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Oppo A54s specifications, design, and colour options have leaked ahead of the phone's launch. The upcoming A-series smartphone from Oppo has been listed on a retailer site ahead of it being officially announced by the company. The Oppo A54s smartphone is listed with a 6.5-inch IPS LCD display, a MediaTek Helio G35 octa-core processor, and 4GB of RAM. The smartphone, which is speculated to be the successor to the Oppo A54, is shown to feature a triple rear camera setup headlined by a 50-megapixel main sensor and a 5,000mAh battery. Oppo A54s got listed on a New Zealand e-commerce website Harvey Norman. The handset is listed on the website featuring a 6.5-inch (1,600x720 pixels) IPS LCD display. The Pearl Blue colour variant of the smartphone is shown on the site. Oppo A54s is said to run on the Android 10 operating system. The e-commerce listing suggests the Oppo A54s will feature a MediaTek Helio G35 octa-core processor under the hood with 4GB of RAM and a 128GB of storage option. The storage can be expanded up to 256GB with a microSD card. In terms of optics, the smartphone is listed to feature a triple camera setup at the back with a 50-megapixel main sensor and two 2-megapixel secondary sensors. For selfies, the Oppo A54s is seen with an 8-megapixel front camera. The latest Oppo A-series smartphone is said to offer 4G connectivity, with no mention of 5G. Oppo A54s is listed to get Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth v5, NFC, USB Type-C, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The dual (nano) sim handset is said to have an IPX4 rating for water resistance and measure 163.8x75.6.8.4mm. Oppo A54s is tipped to weigh 190 grams. Tipster Sudhanshu Ambhore also shared the specifications of the purported handset on par with the e-commerce listing via Twitter.

The macOS 12 Monterey is bringing a host of updates and new features to Macs and MacBooks, and Apple users are getting excited. The new macOS, which was announced at WWDC may not be out yet, but it’s already set tongues wagging by promising a substantial upgrade that most weren't expecting – including Shortcuts, a redesigned Safari, and Universal Control. Luckily, folks won’t have long to wait. macOS 12 Monterey is expected to launch on October 18 at the company’s Fall 2021 event alongside the rumored MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021) and MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021). As with its predecessors, it’s going to be available as a free upgrade, with its public beta already on hand for download if you’d like a head start on what's new. If you’d like to hold on until the final version of macOS 12 Monterey is released, which we would recommend when most bugs and problems have been identified and fixed by early testers, it is slated for public release ‘this fall’ so you won’t have long to wait. In the meantime, here’s everything we know about Apple’s upcoming macOS. Cut to the chase What is it? macOS 12 Monterey, the successor to macOS 11 Big Sur When is it out? Later this year How much will it cost? It will be free macOS 12 Monterey system requirements The list of Macs that will be able to run macOS 12 Monterey has been announced, with Apple promising that "macOS Monterey will support the broadest lineup of Macs in history, including the latest iMac, MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and Mac mini, as well as Apple’s Intel-based Macs". Here are the devices that can run macOS 12 Monterey: iMac late 2015 and later iMac Pro 2017 and later MacBook Air early 2015 and later MacBook Pro early 2015 and later Mac Pro late 2013 and later Mac mini late 2014 and later MacBook early 2016 and later macOS 12 name: Monterey Apple has announced macOS 12's new name: Monterey, picked due to it being part of Big Sur by the Californian coast. macOS 12 Monterey release date This was announced at WWDC, with a developer preview of macOS Monterey released alongside the announcement. This is only available to developers, but there will be a public beta version for you to try out in July. While a September event traditionally confirms release dates for iOS and iPadOS, which happened, for the Mac it's been known to be a month later. Especially with rumors speaking about an upcoming M1X MacBook Pro, we may hear about a release date for Monterey in October.

Anyone who has ever tried to drag their TV outside at a party to watch the big game or have an impromptu Street Fighter tournament will tell you that it's fruitless labor on a bright day. Turns out that your fancy gaming TV is not bright enough to contend with the sun. Thankfully, if you don't want to spend thousands of dollars on an all-weather outdoor TV, you can just build one yourself on the cheap with some fairly easy-to-find parts. Matt from DIY Perks decided to build himself a crazy bright outdoor 4K TV for less than $400 using a faulty 4K TV with a bad backlight, a glass top from an old coffee table, a bunch of aluminum, and intensely bright LED panels. The rest of the parts for the build can easily be found online for cheap. So, if you have the patience and know how to use UV reactive glue, you got this. If that wasn't enough, the entire thing is watercooled using cheap plumbing bits and water pumps. The TV itself will have a built-in reservoir that should keep temps manageable even on the hottest days. As you can see from the video, the final product is a hulking, bright as hell weatherproof TV that'll let you play Rocket League on a clear summer day on the lawn or a rainy Sunday on the deck. The funny thing is we don't know how bright the new TV is because it was so bright, it blew out their instruments, but the rough estimate was around 2000 nits. For context, the latest phones usually have a peak brightness of 1000 nits to view the screens outside. The project costs can range from $250-350 depending on if you went with more expensive LED (or brighter) panels and heatsinks. Most of the parts were from recycled materials or broken electronics. Of course, if you want to go fancier, you can order custom glass to match the exact size of the screen. That way you don't have that thick black border you see on the TV in the video, but again that adds to the overall cost. Until then, instead of tossing old and damaged electronics, you can always find a use for them.

Anyone who’s been around PC gaming long enough has heard the age-old question: Can it run Crysis? The classic title had a reputation for putting even the most hardcore of systems to the test, and the arrival of Crysis Remastered and the Crysis Remastered Trilogy is giving modern machines a similar challenge. But NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW makes answering the question a simple “yes” for just about any device you game on. GeForce NOW is a cloud gaming service that puts high-performance hardware at your fingertips without you needing to plunk down the cash for your own gaming rig. With GeForce NOW, you can access over 1,000 games, including over 90 free-to-play titles, and play them on your phone, tablet, PC, Mac, Chromebook, Chrome browser, and even on some smart TV platforms. GeForce NOW lets you play games you already own from po[CENSORED]r game stores like Steam, UPlay, Epic Games Store, and GOG.com. That makes the opportunity to play the freshly released Crysis Remastered Trilogy on Epic Games Store ripe for GeForce NOW. The Crysis Remastered Trilogy takes the classic series and breathes new life into it with updated technology from improved lighting to enhanced character models, weapons, and environments as well as higher-definition textures. Where the original series pushed the systems of the time to their limits, the new game can do the same for modern game platforms. With GeForce NOW, you won’t have to worry about whether your system is powerful enough to run the game smoothly. With a strong internet connection, you can stream the game to hardware that you would never have dreamed of gaming on. On top of that, GeForce NOW subscribers who get the premium tier of service for $9.99/month not only can jump into the game faster and play longer, but they get to enjoy the game with even further enhanced graphics through DLSS and RTX real-time ray tracing, which is the holy grail of realistic lighting technology.With real-time ray tracing, the game is actually simulating the path of light rays from light sources to create extremely realistic reflections and shadows. With this added sense of realism you can get further immersed in games as they become ever more lifelike. Since ray-tracing is an incredibly demanding technology in games, it’s all the better that you can simply rely on NVIDIA’s cloud hardware to handle all the processing for you. You can sign-up for free to see if it’s for you and upgrade to the premium tier for priority access to servers, longer play sessions, and the ability to go RTX On in select games. Check in each week on GFN Thursdays to learn about the latest games and updates coming to GeForce NOW. Link: https://www.pcgamer.com/with-nvidias-geforce-now-just-about-any-system-can-run-crysis/

