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Dec 06, 2019
Last week I was too busy eating to care about news. Cows wearing VR headsets? Neat. BioWare wants to remind everyone that Dragon Age 4 exists? Fascinating. Now pass the mashed potatoes, please.
But we're back for a few short weeks before year's end, and I've returned to my weekly news-gathering duties despite suffering from some rather severe senioritis. This week, a look at Destiny 2's new Season of Dawn, a sequel to Pathfinder: Kingmaker, our first fight scene from The Witcher, Human Head controversy, and more.
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Dec 06, 2019
Choosing a gaming keyboard is a matter of personal taste. To that point, there are a plethora of options, with a dizzying mix of features. One person could be into Cherry Browns and white backlighting. Another might favor Razer Greens and a rippling RGB glow. Gigantic wrist pads, compact shapes, numeric keypads, macro keys, volume controls.... You get the picture
To help you sort through the many options, we've rounded up a large number of planks, putting them through their paces, to come up with our top recommendations. All of these are mechanical keyboards, and for good reason—they're simply more comfortable to use over the long haul. But we're open-minded, so if we encounter an alternative that works well, you may see it appear on this list. We'll keep updating it periodically as we test new keyboards.
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Dec 06, 2019
A year ago, I wrote these words: "Epic Games is creating a Steam rival and Valve should be scared." And for good reason: The Epic Games Store debuted December 6, 2018 and upended the PC gaming market. Valve, once unassailable, suddenly seemed very vulnerable. Flush with Fortnite money, Epic provided the first real competition to Steam since its inception 15 years prior. What company wouldn't worry?
If I could amend that headline now though, I'd instead write "Epic Games is creating a Steam rival and Valve should be grateful."
Grateful, not because Valve fended off the newcomer and solidified its own position, but because Epic spurred Valve out of complacency. The Epic Games Store is better now—but so is Steam. As we look back on the past year, that might be Epic's most valuable contribution to the PC thus far.
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Dec 06, 2019
After years of promises, changes, and utter confusion involving what should be a staple feature of all assistants, Google appears to finally be rolling out the ability to create and manage notes and lists using Google Assistant. Yeah, we can't believe it either.
A short history: When Google Assistant launched back in 2016, it offered the ability to create lists in Google Keep. It was quickly moved into the Home app as part of Google Express, which wasn't ideal but kind of made sense since it's a shopping thing. Then Google teased full Keep integration in 2018 as part of its "proactive" push, and again earlier this year, and now finally it appears to be rolling out.
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Dec 06, 2019
After years of promises, changes, and utter confusion involving what should be a staple feature of all assistants, Google appears to finally be rolling out the ability to create and manage notes and lists using Google Assistant. Yeah, we can't believe it either.
A short history: When Google Assistant launched back in 2016, it offered the ability to create lists in Google Keep. It was quickly moved into the Home app as part of Google Express, which wasn't ideal but kind of made sense since it's a shopping thing. Then Google teased full Keep integration in 2018 as part of its "proactive" push, and again earlier this year, and now finally it appears to be rolling out.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Dec 06, 2019
About a year ago we reviewed the Razer Huntsman Elite, arguably the first mainstream foray into optical keyboard switches. And uh...the only one, really. Optical switches still haven't made much headway against traditional mechanical keyboards.
Razer is doubling down though, introducing the Huntsman Tournament Edition for 2019. Like the rest of Razer's Tournament Edition boards, the Huntsman TE ditches the numpad—and a lot of the Huntsman Elite's personality, in the process. But if you're looking for a simple keyboard with some enthusiast-grade influences, the Huntsman TE is a pretty interesting proposition.
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Dec 06, 2019
Let's be honest: We're a bit skeptical of the new Snapdragon 7c and 8c story, Qualcomm's latest expansion of its Snapdragon Compute lineup into cheaper markets. But we had a chance to play around with them, and they're...fine?
At the Qualcomm Snapdragon Technology Summit in Maui, Hawaii, the company offered reporters a chance to try out a pair of 7c and 8c demo machines. Both of the units we saw were reference designs, with pre-production hardware.
Miguel Nunes, senior director of product management for compute products, supplied us with a few more details about each chip. The 7c includes a pair of ARM Cortex-A76 "performance" cores, with six Cortex-A55 cores serving as the low-power "efficiency" cores. There's an X15 LTE modem, too.
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Dec 06, 2019
Pixel-pushing, PC-melting graphical firepowerImage by Gordon Mah Ung/Rob Schultz
So you built yourself a brand-new gaming rig, you've slotted your sweet new graphics card into the PCIe slot, you've sealed up the case, and you've heard it all POST—congrats! Now it's time to throw games at your fresh build until it breaks, then cry at the thought that if you'd spent just 200 dollars more you could've played at 4K instead of a mere 1080p!
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Dec 06, 2019
They sound pretty good. They have active noise reduction. They let you summon a digital assistant hands-free. They are relatively comfortable and not too big. And the Echo Buds true wireless earbuds from Amazon only cost $129. What's the catch?
The catch, besides an obvious and expected bent toward Alexa and Amazon services, is that these earbuds annoy you with a series of small aggravations that make them feel like the economical choice, not the best choice.
My time with the Echo Buds alternated between being surprised at what you get for "only" $130 and frustrated that Amazon didn't put more care into their design, craftsmanship, and quality. Echo Buds are a good value, especially if you're already all-in with Alexa, but those who don't care about hands-free Alexa integration should probably consider other options.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Dec 06, 2019
The XFX Radeon RX 5700 XT Thicc III Ultra takes the delicious muscle car-evoking design of its namesake and tunes it into something even more kick-ass.
