Software

The beginner-friendly Linux distribution Linux Mint 21.3, codenamed "Virginia", has officially been released in version 21.3. In addition to the new Cinnamon 6.0 desktop with numerous improvements and the Hypnotix TV app has been revised.

The Darmiyan BrainSee medical AI software has been granted FDA De Novo approval. This non-invasive software uses MRI brain scans with cognitive test scores to score the likelihood of a patient developing Alzheimer’s disease within five years to alert doctors early on.

CheckMag The Raspberry Pi 5 is a single board computer that has seen a significant boost to performance this generation. With support for PCIE devices, massive overclocking headroom, a physical on / off switch and an active cooling option, here are 4 projects to get you started with your new Raspberry Pi.

The display tech OEM BOE has a 2024 car as part of its Las Vegas exhibition, and for good reason. The Geely Galaxy E8 boasts the world's first 45-inch 8K borderless smart dashboard, rated to cater to the most pressing need of both driver and front-seat passenger simultaneously. Furthermore, BOE is also demonstrating the screen's even higher-res, more responsive Oxide Mini LED successor with custom curved glass from Corning.

Garmin has started updating two of its recent smartwatches to Beta 9.15, a build that resolves outstanding bugs and adds two new features including a jump rope activity. Beta 9.15 should be available to download as an over-the-air (OTA) update.

Garmin is rolling out a new update to various smartwatches, including the Fenix 6. Available through its Beta Program for now, Beta Version 26.86 addresses several outstanding bugs, including one related to monitoring lap cadence while swimming.

CheckMag It was ten years ago since Adobe decided to kill the Creative Suite in favor of Creative Cloud. Since then, other developers such as Autodesk have jumped onto the subscription model for their software. Are perpetual licenses about to go the way of the dinosaur?

The Fortis 11-inch G10 Chromebook is another new HP PC "purpose-built" to "stay productive" regardless of what it encounters at work, spills and drops included. It is also equipped with a Titan C chip for security as well as "responsive" Intel platforms for advanced, optionally independent, connectivity. The G10 also has "fast" USB-C charging and the option of a touchscreen.

Garmin has pushed the first v16.xx update to the Fenix 7 series and its counterpart. Rolling out as Beta Version 16.10, the new update contains almost 25 improvements, plus new firmware updates for GPS, Wireless and Sensor Hub software, along with fresh Audio Prompt files.

Xiaomi has issued a new update for the Smart Band 8, one of its current smartwatches. The update brings various new features and improvements to the Xiaomi Smart Band 8, as well as various bug fixes.

HP present the new Poly Voyager Free 20 earbuds as part of its CES 2024 peripherals showcase. They feature hybrid adaptive active noise cancellation (ANC) alongside the brand's "legendary" smart voice-boosting and noise-reduction technology for calls. The Free 20s are also backed to deliver "all-day" battery life and conferencing app compatibility.

Streaming providers are becoming more and more expensive in the US. In this phase of all times, Best Buy is suspending the sale of physical video media. Video games on the other hand will still continue to be on offer.

WhatsApp is working on a new feature that will enable the user to choose the main color of the app from a range of options. As spotted by WABetaInfo, the feature is still under development and is not yet available for testers. It popped up on the TestFlight beta Program as iOS beta 24.1.10.70 with a TestFlight build of 24.1.10.

Fiido asserts that its latest product is the best and safest way possible to make a child's first two-wheeler electric. The Kidz is touted to address some problems the OEM claims to have identified with some balance bikes of its type, which include having a throttle and pedal assist, but in a way that can be controlled by a parent or guardian if necessary.

The AiDot brand WELOV asserts that its latest air purifier is a world first in that it is the first device of its kind officially approved to work with the Matter standard for smart home IoT and devices. The company believes that this is a significant upgrade as it allows the P200 Pro to integrate with Apple Health in order to keep on optimizing air quality even when the user is asleep.

The debut of LG's latest TVs is now underway; however, the CES 2024 event also has some good news for owners of some existing smart screens. The OEM has announced that a selection of these devices released before 2023 are eligible for an initiative that might keep them up to date until 2029. The list currently contains a selection of LG OLED TVs, and may be further expanded in the future.

As a result of a recent MoU between Samsung and Hyundai Motor Group, smart homes run on the SmartThings platform will now support connected Hyundai and Kai vehicles. This partnership will develop new remote control solutions that work both ways, as well as an integrated system for energy monitoring.

