In July this year, Samsung shared details about a fresh update for its Expert RAW camera app that would bring two new features. In addition, the company revealed that it had pushed back Expert RAW support for older Galaxy devices, like the Galaxy S20 Ultra, Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, and Galaxy Z Fold 2, due to issues spotted during the final validation. Samsung seems to have addressed said issues, as the Expert RAW app now finally supports the older devices.
According to a recent post on the Samsung community forums, the Expert RAW update that adds support for the Galaxy S20 Ultra, Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, and Galaxy Z Fold 2 is now live. If you own one of these devices, you should now be able to download Expert RAW from the Galaxy Store on your phone. However, Samsung notes that you may encounter slight differences in processing time and image quality compared to Expert RAW on more recent Galaxy smartphones due to “AP and sensor limitations.”
Interestingly, the Galaxy Store listing states that Expert RAW support for the Galaxy S20 Ultra, Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, and Galaxy Z Fold 2 comes with version 1.0.05.4 of the app. However, last month, the company released version 2.0.00.3 with a new feature and support for the Galaxy Z Fold 4. The version discrepancy leads us to believe that Expert RAW on the older devices might not offer the Custom Preset feature that rolled out with the previous update. However, we can’t confirm the same at the moment.
If you own a Galaxy S20 Ultra, Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, or Galaxy Z Fold 2, download Expert RAW on your phone by following this link. Do let us know if the release includes the new feature that rolled out with the previous update by dropping a comment in the section below.
We are a week away from the launch of the Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, and while we’ve known about the devices for quite some time now, it never hurts to get a closer look at the upcoming phones whenever possible. Thankfully, Google has provided another high-quality video, this time focusing on the design of the Pixel 7.
The video starts off by showing the exclusive Lemongrass colorway of the Pixel 7, giving us an extreme close-up of the bold camera visor in a brushed satin finish. The video also gives us a closer look at the Obsidian model before transitioning to the Snow variant. Although the video is short, being able to see the finer details of the smartphones gives a better appreciation for the design and the materials used. If you enjoyed the video of the Pixel 7, it’s recommended to check out the design video for the Google Pixel 7 Pro.
As far as other details about the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, we still know very little. Despite Google unveiling the handsets in May during Google I/O, it has been very careful about what it shares. So far, we know how they look, what colors they will come in, and that both models are powered by Google’s next-generation processor dubbed the Tensor G2. As far as other details, we know that the phones will be available for pre-order on October 6, the same day they will be revealed in full at the Made by Google event.
Along with the phones, Google should also shed more details about its first Wear OS device, the Pixel Watch. Hopefully, the company will have some surprises in store for the day of the announcements. Thankfully, we won’t have to wait much longer to find out, as the event will take place on October 6.
It feels like for ages that Twitter users have been asking for a way to edit tweets. While there were plenty of rumors and inside reports, the edit button has yet to surface in an official capacity. It wasn’t until April of this year that we finally got confirmation that the company was working on it, giving users hope that it would arrive soon. Well, the time could finally be near, as the Twitter Blue account just tweeted the platform’s first-ever edited tweet.
Although this is exciting, it doesn’t really give us any answers about when the feature will come. But it does give us a good idea of how the feature will work in a live scenario. We have reported in the past how Twitter will implement multiple visual cues to show users when a tweet has been edited. We can see in the tweet there is a “last edited” message showing. The message indicates when a user last edited a tweet with a date and time. By clicking on the message, users can get more details and see how the tweet was edited.
hello
this is a test to make sure the edit button works, we’ll let you know how it goes
Twitter has already stated that when the feature goes live, it will be exclusive f0r Twitter Blue subscribers. Twitter Blue is a premium subscription service that gives users access to additional perks like custom app icons, the ability to undo tweets, ad-free articles, bookmark folders, and more. Blue subscribers also gain access to the Labs section, offering experimental features that can change from time to time. Recently, Twitter has been expanding its audio offerings through Labs, debuting a new Spaces tab featuring podcasts and other audio content.
The firm has even started to double down on videos on its platform, revamping its content and mimicking TikTok with an immersive and fullscreen viewing experience. Naturally, there’s no telling how any of these additions will do in the long run, but it’s good to see the platform doing as much as it can to keep things fresh. If interested in Twitter Blue, the service costs $4.99 per month, and it is available in Australia, the United States, and New Zealand.
Apple did not invent the wireless earbuds — there were several brands pumping out truly untethered earbuds up to a full year before the AirPods made its debut in late 2016. But Apple made the wireless earbuds mainstream, and whether for better or for worse, the AirPods heavily influenced the design of wireless earbuds immediately after its debut.
