haptic Archives

BetaBeacon

June 28, 2026

Foldable gaming mode is coming with Android 17

A new feature called Foldable gaming mode is coming to Android 17. It allows for a customizable virtual controller to appear on the bottom half of a foldable device while the game plays on the top half. The virtual gamepad supports various controller inputs and has customization options such as button size and layout. The feature will become part of AOSP, allowing Android manufacturers to adapt it for their foldable devices.

BetaBeacon

June 26, 2026

Android 17 to offer a literal game changer for foldable phones – and now we’re in the market for a Pixel Fold

Google has unveiled a new foldable gaming mode for Android 17, which will divide the display of a book-style foldable device evenly with the game displayed on the top screen and a virtual gamepad on the bottom screen.

AppWizard

June 22, 2026

Gemini’s new app design makes me worried for the future of Android UI

Google has rolled out the "Neural Expressive" design in its Gemini app, aiming to enhance interaction across mobile apps and browsers while integrating with Android's smart functionalities. Users have expressed concerns about usability, noting that the new thinner typography affects readability and that intuitive features have been altered, leading to confusion. The model selector has been moved to the top of the interface, and attachment options are now combined with creation tools, complicating navigation. The account switcher has been relocated from the top right corner to the bottom of a side panel, making account transitions more cumbersome. Despite these issues, users appreciate the fluid animations, vibrant color schemes, improved haptic feedback, and a more responsive microphone in the app. There is a call for Google to prioritize intuitive design and user-friendly navigation over aesthetic changes that disrupt established workflows.

Winsage

June 22, 2026

Microsoft buried its best Surface hardware in years through a quiet series of press releases

Microsoft has launched the Surface Laptop 8 and Surface Pro 12, but the announcement lacked a dedicated event or live stream, leaving many potential customers unaware of the new features. The new devices are priced at least 0 higher than their predecessors, though Microsoft is including a complimentary keyboard with the purchase. The business models of Surface PCs include enterprise features for productivity and security, while the consumer version is powered by the Snapdragon X2 Elite. The Surface Laptop Ultra features NVIDIA's RTX Spark superchip and runs on Windows on Arm. Microsoft has introduced six new Surface devices this year, including a clamshell workstation and a mini PC, with significant innovations from Intel, NVIDIA, and Qualcomm. The Surface Pro 12 and Surface Laptop 8 are considered expensive, prompting some consumers to look for alternatives like the Dell XPS 13 with a Snapdragon X Elite and 32GB of RAM.

Winsage

June 17, 2026

Introducing the next Surface Pro and Surface Laptop, built for performance and flexibility

Surface has evolved over 13 years through contributions from architects, developers, students, and engineers. In 2026, Surface will launch its most extensive Surface for Business lineup, including an integrated privacy screen and the Surface Laptop Ultra, designed for developers and creative professionals. The Surface RTX Spark Dev Box will cater to AI developers needing local compute power. The new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop, powered by Snapdragon X2 processors, will be available starting June 16, with business options launching on July 14. The Surface Pro 13-inch features up to 53% faster graphics performance, 15.5 hours of battery life, and a 1440p Quad HD camera, priced from 9. The Surface Laptop, starting at 9, offers up to 20 hours of battery life and 58% more graphics performance than previous models. Both devices include vibrant LCD screens and are available in multiple colors. Surface devices are designed for AI workloads, featuring dedicated NPU silicon and robust cloud connectivity. The new touchpad and Slim Pen provide haptic feedback for enhanced user experience. Surface devices prioritize sustainability, with enclosures made from 100% recycled aluminum and ENERGY STAR certification. A new Surface Repair Tool assists users with repairs. Exclusive offers are available for U.S. customers from June 16 to June 30, including complimentary accessories and trade-in savings.

BetaBeacon

June 12, 2026

$99 Android Handheld is a Retro Gaming Steal : Mangmi Air X

The Mangmi Air X is a budget-friendly handheld gaming device designed for retro gaming enthusiasts, featuring a 5.5-inch 1080p IPS LCD display, Snapdragon 662 processor, 4GB RAM, and 64GB storage. It offers hall-effect joysticks, linear triggers, and a six-axis gyroscope for precise controls, but lacks premium features like OLED displays and video output via USB-C.

AppWizard

June 4, 2026

Rayman Legends Retold Launching October 1

Ubisoft announced Rayman Legends Retold during the Sony State of Play, set to launch on October 1 across PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, GE Force Now, Blacknut, and PC via Ubisoft Store, Steam, and Epic Games Store. The game features a reimagined experience with stunning 3D visuals, a new story, fully voiced cinematics, a sixth realm, four new musical stages, dragon rides, new challenges, improved Kung Foot, and an expanded soundtrack. Pre-orders are available for several editions, including Standard, Deluxe, and Launch Editions, each offering unique content. Pre-ordering grants access to the Hoodlum Havoc pack with costumes for Rayman and Globox.

Winsage

June 1, 2026

Introducing Surface Laptop Ultra: Made for world makers

The Surface Laptop Ultra is designed for creators and innovators, engineered in collaboration with NVIDIA. It features a powerful NVIDIA Blackwell RTX GPU, up to 128GB of unified memory, and delivers 1 petaflop of AI compute capability. The device is optimized for RTX Spark and built on the Windows platform, catering to demanding workflows. It includes a 15-inch mini-LED PixelSense Ultra touchscreen with a peak HDR brightness of up to 2,000 nits and high-precision color accuracy. The haptic touchpad is the largest on a Surface device, and it includes essential ports: HDMI, USB-C, USB-A, SD card, and headphone. The Surface Laptop Ultra is designed for high performance, quiet operation, and all-day battery life, and it will be available later this year.

AppWizard

May 31, 2026

Haptics make racing games feel so real that I can’t believe I was actually indoors using a PC and not on a racetrack.

The MTC-P Extreme is a haptic seat insert designed for sim-racing enthusiasts, offering haptic feedback based on telemetry data from supported racing games. It is compatible with titles such as Assetto Corsa, iRacing, F1 25, and others, but not Forza Horizon 6. The device features 14 actuators and connects to a PC via USB, with an accompanying app for tuning. It provides a visceral experience that enhances the realism of racing simulations. Sensit Haptics aims to deliver an exceptional sim-racing experience and offers a more accessible option compared to full motion platforms.

AppWizard

May 27, 2026

007 First Light Best Settings for Gameplay, Controls and Graphics

Players can adjust various settings in IO Interactive's 007 First Light to enhance their gameplay experience across all platforms. Recommended global settings include turning off optional tutorials, adjusting aim sensitivity to 1.50, and setting vibration intensity to high for DualSense controllers. For graphics, it is advised to choose 60 FPS, and turn off motion blur, fullscreen blur, radial blur, wobble distortion, film grain, and chromatic aberration effects. For PC, high-end setups should enable V-Sync, use sRGB for transfer function, adjust gamma correction as preferred, and utilize DLSS or FSR for resolution scaling. Mid-range setups can maintain a mix of medium and high settings for nearly 60 FPS, with similar recommendations for V-Sync and transfer function. The Steam Deck faces challenges with the game, but optimization is anticipated for better performance.