We enjoyed the original XFX Radeon RX 5700 XT Thicc II Ultra, which only launched in September. But while XFX's throwback Double Dissipation aesthetic was alluring, the graphics card wasn't perfect. "It's high-performing, a little loud, extremely impressive, and in need of some slight tinkering for peak performance," we said, continuing the hot-rod theme this hardware begs for. Fan control bugs common to third-party Radeon RX 5700 models dragged it down, requiring a BIOS update out of the box, and the fans roared to tame the card's power-pushing clock speeds.
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Dec 06, 2019
This wire-free smart controller doesn't just work well, it's also priced to move (just be aware of the cost to control a second door opener).
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Dec 06, 2019
How to cut the cord: All the devices, services, and knowledge you need to ditch cable and save money.
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Dec 05, 2019
Choosing the best Android phone for you is a big decision. The Android universe is teeming with options, from super-expensive flagship phones to more affordable models that make a few calculated compromises, to models expressly designed for, say, great photography.
Chances are that whichever phone you buy, you'll keep it for at least two years. So we've made picks for the best Android phone in key categories. Check out our summary Cheat Sheet, or keep reading for details on each pick and the runners-up. At the bottom of this article, we link to all our recent Android phone reviews—in case you have your eye on a model that didn't make our cut.
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Dec 05, 2019
On Thursday, Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon 7c and 8c, two derivatives of the Snapdragon 8cx that will provide opportunities for cheaper PCs to take advantage of the Snapdragon 8cx's advantages: fanless platforms, long battery life and constant connectivity.
It's a gutsy move. Qualcomm's premium Snapdragon 8cx PC processor has arguably struggled to compete with Intel's Core and AMD's Ryzen, at least from a performance standpoint.. Nevertheless, the company's decided that cheaper, presumably less powerful Snapdragon chips for PCs are the way forward.
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Dec 05, 2019
Qualcomm will use its newly announced Snapdragon chips to take another swing at the mixed reality market, adding 5G to the mix with the Snapdragon XR2 platform.
Qualcomm believes that the on-device horsepower of the recent Snapdragon chips, combined with the "edge cloud" capabilities of the 5G connection, should be enough for true mixed reality: augmented reality in one context, and virtual reality in another.
Put simply, Qualcomm says the Snapdragon XR2 has the capability to deliver 3K x 3K per eye, at 90 frames per second. (Before Qualcomm's presentation today, the company was also touting 2.5K x 2.5K per eye at 120 frames per second.) Alternatively, it can render 4K video at up to 120Hz, with additional HDR10/HDR10 support. Qualcomm's also saying that the platform can support seven distinct cameras, tracking your head, face, the controller, and body, among others. Qualcomm isn't saying, but Moor Insights analyst Anshel Sag tells PCWorld it's a modified Snapdragon 865 inside it, with an image processor that supports the multiple cameras.
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Dec 05, 2019
Qualcomm described the Snapdragon 865 in detail on Wednesday, with a long list of new features that included 5G, PC-like gaming features, high-resolution camera imagery, and much more.
Qualcomm set up a demo room where we could go hands-on with some of the features. We took the opportunity to shoot some short videos to go with our descriptions, and you can see them all below.
Single-camera video bokeh
We've all probably used "portrait mode" on a smartphone camera—that's the feature that blurs the background to create the "bokeh" effect of a traditional lensed camera. It's a nifty way to make the eye zero in on the subject of the image. Smartphone cameras use AI to distinguish the subject from the background, which usually works pretty well.
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Dec 05, 2019
Every year about this time, Qualcomm trots out its newest flagship processor and we all ooh and aah over the potential. Speed boosts! Battery efficiencies! Graphics boosts!
I expected this year to bring more of the same, and for the most part, it does. The Snapdragon 865 is a predictable upgrade over the 855, bringing 25-percent faster performance, a 20-percent graphics boost, and "unbelievable battery life," according to Qualcomm. In fact, the company says its new chip represents "the culmination of Qualcomm's more than 30 years of wireless leadership and innovation."
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Dec 05, 2019
Alas, Yale's hardware and August's wireless technology make for truly unhappy bedfellows.
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Dec 05, 2019
Keys are yesterday's tech, your smart home needs a smart door lock.
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Dec 05, 2019
HP's latest Spectre x360 13t has something to say to other thin-and-light laptops, which, it seems, are all about taking good things away from you. Keyboards with travel, USB Type-A ports, and even the opportunity to replace your SSD are features that have all gone by the wayside in some of Dell and Apple's newest and thinnest laptops.
In the face of all that No, the HP Spectre x360 13t simply says Yes. You want a standard M.2 SSD? Got it, the Spectre x360 13t says. NBA-level of travel in your keys? Sure thing. USB Type-A port?! Of course the Spectre x360 13t has that, too.
Gordon Mah Ung
HP gets a USB Type-A using a "drop-jaw" type design typically seen for ethernet connections. And yes, you'll have to pry my USB Type-A from my moist sweaty hands.
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Dec 04, 2019
Qualcomm's next-gen Snapdragon 865 smartphone chip will support 5G, certainly. But more practical features will probably affect phone users in more immediate ways, such as 200 megapixel still photos, 4K HDR/8K video capture with optional portrait mode and Dolby Vision support, dynamic lighting options for mobile gaming, and real-time audio translation.
Qualcomm unveiled the Snapdragon 855 a year ago, and unveiled its successors—the Snapdragon 865, the Snapdragon 765, and the Snapdragon 765G—on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Qualcomm dove deep into what phone makers and end users can expect from its new processors. Improvements to each of its cores—the new Kryo 585 CPU, the Adreno 650 GPU, the Spectra 480 image signal processor, the Sensing Hub, and the X55 5G modem—will all add new capabilities to phones.
