Category: news

Google Pixel 6A vs Pixel 6: How Google’s cheaper Android 12 flagships are different

 Google’s Pixel 6A is coming, and it puts the best of Google’s Pixel 6 into a smaller, cheaper phone. Google’s $449 (£399, AU$749) Pixel 6A, which launches on July 28, will be a step up from Apple’s $429 iPhone SE. The cheaper Android 12 phone will keep the same Tensor chip as the $599 Pixel 6 — just like the iPhone SE contains Apple’s latest A15 Bionic chip — and put it in a slightly smaller phone with a camera Older Pixel phones, like the 2020 Pixel 5A.

The Pixel 6A still includes many of the exclusive features offered by Google‘s Tensor chip, including a magic eraser that lets you remove people or objects from your photos. Let’s take a look at some of its key differences, including its screen, design, camera, and software.

screen and design

When it comes to what the Pixel 6A looks like, you might confuse it with the more expensive Pixel 6. Both phones feature a dual-tone design on the back, flanked by a camera bar. The camera bar on the 6A is as striking as the Pixel 6 was when it debuted in November.

The phone sits on the front of the 6A and includes a 6.1-inch OLED 1080p screen with a locked 60Hz refresh rate. That’s slightly smaller than the Pixel 6’s 6.4-inch OLED 1080p screen, which can run at 60Hz or 90Hz. In terms of materials, the Pixel 6A’s screen will cover Corning’s legacy Gorilla Glass 3 instead of Corning’s new Gorilla Glass Victus on the Pixel 6.

The phone also includes an in-screen fingerprint reader, and while we haven’t gotten our hands on the phone yet, it’s rumored to be faster than the Pixel 6’s. While it doesn’t affect the look of the phone, the Pixel 6A doesn’t have wireless charging on its body, and the Pixel 6 does include it.

camera

Perhaps the biggest difference between the Pixel 6A and the Pixel 6 is its camera. While the Pixel 6 featured a 50-megapixel wide camera and a 12.2-megapixel ultra-wide camera, the Pixel 6A will include a 12-megapixel wide camera and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera. That’s not a bad thing, as this setup largely mirrors the cameras included in the Pixel 5A. Both the Pixel 6A and Pixel 6 include the same 8-megapixel front-facing camera

The Pixel 6A will also take advantage of its Tensor chip to enhance photos, including its Real Tone skin tone feature, Face Unblur to sharpen otherwise blurry images, Night Sight for photography in darker locations, and Magic Eraser, which will be an update to allow the color of objects within the photo to be adjusted.

The Android 12 implementation of the Pixel 6A will come with many of these camera features, which will largely mirror the Pixel 6.

software

The Pixel 6A and Pixel 6 will be largely identical in terms of software, with both phones running Android 12 and its Material You color customization. The Pixel 6A will also join the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro as one of the first phones to be updated to Android 13, which will be released publicly later this year.

One hardware-related note that can affect multitasking: The Pixel 6A includes 6GB of RAM, while the Pixel 6 includes 8GB. For most people, 6GB will be plenty of memory for everyday tasks, but it’s worth mentioning that the Pixel 6 should be able to handle a little more.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>Google battery

What makes the computer shut down suddenly?

 A sudden PC shutdown is often a symptom of a power problem and can be very frustrating. This could cause you to lose whatever you were working on, but it could also be a sign of damage to the computer itself. Usually, when a computer shuts down on its own, it’s due to power, malware, overheating, or driver issues. Let’s take a look at the specific reasons that may appear below!

tip

Usually, when a computer shuts down on its own, it’s due to power, malware, overheating, or driver issues.

power supply

Behind the case where the power cord actually connects to the computer is the power supply, which is a small box with a fan. When the power supply goes bad, it causes your computer to shut down. While you can replace the power supply yourself, do not attempt to turn it on. Even if it’s unplugged or fails, it can still carry a lethal charge.

overheat

Computers have heat sinks and fans to keep the central processing unit (CPU) cool, but if the CPU overheats, the computer will shut down to prevent further damage. Adding thermal paste between the CPU and its heatsink helps prevent overheating, just like cooling systems like fans or water cooling. Dust and pet hair can be drawn into the computer case and block airflow, causing the CPU to overheat. Keep the inside of the computer clean by blowing out any foreign objects with compressed air.

