Month: August 2022

LG plans to introduce a 20-inch OLED panel by the end of the year, and unlike most other offerings in this size, it will be used in consumer devices.

LG is the leading manufacturer of OLED panels for several other device categories, and the company has been making panels for watches, TVs, and smartphones—but this will be the first time the company will make OLEDs suitable for computer monitors or smaller televisions.

The news comes from South Korean electronics news site The Elec, which reported details from a speech to the Korea Display Industry Association by LG Display Vice President Kang Won-seok.

The executive also said the company is working on OLEDs for mixed reality devices, a new 77-inch transparent OLED size, and bendable OLEDs where the user can adjust the amount of curve on the fly.

It’s unknown when the 20-inch panels might make their way into devices you can buy, though. The statement that the panels will be ready at the end of 2022 likely means they’ll be available to consumer electronics companies that want to use them in their products, but it could take many months for those new products to reach store shelves.

If the panels have the same qualities as those that LG makes for televisions, though, this development could be big news in the computer monitor business.

Judging from objective testing by Rtings and other display tech reviewers, LG’s OLED TVs far outclass most desktop computer monitors on the market in all sorts of measures of picture quality, from contrast to gray uniformity. And recent LG OLEDs have competitive response times and refresh rates that make them good gaming displays, too.

Currently, most of the market for high-end computer monitors is either focused on color accuracy for creative professionals or ultra-fast response times and refresh rates for dedicated gamers—often at the expense of picture quality, in the latter case. The picture quality and consistency of most computer monitors are quite poor by TV and smartphone display standards.

For example, most computer monitors use LED technology but lack the local dimming tech in high-end LED TVs. This means that contrast ratios are comparatively low, and backlight bleed is a common problem. OLED sidesteps these issues. Further, PC gamers playing on desktop monitors usually miss out on the full effects of HDR (if it’s even supported), as few computer monitors can deliver the bright highlights that LED or OLED TVs can.

There have been some OLED monitors in laptops, and the past year has started to see some OLED desktop displays from others besides LG. The early signs are promising. As of this year, LG ships a 42-inch version of its OLED TV that has been popular with some high-end PC gamers. But that’s still too large to be practical for many people looking for a screen to use in that context.

Compromises may be made to manufacture the panels in these sizes, though, so we’ll have to wait until (likely) sometime next year to see what we’re getting. And this could just be the beginning. While 20-inch OLED panels would be suitable for some users, many will be holding out for large sizes like 23, 24, or 27 inches.

Google recently released its first pair of ANC earbuds in the Pixel Buds Pro. The new buds are being offered alongside, rather than in place of, Google’s last pair of earbuds, the Pixel Buds A-Series. Compared to the $200 Buds Pro, the A-Series are a solid, less-expensive earbud option at just $99. If you couldn’t guess from that price gulf, though, they’re very different products. Interested in trying a pair of Google buds, but not sure which one? We’ve got you covered.

Google Pixel Buds Pro vs. Google Pixel Buds A-Series: Hardware and battery

The Pixel Buds Pro share an unmistakable resemblance to the Pixel Buds A-Series—they’re both very Google, with no sharp angles to speak of and playful details like the debossed G logo on each earbud. But the Pixel Buds Pro are significantly larger than the lightweight A-Series. In our subjective experience, the Pixel Buds Pro still fit comfortably, but they will stick out of your ears a little farther than the A-Series.

While the Pixel Buds A-Series have what Google calls a spatial vent to help relieve in-ear pressure and let some external sound into your ears, the Pixel Buds Pro ditch that feature for a more closed design. Instead, the Buds Pro have a transparency mode that, using mics on the earbuds, pipes sound from your environment into your ears alongside your media. (Google also says that the Pixel Buds Pro monitor the pressure in your ears to keep it at a comfortable level but hasn’t elaborated on how that process works.) The Pixel Buds Pro also ditch the stabilizing fin the Pixel Buds A-Series have , which could mean the Buds Pro get a less secure fit in some ears.

The Pixel Buds A-Series come in just two colors: Dark Olive and Clearly White. The Pixel Buds Pro come in your choice of Charcoal, Fog, Lemongrass, or Coral.

