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May 22, 2019
Here at PCWorld, we know how important extra space is for your Android phone or Nintendo Switch, so we're always on the lookout for great deals on microSD cards. And we found another one: Amazon is selling the 200GB SanDisk Ultra microSDXC for $27.29Remove non-product link, down from a list price of $85 and extremely close to an all-time low.
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 22, 2019
Fires can be devastating, but water damage is a far more common risk. These smart devices will alert you if your home springs a leak, so you can take action quickly.
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May 22, 2019
The hits keep coming for Huawei. Following the revocation of its license to use Google apps and the Play Store on its Android phones and a ban by several major chipmakers, including Intel, Broadcom, and Qualcomm, a leaked memo obtained by the BBC has revealed that ARM has ordered its employees to cease "all active contracts, support entitlements, and any pending engagements" with the beleaguered China-based tech giant.
While ARM is a UK-based company, its chip designs contain technology that originated in the U.S. and subsequently are believed to be subject to the Commerce Department's blanket ban. The memo says ARM employees are no longer able to "provide support, delivery technology (whether software, code, or other updates), engage in technical discussions, or otherwise discuss technical matters."
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 22, 2019
Adding a solid state drive is still the single best upgrade you can give an aging PC. If you have a newer desktop or laptop with an M.2 NVMe slot, then that's even better. But for older devices still rocking a standard (and slow) mechanical hard drive, a SATA III SSD provides an amazing improvement in speed and responsiveness. Seriously: The difference between a hard drive and an SSD can't be overstated.
Today, we've got two stunning SSD deals for your consideration.
First up: The 1TB WD Blue 3D is on sale for $97Remove non-product link with the checkout code EMCTAVU23 at Newegg. That's $18 cheaper than Newegg's current price of $115, and under 10 cents per gig! This drive is one of the best SSDs for most people, trailing behind only the Samsung 860 EVO, which currently sells for $147 for the same 1TB capacity. Don't miss out.
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May 22, 2019
Google has begun forcing "a subset of our enterprise G Suite customers" to change their passwords after an issue that inadvertently left passwords exposed for more than a decade.
In a post to its Google Cloud blog Tuesday, the company outlined an error made back in 2005 that stored a copy of actual user passwords rather than the usual scrambled "hashed" version, thus making it possible for an outside attack to gain access to usable passwords. Google explains that the issue has been fixed and the company has "seen no evidence of improper access to or misuse of the affected passwords."
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 22, 2019
Google has begun forcing "a subset of our enterprise G Suite customers" to change their passwords after an issue that inadvertently left passwords exposed for more than a decade.
In a post to its Google Cloud blog Tuesday, the company outlined an error made back in 2005 that stored a copy of actual user passwords rather than the usual scrambled "hashed" version, thus making it possible for an outside attack to gain access to usable passwords. Google explains that the issue has been fixed and the company has "seen no evidence of improper access to or misuse of the affected passwords."
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 22, 2019
Yes, it's even more expensive than the Flo by Moen, but Phyn doesn't charge extra to inform you how you're using water.
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May 21, 2019
Microsoft appears to have pulled Huawei's Matebook X Pro from its online shelves, and Best Buy, too, has followed suit. Huawei phones and devices are still available from Amazon and Newegg as of this posting, however.
Neither the Huawei Matebook X Pro nor the Huawei Matebook 13 appear on Microsoft's Store site, though at least the Matebook X Pro appeared previously, as the Verge noted. The only reference to Huawei on the site is via third-party apps that reference Huawei services, none of which appear to be authored by Huawei.
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 21, 2019
Microsoft's Windows 10 May 2019 Update offers some badly needed improvements to Windows Update, a much speedier search function, and troubleshooters that solve problems on their own. There's even an updated emoji keyboard with symbols and the more sophisticated kaomoji (?´?`?). The best feature, however, is the cool new Windows Sandbox.
The May 2019 Update (also known as 19H1 or version 1903) may not officially be pushed to your PC until later in May, but it's already available if you want to manually download it via Windows Update. We've also compiled a separate roundup of the best hidden features of the Windows 10 May 2019 Update that lurk beneath what we've talked about here, including a better Focus Assist and reserved storage.
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 21, 2019
Microsoft said Tuesday that it has begun making the Windows 10 May 2019 Update generally available, though the company said that it will take a "measured and throttled approach" toward rolling it out.
Microsoft also implied that if your PC hasn't already automatically upgraded to the Windows 10 October 2018 Update, PCs on that version and earlier releases will begin updating this June, as they reach what Microsoft calls the end of service date on November 12, 2019.
To receive the Windows 10 May 2019 Update now, you can go to the Windows 10 Settings menu, go to Update & Security, and click the Check for updates button at the top of the page. That will be received by Microsoft as a request for the update.
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 21, 2019
Mozilla released Firefox version 67 on Tuesday, promising that the browser is 40 to 80 percent faster compared to a year ago. Firefox 67 also ships with a number of other new features, including amped-up Private Mode options and an intriguing GPU acceleration tool.
Ever since Firefox Quantum overhauled the browser's backbone at the end of 2017, Firefox has emphasized speed as a niche in the crowded field of competing browsers. As our recent browser tests showed (based on Firefox 64) it's a niche that the company has somewhat exploited—Firefox is indeed fast, but so is its competition. Opera remains our favorite browser.
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 21, 2019
Apple's MacBook Pro now features eight- and ninth-generation Intel Core procesors.
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May 21, 2019
Using a robot vacuum to care for your home not only makes you look cool, but adds some hands-free convenience to your cleaning routine. Of course, they can get a little pricey, but today you can get one of our favorites on a ludicrous sale. The Neato Botvac D6 Connected is $400 at Best BuyRemove non-product link today, a massive discount from the $730 list price that it's selling for at other retailers.
