The next feature update for Windows 11 is just about complete, according to Microsoft leakster WalkingCat. Windows 11 version 22H2 is reportedly set to hit RTM status on May 24.
In the old days – the days before Windows 10 – RTM used to mean that Microsoft had completed a version of Windows and was ready to ship it out to OEMs. Indeed, it stands for release to manufacturers.
Things don’t work that way anymore, ever since Microsoft introduced the Windows as a service model. The company will talk about how Windows updates are never done, and it’s also true that OEMs don’t get some special copy of the OS to pre-install on new hardware anymore. While Microsoft doesn’t publicly call it RTM, that’s a term we often use just to describe the build that will eventually ship as a feature update.
That’s the build that we’re expecting to see on May 24. Of course, things could change. There could be some show-stopping bug that could push it back, which is something that we’ve seen before.
What happens after RTM
Once we get the so-called final build for Windows 11 version 22H2, that doesn’t mean the update is about to be released. That’s when Microsoft is going to start servicing it with cumulative updates.
This is exactly what happened with the original version of Windows 11, and the timeline is the same. Windows 11 had already reached that critical milestone when it was announced, so all we got to test after that we’re cumulative updates to build 22000. We’ll see those same kinds of updates with version 22H2, and then there will be a fall release.
You can still test new Windows 11 features
The Windows 11 version 22H2 build will be available in the Beta channel, and testing is going to be boring. Of course, boring means things are good and bug-free. If you want the excitement of new features, you can still get that. All you have to do is enroll your PC in the Dev channel. You’ll get all of the rs_prerelease builds after that.
Speaking of the different channels and features, Microsoft hasn’t even told us specifically what’s going to be included in Windows 11 version 22H2. We have a general idea based on what’s in the Beta channel right now, but there are no guarantees. Hopefully, we’ll know on May 24.
It is evident that the smartphone industry has seen benefits from vivo’s strong focus on mobile photography technology. Their X series has a consistent trend of introducing new smartphone camera features and being the first in the world to implement them. The camera experience on the vivo X series is the ideal environment to bring these new technologies to users in a way that is simple for them to utilize.
Now with the upcoming global launch of the vivo X80 series, we look to how the company intends to push this legendary flagship line of phones forward. To date, we know that vivo is continuing its collaboration with ZEISS and plans on launching these new phones with a new self-designed imaging chip. That being said, these are six reasons why the vivo X80 series should be on your radar.
1. Industry-Leading Mobile Photography
vivo X series has a proven track record of redefining mobile imaging. Previously vivo has introduced features like the gimbal camera system and extreme night vision with the launch of vivo X50 series. vivo X60 series brought us a collaboration with ZEISS and the brilliant ZEISS Biotar Portrait Style (inspired by ZEISS Contax Biotar 1.5/75). With the launch of vivo X70 series, we saw vivo’s first self-designed V1 imaging chip, paving the way for more powerful image processing.
vivo X70 Pro Plus
This strong focus on imaging means that everyday users have the opportunity to use professional photography tools when they choose the vivo X series. Photos taken on vivo phones can be edited with powerful built-in editing tools. The complete process of taking high-quality photos and preparing them for posting is made simple and fun.
2. Deepening Collaboration with ZEISS
We know that vivo plans on doubling down on its collaboration with ZEISS, a global leader in optics and optoelectronics, renowned for its unique visual style and high-quality imaging technology. vivo and ZEISS team up and aim to jointly shape the future of mobile imaging, which is a good reason to keep an eye on the vivo X80 series.
vivo X80 Pro featured with ZEISS Optics
With the vivo X70 series, the ZEISS Style Portrait feature took photography to a new level. With different lens style bokeh, users were able to take truly professional-looking portraits in an effortless way. These bokeh effects were inspired by classical ZEISS lenses, making this type of collaboration meaningful and exciting to photography lovers.
After announcing its collaboration with ZEISS, vivo introduced the vivo ZEISS co-engineered imaging system to the X series. Starting with the X70 series, all rear cameras across models have certified compliance on ZEISS T* Coating, which helps significantly with shooting in low-light conditions. This level of professional-grade photography treatment is something we can expect from the X80 series.
3. Portrait Photography- More Ways to Create Cinematic-like Photos
As users now have high expectations for the ZEISS Style Portrait, vivo and ZEISS aim to bring us even more fantastic portrait images with the new feature “ZEISS Cinematic Style Bokeh”. You’ll be able to recreate classic Hollywood aesthetics using the film-like bokeh effect. After experiencing the ZEISS Style Portrait within the vivo X70 series, users can expect to explore more from the X80 series.
ZEISS Cinematic Style Bokeh
4. Dynamic Imagery Upgrades- Extending the Advantages of Gimbal
The innovative gimbal system was first launched with the X50, then upgraded with the 48MP Ultra-Wide Gimbal Camera in the X60 series. This continued to evolve into the Ultra-Sensing Gimbal Dual-Camera setup in the X70 series. vivo has continued to bring high-performing stabilization technology to its users. The X80 series will continue to build on this legacy with new portrait motion tracking technology that can reduce shakiness in shots.
Photo shot by Gimbal Portrait Camera
Thanks to ultra-steady photography capabilities, the human-background segmentation technology can do an amazing job of separating the background from the person in a photo. Then intelligent bokeh technology is used to produce linear motion blur, while the subject of your photo remains clear.
