A.I. makes Nvidia’s RTX 2080 twice as powerful as the GTX 1080
Nvidia claims that its newest gaming GPU is twice as powerful as the GTX 1080 when developers build in ray tracing and deep learning into their games. Even if you don't intend to play games that take advantage of ray tracing, most gamers can expect to see a 50 percent performance improvement out of the box.
GTX 1080 graphics card prices plunge following Nvidia’s RTX announcement
If you've been eyeing Nvidia's current flagship GTX 1080 consumer GPU, you can now score a great deal. Zotac is offering its GTX 1080 card for $449 following Nvidia's RTX 2080 launch, which will be available next month. If you don't need the new ray tracing feature, the GTX card could be the way to go.
Microsoft thwarts new Russian cyberattack on U.S. senators and think tanks
Ahead of the 2018 midterm elections in the United States, Microsoft had stopped another Russian cyberattacking attempt. The latest hack was linked to Fancy Bear, a group believed to have ties to Russia's military, and Microsoft was able to take down six fake websites intended for the spearphishing attack.
Nvidia’s new GPUs look amazing, but that doesn’t mean you should buy one
Nvidia's latest consumer GeForce RTX 2080 represents a powerful graphics upgrade for gamers, but gamers looking to buy the GPU should wait. Even with support for real-time ray tracing for cinematic lighting, shadows, and reflections, only a limited number of games will support this feature initially.
Nvidia teases new GeForce RTX 2080 launch at Gamescom next week
Nvidia posted a YouTube video teasing that gamers may have something exciting to look forward to at Gamescom 2018. There are hints that Nvidia will launch its flagship GeForce RTX 2080 graphics chip at the event, and the teaser follows news of Nvidia's launch of the Quadro RTX 8000 GPU.
Apple preps production of updated MacBook Air for a 2018 launch
Apple is expected to rely on Quanta to manufacture its low-cost Mac laptop, and production is expected to begin soon for the device to launch before the year is over. Previous rumors suggest that the MacBook Air replacement could ship with Intel's eighth-gen chips and a Retina display.
A brand-new Mac can be hacked remotely during its first Wi-Fi connection
Although Apple has since patched a security vulnerability with MacOS 10.13.6, companies issuing Macs to employees will want to be wary of a flaw that allows hackers to inject malicious software when a Mac connects to Wi-Fi for the first time during setup and eventually penetrate a corporate network.
Microsoft uses fish cams to monitor undersea Project Natick data center
Microsoft added two new undersea cameras to help it track and monitor the environmental conditions near its Project Natick data center. The results could help Microsoft evaluate plans to locate more data centers along the seafloor. For now, internet users can enjoy the calming fish imagery.
Google Chrome now shows browser notifications in Windows 10 Action Center
With the latest Chrome 68 update, Windows 10 users who rely on Google's Chrome browser will begin to see a change on how Chrome displays notification. Google will be switching away from its custom notification engine and instead display browser notifications in Windows 10's Action Center.
Microsoft finishes turning File Explorer dark in latest Windows update
Microsoft has a new Build 17733 of Windows 10 for members of the Windows Insider program. Insiders who download the latest release will get to experience Microsoft's completed work on bringing a dark theme to File Explorer. There are a number of improvements, but the update also introduces some known bugs.
Tesla gives its self-driving cars a performance boost with custom chips
Tesla is moving away from Nvidia's chips for autonomous vehicles in favor of its own custom processors next year. The new Tesla car computer, called Hardware 3, is described to be an order of magnitude more powerful than the hardware it replaces, and existing owners will also be able to upgrade to the new chips.
Apple patents a trio of ideas to fix its MacBook keyboard
Apple is dipping its toes in the dual-screen laptop category with a new keyboard patent that essentially replaces the keyboard with a giant second touchscreen offering configurable software keys, haptics feedback, and sliders and dials. Other ideas include a physical keyboard overlay and a membrane cover.
Google will warn businesses if state-sponsored hackers target G Suite users
If you've received a phishing email in your company's G Suite inbox that could be the work of a state-sponsored hack, Google will notify your employers. The new warning and alert system will help give organizations that use G Suite more insight into state-sponsored attacks on their users.
Chromebook users may soon get the Pixel phone’s best feature: Its camera app
Google may be giving Chrome OS users the best feature from its Pixel phones. Long heralded for its computational photography capabilities, the Google Camera app from the Pixel phone may be making its way to Chrome OS devices, but there's a catch: Your Chromebook must be able to run Android apps.
Windows 10 update adds support for continuity functions via Your Phone app
Microsoft is rolling out the Your Phone app with its latest Windows Insider Preview build, making it easy for PC users to view photos captured on their smartphones from their desktops. This update doesn't come with all the features Microsoft promised when the app initially debuted earlier this year.