Battery life on the Pixel Buds A-Series is something of a sore spot, quoted at just five hours of playback at a time—and remember, those earbuds don’t have active noise cancellation. Pixel Buds Pro are an enormous improvement on that front, with a quoted battery life of seven hours on a single charge with ANC and up to 11 hours without. Both pairs of buds can get about two additional charges from their cases. Both cases charge with USB-C, but only the Pixel Buds Pro’s case supports wireless charging.

Google Pixel Buds Pro vs. Google Pixel Buds A-Series: Audio and features

At $99, the Pixel Buds A-Series punch above their weight when it comes to audio quality, with sound that’s clear and full and offers more bass than you’d expect given their slim design. The $200 Pixel Buds Pro also sound very good, but the overall quality isn’t vastly better than the Pixel Buds A-Series. Both pairs support the AAC and SBC codecs but not higher-bitrate standards like aptX or LDAC. That shouldn’t matter much to you if you mostly stream audio through Spotify or YouTube Music, but if you’re in the market for audiophile-grade sound, know that neither of these pairs of buds fit that bill.

There have been reports of shoddy Bluetooth connectivity in the Pixel Buds A-Series, including audio skips, static, and outright disconnects. We also experienced some of this with our review unit. Connectivity in our experience is generally OK, but it might get dicey if you’re listening outside with your phone in a bag or back pocket. And while Google says not everyone will be able to hear the static, if you can, it’s not always easy to ignore. The Pixel Buds Pro don’t seem to have any of these issues.

The Pixel Buds Pro’s big draw, aside from their improved fundamentals like battery life and connectivity, is their feature set. Both the A-Series and the Pro support Fast Pair on Android, and both have optional always-on hey google listening for hands-free Assistant access. But the Buds Pro have a number of desirable features the A-Series don’t, including active noise cancellation and Bluetooth multipoint, which lets you connect them to two audio sources at a time (a phone and a laptop, for example). The Buds Pro’s case can also charge wirelessly, whereas the A-Series’s is USB-C only.

The Pixel Buds A-Series have a feature that can automatically lower their volume when certain sounds are detected, like a barking dog or breaking glass. The Pixel Buds Pro don’t currently have a similar feature. We know Google intends to add additional functionality to the Buds Pro through updates, though, including support for spatial audio, a sort of virtual surround sound.

Google Pixel Buds Pro vs. Google Pixel Buds A-Series: Which should you buy?

Pixel Buds A-Series cost $99; the Pixel Buds Pro go for more than twice as much at $200. Audio quality alone doesn’t justify the price jump; if you only need a pair of decent-sounding earbuds and don’t care much about the bells and whistles, the A-Series might be right for you.

But the Pixel Buds A-Series, thanks to their unique vented hardware, are less universally useful than more conventional true wireless earbuds. The spatial vent design might be good for ear comfort and situational awareness, but it means you’ll get external sound leaking in all the time, rather than just when you want it to. And since the A-Series don’t have ANC, your only option to drown out more of your surroundings is to crank the volume. If you want earbuds specifically to wear in noisy environments, consider the Pixel Buds Pro. Not only do they have ANC and an excellent transparency mode to flip between, but their markedly better battery life, premium features like Bluetooth multipoint, and more stable connectivity really help justify their price.

Buy the Pixel Buds Pro if…

• You frequently wear your earbuds in noisy environments
• You wear earbuds for more than a few hours at a time
• Nice-to-have features like multipoint connectivity are worth money to you

Buy the Pixel Buds A-Series if…

• $200 is more than you’re willing to spend
• You wouldn’t get much use out of active noise cancellation
• You prefer smaller earbuds

Buy Pixel Buds Pro

$200 at Amazon $200 at Google $200 at Best Buy

Buy Pixel Buds A-Series

$99 at Amazon$99 at Google$99 at Best Buy

The 26 August 2022 release date for Soul Hackers 2 is drawing ever closer, and international publisher ATLUS West has provided further information on some of the downloadable content (DLC) that will be made available for the game – from additional story arcs, to alternate costumes, alternate battle BGMs and more. The list of confirmed DLC includes:

Bonus Story Arc: The Lost Numbers – Grants access to a bonus story arc centered around a new Devil Summoner, Nana, and a new dungeon with a punishing boss.

