New OnePlus Watch update adds Spotify music mode, new watch faces and more

OnePlus’s first attempt at a smartwatch didn’t meet with the same level of enthusiasm the company had hoped for. While the OnePlus Watch was praised for its premium design and long-lasting battery, it received a lot of criticism for its unpolished software experience, limited third-party apps support, and inaccurate fitness tracking features. OnePlus has rolled out several software updates to address some of these issues. The last major update for the OnePlus Watch came in July, which improved the speed and accuracy of GPS and optimized some UI elements. Now OnePlus has just released a new software update for the OnePlus Watch, which further refines the software experience and adds new features to the smartwatch.

The B.65 update, firmware version W301GB_B_65_0654, brings along a host of improvements and features, including Spotify music mode, new watch faces, optimized sleep tracking, and more.

OnePlus Watch Review: A Promising First Attempt at a Smartwatch

Apart from the above improvements, the update also adds support for displaying real-time navigation on the watch and the ability to adjust vibration intensity from the watch settings.

Screenshot credit: OnePlus forum user danishhazari

The B.65 update weighs 50MP in size and includes the following changes:

• Add
  • Spotify music mode, sync your Spotify playlist.
  • Support real-time display of some navigation, easy to watch the navigation by raising your hand.
  • Add 4 new watch faces, enjoy your new style!
  • Support mobile phone alarm reminder linkage.
• Optimization
  • Optimize the sleep algorithm and make sleep detection smarter.
  • The vibration intensity can be adjusted in the watch setting to experience stronger vibration reminders.

OnePlus Watch XDA Forums

The B.65 update has started rolling out, and OnePlus Watch owners can look forward to receiving the OTA in the coming days. To check for the update, open the OnePlus Health app on your smartphone and head to Manage > Device settings > Device update.

OnePlus Health (Free, Google Play) →

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Thanks to XDA Senior Member Some_Random_Username for the tip!

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Samsung Internet 16 enhances search results, adds page zoom, and more

Samsung Internet is one of the best Chromium-based Android browsers out there. In some ways, it’s even better than Google Chrome, offering features like a built-in ad blocker, customizable interface, and enhanced privacy and security controls. Samsung has just released a new beta release for the browser, which further improves the browsing experience.

Samsung Internet 16.0 beta based on Chromium 92 is here, and it includes improvements to search experience, protection against transparent pixels, and page zoom support on phones and tablets.

The latest version offers an enhanced search experience. When you enter a search term in the address bar, you’ll see a list of relevant results that includes potential answers, search suggestion chips, and bookmarks and history suggestions. For example, if you type “weather,” the current weather for your location will be shown right below the address bar without having to load the search results. Note that this isn’t exclusive to Samsung Internet — Google Chrome has had this ability for a long while. Furthermore, as you type your search term in the address bar, search suggestions now appear as small chips instead of a drop-down list, allowing more results to be displayed on the screen.

Samsung Internet 16.0 beta is now also able to identify and block a type of malicious tracker which uses a tiny, almost invisible image to track which websites you visit across domains. The new Smart Protect feature in Samsung Internet will find these images and render them useless.

Finally, Samsung Internet 16.0 beta is adding a new accessibility feature that allows users to zoom into any web page on smartphones and tablets.

You can try out all these improvements in the latest beta of Samsung Internet that’s currently rolling out on the Google Play Store and Galaxy Store. As always, the stable release will follow in the coming weeks.

Samsung Internet Browser Beta (Free, Google Play) →

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Samsung unveils the first 200MP camera sensor for smartphones

After launching the industry’s first 0.64μm mobile image sensor, the ISOCELL JN1, in June, Samsung has now unveiled the first 200MP camera sensor for smartphones. The new Samsung ISOCELL HP1 is also based on Samsung’s 0.64μm-sized pixels, and it offers ultra-high resolution in a small package.

The Samsung ISOCELL HP1 promises ultimate low-light performance, thanks to the all-new ChameleonCell pixel-binning technology. This allows the sensor to use a two-by-two, four-by-four, or full pixel layout depending on the environment. In low-lighting conditions, the ISOCELL HP1 can merge 16 neighboring pixels into one large 2.56μm pixel, offering an effective resolution of 12.5MP. The larger pixels help the sensor capture more light and produce brighter photos.

