Some TikTok users have started noticing a “Clear Mode” option, which lets them watch a video without the UI overlay that usually shows things like the favorite and comment buttons and other info about the video. TikTok confirmed to TechCrunch that it’s currently testing the feature, but it’s unclear how many people have access to it.
Those that are in the test group (which includes at least two Verge staffers) can access clear mode by pressing and holding on a video, then tapping the Clear Mode button on the menu that pops up. The same method can be used to exit clear mode, and there’s also a button in the bottom right corner that will return you to the standard UI.
If you activate Clear Mode, you’ll be able to watch a TikTok without all the window chrome, but if you scroll to the next video, the UI comes back, and you’ll have to reenable clear mode if you want to get the true full-screen video experience. That’s not how I’d expect it to work, but it would make some sense for the company to build the feature this way; it makes sure that you’ll at least have the chance to see who made the video and what sound it’s using.
TikTok didn’t immediately respond to The Verge’s request for comment on whether that behavior is intentional.
I was able to use Clear Mode across TikTok — it was available when I was looking at the For You page, as well as on people’s profiles and even in videos that had been DM’d to me. It didn’t show up for ads, and interestingly enough, it wasn’t available when I was screen recording. In theory, that’ll help prevent people from using Clear Mode to steal content and pass it off as their own.
I don’t want to oversell this change, but to me, it makes the app feel useable. I’ve always hated how the UI, which mostly contains info I don’t care about, covers up a significant percentage of the video that I’m trying to watch. Clear Mode solves that issue. (Does the fact that I prefer it mean that Clear Mode is essentially old person mode? Perhaps.)
The fact that TikTok is adding this feels like stronger evidence that the company is focusing more on longer videos — within the past year, the maximum time limit for TikToks has expanded from one minute to 10 minutes. While the UI being in the way for a 30-second video might only be a bit bothersome, I don’t think many people want to watch something for 10 minutes while the main content is covered up by buttons and constantly moving text and icons.
Designing the mode to focus on longer-form content would also explain why you have to reenable it every time — if that’s an intentional choice. While it’s hard to justify activating the long-press menu and tapping the button to watch something that’s less than a minute long, it makes more sense for something that you’re settling down to watch.
Microsoft's Surface Laptop Go was originally introduced in October 2020 as a smaller, lighter, and more budget-friendly member of the Surface family, but it hasn't been updated since then. That may change soon, according to a leaked retail ad spotted by The Verge—it said that a spruced-up version of the Surface Laptop Go could be available for preorder as soon as June 2.
Intel's 12th-gen processors have been available for a while now, and in that context, the new Laptop Go's hardware isn't very exciting. The laptop was listed with a Core i5-1135G7, a quad-core CPU originally launched in late 2020 that we've seen in tons of other laptops in the last two years. The new Laptop Go appears to use the same 12.4-inch touchscreen, the same un-backlit keyboard and fingerprint sensor, and the same complement of ports (one USB-C, one USB-A, a headphone jack, and a Surface Connect port). The laptop will also ship with Windows 11—the current model fully supports Windows 11 but still ships with Windows 10 in S Mode out of the box.
Though it's almost as old as the original Surface Laptop Go, the i5-1135G7 would be an interesting upgrade to the current laptop's i5-1035G1. It has the same number of CPU cores, but there are big increases to the base and boost clock speeds. The Iris Xe integrated GPU would also be considerably faster, thanks to a newer GPU architecture, a higher GPU clock speed, and more than twice as many execution units (80, up from 32). A gaming laptop it ain't, but, especially at the screen's native 1536×1024 resolution, it should be fast enough to play older and less-demanding games.
Our main complaints about the original Laptop Go were mostly about the base model, which included just 4GB of RAM and 64GB of slow eMMC storage—not nearly enough, even for a budget system. The versions with 8GB of RAM and a 128GB or 256GB NVMe SSD all felt much better to use. We don't know what the base configuration of the updated Laptop Go will look like, but the retail listing suggests that it will still top out at 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage (though the current Laptop Go's SSD is user-replaceable, with a little effort).
