If you’re looking for a way to help your streams stand out from the crowd, Elgato’s Stream Deck MK.2 can help you do so. And right now at Amazon, you can pick it up for just $120, $30 off the usual price and the lowest price we’ve seen. It’s also available in white for the same price. There’s no clearcut expiration on this offer, so we can’t guarantee how long it will be available. We’d recommend ordering soon if you’re hoping to snag one at this price.
This second-gen Elgato Stream Deck has 15 customizable LCD keys that can make streaming and editing smooth and effortless. Use them to launch apps or games, trigger sound effects or GIFs, control lights and much more. You can even assign multiple actions to a single key so you’re ready to stream at just the touch of button. The Stream Deck is designed to integrate seamlessly with Twitch, YouTube, Twitter and other platforms, and connects to your computer with a USB-C cable. It comes with a detachable stand, and the faceplate can be swapped out for a more personalized look. And if you need even more customization, you can snag the Elgato Stream Deck XL, with 32 customizable LCD keys for $200 right now — that’s a $50 savings.
Even if you’re not into streaming, there are many other uses for a Stream Deck like controlling smart home devices, quickly opening all of the apps and websites you need for work, or simply having a handy mute button for Zoom calls.
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The Apple Watch Ultra was only released last fall but we’ve already seen a few Apple Watch Ultra deals worth jumping on, though they never last long. But right now, you have the opportunity to score the rugged smartwatch for its lowest price to date with a $69 discount at Amazon. That’s thanks to a direct price drop to $749 and a further $19 taken off at checkout, dropping it lower than ever before at $730. The deal applies to several Alpine Loop-equipped models, so be sure to click through the different styles and band sizes available at Amazon.
There are several great smartwatch options in Apple’s current lineup, but the Ultra is CNET’s best smartwatch pick. It comes with a large 49mm case, a tough titanium construction, an Action button for quickly launching apps and workouts, and a dual-frequency GPS that offers improved tracking accuracy. Voice calls get a boost with this watch as well, as there are extra microphones included in the build. And unlike other models, this Apple Watch includes LTE connectivity by default.
As for the screen, it’s not just a bigger size that you’ll notice. The screen is brighter, too. The always-on retina OLED display is twice as bright as the Apple Watch Series 8. It also has the best battery life of any Apple Watch on the market.
While this watch is designed with athletes in mind, coming with a ton of sensors and safety features, there are plenty of upgrades that make this watch a compelling choice for the average person, too.
Windows 11 has a ton to offer, and since its launch in October 2021, the operating system has been gradually adding even more features aimed at making your computer a little bit better. However, sometimes you have to mix things around to find the optimal settings. Some Windows 11 defaults are lackluster, and in certain cases they can even undermine your PC accessories. So the next time you start up for work, or before your next gaming session, go into your settings and consider these changes.
Enable dark mode
The option to change between light mode and dark mode in Windows 11 isn’t in the most obvious place. Instead of being filed under display options, it can be found under Settings > Personalization > Colors. There, you can choose light mode, dark mode, or use different settings for Windows vs. apps. You can also set transparency effects and accent colors in this menu.
Default browser
Not a fan of Microsoft Edge? You can change Windows 11 to use whatever browser you prefer. Go to Settings > Apps and look for the browser you’d like to use. Then just click ‘Set default’ in the top-right corner, and Windows will automatically use that browser when opening links from other apps. You also have the ability to customize by file type if, say, you want PDF files to open in a different browser.
Manage updates settings
Keeping your computer updated is important for security, as Windows updates often include patches to prevent security exploits. Still, unexpected updates can be annoying, especially if your computer forces a restart. To take more control of your Windows 11 updates, go to Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options. From this menu, you can set your active hours (so your device won’t restart while you’re doing things) or ask Windows to give you a 15-minute heads-up before automatically restarting to apply updates.
Change startup apps
There’s no annoyance quite like getting a new device but feeling like it’s sluggish as soon as you turn it on. Most of the time, the culprit is too many startup apps. The more apps your device launches on startup, the more resources it drains. To save on resources and make things a bit snappier, go to Settings > Apps > Startup and turn off everything you don’t need immediately after turning on your computer. (I recommend turning off OneDrive, as that consistently slowed down my PC.) You can always open these apps when you’re ready to use them, and if there’s something you typically do first thing after booting up, you can always enable it to save you the step of opening it manually.
