Privacy is becoming obsolete, but not everyone thinks you should fear its demise
Privacy often seems to be at odds with government surveillance and smart assistant technologies like Siri and Cortana. But do we need to sacrifice one for the other? We asked experts in a variety of fields to find out what a future without privacy might look like and whether that's really such a bad thing.
Oculus VR could upgrade the Rift with a new display in 2019
Oculus may release a new version of its Oculus Rift headset in 2019, though it won't be a Rift 2. The new rumor calls the design the Rift S, and suggests it will have a better display and ditch the external constellation tracking cameras in favor of simpler and arguably less accurate, inside-out tracking.
Drink up. Intel’s Whiskey Lake 8th-gen CPUs are coming to Chromebooks
Intel's 8th-generation Whiskey Lake CPUs look set to make their way into a new Chromebook design code-named Sarien. The new Chromebook has made its first appearance in the Chromium repository so is likely months away from being revealed, but its potential with the new Intel CPUs is exciting nonetheless.
Asus’ new monitor is 49 inches of high-speed gaming goodness
Asus' new gaming display might be perfect for game streamers, offering an enormous 49-inches of screen real estate and a triple picture in picture mode. Such a display would allow streaming gamers to play the game and view a chat interface on the same screen without sacrificing size or detail levels.
Windows 10 October 2018 Update won’t launch in October after all
Microsoft's long-planned and long-expected October 2018 update for Windows 10 is looking less likely to release in that month at all. With just hours to go until we tip into November, it seems more apt to rename it the November 2018 update following multiple delays, bug fixes, and insider test releases.
Apple’s MacBook Pro 15 gets an upgrade with AMD Radeon Pro Vega graphics
AMD and Apple have continued their graphics partnership with the MacBook Pro with the upcoming introduction of a new graphical option. Buyers who want more power will be able to opt for a Radeon Pro Vega 20 or 16 graphics chip come late November, giving them greater gaming and 3D-rendering capabilities.
New Apple Mac Mini packs four- and six-core CPUs with up to 64GB memory for $800
Apple has made its new generation of Mac Mini hardware much more powerful than its predecessor. Upgrading to 8th-generation Intel processors, potential buyers have a choice of Core i5 and Core i7 CPUs and up to 64GB of memory, as well as up to 2TB of storage space, all in a compact, space-gray chassis.
Nvidia RTX 2080 Ti graphics cards are dying in alarming numbers
Hundreds of disgruntled early adopters of Nvidia's RTX 2080 Ti graphics cards are reporting failures, crashes, BSOD issues, and overheating GPUs, leading to returns and replacements, sometimes multiple times. This raises concerns over the failure rate and quality control of Nvidia's new Turing GPUs.
Startup to apply quantum mechanics to protect data in fiber-optic cables
A new trial of a quantum network which would protect its data through quantum entangled encryption keys is set to begin in the near future. The network will connect New Jersey and New York, giving participating businesses the chance to send data in a manner that will destroy the data if snooping occurs.
AMD’s new Threadripper 2 CPUs offer improved performance at a discounted price
AMD's Threadripper 2000-series CPUs are now available in all of their guises following the release of the 2970WX and 2920X. These chips offers more affordable versions of the flagship 2990WX and 2950X chips, with slightly weaker core counts, but the same clocks and same features for high-speed multitasking.
‘Final Fantasy XV’ dev claims Nvidia’s new card greatly improves performance
Nvidia's RTX-graphics-powered DLSS technology could make a dramatic improvement on not only the visuals but the frame rate in the PC version of Square Enix's Final Fantasy XV. The technical director claimed in an interview that the developer may implement ray tracing in the game in the future too.
Samsung Galaxy Book 2 vs. Pixel Slate
Microsoft might lead the 2-in-1 pack with its Surface range of products, but there are many pretenders to the crown. Samsung and Google both have their own offerings with unique features and hardware, so we pitted the Galaxy Book 2 vs. Pixel Slate in a classic head to head to see which is the best value for money.
