First 10 things to do with a new Apple Watch

The Apple Watch is one of the company’s greatest products and a device that dominates the wearables domain. Whether you’re looking for a fitness companion or more than just that, there’s an Apple Watch for you. This smartwatch is packed with features and sensors, and plenty of people aren’t sure where to start or how to make the most out of it. Whether you’ve bought or received one as a gift, our aim is to help you get started. Here are the first 10 things to do with a new Apple Watch.

Navigate this article:

1. Learn how to control it
2. Choose a watch face
3. Select the complications that matter to you
4. Change the app layout
5. Add your vaccination certificate to it
6. Silence its audible alerts
7. Set your activity goals
8. Learn how to shower or swim with it
9. Add your friends to the Fitness app to compete
10. Change the default band and protect it with a case

Apple Watch Series 7 (GPS)

This is the GPS variant of the Apple Watch Series 7, the company's latest WiFi-only smartwatch.

View at Amazon

View at Adorama

Apple Watch Series 7 (GPS + Cellular)

This is the GPS + Cellular variant of the Apple Watch Series 7, the company's latest 4G-enabled smartwatch.

View on Amazon

View at Adorama

1. Learn how to control it

When you first pair an Apple Watch with an iPhone, you must learn how to navigate around watchOS. Just like on iOS, a swipe down from the top of the screen will show the notifications. Swiping up from the bottom of the screen will show the Control Center. There you will be able to add, remove, and reorder the toggles based on your preferences. A swipe to the right or left on the main screen will switch between the added watch faces.

When it comes to hardware, the Apple Watch has a side button and a digital crown. A single click on the side button will show the recent or favorite app — depending on your settings. A double click will reveal the cards saved in Apple Wallet. Holding the side button will bring up a menu that includes the power button, Medical ID, and Emergency SOS.

The digital crown is used to scroll through lists and zoom in/out on certain elements. If you click it, though, It will show you the installed apps if you’re on the main screen. If you’re inside an app, it’ll take you to the main screen instead. Finally, double-clicking it will take you to the most recently used app. It might sound like a complicated mechanism, but your muscle memory will adapt faster than you’d expect.

2. Choose a watch face

Apple Watch watch faces

Choosing a watch face that matches your taste and style is one of the first things you should do after getting an Apple Watch. The company provides you with diverse options to choose from. However, it still doesn’t support custom watch faces. So you’re limited to the ones available on watchOS by default. To change it, just go to the Watch app on your iPhone, click on the Face Gallery tab in the middle of the bottom navigation bar, and click on the face you like. Once you’re in a face, you’ll get to customize some aspects about it, such as the colors and complications. When you’re done with that, tap on the Add button, and it’ll instantly change on your watch. You can have as many watch faces as you want, and you can easily swipe between them (horizontally) on your watch’s main screen.

3. Select the complications that matter to you

Apple and third-party developers offer plenty of complications to take advantage of. What are complications? See them as watch face accessories that provide timely information or shortcuts to certain apps. Care about the weather? There’s a complication for that. Interested in certain stocks? There’s also one for that. Curious about the sunrise/sunset times? You’ve got it!

The number of complications you can add depends on the watch face you’re using. Some support up to nine at the same. time, while other ones aren’t as generous. To choose yours, just click on an existent watch face you’re using in the Watch app on your iPhone. If you’re adding a new face, you can select the complications you want before clicking the Add button.

4. Change the app layout

Just like on iOS, you can change the app layout on watchOS through Jiggle Mode. Just click and hold on the apps screen, then select Edit Apps. You will then be able to drag them around to reorder them and even delete some of them. Alternatively, you can use the Watch app on your iPhone to take advantage of the bigger screen. Apple Watches support both Grid and List Views — the latter is strictly alphabetical, though.

5. Add your vaccination certificate to it

We’ve reached a point where plenty of entertainment venues and airports ask for COVID vaccination proof. Digging through your files or photos to find the QR code of the certificate can be an annoyance, especially when your hands are full. That’s why we’ve prepared a guide for you on how to manually add your vaccination certificate to your Apple Wallet. This allows you to easily access it with a double click on the side button of your watch.

6. Silence its audible alerts

Apple Watches have speakers, but plenty of us find that somewhat useless. The watch includes a Taptic Engine that provides a good level of haptic feedback when you receive a notification. So assuming you’re wearing it, you will most likely feel that. If you’re not wearing it, you can just unmute your iPhone to hear the notification alerts as they come in. The point is — the notification sounds on the Apple Watch are redundant to many of us. To silence audible alerts, just swipe up to open the Control Center and hit on the bell icon. You can also set a silent but vibrating alarm on your Apple Watch to avoid waking up startled.