Refresh rate
Don’t let your fancy new monitor go to waste because you’re using the wrong refresh rate. Windows 11 defaults to a low refresh rate, likely to save power, but this default means you’re not getting the most value out of your monitor. Go to Settings > System > Display > Advanced display and look for your display. There will be a dropdown menu labeled Choose a refresh rate and pick the highest option your monitor can support. You can choose a lower setting if, say, your device can’t quite match your refresh rate while gaming, but if you play any shooters, you’re going to want that refresh rate to be as high as possible.
Sound quality
As with refresh rate, your default sound settings could be holding back your accessories. To check, go to System > Sound > Properties and choose the sound device you’re using. Then under Output settings, make sure the Format option dropdown uses the highest available setting. This will ensure you’re getting the maximum audio quality. If you’re using a headset for three-dimensional audio, make sure the spatial sound setting is turned on (Windows Sonic for Headphones).
Privacy settings
Some of the default privacy settings in Windows 11 give Microsoft ways to sneak advertisements into your experience. Fortunately, you can disable those avenues in settings. Go to Settings > Privacy & security > General and toggle off any of the options you don’t like. (I particularly recommend turning off Let apps show me personalized ads by using my advertising ID and Show me suggested content in the settings app.) The privacy & security menu also lets you change other options, like turning location services off or choosing which apps can access your camera.
Gone are the days when you need to be tethered to your TV or computer to play your favorite games. With Xbox Cloud Gaming, you can stream them on almost any device anywhere you are. Mobile gaming is often improved with a handful of accessories, and we’ve rounded up the best Xbox Cloud Gaming controllers and accessories you can use to enhance your experience.
Xbox Cloud Gaming, formerly Project xCloud, lets you play a subset of Xbox Game Pass games on a device other than a console by streaming them from the cloud. It’s similar to Google Stadia (RIP) and Nvidia GeForce Now. To use it, you need to be an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriber, which costs $15 a month or $160 annually (with four three-month membership codes). For Windows PCs, it lets you play games your system might not otherwise have the power or space to run locally via Game Pass for PC. Navigate to Xbox Game Pass games on your console and look for games with a cloud icon, then click the “play” button.
I’m not here to review Xbox Cloud Gaming, which requires a fast internet connection for smooth game streaming. Rather, I’m highlighting the best controllers and accessories to use with supported devices. As you might expect, the various iterations of Xbox controllers are your primary options, but there are plenty of other controllers and accessories to choose from and some are designed exclusively for Android phones, Windows PC and iOS devices.
Microsoft maintains a list of supported controllers, but you’ll find others that work. Initially, Microsoft said that if you’re using a web browser to play cloud games, the Xbox Wireless Controller was the only “officially supported controller.” However, most controllers I’ve tried — and every controller on this list — works for cloud gaming on a browser.
If you’re an Apple user, you simply go to and then sign in to the Microsoft account linked to your Xbox Game Pass, then tap the share button at the bottom of the screen and select Add to Home Screen. Android users can download the Xbox Game Pass app from the Google Play Store or Samsung Galaxy Store (Samsung devices only).
I’ll update this list as more Xbox Cloud Gaming controllers and accessories are released, and we test additional products.
The Backbone One is my favorite of the iPhone controllers that mimic the physical experience of the Nintendo Switch, although Razer’s improved second-generation Kishi V2 controller is a close second. As part of the Designed for Xbox program, it also has specific features designed to make you feel more like you’re playing on an Xbox or stand-alone device. The Backbone One is compatible with the Xbox appas well as the PlayStation Remote Play app. (And Backbone now makes a white PlayStation Edition of this controller.)
The Backbone One game pad uses a layout similar, though not identical, to that of Microsoft’s own Xbox controllers. But Backbone’s software is one of the keys to its success, and makes the controller an easy update for current owners wanting to get the new features. It’s compatible with all iPhones running iOS 13 or later.
For instance, it already has a dedicated gameplay capture button, it can tag gameplay and share as a link, it incorporates a dynamic feed and, because it’s designed for use with all mobile games, it can serve as a central hub for those titles.
The RiotPWR Mobile Cloud Gaming Controller for iOS allows you to mount your iPhone on a more traditionally shaped Xbox-like controller that has an integrated Lightning cable that allows for lag-free gaming (at least when it comes to button presses). While there’s no built-in battery that keeps your phone charged while playing, like the Backbone and Razer Kishi V2, this model has a pass-through charging option if you want to hook up a separate Lightning cable to a battery pack or wall charger.
