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Ares’ Is Showing In Five Different 3D Formats — But Which Is Best?

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Tron: Ares is a rather unusual third installment in a trilogy, in that it is being released some 15 years after its predecessor, Tron: Legacy, and incredibly, some 43 years since the first Tron film, which dates back to 1982.

The film is directed by Joachim Rønning, stars Jared Leto, but, as a link to the previous two films, it also features Jeff Bridges.

While reviews suggest it isn’t going to win any awards for its script, it promises to be a visual and sonic feast for the eyes and ears, and what the story lacks in depth can, to some degree, be made up for by seeing the world in 3D and in the cinema.

While its predecessor was filmed using native 3D cameras, the new Tron: Ares makes do with a conversion. However, conversions have come a long way since the last Tron movie came out, so stereoscopic fans will be pleased to see that there are several options to see it in this format.

With that in mind, which is the best 3D format to choose?

IMAX 3D

IMAX 3D will be the default choice for many, as the extra-large screen always offers a naturally incredibly immersive experience, which is what 3D is all about.

It’s even better if the theater has IMAX Laser projection, as this will mean a 4K image and dichroic filters, which are very tolerant of head tilting and provide a brighter picture than polarized 3D used in 2K Xenon-lamp-based IMAX 3D projection.

A word also needs to be said for the IMAX audio, which is always bombastically loud but also precise, especially in the 12-channel variant that most IMAX Laser screens are equipped with.

Tron: Ares was also “Filmed For IMAX,” which means that while it wasn’t shot with IMAX cameras, it was created with the IMAX digital 1.90:1 aspect ratio, which offers more image than all other versions, for approximately 50% of its runtime. The all-digital world of the grid has also been created to fill that IMAX screen, so you will get an impactful sense of being in — and out – of that digital world. Many have commented that the aspect ratio change is effectively used, with the transitions from the native theatrical 2.39:1 aspect ratio to IMAX 1.90:1 and vice versa having a notable impact.

HDR by Barco 3D

While systems that use HDR by Barco projection don’t have the benefits of the IMAX aspect ratio switching, for pure image quality, it currently takes top billing, with a super bright image capable of 300 nits to deliver true high dynamic range images writ large, which should make the intense glowing color palette of the Grid in Tron: Ares look spectacular. Some HDR by Barco locations are showing it in 3D, which, as the technically brightest cinema format available, is something I would like to experience.

The system is branded differently by each cinema chain, such as Cineworld Superscreen, Regal RPX, and EPIC by Vue, so to see if there is one near you, Barco offers a newly redesigned website to help you locate a screen.

As of writing, there are only 12 worldwide, but the list is growing with Vue in the UK recently opening a new HDR by Barco-equipped screen in Castleford, UK, and Rozzano, Italy.

HDR by Barco is always combined with Dolby Atmos and good seating, so it should be a superb way of experiencing the film.

Dolby Cinema 3D

With over 300 locations worldwide, a Dolby Cinema will be much easier to find, and some of these are exhibiting Tron: Ares in 3D. Having seen the trailer in Dolby Cinema 3D, I can attest to it looking tremendous. There was a fantastic sense of depth, and the dichroic filters in the Dolby 3D glasses did a great job of maintaining the bright, clear colors and inky blacks for which Dolby Vision is known. The soundtrack from Trent Razor should sound superb in Dolby Atmos audio.

Combined with premium-designed theatres with luxury seating, Dolby Cinema will be a top-tier choice for the film.

4DX 3D

4DX is the format that provides a theme park-like experience, complete with moving seats that let you feel every bang and crash with a thump in the back, along with flashing lights, blasts of air, and even splashes of water.

You do need to be in the mood for it, but with the right movie, it can be a huge amount of fun. It doesn’t always include 3D, but with 3D being so much part of the Tron experience, it makes sense to have it here. The downside of 4DX is that it is conventional in image quality terms. The RealD 3D will be fine, but you’re getting a 2K resolution image and standard 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound, so while the image will be in 3D, the audio will not be. If you want to prioritize the fun element, though, it could be the one to go for.

3D

The final 3D choice is, well, just 3D. This uses RealD technology, which uses circular polarization, which is OK, but the projectors will likely be 2K resolution only. What’s more, unless you know your local screen has a laser projector, the image will be dim too. Audio will also be a simple flat layer, with no Atmos height tricks – and you won’t have the benefit of 4DX throwing you around to distract you either.

If you are keen to see Tron: Ares in 3D, it could be a good choice and will also be a less expensive ticket, but unless you are confident that there will be a laser projector to give you a good experience, you’re taking more of a risk.



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X Issues November 10 ‘Account Will Be Locked’ Twitter Security Warning

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Given the continuing popularity of Elon Musk’s X social network, and the swathing staffing cuts made when the world’s richest man bought what used to be (and still is in my mind) Twitter, it doesn’t make the cybersecurity headlines as much as you might have thought. With PayPal users currently warned of ongoing attacks, ditto WordPress website owners, and even LastPass password manager customers, all being in the threat actor crosshairs, this is a good thing. However, X users have now been warned that unless they make a change to a legacy Twitter security setting, they will be locked out of their accounts from November 10. Here’s what you need to know.

