Software

Sony has unveiled the UBP-X1100ES, its latest 4K/UHD Blu-ray player. This machine supports HDR, Dolby Vision, 4K upscaling and the new BT.2020 color-space standard. Sony also asserts that this new disc player has every kind of connectivity needed to integrate into any system.

A month ago or so, Samsung sent out the dedicated night mode update to the Exynos Galaxy S10 models. That update has finally hit the US, too, and it brings camera improvements across the board that will allow the device compete against the Pixel 3 in low-light conditions without losing.

DevilutionX — an unofficial Diablo version that has been developed using code obtained by reverse-engineering the original game — is now available for Nintendo Switch. However, not all Nintendo Switch units can run it since the consoles need to run homebrew to allow their owners to play this rather special Diablo flavor.

OPPO has announced a new technology at MWC Shanghai: MeshTalk. It is described as a way to talk or text without the need for a cellular, Bluetooth or online connection. MeshTalk apparently works when 2 compatible devices are within a maximum of 1.86 miles of each other.

The Android version of the 3DMark benchmarking suite is regarded as one of the best for non-iOS mobile devices. Its latest update has improved its compatibility with the ARM Mali-G72 and Mali-G76 chipsets. Then again, this fix may in fact downsize certain scores achieved with these GPUs.

A device called the Xiaomi Mi CC 9e has appeared on the Geekbench 4 website. Its results in these tests depict it as a 6GB phone powered by the Snapdragon 660 SoC. The Mi CC 9e also apparently runs Android Pie, but that is all that can be gleaned from this leak.

Samsung's answer to Google Play replaces apps with capsules, aiming to lay the foundation "for an open ecosystem of useful services that developers will continuously enrich, and users will be able to make their mobile experience more personal and intuitive." Sadly, this service is only available in the US and South Korea for now.

Google may be working on a new way to send files between devices without necessarily relying on the internet. This new feature, called Fast Share, may be intended to compete with Apple's AirDrop. Unlike Android Beam, it involves the instigation of Bluetooth connections.

The latest software update for the Samsung Galaxy A50 offers an upgraded security patch level and Knox Guard improvements. However, some users have reported that a reset of the phone's camera settings confers new shooting modes. They are "Super Slow Mo" and "Night Mode".

OnePlus has just instituted a CA$100 (US$78) discount for its latest flagship, the 7 Pro, in Canada. However, those who bought their phones at the device's initial higher price in the country need not fret: the OEM has sent them an email assuring them that they will receive cash-back for the same amount via their respective payment method.

HTC has reportedly taken the next steps on its Android update roadmap for its older devices. A Twitter user located in Taiwan has posted the upgrade notification for version 9.0 (Pie) on their U12+. However, this has yet to be followed by reports of the same in other areas.

The LG V40 started receiving the Android Pie update last month. Since then, AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and even unlocked models of the device have all received their taste of Pie. Not Sprint, though, and users of the Sprint model will likely have been annoyed when they received a new OTA that still didn't bring Pie.

Xiaomi has announced that it has a build of Android Q for the Pocophone F1. However, it is still not ready for public release. Therefore, it has issued a call for testers who will install and run this OS on their device.

The US and Chinese presidents have met at the latest G20 summit in Osaka, Japan. As a result, a ceasefire in the trade war between the two nations has been called. Accordingly, it has been agreed that Huawei can conduct certain amounts of business with US companies again.

Google has reached out to SwiftKey users, informing them that the app’s normal ability to predict text while typing based on Gmail data will be suspended soon. This measure is to come into effect starting from July 15, 2019. Then again, this may not be necessary should the SwiftKey developers comply with Google’s latest privacy policies.

Mobile payments are now thought of as a market capable of vast growth over the next 3 years. The latest figures put its worth at US$348 billion now; however, this is thought to grow to $1.3 trillion in 2022. It is projected to grow at this rate in the developed and developing world, and is thought to benefit from the presence of mobile network operators.

The carrier T-Mobile has released the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G for sale today (June 28, 2019). This coincides with its inaugural 5G service debut. However, it currently only covers 6 cities in the US, and not much of any of them at that.

