ReactOS, the open-source Windows clone, has a new update available

ReactOS is a free and open-source operating system that aims to be a full re-implementation of the Windows NT kernel and system, complete with the ability to run applications, games, and drivers designed for Windows. It has been in development since 1996, and now the first new release since last year is available to download.

The ReactOS team wrote in a blog post, “it took us over a year to get this release in shape and fix regressions. As such, ReactOS 0.4.14 does not contain the very latest developments we advertised in 2021 on our blog and on social media. They can be found instead in our nightly builds. Consider this a maintenance release, and stay tuned for what’s coming next!”

ReactOS 0.4.14 includes the first implementation of ‘Send To’ in the Shell, which has been available on Microsoft’s operating system since Windows 2000, and allows you to quickly share files to applications (e.g. create a new email with a file as an attachment). ReactOS also now has ‘Open file location’ and ‘Open Command prompt here’ options when right-clicking a file or directory, which is handy. Windows software compatibility should be a bit better as well, with updated DLLs from the Wine project, and initial support for booting NEC PC-9800 computers is present.

This update also includes improvements to the operating system’s Internet Control Message Protocol implementation, Plug n’ Play, runtime exception handling for software written in C, bootloader, on-screen keyboard, and fonts. All those changes mean ReactOS runs a bit smoother and consumes less memory than before — in most cases, the entire operating system should use less than 100MB of RAM while idling.

ReactOS is still pretty far from replacing Windows for most people, but it’s an impressive technological achievement. The project’s Twitter account frequently posts examples of applications, games, and PCs that work with ReactOS. While most of the software fully compatible is pretty old, like Diablo 2 and Microsoft Office 97, some modern applications like VLC Media Player are also functional.

You can learn more about ReactOS and try it out from the official website.

The post ReactOS, the open-source Windows clone, has a new update available appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/3sgrBlo
via IFTTT

How to install a CPU on the motherboard: A beginners guide

You just bought a new processor, a shiny new motherboard, and you were also lucky enough to get your hands on a new graphics card in 2021 amidst what’s probably the worst GPU shortage in history. Great! What’s next? Grabbing all the new components and putting them together to build a new computer. The first thing you need to do is toss that CPU on the motherboard to bring your PC to life. Installing a CPU is like putting the brains into your computer. Fortunately, it’s a fairly simple task and there’s no need to stress. We’re here to guide you through the process to make sure everything’s in place. In this guide, we’ll take you through each step and explain how to install a CPU on the motherboard.

Navigate this article:

• Prerequisite: Everything you need
• How to install a CPU: Step-by-step guide

Prerequisite: Everything you need

If you’ve decided to begin your PC build, then there’s a very good chance that you’ve already picked up all the essential parts. If not, then now is the time to do it. You really only need just the CPU and motherboard to perform the steps mentioned in this guide, but we’re going to take a look at a couple of other things that you might want to grab before beginning this step of PC building:

• Thermal Paste: You’re going to need a thermal paste after installing the CPU, but it’s good to have it next to you in the process.
• CPU Cooler: It goes without saying that you need a CPU cooler to make sure the thermal output of the CPU is maintained. This isn’t optional and you need some kind of a CPU cooler — either a fan cooler or a liquid cooler. This is regardless of the CPU manufacturer, its performance, or the generation of the CPU. A CPU will not work without a cooler and it will almost immediately crash due to the high thermal output.
• A compatible motherboard: Not all CPUs work with all the motherboards on the market. A lot of CPUs drop into different CPU sockets on the board, and they need dedicated and compatible chipsets to work too. The Intel Core i5-12600K, for instance, will only work with one of the Z690 motherboards on the market. These Z690 motherboards have the new LGA 1700 CPU socket and they also carry the new Z690 chipset for the new chips. AMD Ryzen 5000 series chips, for instance, demands an AM4 CPU socket and they only work with X570, B550, B450 chipset, etc.

And that’s pretty much it for the pre-requisites. Installing the CPU is a toolless operation, so you don’t need any tools, just yet in the process.

How to install a CPU: Step-by-step guide

Note: The whole process of installing a CPU on the motherboard is a lot easier if you do it outside the PC case. That gives you more space to work with instead of having to restrict yourself with the limited space inside the chassis. If you’re installing a new CPU to an existing build, then we recommend taking out the motherboard first.

