AMD could offer ray tracing with next-gen Navi graphics cards
AMD's next-generation Navi graphics cards may come with support for ray tracing. Sony recently confirmed that its next-generation console would support it and it will be using a Navi GPU. If that turns out to be true, we could see AMD GPUs with ray tracing support go on sale inside the next few months.
Light up your external GPU with Razer’s new Core X Chroma enclosure
Razer has a new version of its external graphics cards enclosure that bridges that gap between the Core V2 and Core X. The new Core X Chroma brings back RGB lighting and USB-A Ethernet ports, with a larger internal footprint for more powerful PSUs and larger GPU coolers for quieter, high-powered gaming.
HP’s new Zbook, EliteBook 800 workstations go 4K with 8th-gen Intel CPUs
HP has a new range of ZBook and EliteBook notebooks with a selection of display options including 1080p touchscreens and 4K IPS panels for greater clarity. There are also configuration options for discrete GPUs, and an overall high build quality for extreme durability in any environment.
Save up to 85 percent in Amazon’s one-day memory and storage sale
Amazon is selling a number of SD cards, SSDs, external hard drives, and USB flash drives at discounted rates. Whether you need to expand your phone's storage or want to increase the drive space on your local network, there's something for everyone and some items are discounted by as much as 85 percent.
Ray tracing on GTX GPUs might sound stupid, but there’s a method to the madness
Nvidia has broadened support for ray tracing on its graphics cards to include the GTX 10-series and GTX 16-series. This means that gamers with last-generation GPUs can now get a taste of what ray tracing will look like, but it's probably not worth it. Ray tracing makes many games almost unplayable.
The new Dolby Vision monitors from Asus could be perfect for creative types
Asus has a pair of new monitors aimed at professional creatives. They both support the proprietary Dolby Vision standard, as well as a wide range of other HDR standards. They're 4K, with thin and lightweight frames. Gamers will be disappointed though, as they aren't designed with entertainment in mind.
Acer’s ConceptD laptops and desktops give artists quiet gaming power
Don't be fooled by the discrete RTX graphics inside Acer's new line of ConceptD workstations and mobile workstations. These systems weren't designed for gaming. With powerful processors, top-of-the-line graphics, and color-accurate displays, these PCs were designed for creatives to make the games you play.
Acer’s powerful new Helios 700 gaming laptop transforms to maximize performance
Acer's new Helios 700 could be its most impressive gaming laptop ever made. It's superpowerful, with the latest Intel and Nvidia components, and also has a cooling solution that relies on a transforming keyboard to draw in extra air. It's a unique approach that enables automated overclocking for maximum power.
PC sales slide 5 percent in 2019 and they’re taking Apple with them
Overall PC sales declined nearly five percent in the first three months of this year, according to new research from Gartner, but it wasn't bad news for everyone. While Apple, Acer, and Asus, saw declining sales by up to 13 percent, Lenovo, HP, and Dell all increased their market share by notable margins.
Editing Microsoft Word files in Google Docs finally isn’t a huge pain
Google is expanding the native document support of its collaborative productivity services to include Microsoft Office file types. That means you can save a file in Word, Excel, or Powerpoint and open it in Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides without converting first. The feature should go live later this month.
Microsoft finally accepts that nobody safely removes USB devices
The latest v1809 update for Windows 10 brought with it a number of changes, one of which altered the way Windows deals with USB devices. Instead of Better performance mode, it will now make it safer to quickly remove USB drives so you no longer need to trigger it manually via the notifications menu.
Save $100 on the Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 with Core M3 CPU
Samsung's Chromebook Plus V2 with an Intel Core M3 CPU has had its price slashed by more than $100. Now below $500, it's cheaper in some cases than the same laptop with a weaker Celeron CPU and half the storage. Grab one now while stocks last and enjoy 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage space too.
Dell adds OLED display option to its Alienware M15 gaming laptop
Dell has come through on its promise to add an OLED display option to its gaming laptops, although it's only one so far and it comes a month late. The Alienware M15 now has configurable options for 1080p, 4K, and high-refresh-rate displays, alongside the new OLED option for prospective buyers.
