YouTube’s TikTok-like Shorts feature is rolling out in beta in the United States

TikTok has caused a massive ripple in the social media space. It managed to popularize the concept of short videos, similarly to what Vine made several years ago, and made it global, with the Android app having over 1 billion installs. And while companies like Facebook have already come out with their own alternatives, such as Instagram Reels, TikTok still manages to hold the crown for itself, despite tensions with other companies and even country bans and attempted bans from countries like India (where the app is completely banned) and the United States (where a ban was attempted). It has also spawned plenty of alternatives, with one of them being YouTube Shorts. YouTube Shorts were announced last year, and they are now rolling out in a beta stage to consumers in the United States.

It was first announced that this beta would be rolling out stateside in March as per chief product officer Neal Mohan (via: The Verge). The feature was first rolled out in India (where, again, TikTok is banned) several months ago when it was first announced in September 2020, and has seen great success, with the YouTube Shorts player apparently receiving up to 3.5 billion views every single day. It’s no surprise then that Google is rushing to roll it out in other markets as well. TikTok is forecasted to surpass 1 billion monthly active users in 2021. Furthermore, a big chunk of TikTok’s install base is in the United States, and Google is looking to tackle TikTok head-on with this feature.

YouTube Shorts beta in the United States.

While the Shorts beta was initially forecasted to roll out in the US in March, it seems like we may have gotten it a little bit earlier, as it’s already live on our end. A stateside release can also mean a potentially close global rollout, although Google is no stranger to region-exclusive features, so we may have to wait a little bit longer. Google has not yet provided a timetable on when the feature will roll out to everyone, as the beta will evidently only roll out to a select few, but it’ll probably be sooner than later.

If the feature is not available yet on your end, rolling into the beta program or downloading and sideloading a beta APK (which you can grab right here) should do the trick.

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New Moto-branded smartwatches are coming, but they’re not what you may think

Motorola has undergone several transitions to its smartphone lineup, which has inadvertently resulted in a more complicated branding and naming scheme (which is never good). But its smartwatch division has taken an interesting turn. The last time we saw a Motorola smartwatch, it was actually not made by Motorola, but rather by a company called eBuyNow, with Motorola only providing their branding. Now, a new generation of Moto-branded smartwatches is coming, but they’re quite different offerings compared to what we’ve seen before—maybe for the better, maybe for the worse, but different nonetheless.

Not gonna claim this is an exclusive since I got it from a sales presentation, but seems like a square-ish Moto Watch and a new @moto360 are coming soon. pic.twitter.com/2DWY758GWp

— Felipe Berhau (@FelipeBerhau) February 26, 2021

The first thing we should note here is that this isn’t really a leak: this was actually grabbed from a sales presentation, which is fully public for anyone to see, and the presentation these screenshots were grabbed from seems to be this one (spotted by 9to5Google). Onto the watches themselves, which were first spotted by @FelipeBerhau on Twitter, they don’t seem to feature the previous branding anywhere (that’s why we noted that these are Moto-branded smartwatches). Instead, the presentation says “Moto Watch & One”, pointing that we’ll have a Moto Watch and a Moto One watch.

Moto G smartwatch pic.twitter.com/dtDqdVzaTh

— Felipe Berhau (@FelipeBerhau) February 26, 2021

There’s also a third watch which will apparently be called the “Moto G” smartwatch. The Moto G series of smartphones consist of mid-range and low-end devices, so a G watch in this case would probably be a lower-end smartwatch. Presumably, a “Moto One” smartwatch would follow overall the same line the One series of smartphones follows, while a Moto Watch would probably be the proper flagship smartwatch in the lineup. Again, these are all speculations based on the images.

These, just like the last 360 smartwatch, are not made by Motorola in-house, but they will be sold under the Moto branding if they reach the market. We don’t know when these smartwatches will be reaching the market, if they’ll reach it at all, but we’ll have to wait and see.

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Latest unc0ver release can jailbreak the iPhone 12 series and iOS 14.3

Compared to Android users, where rooting is a straightforward process and unlocks a plethora of features for your device (and a very respectable degree of customization and functionality can be added to your phone even if you’re not rooted), iOS users really don’t have it that easy. The iOS ecosystem is very locked down, and Apple puts overtime effort into ensuring it stays that way. But there’s a way out of this walled garden, and it’s called jailbreaking. Unfortunately, though, jailbreaking is way more difficult than rooting on Android, but last year, we got to know unc0ver, a new iOS jailbreak that became a huge deal because it used a zero-day exploit to jailbreak phones running then-just-released iOS 13.5.

