Is the Apple iPad 10 waterproof? Does the tablet have an IP rating?

Apple launched the entry-level iPad 10 in October 2022, equipped with a completely refreshed chassis and an upgraded A14 Bionic processor. Thanks to the redesign, users now get to take advantage of flat edges and rounded display corners. Don’t let the flat edges fool you into believing it supports the Apple Pencil 2. The iPad 10, despite dropping the Lightning port, still only supports the Apple Pencil 1, and only through a dongle. Speaking of the redesign, the iPad 10 comes in four bold colors to pick from — Silver, Pink, Blue, and Yellow.

This is a lot, so you might be wondering if you should buy an iPad 10. There are other considerations as well, like if it’s waterproof. Do you need to buy a case for that protection? Here’s what you need to know.

The iPad 10 neither has an IP rating nor is it waterproof

Before diving in, let’s clear a common misconception. Most of the electronic devices you come across today are water-resistant, not waterproof. So no, the iPad 10 is not waterproof.

If you want to find out how water-resistant a device is, you have to look at the IP rating, which reflects the endurance against dust and water a certain product has. Apple includes an IP rating on some of its devices, such as recent iPhone models. Water resistance, like many things in life, wears down with time. So while a device might be water-resistant when it’s new, this could change down the road. So always treat your devices as if they’re not resistant to water. Leave the resistance as a Plan B, just in case you accidentally spill a liquid on it.

So now that you know about the iPad 10 not being waterproof, let’s see if it has an IP rating. As of 2022, Apple still hasn’t released a single iPad model with an IP rating. This doesn’t mean it’s completely unprotected from the elements, since most devices have some degree of protection, but it means submerging it in water or liquids will likely damage it. In short, keep it away from water.

To clean the screen, use a damp cloth that doesn’t actually soak the iPad with water. If you accidentally spill water on your iPad 10, shut it down and leave it alone for a few hours to dry.

You should always be careful with your devices though, regardless of the IP rating. You wouldn’t want to ruin your new great iPad just after buying it.

Apple iPad 10

The iPad 10 introduces a complete chassis overhaul and offers four bold colors. It packs the A14 Bionic chip and supports the Apple Pencil 1.

Buy from Best Buy

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How to unlock the bootloader and root the Google Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro with Magisk

Some people can’t imagine using Android without root access. While the Google Pixel smartphones are among the easiest devices to unlock the bootloader, root, and install aftermarket software, it might come as a surprise that the typical boot image patching technique is no longer applicable to the latest Pixel 7 series.

If you bought the Pixel 7 or the Pixel 7 Pro and want to learn how to root it, we’ll show you how in this tutorial. You’ll need to have your PC handy and know your way around ADB.

Google Pixel 7 XDA Forums || Google Pixel 7 Pro XDA Forums

• You need an unlocked bootloader to root the Google Pixel 7 or 7 Pro.
• Unlocking the bootloader will wipe your Pixel 7/7 Pro.
• Instead of the boot image, you have to patch the init_boot image with Magisk for root access.

Navigate this article:

• How to root the Google Pixel 7 and 7 Pro
  • Step 1 – Get the stock init_boot image
  • Step 2 – Patch the stock init_boot image using Magisk
  • Step 3 – Enable OEM unlocking and unlock the bootloader
  • Step 4 – Flash Magisk-patched init_boot image
• What’s next?

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How to root the Google Pixel 7 and 7 Pro

Before we get into how to root the Pixel 7, remember to take an off-device backup. That’s because the rooting process requires wiping all the data on your phone, including the files on the internal storage.

Step 1 – Get the stock init_boot image for the Pixel 7/7 Pro

For devices launching with Android 13 like the Pixel 7 series, the generic ramdisk is removed from the boot image and placed in a separate place called “init_boot.” The boot.img only holds the Generic Kernel Image (GKI).

As a result, patching the boot.img for root access won’t work for these devices. Rather, we need to get our hands on the image corresponding to the init_boot partition that matches the current software build the phone is running.

Fortunately, we don’t need any specialized tool to rip the init_boot image from the target device. It can be easily extracted from the Google-published factory image for the Pixel 7/7 Pro.

To make sure you download the right factory image, you need to check which software version your phone is currently running. To check this, go to Settings > About phone. At the bottom, look for the Build number section. Find the matching build number on the factory image download page and download that file.

Download Android 13 for Google Pixel phones

Next, unpack the factory image ZIP file. Locate the image-[device codename]-[version].zip file (yes, there’s a ZIP within a ZIP) and extract the init_boot.img file from it. This is the file that you need to transfer to your phone’s internal storage for patching.

Step 2 – Patch the stock init_boot image using Magisk

Now that we have our hands on the init_boot image, we can easily patch it with Magisk. In fact, you can patch it on a different Android device than the Pixel 7, but you need to install the Magisk app on the secondary device as well.

While the current stable version of Magisk can patch the Pixel 7’s init_boot image, you might want to opt for the bleeding edge Canary build of Magisk for additional fixes.

Download Magisk: Stable || Canary

After installing the Magisk APK, open the app, and locate the Install button on the topmost card. Choose Select and Patch a File under Method, and select the stock init_boot image. This will open the Android file picker. Go ahead and find the init_boot.img you transferred from your PC and select that. The Magisk app will patch the image to the Download folder on the phone. You must transfer this patched file (should be named “magisk_patched_[random_strings].img”) back to your PC because next, we’re going to unlock the bootloader which will wipe all data as we warned previously.

Notably, if you browse the XDA Forums for the Pixel 7 or 7 Pro, you may be lucky enough to find a pre-patched init_boot image. That being so, we always recommend grabbing the official firmware and patching the stock boot image yourself to avoid unforeseen glitches due to image version mismatch.

