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mardi 2 février 2021

Microsoft Remote Desktop gets dark mode and 64-bit Chromebook support

Microsoft released a major update for its Remote Desktop app for Android in July last year, featuring a rewritten client, support for Windows Virtual Desktop, a new Connection Center experience, Android TV support, and much more. The company has now released another major update for the app, which brings a new dark mode on Android 10 and later, improved Chromebook support, and several bug fixes.

According to Android Police, the latest version of Microsoft Remote Desktop (v10.0.9) has started rolling out to users via the Play Store. The update brings the following changes to the app:

  • Support for dark mode on Android 10 and later.
  • Native x86/x64 support for Chromebooks.
  • Fixed clipboard redirection synchronization issues.
  • Added Clipboard redirection to the Add/Edit PC UI.
  • Support the DEL key on external keyboards.
  • Fixed a bug that caused workspace URL auto-complete to hang.
  • Addressed keyboard and screen reader-related accessibility bugs.
  • Addressed reliability issues identified through crash reporting.

The new dark mode and native 64-bit Chromebook support are the most significant changes included in the latest Microsoft Remote Desktop update. The dark mode works exactly as you’d expect, and it automatically changes the background color of the connections interface and settings panel to match the system-wide dark theme.

Microsoft Remote Desktop light theme

The 64-bit Chromebook support, on the other hand, means that the Microsoft Remote Desktop app is now natively compiled for x86_64 processors. This should improve performance on most Intel and AMD-based Chromebooks.

It’s also worth noting that the update also increases the minimum required Android version to v7.0 Nougat. Therefore, the app won’t work on some older devices following the update. You can download the latest version of Microsoft Remote Desktop from the Play Store link below.

Remote Desktop (Free, Google Play) →

In case you’re running an older version of Android, you can also download the Remote Desktop 8 app — a legacy version of Remote Desktop — from the link below.

Remote Desktop 8 (Free, Google Play) →

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lundi 1 février 2021

Firefox 85 for Android lets you play DRM content from Netflix, Amazon Prime Video

Mozilla rolled out Firefox 85 for PC and Android last week. While the update has an extensive changelog available for PC, the only change we knew about in Firefox 85 for Android was to make it easier to install extensions from addons.mozilla.org. But, as it turns out, Firefox 85 for Android includes another noteworthy change that enables DRM stream support on platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

As a recent report from GHacks points out, Mozilla has re-enabled the ability to play DRM-protected content on Firefox for Android with the latest update. The browser now features software compatibility with Google’s Widevine DRM, allowing you to stream up to 720p resolution HD content on platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

Following the update, you will see a new prompt when you try to play DRM protected content on the aforementioned websites, asking you if you want to allow the website to play DRM-controlled content. You can tap on the ‘Allow’ button in the prompt to start playing DRM content in the browser. In case you want to change the setting at a later stage, you’ll have to navigate to Menu > Settings > Site permissions and set your preference. You can either block DRM-controlled content by default, allow it to play without any future interaction, or select the “Ask to allow” option to have the browser bring up the aforementioned prompt every time you try to play DEM-protected media on the website.

Along with DRM stream support, Firefox 85 for Android brings a few usability improvements, including memory optimizations and improvements to Top sites selection. Additionally, websites opened using a Collection link will no longer load content from the cache. This will ensure that you see updated content every time you open a website from a Collection link. Download the latest Firefox release for Android by following the Play Store link below.

Firefox Browser: fast, private & safe web browser (Free, Google Play) →

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POCO M3 lands in India with a quirky design, better camera and even bigger battery

POCO disrupted the budget segment last year with the launch of the POCO M2, offering a quad-camera array, 6GB RAM on the base model, and a 5,000 mAh battery at just ₹10,999 (~$149). POCO is now following it up with the POCO M3 in India today (launched earlier in Europe), which is even more impressive, bringing not only a quirky design but also a powerful punch of Snapdragon 662, a 48MP primary camera, and an even bigger battery.

