iMac 24-inch Review: The Apple M1 changes the game

Imagine an 11-inch tablet that’s 5.9mm thick that has the power of a laptop. Imagine an all-in-one PC with a screen that’s 11.5mm thick and has no external base with the internal components. Imagine an aluminum laptop that weighs 2.8 pounds and has more power than a lot of gaming PCs. Now imagine that all of these things, from the 11-inch tablet to the all-in-one desktop PC, have the same processor. That’s the world that we’re living in right now with Apple’s M1 chip. It’s insane.

With its range of Apple Silicon products — the 13-inch MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and Mac mini — Apple pretty much swapped out the internals for its new ARM chips. When it did the 24-inch iMac, it redesigned the product, showing what you can do with a more efficient ARM chipset.

iMac 24″ (2021): Specifications

CPU	Apple M1
GPU	8-core GPU
Display	24-inch 4.5k Retina display, 4,480×2,520, 218ppi, 500 nits
Body	547x461x58mm (21.5×18.1×5.8in), 4.487kg (9.88lbs)
Storage	256GB SSD
RAM	16GB
Camera	1080p FaceTime HD camera with M1 image signal processor
Audio	High-fidelity six-speaker system with force-cancelling woofers Wide stereo sound Support for spatial audio when playing video with Dolby Atmos Studio-quality three-mic array with high signal-to-noise ratio and directional beamforming Support for “Hey Siri”
Ports	(2) Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports (2) USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (10Gbps) 3.5mm audio jack Gigabit Ethernet
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 wireless networking IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac compatible Bluetooth 5.0
Colors	Blue, Green, Pink, Silver, Yellow, Orange, Purple
Price	$1,699

About this review: XDA purchased a 24-inch iMac at retail. Apple did not have any input over the content of this review.

XDA Computing Forums

Design: The 24-inch iMac is the most beautiful all-in-one on the market

Personally, I think that the new 24-inch iMac is the most beautiful all-in-one PC on the market. I don’t say that about a lot of Apple products. For example, no MacBook would be in my top five most beautiful laptops by any means. And yes, part of the reason that the design of this is so good is that so few OEMs are putting real effort into all-in-one PCs.

There are a few layers to this. First of all, the new 24″ iMac comes in seven gorgeous colors. I went with green, although frankly, you should just go to your local Apple Store and pick out your favorite color. The colors on the back are bold, while they’re accented with more subtle shades of the same color, such as the lighter shade of green that I see on the chin, the base, and the accessories. There’s also a mirrored green Apple logo on the back, which makes for a nice touch.

Giving people a choice of colors is something that other OEMs simply aren’t doing. In fact, with six beautiful colors, you might wonder why Apple kept Silver around. You’d be surprised how popular the Silver iMac is still going to be. HP killed off Natural Silver on its Spectre x360 lineup one year and had to bring it back by popular demand the next year. Now, HP has three colors for its flagship product, and honestly, I can’t really think of any laptops that have more color options than that, let alone desktops.

The other thing that makes the new 2021 iMac beautiful is the form factor. Apple said that it wants the computer to disappear into the background. That’s why the screen on the 24″ iMac is just 11.5mm thin. That’s a full millimeter thinner than Microsoft’s Surface Studio 2. To make it even better, all of the guts of the Surface Studio 2 are in the base; that’s not the case here. Using an ARM processor, Apple could shrink down the size of the motherboard in a way that really can’t be done with an Intel desktop processor.

There’s a metal base that’s attached to the 2021 iMac, and it has a hinge that lets you adjust the angle of the PC. This is all you can adjust, though. You can’t adjust the height or anything like that. This feels like an odd sacrifice to make, and it feels like form over function.

The color of the metal base is matched in the accessories. The iMac comes with a Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Magic Mouse, although that’s customizable. You can choose a Magic Trackpad or a Magic Keyboard with Touch ID with Numeric Keypad. Sadly, Apple doesn’t sell these separately at the moment, so choose wisely. We’ve reviewed these accessories separately in case you’re interested.

Other color-matched items include a braided USB-C to Lightning cable, and the power cable. Note that the magnetic power cable also can’t be purchased separately at the moment. One thing that I love about the power cable is that it has an Ethernet port in it. It’s one less thing that you’d have to plug into the back of your PC, which is always better for cable management.

The ports that are on the back of the 24″ iMac are four USB Type-C ports, two of which are Thunderbolt and two of which aren’t. Note that if you buy the base iMac model, you’re just getting the two Thunderbolt ports. That means that you’ll probably need to invest in some docks and dongles.

I mainly used one of the Thunderbolt ports to connect my iMac to an external 4K monitor. Note that while Thunderbolt typically supports two 4K monitors, that’s not the case here. As with all M1-powered Apple PCs except for the Mac mini, you can only connect the 24 inch iMac to a single external monitor, which can be up to 6K resolution. It’s not an issue of power, because you can’t even connect multiple lower resolution screens. Rather, this is a chipset limitation. While I found this to be a real pain point with the MacBook Pro, it doesn’t bother me so much with the iMac, as it already has one big screen.

As for using the other three ports, you’ll probably want to keep at least one USB Type-C to USB Type-A dongle on-hand. I use an HP OMEN Outpost mousepad which connects via USB Type-C and has a wireless charging pad built into it, but it also adds a USB Type-A port in case I need one. The Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Magic Mouse both connect to the iMac via Bluetooth, so that’s a non-issue. The point is that while it’s natural to be skeptical about not having USB Type-A, I didn’t find it to be an issue.

Finally, there’s a 3.5mm audio jack at the bottom on the last side of the screen. Confession: I kind of wish it wasn’t there. It’s not in a practical place for headphones, as a wire has to stretch across my desk. Being that Apple has been at the forefront of pushing people toward Bluetooth audio, I wouldn’t have minded seeing the headphone jack killed off on the 24″ iMac like it was on the iPhone.