The controller is nicely designed and doesn’t feel cheap (the dock can accommodate a variety of iPhones, including larger iPhone Max models). You can use this with any iPad that has a Lightning connector, but it’s unclear whether you might be able to use it with the newer iPad Air and iPad Pro models that have USB-C ports (with the right Lightning to USB-C adapter).
The second-generation Razer Kishi V2 smartphone controller is similar to the Backbone and comes in both iOS and Android versions (the iOS version has an integrated Lightning connector while the Android version has a USB-C connector). Both cost more than the original models, but offer substantially improved ergonomics and more responsive buttons.
The iPhone version is MFi-certified and will work with the iPhone 6 Plus and any newer model. It has pass-through charging but no built-in battery to supply extra juice.
We prefer the companion app for the Backbone controller for iOS users, but the design of the Kishi V2 controller now measures up well against the Backbone. Alas, no Android version of the Backbone controller yet exists.
If you have access to Xbox Cloud Gaming, you probably have an Xbox system, which means you already have an Xbox controller. Any Version 2 Xbox Wireless Controller with Bluetooth will pair wirelessly with everything from iPhones to iPads to Macs. You could also go the wired route with a Mac by plugging the controller into a USB port. Microsoft does sell a controller with a USB-C cable, so you can connect to the USB-C port on various devices, including USB-C-equipped Macs. (Make sure to update to the latest firmware on your Xbox controller.) This Bluetooth controller helps you stay on target with the new hybrid D-pad and textured grip on the triggers, and easily pair and switch between devices.
The Xbox Core controller lists for $60 but sometimes sells for $50 or less. The Xbox Elite Series controller lists for $180, but can sometimes be found for closer to $150. While the Elite Series controller includes a rechargeable battery, the Core controller does not, which is the one irritating thing about it. You can find a full assortment of Xbox controllers on Microsoft’s Xbox accessories page.
Microsoft says that iOS 14.5 or higher is required for play on all Apple devices.
While you’re probably better off using an Xbox controller if you have one, the PlayStation DualShock 4 Wireless Controller is compatible with Apple devices, including Macs, via Bluetooth. And what’s nice about the DualShock 4 is that unlike the Xbox Wireless controller it has a built-in rechargeable battery.
It’s on Microsoft’s list of supported cloud controllers but note that Microsoft says that if you’re using a web browser to play cloud games, the Xbox Wireless Controller “is currently the only officially supported controller” and, “Other controllers may or may not work for cloud gaming on a browser.” The DualShock 4 PlayStation Controller worked fine for me, though I did experience a touch of lag.
Note that the buttons are labeled differently from an Xbox controller’s, so you’ll want to check how they match up before playing.
If you own a Sony PlayStation 5, Sony’s new DualSense controllers do pair via Bluetooth with iPhones, iPads, Macs and Apple TV, so long as they’re running iOS 14.5, iPad OS 14.5, MacOS Big Sur 11.3, TVOS 14.5 or higher. It’s an expensive controller if you don’t own a PS5, but it worked fine for me using an iPad. Again, the buttons are labeled differently from on an Xbox controller so just note how they match up.
It’s not cheap at $40, but OtterBox’s Mobile MagSafe Gaming Clip is a well-designed accessory for folks who want to magnetically stick their iPhone 12 or 13 onto a clip mount. I personally use a MagSafe case with this accessory to keep my phone protected. However, if you don’t have a MagSafe case, you can certainly use your MagSafe-enabled iPhone naked (the phone sticks well to the mount but it isn’t clamped in so it can fall off if you happen to drop your controller).
The clip is adjustable for various iterations of Xbox controllers, including the newest version for the Xbox Series X and the Elite controller. Using MagSafe makes it easy to get your iPhone on and off the clip mount so you can quickly take a call if need be during a gaming session.
If you’re just looking for a gaming clip to mount your iPhone on your Xbox controller, the PowerA MOGA Mobile Gaming Clip 2.0 is a good option for $15. It’s not as swank as the Otterbox MagSafe option, which has a little bit more of a premium look to it, but it certainly does the job.
The Razer Kishi V2 for Xbox Android is similar to the iOS version, but connects via USB-C instead of Lightning (there’s no Bluetooth) and has a pass-through port for charging while you play.
