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Apr 06, 2020
TCL's timing couldn't be better. In a world where premium smartphone sales are slumping, the company best known for affordable 4K TVs is turning its attention to much smaller displays at prices that make the OnePlus 7T Pro and Galaxy S10e look downright expensive. If it wasn't for TCL's glorious embrace of headphone jacks, in fact, you might confuse the company's new phones for competing models costing four figures.
Of the three new TCL phones, only two of them—the 10 Pro and the 10L—are coming to the U.S. at launch. The 10 5G "will be available in select regions around the world later this year," though TCL does have plans to bring it to the U.S. "for under $500" by the fourth quarter of 2020.
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Apr 06, 2020
Here's how the new Fitbit Charge 4 compares to its predecessor.
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Apr 06, 2020
When you're ready to boost your Adobe Photoshop skills, try one of these features to work some magic with your images. We start with what to do when your Scratch Disk fills up, then dive right into tips for getting started with Content-Aware Fill, Clipping Mask, Brushes, and Vignettes.
The Photoshop Scratch Disk is full
Photoshop uses the Scratch Disk to store its temporary files, such as the working and history files. If your Scratch Disk is full, save your file, then restart Photoshop. The Scratch Disk is cleared when you exit the program.
The default Scratch Disk is the C:\ drive. Adobe advises against using the operating system drive for your Scratch Disk unless it's the only drive available. Here's how to select another drive for the Scratch Disk.
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Apr 06, 2020
Plenty of Windows laptops try to position themselves as MacBook Pro alternatives, combining slick designs and vibrant displays with powerful PC performance, but the Lenovo Yoga C940 15 is no mere copycat.
While the Yoga looks sharp and has a bright display, it also leans into its differences as a Windows PC. It has a touchscreen that flips around into tablet mode, a built-in stylus for writing or sketching, and—thank heavens—a full-sized USB-A port to complement its two USB-C connections. It even fits in a number pad without cramping its excellent keyboard.
That's not to say the Lenovo Yoga C940 15 ticks every imaginable box. Screen backlighting is a bit uneven, audio quality could be better, and limited configuration options will prevent you from turning this into a beastly desktop replacement. Also, if we're comparing to Apple's MacBooks, Lenovo's laptop doesn't include all the same niceties, such as a slightly larger screen and jumbo-sized trackpad.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Apr 06, 2020
You can use it as a stand-alone security for your front door or integrate it into a larger DIY system, with optional professional monitoring.
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Apr 06, 2020
Jeffrey Katzenberg's new project shouldn't be dismissed as 'Short Attention Span Theater' for the new millennium.
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Apr 05, 2020
Apple is set to launch a new iPhone SE in April. Here's everything we think we know about it.
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Apr 03, 2020
If you're sick of peeling the tape off your laptop's camera every time you need to call into a virtual meeting, look no further than the Android phone lying on your desk. That's right, you can use your Android phone as a makeshift webcam for Zoom or Skype video calls—no cables required.
There are a few different apps you can use, depending on your PC. If you have a Mac, your best bet is EpocCam, which also works well with an iPhone or iPad. For Windows or Linux users, we like DroidCam. Both offer free and paid tiers, depending on your streaming needs.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Apr 03, 2020
The Call of the Wild, Onward, Bad Boys for Life, and more are available to rent or buy from streaming services way ahead of schedule.
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Apr 03, 2020
While Amazon has traditionally been a one-stop shop for tech gear, its mid-April delays are making other retailers viable options for getting what you want with a shorter lead time. Online stores like Newegg and B&H are stepping up, alongside (gasp!) actual brick-and-mortar stores like Best Buy and Office Depot.
Alas, the old way of buying tech—looking for the absolute lowest price—is being set aside, as consumers are willing to pay a bit more for any products actually in stock. While we can't guarantee a particular retailer will have the specific product you're looking for, all of the ones we checked appeared to have a decent assortment of items in stock that we haven't been able to get through Amazon.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Apr 03, 2020
With millions of people currently connecting via online video and chat, Skype is promoting Skype Meet Now, a free, simple way of connecting via Skype without a subscription or even a download.
Announced Friday, Skype Meet Now is essentially a web-based version of Skype, with additional conveniences: a permanent link that you can toss into a text message or email, background blurring, and even a stored cloud recording of the call and files. Users can go to the Skype Meet Now webpage, click the Create a free meeting link, and get a shared meeting link to send to friends.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Apr 03, 2020
In this episode of The Full Nerd, Gordon Ung, Brad Chacos, Adam Patrick Murray and special guest Mark Hachman talk about the next-gen Intel CPUs and Nvidia GPUs revealed for gaming laptops at the exact same time on the exact same day. What a coincidence!
Mark kicks things off with a deep-dive into Intel's new "Comet Lake H" 10th-gen Core processors, which blow well past the 5GHz speed barrier. Whoa. How does Intel's latest compare against the ultra-impressive AMD Ryzen 4000 notebook CPUs that also launched this very week? The gang digs in.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Apr 03, 2020
SXSW, the Ashland International Film Festival, Film Forum, and more are turning to virtual screenings in the wake of COVID-19.