Now, there’s a new version of this jailbreak in town, and it works from iOS 11.0 and works all the way up to iOS 14.3, meaning that you can easily jailbreak the newly released iPhone 12 series, including the iPhone 12 mini, the iPhone 12, the iPhone 12 Pro, and the iPhone 12 Pro Max. In fact, as of the time of writing, users have reported that they have managed to easily jailbreak the new devices. The new version of unc0ver is just as straightforward to install as the previous versions: just download AltStore, sideload it to your iOS device, and use it to install unc0ver, which will then effortlessly jailbreak your smartphone.

Jailbreaking opens the floodgates for iOS customizability and it also allows you to add extra functionality to your iOS smartphone. Check out our initial coverage on the unc0ver project to know more about its developers, some nifty mods you can try out, and what exactly you can do when you remove the walls on iOS to unlock its full potential. Plenty of awesome and exciting mods arose thanks to jailbreaking last year, and we’re excited to see what will arise this time around. You can check out the unc0ver website to download it and learn how to install it.

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Would you like to see the Redmi K40 with Snapdragon 870 as the Poco F3?

Redmi’s flagship killer K series delivers fantastic value for money. The third-generation in the series, i.e., the Redmi K40 lineup, including the Redmi K40, K40 Pro, and the K40 Pro+, was unveiled earlier this week. Despite flagship-grade specifications including 120Hz AMOLED displays, either Snapdragon 870 0r Snapdragon 888 high-end chipsets, and up to 108MP cameras, the Redmi K40 series starts at an unbelievable price of just about $310. Out of these devices, the base Redmi K40 variant is expected to be rebranded as a POCO smartphone — probably taking the name of POCO F3 — for the global markets. How do you like that idea?

Even though Xiaomi claims that POCO and Redmi now operate independently, we see blurring lines between their inventory. Redmi and POCO are still dependent on Xiaomi for their SKU design, licensing, and some other business decisions, allowing them to launch similar — or the same — phones with different names. That may not especially be a bad thing as it gives users more choices — and often, different design options for the same product.

Both of Xiaomi’s spin-off brands — i.e., Redmi and POCO — have a good reputation for selling exciting smartphones. While their phones often have appealing specifications, what chiefly makes them exciting is their high value for money. The Redmi K40 as a product aligns with POCO’s ideology of “everything you need, nothing you don’t.” It is one of the world’s first smartphones powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 chipset, an overclocked version of the Snapdragon 865.

The Snapdragon 870 is one of our top choices for flagship killers in 2021. Additionally, the Redmi K40 is equipped with a 120Hz AMOLED display and features 48MP triple cameras on the back. The 6GB/128GB variant of the smartphone starts at only CNY 1999 (~$310) in China, while the 12GB/256GB variant goes up to CNY 2699 (~$418). The rebranded versions for other markets may not be as convincingly economical, but even if we keep a margin of $200, this is still a pretty sweet deal for the specifications up for grabs. The smartphone clearly benefits from the economy of scale, and even though it uses some older generation components, the pricing is unquestionably exciting.

In addition to its exciting flagship-grade specifications with a midranger’s pricing, the Redmi K40 offers high-speed 5G connectivity at an affordable price. The Snapdragon X55 modem on the chipset allows up to 7.5Gbps of download speed, much higher than the limit of 3.7Gbs on the mid-range X52 modem we see on the Snapdragon 750G/765G/768G. The X55 modem also offers 4×4 MIMO for better signal strength as compared to the X52. This factor, combined with the already exciting specification of the Redmi K40, makes the smartphone a very compelling choice — irrespective of its naming.

What are your thoughts on Redmi K40 being rebadged as the next POCO flagship killer? Do you want to see the K40 launching in international markets? Let us know in the comments below!

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Microsoft testing new Xbox Game Streaming Windows app and 1080p streaming for xCloud

Game streaming went from something that could only be imagined as a far-fetched futuristic concept to something that’s actually a thing and has even gained some steam among users (although some companies aren’t really doing so well). And everyone wants a piece of the game streaming game, from companies like Nvidia to even Microsoft, which also has their own game streaming service called Xbox Cloud Gaming and formerly called xCloud (we’ll still call it xCloud for simplicity sake). Given how you can’t buy an Xbox Series X right now (or maybe you can), this is probably the next best thing, but it has some limitations. The good news is that most of those limitations are going away with new features and improvements in the works.

The first of those improvements is the fact that Microsoft is making a Windows app called Xbox Game Streaming. This Windows app not only will allow you to stream your games from the cloud and deliver the xCloud experience to devices and computers running Windows 10, but it will also allow you to stream games from your own consoles as well if you have either an Xbox Series S or an Xbox Series X, although this last feature isn’t yet functional in this (very rough) unreleased version of the app that The Verge got their hands on.