Step 3 – Enable OEM unlocking and unlock the bootloader

In order to flash third-party software on the Pixel 7, we have to unlock the bootloader. To do so, go to Settings > About phone > Build number and tap on this entry 7 times to enable Developer options. After enabling it, go back to the main settings page and tap on System, then go to Developer options. From there, toggle the OEM unlocking option. Keep in mind that you need to enter your password/pattern/PIN to validate some of the actions.

It is important to note that some US carriers like Verizon don’t allow bootloader unlocking at all, making it impossible to root your phone. Sometimes, though, people find unofficial workarounds, and we’ll let you know if any are found.

After enabling OEM unlock, turn off your phone. Hold both the Volume down and Power buttons to turn your phone back on and boot into the bootloader menu. Assuming you have the latest ADB and Fastboot binaries installed already, you can also use the following command to reboot to the bootloader mode directly from Android.

adb reboot bootloader

Make sure to keep your phone plugged into your PC/Mac/Chromebook. Next, in a terminal window, type:

fastboot flashing unlock

You will see a screen telling you that you are about to initiate the bootloader unlocking process. Use the volume button to navigate and the power button to accept. Again, this will wipe all the data on your phone, so make sure you have your data backed up before proceeding.

Step 4 – Flash Magisk-patched init_boot image

After the bootloader of your Pixel 7 (or 7 Pro) is unlocked and the init_boot image is patched, you are just one step away from root.

As soon as the bootloader unlocking process completes, the phone will boot back up after a few minutes. Skip the setup wizard at this stage and turn off the phone. You now want to boot back into the bootloader by holding the volume down and power buttons again. Once you are there, connect the phone to your PC/Mac/Chromebook and execute the following command:

fastboot flash init_boot path/to/magisk_patched.img

As soon as you hit Enter, the patched init_boot image will be flashed to your phone. Next, reboot using fastboot reboot and the Magisk app should appear on your home screen and/or app drawer. If it doesn’t (e.g. you can only see a stub icon), just install the Magisk APK manually. You’re now rooted!

Screenshot courtesy: XDA Member edcsxz

Keep in mind that you’ll have to repeat steps 1, 2, and 4 every time you update your phone because the init_boot image changes with each update. To know more, take a look at our tutorial on how to install OTA updates and keep root on your Google Pixel phone.

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What’s next?

Once your Pixel 7 is rooted, you open up the device to some interesting modifications such as Magisk modules and Xposed modules. Of course, there are already a ton of things you can do without root on Google devices, but having root access is an added benefit nonetheless, especially if you consider the best root apps.

Google Pixel 7

The vanilla Google Pixel 7 is very similar to the high-end Pro model but it's $300 cheaper and offers more value for money.

Buy from Best Buy

Google Pixel 7 Pro

The high-end Pixel 7 Pro has a better display higher resolution and refresh rate, a bigger battery, and an additional telephoto lens at the back.

Buy from Best Buy

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How many software updates will the Google Pixel 7 series get?

The Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are finally here and they boast many notable upgrades over their predecessors, bringing a more powerful chipset, brighter displays, and even better cameras. The long software support adds to the Pixel 7 series’ charm, making it a great choice for those who want a reliable and long-lasting smartphone.

The Pixel 7 series boasts five years of software support

As far as software support goes, Google Pixel phones have always been among the best, and the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are no different. Like their predecessors, the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are guaranteed to receive five years of software support. But that doesn’t mean you’ll get five versions of Android OS updates. Rather, the phones will receive three generations of OS updates and five years of monthly security updates. The Pixel 7 series ships with Android 13 out of the box so in theory, they should get OS updates until Android 16 and security updates till 2027.

Google Pixel 7

The Pixel 7 packs the second-gen Tensor SoC, a 6.3-inch OLED display, and improved cameras.

Buy from Best Buy

Google Pixel 7 Pro

The Pixel 7 Pro is Google's top-of-the-line flagship of the year, featuring the Tensor G2 SoC, a 120Hz LTPO display, a telephoto sensor, and a bigger battery.

Buy from Best Buy

While the Pixel 7 series offers excellent software support, it’s not the best in the business. That crown goes to Samsung, which provides four years of OS updates and five years of security updates for its flagships and select mid-range smartphones. However, if you want to get your hands on new Android versions as soon as possible, the Pixel 7 series is still your best bet. You’ll also be first in the line to test out developer previews and beta versions of upcoming Android versions before most users.

To reiterate, the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro boast five years of software support, which includes three years of Android OS updates and five years of monthly security updates. While Samsung offers one extra year of OS updates for select Galaxy phones, the Pixel 7 series is still your best bet to experience new Android versions as soon as possible.

The Pixel 7 starts at $699 but you can take advantage of these deals for some big savings. Also, don’t forget to grab a case for your shiny new phone.

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Google Lock Screen widgets are now finally available for iOS 16

Today, Google announced its new Lock Screen widgets for iOS 16, which are now officially available. The widgets were announced last month and give quick access to some of its most popular apps. The widgets can also provide you with information at a glance. If you’ve never tried to customize your lock screen before, check out our in-depth guide on how to do it so that you can try some of the new widgets from Google.

One of the most significant benefits of having a Lock Screen is that you can set up different layouts for different times of the day. You can have one for work and one for personal use; it’s easy to switch between the two. As for the newly released Google Lock Screen widgets, several apps take advantage, like Search, Chrome, Drive, Google Maps, Gmail, and Google News.

Having access to Search straight from the Lock Screen allows you to search for something instantly using voice or typing it in. If you need to take things further, you can utilize the power of Google Lens and even do quick translations on the fly. With the Chrome Lock Screen widget, you can also initialize a search or use Incognito mode. Furthermore, if you want to play a quick game, pop into Chrome’s exclusive Dino Run game.