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Apr 03, 2020
If you've been itching to try out the Galaxy S20's best features but don't want to drop a ton of money on a new phone right now, you'll soon have your chance. As part of a global update rolling out to all users as of April 3, Galaxy S10 and Note 10 users will gain a variety of software enhancements that were previously exclusive to the S20.
Update 4/3: Samsung has announced that the software update is rolling out to Galaxy S10 and Note 10 users in the U.S. beginning today.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Apr 03, 2020
Apple is set to launch a new iPhone SE in April. Here's everything we think we know about it.
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Apr 03, 2020
Battle buddiesImage by Ubisoft
It's good to have friends.
We've refreshed this list a few times over the years, but now feels like a particularly appropriate time to do so. We could all use a way to hang out with friends right now, right? Co-op games have long been a way for people to "see" friends from afar, and that's doubly important at the moment. If you're looking for a way to spend time with your loved ones digitally, what better way than robbing trains or shooting aliens or whatever?
To read this article in full, please click here
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Apr 03, 2020
Webcams are hard to come by at the moment. These sudden necessities have sold out across major retailers, with remaining stock going for inflated prices through third-party and eBay sellers.
All is not lost, however—you might still be able to cobble together an equivalent setup with a digital SLR (dSLR) camera, camcorder, GoPro, or premium point-and-shoot you already own. Provided that the device passes muster, you just need to buy a capture device and possibly a few accessories.
The cost? About the same amount of cash as those opportunistic webcam listings (currently between $130 and $180 for models with MSRPs of $100 and below). And you'll very likely end up with better picture quality, too.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Apr 03, 2020
It's important to get along with everyone you're staying at home with, including Alexa.
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Apr 02, 2020
Series like The Wire, Veep, Ballers and Barry will join additional movies and documentaries from HBO and Warner Bros., all available for free using HBO GO and the HBO Web site.
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Apr 02, 2020
Whether you're working from your backyard, a park, or a bus, there are times when you need a Wi-Fi connection on your laptop and you're out of range of a network or public hotspot. Never fear: As long as you have your phone handy, you can deliver a personal and private network to your tablet or laptop in seconds.
To get started, you'll need to go to the network settings on your phone. It's called different things depending on which Android phone you're using—Network & Internet on Android 10, Connections on One UI on Galaxy phones, etc.—but it'll be where you select your Wi-Fi network. Inside, look for a tab that says hotspot or tethering.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Apr 02, 2020
Update: After this story and others went live April 1, Zoom CEO Eric Yuan addressed Zoom security and other issues in a blog post. Part of the blog post detailed a bug fix to be released, which would fix the UNC vulnerability described in our original story, among other things. The fix appears to be pushing out automatically to users. PCWorld staff who've already received the fix report the version number as 4.6.9 (19253.0401).
An unpatched vulnerability within Zoom allows an attacker to drop a malicious link into a chat window and use it to steal a Windows password, according to reports.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Apr 02, 2020
Coming later this month, the diminutive Blink Mini is set to compete with such budget security cams as the $20 Wyze Cam v2.
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Apr 02, 2020
If you've ever sent a video to an Android friend, it probably ended up as a blurry, unwatchable mess. Here's how to stop that from happening next time.
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Apr 02, 2020
Intel and Nvidia blitzed the technology world with the simultaneously launch of 10th-gen Core CPUs and GeForce RTX Super GPUs on Thursday, and now Acer's Predator Triton 500 gaming laptop is adding to the shock and awe.
The Predator Triton 500 has long been coveted for its fairly light weight and thin body. The newest iteration takes it to the next level with Intel's latest 10th-gen Comet Lake H chips. The 14nm Comet Lake H CPUs bump some Core i7 chips up to 8-cores, and bumps up the boost clock on the Core i9.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Apr 02, 2020
An ATSC 3.0 broadcaster aims to sell 80 over-the-air channels for under $50 per month.
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Apr 02, 2020
With strong human detection and facial recognition that trumps bigger camera brands, the Blurams Outdoor Pro is a great (and affordable) security camera.
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Apr 02, 2020
The new Lenovo Legion 5i and 7i laptops will be the first to feature Nvidia's Advanced Optimus, a technology that manages G-Sync graphics dynamically to preserve battery life.
The two gaming systems are part of the Thursday announcement of Intel's Comet Lake H mobile CPUs and Nvidia's GeForce Super GPUs. Taken all together, the companies' products usher in an exciting new generation of high-performance laptops (and intriguing competition with the Ryzen 4000 laptops launched Monday).
To read this article in full, please click here
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Apr 02, 2020
Razer has upgraded its premium Blade 15 with an Advanced Model (early 2020) that has all the newest toys.
