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Latest by J. Martindale

Lenovo Mirage Solo with Daydream Review

Oculus Go vs. Lenovo Mirage Solo

Lenovo is one of the newest competitors on the virtual reality scene and its standalone Daydream headset holds a lot of exciting potential. But how does it measure up against an industry giant like Oculus and its latest efforts? Here we pit the Oculus Go vs. Lenovo Mirage Solo with Daydream to see which is best.
Coffee Lake

Intel 9th-generation CPUs are refreshes with slight clock speed bumps

Intel's upcoming ninth-generation CPUs have been detailed in some new leaked slides. They are refreshes of the previous generation with minor clock speed bumps almost across the board. What we don't know though, is what the Core i7 chips will be like and their absence from leaked documents suggest they may have eight cores.
Zotac GeForce GTX 1080Ti AMP

Nvidia could debut GTX 11 Series graphics cards during Gamescom

Unnamed sources claim that third-party graphics card manufacturers will receive Nvidia's next-generation "Turing" chips by the end of August or early September. Actual ship dates are unknown for now as manufacturers could take weeks or several months after receiving their initial GPU shipments.
what is bitcoin

What is Bitcoin?

What is Bitcoin? It's a question that many recent investors might struggle to answer effectively because cryptocurrencies are a whole world unto themselves. Getting your head around the basics is important if you want to know what you're getting into before buying buying into the latest crypto-craze.
Linksys WRT3200 ACM router review

After 14 years, a new generation of Wi-Fi security is coming. Here’s what to know

WPA3 is a new security standard for Wi-Fi hardware that will charge manufactuters with meeting stricter guidelines to be certified to support it. It will bring about greater security and privacy for users in the home and when utilizing 'open' public Wi-Fi networks, as well as better password protections for everyone.
bbc computer literacy archive bbcmicro01

Learn about the roots of the modern computing with the BBC’s free archive

The BBC has expanded its Computer Literacy Archive with hundreds of documentary episodes from the 1980s and 1990s to showcase just how far we've come in computing in the last few decades and look back on classic hardware like the BBC Micro. The archive also includes 160+ classic programs that can be run in modern web browsers.
nvidia prototype graphics card gddr6 leakedgp1000

Nvidia prototype graphics card sports 12GB of GDDR6 memory

A leaked image of a prototype Nvidia graphics card appears to sport 12GB of GDDR6 memory, suggesting that the next-generation will enjoy far greater memory bandwidth than the one that came before. Although missing a GPU core, the new card hints at a powerful new-range of graphics cards coming down the pipeline.
huawei matebook d ryzen vega matebookd04

Huawei’s MateBook D could be the new king of powerful budget laptops

The Huawei MateBook D refresh packs the compact laptop with a 1080p display, 8GB of RAM, and a Ryzen with Vega 2500U APU. For just $600 at its discounted launch price, the little laptop offers decent performance for general computing and gaming and its fast-recharge battery will keep you working and playing for longer.
ASRock X10 IoT Router

Updating your router to WPA3 could protect your home Wi-Fi network

The Wi-Fi Alliance has officially certified WPA3 security, making routers the world over more secure ... in theory. While new routers will definitely get the new password and encryption protection systems, there is some question over whether already-sold devices will be updated to support it.
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Here’s how Microsoft’s Xbox One mouse and keyboard support could work

A joint Microsoft and Razer presentation earlier this year suggested that official keyboard and mouse support could come to the Xbox One. Leaked documents highlight certain limitations, but suggest that Microsoft would soon crack down on companies offering emulator hardware for unofficial keyboard usage.
qualcomm snapdragon 850

Leaked Snapdragon 1000 details suggest it could go head-to-head with Intel

New details about Qualcomm's rumored Snapdragon 1000 have been revealed, suggesting that the Windows-oriented SoC could offer competition for 2017 Intel Core processors. Better yet, it'll do so in a smaller form factor and potentially at a lower power draw too, making it a very attractive option for laptop owners.
best ultra-wide monitors

Is your 1440p monitor actually a downscaled 4K panel in disguise?

