Software

The PlayStation 5 console will be offered up to some fortunate Japanese vloggers as part of the YouTube Gaming Week that is coming up soon, with the PS5 hands-on giving the potential for a full UI reveal among other things. SIE boss Jim Ryan has stated that there is some “really cool stuff” to be shown off in regard to the user experience.

Redmi Note 8 and Redmi Note 8T owners are not going to be too happy with the latest news about Android 10-based MIUI 12 for their devices. Delays are already expected anyway and now the general manager of Xiaomi Indonesia has claimed that the company is “still testing” the firmware for the Redmi Note 8/8T.

Asus launched the ROG Phone 3, its latest gaming flagship Android phone, in July 2020. However, it never materialized on the US or Canadian markets. The device has just appeared on the FCC database, suggesting that it is finally approved for sale in the region.

After sending out an update to the Redmi Note 8 last week, Xiaomi is now sending an update to the Redmi Note 8 Pro. This new update delivers the September patch to the Indian model of the Xiaomi best-seller, with the Android One Mi A3 also getting its September update.

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S and Redmi Note 9 Pro have received their first MIUI 12 update in India. The OS upgrade should precede equivalents for the global, European, Russian and Turkish branches of MIUI, which are yet to receive Xiaomi's latest OS. The Mi Mix 3 5G has received MIUI 12 globally, too.
Update: MIUI 12 is now being rolled out to more Redmi Note 9S and Redmi Note 9 Pro devices.

Intel has emphasised that its latest Pentium, Celeron and Atom processors are ideal for the Internet of Things (IoT) use-cases of the near future. They are ultra-low-power CPUs that can still drive multiple 4K displays and are rated for twice the 3D graphics performance compared to their predecessors. They will start to become available in the first quarter of 2021.

Intel's Industrial Summit 2020 revealed that the OEM now believes that data and its processing will migrate to the edge in the future. To that end, it has announced 11th-gen Core processor versions aimed at Internet of Things (IoT) applications. They are extra-low-power variants of Tiger Lake CPUs with features such as Deep Learning Boost, although they retain Thunderbolt 4 and PCIe 4.0 support.

Huawei has patented a design for a smartphone that seems to have an under-display selfie camera. However, its other side has an interesting feature: quad sensors in a plus-sign-shaped module. Furthermore, one of the lenses is square, suggesting that it can accommodate cameras for periscope zoom photography.

MIUI 12 beta and internal testing will be halted between September 30 and October 12, according to a new report. The break in development may also result in a pause to phase three of Xiaomi's MIUI 12 release schedule for devices like older Redmi Note handsets.

Samsung US has announced that the OEM's TV Plus app is coming to smartphones. This means the 2020 and 2019 Galaxy Note and S flagships will be able to access this service, whereas it had only been available on smart screens prior to this. The in-house streaming service offers over 100 channels of ad-support content.

The Xiaomi Mi 10T and Mi 10T Pro may be cheaper than expected, according to new reports. The Mi 10T will supposedly retail for just €499 in Europe, while the Mi 10T Pro will start at €599.90 with 128 GB of storage and 8 GB of RAM. The 256 GB model will set you back €50 more, which would be significantly cheaper than previous claims.

The Killer brand of networking products has unveiled its latest adapter: one with a USB type C connector at one end and an RJ-45 jack rated for up to 2.5 gigabit Ethernet at the other. Rivet Networks asserts it is the world's first adapter designed for competitive gaming or other high-performance PC tasks in mind.

D-Link has announced the DCS-8302LH Full HD Outdoor Wi-Fi Camera. Despite one part of its name, the OEM asserts it is sleek and sophisticated to have inside the house as well. It also packs features such as IR for night vision, AI to help avoid unnecessary user alerts and "next-gen" IPv6/WPA3 support.

A YouTube channel has allegedly posted a video of a heretofore-unreleased Huawei wearable called the Watch GT 2 Porsche Design. It seems much like the rest of its possible series, albeit with a new bezel and boot animation. This may be a sign that such a product will be unveiled alongside the upcoming Mate 40 series.

LG has previously teased or showcased devices with rollable displays. Now, its latest patent, approved by the US Patents and Trademarks Office (USPTO) in September 2020, may show the OEM's latest take on the technology. It is a box housing a display that can be unfurled horizontally and be used as a drawing device.

HP has unveiled the latest version of its ThinPro OS for enterprise devices. ThinPro 7.2 has a locked file system and SecureBoot signing for added security. It also supports a host of virtual desktop environments like Citrix and VMWare. HP will announce ThinPro 7.2's price once it is released this December.

