Microsoft has officially released the latest Windows 11 2023 update, also known as Windows 11 version 23H2. It brings a couple of new features on top of the ones that the company has been rolling out through optional updates since late September. The new release should reach all eligible users within the next few weeks.
Windows 11 23H2 update is rolling out widely
Microsoft recently added a new Settings toggle that lets users receive new features as soon as they are available. Once enabled, users don’t need to wait for major updates that bring the features in question to everyone. They are rolled out early as optional updates. Users remain on the previous firmware version until the big update arrives.
This is what Microsoft has done with Windows 11 version 23H2, which is a major feature update for Windows 11. Instead of pushing it as a single big update, Microsoft decided to use this tool and released the new features as individual optional updates. The rollout began in late September. Users who installed those optional updates remained on version 22H2.
Now that most users have installed the new features, Microsoft is widely rolling out version 23H2. It contains two additional features. Firstly, the company has pinned the free version of the Microsoft Teams app to the taskbar (you can remove it easily). The Chat button for Microsoft Teams has been removed, with a Mini mode for Teams replacing the Chat panel.
While it does the same thing, you can launch the Mini mode at any time from the main window. You can also move it around the screen, which wasn’t an option with the Chat panel (via XDA). So if you’re multitasking, the new solution is more efficient and convenient to use.
With version 23H2, Windows 11 has started labeling system apps as such in the Start menu. The Settings app also has a dedicated section for those apps. It is a new page called System Components under the System section of Settings. The label tells users that these apps are an integral part of the system. Removing them may affect other functions.
Microsoft pushed other features as optional updates
If you didn’t grab those optional updates, Windows 11 version 23H2 brings a lot more to your computer. Most notably, the AI-powered Copilot feature is finally here, at least in some markets. It’s an AI assistant for your Windows PC, based on Bing Chat and GPT-4. This update also contains a File Explorer redesign, RGB lighting controls, and more.
T-Mobile TVision is now available nationwide, and is actually the cheapest streaming Live TV service in the nation right now. With plans starting at only $10 per month. The service has been available for a few years already, but now it is actually available across the country. So everyone can use TVision.
But the real question is, how TVision stacks up against the competition like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and others. With a starting price of just $10 per month, it’s got some big shoes to fill.
Update: T-Mobile has shut down TVision, as of April 2021. It is pushing everyone over to YouTube TV now.
What is TVision?
TVision is a streaming Live TV service from T-Mobile. This is the result of T-Mobile’s purchase of Layer3 in 2017. Which was a streaming TV service in a few areas of the US, but the underlying tech was what made Layer3 so attractive for T-Mobile. Layer3 had underlying tech that was able to compress the amount of data that streaming Live TV was able to use. Meaning that users could stream more Live TV without hitting their data cap.
Now, four years later, T-Mobile has finally launched TVision. It’s their attempt to up-end the cable industry. After successfully changing the wireless industry.
TVision Logo
TVision will give T-Mobile customers a way to cut the cord, without paying a ton for streaming Live TV every single month.
How much does T-Mobile TVision cost?
Now that T-Mobile TVision is available nationwide, the prices have dropped, and offers four plans:
TVision Vibe: ($10 per month)
TVision Live: ($40 per month)
TVision Live Plus: ($50 per month)
TVision Live Zone: ($60 per month)
Of course, with each step up in price, you get more channels, as well as more sports channels. Which we’ll outline in the next section.
What packages are available?
There’s four packages available for TVision. There’s Vibe, Live, Live Plus and Live Zone. The Vibe package offers the bare minimum in channels, hence the $10 per month price. However the number of channels you can get for just $10 is pretty impressive here. There’s 35 channels available on TVision Vibe.
Then there’s TVision Live. This offers 35 channels as well, but adds in seven sports channels as well as your locals. But that will depend on your market.
TVision Live Plus brings the total channels to 60, including 16 sports channels. Locals are also included.
