Pros:
– Solid sound output
– Good dialogue clarity, punchy bass
– Modular approach for components is a good idea
– Easy to set up, 360 Spatial Sound mapping
– Chromecast, Apple AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect built-in
– Dolby Atmos and DTS: X compliance
– Support for LDAC codec over Bluetooth
Cons:
– Expensive
– Only one HDMI port
– Can drive cost further up for true Dolby Atmos surround sound
Price: Rs 57,990 (soundbar only), Rs 99,980 (soundbar + SA-SW3 subwoofer + SA-RS3S surround speakers)
Rating: 4/5 (for the full setup)
Sony HT-A3000 is an entry-level model from the company’s premium series of soundbars, with more emphasis on premium. Yes, you may read that again. Sony has taken a very interesting approach here giving the potential buyers a choice of buying just the soundbar first and adding components like a wireless subwoofer and surround speakers later if they wish to. But can the soundbar deliver on its own or is the additional cost of add-ons unavoidable? Let’s find out.
Sony HT-A3000 Soundbar: Design (8/10)
Sony gives you the option of keeping things simple and clutter-free by connecting just the soundbar – no subwoofer, no surround speakers. This HT-A3000 bar is a shade over 3-feet long and hosts quite a few components. You get the left, right and centre channels, and then you also have two bass units that Sony prefers to call ‘subwoofer’ for some reason; we will stick to bass units. Despite the Dolby Atmos compliance that this bar flaunts, there are no height channels here. More on that later.
The bar has an all-black body with a matte finish, a metal grille at the front and curved edges that make it look premium. The construction is sturdy, and the bar weighs over 4.5 kilos. It can be wall-mounted or placed on a desk. The top of the soundbar has touch controls and the connectivity ports are present at the back. There is a small LED display at the front behind the grille, which is always handy. It displays the input mode as well as volume among other things. All the necessary cables are bundled, along with a fairly long HDMI cable.
While these aren’t a part of the default package and sold separately, Sony India also sent across the SA-SW3 subwoofer and SA-RS3S surround speakers for review. Buyers also have an option of pairing this soundbar with the more powerful SA-SW5 subwoofer and the more versatile, and of course more expensive, SA-RS5 surround speakers. You can mix and match the components too, which is an approach I like as it caters to broader needs and budgets.
The aesthetics and finish of the additional components match that of the A3000 bar and they feel like a part of the same family. While setting up surround speakers is generally a cumbersome exercise, that’s not the case here. The SW3 subwoofer as well as the RS3S speakers are completely wireless, but you do need power sockets wherever you plan to place them. Setting them up was a breeze, and all the components talk to each other as soon as they are powered with minimal involvement of the user.
Sony HT-A3000 Soundbar: Specifications and Features (8.5/10)
Continuing on the topic of setup, the HT-A3000 supports 360 Spatial Sound mapping which gauges the shape of your room and creates multiple phantom (virtual) speakers to give you a more immersive surround sound experience. However, you can take advantage of this feature only if you opt for the rear speakers. Otherwise it operates in a 3.1 channel mode, with or without the subwoofer, with all the sound coming from the front. All the popular connectivity options are present on the A3000 soundbar. You get a 3.5 mm Aux input, Optical in, USB and as well as HDMI eARC.
Given that this is a premium soundbar, I would have preferred at least one more HDMI port with a passthrough option. Frankly, I was quite surprised and disappointed to see it missing. You have Bluetooth 5.0 for wirelessly streaming audio to the soundbar. What’s even better is the presence of LDAC codecs in addition to SBC and AAC for much better bandwidth. Speaking of wireless, this soundbar also has dual-band WiFi, and once you connect to a local WiFi network, you can make use of the built-in Chromecast, Apple AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect to stream audio directly to the soundbar. This is a more than handy feature to have.
The HT-A3000 is compliant with several popular sound standards like Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos, DTS HD, DTS: X and more. The soundbar has a total rated output power of 250 Watts RMS. The SA-SW3 subwoofer can pull another 200W, while the RS3S surround speakers add another 100W, thus taking the overall output to 550 Watts if you opt for all the components. Sony hasn’t provided details about the size of the drivers used in different components of this setup barring the subwoofer, which has a 160 mm driver.
A full-function infrared wireless remote control is also bundled in the package along with a pair of AAA batteries to power it. The remote is nice and compact and gives you access to a lot of functions that include master as well as subwoofer and surround speakers volume control, input selection, playback controls and more. The soundbar is also compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa, and certain functions can be controlled using voice commands.
Sony HT-A3000 Soundbar: Performance (8/10)
I tried using different inputs of the soundbar, but focused mainly on the HDMI input and wireless streaming. Also, let’s start just with the soundbar without the additional speakers. Audio playback was pretty crisp and clear, and while the bass units provided noticeable warmth to the sound, they couldn’t deliver the punch that a dedicated subwoofer can, especially in action sequences. Streaming music over WiFi, as well as Bluetooth (with LDAC codec), actually sounded quite pleasant on the soundbar without the sub in play.
Bringing the subwoofer into the equation changes the game, especially when watching web-series or movies, which is what this soundbar is primarily meant for. The SW3 subwoofer delivers a punchy yet fairly tight bass and elevates the experience quite a few notches. The dialogue clarity remained good and the additional warmth to the sound was absolutely welcome. So buying the A3000 without a sub makes little sense; probably applies to a majority of the soundbars out there.
