Quantum goes open source as Microsoft expands Q# programming language
At this year's Build conference, Microsoft announced it will open source the Q# compiler and quantum simulators. This is part of Microsoft's push to get developers to code with its Q# quantum computing language, and the move will likely benefit open source quantum computing projects at research institutions.
How to watch the Microsoft Build 2019 keynote and what to expect
Like in previous years, Microsoft is expected to offer a livestream of this year's Build 2019 keynote. Even if you're not an attendee of the show, which is slated to kick off on Monday, May 6, you'll be able to still follow the latest Microsoft news and keep up with the company's vision for the future of Windows.
Razer celebrates Star Wars Day with Stormtrooper-themed gaming accessories
Razer unveiled a trio of gaming peripherals that are bound to excite Star Wars fans. The gaming company decked out its BlackWidow Lite mechanical keyboard, Atheris Wireless Mouse, and Goliathus Extended Gaming Mouse Mat in the black-and-white tones famously found on Stormtrooper uniforms.
Unreal Engine 4 support for developers coming to Microsoft’s HoloLens 2 in May
Ahead of its annual Build conference this year, Microsoft announced that its HoloLens 2 Development Edition will be priced at $3,500. Developers will get Azure credits and trials for Unity Pro and Unity PiXYZ Plugin. Additionally, Unreal Engine 4 support is arriving at the end of the month.
Dell’s small business deals drop up to 45 percent off XPS and Vostro desktops
Dell's desktop are now discounted by as much as 45% as part of the company's small business promotion. While most of the systems are geared toward the SMB market, with select OptiPlex, Precision, and Vostro systems on sale, the XPS Tower is also discounted, making it a good fit for office or home use.
Intel heats up graphics battle against Nvidia with ray tracing-capable Xe cards
Intel appears poised to takle a page out of Nvidia's RTX playbook. When Intel launches its server-based Xe graphics for data centers, Intel's new graphics chips will support hardware-based ray tracing. The feature is currently targeting creators, such as those working on visual effects and animated films.
Microsoft’s Windows Core OS will reportedly be a no-show at May’s Build event
PC fans expecting to glimpse Microsoft's vision of a hardware and software future for Windows may have to wait a bit longer. It's been reported that Microsoft's Surface Phone, also known as Project Andromeda, and the new Windows Core OS won't be ready in time for the annual Build conference in May.
Leak: Dell XPS 17 and experimental dual-screen device both could launch in 2020
Dell may be bringing new members to its premium XPS product family next year. According to a leaked road map, Dell plans on reviving its now-discontinued XPS 17 with a new Intel processor and discrete Nvidia GeForce GTX graphics. The most exciting addition, however, may be a dual-screen device code-named Maximus.
How Wi-Fi 6 will transform connectivity in your home, at the office, and beyond
Even though Wi-Fi 6 is just emerging, Cisco is already looking to improve on the standard by offering PC users a more secure and seamless way to authenticate and connect to public networks. Through the Open Roaming Consortium, Cisco wants Wi-Fi to be as seamless as roaming on a smartphone.
Corsair One Pro i180 review
With a modern 12-core Intel Core i9-9920X processor, Nvidia’s RTX 2080 Ti graphics, and 32GB of RAM, the Corsair One Pro is designed to woo creatives who demand more power from Apple’s Mac Pro. Like the Mac Pro, the best part of this PC is that it won’t take up much space on your desk.
Dell’s XPS 15 steps up its game with next-gen Intel, Nvidia chips
Dell has refreshed its gaming laptop line to include Intel's latest 9th-Gen mobile processor and Nvidia's GTX 16-Series graphics. Models include the G5 and G7 as well as the Alienware 17m and 15m laptops, but the star of the show is the redesigned XPS 15 Ultrabook which can double as a gaming laptop.
Acer gives Predator, Nitro gaming notebooks CPU and GPU upgrades
Acer announced that some of its recently launched gaming laptops will benefit from some silicon updates. In addition to shipping with Nvidia's GTX 1650 or GTX 1660 Ti graphics, the Predator Helios, Nitro 7, and Nitro 5 laptops will also get a processor boost to Intel's ninth-generation Core i7-9750H CPU.
