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Android Authority
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Android Authority
The Govee Gaming Pixel Light is a creative fix of 8-bit goodness for any RGB-heavy desktop
Govee Gaming Pixel Light The Govee Pixel Gaming Light is a quirky display piece that will add fun retro flair to any gamer's desktop. Having fully embraced that I'm in the middle of a mid-life crisis that manifests explicitly as a need to buy excessive amounts of glowy RGB products for my desktop gaming setup, I've been quite excited to try Govee's Gaming Pixel Light panels ever since they were revealed at CES 2025. I'm also a sucker for nostalgia, so the 8-bit-styled animations they can conjure up via an LED array also had an instant appeal. Having tested both the larger, rectangular version and the square model (each sent over by Govee for review), I can tell you that they're wildly impractical and could use some fine-tuning on the software side, but they are overall a pretty fun way to add some flair to your PC or console setup. Pixel-tastic desktop flair Oliver Cragg / Android Authority The Gaming Pixel Light comes in two distinct sizes with the same individual LED dimensions on each — a compact square 32 x 32 pixel model (1,024 LEDs) and a wider 52 x 32 pixel rectangular version (1,664 LEDs). I personally prefer the square one as it's easy to fit on my cramped desk, but the wider option does make it more compatible with landscape images/clips you want it to show (more on that later), and separates it from most of its competitors, which are predominantly square. Because the LEDs are the same size on each model, you're not losing out on image quality. Each one comes with a little plastic stand to hold the display in place, and you can also choose to wall mount it with an included attachment. It also comes with an AC/DC adaptor, which has a fixed barrel jack cable. I sorely wish this were USB-powered — power adaptor space around my desktop is already at a premium, so occupying another plug with the Gaming Pixel Light was a pain. Here's hoping future versions can be run through a PC port or a desktop charger. The Gaming Pixel Light is outfitted with the same gamer-tastic border frame no matter which size you opt for, and this is the most contentious part of the design for me. I quite like a minimalist aesthetic (outside of all the bright lights, obviously), and these borders look like they've been awkwardly grafted on from spare parts of a knock-off Evangelion mecha. The angular sections, matte gray with green accents, and a few words in white (like 'Loading' and 'Game') are all far from offensive, but the frame's overall aesthetic does detract slightly from the real attraction: that display. With animations at 30 frames per second and impressive color vibrancy, the Govee Gaming Pixel Light certainly stands out. It comes pre-loaded with a library of over 150 scenes, many of which evoke retro gaming classics or other nerdy references (such as an obvious Spider-Man template). My daughter is obsessed with the colorful fish scene, but if you want something more low-key, there are effects like dynamic color shifts and other screensaver-type animations that are a little less distracting and a lot more moody, in a good way. With a library of over 150 pre-loaded scenes, sketching tools, and community sharing, the Gaming Pixel Light will never become boring. It also has real-time displays, which update automatically when connected to Wi-Fi (2.4GHz only). This includes a clock, weather, NBA/NFL scores (soccer next, Govee!), and even stocks and Bitcoin price tracking. You can access these with a quick tap of a physical button. I found the clock and weather relatively useful, but you might get more mileage out of the rest than I did. These and other scenes can also be accompanied by audio clips via the built-in 3W speaker. It's clear enough for 8-bit beeps and boops, and timers, but not much more than that. You can also upload your own musical snippets in .wav, .mp3, and .ogg formats, which is a nice touch for customization. The display animations can also dynamically match the audio, which can make for some cool ambient effects. Get creative (or cheat with AI) Setting up the Pixel Gaming Light was fairly painless via the Govee Home app, though it did take a couple of tries for the device to register. After that, you're ready to dig into all of the many, many customization options on offer. Aside from the pre-loaded scenes, you can upload your own images and GIFs or sketch new pixel art creations using the in-app tools. There's also a Share Space where you can show off these DIY images and animations to other users and download other people's creations. Again, Govee's broader ecosystem is a boon here, as it's likely this will fill out pretty quickly as more people get their hands on the Gaming Light and start creating. The only downside