Samsung’s One UI 4.0 beta may launch soon as company updates apps to support Android 12

We aren’t too far away from the public release of Android 12. While OEMs like OnePlus, ASUS, OPPO, ZTE, and more have already rolled out an Android 12 beta to their select flagship models, Samsung has yet to join the Android 12 beta party. But it looks like a One UI 4.0 beta based on Android 12 for the Galaxy S21 series shouldn’t be too far away.

As spotted by SamMobile, Samsung has started updating some of its first-party apps to support Android 12, hinting at an imminent One UI 4.0 beta release. The company recently rolled out an update to the One Hand Operation+ app on the Galaxy Store, and among other changes, the latest update has added Android 12 support.

Screenshot courtesy: SamMobile

This news comes after Samsung officially confirmed last month in a forum post that the One UI 4 beta based on Android 12 would be available to the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21 Plus, and Galaxy S21 Ultra. At the time, the company said that users would be able to participate in the beta program by registering through the Samsung Members app. However, no specific date for the beta rollout was announced.

Separately, a banner posted by Samsung South Korea (via Tizen Help) late last month revealed that the company was planning to roll out Android 12 beta for the Galaxy S21 series between September and October.

Android 12 reached platform stability with Beta 4 that rolled out two weeks ago. What that means is that Google has finalized APIs and behavior changes, and the final version of Android 12 shouldn’t look drastically different than what we have right now.

As per rumors, One UI 4.0 will offer some big UI changes, including updated iconography and colors and Android 12’s Material You elements. The update is also said to bring along optimizations for Snapdragon 888 and Exynos 2100 powered devices, while also improving Samsung Knox and the Samsung Notes app.

The post Samsung’s One UI 4.0 beta may launch soon as company updates apps to support Android 12 appeared first on xda-developers.

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

Google Pixel 5a Review (Part 4): Final thoughts

When Google announced the Pixel 5a last week, there wasn’t anything that really shocked me. After all, that’s not what the a-series is for. It’s meant to bring flagship features to a lower price point. Indeed, it really delivers, offering the same chipset and camera that you’d find in the Google Pixel 5.

Since then, I wrote up my initial impressions, tested the camera, and then wrote up my impressions of the performance and battery life. Now, here we are.

Pixel 5a, compared to the Pixel 5

Perhaps the story shouldn’t be how similar to the Pixel 5 this device is. It seems like it’s more of a matter that this handset is so similar to the Pixel 5, but it still costs $250 less. Here’s a key list of differences between the two handsets:

• The Pixel 5a is bigger, with a bigger battery
• The Pixel 5a has a 3.5mm audio jack
• The Pixel 5a has 6GB of RAM, instead of 8GB
• The Pixel 5a has a 60Hz screen, instead of 90Hz
• The Pixel 5a does not have wireless charging
• The Pixel 5a is IP67 rated instead of IP68

Here’s a key list of similarities:

• They both have the Snapdragon 765G chipset
• They both have 128GB of storage
• They both support 5G
• They both have 12MP + 16MP ultra-wide rear cameras
• They both have 8MP f/2.0 front cameras

Personally, I kind of prefer the Pixel 5a, if those are the two devices that you’re choosing between. For $250 less, the biggest compromise seems to be the display refresh rate. When I wrote about how great the battery life is, I said that I didn’t even miss wireless charging.

Pixel 5a, compared to the Pixel 4a

I’m not really here to talk about the Pixel 4a with 5G, since that’s yet another similar device. Let’s put this simply. If you’ve got a Pixel 4a 5G, it’s not worth it to upgrade to the Pixel 5a.

