Amazon’s latest crackdown on fake reviews hits popular tech accessory brands

Amazon, like most other online retailers, has struggled with fake product reviews for years. The company has strict guidelines against fake reviews, which block sellers and product manufacturers from paying people to publish reviews for a given product, but many sellers are able to skirt under the radar. Multiple tech brands have now been pulled from Amazon, seemingly as part of a crackdown on fake reviews.

Amazon’s seller policies include strict guidelines against fake reviews. Vendors aren’t allowed to provide a refund or reimbursement for product reviews, use third-party services that offer free/discounted products tied to reviews, or create customer accounts to review their own products. However, these guidelines aren’t always enforced, which has led to the popularity of tools like Fakespot and ReviewMeta for identifying fake reviews.

SafetyDetectives published a report last week about a massive database it discovered containing messages between Amazon sellers and customers. The leaked data highlighted examples of seller messages asking for product reviews, including methods used to avoid automatic detection by Amazon (adding a video, waiting a few days after purchase, etc.).

Example of vendor message (Credit: SafetyDetectives)

Amazon has now removed products from several major tech brands (via DigitalTrends), seemingly in relation to the leak about fake reviews. Aukey and Mpow are among the companies whose products have disappeared from Amazon — the remaining listings are mostly from third parties. Although its connection to the leak hasn’t been confirmed, Aukey at least has been found to include a note in the box with many of its products promising $100 for an “honest review.”

I’m currently reviewing a standing desk from Aukey, and it came with this note offering $100 for an “honest review,” which is against Amazon’s seller rules. No wonder Amazon is laying down the hammer. https://t.co/qkfpvbDyln pic.twitter.com/rW3VRcVr3x

— Corbin Davenport (@corbindavenport) May 10, 2021

It’s not clear when (if ever) Aukey, Mpow, and other affected brands will resume sales on Amazon. An Amazon spokesperson provided the following statement to ReviewGeek about the situation:

“We work hard to build a great experience for our customers and sellers and take action to protect them from those that threaten their experience in our store. We have systems and processes to detect suspicious behavior and we have teams that investigate and take action quickly.

We have long-standing policies to protect the integrity of our store, including product authenticity, genuine reviews, and products meeting the expectations of our customers. We take swift action against those that violate them, including suspending or removing selling privileges. We take this responsibility seriously, monitor our decision accuracy and maintain a high bar. We have an appeals process where sellers can explain how they will prevent the violation from happening in the future or let us know if they believe they were compliant. Our teams are based in our Seattle headquarters and around the globe in order to provide sellers with 24/7 support via email, phone, and chat in more than 15 languages.”

It’s great to see Amazon taking action against sellers paying for fake reviews, even if the crackdown was the result of a publicized leak. Now, if Amazon could stop participating in its own shady tactics, that would be even better.

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Nintendo is struggling to meet Switch demand due to chip shortages

Sony has struggled to keep up with demand for the PlayStation 5, but it’s not the only company that’s on the ropes. Recent comments made by Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa suggest the global shortage of semiconductors is also constraining Switch production, which means consumers may find it difficult to buy the portable console.

In a recent call following the publication of Nintendo’s latest earning results (via Video Game Chronicle), Furukawa expressed uncertainty over future Switch production.

“Due to the global shortage of semiconductor materials, we are not able to produce all the products we want to,” Furukawa said. “We are doing everything we can, but there is an increasing sense of uncertainty about production plans.”

Nintendo said it expects to ship 25.50 million Switch units in the current period ending March 31, 2022, which is below what the company sold over the same period in its last fiscal year. A large part of the lower sales forecast is due to component constraints. But Nintendo also said the lack of a flagship game is also hampering sales. As an aside, Nintendo already announced it’s working on The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2, but there’s no word when that will be released.

As lockdown restrictions were going into effect last year, Nintendo released Animal Crossing: New Horizons, which Furukawa said was a big part of what drove hardware sales. The title provided gamers with the perfect escape from the pandemic, allowing players to build an idyllic island free of stress and worry. It couldn’t have landed at a more perfect time.

