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Do you really need a 4K smartphone screen?
See those two screens up there? Pretty soon the smartphone will have the same resolution as the much bigger panel (a 27-inch Dell U2711 monitor with 2,560 x 1,440 pixels). While the snappiest CPUs, more RAM, better cameras and other frills are a must for the latest handsets, the current marketing pièce de résistance is a higher-resolution screen. In four years, we've passed from a norm of 800 x 480 to 960 x 540 and up to 720p, 1080p and soon -- likely on Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S5 -- 2,560 x 1,440 Quad HD (QHD). That works out to a borderline-insane 500-plus pixels per inch (depending on screen size) and manufacturers aren't stopping there. But is more resolution worth the extra expense if you can't even see the difference? Well, it's complicated.
Resolve resolution frustration with QuickRes - Review
I have a 27" iMac and find that I need to use one resolution to read and another to edit photographs. This iMac's native display (2560 x 1440) presents text that is just too small to ready easily with my near-sighted eyes. I've always use Apple's Displays System Preference to switch resolution when needed. In my previous system, Snow Leopard (OS X 10.6.8), I enabled the Displays menu extra and clicked the icon in my menu bar to access the preference, but that functionality was inexplicably removed in Mountain Lion (OS X 10.8). QuickRes is a welcome solution to your resolution woes. This screen resolution switching app from ThinkDev (formerly Inertiactive) gives you back what Apple removed. Recently upgraded to version 3.1, QuickRes allows you to switch between a variety of resolutions for your Macintosh. On a MacBook with Retina display, it lets you take your screen resolution all the way up to 3840 x 2400, but alas, I could not test this feature. After you install QuickRes a simple dialog appears with a few basic instructions. You can choose your preferred keyboard shortcut using three to four keys. I left mine at the default of Command-Option-R. If you have a non-Retina display Macintosh you can Enable HiDPI Mode, which according to ThinkDev, "is as close as you can get to a Retina display on a standard display." A warning dialog, which may be ThinkDev humor, popped up when I clicked to use HiDPI mode. As, AppleCare just replaced my newest iMac because of a graphics display problem, I opted not to test this feature. One replaced iMac per decade is all I can stand, sorry. The QuickRes Preferences include four tabs to let you show notifications when the resolution changes, show the QuickRes icon in your menu bar, and indicate the number of the resolution you chose. Your chosen resolutions show up in a numbered list in the Resolutions tab in the preferences. You can choose up to eight different resolutions in which to set your display in the Advanced tab. I found that two is sufficient, but it depends on how you work and what software you work within. You can use your mouse to scroll through your chosen resolutions with a simple click on the menu bar icon. A right-click (also called a control-click) lets choose a new resolution from the pop-up list. Alternatively, you can use your chosen keyboard shortcut. One note of caution though, do not quickly switch resolutions back and forth. That seemed to yield a stuttering complaint from my graphics card. QuickRes also refused to work at all a couple of times after I switched to a different resolution too quickly. I found it a little annoying that when I changed resolutions the cursor jumped to some random location on the screen. Moving the mouse revealed its new location, but I am not sure why the cursor doesn't stay in a near place to where it started. I did not experience any scaling problems when switching between resolutions, as some readers mentioned on the App Store page. Once, after a reboot, the program no longer worked and required a reinstall, but I don't think this is a major bug, just a little glitch. The Advanced tab in the Preferences gives you the option to Open QuickRes on Login. This seems to be the only way to make sure the app still works after a reboot and it works reliably. Mouse jumping aside, the program is easy to use and set up. It solves the problem of needing to open the System Preferences to perform a simple task and it gives you back the ease of use experience you should have on your Macintosh. The free QuickRes version 3 can be downloaded from the App Store, but it only lets you switch to 2880 x 1800, but not switch back. You can buy the US$1.99 version 3.1 QuickRes on ThinkDev's site. TUAW readers can get the updated version at half price from the link below. QuickRes works in OS X 10.8 and has also been tested to work in OS X Mavericks (OS X 10.9). Discount link for QuickRes 3.1 for TUAW Readers.
Pupil for Retina display Macs makes it easy to switch screen resolutions
Pupil (US$5.00) is an app specifically designed for Macs with Retina displays, specifically Apple's Retina-equipped MacBook Pro range (rMBP). Although Mac OS X gives users five screen resolution options, they are cumbersome to access and change, with users having to enter System Preferences any time they want to change the screen's resolution. Most users of a rMBP will be happy with the native Retina display resolution of 2,880 x 1,800, but more demanding (or adventurous) users may wish to regularly change their Mac's screen resolution to take advantage of the greater screen real estate rMBPs have to offer. Pupil is a simple utility app that gives you access to varying screen resolutions (including 1:1 native pixel resolution for Retina displays) directly from the Mac OS X menu bar. Two clicks will change your screen's resolution, instead of forcing you to dig into System Preferences. Pupil also lets you customize your favorite six resolutions and label them. %Gallery-186236% Some of the resolutions are extreme and impractical, like 3,840 x 2,400 or 720 x 450, and it's no wonder Apple doesn't give direct access to them -- though you may be an advanced user who might use them for testing purposes. Resolutions like 1,920 x 1,200 or 1,680 x 1,050 (which appear as Mac OS X's More Space and second from More Space options in System Preferences) can be really beneficial, so it's very convenient to have on-the-fly, two-click access to them through Pupil. Pupil is available through the Pupil website. It's not available on the Mac App Store, but it's fully compatible with Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion. An alternative to Pupil is SwitchRes 4, which you can check out here.
