tablet Archives

Winsage

November 8, 2024

Windows Central’s highest-rated laptops are already on sale ahead of Black Friday — save up to $640 with my shopping advice

As the holiday shopping season approaches, discounts on Windows laptops are becoming available, including high-end Copilot+ PCs and budget-friendly options. A curated list of the best deals for 2024 is being compiled, which will be updated as Black Friday nears. Windows laptops are categorized into three primary types: 1. Notebook: A classic clamshell design, often used for gaming. 2. Convertible: Heavier, pricier laptops with 360-degree hinges and touch displays, suitable for media and creative tasks. 3. 2-in-1: Devices with a detachable keyboard, allowing tablet-like use. AI PCs, equipped with processors that include a Neural Processing Unit (NPU), are gaining attention in 2024. Examples include Intel Core Ultra and AMD Ryzen AI 300. Microsoft's Copilot+ PC program enhances the AI experience for laptops with NPUs. However, for most users, having an NPU may not be essential, and focusing on overall performance is recommended. The evaluation process for Windows laptops includes testing hinge strength, chassis durability, port speed, camera quality, speaker performance, fan noise, display quality, and battery life. All laptops in the Black Friday collection have ratings of four stars or higher. Black Friday 2024 is scheduled for November 29, 2024, with many retailers already offering deals. Cyber Monday will follow on December 2, 2024, focusing on online shopping, with some tech deals continuing from Black Friday.

AppWizard

November 5, 2024

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is awesome, but it’s let down by the state of Android tablet apps

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra features a 14.6-inch OLED display with a resolution of 1,848 x 2,960 pixels and a refresh rate of 120Hz, achieving a brightness of 930 nits. It is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9300 Plus chip, which includes four Cortex X4 CPUs and a 12-core Arm Immortalis GPU, offering performance comparable to Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and 8 Gen 3. The tablet has a battery capacity of 11,200mAh, allowing for several days of use, but lacks a charger in the box and has slow charging speeds. It operates on Android 14 with One UI 6.1 and is promised seven years of security patches and OS updates. The device includes a quad-speaker setup tuned by AKG and comes with accessories like a keyboard case and S Pen stylus. Priced at ,200, it faces challenges due to the limited availability of optimized Android applications for its large display.

AppWizard

November 5, 2024

Best Android app price drops and freebies: Evoland 2, World Cruise Story, Human Fall Flat, more

- Bose QuietComfort Headphones are now priced at 9 after a price drop. - OnePlus 12 has a price cut and is bundled with OnePlus Buds Pro 3, valued at 0. - Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 with LTE is available at a new low price. - Samsung 14-inch Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is priced at 9. - Notable app highlights include Evoland 2, World Cruise Story, Convenience Stories, Hot Springs Story 2, and Human Fall Flat.

Winsage

November 5, 2024

Microsoft has eradicated all memory of Paint 3D from the store, and its predecessor is only getting better

Microsoft has retired Paint 3D, which has disappeared from the Microsoft Store. Users who downloaded it before November 4 can still access it, but it will no longer receive updates. The original Paint has received significant updates, including AI capabilities for background removal, new brushes and tools, and AI image generation tools that require credits for access. Paint has become a more dynamic tool, competing with applications like GIMP and Photoshop, and has improved compatibility with drawing tools for Windows tablet users.

Winsage

November 3, 2024

Microsoft Surface Pro 11 review: A new generation of Windows computers

The Surface Pro 8 has design shortcomings, particularly in its 'lapability' due to its kickstand. The Surface Pro 11 features upgrades such as new Snapdragon hardware, improved battery life, and enhanced processing power. It represents a shift towards ARM technology, offering advantages like superior battery life, rapid boot times, enhanced security, and low power consumption. The Surface Pro 11 has display options of LCD or OLED, both with a resolution of 2,880x1,920 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate. It includes excellent stereo speakers, a 1440p ultrawide webcam, and effective microphone setup for video conferencing. The device handles daily tasks well but is heavier than competitors. It has limited ports and a familiar design aesthetic. The Snapdragon X Plus model with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage is priced at ₹1,34,999, while the total cost with the keyboard and Slim Pen is ₹1,64,899. Battery life averages around 12-13 hours, which is less than some competitors. The base model offers a good price-to-performance ratio, with the Snapdragon X Elite model priced at ₹1,85,999.

BetaBeacon

November 3, 2024

It’s time for Samsung to step up its support game

Samsung has partnered with Assurant to bring 300 new places for Galaxy product repairs. Samsung is the largest electronics retailer in the world for nine months of the year and is focusing on improving customer service. Samsung is known for its high-quality consumer electronics and is looking to expand physical stores to enhance customer support. Apple's profitable customer service model is being considered as a potential strategy for Samsung to adopt in the future.

AppWizard

November 1, 2024

Pixel phones are getting an actual weather app in 2024, with a bit of AI

Google's Weather app features an AI-generated weather report that provides concise summaries, such as "Cold and rainy day, bring your umbrella and hold onto your hat!" The app includes a weather radar for real-time precipitation insights and "Nowcasting" capabilities that predict short-term weather changes. Users can customize the display by rearranging data like UV index and humidity, but the app's data widgets are large, requiring scrolling to see the full daily forecast. The AI summary and 10-day forecast are fixed at the top, limiting personalization. Pollen data is unavailable for allergy sufferers in regions like the US, and some whimsical features, like a frog icon, are missing. Users have criticized the app for requiring saved locations to view weather conditions, integration issues with other Google apps, and aesthetic concerns regarding the weather map and app visibility.

BetaBeacon

October 31, 2024

Play Games Seamlessly Across All Your Android Devices

Most Android games save game data in the cloud, allowing players to pick up where they left off on different devices without manual transfer. Google Play Games provides services for synchronizing game progress across platforms. Developers are creating games that work on various screen sizes and resolutions to ensure a good experience on any device.

BetaBeacon

October 28, 2024

Redmagic Nova Gaming Tablet Review Mobile Gaming Grows Up

The Nova tablet has Android at its heart, offering access to a wide range of games, media, streaming services, office applications, and organizational tools. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, making it one of the fastest and most powerful Android tablets available. The tablet is designed for gaming and offers up to 16 GB of RAM. However, it is a Wi-Fi-only device with no cellular option and has a camera that is not exceptional. The tablet's gaming experience can be enhanced with Game Space, and it works well for games with a smaller scope. Streaming games from a PC to the tablet is also possible, offering a great gaming experience.

Winsage

October 27, 2024

Bazzite delivers the SteamOS experience Windows handhelds need

Bazzite is a Linux-based operating system designed for Windows gaming handhelds, offering a user experience similar to SteamOS. It is built on Fedora and features a console-centric design, allowing for smooth controller navigation and stable performance. Bazzite includes specific enhancements for the Asus ROG Ally, such as TDP modes and lighting options. The latest version has resolved initial issues with Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) support, allowing for low frame-rate compensation. Game performance on Bazzite is generally positive, with some titles experiencing a performance penalty compared to Windows. Bazzite mitigates shader compilation stutters better than Windows and offers slightly improved battery life. The installation process requires partitioning internal storage and is comparable in complexity to installing Windows on the Steam Deck. Users can dual-boot between Bazzite and Windows. Overall, Bazzite enhances the gaming experience on the ROG Ally, despite some trade-offs in performance and compatibility.