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Jul 16, 2018
While Prime Day is a great chance to grab a cheap TV, PC, or DVD set, it's also a good excuse to get the tools you need to get in shape. Amazon is running a few awesome deals on fitness trackers to help Prime members on the road to their workout goals, and we've collected the best ones here:
Fitbit Alta HR
Fitbit/Thinkstock
If you're looking for something a little simpler, Fitbit's Alta HR might fit the bill. Even with a slim design, it still brings a heart-rate sensor, sleep tracking, full fitness tracking, and 7-day battery life, as well as notifications and call alerts. It retails for $150, but Amazon is selling it today in black, blue, coral, or fuchsia for just $90
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Jul 16, 2018
Prime Day is here and if you've been waiting for just the right moment to upgrade your smartphone, today might be the day. Whether you want a top-of-the-line gaming phone or just something that will get you though a day of messaging and music streaming, Amazon is running some killer deals for Prime members on some of the year's most exciting phones. Here are the best ones we found for every carrier and taste:
Fully unlocked Phones
Galaxy Note 8
Doug Duvall/IDG
The Galaxy Note 8 is our pick for best phablet phone, and today you can grab the Orchid Grey version for just $650
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Jul 16, 2018
Lest we forget, Amazon made e-readers ubiquitous, tablets affordable, and smart speakers a thing. And just like clockwork, the retail giant is using Prime Day 2018 to drop prices on Kindles, Fire tablets, and Echo smart speakers. Oh, and don't forget Amazon owns Ring now—so Ring Video Doorbell products are on sale too, along with Amazon's own Cloud Cam.
If you want to see the whole line-up of Amazon device price reductions, go to this Amazon page that showcases all the gadgets Amazon makes itself. Or just keep reading for a rundown of what's on sale by category.
Kindle E-reader deals
Kindle E-reader, $50 ($30 off, 37.5% discount.)
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Jul 16, 2018
The LIFX A19 LED light, one of the best smart bulbs we've tested, is available from LIFX's website today for $97.98 for a four pack, using the code B2G2Remove non-product link. That's a steep discount from the $240 list price and Amazon's price, where the same pack is $196.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Jul 16, 2018
The best non-Amazon Prime Day deals take the "holiday" created for members-only and make it a great shopping time for the rest of us, too. We're only a few hours away from the Prime Day kick-off, and we've rounded up a bunch of solid deals for a Monday morning from all over the web. If you put them all together you've got one heck of an upgrade for your average gaming rig or home PC.
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080
Newegg's got the Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1080 (GV-N1080WF3OC-8GD) for $460 after code 18FANST05Remove non-product link, and if you do the mail-in rebate thing you can get $10 back, bringing the total cost to $450. This model of the GeForce GTX 108
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Jul 16, 2018
Hopefully you haven't purchased an Amazon Kindle or Fire tablet in the last few months—because now is the time to buy. Amazon has been hyping Prime Day savings for weeks now, and like Prime Days past, its own branded mobile devices receive some of the best discounts of all.
Obviously, you'll need Amazon Prime to score these deals, and if you don't yet have a membership, you can sign up hereRemove non-product link. You may also consider our suggestions for getting a short-term Prime membership for free.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Jul 16, 2018
With Google Home and Apple HomePod gaining ground in the smart speaker space, it looks like Amazon wants to cement its popularity in the U.S. with some major price drops for the Echo LookRemove non-product link,
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Jul 16, 2018
Buying a processor for a gaming rig isn't as hard as it used to be. Now that AMD's Ryzen and Intel's 8th-gen CPUs debuted with more performance and cores than ever before, it's hard to buy a stinker these days—especially since most games favor graphics firepower over CPU oomph. But all that said, there are specific chips that stand out from the horde as the best gaming CPUs due to their price, performance, or nifty extras.
Updated July 16, 2018 with the latest gaming news—and it's pretty juicy, so keep reading.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Jul 16, 2018
Designed specifically for Roku TVs, the Bluetooth speakers will be bundled with Roku's voice remote and an all-new tabletop voice remote.
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Jul 16, 2018
These bulbs work with the included hub, or with third-party gear.
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Jul 16, 2018
Amazon and Google are both trying to get a foot through your door with their smart speakers. Here's what you need to consider before buying one.
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Jul 16, 2018
With integrated knock and motion sensors, this upgraded peephole camera will detect wrongdoers darkening your door.
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Jul 14, 2018
This full-fledged, easy-to-tote first aid softpack is designed to save time and frustration in the midst of an emergency. It's compact and portable, but contains 299 physician-recommended supplies. Among the items neatly organized inside the zippered kit is a first aid guide, vinyl gloves, bandages, cold compress, gauze pads, trauma pad, cotton-tipped applicators, first aid tape roll, antiseptics and all three common OTC pain medications. The kit is currently a #1 best seller on Amazon, averages 4.6 out of 5 stars from over 2,230 customers, and its typical list price of has been reduced to just a hair over $12. Click over to Amazon to see this deal.
To read this article in
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Jul 13, 2018
Few computers inspiring drooling as much as the fully kitted-out flagship systems by boutique PC builders. The fire-breathing hot rod of a rig that just showed up in our labs is so gorgeous we just had to share it.
The Maingear F131 Gordon unboxes above packs Intel's 18-core Intel Core i9-7980X behemoth, scads of RGB illuminated G.Skill Trident Z memory, and not one but two GeForce GTX 1080 Ti graphics cards. But hardware aside, it's the artistry that steals the show. This F131 comes equipped with Maingear's flashy yet functional Apex cooling system, which marries various EK Waterblocks with hardline metal tubing and a huge acrylic block that looks damned fine while working as the liquid reservoir. A fancy custom paint job and red PSU extension cables complete the premium look. The F131 packs customizable RGB LEDs throughout to put all its glorious hardware in a literal spotlight.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Jul 13, 2018
It's release dates, release dates, release dates this week as we start to prepare for the just-over-the-horizon fall reviews rush. No, please—sit back and enjoy the summer. Wear sunscreen. Stay hydrated. Just know that games are coming soon, some (like Monster Hunter: World) as early as August.