Finally, there’s TVision Live Zone, which is basically the best of the best. This offers 65 channels, along with 18 sports channels. Of course, your locals are also included here. But again, that will depend on the market you’re in. For example, in Detroit only some locals are included (ABC, FOX and NBC only).
What channels are offered with T-Mobile TVision?
All four packages of TVision offer a pretty good variety of the top 35 cable channels. We’ll break down the channel lineup by package here:
TVision Vibe
AMC
Animal Planet
BBC America
BET
BET Her
CMT
Comedy Central
Discovery
DIY Network
Food Network
Hallmark Channel
Hallmark Drama
Hallmark Movies & Mysteries
HGTV
IFC
Investigation
Discovery
Motortrend
MTV
MTV Classic
MTV2
OWN
Paramount Network
Sundance TV
TLC
Travel Channel
TV Land
VH1
WE TV
BBC World News
Nick Jr
Nickelodeon
Nicktoons
Teennick
TVision Channels
TVision Live
NBC
ABC
Fox
Telemundo
ESPN
ESPN2
FS1
FS2
NBCSN
ABC News Live
CNBC
CNN
Fox Business
Fox News
HLN
MSNBC
NBC News Now
Bravo
Cozi
E!
FX
FXX
Nat Geo Oxygen
SyFy
TBS
TNT
TruTV
USA
Cartoon Network
Disney Channel
Disney Junior
Disney XD
Freeform
TVision Live Plus
Everything available in TVision Live, along with:
ACC Network
Big Ten Network
ESPN College Extra
ESPNews
ESPNU
Golf Channel
NFL Network
NBA TV
Olympic Channel
SEC Network
Nat Geo Wild
TCM
Regional NBC Sports channels (where available)
TVision Live Zone
You’ll get everything that is included in TVision Live and Live Plus, and:
Longhorn Network
MavTV
NFL Redzone
Outside TV
CNBC World
Fox Deportes
ESPN Deportes
Universo
Are my local channels available?
Local channels are available on the TVision Live plan and higher. That means that you won’t see them on the $10 plan.
It’s also worth noting that not all local channels are available. For instance, it looks like TVision has no deals with CBS or CBS affiliates. As most areas have ABC, NBC and FOX available as local channels.
When it comes to regional sports, the Fox Regional Sports Networks are missing, as they are on almost every streaming Live TV service these days. However, the NBC Sports regional networks are available on the TVision Live Plus plan. Though that will also depend on your area.
The skinny is, some locals are available but not all. So if you are planning to get TVision, it’ll be a good idea to get an antenna too.
Advantages of TVision
What platforms is TVision available on?
The availability of TVision is still quite limited. It’s available on some of the more popular platforms, but not all. Here’s all of the platforms that support TVision:
Android smartphones & tablets
iOS
Apple TV
Android TV
Chromecast
Amazon Fire TV
Select smart TVs
Unfortunately, as of right now, there’s no support for Roku, nor the web browser. Meaning that you cannot watch it on your desktop or laptop.
This should, hopefully change in the future. But where TVision is limited to just T-Mobile customers, it may stay limited for a while.
What is the TVision Hub?
The TVision Hub is T-Mobile’s own Android TV dongle, it costs $50 but is not required to use TVision. You can still watch TVision on other Android TV dongles and set-top boxes.
TVision Hub is a simple Android TV HDMI dongle, and it comes with its own remote control. Which was designed to be used with TVision. But there are buttons for Netflix and YouTube included on the remote.
The device itself has support for 4K resolution, even if TVision doesn’t support 4K right now. Inside, you’ll find 2GB of RAM and 8GB of storage. There’s also a 1.8GHz ARM-based processor inside – the exact processor has not been named.
Now, T-Mobile has not limited the TVision Hub to only work with TVision. You can use other services like HBO MAX, Netflix, Paramount+ and more. Even other Live TV services work on here, like YouTube TV. Since it is basically just an Android TV dongle.