Alienware to offer Threadripper 2 CPUs in new Area-51 builds
Dell is expanding its Alienware Area-51 configuration options with a new Threadripper Edition. It adds support for the first-generation 1900X, as well as the newer 2920X and 2950X CPUs. They can be paired with up to 64GB of memory, 4TB of storage, and a choice of graphics cards all the way up to the Nvidia RTX 2080 Ti.
Apple CEO demands Bloomberg retract its Chinese surveillance story
Following Bloomberg's report that Apple may have purchased compromised servers from Super Micro that were manufactured in China with embedded surveillance chips, Tim Cook is now calling for the publication to retract its story. Cook said that an internal investigation revealed no truth to the report.
Samsung Galaxy Book 2 packs Snapdragon 850 into Always Connected Windows 2-in-1
Samsung has announced a new version of its Galaxy Book 2-in-1. The second-gen design ditches the Intel Core processor and replaces it with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 850. It also comes with a higher resolution display, improved battery life, and Gigabit LTE data connectivity to keep you connected on the go.
Ryzen shine! AMD’s next CPUs could beat Intel at gaming in 2019
AMD's next-gen Ryzen CPUs could offer a much bigger boost to performance than its Zen+ chips did. The latest rumor suggests that the Zen 2 design delivers as much as 13-percent increase in instructions per clock, which could make AMD CPUs better than Intel's best at gaming and single-threaded tasks.
Microsoft patent highlights a potential VR text input system
Microsoft has been awarded a patent for a new typing method in virtual reality and with console gamepads that leverages a radial wheel. The system has trappings of the Microsoft Surface Dial and could prove a more intuitive way to type out long messages while using virtual reality motion controllers.
Problems with Microsoft’s Windows October 2018 Update aren’t over yet
Microsoft still isn't quite ready to relaunch its October 2018 Update for Windows 10, despite two weeks of additional bug testing and fixing after its debut. The update continues to prove problematic with new concerns over audio issues and misreported CPU usage in Task Manager, as well as crashes.
Winamp eyes big comeback in 2019 with podcast, streaming support
Classic audio player Winamp is set for a big revamp next year, in what the developers hope will bring together all audio streaming solutions in a single application that's cross-platform. The newly updated app will support podcasts, local and cloud audio, radio stations, and other audio sources.
Memory is still expensive, but Intel’s 9th-gen CPU lets you have 128GB of it
Intel's new 9-series CPUs, like the 9900K, 9700K, and 9600K, will have support for as much as 128GB of RAM using new double-height modules. Pricing remains unclear for such a system, but the new kits will no doubt be inordinately expensive, making these sorts of high-capacity PCs unlikely to be commonplace.
Did your Windows 10 audio stop working after the update? Microsoft has a fix
Microsoft's latest update for Windows 10 fixes an audio issue that materialized after the rollout of its October 2018 Update. Affected users received no sound from their speakers or headsets at all, with only some driver uninstalls fixing the issue temporarily. This official fix should put a stop to it.
Personal info of 30,000-plus Pentagon employees compromised in contractor breach
More than 30,000 Pentagon employees may have had their personal information, including credit card details, revealed during a recent hack. A government contractor was said to be responsible for the breach and the Department of Defense is continuing an investigation into how and when it occurred.
Why Intel and Nvidia controversies prove you should always wait for benchmarks
Recent launches of hardware from Intel and Nvidia have been mired by concerns over misleading benchmark results which heavily favored their new products over the competition. This is a great time remind ourselves that pre-ordering hardware without third-party test results is a bad idea for a number of reasons.
Surface Studio 2 vs. iMac Pro: Which all-in-one rules them all?
Apple and Microsoft have faced off in many hardware and software arenas over the years, but the all-in-one space is as hotly competitive as any other. Pitting the Surface Studio 2 vs. iMac Pro sees two of the most powerful singular computing systems in the world competing head to head, to see which is the best.
