Categories
Featured

The latest Google Pixel 8a leaks hint at its design, software updates, and AI features

[ad_1]

It’s a pretty good bet that the Google Pixel 8a is going to break cover at Google I/O 2024 on May 14, and as the day approaches, we’ve seen a pile of new leaks turn up that give us a better idea of what we can expect from this mid-ranger.

First up is well-known tipster Evan Blass, who has posted an extensive set of pictures of the Pixel 8a. You can see the phone from the front and the back, and at an angle, and in its  four rumored colors: Obsidian (black), Porcelain (white-ish), Bay (blue), and Mint (green).



[ad_2]

Source Article Link

Categories
Featured

Fed up with Windows 10 search being slow, wonky, or crashing? Microsoft’s fixed search with its latest update

[ad_1]

Windows 10 has received a new optional update and it comes with some much-needed fixing to cure problems some users have been experiencing with the search function in the OS.

Windows Latest noticed that in the latest preview update just released for Windows 10 (KB5036979), there’s been some work to improve the search functionality.

[ad_2]

Source Article Link

Categories
Featured

VMware users warned to brace for next big upheaval as latest Broadcom changes rumble on

[ad_1]

VMware’s end-user compute products are set to undergo substantial changes imminently, with service providers and customers bracing for the impact of yet another potentially colossal shakeup by Broadcom.

An email seen by The Register is reportedly warning service providers of VMware’s Horizon range to either face increased costs or an architecture change.

[ad_2]

Source Article Link

Categories
Business Industry

Latest MultiStar update brings a new feature for One UI 6.1

[ad_1]

Last updated: April 26th, 2024 at 08:30 UTC+02:00

Samsung has released a new version of the MultiStar app (version 7.1.33). It brings three changes; a new feature for foldable devices and tablets running on One UI 6.1, one visual improvement, and one bug fix.

MultiStar now lets you maintain split mode

Let’s start with the new feature, which is stated in the changelog as “[Tablet/Fold Device] Provide ‘Maintain split mode’ (supports One UI 6.1 and above).

From what we can understand, with this option enabled, when you change the view of the app from the full-screen mode to the split-screen mode, close it, and open it again, the app will open in the split-screen mode. So, if you want an app to open in the split-screen mode every time on your Galaxy Fold, Flip, or Tab device so that you can continue to work on other stuff when the app opens, this option makes that possible for you.

Buttons in the navigation bar now appear clearer

Moving on to the visual improvement, Samsung says that it has “improved visibility of navigation bar area.” In MultiStar, buttons in the navigation bar and the navigation bar have a similar color palette, which makes it hard for you to distinguish buttons from the navigation bar (or find buttons in the navigation bar). Samsung says that it has improved this visual element. So, you should now be able to see the buttons more clearly.

No more re-installing MultiStar to reset it

Coming to the bug fix, the company says that it has “Fixed phenomenon that does not reset when deleting app data.” MultiStar has an issue where options in it don’t go back to their default setting when you clear the app’s data. To reset the app, you have to uninstall it and then install it again. Well, not anymore. Samsung says that it has fixed the issue. So, you should now be able to reset MultiStar just by deleting the app’s data.

Samsung MultiStar version 7.1.33 changelog

[ad_2]

Source Article Link

Categories
Featured

Missed Dell’s latest flash sale? I recommend these 4 laptop deals that are just as good

[ad_1]

Dell‘s latest flash sale ran for just 72 hours so there wasn’t much time to pick up one of the great laptop deals on offer. But don’t worry if you missed out. I’ve just looked through the manufacturer’s current batch of deals and found four laptops that are just as good (or even better) as we saw in the flash sale.

Browse all of today’s best laptop deals at Dell

The highlight is this Dell Inspiron 15 for $429.99 (was $649.99), which is near-identical to the best laptop deal from the previous flash sale. All that’s changed is a swap from Windows 11 Pro to Windows 10 Home for an extra saving of $20. We’ll take that, given the difference in operating system doesn’t make a huge difference overall.

You still get a powerful all-around laptop that’s great value for money. It boasts an Intel i5 processor, 16GB of RAM and a large 512GB SSD to ensure fast load times, boot times and excellent overall performance for everyday computing needs.

Elsewhere there are cheaper options such as this basic Dell Inspiron 15 for $279.99 (was $449.99) that’s ideal for light tasks and general work, including web browsing, word processing, sending emails, and making video calls. Or, if you want a real performance powerhouse, then don’t miss this Dell XPS 13 for $799 (was $1,099) that’s in the clearance section so stock will be limited.

Today’s 4 best laptop deals at Dell

Unlike the flash sale, it’s unclear how long these offers will be available so be sure to pick one up while you can as they are some of the best laptop deals available now. Before you hit that buy button, though, you should check out all the latest Dell coupon codes for ways to save even more money at the manufacturer’s official store.