5. Night Scene Shooting- Advancing the Night Shooting features
Night scene shooting is something that vivo has been particularly good at with the previous editions of the X series. The X70 Pro has been recognized as one of the best phones for low-light shots with the Ultra-Sensing Sensor to achieve brightening and noise reduction under dark environments, and the X80 series intends to continue to build on that success.
Night Scene shot on vivo X80
With the vivo X80, we will expect a new night mode to continue building this reputation. You will have access to impressive night photography performance with top-of-the-line color tone optimization.
6. Videography- Movie-like Shots Right at your Fingertips
The X flagship series has continuously delivered strong videography features, with the X60 series’ Cinematic Master feature and the X70 series’ Pro Cinematic mode giving users the opportunity to unleash their professional filming potential.
Using the new ZEISS Cinematic Video Bokeh in the X80 series, you can capture videos with a more cinematic look & feel. AI Video Enhancement puts the final touches on each clip by making adjustments based on the scene. With the vivo X80 series, you’ll be well equipped to capture excellent videos.
vivo X80 Series
So keep an eye out for further coverage of the vivo X80 series here at XDA. This line of flagship phones is once again expected to push mobile photography to a new level, with exciting features. vivo is expected to have a global launch for these new phones on May 18.
We thank vivo 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.
I review a lot of laptops, and if you’ve heard of it, it’s probably crossed my desk. So when I say that the Lenovo Yoga 9i is now the best laptop on the market, I’m saying that from a place where I’ve actually tested the rest. The only caveat is that Dell hasn’t announced this year’s XPS 13 and HP hasn’t announced this year’s Spectre x360, but Lenovo has just gone so far beyond what it’s offered in previous generations. It’s phenomenal. The bottom line is that if you’re going premium, this is the laptop you should buy.
A big part of it is the design. The Lenovo Yoga 9i (2022) actually feels sexy, something I really haven’t said about it in the past. It maintains the rotating soundbar, which has even better audio quality than its previously best-in-class predecessor. And the screen is OLED, with options for 2.8K 90Hz or 4K 60Hz.
On the inside, it comes with Intel’s new 12th-gen processors, so you get a nice boost in CPU performance. All-in-all, this is a super easy laptop to recommend.
Lenovo is currently selling only one model, and it starts at $1,079
There are other models coming to Best Buy and Amazon
Lenovo’s latest Yoga 9i laptops were first announced at CES this year, and that was back in January. While it was months before they started shipping, it’s worth noting that Intel hadn’t even details the processors that were going to be inside of these things just yet. Now, I’d call it a slow rollout.
Lenovo.com only has one model, and it costs $1,079. It comes with a Core i7-1260P, 8GB RAM, a 256GB SSD, and an FHD+ display. There are other configurations coming, of course. The ones sent to reviewers had either 2.8K or 4K OLED screens, 16GB RAM, and either 512GB or 1TB of storage. I asked Lenovo where I could buy one, and the answer was that these configurations are from Best Buy SKUs; the listings just aren’t live yet.
Colors include Storm Grey, which is a sort of gunmetal gray, and Oatmeal, which is another word for champagne or pale gold, obviously.
1x USB 3.2 Gen 2
1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (support data transfer, Power Delivery 3.0 and DisplayPort 1.4)
2x Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 40Gbps (support data transfer, Power Delivery
3.0 and DisplayPort 1.4)
1x Headphone / microphone combo jack (3.5mm)
Audio
2x 3W (woofers on the side), 2x 2W (front-facing tweeters on hinge bar), optimized with Dolby Atmos, Bowers & Wilkins Speakers
Keyboard
6-row, multimedia Fn keys, 1-click function keys, LED backlight
Touchpad
Buttonless glass surface multi-touch touchpad, supports Precision TouchPad (PTP), 80 x 135 mm (3.15 x 5.31 inches)
Battery
75Wh Li-Polymer, supports Rapid Charge Boost (2 hrs runtime with 15 min charge)
Camera
2.0-megapixel IR & RGB hybrid, FHD 1080p webcam with privacy shutter, fixed focus
Chassis
318 x 230 x 15.25 mm (12.52 x 9.06 x 0.6 inches)
Starting at 1.4 kg (3.09 lbs)
Material
Aluminum CNC (top & bottom)
Color
Storm Grey, Oatmeal
OS
Windows 11 Home
Price
Starts at $1,079.99
Due to an issue that’s immaterial at this point, Lenovo actually sent me both of the models above. One of them has a 2.8K OLED display and the other has a 4K OLED display. The former is in the Oatmeal color, while the latter is Storm Grey.
Design: The Lenovo Yoga 9i (2022) is the prettiest Lenovo laptop in history
The Lenovo Yoga 9i (2022) is completely redesigned, with shiny and curved edges
I’m a sucker for beautiful laptops. Having reviewed hundreds of PCs, so many of them just feel the same after a while. This often goes for Lenovo’s consumer PCs, where you’d just get this sort of gray slab. I always think back to a 2008 Cadillac ad where Kate Walsh asked, “When you turn your car on, does it return the favor?”
I’ve actually referenced that quote in several reviews throughout my career, because there’s a certain feeling that goes along with using a laptop that’s just sexy. I’ve said it about HP’s Spectre x360 laptops in the past, although the company seems to be signifcantly toning down its design. I also said it about Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 2, back when it was one of the only laptops with an OLED display.
