|OT| General Tech Discussion Thread

[BoosterDuck]

Ah yes, tech; wonderful tools that represent the summation of human knowledge and ingenuity. A field vast and significant enough to report and discuss on different products and iterations. Whether it's a phone, tablet, laptop, operating system, app, website, display, camera, etc. There is complexity and ingenuity to be found everywhere. And who knows, maybe we'll create fail-safes to quell future robot uprisings...

Anything and everything about tech goes here.

 

[Kvik]

I don't have gadget news to share, but I'd love some opinions about Android tablets in 10.5" form factor. My Xperia Z4 is at least 5+ years old at this point and while it's still running decently, I'd like to see what kind of options I can upgrade it to in the near future.

 

[BoosterDuck]

a near final build of Windows 10X leaked and it's looking good honestly, feels like the future of windows

Windows 10X is now Microsoft’s true answer to Chrome OS

A near-final version of Windows 10X has leaked

www.theverge.com

I don't have gadget news to share, but I'd love some opinions about Android tablets in 10.5" form factor. My Xperia Z4 is at least 5+ years old at this point and while it's still running decently, I'd like to see what kind of options I can upgrade it to in the near future.

Android tablets aren't in a great place right now, I'd suggest a Chrome OS tablet like the Lenovo Chromebook Duet, the new Microsoft Surface Go 2 with 10.5" screen or an iPad instead

but if you really need an Android tablet then you can look into the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, S6, A7 or S7

 

[C-Dub]

As a Galaxy Tab S6 Lite owner, I can confirm it is an excellent Android tablet. I don't use it for much other than browsing the web and editing novels, but for those functions it is great. Before then I had a Galaxy Tab A10, and it was fine, but a little sluggish on the UI. And I missed having a stylus too.

For my other work - I work for the government in taxes - I use a Surface Pro 6. I also use a (different) Surface Pro 6 for my self-employed writing/editing work, and do a bit of editing on it with the Surface Pen, but the 13 inch screen is a little big for long-reads. I'm generally a fan of Microsoft's Surface line - they are robust and sturdy, work well and feel premium. Windows is also a decent tablet OS at this point, though it has nothing on iPadOS in terms of tablet functionality.

Depending on what you want to do with it, I'd recommend a Surface Go/Pro or an iPad as a tablet, unless all you want is a reasonably fast tablet for browsing and basic pen work, in which case there are some very good Android options.

 

[Li Kao]

I don't use it for much other than browsing the web and editing novels,

Are you a writer ? You are my new role model ! Unless... its furry porn isn't it ?

 

[C-Dub]

Are you a writer ? You are my new role model ! Unless... its furry porn isn't it ?

I don't make much money from it (less than £1000 a year, most years nothing). I was more active about ten years ago (and still making next-to-nothing) but I occasionally do copy for local businesses and provide some low-cost editing services for local writers groups and businesses. I am also pitching a novel to agents.

It's hard to do much else because, firstly the work's not there and I've always been more navel-gazing and interested in my own fiction (which is notoriously difficult to get anywhere with), and secondly because my employment puts contractual restrictions on what I can and cannot do as a secondary job. Because I work in taxes I deal with sensitive information, so my allegiances need to be to the civil service and I have to uphold the values of the civil service - that includes confidentiality and I need to appear as though I am completely above board and do not have any secondary business interests that may bias my work. So I've basically avoided doing any paid writing work since I started with them in case it affects my main job.

So it's not a career and I don't call myself a writer because of that. Maybe a year from now I will be able to call myself a proper writer, as in a published author, but I'm not there yet!

 

[Kvik]

Thanks for the input, folks. But first, I'd like to say getting an iPad is out of question. I just don't like using Apple stuff because reasons. My Z4 tablet is my daily driver for browsing, reading books and manga, casting Youtube/Crunchy/Amaprime to my TV via Chromecast (I don't have a smart TV) and app development (although I haven't done any app project for the past couple of years).

but if you really need an Android tablet then you can look into the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, S6, A7 or S7

I'm leaning towards the S7 at a glance. It has the same resolution as my Z4 Tablet (2560 x 1600) with higher PPI and thinner bezel. I have a slight apprehension of using another Samsung product, though. Because...

Before then I had a Galaxy Tab A10, and it was fine, but a little sluggish on the UI.

Before I have my Z4, I have a first-generation Galaxy Tab (circa 2011) and that thing was very sluggish after the first year. I flashed a custom firmware and that seems to have fixed the issue and used it for a few years after that until I bought my Z4, but I shouldn't have to do this in the first place.

Anyway, the build quality of S7 seems pretty solid, looks like they've moved on from the plasticky feel of the original Galaxy Tab. My other concern is about battery life. The Z4 at its prime can last 4-5 days on a single charge for my use case.

 

[NarohDethan]

I'd like to get a tablet but honestly I would barely use it.

I'd like to get a soundbar for my TV but I don't want to disturb my parents with my game noise.

I'll proooobably try one of those Samsung S20 FE. I've been switching back and forth with iOS/Android, honestly I don't mind it.

 

[NarohDethan]

Man, phones are expensive as shit.

 

[lashman]

Man, phones are expensive as shit.

tell me about it ... i can't even afford the cheapest shittiest android one (or at least one that's not ancient)

 

[NarohDethan]

tell me about it ... i can't even afford the cheapest shittiest android one (or at least one that's not ancient)

My gripe with cheap phones is that accessories for them are dodgy as fuck. My Moto Z2 Play would be alive if I were able to put some screen protection or a case on it, but because I couldnt find any, it died on the first drop it had.

 

[lashman]

My gripe with cheap phones is that accessories for them are dodgy as fuck. My Moto Z2 Play would be alive if I were able to put some screen protection or a case on it, but because I couldnt find any, it died on the first drop it had.

yeah, that's another thing ... only the top shelf phones get any decent accessories ... and i fucking hate that too!

