Intel today announced that it plans to reveal more information about its upcoming Ice Lake server chips at the “How Wonderful Gets Done 2021” event on April 6.
The company said it plans to launch the 3rd Gen Xeon Scalable processors as well as “the latest additions to Intel’s hardware and software portfolio targeting data centers, 5G networks, and intelligent edge infrastructure” during the event.
Intel’s revealed precious little about Ice Lake. It offered some details about the 10nm chips in August 2020, and it said in November 2020 that its 32-core offerings would offer better performance than AMD’s 64-core EPYC processors, but that’s about it.
Luckily we have learned a bit more from leaks. A 36-core Ice Lake processor leaked via Geekbench in December 2020, and last week Hewlett Packard Enterprise accidentally revealed a 40-core member of the lineup on its support website.
Intel said in January that Ice Lake chips had finally entered production after series of delays pushed the processors back from their intended launch in 2020. Now it seems the company is finally ready to share more about the next-gen Xeon lineup.
The “How Wonderful Gets Done 2021” Launch Event will be held on April 6 at 8am PT and streamed via Intel’s website. Folks who can’t watch the event live should be able to view a replay on the Intel Newsroom.
There’s a new iPad on the way. Or, rather, four to be exact.
Apple is said to be about to launch a new iPad Pro next month. While most range refreshes include minor tweaks, this one should bring some major new screen technology into play – and it’s tech that could really improve the user experience.
Not only that, but Apple is also thought to be working on a new iPad Mini that’s bigger than the current model, as well as a refresh to the standard iPad; both of those should launch this year. Add them to the two different-sized Pro models, and that makes four new iPads in the pipeline.
Excited? You should be. Here’s why.
Check out the current range: Best iPads: big, small, budget and premium
Apple iPad Pro 2021: release date
The next iPad Pro refresh could happen very soon indeed. That’s according to Bloomberg, which carried a report recently detailing the new models.
Its sources say that the new Pro models will launch in April. There’s no firm date set, and Apple is yet to announce any events for the coming weeks. But it usually gives at least two weeks’ notice, so expect a mid-April launch at the earliest.
Once they have been announced, however, the new iPads could go on sale just days later, or even immediately.
This would be the fifth generation of iPad Pro. The current model launched last March, a year ago almost to the day. But a spring launch isn’t a given for iPad Pros. The third generation launched in October 2018, while the second gen landed in June 2017. The first model was announced in September 2015 and launched in November of the same year. Fingers crossed it becomes a new spring regular.
OS agnostic? Read our guide to the best tablets covering both iOS and Android
iPad Pro 2021: price
(Image credit: Apple)
The iPad Pro is the daddy of the iPad family, a stylus-equipped tablet that’s superpowered for work and play. Want the best games? The crispest movies? Need it for work, be it illustrating, animating, video editing or music production? It’s the tablet for you.
Of course, all this power doesn’t come cheap. Here’s how the current Pro models stack up.
iPad Pro 11in: from £769 ($799, AU$1329)
iPad Pro 12.9in: from £969 ($999, AU$1649)
With all that natty new screen tech at hand to go with all the usual improvements, we can’t see Apple dropping the price of the new models. Expect them to be in keeping with the current price tags.
iPad Pro 2021: screen
(Image credit: Apple)
We’re expecting two new models of iPad Pro, in the same sizes as the current models (11in and 12.9in). And it’s the bigger of the two that’s really got our attention.
That’s because it is said to boast a Mini LED screen. Like OLED, this technology is used in TVs, but it has better contrast ratios than the current Pro’s OLED panel. It is also less susceptible to burn-in, so if you accidentally leave your tablet on YouTube over the weekend you won’t have to worry about the logo being forever etched in the screen.
We don’t have only Bloomberg‘s word for it. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said back in 2019 that he expected Apple to start using Mini LED screens in its tablets and laptops. He even predicted that Apple would launch the tech in the 12.9in iPad Pro. When two such reputable sources say the same thing, the odds are that it’s true.
Mini LED has a lot going for it. It’s pitched as a more affordable version of OLED, though it works similarly to LCD tech. Essentially, the LEDs on a Mini LED panel’s backlight are much, much smaller than those used on a traditional LCD screen – and therefore there are a great many more of them; we’re talking tens of thousands rather than tens of hundreds. The idea is that the more LEDs used, the greater control the device has over over local dimming – i.e. how bright or dim parts of the screen can go. Theoretically as a result, Mini LEDs can produce pictures with better contrast, pictures with more precise shading and, in turn, better colour reproduction than your average LCD screen.
With a backlight, Mini LED TVs can reach a higher peak brightness than an OLED screen is capable of, and as there is greater control over what portions of the screen are dark it’s easier to achieve deeper blacks. That said, as there is still a backlight in the mix and the LEDs can’t turn completely off, as the self-emissive diodes in OLEDs can, it’s doubtful they’ll be able to produce quite the lights-off blacks that OLEDs can.
Still, we can’t wait to see the technology in action on an iPad. And it sounds as though we won’t have to, for long.
iPad Pro 2021: design
While the screen may be all new, it doesn’t sound as if the design of the device will change much, if at all. According to Bloomberg‘s report, the new Pro models will look similar to the current models. But that’s no bad thing.
The current iPad Pro, after all, is about as sleek as tablets come. Thanks to its narrow bezel, it’s basically all screen, making movies, games and TV shows all the more immersive. Sticking to this design will only serve to better show off the new screen tech, too – when the device is all screen, it really enhances those popping colours and sharply defined edges.
