keyword: USB-C

how-to-use-your-oculus-quest-2-to-play-any-pc-vr-game-wirelessly

How to use your Oculus Quest 2 to play any PC VR game wirelessly

One of the best features of the Oculus Quest 2 is it can be manually linked via USB to your gaming PC to play more demanding VR games you couldn’t otherwise run natively on the headset. That’s great if you want a way to play games like Half-Life: Alyx, but the obvious downside is that you’re now physically tethered to a PC — so much for the wireless freedom that the Quest 2 advertises.

Thankfully, developers have already figured out the seemingly impossible: how to run system-intensive titles on your PC and stream the visual feed to your VR device while syncing all of your movements over Wi-Fi. It gives you the best of both worlds: letting you play the games you want without being attached by a cable to your computer.

Doing this isn’t as simple as installing an app through the Oculus store; there are several steps involved. I’m going to walk you through the steps required to make this happen on your Quest 2 virtual reality headset. The same steps likely work on the first Quest iteration, but I only have the latest model here to test.

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Get a link cable

Even though this is a how-to on experiencing VR without wires, you’ll need a wire to get started. Oculus sells an expensive 16-foot cable for around $80, but that’s made for people who really want to use the Quest 2 in wired mode. There are other, less costly alternatives, like Anker’s 10-foot USB-C to USB Type-A 3.0 cable, which costs about $20 and gets the job done.

Many USB cables that come with modern Android phones will likely work, too. And the cable doesn’t have to be long — we’re just doing some simple data transfer here. Unfortunately, the USB-C cable that Oculus includes with each Quest 2 didn’t work for this process when I tried it. It’s simply for charging the headset.

This is the official Oculus Link cable. It costs $80 and is difficult to find in stock. You don’t need this specific model to get through this how-to!

Enable developer settings

If you want to load files onto your Quest 2, you’ll need a developer account. Fortunately, it’s easy to do, but it’s a strange process that’s meant to be used by actual developers.

  • Go to this page and sign in to your Facebook account in your browser of choice. Just make sure you sign in to the same Facebook account that you signed in to on your Quest 2.
  • The next part of the process is to name your “organization.” You can name it whatever you’d like. You can find a direct link to this page right here in case you get lost.
  • With those two steps out of the way, open up your Oculus mobile app (iOS or Android) and sign in with the same Facebook account. Then navigate to the “Settings” pane by clicking it at the bottom-right corner of the app window.
  • On the next page, click “Oculus Quest 2” right beneath your name, and a few more options will expand from within it. Click “More Settings”
  • Once you’re there, tap “Developer Mode” and switch it on

Click here to see more options, including “More Settings” that contains the Developer Mode toggle.

Install the Quest 2 driver for your PC

The next couple of steps pave the way for you to sideload software onto the Quest 2 headset, which is a feature usually reserved for developers. If you’re using a Windows PC, you will need to install ADB drivers to let your PC write to the headset; according to the Oculus site, macOS and Linux systems don’t need a driver.

  • Download the software linked here, hosted by Oculus. (Just check the box saying you agree to the terms of the license — you can read it if you want — and click on “Download.”)
  • Once it’s downloaded, extract the contents of the folder. Then right click the item called “android_winusb.inf” and select “Install.”

Install this driver to get this process started.

Buy the Virtual Desktop app for Quest

The Virtual Desktop app lets you access your PC through the lens of a VR headset. You can use it for games, like we’ll be doing, but you can also watch movies you have stored on your PC in a variety of different virtual environments. There’s a Quest-specific version of the app that you can purchase here for $20. (Make sure it says that it’s compatible with Quest underneath the purchase button.)

After you purchase it, install it on the headset. We’ll be returning to this app in just a bit, but for now, a few other steps.

Virtual Desktop running on the Quest 2.

