Tag: Source: Androidcentral.com

Expanded Quick Actions will provide you with useful tools right at your fingertips. Meta Quest games that mostly use hand tracking are undeniably amazing. Interacting with a virtual environment using your real hands feels like a scene from a sci-fi film, yet this realism and engagement also makes inputs slightly more limited compared to using controllers equipped with joysticks and buttons.

This means that when playing a game such as Dimensional Double Shift, you can engage with the environment and other players in unprecedented ways. However, executing system tasks like capturing a screenshot, recording a video, or muting your microphone is not as straightforward. Fortunately, there’s a solution, though it’s somewhat tucked away in the system menu.

It’s referred to as Expanded Quick Actions, and it introduces five buttons to the menu on your palm, enabling you to swiftly mute your microphone (yay!), recenter your view, record a video, access the menu, and observe your surroundings without needing to take off your headset. The microphone mute feature is particularly beneficial for me, as I have a lively family and occasionally need to have conversations while gaming, something I don’t always want broadcast to the entire internet.

How to activate Expanded Quick Actions:

On your Meta Quest headset, press the home button on the right controller or perform the home gesture with your hands by pinching your index finger and thumb together while your palm is facing you. This will display the Universal Menu Bar, which features shortcuts to the app drawer, recent and pinned applications, and settings. Next, click on the Quick Settings panel, which is a button on the left side of the menu bar that indicates the time, Wi-Fi status, and battery.

Following that, you will want to click on Settings in the upper right corner, then choose Movement Tracking from the left-side menu. In this part, you will discover the option to enable hand tracking and Expanded Quick Actions. Make sure hand tracking is turned on, then tap the Expanded Quick Actions toggle to activate it.

Now, when you face your palm toward you, pinch your index finger and thumb together and hold them for a moment, and a more detailed action menu will show up. This reveals the previously mentioned menu that includes mute, screen record, recenter, mixed reality, and home buttons. Expanded Quick Actions is operational on any Meta Quest headset, but it performs best on a Quest 3 or Quest 3S since those headsets feature full-color mixed reality capabilities.

If you merely want to return home, you can still quickly tap your index finger and thumb together to initiate the home gesture. While in this menu, feel free to adjust a few settings as you wish. One particularly handy option is “double tap controllers for hand tracking,” which allows you to seamlessly switch between controller-based and hand tracking methods without having to set the controllers down and waiting for them to go inactive.

Hand tracking may not be applicable everywhere, yet I’ve noticed that I often default to it when I put on my Quest prior to launching anything, and I frequently find myself working directly from my headset without utilizing controllers at all. It’s truly remarkable how far hand tracking has advanced and how it serves as a legitimate alternative to controllers in various situations, especially now that you can access quick menus with useful actions with just a pinch.

The Meta Quest 3 is equipped with outstanding motion-tracked controllers and thousands of games designed for the platform, but you can also set the controllers aside and use your own hands to navigate numerous games and experiences. What are you waiting for? VR is calling. It’s time to respond!

The Fire TV Stick 4K Plus provides everything required for effortless streaming.

Affordable TV and streaming offers are more prevalent than ever, making it incredibly simple to enjoy 4K without complications. Currently, Amazon is offering a 40% discount on the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus, reducing the high-end streaming device to only $30.

The Fire TV Stick series has gained immense popularity over the last few years, mainly due to its user-friendly nature. All users need to do is plug the Fire Stick into their TV’s HDMI port, after which they can utilize the voice remote to access numerous popular streaming platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max, and more, in addition to over 1.8 million TV programs and films included with the device.

It also provides quick access to Alexa Plus, smart home management, live TV channels, and valuable video functionalities such as HDR, Dolby Vision, and 4K Ultra HD resolutions.

Among the larger Fire Stick lineup, this model ranks as the second-best, just below the 4K Max, which typically retails at $60 and offers a few enhanced features. The TV Stick 4K Plus generally retails at a price of $50, making this deal a fantastic $20 off the usual cost.

