OnePlus builds a world in Roblox, offers free OnePlus earbuds for early visitors

Despite its recent popularity, the online game platform Roblox has been around for quite some time. With over 50 million active users daily, one can easily understand why a company would choose the platform to create immersive content. Gucci, Nike, Chipotle, and Vans, are just a few of the companies that have built experiences in Roblox, and now it looks like OnePlus is joining the fun.

Today, the company announced OnePlus World, a virtual theme park created in partnership with Transparent House. The company took elements from its smartphone devices and integrated them into the park. For example, channeling its SuperVOOC charging technology for its smartphones, the world features charging stations, allowing characters to get charged and move quicker than they normally could.

OnePlus World wouldn’t be much fun if it were just walking and running, so users will be able to use vehicles to travel, like motorcycles and hoverboards. There will be plenty of activities like skydiving, treasure hunts, and more. You can also collect OnePlus clothing for your avatar. While the OnePlus World sounds like a hoot, most will be interested in the real-world rewards that can be unlocked in-game. Throughout OnePlus World, users will be able to uncover coupon codes. The first 200 discovered will be good for a free set of OnePlus earbuds.

As OnePlus rolls out a digital playground for its fans, it has more important matters ahead with the launch of the OnePlus 10T. The company has been teasing the smartphone, showing off some of its specifications ahead of its announcement. According to OnePlus’s website, the device will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1, 16GB RAM, 256GB of internal storage, and a 4,800mAh battery with SuperVOOC charging. It looks like OnePlus is putting all its cards on the table, but there is one element that is still missing – price. OnePlus started as a company offering affordable flagships, maybe it will return to its roots with the OnePlus 10T.

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Source: OnePlus, OnePlus World

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Sony’s canceling a PS5 launch feature because we don’t appreciate each other enough

Hot off the back of the latest PS5 Beta which introduces a whole heap of new features, Sony is canceling something else. Its hyped launch feature, Accolades is being put out to pasture because it doesn’t get used enough.

Here’s the official blurb, first spotted by Push Square: 

In fall of 2022, the Accolades feature on PlayStation 5 will no longer be supported. The feature hasn’t seen the level of usage we anticipated, so we are refocusing our efforts. We encourage the community to continue to send positive messages to one another.

So what the heck even is Accolades? Chances are you didn’t use it, after all. Accolades were launched as a kind of achievement/reward system for multiplayer games and members of the PlayStation community. The idea was to help spread a little positivity when you played with a complete stranger, giving them an Accolade. You can’t send them to friends, and they’re anonymous. Accolades you receive are displayed on your profile as a virtual badge of honor showing you’re a good egg.

The idea is sound, lord knows it’s nice to see any tool help to spread positivity. But it seems we don’t appreciate each other enough for it to live on. And that’s a real shame.

Instead of feel-good rewards, Sony is in the process of introducing the PlayStation Stars program. This looks initially like a PlayStation take on Microsoft Rewards, the program that gives you points for completing quests, and achievements, or even just spending money on the Xbox. Sony’s initial plans suggest a similar kind of reward scheme for PS4 and PS5 players, along with “digital collectibles” which sound suspiciously like NFTs.

These are just some of the changes taking place in the PlayStation world right now. Recently, of course, the PS Plus program went through its own overhaul, introducing new tiers and folding in cloud gaming.

via Push Square

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VMware’s Fusion Tech Preview delivers Windows 11 support to Apple silicon Macs

VMware is looking for your help in the form of a new Tech Preview of its latest version of Fusion. The new edition brings Windows 11 support for Macs running Intel and Apple Silicon. Fusion 2H22 will allow users to run Windows 11, Linux, and more on their Mac through virtualization.

For the virtualization to work with Windows 11, WMware had to create a Virtual Trusted Platform Module (TPM). Since this module is a requirement for Windows 11, VMware created a virtual TPM with fast encryption, an auto-generating key with storage handled through Keychain. Speed is important for virtualization, so the new Fusion offers a “fast-encryption” mode that only encrypts the most critical parts of a virtual machine. This encryption method isn’t unique to just Windows 11 but can be used on all virtualizations that Fusion offers support for.

