Bose makes some of the best headphones on the market. They can be a bit pricey, but if you’re looking for high-quality audio, Bose headsets are usually worth it. If you use Bose headphones with a smartphone, you need the Bose Connect app, which was recently updated and found to include references to an unannounced “QC35 II Gaming Headset.”
The original Bose QuietComfort 35 II headset is special because it’s one of the few headsets that has deep integration with Google Assistant. So we’re very interested in another device in this series, which is what was found in an APK teardown of the recent Bose Connect app (via 9to5Google). The teardown revealed references to a “Gaming Headset” and even a video showing it off.
<string name=”tour_tibbers_title_1″>About Bluetooth connectivity</string>
<string name=”tour_tibbers_text_1″>”When the gaming microphone is connected to the headphones, Bluetooth is disabled and the Bose Connect app can’t find your headphones.”</string>
<string name=”tour_tibbers_title_2″>Connect gaming microphone</string>
<string name=”tour_tibbers_text_2″>Plug the microphone into the AUX port on the bottom of the left earcup, then plug the cable into your gaming system.</string>
The new device is codenamed “Tibbers,” which is a reference to League of Legends. The strings associated with “Tibbers” mention Bluetooth connectivity and connecting a “gaming microphone” to the headset. A product video found in the APK demonstrates connecting a wired microphone attachment to the AUX port of the Bose headphones.
This is certainly a Bluetooth device, but the strings say the microphone will require the headset to be plugged in. The device is clearly called “Bose QC35 II Gaming Headset” in the app, but it’s not clear if this will be an entire headset or a microphone attachment sold separately. It could simply be the QuietComfort 35 II headset sold in a bundle with the microphone accessory.
Regardless of how it’s sold, this would be Bose’s first venture into headsets with connected gaming-style microphones. Their headsets, of course, include built-in microphones, but microphones that protrude out in front of your mouth are more popular (and sound better) in the gaming community.
Update 2 (06/10/2020 @ 10:42 AM ET): Microsoft is re-rolling out the Windows 10 May 2020 update for devices on previous versions, with included fixes for Surface Pro 7 and Laptop 3 coming soon.
Update 1 (06/01/2020 @ 06:42 AM ET): Microsoft has found bugs on the latest update, thus placing the update on a “compatibility hold”. Scroll to the bottom for more information. The article as published on May 28, 2020, is preserved below.
As per StatCounter, Windows commands a market share of 76.5%, meaning that every three out of four computers in the world run on Windows. While Windows did admittedly lose its dominant status as the OS across platforms to Android, it still presented itself as the go-to desktop option for many, many users. The latest version of Windows, Windows 10, is now receiving the May 2020 stable update, which brings several key features such as Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) 2, a revamped Cortana experience, Your Phone feature for Windows on ARM, and more.
Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) 2
Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 was first announced during Microsoft Build 2019, and is now being rolled out to all users under the stable Windows 10 branch. This update brings a full Linux kernel to the stable branch. As part of this update, WSL 2 is also now updateable through Windows Update, so users no longer need to rely on the command line only to update the kernel.
Microsoft did announce GPU acceleration and Linux GUI app support for WSL 2, at Microsoft Build 2020. But, these features are not yet available even for Windows Insiders, so there is bound to be further waiting for users on the stable branch.
Chat-based UI for Cortana
Another highlight of this Windows 10 version update is the new Cortana experience, which now takes the form of a chat with the digital assistant.
Users can now interact with Microsoft’s digital assistant in a chat-based user interface, via either text or by voice in natural language. You can resize, move, and dock the app window on your desktop to accommodate your preferred workflow. Cortana will be able to help you access information quicker, connect with people faster, and help you stay on track of your schedule. Specific tasks that Cortana can accomplish include calendar and schedule assistance, helping join meetings in Microsoft Teams, find out about people in the organization, make lists and set reminders, open apps and settings pages, get definitions and quick answers and get weather and news updates.
Your Phone on Windows 10 on ARM
The May 2020 update to Windows 10 brings the Your Phone app’s calling feature to ARM supported PCs. The Your Phone app lets you place, receive, or text reply to incoming phone calls from your PC. Previously, this feature only worked if you had a supported Android device and an x86/x86-64 Windows 10 PC. However, with the May 2020 update to Windows 10, Microsoft is now enabling this functionality in the desktop Your Phone app for Windows 10 on ARM devices, like the Microsoft Surface Pro X and Samsung Galaxy Book S.