I hate to use the term glow-up, but that's the treatment that the Yoga 9i got.
I’ve never used the phrase ‘glow up’ in my life, but that’s what Lenovo gave the Yoga 9i. If you look down from the top, it looks pretty standard, but the edges around the base are all rounded wwith a polished and glossy look. It gives it a beautiful look while it’s still not outspoken. I will say, however, that this is the first time in a long while that someone has commented on a laptop that I was carrying.
As I said above, I have a Storm Grey model and an Oatmeal model. Oatmeal, despite having a name that sounds like anything but what you’d want with a laptop, is definitely the winner. It’s a pale gold that sticks with that beautiful yet subtle feeling. This is also the first time I’ve actually liked Storm Grey though. The shiny edges and flat keyboard deck really take a standard gunmetal gray laptop and level it up.
Along the back, you’ll find the rotating soundbar. This has been a stable to the Yoga 9 series since it was called the Yoga C930. Ever since it was introduced, it’s had the best audio quality in a laptop. And this time, it’s even better thanks to the partnership with Bowers and Wilkins.
On the left side, you’ll find that Lenovo hasn’t abandoned USB Type-A like some of its competitors have. It’s USB 3.2 Gen 2, meaning that you’ll get 10Gbps speeds out of it. Also on that side, there are two Thunderbolt 4 ports, either of which can connect to an external GPU, dual 4K monitors, and more.
Lenovo took its best-in-class audio quality and made it better.
On the other side, there’s a 3.5mm audio jack and another USB Type-C port; however, that one is USB 3.2 Gen 2. Only two of the three USB Type-C ports are Thuunderbolt.
One thing that’s missing is the pen garage, which was present in previous generations of the product. The Lenovo Yoga 9i (2022) does come with a case that has a pen loop, but other than that, there’s no actual way to store the pen.
To wrap up this section, I think it’s clear how much of a fan I am of the design on the new Lenovo Yoga 9i. When so much can be the same between different laptops, a design like this makes a big difference.
Display: OLED all the things
The Lenovo Yoga 9i (2022) has a 14-inch 16:10 display, with a couple of OLED options
4K seems like overkill when 2.8K is so good
There are three options for the display on the Lenovo Yoga 9i (2022): 1,920×1,200, 2,880×1,800 OLED, and 3,840×2,400 OLED. I’ll be focusing on the latter two, since those are the two I’ve had the opportunity to test.
Combining the OLED display with the design makes the Yoga 9i delightful
What you’re seeing is the 2.8K OLED model, and frankly, it’s the best option. It also comes with a 90Hz refresh rate option – something that came via a firmware update – while the 4K OLED panel is 60Hz. Also, there’s no visible pixellation on the 2.8K model, so I’m not sure why you’d want or need anything more than that.
Of course, it’s a beautiful screen, thanks to true blacks and vibrant colors. I ran display tests on both machines.
2.8K OLED screen
4K OLED screen
The results on the color gamut tests are identical. Of course, it’s worth noting that if you get the FHD+ model, you will see different results, since that one isn’t OLED. Brightness was higher on the 2.8K model, coming in just above the promised 400 nits. The 4K model fell a bit short.
Both screens are beautiful, of course, and going back to the design, even that is a nice look. The chin starts out with a flat gray or gold, depending on the model, and it goes right into the black bezel of the screen. It’s all a very clean design. With the combination of glossy and matte, they almost feel two-tone.
We’ve also got an FHD webcam webcam on this laptop. We’re seeing more of that this year, since it’s recommended for Intel’s new Evo spec. It’s a big improvement over the 720p webcams we saw in previous generations. There’s a privacy guard too, in case you’re into that.
The camera is a hybrid sensor, combining the webcam with the IR camera. The better solution is to separate the two, but I’m really not complaining.
Keyboard: It has a button for dark mode
The keyboard is comfortable and quiet
The touchpad is large.
There are buttons for things like dark mode, performance, audio profiles, and background blur.
The keyboard on the Lenovo Yoga 9i is quite nice. The glossy edges meet a matte keyboard deck, making it feel clean and stylish, the theme of the whole design. And also, it’s just a great keyboard. It feels comfortable to type on, and it’s quiet too. I really like it, maybe even more than some ThinkPad keyboards these days.
The touchpad is nice and big too, as you can see, yet it doesn’t feel as wobbly as the big touchpads in some of Dell’s premium laptops. The whole experience is just delightful.
On the right side of the edge-to-edge keyboard, there are several shortcut keys, which are pretty cool. That top one lets you set your power profile, making it nice and easy to toggle between when you want the most power and when you want to conserve battery life. Also, on the 4K model especially, the fan gets pretty loud.
Lenovo's background-blur button is clutch for video calls
Right below that is a button to blur your background. It works in any app, and as you can see from when I talked about the webcam, that includes Windows Camera. Below that lets you set an audio profile for things like gaming, music, or movies. And at the bottom, there’s a button that toggles between light and dark modes on Windows 11.
I really like the shortcut buttons. I’d wish for them to be customizable, but then they’d never actually get customized. So as they are, they’re pretty good.
At the bottom-right, there’s also a fingerprint sensor, which is useful for biometric authentication. After all, if you’re the type to use a privacy guard on the webcam, then you’re probably not logging in via facial recognition.
Performance: Intel’s P-series is fast, but affects battery life
It comes with Intel’s new 28W CPUs, which are more powerful but have the same graphics.