Connect the Quest 2 to your PC

Connect your Quest 2 via its side-mounted USB-C port to your PC’s fastest available USB port. If you’ve done everything correctly up to this point, you’ll see a message displayed in the headset asking if you want to allow USB debugging. Allow it to proceed.

Download and install SideQuest on your PC

SideQuest is a free app and storefront for experiences that can be sideloaded onto your headset. For the purposes of this how-to, you’re just going to use it to apply a necessary patch to the Virtual Desktop app that I just suggested you buy and install on your Quest 2 headset.

  • Head here to find the right installer for your operating system (I used the Windows 10 version for this how-to) and download it
  • Once it finishes installing, run SideQuest
  • At this point, your headset should show up as connected in the top-left corner of the SideQuest app on your PC with a green bubble. If it’s not showing as connected, check your headset’s display for a prompt. It may be waiting for you to allow your PC to access and modify the Quest 2’s file system.

The green light indicates that your headset is connected.

Sideload the Virtual Desktop VR patch for Quest 2

Within SideQuest, type “virtual desktop” in the search bar. The result you’re looking for is called “Virtual Desktop VR Patch.” This is the necessary key to fooling your computer into thinking your Quest 2 is a wired headset.

  • With your Quest 2 connected to your computer, hit the “Install to Headset” button in SideQuest, located just below the search bar in the app. The process should be pretty snappy, lasting just a few seconds.

Install this necessary Virtual Desktop patch to your Quest 2 headset.

Download Virtual Desktop Streamer

There’s yet one more free application to download: Virtual Desktop Streamer. Made by the same folks who made the Virtual Desktop app you purchased on the Quest 2, this app simply streams PC content to your headset via Wi-Fi.

  • Once this app is downloaded and installed, you’ll need to input your Oculus username in the Streamer window
  • If you don’t know it off the top of your head, you can find it by opening the Oculus app on mobile, navigating to “Settings,” and then tapping on the area that shows your name and email address. The name that will display next to your avatar is your username.

Having a hard time finding your Oculus username? Tap on your full name in the Settings menu to see this view pictured above.

  • After that’s entered, hit “Save”
  • That’s the last step! But remember that it’s crucial to have the Virtual Desktop Streamer app open in order for your headset to communicate with your PC.

Here’s what the Virtual Desktop Streamer app looks like. It’s very simple.

Open Virtual Desktop on your Quest 2

If every step was done correctly, you’ll see your PC pop up in the list of available devices to connect to from within the Virtual Desktop app on your Quest 2.

Once you’ve connected, the Options button (the left Oculus Touch controller’s equivalent of the Oculus button) is mapped to open up the top-level menu for Virtual Desktop, as shown in the image below. From there, clicking “Games” will reveal every game that’s installed on your PC. You can simply boot each one from there, and your PC will handle all of the hard work.

All of the VR-ready games installed on your PC will show up within Virtual Desktop.

If you aren’t happy with the visual fidelity within each game, you’re free to customize some settings that affect latency, refresh rate, and more. Note that you’ll likely get a clearer, more fluid image if your PC is powerful and your internet connection is fast. Given the reliance on your Wi-Fi network, your wireless router plays a large role in delivering a smooth experience, too.

Streaming VR over Wi-Fi certainly isn’t a perfect solution. I have a Wi-Fi 6-ready router and relatively speedy internet (235Mbps down, 19Mbps up), and I still experience the occasional spot of lag and slightly fuzzy image. Though with enough tweaking on the Virtual Desktop app (turning Wi-Fi off on seldom-used tech items never hurts), I think you’ll have a good time.

samsung-galaxy-a32-5g-appears-in-colorful-press-renders

Samsung Galaxy A32 5G appears in colorful press renders

We already know what the unannounced Samsung Galaxy A32 5G looks like, thanks to the CAD renders that surfaced last November. Today we are looking at a bunch of official press renders leaked by WinFuture, which corroborate previous design leaks and reveal the A32 5G will come in at least four colors.