Skoda has made huge strides with its latest Octavia and the all-new Enyaq iV electric SUV, but the brand hasn’t forgotten its flagship saloon and estate, the Superb, which celebrates its 20th birthday this year. Spied testing recently, the Mk4 Skoda Superb will introduce a fresh approach to exterior styling and an all-new cabin when it arrives in 2024. The Superb will still be based on MQB, the VW Group’s modular platform. But as the car caught testing shows, it will get a slight increase in length and wheelbase to help further distance it from the Octavia, which grew for its fourth generation. Expect the Superb’s exterior look, as previewed in our exclusive images, to make use of that extra length, including a slightly longer rear overhang and an almost coupé-like roofline for the hatch. The side profile will be enhanced by strong single shoulder lines running along the flanks, identified recently by Skoda exterior designer Petr Matusinec as one of its key design criteria. The car should also feature one of the widest ever executions of Skoda’s grille. The Superb will also be powered by the VW Group’s final generation of combustion engines, including 2.0-litre petrol and diesel motors compatible with Euro 7 emissions rules likely to be introduced in 2025. It will also be available with a new plug-in hybrid powertrain; Skoda CEO Thomas Schäfer recently confirmed to Auto Express that while there are no plans for a PHEV version of the Kodiaq, because it has a higher percentage of private buyers, the likes of the Octavia and Superb remain po[CENSORED]r fleet choices, so justify the development cost of accommodating hybrid variants. It’s inside where the Superb should get closest to revolution, with a new approach to how users interact with the controls. This has been a controversial area within the VW Group, thanks to a mixed response for the interface within the latest Golf. Skoda avoided some of these problems through better use of its infotainment screens, but Schäfer says that more fundamental revisions will arrive with the Superb. “The car’s interior is a huge step forward,” he told us. “It will carry our new user language, which extends to what you touch and feel. Superb will get it first, and then [the second-generation] Kodiaq after. “We’ll see some elements from Enyaq iV, but we think we need to do more of the traditional controls, not only playing with the biggest display in the industry [a hint that the Superb could feature the Enyaq’s 13-inch screen] but also having elements that make sense for our brand. If there’s one brand that should be functional, clear and easy to use, it’s us.” Auto Express understands this could mean multiple functions for single physical dials and switches. Link: https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/skoda/superb/356192/new-2024-skoda-superb-swoop-sleek-new-look

This mighty monument, running 177 miles along the England-Wales border, offers breathtaking views and walks that entice you to keep going we come up a steep hillside, stepping past twisted trees laden with lichen and scarlet berries, all dripping with rain. A mob of ravens clack overhead. Then, as we come out on the top, I understand at last what the fuss is about. Ahead is a bracken-covered rampart as tall as a house, curving forward into the mist, its steeper face turned west towards hills and valleys that are dimly visible through sheets of rain and cloud. “This is it!” shouts Rob above the noise of the downpour. “Look how it follows the contours, how they built it to impress anyone coming up from the west.” I knew, of course, about Offa’s Dyke. I’d seen the photographs. It was the faint remains of an earthwork, like the wrinkled lip of England, running along the border between it and Wales, built by some medieval megalomaniac with a silly name. I had not expected this massive fortification, barging its way across the broad shoulders of Llanfair Hill, a few miles north of Knighton. The path that accompanies the dyke is 50 this year and Rob Dingle, who has been its trail officer and custodian for the past 14 years, has watched as interest has steadily grown: as many as 3,000 walkers complete the 177-mile trail every year (usually taking about two weeks, although the record journey time is 52 hours, 26 minutes). The path, he says, does not always follow the historic dyke, leaving it where better views are to be had from the hills. “Like north of Llangollen,” he says. “There’s a brilliant section across the escarpment.” Ironically, while the path seems very secure in its status as a National Trail, the dyke is under constant threat: legal protection is patchy, and in addition to natural erosion, agriculture, developers and even walkers can cause damage – all problems we will encounter. Today we are tackling what most walkers agree is the demanding sixth segment (assuming you arrive from the south, as most people do). From the town of Knighton, the path takes you across a series of steep hills, a rollercoaster of a ride all the way to Montgomery, 18 miles to the north. Not everyone comes prepared for the challenge. “I had one overseas walker write to complain that there were no rangers, no waterpoints and no defribrillators,” says Rob. Fortunately, most visitors love the simple isolation and lack of modern clutter. We meet a few of them during our day: Maylis, a French woman, who is walking around England; and Jack, from north Wales, who is running and walking Offa’s Dyke Path in five days. “I did Bangor to Cardiff,” he says. “Now I’m going the other way.” Usually, however, we are alone, either in cloud, or when it suddenly clears for a few minutes, in a vast Tolkienish landscape of rolling hills and distant peaks. The path was one of the first of Britain’s 16 National Trails, a development that began after the second world war as part of a broader government campaign to open up the countryside to the public. With the soon-to-be-completed England Coast Path among them, these are the gold standard trails, well-marked and with salaried trail officers to watch over them. Offa’s Dyke Path is now served by a number of local hotels and B&Bs, whose drivers will often pick up walkers where they finish and drop them back at the same spot next day – it’s a useful service when attractive towns such as Bishop’s Castle or Clun are a few miles off the route. We reach the trig point on Cwm-sanaham Hill, at 409 metres, with a great panoramic view west towards the railway viaduct at Knucklas. The mist and cloud drifting across the landscape seem entirely appropriate, as this ancient earthwork is permanently shrouded in mystery. It is said that King Offa of Mercia had it built in the late 8th century to protect his kingdom, but this is a defensive structure without forts, towers and any of the infrastructure you would expect. Professor Keith Ray of Cardiff University believes it was designed to flaunt power and capability: “It’s a monument to a vainglorious king who wanted to impress.” Ray and his team have used lidar (laser scanning) and drones to discover about 12 miles of previously undetected dyke. “We’ve found that it ends, as it begins, with a brilliant flourish. There’s also a wonderful new section where it crosses the river Alyn near Mold.” With such discoveries, the old belief that the dyke never actually stretched from sea to sea (Liverpool Bay in the north and the Severn Estuary in the south), is being replaced by a new vision of a much larger and more important monument. Offa himself had battled his way to supremacy in southern England and was clearly well connected internationally (a gold coin bearing his image from AD774 is inscribed in Arabic). His ambition was to expand Mercia and assert its dominance. “If he’d succeeded,” says Ray, “the English might call themselves Mercians now.” In fact, within a generation of Offa’s death in AD796, the kingdom was defeated by the rising power of Wessex. The first written record of the dyke is in a biography of King Alfred from a century later, in which the author, a Welsh monk called Asser, describes Offa as “a vigorous king who terrified all the neighboring kings”. Link: https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2021/oct/14/offas-dyke-path-at-50

