Quick Shots-304

Alienware’s new gaming monitors feature fast refresh rates and retractable headset hangers

Dell is releasing two new Alienware-branded monitors this fall. Before you ask, they don’t feature QD-OLED panels like the drool-worthy AW3423DW. The more interesting of the two new monitors is the 27-inch AW2723DF. It features an LG Nano IPS panel with a 2560 x 1440 resolution, a native 240Hz refresh rate and a claimed 1ms gray to gray response time.

A factory overclock lets you push the refresh rate to 280Hz for games like Valorant and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. For more immersive gaming, the monitor comes with support for AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and NVIDIA G-Sync. It doesn’t feature local dimming, but for what it’s worth, HDR performance was good enough for the AW2723DF to earn VESA’s DisplayHDR 600 badge.

From Engadget

Samsung unveils prices for Galaxy Z Flip4 and Z Fold4 in India, details discounts and promos

We have waited nearly a week for Samsung to unveil the prices for the new Galaxy Z foldables for the Indian market and here they are. Fans can now pre-book a Z Flip4 or Z Fold4 and score some gifts and discounts. This is a special Samsung Live promo event that starts today and ends tomorrow a midnight.

First, the prices. The table below has the breakdown by storage capacity. A couple of things to note about the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 – the customizable Bespoke Edition is available from Samsung Live and Samsung Exclusive Stores (and only in 256GB trim), the 512GB version is not available in the country. As for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4, the top 1TB model is available, but only through Samsung Live and Samsung Exclusive Stores.

From Gsmarena

Apple’s cheapest iPad may be the star of this year’s October event

In a few weeks, Apple will kick off its annual fall cavalcade of new products with the iPhone 14 event, which will likely bring new Apple Watches and possibly the second-generation AirPods Pro. 

But of course, that won’t be the only Apple event of the fall. A few weeks later, probably in late October, Apple will send out invitations for another event. Over the past two years, that event has featured Macs—the M1 chip in 2020 and the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros in 2021—and one or two are likely to make an appearance this year too. But it’s looking like the star of the show will be the iPad.

According to the latest rumors (via Macrumors), two iPads are due for an upgrade this year at opposite ends of the spectrum: the entry-level iPad model and the iPad Pro. The iPad Pro will almost certainly get an M2 processor and possibly gain MagSafe charging, but otherwise it should be very similar to the current model.

The entry level iPad, however, is another story. Apple is reportedly planning big changes for its cheapest iPad, with a new design, larger screen, and faster charging. The Home button will reportedly be sticking around, but the screen could be increasing to 10.5 inches from the current 10.2 inches. That means a serious slimming of the bezels is in order as well as flatter edges like the iPad Pro. 

That would mean Apple is introducing a new design that we’ve never seen on an iPad before. On the back, Apple is expected to add a second camera with an vertical array that looks something like the iPhone X. It also could an A14 processor, 5G support, USB-C instead of Lightning and possibly come in an array of colors like the iPad Air and mini. It also could be losing the headphone jack—the last Apple product that still has one.

Those represent the biggest changes Apple’s entry-level tablet has ever seen. Since its introduction in 2010, Apple’s low-end iPad has featured a very similar design, with large bezels, tapered design, and a headphone jack. All of that could be getting an overhaul this year, making the 10th-generation iPad one of the most surprising products in years.

Add it all up and the humble $329 iPad could be the star of Apple’s fall event. And for once, getting Apple’s best new product will actually be its cheapest.

From Macworld

Samsung Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro launch imminent as multiple certifications surface

Samsung brought the durable Galaxy XCover6 Pro smartphone in July and we expected to see the Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro as well. It is now August and the tablet is still unannounced, but a launch might be just around the corner.

The tablet received certifications at Bluetooth SIG, Google Play List, and Google Play Console, revealing some of its specs. Samsung’s new durable tablet will be powered by a Snapdragon 778G chipset.

There are two model numbers that appear on these certifications – SM-T636B and SM-T636N and the assumptions are one is Wi-Fi-only, while the other also supports LTE and 5G. The Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro is certified with Bluetooth 5.2.

The device is also listed with 4 GB RAM which might be only one of many choices, even if the predecessor Active3 had just this one option. The resolution will be 1920 x 1200 pixels which is a 16:10 ratio – pretty standard for a tablet. Also, the device will run on Android 12L which is optimized for large screens (hence the L in the name), including tablets.

From Gsmarena

Realme 9i 5G confirmed to come with a 90Hz screen and 5,000 mAh battery

Realme will unveil the Realme 9i 5G on August 18, which it already confirmed will be powered by the Dimensity 810 SoC. Now the company has revealed that the 9i 5G will sport a notched display having a 90Hz screen refresh rate and a 180Hz touch sampling rate.

