Users get Windows 11 running on a Lumia 950 XL and Raspberry Pi 4

Earlier this week, Microsoft released the first Windows 11 preview build to Insiders. For most people, you’ll need to download the latest build through Windows Update using a Windows 10 PC. But a few creative users have gotten the new build running on more unconventional devices. The Raspberry Pi 4 and the Lumia 950 XL have both been spotted running Windows 11, and we expect more to come.

For the Raspberry Pi 4, we’ve only seen a few images shared by Reddit user theSPEEDCAT. The user got the latest build running on the 4GB variant of the Raspberry Pi 4, and they claim performance is better than Windows 10 running on the same hardware. To install Windows 11, theSPEEDCAT simply downloaded the ARM64 version of Windows 11 from UUPdump. Then, they flashed the ISO onto an SD card, following the same procedure you’d use to install Windows 10.

Windows 11 on a Raspberry Pi 4. Image credits: theSPEEDCAT

There isn’t much more to it other than the images provided by the user, which show that Windows 11 does in fact seem to run.

If you’re more interested in Microsoft’s old Lumia phones, though, Gustave Monce shared an interesting video on Twitter, too. Monce is known for his attempts at porting PC versions of Windows 10 to the Lumia 950 XL, and in this video, we see he got Windows 11 running on a Lumia 950 XL.

It looks pretty much how you’d expect it to look. It has all the basic Windows 11 features, like the new taskbar, Start menu, and settings app. Even Snap layouts work on the Lumia’s tiny screen. Of course, performance isn’t ideal, but it’s interesting that it runs nonetheless.

It’s impressive to see this device still get support from the community considering it’s almost six years old. And on top of that, Lumia smartphones weren’t even that popular in the first place. However, the fans that were there are clearly passionate enough to keep it alive.

Since Microsoft has released an official ARM64 build of Windows 11, it’s not too surprising to see it get ported to the Raspberry Pi 4 or the Lumia 950 XL. Still, it’s cool to see users jumping through the hoops to actually make it work.

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Dell’s fancy new webcam records in 4K and supports Windows Hello

There has been almost no competition in the PC webcam space for years, with Logitech being the only company releasing new models, and even Logitech was mostly just adding minor changes to its existing products. The uptick in working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic finally convinced technology companies that many people are interested in high-quality webcams, and now Dell has released its own model with a high-quality 4K sensor and other helpful features.

The Dell UltraSharp Webcam has a price tag of $199.99, placing it in the same category as the Logitech Brio. Just like Logitech’s webcam, the Dell UltraSharp has a maximum resolution of 4K and support for Windows Hello (so you can log into Windows with face scanning). The camera also has a magnetic mount, a 4K Sony Starvis CMOS censor for higher image quality, three field of view settings, a detachable privacy shutter, auto-framing, and a USB Type-C port.

Design was also an important factor for Dell. “This Dell UltraSharp webcam,” the company said, “delivers a sleek design and premium all-aluminum cylindrical body. While most traditional webcams are rectangular, the UltraSharp Webcam’s thoughtful circular form factor and slim monitor mount ensures minimal front-of-screen distractions so you can focus on your presentation – not your equipment.”

Early reviews for the webcam appear to be mostly positive. PCMag rated it 3.5/5 stars, noting that the video quality is excellent, but exposure can be tricky and there’s no built-in microphone. ShortCircuit (owned by LinusTechTips) also liked the Dell UltraSharp. Still, $200 is a lot for a webcam, especially when the compression on most video chat platforms is the limiting factor for image quality, not the hardware.

Dell UltraSharp Webcam

Dell's new UltraSharp webcam is one of the best PC cameras currently available, though the $199.99 price tag is a bit much.

Buy at Dell

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Galaxy Z Flip 3 leak reveals Samsung’s clamshell foldable will come in many colors

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 is launching in just a few weeks, but we don’t know a lot of specific details about the new clamshell foldable. While we’ve seen some leaks that have mentioned a potential launch date (that we’re still not sure of) and a teaser image of it in its folded state, we don’t know much about its specs, pricing, or availability. We do know it could be up to 20% cheaper than the previous model, and we have a good idea about what the device will look like. Now, a new leak gives us an even better look at the Galaxy Z Flip 3, and it also reveals some new colors, too.

