Technology – Page 178 – Michmutters
Categories
Technology

For Danna Freedman, impasse is invitation

Asked once about the most difficult part of her research, Danna Freedman could not stop referring to obstacles as opportunities, and to challenges as excitement. “Every time we hit a barrier it enables us to discover new science,” she told an interviewer at Northwestern University in 2017, describing difficulties encountered in her research as among her most “rewarding” moments of her.

For Freedman, MIT’s FG Keyes Professor of Chemistry, focusing on a difficult problem seems to be her idea of ​​nirvana. Currently, her research group at Ella is using inorganic chemistry to create molecules for quantum information science, generating a new class of quantum units that can be readily tuned for quantum communication. But at any given time, her idea of ​​a favorite breakthrough is generally the challenge at hand.

“I love the most recent result, the thing I am struggling to understand and improve at a particular moment in time,” Freedman says.

Her determination and enthusiasm for the unsolved problem began as she was growing up in a small town in upstate New York, where early on she showed a strong interest in science and the questions scientists work to answer.

Freedman says her parents “patiently participated in hours of conversation about the best way to drop an egg an arbitrary number of stories without breaking it.”

“Unfortunately, I hear bungee egg drop is no longer a Science Olympiad event,” she jokes.

Referring to her more recent endeavors, Freedman says her lab’s bottom-up design of molecules that can function as tunable, scalable, versatile, and robust qubits is an important step toward full realization of quantum sensing and communication. Such quantum operations could uncover new information about the world around us, sense dark matter, lead to insight in biological systems, or help transmit information across complex messy interfaces in a quantum state.

“We have developed a different approach to such a goal,” Freedman says. “It will take a long, dedicated, interdisciplinary effort to bring these ideas to fruition, and I am incredibly excited to make that happen.”

One of the ways Freedman and her lab are working collaboratively across disciplines is through the Q-NEXT National Quantum Information Science Research Center, which is led by the US Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory. With support from Q-NEXT and others, Freedman and members of her team as well as researchers from the University of Chicago and Columbia University recently published a paper in the Journal of the American Chemical Society demonstrating that a specific group of qubits – in this case Molecules designed with a central chromium atom surrounded by four hydrocarbon molecules – could be customized for specific targets within quantum sensing and communication.

“As part of Q-NEXT and other research centers, we are incorporating these molecules into the larger quantum ecosystem,” says Freedman, whose work has garnered her many honors, including Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers through the US Department of Defense and the National Science Foundation.

Freedman’s lab also works on applying extreme pressure, sometimes comparable to the pressures at the Earth’s core, to synthesize new materials. Her team de ella is exploring one such material, the first iron-bismuth binary compound, for its magnetic properties and potential as a superconductor, both aspects that could have broad ramifications in such areas as energy generation and transport.

Freedman’s characteristic ambition also shines through in her teaching and mentoring. She says that helping young researchers to develop involves “providing them with a foundation to excel and then throwing them into the deep end and asking them to swim.” But if they don’t succeed, she says, then “the foundation isn’t there, and I need to work harder, and try different approaches to prepare them.”

With her determination to seek new and expanding challenges, Freedman came to MIT in 2021, having moved from Northwestern University, where she was a professor of chemistry. She says the potential for collaboration at MIT enhanced her motivation for her.

“I am about 10 years into my career, and as our research expands in new directions, I wanted to form teams that extend beyond my own research and to connect in different directions,” Freedman says. “When I spoke with faculty at MIT, every idea that I had expanded and became more achievable. The visions of the scientists and engineers at MIT spur me to have better ideas and to be a better scientist.”

She says she is “invigorated by the culture of the Institute. I continue to be impressed with the kindness and dedication and equitable culture that I have observed here. It is incumbent upon me to continue to improve it, but it is a phenomenal starting point.”

And from that starting point, proceeding despite obstacles is obvious. Her great forward momentum is perhaps also evidenced by her great love of walking and running, which she tries to do every day.

“In Boston, I have walked along most train lines,” she says, adding that she also enjoys running “from Harvard Square down North Harvard Street to Coolidge Corner, on to the Chestnut Hill Reservoir and back along Commonwealth. I like running from MIT to the Chestnut Hill Reservoir and back … and in Belmont, running on the Minuteman trail.”

“While walking or running,” Freedman says, “I turn existing thoughts into coherent sentences, create talks and refine ideas.”