• The first thing you see once you locate the CPU socket on the motherboard is the metal arm next to the socket that’s attached to the socket enclosure. Pull this arm slightly away from the socket to lift it up. The arm will lift up or free the metal enclosure or the frame along with it to reveal the empty socket.

• The next step is to drop the CPU into the CPU socket on the motherboard. It’s best to only touch the sides of the CPU while holding it. Avoid touching the underside or even the metal lid. Fortunately, there’s almost always an indicator on both the CPU as well as the socket that’ll help you align them properly. Look for a small triangle indicator on the corner of the CPU and the socket and align them properly.

• Once correctly inserted, the CPU should lay flat on the socket, without having to apply any force or pressure whatsoever.
• The next step is to lower the metal frame over the chip. You’re essentially pushing the metal arm back into its original position now. This will require some force, but be careful with it. Press the metal arm back down and tuck it in. This will lock your CPU in place. And that’s it!

• For AMD CPUs, the process is essentially the same. However, there’s usually no enclosure or metal frame in AMD motherboards. Lifting the metal arm, however, will slide the socket a little. You will then carefully align the CPU on the socket to drop it in. Push the metal arm and tuck it in to secure the chip in place.

How to install a CPU: Final Thoughts

Once you’re done installing the CPU and all the other core components on the motherboard including the RAM, the SSD, the GPU, etc, drop the motherboard inside the case to continue the process. You will eventually have to apply the thermal paste and install the CPU cooler before finishing the build. You can check out the essay on how to apply thermal paste to a CPU to get a detailed understanding of it.

We explained the steps using an Intel Core i5-12600K CPU, but the process is very similar for almost all the mainstream chips. It’s a little different for enthusiast chips like the AMD Threadripper and Intel’s Xeon CPUs, but you probably already know how to install a CPU if you’re dealing with those chips, to begin with. We hope this beginner’s guide helped you understand how to install a CPU on the motherboard. We suggest you join our XDA Computing Forums to learn more about PC building, parts, and just computing in general.

The post How to install a CPU on the motherboard: A beginners guide appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/3Fg0IBK
via IFTTT

Apple wants antitrust case in India to be dismissed, says it’s not a dominant player

Apple’s tightly controlled App Store and its proprietary in-app purchase system have come under fire in recent times, with the company facing antitrust probes in multiple countries, including the US, Europe, and South Korea. The Cupertino-based giant is facing a similar antitrust case in India over allegedly abusing its dominant position in the apps market and hurting small developers. In its official response, Apple has now asked the Indian antitrust watchdog to close the case, stating that it’s not a dominant player in India.

In a filing submitted to the Competition Commission of India (CCI), Apple has denied the allegations of hurting app developers, saying that it’s way too small of a player in the Indian market, reports Reuters.

“Apple is not dominant in the Indian market … Without dominance, there can be no abuse,” said Apple in the filing submitted on Nov 16.

Apple also pointed out in its filing that its market share in India was “an insignificant 0-5%,” while its competitor Google commanded between 90-100% of the market.  “It has already been established that Google is the dominant player in India,” Apple added.

Further, Apple says that the commissions it charges for the in-app purchases are “not unfair or excessive” adding that small developers aren’t subject to the 30% commission rate.

“Only a small number of large developers, many of which are multi-billion-dollar conglomerates, pay the headline rate of 30%,” Apple said.

The antitrust case against Apple was filed by a non-profit group called “Together We Fight Society” back in September. It argues that Apple’s 30% commission on in-app purchases hurts app developers and acts as a barrier to market entry.

“The existence of the 30% commission means that some app developers will never make it to the market … This could also result in consumer harm,” said the group in their filing against Apple.

According to Reuters, the CCI will review Apple’s arguments in the coming weeks and could order a wider investigation.

The post Apple wants antitrust case in India to be dismissed, says it’s not a dominant player appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/3spGn9p
via IFTTT

These are the Best Galaxy S21 Ultra Deals: Where to buy Samsung’s flagship?

The Galaxy S21 series is Samsung’s 2021 flagship smartphone lineup. It made its debut at the beginning of 2021, and if you’re planning to buy the Galaxy S21 Ultra, you can save some money by utilizing one of the available deals for the phone. The smartphone was launched at a starting price of $1,200 but e-retailers like Amazon, and even Samsung’s own online store, are now offering it at discounted prices. We’ve selected the best Galaxy S21 Ultra deals that are available at various retailers and carriers right now. We also have a guide on the best Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus deals if you’re considering the other phones in the lineup.