right now is the lack of useful filters; there's a search feature, but no way to rate submissions or view by popularity. The whole artistic process is aided by the feature Govee really wants you to use: the AI Lighting Bot. This lets you enter prompts, and Govee's chatbot will create something that tries to match your description (and with very little care for IP infringement in my experience — check out the Chelsea Football 'Clug' logo). I personally found this to be quite hit and miss, and I couldn't get it to create animated images, only static ones. I'd stick to your own sketches, or the image/animation uploads. The latter can also occasionally translate poorly, but that's only when you try to feed it complex images — it's an 8-bit-style LED array after all, so if you pick simple pictures and GIFs with bold colors and lines with good spacing, you'll get great results. Just be aware that I had to reload the app a few times when the device idled for the AI creations, sketching, and DIY modes. Hopefully those bugs get squashed soon. Oliver Cragg / Android Authority One thing I didn't get to test is the connection to Govee's HDMI 2.1 Sync Box, as I don't have one. If you are in the Govee ecosystem, that'll let you create real-time DreamView experiences and pair the effects with other Govee lights. Smart home users without the Sync Box can still connect the device(s) to Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice commands/automations. It also supports IFTTT and Matter. Govee Gaming Pixel Light review: The verdict Oliver Cragg / Android Authority At $99.99 for the square model or $129 for the rectangular version (or $79.99/$103.99, respectively, for a limited time launch sale), the Govee Pixel Gaming Light is a quirky display piece that can give any gamer's desktop some funky retro flair. Is it a novelty? Absolutely, but sometimes you don't need a reason to get something beyond pure aesthetics. If there's ever a second-gen model, I'd love to see the gamer-fied border eliminated (or at least made optional) for something a little more unassuming, and I'd really want to see a USB power and/or charging option to save my desk management headaches. Before then, I hope Govee can iron out some of the software quirks on the first-gen models. The Govee Pixel Gaming Light is a quirky display piece that can give any gamer's desktop some fun retro flair. The most popular competitors to the Pixel Gaming Light come from Divoom, such as the Pixoo-Max and the Pixoo64. The former is another 32 x 32 LED panel, while the latter cranks the number of LEDs up to a whopping 4096 total for even more impressive designs. The Pixoo64 also costs almost double, while the Pixoo-Max is $30 more expensive than the square Pixel Gaming Light. Govee has an ecosystem advantage in this emerging category, and considering the reasonable pricing, it is definitely worth a look if you want to pixel-up your gaming space. Govee Gaming Pixel Light Bright and rich LED display • Pre-loaded with 150+ scenes and animations • Versatile customization tools MSRP: $99.99 LED display for creative gamers. The Govee Gaming Pixel Light lets users easily create and display their favorite pixel art and GIFs. With over 150 preset scene modes, a diverse range of DIY tools, and an AI Lighting Bot, this LED display (available in 32 x 32 or 52 x 32 pixel models) is a perfect desktop addition for 8-bit obsessives. See price at Amazon Positives Bright and rich LED display Bright and rich LED display Pre-loaded with 150+ scenes and animations Pre-loaded with 150+ scenes and animations Versatile customization tools Versatile customization tools Easy-to-use Govee app Easy-to-use Govee app Reasonable price Cons AI creations are hit and miss AI creations are hit and miss Share Space needs filters Share Space needs filters Not USB powered Not USB powered Divisive frame design Divisive frame design Some connection bugs
Android Authority
5 days ago
- Business
- Android Authority
The native Xbox handheld has been delayed, and you can blame Steam OS
Oliver Cragg / Android Authority TL;DR Microsoft is reportedly deprioritizing work on a native Xbox handheld. Instead, it will focus on improving Windows on third-party handhelds. The native Xbox handheld was expected in 2027 alongside next-gen consoles. The handheld wars are heating up, as Steam OS is finally widely available on third-party handhelds. Early comparisons between Steam OS and Windows on the same hardware have shown a large gap in performance, with Windows' considerable overhead causing it to lag behind. Microsoft has taken note of this, and it's reportedly shifting focus to try to keep up. Yesterday, sources within Microsoft (via Windows Central) revealed that the company announced internally that it will shift priorities away from Xbox handhelds to improve the Windows experience on third-party hardware. Importantly, this will not delay the 'Project Kennan' handheld