Software

Introduced over a decade ago as a free way to upload recent photos, My Photo Stream lost the ability to upload content at the end of last month as Apple will shut it down on July 26th. Thankfully, all users can easily switch to iCloud Photos or even various third-party alternatives.

Meta announced that it had 'invented' a "new way to communicate with text" about 3 days ago (on July 5, 2023) - which has resulted in millions of users' worth of uptake already. However, as it turns out, the fact that many of them were able to register with their existing Instagram handle implies a potentially crucial drawback of the new social media option. The links between the two accounts means that one cannot be deleted without also dumping the other.

Lenovo's revelation that it would be updating the Legion Y700 for 2023 has sparked hopes for a portable gaming tablet with the power to match the year in its product number. Now, a famous leaker purports to confirm that it will indeed have the option of more RAM in its second generation, as well as a newer OS. However, while its silicon will apparently also upgrade compared to the original Y700, it will not be quite as new as humanly possible.

Sony touts the HT-AX7 as a revolution in the portable wireless home audio space. It is technically a modular kit, with 2 'satellite' sub-speakers that can detach from the main unit to create a "bubble" of "three-dimensional surround sound" around the user or users with 360 Spatial Sound Mapping technology. The HT-AX7 set is rated to last for up to 30 hours per charge, and is available to order from now.

Google has released the July 2023 update Pixel devices, including the new Pixel Fold. Only the Pixel Tablet receives any bug fixes though, with TQ3A.230705.001 and TQ3C.230705.001 merely adding 2023-07-01 and 2023-07-05 security patches instead.

Samsung is now tipped to add a new kind of wearable to its health-tracking portfolio soon. The OEM has allegedly left a new menu alluding to the addition of support for smart rings in the new beta for a first-party app. Accordingly, the Galaxy Watch series could be joined by alternative accessories soon.

Nothing has announced that its latest flagship TWS earbuds are now available in a second colorway (black). Carl Pei's tech OEM is selling these new SKUs already, albeit through its own webstore only at present. The product refresh has debuted alongside the latest software for Nothing audio products, which include an Advanced Equalizer for the Ear (2)s and noise reduction for the Ear (stick).

The Honor X50 is the first ever Android smartphone to debut with the new SGS five-star certification for drop resistance. It also offers 16GB of RAM for less than US$300, and has 5G thanks to its mid-range, if first-gen, Qualcomm chipset. The X50 has also launched with a 120Hz 1.5K AMOLED display kept on with an unusually generous 5,800mAh battery.

Xiaomi has confirmed which of its smartphones are eligible for MIUI beta based on Android 14. Distributed for Global ROM users, the beta update is currently available on three Xiaomi flagships but only to those who enrol on Xiaomi's beta program.

Nothing has released Nothing OS 1.5.5, shortly before it introduces Nothing OS 2.0 and the Nothing Phone (2). The new update brings several changes to the Phone (1), including improved face unlock and reduced power consumption when using certain Bluetooth devices.

While many Xiaomi-branded smartphone owners are still waiting for the MIUI 14 update, the first Alpha version of MIUI 15 surfaces on the company's servers. Expected to feature improved animations and various new features, MIUI 15 apparently entered development on May 22, so it could be based on two Android versions, as its predecessor.

The July security patch has started rolling out in the US, where all Galaxy S23 series devices locked on T-Mobile are receiving the 425 MB software package. Other regions should follow in the coming days. The update is based on Android 13 and doesn't include any new features or performance improvements.

Sony asserts that its new mocopi system condenses all the motion-capture hardware aspiring virtual reality (VR) content creators might need into 6 simple, wearable sensors. They even have their own app (for iOS or Android), so that the user can simply save the resulting full-body avatars to their mobile devices. mocopi is also compatible with developer resources such as Unreal Engine or Unity.

Next-gen AirPods have been predicted to launch as anything from inaugural USB type-C accessories to in-ear thermometers. Now, a new leak has thrown another possible future feature into the mix. Apple's upcoming flagship wearables might also help detect hearing impairments as well as correct for them.

Soundcore has announced an upgrade to Adaptive ANC 2.0 in its latest Liberty-series wireless earbuds. The 4 NCs are thus rated to actively cancel up to 98.5% of all ambient noise, while delivering "crisp sound" with enhanced detail thanks to specs such as LDAC codec support. They are available in a range of colors for just under US$100 for a limited time.

New Android smartphones are slated to upgrade to their own versions of Apple's latest iPhone SOS feature from 2024 - however, for those that will be left behind, there is the Motorola Defy Satellite Link. The accessory connects a user's mobile device to the Bullitt network to get message and location data through to others when out of cellular coverage.