Display: The 24-inch iMac has a gorgeous 4.5K Retina screen

The 24-inch iMac has a 4,480×2,520 resolution Retina display. Retina, according to Apple, means that from an average viewing distance, you can’t see any pixelation, and this beautiful screen on the 24-inch iMac does not disappoint in that regard. It’s gorgeous, although you can definitely see the pixelation if you look close since it’s 218ppi. Of course, there’s more to the display than the high resolution.

In my testing, it supports 100% sRGB, 87% NTSC, 89% Adobe RGB, and 100% P3. According to Apple, it supports over a billion colors, which isn’t actually surprising. Indeed, the 2021 iMac has a beautiful display not just to look at, but to work on.

For me, 24 inches is a little bit small. And here’s where it gets a bit weird. The bezels on the 24-inch iMac are way too big. This machine sits next to a 27-inch 4K monitor on my desk and it feels like it’s actually bigger — and that’s because the chassis is actually much bigger.

Around the frame of the iMac, there’s a white bezel, and yes, I know this has been heavily criticized. We’ve been down this road with the iPhone already. In the pre-iPhone X days, any iPhone aside from the Space Gray model had white bezels, and it was a dark time in history. That changed with the iPhone X, which had a silver model with black bezels. It would seem that that change wasn’t because Apple learned a lesson.

I don’t notice it, though. Sure, I’d prefer a black bezel, but the lighter look feels like it fits the theme of the PC. The massive chin below the iMac’s screen is a lighter shade of green, and there are some questions here, such as why it doesn’t use the bolder and prettier shade of green found on the back, or why there’s such a big chin to begin with.

But now we’re talking design. Whether you love or hate the white bezel, that’s entirely your call to make.

But one thing that’s objectively great is found in the top bezel of the 24-inch iMac: the 1080p webcam. I’ve heard people mock Apple for finally using an FHD webcam, but to be honest, the whole industry is lagging on this. Considering how many people are working from home, a better webcam is more important to have than ever. I’ve been told by several OEMs that it just takes a long time to get it into the product, as all of the specs are decided so far in advance. Hopefully, we’ll see more FHD webcams moving forward.

There’s a lot going on in the giant chin, however. Apple is offering what it’s calling a high-fidelity six-speaker system with force-canceling woofers in the iMac, and it sounds awesome. It also supports spatial audio when playing Dolby Atmos content. I really didn’t find myself having to use headphones, although I did if other people were home. While on a call, I could use the iMac’s built-in three-mic array and those built-in speakers, and everything worked fine. It also gets nice and loud if you’re listening to music or watching a show.

Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Magic Trackpad: Yup, they match the color

First of all, if you’re interested in these products, I again encourage you to read Ben Sin’s in-depth review of the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and the Magic Mouse.

The keyboard and trackpad that come with the new iMac are fine. When it comes to quality, there’s legitimately nothing new here. It’s the same keyboard and trackpad that Apple has been offering for ages. The changes have nothing to do with quality, and to be honest, while it’s fine, it’s not one of my favorite keyboards. There are plenty of better ones out there.

Here’s what’s changed. There’s now a Touch ID button in the top-right corner. You can use it when unlocking the iMac and at times when it asks for a password. I find it somewhat frustrating, though, since you can’t use it all the time. You can’t use Touch ID when the iMac first boots up, similar to when you first boot up an iPhone. It’s just annoying, since every other PC that uses a fingerprint sensor lets you use it more often. Touch ID also only works with Apple Silicon Macs, since it requires the secure enclave.

The other change is that the Magic Keyboard is color-matched. Indeed, I’ve been typing on this lovely green keyboard with white keys since I’ve had the 24-inch iMac, and it’s quite pretty. The Magic Trackpad is also green around the sides, while it’s white on top. It’s the same lighter shade of green seen in the iMac’s base.

Both connect via a Lightning cable if you need to, or you can just charge them that way. Indeed, it’s nice to have that matching green USB-C to Lightning cable that comes in the box. It’s just a shame that Apple doesn’t actually sell any of this stuff separately.

When you order your 24″ iMac, you get some choices. You can get a Magic Keyboard with Touch ID or you can get the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad. You can also choose between the Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad when ordering your unit. And again, make sure you choose wisely, because as of now, that choice is permanent.

Performance: The 24-inch iMac isn’t a pro machine, but it gets the job done

When I reviewed the M1-powered MacBook Pro, it really impressed me. If you compared it to a similar laptop on the Windows side, the Mac’s benchmark scores blew it away. Performance in most areas did too. I performed tests like running a video through Premiere Pro and seeing how long it took to compile; the M1 smoked anything from Intel’s U-series, although it didn’t quite do as well when it came to dedicated graphics and a 45W Intel CPU.

That performance is still there, but the landscape changes because you have to look across the board at desktops instead of laptops. I also don’t have any current-generation Intel-powered all-in-one PCs to put this up against. Still, that’s okay because the use cases vary so much across the board.

The 24-inch iMac is positioned more as the consumer model. It’s the MacBook Air of iMacs. The MacBook Pro equivalent is going to be the 27-inch iMac, and when that gets refreshed, don’t be surprised if it doesn’t come in the same pretty colors. I say this to set expectations that this is more along the lines of a productivity machine instead of the kind of machine that you’re doing 3D modeling on.

That said, you’re not going to feel like you’re missing out here. At no point did I feel like the 24-inch iMac was sluggish because it has a processor that’s also found in an 11-inch tablet. This doesn’t just feel like it’s passable; it feels like a great desktop PC. I edited all of my images in Photoshop and edited 4K 60fps videos in Premiere Pro.

I recorded a quick 20-second 4K 60fps video with my iPhone 12 Pro Max, and then I imported it and exported it with Adobe Premiere Pro. The results weren’t quite what I expected.

Model	Specs	Rendering time (seconds)
24-inch iMac	Apple M1, 16GB RAM	27.41
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro	AMD Ryzen 7 5800H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 8GB	22.94
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga	Intel Core i7-1185G7	23.66

Let’s move onto Geekbench scores. Note that there’s a severe lack of benchmarking applications that I can actually use here, and Geekbench only tests the CPU. I added in the HP Z2 SFF G8 for benchmarks, since that’s a desktop, but it’s more along the lines of the “pro” machine I mentioned earlier.