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 21, 2019
The camera whirs into focus. Distorts. Whirs into focus again. Scanlines and static make the scene hard to process at first, but they slowly fade. There's an astronaut here—Emma Fisher, one of your crew. She sounds worried. "That wasn't good. SAM, run your self diagnostic procedure. What errors are you showing?"
You check, one memory module at a time. The first one, mostly red, displays 95% degradation. The second, 93%. The remaining two, similar. "The main memory core has been corrupted," you say. "I have lost significant station data." Your voice is calm. The implications are not. There's been some sort of accident onboard the Low Orbit Space Station, maybe an explosion, and nobody knows why. Not even you, the ship's artificial intelligence.
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 21, 2019
A bad month has just gotten a whole lot worse for Huawei. According to a Reuters report and confirmed by the two companies, Google is preparing to cut off the China-based smartphone maker's Android license, preventing future Huawei phones (such as the upcoming Mate 30) from using the Play Store and Google's popular apps and services.
The bombshell comes just days after President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order barring U.S. companies from using telecommunications equipment made by firms that "pose a national security risk." While the order didn't single out Huawei, the Commerce Department simultaneously added Huawei to its Entity List, effectively banning the smartphone maker from buying parts and components from U.S. companies without explicit government approval. Together, the two moves make it extremely difficult for any U.S. company to do business with Huawei.
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 21, 2019
Amazon's current one-day sale is one you don't want to miss if you're on the lookout for fresh PC gear. The online retailer is dropping prices on laptops, gaming headsets, mice, keyboards, and moreRemove non-product link. Some of these deals are up to 50 percent off, according to Amazon. The top picks we've curated from the sale didn't quite hit that mark, but we found some really nice deals that are at, or close to, their all-time lows.
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 21, 2019
This ceiling-mounted occupancy sensor triggers smart home devices based on who enters the room.
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May 21, 2019
Vizio TVs and soundbars get better every year while maintaining down-to-earth prices, which is great news for consumers.
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May 21, 2019
Microsoft may be positioning its upcoming, easy-peasy Windows Sandbox within the Windows 10 May 2019 Update as a safe zone for testing untrusted applications, but it's much more than that. Windows Sandbox, and sandboxing PC apps in general, give you a solution for trying a "utility" that may be malware, or a website that you're not sure about. You could leave those potentially dangerous elements alone, but with Sandbox, you can be a little more adventurous.
Windows Sandbox creates a secure "Windows within Windows" virtual machine environment entirely from scratch, and walls it off from your "real" PC. You can open a browser and surf securely, download apps, even visit websites that you probably shouldn't. Sandbox also includes a unique convenience: you can copy files in and out of the virtual PC, bringing them out of quarantine if you're absolutely sure they're safe.
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 21, 2019
A bad month has just gotten a whole lot worse for Huawei. According to a Reuters report and confirmed by the two companies, Google is preparing to cut off the China-based smartphone maker's Android license, preventing future Huawei phones (such as the upcoming Mate 30) from using the Play Store and Google's popular apps and services.
The bombshell comes just days after President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order barring U.S. companies from using telecommunications equipment made by firms that "pose a national security risk." While the order didn't single out Huawei, the Commerce Department simultaneously added Huawei to its Entity List, effectively banning the smartphone maker from buying parts and components from U.S. companies without explicit government approval. Together, the two moves make it extremely difficult for any U.S. company to do business with Huawei.
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 20, 2019
More and more people are using mobile phones, 4K ultra high-definition (UHD) cameras, GoPro action cameras, drones, and other devices to shoot exciting video. But when it comes to sharing and displaying the output, the results can often be disappointing, lacking the polish of professional footage. Now, whether you're a novice or a pro, you can take advantage of VideoProc on your Windows PC to utilize full hardware acceleration to process and touch up your footage.
Turning raw footage into polished videos
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 20, 2019
ZeniMax Online either has an impeccable sense of timing, or it's so lucky that all its employees should go buy lottery tickets this second. The smoke and memes have barely cleared in the aftermath of last night's series finale of Game of Thrones, and yet, mere hours later, ZeniMax is kicking open the gates of early access for Elder Scrolls Online's Elsweyr expansion ahead of its official release next Monday. (Only for PC and Mac users, though—if you're on a console, you'll have to wait until next week.)
Elsweyr is a perfect chaser for HBO's tale of politics and fantastic beasts. You'll see dragons, for one, and lots of them. You'll find family members with decidedly different opinions about the invasion of a city, and you'll even find an army of the undead worked into the mix. And if that all sounds a little too familiar, get this: Elsweyr's also got a bunch of cat people. And we all know how much the Internet loves its cats.
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 20, 2019
A solid set of noise-cancelling headphones can be a lifesaver in offices, commutes, homes, and all the other noisy places you spend your life. And today, you can get one of our favorite pairs, the luxurious Bowers & Wilkins PX Active noise-cancelling wireless headphones, for $300 on Amazon. That's down from a list price of $400 and the lowest we've ever seen them.
"The Bowers & Wilkins PX headphones' excellent audio fidelity and solid noise cancellation make these a set of headphones all but the most fussy audiophiles will be happy to own," we declared in a glowing 4-star review of this headset.
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 20, 2019
The future just got a little dicey for millions of Huawei fans. Following a Trump administration Executive Order last week that put Huawei in the U.S. government's crosshairs, Google has reportedly pulled its Android app, search, and Play Store license from the smartphone giant, leaving future phones in doubt and current handsets in limbo while the details get sorted out.
