Thurrott Daily: November 28
- Paul Thurrott
- Nov 28, 2016
-
26
Tech tidbits from around the web.
11/28/2016 3:35:49 PM
Xbox One game streaming coming to Windows 10 PCs with Oculus Rift on Dec. 12
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Microsoft announced recently that it is opening up Xbox One game streaming to those with Oculus Rift VR headsets.
Oculus Rift owners will be able to stream their Xbox One library to Rift with the new Xbox One Streaming to Oculus Rift app, including fan favorites like “Gears of War 4,” “Forza Horizon 3” and “Halo 5: Guardians,” the biggest sports games, indie darlings, Backward Compatible Xbox 360 games, and more titles coming in 2017. The Xbox One Streaming to Oculus Rift app is available for free in the Oculus Store on Dec. 12.
The new Xbox One Streaming to Oculus Rift app connects to your Xbox One via your home network. Once connected, your console’s video output is streamed to your Rift headset and projected onto a massive screen in your choice of one of three immersive VR environments: “Citadel,” “Retreat” and “Dome.”
Microsoft’s Arrow Launcher for Android is updated
MSPowerUser notes yet another update to Microsoft’s excellent Arrow Launcher for Android. Here’s what’s new:
- Performance. Arrow is 10% more memory efficient than the previous version.
- Swipe down to search. We’ve made search easier to find.
- Customize the grid layout of apps page. 4×5, 4×6, and more options at your fingertips.
- Recent page. Customize the types of content you want to display.
- Bug fixes. Wallpaper, widgets, and more.
You can get Arrow Launcher for free from the Google Play Store.
HP Elite x3 is getting a third firmware update
One might ask: Why has it needed so many firmware updates? Or one might just be happy it’s being kept up to date. Neowin reports:
HP released its third firmware update for the Elite x3, raising the version number to 0002.0000.0018.0105 from 0002.0000.0014.0100. Here are the issues that were addressed:
- Apps. HP Display Tools error popup of “We can’t run that here” is fixed. HP Device Hub support of accessories firmware upgrade is enabled.
- Audio. Handsfree double talk tuning parameters updated. Camera QR code not recognized by certain apps such as Whatsapp, WeChat, is fixed.
- Connectivity. 3G support for 2nd SIM card is enabled.
- Stability. Device crash on repeated refresh of certain web sites such as att.com, yahoo.com, is fixed.
- User Interface. Network registration status shown on Action Center pull down.
Pixel phones to get new “Moves” features
I alluded to this in my Google Pixel XL Review Follow-Up, but Droid Life can explain why Google’s new phones are getting a lot less dumb.
A 261MB update started rolling out moments ago to our friends [in Canada] that bumps the Pixel to build number NPF26J and includes two amazing new “Moves” that we have all been waiting for.
What are those Moves? “Double-tap to check phone” and “Lift to check phone.”
Once updated, to enable these new features, you’ll need to jump through to Settings>Moves and you should see both in the list with “Swipe for notifications,” “Jump to Camera,” and “Flip Camera.” Tap their little toggles and you’ll be on your way to Pixel notification checking glory.
It’s too bad there isn’t an update that enables stereo speakers.
Watch a video, crash your iPhone
From the “too good to be true” files comes a story from The Guardian about a video that actually crashes iPhones.
A link to a video, which when watched slows down any iPhone until it crashes, is being used as the latest iPhone crash prank.
The video from the Sina Weibo-backed video-sharing app Miaopai plays normally in the iPhone’s video player, but once the video is finished it can take up to a minute for the iPhone to lock up, requiring a forced reboot to recover it.
Most people are unaware anything has happened, continuing to use their smartphone until it either won’t turn back on or locks up in an app, the home screen or with a spinning loading logo on a black screen.
The lockup is not permanent, but requires a soft reset or forced reboot to recover the functionality of the iPhone.
Jony Ive ruins Christmas
And no, I don’t just mean the new MacBook Pro. Apple’s chief designer may have finally jumped the shark, CNN reports.
Apple’s chief design officer — the creative genius behind some of the company’s most successful products, including the iPod and iPhone — was tasked with designing a Christmas tree for the prestigious Claridge’s hotel lobby in London.
Known for simplicity, Ive took a similar approach with the tree. In fact, it doesn’t have any decorations. It’s just… a tree.
“Our aim was to create an all-enveloping magical experience that celebrates our enormous respect for tradition while recognizing our excitement about the future and things to come.”
Because nothing says excitement about the future like a dark, unlit Christmas tree.