The renders come courtesy of GizNext and give us our best look yet at the new Galaxy Z Flip 3. From the renders, there appears to be a dual-camera setup on the device, with a much larger outer screen than before as well. The color options that seem to be on offer include dark green, light violet, beige, grey, black, pink, dark blue, and white.

Interestingly, Samsung leaker Max Jambor has said that if these renders are correct, then Samsung Unpacked will take place on August 11th rather than the previously rumored August 3rd. In one of the leaked images, a date can be seen on the device showing August 11th. Companies will often match the date shown on press renders with the actual launch date, as they’re intended to be distributed on that date. It wouldn’t make sense to have dates of the 11th of August in the renders if the unveiling is on the 3rd of August.

If today’s leaked renders of the Z Flip3 are correct, they’ve changed Unpacked from Aug 3 to Aug 11

— Max Jambor (@MaxJmb) June 29, 2021

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 is expected to launch alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 3, Samsung’s other foldable phone, though the launch date, as I mentioned, hasn’t been confirmed yet. The leaked colors for the Z Fold 3 include yellow, black, purple, and dark gray. Samsung is going all-in on foldables, and what we’re seeing of the Galaxy Z Flip 3 so far has us excited.

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Windows 11 Insider Preview first look: Hands on with the new features

Microsoft released the first Windows 11 Insider Preview build the other day. Other than an early leak, it’s our first real look at Windows 11, and there’s a lot more here than there was on that original leaked build.

A couple of weeks ago, we already looked at some key things. The most notable addition in Windows 11 is the new Start Menu, which is now floating and centered. The taskbar is centered now too. Another thing we got an early look at was Snap Layouts and Snap Groups, which let you snap apps to more positions, something that was only possible in Windows 10 with a utility like PowerToys.

One of the things that’s new in this build is the new Settings app. It’s completely redesigned, similar to what we see on iPadOS. There’s a navigation panel along the left side, with a main page on the right. On content pages, there are various submenus that go to deeper levels of settings. There’s also a breadcrumb trail so you can easily find your way back to a different page in the hierarchy, or you can just use the navigation panel to go somewhere else.

The new Microsoft Store has arrived as well. It’s an entirely new UX to play around with, although it doesn’t have actual new features yet. There are more Windows apps, as there are fewer restrictions, but Android apps aren’t here yet. The Amazon Appstore and all Android support is coming in some future preview build.

That’s not all, because there’s a lot of new stuff. There are new Touch Keyboard customization options. This was something that was discovered a while back, but didn’t make its way into the leaked build. Similar to SwiftKey on Android and iOS, you can set themes and backgrounds for the Touch Keyboard.

Widgets were in the leaked build, but now we know a little bit more about them. You can move them around, customize them, and add more, but they don’t seem to be open to third-party widgets yet. Instead, you have a selection of stuff made by Microsoft, such as photos from OneDrive and Microsoft To Do. For the most part, it seems like a reworked News and interests.

The new File Explorer is finally here, and it’s familiar yet different. It has the new, colorful icons that debuted in Windows 10 testing a while back, but it’s also got a simplified ribbon and also, simpler context menus. You’ll see menu items to show more options, so if you’re looking for something more advanced, you’ll be able to find it.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Check out the video below for our first look at Windows 11 Insider Preview build 22000.51.

If you want to check out Windows 11 build 22000.51, take a look at our guide for getting started. Note that it’s not available for all Windows 10 PCs, as the system requirements have been raised significantly with Windows 11.

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Android Automotive is made for cars but this developer ported it to a Samsung tablet

Android Automotive is a special fork of Android designed to run as the primary operating system of an In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) system. In contrast, Android Auto is an app that runs off of your phone that projects a driving-optimized UI onto the car’s built-in dashboard. Both Android Automotive and Android Auto let you run driving-optimized versions of apps like Google Maps, but Android Automotive is far more tightly integrated with the car’s sensors and lets you control vehicle-specific functions like the AC.

Android Studio provides an Android Automotive emulator image for developers to try their apps out on, but it’s also possible to compile a system image manually. That’s because Android Automotive is open source and available in AOSP, so it’s possible to build a generic system image of it.