Superpowered MSI Trident X packs RGB lighting, Intel 9900K, and a GTX 2080 Ti
MSI's new Trident X gaming PC is a compact powerhouse with RGB lighting and some of the best components in the world isolated into their own cooling chambers. Options include RTX 2070, 2080, and 2080 Ti GPUs, and up to a Core i9900K CPU with 32GB of memory for near-unparalleled gaming power for the foreseeable future.
Windows Insiders get fix for October 2018 Update’s data delete bug
Microsoft has released an updated version of its Windows 10 October 2018 update to Windows Insiders which includes a fix for the data deletion bug that plagued a few users upon the initial release of the OS overhaul. Insiders will get a chance to test this patched version before the rollout resumes.
Google Pixel Slate — the first detachable Pixelbook 2-in-1
One Google Pixelbook sequels expected to be unveiled at its upcoming #madebygoogle event on October 9 is Nocturne, which we now know is likely to be officially called the Google Pixel Slate. A convertible, 2-in-1 tablet device, it should sport a higher resolution display and better touchscreen support.
More Spectre protection comes with some of Intel’s new 9th-gen CPUs, but not all
Intel's upcoming ninth-generation Core CPUs have a number of enhancements over their predecessors, but its K-chips have the potential to be the most impactful. They are the first desktop CPUs to come with hardware fixes for the dangerous Spectre and Meltdown bugs which have plagued millions of chips.
AMD Ryzen will add two budget CPUs, gaming-oriented update October 29
AMD will expand its range of Threadripper CPUs on October 29 with the launch of the 2970WX and 2920X chips. They will be joined by a new Dynamic Local Mode software update, which AMD claims will improve the gaming performance of its WX CPUs, potentially making them the new kings of benchmarking.
Intel Optane memory: Everything you need to know
Intel's new Optane technology powers the fastest drives we've ever seen and can even enhance older drives to give them the performance of much faster modern storage devices. But what's happening under the hood to make that happen? And does Optane memory turn traditional storage dynamics on their head?
Confused by Wi-Fi standards? Simplified branding will start with Wi-Fi 6
The future 802.11ax specification for wireless internet connectivity is set to be renamed as Wi-Fi 6, with retroactive renaming of the last two generations of Wi-Fi as Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 4. This rebranding is hoped to make it easier for consumers to understand what speeds and features they can expect from new purchases.
Windows’ October 2018 update wants to be best buds with your phone
Windows 10's October 2018 update is finally upon us and it brings with it a number of great productivity and quality of life improvements to a number of facets of the OS. From Microsoft Edge, to Office 365, it should be easier to use, with new AI enhancements, and better integrated with our smartphones than ever before.
Oculus Quest vs. Oculus Go
Since the original Oculus Rift debuted, Oculus VR has spent much of its efforts in making the technology more accessible. The Oculus Go and Oculus Quest improve ergonomics, reduce the price, and cut out the need for additional hardware. But which offers the better entry-level VR experience for new users?
Surface Studio 2 benchmarks show a system with unimpressive hardware
A rumored Microsoft Surface Studio 2 is expected to be unveiled at an upcoming show in early October, but benchmarks that claim to be from that particular piece of hardware aren't exactly impressive. In Geekbench tests, the Surface Studio 2 is barely 10 percent faster than its 2-year-old predecessor.
The next big Windows update could launch as soon as October 2
A new rumor suggests that Microsoft's Windows 10 October update could release to consumers and businesses around the world on October 2. That's far sooner than was initially expected, but would line up nicely with the planned Surface event Microsoft is holding that same day to debut new products in that line.
Microsoft could debut transparent Surface Dial sequel at October event
Microsoft may debut not just Surface laptops and 2-in-1s and its upcoming October event, but a second-generation Surface Dial as well. A new FCC filing suggests as much, and drawing on patents filed by Microsoft earlier this year, it could well be a transparent Surface Dial that lets you see right through to the screen below.