Costume & BGM pack – Adds themed outfits for your entire party, battle BGM, and accessories from Persona™ 4, Persona™ 5, Shin Megami Tensei™ IV and more.

Bonus Demon Pack – Access 8 powerful demons including Tzitzimitl, Anahita, Armaiti, Zaou-Gongen, Nemissa, Mara ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°), Masakado and Satan.

Booster Item Pack – Increases frequency of dropped items from battles to earn in-game currency, boost stats and grant EXP.

Useful Item Set + Extra Difficulty – Adds essential items for your journey and a VERY HARD game mode for ambitious players seeking a thrilling challenge.

Part of the wider Megami Tensei franchise and developed by ATLUS, Soul Hackers 2 will launch on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC starting 26 August 2022. Release dates may vary slightly between regions.

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About Soul Hackers 2

Amidst the glimmer of neon lights, technological advancement causes humans to be consumed by commercial convenience. In the shadows, a war between the Yatagarasu and the Phantom Society is brewing, Devil Summoners who harness the otherworldly powers of “Demons”.

Existing in the secret sea of ​​humanity’s data, a digital hivemind has evolved into sentience: Aion. Observing humankind from afar, Aion calculates that a world-ending disaster is imminent and creates two agents to combat against it: Ringo and Figue.

Together, these agents of Aion must investigate and prevent a butterfly effect that will lead to the end of the world.

Promoted Features

• Investigate the end of the world as Ringo, an agent of Aion tasked with saving humanity from an apocalypse.
• Explore a supernatural RPG with stylish summoners and dark dangers lurking under the neon lights of a cyberpunk Japan.
• Amass demons and unlock fusion combinations to create new, stronger demon allies, using their lethal abilities for incredible assaults on your foes.
• Strengthen the bonds with your teammates and dive deeper into their soul, reliving their last adventures and discovering the truth of their stories and yours.

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If you’re planning to launch a website but don’t want to pay recurring monthly or annual hosting fees, you can use any old laptop or desktop PC to host a website for free. It’s a great way to utilize your old system instead of throwing it away.

In this guide, we will install and set up services on our 10-year-old laptop to host a WordPress, Joomla, or custom HTML or PHP-based website with a free SSL certificate.

Things You Will Need to Host a Website

Following are the pre-requisites to host a website for free from home with just your computer:

• An old laptop or PC running Ubuntu Server.
• A registered domain name for your website
• Ethernet cable to connect the laptop or PC to router for reliable and fast connection

Step 1: Update and Upgrade the Packages

After installing Ubuntu Server on your computer, execute the following command to update the package list and upgrade existing packages. We recommend you enable SSH and access the server via Terminal or Putty on your macOS or Linux PC.

sudo apt update && Sudo apt upgrade –y

This may take a while to finish. So, sit back and relax until the process completes.

Step 2: Install Apache

Apache is a popular open-source web server that works with PHP to host dynamic websites, including WordPress sites. Once the update is complete, execute the following command to install the Apache server.

sudo apt install apache2

When you see a prompt, press Y and then hit the Enter key to continue the installation. You can check the status by running the following command.

systemctl status apache2

It should show active (running) status. To verify, you can visit the IP of your laptop or localhost.

Step 3: Install MySQL Server

MySQL is a database management system (DBMS) that helps organize and provide access to the database for storing the information. To install the MySQL Server, use the following command.

sudo apt install MariaDB-server MariaDB-client

Press Y and then the Enter key to confirm and proceed with the installation.

Next, secure the MySQL installation by running the following command.

sudo mysql_secure_installation

Set root password? Press Y and hit the Enter key. Enter a secure password and keep it safe.

Remove anonymous users? Press Y and then the Enter key.

Disallow root login remotely? Press Y and then the Enter key.

Remove the test database and access it. Press the Y key followed by the Enter keypress.

Reload privilege tables now? Press the Y key and then Enter.

Step 4Install PHP

PHP is required to process code for displaying dynamic content, run scripts, connect to the MySQL database and display the processed content on the web browser. To install PHP, run the following command.

sudo apt install PHP PHP-MySQL

Press the Y key to confirm and proceed with the installation. Create a test.php file using the following command to confirm the installation.

sudo nano /var/www/html/test.php

Now, paste the following code into the Nano editor.