/University Release. This material from the originating organization/author(s) may be of a point-in-time nature, edited for clarity, style and length. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s).

Categories
Technology

These apps are dangerous for Android phones! Delete it today, downloaded 10 million times

strong points

36 such apps were found on the Google Play Store, which contain malware.
Most of the applications containing viruses are part of the editing tools.
According to the report, 10 million people downloaded malicious apps.

There are many reports of fake apps or apps with viruses on Android, and in the meantime another such case has come to light. According to the information received, many such apps have been spotted on the Google Play Store, which have been described as a threat to Android users. Worryingly, millions of people have downloaded virus-laden apps from the Google Play Store. According to the report, 10 million people downloaded malicious apps.

A total of 36 apps have been spotted on the Google Play Store which pose a security threat to Android phones. According to report by Bleeping Commuter, these dangerous apps start showing ads to users under the guise of adding new features to phone and subscribe to premium service.

(Also Read – Airtel’s Good Plan! Get Free Calls for a Whole Year by Recharging Once, You’ll Get 2GB Data Every Day)

Not only that, it has also been reported that these apps access user information from social media.

Photo editor: beauty filter
Photo editor: retouch and crop
Photo editor: artistic filters
Photo Editor – Design Maker
Photo editor and background eraser
Photo and Exif editor
Photo Editor – Filter Effects
Photo filters and effects
Photo editor: blurry image
Photo editor: cut and paste
Emoji Keyboard: Stickers and GIFs
Neon Theme Keyboard
Cache Cleaner
FastCleaner: cache cleaner
Funny Wallpapers – Live Screen
Notes – reminders and lists
Caller Skins – Caller Themes
funny caller
CallMe Phone Themes
InCall: contact history
MyCall – Call personalization
caller-theme
Funny Wallpapers – Live Screen
Automatic 4K wallpaper changer
NewScreen: 4D Wallpapers
Wallpapers and backgrounds.

(Also read – A new group related feature is coming to WhatsApp, a new facility for users)

Many of these apps are part of photo editing tools, in which Joker malware has been found. Once these apps are installed, it asks for various permissions from the user and then they continue to run in the background. Information about this Dr. Found by Web Antivirus Team.

Let us tell you that Google removed it from the Play Store, but it may prove dangerous for phones that already have it. In this case, you can manually delete it from your phone.

tags: antivirus, apps, Google Play Store

Categories
Technology

The Lich King returns to the World of Warcraft Classic

September 26, 2022, will be an exciting day for fans of World of Warcraft. The Lich King, who made his debut in the second expansion of World of Warcraft, will once again return to this world.

Players will explore Northrend’s Borean Tundra or Howling Fjord and witness epic spectacles and beloved storytelling from the Warcraft franchise, culminating in the overthrow of the Lich King at Icecrown Citadel domination.

The fearsome death knight is World of Warcraft’s first hero, starting at level 55 and can join any faction. They will harness the forces of darkness against the evil that threatens Azeroth. At the time, players could only create one Death Knight character per server and required a level 55 character on that server, but in Wrath of the Lich King, players will no longer have to think about creating their first Death Knight character under these requirements.

In World of Warcraft®: Wrath of the Lich King Classic™, the introduction of the inscription profession allows players to scribe mysterious glyphs, change spell skills and attributes such as cooldowns and damage etc, as well as craft powerful accessories.

The achievement system will be returned to the World of Warcraft Classic™, and the players will receive rewards for their great deeds and heroic feats.

Players will have access to a 50% bonus XP event during the pre-launch, which will last running until the launch day. In addition, all subscribers of WoW will be granted to create the opportunity to create up to one Death Knight per Classic realm. Don’t forget to make use of the Burning Crusade Classic™ as free content from the WoW subscription to bring the new character to level 70 if you would like. Other optional upgrades such as new cosmetic items and a level-70 character boost can also be purchased and to be used in the new release.

Categories
Technology

Google Pixel 6a review: Budget smartphone design, cameras, battery life

For the past week I’ve been testing Google’s newest budget smartphone, the Pixel 6a. And although the ‘affordable’ phone comes in at $749, it shares a lot of features with Google’s premium $999 Pixel 6 smartphone.

Unboxing and design

The phone comes in three fresh colors including ‘Sage’, which is a light green, ‘Chalk’ which is white with a gray accent and ‘Charcoal’ which is a predominantly dark grey. I got my hands on Sage, which has to be my favourite.

