To make the web safer, Google says URLs must die
After building its search empire by indexing all the web pages on the internet and their corresponding web addresses, Google is undergoing an existential crisis. The company proposes that to make the web a safer place for all, URLs must be killed. URLs are difficult to understand, and hackers prey on this confusion.
Outlook for Windows gets simplified single-row ribbon in UI makeover
Outlook for Windows is getting a makeover, but unfortunately, Microsoft's new design won't be part of Office 2019. At the heart of the new Outlook design is a single-row Simplified Ribbon that's adaptable and customizable. Other changes make it easier to reply to emails and schedule meetings.
Apple reportedly hiring augmented reality team to work on Maps app
Apple may be leveraging augmented reality (AR) to help give its Maps app a boost. Connecting several separate Apple job postings together reveals that Apple is looking for qualified candidates with familiarity with Apple Maps and augmented reality, suggesting that an AR-enabled Apple Maps is coming.
Acer OJO 500 Windows Mixed Reality headset lets you straddle real, virtual worlds
The OJO 500 is Acer's latest Windows Mixed Reality headset, boasting some unique design features. The OJO 500 comes with a detachable design, washable head straps, and a new sound pipe audio system that helps keep you aware of your surroundings in the real world while you venture into the virtual world.
Acer targets gamers with new color-rich 4K Predator and Nitro monitors
Acer has taken the wraps off of four new gaming monitors across the Predator and Nitro line. The two flagship monitors each support 4K UHD panels, 144Hz response rates, wide color gamut displays, and HDR colors. The Predator comes with Nvidia G-Sync support, while the Nitro series uses AMD's FreeSync.
Intel’s latest 8th-gen mobile processors improve battery life and performance
Intel is targeting mobile PCs, including laptops and convertible form factors, with its newest additions to the 8th-generation processor family. Intel unveiled its U-Series Whiskey Lake and Y-Series Amber Lake processors, bringing faster connectivity and better battery life to mobile devices.
A dual-screen MacBook concept shows how Apple could ditch the keyboard
Turkish designer Furkan Kasap's futuristic MacBook Pro concept MacBook Pro shows how Apple could get rid of the keyboard -- and its woes with sticky keys -- by going with a dual-screen design. Kasap replaces the physical keyboard with a dynamic touchscreen keyboard and multitasking windows in a clean interface.
Apple’s original computer expected to fetch more than $300K at auction
If you want a rare piece of Apple history, it will cost you more than $300,000. That's the expected price that a fully functional Apple-1 computer will fetch in an auction slated for September. The Apple-1 is Apple's very first PC, it's estimated that only 60 units are in existence today.
Microsoft patent filing hints at wireless charging for future Surface PCs
Microsoft's Surface devices could get a big power boost if the company brings its wireless charging patent to market. Wireless charging times could improve with a new battery management controller and multiple charging coils in a smart battery, which could be used on a future Surface product.
When it comes to Chrome, there may not be a reason to expect privacy
Even if you're browsing with Incognito mode enabled on the Chrome browser, Google could still identify you if at any point during that session you log into a Google account or service, a new report suggests. Google denied using this practice, but Chrome users should still be cautious.
A.I. makes Nvidia’s RTX 2080 twice as powerful as the GTX 1080
Nvidia claims that its newest gaming GPU is twice as powerful as the GTX 1080 when developers build in ray tracing and deep learning into their games. Even if you don't intend to play games that take advantage of ray tracing, most gamers can expect to see a 50 percent performance improvement out of the box.
GTX 1080 graphics card prices plunge following Nvidia’s RTX announcement
If you've been eyeing Nvidia's current flagship GTX 1080 consumer GPU, you can now score a great deal. Zotac is offering its GTX 1080 card for $449 following Nvidia's RTX 2080 launch, which will be available next month. If you don't need the new ray tracing feature, the GTX card could be the way to go.
Microsoft thwarts new Russian cyberattack on U.S. senators and think tanks
Ahead of the 2018 midterm elections in the United States, Microsoft had stopped another Russian cyberattacking attempt. The latest hack was linked to Fancy Bear, a group believed to have ties to Russia's military, and Microsoft was able to take down six fake websites intended for the spearphishing attack.
Nvidia’s new GPUs look amazing, but that doesn’t mean you should buy one
Nvidia's latest consumer GeForce RTX 2080 represents a powerful graphics upgrade for gamers, but gamers looking to buy the GPU should wait. Even with support for real-time ray tracing for cinematic lighting, shadows, and reflections, only a limited number of games will support this feature initially.
Nvidia teases new GeForce RTX 2080 launch at Gamescom next week
Nvidia posted a YouTube video teasing that gamers may have something exciting to look forward to at Gamescom 2018. There are hints that Nvidia will launch its flagship GeForce RTX 2080 graphics chip at the event, and the teaser follows news of Nvidia's launch of the Quadro RTX 8000 GPU.
Apple preps production of updated MacBook Air for a 2018 launch
Apple is expected to rely on Quanta to manufacture its low-cost Mac laptop, and production is expected to begin soon for the device to launch before the year is over. Previous rumors suggest that the MacBook Air replacement could ship with Intel's eighth-gen chips and a Retina display.
A brand-new Mac can be hacked remotely during its first Wi-Fi connection
Although Apple has since patched a security vulnerability with MacOS 10.13.6, companies issuing Macs to employees will want to be wary of a flaw that allows hackers to inject malicious software when a Mac connects to Wi-Fi for the first time during setup and eventually penetrate a corporate network.
Microsoft uses fish cams to monitor undersea Project Natick data center
Microsoft added two new undersea cameras to help it track and monitor the environmental conditions near its Project Natick data center. The results could help Microsoft evaluate plans to locate more data centers along the seafloor. For now, internet users can enjoy the calming fish imagery.