As we inch closer to the launch of Android 15, more of its potential features keep getting unearthed. Industry insider Mishaal Rahman found evidence of a new camera extension called Eyes Free to help stabilize videos shot by third-party apps.
Before that, Rahman discovered another feature within the Android 15 Beta 1.2 update relating to a fourth screen magnification shortcut referred to as the “Two-finger double-tap screen” within the menu.
What it does is perfectly summed up by its name: quickly double-tapping the screen with two fingers lets you zoom in on a specific part of the display. That’s it. This may not seem like a big deal initially, but it is.
As Rahman explains, the current three magnification shortcuts are pretty wonky. The first method requires you to hold down on an on-screen button, which is convenient but causes your finger to obscure the view and only zoom into the center. The second method has you hold on both the volume buttons, which frees up the screen but takes a while to activate.
The third method is arguably the best one—tapping the phone display three times lets you zoom into a specific area. However, doing so causes the Android device to slow down, so it’s not instantaneous. Interestingly enough, the triple-tap method warns people of the performance drop.
This warning is missing on the double-tap option, indicating the zoom is near instantaneous. Putting everything together, you can think of double-tap as the Goldilocks option. Users can control where they want the software to focus on without experiencing any slowdown.
Improved accessibility
At least, it should be that fast and a marked improvement over the triple tap. Rahman states in his group’s time testing the feature, they noticed a delay when zooming in. He chalks this up to the unfinished state of the update, although soon after admits that the slowdown could simply be a part of the tool and may be an unavoidable aspect of the software.
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It’ll probably be a while until a more stable version of the double-tap method becomes widely available. If you recall, Rahman and his team could only view the update by manually toggling the option themselves. As far as we know, it doesn’t even work at the moment.
Double-tap seems to be one of the new accessibility features coming to Android 15. There are several in the works, such as the ability to hide “unused notification channels” to help people manage alerts and forcing dark mode on apps that normally don’t support it.
WhatsApp has made some big design changes over the past couple of years. However, most of the improvements come with little quality-of-life changes, and one such change will soon come to WhatsApp on smartphones.
WhatsApp will get an in-app dialer soon
WhatsApp seems to be working on an in-app dialer that will make it easier to call numbers that are not saved in the contact list. The screenshot below shows how that dialer looks. WABetaInfo spotted this change in the latest beta version (v2.24.9.28) of the app.
As you can see above, it is a simple dialer with the T9 keypad in the lower half of the screen and a green dial button below the keypad. If you want to make a voice or video call to someone over WhatsApp, you need to save their number in your contact list and then make the call. You won’t have to go through that process with the new feature.
WhatsApp made a similar change to messaging in the past. You can already message numbers that aren’t saved in your contacts list. That change may have made life a little easier for a lot of people, and the company might have received positive feedback for that change. That may have encouraged the company to bring a similar change to calling.
Samsung launched a new Virtual Gamepad mobile app some weeks ago. If you never heard of it, you’re probably not alone. Unless you own a Samsung smart TV and often use it with SmartThings on your phone, chances are this new app flew under your radar.
Samsung didn’t make any official announcements for this app. It was released quietly on the Google Play Store, but people could find out about it through the SmartThings mobile app, assuming they have a Samsung TV linked up. Here’s all you need to know.
You can now use Gaming Hub without a physical controller
As the name suggests, Virtual Gamepad is a gaming-oriented app. Its primary purpose is to turn your smartphone into a game controller for your TV.
Using this app, you can play cloud games via Gaming Hub on your Samsung TV without having to buy a physical controller. You can turn your mobile phone into a virtual gamepad instead.
This is what it looks like by default. You have some control over the virtual button layout, but there’s no light theme or other color options.
As far as your Samsung TV is concerned, the Virtual Gamepad app on your phone is like any other standard controller connected to your TV. You can use it to control games and your TV’s UI.
Similar to a physical gamepad, the left virtual thumbstick and D-pad control the TV UI, while the A and B buttons work as “select” and “back” buttons — just like on a regular Xbox controller.
