PowerToys 0.55 brings another new tool to help you locate the mouse cursor easily

In October last year, Microsoft released a major update for its PowerToys suite. The update included a new Find My Mouse tool, which helped users easily locate the mouse cursor on their screens by shining a spotlight on it. Microsoft then released a Mouse Highlighter tool with PowerToys 0.51, which highlighted the cursor with a yellow circle on mouse button clicks, making it easy for users to show clicks during a presentation. Microsoft is now rolling out another mouse utility with PowerToys 0.55.0 that aims to help users locate the cursor on their screens by taking a slightly different approach.

The new Mouse Pointer Crosshairs utility in PowerToys 0.55.0 draws a crosshair on your screen centered on the mouse pointer (via Bleeping Computer). You can enable it using the default Ctrl+Alt+P keyboard shortcut (or set up a custom shortcut) and customize its appearance by heading to the Appearance & behavior section under the new ‘Mouse Pointer Crosshairs’ setting. As you can see in the attached screenshot, you can change the crosshair color, opacity, center radius, thickness, border color, and border size.

Unlike the Find My Mouse utility, in which the spotlight disappears after a few seconds, the new mouse pointer crosshair is persistent. This means that it’ll stay on your screen until you disable it using the keyboard shortcuts. As a result, it should be a bit more useful for users who have some form of visual impairment. The PowerToys team says that the new crosshair utility was co-developed with the accessibility team at Microsoft.

Along with the new Mouse Pointer Crosshairs tool, PowerToys 0.55.0 brings preview support for more than 150 developer files for the preview pane and STL format thumbnail generation with two new File Explorer add-ons. The update also includes a number of bug fixes, improvements, and changes. Check out the full changelog in the section below for more details.

Microsoft PowerToys 0.55.0 changelog

• General
  • .NET runtime is now on 5, our next release will be upgraded to .NET 6. Moving to .NET 5 and then 6 helped reduce our moving parts in a single release so we went this route. Why this is important is this is one of the major work items needed for ARM64 support. In addition, this should help provide a speed boosts once we are on .NET 6.
  • @jsoref’s spelling plugin help
• Always on Top
  • Fixed one of two borders showing incorrectly bugs.
  • Border defaults to OS accent color now. Thanks @davidegiacometti
  • Reduced CPU / GPU activity. Not done improving, we know we can do better.
• Fancy Zones
  • Bug fixed to not lose zones after update
  • Fixed editor margin issue for Chinese language. Thanks @niels9001
• File explorer add-ons
  • GCode thumbnails now have transparency. Thanks @pedrolamas
  • New Utility – Developer files for File Explorer preview pane. This should add about 150 file extensions total. We are using the Monaco Editor to power this experience. Thanks @aaron-junker!
  • New Utility – STL thumbnails added! Preview pane support is already in Windows. Thanks @pedrolamas!
• Image Resizer
  • Fixed bug with too much meta data. Thanks @CleanCodeDeveloper
  • Fixed bug resizing bug for constant height while maintaining aspect ratio. Thanks @CleanCodeDeveloper
• Mouse utilities
  • New Utility – Crosshair over pointer via Ctrl+Alt+P. This feature was co-developed with the accessibility team at Microsoft. Thanks @niels9001 for helping with the icon!
• PowerRename
  • Files are sorted now how File Explorer sorts.
•  PowerToys Run
  • Improved speed and fixed bugs with Window walker plugin. Thanks @htcfreek
  • Window Walker will now show path of elevated apps. Thanks @davidegiacometti
  • Added UEFI command to system commands. Thanks @htcfreek
  • Fixed crashing bug in EnvironmentHelper class. Thanks @htcfreek
  • Fix URI plugin bug with ^:. Thanks @franky920920
  • VS Code plugin not showing workspaces with latest Code version was corrected. Thanks @ricardosantos9521
  • Fixed bug that caused plugins to not load. Thanks @davidegiacometti
  • Fixed crash in Uri plugin and Web search plugin. Thanks @cyberrex5!
•  Settings
  • Fixed a regression with settings being reset when moving from admin to non-admin
•  Video Conference Mute
  • Fixed crashing bug with Zoom and other clients. We found someone we could remotely debug with and identify the actual crashing part.
  • Change of behavior: When leaving a meeting, VCM will now leave your microphone in the state it was. This mimics behavior of applications if VCM was not present.
  • Change of behavior: When you exit PowerToys, your current microphone state will remain.