The fan gets loud on the 4K model.
Battery life is OK, but only because the battery is huge.
The Lenovo Yoga 9i (2022) packs Intel’s P-series processors, which are new to this generation. Both units that Lenovo sent me include a Core i7-1260P, a processor that has four P-cores and eight E-cores, for a total of 12 cores and 16 threads. There’s a solid boost in CPU performance here.
As far as graphics performance goes, Iris Xe means almost the same thing is did for 11th-gen. There are 96 execution units and a 1.4GHz max dynamic frequency, which is the same that we saw in the Core i7-1195G7, a mid-stream chip that was released as a boosted version of an existing one. If you got a Core i7 when 11th-gen launched – with a Core i7-1165G7 or a Core i7-1185G7 – the Core i7-1260P does have slightly better graphics.
This really isn’t the type of machine where you have to concern yourself with performance. If you need dedicated graphics, such as if you’re editing video or gaming, there are different machines for you. In fact, Intel is planning a big boost to integrated graphics for 13th-gen processors. This is a productivity machine, as well as a creative machine if you’re doing things like drawing and editing photos. I did a lot of work in Lightroom Classic, and it performed like a champ.
For benchmarks, I used PCMark 10, 3DMark, Geekbench, and Cinebench.
Lenovo Yoga 9i
Core i7-1260P
Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360
Core i7-1260P
Lenovo Yoga 9i
Core i7-1185G7
PCMark 10
5,616
5,362
4,861
3DMark: Time Spy
1,678
1,821
1,597
Geekbench 5
1,736 / 9,525
1,696 / 9,177
Cinebench R23
1,637 / 7,757
1,649 / 7,949
I actually included test results from the Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 just to note that the Yoga 9i tests better. I didn’t have Geekbench or Cinebench results for last year’s Yoga 9i, but in the Surface Laptop 4, the Core i7-1185G7 scored 1,551 / 5,829 in Geekbench 5 and 1,295 / 5,194 in Cinebench.
As far as battery life goes, I ran it a couple of ways. First of all, I streamed Netflix nonstop on the 4K machine, the 2.8K machine at 90Hz, and the 2.8K machine at 60Hz. As expected, the 2.8K machine at 60Hz lasted the longest, at an excellent 13 hours and 25 minutes. The next best is the 4K screen, which lasted seven hours and four minutes. Finally, 2.8K at 90Hz only lasted four hours and 11 minutes. I know it seems crazy that a 50% boost in refresh rate knocks the battery life by so much, but that’s been my experience with high refresh rate displays on Windows. This is something that needs to get better, and that’s not Lenovo’s fault.
Of course, streaming Netflix doesn’t give you an accurate representation of real-world performance. I only ran that to see how the three configurations compare. For real-world testing, I did real-world usage, leaving the brightness where it was and the power slider on balanced, I just worked. For this one, I left the 2.8K model at 60Hz, and when compared to the 4K model, the results were weirdly similar. They got about four hours of battery life, give or take five minutes on any given run. Seriously, I can’t even get results that consistent when running the same PC over and over.
Four hours is about average when it comes to real-world usage in a Windows laptop. The only thing is that Lenovo actually increased the battery size. It’s 75WHr now, and I’d expect more output from it. For now, I’m blaming Intel and it’s increased wattage on the P-series processors.
Should you buy the Lenovo Yoga 9i (2022)?
Like any laptop, the Lenovo Yoga 9i (2022) isn’t for everyone.
You should buy the Lenovo Yoga 9i (2022) if:
You want an ultrabook that’s stylish
You’re looking for superb audio and video quality
You should not buy the Lenovo Yoga 9i (2022) if:
You need dedicated graphics
You carry a pen with you a lot
Probably the biggest con to the Lenovo Yoga 9i (2022) is that there’s nowhere to store the pen. That means that if you’re using the pen on the go, you need to either travel with the case, or keep the pen in your pocket. This is a big change since this product has had a pen garage for years.
But if you want a beautiful laptop with a killer OLED screen and best-in-class audio, it’s impossible to suggest anything else.
When someones says iPod, many thoughts cross our minds. The iPod isn’t just an MP3 player from Apple. It’s an iconic legacy that redefined how broad the limits could be on a compact device. Not only did it blow us away, but it also changed how we consume music — especially when on the go. Eventually, this product rightfully claimed the lingual throne to become the de-facto, coined term used when referring to any miniature music player — iPod. This 2001 device continued to evolve throughout the years. Apple would make groundbreaking adjustments, leaving us mesmerized — wondering how possible these impossibilities are. However, most things, no matter how great, end with a downfall. And the higher something rises, the deadlier its fall. Ultimately, being in the spotlight attracts attention and an ever-increasing set of unattainable expectations. The iPod is now dead, but we acknowledge that it has impacted the world.
Last month, I expressed my firm belief on how the iPod is a relic of an era gone by and that it should be killed. To my surprise, Apple actually discontinued the product few days ago. With stores quickly running out of iPod stocks, this legendary device will soon meet the same fate of its sock and become a collector’s item. Nonetheless, its short-term prominence should be celebrated, and we shall dive into its history and how it has changed people’s lives.
Birth: An iPod history
iPod Model Name
Storage Options (GB)
Original Release Year
Highlights and Changes
“Classic” 1
5
10
2001
The very first iPod model — revealed by Steve Jobs as a new way to enjoy music in a portable manner.
