Software

OPPO has just announced a new Android update schedule for high-end phones such as those of the new Find X3 flagship series. It involves major software upgrades over the first three years post-launch, as opposed to two under the previous scheme. Therefore, not only will the OEM's latest premium phones get Android 12, they will also definitely get this OS' successor as well.

The latest version of iOS (14.5) introduced App Tracking Transparency, a new set of dialog boxes that informs the user whenever an app wants to track their activity across the UI and that they can prevent this if they wish. According to new research, its uptake skyrocketed to 88% worldwide, and 96% in the US, within 1 week of the update's release.

Apple's AirTags might be the latest thing in personal possession-tracking, although customers might find it hard to actually secure said things with the little monolithic smart pucks out of the box. However, Spigen has stepped up to offer new holders with the keyrings and clips necessary to take such a tag anywhere.

It's 2021, and, thus, a great time for Gigabyte to launch world-first pre-builds under its Aorus brand. The new Model X and Model S gaming PCs each have 10GB of GeForce RTX 3080 graphics, with "factory-tuned" Ryzen 5000 or Rocket Lake Core i9 platforms. The OEM claims to have crafted them "meticulously" out of first-party components, and are thus equipped to compete in the performance-focused rig space.

GoPro has reported that it made a total of US$204 million in revenue for the first quarter of 2021 (1Q2021), or 71% more than it did in 1Q2020. Of this, 40% (or $82 million) came from its website's sales, a 224% increase year-on-year (YoY). The action-cam company also celebrated selling its first millionth subscription in this quarter.

Sony has just added new variants of its Mobile Elevated Standard (ES) audio equipment for cars. They consist of 4 kinds of speaker and 1 subwoofer equipped with the latest generation of the OEM's MRC-reinforced diaphragms, combined with Separated Notch Edge Surround technology for increased clarity and an "audiophile-grade crossover" in certain units. They are available to pre-order from now.

Dell has issued numerous patches as part of its latest Security Advisory (DSA-2021-088) in response to findings of a "severe" CVE consisting of five different privilege-exploit bugs that have apparently been in effect for the last 12 years. Fortunately, they have never been acted upon, which, as they could have allowed unauthorized users to write data or manipulate memory.

IMore's True Wireless ANCs were the world's first TWS earbuds to receive certification from the audio specialists THX. Therefore, they don't come cheap, and have a normal price of US$200. However, the OEM has announced they are down to $130 as part of its 2021 Summer Sale

A heretofore-unknown device called the Lenovo TB-X607Z has just appeared on Geekbench 4 with the Snapdragon 690 SoC and 4GB of RAM. According to a concurrent Google Play Console leak, it will be called the Tab M10 5G on launch. Therefore, this slate might be the first to bring next-gen connectivity to its line in 2021.

The latest beta version of WhatsApp for Android sheds light on one highly-anticipated feature. It shows chats being synced across multiple devices, indicating that the functionality is being tested.

OPPO's latest product event was a bumper update for its device ecosystem in general. Not only did it introduce the new K9 smartphone, but it also revealed the new TVs of the same name. The Enco Air TWS earbuds also debuted at the show, as did the Vitality Edition of the OPPO Band.

Sony is now said to have an upgrade for the Alpha 7R IV in the works. This alleged fifth-gen model will still have a 61MP sensor and a 26MP APS-C crop; however, it is also projected to come with the BIONZ XR processor, improved PDAF and a potentially enhanced ISO range. Nevertheless, it is rumored to start at the same price as its predecessor.

Xiaomi has started distributing MIUI 12.5 internationally, beginning with the Mi 11. The flagship can now be upgraded to MIUI 12.5 on MIUI's European branch ahead of a wider rollout. Other devices should follow, including the Mi 10 series.

The president and CEO of Sony's PlayStation division Jim Ryan has announced that users will soon be able to connect their Discord accounts via the social aspects of the console's Network. The OEM has also just bought a minority stake in the chat-app company, as a result of its current capital-raising drive. The exact nature of the new Sony/Discord integration is now slated to be revealed in the next few months.

A new Apple AirTag teardown video reveals that each one is packed with drivers, coils and (of course) button batteries. However, and possibly more importantly, it may also show that their clearly keenly developed appearance might degrade quickly over time with use. On the other hand, they can theoretically be torn down for repair (should the user want to do so) at least.

Although it allegedly surfaced on the launch page for Heroes of the Storm, the piece of news regarding the launch of World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade Classic is no longer available. Was it posted by mistake or will this anticipated title arrive in less than a month as revealed in the aforementioned article?