Five women who were born in Congo and separated from their mothers by the colonial authorities are suing Belgium for crimes against humanity.The mixed-race women were taken away from their black mothers at birth 70 years ago solely on the basis of the colour of their skin.Belgium controlled the central African country from the 19th Century until it won its independence in 1960. Millions of Africans died during colonial rule.At the time, most mixed-race children were not recognised by their fathers and were not allowed to mix with wider society. Thousands were placed into orphanages or other religious institutions where conditions were harsh. The Belgian state, however, contests whether their plight was a crime against humanity. The five women were not brought to Belgium when the Republic of the Congo - as it was then known - gained independence in 1960.Belgium 'wakes up' to its bloody colonial history The horrific consequences of rubber's toxic pastLéa, Monique, Simone, Noëlle and Marie-Josée are asking for an initial sum of €50,000 (£42,312; $57,964) in reparations from the former colonial power. They also want an expert to be nominated to determine further moral damages. The Belgian state officially apologised for its actions ins the Congo in 2019, with then Prime Minister Charles Michel acknowledging there had been "targeted segregation". But Monique Bitu Bingi, one of the five women that have gone to court, told the AFP news agency: "We were destroyed. Apologies are easy, but when you do something you have to take responsibility for it." All five women were born between 1945 and 1950 and taken away from their mothers between the ages of two and four. And according to legal documents, their fathers refused to recognise the children and the colonial authorities threatened their mothers with reprisals if they refused to let them go. The case is being examined in Brussels on Thursday, with a potential for further hearings. Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58903939

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The BMW 7 Series limo is set to return, with an unveiling in late 2022. However, BMW is planning to build its next luxury saloon on a platform that will allow both combustion and pure-electric power, with the i7 name being lined up for the new EV model. Our exclusive images show how the new 7 Series is expected to look. BMW will introduce a new headlight design, in which the current car’s combined daytime running lights and main headlamps will be ditched in favour of split units, with the latter located lower down in the bumper. As is customary on recent BMWs, the next 7 Series will feature huge kidney grilles, while the streamlined nose references the iX SUV. Buyers of the Mercedes S-Class rival will also be able to choose between standard and long-wheelbase layouts. The rear of the new 7 Series is a little more conventional, with changes including a taller, reshaped bootlid and new, slimmer tail-lights. Higher-spec models will also be fitted with a recessed twin-exit exhaust system that’s set into a diffuser. BMW hasn’t released any technical specifications for the hybrid 7 Series or the electric i7. However, their rivals will include the Tesla Model S Long Range and the new Mercedes EQS, which is capable of 484 miles on a single charge, thanks to its 107kWh battery. The i7 will be powered by the firm’s fifth-generation eDrive technology, a variant of which also appears in the new i4 saloon and iX. This should dramatically reduce production times, because it groups the electric motor, transmission and electronics into a single unit. This also cuts the overall mass and size of the system, which translates into a little more range.The longest-range version of the 7 Series could inherit the 105kWh battery from the iX SUV. In the past BMW has targeted a range of 700km (435 miles) for cars using fifth-generation eDrive tech, and the i7 could be the model to break this barrier, should it integrate the battery and motor technology of the iX into a lighter, more aerodynamic package.Combustion-engine options for the BMW 7 Series will continue, too – the EV version will be just one of four different drive technologies available, as confirmed in 2020 by chairman Oliver Zipse.He didn’t go into detail about the combustion-engine line-up, but although V12 power is unlikely to return, 48-volt mild-hybrid electrification will play a part, and diesel power has been confirmed, alongside plug-in hybrid technology.The fully electric i7 will be positioned as the most powerful variant, so expect to see the integration of a pure-EV M model, possibly making use of the 526bhp drivetrain from the new i4 M50. Link: https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/bmw/7-series/351893/new-2022-bmw-7-series-line-will-include-all-electric-i7

i never sat my 11-plus. On the day of the test, I wandered around the hills near the golf club above my home town of Mirfield in West Yorkshire. I ate my lunch sitting against a dry stone wall, looking down on the town, where I could see my school pals in the playground during a break in the exams. I doubt if I would have passed, anyway. And, frankly, I just didn’t see myself as a grammar-school boy.Had I sat that test, I might never have met Cecil Dormand, a teacher at the secondary modern where I ended up, who would change my life when I was 12, by putting Shakespeare into my hands for the very first time. It was The Merchant of Venice. He gave copies to most of us and told us to look up Act 4 Scene 1 (or the famous trial scene, as I was to learn). He cast all the speaking roles and told us to start reading. We all did, but silently. “No, no, you idiots, not to yourselves!” he yelled. “Out loud! This is a play, not a poem. It’s life. It’s real.”The first words – “I have possessed your grace of what I purpose” – was the first line of Shakespeare I ever read. I barely understood a word, but I loved the feel of the words and sounds in my mouth. A 400-year-old writer reached out a hand in invitation to me that morning. I felt a sense of an internal, private me being released and connecting with something mysterious, alien and exciting. I was hooked. “Cec”, as we called him, was my form master and my English teacher. I liked him at once, as did most of the children he taught. His style was very relaxed, funny and provocative, but when it came to teaching he was articulate, interesting, engaging and, most of all, passionate.I suspect Cec had already intuited that I loved to escape into the world of fiction and out of my dull, uncomfortable and sometimes scary home life, living with an abusive father. But he made literature and language feel like a part of our lives, too.The same year as he gave us The Merchant of Venice, he cast me in a play with adults – mostly my teachers. I had never acted before. The play was the wartime farce The Happiest Days of Your Life. I played a young pupil named Hopcroft Minor. There were 100 or more people in the audience, which should have been unnerving and intimidating, but I felt fearless and entirely at home. I felt safe on stage and I always have since. Perhaps it was because I wasn’t being Patrick Stewart but Hopcroft Minor.Not long afterwards, Cec called me to the headmaster’s office, where I met another influencer of my youth, Gerald Tyler, the county drama adviser. He told me that the council was going to run an eight-day residential drama course at Calder high school, in Mytholmroyd, during the Easter break. The head said I could go as a representative of the school. This was where I first had formal acting lessons. Many years later, I learned that Cec must have paid for me to go on the course himself. Link: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/oct/13/a-moment-that-changed-me-patrick-stewart-on-the-teacher-who-spotted-his-talent-and-saved-him

