Software

Samsung is now rolling out One UI 6 to another half-a-dozen devices. New devices eligible for Android 14 upgrades include the Galaxy S21 FE and Galaxy Tab S9 FE series, as well as three more Galaxy A handsets.

Google has released a new camera update for its recent Pixel devices. Rolling out as Pixel Camera 9.2, the update brings Ultra HDR support to older Pixel smartphones like the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 series, as well as an improved UI for the Pixel 8 Pro.

FOSSIBOT has introduced its DT1 Lite as a device with a 1200x2000 display that starts at just over US$135. The IP68/IP69K/MIL-STD-810H-rated tablet runs Android 13 and has a 10,000mAh+ batter with a handy power bank function; then again, its RAM, internal storage and rear camera specs help to explain its bargain price.

A new update for Chiaki4Deck has introduced the possibility of streaming PS5 games on a Steam Deck OLED with HDR enabled. The feature is already available to try, albeit with a bit of end-user tweaking.

While some competitors come with bundled services that make them more attractive (Disney+ sports Hulu and ESPN+ for US$12.99 a month), Apple TV+ goes for US$5.99 and Paramount+ Essential is US$5.99, both supported by ads. A recent report reveals that the two companies might deliver consumers a competitive bundled offering.

WhatsApp has been allowing users to send photos in 4K resolution for a few months now, and soon it will be possible to send complete images and videos in full resolution without first having to compress these files into a zip archive.

Recent testing revealed that Arch Linux, Pop!_OS, and even Nobara Linux, which is maintained by a single developer, all outstripped Windows for the performance crown on Windows-native games. The testing was run at the high-end of quality settings, and Valve's Proton was used to run Windows games on Linux.

Valve has rolled out a new version of SteamOS, which is intended to fix numerous bugs and thus significantly improve user experience. Performance in certain games should also improve.

Cloud computing programs Nextcloud and ownCloud were recently affected by several security gaps that allowed third parties to access stored server files. The vulnerabilities have already been fixed in the current versions.

EarFun touts its new Free Pro 3s as "dual certified" TWS earbuds, in that they officially support both Hi-Res Audio and Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon Sound suite of audio features, aptX Adaptive included. They are also rated for a decent level of ANC, even though their noise-cancelling tech is of the hybrid variety. The Pro 3s' case is also backed to deliver "generous" battery life and also supports wireless charging.

Huawei has released HarmonyOS 4.0.0.191 for the Watch 4, one of its recent flagship smartwatches. Coming in at nearly 1 GB, HarmonyOS 4.0.0.191 is a comparatively large update with various changes, including a new arrhythmia analysis feature.

Huawei's most distinctive camera hump is now longer exclusive to the high-end P60 series, according to a new leak. It has reportedly trickled down to a new generation of the Enjoy series, slated for an imminent launch as the latest HarmonyOS smartphones soon. The 70 might be able to hang on to a 50MP main camera and generous storage options, although its SoC is said to be much more low-rent.

Since deepfake images created by AI have been circulating at a school, lawmakers want to take stricter action against creators and distributors of non-consensual deepfakes. With the advancement of AI, creating such fake images with the aid of different apps is becoming increasingly effortless.

Bitmagic has announced a closed alpha test of its game development system powered by generative AI. By simply typing what you want, users can create playable games in minutes. This will democratize game creation by allowing anyone to make games they envision and enjoy.

Earlier this year, the presentation files for the new Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite mentioned a "Windows OS" different from Windows 11, which might be its successor. The unconfirmed Windows release generally known as Windows 12 for now is scheduled to arrive by June 2024, reveals a new report from Taiwan.

Valve has brought an official Steam Link app to Meta Quest headsets. Available on the Quest 2, Quest 3 and Quest Pro, Steam Link appears to have replaced existing solutions like Air Link and Virtual Desktop.

ASUS has brought more new features to the ROG Ally courtesy of Armoury Crate SE, MCU and BIOS updates. Now, the ASUS ROG Ally supports gyroscope controls and can disable its CPU turbo boost to extend battery life when gaming, among other changes.