Both the Xiaomi Mi 8 and Mi 9T (also known as the Redmi K20) have received new custom ROM support that gives owners the chance to try out the Android 11 experience. The Mi 8 might have to camouflage itself as a Google Pixel 4a for this particular venture though.

The MIUI 12 rollout for smartphones listed in Xiaomi’s third batch of devices to receive the software update has seemingly commenced. Certain smartphones on the list, such as the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 and Mi Note 3, have already started receiving a stable update of the MIUI 12 ROM in China.

A user on XDA Developers as packaged a tool that can create an APK of Super Mario 64 using an authentic ROM file. The APK is essentially an Android port of the popular platformer, but it requires users to compile the game themselves.

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Pro has received a new MIUI 12 update. The update brings the Indian variant in line with the Chinese one, which received Xiaomi's latest OS in July. V12.0.1.0.QFHINXM includes Android 10, too.

The PlayStation 5 will launch in Singapore on November 19, 2020. On that date, its Standard edition will be the most expensive variant of its series yet in that country (as indeed it will for pretty much all its markets). However, some new research may predict when its price will get more bearable for many consumers.

Microsoft has announced that the new Xbox App is available as a beta on the Google Play Store. It has been designed so that users can stream downloaded titles from their consoles onto their Android devices. The app is also rated for easy sharing, invites and notification management across this gaming ecosystem.

The accessories OEM Aukey's gaming division has come up with some new mechanical keyboards. The 104-key variant features anti-ghosting, full n-key rollover and dedicated software. The brand has also even developed its own switches with different response and feedback properties.

Realme has officially unveiled a device based on the new Snapdragon 460 processor in Bangladesh. The C17 also has quad rear cameras, a 500mAh battery and a 6.5-inch HD+ display with a 90 hertz (Hz) refresh rate. It is priced at US$200 in its first market.

The TicWatch Pro 2020 may be a particularly interesting smartwatch due to its dual-layer display that is intended to save battery over time and 1GB of memory. Now, TicWatch has revealed that it has a successor that will launch in 3 days from now. This Pro 3 is slated to rock the latest Snapdragon wearables platform from Qualcomm.

Xiaomi has finally gotten around to enabling native call recording on the Poco F2 Pro. The feature is available on the global variant of the device and will work from within the default phone app.

Android 11 has arrived for the OnePlus 5 and OnePlus 5T, albeit in the form of custom ROMs. Neither device is ever likely to receive Android 11 officially, so custom ROMs will be the only way to access Android 11 from here on out.

Various new Android 11-based custom ROMs have been appearing for a number of Redmi devices, with the especially popular Redmi Note 8 and Redmi Note 8T getting the unofficial Android 11 treatment. The custom ROM for the Redmi Note 9S is in an alpha stage so may not appeal to all users and the aging Redmi Note 5 Pro is covered by LineageOS.

Xiaomi's CEO, Lei Jun, reportedly estimated that his OEM's global operations represented 50% or more of its total revenue at this stage. Speaking at an innovation conference in China, the executive attributed this international success to MIUI. This Android skin started out as a custom ROM, but now exists as multilingual official software found on millions of devices worldwide.

Turtle Beach has announced that the latest in its Stealth series of headsets for PlayStation or Xbox are available to purchase from today (September 20, 2020). These new variants of the "best sellers" in the wireless audio category for gamers boast features such as flip-to-mute mics, 50mm drivers and reinforced headbands.

OPPO has announced what it is calling a smartwatch with "professional"-grade electrocardiography (ECG) features. This is because it has been officially certified as such a device, albeit in China only. This wearable, which looks like the OEM's inaugural Watch, will launch worldwide in September 2020.

Updated custom ROMs based on Android 11 have become available for both the Poco F1 and Xiaomi Mi A2 smartphones. It has already been revealed that neither of these devices was on the list for official OEM support to Android 11, but custom ROM devs have not forgotten Poco F1 and Mi A2 owners.

Xiaomi may already be testing Android 11 builds of MIUI 12 for multiple devices internally, according to a new report. It seems that the Redmi K20, Redmi K30 and Mi CC9 Pro are next up for Android 11, as should the Mi Note 10, Mi Note 10 Pro, Mi 9T and Poco X2 by extension.

Large-scale 'video wall'-style displays (or those that are about 100 inches diagonally or more) are often impressive and effective, particularly in a professional environment. However, they can pose several disadvantages, especially when made using conventional LCDs. ViewSonic asserts that its new, LED-based alternative solves many of them while offering a more streamlined viewing and installation experience.