While this true 3.1 channel experience is quite pleasant, all the sound still comes from the front of the listener, and you do not get a true surround sound experience. For that you need to add the surround speakers. There is a lot of content encoded with 5.1 channel audio on OTT platforms like Netflix and Prime Video, and the A3000 with all the add-ons can take advantage of that and provide you with a near theatre-like experience in your living room. The surround sound experience with the right content was quite impressive with the RS3S speakers connected. Loudness wasn’t an issue at all in a mid-sized room.
I am not sure you get the optimal Dolby Atmos experience with this setup as it lacks the height channels (upward-facing drivers). For that, you may need to purchase the SA-RS5 surround speakers that have the height channels and convert this system into a 5.1.2 channel setup, which should be able to handle a Dolby Atmos stream better. However, that will drive the cost up by another 17K.
There is another requirement for Dolby Atmos – your TV or player needs to have an HDMI eARC port. A standard HDMI ARC can deliver 5.1 channel audio but in Dolby Digital Plus mode. Always keep that in mind before you choose to buy a Dolby Atmos-compliant sound system.
Sony HT-A3000 Soundbar: Price and Verdict
The Sony HT-A3000 soundbar launched at Rs 69,990 and can be purchased for Rs 57,990 with a one-year warranty on Amazon India and several offline stores. Mind you, that is the price of the soundbar alone. If you choose to add the SA-SW3 subwoofer, which you should if you intend to purchase this soundbar, the total cost jumps to Rs 83,980. And lastly, the addition of SA-RS3S surround speakers will take the cost of this setup Rs 20 short of a lac. Keep all these factors in mind before taking the plunge.
All things considered, the Sony HT-A3000 with the subwoofer and surround speakers is an impressive sound system for Rs 99,980 that delivers a detailed sound output with ample punch. Features like built-in support for Chromecast, Apple AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect as well as voice assistants are great to have. Support for LDAC codecs over Bluetooth is another big plus.
The only major drawback is the lack of at least one more HDMI port which would have added more versatility to this device. Of course, the price is on the higher side too and may go even higher depending on the choice of add-ons. But if you have the budget, this is one of the better near-wireless surround sound systems available under a lac Rupees in India.
Despite most businesses (98%) being happy with the rate of their organization’s cloud transformation, higher-than-expected costs are making some businesses think twice about how they distribute their money.
The news comes from managed services provider Aptum, which has released its annual Cloud Impact Study 2023, based on the opinions of senior IT professionals across large organizations in the US, Canada, and UK.
More than one-third (36%) of the respondents believe that delivering cost predictability is one of the key challenges that faces their organization.
The study found that many companies are not getting the benefit of a comprehensive management strategy that they had hoped, having rushed into cloud service adoption as a result of the pandemic which pushed most businesses online.
Aptum is just one of the many sources citing an overwhelming interest in multicloud, placing the figure at 59% for those who prefer to combine public and private cloud services.
The reasons for diversifying across more than one provider are aplenty, with many businesses hoping to save some costs by cherry-picking just the parts they need from different service providers, however an alarming 73% are still battling with higher-than-expected cloud costs.
Aptum CEO Susan Bowen believes that the importance of embracing digital transformation is understood, but more could be done to mitigate some of the challenges that face businesses.
Bowen explains: “Cloud technology continues to enable agility, scalability, cost savings, and remote work - all essential components for business continuity and growth in turbulent times. But, if not managed effectively with a holistic approach, the benefits of cloud can be missed.”
Increasing ITDM knowledge and understanding, or employing a multicloud specialist provider, is key to improving the cost-benefit ratio, says Aptum, as the period of economic uncertainty continues to plague businesses worldwide.
Windows 11 will soon be much easier to set up exactly how you like it on a new PC thanks to a freshly introduced feature which has now entered testing.
PC World reports that Microsoft revealed the new Restore Apps feature at its Build conference for developers.
The feature – if turned on, as apparently it’s an optional ability – will shift not just your personal data onto a new PC (as can already be done via OneDrive, of course), but also your apps (with a catch – we’ll come back to that). Also, it’ll port over the customization you have applied to the interface too – so, for example, your desktop icons and layout, or apps you have pinned to the taskbar.
In essence, this means you can fire up a new installation of Windows 11 and soon have it exactly like your old system, with a minimum of hassle and effort.
As you might imagine, though, to get Restore Apps rolling and the full benefit of this easy migration to a new machine, you’ll need to be signed into a Microsoft Account (as opposed to using Windows 11 with a local account).
This is a great move from Microsoft in terms of making it really easy to get a new PC going. The catch is that with the apps being reinstalled, Windows 11 only preserves applications you’ve installed from the Microsoft Store, so you will have to manually set up other software.
And yes, you do have to use your Microsoft Account for the Windows 11 installation, but that’s no surprise. We don’t have a problem with Microsoft leveraging its account where necessary and when it’s of genuine benefit to users, after all. (What we don’t like to see is dubious ‘suggestions’ and ‘help’ in the Start menu which are just thinly veiled adverts for an account).
We’re told that Restore Apps should be available to testers imminently, perhaps by the time you read this, but it’s not clear in which channel Microsoft will deploy the feature first (Canary or Dev, presumably).