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 20, 2019
If you've been pining for a couch-friendly keyboard with an integrated trackpad for the living room, today's your lucky day. Amazon dropped the price of the Logitech K600 TV keyboard to $50. That's down from a $70 list price, and the $60 street price this keyboard recently hovered around.
The keyboard has a 15 meter wireless range using an included USB dongle. It works with Windows and Mac PCs, as well as Android and iOS devices. Being a living room-focused peripheral, the Logitech K600 can also connect directly to select smart TVs, including Samsung Tizen-based units from 2016, LG TVs rocking webOS 2016 or newer, and Sony Bravia sets running Android TV 2016 and up.
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 20, 2019
This battery-powered dimmer retrofits toggle switches controlling Philips Hue and other Zigbee smart bulbs, so they can't be turned off by accident.
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May 20, 2019
FileShadow is a free backup program that's grown up. It started as a very nice cloud storage consolidator with advanced search and sharing abilities. It could transfer from various online storage services such as Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive to its own facilities, as well as tag photos and perform OCR on your PDFs. Good stuff, but not PC backup.
Stop the presses! Or actually, start them up: The company has added both Windows and macOS backup clients. Good thing—free 100GB storage accounts don't grow on trees these days.
This review is part of our ongoing roundup of the best free backup services. Go there for information on competing products and how we tested them.
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 20, 2019
With models based on Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Cortana, and others to come, we'll help you find just the right model for you.
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May 20, 2019
Even if they hadn't released within days of each other, it's impossible not to compare the Asus ZenFone 6 to the OnePlus 7 Pro. They both have Snapdragon 855 processors, funky selfie cams, and near-stock Android skins. And they're both a whole lot cheaper than their premium counterparts.
But while we expected the OnePlus 7 Pro to stand out in the field, the Asus ZenFone 6 may be one of the most surprising phones of the year so far. Where last year's ZenFone 5z was an iPhone imitator with an ugly notch, forced AI camera gimmicks, and a heavy-handed skin, Asus has completely reimagined its smartphone experience for this year's model: The camera cutout is gone, the AI scene detector is little more than a toggle, and ZenUI has been all but jettisoned. It's a refreshing change that makes the ZenFone 6 feel more like a reboot than a annual refresh. That's exactly what Asus needs to take on OnePlus 7 Pro, the ZenFone 6's most obvious competitor.
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 20, 2019
The sound quality is fairly good overall, especially with rock music, but I had several problems with its operation.
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May 20, 2019
Siri can control your Apple TV with hands-free voice commands. Here's how.
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May 19, 2019
Home automation devices continue to gain popularity. But some consumer-grade products boast only limited abilities, leading some people to go the DIY route. Want to learn how to make your own for cheap? Then try The Complete Raspberry Pi and Alexa A-Z Bundle, discounted to just $29.
If you've got even just a passing interest in electronics, then this package is ideal. It includes four courses that'll teach you how to turn an economical Raspberry Pi microcomputer into a Amazon Alexa compatible home automation device. You'll learn RPi essentials, discover how to create custom Alexa skills, and you'll even design your own Amazon Echo clone.
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 19, 2019
It's no secret that coding is one of the most lucrative skills you can learn today. But, with a myriad of languages out there, finding the best ones to master first can be challenging. Featuring 13 courses on HTML, Ruby, and more languages used by today's coding pros, the Pay What You Want: The Legendary Learn to Code Bundle can remove the guesswork and get you adding new coding languages to your repertoire—all for a price you get to pick.
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 19, 2019
Python's simplicity makes it an ideal language for first time programmers to learn. And now anyone can learn Python programming for cheap with The Complete Python Certification Bootcamp Bundle, which has been temporarily discounted to just $34.99.
This bundle, which is normally valued at over $2,000, features twelve courses that'll turn virtually anyone into a Python coding expert. Students will learn the highly readable syntax, find out the many applications of Python, and be able to create their own code fast. It's more flexible than traditional classroom training, which makes it perfect for people that have other life commitments.
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 19, 2019
The job market is competitive. To be the successful applicant, you'll need to possess skills that others simply do not have. If you want to position yourself for success, then you'll want to start training with The A to Z Microsoft Excel Certification Training Bundle, discounted by over 90 percent to just $49.
This package is ideal for job seekers in nearly every employment sector. It includes eight courses that'll familiarize students with the world's top spreadsheet software title, Microsoft Excel. They'll learn how spreadsheets work, how to apply them to business, and become adept with Excel's many features. They'll even walk away with certifications that prove their expertise.
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 19, 2019
Even if you don't need any more storage for your PC right now, you might want to consider grabbing one of these Western Digital Amazon deals, since we don't know how long they will last. Today Amazon is selling WD 10TB My Book Desktop External Hard Drive for $80Remove non-product link, 73 percent off its list price and the 4
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May 17, 2019
Okay, making the E3 schedule and...wait, Netflix? Really? Netflix is at E3 this year?
That news, plus Ubisoft delays one game and jokes about another, a second Vampire: The Masquerade game is announced, World of Warcraft Classic opens beta signups, Metro details its two expansions, and KFC gets put in its place by Respawn. Sigh.
This is gaming news for May 13 to 17.
Ski Free
It's basically summer, which makes this timing a bit funny—like buying a winter coat on-sale at the end of the season—but if you're longing for the slopes and need something to tide you over until next fall, Steep is currently free through Uplay. That's Ubisoft's ski/snowboard/wingsuit/paraglide simulator, if you need a refresher. Released in late 2016, I played it for an hour or two back then and found it a bit stiff, but it's hard to fault free. You can nab your copy here, anytime before May 21.
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 17, 2019
France, 1348. Times are grim. The Black Plague has arrived—as have the Hundred Years' War and the Inquisition. Within a decade, at least a third of the population will die. Some estimates place that number as high as two-thirds.