 

[BoosterDuck]

end of an era

 

[Kvik]

I've been reading RTINGS' review of Sony's A90J OLED. Seems like a great set, but the lack of VRR on release sure didn't lend it any favours especially when LG BX/CX supports GSync out of the box.

Sony A90J OLED Review (XR-55A90J, XR-65A90J, XR-83A90J)

The Sony A90J OLED is an amazing 4k TV from Sony's Master Series. Like other OLEDs, it delivers unparalleled picture quality thanks to its self-emitting pixels, ...

www.rtings.com

Frankly, Sony has to stop selling their TVs with the promise of "We'll patch it later on". There is no point in spending $3,500 on a flagship model with incomplete features.

 

[Kvik]

HDTVTest's review of LG C1 OLED.

• Low input lag.
• VRR/Gsync out of the box.
• Good HDR support for PC.
• All 4 HDMI ports are 4K/120 fps.

It's a high-end gaming TV which perhaps lacks Sony's superior image processing capabilities, but this TV looks increasingly attractive for my use case. Will keep an eye on it during the Black Friday sale for the right price.

 

[C-Dub]

LG have been kings of the high end gaming TV space since the C9.

 

[BoosterDuck]

 

[lashman]

 

[BoosterDuck]

Microsoft Shelves Windows 10X to Focus on Windows 10 | Digital Trends

Microsoft's lightweight Windows 10X operating system is not coming in 2021, as the company reportedly wants to focus on regular Windows 10,instead.

www.digitaltrends.com

thats a shame, I was hoping 10x would ship out quietly and gradually build up to become a real beast like steam on linux but I guess microsoft wants to sit on their hands for now

 

[EdwardTivrusky]

Wasn't Windows 10X the UWP only OS? No, x86 support so it'd be Edge & Store Apps only?
No thanks. Well, maybe on a tablet or laptop for browsing but desktop or serious machine? Nah. Not yet at least.

 

[EdwardTivrusky]

I know it may not fit totally in here but Techmoan covers some astounding designed old tech.

 

[gabbo]

Wasn't Windows 10X the UWP only OS? No, x86 support so it'd be Edge & Store Apps only?
No thanks. Well, maybe on a tablet or laptop for browsing but desktop or serious machine? Nah. Not yet at least.

Wasn't that Win10 S?

 

[EdwardTivrusky]

Win10X is based on the new Windows Core architecture isn't it? I'm sure it was originally going to be UWP and Edge apps but it's been realigned and refocused a few times which doesn't give me hope that it's going to be any good after that many changes and last i heard wasn't it being targeted towards Education and Enterprises? I'll have to do some more reading to refresh my memory but i'm not hopeful that it's going to be what i'd like.

Windows 10 X - TechRadar Article

Dual screen focus, stripped down and lightweight, runs 32bit apps in an emulator/Containers but not until 2022 at the earliest.

So it's a tablet style device focused Windows 10, hopefully it's not their vision of the desktop but i suspect Microsoft's vision of the desktop is tablet based and you remote into Azure for the heavy-lifting.

 

[BoosterDuck]

google doing a huge visual redesign with android 12 which looks interesting

 

[BoosterDuck]

Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro renders leaked with new camera designs that look super interesting

Google Pixel 6 Pro renders from reliable source here - Android Authority

We now have our first look at what is very likely to be the design of the Google Pixel 6 Pro. This might be a Pixel fan's dream machine.

www.androidauthority.com

Google Pixel 6 renders are also here: A few firsts just like the Pixel 6 Pro

The renders and some specs of the Google Pixel 6 have leaked. The phone could be slightly smaller than the Pro and come with one less camera.

www.androidauthority.com

 

[Magnamalo]

Using the Android 12 beta on my Pixel 4a i like it, few bugs here and there to be expected i like the added polish in many areas more fluid overall, lacks some stuff shown from the videos but i guess they're holding some back till final stable release

Im eagerly awaiting a new Nvidia Shield with an updated processor just sold my 2019 version in hopes for that, maybe once the rumoured next new Nintendo Switch console releases with a new processor we can finally get an upgraded Nvidia Shield

 

[BoosterDuck]

STRAP IN FOLKS

Satya Nadella teases 'the next generation of Windows' is coming soon

Microsoft CEO has teased that a major update is in the works for Windows, calling it the "most significant updates to Windows in the past decade." The company isn't detailing what those updates are today, but does say that it will have more to share very soon.

www.windowscentral.com

 

[BoosterDuck]

sony finally adds waterproofing to wireless earbuds

Sony announces WF-1000XM4 noise-canceling earbuds with LDAC and IPX4 water resistance

Sony’s new flagship earbuds cost $279.99.

www.theverge.com

 

[BoosterDuck]

[UWSL]

Leaked Windows 11 build shows a Windows 10X-like interface | ZDNet

A leaked build of what appears to be "Windows 11" is circulating. The shell looks a lot like the one that was part of Microsoft's cancelled Windows 10X variant.

www.zdnet.com

[/UWSL]

 

[BoosterDuck]

Microsoft announces Windows 11, with a new design, Start menu, and more

Windows 11 includes a new UI, store, and much more.

www.theverge.com

 

[BoosterDuck]

Microsoft’s Blue Screen of Death is changing to black in Windows 11

The BSOD as we know it is changing to black.

www.theverge.com

 

[BoosterDuck]

Microsoft threatens to resurrect Clippy as an Office emoji

Microsoft asked for 20,000 likes, and it got them in spades.

www.theverge.com

 

[EdwardTivrusky]

Gimme, Clippy! I need an excuse to never fire up O365 again!