I really like the design of the Microsoft Surface Duo. I like the concept of foldable phones mostly because the design means that the screen won’t get scratched up. While I’m careful of my smartphones, I’m also just a clumsy person, so I’m bound to drop my devices sooner rather than later. While the Surface Duo isn’t a proper foldable device as the screen itself doesn’t fold, but the design philosophy is in a similar vein as the Galaxy Z Fold 2 and Galaxy Z Flip. As Microsoft prepares for the Surface Duo launch in Europe, they’ve decided to cut the price of their device by a lot–$400, in fact.
The Microsoft Surface Duo’s dual-screen setup is pretty unique among smartphones, and our Surface Duo review calls it a multitasker’s dream. While it hasn’t gotten the best reception everywhere, Microsoft has been updating the Microsoft Launcher to help with Duo’s functionality, and it appears to be paying off.
Granted, the original MSRP of $1,400 still made the Surface Duo a hard sell. With high-end flagship smartphones being less money and generally working without a hitch, it can be hard to drop so much money on something new like the dual-screen Duo. However, with the updates and the $400 price drop down to $999, the device becomes a lot more enticing.
You can pick up the Surface Duo at Best Buy, Amazon, or direct from Microsoft at this lowered price. I’d personally recommend Best Buy, as if you activate today, you’ll get an extra $50 off the price, and who doesn’t love more savings?
While the European market launch is next week, this price drop is only applying to the US market, and the new markets will still have to pay their currency’s equivalent of the full market price. It’s a bit of a strange situation, but let’s hope the EU gets a similar price cut soon.
Flagship Android tablets are few and far between, with the best of the best coming from Samsung every year. What if you could pick up another Android tablet instead? Maybe something that doubles up as a serious gaming console too? Meet the Nintendo Switch running Android, which is back and better than ever thanks to the Switchroot team bringing Android 10 to the device. I’ve been playing around with it quite a lot, and it’s something that I can genuinely see myself using in the long term. If you want to check out Android on the Nintendo Switch (including instructions on installing it), then read on!
How to install Android 10 on the Nintendo Switch
Thanks to advancements in the Nintendo Switch hacking scene, it is easier than ever to install Android. Rather than needing to set up any particular software on your computer, pretty much everything can be done from inside Hekate. Hekate, by the way, is a GUI-based Nintendo Switch bootloader, and you can boot it on any unpatched Nintendo Switch. You can check here to see if your Nintendo Switch is hackable or not based on its serial number, though there are ways to get it working on some patched Switches, too, through the use of a modchip or other software-based exploit. Even then, you won’t be able to run it on a Switch Lite or the Switch refresh that sports battery improvements, as Android won’t boot on those devices.
If you have everything you need, you’ll need to then head over to the LineageOS 17.1 thread on our Nintendo Switch forums. The beauty of this particular port is that it runs entirely off of an SD card and thus does not touch your Switch’s operating system in any way. Because of that, it is unlikely for your Switch to get banned by Nintendo. When you’re done using Android, you can simply reboot your device to boot back into your Switch’s OS as usual. There are two versions of LineageOS 17.1 to pick from, but I chose the Android tablet version as I primarily use my device undocked; if you mostly use your Switch while it’s docked, then you should consider trying the Android TV version instead.
Android 10 on the Nintendo Switch is actually viable
Thanks to advancements in the Nintendo Switch hacking scene, setting up Android 10 on the Nintendo Switch is quick, easy, and an actually viable way of using your Nintendo Switch. You can create a partition on your SD card in Hekate (if you have enough space, that is) so that you don’t need to sacrifice your entire SD card for just Android. Once you’ve booted and set up your device, you can immediately start downloading apps and games from the Google Play Store, which is exactly what I set out to do.