Announced Thursday, the Blade 15 Advanced Model will move up from the previous model's 6-core chip to Intel's new 10th-gen Comet Lake H Core i7-108750H, which features 8 cores in a laptop Core i7 for the first time.
At the same time, the Blade 15 Advanced Model will feature Nvidia's newest GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q and GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q. Most gamers may focus on the ‘Super' portion of the name, but the Max-Q part may be more important: Nvidia says its latest iteration of Max-Q gets a lot closer in performance to its standard "Max-P" GPUs.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Apr 02, 2020
Gigabyte is retooling its Aero and Aorus laptop lines with the latest Intel Comet Lake H CPUs and Nvidia's GeForce Super GPUs, and clearing up some confusion about who should buy which product line.
The Gigabyte Aorus line of laptops is aimed mostly at professional gamers (and likely aspiring pro gamers, too). On Thursday the company announced the Aorus line would offer Intel's latest 10th-gen Comet Lake H CPUs and Nvidia's GeForce Super GPUs.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Apr 02, 2020
In the race to introduce the first laptop with miniLEDs, MSI's Creator 17 may have just beaten everyone. Meanwhile, MSI's GS66 Stealth and GE66 Raider gaming laptops rock 300MHz panels, and all of the new notebooks unwrapped Thursday pack Intel and Nvidia's latest and greatest chips.
The beastly MSI Creator 17 laptop features a 4K, 17.3-inch miniLED screen, Nvidia's fresh GeForce Super GPUs, and Intel's newly revealed 10th-gen "Comet Lake H" Core processors.
While the miniLED news and Comet Lake H isn't much of a surprise after the laptop's reveal at CES, the third shoe to drop is Nvidia's new GeForce RTX Super-series GPUs, which were also announced Thursday.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Apr 02, 2020
Intel's 10th-gen "Comet Lake-H" mobile processors for gaming laptops aspire to something that, so far, AMD's Ryzen hasn't: pure clock speed. Announced Thursday, Intel's 10th-gen H-series chips go above 5GHz, the first time a mobile PC processor has reached those heights.
In fact, most of Intel's six new Comet Lake H-series chips top 5GHz, including a "step up" Core i7 chip, the Core i7-10875H (2.3GHz base, 5.1GHz turbo). Intel's designed it as a slightly cheaper alternative to the new uber-premium Core i9-10980HK, though both chips include 8 cores and 16 threads. It's this new Core i9 that sets a high-water mark for clock speed, cresting at a whopping 5.3GHz.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Apr 02, 2020
After months of speculation and leaks, Nvidia's long-awaited GeForce RTX 2070 Super and 2080 Super GPUs are coming to laptops, launching Thursday in unison with Intel's "Comet Lake-H" 10th-gen Core processors for mobile gaming.
That's great! But believe it or not, it may be Nvidia's least enticing announcement today. The company also announced cheaper prices for gaming laptops across the board, and some massive upgrades to its energy-efficient Max-Q technology to let GeForce GPUs soar even higher when they're paired with Intel and AMD's latest notebook processors.
Let's look at the new GPUs and Nvidia's pricing changes first, then dive into the Max-Q tweaks, since they're worth deeper explanation.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Apr 01, 2020
Updated April 1, 2020 to add information on the tax-filing deadline extension due to COVID-19. (No, this is not an April Fools' gag!)
In normal circumstances, the countdown to getting your 2019 taxes filed would begin in ernest today. But seeing as circumstances are far from normal, the deadline for filing both federal and state taxes has been extended. (Good news, procrastinators!) All federal taxes are now due on July 15, 2020. As TurboTax points out in a helpful FAQ, no additional action is required on your part to be eligible for the federal extension—it applies across the board.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Apr 01, 2020
An unpatched vulnerability within Zoom allows an attacker to drop a malicious link into a chat window and use it to steal a Windows password, according to reports.
A hacker could use an attack called a UNC path injection to expose credentials, according to an attack posted on Twitter and subsequently followed up with an additional video. According to The Hacker News, that's because Windows exposes a user's login name and password to a remote server when attempting to connect to it and download a file.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Apr 01, 2020
The leaked Ring Doorbox looks like it may be for securing a key, but would the key unlock a door, a package box, or something else?
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Apr 01, 2020
In a press release that was as surprising as it was terse, weather app and API purveyor Dark Sky announced that it had been acquired by Apple. Of course, iOS users will be fine and the Dark Sky will continue to be available for purchase in the App Store until it inevitably replaces the stock weather app in an upcoming iOS release.
Android users aren't so lucky. Dark Sky offered no promises or hope, saying plainly that the Android and Wear OS apps will no longer be available for download in the Play Store and service to existing users and subscribers will end on July 1.(Subscribers who are still active at that time will receive a refund for whatever remains of their $3 annual subscription fee.)
To read this article in full, please click here
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Apr 01, 2020
Can't snag a webcam on Amazon? In a pinch, you can use your Wyze cam as a webcam. Here's the trick.