The current models are super slim and light, too. The 11in model sizes up at 24.7 x 17.8 x 0.6cm, while the 12.9in version comes in at 28 x 21.5 x 0.6cm. The smaller model weighs 473g, while the larger tips the scales at 643g – that’s lighter than a squeezy bottle of ketchup.
Unlike some other tablets, the Pro features speakers on both its top and bottom. This means that, when watching a film with the tablet in landscape orientation, you benefit from stereo sound, in contrast to those tablets with speakers in only one place.
The Pro also features a USB-C connection, but the new models have reportedly been tested with Apple’s Thunderbolt connectors. It’s not clear at this point whether they will ship with Thunderbolt or USB-C.
Apple is also reportedly testing its MagSafe connector for laptops. MagSafe is a magnetic connector – because it connects using magnets, the connection breaks if the cable is yanked out, and your device won’t tumble to the floor (say if someone trips over the cable). It was first used in Apple’s laptops, but recently made a return in the iPhone 12 as a way of snapping on accessories. With Apple mulling over MagSafe for MacBooks, could the next iPads also use it?
iPad Pro 2021: specs
(Image credit: Apple)
While the new iPad Pros might look almost identical to the current models, they should be much more powerful. So powerful, in fact, that performance should reportedly be “on a par” with Apple’s M1 MacBook Airs, MacBook Pros and Max Mini.
These M1 devices are the first to feature Apple’s own processors. That’s because last year the firm stopped using Intel chips in favour of its own, homegrown ones, known as Apple silicon. With Apple making both the hardware and software, it is able to optimise performance – these chips are made specifically for Apple devices, after all, as opposed to off-the-shelf processors that power all manner of desktops, laptops and tablets.
Reviews have praised Apple silicon devices, due to their notably improved performance. They have also shown big improvements in battery life.
For example, the latest Apple MacBook Air boasts up to 15 hours of wireless web performance, and up to 18 hours of movie streaming via the Apple TV app. The current iPad Pros manage only about 10 hours of power before needing a recharge, so it’s quite possible that the new models will see a significant battery bump.
The new Pros are also said to have new cameras, but here details are a bit thin on the ground.
Tablets’ cameras are usually a bit of an afterthought; but not on the Pro. This is a device built for creative professionals, after all, and imaging technology is likely to be high on their priority list. It has two rear cameras (a 12MP wide-angle lens, and a 10MP ultra-wide), with 2x optical zoom and 5x digital zoom. It also allows for 4K video recording at 24fps, 30fps or 60fps, 1080p HD video recording at 30fps or 60fps, and 720p HD video recording at 30fps.
The 7MP front-facing camera also has 1080p HD video recording at 30fps or 60fps.
Any upgrade on these would be most welcome, especially to the filmmakers eyeing up a new tablet to help make their movies.
Other new iPads for 2021
(Image credit: Apple)
As we said, the new Pros aren’t the only iPads in the Apple pipeline. The firm is also reportedly working on a new iPad Mini and a refresh of the standard iPad.
The Mini should have a slightly larger screen than the current 7.9in iPad Mini. This follows the trend in mobiles, which has been for bigger screens in recent years. Though it would still carry the Mini moniker, so don’t expect it to supersize anytime soon.
The standard iPad will reportedly be slimmer and lighter than the current model. The current iPad measures 25 x 17 x 0.7cm, so cutting down these dimensions will be no mean feat.
Expect minor spec bumps for these two devices, too.
Both of these iPads are expected to launch later in the year, possibly around September. That would be a year on from the last iPad range refresh. It’s also when we’re expecting the new iPhone 13. Could be a busy month.
MORE:
Read our in-depth Apple iPad (2020) review
Find the perfect Apple tablet for you: the best iPads 2021
Apple’s first over-ear headphones rated: read our AirPods Max review
Everything we know so far about the rumoured AirPods 3
Apple’s HomePod mini smart speaker has an as-yet-undisclosed temperature and humidity sensor in its casing, Bloomberg reports. The sensor’s exact location was confirmed by iFixit, and it appears to be placed away from the speaker’s internal components so it can measure the external temperature. The exact sensor used is a 1.5 x 1.5mm HDC2010 Humidity and Temperature Digital Sensor from Texas Instruments.
Although the sensor isn’t currently usable by HomePod mini owners, according to Bloomberg, Apple has internally discussed allowing the sensor to provide information to other smart home devices like thermostats or fans. This could give smart heating equipment more information about how warm a room is or allow the speaker to trigger a device like a fan if it senses a room has reached a certain temperature. The functionality could work via HomeKit, Apple’s smart home ecosystem, which currently integrates with dozens of internet-connected thermostats.
Amazon has previously included temperature sensors in Echo speakers like its 2020 model, where the sensor can be used to trigger other devices via Alexa routines. Meanwhile, Google sells standalone sensors via its Nest sub-brand, and its Nest Hub announced last week also includes a similar built-in sensor to help monitor your room’s temperature while you sleep.
Although Apple declined to comment to Bloomberg on its report (and did not immediately respond to The Verge’s request for comment), on at least one occasion, it’s included hardware in a device that’s only been officially activated months later. Its 2008 iPod touch included a Bluetooth chip, Bloomberg notes, but it wasn’t able to connect with Bluetooth devices until the year after its release. The hope is that a similar software update may be on the way for the HomePod mini. For those keeping track, major new HomePod firmware tends to release in the fall of each year.
(Pocket-lint) – The big ol’ beast upon which your eyes are affixed is the Poco X3 Pro: the Xiaomi offshoot’s sub-flagship device, here to tempt you with massive screen, massive battery, and not-so-massive price point.