That, plus release dates for Bard's Tale IV and Darksiders III, a delay for Code Vein, teases for a new Witcher and new Commandos, and Fortnite making so much damn money that Epic decides to give all Unreal Marketplace developers an 18 percent bonus for the last four years of sales. Four years.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Jul 13, 2018
So you've got your RGB LED-equipped case, graphics card, and closed-loop liquid cooler. Heck, you've even blinged out your power supply, RAM, and SSD with hardware capable of glowing in any of 16.8 million colors. What's next? Well, you could slap a complementary OLED display on your already-illuminated hardware, as Asus is doing with its new ROG coolers and PSU, or you can check out the latest mad creation by Lian Li: The Strimer RGB power cable extension ($45 on NeweggRemove non-product link).
To read this article in full, please click here
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Jul 13, 2018
There are a lot of Bluetooth speakers out there, and it can be hard to cut through all the noise. Amazon makes it easy today with this killer deal on Anker's super popular, well-reviewed SoundCore 2. Right now it's on sale for $28Remove non-product link, the lowest price we've ever seen and a sharp discount from its usual price of $42. Like most of the deals this week, you need to be a Prime member to get that price. (You can sign up for a 30-day free trial here
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Jul 13, 2018
There are a lot of Bluetooth speakers out there, and it can be hard to cut through all the noise. Amazon makes it easy today with this killer deal on Anker's super popular, well-reviewed SoundCore 2. Right now it's on sale for $28Remove non-product link, the lowest price we've ever seen and a sharp discount from its usual price of $42. Like most of the deals this week, you need to be a Prime member to get that price. (You can sign up for a 30-day free trial here
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Jul 13, 2018
If you've been impatiently waiting for the end of the great mining-induced graphics card crisis, today's deal is for you. Amazon's selling a 4GB Gigabyte Radeon RX 580 for $210 after a $90 discount and a $20 mail-in rebate. (That means you pay $230 up front.)
To read this article in full, please click here
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Jul 13, 2018
A gaming laptop's GPU matters just as much as its CPU and other components. Given that any gaming laptop worth the name has some sort of discrete graphics, we'll go through all the mobile GPUs available and tell you what to expect from each one, and point you to some laptops that carry them.
Gaming laptop quick picks
If you're looking for specific gaming laptop recommendations, here are a few suggestions:
Best budget gaming laptop: Acer Nitro 5 (GTX 1050)
Best midpriced gaming laptop:
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Jul 13, 2018
Apple's new MacBook Pros bring impressive speed boosts over the prior models, but there won't be any real innovation until Apple takes over the processor from Intel.
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Jul 13, 2018
If you're looking to learn coding or want to pick up another programming language, Python is a good choice. One of the terrific things about Python is how closely it resembles the English language, so you'll often see words like "not," "in," and "or" in its scripts. Because of its readability, Python is commonly the first programming language schools teach. It's a great launchpad for an aspiring coder.
Now you might be asking: What can you do with Python? Python is the official language of Google, it powers Instagram, and it even runs on chips Intel tests. It's a scripting language that can automate all sorts of tasks, big or small. You can do just about anything with Python that you can do with other languages. But it also has some distinct advantages.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Jul 13, 2018
The 6-series' color and HDR are astounding for this price range, but weak motion handling and problematic backlighting remind you this isn't a high-end TV.
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Jul 12, 2018
Quarterly PC sales grew the most since 2012, IDC said Thursday afternoon, driven by commercial demand and a growing American appetite for gaming PCs.
Preliminary results for the second quarter forecast unit growth—yes, growth—of 2.7 percent, year over year, to 62.3 million units. That's the strongest growth since the first quarter of 2012, when the PC market grew by 4.2 percent, IDC said. Rival firm Gartner agreed, estimating that 62.1 million PCs were sold in the second quarter of 2018, a 1.4 percent increase from the second quarter of 2017.
Worldwide, the PC market had been flat over the past three quarters. Within the United States, however, the PC market has grown for two consecutive quarters. Both worldwide and in the North American market, the biggest driver was business PCs. But IDC also pointed to a surge in gaming PCs, helped by lower prices in graphics cards.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Jul 12, 2018
On Thursday, Microsoft began offering a free version of Microsoft Teams as an incentive to switch over from Slack—and is loading it up with key features such as unlimited chat messages.
Earlier this week, Slack said it was improving its own in-app search, with automated suggestions. Slack's free version still limits users to 10,000 searchable messages, though—and Teams does not. That's one of the key selling points of the new free Teams service; the other is the number of users—300—which will be enough for many small businesses.
"For us, it was all about continually breaking down barriers to [Teams]," said Lori Wright, General Manager of Microsoft 365 Teamwork, in an interview. "We don't necessarily think you should be an Office 365 subscriber to experience the power of the Teams solution."
To read this article in full, please click here
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Jul 12, 2018
Whether you're an aspiring programmer or a seasoned pro, you'd be remiss to leave Python out of your programming repertoire. Amazingly versatile and famed for its user-friendliness, Python is a staple in many a coder's toolbox, and it's even become a driving force in a host of today's AI and machine learning innovations. If you want to future-proof your coding skillset, you can do so for a price you get to choose with the Pay What You Want: Total Python Machine Learning Bundle.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Jul 12, 2018
A good fast wireless charger can add speed and convenience to your battery boost. Right now, RAVPower has several wireless chargers on sale at steep discounts as a one-day Amazon Prime deal of the day—and the company supplied us with codes to make them even cheaper.