You can download PowerToys 0.55.0 on the Microsoft Store or from the PowerToys GitHub page.

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Instagram Stories and DMs now support Meta’s 3D avatars

In a bid to compete with Snap’s Bitmoji feature, Facebook (now Meta) launched Avatars all the way back in 2019. At first, the feature was only available in Australia, but Facebook released it in other markets over the course of a year. As its name suggests, the feature lets you create a virtual avatar of yourself that you can use in Messenger or on the Facebook feed. Almost three years after debuting the feature, Meta is now bringing it to Instagram Stories and DMs.

In a recent blog post (via CNET), Meta said that Instagram users in the US, Canada, and Mexico will now be able to share their 3D Avatars with others through Stories or via DMs. In addition, the company highlighted all the new changes for 3D Avatars included in the latest update. These include:

New customization options

Meta’s updated 3D Avatars come with various new customization options, including Cochlear implants, over-the-ear hearing aids in several colors and wheelchairs. These options are available across all platforms, including VR, and will also show up in stickers on Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram DMs. Meta has also adjusted certain facial shapes and tweaked skin shaders with the latest update, which improves the look of Avatars.

Improved availability

Meta’s 3D Avatars are now available across Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger for users in the US, Mexico, and Canada, along with the regions where Meta has already started rolling out Avatars. Users will now be able to use their 3D Avatars as profile pictures on Facebook and even share them in comments, stickers, and stories across all platforms.

Furthermore, Meta notes that if “your previously created an avatar on Facebook in the past, get ready to see a new side of yourself — literally. Your avatar will automatically enter the third dimension as part of this update, and we’re doing our best to make sure your new-and-improved self matches the choices you made previously. That said, there are a lot more options now than there were before! You’ll have the chance to jump into the editor and make some changes.”

In addition, Meta will now let you create different Avatars for different platforms. You’ll have the option to create three distinct Avatars — one for Facebook and Messenger, one for Instagram, and one for VR. If you keep a single Avatar and choose to sync it across platforms, any changes you make will automatically be reflected on all platforms.

NFL Partnership

Lastly, Meta has partnered with the NFL to bring NFL-themed customization options for Avatars. These options will be available until February 28 and will let you change your Avatar’s outfit to support the Cincinnati Bengals or Los Angeles Rams. In case you’re not a fan of these teams, you’ll also get the option to pick a neutral Super Bowl LV1 shirt for your Avatar.

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BOE showcases a gaming monitor with an insane 500Hz refresh rate

The Chinese display maker BOE has showcased a new display panel which sets a new benchmark in the world of gaming monitors. BOE’s new monitor offers a refresh rate of up to 500Hz, surpassing the current best monitors that can reach up to 360Hz.

The 27-inch monitor uses a high-mobility oxide TFT technology and offers full HD 1080p resolution (via Videocardz). The lower resolution is understandable considering the insanely high 500Hz refresh rate of the display. Even current 360Hz monitors are limited to 1080p resolution. The panel uses an 8-lane DisplayPort connection and offers a 1ms response time and 8-bit color gamut support.

BOE is one of the leading manufacturers of LCD, LED and OLED panels. The company is a market leader in the oxide semiconductor display market. It also makes foldable displays, which have been featured on smartphones like the Motorola Razr and Huawei Mate X.

BOE has shared a teaser video showcasing the prototype monitor in action:

“With years of technology accumulation, BOE has made important breakthroughs in the field of oxide semiconductor display technology, overcoming industry problems such as copper (Cu) easy to diffuse, easy to oxidize, and easy to drill and engrave, and is the first in the industry to achieve mass production of copper interconnect stack structures. And the integration of high refresh rate, high resolution, low power consumption oxide display technology,” reports Chinese publication Sina.com (machine-translated by Google).

Note that this monitor is a prototype unit, meant for demonstration only. We don’t know when, if ever, BOE plans to commercially launch a monitor with a 500Hz refresh rate. BOE also didn’t detail whether there are any tangible benefits of having a display that offers a whopping 500Hz refresh rate. In any case, you’ll definitely need one of the best graphics cards out there to drive this thing.