We don't know when the new Laptop Go will be available, if this leak is accurate, though a leaked retail listing suggests that we could see the refresh sooner rather than later. Using an older CPU and reusing most components from the older Laptop Go will hopefully help keep costs down and reduce supply chain-related issues, though.
Article From & Read More ( Updated Surface Laptop Go leaks in retailer ad, promises big GPU performance boost - Ars Technica )
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If you’ve wanted MagSafe-style convenient charging on an iPad Mini, Pitaka’s latest case is here for you. The new $79 MagEZ Case Pro for the sixth-generation iPad Mini (aka the iPad Mini 6) has magnetic points on the back that pass power through the iPad’s USB-C port when used with the included pad. Or you can use it with the $129 MagEZ Charging Stand, which elevates the tablet and provides a second Qi charging spot in its base for a phone or headphones.
There are some downsides to this approach. Pitaka’s case doesn’t make use of the magnets built into the back of the iPad Mini, and it blocks the USB-C port from access, leaving you with the magnetic pad as the only way to charge the device. Forget about transferring any data over a wired connection while the case is on, too. The case itself is a stiff rubber with a carbon fiber-like weave pattern, which should provide protection from most average drops but isn’t the most rugged thing I’ve seen. It also doesn’t cover the screen like Apple’s folio cases, so you’ll probably want to pair it with some kind of screen protector.
On the plus side, the case does allow for Apple Pencil charging on the right side, and there’s a little accessory that grabs the Pencil and holds it in place better when you toss the iPad in a bag.
Those downsides aside, the MagEZ certainly lives up to the easy part of its name, as charging just requires plopping the case near the base and letting the magnets do their thing. The magnetic attraction is strong, and the stand will hold the iPad easily in either landscape or portrait orientation. (The stand also tilts, but it does not have any height adjustment.)
Neither the case nor the stand comes with a charging brick, and Pitaka recommends at least a 45W USB-C Power Delivery brick if you want to charge the iPad and a phone at full speed at the same time on the stand. (The base supports 7.5W charging with iPhones or up to 15W charging with other Qi devices.)
You do have to really be committed to wanting magnetic charging to make this setup worthwhile, though, as neither the case nor the stand is particularly cheap. But if that’s not a blocker for you, both accessories should be available starting today, May 30th.
In our review, we were only partially impressed by the current flagship smartphone from Samsung. The Galaxy phone turned out to be a very successful package overall, but it still had a few teething troubles.
In particular, Samsung's policy surrounding the processor raised some questions. The Exynos SoC, intended for the European market, was eagerly awaited, not least because of the cooperation with AMD. Unfortunately, this did not fully live up to our expectations in our aforementioned review, which is reason enough for us to take a look at the version of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen.1 that is available outside Europe in retailers such as our rental partner Trading Shenzhen, among others.
Those looking for detailed information apart from the SoC, such as the individual sections of case, software or communication, should take a look at our detailed review of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. The 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED display is also more or less identical. We measured a minimally low brightness on the Snapdragon version, which could be explained by a slight quality fluctuation in production.
The specifications of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra in the Snapdragon version and the local Exynos variant are almost identical in terms of camera hardware - the technical data can be found in our detailed review. Interestingly, the Galaxy smartphone and its Qualcomm chipset support the slightly higher camera2 API level with level 3.
In everyday use, the Snapdragon version of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, like the Exynos version, delivers good to very good results in daylight with 108 MP optics and Samsung ISOCELL HM3.
We like the results of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Snapdragon a little better overall, as the dynamic range is somewhat higher in difficult lighting conditions and the subjects are less blurred. However, this increase in sharpness does not result in a higher level of detail, and we detected slight image noise in dark areas. If subjects are photographed in the dark, the observed tendencies intensify. The Snapdragon version has significantly more noise, but the sharpness and dynamics are better than with the Exynos version.