Like the iPhone version, this has a Nintendo Switch-like design, with the paddles attaching to either side of the screen. It expands wide enough to fit a variety of Android smartphones and collapses into a compact package. It can fit Android devices with center-mounted USB-C ports and dimensions of 11.5mm (thickness, including camera) by 170mm (length).
If you’re looking for a controller that wraps around your Android phone, the Kishi and Kishi V2 are really the only games in town (Backbone currently only makes an iOS controller). While the original Kishi can be had for less than $70 (and sometimes even less), the new model does feel better in your hands and enables longer gaming sessions.
The PowerA MOGA XP5-X Plus includes a wireless game controller plus a clip for mounting your phone. It’s a decent controller that also features an integrated 3,000-mAh battery to charge your phone as you play. It’s a little kludgy, with the cable running from the controller to your phone, but it works and is a big help during longer gaming sessions.
The controller is compatible with Android devices and Windows PCs. It’s arguably the best value when it comes to Xbox Cloud Gaming accessories for your Android phone. It’s on Microsoft’s list of officially supported gaming controllers and it looks and feels like a cheaper version of an Xbox controller.
While the SteelSeries Stratus Duo Wireless Gaming Controller isn’t on Microsoft’s list of officially supported game controllers for Android it worked fine in our tests, is ergonomically sound and has a sturdy feel to it. (The older Stratus XL is on Microsoft’s list of supported controllers). It’s also designed to work with Windows PCs, Chromebooks and certain VR devices.
One of the key reasons to get this instead of the Xbox Wireless Controller is that it has a built-in rechargeable battery. Alas, it uses Micro-USB for charging, but that’s only a minor annoyance. We assume future versions will be updated with USB-C.
The PowerA MOGA XP5-X Plus is listed above, but you can also just buy the PowerA MOGA Mobile Gaming Clip 2.0 separately if you already have an Xbox wireless controller and want to mount your phone on it. I listed it as a good value clip for iPhones, but it works just as well with Android devices.
If you’re looking for versatile gaming headphones that are comfortable, perform well for the price and include a USB-C dongle for use with Android phones (as well as the Nintendo Switch and PS5), the SteelSeries Arctis 1 headset is a good option. It also works with Xbox, PS4 and PC — but there’s no Bluetooth, so don’t expect to use it with Apple devices.
Vint Cerf, one of the founding fathers of the internet, has some harsh words for the suddenly hot technology behind the ChatGPT AI chatbot: “Snake oil.”
Google’s internet evangelist wasn’t completely down on the artificial intelligence technology behind ChatGPT and Google’s own competing Bard, called a large language model. But, speaking Monday at Celesta Capital’s TechSurge Summit, he did warn about ethical issues of a technology that can generate plausible sounding but incorrect information even when trained on a foundation of factual material.
If an executive tried to get him to apply ChatGPT to some business problem, his response would be to call it snake oil, referring to bogus medicines that quacks sold in the 1800s, he said. Another ChatGPT metaphor involved kitchen appliances.
“It’s like a salad shooter — you know how the lettuce goes all over everywhere,” Cerf said. “The facts are all over everywhere, and it mixes them together because it doesn’t know any better.”
Cerf shared the 2004 Turing Award, the top prize in computing, for helping to develop the internet foundation called TCP/IP, which shuttles data from one computer to another by breaking it into small, individually addressed packets that can take different routes from source to destination. He’s not an AI researcher, but he’s a computing engineer who’d like to see his colleagues improve AI’s shortcomings.
Cerf said he was surprised to learn that ChatGPT could fabricate bogus information from a factual foundation. “I asked it, ‘Write me a biography of Vint Cerf.’ It got a bunch of things wrong,” Cerf said. That’s when he learned the technology’s inner workings — that it uses statistical patterns spotted from huge amounts of training data to construct its response.
“It knows how to string a sentence together that’s grammatically likely to be correct,” but it has no true knowledge of what it’s saying, Cerf said. “We are a long way away from the self-awareness we want.”
OpenAI, which earlier in February launched a $20 per month plan to use ChatGPT, has been clear about about the technology’s shortcomings but aims to improve it through “continuous iteration.”
“ChatGPT sometimes writes plausible-sounding but incorrect or nonsensical answers. Fixing this issue is challenging,” the AI research lab said when it launched ChatGPT in November.
Cerf hopes for progress, too. “Engineers like me should be responsible for trying to find a way to tame some of these technologies so they are less likely to cause trouble,” he said.