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Apr 01, 2020
The $200 WH-CH710N headset boasts active noise cancellation; Sony also announced the $130 WF-XB700 true wireless earbuds.
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Apr 01, 2020
In case you missed it, Huawei unveiled a few new flagship phones in late March. The newest members of its high-end P series, the P40, P40 Pro, and P40 Pro , are unlikely to make much of a splash outside of China due to the lack of Google apps, Google Assistant, and the Play Store, but they'll still have a major impact on the global Android smartphone landscape. Here's how Huawei's latest flagships will influence the phones you'll actually buy.
Curves everywhere
Samsung phones have long had Infinity displays with curved edges that slightly wrap the screen on the right and left sides of the phone, but the I quad-curve overflow display on the P40 Pro and P40 Pro takes it to a whole new level. Here's how Huawei describes it: "Inspired by the art of motion, the display takes on a curved edge on all four sides, creating a shape that is reminiscent of water on the cusp of overflowing from the rim of a filled cup." In other words, the top and bottom of the glass are curved like the sides, with extremely skinny bezels and a near-all-screen aesthetic.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Apr 01, 2020
If you're in need a webcam for all the video conferences you're doing nowadays, your iPhone can carry the load.
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Apr 01, 2020
If you appreciate volume, thump, and durability in a speaker, the Braven BVR-XXL/2 should be at the top of your short list. It's IPX5 rated, sounds good for the weatherized category, and even features a magnetic bottle opener.
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Apr 01, 2020
If you appreciate volume, thump, and durability in a speaker, the Braven BVR-XXL/2 should be at the top of your short list. It's IPX5 rated, sounds good for the weatherized category, and even features a magnetic bottle opener.
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Apr 01, 2020
Maintaining your home office tech is just as important as maintaining your yard or your car. It can be tempting to put off these critical tasks, but if you're working from home the last thing you want is downtime. Start checking these items off your list to develop good tech maintenance habits.
There's an economical side to this, too. In certain situations, working from home effectively may mean buying new equipment to fill the gaps. But before you decide you need something new, making the most of what you already have might be a better idea!
To read this article in full, please click here
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Apr 01, 2020
This is the best video doorbell we've tested, but not everyone will want the professionally installed and monitored smart home/home security system that it's part of.
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Mar 31, 2020
When you're working from home for the first time, you quickly realize that it requires more thought than plunking your laptop on the coffee table.
Nailing down the tech is a large part of it. But we realize, too, that there's a "softer" side: what hours you keep, how to stay in contact with coworkers and friends, and even what to wear. PCWorld's editors are ready with all the tech tips we've learned from years of working from home ourselves.
Define your workspace
First things first: As we're learning, there's no "normal" with the coronavirus. But that also applies to where you live. "Home workers" now include apartment dwellers, Millennials who share a house, Midwesterners with basements, suburbanites in McMansions, and more. You'll have to figure out what works for you, within your own unique environment. Still, some rules apply to just about everyone.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Mar 31, 2020
Apple now has its own weather service. And Android users will have to find a new weather app.
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Mar 31, 2020
Even heads of state need some help with Zoom. A screenshot of a Zoom meeting shared publicly by the UK's prime minister, Boris Johnson, included its Zoom Meeting ID. Don't do that! Here's why.
With more and more people using the convenient Zoom videoconferencing app to communicate while working from home, "Zoombombing" is becoming a thing. "Zoom bombing" is as bad as it would be in real life: When an uninvited guest suddenly shows up in your Zoom meeting and starts acting up, swearing, or sharing inappropriate pictures, everyone loses.
Boris Johnson / Twitter
Zoom in far enough, and you can clearly see the Zoom meeting ID in the upper left-hand corner of this Zoom meeting UK prime minister Boris Johnson shared on Twitter.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Mar 31, 2020
The gaming laptop landscape is about to change, because both AMD and Intel are coming out with new performance chips for mobile this year. While the first Ryzen 4000 laptop is a gaming laptop—the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14—it's too early to tell whether the new CPU will have any effect on gaming performance.
Not everyone needs to wait for Ryzen 4000 and Comet Lake H CPUs, though. Budget-minded and entry-level to intermediate gamers already have a lot of great choices—and they may see discounts as the new CPUs come online. Check out our top picks immediately below, and keep reading to catch up on the latest news and reviews.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Mar 31, 2020
In this episode of The Full Nerd, Gordon Ung, Brad Chacos, Alaina Yee and Adam Patrick Murray dive into AMD's game-changing Ryzen 4000 CPU for laptops.
AMD has never beaten Intel in laptops—until now. The crew gets into just how fast, and how awesome the Ryzen 9 4900HS inside of the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Mar 31, 2020
Available for months in other territories, the family-friendly Spotify Kids music app is making its stateside debut.
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Mar 31, 2020
Testing your internet connection's performance is even more important with millions of extra workers working from home. You don't need any extra software—a web browser will do. But there are also a few things you can do to make sure you are getting the most accurate reading of your internet connection. Here's what to do!