POCO M3 Hands-on: A Good-Looking Budget Phone

POCO M3: Specifications

Specification POCO M3
Dimensions and Weight
  • 162.3 x 77.3 x 9.6 mm
  • 198g
Display
  • 6.53″ FHD+ (2340×1080) IPS LCD;
  • Waterdrop notch
  • 400 nits brightness
  • L1 Widevine certified
  • Gorilla Glass 3 on front
SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 662:
  • 4x performance Kryo 260 CPU cores (Up to 2.0GHz)
  • 4x efficiency Kryo 260 CPU cores

Adreno 610

RAM and Storage
  • 6GB RAM LPDDR4X
  • 64GB/128GB UFS 2.1/2.2 flash storage
Battery & Charging
  • 6,000 mAh battery
  • 18W fast charging support
  • 22.5W fast charger (inside the box)
  • Reverse wired charging
Rear Camera
  • Primary: 48MP, f/1.79, 0.8μ
  • Secondary: 2MP macro sensor, f/2.4, fixed focus
  • Tertiary: 2MP depth sensor, f/2.4
Front Camera
  • 8MP selfie shooter
Other Features
  • 3.5mm headphone jack
  • Dual speakers
  • Bluetooth 5.0
  • Hi-Res Audio certified
  • Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
  • USB Type-C, USB 2.0
  • Side-mounted fingerprint scanner
  • IR blaster
Android Version Android 10 with MIUI 12 for POCO

On the front, the POCO M3 is your usual run-of-the-mill smartphone, flaunting a 6.53-inch FHD+ panel with a waterdrop notch. But turn it around, and you’ll see a design that seems to be borrowed straight from the OnePlus 8T Cyberpunk Edition, with a giant camera island taking up one-fourth of the back panel and housing all three sensors along with a bold POCO branding.

The processing package also sees a notable upgrade, with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 taking up the reins from the MediaTek Helio G80, paired with 6GB LPDDR4X RAM and a faster UFS 2.1/2.2 flash storage. Similarly, the camera numbers also drop from four to three, but the switch to a 48MP f/1,79 sensor should bring a much-needed boost to the low-light performance.

POCO M3 XDA Forums

The 5,000 mAh battery has been swapped for a 6,000 mAh cell, which now charges via a 18W fast charger with reverse wired charging support. Finally, the POCO M3 comes running Android 10 with MIUI 12 for POCO, features a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, dual speakers, Bluetooth 5.0, an IR blaster, and retains a 3.5mm jack and microSD card expansion slot.

POCO M3 Pricing & Availability in India

The POCO M3 is priced at ₹10,999 (~$150) for the base 6GB/64GB model and  ₹11,999 (~$164) for the top 6GB/128GB model. The device will go on sale exclusively on Flipkart from Feb 9 at 12MP IST. You’ll have three color options to choose from: Cool Blue, POCO Yellow, and Power Black.

The post POCO M3 lands in India with a quirky design, better camera and even bigger battery appeared first on xda-developers.



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Firefox 85 for Android lets you play DRM content from Netflix, Amazon Prime Video

Mozilla rolled out Firefox 85 for PC and Android last week. While the update has an extensive changelog available for PC, the only change we knew about in Firefox 85 for Android was to make it easier to install extensions from addons.mozilla.org. But, as it turns out, Firefox 85 for Android includes another noteworthy change that enables DRM stream support on platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

As a recent report from GHacks points out, Mozilla has re-enabled the ability to play DRM-protected content on Firefox for Android with the latest update. The browser now features software compatibility with Google’s Widevine DRM, allowing you to stream up to 720p resolution HD content on platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

Following the update, you will see a new prompt when you try to play DRM protected content on the aforementioned websites, asking you if you want to allow the website to play DRM-controlled content. You can tap on the ‘Allow’ button in the prompt to start playing DRM content in the browser. In case you want to change the setting at a later stage, you’ll have to navigate to Menu > Settings > Site permissions and set your preference. You can either block DRM-controlled content by default, allow it to play without any future interaction, or select the “Ask to allow” option to have the browser bring up the aforementioned prompt every time you try to play DEM-protected media on the website.