T-Mobile TVision Features
While the channel availability might be the most important aspect of a streaming Live TV service, it isn’t the only important aspect. Features are also important. Like Cloud DVR, how many streams can you use at once, and even parental controls. Since most streaming Live TV services offer the same channels, for the most part, the features is what set them apart. Like YouTube TV’s unlimited cloud DVR, which no one else has been able to match, even many years later.
TVision Features
Cloud DVR
TVision does support Cloud DVR, but it is not unlimited. Everyone, (except those on the Vibe plan) will get 100 hours of Cloud DVR. Which, honestly, is not a whole lot of space for recording content. If you are on the TVision Vibe plan, it’ll be a $5 add-on. Unfortunately, there’s no other add-ons to increase the storage of your Cloud DVR. Though that could come in the future.
There are a few limitations for the Cloud DVR though. For instance, you can’t record any Disney-owned channels right now. That includes ABC, ESPN, Disney Channel and FX to name a few. It’s a bit weird that is an exception and that might change in the future as well. And likely will.
The Cloud DVR on TVision is good for recording shows when you’re not at home and watching later. But not good for storing shows, and movies for long periods of time. Like you can do on YouTube TV, and many do that on YouTube TV instead of paying for other streaming services.
Simultaneous streams
Surprisingly, the amount of simultaneous streams available on TVision actually depends on your tier.
The entry-level tier, TVision Vibe, gets two concurrent streams. While the other three get three concurrent streams.
It’s another way that T-Mobile made TVision Vibe as cheap as possible. Getting two streams on a plan that is only $10 per month is still quite impressive, however.
Basically, what concurrent streams means is that you can play TVision on up to three devices at the same time, before being booted off of one. Or being told you can’t stream because you’re at the max amount of devices. This is important if you have a larger household, or are sharing it with other people.
Parental Controls
There are some parental controls available on TVision, but they are somewhat limited. Basically, the only thing that parents are able to do with parental controls on TVision is, limit how much content kids watch. So you can set a limit of three hours per day, and once that limit is hit, the TV will turn off.
You can lock away adult content behind a PIN though, if you wish. And this can be set on a per-profile basis. Since TVision does allow you to have up to ten profiles. That’s the most of any Live TV streaming service. The majority of them are limited to five or less.
On-Demand
TVision has a pretty decent on-demand library. Which is mostly supplemented by the channels in your package. So if you are on TVision Vibe, you may see plenty of on-demand content from BET and MTV and so forth.
It’s not supplemented by additional content that T-Mobile owns. Like Hulu + Live TV is able to supplement its on-demand library with the entire Hulu library. Or YouTube TV being able to supplement with YouTube originals and other clips from YouTube. Of course, you likely aren’t subscribing to TVision for the on-demand library, but more for the Live TV channels.
Is T-Mobile TVision worth it?
TVision is actually really attractive for those that are looking to cut the cord – and are already T-Mobile customers. For a lot of people, the TVision Vibe plan is going to be more than enough channels for them. Since it does have 32 of the top 35 cable channels. Especially if you’re not a big sports fan.
But for those others out there, the TVision Live and Live+ are great plans for watching sports and getting a few more channels in their plan. In addition to the locals.
Speaking of locals, that’s one of the bigger issues with TVision. The fact that it’s not all or nothing, but only a few. Having ABC, NBC and Fox as local channels is great, but TVision really needs to gather all of its local channels to make the service more attractive. Now, tech-savvy cord cutters will know that they can get an OTA antenna to get those channels, but then that’s another app to have to use to get all of your channels, and may not be as useful.
There are some areas of TVision that are lacking, like Cloud DVR, and the platforms that it is available on. For example, not being able to watch on your PC is a huge oversight. Though, I’m confident that T-Mobile will rectify this in the future.
By default, TVision does not show the Vibe tier. In order to sign up for that, click on the magenta “Check Channels” button. From there you’ll be able to see what channels are available on Live vs Vibe. Click on the Vibe tab and you’ll be able to add it to your account from there.