7. Set your activity goals

Many of us buy this watch for its health and fitness tracking features. To set or change your activity goals, head to the Activity app on your watch, scroll to the bottom, and click Change Goals. This will allow you to change how much it takes to close the Move, Exercise, and Stand rings. As a piece of advice — set realistic goals that are achievable but also slightly push you to do more. This way you will likely remain motivated to close them. As a result, you will slowly advance as you set higher goals every few weeks or months.

8. Learn how to shower or swim with it

The Apple Watch is water-resistant. This means you get to shower or swim while wearing it. Before you hop into the shower, pool, or ocean, swipe up to reveal the Control Center, and click on the water drop button. This will kill the touch display so the watch doesn’t register the water drops as random clicks. This way you won’t end up accidentally iMessaging your live heartbeat to that ex you’ve forgotten to delete the number of.

Once you’re done with the shower or swim, rinse the watch with clean, non-salty water. Make sure the water enters its speaker and microphone holes. This will clear out any soap or salt stuck inside. After you’re done with rinsing it, rotate the Digital Crown until it starts beeping and ejecting the water through its speaker holes. This will unlock the touch controls again, and you will be able to use your watch normally afterward.

9. Add your friends to the Fitness app to compete

Competing with or comparing our progress to others can be very motivational. Apple allows its watch users to share their activities with their friends and family members. To do this, launch the Fitness app on your iPhone and head to the Sharing tab in the bottom right corner. Click on the icon in the top right corner and search for the contact you want to add. Click their name and send them an invitation.

Once they accept it, you will be able to view their three activity rings and the workouts they’ve done for the day. You can also challenge them by hitting the compete button inside their profiles. Competitions last for a week and are based on a points system. The person who earns more points will earn an award by the end of the 7 days.

10. Change the default band and protect it with a case

Sometimes default watch bands can get boring. Fortunately, Apple and third-parties sell alternative ones. You can change the bands by taking the watch off, and sliding the bands out as you click and hold on to the tiny buttons on the back that secure them in. Afterward, slide the new bands in and you’re good to go!

A case can make an Apple Watch look hefty, but it’s worth it if you tend to bump your wrist into hard objections. Cracking the screen will take away its premium look, and you wouldn’t wanna do that to your brand new watch. To spare you the endless dilemmas of having to choose the color, style, and material, we have compiled for you a list that narrows you down to the best watch bands and cases available out there.

---

The Apple Watch is a feature-rich device that will slowly turn into a companion you can’t leave behind. It provides accurate health and fitness-related measurements and pushes you to do more. Not only that, but it also tightly integrates into Apple’s ecosystem, allowing you to do things like unlocking your Face ID iPhone when masked and your Mac. It truly is a small but handy bundle of might.

What is your favorite Apple Watch feature? Let us know in the comments section below.

The post First 10 things to do with a new Apple Watch appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/3Hbb3PN
via IFTTT

This app lets you take back control over how Android 12 opens links

Among all the fantastic features and changes that Android 12 brings along, it also introduces some rather controversial changes. We have already talked about how Android 12’s new background app limitations can run havoc on apps like Termux. Another annoying change in Android 12 is the way it handles external links. If you’ve recently upgraded to Android 12, you probably would have noticed that when opening links, you no longer get that familiar “Open with” dialogue. Links will either automatically open in their corresponding apps or take you straight to Google Chrome or your default browser. If you’re not a fan of this change and want to restore the way things were in older Android versions, read on.

Starting with Android 12, Google now only allows “verified links” to be opened in external apps. Verified links allow app developers to ensure that only their app can handle links from their domain. If a link is non-verified, Android 12 will open it in the default browser, instead of showing you the app selection dialogue. But thankfully there’s an app called Better Open With that lets you get around Android 12’s new link handling behavior.

How to fix the handling of links on Android 12 with “Better Open With”

• Download the “Beter Open With” app from the Play Store.
• Now on your Android 12 phone navigate to Settings > Default apps > Browser app.

• Set Better Open With as your default browser.
• Now go to Settings > Default apps > Opening links and turn off the “Open supported link” toggle for every app that supports verified links.

• That’s it. Now whenever you open a link, you’ll see the familiar Complete Action With dialogue listing out all the apps that can handle that link — just like in previous Android versions.

Even if you’re not running Android 12, “Better Open With” is still a great replacement for the system app chooser as it gives you more customizations and control.

Better Open With (Free, Google Play) →

The post This app lets you take back control over how Android 12 opens links appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/32qnBnF
via IFTTT

How to effortlessly take long exposure photos on your iPhone

iPhones — particularly newer models — are known for their powerful cameras. The resulting images are sharp, vivid, and can often be mistaken for DSLR shots in some cases. However, there are plenty of options, modes, and tricks that not all iOS users are aware of. Without installing any third-party editing or photography apps, you can take advantage of advanced features built into the stock camera. One of my favorite iPhone camera features is long exposure. A significant portion of people aren’t aware of it, considering it’s not an obvious shooting mode in the stock iPhone Camera app. Here’s how to effortlessly take long exposure photos on your iPhone.