Just a year after the Poco X2 launched, the X3 Pro isn’t exactly an unexpected surprise. But it does cut its own path: its the first device to feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 processor, which is all-powerful (basically an 855+ rebadged) but, crucially, drops any 5G modem – and, with that, any battery/cost implication that such connectivity could cause.
As such, the Poco X3 Pro is a fairly unique prospect. It’s not quite as flagship grade as the smaller Poco F3 – which was announced the same day, here’s how the two compare – but as 4G/LTE handsets on a big scale go, it’s got a lot of weight behind it (both figuratively and literally speaking).
As you’ve no doubt already figured out by now: the Poco X3 Pro is a big and weighty phone – even more so than its spec sheet might have you think. No, 215g is hardly a lot when you’re weighing out pasta for dinner or something, but in a phone that you handle constantly it’s noticeably chonky. It’s far more than the Redmi Note 10 Pro, for example, which has almost exactly the same footprint.
Pocket-lint
The big scale comes, in part, from this Poco’s big screen. This 6.67-inch ‘DotDisplay’ panel is sourced from Samsung, complete with many of the current nice-to-haves in a phone – namely the 120Hz refresh rate to keep the visual experience smoother. The Full HD+ resolution – that’s 2400 x 1080 pixles – might not sound top of the line, but it’s really as much as you’ll need and doesn’t negatively affect fidelity.
Flip the phone around and the rear design has a kind-of retro look about it. Phone design moves on so rapidly year on year that, for whatever reason, the Poco X3 Pro just looks a bit ‘last year’. Maybe it’s the raised camera unit, housed within a black circle, that’s behind the times. The big look-at-me Poco logo emblazoned on the back is way bigger than necessary, too.
There are some nice touches though. A 3.5mm headphone jack is on board, if you’re still using wired headphones. And the side-mounted fingerprint scanner – which doubles-up as the power button – is well placed for rapid login. Or, by the wonders of face unlock, you can feed the X3 Pro your face and get a speedy unlock that way too.
Pocket-lint
In summary: the Poco X3 Pro is massive, in a kind of gawky way that’s not at the forefront of phone design. But then it’s also practical, if you’re looking for a large phone, thanks to that massive screen and massive battery combination. And, really, that’s the most important take-away factor.
Performance & Battery
Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 platform, 6GB/8GB RAM
5,160mAh battery, 33W charging
4G/LTE only, no 5G
There’s been heaps of chat about 5G over the last few years. For good reason, too, as it enables super-fast connectivity with low-latency. Except, it doesn’t if you can’t get a 5G singal – which, in majority of places around the world, is often the case. Not to mention the elevated asking price of your monthly mobile subscription.
Pocket-lint
The Poco X3 Pro bypasses any 5G problem by, well, shunning the connectivity entirely. That, it seems, is much the point of using the all-new Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 processor – there’s no X50/X55 series modem attached within the platform, thus no 5G. But 4G/LTE connectivity is perfectly good enough and, without the concern over elevated costs or battery consumption, we think it’ll be lapped up by many consumers.
Not to mention that the Snapdragon 860 is really rather powerful. It’s a lot like a rebaged Snapdragon 855+ from two years back – same eight cores, same clock speed (2.96GHz), same graphics chip – just minus the faster modem, as we said. In terms of performance, though, that means there’s little to nothing that’s going to bother this phone at all.
We’ve been living with the Poco X3 Pro as our own for a working week, digging into Zwift sessions (and Companion ones), playing South Park: Phone Destroyer, and generally milling about our suite of apps to browse, mail and watch videos. None of that has caused so much as a hiccup. It’s all a very smooth experience – often literally, thanks to the 120Hz display.
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Having this double-speed refresh rate here makes a lot of sense as a more powerful processor can handle decent frame-rates in a variety of situations, from the user interface and software through to a myriad of apps, including games. Some makers have pushed faster refresh screens but then not paired a quite good enough processor to always make good on that hardware – the cheaper Moto G30 being one such example – but the Poco always delivers.
Without throttling battery saver features enabled, we’ve been cutting through 30 per cent of battery every 10 hours. That includes some casual gaming. It’s no surprise, really, as the Poco X3 Pro houses a 5,160mAh battery – which is massive by any measure. But a 30-hours-plus innings per charge would be no bother, making this one of those phones that’s close to being a two-dayer unless you’re really hammering out heavyweight apps a lot of the time.
There are some caveats to all this though. That comes down to Xiaomi’s MIUI software, which has a lot of detail when it comes to battery handling. By default every app is set to ‘Battery Saver’ – so you’re likely going to need to manually move your key apps to ‘No Restrictions’ to ensure they continue to function better than not.
That said, the Poco X3 Pro still hits some walls. It’s persistently exhibited problems with notifications – much like we found with the Xiaomi Mi 11, albeit worse here – such as, for example, hour-long delays in WhatsApp notifications, plus delays with various other apps. In theory the software will learn which apps are most important to you – by volume and repetition of use – and permit those more access, but that’s not helped our overall experience.
Customisation can be a great thing, but it can also be a hindrance. We would rather MIUI was a just more gentle with its approach to limiting with apps. Why certain Xiaomi phones on the same software versions run fine – the Redmi Note 10 Pro being one example – but others do not, such as this Poco, is rather perplexing. Each has its own launcher, sure, but these ongoing notification issues are a needless irritation.
Pocket-lint
Which is why this more laborious setup won’t be distracting those with a little more budget from buying into, say, a Google Pixel phone with stock Android software, or something like a Motorola handset instead (likely foregoing some power for the sake of user experience).