The Nintendo Switch is still far easier to find than other consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and Series S. But with semiconductor shortages expected for many more months, one has to wonder how Nintendo’s rumored Switch Pro will be affected. The console is expected to go on sale later this year, but with the industry hit by massive delays, it could be incredibly difficult to find when it launches.

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Samsung’s Galaxy F52 looks to be an even cheaper 5G phone than the Galaxy A52

Samsung has been one of the leading companies when it comes to bringing 5G to the masses by not only shipping their flagships with 5G support, but also their mid-range smartphones and now their budget ones as well, with Samsung‘s cheapest one to date being the Galaxy A32 5G. There’s also a new budget device expected to come with 5G support, and live images of the device have already surfaced on the Internet. We’re talking about the Galaxy F52 5G, belonging to Samsung’s F series of smartphones.

The phone’s pictures were published by a Weibo user (via: GSMArena) and reveal a few key details not only about the device itself, as well as some key specifications. The Samsung Galaxy F52 5G will look like a mostly standard flagship smartphone on the outside, featuring a right-sided punch-hole 16MP front camera and a display with a very small chin. Turning it around shows a rectangular rear camera setup that’s reminiscent of other Samsung smartphones and even devices from the likes of OPPO and Realme, with the main sensor being 64MP. Lastly, taking a peek at the bottom shows the USB-C charging port as well as a headphone jack, a feature we’re increasingly happy to see, and a single speaker.

The Galaxy F52, which will carry the model number SM-E5260, has leaked in the past thanks to national certification/regulation websites and Google’s own Google Play Console. If these leads are to be believed, then, it will carry a Snapdragon 750G SoC, a 1080p 6.57-inch LCD panel, 8 GB of RAM, 128 GB of storage, Android 11 with One UI 3, and a 4,350 mAh battery with support for 25W fast charging. It will also reportedly cost CNY 2,000 ($310/€255), undercutting Samsung’s currently most popular flagship phone, the Galaxy A52 5G, by a big chunk. We don’t have a clue on whether this smartphone will launch in the Western market, however, as Samsung’s non-A-series mid-range and budget phones are seldom seen outside of the Asian market.

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Apple’s official MagSafe charger is on sale for its lowest price ever

Apple introduced its new MagSafe charging system alongside the iPhone 12 series, as a replacement for the aging Lightning connector. It’s a standard wireless charging pad, but with added magnets to maintain a strong connection to the phone — even when it’s positioned vertically. Apple’s first-party MagSafe charger has now dropped to just $29.85 on Amazon, the lowest recorded price yet, and a third-party option from RAVPower is also on sale for even less.

The official MagSafe charger was $39 when it was first released, but more recently, the charger has been sold for around $34. That makes the current sale effectively a $4 discount, but it’s also the lowest price we’ve seen yet for the adapter. MagSafe works best with the iPhone 12, but is also compatible with other iPhones that support wireless charging (11 series, XS/XR/X, 8 series, iPhone SE 2nd-gen, etc.). MagSafe is also compatible with some Android devices, but charging speeds will be limited.

Apple MagSafe Charger

This wireless charger is designed specifically for iPhones. However, you'll need to pair it with a USB Type-C wall adapter (sold separately) for the fastest-possible 20W speeds.

Buy at Amazon

RAVPower Magnetic Wireless Charger

RAVPower's MagSafe charger can reach the same speeds as the official Apple charger, but comes with the 20W power adapter. Win-win.

Buy at Amazon

The only catch to Apple’s deal is that the 20W USB Type-C wall adapter, which is required to reach the fastest-possible speeds, is not included in the box with MagSafe. If you don’t already have a compatible wall adapter, the above-linked alternative from RAVPower is likely a better option — it can reach the same speeds as Apple’s official charger, and comes with the wall adapter. The 3ft version is currently on sale for just $17.38, and there’s an extended 5ft version available too.

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Walmart is about to sell you an extremely cheap Android TV box

Walmart is gearing up to sell a self-branded set-top box called Walmart Onn that will come equipped with Android TV. The device, which is on the retailer’s website but isn’t yet available, is said to stream in 4K and will reportedly be available for around $30.

