Software

Asus stands out among Android OEMs by making it relatively easy for Zenfone-series owners to gain root access on their devices via a first-party app. However, some of these users now claim that this tool no longer works, particularly in the case of the new Zenfone 10 and its predecessor the 9. Hopes of its restoration are dimmed by the company's less than clear response on the subject.

ASUS is now offering two significant updates for the ROG Ally. Following on from last month's release of BIOS 323, ACSE v1.3.6 and MCU 311 make numerous improvements to ASUS' first gaming handheld, including a dead zone bug fix in desktop mode.

Google has published new updates for all its recent Pixel devices, Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet included. While Pixel smartphones and the Pixel Watch have received bug fixes through new security patch updates, the Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet have also gained some Bluetooth and UI improvements.

Rumors of a direct Samsung Galaxy A04 successor may have just been augmented by a new addition to the Geekbench 6 database. The alleged 4G/LTE-only handset may be destined for next year's Android smartphone market, yet still has specs one might barely expect to persist in a 2024 mobile device, regardless of how cheap.

Huawei has delivered a major update for the Watch 4 Pro, one of the company's latest smartwatches. Rolling out in China as the HarmonyOS 3.1.0.168, the update is said to add several new features to the Watch 4 Pro, as well as power consumption and performance optimisations.

Garmin has rolled out Beta Version 13.18 for Instinct 2 series and Crossover smartwatches. Available to download now manually, the update contains bug fixes for all eligible smartwatches, as well as more improvements for its new Gaming activity.

It seems that Samsung is preparing to open public testing for One UI 6, its Android 14-based update. While Samsung Germany has since deleted its press release, it confirmed that One UI 6 Beta 1 will be available soon across multiple markets, starting with the Galaxy S23 series.

Garmin has brought even more bug fixes and improvements to the Fenix 7, Fenix 7S and Fenix 7X series, among other smartwatches. Beta Version 14.27 contains 20 changes from Beta Version 14.26, including 15 bug fixes.

HarmonyOS 4.0 contains a number of new features oddly reminiscent of the newer versions of iOS, Live Windows included. It is a new animated pill for the top or top corner of a given device's screen, which can expand as it tracks functions such as recordings and countdowns. Accordingly, Huawei's adoption of this UI tweak might officially endorse certain Mate 60-series display upgrade rumors.

The instruction set architecture (ISA) RISC-V is increasingly seen as a chip-designing goldmine, mostly thanks to its open-source nature. However, it still needs commercial support to drive its adoption, according to big industry players such as Qualcomm Technologies, NXP Semiconductors and Bosch. To this end, they will fund a new, EU-based body intended to help optimize RISC-V for next-gen automotive and wireless applications.

The Nothing Phone (2) has been issued with a software upgrade that might fix some bugs users may have noticed while using their new flagship Android smartphone up until now. Nothing OS 2.0.2 is also rated to streamline or improve some functions of both front and rear cameras on compatible devices. It might also boost signal strength for users on certain carriers worldwide.

Garmin has released new beta updates for the Forerunner 265 and Forerunner 965. Rolling out as Beta Version 16.12, the updates bring numerous bug fixes and changes to both smartwatches, with more headed to the Forerunner 965 than the Forerunner 265.

The Venu 2 and Venu 2S have received bug fixes via a new beta update. Available as Beta Version 15.08, the update makes a few changes to both smartwatches as Garmin works towards offering a new stable build.

The Insta360 ONE RS is a high-end modular action camera that has received an uncharacteristic bunch of discounts through some of its major retail channels. Meanwhile, its maker has released teasers for a new way to capture "underwater experiences" with an imminent launch. It might be a whole new form of waterproof camera - then again, maybe not.

Not only is the new Oukitel RT7 Titan touted as the "first rugged tablet with 5G", it also debuts a new battery large enough to sustain an estimated 2,720-hour standby time. The slate is also equipped with "up to 24GB" of RAM, triple rear cameras with Night Vision and even the option of a convenient built-in handle.

Garmin has rolled out Beta Version 14.26 to various smartwatches, including the Fenix 7, Fenix 7s and Fenix 7X. The new beta build features 19 changes from Beta Version 14.24, including the return of disabling touch inputs within the swim app.

A renowned leaker has revealed the watch faces that Google plans to offer exclusively on this year's Pixel Watch 2. With greater customisation options, the Pixel Watch 2 will also support dynamic theming thanks to Wear OS 4.