Whereas many are now pushing 108-megapixel cameras as the norm, Poco is a little further down the ladder with the X3 Pro, instead opting for a 48-megapixel main sensor. This functions by using four pixels in one, to produce 12-megapixel results. Which are fairly decent quality overall, including in a mix of conditions, with a usable Night Mode too.
Pocket-lint
Move away from that main sensor, however, and the X3 Pro isn’t especially ‘pro’ in its sell. There’s an 8-megapixel wide-angle that, while useful, is of limited quality – as is typical at this level, really.
But it’s the pair of other cameras – both 2-megapixel sensors – to cover depth readings and macro close-ups that are throwaway. They’re of limited use, don’t need to be here, and are on board to up the count and lure you in with the “quad camera” pitch. Macro is so hidden that you’ll never know to use it, which is a good job as the results are poor.
Pocket-lint
: Main camera – Night ModeMain camera – Night Mode
Pare the X3 Pro’s camera spec down and it’s got a perfectly fine main lens, then, but that’s about as far as things go. It’s fairly typical of this level, though, so isn’t a surprise – but consider that “quad camera” claim as and oversell and your expectations may be met.
Best smartphones 2021 rated: The top mobile phones available to buy today
By Chris Hall
·
Verdict
The Poco X3 Pro is all about going big. It’s got a big screen, big battery, and its anticipated low price point should have big appeal.
In some regards, however, it’s a bit too big for its own boots. The software doesn’t quite connect in this format – we’ve had notification problems which irk – while the sheer physical size and weight mean other devices may hold added appeal.
But as a pitch there’s sense here: if you want a long-lasting phone, don’t mind the physical bulk, and don’t care for 5G, then the Poco X3 Pro will hit the mark for certain users in certain markets.
Also consider
Pocket-lint
Redmi Note 10 Pro
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Still a large size, but the Redmi is lighter weight, feeling more balanced and accomplished compared to the big slice that is Poco. The battery isn’t quite as epic, though, if that’s your main want – but we found the software here wasn’t as marred by notification issues (despite it still running MIUI).
Microsoft is planning to start reopening its Redmond, Seattle headquarters later this month. The software giant originally started encouraging employees to work from home more than a year ago, just as the coronavirus pandemic began, and the company’s main US offices have remained closed for months as a result. This will start to change on March 29th, with a limited reopening of Microsoft’s headquarters in Redmond, Seattle.
“Currently, Microsoft work sites in 21 countries have been able to accommodate additional workers in our facilities – representing around 20% of our global employee population,” says Kurt DelBene, Microsoft’s head of corporate strategy. “On March 29, Microsoft will also start making this shift at our Redmond, Washington, headquarters and nearby campuses.”
Microsoft says it’s taking this gradual approach in line with local authority restrictions, and that the company has determined that it can now safely accommodate more workers while sticking to Washington state capacity limits. “As we watch for progress against the virus in the region and continue to evaluate our guidance, employees who work at Redmond work sites or nearby campuses have the choice to return to those facilities or to continue working remotely, and also have the flexibility to do a mixture of both,” explains DelBene.
Microsoft’s hybrid workplace dial.Image: Microsoft
This is the very beginning of a reopening of Microsoft’s offices, as part of six stages the company outlined last year. This is stage four, or what’s called a soft opening, to allow more employees back. Stage five moves offices into open with restrictions, before stage six is fully open without restrictions.
Alongside this reopening, Microsoft is also focusing on a hybrid workplace as it anticipates a continued demand for remote working and flexibility among its own employees and elsewhere. Microsoft is releasing a 2021 version of its Work Trend Index, a report that includes data and research on how employees and businesses are responding to the pandemic.
Microsoft has found that 73 percent of workers surveyed want to continue with flexible remote work. Microsoft itself now considers working from home part time as standard for employees, and the company is looking into new ways of using technology to bridge the gap between remote work and traditional offices.
“We’ve pulled together a group of Microsoft researchers, engineers and real estate and facilities experts to prototype hybrid meeting spaces at our Redmond, Washington, and U.K. campuses,” explains DelBene. “The group is investigating different meeting configurations and technologies like multiple screens, cameras and mixed reality scenarios to understand the most effective, inclusive set-up for hybrid work.”
This work is still early, but Microsoft is prototyping tweaking existing technology to help with meetings and remote work, and even improving Microsoft Teams to bridge the gap. That may well involve turning all the screens in your home into Teams-capable devices, to allow home workers to see employees on the big screen. Microsoft hinted at this type of concept during its Ignite event earlier this month.
“Though we don’t know how far off a new normal is, we are adapting to a new way of working with an expanded understanding of flexibility,” says DelBene. “We know there are thousands of ways of working – in the last year our employees have shown what is possible – and we believe that flexibility is essential to maintaining work-life balance.”
OnePlus is switching to ColorOS, the variant of Android used by Oppo smartphones, for its new OnePlus 9 series in China. The move was announced on OnePlus’ forums by Gary C, the product lead on OxygenOS, which is what OnePlus phones use in the rest of the world.
“As a global technology company, we always look for ways to address the different usage habits and preferences among our users worldwide,” Gary C says. “We truly believe this customized new operating system will bring our Chinese users a software experience that is better suited to their liking.”
This doesn’t change anything for the global OnePlus 9 series that’s set to be unveiled in full tomorrow — it’ll still run OxygenOS. But it does appear to spell the end for HydrogenOS, which is the China-specific version of Android that OnePlus had previously been using for all of its phones that shipped in the mainland.
