AMD’s second-gen Ryzen Threadripper CPUs could rip into stores in August
AMD’s next-generation Ryzen Threadripper desktop processors for enthusiasts will supposedly launch in August. We already knew they were on the way given AMD introduced the Threadripper 2000 family during Computex, but now unnamed sources close to AMD are providing an actual launch date.
AMD’s next batch of Ryzen desktop CPUs may focus on better power efficiency
Although AMD introduced its second-generation Ryzen desktop processors in April, a recent leak shows another batch is on the way that will focus on better power efficiency. One of the processors in question is the Ryzen 7 2700E, which appeared in the 3DMark database with a 45-watt power draw.
Think you’re an Apple fan? This collection of prototypes has you beat
If you thought you were Apple’s biggest fan, Hap Plain likely has you beat. He owns more than 250 prototypes manufactured by the company spanning PowerBooks, iBooks, iPhones, iPods and “pretty much everything in-between.” It may be the largest private collection of Apple prototypes in the world.
Watch artist rendition of a pixelated, dancing Donald Glover made on a 1987 Mac
A video on Instagram showcases an animation of Donald Glover performing his dance pulled from the This is America music video (aka Childish Gambino). What makes this animation unique is that its creator used Apple’s old Macintosh SE all-in-one PC along with the MacPaint and MacroMind Director.
Cryptocurrency may be why you still don’t have Nvidia GTX 11 Series graphics
Unnamed sources point to the current overabundance of add-in graphics cards as to why you’re not already seeing Nvidia’s new GeForce GTX 11 Series on store shelves. Nvidia reportedly has around one million chips ready for release but is holding back because there is simply no room for next-gen cards.
Apple registers 10 unannounced MacBook and iPad devices overseas
French website Consomac discovered that Apple just registered upcoming MacBooks and iPads with the Eurasian Economic Commission. The filings are a requirement for encrypted devices that will be sold in Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia. They list 10 models altogether.
The MacBook Pro may finally get updated with faster processors
There’s no doubt Apple plans to update its MacBook Pros with eighth-generation Intel CPUs, but now a new benchmark gives us a better view at the specific chips we’ll see in the upcoming devices. In the case of the next 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, one variant will rely on Intel's Core i7-8559U chip.
Nvidia’s GTX 11 Series may get people ready for the next generation of VR
Unnamed sources claim that Nvidia’s upcoming GeForce GTX 1180 add-in graphics card for desktops will likely include a proprietary connector for virtual reality headsets to support 120Hz refresh rates over a single cable. This port will likely be based on the current HDMI 2.1 specification.
Philips claims ‘world’s first’ with a new 4K HDR desktop display
The 43-inch Philips Momentum 436M6 Quantum Dot monitor revealed in April is now up for grabs on Amazon for a mere $999. At the time of its reveal, parent company Envision Peripherals deemed it as the world’s first DisplayHDR 1000 panel, residing at the top of VESA's new HDR certification system.
A free ‘Fortnite’ modification infected over 78,000 players with adware
Game streaming service Rainway recently detected adware that plagued over 78,000 "Fortnite" gamers. The Rainway client includes a tracker that records error reports for the engineering team. To their surprise, hundreds of thousands of reports began appearing on June 26, raising a red flag.
Microsoft wants artificial intelligence to catch cheaters on Xbox Live
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office published a patent application from Microsoft that describes a method of cheat detection for games on a platform level using machine learning. The idea is to bring cheat detection outside the game given platforms can't detect cheats within the game itself.
Razer crams lasers into its new ‘Huntsman’ keyboards for blazing-fast speed
Razer introduced a new line of mechanical keyboards called Huntsman. The first two models out the gate is the "premium" $199 Razer Huntsman Elite version and the cheaper, "performance-focused" $149 Razer Huntsman model. Both rely on new mechanical switches that use an infrared light beam.
Exactis left the records of 340M people, businesses wide open for anyone to grab
Marketing and data aggregation firm Exactis kept a database of around 340 million individual records on a publicly accessible server. The data dump measured around two terabytes (2TB) and contained the personal information of around 230 million adults in the U.S. along with 110 million businesses.
