Canadian Reviewer Weekly Roundup - 5/12- 5/25

Nokia 3210 gets a modern makeover

What you get with the Google Pixel 8A

Netflix builds a theme park in Roblox

Microsoft to enter mobile gaming arena with cross-platform store launch

Xbox app gets more touch-friendly for Windows handhelds

Step into alternate realities: The interactive Marvel 'What If...?' on Apple Vision Pro

YouTube considers 'Pause Ads'

Google tests AI for scam detection, raising privacy concerns

The future of PlayStation Parties? Sony unveils new PS5 multiplayer invite system

Fujifilm unveils X-T50: A fresh take on APS-C

Ditch the bucket: Dyson WashG1 is a high-tech mop

OnePlus 12 and OnePlus Open among first to receive Android 15 Beta 1

OpenAI and Reddit strike up partnership

Scarlett Johansson questions alleged voice mimicry in OpenAI's ChatGPT

Microsoft Surface Pro rebooted: Faster, AI-ready, and now Qualcomm-powered

Sonos unveils streamlined Roam 2 portable speaker

Microsoft unveils Surface Laptop powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon chips

Google Meet gets smarter audio

Microsoft embraces Arm with improved app translation

Microsoft embraces Arm with improved app translation

Photo: Microsoft

Microsoft is making a strong push into Arm-powered Windows PCs with the launch of Surface devices featuring the Snapdragon X Elite processor. This move naturally invites comparisons to Apple's successful transition from Intel to Arm-based designs in its Macs.

A key factor in Apple's success was Rosetta 2, a translation layer that allows users to run most Intel Mac apps on Apple Silicon machines with minimal effort. Windows 11 offers similar functionality, and with the upcoming 24H2 update, it gets a new name: Prism.

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Google Meet gets smarter audio

Image: Google

Google Workspace is upping its video conferencing game with "adaptive audio," a new feature coming to Google Meet that eliminates the need for bulky equipment in many situations (for users with access to advanced features).

This innovative tech automatically detects when multiple laptops are in the same room and seamlessly merges their microphones and speakers. Imagine a meeting where everyone can be heard clearly without having to huddle around a single device! Adaptive audio also reduces echoes and feedback, ensuring a smooth audio experience.

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Microsoft unveils Surface Laptop powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon chips

Microsoft has revealed a new Surface Laptop aimed at consumers, featuring a significant shift under the hood. This iteration ditches Intel processors in favour of Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite or Plus chips, directly challenging Apple's powerful M-series MacBooks.

The Surface Laptop boasts impressive specs from the get-go. The base model packs 16GB of RAM (a clear jab at Apple's base offering) and 256GB of SSD storage, powered by the Snapdragon X Plus chip. Both screen sizes (13.8-inch and 15-inch) offer upgrade options for storage (up to 1TB) and RAM (up to 32GB, with a limited-time preorder exclusive for 64GB). All models come equipped with a Qualcomm Adreno GPU for graphics processing.

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