One app I immediately downloaded was the Steam Link app, which allows you to stream games from your PC using Steam to another device on your network. On the previous Android release from the Switchroot team, the Steam Link app could connect and stream a game to my Switch, but the Joy Cons didn’t work. There were complicated potential fixes posted online, though I could never get them working, and my interest eventually waned in using Android. That isn’t the case with the new Android 10 port, though, as Joy Cons now work perfectly in most applications and games. That game that last generation consoles can’t run properly, Cyberpunk 2077, works perfectly on the Nintendo Switch by streaming it from my PC. I know it’s not actually running natively on the Nintendo Switch and that all computation is being done on my computer, but it’s certainly a flex.
oh hey it’s #Cyberpunk2077 running on the Nintendo Switch more to come soon (sorry for the loud background audio, it’s a fish tank lmao) pic.twitter.com/fxq3b0ia4t
But obviously, that isn’t all the Nintendo Switch can do. Think about the thousands of apps and games on the Google Play Store, and imagine all of the opportunities. I’ve been able to watch Twitch streams, browse YouTube, and play GameCube games (to varying degrees of success), and emulate consoles before the GameCube with ease. I’m no longer limited to the past games that Nintendo decided to port to the Nintendo Switch — no, I can play all past games thanks to emulators. What’s more, as already mentioned, I no longer need to worry about my Switch potentially getting banned if I make a mistake. Nintendo can’t monitor my device’s usage in Android — how could they? There are genuine reasons why you might want to keep an RCM jig and a microSD card with Android on it in your Switch’s carry case, especially if you like the thought of having a reasonably powerful Android device with built-in controllers available at any time.
It won’t ever be perfect, though
Here’s the one problem with Android 10 on the Nintendo Switch, and it’s inherent to the device itself — it will never be perfect, and in fact, it’s far from it. If you needed to replace your Nintendo Switch’s operating system with Android via a NAND dump, then practically nobody would use this. The Tegra X1 chipset is incredibly underpowered by today’s standards, and what keeps it afloat and somewhat competitive is its powerful GPU. In Geekbench 5 with performance mode enabled, the Nintendo Switch scores a pitiful 823 in multi-core, while the Snapdragon 888 can expect results anywhere in the 3500 to 3900 range. Performance is spotty at best in most GameCube games, and The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker is barely playable. Games like The Simpsons: Hit & Run are completely unplayable, though Animal Crossingdid run at a full 60 FPS at basically all times.
Furthermore, you’re not going to have any of the typical Android features that you may expect. There’s no GPS, no microphone, and the battery life is rather poor. You’ll need to enable performance mode in the settings for most games to be playable via emulation, which drains the battery considerably. There’s a flashable zip that you can install to turn off all alarms and notifications in the background when the display is off which certainly helps battery life, but you’ll never get fantastic battery life out of the Switch when it’s booted into Android. I’ve found it to drain quite quickly no matter what I do, so you’ll want to make sure that you’re near a charger at all times. Alternatively, when not in use, turn off your Switch and use your Android smartphone to inject the Hekate payload whenever you want to boot back into Android again. For that I use NSloaderRB.
All in all, the Nintendo Switch running Android is certainly more viable to use than it was before, but it’s nowhere near perfect. I’ll definitely continue using it, but if you can’t (or don’t want to commit the time to use it) then you won’t miss out on a lot. It can do everything that it could before, just better, but there’s nothing really revolutionary here.
Last September, Google added more powerful photo editing features to Google Photos. Now, the search giant is introducing more robust video editing features that will allow Android users to make more granular adjustments to videos. These same features were previously added to Google Photos for iOS.
With the update, Google Photos on Android now has more than 30 controls, including the ability to crop, change perspective, stabilize, and apply filters. Users can also change the brightness, contrast, saturation, and warmth of videos—just like you would an image. If you don’t own video editing software, or you don’t have experience with more powerful programs, the new features in Google Photos are a good way to get started.
In addition to new video editing features, the search giant is also adding more premium photo editing features to Google Photos. That includes some of the editing features that were previously exclusive on Pixel to Google One members are now more widely available on other Android devices. These effects include portrait blur, portrait light, and color pop.
Google One members will also get access to what Google is referring to as “super filters.” Powered by machine learning, these filters apply complex edits with just one tap.