ColorOS is already used by a lot more people in China than HydrogenOS; Oppo recently became the biggest smartphone brand in its home country for the first time. I’m using it full-time right now as I review Oppo’s new Find X3 Pro flagship (pictured above), and I generally find it to be sleek and performant. There’s no denying that HydrogenOS (and OxygenOS) provide a more minimalist experience, though — if that’s your thing.
Oppo and OnePlus are both owned by Chinese conglomerate BBK Electronics, sharing a supply chain and often critical technology. Realme, another BBK brand, also used ColorOS at first before developing its own software called Realme UI. The companies tend to publicly downplay the connection between themselves, but OnePlus deciding to use Oppo’s software outright is one of the more conspicuous examples of collaboration to date.
While Linux distributions don’t suffer the ignominy of a blue screen of death, running processes (aka programs) do become unresponsive sometimes. If you run a web browser, media player, ebook reader, etc. on your Linux distribution, each of these is a different process, with a unique process ID and, traditionally, you need to issue a couple of different commands to find this ID and stop it.
Released under the MIT License, fkill is a cross-platform utility that can be used to interactively kill processes with ease. With fkill, we can scroll through a list of running processes and kill any of them by pressing the Enter key. We can also search through the processes by typing the name of commands / processes into the terminal and the output will be filtered to show any matching entries. This is a world away from how commands such as top are used to list processes via grep and a separate command is then used to kill the process using its PID.
Fkill is not available in Linux distributions out of the box. It’s also not available in the software repositories of most Linux distributions. However, its only dependency is the Node.js runtime environment, which you can easily install from the software repository on your distribution. You’ll also need the npm package manager, which too can be installed using the package management tool on your distribution.
How to Install Fkill in Linux
The following instructions work in Ubuntu or Debian and probably several other flavors as well.
1. Open a terminal window and update the list of repositories.
$ sudo apt update
2. Install Node.js and Npm Package Manager.
sudo apt install nodejs npm
3. Install fkill.
npm install --global fkill-cli
How to Use Fkill to Kill Tasks in Linux
Terminating a program with fkill is as easy as typing it at the command prompt, with no command line arguments required. Here are three main ways to use it.
1. Type fkill and navigate the menu. If you just launch fkill, you’ll be shown a scrolling list of all current processes. Select the process you want to kill and hit Enter.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
You can use the arrows to navigate through the list or start typing the name of the process you are looking for (ex: “fire” for firefox) and you’ll see a list of matching processes appear.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
2. Enter fkill [process name]. For example, you’d type fkill firefox to kill firefox.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
3. Enter fkill [process ID]. If you know the process ID, you can kill it directly.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Unlike alternative commands such as kill, which supports sending many different signals to the process, Fkill can only be used to kill the process so it works just like kill -9.
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Apple’s AirPods Max just might have ushered in a new norm of $500-plus wireless headphones. My argument in support of this? V-Moda’s new M-200 ANC headphones, which sell for $499.99 and, as the name makes obvious, are the company’s first headphones to include active noise cancellation. V-Moda is a company that’s well-known in the DJ world, and prior headphones like the original M100s and Crossfade 2 Wireless have earned it some fans in the audiophile crowd. With the M-200 ANCs, V-Moda is trying to compete in a higher price bracket than ever before — but the results are a little uneven.
If there’s one thing that V-Moda has never wavered on, it’s durability. Like past models, the M-200 ANC headphones feel phenomenally strong and reassuring no matter how harshly you handle them. These things are built like tanks. My old pair of M100s must be at least seven or eight years old at this point, but the folding joints and other core hardware have never given out — even long after the headband material has started to wear and show its age. I still use ‘em as a gaming headset with V-Moda’s add-on boom mic.
I think it’s fair to question whether this is the same V-Moda that it used to be; before the company was sold to Roland, I’d regularly sit down with founder Val Kolton, who seemed to hold the brand to an obsessive level of quality assurance. But so far, I don’t see any reason to question the robustness of these new headphones.
The M-200 ANCs stick with the usual V-Moda aesthetic: it’s mostly a mix of metal and artificial leather. They also still fold down into the company’s signature carrying case. However, the size of the shield plates on each ear cup has changed. So if you’ve got old, customized plates, those will no longer fit. The ear pads (filled with memory foam) now attach magnetically and feel nice and cushiony. It used to be that you had to buy V-Moda’s aftermarket “XL” earpads for the best extended comfort, but not so this time around. I’m also glad they’re so easy to replace. Magnets!
There are buttons at the top of the right ear cup for play / pause and volume controls, and this is where the M-200 ANCs start to betray their asking price. The buttons are mushy, which I can understand since that means they don’t click loudly as you’re listening to music. It can still feel a bit cheap. Aside from this, their location so far at the top can make them awkward to reach when you’re actually wearing the headphones. Maybe it’s just my enormous head, but I struggled at times. The buttons at the bottom for power and noise cancellation are much simpler to reach (and for some reason, they’re clickier, too).
Out of the box with EQ settings left untouched, the M-200 ANCs have an extremely neutral sound profile. I don’t know that I’d call them reference studio monitors, but they’re very flat. This can make for a jarring change if you’re switching over from other headphones like the AirPods Max or Sennheiser’s Momentum Wireless cans, which try to show you everything they’re sonically worth right off the bat without any adjustments. In this case, you’ll want to immediately explore the EQ presets (V-Moda’s app lets you take full manual control) to find something that sounds the best to you. Even if you crank the low-frequency sliders, the M-200 ANCs won’t rattle your brain. But you can get them to a point where EDM and hip-hop don’t underwhelm, which they can if you stick with the default, balanced EQ.