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Dec 04, 2019
The original plan, if I recall correctly, was to have the entire Halo: The Master Chief Collection on PC by the end of 2019. Alas, that's not going to happen. But 343 Industries did manage to get Halo: Reach out before the end of the year, the first Halo game to hit PC since Microsoft's ill-fated attempt to use Halo 2 to sell copies of Windows Vista back in 2007.
So how is it? I won't lie, it's kind of janky. Given how many rounds of testing Reach went through this year, I expected a more exhaustive PC version. But it works! If that's all you care about, if you simply need to satiate your nostalgia...well, you're probably already playing. After all, Halo: Reach "reached" the top of the Steam sales charts on release day.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Dec 04, 2019
Intel's redesign of the thin-and-light notebook, known as Project Athena, may have struggled to be more than a name to most consumers. But Intel claims that its design partnership with PC makers has paid off in a way you might not think about: battery-powered performance.
"Performance" is usually synonymous with plugging a laptop in. Unplugging a laptop usually translates to long battery life at the expense of a slower clock speed. But Intel unveiled battery-powered performance numbers alongside the Qualcomm Snapdragon Technology Conference to bolster its design chops.
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Dec 04, 2019
Lost amid the 5G phone hype, analysts say, is a little-known fact: none of the high-priced 5G phones currently being sold in carrier stores can access both 5G mmWave and sub-6GHz networks. It's one of the main reasons not to jump on the 5G hype train too early, but that will change, Qualcomm senior executives said, during the first quarter of 2020.
As it stands, 5G is basically an either-or proposition. the OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren Edition that T-Mobile announced as it "turns on" its 5G network on December 6 is a "lowband" phone, capable of accessing T-Mobile's 600MHz 5G network. But it won't be able to access the short-range, high-bandwidth, and extremely fast mmWave spectrum that Verizon is rolling out, and T-Mobile has deployed in a handful of cities. On the other hand, phones like the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G for Verizon are optimized for high-speed mmWave communication, which yield the sort of eye-popping gigabit downloads that dominate headlines, but can't access sub-6GHz frequencies.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Dec 04, 2019
When Google first introduced Chromebooks in 2011, it seemed like a ridiculous idea. A laptop that can only run a browser? Who wants that? But over time, web apps slowly became more powerful and capable, while Google steadily improved the Chrome OS experience. Then, Google went even further and added the ability to run Android apps, and still further with Linux desktop apps.
All of this means the Chromebooks of 2019 and 2020 are nothing like that original experience. Today, Chrome OS feels like a modern operating system that offers a first-class web browser, the flexibility of mobile apps, and a desktop experience in one box. It can satisfy the needs of almost every user, with the notable exception of those who need video or advanced image editing.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Dec 04, 2019
The Braava Jet m6 can map your rooms, recognize carpet, and even clean in sequence with select Roomba vacuums.
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Dec 04, 2019
Skip the bucket and the back-bending labor and let one of these specialized robots scour the stains from your hardwood, laminate, tile, vinyl, linoleum, and other solid surface flooring.
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Dec 03, 2019
Stay on top of the latest tech with PCWorld's Digital Magazine. Available as single copies or as a monthly subscription, it highlights the best content from PCWorld.com—the most important news, the key product reviews, and the most useful features and how-to stories—in a curated Digital Magazine for Android and iOS, as well for the desktop and other tablet readers.
In the December issue
The December issue has reviews of the new Google Pixel 4 XL and Pixelbook Go. We have details on AMD's 32-core Threadripper 3970X and 16-core Ryzen 9 3950X. Plus, we review the HP Omen 17 and the new Brave 1.0 browser.
Other highlights include:
News: Microsoft's 10 biggest Ignite reveals include the new Edge, and more ways to tie Office to the web
To read this article in full, please click here
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Dec 03, 2019
OK, I know what you're thinking—the last thing we need is another messaging service from Google. But this one might actually be good.
Instead of a whole new app, Google is building its new messaging service right into the Photos app. It's basically Google Photos DM, as it only works if the person you're sending a pic to has the Google Photos app installed, like Twitter's or Instagram's DM. Then when you share a message via Photos, you'll be starting a conversation just like if you sent a MMS through Android Messages.
If the recipient doesn't have messages, sharing will work like before—creating a dedicated album and then sharing that via a Google Photos link. But the new service definitely seems designed to keep people inside the app, despite Google's claim that "this feature isn't designed to replace the chat apps you already use." As described, users can "like photos or comment in the conversation, and you can easily save these photos or videos to your own gallery."
To read this article in full, please click here
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Dec 03, 2019
Qualcomm uncorked this year's version of its Snapdragon Technology Summit by announcing the names of its two new upcoming Snapdragon chips, the Snapdragon 865 and the Snapdragon 765/765G. Not surprisingly, the emphasis this year is on 5G, and the "AI" which those chips will apply for software enhancements.
Because this is the Snapdragon Technology Summit, we expect to hear more details of each of these chips in the coming days. For now, however, Qualcomm is just teasing the names and their basic capabilities.
Qualcomm's Snapdragon chips are some of the most prevalent processors in smartphones and a mainstay in high-end flagships, powering the Samsung Galaxy S10 and OnePlus 7 Pro among others. Both of these phones incorporate the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 that was introduced at last year's Snapdragon Summit, and it's fair to say we'd expect the eventual successor of those phones to use the new chips, as well.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Dec 03, 2019
Google Home and Google Home Mini might be good at finding songs you want to hear, but they're not the best at playing them. Compared to higher-priced speakers such as Google Home Max and Apple's HomePod, Google's diminutive devices sound exactly as you'd expect: small, tinny, and muddled.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Dec 03, 2019
You'd typically need to spend hundreds more to get the upgrades and performance in Fluance's budget-priced turntable.