✅Recommended if: you seek a straightforward method to watch 4K-quality video and have an available HDMI port on your TV; you desire something with easy voice commands for Alexa and the capacity to manage other smart home devices; you’re in search of a streaming option that consolidates all your favorite streaming services in one location.

❌Skip this deal if: you are on the hunt for the finest Fire Stick available and wouldn’t mind spending an additional $10 to upgrade to the Fire TV Stick 4K Max; you lack 4K-compatible hardware and would prefer to save a bit more by opting for the HD model instead; you would rather choose another brand like Roku instead of Amazon’s Fire Stick brand.

The Amazon Fire TV Stick series stands as one of the most effortless plug-and-play streaming options available today, and it often receives discounts like this one.

The 4K Plus features additional capabilities not found on the HD or 4K Select devices, such as live view picture-in-picture modes, Dolby Atmos sound, enhanced Wi-Fi 6, and access to Alexa Plus. It also includes 8GB of storage, with cloud gaming accessibility through Amazon Luna and Xbox Game Pass.

It’s arrived… just one day ahead of the launch.

Time to celebrate.

**Apple’s $599 MacBook Neo: A Competitor for Chromebooks with a Notable Trade-off**

Apple has launched the MacBook Neo, retailing at $599, marking its least expensive laptop in several years. This latest addition targets the segment predominantly filled with Chromebooks and entry-level Windows laptops, seeking to appeal to students and cost-sensitive consumers.

**Key Features:**
– The MacBook Neo boasts the A18 Pro chip, the same processor utilized in the iPhone 16 Pro, rather than Apple’s typical M-series chips.
– It showcases a 13-inch Liquid Retina screen, 8GB of unified RAM, and storage choices of 256GB or 512GB.
– The gadget incorporates a Magic Keyboard, an expansive multi-touch trackpad, a 1080p FaceTime camera, and side-facing speakers featuring Dolby Atmos.
– It operates on macOS Tahoe and facilitates functionalities such as iPhone Mirroring and Apple Intelligence applications.

**Design and Pricing:**
– The MacBook Neo is offered in eye-catching hues: Citrus, Blush, Indigo, and Silver, each with corresponding keyboards.
– A special education pricing of $499 is accessible, positioning it against mid-tier Chromebooks.

**Compromises:**
– The entry-level version does not provide Touch ID, while the $699 variant includes this feature alongside additional storage.
– It lacks Thunderbolt ports, MagSafe charging, quick charging, or a backlit keyboard, and is restricted to Wi-Fi 6E.

**Conclusion:**
The MacBook Neo is crafted for day-to-day activities such as web browsing, document processing, and streaming, presenting an affordable gateway into Apple’s ecosystem. Although it possesses certain drawbacks, its pricing and features may render it an attractive substitute for Chromebooks and budget-friendly Windows laptops. Preorders are underway, with availability commencing March 11.

Both firms, OPPO and MediaTek, have revealed their AI aspirations at MWC 2026, concentrating on the forthcoming Find X9 series. During MediaTek’s “AI for Life” keynote, they unveiled Omni, a capability allowing AI to sense and engage with the physical environment. This advancement accommodates voice, video, and text inputs, improving user engagement through AI. Moreover, AI Portrait Glow was emphasized, intended to enhance photo quality in difficult lighting situations. The event highlighted AI’s essential role in Android devices, with IDC forecasting that over 37% of phones shipped this year might be Gen AI-enabled. OPPO’s AI approach focuses on “On-device Compute,” striving for real-time, privacy-respecting AI experiences. The Find X9 series will soon incorporate these innovations, including AI Translate and AI Portrait Glow, powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500, delivering performance comparable to cloud-based solutions. The series will also accommodate Android’s Quick Share, streamlining file transfers between OPPO and iOS devices.

Samsung is a major conglomerate with various divisions — the one responsible for your preferred Galaxy devices is Samsung Electronics, whereas the Samsung Foundry and Samsung Display segments also provide individual components to other corporations. When Samsung unveils new display technologies, it has an impact on the entire market.

