Apple MacBook Air (2018) vs. Apple MacBook
Apple just refreshed the MacBook Air, giving it more power in a thinner, lighter body. The redesigned MacBook's footprint places it within a spitting distance of Apple's ultraportable MacBook line, and now both are priced just $100 apart. Which model should you get? We'll help you compare.
Microsoft’s Always-Connected PCs gets more powerful with 64-bit app support
Microsoft announced another major milestone for its Windows on ARM project. Now, with the launch of Visual Studio 15.9, developers can start creating 64-bit apps that will run on Always-Connected PCs. These devices run Windows 10 on Qualcomm Snapdragon ARM-based processors, rather than Intel or AMD silicon.
Razer’s BlackWidow Lite is a mechanical keyboard designed for work and play
Razer's new BlackWidow Lite is a gaming keyboard that doesn't scream that it's purpose-built for gaming. With Razer's mechanical key technology, white backlight, and understated aesthetics, the BlackWidow Lite will look great -- and function beautifully -- on your desk at work or in your man cave.
Microsoft takes up to $330 off of Surface PC bundles in Black Friday promo
While we've seen some sizable discounts on the Surface Pro 6 for Black Friday at retailers like Costco and Best Buy, Microsoft is also offering some nice savings on its own hardware. In addition to the Surface Pro 6, shoppers can also find discounts on the Surface Go and Surface Laptop 2 at Microsoft.
Your new PC may have shipped with an unsupported version of Windows 10
Microsoft's recalled Windows 10 October 2018 Update may have caused some of its PC partners to ship tablets and laptops with an unsupported version of Windows 10. This issue largely affects the new crop of ARM-based Always-Connected PC devices, though it may have caused launch delays for some AMD and Intel systems.
Google focuses on making ecommerce safer with the launch of Chrome 71
Google is on a mission to make online commerce safer. With the launch of Chrome 71 in December, Google will alert you if you visit a website where the billing terms aren't clear. Hopefully, this means that web surfers won't be duped into a subscription fee when they thought they were making a one-time payment.
Hacker infects 100K routers in latest botnet attack aimed at sending email spam
Researchers discovered a new botnet that targets your router in order to send out email spam. Approximately 100,000 routers worldwide are now infected, with a large distribution of affected devices in India, China, and the United States. The hacker is using a complex script to carry out his attack.
The MacBook Air’s battery is easier to replace, but you can’t do it at home
The 2018 MacBook Air's battery is still secured by glue, but this time around, Apple is providing tools to make it easier for authorized service technicians to replace the battery without having to replace the laptop's entire top cover. Unfortunately, users still won't be able to replace depleted batteries at home.
PortSmash attack exploits Intel’s Hyper-Threading architecture to steal your data
Security researchers demonstrated a proof of concept attack known as PortSmash that affects all processors that use simultaneous multi-thread technology. On Intel's chips, this is known as Hyper-Threading, and allows malicious code running alongside legitimate processes on the same CPU to eavesdrop.
Google’s updated Recaptcha deters bots without imposing verification tasks
With Recaptcha v3, Google's verification tool gets smarter by allowing website owners to weed out spam traffic without even requiring visitors to prove they're actual humans. The new tool gets rid of verification requirements -- like interactive puzzles -- and sheds the friction of logging into sites.
Lenovo Legion C730 Cube review
Though the Legion C730 Cube may look like a cooler with its carry handle, and it does a good job keeping its “six pack” -- in the form of Intel’s hexa-core Core i7 CPU – cool, Lenovo designed this desktop for you to take to your next LAN party. With AMD or Nvidia graphics options, the C730 is also a VR-ready system.
AMD’s Radeon RX 590 inches closer to launch, will take on Nvidia’s GTX 1060
Though AMD has yet to announce its Radeon RX 590 graphics card, the mid-range GPU is now all but confirmed. Most recently, the card manufactured by third-party PowerColor was spotted in a regulatory filing with the Eurasian Economic Union office after the paperwork, suggesting that a launch may happen soon.
Alienware’s sleek new M15 offers the power without the extra padding
Dell may have shed the thickness and the weight off of its refreshed Alienware M15, which goes on sale starting today, but the redesign will cost consumers a little more than expected. The Alienware M15, which is Alienware's thinnest gaming notebook, now costs $79 more than the originally announced $1,300 price.
Apple begins testing Group FaceTime for MacOS Mojave — again
Apple will soon make it easier for organizations, businesses, and families to stay in tocuh through group video chats. After pulling the Group FaceTime feature from earlier betas prior to launching MacOS Mojave, Apple is now starting to test the group video chat feature again for its release of MacOS 10.14.1.
Google tests Android Messages feature on Chromebooks
After having completed its launch of Android Messages on the web, Google is now working on a feature to better integrate its messaging experience on Android phones with Chromebooks. The feature appears limited to some Chrome OS users on Google's developer channel, so it may not be widely available yet.
Facebook’s reported Rift 2 cancellation caused a rift with Oculus executive
There's new speculation that Oculus co-founder and Facebook executive Brendan Iribe may have quit after differences in vision. It's reported that Facebook's cancellation of the Rift 2, the successor to the original Oculus Rift, may have precipitated the rift between Iribe and the social network giant.
Not to be outdone, Samsung says it’s making a laptop with a foldable display
Samsung announced that it is jumping on the dual-screen laptop trend. Rather than using two screens, Samsung said that its novel laptop will have a large, foldable screen that leverages its flexible display technology. In addition to laptops, Samsung also has plans to release a smartphone with a foldable screen.