First up, RAVPower's $38 10W Qi fast wireless charger can be yours for $23 with the code RAVPC066. It normally costs $38. This flat charger's LED battery indicator helps you know the charging status of your device. It also features a non-slip coating so your phone won't slide around.
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Jul 12, 2018
The critical Meltdown and Spectre bugs baked deep into modern computer processors will have ramifications on the entire industry for years to come, and Chrome just became collateral damage. Google 67 enabled "Site Isolation" Spectre protection for most users, and the browser now uses 10 to 13 percent more RAM due to how the fix behaves.
"Site Isolation does cause Chrome to create more renderer processes, which comes with performance tradeoffs," Google's Charlie Reis says. "On the plus side, each renderer process is smaller, shorter-lived, and has less contention internally, but there is about a 10-13% total memory overhead in real workloads due to the larger number of processes. Our team continues to work hard to optimize this behavior to keep Chrome both fast and secure."
To read this article in full, please click here
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Jul 12, 2018
There was a time, not that far in the past, where I used to assemble PCWorld's video game review calendar from Steam's "Upcoming Releases" list. We're talking 2013, maybe 2014. Even then, there was a lot of trash—this was post-Greenlight. But it was a manageable amount of trash, and the unfiltered Upcoming Releases list was a great overview of each month's releases.
As Valve ramped up the number of releases though, the Upcoming list became increasingly useless. How useless? According to Valve, "The old Upcoming list was only clicked on by less than half of one percent of customers." Turns out an unfiltered look at the games coming to Steam each week is a great way to realize how much trash Valve's hands-off approach is letting through—not to mention the fact that some games continually moved their release dates in order to sit on the list each month.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Jul 12, 2018
When it comes to gaming monitors there are standard screens, and then there are visual experiences. Today, Dell's got a good price on the latter type of display, but it'll still cost you. The retailer has an Alienware 34-inch curved 3440-by-1440 G-Sync monitor for $1,000Remove non-product link. That's a lot of bread, but it's about $100 to $200 cheaper than what you'll find elsewhere right now and $500 off the MSRP. It also happens to be Dell's Black Friday price from last year, which makes sense as it's part of Dell.com's
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Jul 12, 2018
The Mobvoi TicWatch Pro wants to solve the one problem Wear OS doesn't really have: battery life. While some older LTE-enabled Wear OS watches might struggle to get through a day of normal use, most of them are plenty capable of handling a full day of step tracking, Lyft hailing, and message sending. The TicWatch Pro is no different in that regard. Use it as a smartwatch and you'll probably need to plug it in before hitting the sack.
Rather, Mobvoi's battery innovation is the addition of a second, low-power display on top of the standard 1.4-inch OLED. Activate it, and it shuts down most functions and lets the watch eke out every last drop of power before shutting down.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Jul 12, 2018
With Apple announcing Thursday that it has dropped a 6-core 8th-gen Core i7 8750H into the MacBook Pro 15 there are two things we know for sure. The first is that the boost in performance will be huge. The second: It still won't be faster than the fastest PC laptops.
Sure, you could say we're just being haters because we heart PC. But unlike the iPad and iPhone, Apple doesn't make its own CPUs. It relies on the same ones PC laptops have been using since at least April. All of the testing we've done already on Intel's 8th-gen "Kaby Lake R" (reviewed here), the 8th-gen "Kaby Lake G" (reviewed here), and the 8th-gen "Coffee Lake H" (reviewed here) lets us say with high confidence just how fast the new 2018 MacBook Pro 15 will be when it ships.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Jul 12, 2018
Apple is finally refreshing the MacBook Pro line with 8th-generation (Coffee Lake) Intel CPUs, and everything is about to get a whole lot faster.
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Jul 12, 2018
Apple's new pro laptop feature eighth-generation Intel Core processors that offer a significant performance jump, as well as DDR4 memory support and True Tone display technology.
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Jul 12, 2018
Did you know that you can use your Echo to make voice and video calls without a mobile number or landline? Here's how to do it.
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Jul 12, 2018
HBO needn't abandon its quality-over-quantity ideals, but AT&T is right to call for change.
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Jul 11, 2018
If you're a Microsoft Edge user, you might find that Windows 10 Insider Build 17713 offers a welcome addition: the ability to manage autoplaying video on a site-by-site basis.
The new Windows build isn't heavy on new features for consumers, though business users may find some interesting additions: Web Sign-in, Fast Sign-in, and even using biometric logins to log into a remote PC. Microsoft did make some enhancements to how Edge uses PDF files, and even Notepad.
Here's a look at what's new:
Autoplay, PDF controls within Edge
While Google's Chrome and other browsers have begun offering users the flexibility to decide what to do with autoplaying video on websites, Microsoft's Edge hasn't followed suit, until now. As part of Edge's new per-site controls, you'll have the freedom to decide whether video autoplays. To access the controls, click the small lock-shaped icon in the browser.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Jul 11, 2018
Dark Souls is know for it's punishing difficulty and precise gameplay. While Adam has tried out many enteries in the series Dan has not, and we are looking forward seeing how he handles it live on Twitch!
Follow PCWorld's Twitch channel (or YouTube) so you don't miss out on this or future live streams.
Watch live video from PCWorldUS on www.twitch.tv
Tune in every week for podcast's such as The Full Nerd as well as new and old gaming alike!