Faster Bluetooth pairing – devices can now be paired straight from the quick settings in notifications rather than opening Settings.
More kaomoji available within the Windows emoji keyboard.
Virtual desktops can now be named.
The Xbox Game Bar now supports third-party widgets, letting you customize the overlay experience to fit with the way you game.
Memory improvements in Microsoft Edge by taking advantage of segment heap capabilities.
The Calculator app can now float on top of other windows.
The Notepad app is getting updated with wrap-around find/replace, quick text zooming, and the ability to show when the file has unsaved changes by displaying an asterisk in the title bar.
Windows 10 May 2020 update is rolling out to desktops, though Microsoft is initially limiting availability to those devices running versions 1903 and 1909 who seek the update via Windows Update. If you wish to install the update, navigate to the Windows Update settings pane (Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update), and select Check for updates. Once the update appears, you can choose to Download and Install. Note that the update may not be visible immediately as Microsoft will be ramping up roll out gradually.
Update: Windows 10 May 2020 update put on compatibility hold
Microsoft released the Windows 10 May 2020 update last week, and the initial rollout began as expected. However, several bugs and issues surfaced ever since the wider rollout. Several of these issues have resulted in a “compatibility hold”, which essentially prevents the Windows 10 May 2020 update from being installed via Windows Update. So if you have been checking for the update but not seeing anything, it is likely that your device is being blocked from updating right now. Microsoft has also added a warning to Windows Update for devices that aren’t ready to be updated.
Hopefully, once the bugs and issues are fixed, we can see a much wider rollout with the fixes included.
Update 2: Windows 10 version 2004 / May 2020 update re-rolling out
After the first initial rollout, the wider rollout was paused as some issues had surfaced. Microsoft has determined that the issues are experienced on the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 3, wherein users were reporting unexpected restarts. The company has determined the issue to be related to the Always On, Always Connected capable network adapters, and has resolved the issue with patch KB4557957.
Consequently, the wider update rollout for Windows 10 version 2004 has now been resumed for devices running Windows 10, versions 1903 and 1909. Users of Microsoft Surface Pro 7 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 will still have to wait for a bit, as Microsoft has put the devices on a safeguard hold for the update, and it will be removing the hold in the coming weeks.
Huawei has been blocked from using Google apps for a while now, but the company hasn’t slowed down its smartphone launches. The Huawei P40 series was announced earlier this year, but a few of the models were not available outside of China. The Huawei P40 Pro+ was one of those devices and now it’s available for pre-order in more markets.
The Huawei P40, P40 Pro, and P40 Pro+ were all announced in March, but we only saw the P40 and P40 Pro launch outside of China. The P40 Pro+ is the model with the powerhouse of cameras. The main lens is 50MP and it’s joined by a 40MP wide-angle camera, 8MP periscope lens, and 8MP telephoto.
Besides the cameras, the Huawei P40 Pro+ has all the high-end flagship specifications you’d expect. That includes the Kirin 990 5G SoC, a 4 layer SuperCool system, 3D graphene film, and a super-thin Vapor Chamber cooling system. It has a 6.5-inch 90Hz display, 8GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, a 4,200mAh battery, 40W fast charging, and Android 10. What it doesn’t have, however, is Google Play Services.
The Huawei P40 Pro+ is now available for pre-order in Europe for 1,399 Euro (~$1,588), and in the United Kingdom for 1,299 GBP (~$1,654). It will officially launch on June 25th from the Huawei Store and select retailers. Customers can get it in Black or White ceramic and it will come bundled with a Huawei Watch GT2 (46mm, Pebble Brown) and a Huawei SuperCharge Wireless Charger Stand (40W).