How to effortlessly take long exposure photos on your iPhone

• Launch the Camera app on your iPhone.

• Make sure Live Photo is on in the top right corner.
• Keep your phone still for a few seconds while aiming at the scenery you want to shoot.
• Click the shutter button as you would usually do to take a photo.
• Hold still for a few seconds after taking the photo.
• This will generate a Live Photo — which is a very short video revolving around the photo you’ve taken.
• Launch the Photos app on your iPhone.
• Head to the photo you’ve just taken.

• Click on the Live button in the top left corner.

• Select Long Exposure.

• Voila! The photo you just took will transform into a long exposure one, and you can share it via apps of your choice.

---

Long exposure photos capture mediocre-looking environments as artistic masterpieces. I particularly enjoy using this feature in natural places with running water, such as rivers and waterfalls. Everything looks stable around the water flow, with a blur highlighting the water’s motion. It truly makes a big difference.

Will you be using this feature to take long exposure photos on your iPhone? Let us know in the comments section below. 

The post How to effortlessly take long exposure photos on your iPhone appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/3yUwmlW
via IFTTT

How to read deleted WhatsApp messages and recover them on Android

WhatsApp is one of the most widely used instant messaging services across the globe. Whether you’re texting a friend or creating a group chat with members of your family, WhatsApp is generally the preferred app since almost everyone uses it. Due to its popularity, WhatsApp has been introducing several new features to the platform including multi-device support and more recently, disappearing messages. Quite some time back, WhatsApp added the ability to delete sent messages before the receiver read them. This can be useful if you made an error while typing the message or sent a message to the wrong contact. But this can also have the opposite effect on the receiver, making them more curious than usual in figuring out what was sent in the first place. While WhatsApp doesn’t officially let you read deleted messages, there’s a workaround that we’re going to discuss today. We’re going to tell you how to read deleted WhatsApp messages on your phone.

Note that this workaround only works on Android smartphones and will not work on iOS. We will be using a third-party app for this trick and the app will have notification access. This is NOT an official method and the app is in no way affiliated to WhatsApp. Notification access is also a very wide and potentially intrusive permission to grant to an app, so please be very thorough about your needs before you go ahead and grant the app such access.

How to Read Deleted WhatsApp Messages

Given that WhatsApp chats are end-to-end encrypted, there’s no way to actually recover a deleted message. The workaround is to use an app that keeps track of your WhatsApp notifications. This is more like accessing your notification history to figure out the deleted message. It works almost flawlessly though and I’ve been using it for over a year now without any issues. It even works with WhatsApp Business and other messaging apps like Instagram and Telegram. Here’s how you can read and recover deleted messages on WhatsApp:

• Head to the Play Store and install WAMR on your phone. There are several apps that do the job but this is one that I’ve personally used for a while.
• Once installed, open the app and read and accept the disclaimer. Tap on the Next arrow.
• You’ll then be asked to select the apps you want to monitor. Select WhatsApp from the list along with any other messaging apps that you use if you want to.

• Read through and keep swiping right across the menus till you get to the Setup screen. Here, tap on Enable next to Notification Reader.

• You will now be redirected to your phone’s Settings app to grant notification access. Scroll down to find WAMR and tap on it.

• Now, tap on the toggle next to Allow notification access and tap on Allow again.

• Once you’ve granted access, go back to the WAMR app and tap on the Next arrow.
• That’s pretty much it. You now have a service that stores your WhatsApp notification history. If someone deleted a message they sent you, WAMR will notify you, and you can read the message by tapping on the notification.

• Some phones tend to have aggressive RAM management which kills the WAMR process running in the background. We would recommend keeping the app running in the background at all times to prevent this from happening.

WAMR - Recover deleted messages & status download (Free⁺, Google Play) →

When someone sends you a message, WAMR stores the contents of the message from the notification that you get on your phone. That way, even if someone deletes a message, the contents of the message are already stored in WAMR via the notification and you can access it.

Since this is a workaround, there are certain limitations. If you have muted some contacts and they delete a message sent to you, you will not be able to recover it since notifications for muted contacts are disabled. If you have disabled media auto-download on WhatsApp, WAMR will not be able to save deleted media files. It will also not work if the message deleted was sent to you while your phone was not connected to the internet since you wouldn’t have received a notification.

If you can live with these shortcomings, this is a great way to read deleted WhatsApp messages and satisfy your curiosity! We would still recommend exercising your own discretion when choosing to use such apps.