To read this article in full, please click here
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Jul 11, 2018
Leif has been dumping plenty of hours into the new expasion for The Elder Scrolls Online called Summerset. In this live stream we'll be venturing in the new delves, checking out some world bosses, and just do some general expolration!
Watch live video from PCWorldUS on www.twitch.tv
Follow PCWorld's Twitch channel (or YouTube) so you don't miss out on this or future live streams. Tune in every week for podcast's such as The Full Nerd as well as new and old gaming alike!
To read this article in full, please click here
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Jul 11, 2018
Nvidia's dueling GeForce Now services just got a whole less complicated—and a whole lot more appealing for Shield TV owners. Originally created as a Netflix-like all-you-can-play subscription service for Nvidia's set-top box, the waters became murkier with the beta launch of the wildly different GeForce Now for PCs and Macs, which essentially runs the PC games you already own on an Nvidia server in the cloud. Today, Nvidia announced that the services are unified. Shield TV now runs the same version of GeForce Now as the PC and Mac.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Jul 11, 2018
Amazon is continuing its week of pre-Prime Day sales with a killer deal on an awesome car charger. Anker's Alexa-enabled 2-port USB Roav VIVA is on sale on Amazon today for $34 for Prime members, down from a list price of $60 and the lowest price we've ever seen.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Jul 11, 2018
Amazon is continuing its week of pre-Prime Day sales with a killer deal on an awesome car charger. Anker's Alexa-enabled 2-port USB Roav VIVA is on sale on Amazon today for $34 for Prime members, down from a list price of $60 and the lowest price we've ever seen.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Jul 11, 2018
In this episode of the Full Nerd, Gordon Mah Ung, Brad Chacos, Adam Patrick Murray, and (eventually) Alaina Yee dig deep into the hows, whys, and whens of buying new PC hardware—and specifically whether it's the right time to buy a new graphics card or computer processor.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Jul 11, 2018
When Amazon's Prime Day starts Monday, July 16 at 12 p.m. Pacific, you'll need to be a Prime member to partake of the deals. Prime is Amazon's $119 per year service that provides two-day shipping on all orders, as well as a ton of extras like the Kindle lending library and Prime Video.
Good news, though: You may not need to pay for membership at all if you just want it long enough to take advantage of Amazon's annual shopping extravaganza. Here are a few ways to get a short-term Prime membership to cash in on the savings.
Amazon
Method One: The standard 30-day free trial
If you've never tried Amazon Prime or haven't tried it in a while, you may be eligible for a free, 30-day trial. After the 30 days, Amazon will charge you for the membership—either $13 per month or $119 per year—so don't forget to cancel before the trial is up.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Jul 11, 2018
ASRock is a big name in motherboards but only recently started making graphics cards. Now the company's leveraging its traditional expertise to offer a tantalizing bundle for gamers--especially if you're building a new PC from the ground up.
Until Thursday, you can get an 8GB ASRock Phantom Gaming X Radeon RX 580 for $300. That's a pretty average price right now for an 8GB RX 580, but to sweeten the deal Newegg's throwing in a $90 ASRock AB350 Pro4 motherboard for free. As long as you need that motherboard, this bundle means you're getting ASRock Phantom Gaming X for far belo
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Jul 11, 2018
Though it's nearly 25 years old, the PDF may be more useful than ever in our increasingly multi-device, cross-platform world. Much of the time you can get by with a free PDF reader to review and comment on these files. But inevitably, particularly in a business setting, you'll need to edit a PDF file and that usually requires upgrading to a premium PDF editor.
Historically, Adobe Acrobat has been the best option, but it has also been the most expensive, often putting it out of reach of individuals and small businesses. That has given rise to a wealth of alternatives with varying features and costs. We looked at six PDF editors to see what they offer and how they stack up against each other.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Jul 11, 2018
The best laptops today are basking in the glow of Intel's 8th-gen Core CPUs, which at last bring quad-core performance to mainstream machines. The only thing missing is Oprah shouting, "and you get an 8th-gen quad-core laptop!"
There's plenty of good news with this new generation. Our favorite convertible laptop, HP's Spectre x360 13, sports a quad-core 8th gen chip while maintaining its diminutive size. It's really the total package.
But let's be honest: Not everyone needs a quad-core powerhouse laptop, especially if the hottest application they run is Microsoft Excel. Check out our budget favorites, like the Acer Aspire E 15 and Asus ZenBook Flip, whose dual-core CPUs do just fine with mainstream fare; and the Asus Chromebook Flip, a well-priced and versatile laptop for living on the web—or delving into the wide, wide world of Android apps.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Jul 11, 2018
It's not perfect, but who wants another hockey puck just to talk to Alexa?
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Jul 10, 2018
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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Jul 10, 2018
BolehVPN in brief:
P2P allowed: Yes
Business location: Malaysia and Seychelles
Number of servers: 35
Number of country locations: 12
Cost: $80 per year
VPN protocol: OpenVPN and L2TP
Data encryption: AES-256
Data authentication: SHA2
Handshake encryption: RSA-4096
Many VPNs right now are trying to be as user friendly as possible with a simple connect button and a simplified list of server locations. Not so with BolehVPN. This Malaysia-based VPN is not focused on ease of use, but at the same time there may not be quite enough here to satisfy power users.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Jul 10, 2018
A great wireless router is an essential element of tech life, whether you're building out a smart home or you just want the best experience streaming music and video at home. We pick the best models here, because even those of us fortunate enough to have ethernet drops in every room have devices—smartphones and tablets, for instance—that depend on Wi-Fi to connect to the home network if not the internet.