Along with DRM stream support, Firefox 85 for Android brings a few usability improvements, including memory optimizations and improvements to Top sites selection. Additionally, websites opened using a Collection link will no longer load content from the cache. This will ensure that you see updated content every time you open a website from a Collection link. Download the latest Firefox release for Android by following the Play Store link below.

Firefox Browser: fast, private & safe web browser (Free, Google Play) →

The post Firefox 85 for Android lets you play DRM content from Netflix, Amazon Prime Video appeared first on xda-developers.



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POCO M3 lands in India with a quirky design, better camera and even bigger battery

POCO disrupted the budget segment last year with the launch of the POCO M2, offering a quad-camera array, 6GB RAM on the base model, and a 5,000 mAh battery at just ₹10,999 (~$149). POCO is now following it up with the POCO M3 in India today (launched earlier in Europe), which is even more impressive, bringing not only a quirky design but also a powerful punch of Snapdragon 662, a 48MP primary camera, and an even bigger battery.

POCO M3 Hands-on: A Good-Looking Budget Phone

POCO M3: Specifications

Specification POCO M3
Dimensions and Weight
  • 162.3 x 77.3 x 9.6 mm
  • 198g
Display
  • 6.53″ FHD+ (2340×1080) IPS LCD;
  • Waterdrop notch
  • 400 nits brightness
  • L1 Widevine certified
  • Gorilla Glass 3 on front
SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 662:
  • 4x performance Kryo 260 CPU cores (Up to 2.0GHz)
  • 4x efficiency Kryo 260 CPU cores

Adreno 610

RAM and Storage
  • 6GB RAM LPDDR4X
  • 64GB/128GB UFS 2.1/2.2 flash storage
Battery & Charging
  • 6,000 mAh battery
  • 18W fast charging support
  • 22.5W fast charger (inside the box)
  • Reverse wired charging
Rear Camera
  • Primary: 48MP, f/1.79, 0.8μ
  • Secondary: 2MP macro sensor, f/2.4, fixed focus
  • Tertiary: 2MP depth sensor, f/2.4
Front Camera
  • 8MP selfie shooter
Other Features
  • 3.5mm headphone jack
  • Dual speakers
  • Bluetooth 5.0
  • Hi-Res Audio certified
  • Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
  • USB Type-C, USB 2.0
  • Side-mounted fingerprint scanner
  • IR blaster
Android Version Android 10 with MIUI 12 for POCO

On the front, the POCO M3 is your usual run-of-the-mill smartphone, flaunting a 6.53-inch FHD+ panel with a waterdrop notch. But turn it around, and you’ll see a design that seems to be borrowed straight from the OnePlus 8T Cyberpunk Edition, with a giant camera island taking up one-fourth of the back panel and housing all three sensors along with a bold POCO branding.

The processing package also sees a notable upgrade, with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 taking up the reins from the MediaTek Helio G80, paired with 6GB LPDDR4X RAM and a faster UFS 2.1/2.2 flash storage. Similarly, the camera numbers also drop from four to three, but the switch to a 48MP f/1,79 sensor should bring a much-needed boost to the low-light performance.

POCO M3 XDA Forums

The 5,000 mAh battery has been swapped for a 6,000 mAh cell, which now charges via a 18W fast charger with reverse wired charging support. Finally, the POCO M3 comes running Android 10 with MIUI 12 for POCO, features a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, dual speakers, Bluetooth 5.0, an IR blaster, and retains a 3.5mm jack and microSD card expansion slot.

POCO M3 Pricing & Availability in India

The POCO M3 is priced at ₹10,999 (~$150) for the base 6GB/64GB model and  ₹11,999 (~$164) for the top 6GB/128GB model. The device will go on sale exclusively on Flipkart from Feb 9 at 12MP IST. You’ll have three color options to choose from: Cool Blue, POCO Yellow, and Power Black.