The Walmart Onn is a puck-sized box that connects to your TV’s HDMI port.

“Stream away! Now you can enjoy your favorite digital channels through our UHD Streaming Device,” the device’s listing reads (via 9to5Google). “With 4K Ultra High-Definition resolution and Dolby Audio Support, you’ll feel like you’re a part of the action. Access 700,000+ movies and shows in one place. Ask Google to control your TV with your voice, and easily cast your photos, videos and music with Chromecast built-in. Now you just have to decide what you’ll watch first!”

Images: Walmart

In addition to 4K streaming and Android TV, the Walmart Onn features support for Dolby Audio, 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi, and a remote that allegedly features dedicated buttons for YouTube, Netflix, HBO Max, and Disney+ — basically all the major services worth subscribing to. There’s also a dedicated button for Google Assistant and other buttons for controlling the experience.

Given its alleged price of $30, the Walmart Onn doesn’t sound half bad. Of course, there are so many comparable options on the market from Google, Amazon, and Roku, making Walmart’s new device a tough sell. Still, for $30 you get 4K streaming, Android TV, and Dolby Audio, so you’re getting plenty of value.

The Walmart Onn set-top box appears to be different from an Android TV stick we saw appear at the FCC earlier this year. It’s unclear if the device we spotted at the FCC is in addition to the Walmart Onn set-top box that’s on the website or if they are one and the same, as 9to5Google seems to suggest. In any case, it looks like a launch is imminent, so we’ll keep our eyes peeled.

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Samsung may launch a new Galaxy S21 model and two foldables in August

In case you missed this, Samsung is doing new product launches very soon. A handful of new flagship models from Samsung, including the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE, the Galaxy Z Flip3, and the Galaxy Z Fold3, have all been protagonists in recent leaks and rumors, and users are expecting these 3 phones to launch shortly. How soon, you might ask? Well, we might be seeing them launch earlier than usual, maybe as soon as August.

According to a new scoop by South Korean news agency Yonhap News, Samsung is currently in talks with multiple carriers for the release of the Galaxy S21 FE, the Galaxy Z Flip3, and the Galaxy Z Fold3, which, according to the report, should be happening in August. For context, while the Galaxy Z Flip last year got an early February release, the Galaxy Z Flip 5G saw an August launch while the Z Fold2 and the S20 FE got instead released by September and October respectively.

The report also points out that these devices are set to fill the gap the Galaxy Note lineup will create, as Note smartphones are usually announced in August several rumors have hinted that Samsung won’t release a Note smartphone this year. The relative lack of a “Note 21” in the current rumor mill also adds some weight to these rumors.

The Galaxy Z Flip3 is set to be Samsung’s second clamshell-like foldable smartphone (skipping the 2 to keep up with the Fold in terms of branding), which is set to bring considerably cheaper prices and renewed internals. The Galaxy Z Fold3 will follow in the footsteps of its predecessor more closely, and we might also see sensible improvements like S Pen support being added this time around.

Finally, the Galaxy S21 FE will attempt to repeat the formula that made last year’s Galaxy S20 FE so good. The bar is set higher this year thanks to the full flagship Galaxy S21 starting at $799, and Yonhap News thinks that it may start at 700,000 won (~$624). We’ll have to see how that translates to Western pricing.

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PlayStation 5 supply nightmare expected to last much longer than you think

If you were hoping to score a PlayStation 5 this year, you’re going to be sorely disappointed. Apparently, Sony believes the console will continue to be in very limited supply, and the nightmare will supposedly last through 2022.

According to Bloomberg, Sony recently warned a group of analysts that the PlayStation 5 will be in short supply for the remainder of 2021. As a result, the company may fail to boost sales targets of the console, which so far as sold somewhere in the region of 7.8 million units through March 31. The company previously said it was hoping to sell at least 14.8 million units in the current fiscal year.

“I don’t think demand is calming down this year and even if we secure a lot more devices and produce many more units of the PlayStation 5 next year, our supply wouldn’t be able to catch up with demand,” Hiroki Totoki, Chief Financial Office at Sony, reportedly told analysts.