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Dec 03, 2019
For the past few months, the Goal Zero Sherpa 100PD has been in my backpack for every business trip I've gone on, and I don't see that changing anytime soon. It's not the lightest battery pack, weighing in at 1.4 pounds, and I definitely notice that it's in my bag, but it has essentially replaced the power strip I would bring with me on trips.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Dec 03, 2019
Microsoft's Surface Pro X was supposed to signal a new chapter for Qualcomm's foray into Windows PCs and tablets, one where battery life was no longer the sole selling point. To its credit, the new, semi-custom Microsoft SQ1 chip (based on the Snapdragon 8cx) delivers improvements in graphics and performance. We also appreciate the appearance of USB-C and a marvelously-engineered pen cubby.
But in a baffling turn of events, the Surface Pro X falls short in battery life. Meanwhile, the app compatibility issues and bugs that are an unfortunate staple of Snapdragon-powered PCs remain. Maybe it can be tolerated in a system like the Samsung Galaxy Book 2, which delivered 18 hours of battery life. But not the Surface Pro X, with a mere 8 to 10 hours. The tired chant of "this is a new architecture, give it some time," doesn't fly anymore. When a bug or another issue pops up—and it probably will—it's painful.
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Dec 02, 2019
Walmart's exclusive Cyber Monday deal also includes a $10 Vudu credit.
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Dec 02, 2019
Microsoft's Surface Laptop 3 (Core i7), also known as the Surface Laptop 3 for Business, finally delivers on what Microsoft has traditionally promised with its Surfaces: a great screen, a great keyboard, and great battery life.
The Surface Laptop 3 with Intel's 10th-gen Core i7 chip achieves roughly 10 hours of battery life. This is more than enough to get you through your workday, and siginificantly longer than what was achieved by the 15-inch Surface Laptop 3 with AMD's Ryzen 5 CPU, or the 15-inch Surface Laptop 3 with Ryzen 7. Other than the CPU and storage variations, the Surface Laptop 3 units we've tested are largely identical.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Dec 02, 2019
With the addition of carbon dioxide detection, the latest Laser Egg device provides more complete protection from common pollutants.
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Dec 02, 2019
With models from Lutron, Wemo, Leviton, iDevices, and others, it can be difficult to know which easy and inexpensive device is best for controlling the lamps and small appliances in your smart home. We'll help you find the right one.
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Dec 02, 2019
Comparing Intel's Core i7 mobile chip to AMD's Ryzen 7 mobile chip usually comes with the qualifier that every laptop implementation is different. Not this time. PCWorld had the chance to test the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 in both its Ryzen 7 and Core i7 versions, essentially identical laptops save for the CPU. This gives us the exceedingly rare opportunity to crown the best laptop processor of this generation, based on head-to head tests.
Granted, it's not an 100-percent direct comparison. You'll see differences in the size and manufacturer of the SSD used, for example, which has an impact on performance. Each platform has a slightly different type of Wi-Fi, which is something we didn't test directly. And, of course, Microsoft is using the Ryzen 7 Surface Edition, a semi-custom version of AMD's mobile Ryzen chip.
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Dec 02, 2019
Is the Philips brand name worth double the price for a commodity smart plug?
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Dec 02, 2019
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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Dec 01, 2019
Dash cams are already essential in many countries because of scam artists who try to create accidents so they can sue you. They've also proven useful for catching cars flying into buildings, or the occasional meteor, as happened in Thailand and in Russia, all thanks to dash cams in the right place at the right time.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Nov 29, 2019
The Akaso Trace 1 Pro is the premium version of Akaso's affordable Trace 1, which I already liked for its great front/interior day/night video, even though it lacked GPS. The Pro version of the Trace 1 reviewed here adds the missing GPS and doubles down with Wi-Fi phone connectivity.
The kicker is, that at $130, the Trace 1 Pro is still in the financial ballpark for most users. For ride-givers that don't want to fork over for Nextbase's mighty modular 422GW (or 322GW), this is likely the best thing going.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Nov 29, 2019
Creative's T100 is the latest in the companies much-loved T-series of PC speakers. From design to sound quality, it's the best offering in that line. Not that I'm surprised. The company's speakers are consistently among the best I've reviewed, and its Pebble system is currently our pick for Best Overall Budget Speakers.
Each of the T100's satellites is 8.5 x 3.5 x 4.8 inches (HWD) with a matte-black grille and gloss-black finish on the sides. The tops of the satellites are matte-black, and the right one features input source, volume, and power buttons.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Nov 29, 2019
Much hype went into the lead-up to Black Friday 2019, with some changes to retailers' habits—more stores released early looks at their advertisements for Thanksgiving week, as well as small amounts of the best deals to chum the waters for the main event.
Well, Black Friday is here now, and though many deals are of varities we've seen before (Echo Dot or Google Home Mini for dirt cheap, anyone?), some genuinely unique standout bargains exist within the piles and piles of fodder. To help you spot them, we've sifted through popular stores' advertisements and websites to find the gems and listed our findings below.
Everything chosen below are items that we've rated highly or that enjoy tremendous popularity and are near or below the historical all-time low price. So if you see gear that you like, you can rest assured that we've done your research for you.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Nov 29, 2019
The PocketGo is the latest portable gaming emulator from BittBoy, and it refines handheld retro gaming and hits the sweet spot between size, capabilities, and price. Similar in many ways to the New BittBoy V3 that I reviewed earlier this year, it plays all the same retro games from the NES, GameBoy, Genesis, and many more through software emulation. It's listed for $50 (including an 8GB MicroSD card), but has been selling for $40 for most of the time since its launch. If you're looking for pixel-perfect emulation then you should look elsewhere. But if you just want the best way to play all your retro gaming favorites on the go, then this is your best bet.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Nov 29, 2019
Ready to cut the cord? You'll need a quality antenna to pick up digital broadcasts. Here are our recommendations for best indoor and outdoor TV antennas.