Vulnerable children and elderly people in North Korea are at risk of starvation, a UN expert has said.The UN's special rapporteur on human rights in the country blamed international sanctions and a Covid blockade for worsening food shortages. As a result, North Koreans are struggling daily to "live a life of dignity" Tomas Ojea Quintana said.He called for the sanctions - imposed over North Korea's nuclear programmes - to be lifted to prevent a crisis. EXPLAINER: Why doesn't North Korea have enough food North Korea is thought to be in dire economic straits. It closed its borders to contain the spread of Covid-19. Trade with China has plummeted as a result. North Korea relies on China for food, fertiliser and fuel. This week, leader Kim Jong-un admitted the country was facing a "grim situation", the state news agency reported. There have been reports that food prices had spiked, with NK News reporting in June that a kilogram of bananas costs $45 (£32).In his latest report, Mr Quintana said the UN Security Council should look at easing the international sanctions and allow "humanitarian and life-saving assistance".The US under President Joe Biden has repeatedly said it is willing to talk to North Korea, but has demanded Pyongyang give up nuclear weapons before sanctions can be eased. North Korea has so far refused. EXPLAINER: What we know about North Korea's missile and nuclear programme Earlier this week, Mr Kim blamed the US for stoking tensions, saying it needs to continue developing weapons for self-defence.Despite its economic woes, North Korea has continued to build its weapons and missile arsenals. It has recently tested what it claims to be new hypersonic and anti-aircraft missiles.Vulnerable children and elderly people in North Korea are at risk of starvation, a UN expert has said. The UN's special rapporteur on human rights in the country blamed international sanctions and a Covid blockade for worsening food shortages. As a result, North Koreans are struggling daily to "live a life of dignity" Tomas Ojea Quintana said. He called for the sanctions - imposed over North Korea's nuclear programmes - to be lifted to prevent a crisis. EXPLAINER: Why doesn't North Korea have enough food North Korea is thought to be in dire economic straits. It closed its borders to contain the spread of Covid-19. Trade with China has plummeted as a result. North Korea relies on China for food, fertiliser and fuel. This week, leader Kim Jong-un admitted the country was facing a "grim situation", the state news agency reported. There have been reports that food prices had spiked, with NK News reporting in June that a kilogram of bananas costs $45 (£32). In his latest report, Mr Quintana said the UN Security Council should look at easing the international sanctions and allow "humanitarian and life-saving assistance". The US under President Joe Biden has repeatedly said it is willing to talk to North Korea, but has demanded Pyongyang give up nuclear weapons before sanctions can be eased. North Korea has so far refused.EXPLAINER: What we know about North Korea's missile and nuclear programmeEarlier this week, Mr Kim blamed the US for stoking tensions, saying it needs to continue developing weapons for self-defence.Despite its economic woes, North Korea has continued to build its weapons and missile arsenals.It has recently tested what it claims to be new hypersonic and anti-aircraft missiles. Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-58901817

Realme GT Neo 2 has been launched in India. The new Realme phone is a successor to the Realme GT Neo that didn't come to India in its original form but was launched as Realme X7 Max in May. Realme GT Neo 2 features a 120Hz AMOLED display and includes triple rear cameras. The phone also comes with 5G connectivity, though Indian telecom operators are yet to launch their next-generation cellular network services in the country. Other key highlights of Realme GT Neo 2 include stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support, 65W fast charging, and a Stainless Steel Vapour Cooling Plus heat-sink chamber for thermal management. Realme GT Neo 2 will compete against the likes of Samsung Galaxy M52, Mi 11X 5G, and Poco F3 GT. Realme GT Neo 2 price in India, availability Realme GT Neo 2 price in India has been set at Rs. 31,999 for the base 8GB + 128GB storage variant. The phone also comes in a 12GB + 256GB storage configuration that is priced at Rs. 35,999. It features three distinct colour options — Neo Black, Neo Blue, and Neo Green.On the availability part, Realme GT Neo 2 will go on sale from 12am (midnight) on October 17 through Flipkart, Realme.com, and mainland retail stores in the country. Launch offers on the Realme GT Neo 2 will include an up to Rs. 7,000 discount during the festive season sale. For Flipkart Plus members, the phone will be available starting 12pm (noon) on October 16. Realme Narzo 50, Narzo 50 Pro May Debut in India by Early Next Month Realme GT Neo 2 was launched in China last month with a starting price of CNY 2,499 (roughly Rs. 29,300) for the base 8GB + 128GB variant. Its 12GB + 256GB model, on the other hand, is priced at CNY 2,999 (roughly Rs. 35,100). Realme GT Neo 2 specifications The dual-SIM (Nano) Realme GT Neo 2 runs on Android 11 with Realme UI 2.0 on top. It comes with a 6.62-inch full-HD+ Samsung E4 display with a 120Hz refresh rate, 1,300 nits of peak brightness, and DC dimming. The display also carries 600Hz of touch sampling rate and has HDR10+ support. Under the hood, Realme GT Neo 2 has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 SoC, along with up to 12GB of RAM. The phone also supports up to 7GB of virtual memory (Dynamic RAM Expansion) that essentially uses the inbuilt storage to deliver an improved multitasking experience. For photos and videos, Realme GT Neo 2 carries a triple rear camera setup that houses a 64-megapixel primary sensor, along with an 8-megapixel ultra-wide shooter and a 2-megapixel macro shooter. The phone also comes with a 16-megapixel selfie camera at the front. The new Realme GT Neo 2 includes up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. Connectivity options include 5G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS/ A-GPS, NFC, and a USB Type-C port. You will also get an in-display fingerprint sensor. Realme GT Neo 2 packs a 5,000mAh battery that supports 65W SuperDart fast charging. This is claimed to fully charge the phone from zero to 100 percent in 36 minutes. Realme is retiring its “X” series. We discussed the new Realme GT 5G and GT Master Edition on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