This means you can also use Virtual Gamepad on your phone to play smaller Tizen OS games on your TV — games you can download from the TV app store. In other words, it’s not just a Gaming Hub accessory but also a TV remote and virtual controller.
If you want to give the Virtual Gamepad app a try, you can download it from Google Play. But, without a Samsung TV, there’s not much you can do with it.
However, if you have a Samsung TV, you can open the SmartThings app on your phone, access your TV, and select the “Virtual Gamepad” option. It now resides under “Camera Sharing.” You’ll be redirected to the Play Store to download the app on your phone. If you don’t see the Virtual Gamepad option in SmartThings, make sure you’re using the latest version.
Another barrier lifted for Samsung TV owners
Samsung continues to make gaming more accessible to everyone. Gaming Hub for TVs is one of the best choices for casual gamers who don’t want to spend too much money or for people who have never gamed but are interested in trying this pastime activity at a low cost.
However, because Gaming Hub requires a controller to play games, this can be another barrier casual gamers with no prior gaming experience — and thus, no accessories — are facing.
This new Virtual Gamepad mobile app won’t replace the tried and tested physical controller for most gamers. But it can lift this other cost barrier related to controllers. Now, Samsung TV users who want to try Gaming Hub no longer have to spend money on an accessory they may or may not use in the long run. They can try games using the Virtual Gamepad app and decide later whether they should buy a physical controller.
Google is reportedly working on a new way to help users bring order to their messy Gmail accounts on mobile. Initially discovered by industry expert AssembleDebug, a “Manage Subscriptions” section will be added to the app’s sidebar menu, housing all of the newsletters and promotions you receive. Tapping the option takes you to a “Subscriptions’” page displaying all of the mailing lists you are currently subscribed to. Tech news site PiunikaWeb states the window shows you messages based on criteria you specify.
It’s unknown exactly what that criteria may entail, however AssembleDebug found strings of code for the feature, providing insight into how it could work. There seems to filters that let you highlight certain mailing lists according to how many messages they send out “per quarter.” You can single out groups sending “less than 10,” “between 10 to 20,” or more than 20 emails within a time period. Alongside the entries will be the logo of the mailing list with an unsubscribe button.
So, maybe every three months or so, you’ll be able to check out who mails out the most newsletters. At least, that’s the idea. Without an official word, it’s hard to say for sure although we may not have to wait for long to learn more.
Just around the corner
Several users over on Reddit claim to have run into Manage Subscription on their Gmail accounts on mobile. Multiple people state they encountered a blue window announcing the section, but when they went over to check it out, the page was totally blank. Nothing happened. Another poster said clicking on the message only took them to a screen with an endlessly loading page.
PiunikaWeb theorizes that perhaps Google “accidentally enabled” the feature on their servers, but didn’t properly release the patch. It may be in this weird limbo where people can see the section, though it doesn’t do anything. We didn’t encounter it on our Gmail accounts. So it is possible its sudden appearance on a handful of account really was an accident.
What it does show is the update could be almost ready for a launch. It may just need a bit more time in the oven. Manage Subscription will be a welcome inclusion to all of the other recent Gmail updates like the more prominent unsubscribe button, if and when it does roll out. Speaking from personal experience, it’ll be extremely helpful in organizing the chaos known as the Primary tab.
Starting April 10, the US Federal Communication Commission (FCC) will require internet service providers (ISP) to begin displaying information about their service in a clear and concise manner. The format for the details resembles nutrition labels, like you see on food boxes. But instead of calories, sugars, and fats, the FCC’s Broadband Labels will show off monthly subscription costs, download speeds, and more.
The purpose of these new rules is to help customers shop around for the best ISP knowing everything the service will provide without the misleading language. It aims to make things more transparent between you and the company so you won’t be sucker punched by a fee you didn’t know was there.
Each of the sheets consist of six major sections. At the top, you have the name of the provider and the plan you’re paying for laid out.