There was a similar colorway on the Google Pixel 6 called Seafoam and it looks just as good on this budget phone. In fact, the device looks like they took a shrink ray to the Google Pixel 6. It’s identical at a glance, with the same FHD+ OLED display and in-screen fingerprint reader, with only a visible difference in its size.

The Pixel 6a has a 6.1” display in comparison to the Pixel 6’s 6.4” screen. And even though the Pixel 6 has a more premium glass back housing, the Google Pixel 6a is indistinguishable even though it’s only made of plastic.

Looks-wise, you’re certainly getting to flaunt the illusion of owning a premium phone for a more affordable price point.

Unfortunately, you get the same in-the-box contents that’s become the norm with premium phones though, meaning no charging brick in the box. All you get is the phone, a USB-C charging cable and a USB-A to USB-C adapter. Google sells their fast charging USB-C adapter separately at check out.

cameras

The Google Pixel 6a has a strip on the back of the phone that houses the cameras and protrudes from the device. I kind of dig this design as it means the phone is balanced when placed camera-side down on a table, whereas some phones wobble due to balancing on the cameras that are positioned to one side.

There are two back cameras including a 12.2 MP wide camera and a 12 MP ultrawide camera. And although these can’t really compete with many phones in this price bracket, Google’s in-camera tech allows for high quality photos with balanced, bright, true to life colors.

Even though these lenses are somewhat outdated, traditionally the Pixel’s camera hardware in tandem with its software has always brought about great results and it’s the same for the 6a. Nightmode is especially impressive and the camera performs well in all conditions.

On the front you get a reasonable selfie camera too. It’s only 8 megapixels but believe it or not it’s the same front camera that’s in the premium Pixel 6.

Tech specs

There are a couple of notable sacrifices you’ll make with this more budget phone and that’s a 60hz refresh rate. If you don’t know what that means then honestly, you probably won’t notice the difference.

On the flip side, if you’ve experienced a higher refresh rate on a phone such as 90Hz on the Pixel 6, you’ll notice the phone doesn’t scroll as ‘smoothly’.

Additionally, there’s only 6GB of ram in the phone so, technically, it has a little less processing power but it’s not really noticeable with Google’s new Tensor chip.

This is the same chip in, not only the Pixel 6, but Pixel 6 Pro. It allows the phone to perform awesome new features such as live translate, which lets you chat in 11 languages ​​in real time. Additionally, the phone is launched with Android 12, the latest operating system.

Battery life

You can’t share your battery with others with this phone but you can keep the battery going for over 24 hours, or at least that’s what Google quotes.

The phone has an adaptive battery that’s able to learn how you use your device and will turn lesser used apps off in the background to save battery life.

I found that over time, my battery was able to consistently last around 20 hours if I didn’t spend too much time binging video content.

And if you’re in a pinch you’re also able to use the ‘Extreme Battery Saver’ to bump up the battery life (but only really to keep it alive for that last phone call or Uber ride to get you home).

Should you buy it?

This is a great phone, but I do miss the headphone jack that was previously seen on the Google Pixel 5a 5G.

There are some new software features that do set the Pixel 6a apart from its predecessor, including the Tensor processor. However, I’m a big fan of the rugged plastic, slim, design of the previous Pixel 5a, which I still think holds up really well.

Overall, this is a sleek little 5G Pixel 6 clone, which does a great job of offering you the latest and greatest performance and style of the Pixel 6 on a budget. So, if you want to stand out from the crowd but still save some cash then the $749 Pixel 6a is where it’s at.

Elly Awesome is an Aussie tech and lifestyle vlogger | @elliawesometech | Youtube

Read related topics:Google

.

Categories
Technology

Google Has Once Again Said That Even Though It Could Protect Your Privacy Online, It Won’t

Google is in a tough spot. The company says it is committed to protecting the privacy of its users, but it also built one of the most profitable businesses in the world around the idea that if you track what users do online, you can show them personalized ads based on their interests and activity.

The real problem for Google is that not only is it the world’s most popular search engine, it makes the world’s most widely-used browser, Chrome. That gives the company an extraordinary amount of influence over how billions of people use the internet.

Over the past few years, other browser-makers have started to take steps to better protect user privacy. Both Safari and Firefox now block third-party cookies, the pieces of software used to track users across different websites or apps. Both also offer protection against device fingerprinting, which uses other types of data like browser, screen resolution, IP address, and browser extensions, in order to track them.

