fossil has done some optimising of its Gen 5 smartwatches, apparently. In an attempt to free-up memory and improve performance, the company has deleted about two-thirds of the watch faces that were previously available. To its credit, Fossil has added two watch faces in place of those that it has removed.