It feels closer to the latter in A Plague Tale: Innocence. There's no end to the bodies—left to rot in the streets, abandoned to houses marked with a chalked "X," piled high on foggy battlefields amid the trebuchets and wagons. And where there are bodies, worse is sure to follow.
"Des rats." Even with the silent "T," the French is unmistakable: Rats. Rivers of them, black fur dotted with gleaming red eyes, waiting on the edges of the light. Hungry.
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 17, 2019
Your kids may be gearing up for summer vacation, but that doesn't mean they have to stop learning. Just in time for the long break, Amazon has slashed the price of its Bitsbox coding subscription box for kids, bringing the first month's box down to $15Remove non-product link from a normal price of $30.
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 17, 2019
If you've ever wished your Pokemon Go had a little less Pikachu and a little more Creeper, Microsoft has a game for you. Headed to mobile phones this summer as a limited beta, Minecraft Earth will blend the power of augmented reality with the mobs and skins of Minecraft to create a whole new world to build and explore.
In an interview with the Verge, game director Torfi Olafsson said Minecraft Earth is an "adaptation" of the popular sandbox game rather than a straight port. However, the game is built on the same Bedrock engine, so it brings over many of the same elements, along with some new ones. "We have tried to stay very true to the kind of core design pillars of Minecraft," Olafsson said, "and we've worked with the design team in Stockholm to make sure that the spirit of the game is carried through."
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 17, 2019
It's Friday, and the Humble Store's offering some dirt-cheap gaming gratification to kick off the weekend. The Humble Lego Games Bundle includes a total of eight games available as Steam codes, and paying just $12 or more unlocks every one. Don't delay, though: This Humble Bundle expires on Tuesday, and a portion of the proceeds go towards charity.
As with other bundles Humble, there are several pricing tiers available, with certain games unlocking at each. If you pay just one dollar you'll get Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4 and Lego Batman: The Videogame. If you pay more than the average ($8.44 at this writing), Humble adds Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-7, Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes, and The Lego Movie - Videogame. The latter is really the prize of the lot, as it's a great game for kids 8 and up.
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 17, 2019
How can I type kaomoji on my PC? And what are kaomoji, anyway? Fortunately, the answers to both questions are simple, and easily accessible within Windows 10. The familiar emoji keyboard within Windows has been expanded to include both kaomoji and symbols, and adding them to Facebook, Twitter, and other social media apps is extremely easy.
What's a kaomoji? A kaomoji is simply a more complex emoticon, the predecessor to the emoji. You're probably familiar with the smiley :) or winky ;) which consist of familiar punctuation symbols combined to form an expression.That's an emoticon. Emoji are simply pictorial representations of emoticons, so that a winky symbol is represented as a ??.
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 17, 2019
The OnePlus 7 Pro is everything a OnePlus phone isn't supposed to be. It has a better screen than the Galaxy S10 . It has a nicer design than the iPhone XR. And its front camera puts the Pixel 3 XL's notch to utter shame.
You might notice that those three phones all cost upwards of a thousand dollars, a stark contrast to the $669 7 Pro. But beyond the tremendous value, it's the first OnePlus phone I've used that truly feels like a flagship and not just a premium alternative. The previous OnePlus models all had attractive price tags while still packing top-of-the-line specs, but they never quite measured up to the phones they were challenging. The 6 and 6T were the phones to buy instead of a flagship. With the 7 Pro, OnePlus has made a phone that Samsung and Apple should fear.
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 17, 2019
The one-touch access to your favorite Sonos playlist or Hue lighting scene is fun—for the first few days.
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May 16, 2019
Valve's Steam Link app allows remote streaming from a PC or Mac to an iOS device or Apple TV, and it's relatively easy to set up.
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May 16, 2019
The Epic Games Store is holding its first sale since it launched last December, and it's both a) complicated and b) generous. Why? Well, it's actually two sales stacked on top of one another. "Great games up to 75% off" is the first part—fairly standard. "$10 off every game $14.99 and up" is the second, and yes, the deals are cumulative.
It's Epic's latest play at luring you into the Epic Games Store. Exclusive titles like Metro: Exodus, Ashen, The Walking Dead - The Final Season, and Hades all have nominal discounts under the "Up to 75% off" umbrella. And I do mean nominal, for the most part. Metro for instance is discounted by...$5. That wouldn't normally be enough to stand out.
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 16, 2019
It sounded dreamy. Late last year, signs of an "AltOS" mode appeared in Google code, indicating that the company was working on a way to let you dual-boot into Windows 10 on high-end Chromebooks like the Pixelbook. It was apparently too good to be true, alas, as new developments suggest that Google abandoned the secretive "Project Campfire" months ago.
Poking around Chromium code, Redditor u/crosfrog noticed comments stating AltOS mode is now deprecated, as first reported by Kevin Tofel at About Chromebooks. Tofel says that active development on Project Campfire halted last December after an initial flurry of activity. The dream of dual-booting Windows on Chromebooks appears to be dead.
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 16, 2019
Choosing the right virtual private network (VPN) service is no simple task. A VPN should keep your internet usage private and secure, but not every service handles your data in the same way. Just look at the critiques of notable computer security experts and online pundits to understand the challenge.
Even supposed experts in the field can turn out to be frauds, as was recently reported about site TheBestVPN.com. The site's creator appears to not actually be a cypber-security expert, as he once claimed, but might not actually be a real person, casting serious doubt on any of the site's VPN reviews and research.
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 16, 2019
Windows 10's once-doomed Microsoft Paint hasn't only been given a reprieve, it's also apparently been given a new lease on life. The fan favorite software, previously labeled as "deprecated" and all but chucked into the trash bin by Microsoft, is gaining some new capabilities in the Windows 10 May 2019 Update, the company revealed this week.