Windows 11 has problems with the slowdown of games for those running AMD Ryzen processors, as was officially confirmed last week – but a new patch from Microsoft has reportedly made these issues even worse.Unfortunately, the very first patch Tuesday update for Windows 11, which arrived yesterday, seems to have thrown more spanners in the works when it comes to the pair of bugs – which includes a gremlin with L3 cache latency being much higher – dragging gaming performance down further. (Note that this patching wasn’t supposed to cure anything gaming-related – but it certainly wasn’t expected to worsen the situation). AMD vs Nvidia: who makes the best graphics card How to fix Windows 11 problems We'll show you how to build a PC This is according to Tech PowerUp, with the tech site performing tests using a Ryzen 7 2700X CPU which had an L3 cache latency of 10ns originally, which was driven up to 17ns by the cache bug, and is now way worse after Microsoft’s new cumulative update was applied. In fact, latency now stands at 31.9ns, so the problem is not far off twice as bad (and triple the original latency There is some good news in the report, though, namely that AMD has given us release dates for the patching of these two bugs, according to a post on Reddit. The L3 cache problem has already been resolved by Microsoft – we have indeed seen references to the cures in dev builds of Windows 11 going back a month – and the fix is set to be deployed on October 19.We’ll be waiting slightly longer for the other issue to be kicked into touch, which is a glitch with UEFI CPPC2 impacting some apps and games, but the fix is expected on October 21. Note that these are targeted dates, so it’s not inconceivable that last-minute problems could crop up to delay things a bit further. It’s an alarming measurement to see the cache latency spike up even further – quite dramatically, really – after a round of Windows 11 patching has been applied, and obviously this could leave some AMD processor owners even more frustrated with their gaming performance.That said, this is just a single test scenario of one particular Ryzen chip, and we can’t put too much emphasis on it as a result. Other folks may not find the same happening with their PCs, and indeed there are some posts on the above linked Reddit thread where gamers are saying that they’re not experiencing any noticeable difference with their performance levels. The level of impact is, of course, based on a whole load of variables, not just including the exact hardware configuration of the PC, but also the game being played (and what settings it’s running with). As AMD made clear in its initial admission of the cache latency problem, the bigger performance hits – of up to 15% drops in the frame rate, apparently – are what it describes as ‘outliers’, so the majority of systems shouldn’t see this kind of sluggishness. It’s likely that these bigger slowdowns pertain to those running the likes of CS:GO at 1080p and high frame rates, with a high refresh rate monitor for ultra-smooth gameplay (AMD mentions esports shooters specifically as worst-case scenarios). Of course, these are the kind of competitive gamers who are going to be pulling their hair out at even a slight slowdown, let alone a drop that’s in double figures.Other folks more likely to see their performance levels affected include those running 8-core Ryzen chips, or CPUs with even more cores than that (and TDPs of over 65W), as AMD previously clarified is the case with the UEFI CPPC2 bug.Tech PowerUp makes an interesting point about the urgency of these fixes, not just because of the potential high levels of slowdown that an apparent minority is encountering, but because of the imminent launch of Intel’s Alder Lake chips.The new 12th-gen processors from Intel are expected to arrive at the start of November, and are tuned to work with Windows 11. That means reviewers will be benchmarking in that OS, and doing the same with AMD Ryzen 5000 processors to compare and contrast performance. So, if Windows 11 results with Ryzen chips are being knocked off kilter by these bugs, it’s easy to see why AMD is very keen to get the fixes out there – to prevent Alder Lake looking even better than it should do (with rumors already indicating it’s a strong performer).However, if Microsoft is rushing a fix through for next week under pressure, well, we can only look at the track record of wonky Windows cumulative updates that fix something while breaking something else, and hope that this won’t be a scenario we’re again facing later in October.

You may not recognize the name Nanya in the same way you might Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron, but it is still a major player in the DRAM manufacturing industry. In fact, Nanya Technology Corporation is the world's fourth-largest DRAM manufacturer. So when it reveals that a price correction is on the way, it's worth sitting up and listening. Here, 'correction' basically means price drop. That's right, in these days of silicon shortages and frustratingly high prices, RAM is one of the few things that isn't in short supply or needlessly expensive. Great news for anyone looking to upgrade their system, although probably not so great news for all the companies mentioned so far. The reason for this impending price drop, expected to happen by the end of the year, is because demand is simply not as high as expected. This is partly due to the aforementioned components shortages, with factory closures due to Covid-19, and high inflation in the region not helping matters much. The prediction for the price drop was given by Nanya during its Q3 earnings results last Friday (via The Register). You can check out the presentation yourself if you want to look at lots of graphs and PowerPoint slides on the subject. In there you'll discover that Chromebooks aren't selling as strongly as they once were, SSDs are looking healthy, and that the PC market is hampered by component shortages. Who knew One potential outcome from all of this is that we may see higher memory capacities in phones and consumer electronics, as the market tries to absorb the one thing it can actually get its hands on. In the meantime, if you've been planning on upgrading your system's memory, it may be worth putting it off a month or two. Although to be fair, the best DDR4 is pretty cheap already.

Mortal Kombat's 30th anniversary doesn't technically take place until 2022. But ahead of the big three-oh, co-creator Ed Boon has shared a few early development insights on Twitter—including a look at the team figuring out one of fighting games' most famous moves on-the-fly with Scorpion actor Daniel Pesina. Speaking through grainy VHS footage from 1992, Boon interrupts a motion capture shoot by suggesting what he thinks would be a "cool ass move". What follows is a back-and-forth that sees the team figure what would, indeed, be recognised by gaming history as a cool-ass move. Mortal Kombat will be 30 years old in 2022. But 2021 marks 30 years since we actually BEGAN working on the game. To celebrate, it seemed like a fun idea to share some behind-the-scenes stuff. This clip shows how we created Scorpion’s iconic (GET OVER HERE!) spear move. (1 of 9) Boon explains that the process involved a bit more than just watching a yellow ninja pretend to toss sticks. Because the move had to be surprising to opponents, the motion had to be quick, simple and readable, and you can hear the team discuss how many frames it should take up. Memory restrictions also meant that the fewer unique animations the team could use, the better. Instead of recording bespoke "impaled" animations for every character, Boo talks about how they borrowed frames from existing animations to cobble together the completed move. "We were so tight on memory, that we didn’t even capture any motions for the victim reactions. Instead we borrowed from their existing animation frames. You can hear us talk about reusing one of the victim’s “knockdown” animations when they initially get hit by the spear." Scorpion's "get over here!" may well be one of the oldest videogame memes, a fighting game move as recognisable as Street Fighter's roaring Hadouken (if not more so). It's fascinating to see its origins in an impromptu recording session, and Boon hopes to keep sharing dev insights from the series' history in the run-up to Mortal Kombat's 30th anniversary. Link: https://www.pcgamer.com/get-over-here-and-see-how-scorpions-iconic-spear-throw-was-created/