Model	Specs	Single / Multi-core
24-inch iMac	Apple M1, 16GB RAM	1,740 / 7,676
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro	AMD Ryzen 7 5800H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 8GB, 16GB RAM	1,475 / 7,377
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga	Intel Core i7-1185G7, 16GB RAM	1,592 / 5,518
HP Z2 SFF G8	Core i7-11700K, Quadro RTX 3000, 32GB RAM	1,714 / 10,175

This pretty much adds up to the fact that the Apple M1 is not just good, it’s really good. It’s not the best you can get, though, nor should it be. There’s a reason that the 13-inch MacBook Pro still uses Intel chips in the higher-end models: The actual “pro” version of Apple Silicon isn’t here yet.

Probably the biggest benefits that you’re getting from the Apple M1 in the 24-inch iMac are in the design. This thing comes in such a slim package, which is something that wasn’t possible before.

Native apps on Apple Silicon

With the move to the ARM-based M1 chip, not all apps have been recompiled to run natively just yet. Still, that’s fine. Apple’s Rosetta is quite good, and I didn’t notice any real lag on my ARM-based iMac like I would when using an ARM-based Windows PC.

Even with Rosetta as good as it is, Apple has done a much better job at getting developers to build native apps than Microsoft has. Starting with core apps, Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome both run natively, as does Office. Sadly, Microsoft OneDrive still requires Rosetta.

Adobe Creative Cloud is a bit of a mixed bag. Photoshop runs natively now, although things like Premiere Pro and Illustrator are still in beta. I’ve talked to people at Adobe about this, and I’ve heard it just takes time. These are big apps, and more importantly, they’re old apps with a lot of legacy code. I ran the Premiere Pro and Illustrator betas and didn’t have an issue though.

Zoom is native, and honestly, there are some other apps that I forget about. Once you install them and start using them for a while, you actually won’t be able to tell the difference.

One thing that still gets to me is that macOS asks for permission for everything. Just a warning: the first time you share your screen in a meeting, you’ll have to give permission, and you’ll have to restart the app. That means that you’re going to have to leave the meeting and come back just to share your iMac’s screen.

Running Windows on the Apple M1

I wrote up a full guide on running Windows on an Apple Silicon Mac like this one. The short version of it is that you can run Windows using virtualization software like Parallels, but Boot Camp is gone. One thing that’s nice is that Apple finally got rid of the shortcut. You used to actually be able to launch it, and then it would tell you that it doesn’t work on Apple Silicon.

The M1 uses the ARM instruction set, which means that you need to use the ARM64 version of Windows 10. This is important to note. In the past, you could buy an Intel-powered iMac, dual boot Windows and macOS, and use the Windows partition for playing games like the upcoming Forza Horizon 5 and Halo Infinite.

You can’t do that anymore. Windows is going to support 64-bit emulation at some point, and in fact, Microsoft only offers preview builds of the OS as ARM64 images. Still, don’t plan on any AAA gaming on the 2021 iMac unless you plan on going the cloud gaming route.

Apple Silicon also doesn’t support 32-bit ARM apps. That means that some native pre-installed apps on Windows won’t work. Microsoft has improved this to some extent, giving users a way to access things like the Microsoft Store and other important apps.

Honestly, with the level of support that Windows on ARM gets, I’m just not sure that you could get anything by running Windows that you can’t get from macOS. And if you need more, you probably still need an Intel machine.

Parallels Desktop

Parallels Desktop is virtualization software for running Windows, Linux, or anything else

See at Parallels

Conclusion: Should you buy the 24-inch iMac?

The 24-inch iMac is a computer that’s so easy to fall in love with. It’s just so beautifully designed. It’s thoughtfully designed too, with a matching keyboard, trackpad, and even power and Lightning cables.

My biggest complaint with the iMac is probably that when I’m using a computer, I’m looking at the front of it. The bold and beautiful shade of green would look amazing if my wall had eyes, but it doesn’t.

While I love the new iMac, I wouldn’t use this computer forever. I’d also bet that this is as far as Apple will push the M1 before it rolls out something more powerful. If you’re looking to do heavy tasks that you’d look for “pro” branding on, this really isn’t the machine for you. This is the every-person iMac. It’s the family computer that can be showcased on a desk in the living room or in the home office.

That being said, the engineering is wonderful. That goes right down to the M1 itself. Not even Qualcomm has the chops to make custom processors like this just yet, although that’s coming. And when Apple started out with Apple Silicon, it didn’t even redesign the products. It went all-in on performance, letting skeptics know that there won’t be compromises here.

Now that performance is settled, we’re going to start seeing some product redesigns like this. Macs can get thinner, lighter, and smaller. With the ARM architecture, the chip is smaller, the motherboard is smaller, and you can just do more with a small space.

XDA Computing Forums

If you’re looking for an all-in-one PC for general purpose tasks, I really can’t think of anything better than the 24″ iMac.

24-inch iMac

Apple's newest iMac is for the every-day user, coming in pretty colors and including Apple Silicon.

Features:

Pros: Cons:

See at Amazon

The post iMac 24-inch Review: The Apple M1 changes the game appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/3jhOiky
via IFTTT

This Week in Gaming: Cyberpunk 2077, Windows 11, and the Abandoned conspiracy theory

The week after E3 is usually a fairly quiet one in the world of gaming, and we’re all collectively holding our breath until the late summer shows — in this case EA Play and the rumored State of Play event. That said, there were a few notable stories this week.

Cyberpunk 2077 returns to the PlayStation Store

Several months after it was removed from the PlayStation Store for being so buggy and almost unplayable, Cyberpunk 2077 has been restored. It’s now available to purchase for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 users. However, there is a catch. Sony warns that the game is still not going to be optimal on the base PS4, and that only players with PS4 Pros or PS5s should play it.

In other Cyberpunk 2077 news, Microsoft has revealed that next month is the last possible date on which it will refund those who bought the game is July 6. Microsoft didn’t remove the game from its store following its troubled launch, but it did publicly offer refunds to anyone who bought the game and regretted it. Now that’s ending, so it looks like Cyberpunk 2077, in whatever form it’s in, is here to stay.