The ultra-wide-angle camera of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra in the Snapdragon version is similarly tuned to the 108 MP cam. Colors are slightly brightened compared to the Exynos version, but the pictures produce a larger dynamic range and a little more image noise.
In our zoom ranges of 3x and 10x, we like the pictures of the Exynos version better. Especially at a magnification of 3x, the sharpness is more appealing than in the Snapdragon version of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.
The everyday performance of both Galaxy models is very good, and the Exynos 2200 used in Europe is powerful enough to drive the 120 Hz capable and high-resolution OLED panel smoothly. However, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is much more powerful in our benchmark measurements, but it should also be noted that we were also provided with the 12GB RAM version for testing.
In both the CPU tests and the graphics benchmarks, the Qualcomm SoC sometimes outperforms the Exynos 2200 by 30 percent. The differences are also unexpectedly clear in the browser tests, where the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 performs very well. In the offscreen values of the GFXBench, on the other hand, the Qualcomm SoC does not perform as well. Here, the Galaxy S22 Ultra Snapdragon is significantly slower than the Exynos version.
The differences in the speed of UFS 3.1 are equally surprising. Whether these differences are even noticeable in everyday use is certainly debatable - we find the loading times for apps to be similarly fast - but the benchmark values of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 are quite impressive, particularly in sequential reading.
Both versions of the Galaxy S22 Ultra offer a smooth display free of issues. As can been in the measurements with the GameBench app, our test games do not reveal any frame drops worth mentioning. However, PUBG Mobile can be played with a significantly higher frame rate with the Qualcomm variant.
The shooter runs at up to 60 fps on the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. Moreover the UHD option is unlocked, which is not available on the Galaxy S22 Ultra with Xclipse 920. In League of Legends: Wild Rift, the high-frame settings of 90 fps and 120 fps are not selectable on either Galaxy smartphone, so that the Adreno 730 also only performs at 60 fps.
The surface temperatures and power consumption levels are similar for both versions of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. To better assess the performance of the SoCs, we used the 3DMark Stress Test. Like other smartphones with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, the Galaxy S22 Ultra reveals a significant performance loss of about 40 percent. Then again, the Exynos 2200 also displays inefficient cooling.
In contrast, the battery runtimes under QHD Plus resolution and adaptive display control were longer than expected. In our real-world Wi-Fi test with an adjusted display brightness of 150 cd/m², the Galaxy S22 Ultra and its Qualcomm SoC only lasted about 12.5 hours. In our test of the Exynos version, this was over 14 hours.
Has Samsung cheated us in Europe with its own Exynos 2200? In terms of pure performance and gaming suitability, this claim can be supported. In terms of efficiency, however, both model variants of the Galaxy S22 Ultra perform on a similar level. Things will get really interesting in the next generation as future Qualcomm SoCs will no longer be manufactured by Samsung itself, but once again by Taiwan's chip manufacturer TSMC.
Quality differences are also apparent in the cameras, although the Snapdragon version is not the clear winner here. Those who like to use high focal lengths with their Galaxy smartphone can be happy about the Exynos 2200, as the image sharpness is higher than in our review device with the Qualcomm SoC. The lower image noise also indicates a more effective noise suppression of the image processor from Samsung. In return, the ISP (image signal processor) of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processes complex lighting conditions with dark shadow areas and bright sunlight better.
Those who don't have any reservations about importing such a price-intensive smartphone like the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra will get a better device with the Snapdragon version, but buyers with the Exynos version are not at a great disadvantage. The software of an imported device can also vary (depending on the region of origin) with the local software.
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G in the Snapdragon version is available for about 1,317€ from Trading Shenzhen.
Article From & Read More ( Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra comparison: Snapdragon 8 Gen. 1 vs. Exynos 2200 - is Europe being cheated? - Notebookcheck.net )
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Earlier this year, a few developers found references to a platform named “RealityOS” in App Store logs. This, of course, corroborated multiple rumors about Apple working on a new mixed reality headset. Now, thanks to a new “RealityOS” trademark, we may have a clue that this new AR/VR headset from Apple is indeed coming soon.