Xiaomi is said to launch a new, Max variant of its Pad 6 flagship Android tablet series soon. Now, these rumors are bolstered with a new claim of Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra-challenging screen real estate from a typically reliable source. The spec would indeed make the 6 Max the biggest Xiaomi tablet yet, and, thus, nearly unparalleled in its target market.

Samsung's second-gen smart tag is indeed on track to launch soon, according to new documentation from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The regulator indicates that it may have grown in size compared to the inaugural Galaxy SmartTag, and contains two antenna types for different modes of connecting to paired or related devices. Accordingly, the SmartTag2 is thought to consolidate the features of Samsung's standard and premium smart tracker devices in this generation.

In addition to improved upload performance, multiple security fixes, and a volume slider in Picture-in-Picture mode, Firefox 116 drops support for Windows 7, 8, and 8.1, as well as macOS 10.12, 10.13, and 10.14. The users of these operating systems will get support until September 2024 for Firefox ESR (version 115.1 also arrived today).

Garmin is rolling out Beta Version 13.16 to Instinct 2 series and Crossover smartwatches. Beta Version 13.16 features a few changes and improvements as Garmin moves towards issuing a new stable build.

Sony has pushed the biggest update yet to the WH-1000XM5 following the release of the smaller WF-1000XM5. Rolling out as firmware version 2.0.2, the new update brings several major changes to the WH-1000XM5, including head tracking for a more immersive listening experience.

Garmin has released Beta Version 14.24 for various smartwatches. Arriving after Beta Version 14.23 debuted, the new beta build focuses on addressing outstanding bugs, with a few new features thrown in for good measure.

ASUS is offering a new BIOS update for the ROG Ally aimed at improving the gaming handheld in various areas. The company is not yet ready to patch an outstanding MicroSD card issue though, despite officially acknowledging it before the update's release.

Garmin has released Beta Version 14.23 for the Fenix 7 series and its counterparts. Arriving as the first beta build in a month, Beta Version 14.23 contains 45 changes for Fenix 7, Enduro 2, Epix 2, Quatix 7 and Marq 2 series smartwatches, as well as new Fenix 7X and Epix 2 Pro models.

Oukitel touts its new RT6 as its "most powerful" rugged Android tablet yet. Its 10.1-inch display is sustained by a battery with a capacity as large as some power banks out there, rated to stay on for no less than 2,250 hours on standby. It has a microSD card slot and RAM that can be extended in its software, although its robust nature comes with one or two potential key weaknesses.

Samsung seems nearly ready to move on in terms of its budget Android smartphone offerings already, with a Galaxy A05 apparently poised to take over from the A04 soon. A device by this name has shown up on an independent testing database even though it has yet to launch, suggesting that it might be ready to lead a new generation of Galaxy A handsets into 2024.

Vivo has announced its latest, third-generation custom-designed ISP for the next generation of its premium smartphones. The V3 chip is touted to bring "4K Cinematic Portrait Video" to Android devices for the first time. The X100 and its higher-end siblings may be the first handsets to debut with this new co-processor.

The Legion Y34w has just become the latest Lenovo gaming monitor on that OEM's native market. It is touted to deliver immersion at its best with a WQHD resolution stretched across up-to-date mini-LED technology in the 21:9 aspect-ratio with a 1500R curvature. The display also boasts a port complement that includes dual HDMI 2.1 ports and one USB type-C port with 140W charging.

Lenovo's latest Legion-brand product event has introduced a new version of the Y9000X laptop to the Chinese market. It has become a lighter and slimmer PC, if anything, in this generation, yet still boasts gaming credentials such as RTX 4000-series graphics to drive a 3.2K 165Hz display. It also boasts 140W charging for a 99.9kWh battery.

The Mate 60 series is said to launch as Huawei's next premium, non-foldable line of smartphones. They are now also projected to do so with long, pill-shaped cut-outs, so as to house an array of multiple front-facing image sensors. This is not the first time the OEM has gone with this kind of notch alternative - however, a prominent leaker fears it is doing so for the wrong reasons this time.

Although more will come on July 26 at Samsung's next Galaxy Unpacked launch event, the Galaxy Watch family has just taken a big step forward. This wearable lineup has just received the first WhatsApp smartwatch app alongside Samsung Wallet and Thermo Check, which measures temperatures remotely.

OnePlus is now projected to produce an R variant of its next flagship Android smartphone, as it did with the 11R in 2023. However, this "12R" exhibits even fewer design updates than the "12" as leaked thus far, if anything. Its alleged resemblance to its putative predecessor belies upgrades that may only just start with its processor.