Windows 11 adds auto-HDR to games

Microsoft revealed Windows 11 this week, and it has a myriad of new features. The company promises the new OS will be excellent for gamers and showed off one of the biggest new features it’ll have: Automatic high dynamic range for all games built on DirectX 11 or higher that don’t already have it. Essentially, games will look prettier on Windows 11 PCs, without the player or the game’s developers having to do any work to make it so. According to Microsoft, over 1000 games will support auto-HDR.

The Windows 11 presentation also carved out time to show off how Xbox Game Pass will be thoroughly integrated into the new paradigm, which Microsoft has tested with the new Xbox app on Windows 10. Microsoft also recently announced it’s updating its data centers with Xbox Series X hardware, which more or less means that games played via Xbox Cloud Gaming will look and play better. The Windows 11 Xbox app will also support xCloud gaming.

Kim Swift, of Portal fame, joins Microsoft to build cloud games

Chalk up another great acquisition by Microsoft. Kim Swift, the woman behind Portal and Left 4 Dead, is going to be helping Microsoft develop games specifically for the cloud. In case you don’t know who Kim Swift is, she’s the one who produced a portal-based student game called “Narbacular Drop” that eventually caught the interest of Gabe Newell and Valve. She went on to lead the team that created Portal and worked on several other Valve projects. Her most recent project, however, was with Google. She was part of Stadia’s internal development studio and was overseeing their games in development. Stadia shut down that project in February.

Games built for cloud, at least according to what Google has promised, are the future of gaming because the games are not bound to the hardware of a single PC or console, but can instead harness the vast power of the cloud for bigger worlds, better graphics, etc. Xbox Game Studios head Peter Wyse told Polygon that cloud-native games are next for Xbox: “We don’t know exactly what that looks like today, or what that even plays like… Kim is going to build a team focused on new experiences in the cloud, something that’s going to support our mission of bringing our Xbox games to connect 3 billion gamers to play our games.”

Strange story of the week: Indie dev goes on camera to prove he’s not Hideo Kojima

There’s an interesting trend in the world of gaming to attribute many things to being secretly the work of Hideo Kojima. Specifically, many who want to see Kojima make the Silent Hills game that was promised in his iconic P.T. game demo are quick to attach meaning to so-called clues that hint he’s doing just that. In this case, the studio that’s at the center of this is Blue Box Studios, which is making a horror game called Abandoned.

The studio has sworn up and down multiple times that it is not a smokescreen for a Silent Hill project, and director Hasan Kahraman even put up a video promising that he’s not secretly Hideo Kojima and he’s not working on Silent Hill, but the conspiracy just keeps growing. I almost feel sorry for Blue Box, as this whole thing all-but-ensures that Abandoned is not going to live up to the new Silent Hill game those who partake of this theory have built up in their heads.

Games out this week:

Mario Golf: Super Rush

The latest game in the Mario Golf series brings the series into the new generation, with fresh gameplay that supports up to four players locally or online.

Available on Nintendo Switch

Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance

The latest Dark Alliance game lets up to four players take on legendary D&D monsters as some of the world's most iconic heroes.

Available for PlayStation 5

Available for Xbox Series X

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

The video game adaptation of the Olympics that haven't yet happened at the time of this writing, Tokyo 2020 lets you participate in 18 different Olympic sports.

Available for PlayStation 4

Available for Nintendo Switch

• Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S
• Scarlet Nexus: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
• Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 And 2 on Nintendo Switch
• Legend of Mana Remastered: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch

---

What are your thoughts on the highlights of this week in the world of gaming? Let us know in the comments below!

The post This Week in Gaming: Cyberpunk 2077, Windows 11, and the Abandoned conspiracy theory appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/3vVV16C
via IFTTT

Second-gen Motorola Edge series gets detailed in an extensive leak

Motorola is gearing up to launch multiple new products in the Edge series, according to Evan Blass of @evleaks fame. The leaker revealed specifications and some features of multiple upcoming products from the Lenovo-owned brand. The four devices, code-named “berlin”, “berlna”, “kyoto”, and “pstar”, are likely to launch later this year, though their exact launch dates and pricing haven’t been confirmed.

The Motorola Edge line came to life in early 2020 with the launch of the Edge and Edge+, the latter of which was Motorola’s first flagship smartphone since the 2018 Moto Z3. Following the launch of the Motorola Edge S in China, it became clear that the “Edge” in the branding isn’t limited to devices with curved displays. While Blass hasn’t revealed the curvature of the displays found on these four devices, a different pattern has emerged that ties the previous and upcoming “Edge” devices together. For Motorola, it seems the Edge line is going to consist of the brand’s upper mid-range, value flagships, and the occasional premium flagship.

The four products revealed in Blass’s tweet fall comfortably into the upper mid-range and value flagship category — there’s no word on a premium flagship, and it’s possible that the ongoing global chip shortage is the reason for that.

Details about the various models which will compose the second-gen Motorola Edge family. (I’m told that PStar may be an alternate codename for the device also referred to as Sierra.)

Please consider a donation if you like the work I do here: https://t.co/2gXJ1Xfnkb / $evleaks pic.twitter.com/kov71cV3t3

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) June 25, 2021

Here’s a rundown of the upcoming Motorola Edge series products:

Motorola “Berlin” and “Berlna”

First of all, we need to clarify the relationship between these two products. “Berlna” seems to simply be the North American variant of “berlin”. The code-name seems to simply be “berlin” plus “na” mashed together and then truncated. The two products are similar in many ways, most notably in their choice of SoC, but there are key hardware differences that you usually don’t find when comparing the global and American models of other products. For example, the display, camera setup, and battery are notably different. The differences are significant enough that it’s possible Motorola will brand the product differently in North America versus Europe (though they’ve done that before even if there’s virtually no difference between the NA/EU variants.)