There were quite a few handsets vying for a slot on our sub-40K list of phones this month. After much deliberation, we have shortlisted five. This budget gives you access to some premium features like flagship-grade processors, high quality cameras with OIS, excellent high refresh rate displays and more. You get phones suitable for gamers as well as photography enthusiasts in this budget. So let’s take a look at the best options you can get your hands on under Rs 40,000 this May.
Best phones to buy under Rs 40,000 in India
OnePlus 11R 5G
OnePlus had a strong start to the year courtesy of the launch of the OnePlus 11 series. While the flagship OnePlus 11 5G is loaded with more bells and whistles, the more affordable 11R 5G is no pushover either, and borrows a lot of goodness from its more premium sibling including the design. This stylish phone looks just like the 11 5G from the front and back, barring the placement of the front camera and a missing Hasselblad logo at the back.
The OnePlus 11R has a curved display too, measuring 6.74-inch with an unusual (higher than Full HD) resolution of 2772 x 1240 pixels. You get a standard Fluid AMOLED display here instead of the more premium LTPO3 variant on the 11. This HDR10+ compliant screen supports 10-bit colour, 120 Hz refresh rate and can get up to 1450 nits bright. This phone is powered by Qualcomm’s previous generation flagship Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip, and you get its 8 GB RAM and 128 GB UFS 3.1 storage variant in this budget.
The 50MP primary camera with OIS but without Hasselblad’s colour tuning is quite impressive and does most of the heavy lifting. The support cast is modest with an 8MP ultrawide camera and a 2MP macro camera. There’s a 16MP selfie camera too. Its 5000 mAh battery can last for a day and a half of moderate use, and the bundled 100W charger promises to juice it up in just 25 minutes. The phone runs OxygenOS 13 based on Android 13 and one can expect several OS and security updates going forward.
OnePlus 11R 5G price in India: Rs 39,999 for 8GB RAM/128GB storage
Motorola Edge 30 Pro 5G
The Motorola Edge 30 Pro 5G seems to have received further price cuts and you can now get it under 35K. This phone is powered by Qualcomm’s previous flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip, which is still extremely powerful, and comes with 8 GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage. Its 6.7-inch Full HD+ OLED screen flaunts a 144 Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ compliance and can display over a billion colours. You get Corning Gorilla Glass protection against scratches at the front and back.
The photography department on the Motorola Edge 30 Pro is impressive too, starting with a 50MP primary camera with optical image stabilisation (OIS) and another 50MP camera for ultra-wide photography; there’s a 2MP depth sensor too. The 60MP front camera is bound to impress the selfie crowds. This phone has a 4800 mAh battery that comfortably lasts close to a day and a half of moderate use and supports 68W fast charging as well as 15W fast wireless charging. This phone launched with Android 12, and an Android 13 update has started rolling out. Like most Motorola phones, you get a clean and near-stock user interface.
Motorola Edge 30 Pro 5G price in India: Rs 34,999 for 8GB RAM/128GB storage
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is another great option in this budget. This phone has a sleek design and also flaunts an IP68 rating for dust and fluid resistance. It has a 6.4-inch Full HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with HDR10+ compliance, 120 Hz refresh rate and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection. It is powered by Samsung’s Exynos 2100 chip which can be found in several premium phones from the company. You can get its 8 GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage variant in this budget. The phone launched with Android 12, and is upgradeable to Android 13 with Samsung’s One UI 5.
Photography department on the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G consists of three cameras at the back starting with a 12MP primary camera with OIS, a 12MP ultra-wide camera with 123 degrees FOV and an 8MP telephoto camera with OIS that provides 3X optical zoom. The camera performance is impressive with excellent detail and wide dynamic range, and with a strong low light performance too. A 4500 mAh battery keeps the phone running for close to a day and a half of moderate use and supports wireless charging as well.
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G price in India: Rs 39,999 for 8GB RAM/128GB storage
iQOO 9 5G
The iQOO 9 5G is for those looking for a solid camera phone with ample storage under 40K. It is powered by Qualcomm’s earlier flagship Snapdragon 888+ chip, and you get its 12 GB RAM and 256 GB internal storage variant in this budget. Its 6.56-inch HDR10+ compliant Full HD+ AMOLED display has 120Hz refresh rate and can display a billion colour shades. The phone launched with Android 12 with FunTouch OS 12, and the company released an Android 13 update for the phone a few months ago. One can expect more software updates for this device in the future.
The rear camera department here is quite versatile too. You get a 48MP primary camera with Gimbal stabilisation, accompanied by a 13MP ultra-wide camera and a 13MP 50 mm professional portrait camera for great portrait shots. The 16MP front camera is more than handy for selfies and video calls. The iQOO 9 5G has a 4350 mAh battery that can last over a day of moderate use, and the bundled 120W fast charger claims to charge it fully in just 18 minutes.
iQOO 9 5G price in India: Rs 37,990 for 12GB RAM/256GB storage
Asus ROG Phone 5s
Here is a surprise entrant in this list. A relatively old phone but still highly relevant for mobile gamers, and certainly a very interesting option at this price point. We are talking about the Asus ROG Phone 5s. Other than powerful processing hardware, the phone has several optimisations and enhancements to give gamers an immersive gaming experience. The phone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+ SoC which is still fairly powerful for gaming, and you get 8 GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage to go with it.
