Tech Advisorの July 2022 の目次

AMD has made a change to its mobile CPU road map, adding an ‘extreme gaming laptop CPU’ for 2023, code-named ‘Dragon Range’. It made the announcement at a small press conference following the release of its second-quarter 2022 earnings, which showed a reported record revenue of $5.9 billion on net income of $786 million. Dragon Range, like AMD’s ‘Raphael’ desktop processor, will use the company’s Zen 4 architecture disclosed this past January at CES 2022. There, AMD announced the Ryzen 7000 processor that’s presumed to be Raphael; it will be launched before the end of 2022, AMD said. Dragon Range and ‘Phoenix’ will be AMD’s CPUs for gaming laptops in 2023. The tech giant described Dragon Range as a CPU for “extreme gaming laptops” that are thicker than 20mm, and…

If images begin to look sharper on Microsoft Edge compared to other browsers, there’s a reason for that. Microsoft is building in what it calls a “Turing Image Super Resolution engine” into Microsoft Edge, ‘upscaling’ low-resolution images with higher fidelity. In effect, Edge will create a higher-resolution image using artificial intelligence, where it didn’t exist before. Upscaling isn’t new; Adobe Lightroom’s Super Resolution allows you to upscale a 12 megapixel image to 48Mp, for example, to print larger prints. TopazLabs’ Gigapixel AI is a dedicated, paid tool to do the same, and there are other free services available on the web that will perform the same services with varying results. The services differ from Microsoft in that they’re often designed to enlarge a photo without losing detail, in the service…

At Google’s I/O developer conference, we saw a number of announcements that were expected, but a surprise unveiling was Google’s upcoming Pixel Tablet. Just when we all thought we’d never see another Android tablet from Google ever again, a new Pixel Tablet is now officially on the way. However, we’re in for a long wait as, like the Pixel Watch and Pixel 7, this is just an early look with Google saying it will share more details in 2023. What we know so far is that the Pixel Tablet is powered by Google Tensor, the firm’s first ever system on a chip (SoC) which you can find inside the Pixel 6a smartphone, for example. And, of course, Android. The news comes many years after the popular Google Nexus tablets built…

For years, users of Google Maps have had numerous tools to navigate the planet: Street View, 3D representations, and more. Now Google is adding Immersive View, combining real-world imagery and artificial intelligence to make 3D maps even more lifelike. Google made the announcement at Google I/O, its annual developer conference, held for the first time in three years at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California. MAPPING THE WORLD “Around the world, we’ve mapped around 1.6 billion buildings, and over 60 million kilometres of roads today,” Pichai said. “Some remote and rural areas have previously been difficult to map due to scarcity of high-quality imagery, and distinct building types and terrain. To address this, we’re using computer vision to detect buildings at scale from satellite images. As a result, we’ve…

Windows 11 isn’t bad. Yes, we’ve called Windows 11 “unnecessary”, and still feel that the average person has no need to make the transition to an unfamiliar, restrictive operating system. But it would be unfair to say that Windows 11 hasn’t taken any steps ahead, either – yes, beyond Windows 10. So we’re calling them out. I myself use Windows 11 on a daily basis, as part and parcel of my coverage here and about the only aspect of Windows 11 that I refuse to use is the Start menu. It’s simply poorly organized and offers little value. I do think that eventually, you’ll upgrade your PC to Windows 11 if you haven’t already, so this piece puts a spotlight on some of its best bits. Rest assured that this…

Price: £499 from fave.co/3lE7pW8 Larger Chromebooks seem to be making a bit of a comeback recently. While most of the Chrome OS devices you can buy tend to favour small formats, usually built around a 13in display, with many people now using them as a workhorse in the home, a bigger panel can be a real benefit. Acer has recognised this new trend and its response is the Chromebook 515, complete with a 15.6in display. But, does bigger always mean better? DESIGN Those used to the lightweight, compact nature of Chromebooks might be a little taken aback when they first encounter the 515. It’s a large device in this category, with its sizable dimensions making it something of a surfboard when compared to the likes of the HP Chromebook x360…

There’s a neat symmetry to the tenth anniversary of Intel’s NUC, which was first revealed to the world in 2012. In ten years, the NUC group (which stands for Next Unit of Computing) has sold over 10 million of its unique miniature PCs. If that surprises you, brace yourself: those devices are split across 600 configurations. The scope and selection of NUC flies under the radar of even PC enthusiasts, who know NUC best for its eye-catching but relatively modest line of pint-sized powerhouses. “That’s just the tip of the iceberg,” said Brian McCarson, vice president and general manager of Intel’s NUC group. “We’re just getting warmed up.” FROM CONCEPT TO REVOLUTION The NUC began with a simple concept. What if a desktop computer was just… smaller? Like, really small?…