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Nov 29, 2019
We like the design and the signal amplifier at the antenna end of the cable, but this is not a top performer.
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Nov 29, 2019
Walmart might not be as strongly associated with tech as Best Buy, but its deals on gadgets and gear are fiercely competitive. Be it a new pre-built PC, smart home devices, or Apple's latest, you'll find standouts in the entries below.
Among them is a $99 Chromebook, a $580 gaming PC, and iPhones. In fact, Walmart is certainly one of best places to pick up an iPhone this weekend because of the generous gift cards it's offering. For more information on that, check out our roundup of the best Apple-related Black Friday deals.
If you find this list isn't enough to quench your thirst for tech bargains, we highly suggest checking out our full round-up of the best tech-related Black Friday deals from major stores.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Nov 29, 2019
If you're in the market for phones, smart home accessories, gaming devices, TVs, or fitness trackers, Target's deals are, well, right on target. The retailer is even selling some phones for "free"—with a qualifying activation from Verizon, AT&T, or Sprint, that is.
Target is a good source of Apple-related deals, too, and for those we recommend checking out our list of the best Apple-related Black Friday deals. Standouts there include $200 gift cards with some iPhone purchases and a record low price for the new 10.2-inch iPad (which a few other retailers are matching).
To read this article in full, please click here
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Nov 28, 2019
Black Friday deals abound on Roku players, Fire TV Sticks, and other cord-cutting gear
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Nov 28, 2019
What makes your house your home? Is it the furniture? The art? A few favorite collectibles arranged on the shelves? The same goes for your Windows PC. If you're new to Windows 10, we'll show you how to personalize your PC to make it feel, well, yours.
From the moment you first power on your new computer, you'll be asked to choose how to manage your privacy and security. But once you complete that short process, the fun begins: You can select backgrounds, configure your Start menu, and choose apps and shortcuts. Think of this story as a complement to our tutorial on how to set up your new PC efficiently and effectively. This is the fun stuff.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Nov 28, 2019
Which Roku, Fire TV, or other streaming device should you buy on Black Friday? This guide will help you decide.
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Nov 27, 2019
"What graphics card within my budget gives me the best bang for my buck?"
That simple question cuts to the core of what people hunting for a new graphics card look for: the most oomph they can afford. Sure, the technological leaps behind each new GPU can be interesting on their own, but most everyone just wants to crank up the detail settings on Battlefield and get right to playing.
Gaming GPU cheat sheet
Our quick-hit recommendations:
Best budget GPU: GeForce GTX 1650 Super [amazon.com]
Best 1080p GPU: GeForce GTX 1660 Super [newegg.com]
Best 1440p GPU: Radeon RX 5700 [amazon.com]
Best 4K/60Hz GPU: GeForce RTX 2080 Super [GeForce.com]
Best 4K/144Hz GPU: GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Founders Edition
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Nov 27, 2019
The base 23andMe Ancestry kit ($99) stands above the competition as our pick for the best DNA testing kits for ancestry, delivering a large array of detailed ancestry results presented within a clean and compelling interface. However, 23andMe's DNA testing service can provide more than just insights into your lineage.
For $100 more, the 23andMe Health Ancestry kit ($199) bundles in a wide array of health information pulled from the very same DNA sample, providing details about your genetic predisposition to certain ailments, how your DNA might shape your lifestyle and your body's reactions, and even genetics-based guesses at some seriously out-there traits—such as your ability to match a musical pitch.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Nov 27, 2019
We all want to know more about who we are. Who were the people who came before us? Where did they come from? Are there relatives out there we don't know about?
DNA testing services promise to help answer these questions. Today, multiple at-home ancestry DNA kits can find long-lost relatives, estimate your ethnic ancestry, or show where your ancestors came from tens of thousands of years ago.
These tests are popular—according to the International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG), the number of people who bought at-home DNA kits now exceeds 18 million—and it's easy to see why. All you have to do is swab your cheek or spit in a vial, seal your sample in a bag, and send it off to the lab. In a matter of weeks, you'll be given a percentage breakdown of the regions your genes hail from.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Nov 27, 2019
Should I buy a Chromebook or a Windows laptop? Whether you're seeking out the best computer for your child or just weighing which inexpensive computer would make a great Black Friday gift, weighing a Chrome OS-powered Chromebook versus a PC can be a tough choice—and we can help you choose the right one.
Who should buy a Windows PC?
A notebook PC powered by Microsoft Windows offers several advantages: Windows offers the most flexibility to run just about any app, as well as the choice of any browser you choose. You can tweak and configure your PC as you choose.
That convenience demands more computing horsepower, and often a higher price compared to most Chromebooks. Prices can soar into the thousands of dollars, and if you need a powerful PC for gaming or video editing, Chromebooks really don't offer that much competition. But you'll find some great deals among our more affordably priced, top Windows picks.
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Nov 27, 2019
Getting a new phone is awesome, but transferring all of your data over from your old one isn't. Luckily, it's gotten a lot better than it used to be, and it doesn't take too much work anymore. With a Google account and a little patience, you don't need to be an Android whiz to ensure your stuff can easily transfer to a new phone.
Google Drive
Before you can do anything, you'll need to make sure your old phone is signed in to your Google account. It almost certainly is, but head over to the Google tab in Settings to make sure. Then, you'll need to find your phone's backup settings. On Pixel phones running Android 10, there's a Backup option inside the System tab in Settings, but the location varies on other phones. The easiest way to find it is to type "backup" into the settings search bar.