Sometimes it’s essential to have easy access to your files. With the Drive widget, you can access suggested files and folders and even continue working on a project from your computer. As for Maps, this widget is robust, offering real-time traffic updates, and can provide estimated travel times from home and work. As expected, the widget can also help navigate shops, restaurants, hotels, and more. With Gmail, the widget will show messages in your inbox and how many emails have arrived for each inbox category.

In addition, it has also implemented some entertainment widgets with YouTube and YouTube Music. You can tap to watch Shorts and new videos or search for a video right from the widget. You can also gain easy access to your favorite music, song, or artist with just one tap.  Finally, Google News will offer real-time headlines, allowing users quick access to daily news worldwide. If this sounds interesting, it might be worth trying it out, so be sure to take a look.

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Source: Google Blog

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VANKYO Performance V700W brings the cinema to your home with a truly immersive and massive display

Big screen TVs provide a lot of fun and great image quality, but imagine a TV the size of your entire wall. That’s precisely what VANKYO is offering with its latest Performance V700W projector. Movies can be enjoyed with a free 120-inch screen, providing excellent colors, a surround sound system, excellent connectivity features, a low price, and a compact form factor that’s easy to carry around, or mount anywhere you like. The projection size of the V700W is up to 224-inches, providing one of the largest areas that projectors can provide at this price range.

Big picture

The VANKYO Performance V700W has an immersive, and beautiful screen. The projector features the latest LCD technology, providing an extensive range of colors and a 1000:1 contrast ratio. The image always looks clear, sharp, and pixel-perfect, thanks to the 1080p high-resolution screen. 

The image will also always have the proper brightness, thanks to the 420 ANSI lumens that the projector can achieve. Your favorite movies, TV shows, and games will always stay crystal clear. The best thing is that the projector lets you set up just about everything you need using the remote, and it has several features to let you focus, change the keystone, and zoom features. 

VANKYO also uses a low blue light emission to optimize the color performance in accordance with EIC 62471-S, further reducing the eye strain that bright displays can cause. The projector is certified by TÜV Rheinland, a leading independent testing company, to ensure that it meets industry-wide standards and protects the eyes from harmful lights. 

VANKYO Performance V700W

The VANKYO Performance V700W comes with the latest LCD technology, providing an up to 120-inch visually immersive experience. If you’re looking for an ideal home cinema setup, the Performance V700W will bring a 360-degree Dolby surround sound system, and excellent connectivity options, all at an affordable price tag.

View at VANKYO

360-degree sound experience

The VANKYO Performance V700W is not only an excellent projector, but also a fantastic speaker. It comes equipped with a dual 5W speaker setup, supporting the Dolby Digital Plus standard, and providing an immersive 360-degree surround sound system. The built-in speakers are excellent for watching movies, your favorite TV shows, playing games, concerts, and listening to music. Action movies have never been more enjoyable than with the Performance V700W.

Of course, if you have a higher-end speaker setup, you’ll be able to hook them up and take advantage of the additional ports at your own convenience. Whether you prefer the AUX audio output or Bluetooth, VANKYO will have you covered. The device also supports Bidirectional Bluetooth 5.1, which enables you to connect your smartphones, iPad, extensive speakers setup, and just about any device you can think about. 

Environment-friendly

The VANKYO Performance V700W is also built from environment-friendly materials. The company uses recycled cardboard, and the ink is made from plant-based ink derived from soybeans. The company says that its eco-friendly plans save about 564.5 grams on carbon emissions, compared to standard packages. 

Price

The VANKYO Performance V700W can be yours for only $299.99, which is a massive bang for your buck, especially when you consider all the additional features and high-quality screen you’re getting for your money. The Performance V700W provides features that can often only be found in competing devices, costing multiple times the value of this product. 

If you’re looking for an excellent all-around projector that provides a 120-inch high-quality screen to enjoy your favorite movies, tv shows, and games, then you’re in luck. The VANKYO Performance V700W is one of the best devices in its price range. 

The VANKYO Performance V700W also makes for an excellent present this coming holiday season, and the low price means it’s an ideal gift to give to your family members and friends. If you’re looking to gift something unique and truly immersive, the Performance V700W is one of the best home cinema experiences you can give at a low price. 

VANKYO Performance V700W

The VANKYO Performance V700W comes with the latest LCD technology, providing an up to 120-inch visually immersive experience. If you’re looking for an ideal home cinema setup, the Performance V700W will bring a 360-degree Dolby surround sound system, and excellent connectivity options, all at an affordable price tag.

View at VANKYO

We thank VANKYO for sponsoring this post.

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What satellite navigation systems does the Google Pixel 7 series support?

Google’s newest Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro come packed with many notable upgrades, including a faster chipset, better cameras, and more software smarts. While the new Pixel 7 series feels like an iterative upgrade from the Pixel 6 series, it is the most refined Pixel lineup yet. Beyond excellent cameras and smart software features, the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro also offer a great navigation experience.

The Pixel 7 series supports dual-band GNSS

The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro support all major global navigation satellite systems, including GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, and QZSS. What’s more, both phones boast dual-band GNSS. That means they can lock on to two GNSS frequencies at the same time: L1 + L2 (GPS), G1 (Galileo), B1i + B1c + B2a (BeiDou), and L1 + L5 (QZSS). This enables the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro to compute their positioning with increased accuracy even in dense areas, delivering a faster and more reliable navigation experience.

With support for all major satellite navigation systems and dual-band GNSS, the Pixel 7 series provides smooth navigation in apps like Google Maps and Uber.

Google Pixel 7

The Pixel 7 packs the second-gen Tensor SoC, a brighter display, and improved cameras.

Buy from Best Buy

Google Pixel 7 Pro

The Pixel 7 Pro is Google's top-of-the-line flagship of the year, featuring the second-gen Tensor SoC, a 120Hz LTPO display, a telephoto sensor, and a bigger battery.