According to Blass, the device code-named “berlin” will feature a 6.67-inch display with a 2400×1080 resolution (20:9 aspect ratio) and up to 120Hz refresh rate. It will likely have a single centered hole-punch cutout for the 32MP front-facing camera. Under-the-hood, the device will be powered by Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 778G chipset, feature 6 or 8GB of RAM, come with 128 or 256GB of internal storage, and run off of a 4000mAh battery. The phone seems to have three rear cameras consisting of a main 108MP camera, a 16MP wide-angle camera that does double duty as a macro camera, and an 8MP telephoto camera for 3X zoom. The “berlin” device will support WiFi 6E (6GHz WiFi) connectivity, have a mono speaker, and have a dedicated Google Assistant button. Motorola will ship the phone with Android 11 out of the box, and it may come in a variety of colors including Emerald, Stout, and White.

The North American variant, code-named “berlna”, may be offered on Verizon, but it’s not clear if it’ll launch on other carriers. Its display supposedly measures 6.78” and is 2460×1080 pixels in resolution (20.5:9 aspect ratio), but it also supports a 120Hz refresh rate and has a single hole-punch cutout in the center for a 32MP selfie camera. The battery may be a larger 5000mAh unit, though the phone loses out on the telephoto camera and instead has a 2MP depth sensor. The wide-angle camera also sees a downgrade from a 16MP sensor to an 8MP one. As is typical for Motorola’s North American devices, there’s no Google Assistant button on this one.

Although the exact marketing names for “berlin” and “berlna” haven’t been revealed, an earlier leak by Blass suggested they’ll both be part of the Motorola Edge lineup.

Motorola “Kyoto”

In an earlier tweet, Blass revealed that a Motorola device code-named “kyoto” will launch as the “Motorola Edge 20 Lite.” His tweet also named the “Moto G60S” and “Moto G50 5G” as “lisbon” and “saipan”, but Blass did not share specs for either product in today’s leak. Interestingly, Motorola already launched another smartphone that supports 5G and carries the name “Moto G50”, though its code-name is “ibiza.”

According to Blass, the Motorola Edge 20 Lite will feature a display of unknown size with a resolution of 2400×1080 (20:9) and a 90Hz refresh rate. Like “berlin” and “berlna”, “kyoto” seems to have a centered hole-punch cutout. Instead of a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip, the Motorola Edge 20 Lite seems to be powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 720 chipset. It will also have 6 or 8GB of RAM but apparently only a single storage capacity of 128GB. This device seems to have the same camera setup as “berlna”, meaning there’s a main 108MP camera on the rear joined by an 8MP wide-angle camera (that doubles as a macro lens) and a 2MP depth sensor; the front camera, meanwhile, is a 32MP shooter. The battery capacity is also the same as “berlna” – a beefy 5000mAh unit. Rounding out the specs, Blass’s leak reveals the device runs Android 11 and has a Google Assistant button. The latter makes sense as the Motorola Edge 20 Lite seems to be headed to global markets as well as India, where it may be offered in two colors: Iron and Cosmo.

Motorola “Pstar”

The last Motorola smartphone leaked by Blass has the code-name “pstar” and model number “XT2153-1.” This product seems to be coming to Asian markets, Europe, Australia, India, and Latin America, and it’s the only one of the bunch to feature a flagship SoC – the Snapdragon 870 – paired with 6, 8, or 12GB of RAM and 128 or 256GB of storage. The display isn’t quite flagship – it measures 6.67”, has a 2400×1080 resolution, and a 120Hz refresh rate – but its cameras seem impressive. Pstar seems to have a 108MP main camera joined by a 16MP wide-angle lens (that, again, doubles as a macro camera) and finally an 8MP telephoto lens with 5X zoom. On the front, the camera is either a 16MP sensor for the Chinese variant or a 32MP sensor for the global variant, and it’s housed underneath the cutout in the top-center of the display. The device will have an ample 4500mAh battery powering it. It seems to have a mono speaker, a Google Assistant button, an under-display fingerprint scanner, and display output support for Motorola’s “Ready For” platform.

Besides the 5X zoom, our own source reveals another interesting camera feature of “pstar.” Called “CrystalTalk Noise Reduction”, this feature will make voices captured by the phone’s Audio Zoom mic even clearer.
We don’t know when “pstar” will launch, but the leak reveals it’ll run Android 11 at launch and come in black, white, or blue colors.

---

Today’s leak corroborates much of the details revealed in an earlier leak, but adds further details not mentioned in that leak.

Spec sheet for second-generation Motorola Edge devices. Credits: Evan Blass.

The post Second-gen Motorola Edge series gets detailed in an extensive leak appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/3zWdO4J
via IFTTT

Windows 11 will support installing Android apps outside the Amazon Appstore

When Microsoft announced Windows 11 yesterday, it confirmed the rumor that you’re going to be able to run Android apps on it. The company is making this happen by bringing the Amazon Appstore to the Microsoft Store. While partnering with Amazon is an easy way to populate the store with a directory of apps, it’s not the only way to get Android apps.

Unsurprisingly, you can install Android apps just like you can install any other kind of apps on Windows. There’s no need to get them from the Amazon Appstore; you can download an APK and install it.

Just note that you’re still not getting Google services support with Android apps on Windows 11. You can’t go and install Google Maps, or one of the many apps that rely on Google services to work properly. Sadly, there’s a wide variety of apps that use Google APIs. If you’ve ever used a phone without Google services, then you know that there are a lot of apps that will work, but won’t function 100% properly. For example, the Twitter app seems to work fine, but it won’t deliver push notifications (some would say that’s a feature, not a bug).

While Microsoft did confirm this yesterday, it’s also trying to add other storefronts to the Microsoft Store. This doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to add other Android shops; it’s unlikely that we’ll see the the Huawei AppGallery. We could see gaming stores though, such as Epic or Steam.

This isn’t Microsoft’s first attempt at Android apps on Windows. Windows 10 was going to have something called Project Astoria, which allowed Android apps to run in emulation. Project Astoria was killed off before Windows 10 actually launched, but it evolved into the Windows Subsystem for Linux, laying the groundwork for Project Latte, the codename for what’s happening with Windows 11 and Android apps.