Google Docs’ A.I. grammar checker will fix your poor writing habits
Google is taking on Grammarly by launching its own grammar checker in Google Docs. The grammar suggestions are powered by artificial intelligence to identify problems with spelling and grammar as you type, and works in a similar way to Google Translate by "translating" bad English to proper English.
If you own a 2018 MacBook Pro, you will want to maintain data backups
Due to a new logic board design on the 2018 MacBook Pro, Apple's existing tools to recover data stored on the computer's solid-state drive won't work. Owners of the 2018 MacBook Pro will want to be vigilant about maintaining backups of their system to prevent unrecoverable data in the event of logic board failure.
Facebook suspends data firm claiming access to 1 trillion conversations
Though Facebook found no wrongdoing, the social network is proactively suspending data analytics firm Crimson Hexagon's access to data on its network. Facebook wants to know if data collected by the firm, which counts the US and Russian governments as clients, was used for surveillance.
Microsoft stops a Russian attempt at hacking 2018 midterm elections
Less than a week after the United States indicted 12 Russian military officers for their involvement in hacking the 2016 election, Microsoft discovered that the same state intelligence agency tried to use the same phishing tactics to target at least three candidates in the upcoming 2018 midterm elections in the U.S.
Millions of health records may be at stake in ransomware attack
LabCorp reported that it may have been a victim of a data breach, and the FBI confirmed that it was notified of the ransomware attack on one of the nation's largest medical labs. LabCorps sees more than 115 million patients annually, potentially leaving a lot of patients vulnerable if the breach was successfully.
Apple quietly confirms 2018 MacBook Pro keyboard ships with anti-debris design
Apple quietly fixed the MacBook Pro's sticky key problem when it announced the quieter keys on the new 2018 models. The new keyboard, which comes with a membrane underneath each key to dampen noise and keep debris away, is exclusive to the 2018 MacBook Pro, and owners of older laptops are left out in the cold.
Your next virtual reality headset will require just one USB-C cable to connect
VirtualLink wants to simplify the virtual reality experience by replacing all the cables -- USB, HDMI, and power -- needed to connect a VR headset to a PC today with a single USB-C cable. This will help reduce friction in VR adoption and could speed up setup times for those looking to get started with a new headset.
Apple repair program won’t upgrade older MacBook Pros to new keyboard
If you own a MacBook Pro model prior to last week's refresh and suffer from the widely documented keyboard problems, don't expect Apple to give you a free keyboard upgrade when you take your notebook in for repair. Apple said that the quieter third-generation keyboard is an exclusive feature for its 2018 notebooks.
FCC proposal could help Google Fiber roll out to more cities
The FCC is considering a change on how utility poles are managed. Instead of requiring new service providers consult with existing utilities on a pole to make changes, the new proposal shifts the work burden to new providers, like Google Fiber. This change could help accelerate the deployment of gigabit internet.
Microsoft calls for Congress to regulate use of facial-recognition tech
Microsoft's president and chief legal officer argues that the use of facial-recognition technology needs regulation. This will help put the public at ease and ensure that the technology is only used for its intended purpose. Microsoft urges Congress to assemble a commission of experts to help.
Apple’s newest MacBook Pro is now $150 off if you’re a student
Apple only launched its refreshed MacBook Pro this week, but deals are already starting to pop up for the powerful Mac notebook. Students can now score a discount of $150 through Best Buy, bringing the starting cost for a Touch Bar-equipped model with an 8th-generation Intel processor down to $1,649.
Microsoft’s pressure-sensitive software keyboard is ripe for dual-screen laptops
Microsoft is working on a new virtual keyboard that recognizes pressure to make it easier to type on glass. The keyboard may be useful on tablets, phones, and a new crop of dual-screen devices that will show up this year. It will be a great fit on Andromeda, if Microsoft ever decides to launch that device.
Apple’s sticky key problem isn’t going away on the 2018 MacBook Pro
Apple introduced a new third-generation keyboard when it launched the 2018 MacBook Pro, but it didn't address a major user pain point that caused the keys on last year's model to become sticky and unresponsive. There's no engineering fix, and Apple is instead promoting a quieter typing experience this year.
Need the FCC to handle a problem? A formal complaint will cost you $225
The FCC voted on a new rule intended to streamline informal and formal complaints. The change sees informal complaints referred back to the original company and formal complaints costing $225. Critics argue that the agency is simply trying to skirt its obligations to protect consumers.
Money-laundering ‘Bitcoin Maven’ receives one-year prison sentence
Theresa Tetley of Los Angeles, also known as the Bitcoin Maven, gets sentenced to one year in prison. The prison term is down from the 30 months that she faced for running an unlicensed money transmission business and, in at least one instance, exchanging Bitcoin for cash that came from illegal means.