Buy from Best Buy

The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are powered by Google’s new Tensor G2 chipset and deliver excellent camera performance. The Pixel 7 Pro is the most premium offering, packing a 6.7-inch curved OLED QHD+ display with an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate. It also gets a more advanced camera system, featuring a 50MP main shooter, a 48MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultra-wide shooter. The standard Pixel 7, on the other hand, flaunts a 6.3-inch OLED FHD+ panel with a 90Hz refresh rate and has a dual camera setup consisting of a 50MP main shooter and a 12MP ultra-wide shooter.

If you’re thinking of getting the latest Google flagship, check out the best Pixel 7 deals to see how much you can save on your purchase. And don’t forget to grab a protective case from our best Pixel 7 case collection.

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SpaceX Starlink will now provide high-speed internet for planes, but it won’t be cheap

Today, SpaceX announced that it is expanding its satellite internet service to cover airplanes. The new service, Starlink Aviation, will launch next year and will offer speeds up to 350Mbps, which is quite a bit faster than what we currently see on commercial flights.

Starlink Aviation states on its website that it will be able to provide high-speed, low-latency, in-flight internet, something that is not all that common. With speeds up to 350Mbps, those traveling would be able to do a lot more than just check email and could easily use the service to watch streaming video, make video calls, and maybe even do some online gaming. At least that last one is what Starlink thinks could be accomplished with its service.

Since this is a satellite-based internet service, it states that it would be able to provide coverage anywhere around the world. Starlink’s   low-profile Aero Terminal would be able to maximize its network with its “electronically steered phased array antenna,” which provides “new levels of reliability, redundancy, and performance.” Of course, this specialized antenna needs to be installed on the plane but the company states that it doesn’t require too much time. The kit will include the aforementioned terminal, a power supply, two wireless access points, and a harness.

While all of this sounds great, the kicker is that the service will cost anywhere from $12,500 to $25,000 per month. In addition to the monthly service fee, there will also be a one-time charge for hardware that will cost $150,000. I guess the silver lining here is that there are no long-term contracts involved, and all the plans offered include unlimited data. Furthermore, the company will guarantee the equipment for as long as you are subscribed to its service. Starlink is currently taking reservations, stating that it will launch in 2023.

Satellite service has been getting quite popular lately, with Amazon getting closer to launching its own satellites. T-Mobile has also partnered with SpaceX to launch its own service in 2023. Apple has also utilized the service in its latest iPhone 14 devices, making it possible to communicate with emergency services if in a remote area.

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Source: SpaceX Starlink
Via: The Verge

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The Xbox October update features CEC, enhanced power controls, and more

It’s a new month, and that means a new update has arrived for the Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox One. The update brings new enhancements that will no doubt improve the user experience. The update comes packed with the ability to control TV volume from the Xbox console, mute all sounds on start-up, offers a more streamlined home Xbox setup process, and more.

With the latest update, the Xbox Series X and Series S will be able to take advantage of Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) and send commands to connected devices like TVs. That means, going forward, those with compatible setups will be able to control their TV using their Xbox console. While there isn’t a whole lot that can be done currently, at least volume controls will be available, making it more seamless to turn up, turn down, or mute the TV. While you no longer have to reach for a remote, you will have to open up the settings menu and navigate to the audio section.

In addition to CEC, a new fan-requested feature has made it into the update, giving users the ability to mute all sounds on start-up. Also, it will now be easier to set up or change the home Xbox setting, thanks to a new streamlined menu system for this option. Furthermore, there will be new power options for Xbox consoles, allowing users to choose their preferred power mode. The power settings have also been renamed to Sleep and Shutdown (energy saving). Xbox passkeys have also been renamed to Xbox PINs, still retaining the exact same functionality of adding an additional layer of protection on consoles.

The Xbox controller will also receive a new firmware update, featuring multiple bug fixes and one specifically for accessories that plug into the Xbox Adaptive Controller. The Xbox app on Android and iOS will also receive an added feature, now being able to trim video clips to a user’s desired length. Those using Xbox Game Bar on PC will gain the ability to export clips directly to Medal.tv. Microsoft has been on a roll recently, announcing the ability to now customize the Elite Series 2 controller using Xbox Design Lab.

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Source: Xbox Wire

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Here’s how to factory reset the Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro

You don’t have to reset your phone too often, but you may find yourself in situations where hard resetting the phone is the only course of action to take. It could be due to a technical issue or you simply want to reset your phone before trading it in for a new device. Whatever the case may be, you’ll want to know how to reset your phone. Just like a lot of other Android phones out there, there’s only one way to reset the Google Pixel 7 and the Pixel 7 Pro. If you’ve never reset your phone before and you’re unsure how to do it, then you’ve come to the right place. In this post, we’ll take you through a step-by-step guide and tell you how to reset the Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro.

Warning: Factory resetting deletes everything from your device, so please ensure you’ve backed up all your data. This includes saved accounts, apps, app data, documents, and more.

If you’re not familiar with the steps involved in creating a backup of your data, then check out our in-depth guide on how to back up an Android phone. Once done, you can follow the steps given below to factory reset your Google Pixel 7.

Factory resetting your Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro

Note: We’re using a Pixel 7 to show you how to reset in this article, but the same steps can also be used for the Pixel 7 Pro as they both have the same software and UI.

• The first thing you need to do is navigate to the Settings page on your Pixel 7. The easiest way to do this is by swiping down twice from the home screen to expand the quick settings page and selecting the settings cog.
• Once you’re in, simply scroll all the way down to the bottom of the Settings page to find an option named System. This is where you’ll find a lot of your system settings.
• Now, look for the Reset options at the bottom of the page and select it to expand all the options to reset your phone.