“With the Dynamic suggestion, you can enhance brightness and contrast across the image where it’s needed, so you get a dramatic, more balanced photo,” Google said in a blog post. “And with sky suggestions, you can make your golden hour images pop by boosting and adjusting the color and contrast in the sky with one of several palettes inspired by breathtaking sunrises and sunsets.”
These new premium editing features will be available to Google One members in the coming days on Android. Google said users will need a device with 3GB RAM and Android 8.0 and above to use these new editing features. Meanwhile, the new video editing features for Google Photos on Android will be available in the coming weeks.
Leaks have been pouring in since December about Samsung’s two upcoming mid-range 5G smartphones: the Galaxy A52 5G and the Galaxy A72. We already got a close look at the overall design of both phones through leaked renders. And now, a new leak has shed more light on some of the key specifications of the phones, including their displays, SoCs, camera hardware, and batteries.
According to SamMobile, the upcoming Galaxy A52 5G and Galaxy A72 will mark the first time that Samsung is bringing a high refresh rate panel to its mid-range lineup. According to the publication, the Galaxy A52 5G will feature a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display at Full HD+ resolution along with a 120Hz refresh rate. The Galaxy A72, on the other hand, will have a 90Hz refresh rate display. There will also be an LTE variant of the Galaxy A52, which will sport a 90Hz display.
In terms of internal hardware, the Galaxy A52 5G will reportedly feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G chipset and will come in two configurations: 6GB + 128GB and 8GB + 256GB. It will sport a 64MP primary, 12MP ultra-wide, 5MP depth, and 5MP macro sensors on the back and a 32MP camera on the front. A 4,500mAh battery will power the phone with support for a 25W fast charger. The phone is said to run Andriod 11 out-of-the-box and come equipped with an in-display fingerprint scanner. The report also says the 4G Galaxy A52 will likely share most of the specifications of the 5G model.
The report didn’t reveal much about the Galaxy A72; however, a leak from OnLeaks in December claimed the device will feature a 6.7-inch panel, a plastic back, quad cameras, an in-display fingerprint reader, and a 3.5mm audio jack.
Samsung has yet to confirm anything about these smartphones. However, SamMobile is confident that the company will unveil the Galaxy A52 5G and Galaxy A72 sometime next month.
This might just be the year that Apple’s walled garden ecosystem gets some doors, windows, and a breath of fresh air. A bill proposed in the North Dakota Senate in the USA seeks to ban digital stores like the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store from exercising a distribution monopoly and force third-party developers on their platform to strictly use their platform-respective in-app payment systems.
The Senate Bill 2333 (via TheVerge) targets “digital application distribution platforms” that “that exceeds $10 million in annual revenue”, and not smartphone app stores in particular. But its wide definition does indeed put the crosshair on both Apple and Google. This bill, if it passes through and becomes law for the state of North Dakota in the USA, will restrict platforms from:
Requiring a developer to use a digital application distribution platform or digital transaction platform as the exclusive mode of distributing a digital product.
Requiring a developer to use an in-application payment system as the exclusive mode of accepting payment from a user to download a software application or purchase a digital or physical product through a software application.
Retaliating against a developer for choosing to use an alternative application store or in-application payment system
Essentially, app distribution platforms and concerned payment platforms cannot exercise monopoly use from developers. They also cannot retaliate against developers for choosing an alternative store or payment platform. Do keep in mind that the proposed legislation will only affect business within the state of North Dakota. But to implement these changes, both Apple and Google will have to make fairly big changes to their policies, leaving the room open for these changes to also be brought in to more states, or even across the USA and globe.
The proposed legislation targets situations such as the removal of Fortnite from the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store as a consequence of Epic introducing its own payment system. There is a definite payment monopoly on both the platforms and the platforms even made changes that make it harder to bypass the commission they charge on using the payment platforms. Apple did cut its commission rate to 15% for smaller developers, but developers on iOS are still stuck on the Apple App Store as the app distribution platform because of Apple’s walled garden approach to iOS. Android does have the ability to sideload, but the efforts to gain momentum on anything other than the Google Play Store are gargantuan, resigning developers to contend with the Play Store as their only practical means of success o the app distribution front. Many large developers even joined hands to form the “Coalition for App Fairness” non-profit to oppose Apple and Google. North Dakota’s proposed legislation seems like another falling domino that might just change how apps are distributed on smartphones in the future.