When comparing the Pixel 5a to the regular Pixel 4a, there are some big differences. Here’s what’s different:

• The FHD 60Hz OLED screen is smaller on the Pixel 4a at 5.8 inches
• The Pixel 4a is smaller at 3,140mAh
• The Pixel 4a has a Snapdragon 730G instead of the more powerful Snapdragon 765G
• The Pixel 4a does not have a secondary ultra-wide camera
• The Pixel 5a supports sub-6GHz 5G

Here are the similarities:

• They both have 6GB RAM and 128GB of storage
• They both have 12.2MP f/1.7 main cameras
• They both have 8MP f/2.0 front cameras

Obviously, it’s a bigger upgrade from the Pixel 4a to the Pixel 5a. The obvious thing you get from the Pixel 5a is 5G, but there’s a reason I haven’t talked about 5G in my review. It’s mostly useless, depending on where you live. Most places here in the U.S., it’s no faster than 4G LTE; in many places, it’s actually slower. I’m not going to get started on how useless mmWave is, because the Pixel 5a doesn’t support it anyway.

The two biggest changes will be the ultra-wide camera and the larger battery. If that’s something you need, go for it. If you like the smaller form factor better than a larger battery, you can wait and see what comes next.

Pixel 5a, compared to the Pixel 3a

I’m going to keep this pretty simple, because there’s not too much to compare. If you’re still using the Google Pixel 3a and you’re wondering if the Pixel 5a is a worthy upgrade, it absolutely is. I’m also not going to make a list of bulletpoints, because everything is different at this point. All you actually need to know is that this is a worthy upgrade.

I know I’ve talked about battery life, but the 4,680mAh is bigger than the 3,700mAh on the Pixel 3a XL. Forget about the 3,000mAh battery on the regular Pixel 3a. The Pixel 3a series also has less RAM and storage at 4GB and 64GB, respectively, and it only has a single 12.2MP f/1.8 rear camera.

The big difference is the chipset though. The Snapdragon 670 with 4GB RAM just doesn’t seem to cut it when compared to the Snapdragon 765G and 6GB RAM in the Pixel 5a. In the course of my testing, I was using the Pixel 3 XL, Pixel 3a XL, Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, Pixel 4a, and Pixel 5. When running tests on the Pixel 3a XL, it was so clear that this was an immature product. It had a lot of value for its day, but today, it really doesn’t stand up like the rest of those products did.

If you liked your Pixel 3a or 3a XL, you’re probably thinking that it might be time for an upgrade. The Pixel 5a is it.

Who is the Google Pixel 5a for?

If you start to look at that $449 price range, there’s a lot that’s available. And of course, the goal is always to provide value. The most obvious competitor at that range is the iPhone SE, which starts at $399 with 64GB of storage, but costs the same $449 with 128GB of storage.

It’s tough to call one the better product because I have a feeling that most would decide based on their preference in operating system. Still, the Google Pixel 5a has an FHD OLED display, an ultra-wide camera, and 5G, if you’re into that. The iPhone SE has massive bezels, an LCD display, and a single-lens camera, although it does have wireless charging.

So, who should buy the Google Pixel 5a? Let’s take a look.

• People that are looking for value at a mid-tier price
• Users that want great battery life at that price
• Users that want a great camera at that price

Here’s who should not buy the Google Pixel 5a:

• Customers that record a lot of high-resolution, high frame-rate video
• People that care about lossless zoom in the camera
• People that want a proper flagship phone

It’s worth remembering that the Pixel 6 is coming. If you skipped the Pixel 5 because of Google’s choice to not use a flagship chipset, stick around. There’s no need to settle.

Conclusion

There’s a lot that’s good here, as you’d expect. Google continues to deliver value in a way that few can compete with. It brings software features like Now Playing, dual exposure with the camera, and more to the mid-range price point. Of course, that existed with the Pixel 4a as well.

It’s still missing wireless charging, which is a shame, but it’s made up for with a big battery. The biggest problem that I has was that the camera caused the device to overheat on numerous occasions. It’s been widely reported by now that the camera shuts down when recording 4K 60fps video, but there were times it would shut the flash off just when taking pictures. It was a real pain point.