“Classic” 2
10
20
2002
Switched from mechanical to a touch-sensitive wheel.
“Classic” 3
10
15
20
30
40
2003
Full design overhaul with all-touch controls.
“Classic” 4
20
40
2004
Included the Click Wheel from the iPod Mini.
“Classic” 5
30
60
80
2005
Another redesign with video playback support.
Classic 6
80
120
160
2007
Added the Classic suffix — which was absent on the previous-gen models — and included a new interface.
Mini 1
4
2004
Smaller model — available in five colors and introduces the Click Wheel.
Mini 2
4
6
2005
Introduced a longer battery life and brighter color options.
Nano 1
1
2
4
2005
Replaced the iPod Mini and brought a colored screen for viewing photos.
Nano 2
2
4
8
2006
More color options and different build materials.
Nano 3
4
8
2007
More compact Click Wheel, video support, and updated interface.
Nano 4
4
8
16
2008
Switched back to the tall design, offered nine color options, and introduced an accelerometer to support the Shake to Shuffle feature.
Nano 5
8
16
2009
Introduced a video camera, bigger display, FM radio, and more.
Nano 6
8
16
2010
Removed the camera and introduced a multi-touch screen in a smaller form factor.
Nano 7
16
2012
Switched back to the tall design, introduced a Lightning port, and added Bluetooth support.
Shuffle 1
0.512
1
2005
A new lower end model that has no display.
Shuffle 2
1
2
2006
Smaller build made from anodized aluminum.
Shuffle 3
2
4
2009
Even smaller design with earbud controls and VoiceOver support.
Shuffle 4
2
2010
Controls returned to the actual iPod — rather than earbuds.
Touch 1
8
16
32
2007
First multi-touch iPod to support Wi-Fi and the Apple App Store.
Touch 2
8
16
32
2008
Included a built-in speaker and Bluetooth support
Touch 3
32
64
2009
Utilized the iPhone 3GS’ internals.
Touch 4
8
16
32
64
2010
Overhauled design with two new cameras for FaceTime calling and video recording.
Touch 5
16
32
64
2012
Switched to an aluminum chassis with more color options.
Touch 6
16
32
64
128
2015
Boosted the internals, increased the storage limit, and introduced new colors.
Touch 7
32
128
256
2019
Further increased the storage limit and upgraded the processor.
Steve Jobs unveiled the first iPod model ever back in 2001. At the time, many people depended on portable CD players to enjoy music on the go. These had several inconveniences, though. For example, they don’t fit in normal jeans pockets. So carrying them around was a hassle. Additionally, a typical CD at the time would usually fit 15 songs. So if you wanted to go on a long journey or listen to various artists/albums, you had to carry extra CDs with you.
Credit: Mactracker
There’s no denying that Apple sometimes comes up with innovative products and solutions — especially during the Steve Jobs era. The man had very high standards and aimed at the very best, even if he had to sacrifice playing nice in the process. His vision had to be met, no matter the cost.
“Those are air bubbles,” he snapped. “That means there’s space in there. Make it smaller.”
Steve Jobs threw one of the early iPod prototypes in an aquarium to prove to the engineers that they could further shrink it. And, indeed, the final result was the size of a card deck. From having to carry a gigantic CD player to just putting a minimalistic device in our pockets — the iPod reimagined what portable and lighttruly mean.
The first iPod had 5GB of storage — allowing users to store around 1,000 songs at 160kbps. It had a 10-hour battery life and charged through the FireWire technology. Apple then started making tweaks to the iPod and releasing a new model around once a year — as the table above reflects.
The iPod iterations included plenty of different variables. Some models had/lacked screens, touch controls, the Click Wheel, cameras, a tall design, etc. Apple was making small adjustments almost annually and sometimes reverting them in following models. At some point it had several lineups available for people to choose from. So whether you were looking for the tiniest form factor of the Shuffle, the smarter features of the Touch, or a budget-friendly model — there likely was an iPod for you. By catering to various needs, the iPod started gaining popularity to become the new cool — even if temporarily.
Maturity: How the iPod impacted our lives
Music listening on the go
The iPod impacted the way we view music listening when on the go. It raised our standards — wanting to fit more in a tighter space. Carrying 15 songs through a CD player became unacceptable. This pushed other companies to reevaluate their products and release similar iPods. Instead of switching between compact disks, we could suddenly just load our entire libraries within minutes and effortlessly fit this magical device in our pockets. It truly revolutionized music portability.
A threat to piracy
Piracy has been around for who knows how long, and it truly hurts creators. Not only does it hinder their livelihoods when it comes to the monetary aspect, but it also demotivates some of them and kills their creativity. When someone sees their hard work — where they’ve poured their soul and time — getting spread on illegal websites, it truly destroys parts of them.
Buying CDs wasn’t the most convenient way to get our hands on the latest music. Many people would resort to pirating the MP3 files and then burning them on the compact disk. Apple eventually introduced iTunes — an online store that is fully compatible with the iPod. People would just buy music through their computers, connect their tiny music players, sync, and enjoy the tunes on the go — which was infinitely easier. Yes, people could still pirate music and sync them to the iPod. However, iTunes was a solution for those who didn’t feel good about stealing other people’s art but also wanted a more convenient way to do the right thing.