The Galaxy A32 5G will pack an Infinity-V display, which is rumored to measure 6.5″ diagonally. The rear panel of the phone, made of plastic, is home to a quad camera setup. The primary shooter reportedly uses a 48MP sensor, with the rest said to be ultrawide, depth, and macro units.

The rear cameras and flash on the Galaxy A32 5G are placed separately on the panel instead of being housed together inside an island, which is a refreshing design change, but they do protrude, meaning the phone will likely wobble on flat surfaces.

On the left side of the Galaxy A32 5G’s frame is the SIM card slot, and on the right is the volume rocker and power button with a fingerprint scanner embedded in it. From previously leaked renders we know the A32 5G has a USB-C port at the bottom joined by a 3.5mm headphone jack.


Samsung Galaxy A32 5G

We don’t have the detailed specs of the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G, but the smartphone was spotted on Geekbench with Android 11, Dimensity 720 SoC, and 4GB RAM. It has also appeared on FCC with NFC and a 15W in-box charger.

There’s no word from Samsung about the Galaxy A32 5G yet, but the smartphone has bagged multiple certifications, and now that its official renders are out, it shouldn’t be too long before the Korean conglomerate unveils its cheapest 5G smartphone.

Source (in German)

lenovo-unveils-ideapad-laptops,-including-a-5g-connected-one-with-a-snapdragon-8cx-chipset

Lenovo unveils IdeaPad laptops, including a 5G connected one with a Snapdragon 8cx chipset

Following the announcement of the Tab P11 tablet, Lenovo is continuing its CES show with several laptops – all of them portable, but some quite powerful as well. The laptops are powered by all sorts of CPUs – from a Snapdragon chipset through an Intel CPU to an AMD Ryzen H-series with Nvidia RTX graphics.

Lenovo IdeaPad 5G

This 14” laptop is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx chipset, a 7nm part with full support for Windows 10. Also, the low TDP allows for a fanless design and perfectly quiet operation.


True to its name, the IdeaPad 5G has next-gen connectivity

The laptop is equipped with an X55 modem, offering fast 5G connectivity (the sub-6 variety), with a potential for a major speed increase if you have a fast 5G network nearby. Somewhat disappointingly, it only supports Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) for at-home connections.

As for the laptop itself, it features a 14” screen with slender bezels. The 1080p IPS LCD panel promises 300 nits of brightness and 100% sRGB coverage. There are also user-facing speakers optimized with Dolby Audio and dual array microphones for voice and video calls.


The Lenovo IdeaPad 5G is powered by a Snapdragon 8cx chipset

The laptop weighs just 1.2 kg (2.6 lbs) and measures 14.9 mm thick (0.59”). This is with a 51 WHr battery, which can last 20 hours of continuous video playback (note: local video with the 5G modem turned off). It charges over USB-C using the 65W Rapid Charge Express power adapter.

The Lenovo IdeaPad 5G will launch in select markets soon, but will not be available in North America (at least not at first). Prices are TBA and will vary by region.

Lenovo IdeaPad 4G/LTE

If you don’t have 5G in your neck of the woods (or want to save some money), this is a similar 14” laptop, which drops down to the Snapdragon 8c chipset. It only offers 4G connectivity, but that can be fast enough for your needs.

The laptop can be configured with up to 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and a PCIe SSD with up to 512GB capacity.

Lenovo IdeaPad 5i Pro (with Intel)

If you’re not ready to jump on the “Windows on ARM” train, the IdeaPad 5i Pro uses an 11th Gen Intel Core processor (up to i7). The all-metal laptop is offered in two sizes – 14” and 16”, which weigh 1.45 kg and 2 kg, respectively. Both screens have 16:10 aspect ratio.

The larger 16” laptop has a 2.5K display with an option for 120Hz refresh rate. The IPS LCD panel can go up to 350 nits brightness. The 14” display is sharper and brighter with 2.8K resolution and 400 nits. This one has an option for 90 Hz refresh rate (you can press Fn+R to go into HRR mode).