malicious software

Viruses, Trojan horses, and worms operate exactly according to their program, and some are created to shut down your computer, like the Sasser worm, which initiates a shutdown sequence of an infected computer every time you start your computer. A severe malware infection can cause a computer to shut down due to overworked CPU. Malware that causes the shutdown sequence to start may require professional cleaning, as traditional virus scans are interrupted by computer shutdowns.

mistake

Software bugs and hardware driver issues are also causes of computer shutdowns. Depending on the type of error, the computer may have to reset itself to recover, or you may need to update hardware drivers. Starting your computer in Safe Mode will allow you to determine if this is the cause, as Safe Mode runs only the core hardware and software loaded at startup. If the computer is running in safe mode, a software application or driver might be the culprit.

Hardware components can also fail, such as memory (RAM), motherboard, or video card.

>>>>>>>>>>>Laptop battery

Thanks for reading, hope it helps!

Friendly reminder: If you need to replace the battery of your device, this battery store will be a good choice: www.batteryforpc.co.uk

AirPods: Try this factory reset for a quick fix

 Apple’s AirPods Pro are one of the best wireless earbuds you can buy. With great sound quality, excellent active noise cancellation, and a compact design, AirPods Pro set the tone for premium wireless earbuds that quickly evolved into the everyday device of many Apple enthusiasts. But even great headphones are prone to issues, and if you’ve been using them for a while, sometimes your AirPods might have some issues.

Knowing how to reset your AirPods is a useful tip, whether you want to restart your AirPods or sell them before a deal. good news? It’s an easy process that you can learn in just a few minutes, and the same steps apply whether you have the original AirPods, AirPods 2, AirPods 3, or noise-cancelling AirPods Pro.

How to factory reset AirPods or AirPods Pro

1. Put your AirPods in the charging case and make sure the lid is closed.

2. After 30 seconds, open the cover to connect your iPhone or iPad. On either device, go to Settings > Bluetooth , then tap the blue i icon next to AirPods. (If you don’t see your AirPods in Settings > Bluetooth, go to the next step.)

3. Tap Forget this device, then tap Confirm again.

4. Now that your AirPods are forgotten, open the lid, press and hold the button on the back of the case for about 15 seconds, or until the status light flashes amber, then turns white.

If you are using an Android phone, the first two steps are the same, then:

3. Go to Settings, then Connected Devices and tap the gear icon next to AirPods or AirPods Pro.

4. Now, tap Forget and then Forget Device to confirm.

After resetting your AirPods, the earbuds will no longer automatically recognize the device associated with your iCloud account. Opening the AirPods case near your iOS device will start the setup process as if you were using it for the first time.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>AirPods battery

An iPad with an OLED screen is still a long way off, but will be a big upgrade

 We’ve been hearing rumors of iPads with OLED screens for quite some time now, and the rumors are likely to persist for a while, with a new report suggesting we won’t see an OLED iPad until at least 2024.

While this isn’t the first time we’ve heard of that year, its persistence in rumors and leaks has led people to believe it’s an accurate time frame. However, according to ETNews, which sounds like progress is being made – the latest source to claim that OLED iPads will arrive in 2024 – Apple has already started producing final prototypes of these devices.

If accurate, Apple could potentially have an OLED iPad on the market by 2024, however, the company is reportedly conducting more stringent than usual display testing on the unannounced device;​​​ Strict quality standards.

ETNews also claims that Apple is using a dry etching process on these OLED panels to make them as thin and light as possible, which in turn should help make the entire iPad lighter than the current model.

If you’re worried about the thin screen being fragile, don’t worry, Apple has apparently taken that into consideration as well. The company is said to be developing “special coatings” to improve the durability of the display. Those are two upgrades we’re likely to see from an OLED iPad, the other one expected to improve image quality.

Analysis: Why switch to OLED?

The ability to make screens thinner and devices lighter isn’t OLED’s main advantage, but an upgrade in image quality.