But the original AirPods, if we’re being honest, looked pretty ugly, nor did they sound all that great. The one-size-fits-all tip also meant they simply didn’t fit in some ears. In my opinion, it really wasn’t until 2019’s AirPods Pro did Apple put out a truly great pair of wireless earbuds. But those, too, were quickly surpassed by rivals. By 2021, I’d argue Huawei’s Freebuds Pro or Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Pro pumped out noticeably fuller audio with better active noise cancellation.
The new AirPods Pro 2 is Apple’s counter. They bring much improved audio and active noise cancellation, as well as slightly better battery life. For those jumping from the two-year-old AirPods Pro, the audio improvements are significant. But the wireless earbuds scene, just like the smartphone scene, has become too mature and competitive for Apple to clearly retake the throne.
The AirPods Pro 2 are excellent in almost every facet — fit and comfort, construction, and audio quality. But I can say the same about Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 2 Pro or Huawei’s FreeBuds 2 Pro, both of which just hit the market a couple of months ago. Even the $249 pricing is similar. But the AirPods Pro 2 has one major trick up its sleeve: it’s an Apple product, so it’s an official part of Apple’s ecosystem. And this alone will ensure almost all iPhone users pick these over, say, Samsung’s buds. And there are a lot of iPhone users in the world. The AirPods Pro 2 are almost certainly going to be a smashing sales success.
About this review: Apple Hong Kong provided me a pair of AirPods Pro 2 for review. Apple did not have any input in this review.
Apple AirPods Pro 2: Price & Availability
The AirPods Pro 2 are available for purchase across retailers, starting from September 23, 2022 for $249.
Apple AirPods Pro 2: Hardware, Design, and Fit
Looks virtually identical to the original AirPods Pro
Silicon tip comes in four sizes, including a new “XS” for a wider range of fit
Can now adjust volume directly on the earbuds
Not much has changed in terms of appearances with the AirPods Pro 2. The earbuds themselves look almost identical, with an extra vent in each bud being the differentiating factor. The case has the same overall shape but has some new hardware including a speaker (that can play a beeping sound if you can’t find it around the house) and a small looping slot for lanyard straps. There’s a newer H2 chip inside that is more powerful at handling audio and active noise cancellation (ANC), but this obviously isn’t a visible change.
Just like the previous AirPods Pro, the silicon ear tips are removable, and Apple is including four sizes this year (instead of three like most other earbuds). This means the buds will fit a wider range of ear canal sizes.
The fit is comfortable for me using the small size silicon, but I find the earbuds protrude too much from my ears for my liking. Yes, this is nothing new, AirPods have always stuck out like this. But other earbuds, even ones with stems like Huawei’s FreeBuds Pro 2, Bose’s QuietComfort 2, or Nothing’s Ear 1, do not stick out from the side as much. The AirPods Pro’s stems curve at a wider, rounder radius. If I wear the AirPods Pro 2 and Samsung’s new Galaxy Buds 2 Pro at the same time and look at a mirror, the AirPods Pro is much more noticeable.
I’m wearing the AirPods Pro 2 in my left ear and Galaxy Buds 2 Pro in the right.
It doesn’t help that the AirPods Pro 2 come in white. I think even giving it a black paint job would make the earbuds look sleeker and more discreet. But I’m pretty sure that within Apple HQ, the AirPods Pro being so noticeable is a feature, not a bug. Just like slapping a giant logo on the back of their phones and laptops, Apple wants its products to be seen and identified, and I suppose many consumers like it too. I don’t.
The stems did get a hardware upgrade — the capacitive touch panel now supports sliding motions, which is used to adjust the volume. Clicking on the sensors still brings a very satisfying haptic feedback that feels better than any other earbuds I’ve tested.
The AirPods Pro 2 (left) and the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro.
Battery and charging
While the battery capacity inside the earbuds and the case remain the same, battery life is improved, with the AirPods Pro 2 getting six hours of playtime on a single charge. This is with ANC or transparency mode on at all times (you must use one of the two modes). If you use Spatial Audio, Apple claims the buds are good for five hours, but my unit was draining at a faster rate. I’d say four hours seems about right. The case adds another five full charges.
Apple AirPods Pro 2: Setup, Audio Quality, Features
Setting up with Apple devices is as simple as opening the lid; with Android or Windows devices, it requires the press of a button
Excellent, balanced sound
Can respond to text messages, including WhatsApp, via voice dictation
Setting up the AirPods Pro 2 is a piece of cake with my iPhone 14 Pro Max. As soon as I took the AirPods out of the box and opened the lid, the pairing screen already popped up on my iPhone. I only had to tap a button to confirm these are my AirPods, and after that, the buds also worked seamlessly with my MacBook and iPad (because they all share the same Apple ID as my iPhone) without needing to manually pair again.