That’s just one thing to get hung up on. If you’re looking to spend under $500 on a phone, I’m not sure what else you’d be looking at, to be honest. It’s got a great OLED display, even if it’s not 90Hz, and it’s got a phenomenal camera that includes Night Sight, astrophotography, and more.

• Part one: Design, display, and specs
• Part two: Camera
• Part three: Performance and battery life
• Part four: Final thoughts

The post Google Pixel 5a Review (Part 4): Final thoughts appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/3gj6LLw
via IFTTT

HP EliteBook 840 Aero vs Lenovo ThinkPad T14s: Which is better?

The laptop market is overflowing with options to choose from, and making a decision can be tough. Even if you’re looking specifically at business laptops, you have some great choices out there. Two of the best business laptops you can find today are the HP EliteBook 840 Aero and the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 2. Both of these are lightweight and come with plenty of configuration options, but they each have their own advantages and disadvantages compared to the other.

In this article, we’ll be pitting these two business laptops against each other and seeing what each one does better. In the end, you should have a better idea of which one to choose for your personal needs.

Specs

As usual, we’ll start with a simple comparison of the specs in these two laptops. This lets us look at the basic differences in terms of their capabilities.

	HP EliteBook 840 Aero G8	Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 2
Operating system	Windows 10 Home Windows 10 Pro	Windows 10 Home Windows 10 Pro
Processor	Intel Core i5-1135G7 (up to 4.2GHz, 4-core) Intel Core i5-1145G7 vPro (up to 4,4GHz, 4-core) Intel Core i7-1165G7 (up to 4.7GHz, 4-core) Intel Core i7-1185G7 vPro (up to 4.8GHz, 4-core)	Intel Core i5-1135G7 (up to 4.2GHz, 4-core) Intel Core i5-1145G7 vPro (up to 4,4GHz, 4-core) Intel Core i7-1165G7 (up to 4.7GHz, 4-core) Intel Core i7-1185G7 vPro (up to 4.8GHz, 4-core)
Graphics	Intel Iris Xe Graphics	Intel Iris Xe Graphics
RAM	8GB 16GB 32GB 64GB	8GB 16GB 32GB
Storage	256GB 512GB 512GB + 32GB Intel Optane 1TB 2TB	256GB 512GB 1TB
Display	14-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080), anti-glare, up to 1000 nits Optional privacy screen Optional ambient light sensor Optional touch	14-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080), anti-glare, up to 500 nits Optional touch Optional privacy guard 14-inch Ultra HD (3840 x 2160), anti-glare, non-touch, Dolby Vision, 500 nits
Audio	Dual stereo speakers	Dual stereo speakers with Dolby Audio
Webcam	720p HD camera	720p HD camera 1080p Full HD webcam
Biometric authentication	Windows Hello IR camera Fingerprint reader (optional)	Windows Hello IR camera (optional) Optional: Human Presence Detection Fingerprint reader (optional)
Battery	3-cell 53Whr battery	4-cell 57Whr battery
Ports	2 Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C) ports 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports HDMI 2.0b 3,5mm headphone jack SmartCard reader (optional)	2 Thunderbolt 4(USB Type-C) ports Two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports HDMI 2.0 3.5mm headphone jack Mechanical docking slot SmartCard (optional)
Connectivity	Intel AX201 Wi-Fi 6 (2×2) + Bluetooth 5.0 4G LTE (Intel XMM 7360, Cat 9) (optional) 5G (Snapdragon X55) (optional) NFC (optional)	Intel AX201 Wi-Fi 6 (2×2) + Bluetooth 5.2 Intel AX210 Wi-Fi 6E (2×2) + Bluetooth 5.2 4G LTE (Quectel EM120R-GL, Cat 12) (optional) 5G (Snapdragon X55) (optional)
Colors	Silver	Villi Black Storm Grey
Size (WxDxH)	12.71 x 8.46 x 0.7 in (322.83 x 214.88 x 17.78 mm)	4K or low-power FHD: 12.89 x 8.82 x 0.63 in (327.5 x 224 x 16.14 mm) Other Black display options: 12.89 x 8.83 x 0.66 in (327.5 x 224.4 x 16.81 mm) Storm Grey: 12.89 x 8.87 x 0.66 in (327.5 x 225.4 x 16.81 mm)
Weight	Starting at 2.5 lbs (1.13 kg)	Starting at 2.83lbs (1.28 kg)
Starting price	$1,591.20 (varies)	$1,606.38