Remember that you do need to be a T-Mobile customer to sign up for TVision. Unfortunately, non T-Mobile customers aren’t able to sign up for now. That also explains why TVision is so cheap, compared to the competition. The TVision Vibe plan would normally be closer to around $30. Since it is comparable to the Sling TV plans. It’s unlikely that TVision will open up for other customers, but never say never in this industry.
You also have the option of adding STARZ, SHOWTIME and EPIX to your account for $8.99, $10.99 and $5.99 respectively. There’s no bundle available for these premium channels unfortunately.
LG is no stranger to making devices with some radical and interesting designs. It’s trying to fill just about every niche market out there, it seems, and this new TV looks to take things to a new extreme. The LG StandbyMe is a wheelable TV that brings the action to you, according to a new report.
There are a ton of great TVs on the market, and some of the best TVs are meant to sit on a stand. Well, what if, rather than sitting on a stand, your TV itself could stand? That’s the thinking behind this TV. As the name suggests, it’s meant to stand by you when you’re not able to sit on a couch. There’s a lot to love about this TV, but you might not love the price.
The LG StandbyMe TV comes with some neat specs
LG focused more on usability and charm rather than giving you a top-notch viewing experience. Be that as it may, it doesn’t mean that the StandbyMe is an under-achiever. This is a sizable 27-inch LCD TV with a 1080p resolution. So, we’re not talking about a knock-your-socks-off viewing experience, but that’s not bad. Plus, this is an HDR10 display that’s also compatible with HLG technology. Also, it’s an LG display, so you should expect great visuals regardless.
But, what’s the main feature of this TV? Well, it can go where you go. This is a wheelable TV, so you can simply push it to where you need it to be. Are you working in the kitchen, but you don’t want to miss your TV show? Well, you can stand it right next to your counter. Perhaps, you want a screen right at your side when you want to binge-watch while you’re in bed. This TV’s there for you.
You can rotate the screen 180 degrees, swivel it 130 degrees, adjust the height by about 8 inches, and tilt it 50 degrees. This way, you can adjust the screen to your specific needs.
This isn’t just a standing TV, it’s an actual smart TV. So, you can get the same connected experience that you could get with LG’s other TVs. You have access to the company’s WebOS smart TV interface. This means that you have access to all of the smart TV apps that you’ll need.
The LG StandbyMe is battery-powered, and the battery is housed at the bottom of the base. You can get about three hours of power from it. That’s not much, but it should be enough for most situations.
If you’re looking to buy this TV, it starts at $999. That’s a steep price, but it’s worth it if you really need a product like this.
A new survey gives insight into the comparison between Android and iPhone buyers who use installment payments. The survey points out that the amount of installments purchased on the Apple side surpasses its Android counterparts. So why are Apple fans more interested in purchasing their device via installment plans and not a one-time payment?
From the survey’s statistics, 55% of iPhone buyers make use of installment plans. Still, on the Apple side of the field, 38% of users here purchase their new devices using on-time payment. Lastly, 7% of Apple users purchase their new iPhones using other means, according to the research.
On the Android side, 44% use installment plans, 49% use one-time payment, and 7% use other payment means. The disparity on both sides is clear, and iPhone buyers are more likely to use installment plans to purchase a new device. But why is this, and why are the Android users less likely to purchase a new device using installment plans?
Reasons why iPhone buyers are more likely to purchase a device using installment payments
The Android and Apple worlds are two different places, and comparing them is sometimes confusing. Unlike Apple, Android has a ton of manufacturers under it making devices for different price points. Buyers of Android devices have a ton of choices to make, from the brand to the price of the device and even its specifications.
Purchasing a new Android device is way more flexible than purchasing an iPhone. For iPhones, the choices are limited to four new devices every year, with the lowest price on any being above $700. Most buyers of Apple smartphones don’t may not want to spend much for a one-time payment on a device, hence they go for an installment plan.
