PS2 emulation on Android just got a big update, but be careful which version you install
Robert Triggs / Android Authority
TL;DR PS2 emulator NetherSX2 dropped its first major update of the year.
There are two versions, Classic (3668) and standard (4248), with performance differences.
Both versions have an updated GameDB conversion script for improved performance.
PS2 emulation on Android has been advancing slowly since AetherSX2 shuttered its doors, but things have been picking up once again now that developer Trixarian has been actively improving the NetherSX2 fork. The first big update of the year dropped earlier today, and if you can navigate the confusing two-pronged release, it offers significant upgrades.
Version 2.0 of NetherSX2 (build 4248) has several significant changes in appearance and performance. Starting with the former, it has a completely revamped touch control scheme, with more buttons across the top for rewind, save states, macros, and more. Check out the screenshot below for a preview.
Nick Fernandez / Android Authority
In terms of performance, the conversion script for GameDB has been updated, which should improve performance for many games. It now uses the latest settings and fixes from the main PCSX2 emulator, swapping in a few Android-specific overrides for better compatibility. The result should give the best of both worlds: excellent stability and improved performance.
There are a few other minor changes, such as updated widescreen and no-interlacing patches, improved Russian translations, and larger covers on the main game list. However, the patch notes list that NASCAR and Colin McRae Rally games have graphical issues, and there may be issues with older Mali devices when using the Vulkan renderer.
NetherSX2 Classic is based on an older build, and may perform better on certain devices.
That's where the second version, NetherSX2 Classic (build 3668) comes in. The Classic version is based on an older, more stable version of AetherSX2, and may offer better support for certain games on certain devices. It has also been updated to version 2.0, with the same list of upgrades.
Unfortunately, you cannot have both versions of NetherSX2 installed on the same device. Additionally, save states are not compatible between standard and Classic, so make sure you create hard saves before switching from one to the other. For most modern devices, you're better off starting with the standard release and switching to Classic if you're having issues.
Check out the patch notes and find download links for NetherSX2 2.0 and NetherSX2 Classic 2.0 on their official GitHub pages. Note that you must provide your own, legally acquired BIOS and ROMs.
Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at
Email our staff at news@androidauthority.com . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
HSBC Lifts Broadcom (AVGO) Price Target, Keeps Hold Rating
Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGO) is one of the 10 Best American Semiconductor Stocks to Buy Now. On June 6, HSBC analysts raised the price target for Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGO) from $225 to $240 and kept a 'Hold' rating. This adjustment came after the $15.8 billion. This represents a 5% growth quarter-over-quarter and is in line with consensus estimates. For Q3 fiscal year 2025, Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGO) provided AI revenue guidance of $5.1 billion, representing a 16% increase quarter-over-quarter and above HSBC's estimate of $4.6 billion and the consensus estimate of $4.7 billion. This growth is supported by strong quarter-over-quarter sales of ASIC chips. A technician working at a magnified microscope, developing a new integrated circuit. Broadcom Inc.'s (NASDAQ:AVGO) non-AI semiconductor revenues and infrastructure software revenues are expected to stay stable quarter-over-quarter. The company's gross margin guidance for Q3 fiscal year 2025 stands at 78.1%, which is 135 basis points lower. This decrease is attributed to a higher ASIC mix. Despite that, this figure is still higher than HSBC's estimate of 77.1% and the consensus estimate of 77.6%. Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGO) is an American multinational technology company that designs, develops, and supplies a wide range of semiconductor, enterprise software, and security solutions. While we acknowledge the potential of AVGO as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 11 Stocks That Will Bounce Back According To Analysts and 11 Best Stocks Under $15 to Buy According to Hedge Funds. Disclosure: None. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
The Trump Family Is Betting Big on Mobile Phones. Should Apple Stock Investors Be Worried?