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The Sony DualSense sets a benchmark for immersive controllers

The Sony PlayStation 5 offers a next-gen gaming experience and if you have managed to get one for yourself, you would know that it is not just about the new hardware and stunning 4K visuals. The PlayStation 5 also brings the new DualSense Wireless controller which is unlike any other controller on the market. Marketed as an upgrade to the DualShock 4, the new DualSense features an advanced haptic feedback system, adaptive triggers, and a built-in microphone and speaker combo that raises the bar to a whole new level.

Sony DualSense wireless controller vs Xbox wireless controller

First, let’s talk about the new design. The DualSense controller is larger than the DualShock 4 and has a somewhat similar design approach as the Xbox Wireless controller. Like the PlayStation 5 itself, the DualSense features a dual-tone finish with larger shoulder buttons, while the main D-Pad and face buttons have a transparent finish to them. The analog sticks feel right at home and with the rubberized texture, they offer a better grip for your thumbs. The controller also includes the PlayStation button that can be used to quickly jump out of a game while the Share button is now renamed to the ‘Create’ button that lets you easily take screenshots or record games. You continue to get a large touchpad that itself can be used as a button, while the lightbar now surrounds the touchpad giving a very futuristic look. The controller also features a USB Type-C port for charging, a headphone jack to plug in a headset. I know most of you already know this, but the grips on the controller come with a textured finish at the bottom which, if you look really close, are just the PlayStation face icons. Overall, it is larger but you do get a nice grip on it.

Sony DualSense wireless controller

The DualSense controller is best experienced in real-life and words can’t entirely explain the impressive haptics Sony has managed to incorporate. As soon as I booted up my PlayStation 5 unit, I saw Astro’s Playroom preinstalled which is a free title made specifically to show-off the capabilities of the controller. The arcade game is actually a lot of fun and with every single movement, you can feel the controller throwing tiny jolts to your hands. The developers have done an excellent job in distinguishing every single material and how it would feel in real life. For instance, when you start the game, Astro is standing on a metal platform with a fan blowing underneath. The subtle vibrations and hum of the fan coming directly from the controller’s speaker give a very immersive experience.

Sony DualSense wireless controller

The game also makes full use of the new adaptive triggers which now offer increased or decreased resistance, depending on the game you are playing and the situational context you are in. This is best demonstrated when you enter a level on Astro’s Playroom where you need to get into a jumpsuit and springboard around the map. This gets tricky as you need to be accurate with the actuation before releasing the trigger. You can almost feel the tension of the spring which makes it all the more interesting.

The DualSense controller also comes with a built-in gyroscope that completely augments the gaming experience. By moving and tilting the DualSense wireless controller, you can control certain aspects of the game. This isn’t new, as we have seen similar attempts from Nintendo with the Wii and Switch consoles, but Sony seems to have got better control over how players can make the best use of it, and it has the potential to get better in the future.

Another game that makes use of the amazing tech inside the new DualSense controller is Spider-Man: Miles Morales. The vibrations can be distinctly felt right when the game loads with Miles roaming around the streets of New York and entering a subway train. A lot of the cutscenes also make the controller rumble or just nudge you a little depending on what the scene is.

Sony PlayStation 5 First Impressions: A generational leap into the future of gaming

The DualSense controller also features a built-in microphone, and while it can be used for voice chats in certain games, Sony has taken a step ahead and allowed developers to integrate it for gameplay.  For instance, on a certain level in Astro’s Playroom, you need to blow on the controller to move a platform of ice, which is pretty cool. The built-in microphone on the controller allows you to chat with friends in case you don’t have a headset with you. It isn’t the best way to have in-game voice chat, but I get what Sony is trying to do here. It works decent, but only if you have a quiet room as it can pick up sounds from all around.