The post How to read deleted WhatsApp messages and recover them on Android appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/3ElDl8w
via IFTTT

The BLUETTI Christmas Sale is Live- Deals on Solar Generators, Panels and More

If you didn’t get the chance to take advantage of the Black Friday sale from BLUETTI, there’s no need to feel like you’ve missed out. Another sale is beginning now, to bring big Christmas deals to some of the best power stations and solar products. This will be your last chance to save up to 30% on these products before the new year. We put together some of the best deals that available from this Christmas sale event.

Best Deal: AC300 & B300 Modular Power Stations

(Starts at $3,199 (originally $3,699) — save up to $3,400-plus with solar bundles)

Out of all of the amazing deals that you can find in this sale, we found this one to be the top pick. This deal is the best way to get the AC300 and its external battery packs – the B300. The AC300 is a compact power station with a 3000W pure sine wave inverter under the hood. This is one of the best-valued power stations with solar power inputs on the market. The AC300 itself doesn’t have any battery built-in, which significantly reduces the weight. Yet, each AC300 can accept up to four external B300 batteries packs, bringing the system’s overall capacity to a whopping 12,288Wh! The modular design makes it possible for an individual person to move the whole system one by one. Use this setup indoors, outdoors, or in whatever situation you need.

The B300 battery modules use top-of-the-range LFP (lithium ferro phosphate) cells, making up 3,500-plus life cycles. In other words, with one cycle per day, the B300’s can last over 10 years before the maximum capacity drop to 80%.

Furthermore, the AC300 can be charged with both AC and solar simultaneously at up to a groundbreaking 5400W, while being connected to two B300 battery modules. Additionally, the BLUETTI AC300 also allows for the connection of the new BLUETTI Fusion Box Pro, which will double the voltage, power, and capacity up to 6,000W, 240V, and 24,576Wh, to power your whole families’ essential needs for days on end.

Best Solution For Vanlifers, RVers, and Campers: AC200MAX and B230

Starts at $1,899 (originally $2,099) — save up to $1,600-plus with solar bundles

The BLUETTI AC200 MAX is the all-around upgraded version of BLUETTI’s most popular classic model, the AC200 (which was originally launched on the crowdfunding platform Indiegogo). This new version of the AC200 MAX is powered by a 2,048Wh LFP battery, but it can also take up to two external batteries including the B230 or B300. When combined, this can add up to 6,144Wh with 2×B230’s, or 8,192Wh with 2×B300’s.

Equipped with the 900W advanced MPPT solar controller, the AC200 MAX can be charged quickly. Your max charging speeds can reach up to 80% with direct sunshine in around 2 hours.

More Great Deals: EB55, EB70S, and More

The products we’ve listed above are for people that need a massive amount of power. If you’re looking for a more portable solution, but still want to use solar power features, these deals stand out in this year’s BLUETTI Christma sale.

Make sure you check out the newly released BLUETTI EB55 and EB70S – ultra-portable solar generators for power on the go. The relatively larger unit is the EB70S which is packed with an 800W pure sine wave AC inverter and 716Wh ultra-durable LiFePO4 battery pack. It is the enhanced version of BLUETTI EB70 which was released earlier this year.

If you want something a little smaller, the EB55  has a 700W inverter under the hood and carries a 537Wh LiFePO4 battery pack that results in better portability. The EB70S is now offering a $100 straight saving for the Christmas sale, bringing the total price down to $549 (was $649) and the EB55 to $449 (when a $50 OFF coupon is applied). These are the exact same offers that you were able to find during the big Black Friday sale, so you’re still getting the best deal of the year.

When you combine these units with solar panels, these power stations are able to save our life when the wall outlets are out of reach or when the grid goes down.

Recommended BLUETTI Bundles for Christmas:

• AC300+2 B300+3 PV200 Premium Combo:
• AC300: 3000W Power Station Module
• B300: 3072Wh LFP External Battery
• PV200: 200W Foldable Monocrystalline Solar Panel
  $5699 (Reg. $7444)

AC200Max+3 PV200 For Off-grid Life Tryout:

• AC200MAX: 2200W, 2048Wh Expandable Solar Generator
• PV200: 200W Foldable Monocrystalline Solar Panel
  $2999 (Reg. $3746)

AC200P+3 PV200 A Must-have For Glamping:

• AC200P: 2000W, 2000Wh Solar Generator
• PV200: 200W Foldable Monocrystalline Solar Panel
  $2779 (Reg. $3446)

EB70S+PV200 Ultra-Portable Combo:

• EB70S: 800W, 716Wh Solar Generator
• PV200: 200W Foldable Monocrystalline Solar Panel
  $949 (Reg. $1148)

EB55+PV200 Ultra-Portable Combo:

• EB55: 700W, 537Wh Solar Generator
• PV200: 200W Foldable Monocrystalline Solar Panel
  $899 (Reg. $1048)

ONE MORE THING BESIDE DEALS: Christmas Luck Wheel

Are you itching to try some luck for Christmas and New Year? BLUETTI is also feeling pretty festive and they are giving buyers a spin of the Luck Wheel. You will get a chance to spin the wheel with every purchase over $1,000 in December. You’ll have a 100% chance to win either a free six-foot Christmas tree, a free little power station (EB55, AC50S, AC20, or AC10), or some other little gifts for the holiday. The Luck Wheel event ends on Friday, December 31st, 2022.