President Donald Trump's family business is entering a new market: mobile phones. This initiative, led by the president's sons Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., will feature a made-in-the-USA phone retailing for $499 and a mobile phone service priced at $47.45 a month, a reference to Trump's terms as the 45th and 47th president. Trump Mobile, which will be operated by T1 Mobile LLC, also promises to run U.S.-based call centers for customer support. Dear Tesla Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for June 22 Nvidia Says Quantum Computing Is Nearing an 'Inflection Point.' Here Are the 3 Best Stocks to Buy Now to Profit. Warren Buffett Loves This Cheap Dividend Stock and So Do Company Insiders Get exclusive insights with the FREE Barchart Brief newsletter. Subscribe now for quick, incisive midday market analysis you won't find anywhere else. 'Hard-working Americans deserve a wireless service that's affordable, reflects their values, and delivers reliable quality they can count on,' Eric Trump said in a statement. So, where does this leave Apple (AAPL)? Is the Trump family's entrance into the mobile phone market a cause for concern for AAPL investors? Make no mistake, Apple has problems, and some of them are Trump-centric. The president made his displeasure particularly clear with Apple's plans to move production of most of the iPhones used in the United States to India, remarking about CEO Tim Cook, 'I said to him, 'my friend, I treated you very good. You're coming here with $500 billion, but now I hear you're building all over India.' I don't want you building in India.' Apple has pledged to invest $500 billion across the United States over the coming four years, including through building an advanced server manufacturing hub in Texas. These initiatives are expected to help mitigate Apple's exposure to tariffs while simultaneously generating political goodwill through localized production. At the same time, Apple has stepped up its efforts to diversify its manufacturing footprint. As of the second quarter of its fiscal 2025, around half of the iPhones intended for U.S. consumers are now assembled in India, which is an outcome of a notable strategic shift. In addition, a substantial share of iPads, Macs, Apple Watches, and AirPods for the American market are now manufactured in Vietnam. As for the potential challenge posed by Trump Mobile, Apple appears well-insulated. With a global installed base of more than 2 billion active devices, a brand identity that is unrivaled in the tech world, and a deeply integrated ecosystem that creates substantial user lock-in, it is hard to envision a scenario where a nascent competitor like T1 Mobile poses any meaningful disruption. Apple's Services division, in particular, has served as a bright spot in an otherwise uncertain environment, helping buffer the company from headwinds such as geopolitical tensions and a maturing hardware market. With 1 billion active paid subscriptions, this segment continues to deliver dependable revenue streams. It includes high-margin components like the App Store, Apple Music, Apple TV+, iCloud services, Apple Pay, and lucrative licensing deals, notably its multibillion-dollar agreement with Google (GOOGL) for default search placement on Safari. What makes the Services business especially compelling is its profitability. In Q2, it posted a gross margin of 75.7%, well ahead of the 35.9% gross margin seen in the Products division. This margin advantage underscores the scalable nature of digital services, where additional user acquisition adds minimal incremental costs once the infrastructure is established. Moreover, as discussed in my prior analysis, Apple is making deliberate moves to broaden accessibility to its devices by appealing to more cost-conscious consumers while also exploring radical design changes for the iPhone's next iteration. In light of these factors, even with ongoing debates around Apple's pace of innovation and exposure to tariffs, it is difficult to see how the unreleased Trump T1 Mobile would pose any credible threat to the iPhone's dominance. Apple's fundamentals should also give investors confidence here. Apple has a market cap of $2.96 trillion and 10-year revenue and earnings compound annual growth rates of 6.56% and 7.36%, respectively. Although the stock is down 21.9% on a YTD basis, its shares are up more than 500% over the past decade and nearly 125% over the past five years. In line with its well-established pattern, Apple once again delivered quarterly results that outperformed Wall Street projections. The tech giant reported total revenue of $95.4 billion for Q2 2025, reflecting a 5.1% increase from the same period last year. Gross margin also improved, rising to 47.1% compared to 46.6% a year earlier. Revenue from the Products division saw a slight year-over-year uptick of 2.7%, totaling $68.7 billion, whereas the company's Services arm continued its strong growth trajectory with an 11.6% increase, bringing in $26.6 billion. Earnings per share reached $1.65, representing a 7.8% rise from the previous year and surpassing