Get ready
Essentially, what we're trying to do is compare the amount of bandwidth that's coming into your home with what your ISP is promising you. First make sure that you know what your Internet plan is, and what your ISP promises is the minimum connection speed. Consult your bill or your ISP's Web site for that.
Let's turn to the PC. For best results, you'll want to use a wired connection if at all possible; that way, you don't have to worry about interference and performance fluctuations that can occur while you're on Wi-Fi. If you have any other wired devices on your home network, plug your test computer directly into the modem so those don't interfere. Again, we're trying to learn how much bandwidth is coming directly into your home, before it begins getting divvied up among connected devices.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Mar 31, 2020
Fitbit has launched the Charge 4 with built-in GPS, new activity zones, and the same $150 price tag.
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Mar 31, 2020
Monday, November 25, 2019 was a momentous day. On it, AMD's benchmark-shattering, floor-wiping, mic-dropping 32-core Threadripper 3970X reviews launched alongside Intel's most potent consumer chip, the 18-core Core i9-10980XE. The wild performance difference between the two respective champions drove home a truth that's been slowly building and is suddenly here: For the first time since Intel's Core architecture ended the Athlon 64's dominance nearly 15 long years ago, after an AMD Bulldozer era seemingly endless with disappointment, AMD's Ryzen processors are firmly in control on the desktop.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Mar 31, 2020
The YubiKey Bio is a security product seemingly made for the growing number of people working from home during the coronavirus threat, but the security issues facing remote workers are hardly new. Even if they've figured out everything else—bought a second monitor, rearranged some furniture, or upgraded their router—security remains an oft-forgotten, but vital detail.
The transition from working in an office to working at home creates a juicy opportunity for attackers intent on stealing your personal information. "With a rapid shift toward remote workforces, the attack vector grows larger and we're already seeing an increase in targeted phishing attacks," said Guido Appenzeller, chief product officer of Yubico. "Not to mention, operating remotely is new territory for many companies, involving steep learning curves and confusion. This is the perfect scenario for an attacker to thrive in and opens opportunities for social engineering and phishing attacks." That's why Yubico is developing a security key with built-in biometrics for the ultimate portable encrypted key.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Mar 31, 2020
This garage door controller is difficult to install, and suffers significant problems, including frequent disconnects.
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Mar 31, 2020
The Blue Indoor Camera is a DIY home-security cam from ADT that will alert you should it hear a CO2 or smoke alarm going off.
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Mar 31, 2020
Even if you use your garage only as an oversized storage locker, you'll wonder how you ever got along without a smart controller for your existing garage door opener.
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Mar 31, 2020
Quarantine, day six. I'm standing in Paris, in one of my favorite spots. It's a fountain in the Tuileries, near the Louvre. There are green metal chairs scattered around, inviting people to sit and relax for a few moments, or for an afternoon. Wind mixes with birdsong as I stand and take it all in. It feels as if I'm the last person on Earth, standing here alone in an empty park—but at least I'm outside.
Quarantine, day seven. I'm in a different city, vaguely Soviet in appearance. Again, there is nobody else around—or nobody living, anyway. City 17 is quiet, but for the headcrabs. I holster my pistol and admire the crumbling remains of the North Star Hotel, imagine it in happier times.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Mar 30, 2020
Microsoft said Monday that it's adding new security and usability features to Microsoft Edge, complementing the company's rebranding of its Office 365 suite for consumers into Microsoft 365.
Microsoft plans to add three key improvements over the coming months: an automated password checker that will try to determine whether your password has been leaked to the web, an arrangement of vertical tabs, as well as taking the Collections arrangement and merging it with the mobile apps.
While Collections is unique to Edge, the other capabilities have been offered by other browsers. Google, for example, will alert you if it detects that any of your passwords stored in its browser vault have been published to the web as part of a site hack, and will encourage you to change them. Edge—what used to be called the "new Edge," and now is just Microsoft Edge—will do the same.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Mar 30, 2020
Office 365 is dead. Long live Microsoft 365, the renamed version of Microsoft's productivity suite that now includes an expanded version of Microsoft Teams designed expressly for consumers.
On April 21, current Office 365 subscriptions for consumers will shift over to become Microsoft 365 subscriptions, Microsoft said, available at the current price of $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year for a shared group of up to 6 people. (Personal subscriptions are $6.99 per user per month, or $69.99 per year.) Those subscriptions will still include features like a gigabyte of OneDrive cloud storage, access to Microsoft's Office apps, and more.
What's new, though, is a version—some might call it an expansion—of Microsoft Teams that's been retooled for consumers, with group chat, file sharing, and more—all features available on the enterprise version of Teams, but overhauled in a friendlier interface. Microsoft also announced a new Microsoft Family Safety app designed to help parents keep track of their kids in the real world. Finally, Microsoft showed off new features within Office—some of which had already been announced—that tap into AI to improve its capabilities for writing within Word, scheduling within Excel, and more.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Mar 30, 2020
Office 365 is dead. Long live Microsoft 365, the renamed version of Microsoft's productivity suite that now includes a version of Microsoft Teams for consumers.