We thank BLUETTI for sponsoring this post. Our sponsors help us pay for the many costs associated with running XDA, including server costs, full time developers, news writers, and much more. While you might see sponsored content (which will always be labeled as such) alongside Portal content, the Portal team is in no way responsible for these posts. Sponsored content, advertising and XDA Depot are managed by a separate team entirely. XDA will never compromise its journalistic integrity by accepting money to write favorably about a company, or alter our opinions or views in any way. Our opinion cannot be bought.

The post The BLUETTI Christmas Sale is Live- Deals on Solar Generators, Panels and More appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/3mvo130
via IFTTT

Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 review: A mainstream laptop you can fall in love with

The Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 is mostly just a mainstream convertible, but for some reason, I just fell in love with it. There’s something about the design that feels natural, and the keyboard is comfortable. All in all, the laptop is a delight in an almost indescribable way.

So read on, while I go ahead and try to describe it.

Navigate this review:

• Design: The Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 comes in a Mist Blue color with a unique design
• Display: A 14-inch FHD 16:9 touchscreen
• Keyboard: The Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 has bigger keys, and they feel great
• Dell Mobile Connect is a reason to buy a Dell
• Performance and battery life: It has AMD Ryzen 5000 processors
• Conclusion: Should you buy the Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1?

Dell Inspiron 14 7415 2-in-1 Specs

CPU	AMD Ryzen 7 5700U 8-core/16-thread Mobile Processor with Radeon Graphics
Body	321.5×211.35×16.32-17.95mm (12.66×8.32×0.64-0.71in), 1.56kg (3.43lbs)
Display	14 inches, 1,920×1,080, Truelife Touch Narrow Border WVA Display
Memory	16GB, 2x8GB, DDR4, 3200MHz
Storage	512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive
Ports	1 HDMI out 1.4b 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A 1 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C with PowerDelivery and Video 1 3.5mm Headphone/Microphone combination jack microSD Card Reader
Keyboard	Spill resistant, backlit
Camera	HD (720p) Camera with Camera Shelter
Audio	Stereo Speakers with Waves MaxxAudio Pro tuning Integrated Dual Array Microphones 3.5mm Headphone/Microphone combination jack
Connectivity	Intel Wi-Fi 6 2×2 (Gig+) and Bluetooth 5.0
Battery	4-Cell Battery, 54 Whr (Integrated)
Material	Aluminum and Plastic
Color	Mist Blue
OS	Windows 10 Home
Price	$1,049

This product starts at $849, packing a Ryzen 5, 8GB RAM, and 256GB of storage. There’s also a Pebble Green color listed in the guide, but not on Dell’s product listing.

Design: The Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 comes in a Mist Blue color with a unique design

The design of the Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 is somewhat unique, and that’s one of the key reasons that this feels so nice to use. It comes in a color called Mist Blue, and with the aluminum and plastic chassis, it feels premium. The soft blue color was something that I liked right away, as I always like colors on laptops as opposed to a generic silver or gray.

But what I really like about the design is the rounded edges on the front and rear; the sides are still flat. It makes it easy to lift the lid, and again, it’s something that’s just a bit different from the rest of the market. In a world of MacBooks and MacBook clones, it really does help to have something that just feels different.

Upon opening the lid, you’ll find that the lid actually moves back a bit so that it props up the laptop. This creates a gap between the surface and the bottom of the Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1, providing better airflow. As you probably know, the more you can keep the inside cool, the better and more sustained performance will be.

The subtle design of the Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 is similar, yet unique.

All of the ports are kind of last-gen, sadly. On the left side, there’s an HDMI 1.4b port, a USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port, and a USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C port. All of the USB ports support 5Gbps speeds, rather than newer standards that support 10Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 2), 20Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 2×2), or 40Gbps (USB 4). Being that this is an AMD machine, there’s no Thunderbolt. That part is no surprise. It’s just strange to have HDMI 1.4b instead of HDMI 2.0 (or even 2.1), and to have older USB ports.

On the right side, there’s another USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a microSD card slot. It seems more common for high-end consumer laptops to have two USB Type-C ports and one Type-A port, rather than the other way around. Still, that’s fine. The USB Type-C port does support video out and charging, so you might be able to make use of the dual USB Type-A ports for other things, perhaps for a mouse and external storage, for example.

I really love the design of the Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1. I love the feel of the rounded front and back, the color, and more. It really feels good to use.