Wi-Fi router cheat sheet
Our quick-hit picks:
Best Wi-Fi system: Netgear Orbi RBK50
Best budget Wi-Fi system:
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Jul 10, 2018
The Full Nerd is a video talk show where technology enthusiasts come together to explore, celebrate, and generally geek out on cool PC hardware technology, from CPUs to GPUs to extreme laptops and desktops—and all the tech in between. We're shooting the 58th episode today, answering the questions you need to know and giving away the swag you want to own. On tap:
Should you buy a new GPU right now?
Should you buy a new CPU right now?
Reader Q&A
We'll also pick the winner of a 2nd-gen Threadripper "Heavy Metal tour" t-shirt signed by AMD CEO Lisa Su and computing and graphics chief Jim Anderson! Get your entries in now if you haven't already, and brush up on your knowledge by watching our detailed 2nd-gen Threadripper interview with Jim Anderson below while you wait for us to go live today.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Jul 10, 2018
It's no coincidence that Apple released a series of iPad international video spots just hours before Microsoft unveiled its most affordable tablet, the Surface Go. The four 15-second ads spotlight the iPad's ability to make mundane tasks like paperwork, packing, and traveling easier with the low-cost tablet.
But now Microsoft has a strong competitor to Apple's entry-level $329 iPad. With a $399 price tag and a 10-inch screen, the Surface Go isn't just Microsoft's cheapest Surface tablet, it's one of the most affordable full-featured tablets you can buy. And it just might be a better investment than the 9.7-inch iPad, depending on what you need. Here's why (and why not):
To read this article in full, please click here
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Jul 10, 2018
If you could use a few more connections on your laptop on your MacBook or PC, Belkin's USB-C 3.1 Express Dock, which comes equipped with a 3.3-foot USB-C cable, can provide up to eight ports. Amazon is selling is for $99 today, a sharp discount from its $229 list price and by far the lowest we've seen it. And if you're an Amazon Prime member, you can save another 20 percent, bringing it down to an unheard-of $80.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Jul 10, 2018
Between geo-restrictions, third-party trackers, and ISPs slowing your browsing speed, there's no shortage of obstacles standing between you and the content you're trying to enjoy online. Ivacy VPN gives you the means to sidestep today's browsing restrictions with access to a colossal network of more than 450 secure servers spanning over 100 locations across the globe. Lifetime subscriptions are on sale today for more than 90% off the usual price.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Jul 10, 2018
Which streaming box is best for cord cutters? And what's the skinny on streaming sticks? Our buying guide will help you pick the right accessories for your TV.
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Jul 10, 2018
The Amazon Prime-only deals keep rolling in as we await the arrival of Prime Day next Tuesday. Today only, Amazon Prime members can get a 2018 Samsung Qi-certified wireless smartphone charger (with Fast Charge) for $40.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Jul 10, 2018
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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Jul 10, 2018
Okay, so you forgot your password for logging in to Windows. All is not lost. You can still log in to Windows—even if there is no other administrative account on the PC.
From a security point of view, this is actually scary news. But there are legitimate reasons to use the tricks below, and none of them will let a criminal log in without your knowledge (the password is changed, not revealed) or gain access to encrypted data. (You do encrypt your sensitive files, right?)
I've provided instructions here for Windows 7 and 10. Windows 8 users should have no trouble following the Windows 10 instructions.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Jul 10, 2018
We had mixed feelings about Qoppa's PDF Studio Pro when we last gave it a look. Its depth of features rivaled Adobe Acrobat DC and top alternatives like Nitro Pro, but it was hamstrung by a woefully dated interface and clunky functionality for common PDF tasks like editing text and images. Fortunately, PDF Studio Pro 2018 remedies these shortcomings, completely overhauling the UI and addressing the worst of the content editing quirks.
Like its predecessor, PDF Studio Pro 2018 includes everything you need to manage PDFs. You can create PDFs from scanned paper documents or by converting Microsoft Office files, plain text, and several image files types. It provides a comprehensive set of review and markup tools such as highlighting; sticky notes; text boxes; and graphical, audio, and freehand annotations. And you can secure your documents with passwords, permissions, encryption, and digital and electronic signatures.
To read this article in full, please click here
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Jul 10, 2018
Vacuuming is one of the most hated household chores. Here are your best choices for outsourcing it to some automated help.
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Jul 09, 2018
For all of Microsoft's claims about mobility, the Microsoft Surface lineup of Windows tablets really haven't been all that portable. The smaller, cheaper, lighter Surface Go announced Tuesday morning hopes to change all that, with a new 10-inch spin on the traditional Surface tablet.
No, this isn't the Surface Mini, or the rumored two-screen device, "Andromeda." The Surface Go is most reminiscent of the Microsoft Surface 3, 2015's quirky $499 Atom-powered tablet that provided a cheaper alternative to the pricey Surface line. The Surface Go dives even lower—prices will start at just $399 for a bare-bones model with 4GB of memory and 64GB of storage when it goes on sale August 2. A keyboard will be sold separately, beginning at $99, and the optional Surface Pen will cost $99 as well.
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Jul 09, 2018
Foxit's PhantomPDF Business 8 took the bronze in our 2017 roundup of best PDF editors, behind Adobe Acrobat DC and Nitro Pro. Version 9, which is an incremental update rather than a major overhaul, doesn't make us rethink that ranking but it does reinforce PhantomPDF as a strong alternative to Acrobat.
Like Adobe Acrobat DC and Nitro Pro, the two PDF editors to which it compares most favorably, PhantomPDF employs an Office-style ribbon to keep tools tidy. A dozen task-based tabs make it easy to navigate the editor's wealth of functions, while a sidebar in the document pane puts common functions like reordering pages and viewing comments a mouse-click away.
