Author: batteryforpc

Microsoft is working on multiple new Xbox consoles in its next-gen Scarlett family of systems, including a mid- and enthusiast-grade console. But what kind of performance can we expect? Maybe 4K 240FPS?
Official details about Microsoft’s new next-gen Xbox family are scarce. Sources say the higher-end system will be outfitted with AMD’s powerful new Navi GPU and Zen 2 CPU architectures to surpass the Xbox One X’s 4K 60FPS perf, similar to the tech that should power Sony’s PlayStation 5. How much more powerful will the Scarlett Xbox system be than the Xbox One X? No one knows for sure, but one analyst tossed around an interesting figure: 4K 240FPS.
In a recent interview with Gamingbolt, Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter discussed the new Xbox family and attached huge perf to the top-tier model. “So I think there will be a streaming device, like a $100 Xbox console that doesn’t run in 4K or 240 frames per second. And then I think there will be a more expensive $400 console that supports 4K, 240 FPS, virtual reality. I don’t know if there will be ‘models’. I don’t think you’re going to get completely different devices,” Pachter said in the interview.
Now it’s worth mentioning the 4K 240FPS remark is probably an offhand comment and may not be an actual prediction. The Xbox One X and PlayStation 4 Pro systems can’t always hit native 4K, let alone native 4K 60FPS, but both companies are likely working in tandem with AMD to make highly customized hardware to push new gaming performance. It might be possible but it’ll be costly and we’ll probably see some resolution upscaling involved to hit 240FPS.
And of course it’ll be up to developers to use the pool of hardware power as they see fit, so even if the next-gen Xbox can hit 4K 240FPS, we shouldn’t expect it in every single game.
At the same time, it’s likely that both the Xbox Scarlett family and PlayStation 5 will be backward compatible and play current-generation games.
We should see major boost patches and updates to scale current and older games on the new hardware to make them play better on next-gen consoles. Basically it’ll be another big step beyond the current Xbox One Enhanced and PS4 Pro Boost Mode features found in various games.
The next-gen Xbox Scarlett family, which includes two systems codenamed Lockhart and Anaconda, should release in 2020.
Microsoft has yet to confirm anything other than they’re working on new Xbox consoles. Reports indicate that a new digital-only Xbox is in development and that it should sit in the current Xbox One family. The system should be low-cost and not feature a disc drive, and may be specifically designed to tap Microsoft’s wealth of subscriptions and services like Xbox LIVE and Game Pass.
While we don’t know exact details or specifics on performance, we know this: the console wars are far from over.

If you were looking for brand new, affordable, Android devices, you should know there’s a new toy in town that might meet your needs. The phone features an all-screen screen with a minimal notch, which is apparently an excellent design for winning a new Guinness Book world record. All you have to do is use more than 1,000 devices to create a huge dynamic display to get it. And because it’s Christmas, that display has the shape of a Christmas tree. That said, the handset might not make it to the States and other international markets.
That’s because it’s made by Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi, which focuses on the local Asian markets before bringing its devices to other regions of the world. The Mi Play is incredibly affordable, priced at just 1,099 yuan, or around $160.
For that price, you get an all-screen phone that has a circular notch at the top, but also noticeable top and bottom bezels. Still, the phone packs a more than decent screen-to-body ratio for a great price.
Specs include a 5.84-inch display with 2280 x 1080 resolution and 19:9 aspect ratio, eight-core 12nm MediaTek P35 processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, 12-megapixel and 2-megapixel rear cameras, 3,000 mAh battery, microUSB port, rear fingerprint sensor, and 3,000 mAh battery. Buyers in China will also get one year of free data, or 10GB of traffic per month.
To promote the new Mi Play phone, Xiaomi created the huge dynamic display in the image above, in the shape of a Christmas tree. Placed inside a shopping mall in China, the display, with its 1,005 units, won Xiaomi a new Guinness Book record. The previous record was held by a display using just 504 units, PhoneArena reports.
In addition to working as a display, the enormous dynamic Christmas tree also acts as a mobile hotspot, providing Wi-Fi access to shoppers at the mall. It took 12 hours to assemble the display, with the hardest part being the synchronization of phones, so the screens all show the same image at the same time. The last phone was placed in the display by Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun, the report notes