More than just multimedia
As the iPod shifted designs, it eventually reached its final form in late Touch models. It basically became a smartphone that lacks cellular capabilities. In fact, throughout the years, it was an inspirational product that proves that a phone can indeed be smaller and smarter. It lead the way for us to reach our current stage today. The iPod was no longer just about music, photos, and video. It became a gaming and social device — through iOS and its App Store. And this is exactly where the beginning of its end is.
Death: Why the iPod needed to retire
In the tech world, to maintain relevance, a product needs to offer something that no other does. “Dumb” phones have died (for the most part). Why? There are better products that offer the same capabilities and more — smartphones. You either evolve and continue to offer exclusivities, or you lose your seat on the (continuously-refreshing) list of relevance. The iPod turned into a SIM-less iPhone. So while the former may have paved the way for the latter, it also failed to keep up with the times. The iPod gave brith to the iPhone — only to get killed by it a few years later.
Why spend money on an iPod when you could buy a second-hand or budget iPhone with better specs and use it without a SIM card for portable music listening? Additionally, why settle for the tiny 4-inch display for gaming and watching series when the affordable iPad has a 10.2-inch screen that makes more sense for these kinds of entrainment? The iPod simply fits nowhere today. It does a little of everything that other devices have already mastered.
I have to admit, as much as I wanted to see Apple kill the iPod, it still is — in a way — heartbreaking. It’s a bittersweet moment, putting this (formerly) mind-blowing device in its grave. But that’s the course of life. People and things serve a purpose, and eventually they have to move on. The iPod has done its job, and now it’s time for it rest. We shall remember it as one of the breakthrough innovations that truly changed the course of compact technologies, as its headphone jack smiles at us from above.
How do you feel about Apple killing the iPod lineup? Let us know in the comments section below.
OnePlus recently released the third Open Beta build of Android 12 for the OnePlus Nord. That build was mostly to improve the system stability, with a handful of bug fixes amongst other things. Now, the company has gone ahead and published the stable version of OxygenOS 12 to the OnePlus Nord in the form of a staged rollout.
Screenshot courtesy: OnePlus Community member Dhanabalan.T
As per a recent post on the OnePlus Community forums, the OEM has started seeding the stable OxygenOS 12 update to the Indian variant of the OnePlus Nord. The OTA for the European models is awaiting additional validations. However, there’s no official word regarding the update roadmap for the global edition as of yet.
Although not explicitly mentioned, the underlying version of the OxygenOS layer is 12.1 in this release. The build also packs in the Android security patches for April 2022. Here’s the complete changelog for OxygenOS 12 for the OnePlus Nord:
OxygenOS 12 changelog for the OnePlus Nord
System
[Added] Smart Battery Engine, a feature that prolongs your battery life based on smart algorithms and biomimetic self-restoration technology
[Optimized] desktop icons with improved textures, by using a design inspired by brand-new materials and uniting lights and layers
Dark mode
[Supported] three adjustable levels, bringing a more personalized and comfortable user experience
Shelf
[Added] new additional style options for Cards, making data contents more visual and easier to read
[Added] access to OnePlus Scout in Shelf, allowing you to search multiple contents on your phone, including Apps, Settings, Media Data, etc
Work Life Balance
[Added] Work Life Balance feature, allowing you to effortlessly switch between Work and Life mode via quick settings
[Supported] automatic Work/Life mode switching, based on specific locations, Wi-Fi network, and time, also bringing customized App notification profiles according to the personalization
Gallery
[Supported] switching between different layouts with a two-finger pinch gesture, intelligently recognizing the best-quality pictures, and cropping the thumbnail based on the content, making the gallery layout more pleasing
Canvas AOD
[Added] new diverse styles of lines and colors, for a more personalized lock screen experience with inspiring visuals
[Added] multiple brushes and strokes and support for color adjustment
[Optimized] software algorithm and improved face recognition to better identify the features and skin color of different figures
[Added] Voice effect preview to allow you to record your voice effect or check your voice effect in real-time
As a matter of fact, the OnePlus Nord’s Open Beta 3 build and the first stable release of OxygenOS 12 are completely identical. Not only the internal version numbers are the same (F.11), but the contents of the OTA payload packages are also byte-by-byte consistent. Hence, the list of known issues from the OB3 software is applicable for the stable build as well.
Known issues
The display of some pages in Settings will be different from the system.
The screen will glitch in specific scenarios when calling.
Camera may crash when shooting photos in Portrait mode.
The abnormal display of thumbnail when taking burst pictures.
The abnormal display of Quick device connect when in the Guest mode.
If you own the OnePlus Nord and want to install OxygenOS 12 immediately, you can sideload the full OTA package for the update using the link below. We’ll update this post as we get new download links.
In case you wish to downgrade to the OxygenOS 11 release at some point, you can download the rollback package from the link below. Keep in mind that this will wipe all your data, so you should take a backup before proceeding.
The Amazon Echo can be the center of your home entertainment. And that includes listening to podcasts as well as music or the audio from your Fire TV. Podcasts are a great alternative to digital radio stations and on the Amazon Echo, you have a number of options on where to get them from.
If you also use an iPhone or an iPad, you may already be invested in Apple Podcasts. The company has been at the forefront of providing podcasts since they became a thing, with a number of third-party clients using the Apple Podcasts library.
If you have an Amazon Echo you don’t need to worry about third-party clients or skills, you can listen to Apple Podcasts directly on your smart speaker. Here’s how to do it.