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Jul 09, 2018
PDF Architect 6 is billed as the only customizable PDF editor. What that means is it's offered as a free download and three different paid packages, each containing a specific set of PDF tools it calls "modules." These modules, which determine how much you can do with a PDF, can also be purchased individually based on your needs. We took a look at the business-ready Professional version, which comes with just about every available tool.
Like virtually every other PDF editor worth its salt, PDF Architect employs an Office-style ribbon interface that organizes tools in a baker's dozen of tabs. While the first 12 tabs cover common document tasks like creating, converting, reviewing, and securing PDFs, the 13th is an empty "custom" tab to which you can add your favorite tools and create a personalized ribbon bar. A series of tabs in the document pane let you navigate PDFs by page, thumbnail, bookmark, link, or text search.
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Jul 09, 2018
Your home is only as smart as the hub that orchestrates everything behind the scenes. These DIY tools are the best of the bunch.
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Jul 09, 2018
Remember that time in college when you scored free tickets to that Van Halen concert and talked yourself into the after-party, where you had Eddie Van Halen and David Lee Roth sign your tour shirt?
While this uber-rare "2nd Gen Ryzen Threadripper Heavy Metal Tour" T-shirt isn't the same as partying with Van Halen, it's probably about close to nerd nirvana as you're going to get today.
Given away at the announcement event for 2nd-gen Threadripper, only a small quantity of these shirts were made by AMD. To make this shirt even more rare, AMD CEO Lisa Su and Senior VP Jim Anderson signed the back for us.
Its ultra-rare existence means we have only one XL shirt to give away to a lucky nerd. We'll announce the winner during the Full Nerd Podcast on July 10 at 10:30 a.m. Pacific time.
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Jul 09, 2018
Prey is one of 2017's most underrated games, and as an expansion that makes Mooncrash an even more niche prospect, a game that will be played by a small subset of a small subset. Which is a shame, because strip away its "expansion" status and Mooncrash is one of the best, most innovative games of 2018. It's Arkane's masterpiece, a true testament to what a talented team can do with systems-first design.
Every Prey fan should play it. And those who haven't yet become Prey fans? You should be.
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Jul 09, 2018
Forget about Christmas in July. This year, you can save big with Black Friday in July. Amazon Prime Day kicks off on July 16, and the retailer's warming up for the blowout by offering some steep deals leading up to the event. Today, you can snag all manner of Anker's popular chargers, cables, and portable batteries at mostly unheard-of savings. The discounts end at midnight Pacific time Monday, and you need to be an Amazon Prime subscriber (or sign up for a free 30-day Amazon Prime trial) to claim them.
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Jul 09, 2018
Forget about Christmas in July. This year, you can save big with Black Friday in July. Amazon Prime Day kicks off on July 16, and the retailer's warming up for the blowout by offering some steep deals leading up to the event. Today, you can snag all manner of Anker's popular chargers, cables, and portable batteries at mostly unheard-of savings. The discounts end at midnight Pacific time Monday, and you need to be an Amazon Prime subscriber (or sign up for a free 30-day Amazon Prime trial) to claim them.
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Jul 09, 2018
Last week we told you about a killer deal on the original Pixel (which is still going on), but if you'd rather get some of Google's newest products for less, now's the time to act. Pixels, Chromecasts, and Google Home speakers are all on steep sales through July 17.
The Pixel 2 XL, Google's premier smartphone, is $100 off both the 64GB and 128GB models, bringing them down to $749 and $849 respectively. The phone easily earned our Editors' Choice award for its great all-around performance, but the Pixel 2 XL's blending of a top-of-the-line mobile camera with Google's A.I. magic results in one of the most fun, elegant camera experiences you'll find in a camera today. And if you want to use the phone's power to wander worlds in virtual reality, the 2nd-gen Daydream View headset is on sale for $49, 50 percent off its $99 list price.
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Jul 09, 2018
Amazon's Prime Day blowout is just one week away, and as we get closer to the big day the retailer's offering some great warm-up deals for Prime members, as we saw last week. Today, Amazon's got a great deal on a 50-inch 4K TV. The Hitachi 50Z6 is $290. It's got an MSRP of $380, and we saw a similar Hitachi at Walmart for $340. Either way, $290 is a great deal for a 4K TV of this size. The deal ends just before midnight Pacific Time on Monday, and again, you have to be an
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Jul 09, 2018
Year in and year out, Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Tablet ranks consistently among the strongest Windows tablets in the market, despite fluctuations in price and performance. This year, a concerted effort to refresh and update the X1's components elevates the ThinkPad X1 Tablet (3rd Gen) to the top of the heap.
While the review unit Lenovo sent us has the lofty price of $1,547.10 (from Lenovo), the same price as Lenovo's 2017 version of the X1 Tablet, remember that this is built for business users who expect quality and durability. And this year there's now far more bang for your buck. A new 8th-gen Intel quad-core Core processor complements a larger 512GB SSD, a new 3,000x2,000 IPS display, and a larger battery. All four represent upgrades over last year's model. Lenovo also strengthened its structural rigidity of the included, detachable keyboard to improve the typing experience.
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Jul 09, 2018
As Adobe Acrobat alternatives go, Nitro Pro sits near the top of the heap. It's used by tens of millions of consumers and over 650,000 businesses—including more than half of the Fortune 500—according to the company's chief product officer, Jeff Kreutz. With version 12, Nitro isn't relaxing its efforts to help people and organizations improve their digitized workflows.
The features that make Nitro Pro beloved by individuals and businesses alike are all still here. You get a complete set of content editing tools; review and markup features for efficient collaboration; form fill and signing capability; and multiple security options for sensitive documents including permissions, password protection, and data redaction. All of these must-have features are intuitively organized in a Microsoft Office-style ribbon interface that groups them into task-based tabs.