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 16, 2019
If you spend all your time sitting in front of a computer, a comfortable keyboard and mouse is a crucial investment for your day-to-day sanity and long-term health. It doesn't have to break the bank, either. Today, the popular Microsoft Sculpt ergonomic desktop wireless keyboard and mouse combo is $80 on Amazon, down from a list price of $130 and a usual selling price of around $100. Amazon hasn't sold this bundle for less in over two years.
This wireless keyboard's split layout, cushioned palm rest, and domed shape provide maximum comfort and support for your hands and wrists during long days of typing, reducing the effects of repetitive strain injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome. That's the main claim to fame for this acclaimed keyboard, though a rated battery life of up to three years also means you can use the keyboard for a long, long time without needing to replace the batteries.
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 16, 2019
Growth in streaming media is revolutionizing the consumption of video, but it doesn't accommodate all the needs of collectors of commercial DVDs or of owners of personal video stored on discs.
Not all commercial titles are available from streaming services, nor do they provide DVD owners with any options for playing their commercial and private DVD content on non-player devices. For that, you need a software program known as a DVD ripper, but make sure the one you select meets your needs.
DVDs are a great form of storage that should last for years, unless you scratch or lose them. That applies to both commercial DVD titles as well as personally recorded video and other forms of data. Personal DVDs could also potentially be accidentally overwritten.
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 16, 2019
One of the best cheap tablets you can buy is getting better. On Thursday morning, Amazon revealed upgraded models of its super-popular Fire 7 and Fire 7 Kids Edition tablets, starting at $50 and $100 respectively.
Prices haven't gone up with these refreshes, but Amazon doubled the amount of available storage on the all-new Fire 7, with 16GB of capacity as the new baseline and a 32GB model available for $20 more. Performance should also be improved thanks to a faster processor. Like the previous generation, the new Fire 7 includes hands-free Amazon Alexa support that lets you watch videos or listen to music and audiobooks using voice commands. In addition to the usual black, the all-new Fire 7 is also available in Sage, Plum, and Twilight Blue colors.
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 16, 2019
It's time for another Amazon one-day sale, and this is an awesome one for anybody suffering from a limited port selection on your ultra-light laptop or MacBook. Today, the online retailer is slashing prices on Sabrent USB hubs and a single docking station. This isn't a huge sale with only ten options availble, but the prices are good with several products at (or close to) their all-time lows.
First up is an angled four-port USB 3.0 hub ideal for stationary use on a desk. It comes with a 30-inch cable to connect to your device. The hub doesn't offer a charging port, and Sabrent warns that you shouldn't connect portable external hard drives to this hub, though desktop hard drives with their own power source are fine. You can pick up this hub in black or silver for $11 today, down from its usual $15 to $20.
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 16, 2019
Bullguard VPN in brief:
P2P allowed: Yes
Business location: United Kingdom
Number of servers: Uknown
Number of country locations: 16
Cost: $85 per year
VPN Protocol: OpenVPN
Data encryption: AES-256-CBC
Data authentication: TLS 1.2 with 2048-bit DH
Handshake: SHA2 -512
Nearly every major antivirus maker offers a virtual private network service. A few create their own networks, but typically, AV makers rebrand white-label services provided by third parties. Bullguard is one such AV maker, and it offers its rebranded white-label VPN service as a standalone product, called Bullguard VPN.
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 16, 2019
Keys are yesterday's tech, your smart home needs a smart door lock.
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May 16, 2019
Amazon Channels, Apple TV Channels, and Roku Premium Subscriptions create more problems than they solve.
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May 16, 2019
The Hopsy SUB Home Tap is a standalone mini-keg chilling machine with a paired delivery service. It's surprisingly fun for an appliance that just isn't worth it.
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May 16, 2019
You'll want to run a smart home hub to get the most benefit from this strong smart lock.
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May 15, 2019
Want to play PC or Mac games on your iPhone or Apple TV? It's now a possibility.
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May 15, 2019
If you use one of Google's Titan Security Keys for two-factor authentication, you probably think your account was as secure as it can be. On its website, in fact, Google promises that Titan Security Keys "are the same level of security used internally at Google" and "keep out anyone who shouldn't have access to your online accounts."
Make that most people. In a post on its security blog, Google divulged Wednesday that it has discovered a "misconfiguration" with the Bluetooth Low Energy version of its Titan Security Key that could allow a nearby attacker to "communicate with your security key, or communicate with the device to which your key is paired."
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May 15, 2019
If you use one of Google's Titan Security Keys for two-factor authentication, you probably think your account was as secure as it can be. On its website, in fact, Google promises that Titan Security Keys "are the same level of security used internally at Google" and "keep out anyone who shouldn't have access to your online accounts."
Make that most people. In a post on its security blog, Google divulged Wednesday that it has discovered a "misconfiguration" with the Bluetooth Low Energy version of its Titan Security Key that could allow a nearby attacker to "communicate with your security key, or communicate with the device to which your key is paired."
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May 15, 2019
In this episode of The Full Nerd, Gordon Mah Ung, Brad Chacos, Alaina Yee, and Adam Patrick Murray dig into whether a recent flurry of rumors carry any weight ahead of Computex.
No, we don't dig into rumors often, and you always want to take them with a fistful of salt. But leaks have been springing up like crazy around AMD's next-gen Ryzen 3000 processors and "Navi" graphics cards recently. With AMD planning dedicated events at both Computex and E3, it's natural to wonder what might be coming. But what's plausible and what seems more likely to be mere vapor from the hype train? We analyze the situation.
