Software

In a move supposed to help users protect themselves from impersonation and to gain direct access to customer support, Meta Verified is rolling out this week to increase security across the brand's services. Australia and New Zealand will be the first countries to get it, for a monthly price of US$11.99 (web) and US$14.99 (iOS).

Apple has been said to unleash its inaugural mixed-reality headset as early as March 2023. However, according to a famed tech correspondent, these plans have now fallen through, and the Cupertino giant will settle for debuting the first-gen hardware during its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June instead. Then again, it is possible that this might be the better option.

Apple has released iOS 16.4, iPadOS 16.4 and macOS Ventura 13.3 Beta 1 builds. Available to download now, the updates introduce several new features to iPhones, iPads and Macs that will ship to all users in the next few weeks.

Heybike's "most advanced" new e-bike has a fairly standard 750W motor, foldable form-factor, augmented with hydraulic front-fork suspension and disc brakes with "excellent stopping power." Then again, it also has the in-built connectivity rated to track its location if necessary via its own app. The Tyson is currently available to pre-order online.

iQOO asserts that the Android smartphone it has just launched in India brings up-to-date 4 nanometer (nm) processing to that market. It also offers a 120Hz display, nearly top-end RAM and fast 120W charging. Nevertheless, the new device may not be all some consumers may have hoped for.

The Pixel Buds Pro will soon receive head tracking support, courtesy of a new firmware update. In the meantime, Google has readied the Pixel Buds app for the new functionality, which will work in tandem with Spatial Audio.

Garmin has released more updates to Fenix 7, Enduro 2, Epix 2, Quatix 7 and Marq 2 series smartwatches, having just rolled out a new build on its stable software channel. While Alpha versions 11.26 and 11.28 do not add any new features to the Fenix 7, they address numerous bugs that exist in the most recent stable software version.

Users who participated in Nothing's beta program are now receiving the Android 13-based Nothing OS 1.5 update. Nothing Phone (1) users on stable Android 12 should ideally receive it in the coming days.

Sony has brought Android 13 to the Xperia 10 III, despite only promising to deliver Android 12 to the device. Android 13 arrives as 62.2.A.0.367 for the Xperia 10 III and is rolling out gradually across all markets in which the device is available.

Samsung has officially announced the launch of One UI 5.1, the company's latest Android offshoot. The rollout of One UI 5.1 starts with the Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20 and Galaxy S21 series, including the Galaxy S20 FE, and will expand to the Galaxy Z Flip3 and Galaxy Z Fold3 eventually.

The latest AMD Adrenaline GPU drivers are reportedly reducing the amount of video memory available to the Radeon 680M iGPU inside the Ryzen 7 6800U in the AYANEO 2 and the AYANEO Geek handheld game consoles. However, the issue only seems to affect the aforementioned consoles and not the entire AYANEO lineup.

Mobvoi has potentially enhanced its place in the health-tracking industry with its new online informatics platform. It is billed as a one-stop solution to help analyze one's health- and fitness-related progress over up to seven days via a desktop browser interface. The new Sports and Health Data Platform also offers downloadable reports and compatibility with other services such as Strava.

Apple continues to roll out iOS 16.3.1 and iPadOS 16.3.1 for eligible iPhones and iPads. The updates introduce several bug fixes for devices running on Apple's stable software distribution branch, with Apple leaving any new features for a major OS revision change. Apple's latest updates did cause a conflict with Google Photos, but an App Store update has now resolved this.

Google has commented on the state of scrolling issues on Pixel 7 series devices. With the stable release of Android 13 QPR2 around the corner, it seems that Google's latest flagships could soon be rid of performance problems that affect some units.

Ex-OnePlus CEO Carl Pei has not held a position at that company for more than two years now. The executive has just made a public return to its hardware - albeit as a reviewer. Pei compares the new flagship 11 to the inaugural smartphone from his own new Android brand, the Nothing phone (1), and offers some opinions and insights on OnePlus and its changes since he left the OEM.

The new CORSAIR iCUE Murals software is now available. The tool lets you create smart RGB lighting across multiple products from Nanoleaf and Philips Hue, syncing the effects across devices. You can match the lights to an uploaded image or to content on your monitor in real time.

Garmin has released Beta version 25.00 for Fenix 6, Enduro, Marq, Quatix 6 and Tactix Delta series smartwatches. Rolling out as a Release Candidate, the build offers a few bug fixes ahead of a new public update.

