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Latest by J. Martindale

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Dell Ultrasharp 49 vs. Samsung CHG90

Picking a 49-inch, curved monitor should be easy, but there's a surprising amount of competition in even that niche-ultrawide space. Taking two of the best options out there to see which would be the better option for you, we pitted the Dell Ultrasharp 49 vs. Samsung CHG90 in the age-old battle of buck for your buck.
The Dell XPS 15 on a table outside.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 vs. Dell XPS 15

Dell's XPS 15 and Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Extreme both offer excellent performance and great build quality. Which one is the best? We pick the top all-arounder.
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Surface Pro 7 vs. Surface Book 2

Microsoft's Surface lineup has some of our favorite convertible designs. We pitted the Surface Pro 7 against the Surface Book 2 to see which is the better deal.
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New MacBook Pros are the most powerful laptops Apple has ever made

Apple has debuted a new generation of MacBook Pro laptops. Available in both 13- and 15-inch form factors, the new notebooks sport the most powerful hardware Apple has ever included in a laptop. Eighth-generation CPUs, up to 32GB of RAM, and 4TB of storage are available, with a newly designed keyboard.

Surface Go vs. iPad

How does the portable Surface Go compare to the latest standard iPad We take a look at the specs and everything you need to know about both tablet devices.
Trusona

How 20th century check fraud is helping prevent 21st century data theft

Social engineering is as problematic today as it's ever been, and that's a scary concept when so much personal information is accessible to hackers and fraudsters. Yet that also means we can learn from the lessons of the past. That's why digital validation company Trusona uses Frank Abagnale of ‘Catch Me If You Can’ fame to future-proof its systems.
SAMSUNG-Q9FN

Samsung 2018 QLED TVs update adds FreeSync, but limits refresh rates

A new firmware update for a number of Samsung's QLED TVs has quietly introduced FreeSync frame synchronization making it so that gamers who play PC games with AMD graphics or an Xbox One X or S, can now eliminate screen tearing entirely. The only downside is that it's limited to just 1080P resolution.
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Web trackers aren’t just spying on you; they’re slowing you down

As the world becomes increasingly aware of the privacy concerns of modern life online, anti-tracker extension maker, Ghostery, has drafted a new study that looks how a major component of many online services – trackers – could be doing more than invading users privacy: they might be slowing down the internet as we know it too.
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What is an ASIC miner?

Mining cryptocurrency is an intensive process. To be profitable, you need hardware designed specifically mining, like ASIC miners. Here's what makes them tick.
A technician inspects the backside of bitcoin mining at Bitfarms in Saint Hyacinthe.

Before crypto nirvana, blockchain needs to solve these basic problems

Blockchain technology is far from perfect. We interviewed some of the world's premier developers to talk about the blockchain problems we face today.
An individual surrounded by several computers typing on a laptop.

From pranks to nuclear sabotage, this is the history of malware

The history of malware has evolved alongside our favorite software. What started innocently enough has become a global threat of staggering proportions.

How to buy Bitcoin with PayPal

You can buy Bitcoin with almost everything right now, but if you want to use Paypal, it's not so straightforward. Here's how to do it.
Windows Timeline

What is Windows Polaris? Microsoft’s defunct UI explained

What is Windows Polaris? It was a component of Microsoft's supposed Windows Core OS project. Here's how it fit in the overall modular Windows picture.
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What is Ripple?

Ripple is a much more centralized cryptocurrency than its cousins, Bitcoin and Ethereum. Learn more about this unique cryptocurrency and what it has to offer.
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What is a blockchain?