Editors’ note: CNET is using an AI engine to create some personalfinance explainers that are edited and fact-checked by our editors. Formore, see this post.
Hogwarts Legacy officially launched last week, allowing wizarding fans the chance to enter their own magical fantasy. The open-world RPG is set in the Harry Potter universe, and it seems like the game that many fans of the books have long hoped for.
The new game from developer Avalanche Software lets playersexperience the famed school of witchcraft and wizardry as a student in the 1800s, before the events of the Harry Potter books. Here are some basic things to know about Hogwarts Legacy, including when you can snag a copy depending on your platform.
What’s the story?
Hogwarts Legacy players will “embark on a dangerous journey to uncover a hidden truth of the wizarding world,” according to the game’s website. You can explore Hogwarts Castle, where you attend classes. You can also go beyond it to new and familiar locations, per the website.
You can customize your character, choose a Hogwarts house and grow your magical abilities by brewing potions, mastering spells and taming beasts. Hogwarts Legacy sticks to the lore but doesn’t adapt the Harry Potter books and films.
What systems can I play Hogwarts Legacy on?
PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC versions of the game launched on Feb. 10. Those looking to play the PS4 and Xbox One versions will, unfortunately, need to wait until April 4.
Nintendo Switch users will have to hang on even longer, until July 25, to play Hogwarts Legacy.
The game was first announced in 2020, and its release dates have changed three times. It’s published by Warner Bros. Games under its Portkey Games label.
Is there early access?
The Deluxe Edition or Digital Deluxe Edition for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC included 72 hours of early access, starting Feb. 7.
The PS4 and Xbox One versions won’t have an early access period.
How do I preorder Hogwarts Legacy?
If you’re eyeing the Standard Edition, you can buy the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S versions from stores including GameStop, Amazon and Best Buy for $70 (about 57, AU$99). You can also preorder the PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch versions from those stores for $60 (roughly 49, $AU85). The PC version is available for $60 at Steam and the Epic Games store.
You can view more ways to purchase Hogwarts Legacy (including how to buy the Deluxe Edition) on the game’s website. The Collector’s Edition has already sold out, but you may be able to find it online for a markup. The official site breaks down what comes with each edition.
What are critics saying?
The game has a Metacritic score of 85 on PS5. (The score is higher on Xbox Series X|S, and a bit lower on PC, but the PS5 score is based on the most reviews, 69.)
CNET critic Sean Keane played the PS5 version and writes in a positive review that “it captures the wonder of the early books, with an intriguing original narrative, engagingly varied gameplay and intricately designed world to explore.”
J.K. Rowling and Hogwarts Legacy
The game’s connection to Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has led her critics to call for a boycott, according to The Week. Over the past few years, Rowling has repeatedly made comments that mocked transgender individuals and infuriated trans advocates.
The Hogwarts Legacy website notes that Rowling isn’t involved in the creation of Hogwarts Legacy. But her writing is the foundation for the project and she still makes money off of sales.
The OnePlus 11 is a powerful Android phone with a slick new design and great extras like hyperfast charging. But these days, a good phone also has to take good pictures. The OnePlus 11’s triple camera array takes high-quality shots, which you can read more about in the full review for the OnePlus 11. But I also wanted to see how it stacks up against its main rival, the Google Pixel 7 Pro.
The Pixel 7 Pro earned a coveted CNET Editors’ Choice award last year because of its specs and superb camera, so I knew it was going to be a fun “shoot-out” to determine which one captures the better photos.
I charged both handsets up and headed off around beautiful Edinburgh, Scotland, to see what’s what.
OnePlus 11, main camera.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Pixel 7 Pro, main camera.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
The OnePlus 11’s shot above is certainly more vibrant than the image from the Pixel 7 Pro, but it looks oversaturated, with quite a teal tone to the sky. As a result, the OnePlus image looks less natural. It’s something I found generally with the OnePlus 11 camera in testing it for my review.
OnePlus 11, ultra-wide lens.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Pixel 7 Pro, ultra-wide lens.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Switching to the ultra-wide lens, the OnePlus 11 has again produced a more vibrant shot (see above). It’s not that it’s a bad photo — if you want bright, punchy shots of your friends having fun, it’ll suit you well. But it’s worth keeping in mind if you prefer more natural-looking shots like the one from the Pixel.