14″ Lenovo IdeaPad 5i (with Intel Core 11th Gen and Nvidia MX450)

Configuration options include up to Intel Core i7 11th Gen and Nvidia MX450 graphics. The Lenovo Q-Control feature lets you hit Fn+Q to toggle between maximum performance and batter saving mode. You can fit 16 GB of DDR4 RAM into the laptop and an SSD up to 1 TB (PCIe M.2).

The 14” model has a 56.5 WHr battery, the 16” one gets a larger 75 WHr capacity and can be charged over its Thunderbolt 4 port. Oh, and these do have Wi-Fi 6 on board.

Interestingly, the laptops feature a 3D ToF sensor and Glance software by Mirametrix, which keeps an eye on whether you’re paying attention and can automatically pause video if you move away from the laptop.

The Intel-powered IdeaPad 5 Pro models will be available in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) from March. The 16” model will start at €900, the 14” one from €700. They will not be available in North America.

Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro (with AMD)

You can have these laptops with an AMD Ryzen H-series processor instead (exact configurations will be unveiled soon). These are again available with 14” 90 Hz and 16” 120 Hz displays.

This 16” Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro sets itself apart with optional Nvidia GeForce RTX graphics and up to 32 GB of DDR4 RAM. This makes it something of a gaming laptop and that 120 Hz screen won’t go to waste (the 14” model gets only an MX450 GPU).


16″ Lenovo IdeaPad 5 (with AMD Ryzen H-series and Nvidia RTX)

The availability of the Ryzen-powered IdeaPads is split. The 16” model is headed to North America, it will start at $1,150 and expected to be in stores in May. The 14” model won’t be found in North America but is going to EMEA instead, launching in March at €800.

Alexa Show Mode for PC

This feature effectively turns your Lenovo laptop in a smart display that can be the hub for your smartphone. It supports voice commands and shows at-a-glance information, it can do everything an Echo Show can.


Show Mode for PC turns your Lenovo laptop into an Alexa smart display

Show Mode will launch in Q2 of this year and will be available to a wide range of Lenovo devices, including select Yoga and IdeaPad laptops.

Source

honor-v40-official-launch-date:-it-will-arrive-on-january-18

Honor V40 official launch date: it will arrive on January 18

Honor is ready to release the expected V 40, the top of the range of the new home of the brand. Some information was also leaked and above all an official clip published by Honor that shows us part of the device

of Lorenzo Tirotta published on , at 19: 01 in the Telephony channel

honor

Honor is experiencing a time of change after the sale by Huawei. The former sub-brand of the giant Huawei is now independent of any constraint and above all free from US government restrictions. The flagship Honor V 40 is arriving a few days later than expected.

The brand has confirmed that V 40 will be presented on 18 January . In recent weeks, there have been many rumors related to this smartphone, from which users and enthusiasts expect a lot. Honor has not yet revealed the official technical characteristics, consequently many leaks have shared some probable specifications. Honor V 40 will mount a panel 6 inch curved OLED, 72 inches with resolution Full-HD + and a refresh rate that reaches 120 Hz . The SoC chosen on the device would appear to be the MediaTek Dimensity 1000 + , while for the battery we expect a good capacity from at least 4. 000 mAh with fast charge a 66 W and wireless support to 19 W .

Honor V 40: here is the official clip

In addition to revealing the launch date, Honor has published a clip very interesting that shows us the front of the smartphone. The display is curved and you can see at the top left the elongated hole for the double front camera . From the clip we also see the keys for power and volume on the right and the USB-C port and the speaker at the bottom. Honor has decided not to show the back of the device but, some images published on the Chinese social media Weibo , have unveiled Honor V’s protective case 40. The cover shows a rectangular island with five holes , one much wider for the main sensor, while the others of equal size.