As discovered by Parker Ortolani, an unknown company called Realityo Systems LLC has registered the trademark “RealityOS” with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The trademark was filed on December 8, 2021 for categories such as “peripherals,” “software,” and most importantly, “wearable computer hardware.”
While this could be some random company’s trademark, there’s evidence that links this specific trademark to Apple.
Apple’s shell companies
Since Apple is all about secrecy, it has a few shell companies that it uses to register trademarks and patents for unreleased products – so that they aren’t tied directly to Apple in case of leaks.
For instance, one of Apple’s shell companies is “Yosemite Research LLC,” which Apple uses to register macOS names like Yosemite and Big Sur. Last year, this company registered the trademark “Monterey” days before WWDC 2021, and it turned out that Monterey was the official name of macOS 12.
And here’s the best part: both Yosemite Research LLC and Realityo Systems LLC are registered at the same address, which points to “Corporation Trust Center” – a real company that provides trademark services of which Apple is a client.
But if that’s not enough for you, there’s even more evidence that links “RealityOS” to Apple.
‘RealityOS’ logo and deadline
As soon as Ortolani shared his findings, some Twitter users noticed that the same company has filed a trademark for “RealityOS” in other countries such as Uganda and Uruguay. 9to5Mac independently confirmed that Realityo Systems LLC submitted the trademark application in Brazil in December last year, and that there was an update to the request on May 10, 2022.
Some of these trademarks were submitted with a logo using Apple’s proprietary typography San Francisco. At the same time, RealityOS trademark has June 8, 2022 as a deadline for “international filing” with the USPTO. That’s only two days after WWDC. The filings also lack any “proof of use,” which corroborates that realityOS is related to an unreleased product.
“RealityOS” logo“RealityOS” trademark filed in Brazil
What is RealityOS?
RealityOS is probably the name of Apple’s new operating system created for upcoming AR/VR devices from the company. According to rumors, Apple has been working on two new devices – a pair of AR glasses and a mixed reality headset.
Although the AR glasses project is still in development, a recent Bloomberg report revealed that Apple executives recently demonstrated the new AR/VR headset to the company’s board of directors. This suggests that the product could be announced as soon as WWDC 2022 next week.
We’re not sure that Apple will unveil its new headset in June, but it seems that the company is gearing up for a big announcement really soon.
Google’s next flagship series is not all that far away, especially if previous launch period conventions are adhered to. That has us dreaming up a wish list of things we really hope to see from the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro come launch.
The Mountain View firm has wasted absolutely no time in revealing the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro. We know that there is set to be some minor changes to the bug Pixel 6 redesign — hopefully, that means big improvements. As you’d expect, the second-generation Tensor chip is also set to at the very heart of the upcoming smartphone duo, but no details yet on just how it will stack up against its predecessor or the competition.
Our previous Pixel 6 wishlist was well catered for when the devices eventually came to market. That said, a few lingering issues haven’t helped out the current flagship Made by Google smartphones as fans complain about quite a few common issues.
Table of contents
Video — Google Pixel 7 and 7 Pro wish list: Things we really want to see
The biggest bone of contention most people have with the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro is the fingerprint scanner. It’s outright the biggest complaint that we have seen. Google is ditching the Pixel 6’s scanner in the upcoming Pixel 6a and at least according to the official early unboxings, it looks like it will be much faster and, hopefully, more accurate.
If an upgraded under-display scanner is used, it needs to be more reliable for everyone that uses the Pixel 7 series. Removing a capacitive fingerprint scanner hasn’t gone quite as well as Google would have hoped. This is why we also would like to see Face Unlock come with the new Pixel series, too. It’s a confusing situation to see the workings of Face Unlock appear within the recent Android 13 Beta builds, but we’d also love to have the option to unlock using facial recognition alongside an in-display fingerprint scanner.