On April 21, current Office 365 subscriptions for consumers will shift over to become Microsoft 365 subscriptions, Microsoft said, available at the current price of $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year for a shared group of up to 6 people. (Personal subscriptions are $6.99 per user per month, or $69.99 per year.) Those subscriptions will still include features like a gigabyte of OneDrive cloud storage, access to Microsoft's Office apps, and more.
What's new, though, is a version—some might call it an expansion—of Microsoft Teams that's been retooled for consumers, with group chat, file sharing, and more—all features available on the enterprise version of Teams, but overhauled in a friendlier interface. Microsoft also announced a new Microsoft Family Safety app designed to help parents keep track of their kids in the real world. Finally, Microsoft showed off new features within Office—some of which had already been announced—that tap into AI to improve its capabilities for writing within Word, scheduling within Excel, and more.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Mar 30, 2020
Only a second ago, there was a wall here. Now there is the suggestion of a wall—which is to say, nothing. Bricks lay scattered across the street and as the dust settles a shadow appears in the hole where the wall used to be.
I am already running. Running back to safety, to the room where (for some reason) the Nemesis can't find me. Running as fast as I possibly can and knowing it's still not fast enough. Bracing for the fist in the back of my skull, or the tentacle to grab my leg and trip me up. It's that nightmare where you run and run from something but can't quite get away—except it's no nightmare, and I am running through the streets of Raccoon City screaming.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Mar 30, 2020
We've tested the new ROG Zephyrus G14, which debuts with AMD's stellar Ryzen 9 4900HS CPU, and we can safely say: Just give Asus your money. This laptop packs a stupid amount of performance into a stupidly small and stupidly light frame.
To give you an idea of just how impressive this 3.5-pound, Ryzen 4000-based laptop is, you're talking about a weight class that typically gives you lower-power CPUs and GPUs. Yet the G14 can hang in CPU performance with laptops that weight 10 pounds.
Obviously the star of the show is the Ryzen 9 4900HS CPU, which we review in detail separately. But the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 as a whole package is nearly as impressive, so keep reading to find out more.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Mar 30, 2020
AMD's Ryzen 4000 mobile CPUs, introduced at CES, finally break the curse that had the company losing to Intel in laptops over and over again. This time, AMD promises it's optimized Ryzen 4000 for mobile computing. And our first performance benchmarks prove it out.
Maybe you've already read our main review of the first Ryzen 4000 CPU we're testing, the Ryzen 9 4900HS (the ‘H' means its intended for power users, and the ‘S' means it's for "slim"-profile laptops). While that story contains a core suite of benchmarks, this story compiles all the tests we ran. We'll add more benchmarks as we test more of the first generation—AMD expects about 100 laptops with Ryzen 4000 parts to ship this year.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Mar 30, 2020
When AMD introduced its Ryzen 4000 mobile CPUs at CES, the company made bold claims of game-changing performance. Coming off of years of underwhelming laptop chips, AMD promised it had optimized Ryzen 4000 for mobile computing.
Now we've tested those claims in AMD's Ryzen 9 4900HS chip, an 8-core, 7nm chip with Radeon Vega cores. We're stunned at the CPU's impressive tour de force that defeats just about every Intel 8th- and 9th-gen laptop CPU we've ever seen.
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Mar 30, 2020
A great-sounding, compact, vibration-free solution for vinyl lovers.
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Mar 30, 2020
Awair's latest indoor air-quality monitor has an updated design, but still makes it easy to track indoor pollutants.
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Mar 30, 2020
Whether you suffer from allergies or asthma or just want to optimize your indoor environment, these devices will give you insight into the air you're breathing.
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Mar 27, 2020
In this episode of The Full Nerd, Gordon Ung, Brad Chacos, and Adam Patrick Murray dive into the latest gaming news with special guest (and PCWorld gaming guru) Hayden Dingman.
We kick things off with a discussion about Nvidia's DLSS 2.0 technology, which finally looks poised to deliver on the lofty promises made when the GeForce RTX 20-series launched. Better image quality and faster speeds? Yes please. Next, we talk about Hayden's Half-Life: Alyx review, and why it's so hard to create a game that really, truly feels immersive. Finally, Gordon gives us the skinny on an alleged Intel Rocket Lake-S leak.
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Mar 27, 2020
How to cut the cord: All the devices, services, and knowledge you need to ditch cable and save money.
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Mar 27, 2020
If all the grim coronavirus bulletins are taking a toll on your sanity, consider taking a break from news headlines on your Echo Show and Google Nest smart displays.
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Mar 27, 2020
Just ask, and Alexa will quiz you to determine whether it's likely you've been exposed to the novel coronavirus.
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Mar 27, 2020
Compared with a smartphone's built-in DAC/amp, the sound of this gem is a revelation.