Blockchain is the basis for cryptocurrencies worth hundreds of billions. But there's more: Governments and people all over are using it for various purposes.
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Go ahead, pass laws. They can’t kill bitcoin, even if they try

Bitcoin regulation is a waste of everyone's time. Here's why no matter what's done, Bitcoin will continue to flourish.
x bows mechanical ergonomic keyboard review bow 14490

X-Bows Mechanical Ergonomic Keyboard Prototype hands-on review

In our X-Bows review, we'll show how this very different sort of keyboard can sport ergonomic features, yet also keep more traditional mechanical switches, and RGB lighting.
Dentacoin Cryptocurrency for Dentists

Smile! Dentacoin wants to become the Bitcoin of the dental industry

Dentacoin is the latest cryptocurrency on the altcoin market, but can its dentistry roots help it secure a firm bite of the industry?
best 3D modeling software SketchUp

The best 3D modeling software

The best 3D modeling software will vary based on your needs, but there plenty of options available, including for free. Here are our favorite software picks.
stephen cox farpoint interview

How Stephen Cox, Farpoint’s composer, turned an old trumpet into a sci-fi drone

Making a virtual reality soundscape takes a different approach than traditional games. Composer Stephen Cox talks us through what it was like sound designing for Farpoint on the PSVR.
nvidia is more than a graphics card company feat

From automated cars to AI, Nvidia powers the future with hardcore gaming hardware

Though best known for its graphics cards, Nvidia is using its powerful hardware to power future AI developments, including autonomous cars and facial recognition systems.
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Clearing the rat’s nest: Why virtual reality must go wireless

Wireless virtual reality is an important step to taking the technology mainstream. Not because of the freedom of movement -- though that’s great -- but because it makes VR easier to use.
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Game over? Why Call of Duty is dying and Overwatch is thriving

Sales of the latest Call of Duty game don't seem to be as strong usual for the franchise, so it might be time to make drastic changes.
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Lockheed Martin’s ‘spider’ robot searches airships for tiny holes, then patches them

Nobody likes spiders, but Lockheed Martin has made a new crop of SPIDER bots to help repair its growing fleet of hybrid airships.
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Telltale’s polished engine makes ‘Walking Dead,’ ‘Batman’ games look better

The next Walking Dead game from Telltale will see main characters make a comeback, and they'll look better than ever due to an updated engine.
VR Backpack Zero Latency

The future of virtual reality might come in a backpack

Could gaming PCs in backpack form be the best way for us to ditch the wires on our VR headsets and get out and game in the real world more?
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Asus’ new ROG GT51CA is a virtual reality rig with a secret

Asus ' GT51CA is a unique looking system, with powerful hardware and some interesting selling points, including a wearable that unlocks secret storage.
virtual reality and exclusivity palmer luckey playing with virtuix omni

Nobody wants a VR platform war, but Oculus may start one anyway

Although Oculus continues to remain quiet on the subject, HTC and Valve are keen to let the world know that they have no interest in VR exclusives.
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10 mind-bending Oculus Rift experiences that will take you for a psychedelic ride

The Oculus Rift headset has many wonderful experiences available for it, but also many that are bizarre. Here are the ten strangest VR games we could find.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex Pro 2-in-1 Laptop

How to use Cortana

This is how to set up and use Cortana on Microsoft's latest operating system, including some helpful tips and tricks to help you use Cortana more efficiently.
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Microsoft’s Bluetooth keyboard brings laptop functionality to tablets

Microsoft's new wireless universal keyboard is designed to make things easier for the tablet user who wants to type, by giving them real keys to do so with.
AMD Ryzen 5 2400G & Ryzen 3 2200G Review fingers motherboard.

32-bit vs. 64-bit: Understanding what these options really mean

64-bit computing is replacing 32-bit, mainly because 64-bit enables faster hardware and software. Here's the rundown on the ongoing 32-bit vs. 64-bit debate.
woman sitting and using laptop

How to enable cookies

Despite your reservations, browser cookies are a necessity for surfing the web. Here's how to enable cookies in your browser, regardless of which one you use.
The Netgear Nighthawk AXE11000 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 6E Router on a table.

You’re putting your router in the wrong spot. Here’s where to put it instead

Placing your router in the right position can have a big impact on your connection and internet speed. Here's the best spot to put it.