HP Spectre and Envy laptops to launch with AMOLED screens in April
Two next-generation laptops from HP, the Spectre x360 and Envy x360, will both debut in April with the option of an AMOLED display. The screens will offer high brightness, contrast ratios, and strong HDR capabilities. Although there is some concern over burn-in, the new laptops should look very pretty.
AMD graphics cards may get ray tracing support with Navi 20
AMD may add ray tracing support to its high-end graphics cards in 2020 with the introduction of the Navi 20 generation, according to new rumors. The fancy lighting effect will be joined by improvements to the Graphcis Core Next architecture behind the last few generations of AMD's gamer-focused GPUs.
Microsoft Surface Hub 2 will get its own coming-out party on April 17
Microsoft's Surface Hub 2 will be revealed shortly: The software giant is holding a press event in conjunction with Steelcase on April 17 to showcase the future of working collaboratively, leading many to believe that the Surface Hub 2, and perhaps the 2X, will make their first major appearance.
The new Windows 10 File Explorer could look like this in 2020
Microsoft may finally update the File Explorer in Windows 10 to adopt the Fluent Design principles it set out in 2017. Many facets of its flagship operating system have been updated to the new aesthetic since then, but File Explorer remains decidedly white and without transparencies. Perhaps not for much longer.
You can now listen to Google Podcasts on your desktop without the app
Tweaking the URL of a Google Podcasts share link can let you listen to a podcast on your desktop or laptop via your browser. The streamlined web player doesn't have all the functions of the main application, but Google Podcasts now work on devices without the official app, hinting at future potential.
Old Nvidia graphics cards to get ray tracing support in upcoming driver
Nvidia is adding ray tracing support for the millions of GTX 10 series graphics cards, offering low-end ray tracing enhancement in the handful of compatible games that are already available and releasing in the near future. Everything from the GTX 1060 6GB to the 1080 Ti will benefit.
There’s more space on MySpace after ‘accidental’ wipe of 50 million songs
The '00s social network darling, MySpace, may have lost every song your old band made. During a server migration last year, it lost upwards of 50 million songs and untold images and videos that were uploaded to the site between 2003 and 2015. The site blamed a corruption issue occured during the move.
Save $500 on a 4K XPS 15 laptop and more with Microsoft’s Pi Day sales
Microsoft has continued the tradition of slashing its prices on top-tier laptops and desktops to celebrate Pi Day, the one day a year where the mathematical constant of pi gets its due respect. You can find deals on fantastic laptops, gaming desktops, mice, headsets, and Xbox hardware in the Microsoft sale.
Chromebook popularity could prompt another round of Intel CPU shortages
Intel may be facing worsening shortages of its 14nm CPU lines as a new generation of Chromebooks ship out in the coming weeks. A new report suggests that we may have to wait until the end of the summer before supply can catch up with demand, which could lead to Intel CPU price rises in the short term.
AMD Ryzen 3000 Threadripper CPUs will launch in 2019
AMD has confirmed that its high-end, Ryzen 3000 Threadripper processors will be released before the end of the year. Announced in an investor presentation, AMD claimed that we'll first see second-generation Ryzen Pro mobile CPUs unveiled, followed in turn by Ryzen 3000 desktop and Threadripper chips.
Bitcoin mining profits are on the rise. But don’t buy your own hardware just yet
Gross margins for Bitcoin miners are on the rise again after a year of continual downfalls. While this doesn't guarantee it will remain profitable forever, it seems as if the downturn may have been reversed for now, while trades in the cryptocurrency continue to grow from month to month.
Nvidia GTX 16 series: Everything we know so far
The GTX 1660 Ti is officially out and about, suddenly released by Nvidia to very little fanfare. No word yet on other cards in the 16-series, though it'd be quite odd to have a 1660 Ti and not have a 1660. Here's everything we know about these new cards, and how they stand in the market of graphics cards.
Facebook to boost California internet options with Terragraph 5G Wi-Fi
Facebook's open source Terragraph technology is already seeing adoption from California-based Common Networks to expand its offerings of high-speed wireless internet. Speeds can reach a gigabit per second for just $50 a month and Common Networks doesn't even need to outlay millions for underground fiber.