Microsoft will reportedly release its own webcams in 2019 to bring Windows Hello facial recognition to all Windows 10 devices.
Microsoft could release its own external webcams next year, with one aimed at extending Windows Hello facial recognition to all Windows 10 PCs.
Windows watcher Paul Thurrott reports that Microsoft is making the new 4K cameras for Windows 10 PCs and its gaming console Xbox One.
The camera targeted to Windows 10 will for the first time bring facial recognition to all Windows 10 PCs. Presently Windows Hello facial recognition is restricted to the built-in webcams like the ones on Microsoft’s Surface devices. The webcam, which could be named under the Surface brand, would also return a Kinect-like feature to the Xbox One, allowing users to authenticate by putting their face in front of the camera.
Microsoft’s planned webcams are said to be linked to the USB-C webcams that it has previously said could ship with the forthcoming Surface Hub 2, which features a USB-C port. The Surface Hub 2 is also due out in 2019.
Surface boss Panos Panay suggested Microsoft could release a USB-C webcam soon in an interview with The Verge in October, hinting that a camera could be used to extend an experience beyond its own Surface devices.
“Look at the camera on Surface Hub 2, note it’s a USB-C-based camera, and the idea that we can bring a high fidelity camera to an experience, you can probably guess that’s going to happen,” said Panay.
The Windows Hello-compatible webcams will arrive as Microsoft advances its push for password-less sign in with Windows Hello at the core. With the release of the Windows 10 October 2018 Update, Microsoft enabled WebAuthn-based authentication, which paves the way for signing into its sites like Office 365 with Windows Hello and security keys.

After a few weeks of beta testing, Samsung has today officially kicked off its Android Pie rollout starting with the Galaxy S9. Just a few hours after that, the company has posted a full roadmap of when to expect Android Pie updates on various Samsung devices over the next few months. Here’s what you need to know.
Confirmed directly within the Samsung Members app (via SamMobile), the company has confirmed a roadmap for Android Pie updates on over 20 different devices. That includes various smartphones of all price points as well as some tablets too. This roadmap starts off by reiterating the Galaxy S9/+ updates in January. Obviously, things have kicked off a bit early, though.
This roadmap also mentions that the Note 9 won’t see its update until February. Considering it was a couple of weeks between the S9’s beta program launch and the Note 9, that makes sense. From there, we’ll also see the Galaxy S8 and Note 8 getting updates in March of 2019.
It appears that Samsung plans to deliver Android Pie updates throughout 2019. The Galaxy Tab A 10.5picks up its update last in October alongside some other Samsung tablets. The full roadmap is listed below and it’s unclear at the moment if any other Samsung devices are slated to get Android Pie updates.

• Galaxy S9 (January 2019)
• Galaxy S9+ (January 2019)
• Galaxy Note 9 (February 2019)
• Galaxy S8 (March 2019)
• Galaxy S8+ (March 2019)
• Galaxy Note 8 (March 2019)
• Galaxy A8 2018 (April 2019)
• Galaxy A8+ 2018 (April 2019)
• Galaxy A7 2018 (April 2019)
• Galaxy A9 2018 (April 2019)
• Galaxy Tab S4 10.5 (April 2019)
• Galaxy J4 (May 2019)
• Galaxy J4+ (May 2019)
• Galaxy J6 (May 2019)
• Galaxy J6+ (May 2019)
• Galaxy A8 Star (May 2019)
• Galaxy J7 2017 (July 2019)
• Galaxy J7 Duo (August 2019)
• Galaxy Xcover4 (September 2019)
• Galaxy J3 2017 (September 2019)
• Galaxy Tab S3 9.7 (September 2019)
• Galaxy Tab A 2017 (October 2019)
• Galaxy Tab Active2 (October 2019)
• Galaxy Tab A 10.5 (October 2019)