Sony has also taken a good measure of effort to make the DualSense compatible with a variety of devices. As of now, you can use the DualSense controller with most of your recent Android devices, NVIDIA Shield as well as Steam on your PC. Of course, most of the advanced features including the impressive haptics, will not work on these devices unless developers take the extra step of adding support in all versions of their games which is a massive task in itself.

The experience of the amazing haptics and adaptive triggers is going to be limited to only select titles, as game developers do need to make a conscious effort in bringing out the best experience that the tech can offer. However, Sony has put in a solid effort in the hardware to introduce a whole new level of immersion. The DualSense could very well be the most advanced controller and right now it is only the tip of the iceberg as new games in the future could offer a new experience to gamers and alike.

    Sony PlayStation 5
    The Sony PlayStation 5 is the latest and greatest in the line of successful game consoles from Sony. With the all-new DualSense controller, the Sony PlayStation can deliver up to 4K 120fps gaming to bring to you an impeccable gaming experience.
    Sony DualSense Controller
    The new DualSense controller from Sony is one of the highlights of the PlayStation 5. It features improved haptics and adaptive triggers, providing an additional layer of immersion on optimized titles.

If you’re looking to pick up a Sony PlayStation 5 and perhaps an extra DualSense controller, keep in mind that you can use the DualSense controller with Android, PC, and the NVIDIA Shield TV as well. While you do miss out on the immersion that the new tech within the controller brings along when you use it outside of the PlayStation 5, it still is a very nice controller to play games on.

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The Sony PlayStation 5 is a generational leap into the future of gaming

Sony’s latest and greatest gaming console of all-time is finally here. Featuring a new CPU and GPU combination made by AMD along with a speedy internal SSD, the new Sony PlayStation 5 brings a revamped DualSense controller with improved haptics, along with a slew of exclusive gaming titles. Just like the new Xbox Series X, Sony claims that you can expect a smooth 4K gaming experience on the PS5 with faster load-times, enhanced textures alongside ray tracing, and of course, HDR support.

Having said that, the demand for gaming hardware, especially for new consoles, is at an all-time high with stocks vanishing in an instant. The PlayStation 5 currently retails at $499 for the standard variant or at $399 for the digital version that does not include an optical drive. The console has been selling in very limited numbers ever since its official launch in November last year. So, consider yourself lucky if you managed to grab one, and in case you haven’t, refer to our restock guide.

Notably, due to low stocks globally, the Indian launch of the PlayStation 5 was delayed by months until today. Customers in India can finally purchase the PlayStation 5 via the official Sony PlayStation India website as well as various other online and physical retail stores, although it is speculated that only a few thousand units will be available. Sony India is going to start selling the regular PlayStation 5 with the optical drive priced at 49,990 while the digital version  —which costs 39,990 — will be available later this month alongside new accessories.

Luckily, Sony India sent us a unit for a few days to check out. A few (lucky) members of our U.S. team have also had the console for a few weeks now as personal purchases, and their thoughts are mentioned in a separate section below. Here’s a quick look at the hottest and most wanted gaming console.

Sony PlayStation 5: Specifications

Features Sony PlayStation 5
CPU
  • AMD Ryzen Zen 2 octa-core at 3.5GHz
GPU
  • AMD Radeon RDNA 2
  • Variable frequencies up to 2.23 GHz
  • 10.3 TFLOPS
Memory
  • 16GB GDDR6
Internal storage
  • 825GB SSD
  • 667GB user-accessible
Storage expansion
  • M.2 NVMe SSD Slot
External storage
  • USB 3.0 external HDD/SSD support
Optical drive
  • Ultra HD Blu-ray
Resolution support
  • 4K at 120Hz refresh rate
  • Up to 8K at 60Hz refresh rate
Connectivity
  • USB Type-A (5Gbps)
  • 2x USB Type-A (10Gbps)
  • USB Type-C (10Gbps)
  • Ethernet
  • HDMI port
  • Wi-Fi 6
Audio
  • 3D Audio
Dimensions
  • 391.16 x 259.08 x 104.14mm
Weight
  • 4.49kg
Price
  • $399 (Digital version)
  • $499 (Optical drive version)

About this preview: Sony India loaned me the PlayStation 5 for a brief review. The majority of this article was written after about 5 days of regular use. The section written by Mishaal was based on his several week-long use of the console he purchased in mid-November. Regardless, Sony had no input into the contents of this article.