Below the title is Monthly Price telling you how much the service costs per month, whether or not it’s an introductory rate, plus how long the contract will be. The next section informs you of any additional charges you may incur. These range from early termination fees to government taxes. What’s more, a link directing you to all the discounts and bundles an ISP offers can be found in the middle of the label for easy access.
(Image credit: Federal Communication Commission)
As you reach the bottom, you’ll notice a small table revealing the typical upload and download speeds of an ISP’s service. There’s no confusion regarding what you may experience. It’s all as clear as day. A connection’s typical of latency is provided here too.
Your monthly data cap is listed alongside the surcharge that’ll be applied if you go over the limit. Finally, at the bottom are links to a company’s policy page and a phone number for customer support in case you want to double check the info you see.
New rules, more tranparency
The Broadband Label is the result of a near decade long battle by the FCC in an attempt to get ISPs to be more transparent with their customers. Major providers fought for years to get the Commission to drop the new rules.
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In 2023, ISP representatives claimed listing all this information could result in “unnecessary complexity.” Comcast was even accused by the FCC of “trying to create loopholes” to avoid showing all these details. Obviously, the organization moved ahead, regardless of the complaints.
Not every ISP has been so hesitant in adopting the Nutrition-style sheets. Google, in fact, was among the first to embrace them. Last year, the tech giant published “GFiber Nutrition Labels” far ahead of every other ISP.
Google laid out the facts of its internet service: from how much your monthly bill will run to expected download speeds. Since then, we’ve seen the likes of Verizon and T-Mobile embrace the mandate by creating their own facts sheet.
At this time, the Commission’s decision only pertains to major ISPs. Small providers “with less than 100,000 subscribers have until Oct. 10, 2024 to comply.” If a service brand in your area is not following the rules or has “posted inaccurate information about its fees,” the FCC asks that you snitch on them by filling out their Consumer Complaints form.
If you’re looking to improve the internet connection in your home, check out TechRadar’s list of the best WiFi routers for 2024.
DJI occasionally knocks us sideways with cutting-edge innovation à la the Ronin 4D, but it’s usually just refining existing products to stay ahead of rivals. That applies to the new RS4 and RS4 Pro gimbals, which boast multiple improvements over the previous RS3 models, particularly in the size and capacity of cameras they can support, but no new standout features.
However, the company also unveiled the Focus Pro, a new version of its LiDAR focus system that works either standalone or with the RS4 Pro. This product is more on the cutting-edge side, adding a host of new capabilities to the company’s gimbal and camera systems.
DJI RS4
The mainstream RS4 gimbal is largely the same as the last model, with a carrying capacity of 6.6 pounds (3kg) that accommodates most mirrorless cameras and a good load of accessories. However, the tilt axis has been extended 8.5mm compared to the RS 3, giving you more balancing space for longer lenses or front-heavy add-ons like ND filters. It also uses DJI’s latest 4th-gen stabilization algorithm for improved smoothness and control.
DJI
The RS4 can pair with the new Focus Pro Motor (more about that in a sec), allowing smooth focus and lens zoom adjustments at a speed 30 percent faster compared to the original DJI Focus Motor. As before, it uses dual-mode Bluetooth tech so you can pair with and control multiple cameras.
Another new feature is improved stability in vertical shooting, steadying jolts for the influencer crowd even when walking or running. The redesigned gimbal horizontal plates allows for “seamless transitions to vertical shooting,” the company said, allowing for more efficiency in video creation (to let you quickly get out an Insta Story while filming, for example).
DJI
As before, it comes with automatic gimbal locking and unlocking for ease of use, along with Teflon coatings on all three axes for smooth operation. A new joystick mode switch lets you change from zoom to gimbal control and the customizable trigger can quickly turn on the FPV mode.