Since going on sale last November, the PlayStation 5 has been almost impossible to find, thanks in large part to a shortage of components brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Demand has been so fierce that every time new units are made available they instantly sell out — oftentimes in a matter of minutes. Everywhere you look the console is sold out unless you’re willing to pay way over retail price.

The silver lining is there’s really no reason to own a PlayStation 5 this early in its life. While there are a few exclusive titles, with a few more to come in 2021, we have yet to see a game that’s a true system seller. Everything else that’s been released over the past few months, including Resident Evil Village, is available across platform generations, and it will continue to be that way for the foreseeable future.

I wasn’t lucky enough to score a PlayStation 5 when it first went on sale at the end of last year. I was hoping to get one later this year, but it doesn’t sound like Sony is going to catch up with demand, which means myself and millions of other gamers around the world won’t be able to buy the console until 2022 at the earliest.

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The One XPlayer is an 8.4-inch Windows 10 PC that promises to be a handheld gaming console

If you’re looking for something that’s like a Switch but a full-blown Windows 10 PC, it would seem that a company called One-Netbook has you covered with the One XPlayer. It’s an 8.4-inch device, but it can do more than play Nintendo Switch games. It’s meant to play AAA PC games while you’re on the go.

The way that the One XPlayer is promising to do this is with Intel’s 11th-gen processors. They include Iris Xe graphics, which are good for FHD gaming. Yes, that includes AAA titles. The top-end ‘Ultimate Edition’ comes with a Core i7-1185G7, which has 96EU Iris Xe graphics. There are also 96 execution units in the Core i7-1165G7 in the Pro Edition, although there’s also a Standard Edition with a Core i5-1135G7, which has 80EU graphics.

Everything else seems to be pretty specced out as well. The One XPlayer comes with 16GB LPDDR4x 4266MHz memory, and the storage maxes out at 2TB M.2 2280 SSD. It’s also promising two USB 4.0 Type-C ports, along with a single USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port. While there’s actually a controller built into the chassis in true Nintendo Switch style, you might want to prop up the unit with the kickstand and plug in a controller to the USB Type-A port. You can also connect an external GPU into the Thunderbolt port, really jacking up the power.

It also has an attachable magnetic keyboard, which means that you can use this for gaming, or you can use it for productivity as well. Indeed, this does ship with Windows 10 and tons of storage, so there’s no reason you couldn’t use it for other things.

At this point, you’re probably going to wonder how thermals are going to work. It actually comes with two fans and two heat pipes to try and keep things cool.

The battery is 15,300mAh, so there are a lot of beefy internals. The screen comes in at 2560×1600 resolution, giving it a 16:10 aspect ratio. Still, all Intel promised with Iris Xe is FHD gaming. You can always go to a higher resolution if you connect an external GPU.

You probably shouldn’t be surprised to hear that you can’t buy the One XPlayer just yet. It’s a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo that’s launching today. The base model is $899, and pricing goes up from there, so you can pre-order now if you want. One-Netbook expects the product to start shipping within a month. You can check out the crowdfunding campaign and pre-order here.

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Get 1TB lifetime cloud storage with digital asset management for $97

For anyone who regularly takes photos and videos, cloud storage is essential. There are many platforms to choose from nowadays, but many affordable solutions are lacking features. In contrast, Starchive has built-in digital asset management — meaning you can easily find and preview your media. Right now, you can get a 1TB lifetime subscription for just $96.99 via the XDA Developers Depot.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/jdTKZH7WVqQ

On desktop and mobile devices, we all use DAM software such as Lightroom or Photos. These apps are packed with useful organization features, from search to tagging. Starchive brings the same technology to the cloud.

As used by Bob Dylan and the New York Philharmonic, this platform uses artificial intelligence to categorize your files automatically. You can also add data manually through custom fields, which then become searchable.

Aimed at creatives, Starchive has placed no limit on uploads of file size. The built-in media player lets you preview files on any device, and you can easily share media via the mobile app.

Starchive is available to download on iOS and Android. You can also access and upload files via any desktop web browser. This deal includes 1TB of storage; if you need any more, it’s just $1 for every additional 50GB.