The Cobra and Cobra Pro both come with Razer Speedflex cables and !00% PTFE feet for potentially smooth, swift movement. However, the latter is definitely the flagship of the two, with a total of 10 customizable buttons and HyperSpeed Wireless technology as well as Bluetooth connectivity. The Cobra Pro is rated to last up to 170 hours per charge and is available from now.

While there is nothing worth mentioning in addition to the fact that Nvidia's latest and most affordable member of the RTX 40 family, namely the US$299 GeForce RTX 4060, gets full support thanks to the driver package labeled 536.40, a fresh piece of code from the green team is always good news.

Continuing in its push to develop AI-powered tools, Microsoft today announced Buying Guides, a new tool integrated into the Bing search engine that aims to help consumers with product research. Bing will also include tools to aid with price matching, reading product reviews, and more.

Skullcandy has announced the release of a whole line-up of portable speakers of various sizes, each with up-to-date Bluetooth technology. The Ounce, Kilo, Terrain Mini, Terrain and Terrain XL also have IPX7 ingress protection and USB type-C charging in common. They are available in the same colorways, albeit at different prices based on size, from now.

Sony has finally announced the much-awaited software update that enables 4K 120 FPS video recording for its Alpha ZV-E1 full-frame mirrorless vlogging camera that it released earlier in 2023. Not only does the update enable 4K 120 FPS recording, but it also unlocks 1080p 240 FPS recording, greatly expanding the slow-motion capabilities of Sony's diminutive creator camera.

ONYX International has presented the BOOX Tab Mini C as a potential companion for work or travel. Its new 7.8-inch display supports the brand's latest Kaleido 3 e-ink technology for "sharp" detail in both monochrome and color. It has a Qualcomm CPU and an "exclusive" GPU, rated to help the Mini C work as a tablet as well as a particularly vibrant e-reader.

Volkswagen recently announced that it intends to take the sub-€25,000 (~US$27,000) segment of the car market by storm with the new ID. 2all. However, the company is now rumored to have an even cheaper electric vehicle (EV) in the works. The 'entry-level ID' is said to launch with a new platform and a super-compact build.

Reportedly, Xiaomi is preparing to roll out MIUI 14.1, an interim update, before it debuts MIUI 15 later this year. Despite being a stopgap between major releases, MIUI 14.1 is said to be underpinned by Android 14. However, Xiaomi is expected to limit the update's release to selected devices.

Samsung touts its Smart Monitor series as the ideal display to put to dual-function use as a home IoT hub. Now, the 32-inch variant from its 2022 generation is available for US$100 less than normal online. It offers dual HDMI inputs as well as a 4K panel and USB type-C with 65W charging.

Toshiba has announced that its latest TV is an OLED model. The X9900L also boasts in-house REGZA 3.1.2 surround sound and Tru Color mapping technology. The OEM asserts that it will package its in-demand panel type with its hallmark "hardcore craftsmanship and aesthetic design" on its release.

BodyCheck Microsoft just keeps adding new features to Edge, the default browser of Windows. Most of these are not only useless, they also hamper productive workflow by throwing the user into a bottomless pit filled with unwanted pop-ups, requests and subtle but not-at-all-welcome design changes. Additionally, they are peppered with what one can call outright privacy violations.

Samsung has confirmed that the Galaxy M34 is on the way to a release via Amazon India "to meet all your needs". The smartphone is thought to do so with a 120Hz AMOLED display, triple rear cameras and Android 13 out of the box. The OEM has also hinted at a crowd-pleasingly large battery and processing specs for the upcoming device.

Volkswagen has introduced its latest flagship SUV as a plug-in hybrid that will, as such, be able to handle acceleration off the line as it will in practical uses such as towing. The new Touareg R eHybrid is also backed to look good doing either, with "re-designed" front and back ends, a new matte finish and some high-tech tweaks in common with some ID.-series vehicles. The marque's "absolute top model" is available to order in Europe from now.

Asus' new handheld gaming device, the ROG Ally, has now paid a visit to a well-known electronics disassembly and repair YouTube channel. The portable console came in for glowing praise as a result of its new iFixit assessment, as well as and favorable comparisons between it and its Steam Deck rival - with some caveats.

The Fossil Group has finally started enabling Google Assistant on its Gen 6 smartwatches, eight months after distributing Wear OS 3 upgrades. Previously, Fossil Gen 6 smartwatches made do with Amazon Alexa.

Meta is rolling out promised performance boosts to the Quest 2 and Quest Pro. Quest build v55.0 also contains other changes, such as improved eye tracking on the Quest Pro and UI tweaks.

The Raspberry Pi Foundation has enabled Bluetooth 5.2 support for the Pico W, a tiny board based around the RP2040 microcontroller. The Foundation has bundled into the latest MicroPython build, with Bluetooth support now merged upstream into the official MicroPython repo.