The RS4 supports multiple accessories via the RSA communication port, including DJI’s RS Tethered Control Handle and third-party options (DJI has an SDK protocol for the RS family). IT also supports the new BG70 High-Capacity Battery Grip that extends runtime to 29.5 hours with a 2.5 hour charge time (compared to , while supporting power delivery to camera and USB-C accessories.
Finally, the RS4 supports DJI’s Ronin Image Transmitter, delivering live-action high-definition feeds to other crew members and allowing for remote-control (focus, etc.) capabilities.
DJI RS4 Pro
DJI
The RS4 Pro ups the carrying capacity to 10 pounds (4.5kg) as before, while adding side handles and extra mounting points for accessories. It adds a 20 percent motor torque boost to all axes (compared to the RS 3 Pro) to allow for more responsive tracking even with heavy cameras and accessories.
DJI also introduced a car mount mode, optimizing the stabilizer for vehicle shoots, while updating vertical shooting capability and improving axis locks. Like the RS4, it has DJI’s latest 4th-gen stabilization algorithm that’s particularly helpful for fast-moving scenes when carrying a heavy camera.
DJI
The primary new capability is functionality with the Focus Pro LiDAR and Focus Pro Motor system, giving cinematographers autofocus capability even with manual focus lenses. It also supports remote control and image transmission, “allowing for remote gimbal operation and intelligent focus assistance,” according to the company.
“In collaborative team shooting, the gimbal operator can control the RS 4 Pro gimbal through devices such as the DJI Master Wheels, DJI Ronin 4D Hand Grips, and DJI High-Bright Remote Monitor. Meanwhile, the focus puller can enable LiDAR Waveform on the High-Bright Remote Monitor for intelligent focus assistance, precisely controlling focus using the Focus Pro Hand Unit,” DJI says.
DJI Focus Pro
DJI
For creators and cinematographers, the Focus Pro is the most intriguing product in this release. It’s a LiDAR focus system consisting of the Focus Pro LiDAR unit, Focus Pro Grip, Focus Pro Motor and FIZ Hand Unit. It gives the operator autofocus capability even with manual lenses, or lets them focus manually via a real-time view from the LiDAR’s perspective.
The grip has a full-color touchscreen, 2.5-hour power supply, intuitive visual operation, auto-calibration and data storage for 15 lenses, along with Bluetooth capability for easy start/stop recording. The LiDAR, meanwhile, supports focus at up to 20 meters (three times more than before), and has an ultra-wide 70-degree view for focus. IT has 76,800 ranging points and a 30Hz refresh rate to minimize focus hunting and ensure reliable focus.
DJI
Autofocus includes AF subject recognition and tracking, adjustable focus speed and selectable focus area modes, much like a regular mirrorless AF system. The AMF (auto-manual focus) mode, meanwhile, allows for instant switching between manual and autofocus for tricky shooting scenarios. It also helps camera or focus operators by showing the LiDAR waveform. I tried something similar with the Ronin 4D, and while it takes a while to get used to, it’s very effective.
The FIZ Hand Unit allows full remote control over focus, iris and zoom for focus pullers. It uses stepless real-time damping for smooth control, while letting the focus puller be up to 160 meters away. Other features including faster motor speeds, 10ms latency and intuitive dial operation.
Price and availability
The DJI RS 4 is now available for purchase starting at $549 and includes one Gimbal, BG21 Battery Grip, USB-C Charging Cable, Lens-Fastening Support, Extended Grip/Tripod (Plastic), Quick-Release Plate, Multi-Camera Control Cable, and Screw Kit. You can also pick it up for $719 in a combo with a Briefcase Handle, Focus Pro Motor, Focus Pro Motor Rod Mount Kit, Focus Gear Strip, a second Multi-Camera Control Cable, and one Carrying Case. The RS 4 Pro, meanwhile, starts at $869 or $1,099 with the high-capacity battery grip, with the same range of accessories for each.
The Focus Pro creator combo (DJI Focus Pro LiDAR, DJI Focus Pro Grip, DJI Focus Pro Motor and DJI Focus Pro Carrying Case) is $999, or you can buy the All-in-One combo (with the FIZ Hand Unit as well) for $1,899. The RS BG70 high-capacity battery grip is sold for $149 by itself.