Honda claims that the new HR-V’s hybrid powertrain provides the perfect stepping-stone to all-electric motoring, but it’s the weakest link in an otherwise pleasing compact SUV package. The HR-V is well made, grown-up to drive and comes with a slick infotainment system, but the electrified powertrain eats into boot space, reducing practicality in a class that requires it, while it isn’t the most refined solution either. To take on the ultra-competitive small SUV segment, the new Honda HR-V has quite a task on its hands. It faces off against an array of rivals that include the sharp-handling Ford Puma and our current class favourite, the Renault Captur. It’s a crowded class with each competitor offering its own take on the family crossover. With the HR-V, Honda is pinning its hopes on a self-charging hybrid powertrain and sleek, minimalist styling to win buyers over. First impressions are positive. The HR-V adopts a stance that sets it apart from some crossovers, with a coupe-SUV-style roofline that gives the car a distinctive silhouette. The design is a departure from Hondas of late, with uncluttered surfacing and minimal creases. It looks fairly contemporary and fresh in the metal, although the large, bluff front end does look awkward from some angles. With a 20mm lower roofline than its predecessor, but increased ground clearance, you might expect headroom to be at a premium inside. The new HR-V’s packaging puts paid to these concerns, however. Unlike some rival brands, Honda hasn’t housed the battery for its e:HEV hybrid powertrain within the floor of the car, instead mounting it below the boot area. This allows for a lower floor, and in turn lower seats, providing added headroom. This solution has impacted boot capacity though. At 319 litres load space is a significant 32% down on its predecessor’s, and the HR-V gives up 103 litres to the Nissan Juke, the car that coined this class. The Honda does have a trick up its sleeve though, with the HR-V’s clever Magic Seat set-up making a return for this new-generation model. The rear seats can be folded into the floor of the car, giving a more respectable 1,289-litre capacity, and the seat bases can also be folded upwards - like a cinema chair - to carry large items in the second row. Link: https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/honda/hr-v/356255/new-honda-hr-v-2021-review

It is often a struggle just to stay afloat. But if you had enough money, would you pursue more of it – or should time now be our greatest aspiration every job he has ever had, Gavin has shirked. When he worked in a call centre, he would mute the phone, rather than answer it. When he worked in a pub, he would sneak out of the building and go to another pub nearby, for a pint. His best-ever job was as a civil servant. He would take an hour for breakfast, and two for lunch. No one ever said anything. All his colleagues were at it, too. When the pandemic began, Gavin, now working as a software engineer, realised, to his inexhaustible joy, that he could get away with doing less work than he had ever dreamed of, from the comfort of his home. He would start at 8.30am and clock off about 11am. To stop his laptop from going into sleep mode – lest his employers check it for activity – Gavin played a 10-hour YouTube video of a black screen.One might reasonably describe Gavin (not his real name) as a deadbeat. In economic terms, he is a unit of negative output. In moral terms, he is to be despised; there are antonyms for the word “grafter”, and none of them are good. In religious terms – well, few gods would smile on such indolence. But that is not how Gavin views things. “I work to pay my bills and keep a roof over my head,” he says. “I don’t see any value or purpose in work. Zero. None whatsoever.” Gavin’s job is an unfortunate expediency that facilitates his enjoyment of the one thing that does matter to him in life: his time. “Life is short,” Gavin tells me. “I want to enjoy the time I have. We are not here for a long time. We are here for a good time.” And for now, Gavin is living the good life. He’s a time millionaire. “I am delighted,” Gavin tells me. “I could not be happier.” He is practically singing. And his boss? “My boss is happy with the work I’m doing,” he says. “Or more accurately, the work he thinks I’m doing.”First named by the writer Nilanjana Roy in a 2016 column in the Financial Times, time millionaires measure their worth not in terms of financial capital, but according to the seconds, minutes and hours they claw back from employment for leisure and recreation. “Wealth can bring comfort and security in its wake,” says Roy. “But I wish we were taught to place as high a value on our time as we do on our bank accounts – because how you spend your hours and your days is how you spend your life.” And the pandemic has created a new cohort of time millionaires. The UK and the US are currently in the grip of a workforce crisis. One recent survey found that more than 56% of unemployed people were not actively looking for a new job. Data from the Office for National Statistics shows that many people are not returning to their pre-pandemic jobs, or if they are, they are requesting to work from home, clawing back all those hours previously lost to commuting. “We’re seeing this great resignation,” says Charlie Warzel, the author of the Galaxy Brain newsletter and co-author of the forthcoming book Out of Office: The Big Problem and Bigger Promise of Working from Home. “People are quitting their jobs and not returning to work, even if their unemployment benefits are running out.” The people actively embracing a less work-focused life are, generally speaking, childless members of the professional classes, but Roy argues that this shouldn’t have to be the case. “If society was truly progressive,” she says, “it would not work people to the bone in the first place, or make the assumption that leisure, time to rest, time to be with your family, is only for the wealthy.” The enforced downtime of the pandemic caused many of us to reassess our attitudes to work, and whether we might be able to lead less lucrative but more fulfilling lives. “I got on a train last week at 7am,” says Samuel Binstead, a 29-year-old coffee shop owner from Sheffield. “And some guys next to me sat down and the first thing they did was get out a laptop and a stack of papers. All I could think was: ‘You are not in the office yet, and you’re already trying to get a head start on work, because it must be the most important thing to you.’ I felt sorry for them.” Binstead is a recovering workaholic. Pre-pandemic, he ran a 50-cover wine bar in central Sheffield. He would start work at 10am and leave at 1am, five days a week. On his days off, he would do paperwork. “I don’t think I realised how close I was to complete burnout,” he says. “I was using work to cope with work. Being there seemed to be my only option.” His mother didn’t bother inviting him to her 50th birthday, because she knew he would be busy. “She was probably right,” he says. “I wouldn’t have been able to get the time off.” When the pandemic hit, the sensation of relief was overwhelming. “It completely changed my relationship with money,” he says. “Having the time at home was so much more valuable to me.” In September 2020, Binstead closed his wine bar and moved his busine Link: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/oct/12/time-millionaires-meet-the-people-pursuing-the-pleasure-of-leisure

The UK's failure to do more to stop Covid spreading early in the pandemic was one of the worst ever public health failures, a report by MPs says.The government approach - backed by its scientists - was to try to manage the situation and in effect achieve herd immunity by infection, it said.This led to a delay in introducing the first lockdown, costing thousands of lives.But the report highlights successes too, including the vaccination rollout. It described the whole approach to the vaccination programme - from the research and development through to the rollout of the jabs - as "one of the most effective initiatives in UK history".The report predominantly focuses on the response to the pandemic in England. The committee did not look at steps taken individually by Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland The findings are detailed in the report - Coronavirus: Lessons learned to date - from the Health and Social Care Committee and the Science and Technology Committee, which contain MPs from all parties.Across 150 pages, the report covers a variety of successes and failings.MPs call the pandemic, which has claimed more than 150,000 lives in the UK and nearly five million worldwide so far, the "biggest peacetime challenge" for a century. Some of the most serious early failings, the report suggests, resulted from apparent "groupthink" among scientists and ministers - which meant the UK was not as open to different approaches on earlier lockdowns, border controls and test and trace as it should have been. Tory MPs Jeremy Hunt and Greg Clark, who chair the committees, said the nature of the pandemic meant it was "impossible to get everything right"."The UK has combined some big achievements with some big mistakes. It is vital to learn from both," they added in a statement to accompany the report.Cabinet Office minister Stephen Barclay said scientific advice had been followed and the government had made "difficult judgments" to protect the NHS.He said the government took responsibility for everything that had happened and repeated the apology made by the prime minister in May for the country's suffering.Mr Barclay told the BBC the government would not shy away from any lessons to be learned at the full public inquiry, expected next year.Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the report was a "damning indictment" of the government and showed the errors and failures of running down the NHS before the pandemic.He called on Boris Johnson to apologise to the bereaved and hold the public inquiry as soon as possible.The group representing families who have lost loved ones during the pandemic - Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice - criticised the committees for not speaking to any relatives of people who died. Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-58876089