Order today for $96.99 to get 1TB for life, worth $1,530. Alternatively, you can get 100GB for $29.99 (worth $382) or 500GB for only $69.99 (worth $765).

 

Starchive 1TB Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription – $96.99

See Deal

Prices subject to change 

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Sony’s next premium true wireless earbuds could feature faster charging

There’s a lot of reasons to love Sony’s latest true wireless earbuds, the Sony WF-1000XM3. They’re one of the most expensive options out there, but that premium price also gets you one of the best true wireless earbuds you can grab right now, with best-in-class active noise cancellation, 24-bit audio signal processing, up to 24 hours of battery life with the carrying case, and more. But if you’ve been paying attention to the rumor mill these past few weeks, you’d know that a successor, which will presumably be called the Sony WF-1000XM4 following their naming cycle, is coming very soon. A new leak surfaced showing the WF-1000XM4’s external design as well as some specifications.

These new leaks come from The Walkman Blog, a site dedicated mostly to Sony audio appliances. Sony WF-1000XM4 is supposed to feature an all-new external design where the differences with its predecessor become immediately clear. Whereas the WF-1000XM3 tried to look slicker, the WF-1000XM4 has a more compact and “sporty” design.

The Sony WF-1000XM4 left and right earbuds, respectively. Image source: The Walkman Blog

Of course, we already knew that thanks to previous leaks and the design we’re seeing here matches what we saw back then (which reportedly corresponded to the retail box), so it’s pretty safe to say that this design will probably be what ships in the end product. But among other improvements, these earbuds are set to charge faster than their predecessors, as the case’s charging output is seemingly rated at 5V = 140mA.

The Sony WF-1000XM4 charging case. Image source: The Walkman Blog

For context, the WF-1000XM3 are rated at 5V = 120mA and they are already pretty fast, as a 10-minute charge gets you 90 minutes of playtime according to Sony. With these, we might be looking at something closer to 120 minutes of playtime with a 10-minute charge, according to The Walkman Blog. We’ll also probably see support for wireless charging, a feature that is already included on other premium earbuds like Apple’s AirPods Pro.

The Walkman Blog believes that we should see these earbuds launch in early June, as the end date for short-term confidentiality on their FCC listing was moved down to June 9th. If this is anything to go by, then we will see these earbuds come to the market very, very soon.

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Here are the best external monitors for the Surface Laptop 4: Dell, LG, Samsung and more

The new Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 was announced in April with a design similar to its predecessor. Available in either a 13.5-inch or a 15-inch form factor, the laptops have been bumped up to the latest 11th-gen Intel Tiger Lake mobile processors and options for new AMD Surface Edition chipsets that can be configured on both models. Speaking of which, AMD’s Ryzen mobile processors have been doing well, so if you are interested, here are some of the best AMD laptops that you can buy today.

The 13-inch Surface Laptop 4 is a great machine, and it can work unhindered when you are on the go. But if you use the laptop frequently at a fixed desk, one of the best productivity hacks you can invest in is getting a second display. An external monitor will drastically increase your screen real estate, and makes life so much easier, especially if you have to switch between a few apps or tabs all the time. But at the same time, keep in mind that the Surface Laptop 4 doesn’t offer Thunderbolt connectivity which means it cannot connect dual-4K displays at the same time unless you use the Surface Dock. However, the USB-C port natively supports DisplayPort. This means you can either go for a monitor that offers USB-C connectivity or spend a little extra on an adapter. You check out some of the best docks for the Surface Laptop 4 here. This also makes for a perfect setup, especially when a majority of workplaces and schools have adopted a work-from-home or study-from-home environment due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Here are some of the best monitors for Surface Laptop 4:

• Best 24-inch monitors
• Best 27-inch monitors
• Best Ultrawide monitors

Best 24-inch monitors

HP 24mh

The HP 24mh is a recommended 24-inch budget monitor that offers a solid set of features for its price. It uses an IPS panel which means better colors and viewing angles and it also offers great sRGB coverage. The monitor also features three inputs (HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA), a functional stand with height, pivot, and tilt adjustment, as well as built-in speakers. Note that since this monitor doesn’t have USB-C input, you would need an adapter or hub for your Surface Laptop 4 to connect this monitor.