The past year was an important one for smartphone makers. With the handset market saturated with devices from manufacturers around the world, the major smartphone companies had to step up to prove their gadgets were worth the investment.
That included rolling out improved designs, better cameras, and boatloads of performance. These five phones did all of that and more. These are the best smartphones of 2018.
Apple iPhone XR
All the power of the iPhone XS for less
Apple’s (AAPL) iPhone XR gives you practically everything offered in the company’s XS and XS Max without the price tag. The XR features the same processor as the XS and XS Max, the same wide-angle lens rear camera, Apple’s Face ID facial recognition technology and, to top it off, is available in an array of color options.
The key differences between the XR and the XS and XS Max are the fact that the XR uses an LCD display, rather than the more vibrant OLED screens found on the XS and XS Max, and that the XR lacks a telephoto lens. That lens affords the XS and XS Max a 2X optical zoom, which ensures your photo doesn’t turn out pixelated and blurry when you zoom in on a subject.
Still, with a starting price of $749, the XR significantly undercuts the base XS and XS Max, which start at $999 and $1,099, respectively. The XR is easily the best iPhone for the money.
Google Pixel 3
Takes incredible low-light photos
Google’s (GOOG, GOOGL) Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are the ultimate Android smartphones. Sure, there are other Android phones on this list, but the Pixel 3 is exactly what Google believes a smartphone should be. And a whole heck of a lot of that includes the company’s Google Assistant. The AI-powered voice assistant is spread across the Pixel 3, which makes for a more convenient experience for you, and gives Google access to information about how people are using the software, ensuring it improves over time.
The 5.5-inch Pixel 3 is a relatively plain-looking device with its rectangular body and display, while the 6.3-inch Pixel 3 XL features a more modern look complete with a notch at the top of the screen that houses the phone’s front cameras. That larger display will cost you, though. The base Pixel 3 costs $799, while the XL comes in at $899.
Outside of their sizes, the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are virtually identical. And that includes their spectacular cameras. At launch the Pixel 3’s single-lens rear camera was already on a par with the iPhone’s camera. But when Google released its Night Sight software upgrade for the Pixel 3, the camera leapfrogged every other smartphone on the market. Night Sight can take photos in low-light settings that look so good, it’s almost as if they were shot during the day. It’s an incredible feat that competitors are surely working to counter at this very moment.
Apple iPhone XS Max
he best Apple has to offer
I’m a sucker for giant phones. I hate the fact that I can’t use them with one hand, but being able to watch videos and read articles on a big-screen handset is worth dropping it on occasion. That’s why the iPhone XS Max was the iPhone I fell hardest for in 2018. With a massive 6.3-inch OLED display, the Max provided vibrant colors on a panel that made it easier to watch movies on the go, or while hiding in a conference room to avoid work.
The XS Max has all of the features and functionality of the XR, but adds a second rear camera lens, the option for more storage and improved water resistance. There is one major drawback to the iPhone XS Max: the price. At $1,099, it’s an incredibly expensive smartphone. But if you can get past the sticker shock, the iPhone XS Max is sure to please.
OnePlus 6T
High-end features, at a mid-range price
OnePlus is a smartphone company that built its reputation through word-of-mouth advertising. You won’t see ads on TV or billboards on the highway for the handset maker, and yet OnePlus has an incredibly fierce following. And its latest, the 6T, ups the ante for the firm in a big way, adding an in-screen fingerprint reader and plenty of horsepower.
The 6T also debuted with the latest version of Google’s Android Operating System, Android Pie, and is the first OnePlus phone to launch on a major U.S. carrier: T-Mobile. Then there’s the price. OnePlus’s biggest selling point has always been that because the company doesn’t have to account for an advertising budget, it can charge less for its handsets.
Over the years the firm’s phones have seen their prices creep up ever so slightly, but you can still score a base 6T with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage for $549. Go all-out for the just plain silly McLaren Edition and its 10GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and you’ll pay $699. That’s still less expensive than Apple’s iPhone XR, which is supposed to be the smartphone for everyone.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9
A big, beautiful screen and built-in stylus
Samsung’s big daddy, the Galaxy Note 9 is the smartphone giant’s halo phone, and it shows. It packs an absurdly large 6.4-inch display complete with the company’s fantastic Super AMOLED screen technology, as well as the Note line’s S Pen stylus.
The camera is more or less unchanged from the shooter used in the Galaxy S9 Plus, but that’s not exactly a negative, since that phone’s camera captured beautiful images. Samsung also added a new kind of AI feature called Scene Optimization that automatically tunes the camera’s settings based on the type of shot you’re taking.
Naturally, the Note 9 offers all-day battery life to match its enormous size and, of course, Samsung’s fast-charging technology. The Note 9 is an absolutely bruiser.

After quickly releasing iOS 12.1.2 to the public just days after developers had a brief period to beta test the software update, user reports have trickled in about a bug which kills cellular data. While the issue is by no means widespread — no one from the 9to5 team has experienced it — it’s serious enough to merit a range of Twitter complaints and a Forbes article detailing the bug.
Interestingly, iOS 12.1.2 release notes are paper-thin, only mentioning two fixes — one related to eSIM functionality and the other, you guessed it, cellular connectivity issues. Specifically, the issues only seemed to ail Turkey, though now, the problems are more widespread.
From the iOS 12.1.2 release notes:
Addresses an issue that could affect cellular connectivity in Turkey for iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max
The complaints from Twitter are far and wide however, with users seeing issues all across the globe.
Interestingly in one case, a user reported that only a data connection to Facebook was successful, with Safari and other apps registering no connectivity.
While it definitely seems like there’s something to this story, the rhyme or reason as to why these data errors are occurring remains a mystery. However, if you’re having issues — don’t fret! We have a solution. Here’s how to fix iOS 12.1.2 cellular data connectivity issues.
The first possible solutions comes way of disabling Wi-Fi Calling via the Cellular menu within the Settings app.
If that doesn’t work, head to Cellular Data Options on the same screen and change Enable LTE from Voice & Data to Data Only.
A video tutorial from zollotech walks you through the simple process.
Ultimately though, this is a band-aid fix to cellular data connectivity problems. Other users from Twitter are complaining of numerous Wi-Fi issues ranging from failure to auto-join a network or connection to the internet entirely.
As for a permanent solution regarding the matter, Apple has stayed tight-lipped as usual, however iOS 12.1.3 is already in developer beta testing.
Have you experienced these issues since updating to iOS 12.1.2 yourself? Let us know in the comments down below!