Qualcomm’s push against Intel worked, and we’re all reaping the benefits
Intel has launched a slew of processors at IFA 2018, though these feel like more than just another batch of refreshed CPUs. These feel like a reaction. Qualcomm has been pushing its PC agenda of longer batteries and increased connectivity for the past six months, and now it seems as if Intel has been forced to respond.
The $1,100 Acer Swift is the lightest 15-inch laptop ever made
Acer came to IFA 2018 with a number of new laptops, the most interesting of which is the lightest 15-inch laptop ever made. At just 2.2 pounds, the $1,100 laptop is not only incredibly light, it's also packing the newest Intel processors, thinned-out bezels, and built-in 4G LTE. All that makes for one of the most exciting laptops from IFA 2018.
Nvidia GeForce RTX GPUs are coming to Alienware and Predator gaming desktops
Following the keynote presentation for Nvidia's new GeForce RTX 2000 GPUs, Dell and Acer have both announced support for these graphics cards in refreshed gaming desktops. Predator Orion series systems, as well as Alienware desktops, will soon come with the latest and greatest in graphics, courtesy of Nvidia.
Dell XPS 15 9570 review
Not everyone needs the power that a laptop like the Dell XPS 15 provides. It comes with a large 15-inch screen, discrete GPU, and six-core processor -- all in a sleek, thin laptop. If you need a computer that can handle the heavy workload you use every day, the XPS 15 just might be the best option you can get.
HP DreamColor Z27X G2 Studio Monitor review
What videographers, animators, and photographers need from a monitor is different from the rest of us. We tested the second generation of the HP DreamColor Z27X to see if it lived up to the hype. If you want 4K or ultrawide, you’ll have to look elsewhere, but this monitor is more about precision.
The MacBook Pro’s tight security comes with an annoying compromise
Apple has brought its T2 coprocessor to the new MacBook Pros, offering advanced security features such as encrypted storage and secured boot. But as with many aspects of the MacBook Pro, it comes with a compromise that a lot of us feel weary about. Here’s why it feels like Apple is taking one step forward and two steps back.
Pay-n-pray cybersecurity isn’t working. What if we just paid when it works?
Companies and individuals sink loads of money into cybersecurity each year, and yet with each passing month, the situation seems to worsen. We spoke with a former NSA expert about a new approach to cybersecurity that could keep individuals much more aware of how they were being protected.
The launch of the new MacBook Pro has been a complete disaster
Apple has completely flubbed what could have been a simple, reassuring processor bump to the MacBook Pro. From issues with pricing and CPU throttling to the puzzling keyboard, the MacBook Pro lineup has been left in an even more volatile and controversial state than before the 2018 update.
Facebook wants to own your face. Here’s why that’s a privacy disaster
We all love using facial recognition technology in services like FaceID or Windows Hello. But it has a serious dark side too. We spoke with a former White House official who has some legitimate concerns with what companies like Facebook is doing with it -- and how it’s being secured online.
Don’t like the Touch Bar? Too bad. Apple’s new Macbooks make it almost mandatory
Apple surprised the world by launching the 2018 update of its MacBook Pro. While these new six-core laptops are powerful, we were disappointed to learn that the entry-level models were completely out of luck. Once again, Apple has left budget-minded fans hanging out to dry with this recent update.
How Logitech continues to thrive in the post-PC world
The PC is in decline, yet a company like Logitech continues to find ways to stay relevant. From its high-end audio to emphasis on gaming, the company is more determined than ever to not go down with the desktop. We took a behind-the-scenes look at its state-of-the-art facility in Washington to see just how it's all done.
People are reading your email. Here’s how to make them stop
The contents of your email are no private, at least not to third party applications that connect to Gmail. Considering what happened with Facebook and Cambridge Analytica, that should worry you. Follow these instructions to see exactly who is reading your email and how to turn them away.
BenQ EX3501R ultrawide monitor review
BenQ is known for shipping excellent displays, and that’s no different with this curved, ultrawide monster of a monitor. The hidden surprise? Its implementation of HDR, 100Hz refresh rate, and even FreeSync support. That’s right -- the EX3501R is a monitor that works as well for games as it does for work.
Why Mastercard is ripping a page from Bitcoin’s book
Mastercard wants to use the inherent security of blockchain to make money more intuitive and less hackable. Its new blockchain patents seeks to put an end to credit card skimmers. Regardless of what you think about cryptocurrency, the largest financial institutions are transforming real money to be more like it every day.
Why Intel’s monopoly could soon end (and you should be stoked)
When’s the last time you saw a laptop without an Intel chip in it? The company’s near-monopoly status has made it difficult for new players. When one company completely dominates, innovation is stifled, prices remain high, and the average person ends up losing out. Here's why that could all change soon.