When you do take the time to nail the EQ, the M-200 ANCs sound very good. V-Moda downsized to 40-millimeter drivers (from 50mm in the original M-200), but these headphones do a terrific job of preserving the mids through all sorts of EQ adjustments. “$500 noise-canceling headphones with neutral sound” strikes me as an odd zone to be playing in, but V-Moda can certainly paint itself as a standout here. They support aptX HD, aptX, AAC, and SBC Bluetooth codecs, so they’re well-rounded for wireless audio. I also tested them wired with my Apple Lossless files and streaming Amazon Music HD, and the M-200 ANCs proved wonderfully layered and rich. (They don’t seem to pass audio over USB-C, unfortunately, so that port is just for charging.)
I’ve noticed that V-Moda’s app can be buggy; sometimes it’ll display a spinning loading indicator that never goes anywhere. The M-200 ANCs have also given me “iPhone can no longer connect to this device” errors, which required me to pair the headphones all over again. Roland needs to put more work into its software. Most frustrating of all is that the M-200 ANCs can only store two paired devices in memory. If you add a third, the first one will be overwritten. Want to switch between a phone, tablet, and PC without much fuss? Sorry.
The M-200 ANC ear pads attach to the headphones magnetically. Underneath them are these 40mm drivers.
These headphones don’t have a dedicated transparency mode that you can toggle on for hearing outside noise. But V-Moda did blatantly steal a trick from Sony: you can hold a hand on the left ear cup, the music will drop in volume, and ambient noise will be piped in using the built-in microphones. Once you remove your hand, your music volume and ANC return to normal. That’s a useful feature for quick interactions or listening to an announcement at an airport or on a train, but at $500, I would’ve liked to see some way of keeping transparency mode enabled for as long as desired — no arm-lifting required.
The M-200 ANCs lack sensors for detecting when they’ve been removed from your ears, so they won’t pause audio automatically like other premium noise-canceling headphones. Again, for $500, those extra convenience tricks should be part of the experience. Another would be multipoint Bluetooth pairing, which these headphones don’t give you either. Battery life is rated at 20 hours, which is on par with Bose and Apple but short of Sony.
V-Moda is new to noise cancellation, and it shows. The M-200 ANCs can’t rise to the level of the AirPods Max or even lower-priced options like Sony’s 1000XM4s or the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700. They’ll cut out a lot of lower-frequency noise, but the overall effect isn’t quite on the level of competitors. The V-Moda app lets you choose between 10 levels of noise cancellation, but even fully dialed up, I never quite felt like I was in that personal bubble of silence that the best ANC headphones provide. On the positive side, V-Moda’s noise cancellation didn’t result in any discomfort, nor did it noticeably alter the sound, which can happen with some headphones.
Who will be next to join the $500 noise-canceling headphones squad?
Along with the headphones and case, V-Moda includes a 3.5-millimeter cable, USB-C charging cable, and an airplane adapter. I really wish the company had bundled its BoomPro microphone — sold separately for $35 — right in the box with the M-200 ANCs. It feels like a missed opportunity, as the BoomPro is truly a great accessory for gaming and Zoom calls. Keep in mind that Apple didn’t even include a headphone cable with the AirPods Max, so I can’t knock V-Moda too hard, but this would’ve been a prime moment to give customers that bonus. It also would’ve helped boost the M-200 ANCs at voice call performance. As is, the built-in microphones are nothing special, and callers might find it difficult to hear you in loud or windy environments.
I genuinely wonder if V-Moda would have priced these things at $500 in a world without the AirPods Max. With Apple’s cans set aside, you’d be looking at an upper echelon of Bluetooth headphones with options like the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 and Sennheiser Momentum 3 that tops out around $400. (No, I haven’t forgotten about those $800 Beoplay H95s, but come on.) The M-200 ANCs are a solid pair of wireless headphones, and they maintain V-Moda’s fantastic build quality. But it’s impossible to overlook what’s missing when a company is asking for this much cash. The balanced sound signature will be a definite win for people who are explicitly looking for that. But these really needed to have a true transparency mode and better ANC to keep up with the pack and to warrant the significant investment.
Home/Component/Graphics/AMD Radeon Software update adds Performance Tuning tool and improves Radeon Boost and Anti-Lag
João Silva 12 hours ago Graphics
Besides a multitude of fixes, AMD’s latest Radeon Software 21.3.1 driver also comes with some new improvements for Radeon Boost and Radeon Anti-Lag, as well as a new stress test to ensure all of your settings are stable.
With the AMD Radeon Software Adrenalin 2020 Edition 21.3.1 driver, users can take advantage of Anti-Lag in DirectX 12 titles. Radeon Boost also received DX12 support, allowing users to optimise selected games featuring Variable Rate Shading.
Another feature included in this driver is the Performance Tuning Stress Test, a new built-in stress tool to test GPU overclock stability. AMD has also redesigned portions of the UI to simplify the process.
The following list includes all the fixes coming with AMD Radeon Software 21.3.1 driver:
Radeon Software may sometimes have higher than expected CPU utilization, even when a system is at idle.
A system hang or crash may be experienced when upgrading Radeon Software while an Oculus™ VR headset is connected to your system on Radeon GCN graphics products.
Minecraft DXR may exhibit corrupted or missing textures when ray tracing is enabled on Radeon RX 6000 series graphics products.
An application crash may occur in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare with ray tracing on Radeon RX 6000 series graphics products.
Lighting fails to render correctly on Radeon RX 6800 series graphics products in Star Citizen.
A black screen may occur when enabling and disabling Enhanced Sync while vsync is enabled in some Vulkan API games.
A black screen or system hang may occur on Hybrid Graphics systems for some Vulkan API games when Enhanced Sync is enabled.