Performance: The HP EliteBook 840 Aero can have more RAM and storage

Both the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s and the HP EliteBook 840 Aero have similar Intel Tiger Lake CPUs across the board. For the most part, you can expect performance to be similar, but there are some key differences.

The HP EliteBook 840 Aero has an advantage in terms of RAM and storage. It can have up to 64GB of RAM, while the ThinkPad T14s maxes out at 32GB. Plus, with the ThinkPad T14s, you can only get those 32GB of RAM if you also upgrade to an Intel Core i7 processor. HP lets you combine the RAM and processor at will. On the other hand, the RAM on the ThinkPad T14s is clocked at 4,266MHz, while the EliteBook 840 Aero uses 3,200MHz RAM.

Additionally, the HP EliteBook 840 Aero can be had with up to 2TB of SSD storage, versus the 1TB maximum of the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 2. That should make it easier for the laptop to last you a few years without having to worry about deleting old files or having to use a cloud service.

“(…)the HP EliteBook 840 Aero can be had with up to 2TB of SSD storage (…)”

On the topic of performance, we can also touch on network performance. Both laptops can be configured with cellular networks, and both offer 5G options. However, the 5G upgrade is much more expensive on the Lenovo ThinkPad T14S than on the EliteBook 840 Aero. Plus, Lenovo requires you to add an IR camera if you want 5G, so that’s an extra $37 onto the base price. Every model of the EliteBook 840 Aero includes an IR camera, so that’s not a concern. It’s also worth noting there’s no option for cellular networks if you want to get the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s in Storm Grey.

The Lenovo ThinkPad T14s has a potential advantage in terms of Wi-Fi performance, however. Some models come with support for Wi-Fi 6E, and while that’s not a common technology yet, it should become more widely available over time. Wi-Fi 6E can offer higher speeds than standard Wi-Fi 6, although it will have a shorter range. However, it doesn’t look like you can select this option if you configure the laptop yourself — you have to buy a preset configuration.

Design and ports: The HP EliteBook 840 Aero is lighter and (mostly) smaller

If you’re often working away from home and you care about portability, the HP EliteBook 840 Aero pulls slightly ahead here. The starting weight for this laptop is just 2.5lbs, while the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 2 starts at 2.83lbs. That’s not a huge difference, but you might notice it if you’re carrying your laptop in a backpack for hours. The HP EliteBook 840 Aero is also not as wide or as tall as the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s, but the Lenovo laptop is thinner.

“If you’re often working away from home and you care about portability, the HP EliteBook 840 Aero pulls slightly ahead here.”

In terms of ports, the two laptops are very similar. Both have two Thunderbolt 4 ports, and both have them placed on the same side of the laptop, limiting your options for charging. The two laptops also have two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, HDMI 2.0, and a headphone jack, although the ThinkPad T14s adds a small Ethernet extension you can use for wired connections. However, you still need an adapter for standard RJ45 connections.

Moving on to extras, the HP EliteBook 840 Aero includes an IR camera in all of its configurations, while the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s only offers it as an option. On the other hand, Lenovo offers the option to add human presence detection, so the laptop wakes up as soon as you approach it, and it unlocks when it sees your face. It’s all seamless and requires no action from you, so it’s more convenient. Both laptops also give you the option to add a fingerprint reader.