OnePlus 11, main camera.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Pixel 7 Pro, main camera.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Both phones captured bright and well-exposed scenes in the photos above. But the HDR on the OnePlus 11 is too aggressive in lifting the shadows, resulting in quite a “processed” look. It’s again produced a blue sky that leans more into teal tones, while the Pixel 7 Pro’s shot looks more true-to-life overall.
OnePlus 11, ultra-wide lens.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Pixel 7 Pro, ultra-wide lens.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Take a look above where it’s exactly the same story when we switch to the ultra-wide lens; overly lifted shadows and toned down highlights resulting in quite an HDR look to the image, to my eye.
OnePlus 11, main camera.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Pixel 7 Pro, main camera.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
I don’t feel the OnePlus 11 has done great in the photo above either, but mostly due to the color balance which has resulted in quite a teal-colored sky and a yellow-green tinge to the buildings on the left.
OnePlus 11, 2x zoom.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
One of the things I found most disappointing in my OnePlus 11 review is that it lacks a proper telephoto zoom lens, instead having just a 2x zoom for portrait shots. I love a zoom lens on a phone as it allows you to find interesting compositions in your surroundings that might be lost to your friends and their wide-angle-only phone cameras. In the photo above, the OnePlus 11’s 2x lens only goes so far in getting a closer-up view of the buildings against the river.
Pixel 7 Pro, 5x optical zoom.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
With its 5x optical zoom, the Pixel 7 Pro can get a much closer view. Check out the Pixel’s photo above. I always enjoy taking photos with the Pixel’s zoom lens as I feel I can get a lot more creative with the zoom than I can with just a wide-angle lens.
Where the OnePlus 11 excels though is in its night mode photos.
OnePlus 11, night mode.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Pixel 7 Pro, night mode.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
The OnePlus 11 has achieved a brighter image above, which is especially noticeable on the main building in the center of the frame. I think the colors look better too, and there’s generally more detail to be seen throughout the image.
OnePlus 11, night mode.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Pixel 7 Pro, night mode.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
And it’s the same in the photos above. The OnePlus 11 captured a much brighter shot, with clouds in the night sky being particularly noticeable.
OnePlus 11, night mode.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Pixel 7 Pro, night mode.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Both images above suffer from significant flares when shooting toward bright light sources, but most phones tend to have this problem. It’s not really any worse on either phone, so it’s just something you’ll need to keep in mind when shooting at night.
Which is the better camera phone?
Throughout my testing, I’ve found that the OnePlus 11 quite consistently delivers shots that are highly saturated and show heavy-handed HDR processing that lifts shadows and tones down highlights to a sometimes unrealistic extent. By contrast, the Pixel 7 Pro’s images are more true to life, with accurate colors and more satisfying shadow areas that haven’t been ‘fixed’ (read: lightened) by the camera software.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that this is largely subjective. As a photographer, imaging skills are a top priority for me in a phone. I want a camera that takes more realistic photos, with more “neutral” contrast and exposure, so that I have a better image to potentially apply my own edits or effects to later on. As a result, I prefer the shots from the Pixel 7 Pro. But if photography is maybe less of a concern and you instead want vibrant, punchy images straight out of the camera that you can instantly share with family and friends, then perhaps you’ll enjoy the vivid look of the OnePlus 11’s pictures. It’s certainly got the edge when it comes to night mode too.
What’s not subjective though is the lack of a bigger zoom on the OnePlus 11. That 2x lens is fine for portraits, but it’s nothing compared with the superb 5x zoom on the Pixel 7 Pro, which is probably my favorite camera lens found on any of today’s top phones. The Pixel 7 Pro feels like I’m putting a full camera bag of equipment in my pocket; a superb ultra-wide, a great standard zoom and an excellent telephoto. With it, I know I can grab interesting compositions in almost any environment I find myself in and it’s why the OnePlus 11 doesn’t feel like a fully capable photography phone.
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OnePlus 11 Flaunts Its Curving Glass and Metal Body
Apple released iOS 16.3.1 on Monday, a few weeks after the release of iOS 16.3. While the previous release included new features like security keys for Apple ID and support for the second-generation HomePod, the latest update fixes some issues iPhone users might have run into recently.
Here’s what’s included in Apple’s iOS 16.3.1 update.
What’s in iOS 16.3.1
The latest iOS update includes bug fixes and security updates that address issues with iCloud, Siri, Find My and crash detection.