As the pressure to eliminate cookies continued to rise, Google said in a 2019 blog post that it would start exploring ways to make the web respect user privacy:

We are confident that with continued iteration and feedback, privacy-preserving and open-standard mechanisms like the Privacy Sandbox can sustain a healthy, ad-supported web in a way that will render third-party cookies obsolete. Once these approaches have addressed the needs of users, publishers, and advertisers, and we have developed the tools to mitigate workarounds, we plan to phase out support for third-party cookies in Chrome. Our intention is to do this within two years.

Privacy Sandbox is what Google describes as “a secure environment for personalization that also protects user privacy.” It seems like Google agreed at the time that cookies were bad, but said it wasn’t prepared to block cookies because it would lead to bigger privacy concerns like device fingerprinting.

Then, Google published a blog post in January of 2020 that said the company was working on “a path towards making third party cookies obsolete,” within two years. It’s been a very long way. In fact, the path has only gotten longer.

Now, Google has extended that deadline even further. It now says it won’t phase out third-party cookies until the second-half of 2024. If you’re doing the math at home, it’s already been more than two years. Google now says it will be at least two more.

Part of that is because Google can’t just block cookies without coming up with something to replace them, even if it wanted to. Tracking, after all, is the lifeblood of the digital advertising economy.

Ironically, Google would be better off if it simply blocked third-party cookies wholesale. It doesn’t really need that kind of data considering it already has so much information about you based on the Google websites you use.

Take search ads, for example. You don’t have to do any tracking to figure out what might be a relevant ad to show someone when they literally tell Google what they’re looking for. There has never been a more personalized advertising opportunity, ever.

At the same time, every other advertising platform depends on third-party cookies to track user information across websites, and to provide important data like ad conversions. Shutting off those cookies in Chrome would put them at a massive disadvantage against Google.

In theory, blocking cookies would be good for Google, except it would be seen as highly uncompetitive. It might be better for privacy, but it would be devastating for advertising.

And, so, Google has been trying to figure out a way to get rid of cookies, but also to provide a replacement that balances privacy and advertising. So far, it hasn’t gone well. Its first effort, known as FLoC was widely panned and rejected by both digital advertisers and privacy advocates. It has since moved on to what it calls Topics, which effectively uses Chrome to do all the tracking, which I guess is more privacy protective because advertisers don’t actually know anything about the individual users they target.

Still, tracking is tracking and privacy is privacy. With this latest delay, Google has made it clear that it could make the web respect the latter, but it won’t because it can’t let go of the former.

The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.

Categories
Technology

We Road Tested A Stack Of Meditation Apps So You Don’t Have To

Sleep. It can be both an elusive beast, or an insistent guest, nudging at your eyelids at the most inconvenient times of the day. We’re all familiar with the sensation of dread that accompanies the alarm creeping its way into your morning slumber and the perplexity of waking up somehow more tired than when we fell into bed the night before.

While many factors contribute to poor sleep quality, including lifestyle, stress, diet and your environment, there’s one thing that has the potential to make a world of difference—and it can take as little as 5 minutes of your day. That thing is meditation.

Also known as mindfulness, this purposeful practice is considered to have a positive impact on sleep quality. According to Sleep Foundation, “at a biological level, meditation slows the heart rate and breathing and lowers levels of cortisol, the stress hormone.” It is also theorized that “mindfulness may improve sleep quality” and that practicing mindfulness and meditation equip you with the resources to “calm down the nervous system in preparation for sleep.”

So, in an effort to help you set up your mornings for success, we tried some of the most hyped meditation apps on the market. Read on to suss which app works for your own mindfulness vibe.

Smiling Mind

Price:Free

If a good benchmark for whether we vibe an app or not is diving back in after our research phase, then this app ticks the box. We’ve revisited Smiling Mind multiple times since we downloaded it, and can already attest to positive changes. It might look like it’s angeled toward a young adult audience, and it is, but it also has a wealth of content for adults too. Plus, it features homegrown Aussie voices, which is a treat amongst the US and UK leaders in the market.

We recommend the NAIDOC Week Meditation, led by the iconic activist, actor, author and Indigenous elder and 2022 recipient of the NAIDOC Male Elder of the Year, Uncle Jack Charles. If you’re looking to use your commute time to grab a little bit of mindfulness, dive into the Daily Commute series. We also have our eye on the 21 Night Sleep Program, a series specifically designed to use a variety of tools and techniques to help you build healthy habits for a healthy mind, and get a better night’s sleep.