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May 15, 2019
On Wednesday, Windows Insider preview build 18898 revealed a small but exciting Task Manager improvement coming to a future version of Windows 10: The Performance tab will tell you if a disk is a solid-state drive or a slower mechanical hard drive.
The ability to distinguish between SSD and HDD "is particularly helpful in cases where you have multiple disks listed, so you can differentiate between them," the announcement post says. Indeed, that's the very reason I'm so enthusiastic about the addition. Storage drives frequently outlive PC builds, so my DIY Franken-system is loaded with a variety of drive types from past machines. (And hey, storage-stuffed SSDs are only getting cheaper.) Currently, Task Manager only labels each with its assigned drive letter. Identifying the disk type as you see in the image below should make it much easier to keep track of which data belongs to which drive.
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May 15, 2019
Adding some extra space to your phone, camera, or tablet can save you from the annoyance of getting an "Out of space" notification, and today, you don't have to break the bank supercharge your storage. You can grab a 400GB SanDisk Ultra microSDXC from Amazon for an all-time low of $57, down from a list price of $77.90.
This memory card packs a lot of space into a small package. Compatible with Android phones and tablets, as well as cameras, laptops, and even the Nintendo Switch, this microSDXC boasts transfer speeds up to 100MB/s. In addition, A1-rated performance makes this card perfect for loading apps, games, and even large videos quickly. And when it comes to managing all your data, SanDisk's Memory Zone app can help Android users easily move and view files.
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May 15, 2019
Few things are as frustrating as a malware infection. So keep your PC free from unwanted threats — and save over $265 at the same time — with a three-year subscription to GlassWire Elite.
GlassWire is a firewall and PC monitoring system that helps protect your computer from threats. It keeps the undesirables out while, at the same time, provides an overall picture of your PC's health so you can fix problems before they get out of hand. It's a must-have security feature, especially when you consider the sheer number of dangers that come up every single day.
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May 15, 2019
We've said it for years: Switching from a hard drive to an SSD is the single best upgrade you can give an aging PC. For those with newer PCs, however, there's a next-level option: upgrading from a standard SATA III SSD to a newer and much faster NVMe M.2 "gumstick" SSD. And today, Amazon's offering an amazing deal with the 500GB WD Black SN750 SSD for $108.
This drive was on sale for just $104 a couple days ago, but at $108 it's still an incredible value. We absolutely loved the WD Black SN750 when we reviewed it in February, calling it "just about the best combination of price and performance in an SSD"—and that was at its full cost. But it's key to check that your motherboard is compatible with NVMe drives, as not all are, especially if you purchased a budget motherboard or your system is several years old.
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May 15, 2019
If you're in a panic to figure out how to turn off Intel's Hyper-Threading feature to prevent ZombieLoad, the latest Spectre-like CPU security exploit, then take a deep breath—Intel's official guidance does not actually recommend that. The bad news? None of what we tell you is going to make you feel any better.
ZombieLoad is similar to previous "side channel" attacks, which trick Intel processors into coughing up potentially sensitive information that would otherwise would be kept private by the CPU. The exploit hits most Intel chips and can be used on Windows, MacOS, and Linux, the ZombieLoad researchers said. ARM-based and AMD-based CPUs aren't impacted.
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May 15, 2019
TiVo vs. Tablo vs. Channel Master vs. Plex: None are ideal, but one might work for you.
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May 15, 2019
Acer's Predator Triton 500 is a gaming laptop we'd actually want to carry around. Sure, we may look hungrily at a monster gaming laptop that's nearly as fast as a desktop gaming PC. But if you have to take it with you, the era of thin, light and powerful gaming laptops is a godsend.
This review is part of our ongoing roundup of the best gaming laptops. Go there for information on competing laptops and how we tested them, and up-to-date buying advice.
Adam Patrick Murray
The Acer Predator Triton 500 features an 8th gen Core i7-8750H and Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 GPU, along with 16GB of dual-channel RAM and a 512GB NVMe M.2 SSD.
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May 15, 2019
This affordable and portable headphone amp will bring out the best in your headphones; but the unit's size, weight, and smudge-prone surface keep it from earning our highest mark.
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May 15, 2019
Tablo's quad-tuner DVR maintains an edge over competitors with simple setup, reasonable prices, and some neat new features.
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May 14, 2019
Your laptop's built-in speakers aren't doing any favors for the gigs and gigs of music and movies on your hard drive. Even the best ones can leave your audio sounding thin and lifeless. External PC speakers—along with a good set of headphones—are a must for getting the best fidelity from your media files.
A trip online or to your favorite electronics store will reveal a head-spinning variety of options in this category, with some systems costing as much or more than you paid for your laptop. You don't need to take out a personal loan to upgrade your audio, though. Quality speakers can be found even with a budget of around $100. And while there is a certain degree of "you get what you pay for" at this price level, you'll be rewarded with satisfying sound if you're willing to make a few compromises.
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May 14, 2019
Windows XP may be dead, but Microsoft refuses to leave it to the worms.
Today, the company warned users to apply a critical patch for a remote code execution vulnerability that could open older versions of Windows to attack. Common-sense caution isn't enough, because the exploit can trigger even with no action taken by the user. "In other words, the vulnerability is ‘wormable', meaning that any future malware that exploits this vulnerability could propagate from vulnerable computer to vulnerable computer in a similar way as the WannaCry malware spread across the globe in 2017," Microsoft's Simon Pope warns.
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May 14, 2019
How low can you go in price and still get a quality set of computer speakers? That's the question Amazon effectively poses with each set of its AmazonBasics speakers. We may have found the answer with these USB-powered 2.0 computers speakers, currently one of the company's best sellers.