ETNews mentions image improvement as one of Apple’s areas of focus, but doesn’t elaborate. Thankfully, there are already plenty of existing OLED devices on the market — including the iPhone 13 lineup — which gives us a glimpse into the OLED iPad‘s improvements over existing models.

These include better contrast, improved viewing angles, and reduced battery drain when paired with dark wallpapers and themes; because pixels are lit individually.

On paper, using LCD technology has some advantages over OLED, such as better overall brightness, but in practice most of the brightest smartphone screens happen to take advantage of OLED technology.

For now, the standout exception in the mobile space is the mini-LED-based panel used by the iPad Pro 12.9 (2021), which offers close to OLED benefits but no downsides.

It does mean that Apple will likely continue to use mini-LED displays on its best iPads, while models that currently rely on IPS LCD panels will benefit from the OLED upgrade.

>>>>>>>>>>iPad battery

Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 4 will have an Apple Watch-like keyboard

 Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 4 will get some new features in the coming months, including a full QWERTY keyboard similar to the Apple Watch Series 7. The company said Tuesday that the upgrades are part of Samsung’s One UI Watch 4.5 software, which will be available in the third quarter of this year. It will work on the Galaxy Watch 4, Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, and upcoming Galaxy Watch models.

The biggest addition appears to be the new QWERTY keyboard, which Samsung says will be an option to work with the current dictation and handwriting capabilities. You can also switch between different types of input methods when writing sentences, just like with Apple Watch Series 7.

Samsung also added more accessibility features to the Galaxy Watch 4. Updates will include expanded options to adjust display colors and contrast, as well as options to reduce blurring effects and remove animations. Hearing Aid can balance the sound between the left and right ears when using headphones.

More watch face customization options are also coming to the Galaxy Watch. Samsung says you’ll be able to duplicate the watch face and adjust its color, allowing you to basically wear different versions of the same watch face. Dual SIM support will also be available when the update is released, and Samsung says more features will be announced.

According to the International Data Corporation, as of the first quarter of 2022, Samsung was the second largest wearable device maker in the world. During this period, it captured 10.3% of the global market, but Apple took the top spot with a 30.5% share.

Samsung‘s announcement comes as the company is expected to unveil its next-generation Galaxy Watch in August. Rumor has it that Samsung will release two versions of the watch: the Galaxy Watch 5 and the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, which will replace the current “classic” model. The addition of a body temperature sensor and a larger battery are expected to be the biggest improvements.

Apple also just launched a public beta of its upcoming Apple Watch WatchOS 9 software this week. The update, due to be officially released in the fall, will bring improved sleep monitoring, more in-depth runner metrics, and a new app for tracking medications. Like Samsung, Apple is also expected to release a new version of the Apple Watch called the Series 8 in the coming months.

>>>>>>>>>>>Samsung watch battery

WatchOS 9: All the new Apple Watch features coming soon

 WatchOS 9 public beta is now available for all Apple Watches starting with Series 4. You’ll also need to have the iOS 16 public beta installed on your iPhone. Both updates are free to download from Apple, but you should be cautious when installing any beta software. Features may change between now and final release, and there may be bugs or elements of instability. If you’re installing a public beta, I highly recommend backing up your Apple Watch and iPhone. Here’s a look at all the new Apple Watch features coming soon!

WatchOS 9 looks fresher and more iPhone-like

One thing I noticed after installing the public beta was the different notification appearances on the Apple Watch. A new banner notification similar to the iPhone now appears at the top of the screen. When a text or email arrives, notifications no longer take up the entire screen unless your watch is inactive or locked.

Siri also borrows some of the same look from the iPhone by showing icons at the bottom of the screen when you summon the virtual assistant. How to swipe up to access Control Center, now you can see text size settings. Before, you had to pop up the Settings menu to change the font size.

Another small but welcome improvement is the battery widget, which you can add to the iOS 16 lock screen. Now you can easily check the battery level on your Apple Watch without unlocking your phone. If you put the watch on the charger, it can even reflect the charging status in real time.