Garmin has rolled out a new beta build to Instinct 2 series smartwatches. Another Release Candidate, Beta version 11.17 fixes bugs that were present in its predecessor ahead of a new Public live update.

Samsung has released its February 2023 round of updates for the Galaxy Watch4 and Galaxy Watch5 series. While Samsung has only mentioned 'stability and reliability' improvements, it seems that One UI Watch's 'raise to wake' gesture is working again.

Samsung is now bringing devices onto One UI 5.1, including the older Galaxy S20 series. Also in line for One UI 5.1 before March rolls around is the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S22 series, along with the Galaxy Z Flip4 and Galaxy Z Fold4.

Wargaming's World of Warships is moving forward with a new update that includes the usual under-the-hood tweaks and fixes, as well as early access to British subs, the Statue of Liberty commander, US hybrid battleships, global combat missions, an updated Domination mode, rebalanced unique upgrades, and more.

OnePlus has just introduced the world's first 7:5 aspect-ratio screen for tablets along with its first-gen Pad. The inaugural ReadFit display is driven by the "ultra-efficient" Dimensity 9000 Plus SoC, backed for enhanced power as well as connectivity, particularly outdoors. The OnePlus Pad is also designed to support "immersive" quad-speaker audio, fast SuperVOOC charging and stylus/keyboard use out of the box.

Google's demonstration of Bard — the company's rival to ChatGPT-powered Microsoft Bing — did not go down too well with the press and employees alike. A factual error during Bard's demonstration saw Alphabet Inc. losing US$100 billion in market value. Google employees took to internal meme portal criticizing CEO Sudar Pichai for a rushed, botched, and "un-Googley" announcement.

Square Enix offers Final Fantasy XIV for macOS via an official launcher, but it is just a wrapper and a poorly optimized and outdated one at that. The folks at XIV on Mac offer an open source alternative written in Swift that works natively on Apple silicon Macs with much improved game performance and support for the Metal 2 API.

New iPhones are finally slated to drop proprietary connectors from their 2023 "15 series" onward. However, Apple fans looking forward to enjoying the universal appeal of USB type-C may be disappointed to learn that the Cupertino behemoth allegedly intends to impose its current MFi system on its version of the port. The rumored restrictions might be enforced using similar hardware that keeps the Lightning port in the same walled garden at present.

Google's Material You design language appears destined for Wear OS, which remains based on Android 11. Material You should bring greater customisation options to Wear OS with tweaks like system-wide colours, among other changes.

Android 14 has arrived in its first incarnation. Google has made many back-end changes with Android 14 Developer Preview 1, although there are a few hints at what could be to come for the next version of Android, including big screen improvements and greater customisation options.

An Android device calling itself the Nokia G22 has rolled up onto the Geekbench database for the first time. However, the alleged 2023 device's appearance might cast a dark cloud over hopes for significant upgrades in this round of HMD Global-brand smartphones, not to mention those for software support in the existing G21.

Meizu is reportedly heading back to the Android market with smartphones based on the top-end Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor in 2023. The Pro variant of this alleged 20 series may have been captured in a new live image that points to a highly original, possibly emoji-inspired, rear camera hump for the putative flagship device. It is also now said to launch with a new version of its Flyme UI out of the box.

Realme's inaugural, official Coca-Cola Limited Edition smartphone has been unveiled as a 10 Pro 5G that goes for more than a standard SKU with the exact same specs. It does, at least, come in new and exclusive packaging full of on-theme souvenirs. Only 1000 units of this box will be available for sale on the Indian market later in February 2023.

Garmin has rolled out another beta update to the Instinct 2 and Instinct 2S. Beta version 11.16 is another Release Candidate for the pair, with Garmin finding a CIQ watch face bug in Beta version 11.15 that prevented its stable release.

Recently there have been reports that One UI 5.1 reserves upwards of 60 GB storage for system partitions on the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus and Galaxy S23 Ultra. Samsung may continue to insist on pre-installing third-party apps on One UI, but claims of 60 GB in bloatware are far from true.

The latest version of the GeForce Game Ready Driver software package from NVIDIA arrived yesterday alongside the GeForce RTX 4090 and 4080 for laptops. In addition to optimizations for these mobile GPUs, the new driver comes with support for DLSS and Reflex in various titles, 10 new G-Sync compatible displays, and more.