With installment plans, things are not as much of a financial burden as they are with one-time payments. Android users can pick from the more budget-friendly $200 smartphones (which more buyers will go for) to the more luxurious $1,000 devices. The majority of the Android users that go for installment plans are within the $1,000 range.
Also, various retailers have impressive installment plans that users can benefit from. With some of these plans, users don’t need to pay interest to the retailer. So for many iPhone buyers, installments are the way to go, since it’s more affordable and now getting more buyer-friendly.
The price flexibility of Android devices explains their 10% lower instalment payments when purchasing a new device. This survey gives insight into the preferable method of purchasing new devices among Android and iPhone buyers.
In a surprising revelation during the ongoing Google antitrust trial, an internal Apple presentation (via The Verge) from January 2013 has come to light. In the presentation, Apple depicts its views on privacy in Android. The Cupertino giant depicts Android as a “massive tracking device.”
The slides delved into how Apple’s competitors, including Google, managed privacy and user data. It was a part of Apple’s initiative to “Compete on Privacy.” Significant in context, one of Google’s key businesses is Google Ads which requires a lot of information about user interests. On one hand, it’s meant to bring a bit of relevance to the annoying pop-ups. On the other, it supports the development of Android and Google services and keeps them monetarily free.
Let’s come back to the view of Apple on privacy in Android. The presentation outlines a “privacy timeline” that features significant events related to privacy in the 2000s and 2010s. These events include Google’s Street View cars recording private Wi-Fi networks, Instagram’s controversial plans to use user photos in advertisements, and Google’s shift towards combining user data across its services. Apple used this timeline to highlight the differences in how its products approach privacy in comparison to its competitors.
A look back at Apple’s stance on privacy in Android; amid ongoing antitrust trial
While the presentation is partially edited, the bold statement that “Android is a massive tracking device” stands out. It is essential to recognize that all mobile devices, whether running on Android or iOS, engage in various forms of user tracking and data collection, reports 9to5Google.
In iOS 14.5, Apple introduced a groundbreaking feature that allows users to control app tracking for advertising purposes. This move resulted in a significant reduction in tracking on iPhones and was seen as a bold step to empower users.
“We at Apple believe your privacy is our number one priority. That’s why from today we are announcing that we are paying Google $2bn a year to filter search queries towards them so they can continue to profile you but not make any money from device sales.”
The question that arises is whether Apple’s 2013 perception of Android still holds true today. Android has made strides in enhancing user privacy, including improvements in permission control and privacy settings. As the Google antitrust trial unfolds, it will be interesting to see how these competing philosophies on privacy shape the future of both Android and iOS.
Instagram has been doubling down on its “Reels” strategy lately by launching new features that will hopefully entice users to use them more often. The latest of these features is the ability to add song lyrics when editing, just like you already can on “Stories.”
The announcement was made today via the IG Updates and Meta channels on the app itself by both Instagram boss Adam Mosseri and CEO of Meta, Mark Zuckerberg. The feature was added after the powers that be noticed that users were adding them manually to Reels.
New feature alert We’re rolling out a way to add song lyrics when editing your reels, just like you can on Stories: tap , add a song, and swipe left to add lyrics. We’ve seen people manually add lyrics to reels, so hope this makes it easier to use music to express yourself. Working on more updates to get creative on reels, stay tuned. – Adam Mosseri via IG Updates channel on Instagram
Song lyrics on Instagram Reels (Sour
Instagram)
To add song lyrics when editing your Instagram Reels, tap on the music button, add a song, and then swipe left to add the lyrics for the song you added. The steps seem simple and straightforward enough for anyone to follow.
The ability to add song lyrics had been available on Instagram Stories for some time now, so it is unclear why it has taken so long to bring that same capability to Reels. For those not aware, Reels differ from Instagram Stories in that Reels are public, while Stories are only shown to your followers.
However, Stories and Reels have never quite had feature parity, perhaps due to the more intimate nature of stories. That said, Instagram has continued to make Reels more feature-packed as they face increasing competition from competing platforms, such as TikTok.