• On this page, select Erase all data (factory reset) to initiate the factory reset process. You’ll now be directed to a new page with a quick summary of everything that you’re about to erase from your device.
• Once you’ve verified all the information, scroll all the way down to the bottom to see an Erase all data button. Simply select it to clear all your data and restore your Google Pixel 7 to factory settings.

If you followed all the steps properly, then your Google Pixel 7 will now reboot to factory settings. Your device may reboot multiple times while it resets, so keep that in mind. Once the entire process completes, your device will reboot into the setup wizard.

Factory resetting the phone, as we mentioned earlier, will erase everything from your device. This, however, isn’t the only reset option available to you on your Pixel 7. You can also choose to reset just your network settings or app preferences without losing all the data. You’ll find these options within the Reset options page, so be sure to pick the right one.

Google Pixel 7

The Google Pixel 7 offers an excellent main camera, second generation Google silicon, and a unique and premium build quality for a superb flagship package.

Buy from Best Buy

Google Pixel 7 Pro

The high-end Pixel 7 Pro has a better display higher resolution and refresh rate, a bigger battery, and an additional telephoto lens at the back.

Buy from Best Buy

If you’re planning to sell your Pixel 7, then we highly recommend stopping by our best deals page, so you can find the best price for it online and name your price accordingly to the potential buyers. But if you’re resetting to get a fresh start on your device then you might also want to pick up one of the best cases to treat it like an entirely new phone.

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Windows Insiders in Release Preview get multiple fixes for Windows 10 and 11

In addition to rolling out the first major feature drop for Windows 11 version 22H2, Microsoft released a couple of cumulative updates for Windows Insiders last night. One of them is for those still running the original release of Windows 11, and the other is for anyone still on Windows 10. Windows 11 users are getting Windows 11 build 22000.1163 (KB5018483), and it actually includes a new feature.

Microsoft is making the Task Manager more accessible, even if you don’t have the newer version of Windows 11. What that means is that when you right-click the taskbar, you’ll see Task Manager as an option so you can access it more quickly. This was also in the feature drop for Windows 11 version 22H2, but it seems to be rolling out gradually in both cases. You may not see it right away. Another notable change is that Microsoft is improving the performance of Windows search, so finding your files should be faster now.

Aside from this, the new build is all about fixes, and the list is fairly long. The fixes include an issue where games that run using Direct3D 9 may not work, as well as graphical glitches in games that still use this technology. There’s also a fix for a problem where an OS upgrade may stop responding and then fail. You can find the full list below.

Fixes in Windows 11 build 22000.1163

• We fixed an issue that affects Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM) authentication hardening. We will automatically raise the authentication level for all non-anonymous activation requests from DCOM clients to RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_PKT_INTEGRITY. This occurs if the authentication level is below Packet Integrity.
• We fixed a DCOM issue that affects the Remote Procedure Call Service (rpcss.exe). We raise the authentication level to RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_PKT_INTEGRITY instead of RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_CONNECT if RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_NONE is specified.
• We fixed an issue that affects the Microsoft Azure Active Directory (AAD) Application Proxy connector. It cannot retrieve a Kerberos ticket on behalf of the user. The error message is, “The handle specified is invalid (0x80090301).”
• We fixed an issue that affects scheduled Native Image Generator (Ngen.exe) tasks on devices that have certain processors.
• We fixed an issue that affects certificate mapping. When it fails, lsass.exe might stop working in schannel.dll.
• We fixed an issue that causes an OS upgrade to stop responding, and then it fails.
• We fixed an issue that affects a task you schedule to run every two weeks. It runs every week.
• We fixed an issue that affects Microsoft Direct3D 9 games. The graphics hardware stops working if the hardware does not have a native Direct3D 9 driver.
• We fixed an issue that affects the font of three Chinese characters. When you format these characters as bold, the width size is wrong.
• We fixed graphical issues in games that use Microsoft D3D9 on some platforms.
• We fixed an issue that affects Microsoft Edge when it is in IE Mode. The titles of pop-up windows and tabs are wrong.
• We fixed an issue that affects Microsoft Edge IE mode. It stops you from opening webpages. This occurs when you enable Windows Defender Application Guard (WDAG) and you do not configure Network Isolation policies.
• We fixed an issue that affects input method editors (IME) from Microsoft and third parties. They stop working when you close the IME window. This occurs if the IME uses Windows Text Services Framework (TSF) 1.0.
• We fixed an issue that affects the lasso tool in a graphics editing program.
• We fixed an issue that affects a universal printer. You cannot reinstall it after you remove it.
• We fixed an issue that creates a duplicate print queue. Because of this, the original print queue stops working.
• We fixed an issue that affects some drivers. They use more power when you play hardware-protected digital rights management (DRM) content.
• We fixed an issue that affects driver installation on certain hardware. You cannot see the display of the progress of the installation.
• We fixed an issue that affects the Clipchamp application that is in the Windows 11 SE edition. Clipchamp will not run.
• We fixed an issue that affects .msi files. Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) will ignore them when you disable script enforcement.
• We fixed an issue that affects a remote desktop virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) scenario. The session might use the wrong time zone.
• We fixed an issue that affects File Explorer on a remote desktop (RD) session host. File Explorer stops working. This occurs when a non-Windows client connects to a Windows 11 RD session host, and you enable the Time Zone Redirection policy.
• We fixed an issue that affects the button style BS_PUSHLIKE. Buttons that have this style are difficult to identify against a dark background.
• We fixed an issue in that stops the credentials UI from displaying in IE mode when you use Microsoft Edge.
• We fixed an issue that affects Server Manager. It might reset the wrong disk when several disks have the same UniqueId.

As for Windows 10 users – specifically those running Windows 10 version 21H2 – the update is build 19044.2192 (KB5018482). This build doesn’t bring any new features and focuses exclusively on fixes, many of which are the same as what Windows 11 is getting. That includes the fixes for Direct3D 9 games, for example. If you’re curious, you can find the full list below.