Those who own or plan on owning Huawei or Honor Android devices may have been alarmed by reports that their parent company had lost crucial certifications necessary to use this OS. Despite this, however, Honor's latest flagships (the 20 and 20 Pro) have been found on the Google Play Certified list. One of Huawei's latest phones, the Nova 5i, is also present here.

An XDA developer has gained access to new features in Google's Messages app for Android phones. It is called "Effects", and adds a small number of cartoonish, 3D edits to a new photo or video to be added to a message. Therefore, it appears that Google is attempting to step up to Instagram's level as far as SMS, MMS or RCS customization goes.

A new Samsung device with the model number SM-A107F has surfaced in a number of new leaks recently. Now, the same has shown up on the Wi-Fi Alliance's website as a device cleared to use this technology. Therefore, this phone - which is thought to be an improved version of the Galaxy A10 - may be released soon.

Calculator for Windows 10 was placed on the open-source repository GitHub some months ago. Now, the developer Jérôme Laban has released iOS, Android and WebAssembly ports via the Uno platform. Therefore, nearly anyone with any device can enjoy the versatile Fluent Design app.

The Sharkoon Gaming DAC Pro S is a new product to which any headset with a 3.5mm jack can connect. It also has a USB type A interface to link the same to a PC. This may confer an improvement on the audio coming through the DAC.

Motorola has indefinitely shelved its plans to release the Pie update to most users of the Moto Z2 Force in the US. The Z2 Force can be said to be Motorola's last true flagship and it's a shame that the company appears to be showing complete disregard for users of the device.

LG does not do itself any favours, does it? The South Korean company has now rowed back on its commitment to bring Android 9.0 Pie to the V30 by the end of Q2. The roll-out has been pushed to Q3 for "essential improvements", with no fixed date for devices outside South Korea. C'mon LG, sort it out.

Honor's UK division has released a statement reassuring users that its "most popular current devices" will be upgraded to Android Q. This pledge applies to the Honor 20 series (including its Lite and Pro versions). The brand also confirmed rumors that it will release a 5G phone by the end of 2019.

Despite Intel giving PCIe 4.0 the cold shoulder, UL Benchmarks has gone ahead with the launch of its PCIe bandwidth benchmark. The minute-long test is a synthetic scenario and even the creators of the test recognize that modern PC games are unlikely to be limited by the PCIe bandwidth.

The Realme 1 is a sub-US$200 phone released in 2018. Despite this, the brand is now pushing an update to ColorOS 6. This ROM is based on the latest stable version of Android.

Google offers the option to store a timeline of places in which a user's location-enabled phone has been. The account-holder in question can also disable this ability and delete this information if they choose. The latest update to the app involved adds buttons that automates this procedure after 3 or 18 months.

Qualcomm has partnered with ZTE at MWC Shanghai to expound on 5G and what it means for the future of mobile gaming. To that end, it has demonstrated cloud gaming - which is powered by Tencent Instant Play in China - on phones with Snapdragon X50 modems. They are sold by ZTE itself, OnePlus, Vivo and Xiaomi.

HMD Global has delivered on its pledge to upgrade its entire range of Android phones to the current latest stable software version. This also now encompasses the Nokia 1, its "most affordable smartphone". Its new Pie-based ROM also comes with a June 2019 security patch.

Last year, OnePlus announced that it was to release its first ever TV. However, not much has been heard about this product since then. Now, a renowned leaker claims that it is "not very far away", but that it is likely to have an LCD panel when it arrives.

The OnePlus 7 Pro stands out in the crowd for its display—a groundbreaking 90 Hz, QHD+ AMOLED panel. A new mod for the Xiaomi Mi 9 has surfaced that brings the Xiaomi flagship's display into close territory, though.

Good news Huawei fans: The company has announced its EMUI 9.1 roadmap for the end of Q2 and most of Q3. An array of Huawei devices will receive EMUI 9.1 in the next two months. There are a couple of notable absentees though, while Honor owners may feel hung out to dry.

Announced in early November 2017 and released as a Beta back in April/May (New Zealand/Australia), Harry Potter: Wizards Unite finally became available for the general public — on both Android and iOS — on June 21. However, this mobile location-based augmented reality title is still reaching new markets as we speak.