<?php
phpinfo();
?>

Press CTRL+X followed by Y and the Enter key to save the changes. Now, visit the IP of your laptop with /test.php in the URL. This should load the PHP information page, indicating PHP is installed and working.

Step 5: Create a MySQL Database and User

We need to create a database and user account with access to the database with all privileges. The commands are as follows:

sudo MySQL –u root -p

Type the password (the one you created while securing the MySQL installation) and press the Enter key. Then execute the following commands in the given order to create a database and user with full access to the database.

CREATE DATABASE mysite;
CREATE USER ‘ravi’@’localhost’ IDENTIFIED BY ‘YourPassword’;
GRANT ALL ON mysite.* TO ‘ravi’@’localhost’ IDENTIFIED BY ‘YourPassword’;
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

This will create a database named “mysite” with user “ravi” having access to the database. Of course, you can use any name you like.

You can now host a custom HTML, PHP-based website, or host CMS-based sites, such as WordPress, PrestaShop, Joomla, etc. However, we will set up and host a WordPress website on our old laptop for this tutorial.

Step 6: Download and Setup WordPress

Navigate to the /var/www/html path and download the latest WordPress package.

cd /var/www/html/

sudo wget "https://wordpress.org/latest.tar.gz">https:

Extract the package contents.

Sudo tar xf latest.tar.gz

This will extract the wordpress directory at /var/www/html location. You can view the directory using the ls command. Next, we will grant permission to www-data:www-data using the following command.

sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html/wordpress

Once done, you can visit the IP of your laptop followed by /wordpress. Enter the Database Name, username and Password we created in Step 4. Leave Database Host and Table Prefix to default. Click on Submit.

Now, click on Run the installation.

Enter the Site Title. Also, create a new username and Password for the WordPress backend (wp-admin), and then click Install WordPress. This will install WordPress, after which you can access the WordPress site at http://IP-Address/wordpress (Replace the IP address field with your computer’s IP).

Next, we need to add the domain name and enable SSL for the HTTPS connection. For this, we are going to use the secure Cloudflared Tunnel.

Step 7: Download and Install Cloudflared Service

Sign up and add your domain to your Cloudflare account to get started. After adding the domain, run the following commands to download and install the Cloudflared service on your old laptop or PC-based web server.

sudo wget https:

sudo dpkg –I cloudflared-linux-amd64.deb

Step 8: Create Cloudflared Tunnel and Enable HTTPS

Follow the instructions and use the commands below to create a Cloudflared tunnel and enable a secure connection to your website.

Log in and authorize the domain you added to Cloudflare.

Cloudflared tunnel login

Copy the URL displayed and open it in a web browser to authorize the domain.

Once authorized successfully, create a Cloudflared tunnel called “mysite”. You may name it anything but remember that name.

Cloudflared tunnel create mysite

Copy the credentials file path (JSON file path) and the tunnel ID. Keep them safe.

Now, create a configuration file using the command below.

Sudo nano ~/.cloudflared/config.yml

Next, paste the following code into it. Make sure to replace the tunnel ID and credentials-file (JSON file path).

tunnel: a2efc6dg1-2c75-45f8-b529d3ee
credentials-file: /home/pi/.cloudflared/ a2efc6dg1-2c75-45f8-b529d3ee.json
ingress:
- hostname: YourDomain.com
service: http:
- service: http_status:404

Press CTRL+X followed by Y and hit Enter to save the changes.

Now create a DNS entry for the hostname. You can host your WordPress site on the main domain or subdomain based on your requirement. For this tutorial, we will create a subdomain DNS entry to host our WordPress site on the old laptop.

cloudflared tunnel route DNS <Tunnel Name> <YourDomain.com>

Here’s an example:

cloudflared tunnel route DNS mysite mysite.smartghar.org

Once the entry is created successfully, you can start the tunnel by running the following command.

Cloudflared tunnel run mysite

You can open the web browser and visit the hostname (mysite.smartghar.org in this case). You should be able to access the WordPress site. However, you may see CSS has broken and HTTPS disabled.