Samsung ISOCELL HP1 pixel layout

As far as video capabilities are concerned, the ISOCELL HP1 can capture 8K video at 30fps with minimum loss in the field of view. The sensor merges four neighboring pixels to bring down the effective resolution to 50MP, allowing for 8K video capture without any need to crop or scale down the full image resolution.

Along with the ISOCELL HP1, Samsung has also announced the ISOCELL GN5. It’s the industry’s first 1.0μm sensor to integrate Dual Pixel Pro — an all-directional autofocusing technology. According to Samsung, this technology “places two photodiodes, the smallest in the industry, within each 1.0μm pixel of the sensor either horizontally or vertically to recognize pattern changes in all directions. With one million phase-detecting multi-directional photodiodes covering all areas of the sensor, the ISOCELL GN5’s autofocusing becomes instantaneous, enabling sharper images in either bright or low-lit environments.”

Samsung ISOCELL GN5 Dual Pixel FDTI

The ISOCELL GN5 also uses Samsung’s proprietary pixel technology that applies Front Deep Trench Isolation (FDTI) on a Dual Pixel product for the first time in the industry. This technology allows each photodiode to absorb and hold more light information, improving its full-well capacity (FWC) and decreasing crosstalk within the pixel.

Currently, Samsung hasn’t shared any information on when we can expect to see these new sensors on smartphones. The company may offer the ISOCELL HP1 on its upcoming flagship Galaxy S22 lineup, but we don’t have any concrete evidence pointing towards that right now. We’ll make sure to let you know as soon as we learn more.

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Google Assistant’s quick phrases will let you ditch the “Hey Google” hotword

Back in April, a mysterious “voice shortcuts” page popped up for some users in Google Assistant’s settings page. The page directed users to internal Google documentation for a feature code-named guacamole. A few months later in June, we learned that that the feature would be called “quick phrases” and allow users to ditch the “Hey Google” hotword for common voice interactions. Now, more details have emerged about how this upcoming feature will work.

According to 9to5Google, Quick phrases will let you perform a wide range of tasks without having to say the “Hey Google” hotword. For example, if you want to ask the Assistant about the weather, you won’t have to say the customary “Hey Google” first. Instead, you can just say “What’s the weather?” and the Assistant will be able to pick it up and respond.

Screenshots shared by 9to5Google shows Quick phrases will be divided across various categories such as Recommended, Alarms, Connect, General info, Lights, Media Controls, Timers, and To-Dos.

Google currently plans to add the following Quick phrases:

• Set alarms: “Set an alarm for 7 a.m.”
• Cancel alarms: “Cancel the alarm”
• Show alarms: “What time is my alarm set for?”
• Send broadcasts: “Send a broadcast”
• Respond to calls: “Answer” & “Decline”
• Ask about time: “What time is it?”
• Ask about weather: “What’s the weather?”
• Turn lights on & off: “Turn the lights on”
• Turn lights up & down: “Increase the brightness”
• Control volume: “Turn up the volume”
• Pause & resume music: “Pause the music”
• Skip tracks: “Skip this song”
• Set timers: “Set a timer for 2 minutes”
• Cancel timers: “Cancel the timer”
• Pause & resume timers: “Pause the timer”
• Reset timers: “Reset the timer”
• Show timers: “How much time is left?”
• Reminders: “Create a reminder”
• Family notes: “Create a family note”

The Quick phrases feature is still under development and hasn’t been rolled out to users yet. It’s unclear whether the feature will be limited to newer Nest speakers and smart displays or if it will be available on older Google Home speakers as well.

Google Assistant (Free, Google Play) →

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Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Buds+: Which TWS earbuds should you buy?

The Samsung Galaxy Buds+ has been our go-to recommendation for a lot of people looking for a pair of TWS on a budget. We’ve even featured it in our best TWS earbuds compilation, which speaks volumes about how good the product was especially for its asking price. Now Samsung has discontinued selling the Galaxy Buds+ to promote the newly launched Galaxy Buds 2 as the earbuds for the masses.

You can however still pick up a pair of Galaxy Buds+ from some retailers for a cheaper price which brings up the question — which pair of earphones should you buy? Here’s the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 vs Galaxy Buds+ comparison to help you decide!