Moreover, Realme confirmed that the 9i 5G will pack a 5,000 mAh battery, which will be charged through a USB-C port.

The smartphone will boot Android 12-based Realme UI 3.0, support 18W charging, and have two memory configurations – 4GB/64GB and 6GB/128GB. Realme has shown us the 9i 5G in two colors, but it’s unclear if there will be more color options.

From Gsmarena

Leaker shares iPhone 14 Pro hands-on preview with pre-release devices

An Apple leaker claims that one of his sources was able to test pre-release iPhone 14 units. The source apparently had access to the Pro devices. If the information is accurate, then this might be the first iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max hands-on preview. Previously, we have shared similar hands-on reports of purported iPhone 14 dummy units.

Twitter user LeaksApplePro posted online an account of this purported iPhone 14 Pro hands-on experience. If the Twitter handle rings a bell, that’s because he’s been a constant source of Apple leaks. Like all leakers, he might not always be correct with such information. But then no leaker can boast 100% accuracy, no matter how much they’d cling to track record stats.

From BGR.

New Google Nest router with Wi-Fi 6E, Thread, and Bluetooth LE pops up in FCC filings

Google appears poised to launch an updated Nest router equipped with Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth Low Energy, and Thread mesh networking radios later this year, according to a new FCC filing. It has the model number A4R-G6ZUC, which is similar to IDs assigned to not only the previous Nest Wifi but also the Nest Mini, Thermostat, and even the Google Glass.

In June, a source confirmed with 9to5Google that a new Google / Nest router was on its way, and now the outlet says it has confirmed this is the model number for that device.

The filing’s internal and external pictures remain confidential and unlisted but break down the wireless technology onboard as well as an “Internal Proprietary Antenna Solution consisting of 6 antennas”:

• 2 x 2.4GHz / 5GHz dual band antennas for BT, Thread, 5GHz Wi-Fi Primary
• 2 x 5GHz Wi-Fi Diversity
• 2 x 2.4GHz / 6GHz dual band antennas for Wi-Fi

From The Verge

Leaked Moto Edge 30 Fusion renders show the Moto S30 Pro preparing to go global

Earlier this month, Motorola announced three new smartphones in China market — the Moto Razr 2022 clamshell foldable, the X30 Pro flagship with the world’s first 200MP smartphone camera, and the relatively affordable S30 Pro. It feels very likely we’ll learn about global plans for the Razr soon, and the other phones are expected to make their international debut under the company’s Edge branding. We’re preparing for that today, as we check out a few renders about what sure seems to be the Moto S30 Pro we’ll get in the West.

The phone we see in these pics sure looks like the Moto S30 Pro we’re familiar with, but here it would reportedly pick up Edge 30 Fusion branding, according to leaker Evan Blass. Supposedly, this hardware has been under development as codename Tundra.

From Android Police

You could soon be seeing a lot more ads on your iPhone

As we wait patiently for the iPhone 14 to show up (it should arrive next month), a new report suggests some significant changes could be coming to the software on iPhones and iPads: specifically, more advertising in Apple’s own apps.

This comes via the reliable Apple-focused journalist Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, who says that Apple is keen on expanding its integrated advertising efforts. A number of ads already show up in the News and Stocks apps, as well as the App Store.

Those apps could eventually be joined by Apple Maps, as well as the Apple Podcasts and Apple Books apps, according to Gurman. We might also see an expansion into Apple TV Plus content – adverts have already started to appear in the platform’s Friday Night Baseball coverage, for example.

From Techradar

Samsung and other OEMs caught lying about smartwatch dimensions

Samsung’s new Galaxy Watch 5 series has gained a lot of positivity so far, but of course, something had to come up to take the shine off the new wrist wearables. It turns out that Samsung isn’t entirely truthful in its official spec sheet for the Galaxy Watch 5 series, as the company makes a couple of unfounded claims about the thickness of the two new smartwatch models.

The official Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 spec sheet posted on the company’s website states that the Galaxy Watch 5 has a 9.8mm profile, while the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is 10.5mm-thin. But as discovered by DC Rainmaker on YouTube, these measurements are far from accurate.

In reality, the standard Galaxy Watch 5 has a thickness of around 13.11 mm, while the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is about 50% thicker than what Samsung claims to be, clocking in at a whopping 15.07mm.

So, what gives? How is it possible for Samsung to claim that its new smartwatches are thinner than they actually are?

From Sammobile