But again, the foundation of Windows is that it’s open. You can choose to install apps from the Microsoft Store, or you can choose not to. Android apps are no different. They’re running on what’s called the Windows Subsystem to Android, similar to the Windows Subsystem for Linux, and that’s all that you need to run the apps. Android apps on Windows 11 are using Intel’s Bridge technology to run natively on x64 hardware, although they’ll run on all Windows 11 PCs. There are no arbitrary security lockdowns in place.

Android app support won’t ship in next week’s Windows 11 preview. That’s going to come later on this year.

The post Windows 11 will support installing Android apps outside the Amazon Appstore appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/3dfUaXL
via IFTTT

Introducing the XDA Computing Forums: Dedicated discussion zones for Hardware, Software, and more!

You might have noticed that recently, XDA has been publishing a lot of content around Windows, macOS, Chrome OS, and other computing topics. This hasn’t been by mistake. We at XDA are really excited about Computing and today, we’re launching the XDA Computing Forums.

If you’re a technology enthusiast, XDA is a place that you can go to embrace whatever your passion might be. The new Computing forum is split into four categories: Build-a-PC, PC Peripherals, Hardware Tech Talk, and OS.

Build-a-PC

In the Build-a-PC section, you’ll find the Battlestations area. If you’ve got your own PC build and you want to show it off, head over there and strut your stuff. If you’re looking to build or upgrade, check out the PC part sales section. This is where you can talk about deals, or maybe discover a place to buy some hard-to-find parts.

Visit the Build-a-PC section in the XDA Computing Forums

PC Peripherals

Once you’ve got your PC together, it’s time to talk about peripherals. We’ve got three topics in this section: Mechanical keyboards, Monitors, and Mice. If you’re looking for guides on mechanical keyboards, we’ve got you covered. Want to talk about monitors? You can do that too.

Visit the PC Peripherals section in the XDA Computing Forums

Hardware Tech Talk

Hardware Tech Talk is your place to go all-in on the brands that you’re enthusiastic about. You’ll find sections here that are dedicated to AMD, Intel, NVIDIA, and Apple. Head over here to find breakdowns on processors from Intel and AMD, or GPUs from NVIDIA and AMD. Or, just head over there to talk about what’s new.

Visit the Hardware Tech Talk section in the XDA Computing Forums

OS

This section is all about software. As you can probably guess, you’ll find sections for Windows, macOS, and Linux. You can come here to discuss tips and tricks, troubleshoot common issues, or just discuss the latest from whatever operating system that you use.

Visit the OS section in the XDA Computing Forums

---

We’re pretty excited about the new XDA Computing forums, and we hope that you will be too. Check it out here.

The post Introducing the XDA Computing Forums: Dedicated discussion zones for Hardware, Software, and more! appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/3A0GjOE
via IFTTT

Xbox will support AMD’s super resolution tech for higher quality gaming

Earlier this week, AMD announced FidelityFX Super Resolution, the company’s answer to NVIDIA’s DLSS. Unlike DLSS, which is only available on NVIDIA’s select GPUs with Tensor Cores, AMD FidelityFX Resolution (FSR) is open source and works with a broad range of GPUs — including some NVIDIA GPUs. Microsoft has already expressed interest in bringing the tech to Xbox consoles. And to make it a reality, the company is now releasing a preview of FSR for Xbox game developers.

Xbox director Jason Ronald announced in a tweet that FidelityFX Super Resolution is now available to preview for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles. Developers can try out FSR in their games using Microsoft’s Game Developer Kit starting today.

Excited to continue our close partnership with @AMD and see what game developers can do with FidelityFX Super Resolution, available to preview in our GDK today for @Windows, @Xbox Series X|S and #XboxOne consoles. pic.twitter.com/A446cNRUug

— Jason Ronald (@jronald) June 24, 2021

For unaware, AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution is an image upscaling technology that boosts the performance of games by enabling them to render at much higher resolutions/framerates. It uses an advanced edge reconstruction algorithm to analyze and detect edges and recreates these edges at a higher resolution while also enhancing textures and boosting sharpness.

AMD FSR can be a big deal for Xbox consoles, especially for the aging Xbox One. It can also extend the lifespan of consoles by some years, allowing users to continue to play the latest titles without bogging down the hardware or sacrificing visual quality. But whether it lives up to its hype remains to be seen.

However, don’t expect any Xbox title with FSR support to launch any time soon, though. The technology is still in the preview phase, and there’s no clarity on when developers will be able to start shipping it in their games.

AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution is currently available in seven PC games: 22 Racing Series, Anno 1800, Evil Genius 2, Godfall, Kingshunt, Terminator: Resistance, and The Riftbreaker. AMD says it’s working with game studios and developers to bring more title on the market, with titles like DOTA 2, Far Cry 6, and Resident Evil Village coming later this year.

The post Xbox will support AMD’s super resolution tech for higher quality gaming appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/2SpbORA
via IFTTT

Windows 11 is coming – Here’s everything we know about the new Windows

After what seemed like ages of waiting, Microsoft has finally announced what it’s calling “the next generation of Windows”. Windows 11 is a major, major change. It’s representative of a big shift in how Microsoft delivers Windows, but it’s also a big UX overhaul as well. On top of that, it’s getting new Android app support, a new Store, and much more. Here’s what we know so far!

Navigate this page:

• When is Windows 11 coming out?
• But wasn’t Windows 10 the last version of Windows?
• Is Windows 10X dead?
• Can my PC run Windows 11? Is it a free update?
• Is Microsoft going to force me to upgrade to Windows 11?
• What’s new in Windows 11? Is this the Sun Valley update?
  • Android apps
  • A big visual overhaul, with rounded corners
  • Gaming improvements
  • A new Microsoft Store
  • Teams integration
  • Snap Layouts
  • Virtual Desktop wallpaper
  • Widgets
  • x64 emulation for Windows on ARM

When is Windows 11 coming out?

Windows 11 is coming out this holiday season. The timeline is just very different from a normal Windows feature update.