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Buds+ Specs

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus: Specifications

Specification	Samsung Galaxy Buds 2	Samsung Galaxy Buds+
Dimensions & Weight	Earbuds: 17×20.9×21.1mm Case: 50×50.2×27.8mm Weight: 5g Earbuds, 41.2g Case	Earbuds: 17.5×22.5×19.2mm Case: 38.8x70x26.5mm Weight: 6.3g Earbuds, 39.6g Case
ANC	3 levels of ambient sound control Transparent mode Machine Learning solutions to cut-off sound	Not present
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.2	Bluetooth 5.0
Battery & Charging	Buds – 61mAh Case – 472mAh 20 hours playback time with case USB-C Port Qi Wireless charging	Buds – 85mAh Case – 270mAh USB-C Port Qi Wireless charging
IP Rating	IPX2	IPX2
Colors	White, Olive, Graphite, Lavender	White, Blue, Black, Red, Pink, Special BTS Edition Purple
Price	$149	$99

Build and Design

Let’s first talk about the cases of both earbuds. The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 have a rectangular case, and the Galaxy Buds+ have an oval-like elliptical case with a lid that’s easier to open with one hand. Both cases are made of plastic and the Buds 2 have a white exterior with the internal compartment inside the case based on the color you pick.

The Galaxy Buds+ is slightly more pocketable due to the sleek design but neither of the two earbuds are bulky and can easily be carried around in your pocket.

Moving to the earbuds themselves, the shape remains the same across both earbuds but there is one minute change that a lot of people may find important.

The Galaxy Buds+ had winged ear tips that stay put inside the ears even during rigorous workouts. While the Galaxy Buds 2 also fit very well, the extra bit of assurance that was there with the Galaxy Buds+ isn’t there on the Buds 2. Both earphones are IPX2 rated and are good for workouts.

Sound Quality and ANC

The Galaxy Buds 2 are extremely similar to the more premium Galaxy Buds Pro in terms of sound quality, and the Galaxy Buds Pro is one of our top recommendations for a pair of TWS earbuds. The sound signature leans slightly towards the bass-heavy side but it’s something most people will like. The Galaxy Buds+ also has a similar sound signature. Most people using either of the two earphones will find the sound output to be pleasing and quite enjoyable.

The Galaxy Buds 2 has one big advantage in this department though, and that’s ANC or Active Noise Cancellation. ANC helps cancel out background noise to improve your listening experience and it works quite well on the Galaxy Buds 2. If you’re traveling in a plane or a bus, ANC can help improve your listening experience by a considerable margin and is surely a good feature to have. The Galaxy Buds+ miss out on ANC so while the listening isn’t as immersive, the silicone ear tips provide a good seal with passive isolation. If ANC isn’t a big deal for you, the sound quality on the Galaxy Buds+ is good enough for most people.

Additional Features and Battery Life

You get custom gestures on both earbuds that can be configured via the Galaxy Wearable app. You can set touch controls for play/pause, next/previous track, and even to toggle ANC on/off on the Galaxy Buds 2. Both earbuds don’t have in-ear detection so if you’re going to remove an earbud while music is playing, neither of them will pause your music automatically. You also get multi-device support with both earbuds and quick-pair when used with a Samsung device.

In terms of battery life, the Galaxy Buds+ surprisingly fare better than the Galaxy Buds 2. You can get up to a whopping 11 hours on a single charge with the Galaxy Buds+, a number that’s rare in the TWS space. On the Galaxy Buds 2, you can get up to five hours of listening time on a single charge with the case being able to charge the earbuds up to five times. When you factor in the case as well, the Galaxy Buds 2 offer better battery life, However, you will be able to use the Galaxy Buds+ for a longer duration at a stretch. Both cases charge via USB-C port and also support Qi Wireless Charging.

Which one should you buy?

The Galaxy Buds 2 are available for $149.99 and if you’ve bought a Galaxy Z Fold 3 or Galaxy Z Flip 3, you can effectively get them for free with Samsung store credit. The Galaxy Buds+ have officially been discontinued but are available to buy through various channels like Amazon quite cheaply, ideally under the $100 mark. For that price, they’re still a worthy purchase in 2021, although the lack of ANC might put some people off. If you can spend the extra, the Galaxy Buds 2 is obviously the better pick with more extra features and ANC. Unless continuous battery life for over 10 hours is must-have for you, the Galaxy Buds 2 is the more sensible option.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2

The Galaxy Buds 2 is Samsung's latest pair of TWS earphones with ANC.