Of all the AmazonBasics speaker I've reviewed to date, these are the first built as I'd expect for a budget set. Each speaker driver is encased in boxy, plastic enclosure with a mesh covering. The individual units measure 2.8 x 3.5 x 5.3 inches and weigh less than 1.5 pounds.
One speaker, which we'll call the control unit, has a power/volume knob and blue LED on its front. A 3.5mm headphone jack sits to the right of these. The speakers are hardwired together, and a second luxuriously long cable attached to the control unit splits into USB and 3.5mm audio inputs. Both cables are thicker than you often find on low-priced speakers, so there's little worry that they'll get pinched or torn.
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May 14, 2019
PC speakers typically prove the maxim "you get what you pay for." The trade-off for saving a few sawbucks is often shoddy construction, generic design, and subpar sound. AmazonBasics USB-Powered Computer Speakers with Dynamic Sound dispel that idea. Combining great audio, a sturdy build, and a contemporary look, this system is a steal.
Amazon
The speakers are hardwired together and feature a plug-and-play setup.
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May 14, 2019
Truly wireless earbuds let you ditch all cables in our post-headphone jack world, but like with anything else, their quality varies. Our top picks offer great audio without sacrificing battery life or comfort.
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May 14, 2019
Alexa Guard can operate on its own or in conjunction with full security systems from Ring and ADT.
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May 14, 2019
Join The Full Nerd gang as they talk about the latest PC hardware topics. In today's episode the usual crew is back together to talk about all the AMD rumors we could find, as well as other rumors and predictions leading up to Computex. 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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May 14, 2019
Amazon's Fire Kids Edition tablets are a popular pick for parents with good reason: they're solid tablets with great warrantees at a great price. And today, Amazon has slashed the price of the Fire 7 Kids Edition to an all-time low of $60Remove non-product link, down from a list price of $100.
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May 14, 2019
In case you couldn't tell by the specs, OnePlus has given its new phone a surname to drive home just how much different it is. From the design and display to the camera, the OnePlus 7 Pro brings a whole lot more than the usual processor refresh to keep pace with the highest-end Android flagships.
To emphasize the point even further, OnePlus isn't releasing a non-pro version of the 7. As such, OnePlus will continue to sell two variants of the 6T "for users looking for a premium flagship experience" at a $30 cut, bringing the 128GB model down to $549 and the 256GB version to $599.
The OnePlus 7 Pro with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage starts at $669. Yes, that's $120 more than the entry-level OnePlus 6T (after today's $30 price cut) and within shouting distance of the $740 iPhone XR and Galaxy S10e. But it's difficult to find much fault with this much phone at less than $700.
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May 14, 2019
I'm not very far into Rage 2 yet, and thus don't plan to spend much time dissecting it here. Perhaps we'll get around to doing a proper review. Perhaps we won't.
Perhaps that ambivalence is all the verdict you need. So far, what I've played has been underwhelming, to say the least. Rage 2 is a far blander experience than I expected, both based on our hands-on time last year and the game's own over-the-top marketing. I was promised zany. I was promised the type of game where it'd make sense for the NBA Jam announcer to shoutcast your kills.
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May 14, 2019
Training for a career is never easy. There are schedules to stick to, deadlines to contend with, and for this privilege, you'll be expected to pay thousands. But that's not the case with StackSkills Unlimited. They offer access to hundreds of cutting edge tech courses that are beginner friendly, flexible, and cost far less than the alternative.
No matter your technical aspirations, you'll find courses at StackSkills Unlimited that'll prepare you for success. There are courses that'll teach you how to code using a myriad of languages. You could also discover how to design and execute a winning marketing plan. Or you could even become a blockchain expert. With a growing library of over 500 courses, you'll be certain to find at least a few that'll pique your interest.
To read this article in full, please click here
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May 14, 2019
Newegg is making it easy to build an awesome all-AMD gaming PC, with a fancy monitor to boot. Right now, the retailer has a great deal on a Ryzen 5 2600 processor and X470 motherboard combo, as well as two 27-inch 1440p FreeSync HDR displays. And you can pick up a killer Radeon graphics card for cheap, too.
Today, you can pick up a Ryzen 5 2600 processor and MSI's Performance X470 Gaming Plus motherboardRemove non-product link bundled together for $250. The Ryzen 5 2600 usually sells for about $160 and the motherboard is around $130, which gives you a savings of just over $40. The Ryzen 5 2600 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor that can shred through heavy productivity tasks and gaming chores alike. Bonus: It comes with a CPU cooler in the box, and MSI's motherboard supports
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May 14, 2019
The development effort consumed more than a year, but Sonos is now the first smart speaker manufacturer to support both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant on the same system.
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May 14, 2019
Amid a growing crowd of super-thin, super-light and super-fast gaming laptops, HP's Omen X 2S 15 just jumped above the noise.
Sure this sub-five-pound laptop features an 8-core, 9th-gen Core i9-9880H CPU and a GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q GPU—those specs are a given on any high-end laptop. But all those other laptops don't have a six-inch touchscreen in the keyboard deck. The Omen X 2S 15 does.
Adam Patrick Murray
The HP Omen X 2S 15 features an 8-core 9th gen Intel chip with factory-installed Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut liquid metal, along with a GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q GPU.
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May 14, 2019
A boom in wireless security cameras is inspiring a movement in DIY home surveillance. Follow our buying guide and read our reviews to find the best option for you.
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May 14, 2019
This weather-resistant camera delivers great video and accurate event detection.
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May 13, 2019
We get it. You've already decided that folding screen devices are a Mach 3 flame-out at 85,069 feet. But hear us out, because Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 foldable prototype (it has no official name yet) just might have you thinking that you'll never want to buy another laptop again. Seriously.