Most recently, Instagram also launched new tools to make it easy for its users to create new Reels, including a new and improved templates and a template browser that is organized by categories. This browser can help users find the appropriate template to their content as it is organize by Recommended, Trending, and Saved categories.
We can expect more to come from Instagram as far as Reels are concerned, as promised by the company during the last update. New features should follow in the coming weeks, such as the ability to automatically add text and transitions that were used in a past reel.
At Malwarebytes we’ve been telling people for years not to reuse passwords, and that a password manager is a secure way of remembering all the passwords you need for your online accounts.
But we also know that a password manager can be overwhelming, especially when you’re just getting started. Once you’ve stored your tens or even hundreds of passwords, a password manager is relatively convenient to use and keep updated. But you have to get to that stage first and not everyone is at the same level of computer literacy.
So, you may have wondered if there’s another way. No doubt, you’ll have seen the pop ups in your browser asking if you’d like it to save your password for next time. In fact, many browsers refer to that as their password manager.
It’s very convenient, since your browser is usually the application that needs the password, but is it a good idea?
As usual, there are pros and cons.
Encryption. With a browser password manager, someone with access to your browser could see your passwords in clear text, although Windows can be set to ask for authentication (the same you use at startup of your device).
The “Show password’ option
To see the passwords in an actual password manager, an attacker would need to know the password for the password manager or the recovery phrase, which are usually a lot harder to find out than the Windows authentication (if set).
A word of warning here, some password managers have the option to keep you logged in for hours or even days. If there is any chance that anyone may acquire physical access, such settings defeat the added security of a password manager, since the attacker could open the password manager and look at your passwords in more or less the same way as they could in your browser.
Lookalike phishing sites. Both a standalone password manager and the one in your browser will protect you here. They will not fill out your password if the domain doesn’t match the one you saved the password for, which could indicate a phishing site. This can be very useful and this is where it beats writing down the password on a piece of paper or storing it in a text file. I should add that the domains that are worth setting up a fake site for are usually the ones that we would advise you add multi-factor-authentication (MFA) to.
Syncing. If you’ve stored your passwords in the browser and have chosen to synchronize your browser between devices, your passwords will port over as well. This is obviously very convenient, but it’s also a potential danger if someone gets access to one of your devices. A true password manager doesn’t rely on syncing between the same browser on different devices. Once you have the password manager installed on a device, you have it handy to use in any browser or other apps.
Offline. Many password managers cache your passwords locally, so you still have access when your connection is broken. Browser password storage doesn’t allow for this.
Business devices. It’s hard for the IT department to keep track of which user has which passwords saved in their browser. Password managers for businesses give them a better insight and make it easier to revoke passwords when needed.
Password stealers. There are types of malware that are capable of harvesting passwords from your device. They know exactly where browsers store their passwords and the encryption key, so they can steal and send the credentials to the attacker. Password managers are separate to the browser so they’re not at risk in the same way.
Data breaches. Several password managers will warn you if they find that your credentials are involved in a data breach, so you can change them. Browser storage doesn’t do this.
Side channel attacks. As we saw with a recent bug in Safari, attackers can use the autofill feature in a browser to harvest login credentials for a site. This only works if you have autofill enabled, so to make things a bit safer you can tell your browser to wait for your OK before it fills out the data. Here’s how…
How to disabled autofill
Brave: Settings > Autofill and passwords > Password Manager > Settings. Toggle off “Sign in automatically”
Chrome: Settings > Autofill and passwords > Google Password Manager > Settings. Toggle off “Sign in automatically.”
Edge: Settings > Profiles > Passwords > Settings. There you can toggle off autofill for passwords and for Personal data separately.
Firefox: Settings > Privacy & Security. Scroll down to Logins and Passwords and uncheck “Autofill logins and passwords.”
Safari: Safari (in the menu bar) > Settings > Autofill. Uncheck “Usernames and passwords” and “Credit cards”.
So should you allow your browser to remember your passwords?