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Mar 27, 2020
These films are aimed at the younger set, but adults will enjoy them just as much—and that goes double when you all enjoy them together.
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Mar 27, 2020
Find yourself suddenly needing to be more productive? Good news! Windows 10 comes loaded with all sorts of tools designed to help you Get Things Done, along with deeper tweaks that can optimize the operating system for productivity even more. Now for the bad news: All those excellent productivity-boosting Windows tools and tweaks aren't immediately obvious, with many of the most useful settings buried deep inside a maze of options menus.
We can help. Taking five or ten minutes to tinker with Windows 10 can supercharge your setup, regardless of whether you're trying to keep at work while stuck at home or setting up something more permanent. Let's dig in.
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Mar 26, 2020
I hopped on the Android bandwagon early: I sold my iPhone 3G in 2009, bought an HTC Hero, and never looked back. I've been using Android every day since then, writing about Google's platform as a tech journalist. Nonetheless, I've tried to keep pace with iPhone developments, and recently set aside a week of my life to get reacquainted with Apple's smartphone.
I put all my Android phones in a drawer and settled into life with the iPhone 11 Pro. Admittedly, the iPhone does some things extremely well, even for a long-time Android user like myself. However, there are also plenty of things I hate with a fiery passion.
Where the iPhone wins
Apple's Taptic Engine: Haptics are an underappreciated but important aspect of interacting with a smartphone, and Apple understands this. The "Taptic Engine" is essentially a giant vibration motor bolted right to the iPhone's frame, and it's fantastic. The haptic feedback is tight and powerful, surpassing all Android phones on the market. It can almost feel like you're pressing physical buttons on the screen sometimes. Google's Pixel phones have by far the best haptics on Android, but even those devices are far behind Apple.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Mar 26, 2020
We compare the streaming platforms most popular with cord-cutters: Fire TV and Roku.
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Mar 26, 2020
Watch CNN, MSNBC, FOX News, AMC, FX, and more for free, no credit card or subscription required.
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Mar 26, 2020
Emma, The Invisible Man, Birds of Prey, and more will be available to rent or buy from streaming services way ahead of schedule.
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Mar 26, 2020
WiZ's smart BR30 floodlight is easy to set up, boasts more than a dozen dynamic color lighting modes, and it can even turn "dumb" light switches into smart ones.
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Mar 26, 2020
Home Wi-Fi problems were easy to ignore when it was just the occasional pause of a Netflix stream, or uploading a GIF took a few seconds longer than it should. But if you're working at home—and your kids are learning at home—during this corona virus pandemic, you need your router to operate at peak performance.
Before you start shopping for a new router, there are lots of things you can do to improve the performance of your current hardware.
Tip: If speed is the issue, use an app such as Ookla's Speedtest to see if performance improves between each troubleshooting step. Be aware, however, that this tool measures the speed of your connection to the internet, not the maximum speed your router is capable of achieving while transferring data over your local network.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Mar 25, 2020
Looks like 2020 is going to be a great year for laptops. We have AMD and Intel battling it out on the CPU front (we talk about whether you should wait for Ryzen 7 4000 and Comet Lake H or buy now), new mobile discrete GPUs enabling thinner, lighter, and faster gaming laptops, and battery life that won't quit. Check out the latest news and reviews below.
Latest laptop news and reviews
Laptop news and reviews are heating up, because of new AMD and Intel mobile CPUs coming soon. Here's the latest.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Mar 25, 2020
Microsoft has published a new Xbox extension for Microsoft Edge that blurs the lines between working from home and sneaking a peek into your favorite game streams. And hey, who says your web browser can't have a little fun?
The new Xbox New Tab extension for the new Microsoft Edge alters Edge's layout schemes from its mix of inspirational and informational new-tab screens to add a fourth option: scenes and art from popular Xbox games, as well as quick links to popular game streams. (Oddly, all of the featured streams that were displayed linked to Twitch, but there's also a dedicated shortcut to Microsoft's own Mixer service.)
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Mar 25, 2020
While you won't be getting a new version of Chrome or Chrome OS for a while due to the coronavirus outbreak, Google has announced upcoming changes to its Terms of Service, effective March 31, that "make it easier for you to understand what we can expect from each other." It's the first time since October, 2017 that Google has updated the terms of service, and because you probably don't want to read through the whole thing, we've summarized the important changes for you.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Mar 25, 2020
As convenience goes, wireless charging can't be beat. You simply drop your phone onto the charger and walk away. Gone is the headache of managing cables that inevitably break or get lost.
Until recently, the main drawback to wireless chargers has been slow adoption and slow charging. This style of charging is still not ubiquitous, but you can now find Samsung, LG, Sony, and Moto phones that support it on the Android side, and Apple has adopted it for its iPhone lineup as well. And the technology itself is finally reaching a point where its speed is easier to live with, too.