Some users on Reddit and Twitter have said they haven’t been able to backup to iCloud after the release of iOS 16.3. The latest update could provide a fix for this issue.
ChatGPT and other AI systems are propelling us faster toward the long-term technology dream of artificial general intelligence and the radical transformation called the “singularity,” a Silicon Valley chip luminary and former Stanford University professor John Hennessy believes.
“The AI revolution is upon us. It’s stunning,” Hennessy said Monday at the TechSurge conference. “It’s awakened in everybody a sense that maybe the singularity, …this turning point where computers really are more capable than humans, is closer than we thought.”
Hennessy won computing’s highest prize, the Turing Award with colleague Dave Patterson for developing the computing architecture that made energy-efficient smartphone chips possible and that now is the foundation for virtually all major processors. He’s also chairman of Google parent company Alphabet.
AI is indeed transforming computing, relying on neural network processing methods inspired by the human brain to tackle new problems in spotting patterns and more recently to generate new text and imagery. AI spread across the computing industry for years making speech recognition mainstream and letting us unlock our phones with our faces. But AI expectations surged with 2022’s debut of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which can answer a huge range of questions, offer advice, pass medical exams, hold conversations and write programs and poetry.
What’s unclear is how well today’s AI, trained for relatively narrow tasks, will grow to match the versatility of human brains. Hennessy is optimistic
“Some of us thought that point at which we’d have a general artificial general intelligence was 40 or 50 years away. I think everybody’s horizon has moved in by probably 10 or 20 years,” Hennessy said. “These models keep getting bigger, and every time we make a jump up in the size of the model, we seem to be able to do new tasks. We don’t know where that’s going to plateau yet.”
Another problem with general intelligence, in particular with tools like ChatGPT that synthesize new material from vast swaths of training data, is misleading us. Today, it’s hard for AIs and people use them to distinguish between reality and “hallucinations,” digital flights of fancy that often sound plausible.
Hennessy sees AI today as an “amplifier,” a similar concept to Microsoft’s position of AI as a “co-pilot.”
“I may not get a video that’s perfect or a PowerPoint presentation or a paragraph that’s perfect. But maybe I get something I can really work with, then use some human intelligence to make it even better,” Hennessy said.
Google is concerned about the problems as well, which is why it didn’t race to release Bard until after ChatGPT stole so much attention.
“Google was hesitant to productize this because it didn’t think it was really ready for a product yet. But I think as a demonstration vehicle, it’s a great piece of technology,” Hennessy said. “You don’t want to put a system out that either says wrong things or sometimes says toxic things. Right. There’s a level of caution about this.”
The Razer Edge isn’t Razer’s first gaming handheld. That honor goes to the original Razer Edge, a large experimental gaming PC tablet that I reviewed a decade ago. Handheld gaming hardware has come a long way since then, and so has Razer, a company known for stellar laptops and gaming peripherals. I wish I could say the Razer Edge was as good as most serious gamers might hope it would be, but this first effort seems meager after being spoiled by Switch and Steam Deck.
I watched my 14-year-old son play Elden Ring on the Razer Edge one morning, and I asked him how it felt. He’s already beaten Elden Ring and keeps playing it on the Xbox Series X. He told me he wouldn’t go back to the Razer Edge to play for several reasons. First, the controller quality. He felt it was a big step back from playing on an Xbox controller, and he isn’t wrong.
The Razer Edge is an Android handheld, a 6.8-inch phone-type mini tablet that comes with a clip-on USB-C controller. Razer already has Kishi game controllers for phones, which are similar to the Backbone One and can turn phones into little gaming handhelds for around $100. The Edge is basically that same type of controller, bundled with its own mini tablet. At $400 for the Wi-Fi version, the price isn’t awful. You could think of this as paying $300 more for a 6.8-inch AMOLED-dedicated mini tablet, which is equipped with a brand-new Qualcomm Snapdragon G3X gaming-focused chipset.
I’m reviewing a Verizon version with 5G that costs more. It’s $600, or $360 if you sign up for a $10/month 5G wireless plan. I briefly tried the Razer Edge in Las Vegas earlier this year, but here are my thoughts after playing at home for longer.
Playing Elden Ring via local streaming to the Razer Edge. Note the large bezels because the aspect ratio is different from the Edge’s longer display.
