Steam Hardware Announcement
Steam Controller, Machine (mini PC running SteamOS), and Frame (VR headset running SteamOS).
Dang, time to start saving my pennies. They all look tempting. Coming in early 2026.
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Hardware wars
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New SPen for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11
I just bought the S Pen for the new Galaxy Tab S11, and it feels a bit more comfortable to hold than the S Pens from previous models. However, in my opinion, it has two negative aspects.
The first is that the side button is difficult to locate by touch, which makes its use quite challenging.
The second, which is more important to me, is that the initial activation force is higher than in previous S Pen models. I have compared it with the S Pen from the Tab S8 and the Tab S9+ FE, and with those, the device writes under the weight of the pen itself (about 8 grams). In contrast, with the new S Pen, which also weighs 8 grams, the pen does not write under its own weight. I am not a fan of digital pens with an IAF close to zero; I like needing a…
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NeonGolden
Nov 22
I had to quickly share some anecdotes that I feel might elicit annoyance unfortunately:
I caved and bought a Movinkpad Pro 14 to try out after having some OCD despair over seeing some hairline scratches were incurred on my Tab S11 Ultra. I think this screen might be slightly more durable than the S10, or it just took longer because I love the new S-pen and have no problem using it exclusively. Maybe I tore up my S10's screen with all the third party UD pens I tried - who knows.
I can't believe how overrated I ended up feeling the Movinkpad is. Feels like there's nothing I agree with Brad Colbow on about this. It has the best chance of making sense for someone if they're in an Android ecosystem outside of Samsung (particularly Google, Sony, or Nokie I guess, because I think I'd be inclined to even try the OnePlus Pad over this if I was with OnePlus).
The most mindblowing thing to me is there is no Wacom Center in this. That is such a common sense thing to me that I didn't even think to look it up to try to avoid wasting time and resources to pick this up. You cannot disable the side buttons!!!! I tried to go into CSP to see if I could do it at a software level in Shortcut Settings - apparently you can't. So if you are not a sidebutton fanatic, you have THREE promininent side buttons on the side you have to consciously avoid. Ludicrous!!!
But here's the other thing that you won't want to believe me on and I scarcely even believe myself:
I did not notice any appreciable difference in the IAF or pressure sensitivity compared to the latest S-pen on the TS11U. HOWEVER -- When I went to use the S-pen on the Movinkpad Pro, I swear it was like the pen's performance was somehow reduced, and then I did notice an IAF and pressure curve that patently inferior to the Pro Pen 3. It's possible these pens - even the UD based S-pen - are better when used on their native hardware displays.
I am upset about whatever glass or oleophobic coatings Samsung is using on their latest Tabs, but at the same time, I low-key think the TS11 series in particular might be the underrated underdog. Everywhere I go, seems people think it's squarely 3rd place behind iPad and Movinkpad, or they just prefer the older S-pens (which I absolutely don't -- I think this is a far superior drawing utensil and I especially appreciate the durability improvements). I think the only thing Samsung needs to do now to reach virtual perfection with me is offer a nanotexture screen option like Apple, and FFS start selling official packs of nibs.
My two cents. Let me know if anyone corroborates this.
Edited
M5 iPad Pro: Baby Steps
Lots of silence here for the M5 Apple Silicon debut on iPad Pros a couple days ago. Understandable. It’s just a small spec bump, though the neural engine got improved more substantially, for those who care.**
Still, it’s baby steps toward something of the MacPad a lot of users dream of (and others seem to be revolted by). Had they come out with iPadOS 26 at the time of the M1 release people would be jumping up and down and screaming “take my money!”. It’s like the frog slowly getting boiled in water without noticing it’s getting cooked.
No, I don’t think it’s going to be a “true” MacPad any time soon, if ever. Software vendors need to get fully on board, for one thing. Many seem to want to continue with a “lite” version on iPads and relegate the “Pro”, fully functional and higher priced versions on Macs even…
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Intel Panther Lake
Now that Qualcomm showed their hand, so too now has Intel (well more of the hand anyway)
Certainly these will be the intel chips in the next "Intel for Business" models of Surface, as well as other devices like the next Galaxy Book 360 (which ever GB model has the s-pen)
I suspect thin and light devices like the Galaxy Book and Surface Pro/Laptops will likely opt for the 8c/4Xe CPU.
However the last one I find more interesting. Where as the middle 16c/4Xe is designed for systems that would utilize a Discrete GPU (Laptop Studio 3?), the 16c/12Xe is designed for use cases that want a powerful chip, but a more robust integrated graphic solution over discrete graphics. It kind of seems more poised to combat the Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme. Kind of curious how the 16/12 Panther Lake Chip would bench compared to the X2 Extreme.
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Eltos
Oct 22
This is really interesting...it could lead to a do-it-all gaming laptop with a pen that is thin-and-light...
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I wish the Frame would at least have oled panels. So many VR games take place in near complete darkness where OLED really helps the immersion.