Now that it's a good time to go out and grab a stand or pad, we've tested some of the most popular models out there for both Android and iPhone, and discovered our favorites among the bunch. Read on for our findings, and check back periodically for our latest updates.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Mar 25, 2020
Both the iOS and Android versions of the YouTube Music app now display song lyrics, although real-time lyrics aren't supported yet.
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Mar 25, 2020
ATSC 3.0 (or Next Gen TV) is coming to replace today's over-the-air broadcasts, but it's still very early days.
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Mar 25, 2020
As a long-time freelancer and work-from-homer, I've owned a lot of routers in my quest for the speediest and most pervasive possible Wi-Fi. I had the original Apple Airport, followed by the AirPort Extreme, the Linksys WRT3200ACM, and most recently, the Netgear Orbi RBK50.
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Mar 25, 2020
If you've been itching to try out the Galaxy S20's best features but don't want to drop a ton of money on a new phone right now, you'll soon have your chance. As part of a global update rolling out this month, Galaxy S10 and Note 10 users will gain a variety of software enhancements that were previously exclusive to the S20.
The most interesting is Single Take, a new shooting mode that takes some of the guesswork out of shooting. Instead of waiting for the right moment and tapping the shutter, Single Take captures more than a dozen photos and videos at once and automatically chooses the best shots. All you need to do is record video of a scene for up to 10 seconds and the AI will do all the work. Your mileage will most certainly vary, but when it works, it's a delightful feature not unlike one you'd find on your Pixel or iPhone.
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Mar 25, 2020
No graphics card? No problem.Image by Cuphead
PC gaming is often synonymous with performance. Tech specs, frame rates, resolutions, settings menus—we dedicate thousands and thousands of words to these topics, spend hours obsessing over the details.
But for every person running Crysis there's another fending off an upgrade and squeezing the last ounces of power out of their older or low-end desktop PC, or someone valiantly trying to game on a hand-me-down non-gaming laptop. This list is for you folks. Below, you'll find a list of games that any PC can play. Or at least any from the last decade. Probably.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Mar 25, 2020
The Fiora Ultimate Wireless Desk Charger looks sleek, and frankly, pretty darn cool. It's a small square slab of glass that has a premium quality to it.
The bottom and edges of the pad are made of aluminum. The power port is found on the back edge of the pad, while the front edge features an indicator light that's green whenever the pad has power, and blue when it's wirelessly charging a device.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Mar 25, 2020
A high price tag and a rough-around-the-edges app keep Securam's first consumer lock from being a runaway success.
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Mar 25, 2020
I've encountered a few drawbacks in the year since I cut the cable TV cord.
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Mar 25, 2020
Keys are yesterday's tech, your smart home needs a smart door lock.
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Mar 24, 2020
Microsoft said Tuesday that it is making several educational activities normally reserved for its Minecraft: Education Edition available to the "Bedrock" editions found on the PC, Xbox, and other platforms—all for free.
It's a recognition that kids may be stuck at home for weeks waiting out the coronavirus, stuck in an odd limbo between vacation and "learning from home." To help, Microsoft has taken a number of lessons from its Minecraft: Education Edition and made them free to download until June 30, all as part of a new "Education" category. (Normally, Minecraft: EE content is specific to the classroom, with specific activities for students.)
Not only are there ways for kids to explore the inner workings of the human eye, or take a tour of the International Space Station, but the company has also thrown in 10 worlds from its creator community for free. Creators Everbloom, Jigarbov, Lifeboat, Razzleberries, and others have added worlds themed around renewable energy, marine biology, Greek history, and other topics. Normally, add-on content is paid for by "Minecoins," which can be bought en masse by players.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Mar 24, 2020
By default, YouTube will begin lowering the quality of its streams around the world to standard definition, reflecting the reality that the more people stream, the greater the toll that video places on internet infrastructure.
Fortunately, that doesn't mean you'll be cut off from HD streams. YouTube told Bloomberg that while the SD option will be on by default, you can still manually dial up a stream's resolution by adjusting settings. Just click on the Settings gear at the lower right-hand corner of the video, choose the Quality button, and select the resolution you want to stream. The default resolution change will begin rolling out on Tuesday and will be in effect for the next 30 days, YouTube said.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Mar 24, 2020
Wyze is breaking into the world of fitness tech with a new $25 band and $20 activity tracker.
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Mar 24, 2020
The new iPad Pro brings a speedier chip, better microphones, and a new camera array, but early reviewers find little actual reason to upgrade if you already have one.
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Mar 24, 2020
Worth the price of admissionImage by Respawn
There was a time when "free-to-play" was a dirty term in the games industry. There are still terrible, exploitative free-to-play games on the market—more every day, in fact.
But occasionally—occasionally—we get something...miraculous. We get a free-to-play game that doesn't try to con players out of money or make the design intentionally boring in order to make those purchasable unlocks more exciting.
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Mar 24, 2020
As the coronavirus spreads across the globe, your Apple, Android, and Fitbit smartwatch can help you monitor potential symptoms.
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