Its large 6.78-inch Full HD+ 10-bit AMOLED display has a 144 Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ compliance and can get up to 1200 nits bright. This phone is targeted primarily at mobile gamers, but it can handle photography reasonably well, courtesy of a 64MP primary camera, 13MP ultra-wide snapper and a 5MP macro camera. The Asus ROG Phone 5s has a large 6000 mAh battery for long gaming sessions, and the bundled 65W fast charger can recharge it briskly. This phone launched with Android 11 and Asus’ ROG UI, and a stable Android 13 update has started rolling out recently.
Asus ROG Phone 5s price in India: Rs 39,999 for 8GB RAM/128GB storage
Apple has only just dropped iOS 16.5, but already there’s a public beta for iOS 16.6, the finished version of which will probably land in the next month or so, based on past form. This doesn’t look to be one of the biggest iOS updates ever, but there’s one potentially very useful new feature.
That feature is iMessage Contact Key Verification, which Apple actually announced last year, but is only now activating. If you and the person or people you’re messaging both enable this feature, then you’ll be alerted if Apple detects a potential intrusion – for example, if the cloud servers your messages are carried on appear to have been breached.
Contact Verification Codes can also be compared and verified in person or over a FaceTime call. So, all this is essentially a way of verifying that you’re talking to the person you believe you’re talking to, and that no one is eavesdropping on the conversation.
This is probably a level of security beyond what most people really need, especially as iMessage is already end-to-end encrypted. Indeed, when Apple announced the feature, it positioned this as something aimed at people facing "extraordinary digital threats," such as journalists and government officials.
It’s a feature that’s designed to stop “an exceptionally advanced adversary, such as a state-sponsored attacker,” so this isn’t something you should – in theory – need to avoid garden-variety hackers. That said, it’s something anyone can enable, so if you want that extra peace of mind, the option is now there.
Or it will be, anyway – while the feature is now visible, it doesn’t appear to be functional yet, according to BGR.
Presumably, then, Apple is still getting it set up, but with it visible in this iOS 16.6 beta, it seems very likely that the iMessage Contact Key Verification feature will fully launch in the finished version of iOS 16.6.
This seems to be the only feature that has been found in this iOS 16.6 beta, and handily Apple hasn’t provided any release notes for the beta. So, there may be more features lurking in there, and there may be additional features added in subsequent betas or the finished iOS 16.6 release.
But as we’re not aware of any functional changes in this current build, there’s probably no need to download it. And while it will definitely be worth grabbing the finished version, we might not see many new features until iOS 17.
Ubisoft may have hinted at a preliminary release window for its upcoming open-world Star Wars game. However, fans shouldn’t hold their breath.
In confirming the developer's release schedule for the year, which includes titles like Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Tom Clancy’s The Division Resurgence, and Skull and Bones, Ubisoft also hinted at plans to release the next Star Wars title in March 2024, at the end of the company’s current fiscal year according to two Kotaku sources.
Sadly, fans should not get their hopes up for a 2024 release window. The sources stressed that this target is likely too big of an ask for Ubisoft, considering the size of the new open-world Star Wars game, so fans will most likely be looking at a 2025 release window for the anticipated title.
Even without a solid release window, there’s still a lot to get excited about when it comes to Ubisoft’s Star Wars title. Announced in January 2021, this new expedition into the well-loved franchise is being developed with Ubisoft’s Snowdrop engine. The same tool was used to power the upcoming Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora and The Division series.
According to creative director Julian Gerighty, Ubisoft’s Star Wars title will also be a story-driven, open-world game that provides fans with a “unique game in the sage with a captivating story and set of characters that players can relate to and connect with”.
While I’m still unsure whether anyone can match the mastery of characters found in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor with colorful companions such as the friendly Turgle, it’ll be exciting to see what iteration Ubisoft comes up with. That is when we finally get to play it.
New data from Lansweeper has uncovered just how many businesses are still using Windows 10, or more precisely, how many are refusing to accept the latest OS, Windows 11.
Despite promising rises in the OS’s adoption in recent months (Statcounter has it that 23.1% of all Windows installs are of Windows 11 as of April 2023, up from 8.9% the year before), Windows 10 still makes up 71.4% of all installs.
Narrow that search down to businesses and Lansweeper reckons 80% of businesses continue to use Windows 10, despite the announcement that it will have support cut from October 2025.
Current figures suggest that 5.5% of compatible business devices are running Windows 11, up from 2.6% over the course of around six months.
With that being said, the threat that Windows 10 will soon lose its support has got IT leaders under increasing pressure to refresh their systems, whether that’s rolling out OS upgrades, issuing new and compatible hardware, or a combination of the two.
More alarming is the fact that a combined 4.3% of businesses are still running either Windows 7 or Windows 8, both of which have reached end of life, with a further 1.22% preferring Vista, XP, or Windows 2000.
Lansweeper Senior Technical Product Evangelist, Esben Dochy, explains the scale of the problem:
“For enterprises with thousands of Windows machines, preparing for the Windows 11 upgrade is going to be a massive task if they don’t have automation in place - and even worse without an up-to-date IT asset inventory.”
While Windows 11 upgrades may be free, Lansweeper’s study found that 42.7% of workstations do not meet the CPU requirements for the OS with a select handful also not passing the RAM test, indicating the need for new hardware during a time of increased costs and reduced spending.
Some companies have been holding back in order to wait for their favorite office software to work glitch-free on the latest operating system, but with time ticking, now could be the time for a mass upgrade.