Fusion 2H22 also supports 2D graphics with a WDDM driver that allows resolutions up to 4K. Although there are graphics and network drivers in the current release, VMware states that its vmxnet3 networking driver is unavailable in the current build. The vmxnet3 networking driver is a custom driver, offering highly efficient data transfer rates and increased speeds with low latency. As mentioned prior, this software not only offers support for Windows but also other operating systems as well. For the time being, Linux will support 3D graphics with OpenGL 4.3 + GLES 3.1 using Mesa version 22.11 or later.

To keep things simple, VMware will offer up just one .dmg file that will be compatible with both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs. As mentioned prior, this is still a tech preview, which means that there can be issues with the software. There are also known limitations, like only being able to support M1 virtual machines on M1 units like the MacBook Pro 14 and 16. The same goes for Intel virtual machines only running on Intel Mac systems. If this intrigues you, you can download the file from here.

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Source: VMware

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Android 13 Beta is now live for the Google Pixel 6a

Despite only being out for less than a week, the Google Pixel 6a is getting a welcome update. Google has released the Android 13 Beta, which is now available for download on the Pixel 6a. The update isn’t a major one when it comes to looks, but it does bring a wealth of new features and minor cosmetic changes.

If you are curious about updating your handset, you can do so in a few ways. First, you’ll want to head to the Android Beta Program website. If you log into your Google account, it will show which devices are eligible. Remember, if you have previously enrolled in an older beta program like Android 12, you must enroll again to update to Android 13. If your device is supported, opt-in, and you will receive beta updates. It is recommended to back up any information before starting this process as beta software can have issues.

The second method is manually updating your device to the beta build. You can download the latest system image from Google and flash it to your device. Using Android Flash Tool, you can download and install Android 13 Beta 4.1 to your Pixel 6a. You can head to Google’s downloads page for further details. If you need a full tutorial on how to install Android 13, please be sure to check out our complete guide. Remember, any time you feel like you want to leave the beta, you can do so by opting out. Be warned that leaving the beta will erase your data from your phone, so again, be sure to have a backup of your information before opting out.

So what’s new in Android 13? There are plenty of changes, so you’ll want to check out the Android 13 guide. But to name a few, the OS gets visual enhancements with themed icons, support for large screens and tablets, privacy and security updates, and more. If you’re not adventurous and won’t be installing Android 13, you should at least update your phone with the first OTA that arrived on the first day of the Pixel 6a’s retail release. The OTA brought minor improvements like bug fixes and upped the Android security patch level to June 2022.

If you are interested in purchasing a Google Pixel 6a, hit the links below. If you’re on the fence, check out our in-depth review.

Google Pixel 6a

The Google Pixel 6a is a powerful smartphone coming in at under $500.

Purchase from Best Buy

Purchase from Amazon

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Source: Google

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Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro and Watch 5 fully revealed ahead of launch

In a little over a week, Samsung will hold its Galaxy Unpacked event, where it will reportedly announce the Galaxy Z Fold 4, Galaxy Z Flip 4, and Galaxy Watch 5. Although the smartphones will take top billing, the Galaxy Watch 5 announcement will still be interesting, as Samsung is expected to announce a trio of wearables. Before the official launch, a new set of renders has leaked, giving our best look yet at the devices.

The new renders show off all three watch models in various colors and angles. On the left-hand side, we can see the Pro model of the watch, which is said to be the largest of the bunch. With its larger size comes a larger display, and it will also be noticeably thicker than its siblings. However, not much can be said about the standard model as it looks nearly identical to the previous model. Along with the new renders for the Galaxy Watch 5, we have previously seen renders of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 from every angle and in an array of colors.