being created in partnership with ASUS. That device is still slated for release later this year, and it may be the first to feature these Windows optimizations. However, the next-gen Xbox handheld that the company has been working on will be shelved. New rumors indicate this was indeed a native Xbox handheld, and not a Windows-based device. It was previously rumored to release in 2027 alongside the follow-up to the Xbox Series X/S home consoles. This is bittersweet news for Xbox fans, as a native Xbox handheld would have featured improved backwards compatibility with games from the Xbox/Xbox 360 era. A major selling point of the Xbox Series X/S was full compatibility with the entire Xbox catalog, with improvements in framerates and graphics thanks to more powerful hardware. Steam OS is increasingly becoming a threat to Windows handhelds. The Linux-based Steam OS was designed specifically for gaming handhelds, giving it a distinct advantage over Windows. With less overhead and bloat, it outperforms similarly spec'd Windows handhelds with a much more user-friendly interface and experience. The main advantage of Windows handhelds is improved compatibility. In theory, any PC game can be played on a Windows handheld, including the ever-expanding catalog of PC Game Pass games. Windows handhelds were typically more powerful than the Steam Deck, but now that Steam OS has expanded beyond Valve's own hardware, the scales have shifted. Time will tell whether these renewed efforts to improve Windows on handhelds can make a difference. If not, Steam OS may occupy an even bigger share of the premium gaming handheld market. 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.
Android Authority
20-05-2025
- Android Authority
Samsung Notes finally lets you use the app on any Windows device
Oliver Cragg / Android Authority TL;DR The Samsung Notes app has received an update. The update allows the app to run on any Windows device. Previously, the app could only be synced on a PC if you had a Galaxy Book or used a workaround. There is no shortage of great note-taking apps on Android. But if you own a Galaxy phone, you may default to Samsung's app. That's not to take away from Samsung Notes, as it's one of the better options available. You can even sync it up to your computer. The only drawback is that you'll need a Galaxy Book to take advantage of this feature. However, a new update has now removed this limitation. A number of Samsung Notes users are reporting that the app has received an update that allows it to run on any Windows device. Previously, Samsung didn't support the app natively outside of the Galaxy ecosystem, so you would need a Galaxy Book to sync it up. That's not to say you couldn't get it to work on other platforms, but you would have had to find a workaround, like spoofing your device model. One Reddit user has shared a video showing Samsung Notes running on their non-Galaxy Book after recently being updated. Another user says they got the app to work on their ASUS ROG Strix G15 laptop. Meanwhile, a different commenter claims this update is a 'game changer' and they 'will use Samsung Notes again.' With this update, you can finally keep all of your notes in one place across devices. It's just a shame this functionality took so long to arrive. 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.
Android Authority
13-05-2025
- Android Authority
Slack brings 'Mark as Read' button to notifications on Android to save you some time
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority TL;DR Slack has a new 'Mark as Read' button on Android. The button allows you to mark messages as read from your notifications. When a new message is put in Slack, the app will let you know if there's an unread message waiting for you. On the desktop app, you can quickly mark messages as read by using keyboard shortcuts like Esc and Shift Esc. You also have the option to mark a message as unread by hitting the Alt key and clicking on the message. While there wasn't really a quick way to deal with unread messages in mobile app, that appears to be changing now. If you're using the mobile version of Slack, to mark a message as read, you usually have to open the app and view the channel. However, it looks like an update has rolled out that gives you another way to address unread messages. Oliver Cragg / Android Authority We've noticed that the Android version of Slack now has a 'Mark as Read' button in the notification. The option sits beside the 'Reply' button, allowing you to either ignore or mark as read right from the notification. Although it's not a game changer by any means, it's a nice quality-of-life feature we welcome. Meanwhile, it appears the Android app still lacks a Mark as Read section on the Preferences page, like the desktop app has. So you still can't customize your Mark as Read preferences in the mobile app. 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.