That’s what Reddit user tompratt and his colleagues have done. The user posted a thread on the /r/LineageOS subreddit showing off his team’s work on booting Android Automotive onto the Galaxy Tab S5e. According to him, it “works great in [his] car thanks to the buil[t] in 4G, GPS, microphones, speakers[,] etc.” There’s no publicly available Google Apps package for Android Automotive builds (Google Automotive Services, or GAS, is licensed to automotive OEMs), so the developer instead sideloaded the Aurora Store in order to download apps. He said he sideloaded the TomTom Amigo app for navigation, as shown in the images he shared, but that he could also rip the automotive versions of the Play Store and Google Maps from the Android Studio’s emulator image if he wanted. There are only a handful of vehicles on the market with Android Automotive built-in, so it’d be difficult (but possible) to obtain other Google automotive apps.

Images courtesy of tompratt

Of course, flashing Android Automotive onto a tablet is definitely niche, but DIY car modders might find the combo to provide a much nicer in-vehicle experience than the car’s default headunit (if it even has one!) For now, the build that tompratt showed off isn’t available for download, but the developer says he’s interested in working with the LineageOS team to release official automotive builds. He says he’s built Android Automotive builds based on LineageOS 17.1 and 18.1 (meaning, Android 10 and Android 11) so far, and we’re looking forward to seeing this work come to life.

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This third-party library brings Android 12’s Material You theming to any app

Material You is the latest revision of Google’s design language. With Material You, Google is emphasizing personalization, which is why in Android 12, there’s a new dynamic theming system that recolors your UX using colors extracted from your wallpaper. This dynamic theming system, code-named “monet”, went live in Android 12 Beta 2, but Google has yet to document the APIs/implementation, provide support libraries, or open up Google Play to publishing apps targeting API level 31 (Android 12), so the vast majority of developers haven’t even bothered looking at adapting their apps to support the dynamic theming system.

That doesn’t mean that no developer is toying with Android 12’s theming system, though. The developer of the popular automation app Tasker has demonstrated dynamic theming support in his app using Android 12’s official APIs. On the other hand, another developer, kdrag0n, recreated the system in its entirety using his own color extraction and palette generation algorithm. Kdrag0n shared source code for his theme engine and is working on a Jetpack Compose and Flutter library so third-party apps built for older OS versions can implement his take on “monet.”

Now, XDA Recognized Developer Quinny899 has created a library of his own that’s based on kdrag0n’s custom “monet” implementation (ie. it’s not based on Google’s theme engine). Developers can integrate this MonetCompat library into their apps to add support for dynamically theming their app’s UI based on the user’s wallpaper. This library works on devices running Android 5.0 and above (using the Palette API in compatibility mode) and Android 8.1 Oreo and above in normal mode. The library can’t extract colors from live wallpapers on versions prior to Android 8.1 due to limitations in the platform APIs.

As for why a developer might want to use this library, Quinny899 himself explains on the project’s GitHub page. “It’s also not currently known if Google will provide their own backwards compatibility library for Monet with Android 12’s release, so this library may be replaced by an official one eventually. No proprietary Google code is used in this project, and thus it is licensed with the MIT license for use in third party apps.”

The first app to use MonetCompat is, of course, Quinny899’s own DarQ app. DarQ is an app that lets you toggle Android’s force dark mode setting on a per-app basis. It originally used root access to set a system property but was updated to use an ADB shell script run on the user’s PC, dropping the root requirement. In DarQ 2.0, users no longer have to run the ADB script from their PC, as the app now integrates Shizuku. Shizuku is an app and service that lets other apps run shell commands or access APIs with ADB shell user privileges – think of it as a superuser management app but for ADB shell access. On Android 11+, the Shizuku service can be started through the built-in wireless debugging feature, so you no longer need a PC at all to set up DarQ. With the move to Shizuku, DarQ also now uses a ProcessObserver rather than an AccessibilityService, which the developer says lets DarQ detect when an app has opened (and thus apply the force dark setting) much more quickly.

If, for whatever reason, you don’t like the color generated by MonetCompat for the DarQ app, you can tap on “DarQ 2.0” three times to enable Developer Options in the app. Here, you can select “Monet Color Picker” to change the color you want the app to use.

DarQ 2.0 changelog

• DarQ 2.0 has an entirely new design, with Material You elements and Monet (wallpaper-based) colours.
• The ADB script is now gone, and instead Shizuku handles the service on non-root devices. If you don’t know what Shizuku is, think of it like a Superuser app for non-root devices. Start Shizuku via ADB on a computer (or even on your phone on Android 11 and above) once per boot, and any app that uses Shizuku can use ADB services.
• The Accessibility Service has been replaced with a ProcessObserver, using the Shizuku/Root service. This is much quicker than Accessibility, so apps that previously were opening too quick to be supported may now work.
• Improvements to the auto dark theme at sunrise/sunset to work better on different devices.
• Improvements to the Xposed module for apps that try to block the use of force dark, preventing them from doing so.

