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Latest by Luke Larsen

HP Envy X2 qualcomm's LTE PC

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.
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Logitech’s MX Vertical is an ergonomic mouse that looks as good as it feels

Logitech has announced its first true ergonomic mouse, sporting an interesting tilted design that is supposed to encourage less muscle strain. We spent some time with the MX Vertical to see how comfortable it was and determine whether or not we'd prefer it to a standard mouse.
Alienware Area-51 R5 Review |

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.
HP DreamColor Z27X G2 Review

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.
macbook pro t2 coprocessor security issues 2016 touchbar1

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.
Woman pulling out credit card in front of laptop.

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.
Mark Zuckerberg Tagged

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.
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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.
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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.
even apple haters cant afford to ignore iphone x and 8 launch tim cook 12 2017 event

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.
voice assistants arent ready facebook targeted ads iphone x

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.
Intel Chip being removed from a computer panel

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.
legion 2018 gaming lenovo y530

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.
laptop keyboad go extinct asus project precog2

Brace yourself! The age of keyboard-less laptops is upon us

One of the biggest trends at Computex this year was dual-screen laptops -- 2-in-1s that have completely ditched keyboards. With prototypes from Intel and Asus on display, you can expect to see more of these keyboard-less laptops coming in the future.
The app store open on a MacBook Pro.

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

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.
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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.
apple ipad pro 10 5 review screen on angle

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 blade 2018 display

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.
Huawei MateBook X Pro review |

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 ryzen pro mobile apu apus

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.
microsoft 365 windows build 2018 ceo satya nadella at feature

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.
Dell XPS 13

The untold story of how the XPS 13 defied odds to become the world’s best laptop

Dell’s XPS 13 is the best laptop you can buy today, but it wasn’t created out thin air. A perfect storm of events happened in the late 2000s that made the creation of the forward-thinking laptop possible. Here’s how Dell is being reshaped from within by a small team of risk-takers who aren’t willing to compromise on their vision of the future of laptops.
brittany kaiser cambridge analytica iovo feature stolen data

Cambridge Analytica’s ex-director wants to fix data privacy. Can we trust her?

Brittany Kaiser, the former director of Cambridge Analytica, is now partnering with a initiative called IOVO, or the Internet of Value Omniledger. She wants to pioneer a new understanding of data privacy, but can someone who abused data in the past really be trusted with the internet's future?
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Your ISP can peep on your browsing, so Cloudflare is pulling down the shade

In a world still reeling from the Cambridge Analytica revelations, Cloudflare has introduced a new privacy-first DNS resolver called 1.1.1.1. It claims to make the internet safer – and faster.
most anticipated laptop 2018 laptops 2

What laptop are you looking forward to most in 2018?

The new MacBook, the Surface Book 3, the HP Spectre x360 15, and more -- which laptop still to come in 2018 are you most excited for? Take our poll and tell us what laptop has you anxious to try out that's still to come in 2018.
A person using a Dell XPS 15 2-in-1 laptop.

Salivating over the new XPS 15 2-in-1? Here’s how you should configure it

The XPS 15 2-in-1 is a laptop we like, despite some of its problems. However, not all the configurations offered are ones you should consider purchasing. The 4K option, for example, is far more trouble than its worth.
google pixelbook review lifestyle matt

What’s weirder: A Chrome OS tablet or an Android laptop?

The first Chrome OS tablet was announced this morning, alongside news that Google was testing the latest version of Android on Chromebooks. Our poll tells us that people are more confused by the cross-pollination than anything else.
HTC Vive Pro

Is the HTC Vive Pro too expensive, or the right price for the right hardware?

HTC's new high-resolution VR headset was announced to cost $800 this morning. It's a significant upgrade over the original, but is it way too expensive to justify a purchase?
top tech of ces 2018 computing dell xps 13

Spring is the season to buy a new laptop

For a couple of important reasons, spring is one of the best times to go out and buy a new laptop. Here's why -- and how to ensure you're futureproofing your purchase.
new macbook wishlist 2018 air ports

The MacBook Air doesn’t need a price cut, it needs a redesign

Reports say that Apple could be launching a cheaper version of the MacBook Air this year. The problem is this: Selling outdated computers at a discount isn't the same as designing an accessible entry-level product.
Zero Day Exploits | Spectre, Meltdown | Programming team discussing ideas

How Google’s ‘Project Zero’ task force races hackers to snuff out bugs

They discovered the Spectre and Meltdown security flaws before anyone else, and made sure Intel was staying honest in how it reacted. Unfortunately, the Project Zero crew aren’t the only ones searching for bugs.
Lenovo Yoga Book

What if Apple replaced the MacBook keyboard with a giant screen?

Apple has patented the idea of a dual-screen MacBook without a keyboard or touchpad. While it's an ambitious idea, is that really the experience we want on a laptop?
insecure flu cybersecurity

The flu is poking holes in hospital cybersecurity, and a shot can’t save you

Governments and corporations aren’t the only ones who need to think about cybersecurity. According to the experts we talked to, this year’s flu could have an impact beyond just your health.