Display: A 14-inch FHD 16:9 touchscreen

The Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 has a 14-inch, 1,920×1,080, 16:9 touchscreen. That’s pretty much the story, because there’s not much else that’s special about it.

From my testing, it supports 67% sRGB, 48% NTSC, 50% Adobe RGB, and 50% P3, which really isn’t great. I actually ran this test a bunch of times in different ways, and then I tested my MacBook Pro just to see if there was something wrong with the sensor. Frankly, I didn’t expect the results to be this low, and had a hard time believing it.

Brightness maxes out at 278.3 nits, which means that it’s not going to do great in bright sunlight, and contrast ratio maxes out at 1,120:1.

The viewing angle on the screen seems to be a full 178 degrees. In fact, if I was going by my naked eye, I’d say that the display is much better than the test results. But still, there you have it. It’s something to be aware of if color accuracy is critical to your work flow.

Right above the screen is a webcam with a physical privacy guard, which is always nice. Unfortunately, the webcam is still 720p, a shame when the webcam has become such a critical component.

Dell did send me its UltraSharp 4K Webcam, which is phenomenal. Indeed, if you want to look good on calls, this is the webcam to get. It supports AI zoom, meaning that if you move around, it will automatically zoom in on you. It also supports HDR and more.

Keyboard: The Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 has bigger keys, and they feel great

I really like the keyboard on the Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1. Dell says that it made the keys 9% bigger, and I can feel the difference. I never thought ‘spacious’ was a word I’d use to describe a laptop keyboard, but here we are.

I never thought I'd use the word 'spacious' to describe a keyboard, but here we are.

The keyboard is comfortable to type on, but it almost takes a little bit of getting used to. The keys aren’t wobbly or anything, something that would ruin the experience of the larger keys. It just kind of feels different in a good way. Again, I like it a lot.

The Microsoft Precision touchpad is fine. Dell says that it’s glass-like, meaning that it’s not glass, but that’s fine. It gets the job done.

At the top-right of the keyboard is a power button that doubles as a fingerprint sensor. Once again, Dell doesn’t scan your fingerprint when you press the button to power on the machine. You still have to touch it again after it boots up, and this is contradictory to the behavior of any PC with a fingerprint in the power button that’s built by a different OEM.

Dell thinks it’s a security risk to automatically log you in by scanning your fingerprint when you first press the button. Personally, I think users know how their own laptops work, and if they know their computer is going to automatically log them in, they won’t walk away from it in a public place in that five to 10 seconds or so.

Dell Mobile Connect is a reason to buy a Dell

Honestly, Dell Mobile Connect deserves more shout-outs than it gets, because if you’re an iPhone user, you really should be using a Dell laptop. The app lets you send and receive texts from your laptop, and it also lets you send and receive files, mirror your screen, and more. It works with both Android and iOS.

If you've got an iPhone, Dell Mobile Connect is the reason you should be using a Dell PC.

The big difference is that there are a ton of services that do this with Android. With iOS, that’s not the case. Even Microsoft’s own Your Phone app has put zero effort into getting it to work with an iPhone. Other solutions, like HP’s, lets you send files that are smaller than 50MB, but that’s about it.

With Dell Mobile Connect, sharing a file is like using AirDrop, but with a Windows PC instead of a Mac. It’s that fast, and if you’ve not experienced the pain point of transferring a 4K 60fps video you just took from an iPhone to a Windows PC, then you know that this is an amazing feature to have.

Performance and battery life: It has AMD Ryzen 5000 processors

The Inspiron 14 2-in-1 that Dell sent me comes with an AMD Ryzen 7 5700U, 16GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD, which is pretty solid for a fairly low price tag. There’s another model with a Ryzen 5 5500U, 8GB RAM, and a 256GB SSD, but I wouldn’t consider that one. It really doesn’t cost much more for the higher end model.

There’s good news and bad news here. The Ryzen 7 5700U is essentially AMD’s answer to Intel’s Core i7-1165G7. These companies are kind enough to give their comparable products the same numbers. AMD Ryzen 5000 is really good too. Assuming you buy this for normal ultrabook purposes, you’re in great shape.

Battery life is pretty good, averaging around six hours, but the problem is really performance while on battery life. Running PCMark 10, it scored 5,320 when connected to power. While not plugged in, it scored a disappointing 4,046. Both tests were performed with Windows set to best performance. That’s almost a 24% drop in performance just from disconnecting a power cable, and sadly, this is typical for AMD Ryzen laptops.

I don’t want to say that performance is actually bad when it’s not connected to power. You can still use your laptop as you normally would. There’s just a dip in performance that’s significant enough to get a mention.

For benchmarks, I used PCMark 10, 3DMark, Geekbench, and Cinebench. All of these were with the unit plugged into power and set to best performance settings.

	Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 Ryzen 7 5700U	Surface Laptop Studio Core i7-11370H, Quadro RTX 3000	Dell XPS 17 9700 Core i7-10875H, RTX 2060
PCMark 10	5,320	5,573	5,305
3DMark: Time Spy	1,256	5,075	5,582
Geekbench	1,151 / 6,099	1,546 / 5,826	1,303 / 8,265
Cinebench	1,233 / 7,768	1,504 / 6,283

Note that if we compare the score when the machine is disconnected to power, it compares more to Intel eighth-generation machines.

But when it’s plugged in, you can see that overall, it compares to pretty beefy laptops like the Surface Laptop Studio and last year’s Dell XPS 17. They compete in different ways though. As you can see from Time Spy, the other two laptops do much better because they have dedicated graphics. The Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1, on the other hand, has eight cores, so it does better in multi-core tests than the Surface Laptop Studio does.

Conclusion: Should you buy the Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1?

The short answer is yes, the Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 is an easy laptop to recommend. Despite a few shortcomings, it still punches well above its weight.

As mentioned, there are a few shortcomings. The screen falls short in the color gamut department, and performance takes a big hit when the laptop isn’t connected to power. And of course, the webcam is still 720p.

With all of that considered, I still fell in love with this machine. It’s just a delight, from the keyboard with its larger keys to the familiar yet unique design that has rounded edges and a subtle blue color. Performance in general is pretty good too, as tends to be the case with AMD Ryzen processors.

And let’s not forget that all specced out, it still only costs $1,049. If that’s the price target that you’re trying to hit, then I’m not sure what else you could want from a laptop.

Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1

Dell's Inspiron 14 2-in-1 is a mainstream convertible that has a ton of value in an inexpensive package.

Features:

Pros: Cons:

See on Amazon

The post Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 review: A mainstream laptop you can fall in love with appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/3ppLUuH
via IFTTT

First 10 things to do with a new iPhone or iPad

Apple products are known for their durability, and they tend to be supported for years to come. The company has been manufacturing several models of its iPhone and iPad lineups to match almost all budgets and needs. If you don’t want to spend a fortune on an iDevice, you’re no longer limited to older, outdated models. Assuming you’ve recently bought or received one, you might be wondering what to do with it. Here are the first 10 things to do with a new iPhone or iPad.

Navigate this article:

1. Move your data from another iDevice
2. Secure it with a password
3. Personalize your Home Screen to make it homelier
4. Customize your Control Center
5. Set up FaceTime and iMessage
6. Enable Find My
7. Disable WiFi Assist
8. Draw a smile on your iPad’s face
9. Make your iPad grow a limb or two
10. Get a case — just in case

Apple iPad Pro 2021 11-inch

This 11-inch iPad is the latest Pro tablet from Apple. It is powered by the M1 chip and supports the Apple Pencil 2nd Gen.

Buy on Amazon

Apple iPad Mini 6th Gen

The iPad Mini 6th Gen is the latest compact iPad from Apple. It is powered by the A15 Bionic chip and supports the Apple Pencil 2nd Gen.

Buy on Amazon

Apple iPad 9th Gen

The iPad 9th Gen is the latest affordable iPad from Apple. It is powered by the A13 Bionic chip and supports the Apple Pencil 1st Gen.

Buy on Amazon

1. Move your data from another iDevice

iPhones are known for their full backups and seamless data transfer process. When you back up an iPhone to iCloud or through a computer, it preserves all of the data. So restoring these backups on a wiped or new device will return everything to its previous state. What not all people know, though, is that you can restore an iPad backup on iPhone and vice versa. So if you already own an iPhone and have an iCloud backup of it, you can restore this backup on your new iPad. iPadOS will restore the common settings and data shared with iOS. And if you don’t have an iCloud backup, you can put your iDevices side by side to transfer the data.

2. Secure it with a password

Setting a password ensures your data is safe(r) if the iDevices end up in the wrong hands. It’s one of the first things you should do after getting a new iPhone or iPad. iOS and iPadOS prompt you to optionally choose one when you’re setting up a device. However, if you’ve already skipped this step, you can manually add one in the Settings app on your iDevice. Newer iPhone and iPad models support Face ID or Touch ID. This allows you to unlock your device and authenticate purchases without needing to enter your password every time.

3. Personalize your Home Screen to make it homelier

iOS 14 introduced Home Screen widgets on the iPhone. The feature didn’t make it to the iPad at the time — for some reason — and plenty of users were furious. Apple redeemed itself with the release of iPadOS 15 and ported this feature to the bigger screen. One thing you should do when you first get an iDevice is customize the Home Screen. This isn’t limited to changing the wallpaper only. Organize apps in a way that makes sense to you and take advantage of the numerous widgets to view information at a glance.

Both stock and third-party apps support the new widgets — if the developer has implemented them. The best part? They’re compatible with both portrait and landscape orientations on iPadOS. So when you rotate your iPad, your setup won’t get messed up. There’s more that Apple could do to make Home Screens better. But until then, go ahead and customize your new virtual home!