DarQ XDA Forum Thread ||| MonetCompat Library on GitHub

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Best HP laptops for gaming: Omen, Pavilion, and more

With the myriad of laptops out there today, it’s fair to say we’re usually spoiled for choice in most categories. That includes gaming, and we’ve already rounded up some of the best gaming laptops you can buy. We also have a list of the best budget gaming laptops out there, so there’s a lot to choose from. But we all have our affinities, and maybe you’re keen on buying a gaming laptop from HP. After all, HP laptops are some of the best you can buy, so it’s almost impossible to go wrong with them. To help you out, we’ve gathered some of the best HP laptops for gaming, so you can get something that fits your needs.

HP’s most dedicated gaming brands are Omen and Pavilion Gaming, which you’ll see a bit of on this list. But we’ve also included some more ‘out there’ choices for those who also want versatility.

Best overall: HP OMEN 15t

If you want the most performance out of your gaming laptop and an all-around stellar experience, the Intel-based OMEN 15t-ek100 is hard to beat. The Intel Core i7-10870H is no longer the latest available, but it still offers stellar gaming performance if you choose to go that route. You can also opt for the lower-end Core i5-10300H if your budget is a bit lower. Pair that with either a GeForce RTX 3060 or RTX 3070 Max-Q from Nvidia, and gaming should be a breeze. If you’re all about frame-perfect timing, you can also get it with an ultra-fast 300Hz display. Meanwhile, the Quad HD 165Hz option offers a great mix of resolution and smoothness for both productivity and gaming.

Admittedly, it’s not the absolute fastest option on this list, but it offers some upgrade options you can’t get on other laptops, like the 300Hz display and per-key RGB backlighting. Plus, it has a solid price point for what it offers.

HP OMEN 15t-ek100

The HP OMEN 15t offers high-performance specs including Nvidia's GeForce RTX 3060 GPU and 10th-generation Intel processors. You can configure it with up to a 300Hz display, full RGB-backlit keyboard and more, so you can tailor it to your needs.

Buy at HP

Best gaming laptop with an AMD CPU: HP OMEN 15z

This is pretty much the AMD-based version of the laptop above, and if you want the absolute most CPU performance, this might be an even better choice. AMD’s Ryzen 7 5800H offers fantastic CPU performance for a laptop, and it outdoes the Intel variant in quite a few games. Plus, AMD is known for its productivity performance, so if you’re using this for video rendering, this is definitely a better choice. The GPU options are about the same, too.

The reason this isn’t our best overall option is that it might not fit everyone’s needs. There’s no option for a 300Hz display, per-key RGB lighting, or a lower-end processor if you don’t need the Ryzen 7. It also only goes up to 16GB of RAM, while the Intel version can be had with up to 32GB. But if you know what you need, this might be the best option for you.

HP OMEN 15z-en100

In terms of pure performance, this AMD version of the OMEN 15 is even better than the Intel version. Packing the latest AMD Ryzen processors and Nvidia GPUs, it's a beast that can plough through almost any game or workload you throw at it. It's not as configurable, but still a fantastic laptop.

Buy at HP

Best 17-inch:  HP OMEN 17t

Gaming tends to be more immersive with a bigger display, and the HP Omen 17t offers just that. It comes with a 17.3-inch Full HD panel and a 144Hz refresh rate, so it’s both immersive and smooth. The Intel 10th-generation processors offer plenty of gaming performance, as do the GeForce GPUs inside. The GTX 1660 Ti is still a solid entry-level choice, and you can upgrade up to an RTX 2080 Super to get the most performance possible. Of course, it’s not using the RTX 30 series GPUs yet, so that might not be ideal for you.

If you can afford to wait, HP is likely to introduce variants with newer specs in the near future. The laptop hasn’t been refreshed with the latest components from either Intel or Nvidia just yet, but if you need a large gaming laptop right now, this is the way to go.

HP OMEN 17t-cb100

For the person who loves big screens, the OMEN 17t is a powerful machine. It packs Intel's 10th-generation H-series Core processors along with up to a GeForce RTX 2080 Super for graphics, making it more than powerful enough for almost any game you might want to play. At the base level, it's at the very least a solid mid-ranger, but the upgrade options can take it much further if you want to make use of the 144Hz display.