Would you like to see a 500Hz monitor come to the market? Let us know in the comments below

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YouTube Music tests “Recommended radios” and a new “Add to playlist” UI

YouTube Music may not be as popular as Spotify or Apple Music, but it’s still one of the best music streaming services on the market. And it’s always great to see Google keep adding new features to the service to make it even better. Case in point: the app is testing two new features to enhance your music streaming experience.

The first feature YouTube Music is testing (via 9to5Google) is called “Recommended radios.” While YouTube Music has long allowed users to start a radio from a single song, this new feature goes further, offering automatically created radio stations revolving around music genres and artists. “Recommended radios” are featured on the home tab and they keep changing every time you refresh the feed. The music featured in these playlists is “customized for you and always updating.” You also get the option to save tracks to your library.

The second feature that’s being tested (via 9to5Google) is the new “Add to playlist” UI for the YouTube Music Android app. The current Add to playlist screen on the Android and iOS apps looks quite dated. In contrast, the new UI looks much more modern and visually appealing, as you can see in the screenshots attached below.

Instead of just showing names of playlists, the new UI now shows artwork as well as the number of tracks that each playlist contains. There’s a “Recent” section at the top while the pill-shaped “New playlist” button in the bottom right corner lets you quickly create a new playlist. This new UI has been available on the Progressive Web App version of YouTube Music for months now, so it’s good to see it’s finally making its way to the mobile app.

“Recommended radios” and the new “Add to playlist” UI have only rolled out to a few users and aren’t widely available yet.

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Featured image and screenshots courtesy: 9to5Google

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Samsung users in Europe might soon receive One UI updates much faster

Samsung is reportedly making some changes to how it delivers software updates to its devices in different parts of Europe. These changes will likely improve the company’s software rollout even further and, quite possibly, make sideloading One UI updates a whole lot easier.

Over the last couple of years, Samsung has improved its software update situation quite dramatically. The company has gone from being among the worst OEMs (in terms of keeping devices up to date with the latest software and security updates) to one of the best. These days, it’s one of the first OEMs to ship the latest security patches and new Android OS upgrades, even though it maintains a much larger product portfolio when compared to other OEMs.

In addition, Samsung also leads the pack when it comes to longevity (barring the Pixel 6 series), offering up to three OS upgrades and four years of security updates for many of its devices. Despite that, Samsung’s update process still has one big issue: regional fragmentation. But, according to a recent report from Galaxy Club (via Android Police), Samsung aims to address this soon.

In case you’re not familiar with Samsung’s existing update process, here’s a quick refresher. Currently, One UI updates for all Samsung devices are regionally restricted. This means that the updates for the Galaxy Z Fold 3 or Galaxy Z Flip 3 in Korea aren’t the same as the updates for the same devices in the US, EU, or India. To make sure updates reach devices in the correct region, Samsung phones ship with a region-specific “CSC” code.

CSC code for the Indian variant of the Galaxy Z Flip 3 (INU)

Samsung does this to prevent the occasional buggy release from affecting a large number of devices across regions and, sometimes, due to regional software variations like onboarding experiences and preloaded apps. However, due to this practice, users in certain regions have to wait weeks (sometimes even months) to receive the same update. On top of that, Samsung also faces issues on the development front, as it has to test and release multiple versions of the same One UI update.

In an attempt to solve these issues and further streamline its software update process, Samsung is reportedly reducing the number of different CSC codes for some models in the European region. Galaxy Club notes that the 4G variant of the Galaxy A52 launched with fewer CSC variants, compared to other phones from the company. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 also followed this trend, and all European models of these three devices share the same CSC code. Thanks to this change, Galaxy A52, Galaxy Z Fold 3, and Galaxy Z Flip 3 users across Europe should receive software updates at the same time, irrespective of which European country they purchased the device from.

The publication further reveals that Samsung hasn’t completely implemented this change and carrier-branded phones in the Netherlands still have different CSCs. But this doesn’t seem to be the case in the UK. According to Android Police, carrier-branded Samsung phones in the UK share the same software builds as the unlocked models. This leads us to believe that the changes vary based on the carrier and country.

Galaxy Club further adds that Samsung’s 2022 product lineup, including the Galaxy A13, A33, A53, and the flagship Galaxy S22 series, are also being developed without regional CSC codes. We expect Samsung to extend this change to other upcoming models as well. Unfortunately, older models won’t get the same treatment.