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The X Safety Team Issues Clarification After Warning Of Twitter Account Lockouts

Whatever you call it, X or Twitter, the social network isn’t immune to security threats. This year alone, I have reported on outages caused by a claimed DDoS attack and a warning for 650 million X users not to change their passwords. Sometimes, though, the perceived security threat comes from inside the building. Such was the case after the X safety team tweeted on October 24: “After November 10, if you haven’t re-enrolled a security key, your account will be locked until you: re-enroll; choose a different 2FA method; or elect not to use 2FA.”

This, rather unsurprisingly if you ask me, created a wave of concern amongst both ordinary users and security experts on the social media platform. One asked whether not using 2FA meant their account would remain active; another asked whether there had been a security breach; and another asked whether this only impacted passkey users?

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The confusion sat with X warning that “all accounts that use a security key as their two-factor authentication method to re-enroll their key to continue accessing X,” and adding that users could “re-enroll your existing security key, or enroll a new one.” A typical example of someone who knows what they are talking about but not how to communicate that in such a way to people who do not. Translating tech-speak into ordinary language is an essential skill and one that the X safety team appears to have misplaced on this occasion.

What X should have said, and ended up being forced into actually saying a day later, was: “To clarify: this change is not related to any security concern, and only impacts Yubikeys and passkeys – not other 2FA methods (such as authenticator apps). Security keys enrolled as a 2FA method are currently tied to the twitter.com domain. Re-enrolling your security key will associate them with x.com, allowing us to retire the Twitter domain. If this relates to you, you’ll be prompted automatically to re-enroll.”

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Google’s Pixel 10 Series Could Soon Receive A Significant Performance Boost

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Key Takeaways

  • Some Pixel 10 users have reported underperforming graphics and battery life.
  • Google has confirmed it will release driver updates, potentially addressing these issues and unlocking the Pixel 10’s full potential.
  • A new GPU driver update (version 25.2) is available that Google could deploy for significantly improved performance.

October 26 Update Below: A driver update may be essential for security reasons. This article was originally published on October 24

The Pixel 10 could soon receive a significant boost in performance, and potentially battery life, thanks to an upcoming graphics driver upgrade.

Reports indicate that the Pixel 10 series currently underperforms in graphics performance, notably scoring lower than the Pixel 9 Pro in some benchmark tests. The Pixel 10 series uses a PowerVR DXT-48-1536 GPU from Imagination Technologies, rather than the ARM Mali component found in previous models, which has led to complaints of poor performance, especially when playing popular, graphically intensive games such as Genshin Impact, and reduced battery life during video playback in apps like Netflix.

A primary cause of these performance issues appears to be an outdated GPU driver. The Pixel 10 shipped with driver version 24.3, lacking key features and optimizations necessary for the new GPU to reach its full potential. While it’s not unusual for a smartphone to ship with slightly older drivers, the switch from Mail to PowerVR appears to have exacerbated the issue.

A New GPU Driver Is Already Available

Fortunately, Imagination Technologies has since released driver version 25.2, adding official support for Android 16, along with significant performance enhancements, including support for the latest Vulkan 1.4 specification. That means this particular update could greatly benefit Pixel 10 users, and early indications suggest Google will most likely implement it.

A Google representative recently confirmed to Android Authority that the company plans to continue releasing GPU driver improvements in its regular system updates.

“We are continuing to improve driver quality in our monthly and quarterly system updates. For example, the most recent September and October patch releases included driver improvements. In future releases we are planning further GPU driver updates.”

Google has a strong track record in this area, having delivered a significant GPU performance boost for Pixel 8 Pro users in its December 2023 update, and several generations of Pixel smartphones received performance gains thanks to an updated GPU driver in the March 2025 Feature Drop. However, Google’s statement stops short of any commitment to any specific driver versions or performance benefits for the Pixel 10 range.

Google Pixel 10: Performance Upgrades Are Likely

If this pattern continues, Pixel 10 users can expect significant performance gains with future driver updates. Given that the new driver is already available from Imagination Technologies, we can hope it arrives sooner rather than later. For those currently experiencing graphics performance issues, a fix appears to be on the horizon.

October 26 Update: Existing vulnerabilities make a driver update extremely likely.

Driver updates typically offer not only performance improvements but also essential security patches, increasing the urgency of releasing updates.

The Pixel 10’s GPU driver is vulnerable, putting additional pressure on Google to provide an update.

According to Imagination Technologies’ published GPU Driver Vulnerabilities list, versions of the PowerVR GPU driver, up to and including version 24.3, currently deployed in the Pixel 10 series, contain critical vulnerabilities that could result in system instability, reboots and non-privileged access to secure data.

Addressing these vulnerabilities will be a high priority for Google, making a driver update urgent. Imagination Technologies doesn’t appear to have released any driver updates between versions 24.3 and 25.1, which fixes all of the listed vulnerabilities and adds most of the improvements listed in this article.