A new report citing sources close to the monitor manufacturing business has suggested that some companies may be using extra stock of 4K panels to manufacture 1440P displays. While that might seem like a free upgrade, it can actually result in a worse-looking image due to downscaling and mismatched resolutions.
hp chromebook x2 detachable targets ipad pro dt edit

First Snapdragon 845 Chromebook could be a 2-in-1 with detachable keyboard

More details about "Cheza," the alleged Snapdragon 845-powered Chromebook, have been unearthed from changes made to Chrome OS, suggesting that the first ever laptop running the powerful SoC may not be too far away. It could well be a 2-in-1 as well, with a detachable keyboard, and LTE data connectivity.
valve knuckle moondust demo valveknuckle033

Valve VR knuckle controllers can squish, track fingers, navigate with thumbstick

Valve has released a new demo called Moondust to show off the capabilities of its knuckle VR controllers and give developers a chance to play around with its new capabilities. They can squish, track fingers, and allow navigation via a thumbstick input, all while sporting better ergonomics and battery life.
Samsung Fingerprint Sensor Login Biometric

Improving security means killing the password, but that battle has just begun

As much as password reuse is a problem because people use the same passwords for different sites and services, some think that storing passwords in a central location is a bigger problem. As we begin to move beyond password use altogether, do we need to reconsider how our login credentials are stored as well?
leap motion augmented reality hmd prototype revealed ar headset

Leap Motion’s AR table tennis is a long way from your parents’ Pong

A demonstration of Leap Motion's new Project Northstar table tennis AR experience shows not only that mixed reality offers some great gaming experiences, but that it could be useful for teaching and improving real-world skills at the same time by testing human players against increasingly advanced A.I. opponents.
8th gen intel core

Intel’s hyperthreading blocked on OpenBSD amid hints of new Spectre-like bugs

The main developer of OpenBSD has announced that Intel chips will have hyperthreading disabled on the operating system in order to ward off potential Spectre-like exploits that take advantage of the way that simultaneous multithreading technologies work. This barring of the technology will be expanded to other chips.
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920X 1950X Review

AMD one-ups Intel with free Threadripper upgrade for 8086 competition winners

AMD is offering anyone who wins one of Intel's Anniversary Edition Core-i7 CPUs a free trade-in for one of its own high-powered offerings, the Threadripper 1950x. With 16 cores and 32 threads, it is more powerful in multi-threaded scenarios and is more expensive if you were to buy it yourself.
windows 7 2018 concept windows7concept01

Miss Windows 7? Here’s how it would look if Microsoft released it today

A new concept video for an imagined 2018 edition of Windows 7 has fans of the classic operating system wishing it would become a reality. The clean Windows 7 layout with Windows 10 aesthetics makes for a potent blend of simplicity and beauty and offers a great companion to the creator's other videos.
2016 fastest supercomputers china leads with top two cray supercomputer

HPE’s 145,000-core supercomputer could help manage U.S. nuclear stock

HPE has developed a brand-new type of supercomputer built around efficiency of physical space and faster access to memory. The new ARM-based system has more than 145,000 cores across thousands of servers and could help accelerate simulations that aid with the management and handling of the United States' nuclear stockpile.
AMD Ryzen 5 2400G & Ryzen 3 2200G Review fingers motherboard.

AMD will only release Ryzen APU graphics drivers every three months

An AMD representative has clarified that it only plans to update the graphics drivers for its Raven Ridge APU chips once every three months. This is less often than its discrete graphics cards, which for the past couple of years have received monthly updates and a yearly refresh of entire software suite.
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Mozilla goes all-in on voice commands with its latest browser concept

A recent Mozilla Foundation talk saw it discuss the possibility and architectural requirements for a new kind of web browser that would have fully integrated vocal commands at its core. The new browser ideal would build on existing vocal systems to provide a platform that was intuitive for those with sight limitations.
Intel Announces The Xeon 5100 Microprocessor For Servers

You’ll want to perk up when it comes to the new ‘Lazy State’ Intel CPU bug

A new Intel CPU bug that's similar to Spectre and Meltdown exploits has been discovered. Although it is much easier to patch and has already been shored up on most operating systems, it still has the potential to do serious damage to a systems' security if left unpatced, especially on server systems.
as coronavirus scams increase heres what to watch out for unsplash email