As for aesthetics, Lenovo gives you two color options — Villi Black and Storm Grey — while HP only lets you choose silver. However, it’s worth noting here the Storm Grey model of the ThinkPad T14s has some limitations in how you can configure it. The aforementioned human presence detection isn’t an option here, and you also can’t add cellular connectivity if you choose the Storm Grey model. While you get the choice, it’s clear Lenovo favors its classic black color.

Display: 4K is only available on the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 2

Coming around to the display, these two laptops are fairly similar at their base configurations. Both are Full HD 16:9 displays, and both offer options for a touchscreen and a privacy display. HP’s Sure View privacy display should offer better visibility though, since it’s a 1,000 nit panel compared to the 500 nits of Lenovo’s laptop. Some of the display options on the HP EliteBook 840 Aero restrict your ability to add cellular connectivity however. If you add a touchscreen, you only get the option for 4G, and if you choose the low-power 400 nit panel, you can’t get cellular at all.

There’s another potentially big advantage for Lenovo, too. HP only lets you get the EliteBook 840 Aero with a Full HD panel, but with the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 2, you can go all the way up to Ultra HD, complete with support for Dolby Vision and HDR 400. This option does mean you can’t get a 1080p webcam however, so you have weigh your priorities there. To be fair, HP doesn’t give you the option for a Full HD camera at all, so Lenovo still wins here.

Bottom line

This is a balanced match-up, but making a decision comes down to a few factors you’ll want to consider. At their base configurations, these laptops are incredibly similar, but HP has some advantages. An IR camera is included by default for Windows Hello. Plus, the EliteBook 840 Aero is lighter and smaller than the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s (though it’s thicker). Conversely, Lenovo uses faster RAM, and it gives you two color options to choose from, while HP only has one color available for the EliteBook 840 Aero.

The bigger differences are in the upgrades you can get. The Lenovo ThinkPad T14s has the potential for a better display with its 4K panel. Plus, if you want to spend a little more, you can add cool extras like human presence detection to make locking and unlocking your computer as seamless as possible. However, this feature is only available in black models of the ThinkPad T14s.

“The Lenovo ThinkPad T14s has the potential for a better display with its 4K panel.”

On the other hand, the HP Pavilion 840 Aero offers more RAM and more storage. You can get it with up to 64GB of RAM, which is great for memory-heavy tasks or multitasking. Plus, the 2TB of storage gives you a lot of space to store files, and it should last you for a long time if you’re mostly storing documents and work files. If you’re interested in 5G, that upgrade is more affordable with HP’s laptop than with Lenovo’s.

If you’ve made up your mind, you can choose the laptop you prefer using the links below. If you’re not fully convinced yet, check out other great HP laptops, or head for Lenovo’s best ThinkPads.

HP EliteBook 840 Aero G8

The HP EliteBook 840 Aero is a lightweight clamshell laptop with tons of configuration options for business users. You can get it with up to 64GB of RAM and 2TB of storage, and 5G support.

Configure at HP

Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 2

The Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 2 is a thin and light laptop featuring Intel Tiger Lake processors. It can be configured with up to a 4K display and 5G support.

Buy at Lenovo

The post HP EliteBook 840 Aero vs Lenovo ThinkPad T14s: Which is better? appeared first on xda-developers.

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

YouTube Music for Wear OS is finally here, but only for Galaxy Watch 4 series

Samsung recently unveiled the Galaxy Watch 4 series that runs the new unified Wear OS platform. Being a Wear OS smartwatch, the Galaxy Watch 4 series comes preloaded with the Google Play Store and all the usual Google apps such as Google Pay, Google Maps, Messages, and so on. However, as many reviewers were quick to point out on the launch day, the watches were missing some key functionalities, most notably the YouTube Music app. But that’s finally being addressed.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic review: The best Wear OS watch yet

Google has finally released the YouTube Music app (via The Verge) for Wear OS. While this is great news for those planning to pick up Samsung’s brand new smartwatch, which goes on sale tomorrow, it doesn’t change much for those who have older Wear OS watches. That’s because the new YouTube Music app for Wear OS is currently only compatible with the Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic, as noted on this support page.