Sony PlayStation 5: Box contents

Sony PlayStation 5 box contents

Sony PlayStation 5 box contents

The retail version of the PlayStation 5 comes in a massive box with the console itself along with the instruction manuals and warranty information, the new DualSense controller, a round stand, an HDMI 2.1 cable, a USB Type-A to Type-C cable, and the power cord. The first lot of customers in India also get a certificate as a token of appreciation for being one of the first to get their hands on the new console.


Sony PlayStation 5: Design

The PlayStation 5 is definitely a large console

The PlayStation 5 is definitely a large console, and I was surprised by its sheer size when I took it out of the box. As opposed to my experience with the tiny Xbox Series S, the PS5 takes up quite a bit of space on the desk. Even placing it in a vertical position doesn’t really help all that much as it is a tall and chunky device. The takeaway from this is that you need to make sure you have a good amount of space around or under your TV/monitor if you are planning to buy the PlayStation 5.

Sony PlayStation 5 vs Xbox Series S

Sony PlayStation 5 vs Xbox Series S

The stand for the PlayStation 5 has a round base at the bottom. This lets you place the console in either a vertical or horizontal orientation. It also helps in keeping the console slightly raised from the surface it is being kept on, thus ensuring that it doesn’t get scratched on the bottom. There is a small screw hidden inside the bottom of the stand that can be used to secure it when placing the console in a vertical position. You don’t get any tools to screw it in, though.

On the other hand, if you want to place the PlayStation 5 horizontally, you need to rotate the clamp in the correct position, place the console on the base, and secure it using the two hooks at the back by aligning them with the PlayStation button icons pattern. You do need to be careful when placing the PlayStation 5 in a horizontal position as the hooks are not as secure as you want them to be. On a couple of occasions, the console just slid off the stand when I was unplugging the cables at the back, which did raise some concerns.

Once you get over its massiveness, you start appreciating what Sony has done here. The PlayStation 5 looks very futuristic with subtle curves all around. Sony’s blend of black and white is a nice touch that extends to the new DualSense controller as well. The molded white plastic panels on the outside have a matte finish protecting the internal dark glossy body from dust and other potential damage.

Sony PlayStation 5 internals Sony PlayStation 5 internal fan and ssd slot

These panels can actually come off rather easily by applying a bit of force on the corners. By doing so, you get access to the cooling exhaust fan and a tiny slot to install an additional M.2 based SSD protected with a metal shield and a screw. As of now, the PlayStation 5 does not support any additional internal SSDs, but Sony says they will enable support through a software update. There are also some LEDs placed around the fan intake vents on the top (when in vertical position), and these light up blue when you boot up the console, white when the console is on, and yellow when it is in standby mode. The exhaust vents at the back are pretty massive. All in all, it doesn’t really matter how you position the PS5, as Sony has ensured that both of these placements provide identical functionality.

As for ports and buttons on the PS5, the front includes the power and disc eject buttons, a standard USB Type-A port, and a USB Type-C port. On the back, there is a two-pin power port, two USB Type-A ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, and an ethernet port. Just like the new Xbox consoles, the PlayStation 5 itself doesn’t have any dedicated audio ports so you are left with either Bluetooth audio or audio output via the HDMI port. Fortunately, the DualSense controller has a 3.5mm audio jack on the bottom, so you can plug any wired headphone into the controller.