How to listen to Apple Podcasts on the Amazon Echo
Like with Apple Music, there is official support for Apple Podcasts on the Alexa platform that powers the Amazon Echo. Unlike Apple Music, however, the support isn’t baked in by default. To get your Apple Podcast fix you’ll need to spend a minute getting set up.
There are only two steps you need to follow, though.
In the Alexa app on your phone or tablet, search for the Apple Podcasts skill and enable it.
Authenticate the skill with your Apple ID to link it to your Alexa account.
You will now be able to listen to Apple Podcasts through any Amazon Echo your account is linked to. But there’s an additional step you should follow to make listening to podcasts more convenient.
Once enabled you’ll need to specify “on Apple Podcasts” to direct Alexa to the right service. If you set Apple Podcasts as your default podcasting platform you won’t need to do this.
Open the Alexa app on your phone or tablet.
Tap on More.
Open Settings.
Tap on the Music and Podcasts option.
Tap on Default Services and choose Apple Podcasts as your podcast provider.
Now you won’t need to specify “on Apple Podcasts” when you ask Alexa to play a podcast for you. It’s worth highlighting, also, that the Apple Podcasts skill is currently pretty basic. You can basically play podcasts and that’s it. If you ask for a particular show it will play the latest episode only then upon completion move through the older ones sequentially. You can’t, as yet, ask for specific episodes it seems.
What is nice is that since it syncs to your Apple ID, you can resume a podcast on the Echo you started on your phone, and vice-versa. So while it is basic, it’s an easy, hands-free way to enjoy your favorite podcasts around the home. With multiple devices, like an Echo Dot in every room, you can create a group and fill your entire home with the latest episodes from your favorite podcasters.
The Amazon Echo is the best all-around smart speaker for most people with a nice design, great sound and the immense power of the Alexa ecosystem at its disposal.
Google’s recent push to improve Android for large-screen devices has prompted several OEMs to enter the Android tablet space once again. But while some OEMs, like Samsung and Xiaomi, are focusing on the flagship and mid-range Android tablet segments, others like Realme are betting big on the entry-level tablet market. After launching the budget-friendly Realme Pad in several markets last year, Realme recently launched an even more affordable tablet — the Realme Pad Mini — in India.
The Realme Pad Mini is essentially a smaller version of the original Realme Pad, and it offers budget specs at an even more affordable price point. The tablet is equipped with a Unisoc T616 octa-core SoC, coupled with up to 4GB RAM, up to 64GB storage, an 8.7-inch 800p display, and a 6,400mAh battery. Although these specs sound unimpressive, the Realme Pad Mini is a decent buy for anyone looking for a secondary device for content consumption or some light schoolwork, as it comes at a starting price of under $150.
The Realme Pad Mini is currently available at a starting price of ₹10,999 (~$144) in India. It’s also available in the Phillippines.
Realme is offering both Wi-Fi only and LTE variants of the tablet, with the top-end 4GB RAM and 64GB storage model priced at ₹14,999 (~$197).
In India, the Realme Pad Mini is available through Realme’s website, Flipkart, and offline retail stores. The tablet is available in two RAM and storage configurations, both with and without LTE support. The variants are priced as follows:
Wi-Fi only:
3GB + 32GB: ₹10,999 (~$144)
4GB + 64GB: ₹12,999 (~$170)
LTE:
3GB + 32GB: ₹12,999 (~$170)
4GB + 64GB: 14,999 (~$197)
All four variants come in two colorways — Blue and Gray.
Realme Pad Mini: Specifications
Specification
Realme Pad Mini
Build
Dimensions & Weight
211.84 x 124.48 x 7.6mm
372g
Display
8.7-inch LCD
1340 x 800 resolution
SoC
Unisoc T616 octa-core SoC
2x ARM Cortex-A75 @2GHz
6x ARM Cortex-A55 @1.8GHz
Mali G57 GPU
RAM & Storage
3GB RAM + 32GB storage
4GB + 64GB
Expandable up to 1TB
Battery & Charging
6,400mAh
18W fast charging support
Reverse wired charging support
Security
Software-enabled face unlock
Rear Camera(s)
8MP f/2
Front Camera(s)
5MP f/2.2
Port(s)
USB Type-C
3.5mm headphone jack
Audio
Dual speakers
Connectivity
LTE (dual SIM)
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac dual-band Wi-Fi
Bluetooth 5.0
Software
Realme UI for Pad based on Android 11
Colors
Blue
Gray
About this review: Realme India sent the Realme Pad Mini (4GB/64GB LTE) to us for the purposes of this review. Realme had no input into the contents of this article.
Realme Pad Mini: Design & Display
The Realme Pad Mini has an 8.7-inch LCD panel.
The tablet measures just 7.6mm thick, but it still features a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Although Realme has made some polarizing design choices with some of its recently released smartphones, the company has not taken the same approach with the Realme Pad Mini. Like its predecessor, the new budget-friendly tablet sports a minimal and premium-looking design. It has a slim metal chassis with square edges, a plain back panel with no hilarious slogans, and a rectangular camera island in the top left corner that houses the primary 8MP shooter.
Over on the front, the Realme Pad Mini sports an 8.7-inch display with chunky bezels on the top and bottom that make it easy to hold in landscape orientation without worrying about accidental touches. The LCD panel has a resolution of 1340 x 800 pixels, which is a bit low for a display of this size. This means that content (especially text) does not look as crisp as it does on a full-HD panel. But it’s decent enough for an entry-level device. Surprisingly, the display gets sufficiently bright, so you won’t face any visibility issues with a brightness dialed up to 100 percent.