YouTube Music currently only works on watches with Wear OS powered by Samsung. All playback from YouTube Music should be 128 kbps bitrate AAC.

Google hasn’t confirmed whether it plans to bring the app to older Wear OS smartwatches down the road or if the app will remain exclusive to smartwatches running Wear OS 3. For what’s it worth, current Wear OS users shouldn’t be missing out on much as YouTube Music for Wear OS is extremely limited in terms of functionality in its current state.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 XDA Forums

As 9to5Google noted in their hands-on, the YouTube Music app for Wear OS doesn’t support streaming at all. If you want to listen to your tracks on the go, you’ll need to first download them on your watch. As if that’s not annoying enough, you can only download songs while the smartwatch is plugged into a charger.

This is what Wear OS 3 with One UI Watch is like on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4

So while it’s good to see Google finally releasing a YouTube Music app for Wear OS, you’d be better off using apps like Spotify, which not only support streaming but, more importantly, work on older Wear OS watches.

The post YouTube Music for Wear OS is finally here, but only for Galaxy Watch 4 series appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/2Wo7KTm
via IFTTT

You may soon be able to add a delay to Google Assistant routines

If you’re a frequent Google Assistant user, you would be aware of all the different things you can do apart from just asking the assistant basic questions. One of these functions is custom routines. Routines allow you to set fixed instructions to trigger a particular event when certain conditions are met. While the ability to add routines has existed for a while, Google has now added that ability to delay a routine. You can pick a custom time to delay the start of your routine, which can be helpful in many scenarios.

The feature was first spotted by Reddit user u/Droppedthe_ball, but it isn’t widely available at the moment. As 9to5Google reports, it seems like the feature is still being tested, and it might roll out to more users soon. To check if you have this feature enabled, all you have to do is launch the Google Home app on your smartphone and tap the Routines icon. Here, tap on the plus icon at the bottom right corner of the screen to create a new routine.

Now, set a voice command or a time that you want to use to trigger the routine. Once you do that, tap on Add action to set the action you want to trigger, and in this screen, you should see a Delay Start option under the Time Adjustments section. As of now, we don’t have the update on our device, and hence, the Time Adjustments section isn’t available. However, you can see from the screenshot what the menu looks like once you have the option unlocked.

Delaying a routine might be useful in multiple scenarios. Let’s say you want your alarm to go off 20 minutes post sunrise. Currently, you can’t do this since the time of sunrise changes every day. Now, you can set the alarm to be triggered at sunrise every day and set a delay of 20 minutes to the routine so that your alarm will go off 20 minutes after sunrise. Similarly, if you want your AC to turn off 10 minutes after you’ve given the command, you can set a delay, and the routine will follow.

The ability to delay routines was spotted on the latest version of the Google Home app (Version 2.42.1.14) and is currently applicable only for custom routines. This may change once the rollout starts for all Google Assistant users.

The post You may soon be able to add a delay to Google Assistant routines appeared first on xda-developers.

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

Dell launches latest Alienware X-series, XPS, and G series laptops in India

In April this year, Dell launched the latest version of the Dell G15 and Dell G15 Ryzen Edition in the US. Soon thereafter, the company unveiled the new Alienware X-series gaming laptops in the region, followed by the latest XPS 15 and XPS 17 models. While these laptops have been on sale in the US for quite some time now, they’re now finally making their way to the Indian market.

Alienware X-series

Dell’s new Alienware X-series consists of two models — the Alienware x15 and the Alienware x17. The premium gaming laptops feature Alienware’s signature design language, a relatively slim chassis, and powerful internals. Both laptops come with Intel’s latest 11th-gen Core H-series CPUs and NVIDIA GeForce 30 series graphics, high refresh rate displays, and a new Cryo-Tech cooling solution. The Alienware X-series is also available with an optional Cherry MX mechanical keyboard with a 3.5mm ultra-low profile design. For more information, about the latest Alienware X-series gaming laptops, check out this post.