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Apple could unveil a new and improved Apple Pencil, equipped with a brand-new “squeeze” gesture, providing additional control without taking your hand off the pencil.
According to 9to5Mac, there are references to a new gesture called “squeeze” in the code for iPadOS 17.5 beta, which was recently released to developers. This gesture appears to be used to add shapes, signatures, stickers, or a text field, thereby saving time for those writing notes or quickly annotating a sketch or document.
These squeeze gestures are unlikely to refer to the Apple Pencil 2, as it has pressure sensors only on its tip and not on the stylus’ surface. This suggests that the gesture is for an as-yet-unannounced Apple Pencil 3 that could launch alongside some new iPads rumored to launch in May.
Other indicators of a potential new model include mentioning the Apple Pencil being supported by the Find My app, as current Apple Pencils cannot be tracked via this app. This feature will allow you to find the Pencil, just like you can track AirPods and AirTags, which is handy for something so easily lost as a pen.
Another possible clue that a new Apple Pencil is on the way is that iPadOS 17.4 has added an updated version of the PencilKit API, which developers use to make apps compatible with the Apple Pencil. However, the exact new features are unknown.
The Apple Pencil 3 will likely feature the return of pressure sensitivity, which was missing from the more scaled-down Pencil released in October 2023. This feature allows you to change the thickness of your strokes depending on how hard you press down on the screen and is invaluable for digital artists.
Tipster Majin Bu posted on X that the Apple Pencil 3 will come with interchangeable magnetic tips to aid drawing, technical drawing, and professionals such as digital artists and photo editors. While the most extreme rumor from MacRumors claims the Apple Pencil 3 will support the Apple Vision Pro and allow you to use your surroundings as a canvas instead of touching a tablet screen and will even still use pressure sensitivity.
Based on what my source reportedthe new Apple Pencil 3 will come with interchangeable magnetic tips(for drawing, technical drawing and painting) pic.twitter.com/AXUdpbZFVhSeptember 30, 2023
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Potential pricing is currently unknown but is expected to be similar to the Pencil 2 at around £139 / $129 / AU$199. Hopefully, Apple will opt for some color variations this time around rather than only having a white option, as we’d like to see black, silver, or gold options or any other color.
The original Apple Pencil was released on November 11, 2015, while the second generation Pencil was released on November 7, 2018. On October 17, 2023, Apple launched an entry-level Pencil model for USB-C-equipped iPads.
Lenovo has launched its new ThinkPad L series of business laptops, featuring a variety of models in different sizes, including 13-inch, 13-inch 2-in-1, 14-inch and, for the first time, a 16-inch model for those needing a larger display.
The ThinkPad L13 Gen 5 and L13 2-in-1 Gen 5 models are powered by Intel Core Ultra processors and come with up to 32GB LPDDR5 RAM and up to 1TB PCIe 4×4 M.2 2280 storage. The ThinkPad L14 Gen 5 and L16 Gen 1 models are offered with either an Intel Core Ultra processor or an AMD Ryzen 7030 Series CPU, and come with up to 64GB DDR5 RAM and up to 2TB PCIe 4×4 M.2 2280 storage.
All models in the ThinkPad L series come with Windows 11 Pro and are equipped with Dolby Audio Speaker Systems, HD RGB or 5MP RGB+InfraRed cameras with privacy shutters, and support for up to Wi-Fi 7 (Intel only) or Wi-Fi 6E connectivity.
Enhanced repairability
Lenovo has also enhanced repairability in the L14 Gen 5 and L16 Gen 1 models, thanks to a partnership with iFixit.
Announced at MWC 2024, Lenovo says this collaboration has resulted in devices that are easy to repair and upgrade, with readily available customer replaceable units (CRU) such as DIMM, keyboard, SSD, and WWAN. This not only extends the lifespan of the laptops but also helps reduce electronic waste.