Cloud gaming allows PC gamers to stream their titles via any device rather than load them on a high-powered rig. AirConsole is a company that claims to do much the same for console games. However, in its case, the user's smartphone is used as the controller and a big screen is required. This service is now expanding to Android TVs for this purpose.

Google has indicated that it will launch new smart home products alongside the Pixels 5 and 4a (5G) at these smartphones' launch at the end of September. However, a leaks site may have spoiled any surprise left in conjunction with these devices. WinFuture purports to confirm that they will be a fresh take on the Nest speaker and Chromecast, and to have genuine product images of both.

The Pocophone F1 has started receiving MIUI 12, Xiaomi's latest OS. Based on Android 10, MIUI 12 for the Pocophone F1 is only being rolled out to Russian handsets for the time being, but it can be downloaded manually.

Xiaomi is now sending out new updates to some of its phones, with the Redmi Note 8 and Mi A2 Lite getting OTAs. For the Redmi Note 8, two updates have been sent, to the global and Indian models of the devices. Owners of the global model of the Mi A2 Lite should now also be getting the September patch.

The latest Game Ready driver package from NVIDIA arrived yesterday and comes with day-one optimizations for Halo 3: ODST and Mafia: Definitive Edition, ray tracing and DLSS support for Fortnite, NVIDIA Reflex latency optimization in Fortnite and Valorant, support for the new GeForce RTX 3080 and RTX 3090, and more.

The Xperia 1 II will not receive Android 11 until the Xperia 5 II launches, according to a new report. The Xperia 5 II has multiple launch dates, so it may not be until December before the Xperia 1 II sees Android 11.

Huawei has completed its EMUI 10.1 upgrade plan in two more regions. All Huawei devices in Africa and the Middle East should have now received EMUI 10.1, shortly before the company starts rolling out EMUI 11, its new in-house version of Android.

The Flex 5G is Lenovo's premium 2-in-1 with the Snapdragon 8cx platform that allows it the same standalone connectivity as most 2020 flagship phones. It has been on sale in the US before; however, those units were locked to the Verizon UW bands. The OEM now sells SKUs that may be used on any network.

Vecnos is a spin-off from Ricoh that is dedicated to making compact lifestyle cameras. It has finally unveiled its first 360-degree camera in full. The IQUI fits its 4 proprietary lenses and their controls into a laser-pointer form-factor. It can take 3840x1920 video at 30fps, and has its own app to send these shots to a smartphone.

JAM Audio has launched the Travel ANC wireless headphones. The OEM claims that they are rated for up to 24 hours of battery life, or 18 with active noise-cancelling (ANC) on. Their design also allows for folding up or folding flat

There are reports that the first MIUI 12 build for the Mi Mix 3 5G has removed 5G connectivity for the device. The EU variant is the only one to have received Xiaomi's latest too, albeit one still based on Android 9.0 Pie. All others remain on MIUI 10, over 18 months after being released.

Just days before its release, Super Mario 3D All-Stars leaked onto the Internet in full. While a leak of the game is bad enough, an intrepid data miner reports that the game uses emulators to play the three retro Mario games within. In other words, the games are not ports for the Switch but are rather original ROM/ISO files (with some patches applied) played in emulation.

After a few updates that failed to at least touch this area, Armored Warfare 0.33 comes with a major rebalance of the high-tier vehicles (tiers 7 to 10). In addition to these adjustments, the list of improvements also includes improved mobility of both wheeled and tracked vehicles, overhauled ammunition and ERA mechanics, a new Contract Mission, model updates, and more.

The latest Apple Watch is here...and so is the latest Apple Watch. The Cupertino giant has released 2 variants of its iconic wearable for the first time. The flagship Series 6 has the latest watchOS 7 features, a new always-on altimeter and the long-awaited blood oxygen sensor, whereas the SE has only some of these things.

Connected health devices are electronics that can provide links to organizations such as the Mayo Clinic or Electronic Caregiver so as to help monitor or even treat a patient in their own home. A new survey indicates that their adoption and use among US residents is growing. This is likely to be related to the fall-out from the Covid-19 pandemic and general trends in medical tech and its use.

The Razer Phone 2 has only received one OS upgrade since its release in October 2018. The former flagship smartphone may still receive security patch updates, but it remains stuck on Android 9.0 Pie with no upgrade to Android 10 in sight.