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Nov 27, 2019
Seagate's FireCuda 520 is fast, though only on a par with other premium M.2 NVMe SSDs we've tested using commonplace third-generation PCIe. However, if you're running a late-model AMD system, the 520's PCIe 4 support will garner you a cool 20-percent jump in sustained transfer rates. We like that.
Design, price, and specs
The FireCuda 520 is a 2280 (22mm wide, 80mm long), M.2 NVMe, x4 (four lane) PCIe 4 SSD. It feels a little weird saying that last, as we've been on PCIe 3 for quite a long time.
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Nov 27, 2019
Whether they were so bad they're good, or just misunderstood box-office flops, these so-called movie "turkeys" provide great post-pig-out fun.
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Nov 27, 2019
Depending on what you watch, Vizio's P-Series Quantum X TV can be either astonishingly vivid, or mildly annoying. A ton of peak brightness, quantum dot color, and poor anti-aliasing will do that.
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Nov 27, 2019
While reviewing the LG Gram 17, one thought persisted: Why aren't people freaking out over this laptop?
Here we have a notebook with a gorgeous 17-inch display and monster battery life, yet at 2.95 pounds, it's almost as light as a 13-inch MacBook Air. Factor in a cool and quiet chassis, a silky-smooth trackpad, ample storage, and plenty of ports, and you have a big-screen laptop with none of the usual big-screen trade-offs—well, aside from its steep $1,699 list price (though we've noticed a lower price on Amazon).
To be sure, the LG Gram 17 isn't perfect, because no laptop is. It doesn't have the best keyboard, its design feels a bit bland, and speaker quality is downright terrible. But when you're working in luxurious comfort on an almost desktop-sized display and getting well over a full day's battery life to boot, the LG Gram 17's handful of issues have a way of receding into the background.
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Nov 26, 2019
The best cheap laptops right now are the Black Friday specials! Click over to our special story on the best deals you'll find this week.
When you're looking for a good, cheap laptop, knowledge is power. Every budget machine (which we're defining as Windows laptops costing $500 or less) is the product of compromise—corners carefully cut here and there to hit a price point.
Your job is to find the one that checks off the most boxes for your needs—and doesn't saddle you with features (or lack thereof) that you'll regret in a year. We'll show you what to look for by highlighting which budget laptops among the best-sellers currently listed at Amazon and Best Buy are worth buying. We haven't necessarily tested these specific machines (we'll let you know if we have), but we've seen enough similar ones to have a good idea of the pros and cons. We're also focusing on 14-inch and larger laptops, because part of the great deal should be getting a decent-sized display.
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Nov 26, 2019
In this episode of The Full Nerd, Gordon Mah Ung, Brad Chacos, Alaina Yee, and Adam Patrick Murray tackle the battle of AMD and Intel's biggest behemoths: 32-core Threadripper 3970X versus the 18-core Core i9-10980XE. Spoiler alert: It's a bloodbath. The gang also spends time talking about AMD's newfound desktop dominance.
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Nov 26, 2019
Turkey and stuffing? Check. Mashed potatoes? Check. Cranberry sauce? Check. Steam Sale? Check. Looks like all the ingredients are here for a proper Thanksgiving.
The Steam Autumn Sale kicked off this morning, and damn there are some pretty good deals right there on the front page. Gears 5, released in September, is already 50 percent off—and to think, it was amazing to see a Gears game on Steam in the first place. Now it's one of the leading sale items.
Other great deals: Cities: Skylines is less than $10, with all the DLC discounted by 50 percent as well. Rage 2 is all the way down to $20. The Surge 2 is discounted to $30. The Crew 2 is $15. The Room 3 is (appropriately) $3. Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments is under $5. Hitman 2 with all the DLC included is $25. And if you're into hardware, the Steam Controller is just $5.
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Nov 26, 2019
Black Friday offers some of the best deals on laptops, notebook PCs, and Chromebooks of any time during the year—and the great deals aren't confined to just the day after Thanksgiving. We've rounded up the best deals on portable PCs that we know of so far, and we'll add to this list as the week progresses.
(Note that there may be decent deals on new models, but it's the laptops that are slightly older that often receive the sharpest discounts. In part, that's because laptop vendors have just introduced their latest gear, and may be clearing the decks.)
[ Want all the Black Friday deals? Check out TechConnect, our home for holiday deals hand-picked by the PCWorld, Macworld and TechHive editors. ]
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Nov 26, 2019
And the U.S. version is now integrated with the Sonos multi-room audio system.
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Nov 26, 2019
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.
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Nov 26, 2019
Here's everything that's different (and the same) among Apple's new phones, the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max.
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Nov 26, 2019
Eliminating your login password from your PC is a bad idea—unless you own a computer that no one but you will ever touch. In that case, why not remove your password and eliminate that initial step?
In the past, we've discussed getting rid of the Windows 10 password by tinkering with Windows' power settings. There's a better way to remove the password entirely, however, so that you'll never need to enter it. We've tested this with Windows 10 Pro and Windows 10 Home, and it's worked using the Windows 10 October 2018 Update, the Windows 10 May 2019 Update, and the Windows 10 November 2019 Update, as well. (There's no reason to believe it won't work on subsequent updates, either.)
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Nov 26, 2019
If you've got a new Apple Watch, there are a few things you're going to want to do right away.
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Nov 26, 2019
Nvidia's $160 GeForce GTX 1650 Super had a super bizarre launch.