Fixes in Windows 10 build 19044.2192

• We fixed an issue that affects Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM) authentication hardening. We will automatically raise the authentication level for all non-anonymous activation requests from DCOM clients to RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_PKT_INTEGRITY. This occurs if the authentication level is below Packet Integrity.
• We fixed a DCOM issue that affects the Remote Procedure Call Service (rpcss.exe). We raise the authentication level to RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_PKT_INTEGRITY instead of RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_CONNECT if RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_NONE is specified.
• We fixed an issue that causes an OS upgrade to stop responding, and then it fails.
• We fixed an issue that affects the Microsoft Azure Active Directory (AAD) Application Proxy connector. It cannot retrieve a Kerberos ticket on behalf of the user. The error message is, “The handle specified is invalid (0x80090301).”
• We fixed an issue that affects the font of three Chinese characters. When you format these characters as bold, the width size is wrong.
• We fixed an issue that affects Microsoft Direct3D 9 games. The graphics hardware stops working if the hardware does not have a native Direct3D 9 driver.
• We fixed graphical issues in games that use Microsoft D3D9 on some platforms.
• We fixed an issue that affects Microsoft Edge when it is in IE Mode. The titles of pop-up windows and tabs are wrong.
• We fixed an issue that affects Microsoft Edge IE mode. It stops you from opening webpages. This occurs when you enable Windows Defender Application Guard (WDAG) and you do not configure Network Isolation policies.
• We fixed an issue that might cause an application to stop responding. This might occur when the input queue overflows.
• We fixed an issue that affects input method editors (IME) from Microsoft and third parties. They stop working when you close the IME window. This occurs if the IME uses Windows Text Services Framework (TSF) 1.0.
• We fixed an issue that affects the lasso tool in a graphics editing program.
• We fixed an issue that affects Miracast advertisements. This issue occurs on Surface Hub devices under certain conditions.
• We fixed an issue that affects some drivers. They use more power when you play hardware-protected digital rights management (DRM) content.
• We fixed an issue that affects .msi files. Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) will ignore them when you disable script enforcement.
• We fixed an issue that affects a remote desktop virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) scenario. The session might use the wrong time zone.

If you’re in the Release Preview channel of the Windows Insider program, you can get the updates above by checking for updates in the Settings app, under Windows Update. Windows 11 users – and Windows 10 users with hardware that supports Windows 11 – will also likely see the option to upgrade the Windows version itself. You’ll need to select the cumulative update mentioned above if you just want the fixes.

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Source: Microsoft

The post Windows Insiders in Release Preview get multiple fixes for Windows 10 and 11 appeared first on XDA.

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These are the best USB PD fast chargers for phones and laptops in 2022

Fast chargers are very useful in certain situations. If you’re ready to leave the house but your smartphone or laptop battery is low, a compatible fast charger will be able to add a decent amount of charge in a short period of time. While some device makers bundle a compatible fast charger in the box, others either don’t pack any kind of fast charger or bundle a lower-powered charging brick. Also, it’s becoming a trend not to bundle any kind of charger in the box for smartphones. You can safely blame Apple for that.

So whatever the reason, if you’re in the market for a fast charger that supports USB Power Delivery (USB PD), we can help. In this article, we’ve selected some of the best USB PD Fast Chargers on the market. You can pick one that matches the supported wattage in your budget.

Navigate this article:

• What is USB PD?
• How to choose the right charger?
• Best USB PD fast chargers with a single port
• Best USB PD fast chargers with two ports
• Best multi-port USB-PD fast chargers

What is USB PD?

USB PD (Power Delivery) is a specification used by manufacturers to deliver increased power over USB to their devices. It works with USB Battery Charging implementations to provide a robust fast charging solution. USB PD was originally introduced back in 2012 and has since been revised multiple times. The latest revision — USB Power Delivery Specification Revision 3.1 — was announced in May 2021, and it supports delivering up to 240W of power over USB Type-C. The USB PD 3.1 chargers are already here and we’ve added a few of them to this collection below.

In terms of cross-compatibility, Qualcomm’s QuickCharge 4.0, 4+, and 5 are compatible with the USB PD specification. Similarly, Huawei and Samsung’s fast charging standards also work with USB PD. So if you have a device with QuickCharge 4 or Huawei SuperCharge support, it can be charged faster with USB PD chargers as well. Notably, some of Samsung’s devices use Programmable Power Supply (PPS), so unless your USB PD charger also supports PPS, you won’t get the top charging speed. Your device will still charge faster than normal though.

If you want to know more about various fast-charging standards and fast charging in general, make sure to read our detailed explainer on fast charging.

How to choose the right charger?

Choosing the right charger for your smartphone or laptop can be a struggle due to the presence of various charging protocols, power requirements, and more. Let’s take a quick look at some of the most important things you need to consider while picking the right charger for your device:

• Supported charging protocol: This is an important factor to consider mainly because not all smartphones and laptops support the universal charging protocol such as USB Power Delivery. OnePlus smartphones, for instance, uses OnePlus’ proprietary Warp charge tech, thereby forcing you to opt out of third-party options. So, figure out what charging protocol your smartphone supports. Apple iPhones, Samsung Galaxy phones, and Google Pixels all support USB Power Delivery, albeit at lower wattages only.
• Power requirement of your device: The next step is to make sure how much your device needs in watts (W). Apple’s new iPhone 14 Pro Max requires 27W, so you’ll need a charger that supports at least 27W or higher to charge this phone at its maximum supported speed. Typically, most smartphones vary between 18-80W, whereas laptops can easily go up to 140W.
• Chargers with multiple USB ports: You may come across a lot of chargers with multiple USB-C or USB-A ports. While these are great for charging multiple devices, they may not provide the fastest speeds when all ports are used simultaneously due to power sharing. So it’s important to understand how much power a particular charger can deliver through each of its ports individually and simultaneously, and figure if you need all ports to be working at maximum speed all through the day. For instance, a port usually reserved for charging a smartwatch or earbuds will only be active for a couple of hours in a day, allowing you to get away with a lower-powered multi-port charger.
• GaN chargers: Simply put, Gallium Nitride a.k.a GaN chargers are physically smaller in size and are efficient at transferring current as they lose less energy to heat. The pricing for them is a bit on the higher side as the technology is fairly new. We recommend picking up GaN chargers over others if your budget allows for it.