Samsung’s HMD Odyssey Plus gives you a clearer view into the virtual world
Samsung is refreshing its Windows Mixed Reality Headset with its HMD Odyssey+ this year. The new model ships starting today for $500, and promises to deliver a better mixed reality experience thanks to Samsung's new Anti-Screen Door Effect technology. The headset is also more comfortable with better ergonomics.
There’s now proof that quantum computing is superior to the classical variety
Researchers previously had to resort to theoretical concepts to describe the benefits of quantum computers, but that is no longer true. A team from IBM, the University of Waterloo, and the Technical University of Munich showed how a quantum computer outperformed a classical PC on a single math problem.
Despite serious security flaws, D-Link will (again) not patch some routers
Despite serious warnings raised by security researcher Błażej Adamczyk that affects eight D-Link routers, the manufacturer revealed that it won't issue patches to six models, citing end-of-life policies. This is the second time in approximately one year that D-Link has failed to patch its older routers.
Consider an extended warranty plan if you buy a Surface Pro 6
A low repairability score due to excessive amounts of glue used in the Surface Pro 6's construction makes the tablet hard to repair. Consumers who pick up the tablet may want to consider optional extended or accidental damage protection in case repairs are needed beyond Microsoft's standard one-year warranty.
A ThinkPad tablet with a foldable screen could be in Lenovo’s future
The world's largest PC manufacturer could launch a tablet with a 13-inch screen that could fold down to just nine inches for travel. According to the latest report, LG Display has inked a deal with Lenovo to supply the foldable display panel, and such a tablet could arrive as early as late next year.
Apple’s 2020 MacBooks could ditch Intel processors, arrive with ‘ARM Inside’
Apple is looking to shed the "Intel Inside" banner for its MacOS products, and it could do this early as 2020 with an ARM-powered MacBook. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo speculated that Apple could develop its custom A-series silicon to power its MacOS product moving forward, transitioning away from Intel processors.
Corsair’s latest SSD boasts extremely fast speeds at a more affordable price
If you're looking for a faster internal drive to give your PC a performance boost, Corsair may have just the answer. The company's latest NVMe SSD delivers some of the fastest speeds on the market, but comes in at a much more affordable price than competing M.2 format SSDs from rivals Samsung and Western Digital.
Microsoft co-founder, Seahawks owner Paul Allen dies at 65
Paul Allen died on October 15 at the age of 65 due to complications from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, his company Vulcan reported. The entrepreneur, along with Bill Gates, helped to transform and shape the PC industry. Allen was known for spearheading the deal to acquire Q-DOS, which later became MS-DOS.
Was your Facebook account hacked in the latest breach? Here’s how to find out
Although Facebook initially estimated that up to 50 million users may have been compromised in a data breach last month, the social network says that 30 million accounts were affected after an initial investigation. Facebook also set up a Help Center for users to find out if their account were impacted.
Patent filing shows Microsoft’s evolving efforts on foldable Andromeda device
While Microsoft may have originally planned on equipping Project Andromeda with two displays that could rotate around a central hinge, the company may be exploring a new design with just a single screen. Microsoft's latest patent reveals that a flexible display could be used instead of two separate screens.
Google takes on iPad Pro and Surface Pro with its new Pixel Slate
Google unveiled its new Chromebook device under its Pixel branding at a New York City event on October 9. The Pixel Slate is a new Chrome OS-powered tablet that comes with an optional keyboard cover. Designed for productivity and entertainment on the go, the Pixel Slate is Google's answer to Apple's iPad.
Chrome 70 could break thousands of websites, but that’s their own fault
Chrome 70 will drop support for older Symantec security certificates and that will cause thousands of sites to display security warnings by as early as October 16. Google announced that it will drop support for compromised certificates more than a year ago, but there are still some web developers holding out.
Google to shut down Google+ after exposure of 500,000 users’ data
After an undisclosed security vulnerability that left 500,000 users exposed was reported, Google announced that it will be shutting down Google+ over the next ten months. Google's security vulnerability is the latest to hit the tech sector, following Facebook's recent bug that left 50 million of its users exposed.
Did the Windows October 2018 update delete your files? Microsoft can help
If you haven't downloaded the latest release of Windows 10 called the October 2018 Update -- don't. Early adopters have reported issues ranging from loss of data, excessive usage of the processor, and even reduced battery life on notebooks. But Microsoft says that lost data can be recovered.
Surface Studio 2 vs. iMac
If you're looking for an attractive all-in-one desktop for your home or office, Microsoft's Surface Studio 2 and Apple's iMac are top contenders. Both systems come with clean designs, Intel's 7th-Generation chips, and a compact frame, making them ideal competitors for your money. We'll help you decide which to buy.
Facebook’s latest data breach could earn Europeans thousands in compensation
Europeans could get a pay day in the thousands if they claim distress over Facebook's latest data breach. Late last month, the social network revealed a bug that left as many as 50 million users exposed. Thanks to GDPR rules, Facebook may be forced to compensate users in the thousands in damaages for distress.
Andromeda — a pocketable Surface PC — remains a dream for Microsoft’s Panos Panay
Though Microsoft's October 2 Surface event came and went without a mention of the highly anticipated Surface Phone, Microsoft's Surface chief confirmed that the company is, in fact, working on such a product. Panos Panay called the device, which went by the code name Andromeda, his baby.