Your browser password manager gives you “ease of use” but that costs you some of your security. Of course, password managers aren’t foolproof either, so it’s important to decide for yourself where you store your passwords.
If you’re confident the website is safe and anyone that can access it under your account will not learn anything new, feel free to store the password in your browser, but disable autofill so you are the one that is in control.
Use MFA where possible. It enormously reduces the risk should someone get hold of your password. And refrain from using the browser password manager to store your credit card details or other sensitive personally identifiable information (e.g. medical information).
We don’t just report on threats—we remove them
Cybersecurity risks should never spread beyond a headline. Keep threats off your devices by downloading Malwarebytes today.
OnePlus made waves with its first foldable, the OnePlus Open, which included impressive hardware borrowed from parent company Oppo. But beyond hardware, the OnePlus Open got multitasking right. While competitors have used split-screen and pop-up views in the past, OnePlus developed new software called the OnePlus Canvas. With the OnePlus Canvas, it’s possible to intuitively swipe between multiple apps in full-screen mode with simple gestures. Now the game-changing software is coming to the OnePlus Pad, the company confirmed in a Reddit AMA, as spotted by @1NormalUsername on X (formerly Twitter). That would certainly put the OnePlus Pad up there with the best Android tablets available.
In the AMA, a Reddit user asked whether OnePlus would consider bringing the software to other devices. “We’ve gotten several requests to add the stunningly intuitive Open Canvas to the OnePlus Pad,” replied Mingyu Zheng, a social media manager for OnePlus. “Good news – we’re working on it!” There was no timeframe revealed for when the OnePlus Canvas feature might debut on a OnePlus tablet. However, OnePlus seems committed to the tablet form factor. It is reportedly working on a OnePlus Pad Go as a budget alternative to the OnePlus Pad.
What is the OnePlus Canvas?
The OnePlus Canvas is a multitasking system that behaves like desktop windows management. It’s possible to open apps in split-screen view, like on other foldables. Beyond that, the software stores active apps outside the viewable screen space. Swiping left or right, or up or down, could reveal more active applications. This is generally more useful than other multitasking views, which have a more finite amount of space that can be allocated to apps.
OnePlus designed the OnePlus Canvas for the OnePlus Open. It’s a folding phone with a 7.82-inch main screen, so this big display works great with the OnePlus Canvas multitasking software. However, it might make even more sense on the OnePlus Pad. That device is an Android tablet with a 11.6-inch display. There’s more power in the OnePlus Pad as well, which should result in better performance.
It’s always nice to see existing products get stunning feature additions after launch. Though it’s not clear when this new software might debut on the OnePlus Pad, the fact that it is in development is a good sign. People who own the OnePlus Pad could be pleasantly surprised with OnePlus Canvas. If it indeed comes to the tablet, it would put the OnePlus Pad right up there with Stage Manager on iPadOS. When the dust settles, OnePlus Canvas could be the best multitasking system on any tablet.
Apple engineers explored the possibility of making the Apple Watch compatible with Android phones, alongside the development of the Health app for the Android platform, reports Bloomberg. It was called the Project Fennel. However, just as the project was nearing completion, Apple abruptly canceled it, citing “business considerations.”
On the other hand, in recent years, the Android smartwatch market has witnessed significant improvements. Devices like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 and the Google Pixel Watch 2 offer all-day battery life and comprehensive health tracking features.
However, even the most advanced Android smartwatches pale in comparison to the Apple Watch in health tracking. Significant in context, Apple apparently has even more big goals regarding health-related features for next year. It undoubtedly stands as the gold standard for fitness tracking in the iPhone world.
Nonetheless, the plan to bring the benefits to people with Android devices was close to the situation where I could say smartphone world. Unfortunately, Apple Watch, yet another Apple product, remains exclusive to the Cupertino giant’s ecosystem.