Linux users are a self-sufficient bunch, but when it comes to hardware, they’re often at the mercy of enormous manufacturers to get working drivers. While Nvidia has offered proprietary drivers similar to its Windows offerings for years, the company is changing tack and will now publish open-source GPU drivers (fave.co/3yTOVbP). The initial offerings are now live on GitHub (fave.co/388BeL8) as well as Nvidia’s self-hosted download pages (fave.co/3yQBHg7). Nvidia is following in the footsteps of its rival AMD, which has offered open-source graphics card drivers since 2015. But the company isn’t in any particular rush. Initially, only data centre hardware is supported with beta drivers. Drivers for consumer and workstation‑level GeForce cards are considered ‘alpha’ quality at the moment, and closed-source drivers will continue to be available for those who need…

When Google launched the Pixel 6 Series of smartphones late last year, there was one obvious omission: the Pixel 6a. Since debuting in 2019, the A-Series has offered an excellent affordable alternative to Google’s flagships, retaining many of their core features. A mid-range price point makes them particularly appealing. The highly-anticipated Pixel 6a finally made its debut at Google’s I/O keynote, but you’ll still be waiting a while for the phone to be released. Here’s everything you need to know. RELEASE DATE As expected, Google announced the Pixel 6a at its I/O developer conference on 11 May 2022. However, the phone won’t be available to buy for a couple of months. Specifically, pre-orders begin on 21 July, ahead of the phone going on sale from 28 July. For context, here…

Android fans have been waiting an entire year to see more options for the new and improved Wear OS 3 watches, since the only one that came out last year was Samsung’s exclusive Galaxy Watch4. At Google I/O 2022, the company announced the much-anticipated (and much-leaked) Pixel Watch, technically Google’s first smartwatch developed entirely in-house. And thanks to the company’s acquisition of Fitbit last year, it’s also going to be the first major update of Fitbit hardware since the original Fitbit Versa. Details on the Pixel Watch are still scarce, as it’s planned to launch in the fall next to a new generation of Pixel phones. But we know it uses a big, circular, all-glass face, proprietary wrist bands, and ‘deep integration’ with Fitbit’s fitness tracking systems. That’s a huge…

At Google I/O, the company announced it’s adding new privacy protections to the information it stores about you online. Also on deck: virtual credit cards, the ability to choose the ads you see in Search, and features to manage how others see your personal information in search results. But storing a driver’s licence on your phone? That may be the most controversial. Google didn’t say anything about collecting less information about you, however, and the company’s new My Ad Centre can be seen as just another way to personalize ads to your tastes – which means they’re even more valuable to Google. Still, Google new policies offer at least the promise of more control over shaping your personal online narrative, although Danielle Romain, vice president of trust at Google, noted…

Microsoft’s Ability Summit this month highlighted how the company is incorporating accessibility into the design of Windows 11, Microsoft Edge, and especially its incredible peripherals, but the question has to be asked, yet again: Could Microsoft do more to make Windows 11’s Start menu and taskbar more accessible to aging users? I’m lucky enough to be perfectly mobile, with the ability to use a mouse, keyboard and Xbox controller without any additional assistance. But I’m also one of probably millions of users whose vision is slowly getting worse over time. That, of course, is nothing new, and we have glasses and corrective lenses to compensate. But my vision disintegrated during the pandemic, as I was cooped up indoors and didn’t have as many opportunities to drive, take trips, and otherwise…

Price: £179 from fave.co/3FxZp22 For 2022, Samsung has updated its ‘A’ range with several new models. Alongside the A33 and A53 is the entry-level A13. While it’s just an opinion, I think it’s a good-looking phone with its neat triple-camera stack on the rear (which doesn’t stick out) and a glossy plastic finish that’s available in black, white and blue. It might be too plain for some tastes, but the minimalist design will appeal to others. It has a large, good quality screen, a big-capacity battery and expandable storage – all for a tempting price. But is it worth buying? Let’s dig in and find out. One quick note: in the US and some other markets Samsung also sells the A13 5G. Note that this phone varies by more than…