[ad_2]

Source Article Link

Categories
Business Industry

Latest QuickStar update brings new features and performance upgrades

[ad_1]

Last updated: April 25th, 2024 at 08:25 UTC+02:00

Samsung is rolling out a new update to the QuickStar app, a module for the company’s Good Lock app that provides you with additional options to customize the Quick Panel (also known as Quick Settings) and status bar. The update changes the app’s version to 7.2.06.35 and brings a total of three changes.

First, the new version of QuickStar gives you the option to change the format of the date that is displayed on the indicator clock. According to Samsung, the new feature works only in One UI 6.1. Unfortunately, we were not able to find this option on our Galaxy S23. It looks like there’s a bug in the app due to which it isn’t showing the new feature.

Second, the update changes “the way to connect” with Theme Park, which seems like an under-the-hood change for better performance. This change is available on devices running One UI 6.0 and higher, and for it to work, you will have to use version 1.1.00.8 of Theme Park, which Samsung released yesterday, or a newer version of the app.

Third, Samsung has made changes to QuickStar to “stabilize” the app’s ‘Quick settings instant access’ option. However, Samsung hasn’t mentioned what improvements will users be able to see with it. That being said, expect it to perform more stably than before. To update QuickStar to the latest version, go to Galaxy Store » Menu » Updates.

Samsung QuickStar version 7.2.06.35 changelog

[ad_2]

Source Article Link

Categories
Business Industry

Samsung outfits Amazon’s latest film studio with cutting-edge LEDs

[ad_1]

Last updated: April 24th, 2024 at 16:07 UTC+02:00

Samsung is showcasing its display technology prowess through a new collaboration with Amazon that revolves around its latest addition to its entertainment business portfolio: Culver Post. The latter is a state-of-the-art theatrical post-production studio located in Los Angeles.

Samsung says it has partnered with 424 Post and Harbor to provide advanced display technologies for Amazon’s post-production studio. As a result, Culver Post takes advantage of a 34-foot 8K Samsung The Wall LED (IWA-series) display and DCI-certified 4K Samsung Onyx LED displays.

The right equipment for the job

Culver Post is a full-service post-production studio that should bring unparalleled HDR and SDR mastering capabilities. It offers five stages of theatrical color grading and sound mixing. The first and second stages are outfitted with the Samsung 8K IWA-series The Wall and Onyx LEDs, respectively.

Although both solutions are based on LED technology, The Wall (IWA series) is ideal for both HDR and SDR color grading, whereas Onyx is a cinema LED display ideal for HDR color grading and mastering.

Onyx is the world’s first DCI-certified cinema LED display, and over the past few years, it was adopted by dozens of theaters in more than 120 countries. In January, it finally arrived in Germany for the first time and debuted at the Lamm-Lichtspiele cinema arthouse cinema in Erlangen.

As for Amazon’s Culver Post in Los Angeles, Samsung’s LED solutions ensure that filmmakers and creators can have the best editing and viewing experience. Each Culver Post stage also features Meyer Sound Ultra Reflex sound systems with Dolby Atmos. In addition, each stage has enough room for roughly 50 guests, including cinematographers, colorists, and editors.

These technologies combined allow entire production teams to experience a cinematic working environment and bring the spirit of collaboration to mastering and post-production.

Image Credit: Samsung

Join SamMobile on social media to get instant Samsung news updates, in-depth reviews, hot deals, and more.

[ad_2]

Source Article Link

Categories
Business Industry

Super critical: Don’t skip the latest Samsung update in any case!

[ad_1]

Samsung sends out updates every month as a matter of routine. These updates are security maintenance releases that fix bugs found in Android and Samsung’s own software.

The April 2024 security update has already been released for many devices, but Samsung also rolled out another update across the European region earlier this week.

This is a critical update that was released for a wide variety of devices, including but not limited to the Galaxy S24, S23, S22, Galaxy Z Fold 5, Z Flip 5, and the Galaxy A54.

It’s likely that this update would be rolling out to more devices soon. Under no circumstance should you skip this latest Samsung update when it arrives on your device.

Update is important for continued access to emergency numbers

Samsung is rolling out this important network update which makes some changes to cellular carrier support. Support for additional bands has been added in some markets to cater to network providers’ requirements.

Samsung has also dropped support for select bands, as some carriers may stop using those bands altogether. For example, many carriers are looking to drop 2G networks, meaning that your device won’t fall back to the legacy network.

The reason why this is a critical update is because you won’t be able to call emergency numbers in those markets if you don’t install the update. It will ensure your device has connectivity on all of the network bands that carriers in the region are using, so that in the event of an emergency, you’re able to call the required emergency services.

Installing this update will also remove TDD 4G network support for devices bought in Germany, meaning those devices won’t connect to these networks in Germany, Belgium, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria, Poland, Czech Republic, and Switzerland.

Given that the vast majority of carriers in Europe use FDD 4G networks, the removal of TDD 4G network support for users who bought their phones in Germany won’t have much impact when they connect to the 4G networks elsewhere.