Unlike some other earbuds, Apple doesn’t need you to install an additional app if you want to have more control over the AirPods. You can do so in the iPhone’s settings. These settings are more niche controls like accessibility features. For the most part, Apple doesn’t want you to fiddle with toggles and settings the way Samsung’s earbuds do.
I, however, do not always use an iPhone. In the past few days, I’ve actually put my SIM card back into the Xiaomi 12S Ultra, and pairing is still easy. I just had to long-press the button on the case to tell the AirPods to go into pairing mode and connect via the Bluetooth menu of my Android phone. After that, I encountered no issues in terms of audio quality or audio playback. However, there are some iPhone-specific features I lose out on, like the ability to have incoming notifications read to me, and the ability to respond. More on this later.
Apple doesn't want you to fiddle with toggles and settings the way other makers want you to
Audio Quality
While the AirPods Pro 2 still uses the same 11mm drivers as the previous generation AirPods Pro, Apple redesigned the amplifier and driver, plus the AirPods Pro 2 uses Apple’s new H2 chip (versus H1 in the original), and the audio output is much improved. They’re noticeably fuller and more dynamic. I do think the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2 have noticeably stronger bass for that extra kick in certain tracks, but I think the AirPods Pro 2 have a well-balanced sound that favors spoken word as much as instruments. There’s a bit more consistency among audio quality whether I’m listening to Outkast or a podcast compared to Huawei’s earbuds or Beats by Dre’s audio products (which, ironically, are also owned by Apple).
The AirPods Pro (left) next to the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro (middle) and Huawei FreeBuds 2 Pro (right).
Compared to rivals, the AirPods Pro 2 have more consistency in audio quality whether I'm listening to Outkast or a podcast
Active Noise Cancellation
During Apple’s September launch event, it claimed the new AirPods Pro’s active noise cancellation (ANC) is twice as good as the original pairs, and I think it lives up to that hype. ANC here is very good, able to almost completely provide silence if I’m in a room, and does an admirable job of blocking out the extremely loud Hong Kong streets.
I think in terms of blocking out sound, the ANC here is neck and neck with the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2, and a bit better than the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. However, Bose’s new earbuds, which I have not tested, apparently have even better ANC that can mute human voices better than any earbuds before them.
Unlike other earbuds which give you the option to use ANC, transparency mode, or neither, Apple only does either ANC or transparency. This is fine by me, as I find the middle option (off) to be a bit pointless. Switching between ANC and transparency mode is just a long press of the stem away. It works well. I can easily hold a conversation and hear the other end perfectly in transparency mode, even if I have music playing, provided the volume isn’t too high.
Another little touch that Apple gets right: when you switch from ANC to transparency mode or vice versa, the transition is gradual, meaning the ambient noise will fade out or fade back in, instead of abruptly getting cut off or starting like with other wireless earbuds. Such smaller details help make the experience greater than just a sum of its parts.
Phone calls, and responding to notifications
Apple repositioned the microphones of the AirPods Pro 2 and they work fine for me. I almost never make phone calls these days, but a couple of test calls went smoothly, with the other party saying they could hear me. If I take the call outside in really noisy streets, the AirPods Pro 2 will apply ANC to my voice, which makes me sound a bit digitized, but it works. Again, Hong Kong is one of the noisiest places on earth, so if I can make a call outside here, I can surely make the call without issues in California or Berlin.
One of the cool features of AirPods Pro is the ability to have Siri dictate incoming text messages, to which I can respond via voice, without touching anything. I have to say “reply,” followed by the words I want to say. And it worked very well in my testing with WhatsApp. The ability to have text messages spoken to me and respond on the earbud is not a new feature, though I just found out about it because I so very rarely use an iPhone. I actually own a pair of AirPods Max I use daily, but I usually pair it with my MacBook or Android phone.
Spatial Audio
Another exclusive feature for iPhone users is Spatial Audio, where the AirPods Pro will keep track of your head movements so if you turn your head, the audio will shift around to maintain audio direction as if you really are sitting in front of an audio source. This feature works as advertised, though I find it a bit gimmicky at times.
Should you buy the Apple AirPods Pro 2?
You should buy the AirPods Pro 2 if:
You want a pair of compact wireless buds with excellent sound and active noise cancellation
You are already immersed in Apple’s ecosystem and want earbuds that play nice with everything in it
You should not buy the AirPods Pro 2 if:
You already own the original AirPods and find audio and ANC quality perfectly fine
You are on a tighter budget
You want earbuds that look a bit more discreet in your ears
With the AirPods Pro 2, Apple didn’t try to make superficial changes. Instead, they chose to focus on improving things that matter, like battery life and audio quality. Even little things, like the ability for the AirPods Pro case to beep, are little touches that make them so easy to use.