This means Google’s next Pixel 10 GPU driver update will likely be to least version 25.1, if not the latest version 25.2 released to partners on Oct 8. Pixel 10 Users can therefore expect significant improvements in performance, reliability and security once Google releases this update.

Follow @paul_monckton on Instagram.

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Edifier Unveils Upgraded S880DB MKII Active Speakers For Hi-Res Performance

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Edifier is a speaker brand that’s rapidly building a reputation for producing premium mid-range speakers that sell for very affordable prices. Edifier has just announced the launch of the S880DB MKII, its fully upgraded successor to the brand’s acclaimed S880DB model. This latest version features enhanced acoustic performance, redesigned circuitry and an improved user experience.

The S880DB MKII speakers now feature a completely upgraded driver system that can produce a richer and more precise sound. The tweeters have been upgraded to a 1.25-inch titanium dome model with a 25mm voice coil and neodymium magnet. The output through the tweeters is 12W per channel. The previous model used a 1-inch tweeter, so the improvements deliver clearer and more transparent highs that offer more accuracy and detail.

Complementing the upgraded tweeters are a pair of redesigned 3.75-inch mid-bass drivers with an output of 32W per channel for a clearer sound across the entire mid-range. The woofers also provide an extended low-frequency response that goes as low as 50Hz for a fuller and richer bass response. The overall sound of the upgraded drivers is a more solid and balanced soundstage.

High-Quality Sound

At the heart of the new S880DB MKII speakers are high-performance chipsets sourced from Texas Instruments. Edifier has used the powerful XMOS XU216 onboard processor, which provides advanced digital audio processing and can support high-resolution audio playback up to 24-bit/96kHz, for clearer sound and ultra-low distortion.

The S880DB MKII speakers are designed to meet and exceed the specifications required to gain Hi-Res Audio certification. The speaker’s digital interfaces support resolutions up to 24-bit/192kHz, while the Texas Instruments analog front end operates at 24-bit/96kHz, for precise signal handling and clarity across the entire frequency range.

At the rear of the S880DB MKII’s primary speaker unit are all the inputs for connecting the speakers to a digital or analog source. Users can choose from two RCA line-in connectors, a digital coax and optical inputs, plus a USB-C port, which is ideal for connecting these speakers to a computer so they can be used on a desk setup. There’s no 3.5mm input, but a cable is provided that goes from 3.5mm to RCA.

Bluetooth Connectivity

Finally, these speakers also include a Bluetooth 5.3 receiver for wireless input. The S880DB MKII speakers support the LDAC audio codec with transmission rates up to 990kbps, which means high-resolution wireless audio streaming up to 24-bit/96kHz.

Using the LDAC codec ensures audiophile-grade sound quality over Bluetooth from compatible Android devices running Android 8.0 and higher. Anyone using the speakers with a Mac or iPhone could use a Bluetooth dongle that supports LDAC. In addition, the speakers also support the vanilla SBC codec, but not AAC. The sound of these speakers can be shaped using the three rotary controls at the rear of the primary unit. The three knobs control volume, treble and bass.

The S880DB MKII also includes a dedicated SUB OUT port for the connection of an external subwoofer — like Edifier’s recently announced T5S model — and an even deeper bass response. This feature provides a fuller and more immersive low-end that’s suitable for music, movies and gaming. The one thing missing is a front-mounted headphone jack, which a lot of people use for private listening when seated at their computer.

User-Friendly Controls

Controlling the speakers is easy using the included puck-shaped remote control, which is just as well because those rear-mounted controls aren’t particularly convenient to reach. The S880DB MKII speakers come with a newly designed and rechargeable 2.4GHz remote control for quick access to playback and volume levels.

On the front of the primary speaker is an integrated OLED display featuring auto-dimming and providing clear and real-time feedback without too much glare. The speakers are also fully compatible with Edifier’s ConneX smartphone app, which can be used to fine-tune settings and manage the source inputs directly from a smartphone’s screen.

Pricing and Availability:

The Edifier S880DB MKII speakers are available now for $399.99 from Amazon.com.

Tech Specs:

  • Total output power (RMS): Treble: 12W x 2 / Mid-low: 32W x 2.
  • Drivers: 3.75″ long-throw aluminum diaphragm / 1.25″ titanium diaphragm dome tweeters.
  • Frequency response: 50Hz – 40kHz.
  • Signal-to-Noise ratio: ≥ 85dB(A).
  • Audio inputs: USB-C, Optical, Coaxial, Line In 1, Line In 2, Bluetooth.
  • Input sensitivity: USB-C: 500 ± 50mFFS OPT: 500 ± 50mFFS, COAX: 500 ± 50mFFS, Bluetooth: 500 ± 50mFFS, Line In 1: 500 ± 50mV, Line In 2: 700 ± 50mV.
  • Bluetooth: V5.3.
  • Supported audio codecs: SBC, LDAC.
  • Dimensions (W x H x D): 145 x 237 x 207mm (Primary speaker) /145 x 237 x 192mm (Passive speaker).
  • Weight: 6.27kg.



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