Fitbit is rolling out a massive update to its range of fitness trackers and smartwatches. The latest update adds a new SpO2 watch face and skin temperature tracking to Charge 4, improvements to Health Metrics data presentation, and opens up some of the paid features to more users.
According to Wearable, on Charge 4, the update separates blood oxygen data readings from the sleeping analysis and now shows it on a dedicated watch face. That means users can now see the SpO2 readings right from the device without having to dig deep into the companion app. Moreover, the Charge 4 users can now also measure their surface skin temperature, a feature that was available only on the Fitbit Sense smartwatch up until now.
Fitbit is also making the Health Metrics dashboard available to Charge 4, Versa 2, and Inspire 2 for free, which was previously limited to Fitbit Premium subscribers. Owners of these devices will be able to access their breathing rate during sleep, heart rate variability, and resting heart rate. But there’s a catch: free users can also see one week’s data, unlike the paying users who can access the whole month’s data.
The flagship Sense also gets some love, and owners residing in Canada, New Zealand, and U.S can now finally access the ECG feature of the smartwatch.
Finally, Fitbit is also adding the blood glucose tracking feature into the companion app. None of the Fitbit devices have the ability to measure blood glucose, so the tracking part here refers to the ability to log readings obtained from a dedicated glucose meter. You will receive daily reminders to log your blood glucose levels from the app. You can set high and low ranges for blood sugar and can analyze the data trends over time. If you use the OneTouch Verio Flex blood glucose meter and its OneTouch Reveal companion app, the Fitbit app can automatically import your readings.
PPSSPP, a popular open-source Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP) emulator, is receiving a new update on Android and PC with lots of new features, improvements, and bug fixes. Among the most notable changes in the PPSSPP 1.11 update is support for rewinding to previous states on Android devices.
PPSSPP initially didn’t feature a rewinding feature on mobile due to the lack of RAM on Android smartphones. But with many modern Android flagships packing up to 16GB of RAM nowadays, the developer is finally adding the feature to Android as the RAM isn’t a performance bottleneck anymore. This brings the Android client on par with the PC client, which has long supported rewinding. As the name implies, the rewinding lets you go back to the previous states in your game in case you messed up the gameplay and would like to have another go at it.
In addition to rewinding, the PPSSPP 1.11 is also adding support for browsing games stored on your SD card on devices running Android 11.
The PPSSPP 1.11 is out for Android and Windows devices. At the time of writing this article, the update wasn’t live yet on the Google Play Store. But you can sideload the APK from their official site.
The full changelog for the PPSSPP 1.11 is as follows:
Lots of minor bug fixes, crash fixes, and performance fixes and improvements.
New Browse… button to allow opening SD cards on Android 11
Countless AdHoc networking fixes by ANR2ME, for example, Dragon Ball Shin Budokai, PowerStone, Bleach Heat The Soul 7, Kingdom Hearts, GTA: VCS, and many more.
Graphics issue with car reflections fixed in Outrun, Dirt 2 (#13636, #13640, #13760)
Cut-off cards in Yu Gi Oh fixed (#7124).
Numerous fixes to the builtin fonts by nassau-tk
Added exception handler so PPSSPP stays alive if a game crashes (#11795/#13092)
Desktop: Support for multiple instances multiplayer (#13172, …)
Workaround for rendering bugs with flat shading in iOS 14
Multiple fixes to the IR interpreter (#13897, …)
UI: New fullscreen button on desktop platforms, optional navigation sounds (#13239)
Audio and multiple hang fixes in UWP version (#13792, …)
Partial microphone support (#12336, …)
Workaround for wacky action mirroring bug in Hitman Reborn Battle Arena 2 (#13706, #13526)
Hardware texture upscaling for Vulkan, mipmap generation (#13235, #13514)
more to come soon (sorry for the loud background audio, it’s a fish tank lmao) 