If you can splurge, the AirPods Pro 2 are awesome
If you own an iPhone and want your first pair of wireless earbuds, the AirPods Pro 2 are easy to recommend, as long as the $249 price is acceptable. The bigger question is whether those who own standard AirPods or the first gen AirPods Pro should consider an upgrade.
I’d say this really comes down to how happy you are with your existing AirPods or AirPods Pro. If you find your current set lacking in audio or ANC quality, the AirPods Pro 2 brings enough improvements to justify the upgrade.
There’s a reason why the AirPods, and later AirPods Pro, became ubiquitous in every major city around the world. Sure, part of it is they’re the default earbuds for iPhone users, but also because they’re just really, really good.
The Chrome Web Store is an online store run by Google. It’s mainly used by Chrome browser and ChromeOS users to get extensions. However, as a lot of other web browsers these days use the Chromium project as their base, they can also run Chrome extensions. So if you are using Opera, Vivaldi, Brave, or Microsoft Edge, you can download and install extensions from the Chrome Web Store.
If you’re not sure where to find the Chrome Web Store, we’ll tell you in this guide how you can open it on the Chrome browser, ChromeOS, and other web browsers. The Chrome Web Store offers thousands of extensions. These extensions can do a lot of tasks from translating a webpage to taking screenshots to editing text.
Keep in mind, though that one big part of the Chrome Web Store is on its way out and will longer be supported soon. Come December 2022, you’ll only be able to find extensions on the Chrome Web Store. Google will be discontinuing apps in the Chrome Web Store on Windows, Mac, and Linux in December 2022. After that date, Chrome Web Store apps will only work on Chromebooks.
How to open the Chrome Web Store on the Chrome browser
Opening the Chrome Web Store in Google Chrome on macOS, Linux, or Windows is easy. You’ll just need to manually visit the webpage for the store to get to it. Here’s how you can do that.
Just click this link, or visit https://ift.tt/1bvB9wZ in the URL bar in Chrome.
If you want faster access, you can bookmark it. Click on the star icon that you see in the address bar, and pick a location to save it to. We suggest picking the favorites bar, for quicker access.
Browse the store and search for the specific extension that you want. When you find it, click the Add to Chrome button.
That’s all that it takes to get to the Chrome Web Store on Google Chrome. Older versions of Chrome used to have an Apps link that would take you to the Chrome Web Store, but Google has now faded that away. You’ll have to manually visit the store, just as you would any other website.
How to open the Chrome Web Store on ChromeOS
Getting to the Chrome Web Store on ChromeOS is similar to doing so on other operating systems. You’ll have to visit the webpage for the experience. Here’s how.
Click this link, or navigate to visit https://ift.tt/1bvB9wZ via the URL bar in Chrome.
Find the app or extension that you want. For extensions, click the Add to Chrome button. For apps, click the visit website button.
For faster access, you can bookmark the Chrome Web store, or create a PWA for it to add to your ChromeOS launcher. You can bookmark the Chrome Web Store by clicking the star icon in the address bar, and pick a location to save it to.
You can create a PWA for the Chrome Web Store by clicking the three arrows to the right of the address bar, and choose the More Tools option from the menu bar. Then choose Create shortcut. Pick the open as window option and then Create. You’ll see that the Chrome Web Store has been added as an app to the ChromeOS launcher for quick access.
How to open the Chrome Web Store on other web browsers
If your web browser supports installing Chrome extensions, you can open the Chrome Web Store by just going to the Chrome Web Store URL. However, in order to install the extensions, you’ll need to enable support for them in some browsers. Here’s what you need to do.
Microsoft Edge: Go to Menu > Settings, and enable the Allow extensions from other stores toggle in the lower-left corner.
Brave and Vivaldi don’t require any special settings to use Chrome extensions.
This is how you can open and access the Chrome Web Store on Chrome, ChromeOS, and other web browsers. If you’re looking for Chrome themes, we’ve selected some of the best Chrome themes you can download. Moreover, we’ve also compiled the best Chromebooks on the market right now. Check it out if you’re into ChromeOS.
In February this year, Apple announced that U.S. merchants would finally be able to accept payments using Tap to Pay on iPhones. At the time, the company said that the feature would become available sometime later this year. However, it did not share a definite release timeline. U.S.-based payments platform Square has now finally implemented the feature, allowing merchants to accept payments using Tap to Pay on iPhones.