At the moment, Samsung has not shared any official information about this change. But we hope the company will make an announcement during the upcoming Galaxy Unpacked event, where it will unveil the highly-anticipated Galaxy S22 lineup.

For more details on the matter, check out Galaxy Club’s post by following the link above.

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February 2022 patches already rolling out to Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy A50s

While many Android flagships haven’t even received the January 2022 security update, Samsung is already marching ahead. Rolling out security patches even before the new month begins is something that Samsung has been doing for a while now. And in keeping up with that trend, the company is now rolling out February 2022 patches to some of its devices.

According to user reports on our forums, Samsung has started rolling out a new software update to Galaxy Note 20 owners which bumps the security patch level to February 2022. The update weighs 865.43 in size and carries software version N98xxXXU3EVA9. It’s currently rolling out in multiple European countries, with other regions to follow suit in the coming weeks. The update doesn’t pack a whole lot besides the latest security patches, with the changelog mentioning standard stuff like device stability improvements, bug fixes, and performance improvements.

Screenshot credit: XDA Senior Member Nizam_A

Samsung’s mid-range Galaxy A50s is also picking up February 2022 patches (via SamMobile) with a new update. The update is currently only live in Vietnam and it comes with a software version A507FNXXU6DVA2.

How Monthly Android Security Patch Updates Work

If you own a Galaxy Note 20 or Galaxy A50s and reside in the above markets, look out for an OTA notification in the coming days. You can also check for the update manually by heading to Settings > Software update and clicking on the Download & Install button.

The latest security update comes as we inch closer to Samsung’s Galaxy S22 series launch event. At the event, which is scheduled for February 9, we’re expecting the South Korean company to unveil at least three smartphones: the Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22 Plus, and Galaxy S22 Ultra. We already know pretty much everything there’s to know about all three models thanks to multiple leaks and rumors in the past few weeks. If you’re interested, you can pre-order a Galaxy S22 right now.

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These are the Best OnePlus 8T Cases in 2022

If you just ordered yourself a sweet new OnePlus 8T (and if not, check out our OnePlus 8T review), or if you’re using one since launch, you’ll want to make sure you can prevent fingerprints, scratches, and dust. As usual, there’s a basic plastic case included with the phone — clear vinyl, flexible, snug-fitting, and emblazoned with a frosted ‘Never Settle’ slogan running vertically up the right-hand side.

It’s a nice touch that makes it more appealing than a simple clear case, but it also only offers limited protection. So what if you want more? There are literally hundreds of phone cases on the market, but how do you know if you’re buying a delight or a dud? Allow us to help with our guide to the best OnePlus 8T cases.

OnePlus Sandstone Case

Good old faithful

The old classic is back. The sandstone is a rigid clip-on case which previous OnePlussers will probably be familiar with. The big attraction of this one is it has a slightly rough-hewn surface which makes it easier to grip, because let's face it, these smooth phones can be slippery little suckers. The Sandstone case is available in Black or Cyan.

Buy at Amazon

Supcase Unicorn Beetle

Clear and protective

This case from Supcase provides ample protection against drops even on the edges and corners. It has reinforced bumpers for shock absorption. The back of this case is clear so that you can show off the color of your phone.

Buy at Amazon

Promoted

OnePlus Karbon Bumper Case

The best official case

Old faithful of the OnePlus case world, the Karbon is at the top end of the official designs. The familiar hard case with subtle diagonal pin-stripes is designed to add the maximum in knock and drop protection, with the lowest profile, most sympathetic to your sexy new handset. That level of design comes at a premium of course.

Buy at OnePlus

Otterbox Symmetry 8T Case

Affordable premium protection

Otterbox doesn’t always make the most exciting cases, but they’re tough as old boots, and we mean that in the nicest possible way. Largely, the Symmetry is similarly low-profile like the official Karbon case, but with the added bonus of slightly raised edges around the camera and touchscreen, which provides much better protection. Symmetry cases comply with DROP+, which is measured as 3x the protection of a military-grade case.