A device with the model number SM-T545 has posted results on the Geekbench 4 website. Its designation suggests that it is a new Samsung tablet, possibly a Galaxy Tab A or Active. With 4GB of RAM and the Snapdragon 710 SoC, it is also distinctly mid-range.

A recent teaser for the upcoming Lenovo Z6 smartphone suggested that it would have Sony AI cameras, a high-capacity battery and a "next-generation" processor. Subsequently, the OEM's vice president got on his Weibo and released more concrete details on the new device. It seems this phone will indeed be getting the Snapdragon 730 SoC.

According to a new report, Samsung will release the Galaxy S10+ in its Prism Silver color option to the Indian market soon. Furthermore, the Galaxy M30s will also become available for sale in this country. This new phone is a new, improved version of the existing M30.

Microsoft has released a preview of the new Windows Terminal app to the Microsoft Store. The Windows Terminal app consolidates all command line tools into a unified tabbed interface that offers GPU-accelerated text rendering, custom themes, and support for Unicode and UTF-8 characters. The app is still in early preview with version 1.0 expected to hit the Microsoft Store this winter.

A phone with the model number SM-A107F has allegedly gone through certification at the US' FCC. As this number is close to that of the Samsung Galaxy A10, it appears that the device in question is a new variant of the same. Unlike the supposed original, the SM-A107F appears to have a fingerprint reader, as well as a 3900mAh battery.

Edge computing is a rapidly emerging industry that may become closely associated with others such as machine learning in the future. Its market is now projected to be worth US$6.9 billion in the next 5 years. This is thought to be driven by its use in 5G and smart-city applications.

A popular tech blog claims to have gotten the word from Motorola that its latest major release, the Moto Z4, may only get 1 full Android version update during its life cycle. Therefore, the new phone will see Q, but could miss out on R. On the other hand, the OEM also pledges to support the device with 2 years' worth of security updates.

The Galaxy M30 is one of Samsung's newest mid-range devices. However, it appears that the OEM is already planning to refresh this phone with a different, faster CPU. On the other hand, this possibility has only been indicated through new Geekbench scores thus far.

A high-severity vulnerability has been discovered in Dell’s SupportAssist software that is found on millions of computers sold by the American manufacturer. The problem was highlighted by a company called SafeBreach and was originally reported to both Dell and PC-Doctor in May. Dell has offered a simple resolution to deal with the disconcerting find.

Xiaomi's CEO, Lei Jun, recently took to Weibo to introduce the OEM's latest split-off, CC. It is apparently informed by the "Chic & Cool 90 team", or designers that were born in the 90s, came from the main company's recent acquisition Meitu or both. Its first release will be for the Mi CC9 and CC9e, which may be released soon.

Samsung has just allegedly trademarked a product called "Make & Play 3D", which apparently involves a time-of-flight (TOF) module that brings depth-sensing to devices such as smartphones. This suggests that upcoming releases from this OEM may have such a next-gen module. The Galaxy Note 10 may be as good a candidate as any for this upgrade.

Microsoft does not normally release data on the performance of its in-house search engine and browser. However, a new leaked slide may give an idea of how Bing and Edge are doing. Apparently, Bing has over 450 million monthly active users and handles 10.5 Billion queries per month.

Microsoft 365 for Campaigns is a new service intended to safeguard election campaigns from bad actors of various kinds. It is part of the Redmond company's Defending Democracy Program, and offers enterprise-level security to those covered by its subscriptions. Currently, it is available for US$5 per user per month.

The Huawei Watch GT is the OEM's latest smartwatch, which runs on LiteOS rather than the Wear OS of its predecessors. The company has reported that it has shipped more than 2 million of these devices since their launch in 2018. It also claims to have new data on the performance of its wearable business in general from the first quarter of 2019.

The Tesla Models S or 3 have a feature called Navigate on Autopilot feature, which can allow one of these vehicles to follow a certain route while driving autonomously. The security firm Regulus Cyber has claimed that they are susceptible to GPS-spoofing interventions, which allegedly caused a test car to enact auto-turning behaviors while still 3 miles from an actual exit.

LG intends to release its new mid-range smartphones, the W series, as Amazon exclusives in India. However, one variant of this series, the W10, has allegedly surfaced on the Android Enterprise database. It shows that the phone may have 3GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage and run Android 9.0 (Pie).