Buy at HP

Best 16-inch: HP Pavilion Gaming 16t

Laptops in 15- and 17-inch variants have been around for a while, but HP recently discovered that 16 inches is a great middle-ground. With the Pavilion Gaming 16, you get a slightly larger screen but a much more portable package than with a 17-inch laptop. The HP Pavilion Gaming 16t is budget-friendly, but it still packs a punch, featuring 10th-generation Intel Core H-series processors and up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060. You can also get it with up to a 144Hz refresh rate display, but by default, it will only be 60Hz. The performance won’t blow your mind, but it’s a solid budget option with a relatively unique form factor.

There are plenty of configuration upgrades available, and one you might want is the 256GB SSD instead of the 1TB HDD on the base level. The increased speeds make a significant difference in load times and even boot times for Windows itself. However, it may make sense to wait for HP to launch more 16-inch models with newer components if you want the most power.

HP Pavilion Gaming 16t-a000

A nice balance between the portability of a 15-inch laptop and the larger display of a 17-inch laptop, the HP Pavilion Gaming is a great option if you're looking for that perfect in-between size. It comes with 10th-generation Intel processors and up to a GeForce RTX 2060, which should give you enough power to handle most games at moderate settings. There are a few upgrade options that can make it even better for you.

Buy at HP

Best budget gaming laptop: HP Pavilion Gaming 15z

We can’t all afford to get the latest and greatest specs, but that doesn’t mean we can’t all have a great gaming experience. The HP Pavilion Gaming 15z offers fantastic value for money, starting with Ryzen 5000 series CPUs. You can go with either the Ryzen 5 5600H or the Ryzen 7 5800H if you want the extra performance. The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 GPU is not going to give you maximum settings in every game, but with some tweaking, it should be able to handle almost anything.

For $699.99, the Pavilion Gaming 15z is already very good, but you have a few upgrade options that might be great if you can stretch your budget. You can go up to a 144Hz display for just $20, or double the amount of RAM to 16GB for $80. You have a great starting point with this laptop, but you can build from there if you want to.

HP Pavilion Gaming 15z-ec200

The perfect laptop for getting into gaming, the HP Pavilion Gaming 15t offers a stellar set of specs for its entry price of $699. It packs AMD's latest Ryzen processors, which are great for games and productivity alike, along with the decently-powerful GeForce GTX 1650, with upgrade options available to make it even better.

Buy at HP

Best do-it-all laptop: HP Spectre x360 15t-eb100

Gaming is great, but sometimes versatility is better, and the HP Spectre x360 does it all. It may be surprising, but this sleek-looking laptop packs an Intel Core i7-10750H and a Geforce GTX 1650 Ti with Max-Q design. That’s nothing to scoff at if you’re into gaming, and while it may not rival the top-tier OMEN entries on this list, it’s a whole different beast. Not only does it have solid performance for gaming, but the 2-in-1 design makes it great for work, and it’ll never look out of place in an office environment with this sleek design. Oh, and it has a 4K OLED display, so media editing and viewing can’t get much better than that – though you won’t be gaming at that resolution without an external GPU.

Regardless, this is truly a laptop that can do it all, and having this much power in a convertible form factor makes it extremely versatile. For $1,899 it’s pricey, but it’s a premium-feeling laptop that can handle gaming and anything else. It’s hard to ask for much more.

HP Spectre x360 15t-eb000

The HP Spectre x360 15t is one of the most versatile laptops you can get. It has enough horsepower to handle some gaming, but its form factor makes it great for all kinds of work and media viewing. Plus, it looks far more elegant than any gaming laptop on this list, so you can truly use it anywhere.

Buy at HP

These laptops should cover quite a few bases when it comes to gaming. HP makes phenomenal laptops across different segments, and its gaming products are also great. We did point out in some of these cases that it may make sense to wait for refreshed models if you can afford to, but all of these are still fantastic options. My personal preference, the Spectre x360 15t, would be the best, simply because I love a laptop that can do anything, so I don’t have to have a dedicated device for everything I do. However, some of these gaming-focused PCs are stellar, and something like the HP Pavilion Gaming 15 is fantastic for gamers on a budget. Regardless of what you choose, we believe you’ll be happy with your purchase.

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