Unlocked Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra Deals

If you’re looking to pick up an unlocked Galaxy S21 Ultra, you can grab it directly from the Samsung Store, or go with Amazon or Best Buy.

Samsung Store

The Samsung Store is offering an instant trade-in value of up to $550 when you buy the Galaxy S21 Ultra directly from its store. Additionally, you can also get a free case with the phone to protect it right from when it’s out of the box. Moreover, Samsung also gives you 4 months of free YouTube premium and 6 months of free Sirius XM streaming.

Lastly, let’s not forget about the special made-to-order colors – Phantom Titanium, Phantom Navy, and Phantom Brown – that are exclusive to the Samsung store.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

Grab your Galaxy S21 Ultra directly from Samsung and get a first-party case free.

Buy from Samsung

Amazon

Amazon is selling the Galaxy S21 Ultra with a $100 discount on the 128GB and the 256GB models. Both Phantom Black and Phantom Silver colors are available but not for both storage variants.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

Order the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra from Amazon to enjoy free two-day shipping with Prime.

View at Amazon

Best Buy

Best Buy has the Galaxy S21 Ultra listed for the cheapest price you can find online for an unlocked model. The 128GB version of the Galaxy S21 Ultra is retailing for just $799 which is an excellent deal for the smartphone. You can pick unlocked, Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint (T-Mobile) versions of the phone.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

Best Buy is offering both the unlocked and carrier-locked variants of the Galaxy S21 Ultra for the best possible price.

View at Best Buy

Carrier Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra Deals

If you don’t mind your Galaxy S21 Ultra being locked to a carrier, you can get some great deals. You can go with Verizon, T-Mobile, or AT&T.

Verizon

Verizon has a number of different deals to take advantage of. Whether you’re upgrading an existing line or getting a new line, the carrier is giving significant discounts on trade-ins. You’ll also be able to save money if you buy a Samsung Galaxy Watch with your S21 Ultra. For the Galaxy S21 Ultra, the payment plans are either $49.99 for 24 months or $39.99 for 30 months.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

Use trade-ins and other promotions to get the price of the S21 Ultra down at Verizon.

Buy from Verizon

T-Mobile

T-Mobile is offering up to $800 as monthly bill credits if you buy the Galaxy S21 Ultra with a new line on a monthly plan and trade in an eligible device. You’ll get up to $500 bill credits with trade-ins on the existing lines. The carrier has the 128GB and 256GB storage variants on offer.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile is selling both the Phantom Black and the Phantom Silver color options.

Buy from T-Mobile

AT&T

Both new and existing AT&T users can get up to $800 off the Galaxy S21 Ultra with an eligible trade-in. That’s a nice chunk off the price of the S21 Ultra. AT&T is only selling the Phantom Black color of the phone.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

AT&T is offering discounts on trade-ins on the Galaxy S21 Ultra.

Buy from AT&T

---

These are the best deals on the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra right now. If you’re buying the phone, check out our guides on the best Galaxy S21 Ultra cases and screen protectors to safeguard your phone.

The post These are the Best Galaxy S21 Ultra Deals: Where to buy Samsung’s flagship? appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/39xLzgn
via IFTTT

WhatsApp may soon allow group admins to delete incoming messages

WhatsApp is testing a new feature that will give more power to group admins. While WhatsApp has long supported the ability to delete messages in chats, it currently doesn’t allow admins to remove messages sent by group members. But that can be changing soon.

As spotted by WABetainfo, the Meta-owned instant messaging app is testing a new change that may finally enable admins to delete messages for everyone in groups. What this means is that if you’re moderating a WhatsApp group, you’ll be able to remove unwanted or inappropriate messages sent by group members.

WhatsApp beta for Android 2.22.1.1: what’s new?

WhatsApp is working on the ability to delete any message in groups for everyone if you’re a group admin, in a future update! https://t.co/oI7fUiJiI3

— WABetaInfo (@WABetaInfo) December 13, 2021

When a message is removed, WhatsApp will indicate that “This was deleted by an admin” and will also display who deleted the message.

As WABetoinfo notes, this feature is still a work in progress and isn’t accessible to end-users. We don’t know when WhatsApp plans to roll it out to everyone. Provided WhatsApp doesn’t scrap it, the feature will most likely first arrive on WhatsApp beta before making its way to the stable channel.

The ability to delete messages for everyone comes after we learned last month that WhatsApp was considering to remove the time limit for deleting messages. Currently, WhatsApp users have 4,096 seconds (68 minutes and 16 seconds) to delete a message after it was sent. But it looks in the future WhatsApp may let you delete any message you sent at any point in history.