Pixel 4’s Face Unlock was fast and accurate. Although we don’t expect a full return of the feature without a 3D face scanning camera, we hope that Google’s software-based option will finally arrive on the upcoming devices fully baked. Sure, it wouldn’t be quite as secure, but it would be a nice inclusion nonetheless. Maybe, eventually, we’ll see Face Unlock properly return, but until then, we can at least hope.
Enhanced camera zoom range
Slapping a 4x periscope zoom lens into the Pixel 6 Pro was an excellent decision. With the help of Super Res Zoom, images look great even past the 10x zoom range. Add in a sprinkling of Google color tuning and post-processing courtesy of Tensor, and it has been an incredible return to form for the Pixel camera.
Since Huawei wowed with the P30 Pro’s incredible zoom capabilities, Android manufacturers have steadily improved the telephoto camera on flagship phones. After a few years of a main wide and ultrawide combination, the Pixel 6 Pro is the first flagship since the Pixel 4 to offer greater zoom controls.
Now that Google is back competing directly with the best in the business after a comprehensive camera upgrade, it would be excellent to take things a step further and increase the zoom capabilities of the Pixel 7 Pro with an extended hybrid zoom range. Getting above and beyond the 10x optical range would certainly be a start and allow for even better images past the current 20x zoom cap on the Pixel 6 Pro.
120Hz for both device displays
A 120Hz display was right at the top of our Pixel 6 wish list, but this time around we want to see it on the smaller Pixel7 series too. Sure, the 90Hz panel on the regular Pixel 6 is fine, but that 30Hz bump makes a big difference in how Android 12 runs. Animations are just a little smoother and for anyone coming from an older model or phone with a 60Hz display, this would be quite the noticeable jump.
Adaptive screen resolution
Although it’s highly likely that we’ll see the Pixel 7 come with an FHD+ screen and the Pixel 7 Pro pack a QHD+ panel, it would be excellent to get the option to adjust the screen resolution within device settings. This could undoubtedly be added to Android 13, if it were to be a Pixel-exclusive feature it would be highly welcomed.
For the Pixel 7 Pro in particular, being able to bump down to FHD+ resolution and retain a 120Hz refresh rate might provide some battery longevity benefits – although this could also be a great option to include within the Battery Saver and Extreme Battery Saver modes. Dropping to HD+ resolution could be great for getting multiple days of lifespan alongside all of the other tweaks that are applied when these modes are activated.
Faster wired charging speeds
Our wish was granted last year with the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro with 30W charging being added. Annoyingly, this is not “true” 30W charging as even if you buy the optional power brick, you’ll actually get closer to 23W charging using the accessory.
The new Pixel Stand also only tops out at 23W, which is not exactly fast and is even less impressive given the old 18W power brick charges are similar speeds overall. That’s why faster charging has carried over yet again to our Pixel 7 wish list.
50W wired charging would be a great addition, especially if the Pixel 7 series retains large batteries above the 4,500mAh threshold. We’re unlikely to see a charger return to retail packaging but it would be a nice option for those wanting improved top-up speeds.
Enhanced Tensor performance
Google’s first stab at a custom processor has been overall pretty solid. Sure, it isn’t the most powerful, and it’s not quite at the top of the benchmark charts. That doesn’t mean that we wouldn’t like to see a little extra under-the-hood grunt from the second-generation Tensor chip.
If it can get close to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and still offer the added processing power for things like real-time translation and enhanced image effects, then we’d consider it a success. Gaming is a big area in which the Tensor processor doesn’t quite stack up, most games run smoothly, but it would be great to see a few more frames in the most intense mobile titles. So long as it nails the basics and exceeds the first-generation Tensor processor, then Google is on to a winner yet again.
Uniform screen bezels
The Pixel 5 has the most aesthetically pleasing Pixel display to date and that is owed to the use of uniform display bezels on all sides. While this might explain the use of a pretty terrible under-display earpiece speaker, but even so, the Galaxy S22 and S22+ prove that it is possible to have uniform bezels and a great earpiece speaker.
Android 12 and Material You actually feel more at home on the rounded sides and small bezels of the Pixel 5 than the Pixel 6 series its boxier visual appeal. Shaving down the forehead and chin would be a great way to ensure that Android 13 “fits” better into the upcoming flagship duo in our opinion.