A new rumor about the Xiaomi MIUI 13 release date has started making the rounds, presumably with the specific day pointing to a domestic China release first before the Android overlay is rolled out around the world. Joining this MIUI 13 launch rumor is a speculative list of 80 Xiaomi, Redmi, Poco, and Black Shark smartphones that could be eligible for this update.

ROCCAT has announced the Magma and Pyro as its latest gaming keyboard. They both feature their brand's AIMO lighting system, which shines uniquely through the Magma's semi-transparent top plate. That new unit has membrane keys, whereas the Pyro has mechanical switches and an aluminium top plate.

Modders have managed to tweak the Resident Evil Village demo on PC to run well past its nominal 1-hour time limit. While the demo doesn't feature all areas in the game, this gives gamers the opportunity to explore the game's Romanian environs at a more sedate pace.

The European Commission (EC) has issued a preliminary verdict as a result of its anti-trust investigation against Apple. It concerns the treatment of third-party music apps on its App Store. The Commission has ruled that the OEM leverages its "dominant position" in this market to subvert competition and consumer choice, particularly when it comes to payment methods and rates.

The Checkra1n jailbreak was recently updated to feature support for iOS 14.5 and compatibility with Macs sporting the M1 processor. Version 0.12.3 adds these new features, along with a host of bug fixes.

Huawei is currently said to have upgrades for its premium MatePad Pro and Watch in the works. A well-known leaker now asserts that they do in fact exist and will launch soon. The tipster also now claims that the Watch3 will have a Pro variant, which, according to other recent rumors, will not come cheap.

The Nord N100 and N10 5G are OnePlus' foray into the low- and mid-tiers of the smartphone market. Despite this, it has yet to be released in all the regions where the OEM is active. A new leak hints they might be destined for a new launch in India, however.

Xiaomi has announced a new round of MIUI 12.5 Global Stable ROM testing, albeit only for POCO devices this time. All POCO smartphones apart from the Pocophone F1 are eligible to join the program. Xiaomi has not explained why the Pocophone F1 is missing from the program.

Samsung has started issuing new updates to the Galaxy Watch Active and Watch Active 2. The updates improve the stability of the smartwatches in vital areas and will be available through the Galaxy Wearable app. The new updates are approximately a 35 MB download.

It seems that OnePlus has gone all LG with its software support for older smartphones. The company has confirmed that the OnePlus 6 and OnePlus 6T will not receive Android 11 Open Beta updates until the end of August, just in time for Android 12's arrival. So much for Never Settle, OnePlus.

Apple has yet to update the vanilla iPad, not to mention its Mini variant, despite having been repeatedly rumored to do so in 2021. Now, new registrations with the EEC authority may point to a launch for these tablets soon. In less expected news, they have been joined on this database by what look like a new accessory for the AirPort Time Capsule, Extreme and Express.

The Galaxy Tab S7+ (or Plus) is a 2020 premium Samsung device with an AMOLED display. Unfortunately, as such, it has reportedly run afoul of the "green tint" issue. Some customers claim to have faced this on-screen blemish for months, and that the OEM has yet to push a definitive solution of any kind as yet.

The latest update for Vivaldi, which was released earlier today, brings the version number up to 3.8 on both desktop and mobile. The list of changes includes a new way to add bookmarks, redesigned panels, Google's FLoC component blacklisted by default, a built-in cookie crumbler, quick ways to access the Start Page (Android version), and more.

Huawei has afforded the Watch GT 2 Pro another update, further optimising the device. Firmware version 11.0.5.22 is rolling out to the Watch GT 2 Pro via the Huawei Health app.

Schenker's latest 17.3-inch laptop is the DTR 17 E21, powered by Intel Core i9-10900K to i9-11900K CPUs and up to 16GB of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 graphics. The OEM has also packed it with anti-glare IPS panel options of 60 or 300 hertz (Hz) and 2 Thunderbolt 4/USB type-C 4.0 ports with G-SYNC and DisplayPort 1.4a functions.

Trust has announced that its latest Taxon webcam has a QHD (2560x1440) sensor. It also features auto-focus for its high-res lens, as well as dual mics and a USB plug-and-play nature. It has been released to Amazon in the UK for £69.99 (~US$97), or £48.99 (~$68) for a limited time.

Huawei has issued new updates for the Watch GT 2 and Watch GT 2e. The updates contain the same changes, such as an improvement for iOS users.