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Jul 09, 2018
Shark's budget-friendly robot vacuum navigates obstacles well and has an elegant app, but falls surprisingly short on the cleaning quality.
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Jul 06, 2018
Every year it's like falling off a cliff. The run-up to E3 is a million stories per day—game announcements, game leaks, game trailers. Then E3 is obviously a billion stories per day as we try to sort through all the madness. And then the week after E3? Tumbleweeds.
Two weeks after E3 looks about the same. But three weeks after E3 is where people actually start working again, so I'm back with a very light dusting of news. Dead Island 2 is still apparently in development, Shenmue gets a PC release date, Kingdom Come: Deliverance delivers DLC, Bethesda talks smack about Sony, and more.
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Jul 06, 2018
When Samsung announces its quarterly results later this month, the numbers will look plenty good to the untrained eye: $13 billion in profit on $51.8 billion revenue. However, analysts will tell you that those figures represent a 0.7-percent decline in sales over the prior year's quarter. That might not seem like a terrible dip, but when you zero in a little further, it spells trouble for one of Samsung's most visible products: the Galaxy S9.
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Jul 06, 2018
Google's Pixel and Pixel XL phones have been top performers since their debut in 2016. Now their smarts and functionality are available for killer deals.
A 32GB carrier-unlocked Pixel is available on B&H for $330. Google's original Pixel was a very expensive Android phone when it came out, and this discount is a huge savings of $320 off its list price. The Pixel comes equipped with a 5-inch, 1920x1080 Full HD AMOLED display with a retina-style image quality comparable to the best phones around.
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Jul 06, 2018
Consider this your weekly reminder that we are still in the end throes of the graphics card crisis. That means sometimes the sales drop down to the original MSRP, and sometimes they get closer than before—like today's deal. Right now, Newegg's got the EVGA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti SC Gaming for $180 with code EMCPWPV24.
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Jul 06, 2018
Rakuten Kobo's Clara HD e-reader ($130 from Rakuten Kobo) costs $10 less than its main competitor, the ad-free version of the Kindle Paperwhite (reviewed here and available, of course,
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Jul 06, 2018
When I reviewed Razer's debut Blade Stealth ultrabook two years ago, I thought it would usher in a wave of imitators. Small, sleek, with an all-metal chassis that rivaled Apple's finest MacBooks, it was one of the best laptops I'd ever used.
And now? Well, not much has changed. I've been using the Blade Stealth's most recent revision for a bit now, and while there are certainly some excellent alternatives, Razer's machine (available via Amazon) remains near the top of the pack. There's still room for improvement—particularly the battery life—but it's an impressive machine.
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Jul 06, 2018
Wyze Labs' $30 pan-and-tilt camera can hold its own with the big brands.
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Jul 05, 2018
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 a few years ago.
But while auto cons aren't as common here, recording your excursions is a reasonable precaution to take—especially if you're driving professionally.
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Jul 05, 2018
I'm having flashbacks. A little over two years ago now I wrote a review for The Crew, Ubisoft's racing-game-slash-MMO hybrid, a game that touted all of America as its map. And it made good on that promise—I spent a long time just admiring the scenery contained therein.
That's about all I admired though, because it was a pretty damn mediocre racing game.
And here we are again, with The Crew 2. Another game with an identity crisis, of sorts. Another game where the map is the biggest draw—and it's a fantastic draw, let me say that up front. I just wish literally anything else about it were interesting.
Drawing lines on the map
No game captures America the way The Crew 2 does. Or at least, no other game captures this very specific, vehicle-centric America.
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Jul 05, 2018
Bear Motion's self-powered radio/flashlight combo is $19 on Amazon today, down from an average price of $24.
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Jul 05, 2018
Whenever there's a really good deal on an SSD you can always count on PCWorld to remind you this is the single best upgrade you can give a PC. Today, we've got a great deal on one of our favorite drives: Amazon's got the 1TB WD Blue 3D NAND SSD for $199. That's $30 off its most recent price, and the all-time historical low for this SSD.
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Jul 05, 2018
DirecTV Now, Sling TV, and PlayStation Vue are raising prices, but don't call it cable all over again.
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Jul 05, 2018
Crash Bandicoot is on PC. I've played it and yet I still can't fully comprehend it, like a color that shouldn't exist, or some sort of uncanny valley android. It's been over 20 years since I first played Crash Bandicoot, and in all that time it's been a tentpole PlayStation series. Hell at one point in the '90s, the titular Bandicoot was the PlayStation's mascot, its answer to Mario.
And now it's on PC. Even weirder? That's the best way to play it, these days.
Crash into me
You can thank/blame the long, slow march of hardware—and for once I'm not talking about graphics cards. That's usually the reason I'd recommend a PC over a console, and Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy certainly looks great. The N Sane Trilogy is one hell of a remake, perhaps the bar by which they should be judged. Gone are the old polygonal graphics, replaced with something that looks like it could've released for the first time in 2018. Pretty astonishing, given the 22 years in between.
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Jul 04, 2018
For an inexpensive dash cam (available on Amazon), the Cacagoo CA03 is impressive. It takes good day video, and sports the looks and out-of-box experience of a much pricier item. That said, the detailing in the dark areas of night video is weak, and there's no GPS. The latter is hardly surprising given the price, but the former may be a deal-buster if you drive at night a lot. I'm not going to take cheap shots at the name—the product doesn't warrant it. Just forget that last "o" and think Windy City.
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Jul 04, 2018
This smart device lets parents check on their little ones from anywhere they have internet access.