Free, user-friendly and a great range of local talent—we highly recommend it.

calm

Price: 7-day free trial, $79.99 for 1 year, $549.99 for lifetime membership

If the idea of ​​having Simon, the Duke of Hastings trickling his smooth Bridgertonesk elocution into your ears is an ideal mindfulness moment, then Calm is definitely the app for you. Featuring sleep stories told by the likes of Regé-Jean Page, Jesse Mei Li, and Cillian Murphy, this app understands the snooze assignment. Don’t even get us started on the Bob Ross-led ASMR tracks for the soothing factor.

Not just for those hoping to catch a few more z’s, Calm has an extensive range of meditation tracks, encompassing Beginners, Work, Anxiety, Self-Care and a Breaking Habits Series. If you’re interested in ongoing wellness and crafting new habits, this series covers a range of aspects including Thinking, Comparison & Busyness. If your frequency is a more calming guided meditation with ambient sound, we love the Sigur Rós Sound Bath Experience.

head space

Price: 7-day free trial, $12.99 per month or $69.99 per year

This app is beloved for a reason. With a stack of guided meditations ranging from Five Mindful Minutes, to the longer 10-20 minutes tracks, Headspace is extensive and has a sense of playfulness that keeps it fresh. Learn breathing techniques from the master of calm, Yoda himself. Or take a more serious approach and start right at the beginning with easy-to-follow stages, from basics to self-reflection and letting go of stress. Specific themes see a range of tracks focusing on issues like managing financial stress, dealing with the complexities of sexuality and dealing with external and internal pressure.

A great app for embarking on a mindfulness journey if you’re a beginner or if there are specific areas in your life you want to craft healthier habits.

Insight Timer

Price: Free content with an option for premium access, $9.99 per month or $59.99 per year

Smattered with recognizable voices, the likes of Goldie Hawn and meditation guru Lama Rod Owens, Insight Timer has an extensive range of guided meditations and tracks for a detailed range of topics. From interviews to relationship, sleep and performance-specific tracks, there’s something for everyone.

If you’re already a bit of a meditation buff, the namesake timer is great and allows you to craft your own guide, with interval bells and personalized sounds. It also provides a community aspect, with the option to engage with a public profile. If you just want to focus on your own thing, there’s a private option too.

Great for those who have a foothold in classic meditation and want a little help structuring their practice without necessarily being guided. We did find the app a touch clunky though.

SBS Great Minds Podcast

Price:Free

If you feel like you’ve tried all of the meditation apps under the sun, and nothing seems to be the right fit, this podcast might be for you. Hosted by Leah Vandenberg, the SBS Great Minds Podcast provides a doorway into a range of meditation practices from around the world. Learn about Filipino Hilot, Japanese forest bathing and Hawaiian ho’oponopono during the bite-sized, 15-minute episodes. Throughout the 18-episode series, you’ll travel the world with Vandenberg and a little closer to home with a wellness practice grounded in First Nations’ connection to Country called Wayapa Wuurrk developed by Gunai Kurnai man Jamie Marloo Thomas.

Great for delving deeper into the art of mindfulness and what that means around the globe, or reigniting your interest if you’re suffering a little meditation fatigue.

iBreathe

Price:Free

This app is astonishingly simple, and does what it says on the box. iBreathe is structured around simple breathing techniques, allowing you to delve into mindfulness from a physical place. There are four key breathing techniques the app follows, including 4-7-8, Ujjayi, Box and Custom. 4-7-8 and Ujjayi are methods of breathing based on the ancient practice of pranayama yoga that works to calm the mind and the body. Box breathing is a super simple and repetitive method that is a great technique to have in your pocket if you’re out and about and life catches you unaware with a cheeky bout of stress. Using simple 4-second cycles of inhale/exhale repetition, the app can help establish a technique you can replicate on demand.

It’s free which is amazing, but there are a few pesky ads that pop up between sessions, but they won’t interrupt your breathing time. You can also pay a small fee to upgrade the ad-free access.

It Doesn’t Have A Name, But It’s A Hot, Hot Tip

Price: Priceless

Controversial, but before you go downloading any of these apps that tickle your mindful fancy, we want to pop in a review of something that is kind of the opposite of an app, in a way. The good news is that it’s totally free, does still involve your phone and is something that we have been trialling for a week at the time of writing with great success.