New watch faces take full advantage of the Apple Watch Series 7 screen

There are four new watch faces to choose from:

1. Metropolitan: A customizable clock face with complications and numerals that moves in and out as you turn the digital crown

2. Astronomy: Higher resolution than before, you can now see hourly updated cloud coverage

3. Playtime: As the name describes, big bouncy numbers float around the screen and move when you tap the screen or rotate the crown

4. Lunar calendar: The lunar calendar is displayed when the crown is rotated

WatchOS 9 enhances workout app with more screens

The new multisport mode automatically lets you link two or even three activities together at once, without the need to manually stop, restart, or add another workout using the Add function. You might be competing in a triathlon, or just want to jump right off the bike for a run. WatchOS 9 will automatically detect when you start this new activity and switch between workout types as you do.

Even more exciting are the heart rate zones. Your Apple Watch can now show you your heart rate zone at any given moment during your workout. Based on your personal estimated maximum heart rate, you can be alerted when entering different zones. This can help you understand how hard your heart is working during cardio and if you’re reaching your limit. All of these zones are fully customizable and you can change them by going to Settings > Exercise > Heart Rate Zones.

WatchOS 9 is built for runners

For the first time, Apple Watch will be able to display running form metrics in the Workout app, including vertical swing, stride length, touchdown time and running power metrics. These also appear after you run the Activity app on the iPhone.

You can now create custom workouts by tapping three dots before starting an activity to set personalized distance and time goals that may better fit your training program. You’ll also see a new feature called Pacer here. This allows you to choose the distance and desired finish time, and the watch will then give you the speed you need to reach that goal, alerting you when you’re above or below that speed.

improved dictation

Now, WatchOS 9 goes a step further and automatically inserts punctuation into sentences as you speak. No more saying “period” and “comma” or awkward “question marks” to manually add punctuation. This should be on by default, but if not, go to Settings > General > Dictation and turn on automatic punctuation.

Your iPhone can now control and mirror your Apple Watch

Just as Assistive Touch on WatchOS 8 let you control your watch by moving the muscles in your hands and arms, Apple Watch Mirroring on WatchOS 9 changes the accessibility game. It allows you to mirror your Apple Watch on your iPhone, so you can control every aspect of your watch by touching the larger iPhone screen. It even lets you use the digital crown and side buttons.

On iPhone, go to Settings > Accessibility > Apple Watch Mirroring. You’ll now see some simulations of your Apple Watch live on your phone.

>>>>>>>>>Apple battery

New Nokia T10 could challenge Amazon’s Fire line as one of the cheapest tablets

 In the world of cheap tablets, there’s little to consider other than the Amazon Fire series. Just check out our guide to the best cheap tablets to prove it — all but two entries are from Amazon. But the company may have more competition now, as the Nokia T10 has just been released at an attractively low price.

This Android tablet features an 8-inch 800 x 1280 screen, modest Unisoc T606 chipset, 3GB RAM, 32GB storage, microSD card slot, 3.5mm headphone port, face unlock, 8MP rear camera and 2MP front camera. It also runs Android 12 and promises two OS updates and three years of monthly security updates, which the brand claims is twice as many as the competition.

The Nokia T10’s design also seems appealing, with its polymer build featuring an unusual nano-textured finish designed to hide scratches. Plus, it comes with Google Play Space and Google Kids Space, the latter of which could make it a great device for kids or families looking for a cheap tablet. What’s more, it supports a range of accessories.

If you’re interested, you can buy it in the UK in Ocean Blue from August for £129 (about $150/AU$225) for the Wi-Fi model, or £149 (about $175/AU$2) ) $260) if you want 4G too.

This isn’t the only new Nokia-branded device, though, the Nokia 8210 4G, Nokia 5710 XpressAudio and Nokia 2660 Flip have also been unveiled. All three phones landed in the UK in late July, but they look less interesting – or at least more niche. The first two are feature phones (one of which comes with a pop-up integrated headset), while the 2660 Flip is an Android flip phone aimed primarily at seniors.

>>>>>>>>>>>>Nokia battery

Asus Zenfone 9: everything you need to know

 Asus was one of the last Android phone makers to offer powerful, compact models for those who don’t want to pack a lot of phones in their pockets or bags. Now, thanks to a video that has surfaced online, we have a pretty good idea of ​​what to expect from the next generation of these handhelds.