Specifications
Huawei P40
Huawei P40 Pro
Huawei P40 Pro+
Size & Weight
148.9 x 71.06 x 8.5mm
175g
158.2 x 72.6 x 8.95mm
203g
158.2 x 72.6 x 9.0mm
226g
Display
6.1 inches
OLED
2340 x 1080
6.58 inches
OLED
2640 x 1200
90 Hz
6.58 inches
OLED
2640 x 1200
90 Hz
CPU
Kirin 990 5G OctaCore CPU:
2x Cortex-A76 @ 2.86 GHz
2x Cortex-A76 @ 2.36 GHz
4x Cortex A55 @ 1.95 GHz
Kirin 990 5G OctaCore CPU:
2x Cortex-A76 @ 2.86 GHz
2x Cortex-A76 @ 2.36 GHz
4x Cortex A55 @ 1.95 GHz
Kirin 990 5G OctaCore CPU:
2x Cortex-A76 @ 2.86 GHz
2x Cortex-A76 @ 2.36 GHz
4x Cortex A55 @ 1.95 GHz
RAM
8GB
8GB
8GB
Storage
128GB, nano memory card expansion
256GB, nano memory card expansion
512GB, nano memory card expansion
Rear Cameras
50MP UltraVision with RYYB, 4-in-1 pixel binning, f/1.9
16MP ultra wide-angle camera, f/2.2
8 megapixel telephoto with OIS, f/2.4
50MP UltraVision with RYYB, 4-in-1 pixel binning, f/1.9, OIS
40MP video and ultra-wide-angle camera, f/1.8
12MP SuperSensing Telephoto, f/3.4
TOF sensor
50MP UltraVision with RYYB, 4-in-1 pixel binning, f/1.9, OIS
40MP video and ultra-wide-angle camera, f/1.8
8MP 10X optical super periscope telephoto
8MP 3X optical telephoto
TOF sensor
Front Cameras
32MP, f/2.2
32MP, f/2.2
IR depth sensor
32MP, f/2.2
IR depth sensor
OS
EMUI 10.1 based on Android 10 (no Google services)
EMUI 10.1 based on Android 10 (no Google services)
EMUI 10.1 based on Android 10 (no Google services)
Many of the best computers in the world right now are made by Microsoft. In particular, the Surface range is packed with remarkable specs at reasonable prices. If you are seeking an upgrade, take a look at these five deals on Surface devices — now with up to 27% off the MSRP via the XDA Developers Depot.
Offering up to 15 hours of battery life, theMicrosoft Surface Laptop 2was made for working on the move. Running Windows 10 on a crisp 13.5″ LED display, it offers excellent performance thanks to an Intel i5 chip and 8GB of RAM. PCMag called it a “sleek ultraportable with a top-notch build.” Originally priced at $1,299,it’s now only $979.99.
Microsoft Surface Pro 12.3″ Tablet 4GB RAM – Silver (Wi-Fi + 4G LTE)
Thislightweight deviceboasts 50% more power than most tablets and a stunning 2736 x 1824 touch display. Under the hood, a 7th Gen Intel Core i5 processor offers smooth multitasking. You get 13.5 hours of battery life, and the 128GB SSD offers plenty of room for media. Worth $1,299.99, this 4G-enabled model is now15% off at $1,099.99.
Microsoft Surface Pro 6 Tablet 1.9GHz Intel Core i7 with 512GB SSD
Theupdated Surface Prois “arguably the best-made Windows 10 tablet going” according to The Guardian. This version has a remarkable 16GB of RAM and a speedy i7 processor packaged inside a sleek frame. You also get plenty of solid-state storage, 13.5 hours of battery, and a 12.3-inch PixelSense display. It’s usually $1,499.99, but you canget yours now for $1,279.99.
Microsoft Surface Pro 6 256GB 12.3″ WiFi Intel Core i7
If you don’t need crazy specs,this version of the Surface Pro 6is a great option. You still get that i7 chip and crisp display bolted into a body that measures only 0.33 inches thick. This version also has 256GB of solid-state storage, great battery life, and Intel graphics. Worth $1,499.99, it’s nowdown to $1,089.99.
Microsoft Surface Pro 6 Tablet 1.9GHz Intel Core i7 with 1TB SSD
Need more storage space for photos, movies, and games?This Surface Pro 6has you covered, thanks to a huge 1TB SSD. It runs Windows 10 Pro on an i7 processor and 16GB of RAM — a combination that delivers “big performance gains” in the words of CNET. Originally $1,499.99, this lightweight monster isnow only $1,429.99.