That thing is turning off the notifications on our phones during work hours. Yep, Messenger, Instagram, Tiktok, you name it, we’ve silenced it (except for text messages because if we leave mum unanswered for too long, she’ll worry, you know).

Long review short, this change has made a huge impact on our focus and mindfulness throughout the day, without group chat notifications niggling at our curiosity and FOMO.

If an app for classic meditation isn’t for you, that doesn’t mean the end of the road for your mindfulness journey. There are heaps of ways to engage in mindfulness and support your body to encourage less stress and improved restful sleep. Active meditation and taking time to be in the moment with activities like cooking, walking in nature and going for a swim are also great ways to get back in touch with yourself and simple things like taking a daily multivitamin can have tangible results on your overall wellbeing .

Head over here for Reason Season’s second Morning module on crafting a morning routine you can actually stick to.

To receive all of the upcoming weekly modules for Reason Season straight to your inbox sign up over here, plus go into the draw to win a $4,000 wellness getaway for two.

Image credit: Urban List

Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by Swiss and proudly endorsed by Urban List. Thank you for supporting the sponsors who make Urban List possible. Click here for more information on our editorial policy.

Categories
Technology

Nintendo DS Firmware ‘Prototype’ Reveals System’s Unique Boot Up Sound Effect

Forest Of Illusion IMG 1
Image: Forest of Illusion (via Twitter)

Nintendo preservation website Forest of Illusion has managed to acquire another rare piece of gaming history. It’s been able to archive a Japan prototype of the Nintendo DS X4 firmware – recovered from an X4 prototype unit.

According to the source, “just about every aspect of this version is different from the final retail release.” One of the highlights is the boot up screen. Instead of featuring the Nintendo DS logo, it appears to be a GBA placeholder screen and a sound file of children shouting “Nintendo” (you can have a listen below).

The menu is also a lot different from the final version. The Cutting Room Floor details how the placeholder menu features DS and GBA boot options, wireless play, and Nitro settings – containing user information (console name, birthday and colour), the date and time, language options, touch panel settings and more.

A Cutting Room Floor contributor also notes how “some parts” of this prototype have a strong resemblance to the early DSi settings app:

@trashbandatcoot – “Should bring up that some parts of this prototype strongly resemble those of an early DSi settings app, mainly the layout of the menu settings itself and the touch calibration menu. “

Some DS enthusiasts have also got the firmware up and running on their own units, thanks to Forest of Illusion’s efforts:

Nintendo previously showcased prototypes of the DS at E3, which was at the time internally known as Nitro. What do you think of this slice of firmware history? What about that boot up sound effect? Leave a comment down below.

.

Categories
Technology

Samsung QN90B Review: The Best TV for Bright Rooms

In TV land, excellent black levels have been the name of the game for nearly a decade. By providing better contrast via new backlighting technologies like organic LEDs (OLEDs) or mini LEDs, companies have slowly given us a more realistic (and less gray) view of our favorite images.

For years now, high-end TVs like the new Samsung QN90B have had nearly perfect delineation between light and dark. However, many models lacked the powerful brightness you might need to overcome a sunny California afternoon in a modern glass living room.

That’s why if I were shopping for a new high-end screen, I’d be sure to consider this model specifically. The thin, pedestal-mounted TV has excellent, mini LED–driven contrast, but at brightness levels that might downright hurt your eyes in a dark room. For watching inside during summer, there is probably no better viewing experience.

All Class

Photography: Samsung

The QN90B is thin but not too thin to easily grip by two people when assembling and mounting it. That’s why I’m ashamed to admit that I bonked the corner of my first review unit on my coffee table when mounting it to the included pedestal, thus ruining it. (Ed. note: It had to happen sometime, Parker!) A few weeks, a new unit, and a slightly bruised ego later, and I repeated the process without incident.

Get it set up, and you’ll be impressed by the QN90B’s looks. The pedestal mount really makes it look like the TV is floating behind my soundbar, with the screen just high enough to peek over the top. It’s a design that’s surprisingly rare in modern screens, many of which end up getting slightly blocked at the bottom.

Because I use a Samsung phone, setup was nearly instantaneous. I just signed in to my Samsung account on my phone, told the TV what apps I wanted to download, and was off to the races. You still have to sign in to individual apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and more, but all the apps you’ll need are likely to be here. It even has Paramount+ and Plex apps.