Sony PlayStation 5: Experience and Performance

Setting up the PlayStation 5 was fairly easy and snappy. The setup process takes about 4-5 minutes before you get to the main home screen. The user interface is clean and uncluttered and doesn’t really feel out of place, especially if you’re coming from the PS4. You get a row of horizontal tiles that include all of your recent games, an Explore tab for all your news and updates, a Games Library tab, and access to the PS Store and PS Plus services. Selecting any of the games immediately changes the background and sound corresponding to the game, which is a nice touch. The UI is very responsive and I did not experience any sort of lag or slowdown.

Sony PlayStation 5 home screen

Sony PlayStation 5 home screen. Photo: Kunal Khullar

The PlayStation 5 comes preloaded with Astro’s Playroom, a fun arcade game that seems to be tailor-made to show off the potential of the console. You get absolutely amazing feedback with the new DualSense controllers, a very snappy gaming and visual experience, great audio, and a trip down memory lane with various Sony PlayStation collectible items.

Astro’s Playroom. Photo: Kunal Khullar

Of course, when it comes to more serious gaming, I grabbed the 14-day free trial of the PlayStation Plus gaming service which starts at $9.99 for a month going up to $59.99 annually in the US. In India, the service costs ₹499 for one month, ₹1,199 for 6 months, and ₹2,999 for a year. I believe that is a good price to pay since Sony has some really good exclusive titles along with solid backward compatibility with PS4, PS3, and PS2 titles. Using the PS Plus membership, I got my hands on God of War, Ratchet and Clank, and Mortal Kombat X, while Sony was kind enough to offer me codes for Marvel’s Spider-Man and the new Spider-Man: Miles Morales games.

The built-in SSD paired with the octa-core AMD CPU brings a well-needed boost to reduce load times, and it clearly shows. The console itself takes about 20 seconds for a cold boot-up, which is about 10 seconds faster than the original PlayStation 4 from 2013. God of War takes about 21-22 seconds to start and load into the game, while Spider-Man: Miles Morales took only 11 seconds to load from the PlayStation 5 home screen right into the streets of New York.

Sony PlayStation 5 Spider-Man Miles Morales screenshot

Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales. Photo: Kunal Khullar

Visuals on the PlayStation 5 are quite impressive

Visuals on the PlayStation 5 are quite impressive, and in the few days of my testing, I was surprised by how smooth the textures look. Some of the games optimized for the PlayStation 5 offer a Performance mode under the Visual settings which basically disables certain texture features including ray tracing and makes use of upscaled 4K resolution to offer more stable frames at 60 frames per second. This also means that you won’t be able to play games at 120 frames per second with ray tracing on. Despite ray tracing being off, I was pretty satisfied with the visuals, even when I used the console on my 55-inch 4K TV.

If you do care about realistic lighting, then you can turn on ray tracing by selecting the Fidelity mode which locks the game at 30 frames per second and offers native 4K resolution. The PlayStation 5 also lacks the ability to jump between multiple games and resume without having to load them from the start, something that is available on the new Xbox Series X|S. It didn’t really bother me all that much since the games don’t take an eternity to load, but I hope Sony brings this feature via a future update.

Sony has done an A+ job on the fan noise and thermals

As for fan noise and thermals, Sony has done an A+ job here. You don’t hear the cooling fan at all nor does the console spew out hot air even after a 30-40 minute gaming session. This doesn’t come as a surprise since the PlayStation 5 is a massive console, allowing the company to have enough space to incorporate a large cooling fan and big exhaust vents. I am primarily a PC gamer, but trust me when I say that the PlayStation 5 has the potential to deliver games that are as good as on a high-end gaming PC while being a fraction of the cost.


Looking for games to play? Catch up on your PS4 backlog!

Section written by Mishaal Rahman

When I purchased my PlayStation 5 in mid-November, I knew that I was jumping in a bit early. The games I’m most excited about are coming out later this year, like Resident Evil: Village, Horizon Forbidden West, and God of War 2: Ragnarok. I wasn’t really interested in paying full price for Spider Man: Miles Morales (I heard it’s quite short and I picked up its prequel quite late at a discount), so I instead opted for the Demon’s Souls remake and Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla. The former was exactly as I had remembered it (only in glorious 4K) while the latter was as rote as I expected it to be. So, while I enjoyed my short time with Demon’s Souls, I really didn’t have many actual PS5 games to play.