The Samsung Galaxy Fold is arguably one of the most innovative phones in the past decade. It was the first publicly available mass-market foldable phone and was easily my favorite phone. In my review of the phone, I called it the future of smartphones. This future is fantastic and foldable, but this foldable future is still a while away from matching our current reality of glass slab smartphones. There’s plenty more that foldable can do to make them better smartphones for the mass-market, and one such feature would be the S Pen. The S Pen would be the perfect addition to this small tablet form factor, but unfortunately, the tech isn’t there yet despite previous rumors pointing towards its inclusion. According to a new report, there are some technical limitations that prevent Samsung from adding the S Pen to the Galaxy Fold 2.
A new report from The Elec out of South Korea, there will not be an S Pen on the Galaxy Fold 2. Since the last Galaxy Fold, there have long been rumors about the Galaxy Fold 2 picking up the S Pen. As much as it seemed like a bad idea because of the plastic screen, consumers wanted to see a convergence of the Note series and Fold series. Unfortunately, this year is not the year it happens. As Mr. Ross Young of DSCC hinted, Samsung had to make the decision between Ultra Thin Glass and no S Pen or a thicker plastic display with an S Pen. If this new report is right, Samsung has opted for the Ultra Thin Glass option.
Which would you prefer on the Galaxy Fold 2, ultra thin glass (UTG) with no S-Pen or plastic cover film with an S-Pen?
Another reason Samsung might have decided to skip the S Pen on the Galaxy Fold 2 is because of the hinge. According to a few internal sources, the hinge on the phone would have caused the digitizer layer for the S Pen on the display to die over time, creating a massive dead zone across the middle of the display. This, of course, would not be a product Samsung would want to release. There were also issues with the S Pen tip leaving dents on the plastic cover, and worse, the S Pen could have pierced the display when used with extreme force on the display panel.
While the S Pen on the Galaxy Fold 2 might have been the device of the future we are all hoping for, it’s good to see Samsung taking the time to perfect the technology instead of rushing it and having another breaking Galaxy Fold issue. The Galaxy Fold 2 is likely going to launch at the August 5th virtual Unpacked with an official release in early September. I know I’m very excited to see all that this device has to offer!
The Galaxy Wearable app allows users to connect Samsung wearable devices to their smartphones. One can also manage the Galaxy Buds family of wireless earbuds through the same app after installing appropriateplugins. For PC and Mac users, Samsung provides a similar companion application named Galaxy Buds Manager in order to check for software updates and install the new firmware on the Galaxy Buds/Buds+. Samsung utilizes a proprietary communication protocol between the buds and the companion app, but a developer has now managed to reverse-engineer it. The person, Tim Schneeberger, has also released an unofficial open-source Galaxy Buds client, which is far more versatile than the official app.
The initial version of the unofficial client, which is also named as Galaxy Buds Manager, is released as a Windows-only app. You need .NET Framework 4.7.2 or higher to run it, which means porting the app to Linux and macOS using Mono may be possible in the near future.
The client offers the following features:
Display detailed sensor statistics on the dashboard, this includes:
Voltage and Current of the in-built ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter) of both Earbuds
Temperature of both Earbuds
More precise battery percentage (instead of steps of 5)
Perform a self-test with all onboard components
Display various (debug) information, including:
Hardware Revision
(Touch) Firmware Version
Bluetooth Addresses of both Earbuds
Serial Numbers of both Earbuds
Firmware Build Info (Compile Date, Developer Name)
Battery Type
Other sensor data
Equalizer: unlock ‘Optimize for Dolby’ feature
Touchpad: Combine Volume Up/Down with other options
The initial version of this unofficial companion app is designed for the original Galaxy Buds. 2020’s Galaxy Buds+, however, are not supported by the client at this moment, since Tim doesn’t own a pair, and we confirmed that they are not compatible. We hope the Galaxy Buds community will help the developer by providing required logs and message dumps to expand the device compatibility list.
The developer has also shared the structure of the custom RFComm Serial protocol used by the Buds to receive and send binary data, which should be beneficial for other tinkerers.
Oppo is updating the Oppo F9 and F9 Pro to ColorOS 7, the latest version of Oppo’s custom skin. The Chinese OEM last month rolled out stable ColorOS 7 updates to a wide range of phones, including Find X, Reno 10X, Reno, Reno 2, and more. At the time, the company promised that the Oppo F9 and F9 Pro would be next to receive the update with the official rollout starting June 10th. And that’s exactly what they’re doing today.