One criticism of Samsung’s Tizen smart TV interface is that it can be a bit difficult to navigate for newbies. You get used to the weird assortment of menus below the single app bar that you’ll actually want to use, but it’s easy to get lost among Samsung’s free content. Heck, to this day I can’t figure out how to add the aforementioned Paramount+ and Plex apps to the home screen. I’m sure there’s a way, but I’ve yet to be motivated enough to find it.

I’d encourage Samsung UI designers to take a deeper look at what people actually use these interfaces to do. I don’t really need endless lists of suggested items to watch below the actual apps. One thing I absolutely won’t complain about? The remote, which is rechargeable via a solar cell on the back. I never have to hunt for pesky AAA batteries again. Eureka!

looking good

Photography: Samsung

Once you’ve found something to watch, you’re sure to be impressed with how it looks on the QN90B. The TV features quantum dot technology for bright colors in high dynamic range. The matrix of mini LEDs behind the screen keeps even fast-moving objects like soccer balls from having weird shading.

.

Categories
Technology

NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro – Android/Plex media center (review)

The NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro is a 4K@60Hz, Dolby Vision capable, Google/Android TV 11 console. But that does not quite do it justice, and it is the Rolls Royce of media center consoles.

We are reviewing both the NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro (this review) and the NVIDIA SHIELD TV dongle NVIDIA SHIELD TV – the dongle you need above all (review). There are a lot of similarities with all the relevant information in the SHIELD TV dongle review, so you may want to start there first.

Australian Review NVIDIA SHIELD TV Model P2897

website S.H.I.E.L.D. Product page
Price $349.95 Caution – if buying second-hand, ensure it is the 2019 model P2897 or later with Google Android TV 11
desde Harvey Norman and many CE and Computer stores
country of origin China
Company NVIDIA (Est 1993) is a global leader in GeForce and RTX Graphics Processing Units (GPU), graphics API software, and GeForce Now cloud gaming.
More CyberShack NVIDIA news and reviews

We use Fail (below expectations), Pass (meets expectations) and Exceed (surpasses expectations or is the class leader) against many of the items below. We occasionally give a Pass ‘+’ rating to show it is good but does not quite make it to Exceed.

You can click on most images for an enlargement.

Repeat – we are only adding new information about the Pro version and strongly suggest you read the SHEILD TV review first.

Essential differences between Nvidia SHIELD TV Model P4340 (tube) and Pro Model P2897

Some reviews call this the 2019 model; technically, the hardware is the same. The operating system is Google/Android TV 11, and firmware is now at 9.1 and offers much more functionality.

Format Tube Console
Remote Same Same
RAM/Storage 2/8GB/microSD to 512GB 10MBps UHS 1 or faster 3/16GB/USB storage
processor 16nm Tegra X1+ runs in 32-bit mode (normal for Android 11 TV) Same – runs in 64-bit mode for more processing power
ports Power, HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet (mountable network storage) Plus 2 x USB 3.0 5V/.9A/4.5W, 480Mbps
Additional features Smart Home functionality Expanded Smart Home Plex or Kodi server
Video HDMI 2.0b 18Gbps supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+ 4K@60fps Same
Wifi Wi-Fi 5 AC 2×2 MIMO 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Same
chrome cast BT 5.0 + LE 4K Chromecast Same

First Impression – Edgy – Exceed

This is about the size of an old VHS video cassette, 2159 x 98 x 26mm x 250g, with much more edginess and subtle NVIDIA green light stip. As you can see from the table above, it runs Google/Android TV 11 in 64-bit mode (faster), has more storage (16GB is still minimal) and adds 2 x USB-A 3.0 480Mbps ports that can connect to a PC , NAS etc.

Inputs are via Wi-Fi 5 ac 2X2 MIMO or gigabit Ethernet and Google/Android TV 11’s’ comprehensive range of apps and streaming services.

Output is solely via HDMI 2.0b to a TV.

Setup – Exceed if you are tech-savvy

As per the dongle review, it is via Google/Android TV.

But the key to this device is the expandability via the two USB ports, and it runs as a Plex media server. To use that, you need to be tech-savvy.

Plex server and client – ​​PASS

The NVIDIA Plex client does most things you expect, although you must add an external NAS (Network attached storage) or a USB-C storage device.