POCO has revealed which of its current smartphone stack will receive MIUI 14. Based on Android 12 or Android 13, MIUI 14 arrived first globally on the POCO X5 Pro 5G. However, the POCO F3, POCO F4, POCO M2, POCO M3, POCO M4, POCO M5, POCO X3 and POCO X4 series should all soon be eligible for MIUI 14.

Google is rolling out another update for the Pixel Watch. This month's update arrives as RWD9.220429.075 or RWD9.220429.075.J1, depending on where you live. The update brings the Pixel Watch onto the February 2023 security patch, mirroring a comparable update for Pixel smartphones.

Garmin has commenced the rollout of Beta version 11.25 for Fenix 7, Enduro 2, Epix 2, Quatix 7 and Marq 2 series smartwatches. The fourth beta since the company released the last stable update, Beta version 11.25 makes a few changes ahead of a future Release Candidate build.

Google has released a new round of updates for its recent smartphones. This month's update is focused on bugs fixes, as well as bringing the Pixel 4a through Pixel 7 Pro onto the latest set of Android security patches.

Garmin has released Beta version 24.86 for Fenix 6, Enduro, Marq, Quatix 6 and Tactix Delta series smartwatches. Available to download now, the new build follows Beta version 24.85 and makes a few software improvements ahead of a forthcoming stable update.

An update to the LG webOS Hub will give third-party smart TVs access to a range of Apple tools. The new operating system includes an Apple TV app, Apple Music, AirPlay and HomeKit support. The features will be available on TVs from Seiki, Eko and Stream System, though a detailed list of models has yet to be provided.

Fairphone is now rolling out the first significant OS update to the Fairphone 4. The company hopes to deliver Android 13 in a more timely manner too, although not all regions are eligible for the Android 12 update yet.

Adobe and Samsung have collaborated to bring Adobe Lightroom to the Galaxy S23 series. Available across the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus and the Galaxy S23 Ultra, the collaboration integrations Adobe Lightroom within the Expert RAW app and even allows you to synchronise images to your desktop via cloud storage.

AMD's Frank Azor has promised new drivers for gamers with Radeon RX 6000 series (and older) hardware. The update is slated to arrive in two weeks and might not have anything for the current-gen Radeon RX 7000 SKUs, although AMD promises to return to a unified driver approach soon.

EarFun asserts that its latest TWS earbuds are the world's first audio products of their type with a "highly efficient" LE-Audio Bluetooth architecture. An up-to-date Qualcomm chip that confers aptX Adaptive and QuietSmart 2.0 Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation on the Air Pro 3s, which also support one of the latest audio codecs in order to aim for pronounced bass.

Valve has released a major Steam Client Update for Windows. While the changelog is relatively long, the main change is a new Big Picture Mode. The ageing UI has finally made way for the Steam Deck UI, which contains several Windows-specific changes.

Sony has released a new update for some of the circa 32 million PlayStation 5 consoles it has sold to date. Rolling out on Sony's beta program, firmware update 7.00 bring long-awaited HDMI VRR support at 1440p, as well as Discord integration and improved ease-of-use functionality.

Realme has popped the "Cola-Phone" leak bubble with the announcement that it will indeed release a new special edition of the 10 Pro 5G. The upcoming version of Android smartphone will indeed be (emphatically) themed after the globally-recognized soft drink; however, it seems it is coming to just one market on its launch.

Microsoft is not happy with reports of PlayStation chief Jim Ryan meeting with EU officials to discuss the US$69 billion Microsoft-Activision Blizzard deal. Microsoft is accusing Sony of lying to EU regulators that the popular Call of Duty franchise would cease to be available on the PlayStation. Microsoft insists that PlayStation is the current console market leader, and it would not make economic sense to alienate gamers on that platform.

The Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL may be over five years old, but the former flagships are still receiving updates from third-party developers. LineageOS 20 brings Android 13 to the pair, which offers a revised UI and current security patch updates, among other changes.

The Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus and Galaxy S23 Ultra should be the first smartphones to support Google Fast Pair for smartphones. Pictures now show how this new feature should work in practice and how it simplifies transferring accounts, data and other details to a new smartphone.

Specifications and marketing images of Honor's next mid-range smartphone have leaked online. To be sold as the Magic5 Lite, the handset has a 5,100 mAh battery, a 120 Hz OLED display and a 64 MP primary camera. The Magic5 Lite is expected to launch in two colours and one memory configuration for under €400 in the Eurozone.