Pre-applied screen protector
Not all screen protectors are created equally, but when many other high-end Android phones come with a basic protective cover pre-applied we start to wonder why Google hasn’t followed suit. Samsung, Oppo, OnePlus, and Xiaomi are far bigger players in the market and provide this base level of coverage for brand new devices at a multitude of price points.
Sure, if this is not possible due to Google’s wider focus on using recycled materials, then we can accept that decision. After launch, it was a minefield trying to get a good quality screen protector for the Pixel 6 Pro’s curved screen in particular. Google has never offered pre-applied screen protectors but the Pixel 7 series would be a great place to start as a “premium” product. Plus, having some level of out-of-the-box protection would be greatly appreciated, though.
What hardware or software features do you have on your own Pixel 7 wish list?
Is there anything you are really hoping for or looking forward to seeing from the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro? Let us know your Pixel 7 wish list items down in the comments section below.
Article From & Read More ( Pixel 7/7 Pro wish list: Functions and features we really hope to see [Video] - 9to5Google )
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Ayn, the maker of the Odin Android handheld, is releasing a lineup of what it calls the “most affordable” portable Windows gaming consoles yet (via Liliputing). The cheapest of the bunch starts at just $299 — $100 less than the 64GB Steam Deck.
Ayn announced the news in a YouTube video and a seriesof posts on Instagram, giving us a look at what we can expect for looks, tech specs, and pricing. While the entry-level $299 Loki Mini comes with 64GB of storage and an Intel Alder Lake U chip, the standard Loki handheld has an AMD Ryzen 5 6600U chip with three different storage options: 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB, each costing $499, $599, and $699, respectively. The $799 Loki Max features an upgraded AMD Ryzen 7 6800U chip and 512GB of storage.
If you’re not happy with the amount of storage that comes with the device, you may be able to upgrade after purchasing it. YouTuber Taki Udon learned that each model could come with swappable storage, meaning you might have the option of giving your storage a boost if you start running out of space (via Liliputing).
On the outside, it looks like the Ayn Loki inherits most of its design from the Switch-like Odin, but as Liliputing notes, it swaps a colorful set of buttons in an X, A, B, Y configuration to a solid black or white scheme with the same Y, B, A, X arrangement you’d find on an Xbox controller. There’s also a USB-C port and headphone jack on the bottom of the device.
Judging by another one of Ayn’s Instagram posts, it looks like the Loki is set for release tomorrow at 9:00PM EST, and will likely be available to purchase from its website. Taki Udon also indicates that Odin owners may get access to the Loki lineup at discounted prices, but it’s unclear how much Ayn will take off.
Ayn is just one brand attempting to take on the Steam Deck. Another company, Aya Neo, made its first handheld gaming PC available on Indiegogo last year. It has since come out with the Aya Neo 2 and Aya Neo Slide, both of which feature the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U chip and Radeon 680M iGPU that could beat the Steam Deck on paper. Aya Neo hasn’t released pricing information on these two models yet, but they aren’t likely to be as affordable as the entry-level Loki Mini or Steam Deck — most of Aya Neo’s handhelds cost upwards of $1,000. That’s probably why Aya Neo just released the Aya Neo Air lineup, a set of lighter handhelds that start at $549 for an AMD Ryzen 5 5000U processor and 128GB of storage.
Lace up those cleats—it’s time to test out the turf
Here’s your chance to try out the latest game taking the Mushroom Kingdom by storm—Strike! Join the fray in this 5-on-5, soccer-like sport online* during this limited time demo** with a Nintendo Switch Online membership. During the active online periods, play Versus Everyone or Join Friends to get gritty and try to score the most goals by tackling enemies and pulling off score-boosting Hyper Strikes. Training mode will be available for the duration of the demo, so you can get some practice in before you hop online.
Don’t have a Nintendo Switch Online membership? Redeem a 7-day free trial and you can download the demo! Players with an active membership can download the demo and play. Online play will be available during the following dates and times.
