Kalakshar US

Sony has unveiled the Xperia 5 V smartphone with some nice high-end features and one fewer camera, along with a slightly lower price tag. The company also promises an “extraordinary music and video experience” thanks to the HDR display, updated speakers and more — all at a slightly lower price than the previous Xperia 5 IV model. 

Sony smartphones are all about the cameras, and there’s good news in that regard, despite what looks like a worse camera array. The Xperia 5 V (yes that’s “five five”) has the same 52-megapixel Exmor T backside illuminated (BSI) Type 1/1.35-inch stacked sensor as the Xperia 1 V, meaning it’s very fast and very good in low-light. In addition, Sony has improved the AI-powered “bokeh mode” to get pictures “closer to the standards of interchangeable lens cameras,” the company said. 

As the photo above shows, though, there’s now only two rear cameras — the 48-megapixel Exmor T and a 12-megapixel 16mm ultrawide — rather than three as on the Xperia 5 IV. However, the primary sensor has much higher resolution than the previous 12-megapixel telephoto camera, and can dynamically switch between 24mm and 48mm (around 48mm and 96 mm 35mm equivalent) focal lengths, so you still get an equivalent 2X optical (lossless) zoom that should take much sharper images.

As before, you can shoot 4K video at up to 120fps in HDR, and it comes with optical image stabilization, along with 5-axis gyro-powered electronic stabilization for maximum smoothness. Other features include HDR recording, eye-tracking, “Creative Look” color presets and a new Video Creator app that automatically creates a final video based on your choice of shots and music. And for audio creators, it has a dedicated voice recording mic “that picks up your voice even with other voices and environmental sounds in the surroundings,” Sony says. 

It’s also designed as an entertainment machine, starting with the 6.1-inch OLED HD+ (1,080 x 2,520) display (the same specs as the last model). For watching movies, it comes with Sony’s TV Bravia X1 image quality engine for mobile, along with a newly developed front stage speaker system that offers “powerful deep bass” and negates the need for external speakers, Sony claims. And thanks to the power-saving tech, the 5,000mAh battery can go over 24 hours on a charge and maintain 80 percent or higher capacity after three years, according to the company. (That’s a subtle dig at Apple’s iPhone 14, in case you didn’t notice.)

The Xperia 5 V should also be solid for gaming, thanks to the flagship-level Snapdragon 8 Gen2 processor, 120Hz display refresh rate and a larger heat diffusion sheet (it’s available with 8GB or 12GB of RAM, plus 128GB of expandable storage). Meanwhile, the game enhancer adds features like an audio equalizer, voice chat mic and a screen recording function.

Despite a small drop in price in Europe, the Xperia 5 V isn’t cheap. It’s priced at £849 / €999 in the UK / Europe, with availability in “late September.” There’s no word on US pricing or availability, but we should hear something soon — and as a reminder, the Xperia 5 IV cost $1,000 at launch. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/sonys-xperia-5-v-phone-comes-with-a-flagship-52-megapixel-sensor-110148895.html?src=rss 

This is Bethesda’s highest-profile game since being bought by Microsoft. It’s also a high-profile game for the console maker, as the acquisition turned it into an Xbox exclusive. Starfield is here with vast gameplay options, stories and quests. According to Engadget’s Jessica Conditt, every player will find a gameplay aspect that resonates with them. Bethesda claims it will take hundreds of hours to interact with everything in Starfield, and according to Jessica, “40 hours and one New Game Plus later, this doesn’t feel like a lie.”

Combat is one of Starfield’s weak points. While gun battles are central to the game’s core loop, they often feel unnecessary and occasionally monotonous. The scale is grand, but it feels like a mix of other sci-fi games and references. However, if you liked Cyberpunk and you liked No Man’s Sky, there’s certainly a bit of both in Starfield.

– Mat Smith

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JLab’s insanely small wireless earbuds cover the basics for $40

And attach to a keyring.

JLab’s extremely affordable earbuds already strike a solid balance of value and performance, but the company set out to “drastically” reduce size and weight with its latest model. Announced back in December, the JBuds Mini is a set of insanely tiny wireless earbuds with a charging case smaller than a car key fob. While the $40 earbuds lack more advanced features, like active noise cancellation (ANC), there are touch controls, transparency mode and more.

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Philips Hue gets into home surveillance with its new Secure cameras

The brand’s new product category puts it in competition with Ring.

Signify, the Philips spinoff known for its Hue lighting products, has announced a new range of security cameras, putting it in direct competition with companies like Ring and Nest. The new Hue Secure cameras are for indoors or outdoors, and you can prop up the wired version with its companion desktop stand. Both will be available this fall, with the wired camera a bit cheaper at $218 (€200) than the $273 (€250) battery variant. The Philips Hue lineup also has contact sensors, so you can stick them on doors, windows and other places, to get notified if somebody opens them.