Huawei Nova series smartphones are set to officially launch globally on October 21, the Chinese company has announced via its official Romanian website. The company had announced a launch event in Vienna, Austria, and at the time, what was being launched was not known. Now, at least the Nova series has been confirmed for the date. The rumour mill suggests that the company may unveil Huawei Nova 9, Huawei Nova 9 Pro, and a few other smartphones that it launched over the past few months in various markets. The smartphone in the banner of Huawei Romania's official website looks like the Huawei Nova 9 and Huawei 9 Pro. There is a quad rear camera setup which resembles the rear camera module of these smartphones that were launched in September in China. It is also speculated that the company may also launch other smartphones, which include Huawei Nova 8i launched in Malaysia earlier this year, and Huawei Nova 8 SE Vitality Edition which made its debut in July in China. Huawei Nova 9 and Huawei 9 Pro specifications Both Huawei Nova 9 and Nova 9 Pro dual-SIM (Nano) smartphones run on HarmonyOS 2 that is based on Android Open Source Project (AOSP). The Huawei Nova 9 features a 6.57-inch full-HD+ (1,080x2,340 pixels) OLED display with curved edges. The pro variant gets a larger 6.72-inch full-HD+ (1,236x2,676) pixels OLED display. Both handsets deliver up to 120Hz refresh rate and 300Hz touch sampling rate, as well as P3 wide colour gamut. Under the hood, both models get the octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G SoC, along with 8GB of RAM. Huawei 2021 Phone Revenue Said to Drop by at Least $30 Billion–$40 Billion The Huawei Nova 9 and Nova 9 Pro carry the same quad rear camera setup with a 50-megapixel primary sensor with an f/1.9 lens, along with an 8-megapixel ultra-wide shooter. The rear camera setup also carries a 2-megapixel depth sensor and a 2-megapixel macro shooter, coupled with an LED flash. As far as front camera is concerned, the Huawei Nova 9 comes with a 32-megapixel selfie camera. The Huawei Nova 9 Pro carries the dual selfie camera setup that includes a 32-megapixel ultra-wide shooter and a 32-megapixel portrait shooter. Both the devices have been provided with 128GB and 256GB of onboard storage. Connectivity options include 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth v5.2, GPS/ A-GPS, NFC, and a USB Type-C port. The onboard sensors comprise an accelerometer, ambient light, gyroscope, magnetometer, and a proximity sensor. There is also an in-display fingerprint sensor on both handsets. While the Huawei Nova 9 packs a 4,300mAh battery that supports 66W Super Fast Charge, the Huawei 9 Pro packs a 4,000mAh battery with 100W Super Fast Charge.

Microsoft is working on an update for collaboration platform Teams that, although seemingly well-intentioned, could create a way for businesses to track the performance of employees. The company is developing new functionality for the Praise app in Microsoft Teams, which is supposed to provide an avenue for employees to exchange thanks and pat one another on the back for tasks well done. Currently, that’s as far as the application goes. However, according to a post in the Microsoft product roadmap, Teams users will soon be able to access a history of the praise they have sent and received. This history will extend back six months and can be viewed via the Viva Insights application for Teams. We've built a list of the best business webcams around Here's our list of the best VoIP services out there Check out out list of the best headsets for conference calls right now The update is still under development, but will reportedly roll out to all Teams users by the end of November. With the rise of remote working during the pandemic, businesses have sought new ways to celebrate the good work of employees, in lieu of an in-person thank you or shout-out.However, many companies have also looked for ways to monitor the performance of remote employees. And it’s easy to imagine how the upcoming update could create opportunities for the Praise app to be used for these purposes, whether this is Microsoft’s intention or not. In theory, the new praise history feature could provide administrators with a running tally of positive feedback received by each of their employees. While this isn’t a particularly scientific way of identifying the best performers, the information could at least highlight the employees least likely to earn praise from managers and peers. The app stops well short of assigning each team member with a score or star-rating - a terrifying concept explored in season three of TV series Black Mirror - but could potentially be used as a crude proxy for such a system. It’s worth noting that it is possible for administrators to disable the Praise app entirely, but not the praise history feature in isolation. TechRadar Pro has asked Microsoft for comment on the potential for the Praise app to be used as an employee monitoring tool, and for clarification over which staff will have access to praise history data.

There was a brief flurry of excitement over the weekend when HP appeared to leak the existence of an as-yet unheard of AMD CPU family. One of its all-in-ones, available in 24-inch and 27-inch guises and coloured either Starry White or Starry Forest apparently comes with up to a 12th Gen Intel CPU or up to an AMD Ryzen 7000 series chip. Only judging by the number of errors on the page, I'm pretty sure we can put this down to human error. A lot of human error. Honestly, take a look. Not only is the SSD referred to as an SSE, but there are typos littered throughout (Intel Intel anyone?) as well as citation references that aren't filled out—the footnotes go up to 2, while the superscript after the Ryzen 7000 Series entry is a 5. This new machine is down as coming soon, while links from this machine are broken as well. No one has heard of the Ryzen 7000 family until now, because it doesn't exist. That's ignoring the fact we'd be skipping entirely over the Ryzen 6000-series of chips. My money's on some poor intern typing Ryzen 7 5000, and bouncing their face off the delete key a bit too eagerly. HP should probably get someone to check its marketing material. The fact that the page is still live, despite it being in such a state, is not a good sign either. HP is a big company, but this is either revealing information that's under embargo or, more likely, it's just a mess. Either way, no one appears to be taking responsibility for it because it's still up on the site.