To fix this, log in to https://yoursite.com/wp-admingo to Settings > General Settingsand update the WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) fields to YourDomainName.com or YourDomainName.com/wordpress as per your configuration.

Then, log in to Cloudflare, head over to SSL/TLS>Overview from the left pane, and choose either “Flexible” or “Full” for the domain you added.

Once done, visit the URL and access your website. Your site should now load fully with an HTTPS connection.

Is Free DIY Hosting Worth It?

If you’re just getting started with building an online service, portal, or business, a local DIY server on an old PC or laptop can help you. You can use it to showcase your projects to clients or users and host a fully functional website.

Although the hosting is free and secure, remember that you will have to pay for your computer’s electricity usage, which will vary based on its efficiency. Typically, it’s between 30-65W/hour at full load for laptops, but desktop PCs will consume much more power. A cheaper and more power-efficient option would be to use a Raspberry Pi to host your site, as it runs on a 15W power supply.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 series is here, and if you’re in the market for a new Galaxy Watch, you might find yourself wondering if it’s worth shelling out for Samsung’s latest addition, or whether you should stick with the Galaxy Watch 4. differences between the two might not be immediately obvious, so we’ve done the leg work and compared the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 vs. Galaxy Watch 4 across several categories to help you decide which one is the best buy for you.

Specs

Design and display

When it comes to design, Samsung has opted for repetition over reinvention here. Both watches look pretty similar and share virtually identical physical characteristics. Neither has a rotating bezel — you’ll need to grab the Watch 4 Classic if that’s your preference — but the digital alternative provides a contemporary, streamlined look.

The Watch 5 sports a modern, minimalist design and comes in two sizes, 40mm or 44mm, weighing 28.7 and 33.5 grams, respectively. The Watch 4 comes in the same sizes, again weighing in at 25.9 grams and 30.3 grams, respectively. There’s no difference between dimensions here, but the Watch 4 is ever so slightly lighter, if that’s important to you.

Whichever watch you go for, there’s a 1.2-inch or 1.4-inch Super AMOLED display on board, with the same resolution of 396 x 396 or 450 x 450 across the board too, depending on which size you choose. Everything looks sharp and clear. Samsung claims the Watch 5’s sapphire crystal lens provides a 60% harder outer layer than the Watch 4 series, but both watches have the same durable Armor Aluminum body.

The Galaxy Watch 5 40mm comes in Graphite, Pink Gold, or Silver with a Bora Purple strap designed to perfectly match the Galaxy Z Flip 4. The 44mm variant comes in Graphite, Sapphire, or Silver. You can pick up the Galaxy Watch 4 in Silver, Black, or Pink Gold with a choice of bands.

As you can see, the differences here are fairly minimal, so it may not be worth paying more for the Watch 5 if you’re considering upgrading — unless the new colors and sapphire crystal lens tempt you to trade in. As such, we’re calling this round a tie.

Winner: tie

Fitness and health-tracking features

There are some subtle differences between these two devices when it comes to fitness tracking. Both feature Samsung’s BioActive Sensor, but the Watch 5 has an enlarged surface area to improve the accuracy of readings. The sensor includes a Bio-Electrical Impedance (BIA) sensor, electrocardiogram (ECG), and PPG heart rate sensor so you can monitor sleep, body fat levels, blood-oxygen level, and blood pressure (the latter is only available in some countries , however).

The Watch 5 has a few new features, including GPX, available for the first time on a Galaxy Watch, so you can download or display routes as well as record new routes and share them with friends. There is also turn-by-turn directions to help keep cyclists and runners on track, and the new trackback feature, which takes you back the way you came, great for long walks or hikes. While you’ll find these features on most Garmin and other multisport watches, they’re not usually included on flagship smartwatches, so this is a pretty neat addition. These new features ensure the Watch 5 is an excellent choice for runners, hikers, and long-distance walkers.

The main new feature on the Watch 5 is the temperature sensor, which uses infrared technology for accurate temperature monitoring, even if the temperature of your surroundings changes. This could be used for period tracking or as an early sickness indicator, but Samsung plans to work with developers to explore new ways to use this in the “near future,” so we could be waiting a while before there’s actually a use for it.