FBI lands a big catch, busts 74 and shuts down $16 million phishing ring

The FBI and counterpart agencies around the world have arrested more than 70 people and recovered more than $16 million in a crackdown on phishing emails. The scam run by this group targeted companies and tricked employees into handing over financial details or sending money to fraudulent accounts.
Dell XPS 15-2-1 review

Dell XPS 15 2-in-1 ‘urgent’ update calms noisy fans for quieter computing

A new BIOS update for Dell's XPS 15 2-in-1 should fix one of the most glaring issues with the system, namely that the fans spin up very fast and loud when the system is charging. Early reports suggest the problem is far less pronounced after the update, ticking off one of the few issues with the convertible laptop.
insecure intel exploits ceo

Intel “forgot” to mention its 28-core CPU demo was bogus

Intel's demonstration of an allegedly new CPU at Computex with 28-cores and running at up to 5GHz on all of them has proved to be an over-exaggeration of overengineering hardware. In comparison, AMD's Threadripper 2 announcement is very much real and makes for an exciting rest of 2018 in the consumer CPU space.
ajit pai

Net neutrality is dead, but it could make a comeback

The repeal of net neutrality has been enacted and the principle has been effectively killed off at the federal level. However, there is a glimmer of hope for its fans, as many local government officials have been pushing legislation and making demands that could help enshrine its principles for the foreseeable future.
lightpack ambient lighting backlighting

Unify your PC and accessory lighting with Razer’s expanded Chroma support

Razer now supports Chroma integration through a new API with seven different PC manufacturers, making it possible for AMD, MSI, NZXT, Lian Li, and more, to leverage Chroma lighting control in their products. That should make gaming PCs with various accessories look far more uniform than they have before.
Trusona

How 20th century check fraud is helping prevent 21st century data theft

Social engineering is as problematic today as it's ever been, and that's a scary concept when so much personal information is accessible to hackers and fraudsters. Yet that also means we can learn from the lessons of the past. That's why digital validation company Trusona uses Frank Abagnale of ‘Catch Me If You Can’ fame to future-proof its systems.
yahoo messenger shutdown yahoomessenger03

Yahoo Messenger will soon die as Squirrel lives on in its wake

Yahoo is closing the doors on its instant messaging application, Yahoo Messenger for good. Existing users have until July 17 to enjoy its features before they lose access to it forever. The only caveat to longtime fans is that any conversations saved on the platform can be downloaded and saved for posterity.
Intel Core i7 8th Gen hand scale

Intel Anniversary Edition 5GHz six-core CPU hits 7.2GHz in supercooled overclock

The Intel Core i7-8086 Anniversary Edition CPU, which boosts to 5GHz, will be on sale soon. The binned 8700K CPU made its first appearance on June 8, lining up with the 40th anniversary of its original 8086 CPU. The new chip is the fastest six-core CPU Intel has released and it's giving away thousands for free.
amazon memorial day sale 2019 apple watch explorer face

Shatter, crack, and pop — Apple Watch lawsuit alleges long-term screen defect

A new class-action lawsuit alleges that Apple has been negligent in its dealing with flaws with the Apple Watch, refusing to fix outstanding problems with screen damage and failing to redesign it to avoid the issue in the future. The plaintiffs are seeking $5 million in compensation for their troubles.
underwater data center

Microsoft dumps a 40-foot data center to the ocean floor off Scotland’s coast

Microsoft's Project Natick enters stage two by dropping a 40-foot prototype datacenter 117 feet below the ocean surface near Scotland's Orkney Islands. It contains 12 racks playing host to 864 servers, and connects to a single cable feeding it power and a fiber optic network connection.
Dell Inspiron 5680 review

Dell Inspiron Gaming Desktop 5676 packs AMD CPUs and graphics cards

Dell's new AMD-focused Inspiron Gaming Desktop 5676 builds upon its predecessor and installs a brand new Ryzen 2000-series processor at its heart. Combined with AMD RX 500 graphics, up to 32GB of RAM, and as much as 2TB of storage space, the redesigned desktop should be a capable and affordable gaming machine.