Its still-available predecessor, the $150 GTX 1650, skipped the vastly improved Turing NVENC video encoder and got pummeled in performance by AMD's Radeon RX 570, a much cheaper GPU, all to let the card fit into the motherboards with no extra power cabling required. With AMD's next-gen Radeon RX 5500 series looming, Nvidia revealed the drastically turbocharged GTX 1650 Super—but then failed to inform press of pricing or provide drivers for launch day reviews. Those are both extremely unusual moves, ones mirrored in recent history only by Nvidia's attempt to bury reviews of the original lackluster GTX 1650. Because of that, we went so far as to recommend avoiding the new card until reviews surfaced.
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Nov 26, 2019
The Hisense H9F, with first-rate color and HDR, is one of the best TVs in its class. However, detail acuity and blacks aren't as strong.
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Nov 26, 2019
Oculus Link is both mundane and magical. Mundane, because all you're doing is plugging a USB-C cable into your Oculus Quest headset. Magical, because doing so now temporarily transforms the standalone Quest into a powerful PC-based system. "Your Quest is basically a Rift now too," said Mark Zuckerberg at Oculus Connect 6—and he wasn't lying. It's rough around the edges, but Quest is virtual reality's future, a best of both worlds miracle.
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Nov 26, 2019
Adding the Netatmo Smart Siren and Netatmo Smart Door and Window Sensors to a Netatmo Indoor Camera yields a somewhat simple home security system.
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Nov 25, 2019
Join The Full Nerd gang as they talk about the latest PC hardware topics. Today's show is going to be a big one! First Gordon will go deep into his Threadripper 3970X and Core i9-10980XE reviews, then he'll dig into the news of a 64-core Threadripper, followed by Brad's review of the GTX 1650 Super, and finished off with Alaina's Black Friday PC deals update. As always we will be answering your live questions so speak up in the chat.
If YouTube is not your thing you can also watch us on Twitch, Facebook, and Twitter.
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Nov 25, 2019
Apple has teased a "four-day shopping event" beginning Black Friday, but don't count on any great deals.
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Nov 25, 2019
In October, AMD launched the Epyc 7H12, a 64-core behemoth designed to take down Intel's Xeon in the server market. Now AMD has confirmed plans for an epyc...er, epic smackdown of Intel in the desktop PC with the 64-core Threadripper 3990X.
No, AMD's 64-core Threadripper 3990X isn't quite here—and boy, Intel should thank its lucky stars for that. After AMD's 16-core Ryzen 9 3950X danced on Intel's head by topping the Intel Core i9-9900KS in both single-core and multithreaded performance, the 32-core Threadripper 3970X just added insult to injury. And with the 64-core Threadripper 3990X on the horizon...wow. Wow. Hulk SMASH.
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Nov 25, 2019
AMD is on a rampage. Its 32-core Ryzen Threadripper 3970X is the monster rising out of the sea to level Intel's prosumer chips. This is just weeks after the company's 16-core Ryzen 9 3950X cleaned the clock of Intel's top consumer chips.
Note that "prosumer" means Threadripper is designed primarily for graphics-intensive design and content creation tasks, rather than gaming. (You could play games with this chip, but it's massive overkill.) AMD has an opportunity in this space, because the Xeon CPUs Intel makes for the same market are far more expensive. And this is just the beginning of AMD's attack on the high end: On Monday morning, AMD confirmed that it will make a 64-core chip as well.
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Nov 25, 2019
Intel's departure from the 5G smartphone market earlier this year left it with a portfolio of modem technology it needed to do something with. On Monday, it did: Intel announced a manufacturing relationship with Mediatek, which will build a 5G modem for PCs based on a specification Intel will author.
Specifically, Intel will define a "full 5G solution specification," which includes a 5G modem to be developed and manufactured by Mediatek. Intel representatives didn't confirm whether the relationship includes an actual IP licensing agreement. The first fruits from the partnership will be more than a year out, however, with products due in early 2021.
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Nov 25, 2019
You can buy a great surge protector for less than $50, so what makes this one worth $200?
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Nov 25, 2019
The two top smart displays from Amazon and Google go head-to-head.
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Nov 25, 2019
Far better than ordinary power strips, these products will protect your expensive electronics from dangerous power spikes. We'll help you pick the right one for your home or small office.
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Nov 25, 2019
Black Friday is no longer contained to the day after Thanksgiving. Deals roll out in a chaotic stream all throughout November, and these days, you can score great deals among the lackluster discounts.
For 2019, Best Buy, Newegg, and Amazon have all offered an early taste of sweet bargains. We've been getting a slow drip of sales, but it's finally beginning to pick up. Keep an eye peeled for further updates as the days tick by—we'll add new deals as we spot them.
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Nov 25, 2019
Intel's new 18-core Core i9-10980XE isn't reaching for the stars. It's reaching for the middle. Squeezed by AMD's consumer 16-core Ryzen 9 3950X on one end, and the 32-core Ryzen Threadripper 3970X on the other, it can't win on raw performance. But with Intel's aggressive pricing at $1,000, it actually competes well on bang for buck, a tempting deal for the content creators who are the prime market for this chip.
Gordon Mah Ung
Why the Core i9-10980XE is almost a deal
The Core i9-10980XE takes Intel pricing in a new direction—down. While the two previous 18-core CPUs were released at $1,999, Intel will be shipping this new generation at $1,000.
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Nov 22, 2019
If you're using your smartphone for GPS directions but leaving it in your lap or cupholder, it's time to get a phone holder for your car. These mounts allow you to position a smartphone within line of sight—and keep it out of your hands, thus avoiding a ticket in some states.
The best phone holder isn't the same for everyone, however. Car manufacturers not only use different types of vents, but they mix up the positions of both CD players and vents too. States also have different laws for what can be attached to a windshield (and where).
Accordingly, our list of the best phone mounts doesn't single out just one or two picks. Instead, we're sharing the most convenient and reliable models as a group after putting them to the test in a variety of cars.