RIM confirms BB10 standard screen resolutions for touch and keyboard devices
RIM took some time out from its worldwide tour to confirm that it's standardizing screen resolutions for BB10. Tim Neil took to the company's developer blog to say that forthcoming full-touch devices will ship with 1,280 x 720 displays, while keyboard-style phones would pack 720 x 720 screens. The only handset that won't play by these rules is the first (presumably flagship) BB10 handset, since it's too late to change its 1,280 x 768 screen. The company's urging developers to get tweaking to ensure apps run properly on the new gear -- or add letterboxing to offer a Sergio Leone feel to your mobile gaming.
StatCounter finds 1366 x 768 to be most popular screen resolution for the first time
It's had quite a run, but it looks like the old standby resolution of web designers everywhere, 1024 x 768, has finally been eclipsed by a newer, wider rival. According to web analytics firm StatCounter, use of 1024 x 768 fell from 41.8 percent in March of 2009 to 18.6 percent this March, while 1366 x 768 (common to many laptops) shot up from just 0.68 percent to 19.28 percent during the same time period, making it the most popular screen resolution worldwide. 1280 x 800 sits in third place at 13 percent, while all other resolutions remain in the single digits. Those interested can break down those stats further at the second source link below.
Mac OS X Lion has TRIM support for SSDs, HiDPI resolutions for improved pixel density?
As you'd expect, developers have wasted no time in tearing apart the Mac OS X Lion preview, and in so doing they've allegedly discovered some intriguing things -- namely, support for the SSD-wiping TRIM command, and a series of high-DPI display modes which would allow for icons and UI elements with twice the graphical detail -- which could mean a PC-sized Retina Display. The former doesn't sound like the most exciting upgrade, but it's truly a boon for Mac users with solid state storage, as TRIM can greatly improve write speeds in compatible drives. As far as the improved pixel density rumors are concerned, it's not clear whether Apple's actually looking at doubling display resolutions in new computers (9to5Mac imagines a 15-inch MacBook Pro with a 2880 x 1800 screen) or whether Apple's simply moving to maintain icons that are precisely the same physical size across all its displays -- which would make fantastic sense for a touchscreen UI, by the way.
Guest Post: Building an epic-level computer
This article has been brought to you by Seed, the Aol guest writer program that brings your words to WoW Insider. Today's post is the third of a three-part series on preparing your computer for Cataclysm. In our first post, we covered upgrading your current system; last week, we discussed how to assemble a hot gaming rig. Today, we'll look at building a high-end system that will last. Today, I will cover building a high-end system for under $2,000 that will last you many expansions into the future. In this article, I will be listing specific parts as opposed to making general suggestions. Computer geek opinions vary drastically; this is just my two cents. When you're considering a rig that will last you for years to come, you need to consider key components including the case, the power supply, the motherboard, a processor, heatsinks, hard drives the video card and more.
Guest Post: How to assemble a hot gaming rig for Cataclysm
This article has been brought to you by Seed, the Aol guest writer program that brings your words to our pages. Today's post is the second of a three-part series on preparing your computer for Cataclysm. Last week, we covered upgrading your current system. Today, we'll look at building a system that will play WoW at max settings without breaking the bank. I like my cases how I like my women -- lightweight and protective. A computer case has three purposes in life: to house all the components, to protect them and to provide good airflow to them. Owning the most epic set of plate mail ever created does you no good if you cannot move or breathe in it. However, running around in your auction house tux is also a bad idea if you're the main tank. It's important to find a happy middle ground between the two. When it comes to computer cases, first, pick out something you like. A case should be an expression of its owner! Pick out a few different cases you like and then narrow down the search by the number of fans the case supports. Modern systems will require at least one 120mm front intake fan and one 120mm rear exhaust fan. A top exhaust fan is a nice bonus, since (as everyone knows) heat rises. You should be able to find a decent enough case for around $50 with free shipping.
Guest Post: Is your computer ready for Cataclysm?
This article has been brought to you by Seed, the Aol guest writer program that brings your words to WoW.com. The Lich King is dead, your GearScore is 6,000+, and you have enough alts to run your own 25-man ICC. You cannot wait for the upcoming Cataclysm expansion, but along with the new instances, gear and level cap, there are also significantly increased graphics to consider. You may be ready for Cataclysm -- but is your computer? While we have yet to hear official system requirements from Blizzard, we do know from the Cataclysm FAQ that "there will be incremental tweaks and updates to the graphics engine in this expansion. For example, we've made improvements to the way that water is rendered. We'll announce the exact system requirements closer to the expansion's release." This is the first part of a three-part series on getting your computer up to speed for Cataclysm. Today, we will cover how to cheaply upgrade your current system. Part 2 will look at how to build a cost-effective, brand new system that will still run WoW at full settings. Finally, part 3 will focus on building a future-proof monster computer capable of soloing the Blood Queen herself!