Xiaomi has now confirmed that the Poco X6 Pro, scheduled to launch on January 11, will run the company's new HyperOS straight out of the box. Sadly, however, it appears the two other smartphones billed to launch alongside the Poco X6 Pro do not enjoy that perk.

Deepin Linux has introduced an AI coding assistant in its deepin-IDE development environment and an AI image editor in the Image Viewer app. This makes it the first Linux distribution to step fully into the world of AI, with a very different approach to Microsoft's Copilot AI chatbot.

HarmonyOS 4 will shortly be rolled out to a select number of Huawei Watch 3 series smartwatch users in a closed beta program in China. The latest software is said to include new lock screen animations, and 3D gaming watch faces, among other features. The company has suggested a wider rollout of HarmonyOS 4 this year.

Version 39 of Nobara, the Linux distribution dedicated to games and content creation, has been released. As well as changing the desktop interface from Gnome to KDE and using Fedora 39 as the base, there are a number of new features and enhancements.

CheckMag Steam's “Best of 2023” games list has been published with games spread across 3 categories from Platinum to Bronze. Here is a selection of the best “Deck Verified” games to play on that new Steam Deck, or Steam Deck OLED you got for Christmas.

Gravastar asserts that its latest peripherals exude peak gaming "spirit" in terms of their esthetics as well as their specs. The new Mercury M-series mice both feature the brand's new "hollowed-out" design and custom GLOWSYNC RGB, with magnesium alloy for extra "battle-worn elegance" in the M1 Pro's SKUs. The mice also come with up to 4K dongles and 26,000 DPI sensors.

Valve has officially stopped the support for Steam on Windows 8.1, Windows 8, and Windows 7 operating systems. Starting January 1, 2024, users running the client on these won't receive any updates, including security patches. Also, the users of these operating systems won't get support from the team for any technical issues.

Microsoft introduced its Copilot app for Android at the beginning of last month. At the core, it gave Android users free access to DALL-E 3 and GPT-4. It’s now finally available for iPhone and iPad users. Both versions are currently up on the Apple App Store and are free to download.

Synology's Diskstation Manager version 6.2 is being discontinued. For a large number of very old NAS systems in particular, 6.2 is the last version still supported. Users will have to prepare for the end in 2024.

LG QNED TVs that combine the OEM's "hyper-realistic" Quantum Dot and NanoCell Color technologies are on the way back in 2024 with new variants. They are slated to come in a range of sizes complete with a 98-inch "blockbuster" flagship, and to come packed with LG's latest AI, audio and contrast enhancements.

The Honor Magic6 Pro is set to become the world's latest 'satellite smartphone' on its imminent launch. Now, a leaker purports to spoil its new spec in action, and to pit it against an existing device with similar capabilities. It seems the Honor version might be superior in some respects compared to Huawei's take on the technology.

OnePlus touts the Ace 3 as the next best thing to its flagship 12 smartphone and is, thus, worth holding out for until its early 2024 debut. In the meantime, the brand claims that its new premium camera algorithm turn the upcoming premium mid-ranger's rear cameras into shooters capable of realistic light and shadow.

Honor has now confirmed that there will indeed be a GT version of its X50 Android smartphone, and that it will launch soon. A notorious leaker purports to back the OEM's combative claims of its performance up with further specific details in advance. They include a larger-than-average battery to go with its high-end display and high-res main camera.

iQOO has launched its first ever Watch today (December 27, 2023). The new wearable boasts a 1.43-inch AMOLED display powered by a custom OS for its health- and sleep-tracking features, and has the option of independent eSIM connectivity. The Watch is joined in its debut by new TWS earbuds of impressively long battery life for an attractive price.

Xiaomi HyperOS debuted in China with the launch of the Xiaomi 14 series. It will soon break covers in the international regions on the first quarter of next year. But it seems the global version of the custom operating system will come with a new face as Lei Jun, the CEO, has just introduced a new logo. Also, it will reportedly be available on more than 100 devices.

The Lite edition might be the least premium of the new Huawei Nova 12 series of smartphones, yet has been styled to most resemble the ex-flagship 11 Pro, especially around the 50MP main rear camera. Nevertheless, it has the same up-to-date HarmonyOS 4.0 software and super-high-res selfie camera as the rest of its new line. It is also the most likely of its siblings to make it to the international market, based on its 4G/LTE-only chipset alone.