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Lenovo Legion Go hands-on

A more Switch-like handheld gaming PC.

For fans of handheld gaming PCs, 2023 keeps getting better. Following the release of ASUS’ ROG Ally earlier this year, Lenovo is entering the category with the Legion Go. Some of the Legion Go’s highlight features are to do with its screen. It’s an 8.8-inch 2,560 x 1,600 IPS panel with a 144Hz refresh rate and listed at 500 nits of brightness. That makes it the biggest screen on pretty much any device in this category. Other specs include an AMD Z1 Extreme chip, 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage.

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-our-verdict-on-starfield-111426637.html?src=rss 

Tesla’s refreshed Model 3 has finally gone on sale in China, Europe and elsewhere after leaking out here and there over the last year. It has a mild redesign, more range and an updated interior with new materials — along with a higher price tag in some regions. It’s supposed to start shipping in Europe next month, and US buyers could see it on the company’s ordering website soon. 

In a tweet from Tesla Europe, the company posted pictures showing the styling changes, particularly in the front end, which is sleeker and less bulbous than before. That in turn helps it travel farther on a charge. 

“Go up to 629 km (390 miles) on a single charge with updated exterior styling optimized for max aerodynamics,” a caption reads. That’s based on Europe’s WLTP range, though, which equates to 10-12 percent better range compared to the previous model. Given the 272 mile/333 mile EPA range of the current base/long range Model 3, that means US range could rise to about 300 miles/365 miles. 

Tesla is also promising “more refined & relaxed ride quality, thanks to a combination of a stiffer body & updated suspension tuning.” Two new colors (ultra red & stealth grey) are on offer for €2,000 over the base white color, and are designed to change subtly based on viewing angle and lighting. 

The interior has been refreshed as well (with physical controls still nowhere to be seen). Tesla is promising “more sophisticated materials, ventilated seats & customizable ambient lighting,” along with a rear touchscreen that gives entertainment and climate controls to backseat riders. Meanwhile, the the main touchscreen has more usable screen space thanks to the smaller bezels, and also “brighter, higher contrast & more responsive,” Tesla wrote. 

The Model 3 was already relatively quiet, but its silent electric operation also makes every exterior noise more pronounced. To that end, the new version has “360 degree acoustic glass [that] ensures silence inside the cabin no matter what’s happening around you” with significantly less road and wind noise, Tesla promised. It also comes with a better sound system that now has up to 17 speakers, dual subwoofers and dual amplifiers. “Obviously goes to 11,” Tesla said (read that in Elon Musk’s voice). 

Tesla has already made significant updates to the Model 3 since it was first released in 2018 (via firmware updates and minor physical changes), but the new version appears to make it more sophisticated and efficient — likely in response to polished EVs from Kia, Mercedes and others. It may also make the Model 3 cheaper to produce, according to rumors from last year. 

However, the new Model 3 could cost more when it arrives in the US. In China, the base model is now around $35,800, or 12 percent more than the previous version, according to The Wall Street Journal. At the same time, the base model is the same price in Norway, but the long range version is about $950 more. As mentioned, Tesla’s configurators are now live in Europe, with deliveries expected in October — and it should arrive in the US soon. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/teslas-redesigned-model-3-comes-with-a-new-interior-and-more-range-083832464.html?src=rss 

Lenovo has introduced its new flagship gaming laptop at IFA 2023, and it’s the first 16-inch model under the company’s Legion brand. Called the Lenovo Legion 9i, it’s powered by the 13th-gen Intel Core i9 processor and can be equipped with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTXTM 4090 Laptop GPU, as well as a 64GB Overclocked 5600Mhz Dual Channel DDR5 RAM or a 32GB Overclocked 6400Mhz DDR5 Dual Channel RAM. Lenovo VP Jun Ouyang said the Legion 9i is the first Legion laptop with an integrated liquid-cooling system and hardware AI chip tuning.

The company describes its liquid cooling system as the first of its kind for a 16-inch laptop. It’s positioned so that it runs over the GPU VRAM, allowing it to manage heat under extreme gaming sessions, and it switches on when the GPU hits a temperature of 183 degrees Fahrenheit (84 degrees Celsius). This works in tandem with an AI-tuned triple-fan air-cooling system. Speaking of AI, Lenovo’s LA-2 AI chip syncs the RGB strips around the keyboard and on other parts of the laptop. As for the device’s screen, it uses Lenovo’s PureSight 3.2K Mini-LED with a 16:10 aspect ratio and a 165Hz variable refresh rate. The laptop can also accommodate up to a 2TB SSD for storage. 

One interesting thing to note is that the company didn’t launch separate Pro and Slim variants like it does for lower-tier gaming laptops, because it says this model fulfills the purpose of both varieties. The Legion laptop will ship with Windows 11 and a 3-month free subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. It will be available in October with prices starting at $4,399. 