As it stands, this appears to be a Europe-specific update so it may not be released in other markets. Those who do get the update in Europe should waste no time in hitting that install button right away.

[ad_2]

Source Article Link

Categories
Entertainment

Adobe Photoshop’s latest beta makes AI-generated images from simple text prompts

[ad_1]

Nearly a year after adding generative AI-powered editing capabilities to Photoshop, Adobe is souping up its flagship product with even more AI. On Tuesday, the company announced that Photoshop is getting the ability to generate images with simple text prompts directly within the app. There are also new features to let the AI draw inspiration from reference images to create new ones and generate backgrounds more easily. The tools will make using Photoshop easier for both professionals as well as casual enthusiasts who may have found the app’s learning curve to be steep, Adobe thinks.

“A big, blank canvas can sometimes be the biggest barrier,” Erin Boyce, Photoshop’s senior marketing director, told Engadget in an interview. “This really speeds up time to creation. The idea of getting something from your mind to the canvas has never been easier.” The new feature is simply called “Generate Image” and will be available as an option in Photoshop right alongside the traditional option that lets you import images into the app.

An existing AI-powered feature called Generative Fill that previously let you add, extend or remove specific parts of an image has been upgraded too. It now allows users to add AI-generated images to an existing image that blend in seamlessly with the original. In a demo shown to Engadget, an Adobe executive was able to circle a picture of an empty salad dish, for instance, and ask Photoshop to fill it with a picture of AI-generated tomatoes. She was also able to generate variations of the tomatoes and choose one of them to be part of the final image. In another example, the executive replaced an acoustic guitar held by an AI-generated bear with multiple versions of electric guitars just by using text prompts, and without resorting to Photoshop’s complex tools or brushes.

Adobe's new AI feature in Photoshop let users easy replace parts of an image with a simple text prompt.Adobe's new AI feature in Photoshop let users easy replace parts of an image with a simple text prompt.

Adobe

These updates are powered by Firefly Image 3, the latest version of Adobe’s family of generative AI models that the company also unveiled today. Adobe said Firefly 3 produces images of a higher quality than previous models, provides more variations, and understands your prompts better. The company claims that more than 7 billion images have been generated so far using Firefly.

Adobe is far from the only company stuffing generative AI features into its products. Over the last year, companies, big and small, have revamped up their products and services with AI. Both Google and Microsoft, for instance, have upgraded their cash cows, Search and Office respectively, with AI features. More recently, Meta has started putting its own AI chatbot into Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram. But while it’s still unclear how these bets will pan out, Adobe’s updates to Photoshop seem more materially useful for creators. The company said Photoshop’s new AI features had driven a 30 percent increase in Photoshop subscriptions.

Meanwhile, generative AI has been in the crosshairs of artists, authors, and other creative professionals, who say that the foundational models that power the tech were trained on copyrighted media without consent or compensation. Generative AI companies are currently battling lawsuits from dozens of artists and authors. Adobe says that Firefly was trained on licensed media from Adobe Stock, since it was designed to create content for commercial use, unlike competitors like Midjourney whose models are trained in part by illegally scraping images off the internet. But a recent report from Bloomberg showed that Firefly, too, was trained, in part, on AI-generated images from the same rivals including Midjourney (an Adobe spokesperson told Bloomberg that less than 5 percent of images in its training data came from other AI rivals).

To address concerns about the use of generative AI to create disinformation, Adobe said that all images created in Photoshop using generative AI tools will automatically include tamper-proof “Content Credentials”, which act like digital “nutrition labels” indicating that an image was generated with AI, in the file’s metadata. However, it’s still not a perfect defense against image misuse, with several ways to sidestep metadata and watermarks.

The new features will be available in beta in Photoshop starting today and will roll out to everyone later this year. Meanwhile, you can play with Firefly 3 on Adobe’s website for free.

[ad_2]

Source Article Link

Categories
Featured

Adobe Firefly’s latest image model looks like a generational leap and I can’t wait to try it

[ad_1]

Adobe Firefly is already a hit with Photoshop users of all stripes but this next iteration could make the generative image tool that does not rely on publicly-scrapped images indispensable.

This week, at its Adobe Max in London, the company announced an update to its Photoshop Firefly generative AI utility that deepens the integration and vastly expands capabilities through the adoption of a new model: Firefly Image 3 Model.

I’ve been using Adobe Firefly almost since its introduction, and while its power is impressive, its use is simple. You select a photo, area, or image object in Photoshop, and then in the text prompt area describe what you want to appear. I’ve used it to extend table tops to help fill out a 16:9 aspect-ratio image, and to add a metallic apple to this Getty Image (below).

Apple robotics

Composite image composed of Getty original image and Adobe Firefly-generated apple (Image credit: Getty Images / Adobe Firefly AI (apple))

Image 3 Model, however, will add much finer control and new image workflows to Firefly’s generative arsenal. Among the key enhancements are:

  • Reference Image
  • Generate Background
  • Generate Similar
  • Enhance Detail

[ad_2]

Source Article Link