4. Customize your Control Center

The Control Center on iOS and iPadOS has plenty of toggles that not all of us might find useful. Fortunately, Apple allows users to add, remove, and reorder these toggles. So you’re not stuck with the layout that is presented by default. One of the first things you should do when setting up a new iDevice is heading to the Settings app and changing them in the Control Center section. This enables you to choose between over one dozen options.

5. Set up FaceTime and iMessage

FaceTime and iMessage access is one of the many reasons some users choose to buy Apple products. These privacy-focused communication tools will allow you to effortlessly reach your fellow iDevice-using friends and family members. Launch the Settings app, and scroll to the FaceTime and iMessage sections. There you will be able to choose your ID (what people see when you interact with them), such as your phone number or Apple ID email address. You can even set an iMessage profile photo and name.

6. Enable Find My

Find My allows you to locate, erase, or control your iDevice remotely. With recent updates, this feature can work offline under certain conditions. So your device doesn’t need to be connected to WiFi or mobile data for it to work. And some newer iPhones support this feature even when they’re completely turned off! Enabling Find My is one of the first things you should do when getting a new iDevice. This ensures that you can still to some extent control it if it’s lost or stolen. Head to the Settings app > [Your Name] > Find My > Find My iPhone/iPad > and toggle all three settings on if they’re off.

7. Disable WiFi Assist

Plenty of us still subscribe to limited data plans and find our precious megabytes magically disappearing. iDevices have an option called WiFi Assist, and it’s enabled by default. What does this option do? It leaches on your mobile data when your WiFi connection is unstable or too slow. This is one of the first options I disable when I’m setting up an iDevice because it works stealthily.

Plenty of users aren’t aware of it, and I believe it should be off by default. At least it should notify users the first time it’s working for them to learn about its existence. Head to Cellular preferences in the Settings app and scroll towards the bottom, then disable this lil thief. Similarly, if you don’t want iCloud Drive to sync over mobile data, disable the option right below WiFi Assist.

8. Draw a smile on your iPad’s face

iPadOS 15 homescreen with widgets being allowed anywhere.

An iPad can get lonely at times, and there’s no better way to make it happier than bringing it closer to its best friend. Whether you’re using a high-end iPad or an affordable one, there’s a pencil for it. The Cupertino giant currently sells two Apple Pencil models. Depending on your iPad’s Pencil compatibility, you can buy one to take advantage of even more features.

You can use this advanced stylus to turn your handwriting into typed text. Additionally — if you’re an illustrator — you can use it to precisely doodle your next masterpiece. The iPad display can detect pressure and change the stroke’s size depending on how hard you push. It’s the perfect companion for your new glass slab. You can buy both the 1st Gen and 2nd Gen models from Amazon. iPhones still don’t support Apple Pencils for the time being, so don’t buy one if you don’t own a compatible iPad.

9. Make your iPad grow a limb or two

It’s a shame that most of the newer iPads only have a port or two, especially since iPadOS supports external storages. The good news is that you can buy dongles and accessories to make your Apple tablet more adaptable and versatile. The not-very-good news is that you have to buy them separately. This page lists the official additions you can get for your iPad to make it even more capable.

10. Get a case — just in case

iDevices are delicate — accidentally drop them (heaven forbid) and they’re shattered to a million pieces. Buying your shiny glass slab a case would be a very wise decision. Scratches and cracks will only make it look worn out and not as premium. You don’t have to limit to yourself to regular cases if you have an iPad, for some of them come with keyboards if those better match your needs. To make the selection process easier, we have compiled for you several lists with various iPhone and iPad models and case types to choose from.

• iPhones:
  • iPhone 11 cases
  • iPhone 12 Mini cases
  • iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro cases
  • Battery cases for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro
  • iPhone 12 Pro Max cases
  • iPhone 13 Mini cases
  • iPhone 13 cases
  • iPhone 13 Pro cases
  • iPhone 13 Pro Max cases
• iPads:
  • Cases for the iPad Mini 6
  • Keyboard cases for the iPad Mini 6
  • Cases for the iPad 9th Gen
  • Keyboard cases for the iPad 9th Gen
  • Cases for the 11-inch iPad Pro 2021
  • Keyboard cases for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro 2021
  • Cases for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro 2021

---

iPhones and iPads are great devices for everyday needs. Whether you’re looking for entertainment, productivity, online socializing, or a mix of everything — an iDevice will provide you with a solid experience that you won’t regret. Once you’ve set up your device, explore its capabilities and additional features. And don’t forget to install your favorite apps!

Which iDevice model do you own? Let us know in the comments section below.

The post First 10 things to do with a new iPhone or iPad appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/3FyCqmM
via IFTTT