These fake Android apps steal your money when you aren’t looking
The McAfee Mobile Research team discovered a new campaign where at least 15 apps on Google Play were "re-packaged" to secretly sign up for premium paid services in the background and charge directly to your mobile carrier. The list includes Qrcode Scanner, Cut Ringtones 2018, and Despacito Ringtone.
Microsoft pulls its ‘Sets’ feature in the latest Windows Insider build
The latest preview build for Windows Insiders is out and with it sees the removal of Sets. Originally slated to be a part of the next major feature update, Sets intended to group your favorite apps together for a more productive workflow. But Microsoft decided to remove Sets based on feedback.
Facebook changes its cryptocurrency rules by easing its ad blocking policy
Facebook changed its mind about banning cryptocurrency-related ads from the social network. Starting June 26, the updated policy will allow advertisements that promote cryptocurrency and related content, but only from pre-approved advertisers. Ads for ICOs and binary options are still banned.
Intel may debut a Core i9 desktop CPU for the general market in 2018
Intel is gearing up to release high-end desktop processors for the mainstream market. These chips will essentially be part of Intel's fourth wave of eighth-generation processors released during the third quarter of 2018. At the forefront will be an eight-core chip listed as the Core i9-9900K.
AOL’s instant messenger rises from the ashes, but your buddies didn’t survive
America Online's instant messenger, AIM, now rises from the ashes as AIM Phoenix. It's not an official service but is instead run by Wildman Productions. AIM Phoenix essentially uses discontinued software to send messages through a private server and doesn't actually connect to America Online.
Cooler Master’s new $79 mechanical keyboard lights up your desk like Christmas
Cooler Master launched a new mechanical keyboard packing more features per dollar than the competition's more expensive products. It's a highly attractive, visually sturdy mechanical keyboard sporting a minimalistic, curved brushed aluminum design and raised, floating keys. It sells for $79.
The ‘world’s tiniest computer’ is smaller than a grain of rice. Much smaller.
Not to be outdone by IBM's "world smallest computer" revealed in March, a team at the University of Michigan is calling IBM's bluff with an even smaller computer that's "dwarfed by a grain of rice," measuring just 0.33mm on each side. Still, the Michigan team is now questioning the "computer" term.
The Atari VCS: Everything you need to know
Atari will soon attempt to re-enter the console business with the Atari VCS, a set-top device that will play classic Atari games. It will also have a full, Linux-based PC under its hood. This means users will be able to download additional games and apps through a custom storefront. We've rounded up the details.
Nvidia hands out $3,000 Titan V graphics cards for free to A.I. researchers
During the Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (CVPR) conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang randomly selected 20 from more than 500 attendees to receive a signed, limited-edition "CEO Edition" version of its $3,000 Titan X graphics card packing 32GB of memory.
Microsoft’s ‘Andromeda’ device may be a phone after all
Unnamed sources claim that the latest prototype of Microsoft's unannounced "Andromeda" device includes telephony capabilities. It won't be a re-entry into the smartphone business, but rather a new entry in its "always connected" initiative. Andromeda is expected to appear towards the end of 2018.
An all-in-one botnet is on the rise, packing a scary buffet of attacks
A new "complicated" botnet dubbed as MyloBot is on the rise packing the largest arsenal to date, targeting Windows-based PCs to steal data, shut down networks, and more. The underlying malware can evade detection, deliver numerous payloads, and even delete other malware discovered on target PCs.
Macs leak sensitive data from encrypted files, even after they’re deleted
Two security experts claim that Apple's Quick Look feature in MacOS leaks sensitive data even if the content is locked behind password-protected encryption. Introduced in MacOS 10.5 Leopard, Apple designed Quick Look to give you a glimpse into a file without manually opening it with an app.
Stand up or sit down? Many don’t take advantage of VR’s room-scale experience
Oculus' VP of Content Jason Rubin claims that a "significant percentage" of Oculus Rift headset owners would rather sit down to enjoy virtual reality rather than take advantage of room-scale motion detection. He made this revelation to Insomniac founder and CEO Ted Price at E3 2018 last week.
HoloLens 2 could pack a Qualcomm chip for ‘extended reality’
The next version of Microsoft's HoloLens headset for augmented reality will supposedly feature Qualcomm's new Snapdragon XR1 processor. The rumor arrives by way of an anonymous source who claims the second-generation headset packing the XR1 chip will make an appearance in January 2019.