Apple has introduced the Beats Studio Pro as its latest headphones. They are rated for "Class 1" Bluetooth - yet are also rated to support "lossless" audio thanks to its DAC for wired connections - which are done via USB type-C rather than Lightning. Beats has also thrown active noise cancellation (ANC) with a Transparency mode along with new 40mm drivers into these new cans.

Realme has now confirmed that the C53 confers the ability to "Shoot like a Champion" with a 108MP main camera for cheaper than ever before. The smartphone also offers an additional, potentially winning, perk in the form of the OEM's take on the Apple Dynamic Island: its "Mini Capsule for Android". However, this premium veneer of hype comes with frankly puzzling choices in other ways.

Unleashed yesterday and labeled 536.67, the latest driver package from Nvidia comes with support for Portal: Prelude RTX, as well as the upcoming Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart and Remnant II. A few G-Sync Compatible gaming monitors and GeForce Experience Optimal Settings presets are also present.

In another move aimed at strengthening its position in the AI market for business customers, Microsoft has started testing Bing Chat Enterprise. This service is a combination between the popular AI-backed chat and commercial data protection, so all business information is not used to train models or exposed to third parties.

Game Pass Core has been announced as a new way to access Microsoft's Xbox multi-player network for less than US$10 a month. The new Pass is only compatible with a limited and specific range of games, however. It will become active later in 2023, and will also supplant the Xbox Live Gold account type from day one.

As revealed by the code of a recently released Alpha test build, MIUI 15 will include two useful features. The first one is a more powerful and flexible clipboard, and the second will give the users a capability reserved to third-party apps so far, namely the ability to pump up the volume by 200%.

Apple tends to support its products for six or seven years. For the Apple silicon-based MacBook Air and Mac mini released in H2 2020, this means that almost half of their useful life is now behind them, and with no Windows compatibility, it remains to be seen if they will be of any use past H2 2026.

Baseus claims that its latest Bowie-series wireless earphones come recommended by "Oscar-winning film composers" for their rich sound. They are also rated for powerful hybrid ("ANC + ENC") noise-cancellation specs and low-latency audio over their Bluetooth 5.3 connection. Despite these bragging rights, they have been priced at ~US$30 on their launch.

Garmin has released Beta Version 13.10 for the Instinct 2 and Instinct 2S series, as well as to Instinct 2X and Instinct 2 Crossover smartwatches. The new beta build bundles various new features for Instinct smartwatches, including a workouts app and Morning Report support. Beta Version 13.10 should address a few outstanding bugs too, among other changes.

Broadcom is now awaiting approval from the US FTC and the UK CMA, after receiving the green light from the European Commission. In the event of a successful acquisition, VMware would boost Broadcom's software side to account for 50% of its sales.

Honor has introduced its latest smart TV as the Smart Screen 5. Its 4K display supports HDR10 and variable refresh rate technology that optimizes its up-to-144Hz output over HDMI 2.1, although the OEM asserts that it can do even better than that while used for gaming. The new TV also boasts a 50MP 1080p webcam for video calls, among other UI tricks.

Google has published Android 14 Beta 4, its second Platform Stable build. Rolling out to Pixel smartphones, including the new Pixel Fold, Android 14 Beta is also available on the Pixel Tablet for the first time.

The security advisory that arrived alongside yesterday's updates for Windows revealed that Microsoft has blocked over 100 malicious signed drivers. Back in February, researchers from a trio of security companies informed the tech giant headquartered in Redmond about malware in no less than 133 Windows drivers.

Garmin has released a new beta build for the Forerunner 255. Available as Beta Version 16.09, the update packs various new features, improvements and bug fixes for the Forerunner 255 ahead of a stable update rollout.

Thanks to the in-house developed Copilot, Canary Mail now provides AI-powered email writing capabilities to its users across the supported platforms, which include Windows, Android, macOS, and iOS. Those who need pinned emails, a built-in calendar, end-to-end encryption, and other premium features can get them starting at US$20 per year.

The Eleglide M2's launch campaign that offer s potential buyers the chance to grab a free smart band from Xiaomi along with a sub-US$1,000 price on the new electric bike. It is rated for a range of up to ~78 miles, derived from a 36V/15Ah battery and 250W motor that powers 27.5-inch fat tires for a "smoother ride". The M2 is also equipped with app control and an "intelligent" LCD display.