Numerous Garmin smartwatches are now eligible for firmware version 15.74, a stable update that contains almost 50 changes for the Fenix 7 and Fenix 7 Pro series. Also available for Epix 2, Enduro 2, MARQ Gen 2, Quatix 7 and Tactix 7 smartwatches, v15.74 culminates 15.xx beta builds.

Garmin has started rolling out a new stable software update to the Forerunner 265. Arriving a few days after the company released Beta Version 17.22, the new stable update contains several changes, including a nap glance mode, alerts signalling stress levels and the need for rest, plus red shift control for preserving night vision in low light.

The Garmin Forerunner 965 is now eligible for a new stable software update. According to the company's forum post, v17.24 has a dozen-strong changelog, which introduces an inline skating mode and up-ahead voice prompts, among other changes.

With a history of over 31 years, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has failed in its attempts to limit the negative influence of human activity on the climate system. However, the partnership with Microsoft might reshape mankind's future with the help of artificial intelligence.

Valve announced today that it would no longer support the Steam Client on macOS 10.14 or earlier versions starting February 15th. The decision comes as a result of Apple dropping support for 32-bit applications with macOS 10.15.

Attention Windows users: your own smartphone could soon be used as a webcam on a PC, which in most cases is likely to be a very strong webcam. A corresponding function is to be rolled out soon.

Announced earlier today, the latest update for Samsung TV Plus comes with visual and functional changes that aim to streamline content discovery and enhance the user experience. The service is available in 24 countries, and the update targets over 2,500 channels of this ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) service.

Released across multiple platforms in late September, 2021, Diablo II: Resurrected is a remaster of Diablo II and the Lord of Destruction expansion with 4K graphics and 7.1 Dolby Surround sound. While it significantly improves upon the original's visuals, the remaster hits a whole new level in a fan-made Unreal Engine 5 demo.

The Samsung internet web browser, already known from Galaxy smartphones, is now available for Windows 10 and Windows 11. Samsung advertises the "best" web browsing experience and user privacy protection; the user interface is based on One UI.

Garmin has revealed that it has a new CES Best of Innovation Award winner well in advance of the actual January 2024 event in question. The Venu 3 is joined by other smartwatches of its brand in being honored during these upcoming Awards, not to mention Garmin's "revolutionary" automatic emergency landing system.

The "next big thing" in home theater experiences comes in a "surprisingly small" package, according to ViewSonic. Its new projector has an "ultra-compact" form-factor, yet is rated to throw bright, color-accurate images of 100 inches from just under 3 meters away. The M10 also upgrades to integrated speakers enhanced with Harman Kardon tuning.

Sony's latest firmware announcement for the Alpha 7 IV mirrorless cameras adds support for up to four custom grid lines that can be imported as PNGs — for US$149. This is useful for non-standard shoots where repeated framing is necessary. Support for more cameras down the line is confirmed, but it's unclear which will be eligible for the upgrade.

CheckMag The Steam Deck and Proton have done a lot for gaming on Linux. Users that were once tied to Windows for gaming now have multiple options for breaking free. Here are some of the best Linux distributions for getting your Windows-free game on.

Fossil is rolling out War OS 3.5 to its Gen 6 smartwatches. The updated software brings various new features and enhancements to the wearables. Reports suggest that these include improved battery life, enhanced performance and upgraded fitness tracking thanks to the Fitbit integration.

Samsung's 2022 flagship tablets have started to join the One UI 6.0 upgrade party, starting with units associated with the European market. The Tab S8, S8 Plus and super-sized S8 Ultra are now eligible to download and install the Android 14-based software update, which also contains the OS' newest security patch upgrade level.

The Xperia 1 VI (and 5 VI) are reportedly on the way as new flagship and sub-flagship Android smartphones respectively with the latest camera tweaks from Sony. They are said to go beyond hardware and into the "in-camera digital signature" tech also headed to flagship DSLRs of the same brand. The new digital signature is intended to counter the potential risks of images made or altered by AI.