Normally, new features arrive in the Dev channel of the Windows Insider Program over the course of six months to a year. Insiders test them out, they give feedback, and things evolve. Once the Windows 10 feature update RTMs, it goes to the Beta channel. It sits there for servicing for a few months, and then it goes to the Release Preview channel shortly before release.

This is different because Microsoft hasn’t been letting people test this as features have been developed. Windows RTMs in June and December every year now, ever since the schedule lined up with Azure. If you’re familiar with that cycle, this might freak you out a little bit. How can Microsoft announce something on June 24 and have it ready in time to ship this fall?

There are a few answers, one of which is that Windows 10 has been ready for a while and Microsoft hasn’t told you. Windows 10 Insider Previews have continued to ship, but the Redmond firm is stripping out the Windows 11 shell. There are a few parts that won’t be ready in time for Windows Insider testing, such as the new Microsoft Store, Android apps on Windows, and Teams integration.

The preview is going to go out to Windows Insiders next week. It’s scheduled to arrive in the Beta channel later this summer, and that’s also when OEMs are going to start to get it for installing on new laptops and desktops. In October or November, Windows 11 will be available to everyone as a free update.

But wasn’t Windows 10 the last version of Windows?

Back when Windows 10 was announced, it was going to be the last version of Windows. After that, we’d have Windows on a service, and the plan was to let it evolve over time. In fact, I’m sure Terry Myerson knew that there would have to be a big design overhaul at some point, and he thought that would be a Windows 10 update.

Also, to be clear, a developer evangelist named Jerry Nixon was the only one that actually said that Windows 10 was the last version. Microsoft just sort of didn’t correct it, seemingly confirming Nixon’s remarks. Still, this was absolutely Microsoft’s internal mindset at the time.

Here’s the big issue though. Everyone that said Windows 10 would be the last version of Windows doesn’t work there anymore. Panos Panay is in charge of Windows now, and he’s something of a showman.

A good way to think of this is a rebrand, but a rebrand that’s coming at a time where there’s a big UX overhaul. Under the hood, this is the same Windows 10 that we’ve known for years, and it could have shipped as a Windows 10 update. The new brand is about creating excitement around the idea that this is brand-new.

This is not what Windows 10X would have been, because that was only going to arrive on new PCs. Windows 10X was never going to be sold as retail licenses either. With Windows 11, there won’t be any technical reason that you can’t go ahead and install it on any PC.

Microsoft will continue on with Windows as a service, so this will be a free upgrade. But also, don’t expect this to be confirmed as the last version of Windows or anything. We’ll probably get Windows 12 in a few more years. We actually asked how version numbers will work with Windows 11, since it’s going to be updated once a year now instead of twice a year. There’s no need for H1 and H2 anymore. Microsoft wouldn’t comment.

Is Windows 10X dead?

Windows 10X was supposed to be the real next generation of Windows. Along with a complete visual overhaul, it had a lot of under-the-hood changes like running all apps in containers. Microsoft recently announced that it’s dead, and a lot of its features are being folded into Windows 11.

Windows 10X Start Menu

While it had been rumored long before that as Windows Lite, Windows 10X was actually unveiled alongside Microsoft’s Surface Neo as a dual-screen OS. It eventually abandoned its dual-screen ambitions, promising to deliver it on single-screen devices, like cheap laptops. Panos Panay actually wrote in a blog post that he wanted to meet customers where they’re at, even though you’d have to buy a new PC to get it.

Things pretty much fell apart from there. There were some Windows 10X emulators that came out when Microsoft has big plans, but when the single-screen build leaked, it couldn’t even run Win32 apps anymore. Instead, we’re getting Windows 11, which will have the UX elements from Windows 10X.

Can my PC run Windows 11? Is it a free update?

Windows 11 will be a free update for Windows 10 users this holiday season. Unfortunately, the system requirements are higher for Windows 11. There’s no more 32-bit support, and older single-core CPUs won’t be supported. You also need at least 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. The biggest roadblock for many seems to be the requirement of TPM 2.0.

Here’s the list:

Processor:	1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with 2 or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or System on a Chip (SoC)
RAM:	4 gigabyte (GB)
Storage:	64 GB or larger storage device Note: See below under “More information on storage space to keep Windows 11 up-to-date” for more details.
System firmware:	UEFI, Secure Boot capable
TPM:	Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0
Graphics card:	Compatible with DirectX 12 or later with WDDM 2.0 driver
Display:	High definition (720p) display that is greater than 9” diagonally, 8 bits per color channel
Internet connection and Microsoft accounts:	Windows 11 Home edition requires internet connectivity and a Microsoft account to complete device setup on first use. Switching a device out of Windows 11 Home in S mode also requires internet connectivity. Learn more about S mode here. For all Windows 11 editions, internet access is required to perform updates and to download and take advantage of some features. A Microsoft account is required for some features.

Microsoft also changed the CPU requirements. Seventh-gen and older Intel CPUs are out, as are some older AMD Ryzen chips, but we’ll have to wait and see if that actually restricts people from installing Windows 11.

Is Microsoft going to force me to upgrade to Windows 11?

The short answer is no, Microsoft isn’t going to force anyone to upgrade to Windows 11. Starting with Windows 10 version 1903, the Redmond firm stopped forcing people to install feature updates. This came after a disastrous Windows 10 version 1809 that actually deleted some users’ files.

It uses its newer ‘seeker’ method. When you check for updates in Windows Update, it simply tells you that a feature update is available if you want it, and you can opt into taking it. The only time Microsoft forces a Windows 10 feature update is if the one you’re on is nearing the end of support, but that’s not even going to happen with Windows 11.

Windows 11 is going to be offered as a free update to seekers this holiday season. If you don’t want it, there’s actually going to be a new Windows 10 update as well, called version 21H2. Microsoft wouldn’t commit to whether or not version 21H2 will be the last Windows 10 update, but it’s definitely going to support the OS until 2025, so if you don’t want Windows 11, you’re good to go for a while.

What’s new in Windows 11? Is this the Sun Valley update?

You might have heard the term Sun Valley tossed around for the last few months. That’s the codename for the big UX overhaul that’s coming with Windows 11. It’s not the codename for the OS as a whole though, just the new UX. It’s meant to make the OS more touch-friendly, something that Windows 10 has struggled with.