Bethesda launcher may experience an application crash on startup when launching some games.
Users may be unable to create a new scene in the Radeon Software Streaming tab on first launch or after a settings factory reset.
Game specific performance tuning profiles may fail to load when a global performance tuning profile has been created or set.
Disabling HDCP support and performing a factory reset and/or system restart may sometimes trigger a system crash.
Epic Games social overlay or launcher may exhibit color corruption.
Xuan-Yuan Sword VII may experience an application crash with DirectX 12 ray tracing enabled on Radeon RX 6000 series graphics.
Color corruption may be experienced in Cyberpunk 2077™ when Radeon Boost is enabled.
Display flicker or corruption may occur on high refresh rate/resolution multi-monitor system configurations on Radeon RX Vega series graphics.
Audio loss or cut-out may intermittently occur on some TV displays when Windows® audio is set to use 5.1 or 7.1 speaker configurations.
The new Radeon Software graphics driver also adds support for Radeon RX 6700 graphics and DOOM Eternal: the Ancient Gods – Part Two. Lastly, it also brings back Frame Rate Target Control (FRTC) and enhances Vulkan support.
You can download the new AMD Radeon Software Adrenalin 2020 Edition 21.3.1 driver HERE.
KitGuru says: The Performance Tuning Stress Test and DirectX 12 support on Radeon Boost and Radeon Anti-Lag are welcome additions to the software. Did you already try these new features? What do you think of them so far?
Matthew Wilson 12 hours ago Featured Tech News, Software & Gaming
Two weeks ago, the upcoming remaster of Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne was rated by the ESRB, indicating a release date announcement very soon. This week, we got official confirmation, with Atlus announcing that the remastered cult-classic JRPG will be releasing on the 25th of May for PC and consoles.
Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne HD first released in Japan in late 2020 for the Nintendo Switch and PS4. On the 25th of May, the game will get its western release, which will also be available on PC for the first time.
Shin Megami Tensei 3 came out on the PS2 way back in 2003, so the HD remaster has plenty of visual upgrades. The updated version includes remastered 3D models and backgrounds, new difficulty options, re-recorded voice acting in both English and Japanese and an alternative story branch.
Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne’s release is staggered a bit, with Digital Deluxe Edition buyers getting access on the 21st of May, meanwhile standard edition buyers will get the game on the 25th. Once the remaster has shipped, all attention will be turned to finishing development on Shin Megami Tensei V, which is going to be a Nintendo Switch exclusive.
KitGuru Says: It has been a long time since I last played an Atlus RPG, so I’m looking forward to this. Will any of you be picking up the Shin Megami Tensei 3 remaster in a couple of months time?
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Matthew Wilson 13 hours ago Featured Tech News, Software & Gaming
While Rocksteady is working on its co-op Suicide Squad game, WB Montreal has been working on a co-op title of its own – Gotham Knights. While this game was originally going to release in 2021, the studio has realised that it needs more time, pushing the game back to 2022.
In a statement last night, the studio said: “we are giving the game more time to deliver the best possible experience for players”. Gotham Knights is now aiming for a 2022 release window, but we will be seeing more of the game in action this year, with WB teasing plans to showcase more of the game “in the coming months”.
pic.twitter.com/O1U4T0gK3u
— Gotham Knights (@GothamKnights) March 19, 2021
Gotham Knights is being developed by WB Montreal, the studio that previously handled Batman Arkham Origins. The game is apparently not set in the Arkham Universe, although it does seem to be loosely connected. The game takes place after the death of Bruce Wayne, which is where Arkham Knight left things. The game stars Batgirl, Nightwing, Red Hood and Robin taking on the role of Gotham’s protectors.
Originally, this was widely rumoured to be a live-service style game, but WB Montreal insists that is not the case, with producer Fleur Marty stating the following in an interview last year: “This is very much not designed as a game-as-service. There is an ability tree, which is different for each of the characters, and then there’s gear that you craft—and so choices that you’re going to be making—but that does not mean that this is a game-as-service.”
The next official ‘Arkham’ game is being developed by Rocksteady. Suicide Squad is also tentatively scheduled for 2022 and will likely feature more live-service elements.
KitGuru Says: I’m still not sure how I feel about Gotham Knights, but hopefully we’ll get a good look at some gameplay later this year. Are any of you looking forward to this one? Do you think having Gotham Knights and Suicide Squad in the same year will hurt sales?
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Matthew Wilson 14 hours ago Featured Tech News, Software & Gaming
While CD Projekt Red initially planned to ship Cyberpunk 2077 Patch 1.2 in February, a cyber attack on the company resulted in a delay to late March. As we approach the update’s release window, CD Projekt has shared some of the improvements that will be included.
In a blog post last night, CD Projekt Red detailed three of the improvements coming to Cyberpunk 2077 in its next major update. The first big issue being tackled is police spawning – if you are being chased by the NCPD, they will no longer spawn directly behind you:
“This is an important step in addressing the behaviour of the police in our game. It should decrease the problem of NPCs spawning behind players’ backs and create an impression that it takes some time for the police to arrive at the crime scene after the crime has been reported. We’ve also added a recon “drone” unit to create the feeling of the police assessing the situation”.
The next area of focus is driving. The steering in Cyberpunk 2077 can be too quick, resulting in a lot of accidental hit and runs and car crashes. To solve this, a steering sensitivity slider is being added to the game on PC and consoles and car control has been optimised at lower frame rates. According to CD Projekt Red, steering speed for all vehicles is now “very consistent from 20 to 60+ FPS”. In addition to that, an ‘unstuck’ feature is being added, allowing players to rock their vehicle to free themselves after getting stuck.