The ThinkPad X1 foldable prototype concept is simple: Take a 13.3-inch, Intel-based, full-service Windows OS-running PC/tablet/device and fold it in half, with a diagonal corner-to-corner measurement of about 10 inches. At about an inch thick, it has the feel of a medium-sized journal.
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May 13, 2019
When it comes to gaming PCs, nothing matters more than your graphics card. To push as many pixels as possible you're going to want the fastest graphics card you can afford—but ever-shifting prices and product lineups make it difficult to keep track of what's available.
In honor of keeping frame rates high, we decided to rank all the major available discrete GPUs from Nvidia GeForce and AMD Radeon, starting with the fastest graphics card available and working on down. This list focuses on each company's most current GPU lineup, and doesn't include older graphics cards.
We've verified this information through hours of blood, sweat, and benchmarking. Feel free to hit up the individual reviews to see our work in greater detail. Or, if you want more concrete buying advice for your specific budget or display resolution, be sure to read our guide to the best graphics cards for gaming. It provides much more information than this simple list, complete with discussion about considerations like form factors and what to look for in a customized model.
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May 13, 2019
"Let's get started by building a furnace," says the little goo-creature, pickaxe slung casually over its shoulder. And I feel it's at this point I should warn you: Don't listen. Don't mine the rocks and don't construct them into a furnace. Flee from the goo-creature as if the devil's at your heels.
For if you don't, if you construct that furnace, you will find yourself blinking blearily at the sunlight starting to stream through your window, and you will look at the clock in disbelief, and you will swear and think "I really have to go to bed." And then you will continue harvesting rocks, because the siren song of Forager is powerful, and you are weak.
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May 13, 2019
Anker has become a brand that's synonymous with quality products at competitive prices, buttoday's sale at AmazonRemove non-product link brings them down to prices we rarely see. Whether you're looking for a power bank, wall charger, or just a new cable, you can load up on smartphone accessories without breaking your wallet. Here are our favorites:
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May 13, 2019
To understand Oddworld: Soulstorm, you need to understand Oddworld's history. You need to understand that Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee, released in 1997, was meant to be the first part of a five-game series, each starring a brand new protagonist—and you need to understand that those plans immediately fell apart.
First came success. With Oddysee a surprise hit, publisher GT Interactive demanded a sequel for the following Christmas. The result was 1998's Abe's Exoddus, a stopgap release. Still well-received at the time, it didn't advance the core Oddworld storyline and was considered a "bonus" game by both developers and fans.
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May 13, 2019
Strong passwords are vitally important. But creating ones that are sufficiently complex — without impeding access — is a daunting task. And that's precisely what makes Roboform Everywhere for Business, at just $59.99 for a five-year subscription, a wise investment.
RoboForm Everywhere links to your accounts and creates complex passwords that are practically unbreakable. The best part, however, is that you won't have to remember any of them. RoboForm, instead, manages them for you and gives instant access whenever you need, which is advantageous as it improves security and accessibility at the same time.
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May 13, 2019
We adore graphics card deals these days thanks to AMD's never-ending thirst for giving away free games. Today, Newegg is selling an ASRock Phantom Gaming X Radeon RX 590 for $200Remove non-product link. This card usually sells for around $225 these days, so it's a modest but nice price cut, and far below the $280 that Radeon RX 590 GPUs launched at mere months below.
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May 13, 2019
It's not enough for LG that the G8 ThinQ has the best processor, a great screen, an impressive battery, and a solid camera. Like nearly every G phone that came before, the G8 also has to be different, and that's where it gets tripped up.
Had LG focused on the things that matter while undercutting its Samsung and Google rivals, it might have had a hit on its hands. Instead, the LG G8 is filled with gimmicks that might be fun initially, but their persnicketiness and general uselessness ultimately frustrate and cheapen the experience.
That's a shame, because underneath all of the gimmicks is really good phone. Maybe even a great one.
Mind you, the G8 is still saddled with LG's overly staid design language and UI deficiencies. But with top-of-the-line specs and gesture navigation, LG's latest flagship should be able to stand up to the Galaxy S10 or Pixel 3 XL. And it probably would, if not for all of those gimmicks.
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May 13, 2019
This starter kit of two contact sensors and one motion sensor extends the capabilities of Wyze's affordable security cameras.
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May 13, 2019
Google demonstrated its next-gen Assistant during its I/O conference and it ran circles around Siri both in speed and privacy.
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May 13, 2019
The Pure One S12 adapts its suction power to the amount of dust on your floors and furniture.
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May 13, 2019
Time may not necessarily be money, but it still matters. Every second you spend wading through context menus or clunkily navigating Windows is a second you could be doing something you love instead. And with so much of modern life tied up in technology, those wasted seconds can add up fast.
Now it's time to reclaim those lost seconds, minutes, and hours. These simple Windows 10 tips and tricks aren't glamorous and most aren't even new, to be honest, but when deployed together they can seriously streamline your workflow.
Once you've mastered these methods, be sure to check out our guides to 10 helpful Windows 10 tools you might not know about and the best Windows 10 tips, tricks, and tweaks. Optimizing your setup gets awfully addictive, awfully fast.
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May 10, 2019
Anyone who uses a smartphone knows the importance of carrying a backup power bank. But given the large number of options on Amazon, you might feel overwhelmed, understandably. Besides the various charging specs, ports, and even cables you have to consider, there are a ton of competing brands. It's common to see products from Anker, Mophie, and MyCharge, but how do you know which ones deliver on their promises? Is it worth saving a few bucks if a battery pack's performance is lacking?
As for the latter, be advised: Amazon voluntarily recalled six different models of its AmazonBasics-branded external power banks after they were found to potentially overheat.
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