Finding that crucial - or perhaps not so positive - message in a Microsoft Teams group chat should soon be a lot easier, thanks to an upcoming update.
The video conferencing service is introducing the ability to share a link for a specific message in a group chat, giving users a much simpler way to get the information they need.
In the entry on its Microsoft 365 roadmap, the company says the change will mean users no longer need to sift through reams of text hunting for the message they want, instead, "enabling the group chat members to quickly navigate to a message and find information."
The update is listed as being "in development" for the time being, but users won't have too long to wait to try it out, as there's an anticipated rollout start date of June 2023.
When released, it will be available for Microsoft Teams users across the world, using any of Mac, Desktop, Android and iOS.
The upgrade is the latest in a series of message and chat-themed update for Microsoft Teams in recent months. Recently, Microsoft announced it is working on an upgrade that will allow Teams users to manage their multitude of chats in a much tidier, more compact way, with a new chat density setting enabling users to condense their chat list and have more chats visible on the screen.
Also recently announced was an upgraded dashboard view Microsoft says can help users quickly identify or find the content they are after, putting an end to annoying Ctrl+F searches, tracking through reams of text to find a particular chat that happened days or even weeks ago.
However the platform also recently announced the ability that will allow chat participants to mention everyone in a group all at once - which could definitely cause more problems than it solves.
Numerous Reddit threads over the past few months have raised complaints regarding SanDisk Extreme and Extreme Pro portable SSDs, which have been seen to be wiping data and sometimes becoming unreadable.
Western Digital’s SanDisk is usually a preferred, if somewhat expensive, option that is favored for reliability, stability, and performance, however months of issues without a fix are set to taint the company’s reputation.
The complaints relate specifically to 4TB versions of the Extreme and Extreme Pro V2 SSDs which retail for $300 and $330 respectively, though some users have indicated that 2TB models look to be affected too. Having trawled the Internet, we found no recorded issues relating to the 500GB or 1TB models.
A Western Digital spokesperson told Ars Technica:
“Western Digital is aware of reports indicating some customers have experienced an issue with 4TB SanDisk Extreme and/or Extreme Pro portable SSDs (SDSSDE61-4T00 and SDSSDE81-4T00 respectively). We have resolved the issue and will publish a firmware update to our website soon.”
Notably lacking from the comment was any mention of the 2TB drives that have been seen failing and a timeframe for when the firmware update will become available.
Ars Technica also asked WD about issuing refunds to customers who have raised concerns in online threads, but the company failed to give any response.
This isn’t the company’s first blunder with customers’ access to their files being disrupted.
Earlier this year, a network outage caused by a “security incident” that saw an attacker gain access to some company systems. This led WD to disable online access to its My Cloud, My Cloud Home, My Cloud Home Duo, My Cloud OS5, SanDisk ibi, and SanDisk Ixpand Wireless Charger services, leaving users either without access or using a local access workaround. While that has been fixed, like this more recent SanDisk issue, it wasn’t particularly the speediest of recoveries that WD is generally known for.
iOS 16.5 is now available to download on any iPhone newer than the iPhone 8, and despite being an incremental update, it’s an important one for your iPhone’s security.
Thought to be the last iOS 16 update before the iOS 17 beta goes live in June, iOS 16.5 patches a nefarious loophole that allows anyone to access your contacts book from your iPhone’s lock screen (an issue that presumably arose as a result of Apple’s decision to improve lock screen customization in iOS 16 proper).
Previous versions of iOS 16 have patched similar vulnerabilities concerning access to Messages and the Wallet app through the iPhone lock screen, so iOS 16.5 looks to have fixed the final threat in this particular set of security risks.
Elsewhere, iOS 16.5 adds three security patches for issues related to WebKit, the browser engine used in Apple’s Safari app. These patches – which defend against threats regarding personal data leakage – were introduced with Apple’s first iPhone Rapid Security Response update in early May, but now anyone who missed that time-sensitive rollout can benefit from the security improvements.
As for the non-security-related features introduced with iOS 16.5, the new update adds a series of Pride celebration lock screen wallpapers and a dedicated Sports tab in Apple News. The latter provides easier access to stories, scores, and standings for the teams and leagues you follow, with score cards now taking you directly to game pages.
iOS 16.5 patches various issues relating to Spotlight, CarPlay, and Screen Time, too. The full list of updates can be viewed on Apple’s dedicated iOS 16.5 release notes page.
To download iOS 16.5, head to Settings, General, then Software Update, and follow the on-screen prompts. Alternatively, read our guide on how to update your iPhone to iOS 16, which contains more detailed instructions for the same steps.
As mentioned, Apple is expected to debut its next major revision to iOS – iOS 17 – at WWDC 2023 in early June. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman had previously reported that development on the Apple VR headset would lead to “fewer major changes” for iOS 17, but the seasoned Apple expert has since claimed that the upcoming update will actually provide several of users’ “most requested features.”
In practice, this will likely mean a range of significant upgrades to existing iPhone features and apps, like CarPlay, Siri, and Messages. A series of rumored updates to Apple Maps, for instance, might finally make you switch from Google Maps.
Leakers are, however, divided over which iPhones will be compatible with iOS 17. Some report that iOS 17 will drop support for the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X, while others have counterclaimed that iOS 17 will be compatible with all iPhones capable of running iOS 16.
At this stage, then, there's little certainty around which iPhones will be supported by iOS 17 – but we're sure to find out at WWDC 2023 come June 5.