It has enough power to run a paid VPN like Private Internet Access or NordVPN that also supports torrents. We tested with PIA, and it increases ping times from about 10 to 15ms and reduces DL speeds by 5-10% (depending on the VPN server location). We did not exhaustively test this with simultaneous 4K playback, but the Tegra X1+ processor seems to have the capability.

Alternatively, you can load a media player like VLC or Kodi to play external content.

USB-A (PRO version) – EXCEED with caveats

The two USB-A 3.0 ports on the PRO can, subject to power needs (maximum 5V/.9A per port)

  • Act as a DVR – it handles USB Flash drives to 512GB and HDD/SSD up to 2TB (at least)
  • Play content from a USB device – maximum transfer rate is about 200Mbps (25MBps suitable for 4K)
  • Support a 720p-4K webcam/mic
  • USB or a dongle receiver for keyboards and mice
  • Support a TV Tuner (Hauppauge WinTV-dual HD DVB-T2 #1590 for Australia) but may require Plex, Kodi or Android TV Live Channels to act as the OTA interface. Not tested, so buy from a retailer that allows returns if it does not work). More here.
  • Output sound to a DAC-equipped amplified speaker or AV receiver
  • We could not test with a USB-A hub, but it should work if the voltage/amperage is within spec.
  • Bluetooth 5.0 can support a keyboard/trackpad like the Logitech keyboards and mice.

If you select the USB device as ”internal” storage, it will format it accordingly, and you can’t use it on a PC without reformatting, so it is a permanent addition.

Storage Caveats – PASS(able)

To keep costs in check, it only has 16GB of internal storage – about 10GB free before you add too many apps, games or 4K movies (compressed movies are about 3GB each).

So, you need to add external NAS (Network Attached Storage) or USB storage for most uses.

NAS – Gigabit Ethernet (1000Mbps/125MBps full-duplex)

It can access most network storage devices. We tested on a 2TB NAS, achieving just over 80MBps, although this did fall to 30MBps when accessed by multiple devices – still more than enough for 4K. Here you have no USB volt/amp issues.

CyberShack’s’ view – For the extra $100, Tech-savvy should buy NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro over the Dongle.

Enough has been said about the SHIELD TV and Pro capabilities.

Gaming capability aside, it is a perfect streamer with the ability to take content over a network, USB or the internet. It is Google Android TV 11, and regardless of your current smart TV OS, it adds many extra features.

Downsides – you need to be a little tech-savvy to use all its features.

NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro

$349.95

NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro

pros

  • Believable claim as the best Google Android TV streamer
  • Could replace a Windows Media Center PC
  • Adds Chromecast, Apple TV and more to a dumb TV

Cons

  • You need to be tech-savvy to get more out of it.


Categories
Technology

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 helps get your steps in with world that is “five times larger” than last game

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is finally out, and it turns out that you’re probably going to be doing a lot more walking than in the last one.

The term JRPG will generally elicit a response of ‘oh, this game is gonna be big’ in most people. But big can mean different things, like how long the game actually is, or the amount of side quests there are. For Xenoblade Chronicles 3, that comes in the form of the world being essentially five times bigger than the previous entry, at least according to one of the game’s directors, Koh Kojima.

Nintendo recently shared an interview with three of the lead developers of Xenoblade Chronicles 3, including Kojima, fellow director Genki Yokota, and writer Tetsuya Takahashi. And in the interview, the three dished out various details about the latest game in the series, as well as the series as a whole.

Notably, Kojima spoke about how big the game is. “So I actually did the math, and it turns out that the total walkable area in this game is over five times larger than in the second title,” said Kojima while noting he hoped the third game would be the last one such a huge amount of content, but the interviewer noting Kojima had hoped the same for the second game.

Interestingly, as part of the same interview Yokota noted that the game will be getting some more story via an expansion pass. “We will be adding a new story at the end of the Expansion Pass, and we are thinking of making its volume of content as large as Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna – The Golden Country,” Yokota said. “It will be quite a high volume of content that will not let you down.”

An expansion pass hadn’t previously been confirmed, but it isn’t particularly surprising considering Xenoblade Chronicles 2 also received one.

In VG247’s review of Xenoblade Chronicles 3, we weren’t quite ready to give it a score, saying “Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is such a slow burn that I’m not yet ready to put a score on it. I’ve got more to play, more to see, and more to do. Yet at the same time, I can already unreservedly recommend it, and already happily say that it’s now my favorite entry in the series.”