View at Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Buds+

The Galaxy Buds+, despite being old, are still a good option in 2021 if you manage to get them at a good price.

View at Amazon

We even compared the Galaxy Buds 2 to the AirPods Pro, so if you’re confused between those two devices, you can have a look at the comparison. If you’ve bought the Galaxy Buds 2 already or have decided to go for it, check out the best cases for the Galaxy Buds 2 to protect them.

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Windows Server 2022 is now available with new security features

Today, Microsoft is releasing Windows Server 2022, making it generally available to customers around the world. Typically, Windows Server releases are somewhat aligned with consumer versions of Windows, but Windows Server 2022 is still more like Windows 10 than Windows 11. That’s probably because the use cases for Windows Server don’t really require the kind of UI refresh that Windows 11 is.

Instead, this release focuses on enhancing core features that are more important for servers. First, there are security improvements with what Microsoft calls “advanced multi-layered security”. There are two parts to this; first, there’s Secured-core Server, a type of device where Microsoft works with hardware partners to enable new hardware, firmware, and driver features to provide enhanced security.  Microsoft did something similar for business PCs, which it called Secured-core PCs, and this is taking that to servers.

Additionally, Windows Server 2022 improves the speed and security of network connections with HTTPS and TLS 1.3 enabled by default, and support for DNS-over-HTTPS is also available now. AES-256 encryption support is now available for the SMB protocol, too.

Windows Server 2022 also comes with some new Azure features, like Azure Arc, which enables cloud services for on-premises configurations. Plus, there’s support for SMB Compression and an updated Windows Admin Center with an improved server management experience. Microsoft also highlighted some Azure features released over the past year, such as Azure Automanage to automate best practices for the cloud, Azure Kubernetes Service with .NET support, and more.

This release of Windows Server adds support for 48TB of RAM as well as 2,048 logical cores across 64 CPU sockets, which should enable support for even more applications. Additionally, it includes improved application support for Windows containers, adds support for IPv6 and dual-stack networking, and more.

If you’re interested in Windows Server 2022, you can head here to try it out, and find the full list of new features here. To buy it, there are three pricing options available; Essentials is designed for specialty servers and is licensed per server, while Standard and Datacenter are licensed per core and meant for large-scale applications.

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Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 3: Which smartwatch should you buy?

Samsung has launched its latest wearables as part of the Galaxy Watch 4 series and these include the Galaxy Watch 4 and the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. These are the first two smartwatches that come with the latest version of WearOS, albeit with a custom UI on top called OneUI Watch. It’s not just about the software though. The Galaxy Watch 4 brings a host of improvements compared to the previous generation of the Galaxy Watch even in terms of hardware.

While the standard Galaxy Watch replaces the Galaxy Watch Active 2, the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is a successor to the Galaxy Watch 3 from last year. If you’re wondering whether you should upgrade to the new smartwatch from Samsung or if you’re planning to get a new one and wondering to get the latest watch or to get the older one on a sweet discount, we’re here to help you out with that decision.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 Specs

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 3: Specifications

Specification	Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic	Samsung Galaxy Watch 3
Size(s)	42mm 46mm	41mm 45mm
Dimensions and Weight	42mm: 41.5×41.5×11.2mm, 46.5g 46mm: 45.5×45.5×11.0mm, 52g Stainless steel case	41mm: 41.0×42.5×11.3mm, 48g 45mm: 45.0×46.2×11.1mm, 53g
Display	42mm: 1.19-inch (330PPI) 46mm: 1.36-inch (330PPI)	41mm: 1.2-inch 45mm: 1.4-inch
Processor	Exynos W920 (5nm)	Exynos 9110 (10nm)
Memory	1.5GB RAM 16GB Internal Storage	1GB RAM 8GB Internal Storage
Battery	42mm: 247mAh 46mm: 361mAh	41mm: 247mAh 45mm: 340mAh
Sensors	Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro, Geomagnetic, Light, Samsung BioActive Sensor	Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro, ECG, Light, PPG
Connectivity	LTE, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n 2.4+5GHz, NFC, GPS/Glonass/Beidou/Gallileo	LTE, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n 2.4+5GHz, NFC, GPS/Glonass/Beidou/Gallileo
Durability	5ATM water-resistant IP68 MIL-STD-810G	5ATM water-resistant IP68 MIL-STD-810G
OS	OneUI Watch	Tizen OS