The Galaxy A05 sticks with a dual rear camera hump in 2023 - nevertheless, it still packs a 50MP main shooter, and also manages to retain expandable storage for all its high-res snaps on top of that. Then again, Samsung's new ultra-budget smartphone packs an unprepossessing display and SoC combination.

The iQOO 12 is a premium Android smartphone with the latest top-end Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and a 144Hz display - that is on the way to the global market soon, according to a new leak. Furthermore, it is slated to do so with a new version of Funtouch OS capable of eliminating some of the most negative feedback attracted by its recent predecessors.

Samsung has stepped up the pace with its One UI 6 rollout. Having issued a new release schedule earlier this week, the company has now started upgrading the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21 Plus and Galaxy S21 Ultra to its Android 14-based OS. Stable One UI 6 updates are now available for the Galaxy A34 and Galaxy M33, the second and third mid-range devices to move up from One UI 5 builds.

Garmin has now brought a new update to the Fenix 7 Pro, Fenix 7X Pro, Fenix 7S Pro and Epix 2 Pro, four of its more expensive smartwatches. Distributed through its beta channel, the update introduces a few improvements to each model ahead of a new stable update likely arriving before the end of the year.

Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, this week announced that the engineering and plans for the original Roadster have been made open source. Accompanying the announcement, Tesla published a webpage of PDF documents, including complete service documentation, diagnostic software, and circuit and connector information. This move is uncharacteristically repair-friendly, and it could help keep the original Roadsters on the road for a little longer.

The Garmin Public Beta Version 17.22 has arrived for Forerunner 255, Forerunner 265, Forerunner 955, and Forerunner 965 smartwatches. Compared to the previous iteration, the new software fixes three bugs in the wearables, addressing an issue with the exercise list and problems that could cause the devices to crash.

Xiaomi has announced which smartphones will no longer be officially supported in the future. The list is extensive and also includes popular models; the discontinuation of support is likely to become a security-relevant factor for users sooner or later.

Samsung has returned with a new One UI 6 release schedule for numerous devices. This time, the company has included over 40 devices on its Android 14 upgrade rollout list stretching into February 2024.

Samsung has released its Android 14 update to more devices. Starting in the US, One UI 6 should now be available to additional flagships, plus the first of Samsung's mid-range product stack.

Garmin has introduced Beta Version 15.74 to various recent smartwatches, including the Fenix 7, Fenix 7X and Fenix 7S. Not available initially for Pro models, Beta Version 15.74 should address several bugs for compatible smartwatches, including one that could cause device shutdowns.

RedMagic very nearly got to its next major product event without the main event leaking onto AnTuTu Benchmark. However, a device with a model number linked to one of the upcoming 9 Pro series has made it onto that database after all, achieving a top-ranking score in the process. That might have been due to its top-end specs, the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor included.

Amazfit is rolling out update 9.54.5.1 for the T-Rex 2 smartwatch. The new software brings cycling data tracking and winter sports navigation features. Improvements have also been made to time measurement precision, user interactions and various workout tracking calculations.

Meta had asserted its "commitment" to responsibility in developing its machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) products, with a dedicated team within the company to fulfil that promise - but no longer. Its members still have positions within the company - just within other divisions, mostly involved in its generative AI concerns.

Nothing and Sunbird have now pulled their iMessage chat apps following revelations that neither app supports end-to-end encryption. Instead, both are riddled with vulnerabilities and privacy concerns, which Sunbird denies publicly at this stage.

Amazfit has released firmware version 5.0.2.1, an update available for the Amazfit GTR 4 and GTS 4. Not only does the new software address multiple bugs for the pair, but it also introduces a new heart rate algorithm designed to improve accuracy during workouts.

Another move that will bring iOS and Android one step closer has been confirmed by Apple for 2024 when the tech giant's smartphones will get support for RCS. Thanks to it, texts between the two platforms will get typing indicators and read confirmations alongside high-quality multimedia content.

Realme hypes its next top-end Android smartphone as a flagship among flagships thanks to its new Qualcomm platform and Miracle Cooling system. However, it seems to have failed its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 hype on its maiden run on a popular mobile device benchmark. Then again, subsequent testing might paint a better picture for the upcoming GT5 Pro.