Oppo says the update will be rolling out in batches — a small part of the user base will receive the OTA initially, with the rollout gradually expanding to more users. ColorOS 7 is a significant departure from the previous iterations of ColorOS, offering a cleaner and clutter-free UI with a bunch of new features. After updating the F9 and F9 Pro, users can look forward to things like system-wide dark mode, new navigation gestures, new Digital Wellbeing tools with Focus mode, revamped Camera UI, updated system apps, and a whole lot more.
You can check for the update by visiting Settings > Software Updates and clicking on Trial Version from the gear menu. Other Oppo phones which are also scheduled to receive the ColorOS 7 based Android 10 update this month include the Oppo A5 (2020), A9 (2020), and F7. Meanwhile, the F15 and R15 Pro will get their updates in July.
Here’s the full changelog of ColorOS 7 update for the F9 and F9 Pro:
Visuals:
Brand new borderless design makes visuals more attractive and operation more efficient.
Added OPPO Sans as the default font. The new font delivers a refreshing feel and fits well with OPPO’s pursuit of blending beauty and technology.
SmartSidebar:
Optimised user interfaces and improved one-handed operation.
Drag an app out of Smart Sidebar to open it in Split-screen mode.
Added two settings: Assistive Ball Opacity and Hide Assistive Ball on Fullscreen App.
Optimised the Floating Window feature for more apps.
Added a bubble: A bubble is displayed when you open an app in a floating window from the Smart Sidebar. Tap the bubble to collapse and open the app.
Screenshot:
Optimised 3-Finger Screenshot: Use 3 fingers to touch and hold the screen and swipe your fingers to adjust the screenshot size. Use 3 fingers to touch and hold the screen and swipe your fingers outwards to capture a long screenshot.
Added screenshot settings: You can adjust the position of the screenshot preview floating window and set the screenshot sound.
Optimised screenshot preview floating window: After taking a screenshot, drag it up and release to share it, or drag it down and release to take a long screenshot.
Navigation Gestures 3.0:
New gesture: Swipe inward from both sides of the screen and then hold to switch to the previous app.
Optimised gestures: All gestures are supported in landscape mode.
System:
Added Dark Mode: Protects your eyes while reducing power consumption.
Added Focus Mode: Shields you from outside distractions when you are learning or working.
Added all new charging animation.
Optimised the Quick Settings user interface for easier one-handed operation.
Swipe left or right to ignore banner notifications.
Added a pause function for screen recording.
Added a floating window and settings for screen recording.
New sounds added for file deletion, calculator key touches, and compass pointer.
Optimised system pre-loaded ringtones.
Added TalkBack floating prompts for Accessibility.
Colour Accessibility Mode added to improve the user experience for visually impaired users.
New management function for recent tasks: You can view memory information about recent tasks and lock apps.
Games:
Optimised visual interaction for Game Space.
Optimised the startup animation for Game Space.
HomeScreen:
More live wallpapers.
Added Art+ static wallpapers.
Customise whether to open Global Search or the notification drawer when swiping down on the Home screen.
Customise the size, shape, and style of app icons on the Home screen.
Swipe up on the Lock screen to switch unlock methods.
Optimised the graphic design of password unlocks to facilitate one-handed operations.
Supported live wallpapers on the Lock screen.
More screen-off clock styles.
Added a simple Home screen mode, featuring larger fonts and icons and a clearer layout.
Security:
Connect your phone to Wi-Fi networks using a random MAC address to avoid targeted ads and protect your privacy.
Tools:
In Quick Settings or Smart Sidebar, you can open Calculator in a floating
Added the trim feature in Recordings.
Added the Weather (dynamic) ringtone, which automatically adapts to the current weather.
Added weather-adaptive animations in Weather.
Camera:
Optimised the Camera UI for better user experience.
Optimised the Timer UI and sound.
Photos:
Optimised the Album UI for a clear hierarchy and quick lookup of photos.
Added Album Recommendations that recognises more than 80 different scenes.
Communications:
OPPO Share now supports sharing files with vivo and Xiaomi devices.
Optimised the Contacts UI for a more efficient experience.
Settings:
Search Settings now supports fuzzy match and contains a search history.
Applications:
Soloop Video Editor: Create your video with one tap.
Added DocVault, an app for easy management and use of your digital ID cards (available only on phones sold in India).
