Tech

Google added standalone turn-by-turn navigation for Wear OS smartwatches with LTE in January 2023. Now, Garmin has announced a new Google Maps app for its smartwatches that offers support for turn-by-turn navigation. Released on July 8, the app is currently available for owners of Garmin smartwatches to download on the Connect IQ Store for free. The company said that users will start receiving notifications for each turn once they feed the destination on their Android smartphone.

Garmin’s Google Maps app

According to a press release by Garmin, a new Google Maps app is now available for its smartwatch users for free with turn-by-turn navigation support. The app is currently available on Garmin’s Connect IQ Store. At the time of writing this story, the app has an average rating of 2.8 stars from 294 users. However, the app, which was released on July 8, requires people to feed the destination on their Android Google Maps app in order to receive turn-by-turn information on their wearable.

Garmin said that the new Google Maps app is currently compatible with select smartwatches, such as the Garmin Venu series, Forerunner series, Vívoactive series, and the Fenix series. Additionally, the app’s landing page on the Connect IQ Store suggests that the app will also be compatible with the Garmin epix series, Enduro series, Approach series, D2 series, and MARQ series.

Additionally, Garmin smartwatches will “gently vibrate” when users are walking while using the new Google Maps app. People can also tap on the app logo to see the next three turns. The company said that people will be able to record their walks, runs and bike rides on their wearables while they are using the app for navigation. The Garmin smartwatch owners will have to sync their activity data from Garmin Connect to other Android health and fitness after they reach their pre-determined destination.

Two years after Wear OS Got Standalone Google Maps Support

Google started rolling out standalone turn-by-turn navigation support with its Maps app for Wear OS-powered smartwatches with LTE in January 2023. While wearables with Wear OS already supported the feature, they relied on a connected smartphone for the information. Hence, the 2023 update eliminated the need for users to carry a smartphone during their walks or runs.

Interestingly, Garmin has not got the standalone Google Maps support. Hence, smartwatch owners will have to use a connected Android smartphone for the turn-by-turn navigation to work.

Dell Alienware 16 Aurora was launched in India on Thursday. The gaming laptop is said to have a travel-friendly design, with a starting weight of 2.49kg. It can be configured with up to Intel Core 7 Series 2 processors and up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU. The Dell Alienware 16 Aurora features a Cryo-Chamber design with dual fans for efficient thermal management. It sports a 16-inch WQXGA 120Hz screen and comes with Dolby Audio, Wi-Fi 7, and user-upgradable RAM and SSD slots.

Dell Alienware 16 Aurora Price in India, Availability

The price of Dell Alienware 16 Aurora in India begins at Rs. 1,29,990. The laptop will be available for purchase exclusively on Amazon during the Prime Day 2025 sale which takes place on July 12-14.

Further, it will also be made available across Dell.com, Dell Exclusive Stores, Croma, Reliance Retail and Vijay Sales along with multi-brand outlets starting July 17.

Dell Alienware 16 Aurora Features, Specifications

The Dell Alienware 16 Aurora sports a 16-inch WQXGA (2,560 x 1,600 pixels) anti-glare screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and 300 nits peak brightness. It is said to have a 30 ms Grey-to-Grey response time and 100 percent coverage of the sRGB colour gamut. In terms of dimensions, the laptop measures 265.43 x 356.98 x 18.6mm and weighs 2.49 kg.

Customers can configure the Dell Alienware 16 Aurora with up to Intel Core 7 240H processor, which features 10 cores and a 5.20GHz P-Core clock speed. It is complemented by up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU, and up to 1TB of PCIe Gen4 SSD storage. The laptop also has two DDR5 SO-DIMM slots for RAM expansion. It runs on Windows 11 as standard.

The company claims it has 80W Total Graphics Power (TGP), 45W Thermal Design Power (TDP), and 115W Total Performance Power (TPP).

For thermal management, the Dell Alienware gaming laptop is equipped with a Cryo-Chamber design which pulls in air through the keyboard into a chamber at the bottom of the chassis. As per the company, this design delivers a focused airflow over the core components. The thermal management system also comprises two fans with “ultra-thin” blades that pull air and redirect it through three copper heat pipes.

Connectivity options on the Dell Alienware 16 Aurora include an RJ-45 port, a USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack on the left side. It also has a DC-in port, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports with up to DisplayPort 1.4 support, and an HDMI 2.1 port.