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Jul 03, 2018
In this special "half" episode of the Full Nerd, Alaina Yee and Adam Patrick Murray sneak into the studio to chat about why Gordon is just plain wrong about certain things, ultimate battlestations, and how we make the show.
Also, don't forget: There's still one week left on our Threadripper 2 t-shirt giveaway! We'll announce the results next week, when we're back to a full crew.
Back to this episode: You can witness all the hijinks in the video embedded above. You can also watch The Full Nerd episode 57.5 on YouTube (toss us a follow while you're there!) or listen to it on Soundcloud if you prefer the audio alone.
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Jul 03, 2018
Heads up, gamers: Amazon is doling out freebies as well as discounts this year for Amazon Prime Day. Twitch, which Amazon acquired for $970 million in 2014, has begun giving away 21 games to its Prime members in celebration of the big event.
The giveaway will roll out on a daily basis, with new titles available each day until July 18. Most games are claimable for a few days at a time, but several offerings can be snagged during a bigger window of time. Each title will appear on the Twitch Prime page when it's ready for download.
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Jul 03, 2018
We just unboxed two of Dell's G series gaming laptops, and they show how much you can get even on a shoestring budget. With prices starting at $749, what these laptops lack in flash, they make up for by focusing on what matters: a solid CPU, a discrete GPU, and designs that are convenient and portable.
The G3 15 laptop is an $849 configuration with an Intel Core i5-8300H CPU and 8GB of RAM, an Nvidia GTX 1050Ti GPU, and a 15.6-inch, 1920x1080 display with IPS technology. Storage includes a 128GB SSD and a 1TB 5,400rpm HDD. Its all-plastic, "Recon Blue" chassis is attractive, but it doesn't shout "gamer."
The G7 15 stands out more, if only because of its Alpine White color scheme, but there's plenty to talk about under the hood. Our $1,200 configuration includes a Core i7-8750H CPU, a six-core Coffee Lake powerhouse. (And if that's not enough for you, it can be upgraded to the Core i9-8950HK overclockable processor. We just looked at that in the Alienware 17 R5 laptop, and it's face-meltingly fast.) The CPU is supported by 16GB of RAM, and storage includes a 128GB SSD and a 1TB HDD, like its G3 15 cousin.
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Jul 03, 2018
Cloud storage is a valuable thing, but most solutions today charge exorbitant rates for even the most barebones of storage plans. However, there's still hope for those looking to move files off their quickly filling hard drives. Utilizing tiered storage options, Zoolz Cloud Storage makes it possible to move your data to the Cloud without hamstringing your checking account. Right now, you can get a lifetime of 1TB Instant Vault and 1TB of Cold Storage with Zoolz for only $44.95.
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Jul 03, 2018
Multiplayer games are on a roll lately. By now you probably already know about Hammond, the adorable hamster who rolls about in an iron wrecking ball of death in Overwatch (and whom we tried our in a recent PCWorld Twitch stream). But as for me? I find I can't stop thinking about Guild Wars 2's Roller Beetles, which rolled out in the patch for GW2's "Love Live the Lich" patch last week.
Ride one, and you'll probably feel the same way. They're the sixth mount in the newish Path of Fire expansion following the existing Raptors, Griffons, and the like, but they're also likely the best mount I've ever ridden in an MMORPG.
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Jul 03, 2018
It's strictly for home security today, but every bit of the infrastructure needed to build this into a robust smart home system is already in place.
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Jul 03, 2018
Right now, Amazon is offering some pretty solid discounts off a lot of its AmazonBasics electronics, with a variety of products offered at 20 percent off. But if you're a Prime member, they're even cheaper. Here are a few of the best:
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Jul 03, 2018
If you have a new Galaxy S9, you're probably using Samsung Messages for your texting needs. The default messaging client on all new Galaxy phones, the app lets you text your friends and family with modern features and strong search, and integrates with all of Samsung's other apps. In short, if you're locked into the Samsung ecosystem, you have every reason to use it.
And now there's a reason not to use it. According to reports, the app has been sending out photos to random contacts without the user's permission, a massive privacy issue and a potential embarrassment for victims of the bug. It's unclear how widespread this issue is, but it's major enough to warrant more than 200 comments on this Reddit thread.
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Jul 03, 2018
If you have a new Galaxy S9, you're probably using Samsung Messages for your texting needs. The default messaging client on all new Galaxy phones, the app lets you text your friends and family with modern features and strong search, and integrates with all of Samsung's other apps. In short, if you're locked into the Samsung ecosystem, you have every reason to use it.
And now there's a reason not to use it. According to reports, the app has been sending out photos to random contacts without the user's permission, a massive privacy issue and a potential embarrassment for victims of the bug. It's unclear how widespread this issue is, but it's major enough to warrant more than 200 comments on this Reddit thread.
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Jul 03, 2018
Amazon Prime Day is back for its fourth annual outing on July 16, and this time Amazon promises 36 hours of deal mania, up from the usual 30. While the official kickoff isn't for another couple of weeks, Amazon is building up to the big day with some preliminary deals.
Remember, these deals are available only for Prime subscribers who pay a $119 annual fee ($59 for students) to get free two-day shipping on orders and a slew of other perks. If you aren't already a member, you'll be able to get a 30-day free trial just in time for all the deals.
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Jul 03, 2018
Google has had voice search features in Android for years, but when Google Assistant rolled out on the Pixel in October 2016, everything finally came together. You can now get Assistant on all modern Android devices, and Google has already announced new Assistant features at I/O 2018 that will make it even better (okay, and maybe a little too real, in the case of Duplex).
It can be easy to miss the improvements if you don't obsessively keep an eye on the news, so here they are in one place: the coolest new features in Google Assistant.
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