HP 24mh

If you want a reliable 24-inch monitor that is feature packed, then the HP 24mh is a recommended choice.

Buy at Amazon

Dell S2421HN

Dell makes one of the best monitors around with various models under the 24-inch category.  The S2421HN offers an IPS full-HD resolution at a 75Hz refresh rate and AMD FreeSync Adaptive-Sync technology with a 4ms response time. It also comes with a solid-looking industrial design with three-sided slim bezels, while the panel is TÜV-certified which means a flicker-free experience with ComfortView, a feature that reduces harmful blue light emissions. Just like the HP monitor above, this one also doesn’t have a USB-C port either, so you need to rely on a USB-C to HDMI adapter to hook this monitor to your Surface Laptop 4.

Dell S2421HN

Dell makes really robust monitors with excellent display panels. Go for this if you are looking for a 24-inch display with a premium build.

Buy at Amazon

Samsung Business SH850

The Samsung Business SH850 24-inch monitor is one of the only few options on the market that offers a QHD (2560×1440) resolution, a USB-C input, and a USB hub at this price range. This means that you just need a compatible USB-C cable for quick and easy connectivity to your Surface Laptop 4 without relying on adapters and hubs. According to Samsung. the USB-C port also offers power delivery to your laptop at up to 45W. Additionally, the monitor supports Samsung smartphones with connectivity via DeX. Best of all, Samsung offers a 3-year warranty on this monitor, giving customers plenty of peace of mind.

Samsung Business SH850

The Samsung Business SH850 monitor offers a built-in USB hub, a USB-C port for a single cable solution along with 3 years of warranty.

Buy at Amazon

Best 27-inch monitors

LG 27QN600-B

Moving to the 27-inch category, we have the LG 27QN600-B which offers an IPS panel with QHD (2560 x 1440) resolution along with FreeSync to avoid tearing and reduce stuttering. LG claims that the panel offers 99% coverage of sRGB color gamut and supports HDR10 content for a rich and vivid viewing experience. It does miss out on a USB-C port, but we believe it is still worth it at the asking price.

LG 27QN600-B

This is one of the most affordable 27-inch QHD displays that offers support for HDR10 for a high-quality color experience.

Buy at Amazon

ASUS ProArt Display 27-inch

We recommend the ASUS ProArt 27-inch monitor for creative professionals who require absolute color accuracy for their workflow. The monitor comes with a QHD (2560 x 1440) resolution with IPS 178° wide viewing angle and up to 75Hz refresh rate. It covers 100% sRGB, 100% Rec. 709 wide color gamut and it is Calman Verified with factory calibration for excellent Delta E < 2 color accuracy. On top of that, the monitor comes with USB-C support with 65W Power Delivery and other ports, including DisplayPort, HDMI, and a USB 3.1 hub.

ASUS ProArt 27-inch

The ASUS ProArt 27-inch monitor is made for photographers and videographers looking for a color accurate panel that can easily hook onto the Surface Laptop 4 using USB-C.

Buy at Amazon

Dell P2720DC

The 27-inch Dell P2720DC offers an excellent viewing experience with a QHD resolution, and a broad port selection including DisplayPort, HDMI, audio line-out, USB-C, and two USB hub ports.
The panel is bright and offers realistic-looking colors while the USB-C port supports Power Delivery which means that it can charge the Surface Laptop 4 via the USB-C connection as well. One can also connect a second monitor to it via DisplayPort, and the Dell Express Daisy-Chaining feature automatically configures Windows’ display settings for an extended dual-monitor setup.

Dell P2720DC

The 27-inch Dell P2720DC is great for most workloads and it offers a wide selection of ports include USB-C and a built in USB hub.