Windows 10 users are suffering at the hands of some fresh bugs introduced by the latest update for the OS from Microsoft.
That would be KB5026361, the cumulative update for Windows 10 for May, which was released a couple of weeks back, and appears to be causing a bunch of glitches and more serious problems.
In the serious category we can file some Reddit users who are complaining on two counts of the patch ‘bricking’ their PC, and also reports of Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) crashes post-update.
Some of those BSoDs offer up an error that reads ‘Process1 Initialization Failed’ and as Neowin, which spotted this, explains, this seemingly occurs due to the Bootcat.cache file becoming corrupted (or its size having changed since the last time the PC booted).
Other Windows 10 users are encountering a problem that’ll sound familiar, no doubt – the failure to install the update, often accompanied with a meaningless error code (such as ‘0x800f0922’ which appears to be one of the more prevalent occurrences in this case).
On top of that, there are scattered complaints such as someone’s Windows 10 mouse settings being reset after the update (and some previous updates too, we’re told).
Others have lodged complaints about bugs with KB5026361 in Microsoft’s Feedback Hub, and another report from a Redditor states that their laptop’s Wi-Fi doesn’t work, and that the ‘windows bar is locked’ (presumably the taskbar is unresponsive) after the update.
Given that there are only two reports of bricked PCs, we can’t jump to conclusions – there could possibly be other issues at play in those instances. Still, it’s worrying to see such reports, even if this clearly isn’t a widespread problem. BSoD crashes are a nasty thing to be happening here, too.
It’s not surprising to see installation failures with the cumulative update for May, as this bugbear is one Microsoft just can’t seem to shake, in Windows 11 as well as Windows 10.
As for the ‘Process1 Initialization Failed’ problem, Neowin does point out that Microsoft has a cure for that particular error – though the catch is that it’s for Windows 7 officially (via an old support document).
The method suggests booting with a Windows installation USB drive, then deleting the problematic Bootcat.cache file, before restarting the PC. We’re not sure that’s a good idea, though – and certainly not something for those less confident with PCs to try – but more tech-savvy types could always attempt it as a last resort if desperate.
Hopefully, Microsoft will be looking into these issues, and fixes will be implemented as needed. Although these days, we get the sense that Microsoft is focusing far more on Windows 11 than Windows 10, what with the latter getting no more features from now on (save for, perhaps, the odd very minor tweak).
Still, on the brighter side, no more features should mean fewer bugs being introduced – in theory, anyway.
The modding team at Minecraft New Vegas has successfully recreated the entire world of Fallout: New Vegas within the beloved sandbox game.
However, the folks behind this 1:1 recreation of one of the best RPGs of all time have gone a step further, using the world to build a roleplaying experience in the mould of a virtual, post-apocalyptic version of Dungeons and Dragons.
In addition to offering an accurate recreation of Obsidian’s original open-world, Minecraft New Vegas boasts a thriving player community, where gamers take on the roles of characters within the world. Players can join factions, explore the map and interact with other players and NPCs. There is also a group of Gamemasters – think moderators/referees – there to “enhance the player experience”.
Just like the original, Minecraft New Vegas places an emphasis on survival and exploration, a prospect made all the dicier by the other players wandering about. Knowing that those Caesar's Legion soldiers are controlled by actual people goes a long way to making them much scarier. The modders have also recreated a range of items from the original, blockifying them for the full-on Minecraft treatment.
The mod also has its own Discord community – a must for managing an ever-changing community of roleplayers and the persistent world they inhabit. It’s a seriously ambitious project, and well worth checking out if you’re a fan of Fallout: New Vegas, Minecraft, or immersive experiences in general.
Reminiscent of Divinity: Original Sin 2 and Baldur’s Gate 3 in its emphasis on immersion, Minecraft New Vegas is a cut above most Minecraft-centric recreations of famous worlds.
This isn’t to say that the likes of Game of Thrones recreation WesterosCraft isn't extremely impressive. Minecraft New Vegas, however, goes the extra mile by creating a massive immersive theatre for players where folks can take on the roles of characters in the world.
A huge part of the original Fallout: New Vegas’s appeal is rooted not only in its expansive environments but in how those environments were populated. By creating a massive roleplay experience, Minecraft New Vegas fills the Mojave Wasteland with a new kind of occupant, piloted by another player.
This quality, coupled with those charming Minecraft voxels, makes for a memorable and distinctive project, capturing the spirit of the original, but enriching it with a community-driven layer of multiplayer interaction. It’s not quite The Elder Scrolls: Online, but it sure offers a tempting alternative for Fallout enjoyers.
A well-known Soulsborne data miner, Lance McDonald, has uncovered the possibility of a lost Bloodborne PC port.
To many fans, it’s still a mystery why FromSoftware never released a Bloodborne PC port, especially when you consider the action RPG's success and that fellow Soulsborne games, Elden Ring and Dark Souls 3, are available on PC.
For years, fans of the gothic RPG have been begging for some sort of remaster, whether for the PS5 or PC. However, as it stands, there has been nothing else to go by other than rumor and weak theories. That was until McDonald shared some very interesting findings in a Twitter post.
McDonald described screenshots from the Bloodborne wiki page which show the game's “windows build” created by the title's environment artist Macros Domenech. To rub salt in the wound, these images didn’t even come from an earlier development. Instead, thanks to the loading icon in the corner, you can tell these images are from Bloodborne’s full retail release. This means that a PC port was like being worked on throughout development.