Samsung has just launched the Galaxy M42 via Amazon in India. It is the first ever M-series phone to support 5G, and also offers quad rear cameras, a 5,000mAh battery and OneUI 3.1 based on Android 11. It will start at ~US$270 on its May 1, 2021 release.

Instruments of Destruction by Red Faction: Guerilla lead tech artist Luke Schneider's studio could fill the decade-long void left after Red Faction: Guerilla demonstrated its remarkable destruction tech in 2009.

Spotify is planning to raise prices in certain regions including Europe and the United States. However, the price hikes aren't uniform and, thankfully, they don't appear to be extreme.

Huawei has started distributing a new update to the Watch Fit, its stylish and rectangular smartwatch. The update brings a new feature to the smartwatch, while also improving its blood oxygen monitoring functionality.

The Mate X2 foldable phablet has been slated as the first device to see a public roll-out of Huawei's new in-house software, HarmonyOS. According to some knowledgeable Weibo users, the OEM has now started this process off. It seems the new system is still a developmental build, but is being sent as an OTA to the general public nonetheless.

Apple has released an update that allows a user to unlock their iPhone with their Apple Watch should they be wearing a mask at the time. This new iOS 14.5 setting requires the latest version of watchOS (7.4) to work. iPhones on the latest corresponding software upgrade can also now use App Tracking Transparency to allow or deny activity-tracking in a highly granular manner.

OPPO has revealed that it will release a new version of its fitness tracker soon. This "Vitality Edition" has been hyped as supporting continuous sleep- and blood-oxygen tracking thus far. The OEM should outline its specs in full during its upcoming May 6, 2021 product event, which will also see the launch of the upcoming K9 phone and TV.

Xiaomi has begun rolling out MIUI 12.5 to select Redmi handsets. Until now, only recent Mi flagship smartphones were eligible, as was the Mi 9 SE. Now, Xiaomi has chosen five Redmi devices for MIUI 12.5, albeit still only on MIUI's Chinese branch.

Today (April 27, 2021), Redmi has introduced the long-hyped new member of the flagship K40 series as its Gaming Enhanced Edition. It is equipped with the premium MediaTek Dimensity 1200 SoC, a thin-bezel FHD+ AMOLED display, retractable shoulder buttons and a 5065mAh battery. It can be pre-ordered for as little as 1999 yuan (~US$308), although its Bruce Lee-themed special edition maxes out at just above $430.

Razer's latest wireless mouse has a renewed design that is, as the OEM claims, ideal for various grip or handling types used for gaming. It also features its brand's second-gen mechanical switches, as well as its 5G optical sensor. However, the Orochi V2's most eye-catching spec is probably its ultra-long battery life, even if Razer has settled on a slightly unexpected way to deliver it.

Samsung has issued another update to the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, and it is over 1.1 GB in size. The update addresses a few issues for the flagship while also bringing the device onto the May 2021 security patch.

The newest addition to Honor's Play series of smartphones is a markedly low-end entrant, starting at just 899 yuan (~US$139). That is not the only unusual thing about it, however, as the OEM has settled on a lesser-spotted Unisoc platform to power the device. It runs Android 10 using the Play 20's large 5,000mAh battery.

The Pro Air is the first wireless mouse of ROCCAT's Kone line. It combines this series' Bionic Shell design and Titan optical switches with cable-free use, thanks to a battery that can fast-charge via USB type C. For those that prefer to stick with wires, however, it has a new Pro sibling with PhantomFlex technology and otherwise identical gaming-focused specs.

OnePlus has started rolling out an update to its eponymous smartwatch, the OnePlus Watch. While the update fixes numerous issues on the poorly-received device, OnePlus is yet to enable many features that it has advertised.

The Mi Band 6 launched as Xiaomi's latest fitness tracker in late March 2021, with a large AMOLED display, SpO2 tracking and even advanced sleep tracking. Now, the company's CEO, Lei Jun, has posted on Weibo to announce that 1 million units of this new wearable have shipped worldwide already.

The iQOO 7 launched as the cheapest phone with the top-end Snapdragon 888 SoC in its native China earlier in 2021. Now, it has finally scored a second regional debut, in India this time. It has been rebranded as the 7 Legend for its new market, and is accompanied by a new, even cheaper, variant that has a different Qualcomm chipset this time.

Programmer 8-bit Show And Tell managed to mod his 1 MHz Commodore 64 to mine Bitcoin. This is a remarkable feat for hardware that's close to 40 years old. However, at 0.3 H/s, the system will take nearly a billion years, just to turn a profit of US$10.