Buy at Amazon

Best Ultrawide monitors

LG 29WP60G-B

An ultrawide monitor helps you stack multiple windows for a seamless work experience. One of the more affordable options is from LG, the 29WP60G-B. This comes with a 29-inch full-HD (2560 x 1080) IPS panel offering a 21:9 aspect ratio. It covers 99% sRGB color gamut and there is support for HDR10 content as well. Other notable features include AMD FreeSync, three-sided slim borders, standard HDMI, and USB-C for easy connectivity. Do note that the USB-C port doesn’t deliver enough power, so you need to power the Surface Laptop 4 with the bundled charging adapter.

LG 29WP60G-B Ultrawide

The LG 29WP60G-B Ultrawide monitor is one of the more affordable options with a good looking panel and USB-C connectivity.

Buy at Amazon

Dell U3818DW

Get the best curved ultrawide experience with the Dell U3818DW 38-inch monitor. Featuring a WQHD+ (3840 x 1600) resolution IPS panel, the monitor comes with 99% sRGB factory calibration for precise color at Delta-E less than 2. In terms of port selection, you get two HDMI, a DisplayPort, a USB-C port, and a USB hub with two upstream and two downstream ports.

Dell U3818DW

Dell's 38-inch curved ultrawide monitor offers the best viewing experience and offers a large real estate for a great multitasking experience.

Buy at Amazon

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These are just some of the best monitors if you have purchased the new Surface Laptop 4. If you haven’t, make sure you check out our quick comparison of the Surface Laptop 4 with the last-gen Surface Pro 7.

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Xiaomi’s PC Mode works well enough that Samsung must include on-device DeX in the Galaxy Z Fold 3

Xiaomi’s Mi Mix Fold can be called many things, but “original” cannot be one of them. From the remote control-shaped form factor, to the plastic T-caps that are used to prevent small particles from entering the hinge, to the fact it’s named “Fold,” there are just way too many resemblances to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series.

But if there was one thing that set Xiaomi’s foldable apart from Samsung’s (and any other foldable released so far, for that matter), it was “PC Mode,” which transforms Xiaomi’s MIUI phone interface into a layout that closely resembles a Windows home screen. As a foldable enthusiast and someone who enjoys working on-the-go off portable devices, I was very excited about this feature. In fact, I’ve been baffled by Samsung not having designed such a mode for its Fold series yet. After all, what’s the point of having a larger screen if the UI remains the same as a small phone? Samsung does have Wireless DeX, but that is not on-device for its phones and foldables — it works only when extended to an external display. It is on-device on the Galaxy Tab series, though.

It took longer than expected — PC Mode was inexplicably not available at launch — but it’s finally here courtesy of a software update.

The PC Mode software update for the Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold

Over the past week, Xiaomi pushed a software update (V12.0.10.0.RJTCNXM) that enabled not just PC Mode, but also “Second Space” (which is similar to setting up a second user account on a computer).

Interestingly, the “What’s new” section of the software update page actually downplays the significance of this update: it only mentions “increased system stability” and “reduced system lag,” with no mention of PC Mode or Second Space.

To activate PC Mode, swipe on the large unfolded screen with three fingers inwards from the right edge of the screen (a right-to-left swipe), and the responsiveness is quite good — I’ve launched it at least 25 times now and haven’t experienced any stutters or lag. I was worried about potentially triggering PC Mode by accident, but a three-finger right-to-left swipe from the right edge of the screen seems unique enough.

Xiaomi’s PC Mode: UI overview

If you’ve used a Windows PC before, you will be familiar with the Mi Mix Fold’s UI in PC mode. You have a menu bar that runs across the bottom of the screen housing, from left to right, a start menu button, search button, a row of running apps, battery indicator, time and date, and notification window button.

The new additions that aren’t from a Windows layout are self-explanatory: there’s an upward arrow next to the battery icon that when tapped brings up the equivalent of Android’s shortcut toggles that are normally housed in the notification panel. To the furthest right of the bar are three buttons that represent Android’s three-button navigation.

Just like on Windows PC, tapping on the time and date section of the taskbar will pop up a full month calendar;  tapping on the start menu button in the lower left corner will bring up a vertical row of all the phone’s apps.