The Huawei Nova series has made a number of series firsts with its latest generation, the least of which might be the introduction of its inaugural Ultra variant. It has also introduced two-way satellite messaging to its line of mid-range smartphones, and also shares its best camera tricks with its Pro sibling.

The MIT Technology Review has compiled a list of the biggest technological failures of 2023. These include the Titan deep-sea submersible, General Motors' wayward cruise robotaxis, and Humane Ai Pin, among others.

Version 17 of the Windows-like Linux distribution Zorin OS is now available for download. In addition to performance improvements and reduced memory requirements, numerous new features await users.

Windows is discontinuing Windows Mixed Reality, which means that numerous headsets will potentially become electronic waste in the long term. The discontinuation is also likely to have a profound impact on Microsoft's VR strategy and the platform's chances of success.

The Samsung Health app will soon launch a new medication tool in the US. The feature allows you to track your medicines and view information about the drug and tips for taking it. Plus, prioritized reminders ensure you do not forget to take your prescription medications.

CheckMag Steam's epic 2023 Winter Sale is in full swing, bringing with it some of the best RTS gaming deals of the year. Delve into legendary battles in A Total War Saga: TROY, an intense FPS-RTS hybrid in Silica, or hostile political machinations in Dune: Spice Wars.

While Apple has AirDrop, a service for sharing data between users of Apple devices, the situation in the Android ecosystem is more complex. In addition to Google's Nearby Share, there is Samsung's Quick Share as well as the cooperation of a number of Chinese smartphone manufacturers in the Mutual Transfer Alliance. At present, the prospect that Android will soon have a more universal standard for data exchange is looking good.

The Qoocam 3 Ultra is a "cutting-edge" new dual-lens action camera rated for super-high recording in 3D. Kandao's upcoming lifestyle vlogging device is also backed to take high-quality, instantly-shareable panoramic photos. It will debut during the OEM's CES 2024 showcase ahead of its 2024 release.

Garmin has issued v15.77 for Fenix 7, Epix 2, Enduro 2, Quatix 7 and Marq 2 series, the third stable update released for the smartwatches in December. Skipping Garmin's Public Beta program entirely, the new update brings bug fixes to all models, including Garmin's new titanium Marq 2 variant.

The Garmin Connect IQ System 7 is now available in beta form for developers. The update brings a new API level, 5.0.0, alongside a wide range of features. These include an “Always On” display mode improvement, an upgrade for the Communications module and Bluetooth bonding.

The IKEA Home smart app has been updated, bringing various new features to its DIRIGERA hub. The latest software enables you to manage multiple DIRIGERA units from your smartphone. Plus, support for new smart home products has been added, both for the Home smart app for the DIRIGERA hub and the Home smart app 1 for the TRÅDFRI gateway.

The Steam Winter Sale is now live and features discounts on a variety of titles. Games on sale include everything from obscure Indie titles to award-winning AAA hits. Valve is also bundling 10 games for $10, representing a 94% discount.

Garmin has released a new stable update for the Instinct 2 series, including the Instinct Crossover. Rolling out as v14.12, the update marks the end of Garmin's beta program for this period and contains over a dozen changes for all eligible smartwatches.

Not even a day after starting a long-term review of the Chevrolet Blazer EV, an automotive outlet started having problems with the review vehicle that was purchased off the lot. With less than 1,600 miles (2,574.95 km) and just two months on the clock, the electric SUV has had to go in for repairs that have thus far taken two weeks.

The Asahi Linux Project has released its Fedora Remix for Apple computers with Apple silicon. The official release is based on Fedora 39 and ships with KDE Plasma and Wayland by default, although GNOME 45 is also available. Asahi Linux also boasts "the best Linux laptop audio you've ever heard," maintaining one of the best strengths of Apple laptops.

The AI-Girlfriend app allows you to create a personalised Pixar-style girlfriend, with whom you can enter a romantic relationship. However, some social media users are worried that the trend towards girlfriend apps could contribute to the further deterioration of real-life relationships.

Garmin has released a new software update for many of its older smartwatches. Rolling out as Beta Version 26.85, the update introduces new bug fixes to the Fenix 6 and Fenix 6 Pro models, as well as Enduro, Tactix Delta, Quatix 6 and Marq smartwatches.