The PlayStation 5 is the definitive way to catch up on your PS4 backlog

Fortunately, I had a massive backlog of PS4 games. I’m glad I waited as I feel the PlayStation 5 is the definitive way to catch up on your PlayStation 4 backlog. The PlayStation 4’s late 2013 hardware just struggles with certain titles, especially ones released late into the console’s lifecycle. Whether it’s massive frame drops, slow loading, dynamic resolution rarely hitting 4K, poor draw distance, or lack of HDR, you may have to deal with some of these issues when playing certain games on the base PlayStation 4 or PS4 Pro.

Thanks to the much better CPU, GPU, and storage performance, the PlayStation 5 plays PS4 games the way the developers intended them to be played. Here’s a summary of the PlayStation 4 games I played on the PlayStation 5 and what benefits I got by playing them on the new hardware. For reference, I played each of these on a 75″ Sony X900H:

  • Days Gone: This open-world survival game plays at a consistent 60fps with dynamic 4K resolution and HDR. There are no slowdowns when traversing the world on Deacon’s motorcycle or when fighting a massive horde. Loading times when fast-traveling are low and there’s no issue with texture pop-in thanks to the PlayStation 5’s SSD.
  • Ghost of Tsushima: This stealth action game plays at a consistent 4K 60fps with HDR enabled, and it’s jaw-dropping gorgeous. GoT won Best Art Direction at the 2020 The Game Awards, and that was based on how it played on PlayStation 4! I can’t stress enough how beautiful this game’s visuals are, and when playing on PlayStation 5, you don’t have to compromise on resolution or frame rate.
  • 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim: This….half-visual novel, half real-time strategy game was criminally underrated when it released late last year. While it’s seemingly a simplistic-looking game, the real-time strategy portion can tax the PlayStation 4’s hardware when it comes to the last few missions. There are no such issues on PlayStation 5, however.
Sony PlayStation 5 God of War screenshot

Didn’t have a chance to play God of War? A free update will enable dynamic 4K resolution at 60fps on the PlayStation 5! Photo: Kunal Khullar

I also played Yakuza: Like a Dragon because I just couldn’t wait for the official PlayStation 5 launch for the title, but honestly, I would just wait a month for the PS5 version at this point. The PS4 version of the game runs at 1080p30 on the PS5, and the only benefit you get from playing it now is minimal loading times.

I would have played more had I not had to send in my PS5 for repair which cost me 2 weeks without the console, but even that setback doesn’t make me regret my purchase of the PlayStation 5 this early in its release cycle. I also purchased the PS2, PS3, and PS4 at launch, and so far, the PS5 is the console that has given me the most entertainment despite how few games have actually been released for it. With how much use I expect further into the months, I have no regrets.


Concluding Thoughts

Sony PlayStation 5

Photo: Kunal Khullar

The more I use the PlayStation 5, the more I fall in love with this beast. It is silky smooth when it comes to the software experience, games look visually appealing, and overall, it is a big step forward for the PlayStation brand. I absolutely love the new DualSense controller with its insanely intuitive haptics and responsiveness along with the super-fast SSD that helps to cut down on load times. The only concern that I and probably a lot of users are going to have is its huge size. It is the largest gaming console I have seen to date, and if you don’t have the right amount of space, it can get tricky to stow the PS5. Of course, the biggest issue with the PlayStation 5 is the limited supply and from what I have heard, the massive demand is only going to be fulfilled after the first half of 2021.

    Sony PlayStation 5
    The Sony PlayStation 5 is the latest and greatest in the line of successful game consoles from Sony. With the all-new DualSense controller, the Sony PlayStation can deliver up to 4K 120fps gaming to bring to you an impeccable gaming experience.

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