In addition to the new flagship laptop, Lenovo has also announced a new version of its Legion Glasses, which are a wearable virtual monitor. They use the company’s micro-OLED display technology and can deliver full HD resolution with a 60Hz refresh rate for each eye. These glasses provide a portable, large-screen viewing experience for users with Legion Go and other compatible devices, which include most newer Android phones, iPhones, Windows and Mac computers. They will also be available next month and will set buyers back at least $329. 

Finally, Lenovo has unveiled a 27-inch ThinkVision 3D monitor that doesn’t need glasses. It’s 3D Explorer software gives users a way to access various 3D apps and provides them with a platform for 3D creation. When 3D isn’t needed, though, users can switch to 2D mode instead. The ThinkVision 27 3D Monitor will be available in select markets in January 2024 with prices starting at $2,999.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/lenovo-announces-its-first-16-inch-legion-gaming-laptop-040004058.html?src=rss 

For fans of handheld gaming PCs, 2023 just keeps getting better. Following the release of ASUS’ ROG Ally earlier this year, Lenovo is entering the category with the Legion Go. And, after getting the chance to go hands-on with it, I think some of Lenovo’s twists may end up making a big difference.

Before we get in too deep, it’s important to mention that the units I tried are very much pre-production samples. You can see evidence of this on components like the shoulder buttons, where one side of the device features metallic paint (which is what you’ll get on retail devices) while the other side is plain black plastic. Lenovo also says that alongside a stock install of Windows 11, it’s planning to equip the Legion Go with a custom app launcher similar to ASUS’ Amoury Crate. But, that wasn’t present on the demo units I used. The Legion’s Go’s body also felt a bit rough in places, so if you spot labels or parts of its shell that don’t look quite right, Lenovo is likely looking to polish those up before its official launch sometime in October.

OK, now that we got that out the way, let’s talk about some of the Legion Go’s highlight features, the most notable of which is its screen. It’s an 8.8-inch 2,560 x 1,600 IPS panel with a 144Hz refresh rate and listed at 500 nits of brightness. So not only is the Legion Go’s panel as fast as what you get from the ROG Ally, it’s also the biggest screen on pretty much any device in this category. On top of that, colors absolutely pop, which makes the device even more appealing than many of its rivals.

The obvious downside to this is that between that big display and a somewhat boxy body, the Legion Go is rather bulky. Measuring 11.8 x 5.15 x 1.61 inches, the Legion Go is much closer in size to the Steam Deck than sleeker rivals like the ROG Ally. As for the rest of its design, you get a familiar Xbox-style button layout in front, with an interesting asymmetrical rear paddle layout in back, with a total of four rear buttons along with a scroll wheel, though I’m not sure what’s the intended purpose for that last component. That said, I’m not going to turn my nose up at additional input methods.

Interestingly, Lenovo is also drawing inspiration from the Nintendo Switch as evidenced by the folding kickstand in back and the ability to detach the Legion Go’s controllers from its main body. However, I did notice that removing the controllers isn’t quite as smooth or easy as it is on a Switch. First, you have to press the button in the back and then kind of tilt and slide at the same time. Granted, I mostly got the hang of it after a few minutes, but it definitely takes some practice.

This kickstand does make it easy to prop the display up on a table while using the controllers remotely, though. And thanks to the two USB 4 ports, you can even connect peripherals like a mouse and keyboard if you want to turn the Legion Go into a tiny desktop. Alternatively, you can use the single touchpad on the right control to mouse around in Windows, which is a nice nod towards general usability, because unlike the ROG Ally, you can’t use the Legion Go’s joysticks to move your cursor.

Another clever feature on the Legion Go is that on the bottom of the right controller, there’s what Lenovo is calling an FPS Switch. If you toggle that and then drop the right controller into an included cradle, suddenly you get what is essentially a vertical mouse that you can drag across a table while playing shooters. That said, I’m not sure I’ll ever prefer this setup over a traditional horizontal mouse or even a joystick.

Finally, with specs including an AMD Z1 Extreme chip, 16GB of RAM, up to 1TB of storage and a 49.2 WHr battery, the Legion Go looks to be just as powerful as the ROG Ally. But what makes this so impressive is that in addition to coming with an included case (which you don’t get from ASUS), Lenovo is being very aggressive with pricing, as the Legion Go will start at $699. That’s the same as the Ally, despite the Legion Go’s bigger screen, bigger battery and more sophisticated controllers.

So while Lenovo still has some polishing to do before the Legion Go officially goes on sale sometime in October, with another big name joining the battle, it’s clear the fight for handheld gaming PC supremacy is just beginning.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/lenovo-legion-go-hands-on-a-more-switch-like-handheld-gaming-pc-040031587.html?src=rss