I received a tour of several Samsung Display projects under development during MWC 2026, showcasing new Privacy display features and a phone featuring a slidable screen.

Samsung’s Privacy Display is already planning significant enhancements

Samsung’s latest Privacy Display feature was introduced on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and incorporates a novel pixel architecture with both narrow and wide pixels. The narrow pixels are only visible when viewed directly, while the wide pixels can be seen from more lenient viewing angles. When using the Privacy Display functionality, the wide pixels are turned off, ensuring your screen cannot be seen from an angle.

This replicates the capabilities of privacy screen protectors, yet Privacy Display is superior in several respects. Firstly, it can be deactivated in software when maximum visibility is essential. Another benefit is that Privacy Display obstructs unwanted viewing from all off-axis angles, while privacy screen protectors only block views from the left and right — not from above or below. Currently, you can either activate Privacy Display for the entire screen or use it for specific applications, for notifications, or when entering passwords.

Even though it seems like Privacy Display just launched, Samsung is already showcasing new applications for it that are described as “under development.” During the event, Samsung Display unveiled an experimental feature that allows you to activate the Privacy Display function for specific sections of the screen. For example, this developmental feature would allow for blocking only the upper or lower portions of the screen as necessary.

The impressive aspect of this Privacy Display feature is that it requires no extra hardware. It would function on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra’s Flex Magic Pixel display, though there is still no information regarding when or if the new Privacy Display options will be implemented in the recently announced model.

LEAD 2.0 is decreasing bezels and enhancing colors

LEAD 2.0 is Samsung’s latest OLED display innovation, and it’s the Samsung Display feature I’m most enthusiastic about. Smartphone displays are generally bright, yet you rarely achieve those touted peak brightness levels in practical use. Your device heats up, you take it outside under sunlight, and suddenly thermal throttling restricts your screen’s brightness when it’s needed most. Despite their variability in effectiveness, these bright screens also significantly drain battery life.

There is potential that LEAD 2.0 addresses all of those frequent grievances. The new OLED technology can reach a maximum brightness of 5,000 nits while using less energy. They also feature an expanded color volume, making images on LEAD 2.0 displays appear bright, vibrant, and detailed — even on screens with lower pixel densities compared to traditional OLED panels. Samsung claims the advantages of LEAD 2.0 include a “longer-lasting battery” and “no overheating.”

Consider me doubtful about that last claim, but if accurate, this new technology could remedy my biggest smartphone display issue in 2026.

Samsung states that it has removed the external polarizer found in conventional OLED displays with LEAD 2.0 technology. This could be part of the reason LEAD 2.0 screens boast nearly invisible bezels. Observe the photo above — that’s a phone seamlessly integrated with an OLED television display. It’s relatively easy to notice in the zoomed-in image, but in reality, I genuinely overlooked it the first time I navigated through the Samsung Display booth.

We do not know when LEAD 2.0 may enter consumer products, but if Samsung’s ambitious promises are legitimate, I eagerly anticipate this enhancement.

Foldables are outdated news — slidables are the upcoming innovation

You’ve encountered foldable phones, and you might have heard about expandable laptop displays. What if we could apply that kind of technology to a smartphone? That’s precisely what Samsung is experimenting with its “Mobile Slidable” concept. It’s a phone featuring a 5.1-inch screen that can slide open to become a 6.7-inch display. Essentially, you receive the portability of a compact phone combined with the screen area of a contemporary flagship.

We lack comprehensive details about the Mobile Slidable beyond its FHD+ resolution and dual aspect ratios. When closed, it maintains a 16:9 aspect ratio that transforms to 22:9 when expanded. It has a 1080×2640 resolution, resulting in 426 pixels-per-inch. While it may not be as practical as a folding flip phone or a conventional smartphone, it is undoubtedly intriguing. As it is an “under development” endeavor, we do not know when or if it will ever be officially launched as a consumer product.

Everything is a Galaxy Watch now

Samsung has integrated Galaxy Watch screens into, well, nearly everything.

Explore the standout products we discovered at MWC 2026!

This AI-created toolkit has now found itself in an entirely different location.