WhatsApp has picked up several new features and improvements over the past few weeks. Last month, the instant messaging app received regulatory approval to expand WhatsApp Pay, a UPI-powered payment service, to 40 million users in India. Then this month the app gained new Disappearing Messages options, Novi wallet integration for payments in the US, the ability to preview voice messages, and more.

The post WhatsApp may soon allow group admins to delete incoming messages appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/32mMvo5
via IFTTT

This app lets you run Android Auto on a Tesla over the browser

There are a myriad of standards when it comes to pairing your smartphone with an In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) system. Android users are most familiar with Android Auto, a Google-made app that runs off of your phone and projects a driving-optimized UI onto the car’s built-in dashboard. Tesla, however, doesn’t support any such projection mechanism on its electric vehicles.

Tesla’s feature-rich dashboard is powered by a custom Linux distribution, which is tightly integrated with the car’s hardware components. While the modding community has yet to discover a way to completely replace it with Android, Tesla car owners can finally enjoy the Android Auto experience, thanks to a new app called TeslAA.

The solution is the brainchild of XDA Recognized Developer Emil Borconi, who is known for his works on the AAWireless project. Emil gave us an early glimpse of TeslAA back in June this year. Since then, the app has gone through a long beta testing phase and it is now available for everyone.

The workflow of TeslAA is quite straightforward. Upon installing the app on your phone, you need to connect the phone to your car via Bluetooth. Next, connect the Tesla Wi-Fi to your phone’s hotspot and head over to www.androidwheels.com using the Tesla browser. If everything goes right, you should be able to see the Android Auto screen on your center console.

Under the hood, TeslAA streams the Android Auto interface from your smartphone to the Tesla dashboard’s integrated browser via a local VPN interface. In case you’re facing any issue with the VPN setup, you can also opt for manual routing and set the phone’s IP to 3.3.3.3 for TeslAA to work. According to the developer, the application works best with Tesla models that support Netflix, YouTube, and Disney+.

There are, however, a few bugs that you need to consider. These include the stream becoming unresponsive after switching to reverse and the car disconnecting from the Wi-Fi hotspot when your phone loses signal for a long time. Nonetheless, the current implementation is sufficient to mirror some of the best Android apps to your Tesla’s dashboard.

TeslAA is priced at $4.99 and can be downloaded from the Google Play Store. If you own a Tesla vehicle and you’re interested in the Android Auto experience, be sure to check out the app.

TeslAA - Android Auto over Tesla Browser ($4.99, Google Play) →

The post This app lets you run Android Auto on a Tesla over the browser appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/3GRa72W
via IFTTT

PS3, PS Vita, and PSP consoles won’t be able to buy digital games soon

Sony just released the PlayStation 5 a few months ago, but many people are still playing games on earlier consoles. However, Sony revealed today that it is shutting down part of the PlayStation Store on its pre-PS4 consoles, marking the end of full support for Sony’s long-discontinued platforms and the death of many digital games.

Earlier this month, reports started to circulate that Sony would close the digital stores for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, and PlayStation Potable later this year. It seems they were correct, as Sony confirmed today that the stores for all three platforms will be shut down over the next few months. The digital stores on the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable will be retired on July 2, 2021, while the PlayStation Vita’s storefront will be closed shortly afterward on August 27.

Sony noted that even after the shutdown, you’ll still be able to re-download digital games you’ve already purchased, and vouchers for downloadable content will continue to work. Re-downloading games claimed through PlayStation Plus will also work, as long as you remain subscribed. However, you won’t be able to purchase new games or DLC, even with PSN gift cards. If you have a store balance in your PlayStation account, you won’t get a refund unless you request it (though the amount can also be put towards PS4/PS5 games).

The move means countless digital-only games will become completely unavailable, a disappointing end for anyone interested in preserving video game history. The PlayStation Vita will also effectively lose its backward compatibility with PSP games since it only works with PSP titles purchased through the online store — the Vita lacks a UMD disc drive.

Sony isn’t the only one shutting down functionality for its earlier consoles, as Nintendo closed the digital store for the Wii (Wii Shop Channel) in early 2019. The PS3’s other rival during the seventh generation of home game consoles, the Xbox 360, still has a functional store.

The post PS3, PS Vita, and PSP consoles won’t be able to buy digital games soon appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/3u4A34W
via IFTTT