When will the Asus Zenfone 9 be released?

Asus has yet to announce an official release date, but we can take some clues from past generations. Here’s when they debuted:

ASUS Zenfone 8: May 2021

ASUS Zenfone 7: September 2020

ASUS Zenfone 6: May 2019

ASUS Zenfone 5: May 2018

It’s traditionally the launch slot that Asus assigns to new Zenfone models. Obviously, that month has already passed, so we are looking for a later date. Judging by the leaked video below, the device appears to be complete and ready to go. September feels too far away, but Asus is already taking shape in that space, so we predict the new Zenfone 9 will arrive by then, if not a little sooner.

How much does Asus Zenfone 9 cost?

Again, Asus did not confirm pricing. Here’s how past generations line up:

Asus Zenfone 8: $629/£599

Asus Zenfone 7: $749/£569

Asus Zenfone 6: $499/£499

Ticket prices have fluctuated a bit in recent years, but we suspect the cost of the Zenfone 8 should be transferred to the new model, as Asus appears to be going with the compact design and construction introduced with the Zenfone 8.

What features and specs will we see in the Zenfone 9?

While Asus hasn’t released any official details about the Zenfone 9, the company does appear to have accidentally posted a video of the upcoming model on YouTube before hastily taking it down. If the video is accurate, it reveals a lot of details about how the Zenfone 9 will be configured.

On the processor side, Asus has gone with a Snapdragon Gen 8+ 1 chipset, which is on par with the class of high-end phones in 2022. We don’t know about storage or memory allocation, but if the company follows suit by Zenfone 8 expect multiple configurations. We think 6GB/128GB may be retired, replaced by a simplified 8GB/128GB, 8GB/256GB, 12GB/256GB, 16GB/256GB options.

The display is a 5.9-inch Samsung AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and a punch hole in the upper left corner. There’s no in-display fingerprint sensor, as Asus has placed it in the power button on the right. This also acts as an ersatz trackpad, allowing you to scroll content on the page by swiping up or down.

Cameras have always been an essential element in modern phones, so the improved optics shown in the video look like a step forward, especially when it comes to video. The 50Mp Sony IMX766 sensor used in the Zenfone 9’s main camera is a solid performer that delivers great photos. The Zenfone 9 adds a 6-axis gimbal module for optical image stabilization, so video footage should be rock-solid.

Asus says the dual-camera system has been “massively upgraded.” This makes sense since the Zenfone 8 has a Sony IMX686 on the main camera, while the secondary unit is a 12Mp ultra-wide camera with a Sony IMX363 sensor. Hopefully the ultra-wide on the Zenfone 9 gets the same boost as the main camera. We don’t have any info on the selfie camera, but if Asus decides to up the power of all the lenses and sensors, it should be an upgrade from the 12Mp module in the Zenfone 8. In the video, there’s also a new Light Trail mode, which could be a cool way to take arty photos if you’re out at night.

Audio will come from dual stereo speakers, and a surprising 3.5mm headphone jack is included if you prefer to plug in cans. Everything will be powered by a 4300mAh battery, and thanks to its IP68 rating, the unit will be water and dust resistant.

Asus also showed off a few accessories in the video, a smart backpack stand that may also come with a power pack, and a Connex phone case with a built-in stand and card holder. Details about any of these fees are not yet available.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>ASUS battery

Google’s new Chrome feature can boost laptop batteries for free

 A new feature in Chrome could increase laptop battery power — potentially solving one of the biggest problems with using Google‘s web browser on mobile.

According to the About Chromebook website, there’s a new flag in Chrome OS 105 that prevents JavaScript from running in the background on websites you’ve opened in a tab but aren’t viewing.

This expands on a feature added in Chrome OS 88 that sets a five-minute timer to prevent scripts from running immediately. The thinking at the time was that these scripts would be CPU-intensive, and the more the laptop’s processor was used, the faster the battery drained.

If you have a lot of tabs open that are running JavaScript, this can have a big impact on your laptop’s battery life.