The Tecno Phantom X2 Pro has finally gotten its own "deeper grooves at a level 7" moment, having made it onto the JerryRigEverything YouTube channel. It may be the "world's first Retractable Portrait Camera" Android smartphone; however, that feature failed to protect it from some criticism even as it endured the traditional torturous tests of its build quality and integrity.

Dangbei has announced a new addition to its Mars line of laser projector. Not only will this variant be cheaper than its flagship Pro sibling thanks to a 1080p resolution, the OEM asserts that it can connect to Netflix out of the box. The vanilla Mars also offers onboard 10W audio and Dolby Digital Plus support.

Garmin has issued a significant new beta release for the Venu 2 and Venu 2S. Available as Beta Version 14.07, the new build finally moves the Venu 2 series on from Version 13.xx builds.

One app to rule them all. Increasing proliferation of AI-generated content into large social platforms like Twitter is fast blurring the lines between fake news and credible information. Musk's US$44 billion Twitter acquisition may be down-valued today, but the potential that the platform holds for evolving into a one-stop "everything X app" and assessing journalistic credibility cannot be undermined.

Two Apple executives have explained why watchOS does not give people the option of downloading third-party watch faces onto their Apple Watch smartwatches. The same executives have also discussed the demise of Force Touch, which debuted on the first Apple Watch.

While Nikon previously revealed that its nifty Auto Capture feature would make its way to the Nikon Z8 in a future firmware update, the verbiage stating such has mysteriously vanished from Nikon's marketing of the feature, leaving fans scratching their heads. Auto Capture, which has already made an appearance on the Nikon Z9, is a feature that automatically locks focus on and snaps an image of anything that enters the frame.

There has apparently been a spell of 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 owners have experienced total power loss to the electric drive in their vehicles. 30 owners complained to the NHTSA about a "loud pop" followed by a sudden loss of power. The NHTSA has launched an investigation into the complaints, and the agency estimates that 39,559 vehicles are affected by the issue. Hyundai has indicated that it is working with the NHTSA during the investigation.

Samsung is now once again said to grace its latest flagship smartphones with a preview of its newest software a couple of weeks early in 2023 compared to 2022. One UI 6.0 Beta 1 is now backed to land in "the third quarter" of this year. It is projected to support Samsung apps optimized for Android 14, and may be another sign of an early launch for devices such as the Galaxy Z Fold5.

Sony has announced that its BRAVIA line of big screens will be the first of their category to support Zoom. Accordingly, the TVs' users will be able to make video calls and hold conferences just as they might on their smartphones or laptops - so long as they have the series' matching webcam, that is. Zoom for TV is rated for tools such as screen-sharing, and also to be compatible with BRAVIA Cam features such as Ambient Optimization Pro.

The latest driver package from Nvidia arrives with DLSS 2 and Reflex support for F1 23 and Aliens: Dark Descent. It also adds 8 new G-SYNC compatible gaming monitors to the list of supported hardware while GeForce Experience receives optimal settings for 7 titles, including The Lord Of The Rings: Gollum and Diablo IV.

Although Samsung's official update policy suggests that the Galaxy S20 series is only eligible to receive quarterly security patches three years after launch, the former flagship smartphones are still being updated on a monthly basis, which is a pleasant surprise for Android users who are still holding onto their beloved device.

Reddit is bringing new API pricing and moderation policy changes that are causing quite the consternation among users and developers alike resulting in blackouts among thousands of subreddits. The new API pricing means that popular third-party apps like Apollo will have to cough up US$20 million per year, prompting the developer to retire the app on June 30. However, Reddit's CEO believes that the changes are important and that the protests would eventually fizzle out on their own.

Samsung has released its anticipated camera update for the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus and Galaxy S23 Ultra. Available as AWF1, the 2.2 GB download contains various camera improvements and system stability improvements.

GeForce NOW has announced that it has added Xbox Game Pass to its list of supported account and platform types. Therefore, users with both services will be able to stream titles from the latter on NVIDIA GPUs over the cloud soon. In the meantime, the platform now supports Age of Empires IV's (AoE IV) Anniversary Edition as well as Dordogne, a new release from Steam.

Google's Pixel 6 smartphone may be almost two-years old at this point, but that doesn't diminish its performance at all — it's still a fast, well-built smartphone loaded with Google smarts. While it's not the go-to recommendation for a 2023 Android upgrade, it's got banging value at US$240, even if it is a refurbished model.

Although the first dropped by 0.19% and the latter faced a 0.7% descent compared to April, the 1080p primary display resolution and Windows 10 64-bit reign supreme in last month's Steam hardware and software survey. No less than 60.51% of Steam users use Microsoft's previous operating system, while 64.33% play their games in FHD.

The Garmin Fenix 6 series is receiving a new stable software update, as are its Enduro, Marq, Quatix 6 and Tactix Delta counterparts. Rolling out as firmware version 26.00, the update contains various bug fixes and some new features that have also reached other recent Garmin smartwatches.