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It’s not a Steam Deck
If you think you’re getting a Steam Deck-alike here, well… you’re not. The Edge is pure Android and runs apps off the Google Play store. You’ll have a standard selection of Android games that you’d also get on your phone, many of which work with the Edge controller scheme. You could use the Edge mini tablet to access other Android apps, like Gmail, Marvel Snap or Chrome.
You can run streaming games on the Edge, similar to your phone or tablet. I locally streamed Xbox games and played Xbox Game Pass games streaming from the cloud. There’s Steam Link local-game streaming (if you have a gaming PC) and Nvidia GeForce Now cloud-streaming game support, too. Verizon anticipates you’ll use the Edge to stream games on the go, via 5G.
The Razer Edge has a d-pad, dual analog sticks, triggers and bumpers. But the controls feel no different than the clip-on Kishi controllers for phones, and a step below dedicated Xbox game controllers.
Scott Stein/CNET
While the Edge can decently run the streaming games I’ve played on the Xbox so far, it doesn’t feel as impressive as I’d hoped for. The controller seems a step below normal game console controls. The triggers and buttons are fine, but shallower and more hollow-feeling. Also, although Razer supports haptics on these controllers, I have yet to play a game that can use them (and haptics are a big deal for me).
The Edge’s display, while beautifully vivid, is long like a phone. PC and console games end up pillar-boxed, shrinking the playable space and leaving extra-large bezels on the sides. It turns what seems like a big screen into one not quite so big — and for console games designed for big screens, it makes text and menus super small and hard to read.
The Razer Edge’s Kishi controller detaches, but you need it to be connected via USB-C directly to the Edge to play games, unlike the Switch Joy-Cons.
Scott Stein/CNET
It’s not a Switch
The Edge also lacks a few things that I’ve taken for granted on the 6-year-old Nintendo Switch. The Switch can easily dock with a TV to become a regular sofa console, or it can be a handheld. It also has detachable wireless controllers and a kickstand. The Edge, meanwhile, is designed to be purely a handheld. And its controller, which stretches and plugs into the tablet, doesn’t work wirelessly. There’s no kickstand, either.
I would love a more modular design — for instance, if I wanted to prop it up on a table with a kickstand or dock. The handheld design is OK, and after all, the Steam Deck does the same (though the Steam Deck has an optional dock like the Switch). But the Steam Deck’s controls feel more refined. The Edge has the limits of a handheld-only design with few perks.
The Razer Edge tablet could be used to play other Android games and apps: Marvel Snap, for instance. It’s got a touchscreen.
Scott Stein/CNET
It’s not a phone
Also, it’s good to remember that the Edge isn’t a phone, even if it resembles one. The 5G model can connect to cellular, and you could certainly try video chat or other calls with it. However, the Edge only has one camera (front-facing), and it lacks a fingerprint sensor.
It also has some pretty noisy fans in the back that purr while the system is on, meaning it definitely isn’t water-resistant. The fans kick in quite a bit, even when the system seems to be in sleep mode. I’ve found battery life on standby can disappear fast, but then again, this is with 5G on.
The back of the Razer Edge. Note the fan vents. The cooling fans kick in quite a bit and can be a bit noisy.
Scott Stein/CNET
Still, you could easily use the Edge as a small handheld tablet for reading, videos, mail, social media and whatever else. It’s a fully equipped smart device, although the 128GB onboard storage means you’ll probably want to add a microSD card. I haven’t felt the need to do so yet, mostly because all the games I’ve wanted to play are streaming.
For a future Razer Edge, I’d love a better controller and a screen that’s optimized to TV-like aspect ratios.
Scott Stein/CNET
A good idea, but an imperfect landing
I’m only harping on the downsides because Razer has excellent game controller products, and the company can clearly make fantastic hardware. I’d love to see more thought put into how a handheld could be not only serviceable, but designed perfectly, with more modularity and a display with a better aspect ratio.
There’s also a weird element with the target audience and software library. The Switch leans on Nintendo’s eShop, and the Steam Deck has Steam. The Razer Edge has a split focus on Android games, Steam Link, Xbox Game Pass and other streaming options like Nvidia GeForce Now. Much like the Logitech G Cloud, another Android device aimed at streamers, it feels a little redundant or superfluous.
While the Edge is functional enough, if you own a newer smartphone, you could simply buy a controller accessory instead. The Razer Edge doesn’t excel in any one area for me, and that’s why I’d like to see the overall idea pushed further. Whether Razer and Qualcomm will choose to do that remains to be seen.