Analysis: what this means for you

It appears to have been successful since the “fast intensive timer limit for loading background pages” feature was added in Chrome OS 88, leading Google to consider reducing the “conservative” grace period of five minutes to a few seconds.

In a post on the Chrome Platform Status page, it was reported, “This is expected to improve battery life. An experiment on the Canary and Dev channels did not show any regression to our guidance metrics, and when all tabs are hidden There was a [sic] significant improvement in CPU time (~10%) when silent and silent.”

As a hallmark of Chrome OS, this feature is expected to primarily benefit Chromebooks running the operating system. It’s based on the Chrome browser and uses multiple tabs, so we’d expect Chromebooks to have better battery life.

But does that mean non-Chromebook users are out of luck? Not necessarily, as we imagine this feature is also coming to the Chrome web browser, so if you’re using it on a regular laptop, you can also expect to see your device last longer on battery – and it’s all free.

This is still an experimental feature at the moment, so it’s not enabled by default, but you can turn it on by going to chrome://flags and finding it there. Hopefully after a while of testing to make sure it doesn’t cause any issues, it will be added to Chrome OS and Chrome in the near future.

>>>>>>>>>>Google battery

How to Use Apple’s Lockdown Mode to Protect Against Industrial iPhone Hacking

 For most of us, following basic privacy and security tips should be enough to keep ourselves and our data safe online. But if you think you’re the target of a state-sponsored cyberattack using industrial-grade spyware tools like Pegasus, the usual rules of staying safe may not be enough.

If you’re a journalist, politician or activist worried about your phone being the target of a state-sponsored cyber attack, Apple has released a security feature that everyone can use to protect their iPhone from such attacks .

Apple‘s new security tool, called Lockdown Mode, is built into iOS 16 and is designed to combat attacks from malware and spyware like Pegasus. Here’s what you need to know if you want to know how to enable lock mode on your iPhone.

What does Lockdown Mode do?

According to Apple, Lockdown Mode provides an “extreme, optional level of security for a very small number of users who, because of who they are or what they do, may be the individual targets of some of the most sophisticated digital threats.”

Essentially, Lockdown Mode increases security features on iOS by restricting certain features that may be vulnerable:

1. With the exception of images, most email attachments are blocked, and features like link previews are disabled.

2. Web technologies such as just-in-time JavaScript compilation are disabled unless you exclude it from lockdown mode.

3. If you have never called the person before, incoming invitations and service requests, such as FaceTime calls, are blocked.

4. All shared albums in Photos will be deleted and any new invitations to shared albums will be blocked.

5. Any wired connection between your iPhone and computer or accessories will be blocked.

6. Unable to install profiles, such as those from Apple’s public beta.

7. Your device cannot be registered for mobile device management.

Which devices support Lockdown Mode?

Currently, you can use Lockdown Mode on any Apple device running iOS 16, iPadOS 16, or MacOS Ventura. As of now, iOS 16 is only available as a developer beta, but it is expected to be available as a public beta soon.

How to Enable Lockdown Mode on iOS 16

As long as you’re running iOS 16, you can easily turn on lock mode in seconds. All you need to do is go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Lockdown Mode, read through the description, click Turn on Lockdown Mode and then Turn On & Restart.

Your iPhone will restart immediately, after which lock mode will be enabled. If you go into Safari, you should see a Lockdown Enabled or Lockdown Ready banner at the top of the page, indicating that Lockdown Mode is actually on and protecting your iPhone.

Configure Lockdown Mode Settings

While Lockdown Mode offers extensive security, you can tweak it to better suit your needs.

As mentioned above, websites in Safari are severely restricted in Lockdown Mode, but you can bypass these restrictions by excluding a website. To do this, launch Safari, go to the website you want to exclude, click AA > Website Settings, turn off Lockdown Mode, and click Turn Off . The banner at the top of the site should now read Lockdown Off.

To see all excluded sites, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Lockdown Mode, then click Configure Web Browsing at the bottom of the page.

How to Disable Lockdown Mode

Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Lockdown Mode, tap Turn off Lockdown Mode, and then tap Turn Off and Restart. When your iPhone restarts, lock mode will be disabled and you will be able to use your iPhone as usual again.

>>>>>>>>>>Apple battery