Hardware: Improvements all over

The new Galaxy Watch 4 Classic gets newer and better hardware both on the inside and the outside compared to the Galaxy Watch 3 from last year. The design is slightly updated and looks more formal and classy on the Watch 4 Classic. On the inside, the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is powered by the latest Exynos W920 chipset which is based on a 5nm manufacturing process. This chip is much faster and more power-efficient compared to the Exynos 9110 on the Galaxy Watch 3.

The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic also gets more RAM and storage, 1.5GB and 16GB instead of 1GB and 8GB on the Galaxy Watch 3. More RAM helps with smoother performance and more storage means you can now install more apps and store more songs and podcasts offline on your watch. The power-efficient chip means that with almost the same capacity battery on both watches, the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic will give you better battery life.

The overall size of the dial is slightly larger on the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic but the chassis is thinner compared to the Galaxy Watch 3. This is mainly because Samsung’s new BioActive Sensor combines all vital sensors required for health tracking into one unit instead of having multiple different sensors contributing to the thickness of the watch.

Health Features

Thanks to the new BioActive Sensor we just talked about, the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic brings new health features to the table. While the Galaxy Watch 3 could measure heart rate, SpO2, and even ECG, the new Galaxy Watch 4 Classic takes it up a notch and has the ability to perform a Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis or BIA. This is used to measure body composition or in simple terms, track your BMI, muscle fat, water content, visceral fat, etc. The Galaxy Watch 4 is one of the first smartwatches to do so and is definitely a bonus for anyone who is serious about their health tracking.

Software: The latest version of Wear OS is finally here, kind of

When Google announced it was partnering with Samsung to give Wear OS a much-needed overhaul, all of us were excited to see what was coming. The Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic are the first smartwatches to come with the latest version of Wear OS, but with a host of add-ons from Samsung. Samsung has been using Tizen on their smartwatches and while it helped with a smoother UI and better battery performance when compared to earlier versions of Wear OS, it was lacking in the features department.

You could only use Samsung’s apps and a few third-party apps on Tizen whereas you can now download countless apps from the Google Play Store, thanks to the integration with Wear OS. Samsung, however, has heavily modified the UI and is calling it OneUI Watch. Of course, you can use the Galaxy Watch 4 with any Android device that comes with GMS core (sorry, Huawei users) but it works best with Samsung’s phones since a lot of the stock apps are Samsung’s own apps instead of Google’s and some functions are also exclusive to Samsung Galaxy smartphones. Oh, and the new Galaxy Watch 4 Classic also doesn’t work with iOS devices.

Verdict: Which one should you buy?

The answer is pretty obvious at this point. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is overall a better smartwatch in probably every single aspect. The Galaxy Watch 3 is also a good smartwatch, but the older CPU and limitations of Tizen OS are where it loses out in comparison to the new Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. If you’re on a strict budget though, you can still get a Galaxy Watch 3 if you don’t really use a lot of third-party apps on your watch and you mainly want a wearable for fitness tracking. Prior to the Watch 4 coming out, the Galaxy Watch 3 was widely regarded as one of the better smartwatch options around for Android users.

As of writing, both the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic and the Galaxy Watch 3 are retailing for the same price of $349 on Samsung’s website which seems weird and in such a scenario, there’s no doubt you should pick up the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. If you can find a good deal on the Galaxy Watch 3 a few months down the line, you can still consider getting one with a sweet discount.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 has a new BioActive sensor, and a new unified software platform called One UI Watch.

View at Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3

The Galaxy Watch 3 runs on Tizen OS and an older chip but if you find a good deal, it can still be a decent option.

View at Samsung

If you’re an Android user, you’ve surely been longing for a good smartwatch that can compete against the Apple Watch, and looks like Samsung finally has a winner. If you want to know how the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic compares to the Apple Watch Series 6, we have a dedicated comparison highlighting the differences between both watches. In case you decide to pick up the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, we also have a list of the best bands for the Galaxy Watch 4, so you can choose something that better matches your style.

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