The Alienware X-series will go on sale in India through Dell’s website starting September 3rd. The Alienware x15 will be available at a starting price of ₹2,40,990, while the Alienware x17 will be available at a starting price of ₹2,90,990.

Alienware x15

The Alienware x15 features a 15.6-inch high refresh rate display, Intel's 11th-gen Core H-series processors, and NVIDIA RTX 30 series graphics in a new slim chassis.

View at Dell.com

Alienware x17

The Alienware x17 features a 17-inch high refresh rate display, Intel's 11th-gen Core H-series processors, and NVIDIA RTX 30 series graphics in a new slim chassis.

View at Dell.com

Dell XPS 15 & 17

The refreshed Dell XPS 15 and XPS 17 models also feature Intel’s 11th-gen processors and NVIDIA RTX 30 series graphics. But, unlike the Alienware X-series, the new XPS lineup is aimed at professionals. So, it features a premium, lightweight design, color-accurate 16:10 InfinityEdge displays, and decent connectivity options. You can learn more about the latest Dell XPS laptops by following this link.

The new Dell XPS laptops will also go on sale via Dell’s website starting September 3rd. The XPS 15 will be available at a starting price of ₹2,23,990, while the XPS 17 will be available at a starting price of ₹2,64,490.

Dell XPS 15

The Dell XPS 15 is a powerful yet thin-and-light machine for professionals, featuring a color-accurate display, Intel's latest processors, and NVIDIA RTX 30 series graphics.

View at Dell.com

Dell XPS 17

The Dell XPS 17 is a powerful yet thin-and-light machine for professionals, featuring a color-accurate display, Intel's latest processors, and NVIDIA RTX 30 series graphics.

View at Dell.com

Dell G15 & G15 AMD

The latest Dell G15 series laptops feature an updated design, high refresh rate displays, up to 10th-gen Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processors, and NVIDIA RTX 30 series graphics. Both laptops are offered with up to 32GB of DDR4 memory, a decent port selection, and the latest wireless connectivity options. The new Dell G15 series will go on sale in India starting September 23rd.

The Dell G15 AMD will be available through Dell’s website at a starting price of ₹82,990, while the Intel variant will be a bit more expensive at a starting price of ₹94,990. For more details about the new Dell G15 series, check out this post.

Dell G15

The Dell G15 features an updated design, Intel's 10th-gen processors, and up to NVIDIA RTX 30 series graphics at an affordable price point.

View at Dell.com

Dell G15 AMD

The Dell G15 AMD features an updated design, AMD's Ryzen 7 series processors, and up to NVIDIA RTX 30 series graphics at an affordable price point.

View at Dell.com

The post Dell launches latest Alienware X-series, XPS, and G series laptops in India appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/3jjbP4f
via IFTTT

New Intel beta graphics driver adds support for Psychonauts 2

Intel has released a new beta version of its graphics driver for Windows 10 and Windows 11, bringing the version number to 30.0.100.9862. The company released the first driver with official support for Windows 11 just over a month ago, adding features like Auto HDR. Comparatively, this new Intel graphics driver isn’t as big, but it does bring some welcome improvements like official support for Psychonauts 2. This long-awaited platformer finally launched just this week, after almost six years of waiting, and it’s been critically acclaimed with a Metacritic score of 89. With this driver, you should be able to play the game on Intel GPUs without any issues.

Intel also says it has improved support for the Windows Subsystem for Linux on PCs with Intel Iris Xe Graphics. The previous driver release had added GPU support for this feature since Windows 11 is going to add the ability to run GUI Linux apps. It’s unclear what exactly has been improved, but if you were running into any issues, it’s worth trying the new driver to see if it’s better.