This app isn’t anything new as it was first uncovered last year in a much rougher state, meaning that Microsoft is actively working on it. Not only will it deliver the xCloud experience to Windows PCs, but it will also be compatible with ARM devices, meaning that you will be able to play your games on your always-connected laptop or tablet as well. This app will also pack in features such as touch support (which will allow you to play without a controller) and gyro support (although this one seems to be broken too).

and yes, the xCloud app for Windows will work on ARM devices like the Surface Pro X https://t.co/ymyjQDmaeH pic.twitter.com/3XXYAGaVRH

— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) February 27, 2021

The second of these improvements is 1080p streaming support, as reported by Windows Central. Right now, xCloud streaming is capped at 720p, which is probably fine for smaller displays and smartphones and is actually better in terms of bandwidth and responsiveness as it’s easier to move a 720p stream over a network but can get pretty muddy pretty quickly on a bigger display. 1080p streaming opens up better quality for your games as long as your internet connection allows it.

Other competitors such as Google Stadia already support 1080p streaming, so Microsoft is playing catch-up in this regard. At the same time, most of Microsoft’s server infrastructure is based on Xbox One architecture, and Microsoft is set to switch over to Xbox Series X architecture over the course of this year, so 1080p streaming might be one of the first results of those changes.

Are you an xCloud user? How are you liking these changes?

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Twitter seems to be finally testing Spaces on Android

Clubhouse has earned a decent amount of popularity in the last few weeks because it helped popularize a fresh new concept: live “drop-in” audio chats where anyone can drop in and talk. Clubhouse, in particular, started to become popular through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, where the internet and social media became even more prevalent in our lives than they already were in previous times, and that growth accelerated exponentially since the start of 2021. It has now popularized the concept of “audio chatrooms”, and big technology companies are running to get a piece of the cake, with companies like Facebook reportedly rushing to make their own competitor. Twitter also made one of their own, which is called Twitter Spaces, and they might be testing it on Android now.

pic.twitter.com/bbGSqBr39S

— racka (@rackadev) February 26, 2021

The Twitter Spaces feature has, so far, stayed only on iOS together with a host of iOS-exclusive features such as voice tweets (which have yet to make their way to Android), but the feature has already reached the hands of a lot of users, even if it’s only in “test mode” according to Twitter (which is fancy speak for “beta”). How do we know it’s being tested on Android right now? Well, for one, users have started to report it working, such as in the replies for this tweet. Users have specifically reported that the feature is working for them after installing a specific beta version of the Twitter app (which you can download right here to see if it works for you).

So what’s the catch? Firstly, since a rollout for Android has not been announced yet and since the feature is not yet working on the stable version of the app, it’s pretty safe to say that this feature is probably still pretty rough around the edges. And indeed: captions seem fairly wonky according to Android Police’s coverage, not to mention that you can’t start your own space, only join others’ spaces. The fact that it’s currently being worked on is pretty good on its own, and we can’t wait until the final rollout comes.

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Everything you need to know about HDMI standards and connectors

The HDMI port has become the standard for audio-video I/O purposes. Short for High Definition Multimedia Interface, it was introduced in the early 2000s with the sole purpose of delivering an improved and convenient way to replace existing standards for carrying HDTV signals. The founders of HDMI include Hitachi, Panasonic, Philips, Silicon Image, Sony, Thomson, RCA, and Toshiba. HDMI ports can easily be found in most modern homes on televisions, laptops, and desktop PCs. Today, most gaming consoles also include HDMI ports as it offers a single-cable solution to transfer audio and video data.

Here, we have explained all the different versions of the HDMI specification that have been launched over the years, along with a quick look at the type of HDMI connectors. Much like USB, different specifications can be matched to different connectors/ports.

HDMI Specifications

HDMI 1.0

The first version of the HDMI spec arrived in December 2002. It primarily used a similar architecture as DVI for sending video signals but sent audio and other data during a video stream’s blanking intervals. It offered a data transfer rate of 4.9Gbps to deliver 720p resolution at 120Hz, 1080p at 60Hz, and 1440p at 30Hz. The standard also supported 8-channel audio.

HDMI 1.1

Making its first appearance in May 2004, HDMI 1.1 was a very small update to the existing HDMI 1.0 standard. The only new feature added was DVD-Audio support, which meant that HDMI could now deliver audio ranging from single-channel mono to 5.1-channel surround sound. The resolution and refresh rate specifications remained the same.

HDMI 1.2 and 1.2a

Arriving almost a year after HDMI 1.1, HDMI 1.2 was an important update as it included compatibility for low voltage devices, making it suitable for PCs (especially graphics cards). It also added support for some newer color spaces. This version was originally intended to derestrict formats to increase compatibility and compete with the new and emerging Display Port interface. In 2005 itself, HDMI 1.2a was announced, which added compliance for Consumer Electronics Control (CEC), allowing multiple HDMI devices to control each other with one remote controller.