Lenovo has also unveiled the latest additions to its X13 laptop series – ThinkPad X13 Gen 5 and X13 2-in-1 Gen 5 models, which are powered by Intel Core Ultra processors. They come with up to 64GB LPDDR5x memory and up to 2TB storage.
“Lenovo’s newest business laptops, the ThinkPad L series and ThinkPad X13 series, underscore Lenovo’s commitment to innovation and sustainability, offering features like easier repairability, increased use of recycled materials, and more efficient power management,” said Tom Butler, executive director, IDG Commercial Product Portfolio, Lenovo.
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“With powerful processing capabilities designed for AI-optimized experiences, built-in security, and enhanced manageability, these laptops are ideal for business professionals seeking high-performance and more eco-friendly technology.”
The new Lenovo ThinkPad L models will be available starting Q2, with the L14 priced at $1,199 and the L16 at $1,119. The L13 and L13 2-in-1 will start at $1,169 and $1,319 respectively. The new ThinkPad X13 will be priced at $1,539 and the X13 2-in-1 at $1,809.
Love watching YouTube’s excellent content of free tutorials, unboxing videos, and old intros to cartoons you loved in the 90s on the big screen – i.e. your TV? You’re not alone, although watching YouTube videos on your TV does come with its own obstacles.
The most notable of these is that your TV almost certainly doesn’t have a touchscreen (and YouTube’s TV app wasn’t set up to take advantage of one), so you have to rely on your TV remote to find the part of a clip you really wanted to see, where navigating using a finger on your device is often a lot quicker.
YouTube gets it. The video-sharing and social media platform (owned by Google) has been making several changes to its TV app, the latest of which is intended to make it simpler for viewers to cut through lengthy intros to get to the best parts of the video they’re watching.
Not to be confused with the AI-powered recommendation system being tested for YouTube Premium, the YouTube app for TVs will now auto-generate key moments in videos, which viewers can then access without having to guesstimate on that progress bar at the bottom.
CEO at YouTube, Neal Mohan, announced the update in a Tweet on X (formerly Twitter) below.
We know viewers love to watch YouTube in the living room, and we’re continuing to innovate to make the experience on TV even better. Now you can easily access auto generated key moments from any video. Check it out the next time you watch YouTube on your TV… pic.twitter.com/qRTHw695aXApril 2, 2024
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As noted by Android Authority, when watching videos on YouTube on your TV, pulling up the video progress bar should now reveal some white markers across it – I tried this with a few videos and couldn’t see them, but it could still be rolling out in the UK where I’m based.
Said white markers are the new auto-generated key moments in your video! You also should be able to quickly cycle through them, using your remote. YouTube on TV will reportedly also give you a thumbnail of the key moment, along with a caption, so you’ll be clued up on whether it’s the segment you’re after.
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It’s worth noting that content creators have been able to manually create ‘chapters’ to help viewers cut to crucial parts of their videos since early 2020, but this feature helps bridge the gap if an uploader didn’t do that – or for older videos and clips that were uploaded before that particular content curation perk arrived.
In April 2023, WhatsApp started testing a bottom-mounted and redesigned navigation bar in WhatsApp for Android. After almost a year, the redesign has finally made it to the stable version of the app.
In a new post on X/Twitter, WhatsApp has announced that WhatsApp for Android will now show the navigation bar at the bottom of the display rather than on the top to everyone, which makes it easier for you to access it as it is closer to your thumbs. The company didn’t stop there. It has also redesigned the navigation bar.
The previous navigation bar was green in color, had a small tab for Communities and large tabs for Chats, Status, and Calls, and only the Communities tab had an icon, the other three didn’t. The new navigation bar is white, has equally sized tabs for the four sections, and shows icons for all of them. These changes make the navigation bar look more symmetrical, cleaner, and more modern. The change is live with version 2.24.6.77 globally. So, update the app from the Play Store to enjoy the new design.