Using Android apps in PC Mode on the Mi Mix Fold

Apps open in PC Mode in a vertical rectangular (aka phone slab) shape, and the Mi Mix Fold supports up to four apps maximum. Try to open another app with four apps running already and the phone will simply close the first app before launching the new one.

As to be expected, most Android apps aren’t optimized specifically for this desktop-style layout. In fact, some apps are less optimized for PC Mode than without. Spotify in PC Mode, for example, opens in a rectangular smartphone layout instead of the square-ish, multi-paned tablet layout that you get on iPads or even the Mi Mix Fold when it’s not running PC mode.

Some app windows can be resized freely, including YouTube, the Photo Gallery, and Google Docs. Others can either show in rectangular shape or maximized to fill full screen, like Google Chrome. Specific apps like Instagram can only show in rectangular shape and can’t be maximized at all.

Using PC Mode for work

I paired the Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold to a bluetooth keyboard and mouse and everything worked as expected — in fact, I typed part of this article with this setup. Both Google Docs and WordPress via Chrome worked without issues — although I do find apps don’t launch as zippily as they do in regular phone mode. It’s not slow per se, it’s just no longer at super-fast 2021 flagship speeds.

I enjoyed being able to open a second window on the fly to fact-check or respond to WhatsApp messages directly while keeping my main WordPress window open. However, the 8-inch screen is ultimately a bit cramped for real extended work sessions.

The good news is the Mi Mix Fold can cast wirelessly to a smart TV — there is an option to do so in the shortcut toggles. However, I don’t have a smart TV so I have not tested it. Wireless casting seems to be the only way, as plugging in a USB-C or HDMI cable (via a dongle) to an external monitor doesn’t seem to work.

PC Mode is a good start and should be essential in the future

Is the Mi Mix Fold’s PC Mode in its current form a game changer for me, someone who sometimes works off a phone at coffee shops? No. As I said, the screen is a bit cramped in this layout, and even Xiaomi’s MIUI, in standard phone UI mode, already has a robust multi-tasking system that allows for floating app windows. So it’s not like it made the Mi Mix Fold a much better work machine than it was before.

But Xiaomi’s inclusion of such a feature is still a great thing. In the future, when foldable phones presumably get bigger (either via a tri-fold form factor or maybe a rollable) to say, 10-inch or 11-inch screens, I can see having a desktop layout to come in very handy. Also, now that Xiaomi has introduced PC Mode for its foldable, the pressure is on Samsung to implement a similar on-device DeX setup to the Galaxy Z Fold 3.

In fact, I’m willing to bet that Samsung will, in fact, include it, just like I’m lowkey confident Samsung will also put a Periscope zoom lens into the Galaxy Z Fold 3 since Huawei successfully pulled it off with the Mate X2.

These brands are all watching each other’s work and there’s no way Samsung’s going to sit idle as Huawei and Xiaomi introduce new features to foldable phones. Like I always say, when brands compete, we as consumers win.

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Gboard for Wear OS makes it easier to type the lockscreen PIN

Google recently released the Gboard app on Wear OS, making it easier for users to type on their smartwatch. Like the Android version, Gboard for Wear OS offers multiple input methods, an integrated emoji palette, and multi-language support. The app also offers a new preview screen, featuring smart suggestions and corrections. Along with these features, Gboard for Wear OS also brings a redesigned lockscreen PIN keypad.

As per a recent report from 9to5Google, the new Gboard lockscreen PIN keypad offers improved spacing for the 0-9 keys, a smaller preview window, and repositioned backspace/enter keys. Since the layout is now more spacious, users will be able to easily enter their PIN without making any annoying typos.

Furthermore, the Gboard keypad features a new animation for keypresses. Instead of a pop-up that covered the preview screen, the new keypad shows a circular highlight around the key you press. Check out the new animation in the screenshots attached below.

It’s worth noting that all keyboards and number pads across Wear OS have been moved over from the generic “Google Keyboard” to Gboard. So you should see this new layout in other parts of the OS as well. If you like the new layout, you can download the Gboard app on your Wear OS smartwatch by heading over to the My apps section of the wearable Play Store.

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Featured image courtesy u/TheMacJezza

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