HDMI 1.3 and 1.3a

This was a big leap for the standard when it launched in June 2006. First of all, it finally doubled the bandwidth to 10.2Gbps, which bumped up the ability to deliver 720p resolution at 240Hz, 1080p at 120Hz, and 1440p 60Hz. Additionally, it also added support for 4K or 2160p at 30Hz, although it wasn’t made official until the release of HDMI 1.4. It also added support for 10-bit, 12-bit, and even 16-bit color depth, depending on the resolution. This version also had support for increased color spaces and optional support for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. HDMI 1.3 also introduced a new Type-C Mini HDMI connector (more on that later). Like 1.2, this one also saw a mid-cycle update with version 1.3a, which again had similar CEC updates and some modifications to the smaller type-c connector.

HDMI 1.4, 1.4a, and 1.4b

In 2009, the next version of HDMI arrived with similar resolution support, including 4K and cinema or ‘true’ 4K, which is 4096x 2160 at only 24Hz but a wider aspect ratio. It also included an HDMI Ethernet Channel (HEC), which included a 100-Mbit/s ethernet connection between the two HDMI-connected devices and an audio return channel or ARC. This version also added support for stereoscopic 3D and a new micro HDMI connector, both of which didn’t really catch on. It also widened the support for additional rich and natural-looking color spaces, including Adobe RGB. It was also suggested to purchase the new High-Speed HDMI cables if you wanted to get the full experience of 1.3 and 1.4 features. There was also a completely different cable if you want the ethernet connection as well.

This was followed by 1.4a in 2010 that added some additional 3D formats and resolutions for broadcast content. It also saw another refresh in 2011 as 1.4b was introduced to mark the shift in production standard from LLC, with all future versions specified by the HDMI Forum.

HDMI 2.0

An important update to the standard, HDMI 2.0 introduced support for 4K at 60Hz and increased the overall bandwidth to 18Gbps. It was launched in 2013, pushing 1080p resolution at 240Hz and 1440p at 144Hz, which was a big jump for gaming. It also supported 24-bit color depth at 4K resolution, up to 32 audio channels, and eventually added support for HDR in 2015 with the release of HDMI 2.0a and Hybrid Log-Gamma with HDMI 2.0b in 2016.

HDMI 2.1

The most recent version, HDMI 2.1, was announced by the HDMI Forum in 2017. All new high-end televisions, gaming consoles, and graphics cards are now being shipped with HDMI 2.1. This can achieve 4K resolution at 120Hz and can even push up to 8K and 10K resolutions at 30Hz or higher using Display Stream Compressions. All of this was possible thanks to the doubling of the bandwidth and the addition of a fourth data-rate channel that meant a total of 48Gbps bitrate. The latest version also includes Dynamic HDR for specifying HDR metadata, Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), and ARC was updated to eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) for audio formats such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. HDMI 2.1 also introduces the Ultra High-Speed HDMI cable category to comply with the high-speed bitrate.

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HDMI Connectors and ports

The HDMI connector looks a lot like a full-size USB port, only larger and having a trapezium shape. It includes a male and female connector where you usually have the male version of the connector on cables or streaming devices that go into the female connector, which is usually on the device(s) being linked. Usually, the upper end of the HDMI port is longer than the one below, so it can only go one way in; thus, it isn’t reversible. While the full-size HDMI port is widely used, we’ve seen various shapes and sizes over the years.

Typical HDMI Type-A pin configuration (Image: Gamers Nexus)

 

Image: Wikipedia

Type A

This is the most common version, or as we say, full-sized HDMI. It includes 19 pins to offer bandwidth for carrying SDTV, EDTV, HDTV, UHD, and 4K modes. It is also electrically compatible with single-link DVI-D.

Type B

Comparatively larger than the standard Type-A port, the HDMI Type-B is compatible with dual-link DVI-D with a total of 29 pins which usually carry six differential pairs instead of three. This port was used for high-resolution displays with up to WQUXGA (3840×2400) resolutions. Notably, this port was not used in any popular commercial product.

Type C

Mini HDMI, or Type-C as they call it, was a smaller version of the type A plug but with the same 19-pin configuration. This was introduced for portable devices, including smartphones. The only difference was that the designation of the various pins was not the same when compared to HDMI Type-A.

Type D

Micro HDMI or Type-D was even smaller than the Type-C port, somewhat similar to the micro-USB port. This once again came with the same set of 19 pins but with a completely different pin assignment compared to Type-A and Type-C.

Type E

Also known as the Automotive Connection System, this HDMI port features a locking mechanism to keep the cable stable and withstand vibrations along with a shell to prevent moisture and dirt from disrupting the signal.

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If this article helped you understand the various types and standards of HDMI, make sure you also go through our guide on the various USB versions and standards.

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