The final improvement addressed this week is a change to dodging. A setting to turn off double-tapping on movement keys to dodge is being added. Although the team notes that a few other key bindings still need to be addressed in future patches.
Cyberpunk 2077’s 1.2 update is the second major patch for the game. Currently, it is on schedule to release before the end of March.
KitGuru Says: CD Projekt Red has been very quiet since the cyber attack last month. Hopefully this is the start of communications opening up again. Have any of you been waiting on the next Cyberpunk 2077 patch before diving in?
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Home/Component/APU/AMD’s next RDNA 2 GPU will deliver ‘premium 1080p gaming’, launching in April according to leaker
João Silva 1 day ago APU, Graphics
The Radeon RX 6700 XT officially launched this week, targeting PC gamers looking to play at 1440p resolution. As we know though, this isn’t the end for AMD’s series of RDNA 2 based graphics cards. Another 1080p gaming focused graphics card is also due and according to leaks this week, we could see it next month.
A new report from known leaker, @KittyYYuko, AMD is preparing another GPU, codenamed ‘Dimgray Cavefish’, for an April launch. This graphics card will likely be based on the Navi 23 GPU and will be marketed for “premium 1080p gaming”. In China, this graphics card is supposedly going to carry a 2499 CNY price tag, which converts to around £275 here in the UK, although conversion pricing is never accurate, so do not take this to be the official launch MSRP. So far, we are told to expect this GPU to pack 32 Compute Units and 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM. In terms of comparable GPUs, this upcoming graphics card is said to rival the RTX 3060.
It is possible that this graphics card will use the Navi 22 GPU instead and launch as the RX 6600 XT, which was recently listed on the EEC database. That’s all the information we have for now though, but if this leak proves to be true, we’ll be hearing official details in just a matter of weeks.
Aside from the upcoming RDNA 2 GPU, the leaker also claims that AMD’s codenamed ‘Cezanne’ desktop APU is launching in June.
KitGuru Says: Time will tell if these leaks are accurate, but it does seem in-line with what we would expect from a 1080p gaming card on paper. Are many of you still rocking a 1080p monitor? Will you be upgrading your graphics card this year?
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Home/Software & Gaming/Among Us gets new map ‘The Airship’, and other updates this month
Matthew Wilson 1 day ago Software & Gaming
Last year, the Among Us team announced that it would be scrapping plans for a sequel and bringing new content updates to the original game due to the surprising surge of player interest in mid-2020. It has taken quite some time to get the first major content update ready, but it is finally arriving at the end of this month.
On the 31st of March, Among Us will be updated with the new Airship map, in addition, this update will bring new tasks, a proper account system to curb spam players, as well as other features:
📢 MARCH 31 📢#TheAirship is coming.
this NEW map is our biggest one yet, including: • all new tasks • different starting rooms • preliminary account system • more!!!
wake up ur crew it’s almost time to eject impostors
🗞️ Dev log: https://t.co/bWP008pKmr pic.twitter.com/ZcTZFjsu3n
— Among Us ✨ New map – MARCH 31 *nervous* (@AmongUsGame) March 18, 2021
This is of course a free update across all platforms. Following the update’s announcement, the development team also took some time to address community questions, including why the new map wasn’t rushed to release:
“creating a map and updates isn’t as simple as creating one aspect of the game and throwing it onto the PC. Because our game is cross-platform, it means EVERYTHING needs to work on as many devices as possible.”
Aside from that, the developers also pointed out that the sudden popularity boom for the game caught them by surprise: “I explained this a bit in our last dev log, but Among Us’ popularity was something no one expected, and quite late into 2020 too. We had already considered the game done and had moved onto something else.”
The full blog post is very transparent and well worth reading if you’re interested in game development. Hopefully this is the first of a few new content drops for Among Us this year.
KitGuru Says: Have many of you continued playing Among Us since its boom last year? Are you looking forward to the new content update?
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Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne HD remaster coming to PC, Switch and PS4 in May
Two weeks ago, the upcoming remaster of Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne was rated by …
Matthew Wilson 1 day ago Featured Announcement, Graphics
Ever since Intel hired Raja Koduri and announced plans to create new discrete graphics cards, we’ve been waiting to see what Intel can do in the gaming segment. So far, we’ve seen the Xe graphics architecture introduced in low-power DG1 discrete graphics cards, which are primarily sold to OEMs. Later this month, however, we may get our first look at Intel’s first high-performance gaming GPU.
This week, Intel teased the “Xe HPG Scavenger Hunt” with a web page telling us to come back on March 26th at 9AM PST with a secret code to see what the website reveals. The website itself was hidden in a Xe HPG teaser video, which contained a hidden message:
The hidden message was decoded by wccftech, revealing an IP address that leads straight to the Xe HPG website, teasing an announcement coming next Friday. The timing here is a little odd, as on the 23rd of March, Intel CEO, Pat Gelsinger, will be hosting a webcast focused on ‘the next era of innovation’ at Intel, which is three days before the Xe HPG reveal.
Intel’s upcoming DG2 graphics card is rumoured to feature up to 512 EUs, 4096 cores, 12GB of GDDR6 VRAM and an 1800MHz clock speed. Hopefully we’ll have some official confirmation on specifications by the end of next week.
KitGuru Says: It is going to be very interesting to see Intel competing in the discrete gaming graphics card space. Are any of you looking forward to Intel’s Xe HPG reveal? Would you consider an Intel GPU over a competing Nvidia GeForce or AMD Radeon graphics card?
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