Samsung recently put its hype machine into motion ahead of its Galaxy Unpacked event taking place on August 10. The firm has released a new trailer and has shared the news that it will hold physical events that will take place in London and New York. Samsung will again rely on South Korean boy band BTS to promote its new lineup of devices. The band will also unveil a new music video that will be broadcast worldwide in iconic locations to coincide with the launch. Currently, Samsung has opened up its reservation system for its upcoming smartphones offering incentives that total up to $200 in credits. So, if you are interested in the Galaxy Z Fold 4 or Galaxy Z Flip 4, make your reservation by clicking on the link below.

Reserve your Galaxy Z Fold 4 or Galaxy Z Flip 4 by following this link

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Source: 91Mobiles

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The iPhone 14 could get a performance bump, despite packing a 2021 chip

Rumors revolving around the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro have been circulating the internet for months. If they were to be accurate, the exciting changes will be occurring in the Pro department later this year. The regular models could end up being tweaked iterations of the iPhone 13 — with minor tweaks here and there. Meanwhile, the higher-end versions might ditch the notch, introduce always on display (AOD) support, receive an upgraded rear camera system, and pack a faster processor (A16).

Apple is reportedly trying to further distinguish between regular and Pro iPhones through the included chips. However, reports also indicate that chip shortages have been a catalyst in this process. Though, considering that the A15 Bionic already tops mobile performance charts, Apple re-using it on this year’s lower-end iPhone 14 variants shouldn’t be a big deal. Ultimately, it’s still a capable chipset, and the A16 could be mightier than average users’ needs.

With the regular iPhone 14 models rumored to stick to 2021’s A15 Bionic chip, questions have arose. Will the new iPhones be as fast as last year’s? How will Apple sell the device if it’s almost identical to that of last year? Well, we have some potential answers now.

Despite using *some* old hardware, iPhone 14 non pro still have some overall performance boost over the iPhone 13 series
New cellular modem, new internals design, ect

— ShrimpApplePro (@VNchocoTaco) August 1, 2022

According to reliable leaker ShrimpApplePro, the regular iPhone 14 models could still get an overall performance boost. The tweet states that these phones could pack a new cellular modem and have a new internal design. Considering that their launch is still around a month and a half away, we can expect more leaks to surface by then. At this point, it’s almost always clear what a new device will look like from the inside out — prior to its official reveal.

Do you plan on buying the iPhone 14, or would an older processor in a high-end device be a dealbreaker for you? Let us know in the comments section below.

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iOS 16 beta introduces Apple Pay support in third-party browsers

Apple revealed the upcoming major updates to its operating systems during the main keynote of WWDC22. iPadOS 16 introduces resizable app windows on M1 iPads, while macOS Ventura includes more streamlined UI elements. Though, arguably, iOS 16 packs the most exciting changes. The iPhone Lock Screen got a complete redesign with support for widgets and advanced customizations. This particular update focuses on giving users options, and these personalizations expand beyond the Lock Screen. Users on iOS 16 beta can use Apple Pay in Chrome, Edge, and seemingly any other web browser. On iOS 15 and earlier versions, this feature remains exclusive to Safari.

This doesn’t work in Edge or Chrome on that latest macOS beta because I assume it requires the third party render engines to be updated where as Edge and Chrome on iOS use Safari’s render engine.

— Steve Moser (@SteveMoser) July 30, 2022

As highlighted by Steve Moser on Twitter, iOS 16 beta doesn’t limit Apple Pay to Safari. This addition is likely due to underlying WebKit changes. All iPhone web browsers are forced to depend on the WebKit engine. So any tweaks that Apple makes to it affect all iPhone web browsers.

On the Mac it’s a different story. Apple doesn’t force developers to adopt WebKit in their web browsers. This could be why even the latest macOS Ventura beta build still doesn’t allow non-Safari users to take advantage of Apple Pay. It’s still unclear if this will change down the road.

Apple Pay support in third-party iPhone browsers is a welcome addition. Those on iOS 16 won’t have to jump between Chrome and Safari just for the sake of completing an online purchase. The change could potentially help the Cupertino firm dodge a few antitrust lawsuits, too.

Do you actively use Apple Pay? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments section below.

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