The laptop features an Alienware White Backlit keyboard with anti-ghost technology and 1.4mm key travel. It is paired with a multi-touch gesture touchpad with integrated scrolling support. Other features include an HD camera, dual-array microphones, dual 2W speakers, Dolby Audio, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.4.

The Dell Alienware 16 Aurora is backed by up to a 6-cell 96 Whr Lithium-ion battery. It ships with 130W 7.4mm barrel AC adapter as standard.

Cyberpunk 2077 is now available on PlayStation Plus. The acclaimed RPG from CD Projekt Red has been added to PS Plus Game Catalog as part of the slate of titles joining the service in July. Other games coming to Game Catalog this month include survival title Abiotic Factor, action-RPG Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, roguelike shooter Risk of Rain 2, construction and management sim Planet Zoo, and more.

PS Plus Game Catalog added Cyberpunk 2077 on July 9, while Abiotic Factor arrives July 22. All other games will join the subscription service on July 15. Sony also announced two classic Twisted Metal games, available to PS Plus Premium users this month. Here’s a closer look at July’s PS Plus Game Catalog lineup:

PS Plus Game Catalog Titles for July

Cyberpunk 2077 joins Game Catalog as part of PlayStation Plus’ 15th anniversary celebrations. PS Plus subscribers are also getting an exclusive 30 percent discount on the game’s Phantom Liberty expansion until July 23 on PlayStation Store. CD Projekt Red’s RPG launched in a troubled state in 2020, but the studio has since released multiple updates to support the game, bringing new content, improvements and gameplay features.

The game tells the story of V, a small-time hustler who rises from the streets to become a Night City legend. Along the way, players get to shape V’s journey, choose their allies and decide V’s fate in a treacherous, futuristic metropolis. Cyberpunk 2077 is now available on Game Catalog on both PS4 and PS5.

Abiotic Factor will join PS Plus as the final Game Catalog addition later this month. A narrative-driven survival crafting game, Abiotic Factor is a co-op experience set in an underground research facility where you work to contain a paranormal outbreak.

The game is a day one launch title on PS Plus. It had been available in early access on PC since May 2024. Abiotic Factor will launch on PlayStation and Xbox alongside its 1.0 release on PC on July 22.

Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden was released last year and is coming to PS Plus this month. Developed by Don’t Nod, the action-RPG puts players in the shoes of two ghost hunters investigating a haunting in a small village. The game presents two distinct mechanics for combat through its two leads and features plenty of meaningful choices that shape the outcome of the story. Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden will be available on PS5.

Banishers: Ghost of New Eden was developed by Don’t Nod
Photo Credit: Focus Entertainment/ Don’t Nod

Risk of Rain 2 joins Game Catalog on July 15. The roguelike third-person shooter puts players on a hostile alien planet. Between monster encounters, you must find loot to upgrade your abilities and survive the dangers of your environment. A sequel to 2010’s Risk of Rain, the game features a distinct art style and visually striking battles.

The game also constantly escalates the difficulty as you upgrade your character. Risk of Rain 2 can be played solo and supports up to four-player online co-op. It will be available on both PS4 and PS5.

PS Plus Game Catalog will also add a couple of construction and management sims this month: Planet Zoo and Tropico 6. In Planet Zoo, you get to build and manage a zoo, with a variety of animal species and special enclosures at your disposal. In Tropico 6, you’re the president of the titular island, in charge of all its affairs. Both games join PS Plus on July 15.

Tropico 6 is a construction and management sim
Photo Credit: Kalypso Media/ Limbic Entertainment

Here’s the full list of games arriving on PS Plus Game Catalog this month for PlayStation Plus Extra and Deluxe/ Premium members:

Cyberpunk 2077 (PS4, PS5)

Abiotic Factor (PS5)

Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden (PS5)

Bluey: The Videogame (PS4, PS5)

Planet Zoo (PS5)

Risk of Rain 2 (PS4, PS5)

Tropico 6 (PS4, PS5)

New World: Aeternum (PS5)

PS Plus Classics Catalog

Sony will add Twisted Metal 3 and Twisted Metal 4 to the Classics Catalog on July 15. Both games will be available to PS Plus Deluxe/ Premium tier members.