The feature will be available within the Square Point of Sale (POS) iOS app, and it will allow U.S. retailers to accept payments using just an iPhone. Tap to Pay on iPhones will not require any additional hardware, and Square will not charge retailers anything extra for using the feature. Tap to Pay on iPhones is available on iPhone XS and newer models, and it is compatible with most major networks, including American Express, Discover, Mastercard, and Visa.
In a press release, Square clarifies that Tap to Pay on iPhones won’t store users’ credit card numbers on the device or on Apple’s servers. It will utilize built-in security features on iPhones to keep the merchant’s and customer’s data secure.
Talking about the feature, Square’s Head of Financial Services, David Talach, said, “As commerce continues to rapidly evolve and contactless adoption in the U.S. continues to grow, Square is focused on ensuring sellers of all types and sizes have the technology needed to delight their customers and never miss a sale. Tap to Pay on iPhone offers a new level of accessibility for merchants to begin taking payments in minutes and processing transactions in seconds from anywhere in the store or on the go without the need for a separate payments device.”
Square sellers and merchants can use Tap to Pay on iPhones in the U.S. starting today by downloading the Square POS app.
Microsoft launched the all-new Surface Go 3 at the company’s fall 2021 event. While the Surface Go 3 is a great machine, it unfortunately does not come bundled with a pen. Of course, you can buy the official Surface pen separately from Microsoft or another vendor, but there are plenty of other options to consider. When searching for alternative Surface pens, make sure they support the Microsoft Pen Protocol or MPP. In this article, we’ve curated a selection of the best pens to use with your Microsoft Surface Go 3 at any budget.
Some of the key considerations when selecting a new pen are tilt, pressure sensitivity, and battery life. If you do a lot of drawing with your Surface, you’ll want a pen that has accurate tilt and excellent pressure sensitivity. These aspects are key to achieving high precision when sketching or coloring with your pen. For those who do an exceptional amount of writing each day, make sure you get a pen with solid battery life. Several of the pens below are rechargeable, but some of them still take regular AAA batteries. Keep in mind that having a rechargeable pen will increase flexibility when traveling. In the case of a rechargeable pen, you can throw a portable charger in your bag and not worry about running out of juice.
If you want to match your new Surface Go 3 perfectly, the official Microsoft Surface Pen is the way to go. Writes like pen on paper. Surface Pen is a natural writing and drawing tool, with precision ink on one end that now enables tilt and a natural-feeling rubber eraser on the other. Responds to an artists touch. Effortlessly express the finest sketches and lines with Surface Pen. Rest your hand on the screen of your Surface device, just as you would writing on a notebook.
At under $30, the Tesha Surface pen has just about everything the Microsoft version offers. It features 1024 pressure points is designed for writing, drawing, and notes taking. Instant response, low latency, truly accurate handwriting reproduction. Palm rejection technology allows you to rest your hand naturally on the screen while writing, no need wearing anti-friction gloves. Super convenient for kids.
The Renaisser 520 is a an affordable stylus pen that still offers some great capabilities. It has 4,096 levels of pressure and tilt support, so it can handle writing, doodling, and even more advanced art just fine. It also has a rechargeable battery so you don't have to worry about buying new batteries, and it even supports magnetic attachment. For this price, you can't ask for much more.
The Dell Premium Active Pen features flexible, multi-protocol compatibility with select Dell 2-in-1s with a Windows Ink compatible display. Quickly launch OneNote by clicking the top button and write notes (even on a locked screen), capture a screenshot, or activate Cortana. Efficiently erase or launch the context menu with the side buttons. Install Windows Ink Workspace to customize buttons to your needs.
The Wacom Bamboo Ink is a very cool pen in that it supports both the Microsoft Pen Protocol and Wacom AES, meaning it will work on the Surface Go 3, but also a lot of devices from other brands. It has 4.096 levels of pressure, too, so you get a fantastic experience for a very reasonable price.
This pen from iafer is relatively basic, but it does everything you need, with 1,024 levels of pressure and palm rejection. It comes with a replaceable AAAA battery that can last for over 1,000 hours, so you never have to worry about charging it. It also has a pen clip so you can easily store it in a pocket without losing it.
Those are our picks for the best Surface pens available today for your Microsoft Surface Go 3 tablet. If you’re looking for the best value, the Renaisser Raphael 520 is probably your best option. It’s affordable, yet it has very good pressure sensing capabilities and tilt support, along with other niceties. For those that want the full Microsoft Surface experience, the official Surface pen is of course still your best bet. We’ll keep this list updated as new products arrive. Let us know which Surface pen you use in the comments below.