Both watches also offer advanced sleep tracking that monitors sleep stages, snore detection, and body oxygen levels. On the Watch 5, you also get Sleep Coaching, a tailored month-long guided program designed to help improve your sleep habits.

Both the Watch 4 and Watch 5 can track over 100 different workouts with automatic workout detection, plus the familiar digital running coach and VO2 max data, which lets you know how much oxygen you’re using during your training and is a good indicator of aerobics. fitness.

So which watch wins this round? We’re giving it to the Galaxy Watch 5, but it’s a close one as most of the health and fitness tracking features on the new Watch 5 can also be found on the Watch 4. The added GPX features, that new temperature sensor, and improved sleep tracking just push the Watch 5 into the lead here.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Watch 5

Battery life

Battery life is one of the key differences between these two watches. The 40mm variant of the Galaxy Watch 5 packs a 284mAh battery, compared to the 247mAh battery powering the 40mm Galaxy Watch 4. Meanwhile, the 44mm is powered by a 410mAh battery, compared to the 361mAh battery on offer in the 44mm Galaxy Watch 4. Samsung promises a battery life of up to 50 hours with the Watch 5 and 40 hours with the Watch 4, though this will depend on your usage.

Faster charging is on offer with the Galaxy Watch 5 too, with Samsung claiming you can top up from zero to 45% in just 30 minutes. If you use your watch for sleep tracking, you might be interested to know Samsung also says that eight minutes of charging will give you eight hours of battery life, so there’s no need to worry about your watch dying halfway through your sleep cycle.

There’s a clear winner here, and it’s the Watch 5 with its beefier battery and faster charging. This could change once we’ve spent more time with Samsung’s latest, though, so watch this space.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Watch 5

special features

Neither watch has a rotating bezel, so if that’s a must-have for you, the Watch 4 Classic is the watch you’re looking for.

In terms of special features, both watches offer comprehensive sleep tracking, but the Watch 5 adds sleep coaching that tailors a guided program based on your sleep tracking metrics to help improve the quality of your sleep. Both watches also work with compatible smart devices and the Samsung SmartThings app to control lights, TVs, and air conditioners to improve your sleeping environment. With the Watch 5, you’re also getting that infrared temperature sensor, though it may be a while before we start to see compatible apps.

Both watches run WearOS 3 and Samsung’s One UI Watch. The Watch 5 ships with One UI Watch 4.5, with new accessibility features, an improved typing interface, and dual-SIM support. With Wear OS 3 you get access to Google Assistant from your watch, and features coming soon include being able to use voice navigation in Google Maps, plus music apps like Deezer and SoundCloud.

You’ll also find the same IP68 and 5ATM water (and dust) resistance ratings across both the Watch 4 and Watch 5.

There’s not enough here to differentiate between the two watches, as both pack similar special features, so ultimately, whether or not you want to spend more for an infrared temperature sensor and sleep coaching may be the deciding factor here.

Winner: tie

Price and availability

The Galaxy Watch 5 is available to until August 25. Pricing starts at $280 for the 40mm Bluetooth version and $330 for the 40mm LTE variant. Pre-orders also get a free Wireless Charger Duo, $75 off when you trade in an eligible smartwatch, and $50 of Samsung credit to spend on accessories. The Galaxy Watch 5 retail sales open August 26.

The Galaxy Watch 4 is from Samsung, Amazon, Best Buy, and other major retailers. Pricing starts from $200 for the 40mm Bluetooth variant and $250 for the 40mm LTE version.

Overall winner: Samsung Galaxy Watch 5

We’re crowning the Galaxy Watch 5 our overall winner, though we’d like to point out this was a very close run. Both watches are so similar across the board in terms of design, specs, and fitness tracking features that, for most people, the incremental upgrades simply aren’t enough to warrant the extra $80-plus cost of Samsung’s latest wearable. That said, if you’re buying your first Samsung Galaxy Watch, we’d wholeheartedly recommend the Watch 5. If you’re considering upgrading from the Galaxy Watch 4, there’s not a lot new here unless you’re into long-distance walking or hiking and need those GPX features, simply must have a bigger battery and faster charging, or you really want an infrared temperature sensor on your wrist.

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