Friday, June 3
8:00-9:00pm PT
Saturday, June 4
4:00-5:00am PT
12:00-1:00pm PT
8:00-9:00pm PT
Sunday, June 5
4:00-5:00am PT
12:00-1:00pm PT
Get those kicking feet moving and check out the full Mario Strikers™: Battle League game when it launches June 10.
Google is rolling out an update to Chrome OS this week that comes with a very nifty new feature. As reported by our colleagues over at 9to5Google, Chrome OS 102 includes a new “USB-C cable alert” feature, and it’s a feature that Apple should absolutely replicate across the board for its products…
This new feature in Chrome OS will alert you when a USB-C cable you’ve connected doesn’t support certain features or “isn’t performing ideally for your laptop.” The alert will explain if the cable “doesn’t support the high-performance USB4/Thunderbolt 3 standards that your Chromebook does.” The full list of alerts includes:
Cable may not support displays
Your USB-C cable may not connect to displays properly
Cable may impact performance
Your USB-C cable does not support USB4. Device performance may be limited.
Your USB-C cable does not support Thunderbolt.
Your device supports a higher data rate than your cable.
Why Apple should copy this feature
As we’ve written about many times here at 9to5Mac, despite selling on a universal connector, the world of USB-C cables is still very, very confusing. This is especially the case for everyday Mac and iPad users who aren’t as in tune with the tech specifications like many of you reading this are.
A simple search on Amazon reveals a wide array of different USB-C cables, many of which support varying different data transfer speeds, display support, and charging speeds. Your mileage will significantly differ based on which cable you choose. This is also true on both ends of the spectrum; some of the cheaper cables won’t offer full support for the features the USB-C offers and others will overcharge and bill themselves as being more premium than they really are.
The USB Implementers Forum, or USB-IF, has promised branding changes that aim to help clear up some of the confusion surrounding different USB-C cables and standards. These changes, however, don’t appear to be rolling out anytime soon. And they still won’t solve the problem of accessory makers who don’t conform to the full USB-IF standards.
As the confusion around USB-C standards, speeds, and features continues to grow, Google has chosen to take matters into its own hands with the new “USB-C cable alert” feature. The alerts provide users a simple explanation of the feature of the USB-C cable they are using, including why it might not work for certain connectivity needs.
Apple has broadly adopted USB-C on many of its products alongside Thunderbolt 4 as well. As it increases its reliance on USB-C and Thunderbolt 4, it too should add some sort of USB-C cable alert feature on both Mac and iPad. This feature would significantly reduce confusion around USB-C and Thunderbolt cables, and give users a clear explanation of what cable they are using and what cable they might need to unlock more features.
Theoretically, Apple could even take this a step further and add a similar feature for iPhone charging. In the Settings app, Apple could explain the top charging speed of the cable and power brick combination the iPhone is connected to, and explain how that speed could get faster with a new power brick.
What do you think of this new Chrome OS feature? Is it something Apple should adopt across its products and operating systems? Let us know down in the comments.
Late last year, I plopped a giant 48-inch OLED television on my desk in search of the one screen to rule them all. It was fantastic, with amazing color, inky blacks, G-Sync, and FreeSync Premium on a 120Hz panel — but not exactly suited to be the perfect PC screen. Now, LG is tailoring its television a bit more for desk use with the new LG UltraGear 48GQ900, which adds some of the features I wished I had in that review.
Chief among them: the stand. While the LG C1 48 and LG CX 48 televisions featured a big wide base that discourages any attempt at desktop cable management and blocks the rest of your desk from view, the new UltraGear monitor has a more traditional V-shaped foot that lifts the whole screen off the table.
There’s a built-in two-port USB 3.0 hub, an easily-accessible 3.5mm four-pole headset jack if you don’t want to rely on its built-in 20W stereo speakers, and a remote control that might actually make sense for dedicated gaming use. It’s got a big honking dial and easy buttons to change video inputs, audio outputs, mute, power, and a toggle for LG’s Game Mode. (The TVs had, well, a TV remote and no nub underneath to navigate menus.)