Microsoft reverses decision and extends lifeline to MS Paint for Windows 10
Users of MS Paint may want to do some celebrating, as Microsoft extended a huge lifeline to the app. For now, Paint will live on as pre-installed software on Windows 10, reversing Microsoft's announcement from two years ago that Paint will be deprecated in favor of the new Paint 3D software.
Microsoft deal takes up to $400 off select Surface Book 2 laptops
Microsoft's latest Surface Book 2 is now on sale with a deep $400 discount through the Microsoft Store. The sale applies to select 13.5- and 15-inch configuration of Microsoft's convertible laptop. After the discount, the price starts at $1,149, with a fully configured version going for $3,099.
Dell slashes prices of XPS 13 and Alienware 17 laptops in latest promo
Dell is running a promotion that will score you big savings off of its popular notebooks, including the latest XPS 13 and Alienware 17. Whether you're a stylish PC user or a gamer, you can now take up to $860 off the Alienware 17 or $430 off of the XPS ultraportable. Only select configurations are discounted.
The number pad on HP’s Chromebook 15 makes spreadsheet work a breeze
Though HP is promoting the Chromebook 15 as the largest member of its Chromebook family thanks to the device's 15.6-inch display, the unique feature of this laptop is its dedicated number pad, a rarity in the Chrome OS world. This makes the Chromebook 15 an ideal choice for those working in spreadsheets.
Google Chrome will get a Reader Mode for distraction-free desktop browsing
Soon, Chrome users will be able to consume the content they want off of a webpage without distractions. Google is finally beginning to test a new feature called Reader Mode, which distills and displays only the relevant content of a webpage, on its experimental Chrome Canary desktop build.
Amazon strikes $100 off the price of Microsoft Surface Go tablets
Microsoft's Surface Go is one of the most affordable PCs in the Surface lineup, and Amazon's latest sale just made this compact tablet even more wallet-friendly. The Surface Go's $100 discount takes its price down to just under $400, making it an excellent choice if you need a lightweight PC for travel.
Microsoft accelerates carbon reduction plans in new sustainability push
Though Microsoft has made significant progress toward its sustainability goals, it wants to accelerate the rate of becoming a zero-emission, zero-waste company. Microsoft announced that it is doubling a self-imposed internal carbon tax to incentivize business divisions in making sustainable choices.
Acer refreshes Chromebooks and Windows laptops with business, gaming appeal
Acer's refreshed lineup of Chromebook and Windows laptops are designed with gamers and business users in mind. Acer's TravelMate P6 and two new Chromebook models feature MIL-STD 810G ratings for durability, long battery life, and biometric security, while the Nitro gaming notebooks come with dedicated GPUs.
In the future, A.I. medicine will let patients own their health data
While A.I. is revolutionizing disparate verticals such as autonomous driving and customer support, in medicine it’s saddled by heavy regulation. Doctors see the long-term potential of artificial intelligence in healthcare, but they recommend that early adopters must fix the underlying infrastructure.
How 5G networks will make low-latency game streaming a reality
Nvidia thinks the future of gaming is in the cloud, and to make that possible, faster mobile networks like 5G are needed. Though speed is just one part of the equation, mobile carriers are also focusing on lowering the latency to deliver a better user experience with mobile game streaming.
Western Digital’s $55 solid-state drive gives new life to your aging PC
Western Digital launched the WD Blue SN500, a solid-state drive that uses the faster NVMe standard to give your aging PC a speed boost. WD's NVMe drive is up to three times faster than older SATA drives, and pricing starts at just $55. Western Digital is positioning the drive for desktops and laptops.
Intel’s next-gen Comet Lake processors will reportedly arrive with 10 cores
Intel's next-generation Comet Lake processor is said to be an evolution of the Skylake micro-architecture, but the new desktop processor is expected to ship with 10 cores with laptop chips topping out with six cores. Details about the processor were obtained by examining code in Intel's Linux drivers.
DirectX 12 support finally arrives on Windows 7 for World of Warcraft gamers
Windows 7 gamers are finally getting the performance boost with DirectX 12 support on the platform. Microsoft announced that it is bringing DirectX 12 support in a more limited fashion to Windows 7 by working with specific game developers. The first title to benefit is World of Warcraft on Windows 7.