Before Apple Watch, they did the same thing with iMessage
It’s not the first instance where Apple contemplated extending its ecosystem to Android users, and eventually dropped the plan. In 2013, a senior Apple executive proposed bringing iMessage to Android, with Eddy Cue, the current SVP of services at Apple. They created a dedicated team to work on this project. However, it contradicted Apple’s strategy of creating an ecosystem lock-in for its users and driving iOS device sales. So the concept of bringing iMessage to Android phones was later rejected.
At present, the only way for Android users to experience some Apple Watch features is by purchasing the LTE variant. This enables users to utilize health-tracking features and standalone apps. But it remains disconnected from Android devices, causing users to miss out on notifications.
Android smartwatches these days boast advanced sensors and hardware. However, they still fall short in delivering the superior user experience that the Apple Watch offers. It’s due to the lack of intricacies in the software level, which Apple was planning to bring in Android. Apple’s Health app is particularly renowned for its efficient data analysis and presentation of essential health metrics and trends, potentially offering life-saving insights.
But sadly Apple considered cancelling the project keeping all the accurate results and notifications regarding concerning health conditions locked inside their iPhones.
Software is the backbone of modern technology, serving various purposes across different sectors. The vast array of software types caters to the complex and specific needs of users, ranging from basic applications to highly specialized programs.
Understanding the different categories of software and their respective uses is integral to learning and understanding the technological advances and their vast applications in our daily lives.
System Software: System software forms the foundation of computer systems. Operating systems like Windows, macOS, and Linux are vital in managing hardware resources, providing essential services to other software, and enabling users to interact with their devices. Without these operating systems, applications wouldn’t function.
Application Software: This category covers an extensive range of programs designed to perform specific tasks for users. From productivity suites like Microsoft Office and Google Workspace for creating documents, spreadsheets, and presentations to web browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, and Safari for accessing the internet, application software encompasses tools that support everyday activities.
Programming Software: Programming software is used by developers to create other software. This includes text editors, compilers, debuggers, and integrated development environments (IDEs) that aid in writing, testing, and debugging code. Examples include Visual Studio, Eclipse, and Sublime Text.
Driver Software: Drivers facilitate communication between the operating system and various hardware components, ensuring that devices like printers, scanners, and graphics cards work seamlessly with the computer. They provide the necessary instructions for the system to recognize and operate connected hardware.
Utilities: Utilities encompass a wide range of software designed for system maintenance and optimization. These tools perform tasks like disk cleanup, antivirus scans, data backup, and file compression, ensuring smooth system operations and data security.
Middleware: Middleware acts as an intermediary between different applications, enabling seamless communication and data management across multiple systems. It is used extensively in enterprise environments and in connecting disparate systems to streamline business processes.
Firmware: Embedded into hardware devices, the firmware provides low-level control for the specific functions of the device. It’s integral to the functioning of devices such as routers, modems, and IoT (Internet of Things) devices.
Embedded software: Embedded software refers to computer programs or software that are specifically designed to perform specific functions within a larger mechanical or electrical system. These programs are typically written to control or monitor the operation of embedded systems, which are specialized computing systems that perform dedicated functions within a larger system. Embedded software is commonly found in various devices and systems such as consumer electronics, automotive systems, industrial machines and equipment medical devices, aerospace and defense systems.
Each type of software serves distinct purposes, contributing to the advancement of technology in various fields:
In business and industry, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software integrates various processes like finance, human resources, and supply chain management. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software helps businesses manage interactions with customers and potential customers.
Educational software supports learning and teaching in classrooms and at home, offering interactive tools for various subjects and educational levels.
Healthcare software aids in patient management, electronic health records, diagnostic tools, and medical research.
The entertainment industry thrives on multimedia software for content creation, editing, and production, including video editing, animation, and music composition software.
The wide variety of software types highlights how much technology affects our daily lives. From handling simple computer tasks to running complex business operations, the software keeps changing and getting better, propelling advancements and developing how we engage with the world. Knowing about different kinds of software and what they do is essential in keeping up with the ever-growing world of technology.