Whenever someone sends me a question about how to fix their Wi-Fi, I wince. It’s not that I dislike helping people with their router problems. In fact, there are few geeky endeavours I find more rewarding than fixing Wi-Fi connection issues at a friend or family member’s home. But Wi-Fi has always felt more like a dark art than a science, and it’s an art that’s hard to conjure without being physically present. Potential points of failure are everywhere, and what works well in one home might not in another. Even the reviewers of networking gear can reach drastically different conclusions about the very same product. Wi-Fi is fundamentally at odds, then, with my desire to answer questions with specific recommendations. The best I can do is walk your through…

The future of Outlook is here, albeit with some caveats. Microsoft officially released the new Outlook for Windows last month, with features that integrate Microsoft’s futuristic Loop interface as well as more practical innovations such as quick document attachments, a ‘My Day’ summary, and reminders to respond to important email. For now, though, the new features are only available to members of the Office Insider programme, specifically the Beta Channel. We’ve seen the ‘future of Outlook’ many times over the years, from 2015’s simple, effective Outlook apps for iOS and Android, to 2017’s more cohesive approach toward unifying Outlook across various platforms. We’re also seeing the first fruits of ‘Project Cortex’, in how Microsoft (and its rival, Google,) are blurring the lines between various applications. But Microsoft has also been…

2021 was a big year for Google’s Pixel smartphones as it saw the chipsets switch from Qualcomm Snapdragon to Google’s own Tensor chips. So, what will 2022 bring to the world of Pixel? We gather together all the news and rumours surrounding the new devices, as well as a few things we’d like to see when the Pixel 7 arrives. RELEASE DATE Google formally confirmed the incoming Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro during the opening keynote of its 2022 I/O developer conference. Despite promising that both are “coming this fall” and showing off a few official images, however, we still don’t know anything more about what this duo are set to offer. Over the past few generations, Google has settled on an October release for the main Pixel devices,…

Although they were leaked a few days before Google I/O 2022, the Google Pixel Buds Pro are now official as the firm’s most premium pair of wireless earbuds yet. Unveiled at Google I/O alongside the likes of the Pixel Tablet, Pixel 6a, Pixel Watch and Pixel 7 phones, the Pixel Buds Pro join the portfolio and offer high-end features such as active noise cancelling, custom drivers and wireless charging. RELEASE DATE There’s a bit of a wait for the Pixel Buds Pro as Google has said you can pre-order them on 21 July. They will go on sale alongside the Pixel 6a on 28 July. PRICE Google has confirmed the Pixel Buds Pro are priced at £179 – double that of the Pixel Buds A-Series. This price puts them in…

Even if you’ve been using Windows for decades, it’s big and complex enough that there might be features that can still surprise you. We’ve tracked down ten little-known Windows tools and tips that might just improve your efficiency, your comfort, or possibly even your fun while using your PC. Here they are, in no particular order. All of them should work on both Windows 10 and 11. 1. MOUSE HOVER WINDOW ACTIVATION Whenever I use a new PC, this is the very first feature I enable. Technically it’s part of the accessibility tools, but many users might find it useful no matter what their level of mobility. This setting allows you to activate a window simply by moving your mouse cursor over it, instead of requiring an extra click before…

Price: £1,119 from fave.co/3LHKWSk The Asus TUF Gaming A15 has been around for several years, but Asus has never been complacent with its most affordable gaming notebook – the firm has kept refining the design and beefing up the internals. This 2022 model has received faster components and more ambitious display options inside a case that’s lighter than the older machine. There’s plenty of competition at this end of the market, though, so we’ve got to find out if 2022’s Asus TUF Gaming A15 can stand up against rivals like the Acer Nitro 5. DESIGN The Asus TUF range isn’t usually shy about its military-inspired design, and that remains true: the Asus TUF Gaming A15’s moulded lid looks like it’s secured with rivets, and you’ll find edges with utilitarian air…

Price: £679 from fave.co/3w4ln9u Razer might have released the very first gaming phone, but three other companies have dominated the market since then. Asus’s ROG Phones have long been considered the devices to beat, with Xiaomi’s Black Sharks more affordable alternative. But Nubia is the most prolific, with a total of 14 Red Magic phones in just four years. The Red Magic 7 Series sees both regular and Pro models released globally for the first time. A price increase means the 7 Pro is the most expensive gaming phone Nubia has ever made, but depending on what’s important to you, it’s not necessarily an upgrade over the regular Red Magic 7. Here are my thoughts after spending a few weeks with the phone. DESIGN Unlike some Pro phones, you can…