analysts' average forecast of $1.62. Apple ended the quarter in a strong financial position, holding $28.2 billion in cash, a figure comfortably above its short-term liabilities of approximately $6 billion. Further reinforcing its commitment to shareholder returns, the company also revealed a new $100 billion stock repurchase authorization alongside a 4% boost in its quarterly dividend, now set at $0.26 per share. However, beyond the earlier-mentioned tariff-related issues, another pressing concern weighing on Apple's stock trajectory has been its comparatively subdued performance in artificial intelligence. Despite the company's progress in mitigating supply chain vulnerabilities, its approach to AI has not resonated as strongly with investors as some had hoped. Apple's unveiling of its AI suite, branded as 'Apple Intelligence' during WWDC 2024, arrived with much anticipation but failed to sustain interest. The buzz surrounding the announcement quickly dissipated, largely due to its limited compatibility (available only on newer models starting with the iPhone 15 Pro) thereby leaving a sizable segment of its user base excluded. The delay of the enhanced Siri, now postponed until spring 2026, only adds to growing frustrations. Legal hurdles have also emerged, with lawsuits now pending that accuse the company of misleading advertising practices and anti-competitive behavior. Further, expectations were also dampened following WWDC 2025, where the keynote failed to inject fresh energy into Apple's AI narrative. While the introduction of a redesigned interface dubbed 'Liquid Glass' drew attention, many critics saw it as more of a visual upgrade than a meaningful leap in functionality. Moreover, the broader presentation lacked the kind of bold AI vision that competitors have recently demonstrated. Google, for example, showcased its advanced Veo 3 model during I/O just weeks earlier, reinforcing the perception that Apple is trailing in this space. That said, one potentially transformative step was the company's move to open its proprietary Apple Intelligence model to third-party developers. This could, in time, promote broader AI integration across its product suite, spanning hardware and services alike. Still, the payoff from this strategy is unlikely to be immediate. And with competitors rapidly accelerating AI deployment, Apple may be running short on time to reassert leadership in the next wave of consumer tech innovation. Considering all this, analysts have earmarked a rating of 'Moderate Buy' for Apple stock with a mean target price of $230.75. This indicates upside potential of about 18% from current levels. Out of 37 analysts covering the stock, 18 have a 'Strong Buy' rating, three have a 'Moderate Buy' rating, 13 have a 'Hold' rating, one has a 'Moderate Sell' rating, and two have a 'Strong Sell' rating. On the date of publication, Pathikrit Bose did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Sign in to access your portfolio
Android Authority
27 minutes ago
- Android Authority
Spotted: Google Maps on Wear OS is testing an Expressive new UI
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority TL;DR Google Maps is testing a Material 3 Expressive-style redesign on Wear OS 5. The new UI features larger icons and an improved layout. The changes have only been rolled out to select users so far. Google Maps is getting a fresh look on smartwatches, and it's not waiting for Wear OS 6 to do it. The app is now testing a redesigned interface with some users on Wear OS 5, introducing a bolder, more modern layout in line with Google's Material 3 Expressive design. Screenshots and video shared with us by Telegram user Hardik show several UI changes. Captured on a Galaxy Watch 4 running Maps version 25.23.01.766241648.W, the new look features larger icons and layout choices that better suit small circular screens. Frequently used actions like 'Home,' 'Work,' and 'Recents' now appear as colorful modules, while navigation modes are presented as compact pills with clearer icons. Here's a video of the wearable in use with the new design elements: It's a noticeable departure from the old UI, which leaned heavily on minimalist icons and black menus. Where previous versions often buried options in stacked lists, the updated layout brings everything to the surface with bigger touch targets, echoing similar changes seen recently in redesigned Wear OS versions of Gmail and Keep. Check out these screenshots of the new UI: While the Maps redesign doesn't include the full theming found in the Wear OS 6 developer preview, it still reflects Google's broader push toward consistency and accessibility across its smartwatch apps. Compare the images above to how the interface currently looks for most Wear OS Google Maps users, as shown below: Google hasn't officially acknowledged the rollout, and not all users are seeing the new layout yet during this testing phase. However, with more core apps starting to follow suit, it's another sign that Google is laying the groundwork for a more unified visual experience. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