Here’s everything that we know is coming:

Android apps

The rumors of Project Latte were true. You’re going to be able to run Android apps in Windows 11. You’ll be able to get them through the Microsoft Store too, but notably, Microsoft has partnered up with Amazon to bring the Amazon Appstore to the Microsoft Store. That means that yes, there will finally be a touch-friendly Kindle app coming to Windows.

The company mentioned that Amazon was the company that it partnered with, but the Appstore isn’t the only place you’ll be able to get Android apps from. In fact, Microsoft said it wants to be able to run all Android apps one day, including those that require Google services. Note that it’s just a goal to support all Android apps, not a commitment.

A big visual overhaul, with rounded corners

Windows 11 is going to be visually different from Windows 10. Because as Windows 10 has had some subtle changes to the design over the years, it hasn’t gotten a whole new look, like the kind of new look we typically get from a new version of Windows.

And yes, there will be rounded corners. Windows has been focused on sharp corners ever since Windows 8, and those squared-off tiles made their way into Windows 10 as well. Windows 11 will follow suit with more modern operating systems like iOS and Android now.

There’s a brand-new Start Menu, which is centered and floating. In fact, it’s just like Windows 10X was. The taskbar is centered as well.

There are also new, more colorful icons throughout the operating system. You’ll find these in the more modern File Explorer, Device Manager, and pretty much anywhere else. These are available in Windows 10 previews, and they make for a pretty big visual change on their own.

It’s not just about a new look though. The way you interact with the UI will be different as well. A big focus here is making Windows better for touch, something that Windows 10 has struggled with. Indeed, while Windows 8 was all-in on touch, Windows 10 felt like it scaled back a bit too much. Windows 11 will support more swipe gestures and such, but more importantly, it should be more consistent with what happens when you tap on something.

Microsoft said that the touch gestures are going to be the same as when you’re using a Precision touchpad. That way, you’ll be using gestures that you’re already familiar with.

Gaming improvements

Microsoft is laser-focused on gaming, and why shouldn’t it be? It has the only viable PC gaming platform, a console play, and a cloud back end that’s second to none. And as we know, if there’s an Azure play to be made, Microsoft is going to make it.

Windows 11 has a bunch of gaming improvements. One of them is Auto HDR, a feature first included in Xbox Series X|S consoles, and now coming to Windows. It automatically adds HDR to older games, as you can probably guess from the name.

Another feature being borrowed from the firm’s latest consoles is DirectStorage. You’ll need a “DirectStorage Optimized” PC for this one, as you’ll need the kind of SSD that was engineered as part of the Xbox Velocity Architecture, but it’s going to allow for super-fast loading times and better performance.

Finally, Xbox Cloud Gaming is going to be built-in. It’s going to be part of the Xbox app on Windows 11, although to be clear, there’s no reason that that app update shouldn’t come to Windows 10 as well. We’ll have to wait and see if Windows 10 users get the feature.

A new Microsoft Store

One thing that Satya Nadella said at the Build keynote is that the new OS will “unlock greater economic opportunity for developers and creators”. That leads us to a new Microsoft Store. Make no mistake; this is a big part of the update.

Desktop apps still haven’t made it to the Store in the same way that Microsoft would have liked. With Windows 11, there are some big changes. Developers will be able to submit their apps without packaging them, and they can also host them on their own CDN, meaning that they won’t actually have to be distributed by Microsoft, just through the Microsoft storefront.

This is opening up the Microsoft Store in a big way. Previously, big-time apps like Google Chrome were left out because of Microsoft’s own rules. Now, it’s a whole lot easier to put your app in the Store.

The big point is that Microsoft doesn’t care what kind of app you made. It can be Win32, .NET, UWP, Xamarin, Election, React Native, Java, a PWA, or something else, and Microsoft wants it in the store.

Microsoft announced that Adobe Creative Cloud, Disney+, TikTok, and Zoom are all coming to the Store. Moreover, it’s bringing Microsoft Teams and even Visual Studio to its virtual storefront. That’s a big deal, especially Visual Studio.

The company also just wants to make a better store. It’s adding collections to help you to find more apps, and there’s a “pop-up store” that will manage installations when you try to install apps that come from the web.

Not only that, but developers can use their own commerce platforms. That means that your app can use the platform that earns you the most money, and your app can still be in the Store.

Teams integration

Microsoft is integrating Teams into the OS. You’ll now find Teams chat right in the taskbar, so you can easily talk to friends. It’s also going to work with SMS, just in case those friends haven’t downloaded Teams yet. The company specifically referred to it as “two-way SMS”, so don’t expect MMS group texts to work.

There’s also a mute/unmute button that’s going to show up in the taskbar, along with an option to start presenting.

Snap Layouts

Windows 10 brought us Snap Assist, and Windows 11 is bringing us Snap Layouts. This is a cool one. In Windows 11, you can hover over the maximize button, and you’ll be presented with layout options.

You can select one of the tiles in the layouts, and your app will snap to that position on the screen. Snap Assist will help you fill in the rest.

While this is useful for everyone, it should be particularly useful for those that use ultra-wide monitors. Microsoft has never supported three apps side-by-side before.

Virtual Desktop wallpaper

This is a pretty small change, but if you’re a virtual desktop user, it’s probably a big one. You can set the wallpaper on each of your virtual desktops now, helping you to define the look of each one that might have its own purpose.

Widgets

Microsoft is adding a widgets panel, which will slide in from the left. The company seems to like to compare it to a pane of glass sliding out. As it stands right now, it’s pretty much News and interests but in a new form. At some point, it will likely open up to third-party developers.

x64 emulation for Windows on ARM

You remember Windows on ARM, right? Windows 10 devices with ARM processors have struggled with a lack of apps, since they’ve only supported 32-bit emulation. With Windows 11, those devices will finally get support for 64-bit app emulation. This is something that’s been in testing with Insiders for a while.

The post Windows 11 is coming – Here’s everything we know about the new Windows appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/3fTr6qY
via IFTTT