Buy at Amazon

dBrand OnePlus 8T Grip Case

Perfect for customization

One case. Many customizations. That’s the promise with dBrand, offering a 2mm thick case, including a design that encases the side buttons, protecting them whilst leaving more of the screen-free - an important consideration for a near bezel-less device. There are gripping edges down the sides that can be customized to your preferred color from a huge gamut and the whole thing reaches military protection ratings. dBrand also offers skins to be applied directly to the outer casing of your phone, but for full protection, the Grip Case is the way to go.

Buy at dBrand

Poetic Affinity

Best for butterfingers

Poetic’s phone cases are among the toughest we’ve seen, combining a stiff translucent body with a rigid toughened frame. As a result, they do tend to add a bit of bulk to your phone, but even so, hardly any extra weight. As ever, it complies with Military Grade drop-protection standards and yet, thankfully, doesn't impact contactless payments. The translucent section complements the handset perfectly. If you want big protection and don't mind making a bigger phone, this OnePlus 8T case should definitely be on your shortlist.

Buy at Amazon

Olixar OnePlus 8T Leather-Style Wallet Stand Case

Great value with great features

The first folio-style case to make our list, we've chosen Olixar's thanks to the company's track record for producing great value cases without compromising on quality. There are the usual carbon fiber offerings, but we've decided to shine a light on the Wallet Stand, thanks to its imitation leather, three card slots, plus one larger slot of notes or receipts, magnetic clasp, and full compatibility with wireless charging and NFC payments. The whole folio can be rejigged to create a stand for the phone - great for games and watching videos.

Buy at Amazon

Sidande OnePlus 8T Ultra-Slim Patterened Silicone Case

Best for Style over Substance

We chose this one purely to show you that not all cases for the OnePlus 8T are one color! These Sidande cases are simple, transparent silicone cases, similar to the one you'll find in the box with your phone. But if you don't want to walk around for the next year with 'Never Settle' across the back of your phone, there are six decal designs to choose from. Not the highest spec cases on this list, more one for the Insta-crowd.

Buy at Amazon

Qitayo Crystal Clear Case

Show Off Your Phone

If you like seeing the back of your phone, you'll definitely want a clear case. Qitayo's case is thin and clear, giving you a small amount of protection while still being able to see your OnePlus 8T in its full glory. It's also the cheapest on this list, so give it a go for something simple and sweet. You get a fairly decent level of protection, and you can let your phone retain most of its character. While not included, this case also might work out if you like to rock a skin but want some protection sometimes when you go out.

Buy at Amazon

Spigen Ultra Hybird Case

Durable and Thin

Looking for something that will protect against most normal smartphone wear-and-tear, but don't want to bulk out your phone? Get the of both worlds with the Spigen Ultra Hybrid case. This case has a nice protective bumper, but isn't so thick that it'll get in your way. The sweet spot between two worlds.

Buy at Amazon

Ringke Fusion-X Case

You'll Never See It

Like camo? You'll love Ringke's Fusion-X case. This durable case has a unique semi-transparent design that lets parts of your OnePlus 8T's exterior peek through the camo design. It's pretty neat when you look at it, but there are also clear versions of the case if camo isn't your thing.

Buy at Amazon

Nillkin CamShield Case

Protect the Lenses

Most cases don't do a very good job of protecting your camera lenses. They can get scratched too! Nillkin's CamShield case, however, has a slider on the back that will help you protect your camera when not in use. When you want to take a picture, just slide the protector away, and you're good to go!

Buy at Amazon

Our favorite pick of all the cases is the OnePlus 8T Sandstone case. The Karbon series is also good, has been around since the early days of OnePlus, and has proven consistently to be reliable. If you have slippery fingers and couldn’t transport an egg in the egg-and-spoon race at school, you’ll want to pick up the Otterbox Symmetry Case. Even Supcase and Spigen make good cases and are some of the most reputed case manufacturers.

OnePlus 8T

The OnePlus 8T is last year's flagship from OnePlus but is still a decent pick in 2021 especially if you find one with a good discount.

View at Amazon

The OnePlus 8T also ships with a basic clear silicon case, which should serve most users for the initial week of use. But as is the nature with clear silicon cases, it does develop a yellow tint over time as you use it naturally in the sunlight. So it’s best you explore some options in case you want some protection for your phone.

The cases we recommend should hold the fort well and let you use your phone with fewer worries. So grab one and ensure that you don’t get any serious damage to your brand new phone!

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