Plenty of PC games support cross-save support with their Nintendo Switch versions: you can play, say, Divinity Original Sin 2 on the bus with the handheld, and then access the same save file on Steam later in the evening. But Monster Hunter Rise won't support that functionality when it releases for PC in January. "We've heard your requests for Cross-Save / Cross-Play for #MHRise and #Sunbreak, but unfortunately, after looking into it throughout the development process, we found we are unable to implement it this time," the official Monster Hunter account tweeted today. "As always, we appreciate your continued feedback and support." They probably don't appreciate all the feedback coming their way—there's a lot of salty tweets in response to Capcom's announcement. Players wonder why the likes of Hades, Fortnite, Civilization 6 and The Witcher 3 can handle cross-save, but Monster Hunter can't. Whatever the case, if you were hoping to play Monster Hunter Rise in handheld as well as desktop, you're probably better off waiting for the Steam Deck. After a period of Nintendo exclusivity, Rise releases for PC on January 12 and will support higher res textures and a much better framerate than its console version. Link: https://www.pcgamer.com/monster-hunter-rise-wont-support-cross-save-or-crossplay-with-nintendo-switch/

OnePlus 9RT specifications have been teased by the Chinese company ahead of the phone's official launch. The new OnePlus smartphone is confirmed to come with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC and a 120Hz display, as per a teaser released by OnePlus. The OnePlus 9RT will debut as the successor to the OnePlus 9R that was launched earlier this year. Although OnePlus will initially launch the new smartphone in China, it is speculated to come to India as well. OnePlus 9RT launch date in India is yet to be announced. OnePlus 9RT specifications As per a teaser posted on Weibo, the OnePlus 9RT specifications will include a 120Hz Samsung E4 display and will be powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC along with LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 onboard storage. The smartphone will also come with a 4,500mAh battery that supports 65T Warp Charge fast charging. Most of these details had been rumoured earlier. The OnePlus 9RT was previously teased to have a 50-megapixel primary camera. The phone also appeared to have glossy and matte finish and is tipped to come in three different shades. OnePlus 9RT Set to Launch on October 13, OnePlus Buds Z2 to Debut Alongside Earlier this week, OnePlus announced October 13 as the launch date for the OnePlus 9RT in China. Alongside the OnePlus 9RT, OnePlus is launching its new true wireless stereo (TWS) earbuds called the OnePlus Buds Z2. The earbuds are teased to have an active noise cancellation of 40 decibels. Its other details are yet to be revealed. OnePlus 9RT Tipped to Be Powered by Snapdragon 888 SoC, Offer 65W Charging OnePlus Buds Z2 Leak Ahead of Launch Tips Battery Capacity, Colour Options The OnePlus 9RT and OnePlus Buds Z2 will go on pre-orders following the launch and will be available for purchase in China starting October 19. Both the devices are also expected to launch in India, though the exact launch date is yet to be announced.

Jim Szafranski never really wanted to become a CEO; it was something that seemed to happen to him, rather than something he deliberately made happen. But as it turns out, he has a knack for it. Szafranski took over at visual communications company Prezi roughly eighteen months ago to preside over a change of direction, replacing founder Peter Arvai. Previously, the firm had specialized in design and presentation software, but has now turned its attention to video presentations. Prezi had already begun to lay the foundations for this shift before the pandemic, but remote working saw demand skyrocket for a service that could help people create and deliver professional virtual presentations. The company put its foot on the gas and Prezi Video is now its flagship product. We've built a list of the best business webcams available Here's our list of the best collaboration software around Check out our list of the best headsets for conference calls right now As one of the main architects of the Prezi Video project, and as someone who had worked with the video conferencing titans (such as Microsoft and Google) in a previous life, Szafranski found himself next in line for the throne. Although he has now acclimatized to the level and breadth of responsibility that falls on the shoulders of a chief executive, Szafranski told TechRadar Pro he sometimes found himself doubting his suitability for the role. While he had always been a student of both business and technology, and had racked up many years of experience at an executive level, he was to some extent blindsided by the opportunity when it presented itself. “I love to learn, so I always tried to put myself in a position where I could learn from my environment and the people around me. And I kind of let the growth take care of itself,” he explained. “But when I joined Prezi, the plan wasn’t that I would someday take over from Peter [Arvai] - that wasn’t even a discussion. The focus was on scaling the business and building out functions like sales and marketing.” After some consideration, Szafranski agreed to take on the post, giving himself and Arvai three months to put the necessary measures in place. The best piece of advice Szafranski received during this time, he says, was simply to be himself, and not to emulate the archetypal CEO of the movies. “Obviously, the board of directors and previous CEO thought about this carefully and chose to elect me for the role. This advice was an important reminder to approach situations in the same way I have always done; to do what felt natural.” Mercifully, stepping into the CEO role at Prezi has not required Szafranski to tear it all up and start again, because he had inherited the foundations of a healthy business. His task is only to steer in a slightly different direction. Szafranski is often quizzed about what makes Prezi Video different from regular virtual presentation services. With words alone, this question can be a little difficult to answer, but the difference becomes immediately apparent when you see the product in action. Prezi Video sits like a veneer on top of video conferencing services (Zoom, Teams, Meet etc.), adding a layer of gloss and interactivity that makes presentations much more attractive to the eye. Unlike with traditional screen-sharing, which conceals the presenter’s video feed, users can bring content onto the screen alongside them in the style of a news anchor. In turn, the presenter is able to see more of the other attendees, which is supposed to help them read the room in the same way they might in-person.

Asahi Linux is a project by a community of developers dedicated to getting Linux running on Apple's impressive M1 silicon. According to its September progress report (thanks Tom's Hardware), the group has made significant headway in its mission by having Ahasi Linux operating natively as a basic Linux desktop on an Apple M1 Mac. This is a big deal because Apple uses a bunch of proprietary tech that doesn't play nice with you if you're trying to run an operating system that isn't macOS on one of its computers. Some adventurous developers have been trying ways to open up Apple's closed M1 ecosystem for a while now, and Asahi Linux might have just cracked the code. The M1 is Apple's custom Arm-based SoC (system on chips) started showing on Macs in 2020 after ditching Intel's x86 silicon chip. The M1 is the most powerful chip Apple's ever made, so you can imagine why some folks might want to run Linux and, let's say, install Proton, which would turn their Mac into a killer gaming PC. This massive feat was achieved by having a bunch of drivers merged (or in review) for Linux 5.16, which includes drivers for the PCIe, USB-C PD, ASC mailbox, etc. If you're wondering if any of this is legal, don't worry. So long as no code is taken from macOS to build Linux support, it's legal to distribute. "With these drivers, M1 Macs are usable as desktop Linux machines! While there is no GPU acceleration yet, the M1's CPUs are so powerful that a software-rendered desktop is actually faster on them than on e.g., Rockchip ARM64 machines with hardware acceleration." wrote Hector "marcan" Martin, who's leading the development of Ashai Linux. Now that Linux is running, expect to see an official installer made available for download soon for anyone adventurous enough to try it themselves. Since there are still some missing features, however, tinker at your own risk. "Remember, there are still many missing bits (USB3, TB, camera, GPU, audio, etc.) as well as patchsets a bit too problematic to bundle as-is at this time (WiFi, which needs significant rewrites), so don't expect this to be anywhere near the polished experience that is the goal of our project. That said, we hope this will allow those willing to be on the absolute bleeding edge to get a taste for what running Linux on these machines is like—and, for some, this might be enough for production usage." The next step for Asahi Linux is taking on the GPU kernel interface since its current build lacks GPU acceleration. You can keep updated on the team's progress right here, along with the GitHub page of all the tools and docs involved in the project.