Lenovo revamps Legion brand with affordable gaming laptops and desktops
Just in time for E3, Lenovo launched an assortment of new gaming PCs, ranging from affordable gaming laptops to conventional desktop towers. This time around, these Legion PCs have left behind the chrome and flash of traditional gaming designs to favor a simpler, more modest aesthetic.
Apple’s new privacy features are bad for Facebook, but great for everyone else
At WWDC this year, Apple announced several new privacy and cybersecurity features, specifically in its Safari web browser. Apple didn’t shy away from naming names. It had Facebook right in its crosshairs. Here's how Apple is making a case for its more secure ecosystem, blocking Facebook in the process.
To save the Mac, the App Store needs more than just a redesign
In its newest version of MacOS, Apple announced a complete revamp of the Mac App Store. But if it wants to revive the Mac, it's going to need more than a fresh coat of paint and some slight changes to its API. In order to truly save the Mac, Apple needs to do the thing it's been insisting it'll never do.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 850 is made for Windows PCs with ‘innovative form factors’
At Computex 2018, Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon 850, a chipset designed specifically for Windows PCs. Unlike the first generation of Always Connected PCs, these devices will use a chipset designed specifically for the Windows PC experience. In addition, we may see some "innovative" and "aggressive" new designs.
Can we get an apology? Two big MacBook fails that Apple should fix at WWDC
WWDC is just around the corner, but if you're hoping for a new MacBook Pro, don't hold your breath. Even though it'll probably only be a CPU bump, there are two significant problems with the current MacBook Pro that have been ignored for too long now. Unfortunately, Apple isn't exactly the kind of company that likes to apologize.
Duck, cover, and reboot your router? Why the FBI’s new warning is no joke
The FBI has discovered up to 500,000 home or office routers could be vulnerable to a dangerous cyberattack. According to experts, there are a couple of important factors that make this malware an unprecedented situation. But can resetting your router really prevent a major cyberattack?
Apple fans shouldn’t expect new MacBooks at WWDC this year
A number of new MacBooks are in the works, but according to a new report, we won't see them at WWDC. In the past, Apple hasn't been afraid to use its annual developers conference to announce new products, whether in the MacOS or the iOS world. But this year, it looks like it'll be focused on software.
Apple could be secretly working on an ARM-based, touchscreen computer
A recent report indicates that Apple may be working on an entirely new computer under the codename, Project Star. The supposed device is said to be some kind of a hybrid touchscreen computer that "runs a derivative of iOS," but creates an entirely new family of products. Is it an iOS laptop? A touchscreen MacBook?
Razer’s Core X and V2 turn your tiny laptop into a monster gaming rig
Most PC gamers end up with two computers: A dedicated gaming PC and a thin-and-light laptop. But what if you could do it all with one device? Razer's external GPU promises a plug-and-play experience that makes that fantasy a reality. The crazy thing is that the experience is almost as magical as it sounds.
5 reasons why the new Razer Blade looks amazing
Razer introduced a new Blade gaming laptop, and it's a huge step up from the previous version. With a 144 Hz display, some top-of-the-line hardware under the hood, and a modernized design, it's hard not to get excited about getting our hands on it. Here are five reasons why we're excited to check it out.
Razer Blade Stealth (2018) review
Despite the brand, and the looks of it, the Blade Stealth is not a gaming laptop. Instead, Razer has made a thin-and-light laptop that competes with the Dell XPS 13 and MacBook Pros of the world. But Razer has an ace in its sleeve. The Razer Core external GPU can transform this laptop into a desktop-grade gaming machine.
Huawei’s MateBook X Pro is everything that’s right with modern laptop design
With tiny bezels and beautiful design, Huawei revealed the MateBook X Pro at the Mobile World Congress. With all the bland laptops on the market, this one has us excited again for the future of laptop design. Now, the MateBook X Pro is available for purchase in the U.S., starting at $1200.
AMD’s ready to do work with Ryzen Pro Mobile, coming to a laptop near you
AMD has announced a slew of new mobile APUs, which pair a Ryzen CPU and a Radeon Vega GPU on one board. The best news is that Dell, HP, and Lenovo are all supporting the new APUs with laptops coming soon. The companies also announced new desktop systems in both full-size towers and in compact PCs, powered by AMD's APUs.
There’s a whole world outside Windows, and Microsoft finally gets it
At its annual Build developers conference, Microsoft showed how its no longer walling off its services to Windows PCs. Microsoft 365 is a new cloud-based initiative at Microsoft to bring its platforms to as many devices as possible, regardless of what company makes it. The good news? That's always a good thing for us.
How Google’s Pixelbook broke the laptop mold with a Swedish design
Most laptops look the same. But the second I first saw the Pixelbook, I knew there something different about it. It felt designed in a way that the sea of silver MacBook clones flooding the store shelves don’t. We sat down with the people who designed it to see how and why it was made.