The display on the Realme Pad Mini gets sufficiently bright, so you won't face any visibility issues while using the tablet outdoors.
As far as the tablet’s buttons and ports are concerned, the volume rocker and power button reside on the right edge, while the SIM card slot on the LTE variants is on the left edge. The 3.5mm headphone jack and USB Type-C port can be found on the top and bottom edges, respectively.
The Realme Pad Mini also packs a dual speaker setup, which can get quite loud at max volume and offers decent stereo separation when you hold the tablet in landscape orientation. The speaker setup is fine for content consumption, but you’d be better off using wired earphones if you plan on playing games on the tablet. Speaking of playing games, I wouldn’t do much of that if I were you — more on this in the performance section.
I have no qualms about the Realme Pad Mini when it comes to its design, but its display leaves a lot to be desired. The display’s shortcomings will be quite obvious to those of you who regularly use high-resolution, high refresh rate panels on a smartphone. But I wasn’t really disappointed with it, as I had low expectations from the get-go, given its price point.
Realme Pad Mini: Performance, Battery life, & Software
The Unisoc T616 SoC on the Realme Pad Mini is good enough for content consumption, web browsing, and some casual gaming. But you shouldn’t expect a great gaming experience in demanding titles.
The 6,400mAh battery will easily last you through a workday if you plan on using the Realme Pad Mini for web browsing and basic productivity tasks.
The Realme Pad Mini packs a Unisoc T616 octa-core SoC, paired with up to 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. I’ve been using the 4GB/64GB LTE variant for a little over a week, and I did not experience any stutters or lags while browsing through the UI, watching videos, or reading an eBook.
That’s not the case with demanding workloads like gaming, though. I experienced frequent stuttering and frame drops while playing PUBG, even though the game runs at the medium frame rate setting and balanced graphic setting by default. Casual games like Clash of Clans run fine for the most part, but I noticed occasional frame drops when attacking high-level villages with many buildings. Based on this experience, it’s safe for me to say that the Realme Pad Mini will not serve well as a gaming tablet. But if you’re getting it for your kid to play some casual games, it’s serviceable. It’s worth mentioning that the Realme Pad Mini does get a bit warm during extended gaming sessions, but it never got hot enough to make it uncomfortable to hold.
For those of you interested in benchmark scores, the Realme Pad Mini manages to secure a measly 371 points in Geekbench 5’s single-core test and 1381 points in the multi-core test. You can check out the full results by following this link. In PC Mark’s Work 3.0 benchmark, the tablet scored 8301 points. As mentioned earlier, the tablet does not get hot during extended periods of use and, therefore, it does not thermal throttle enough to show any visible performance degradation. Even after multiple runs of the CPU Throttling Test app, the CPU only throttled to 91 percent of its peak performance, which is better than what I expected from the Unisoc T616.
Performance-wise, the Realme Pad Mini offers what I expected when I first went through its spec sheet. It’s not bad for the money spent, but it’s not great either.
The Realme Pad Mini’s battery life, however, is surprisingly good, and the 6,400mAh battery will easily last you a full day of heavy use. With light workloads, you won’t feel the need to charge the tablet more than two or three times a week. The tablet comes with an 18W charger in the box, which takes a couple of hours to get the tablet from 0 to 100%. It’s not particularly fast, but it gets the job done. And since you probably won’t be using the tablet as your primary device, the slow charging speeds shouldn’t be a hindrance.
In the software department, the Realme Pad Mini runs Realme UI for Pad based on Android 11 out of the box. Although Realme’s name for its Android skin for tablets will lead you to believe that it features UI optimizations for large-screen devices, it does not. It’s a relatively barebones version of Realme UI with a couple of Google apps preinstalled, like Google Kids Space, Google TV, Google One, GPay, Play Books, etc. Realme UI for Pad doesn’t offer any feature to help you better utilize the extra screen real estate for multitasking. So just expect a giant smartphone experience for the most part.
Should you buy the Realme Pad Mini?
Based on your use case, the answer to this question can either be a resounding YES!, an undecisive maybe, or a strong no.
Are you purchasing the tablet for your kid to watch videos or play some casual games? I think you should get it right away. It’s a cheap tablet that gets this job done, and since the hardware is inherently basic, it works as advertised for these basic needs.
Do you currently binge Netflix on your phone and want to get the tablet for a better viewing experience? You can consider buying it, provided you’re OK with the low-resolution display. Again, the price of this tablet makes it easy to overlook several of its flaws.
Do you plan on playing demanding games like PUBG or getting some serious work done on the tablet? Your money would be better spent on a mid-range phone or a slightly more premium tablet like the original Realme Pad, the Nokia T20 Tab, or the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8. The Galaxy Tab A8 is a particularly good alternative in this price range, as One UI offers some great features for productivity. It even secured a spot on our list of the best Android tablets.
Buy the Realme Pad Mini if:
You want a budget-friendly secondary device for content consumption.
You want a cheap eBook reader that offers great battery life.
Do not buy the Realme Pad Mini if:
You plan on using it as your primary device.
You plan on playing games like PUBG.
You want an optimized software experience that utilizes the extra screen real estate for productivity.
i7-1260P (2.1 GHz / 12 Cores / 18M Cache)