The Korean company’s Chinese product page also shows you’ll be able to summon an on-screen crosshair and FPS counter, if you like, which are table stakes for high-end gaming monitors these days. You can also overdrive the screen to 138Hz, though I’m not immediately sure why you’d want to.
What the company’s press release doesn’t say, unfortunately, is whether LG has made its automatic brightness limiter algorithms any less aggressive, which is the thing that kept these giant OLED screens from being amazing do-everything PC monitors in the past. While I found the LG C1 48 excellent for PC gaming, it was a pain to have the screen constantly dimming while trying to scroll documents and websites.
The limiters protect your OLED screen from burn-in, but they’re a little overzealous, and other companies that have built gaming monitors around LG’s OLED screens haven’t figured out a way to deal with that. Nor has LG improved it significantly in its most recent panels: Rtings writes that the new smaller 42-inch LG C2 still has the distracting brightness limiter issue. We asked LG about it, and we’ll let you know what we hear.
The other big question is price: one of the reasons to pick an LG OLED TV over a gigantic gaming monitor is because you can sometimes find them around, or just a couple hundred north of, the $1,000 mark. If LG is charging a premium for the monitor version, it’d be a harder sell.
The new LG 48GQ900 “will be available starting this month in Japan with key markets in North America, Europe and Asia to follow,” according to the company. You can also read about a pair of new 32-inch monitors, one with DisplayHDR 1000 and the other with 240Hz refresh rate, in the company’s press release.
Maserati opens up its V6-powered coupe just in time for summer
Published: 25 May 2022
This is the new Maserati MC20 Cielo spyder, which is Maserati shorthand for ‘pretty, convertible, carbon-fibre supercar’. Yup, welcome to summer, one and all.
Like its MC20 Coupe sibling, this open-topped Cielo carries Maser’s brand new 3.0-litre V6 ‘Nettuno’ turbocharged engine in the middle. While perhaps not the most intoxicating V6 note, the MC20 Cielo’s lovely new retractable roof means you’ll be able to enjoy more of it, more of the time.
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Powerful engine, too: 621bhp and 538lb ft of torque from 3,000rpm, able to hit 62mph from rest in 3.0s, 0-124mph in 9.2s, and max out at 200mph. Same active suspension setup as the MC20 Coupe, too, and Maser tells us the Cielo weighs just 65kg more than the MC20 Coupe at 1,540kg.
That roof is made from clear glass, and a lot of it too – Maserati says it has a surface area of more than half a square metre. Electrically retractable, it takes just 12 seconds to open or close at the touch of a button. Apply a firm digit to another button, and the glass changes from clear to opaque (and vice versa) thanks to its polymer-dispersed LCD tech.
We’re told the electrochromic roof is usable in “virtually’ all temperatures, and “guarantees perfect heat sealing and reduced in-car noise”. Unless of course, the roof is down.
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The Cielo uses the same carbon-fibre monocoque design as the MC20 Coupe, though its carbon fibre layers have been tweaked. So where the MC20 Coupe’s is geared for light weight, the MC20 Cielo’s monocoque has been designed for greater torsional rigidity. (The electric MC20 will again wear a stronger monocoque to house the batteries).
You’ll spot the new intakes and outlet in the rear arch structure, crucial for maximising airflow and engine cooling, while the MC20 Coupe’s rear window has here been replaced by a canopy for housing the retractable roof. Got a massive trident on it too, in case you suddenly forgot what make of car you were driving.
A lot of work has been done to the floor to better the airflow under the car too, enabling it to generate “a high aerodynamic load”.
Cabin remains as per the MC20 Coupe, though with one tiny tweak – the rotary controller that adjusts the various modes is now digital, able to cycle through Wet, GT, Sport, Corsa and ESC Off. Good stereo and a 10.25in display, too.
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No word on UK pricing just yet, but expect to pay a premium over the MC20 Coupe’s £188k.
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