With all these factors in mind, a typical purchase decision will count the number of devices you need to simultaneously charge and how quick you need the charger to be. For example, if you have a Macbook Air and an iPhone charging for most parts of the day, you can get away with a 65W USB Power Delivery charger with two ports. But if you have a more power-hungry laptop and more devices to charge simultaneously, you may need to look at 100W multi-port chargers. If you just have an iPhone to charge, you can get by with a single-port 18W or 30W charger, depending on how recent your phone is.

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Best USB PD fast chargers with a single port

If you only have one device to charge, then you should consider buying a charger with a single USB-C port. These chargers tend to be the most portable and affordable ones on the market.

UGREEN 20W USB-C PD charger

Budget 20W USB-C charger

This simple USB-C charger from UGREEN is one of the most affordable USB-PD chargers you'll find in this collection. This particular charger supports a number of charging protocols including PD 3.0, QC 4.0, PPS, BC1.2, etc., so it works well with phones that need 20W of power or less. This 20W charger isn't as compact as some other premium GaN chargers out there, but it's thinner than a lot of other bulky wall adapters out there.

Buy from Amazon

Anker 511 Nano 3 Charger

30W USB-C GaN charger

The Anker 511 Nano 3 charger is perfect for those who want a simple charger with a single USB Type-C port. This compact GaN charger, as you can see, is smaller than a lot of other 30W chargers out there. It also comes with foldable prongs that make it easier to carry around. It is available to purchase in a bunch of different colors, but you'll have to buy a cable separately as you don't get one with the charger itself.

Buy from Amazon

Buy from Anker

Nekteck 60W GaN charger

60W USB-C GaN charger

The Nekteck 60W is one of the fastest single-port USB-PD chargers you can buy on the market right now. It uses Gallium Nitrate (GaN) instead of Silicon for a compact design and cooler performance. One of the best things about this particular USB-PD charger is that it comes with a 2-meter USB Type-C cable in the box. It also has an LED light at the bottom of the USB-C port to indicate the charging status of the connected device.

Buy from Amazon

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Best USB PD fast chargers with two ports

The USB PD chargers mentioned in this section have two USB ports, so they’re perfect for those who want to charge more than one device simultaneously.

Baseus 30W Dual port

USB-C (18W) + USB-A (12W)

This Baseus Dual port charger, as the name implies, comes with two USB ports with which you can charge two devices simultaneously. If you're charging two devices simultaneously, then you can get up to 18W power from USB-C port and up to 12W power from the USB-A port. This particular charger is available to purchase in two colors and it also comes with a foldable plug that makes it easier to carry around.

Buy from Amazon

Spigen ArcStation Pro 40W

USB-C (20W) + USB-C (20W)

The Spigen ArcStation 40W charger, as you can see, comes with two USB Type-C ports. You can get up to 30W of power when only one of the two ports is in use for charging. You can also use both ports to charge two devices simultaneously, but you'll only get 20W power in each port in that case. The ArcStation 40W charger also uses GaN tech, so it's compact and is more reliable with its power delivery.

Buy from Amazon

Amazon Basics 60W charger

USB-C (50W) + USB-C (18W)

This Amazon Basics USB-PD charger may not be the most portable option out there on the market, but it can deliver the fastest speeds out of the bunch in this section. You can get up to 60W charging speeds while using a single port, meaning you can even use it to charge laptops with PD support. It's only available in one color and you don't get a charging cable with it, so keep that in mind.

Buy from Amazon

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Best multi-port USB-PD fast chargers

We recommend picking up a multi-port USB-PD charger if you want to charge more than two devices simultaneously. We’ve included

Baseus 100W 4-Port GaN II Fast Charging Station

2 USB-C + 2 USB-A

The Baseus 100W 4-Port GaN II Charging Station comes with four ports - two Type-C and two Type-A. This particular charger can deliver up to 100W of power when you're only using a single port. But if you want to use all ports simultaneously to charge multiple devices, then it uses BPS II (Baseus Power Split) tech to intelligently allocate power for all devices. Unlike a lot of other chargers out there, this one comes with a 100W USB-C to USB-C cable.

Buy from Amazon

UGREEN Four port charger

3 USB-C + 1 USB-A

The Ugreen four-port PD charger is an excellent option if you want to charge more than two devices. It has three Type-C ports, all of which are USB PD-compatible, and one Type-A port. As for the charging speeds, you can get a maximum of 100W power while using a single port, and up to 45W power while using all the ports simultaneously. This compact charger also uses GaN tech for reliable power output.

Buy from Amazon

UGREEN Nexode 140W

GaN PD 3.1 charger

We're wrapping up the list with the UGREEN Nexode charger which is the only USB PD 3.1 charger in this collection. The USB-PD 3.1 chargers are still relatively new to the market and they tend to be on the expensive side. You can get up to 140W of power via one of the USB-C ports, so it's even capable of charging powerful and demanding machines like the new MacBook Pro 16 with M1 Pro or M1 Max chip.

Buy from Amazon

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These are the best USB PD fast chargers you can buy on the market right now. As you can see, there are a number of options with different wattages and port selections. You can choose one depending on your requirements. We’ll continue to update this post with newer and better options in the future, so be sure to explore those options too.