Bloodborne: The Old Hunters Edition running on PC spotted. pic.twitter.com/dbtdkVvUVgMay 21, 2023
While this is a significant discovery for all the fans who have been clamouring for a PC build of Bloodborne for years, this is unfortunately not something to get too excited over. As these images were uploaded several years ago, they are unlikely to be teasing anything in particular.
However, as the screenshots are from Bloodborne’s DLC, Fishing Hamlet, it likely means that someone in development has a functional PC build of the entire game plus extra content. It is unclear why, with all of the work done, Bloodborne is still unavailable on PC. At this point it's probably something to do with the licensing agreement between Sony and FromSoft, who collaborated on the game's development.
Despite being somewhat frustrating, this discovery is the first proof in years that a Bloodborne PC build was in production, let alone already complete. While we may have to wait for a little while longer, hopefully, one day, we’ll be able to see Bloodborne in higher quality and better specs while sitting across from a PC.
Cybersecurity researchers have discovered two popular Android TV box products are being sold online preloaded with malware.
The malware generates revenue for the attackers by clicking on ads in the background, without the owners’ knowledge or consent, according to findings from cybersecurity researcher Daniel Milisic.
Milisic went to Amazon to buy an AllWinner T95, a popular set-top box with a four-out-of-five-star rating, and countless reviews. The TV box comes with multiple streaming services, can be customized, and is generally considered good value for its relatively low price (around $40 without shipping).
However, soon after receiving the item, Milisic discovered the tool was communicating with a C2 server and awaiting certain instructions. A deeper investigation showed the device connecting to a wider botnet comprising countless devices all over the world. The instructions were to download stage-two malware which performs ad-click fraud.
After publishing his findings on GitHub, other researchers chimed in with support, including EFF security researcher Bill Budington, who not only confirmed MIlisic’s findings, but also said there were other devices doing the same thing. Here are some of the infected devices: AllWinner T95Max, RockChip X12 Plus, and RockChip X88 Pro 10.
Milisic reached out to the internet company that hosted the C2 servers and asked for them to be turned off, and the company complied quickly. However, he says that nothing is stopping the threat actors to erect a C2 server elsewhere and just continue their operation.
Speaking to TechCrunch, Budington didn’t hide his amazement: “It’s an impressive and unsettling operation,” he said.
“It’s difficult to quantify the scale of this network. What we do know is that everywhere we look there are different variants of Android trojan malware downloading next-stage malware from the same set of IPs, ones that have been involved in supply-chain attacks in the past.”
The worst thing is that the average user doesn’t really know how to install, or remove, such software from TV boxes, the researchers claim. For them, the best course of action would be to just replace the devices with something of more trustworthiness. For the researchers, he believes they should hold resellers to a higher standard and scrutinize hardware more.
“They’re not allowed to sell children’s toys made out of spinning razor blades, why is it OK to let small, unknown vendors sell computers acting maliciously without owners’ knowledge and permission?,” he concluded.
Via: TechCrunch
The Apple VR headset is getting close to its rumored arrival at WWDC 2023 on June 5 – and the mixed-reality wearable is expected be launched alongside an exciting new operating system, likely called xrOS.
What is xrOS? We may now be approaching iOS 17, iPadOS 16 and macOS 13 Ventura on Apple's other tech, but the Apple VR headset – rumored to be called the Apple Reality One – is expected to debut the first version of a new operating system that'll likely get regular updates just like its equivalents on iPhone, iPad and Mac.
The latest leaks suggest that Apple has settled on the xrOS name for its AR/VR headset, but a lot of questions remain. For example, what new things might xrOS allow developers (and us) to do in mixed reality compared to the likes of iOS? And will xrOS run ports of existing Apple apps like Freeform?
Here's everything we know so far about xrOS and the kinds of things it could allow Apple's mixed-reality headset to do in both augmented and virtual reality.
It looks likely that Apple will launch its new xrOS operating system, alongside its new AR/VR headset, at WWDC 2023 on June 5. If you're looking to tune in, the event's keynote is scheduled to kick off at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST (or 3am ACT on June 6).
This doesn't necessarily mean that a final version of xrOS will be released on that day. A likely scenario is that Apple will launch an xrOS developer kit to allow software makers to develop apps and experiences for the new headset.
Yooo Apple just trademarked xrOS in their SF Pro font! It’s happening guys! Via @ParkerOrtolani pic.twitter.com/wdx4Q3RbQEMay 16, 2023
While not a typical Apple approach, this is something it has done previously for the Apple TV and other products. A full version of xrOS 1.0 could then follow when the headset hits shelves in late 2023.
The software's name now at least looks set in stone. As spotted by Parker Ortolani on Twitter on May 16, Apple trademarked the 'xrOS' name in its traditional 'SF Pro' typeface in New Zealand, via a shell company.
We'd previously seen reports from Bloomberg that 'xrOS' would be the name for Apple's mixed-reality operating system, but the timing of this discovery (and the font used) bolster the rumors that it'll be revealed at WWDC 2023.
A report from Apple leaker Mark Gurman on December 1, 2022, suggested that Apple had "recently changed the name of the operating system to “xrOS” from “realityOS," and that the name stands for "extended reality". This term covers both augmented reality (which overlays information on the real world) and virtual reality, a more sealed experience that we're familiar with on the likes of the Meta Quest 2.