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Nov 22, 2019
It's hard to imagine any news this week competing with Valve making a new Half-Life game. I don't really know why you'd even try, actually.
But some unlucky developers did try, so we've done our due diligence and rounded up the news of the week. Anthem's coming back from the dead, Larian's turned Divinity: Original Sin into a board game, Grinding Gear announces sequel(ish) Path of Exile 2, Black Friday sales kick off a week early, and more.
This is gaming news for November 18 to 22.
Free the North
Per usual, we start with the freebies. It's another one-game week from Epic, this time the miniature Viking-themed strategy game Bad North. I really love the look of this one, and it's a neat lil' spin on real-time strategy. Next week's an all-time favorite of mine though, the fantastic platformer Rayman Legends, so look forward to that.
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Nov 22, 2019
We pit the newest Fitbit smartwatch against a two-year-old Apple Watch, and the results are surprising.
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Nov 22, 2019
In a year that's seen the death of Inbox, Google , and the goo.gl URL shortener, not to mention the loss of free original quality photo storage with every Pixel phone purchase, Google isn't putting its knives away just yet. Next to go is Google Cloud Print.
Cloud Print has been around since 2010, but despite a fancy website and deep Android and Chrome OS integration, it never actually made it out of beta. And now it never will. Google has quietly announced that users have until December 31, 2020, to enjoy Cloud Print. When the calendar changes to 2021, "devices across all operating systems will no longer be able to print using Google Cloud Print."
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Nov 22, 2019
As promised last month, Nvidia's GeForce GTX 1650 Super launches today, albeit with much less fanfare than the legion of Super-fied GPUs that came before it. Nvidia declined to provide press with drivers to test the graphics card beforehand, nor did the company supply pricing information ahead of time—both highly unusual moves for the company. The last time Nvidia kept so mum around a GPU's launch, it was because the original $150 GTX 1650 wound up underperforming compared to AMD's cheaper Radeon RX 570, so it's an ominous beginning for its Super-fied successor.
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Nov 22, 2019
It's time to compare Apple's iPhone to the leading Android handsets, and it should be a close race. From the launch of the first folding phone to the rise of 5G, dual screens, waterfall displays, and cameras, cameras, cameras, 2019 has delivered a dizzying array of new features. Apple may have surprised everyone with a price cut to its entry-level handset, but can it stack up to the best Android has to offer? Let's go through the major specs and find out.
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Nov 22, 2019
Corsair's headsets have always seemed anomalous to me. Here's a company that consistently constructs top-of-the-line hardware, be it cases or memory or mice or keyboards. Especially keyboards, actually. The Corsair K95 is flashy as hell, but it's also built like a tank.
Headsets are the outlier. Corsair's never made one that got my blood pumping. There have been slight improvements over the past decade, but the Void is still oddly cheap-feeling held up to the rest of Corsair's lineup.
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Nov 22, 2019
It's Bluetooth-only, however, so you can't integrate it into the rest of your smart home.
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Nov 22, 2019
Sticker Eye eliminates many of the bothersome aspects of camera ownership without sacrificing the security.
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Nov 21, 2019
What is the best Fitbit? Our guide will help you find the one that best matches your activity level and habits, without spending more than you need.
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Nov 21, 2019
We are terrible at passwords. We suck at creating them (the top two most popular remain "123456" and "password"), we share them way too freely, and we forget them all the time. Indeed, the very thing that can ensure our online security has become our biggest obstacle to it. This is what makes a good password manager essential.
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Nov 21, 2019
Valve released its excellent Index virtual reality headset in May, and at the time everyone expected a bombshell game to go along with it. Rumors that it was Half-Life themed were swirling even then, not necessarily the long-awaited Half-Life 3 but...something. The first Half-Life themed "something" in over a decade.
Earlier this week Valve confirmed the rumors, announcing (sort-of) Half-Life: Alyx, and calling it their "flagship VR game." And it is definitely that, with Valve updating the ancient Half-Life website today for the first time in a decade, revealing that Alyx is a "full-length" $60 game due to release for "all PC-based VR headsets" on March 20, 2020—though Index owners will get it for free. A little added incentive to buy Valve's headset instead of a Vive or Rift.
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Nov 21, 2019
Whether you're motivated by water conservation, saving money, a drive to render every aspect of your home smart, or all the above, a smart irrigation controller will scratch that itch.
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Nov 21, 2019
If you're worried about plugging into your phone into suspicious chargers while traveling for the Thanksgiving and winter holidays, consider buying a data-safe charging USB cable or USB-C plug before you go.
Devices like the $7.09 PortaPow 3rd Gen USB-C to USB-A Data BlockerRemove non-product link work by blocking the data that can be passed over a USB when you plug into a charger, keeping your phone secure. You'll also see them referred to as "USB condoms."
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Nov 21, 2019
Google's Nest Wifi isn't breaking new ground by melding a smart speaker with a Wi-Fi access point. Netgear did it better with last year's Orbi Voice. But if you don't need the very high performance that Netgear's high-end mesh networks deliver, Nest Wifi will save you some cash. A two-node system (the router plus one access point) costs $269, compared to $350 for Netgear's RBK50V kit.
The savings will continue should you decide to expand your network down the road, since each Nest Point (Google's name for its access points) will cost $149 compared to $200 for each additional Orbi Voice satellite. But there is more to consider than just price tags. If you're all in on Google's ecosystem and prefer Google Assistant, the Orbi Voice's Amazon Alexa delivery won't float your boat. But if money is less of an issue and you haven't committed to either digital assistant, Netgear's product delivers much higher performance at distance. It's also a far superior loudspeaker, although not necessarily a better smart speaker; again, that depends on your digital assistant preference.
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