Still confused? Choose this charger

If you just need a simple charger for your phone, the Anker 511 charger is a good option to consider. Those wanting to charge more than one device can buy the Baseus 30W dual port or the Spigen Arcstation Pro charger. More advanced users with multi-devices, on the other hand, can go with the Baseus fast charging station.

So which USB PD charger are you planning to get? Let us know in the comments section. Also, check out our recommendations on the Best USB Cables to go along with your new charger.

The post These are the best USB PD fast chargers for phones and laptops in 2022 appeared first on XDA.

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Google is reportedly bolstering its hardware division by shifting resources away from its Assistant

Google has warned employees about impending changes for months, and it has more recently started cutting costs across the company. In September, the firm canceled projects and began winding down its internal incubation project Area 120, and perhaps the biggest story was it shutting down Stadia, its online game streaming service. While more changes are undoubtedly on the horizon, a new report states that Google is shifting its strategy so that it can double down on its hardware division.

The Information by way of Ars Technica reports that while there have been sizeable cuts within the company, but it looks like most of the hardware divisions are safe. In fact, Google has recognized that the tide is turning in the Android market, with even its top competitor, Samsung, slowly losing market share to Apple. Furthermore, Google thinks that it can occupy this space by leveraging its own hardware and doubling down on its Pixel hardware lineup.

Apparently, in order to accomplish this, the firm will shift labor from non-Google devices to focus more on its own products. As for what areas are seeing shifts internally, the report states that there might be adjustments with staff working on Google TV, reassigning them to work on Wear OS and the Pixel Tablet. Furthermore, the report also seems to discuss cuts to teams working on Google Assistant for devices such as TVs, headphones, speakers, and more. As stated before, the bulk of the change will have to do with third-party manufacturers of these kinds of devices.

While this certainly looks bad for manufacturers, some will apparently be supported, like Samsung, Xiaomi, and OnePlus. Unfortunately, that’s a really small number when compared to all of the manufacturers around the world that produce Android products. Of course, these are just reports, so it remains to be seen whether we will see the ramifications of these actions in the near future.

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Source: The Information
Via: Ars Technica

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Netflix eyes cloud gaming service, opens new game studio

Today, Netflix announced its quarterly earnings, and the results were actually pretty impressive. The company has made a turnaround, exceeding its goals, adding more subscribers, and also generating more revenue. While it looks to the future, the company has started to make new moves, as it will debut a new ad-supported tier in November, and it will also be committing more to its gaming segment with plans to bring even more titles to the platform. Apparently, the company has plans to dive even deeper into gaming, announcing during the TechCrunch Disrupt conference that it was looking at cloud gaming and, most surprising, that it was opening up a new game studio.

During the TechCrunch Disrupt, Nike Verdu, who is the VP of Gaming at Netflix, shared that the company was “seriously” looking at offering a cloud gaming service. While most companies currently offer the service as a standalone product, if Netflix were to offer such a service, it would be part of the current subscription service, or as Verdu put it, a “value-add.” Competitors like Amazon have already started dabbling, with it currently offering Luna, its own game streaming service. Just recently, Google announced it would shut down its service because it hadn’t been able to attract subscribers. From what we can see, clearly, this space is not an easy one, so if Netflix were to engage, it would have to be extremely cautious.

In addition to its cloud gaming ambitions, Verdu also revealed that Netflix was going to open a brand new game development studio in Southern California. Previously, Netflix purchased game studios, but this will be the firm’s first from the ground up. The new studio will be helmed by industry veteran Chako Sonny, who was previously the executive producer of Overwatch. While this is tremendous news, it will be interesting to see just how far Netflix’s gaming journey goes.

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Source: TechCrunch

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Xbox Design Lab offers customization options for Elite Series 2 controllers

Xbox Design Lab has offered customization options for Xbox controllers since 2016. But the Elite Series 2 controller was never part of the offering, leaving many gamers out of luck. Now, for the first time, Microsoft is including the ability to customize Elite Series 2 controllers, along with new customization options.

Starting today, gamers can head to the Xbox Design Lab website to customize their own Elite Series 2 Controller. The customization part is quite detailed, with the option to change the color of the body, back case, D-pad, bumpers, triggers, thumb sticks, and more. You can take things even further by swapping the D-Pad for a cross-shaped version if you want. Also, for the first time in Xbox Design Lab history, customers will have the option to customize the thumb stick base and ring, which definitely adds a nice accent of color. If you want the complete package, you can also add an engraving on the front of up to 16 characters.

The Elite Series 2 Controller is one of the best from Microsoft, constructed of high-grade materials and components and featuring numerous customization options. The rubberized grips and tensioned thumb sticks provide maximum control, especially when paired with short hair trigger locks. You can even enable a custom button mapping option and expect the controller to last up to 40 hours on a single charge. Best of all, the new Core model is quite a bit cheaper than the standard Elite Series 2 model, coming in at $50 less. Microsoft was able to accomplish this by removing some of the accessories that come packaged with the original model. But the good thing is that you can still purchase these accessories separately if you want. Microsoft offers the accessory bundle through its Complete Component Pack costing $59.99.

As a final touch to the customization process, users will be able to change the color of the Xbox button using the Xbox Accessories app as long as they also have the Xbox September update. This option will expand beyond color, giving users the option to set the brightness level as well. While you have the option to customize an Elite Series 2 controller, Microsoft still offers the ability to customize a standard Xbox Wireless controller as well. The Elite Series 2 Controller will cost $129.99, but if you want to customize it, you can pick up the controller with customization service for just $20 more. If you’re looking to customize an Xbox Wireless controller, it will cost substantially less, coming in at $69.99. If interested, be sure to head to the source link down below.

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Source: Xbox Design Lab
Via: Xbox News

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