Aside from that, this driver update is relatively small. Intel has fixed a few known issues in various games. This includes fixes for crashes in popular titles like Call of Duty: Warzone. You can see the full list below.

Issues fixed in version 30.0.100.9862

• Intermittent crash or hang seen in Ark: Survival Evolved (when starting single player game), Doom Eternal (Vulkan) at ultra-settings.
• Minor graphic anomalies seen in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (DX11) while running benchmark, Deus Ex Mankind Divided (DX12). Horizon Zero Dawn (DX12).
• Minor graphic anomalies seen in Forza Horizon 4 (DX12), Serious Sam 4 (Vulkan) on Intel Iris Xe discrete graphics.
• Intermittent crash or hang seen in Call of Duty: WarZone (DX12), Death Stranding (DX12) (on ALT +TAB), on Intel Iris Xe discrete graphics.

Being that it’s a beta driver, some issues are still expected, and Intel has identified plenty of them. The list is actually much longer than the fixed issues, and you can see it below:

Known issues in version 30.0.100.9862

• Intermittent crash or hang may be seen in Breathedge, Burnout Paradise Remastered, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (DX12), Detroit: Become Human (Vulkan), Metro Exodus (DX12) (when changing graphics settings), Moonlight Blade (DX12), NBA 2K21 (DX12) (when switching resolution from 1920 x 1080 to 1600 x 900 and 1280 x 720), Necromunda: Hired gun (DX12) (Shadow option other than low), Rage 2 (Vulkan) (after ALT + TAB), Red Dead Redemption 2 (DX12) benchmark, Redout: Enhanced Edition (online mode), Resident Evil Village (DX12), Spyro: Reignited Trilogy, The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan (online mode), Vendetta Online (Vulkan).
• Minor graphic anomalies may be observed in Adobe Premiere Pro 2020 while playing video, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (DX12), Call of the Sea, Crysis Remastered, Cyberpunk 2077 (DX12), Dark Souls 3, Death Stranding (DX12), Elex, Gears of War Ultimate Edition (DX12), Hitman 2 (DX12), Just Cause 4, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Monster Jam Steel Titans 2, Red Dead Redemption 2 (DX12), Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint, Wolfenstein: Youngblood (Vulkan).
• Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (DX12) may run at low frame rate.
• Variable Refresh Rate may not be enabled in Watch Dogs Legion (DX12).
• Thunderbolt display may not turn on after HDR is enabled for built-in display.
• Intel Iris Xe Discrete graphics: Intermittent crash or hang may be seen in Apex Legends (DX12), Conan Exiles (Low End Laptop Mode” in game settings), CS:GO (when toggling between full screen and windowed), Forza Motorsport 6 (DX12), Rage 2 (Vulkan) (when entering main menu), Sid Meier’s Civilization VI (during ALT+ENTER), SMITE (on hot plug or unplug of external display) and The Sims 4 (hot plug or unplug of external display), Valorant, Warframe (DX12).
• Intel Iris Xe Discrete graphics: Crash or hang may be seen when launching Batman: Arkham City, Metro Exodus (DX12), Outriders (DX12), Star Wars: Squadrons.
• Intel Iris Xe Discrete graphics: Minor graphic anomalies may be observed in Code Vein, Doom Eternal (Vulkan), Euro Truck Simulator 2, GRID 2019 (DX12), Marvel’s Avengers (DX12), Metro Exodus (DX12), Rocket League (when CMAA Enabled)

That’s pretty much all there is for this driver update. Intel has had some more exciting news recently, though, such as details on its upcoming Alder Lake processors, which should make their debut in the next month or two. We also know the company is preparing to launch its Intel Arc line of discrete GPUs early next year. Intel has been pretty consistent with updating its graphics driver to support the latest game releases, not just Psychonauts 2. This should help the company be ready for its big GPU blowout when it enters the market. You can download the beta version of the driver here.

The post New Intel beta graphics driver adds support for Psychonauts 2 appeared first on xda-developers.

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