While xrOS is expected to have an iOS-like familiarity – with apps, widgets and a homescreen – the fact that the Apple AR/VR headset will apparently run both AR and VR experiences, and also use gesture inputs, explains why a new operating system has been created and will likely be previewed for developers at WWDC.
Apple's xrOS platform could take advantage of the AR/VR headset's unique hardware, which includes an array of chips, cameras and sensors. It's different from ARKit, the software that lets your iPhone or iPad run AR apps. Apple's xrOS is also expected to lean heavily on the design language seen on the iPhone, in order to help fans feel at home.
According to Bloomberg's Gurman, xrOS "will have many of the same features as an iPhone and iPad but in a 3D environment". This means we can expect an iOS-like interface, complete with re-arrangeable apps, customizable widgets and a homescreen. Apple is apparently also creating an App Store for the headset.
realityOS • Concept pic.twitter.com/DjVZIg2Rb4June 5, 2022
Stock apps on the AR/VR headset will apparently include Apple's Safari, Photos, Mail, Messages and Calendar apps, plus Apple TV Plus, Apple Music and Podcasts. App developers will also be able to take advantage of its health-tracking potential.
Gurman says that the headset experience will feel familiar to Apple fans – when you put it on, he claims that "the main interface will be nearly identical to that of the iPhone and iPad, featuring a home screen with a grid of icons that can be reorganized".
But how will you type when wearing the Apple Reality Pro (as it's rumored to be called)? After all, there probably won't be any controllers.
Instead, you'll apparently be able to type using a keyboard on an iPhone, Mac or iPad. There's also the slightly less appealing prospect of using the Siri voice assistant. Apple is rumored to be creating a system that lets you type in mid-air, but Gurman claims that this feature "is unlikely to be ready for the initial launch".
It's possible that you'll be able to connect the headset to a Mac, with the headset serving as the Mac's display. We've recently seen a glimpse of how this might work with the Spacetop (above), a laptop that connects to some NReal AR glasses to give you a massive 100-inch virtual display.
We've already mentioned that Apple's AR/VR headset will likely run some optimized versions of existing stock apps, including Safari, Photos, Mail, Messages, Contacts, Reminders, Maps and Calendar.
But given that those apps aren't exactly crying out for a reinvention in AR or VR, they're likely to be sideshows to some of the more exciting offerings from both Apple and third-party developers.
So what might those be? Here are some of the most interesting possibilities, based on the latest rumors and what we've seen on the likes of the Meta Quest Pro.
Assuming the Apple AR/VR headset is light and practical enough for workouts – which is something we can't say for the Apple AirPods Max headphones – then it definitely has some AR fitness potential.
According to a report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman on April 18, Apple is planning to tap that potential with "a version of its Fitness+ service for the headset, which will let users exercise while watching an instructor in VR".
Of course, VR fitness experiences are nothing new, and we've certainly enjoyed some of the best Oculus Quest fitness games. An added AR component could make them even more powerful and motivating, with targets added to your real-world view.
We called Apple's Freeform, which gives you a blank canvas to brainstorm ideas with others, "one of its best software releases in years". And it could be taken to the next level with a version of AR or VR.
Sure enough, Bloomberg's aforementioned report claims that "Apple is developing a version of its Freeform collaboration app for the headset", which it apparently "sees as a major selling point for the product".
Okay, work-themed AR/VR work experiences might not sound thrilling and we certainly had misgivings after working for a whole week in VR with the Meta Quest Pro. But mixed-reality whiteboards also sound potentially fun, particularly if we get to play around with them in work time.
Because Apple's headset will have a VR flipside to its AR mode, it has huge potential for letting us watch TV and video on giant virtual screens, or in entirely new ways. This means that Apple TV Plus will also likely be pre-installed in xrOS.
Another claim from that Bloomberg report on April 18 was that "one selling point for the headset will be viewing sports in an immersive way". This makes sense, given Apple already has deals for Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer on Apple TV Plus.
And while they're only rumors, Apple has also considered bidding for Premier League soccer rights in the UK. Well, it'd be cheaper than a season ticket for Manchester United.
While we haven't been blown away by our experiences with VR meetings in Horizon Workrooms on the Meta Quest, the Apple mixed-reality headset will apparently deliver a next-gen version of FaceTime – and the Reality Pro's hardware could take the whole experience up a notch,
With an earlier report from The Information suggesting that Apple's headset will have at least 12 cameras (possibly 14) to track your eyes, face, hands and body, it should do a decent job of creating a 3D version of you in virtual meeting rooms.
We still haven't really seen a major real-world benefit to VR video meets, even if you can do them from a virtual beach. But we're looking forward to trying it out, while crossing our virtual fingers that it works more consistently than today's non-VR FaceTime.
Adobe has already released some compelling demos, plus some beta software called Substance 3D Modeler (above), showing the potential of its creative apps in VR headsets. Will that software's list of compatible headsets soon include the Apple Reality Pro? It certainly seems possible.
The software effectively lets you design 3D objects using virtual clay in a VR playground. Quite how this would work with Apple's headset on xrOS isn't clear, given it's rumored to lack any kind of physical controllers.
These kinds of design tools feel like a shoo-in for Apple's headset, given many of its users are already happy to shell out thousands on high-end Macs and MacBooks to use that kind of software in a 2D environment.
