Apple : iOS 10 second public beta is out now

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Apple's iOS 10 update won't launch until the fall, but that doesn't mean you can't try it out now. Today, Apple released its second public beta for iOS 10, which lets anyone sample its latest and greatest mobile operating system.

On the surface, iOS 10 looks and feels just like iOS 9, but there are a lot of subtle tweaks under the hood. Notifications get a huge revamp, showing users more important info at a glance and bringing support for 3D Touch.

iOS 10 also changes how users unlock their phones. The "Slide to unlock" prompt is gone, replaced by a simple "Press Home to open" for iPhones that support Touch ID. iPhones will also wake up automatically when you pick them up from a resting position, allowing you to view your notifications without unlocking your device. The device will also vibrate when locked, giving users a little haptic feedback.

We've already come up with our iOS 10 first impressions, and you can find out how to download iOS 10 public beta right now if you want to take it for a spin yourself.

Macs gets some love, too

macOS Sierra is also receiving its second public beta today, coming just two weeks after the release of the first one. Apple's desktop operating system is getting a huge revamp this fall with the addition of Siri and a much improved Photos app. iPhone users will also be able to view their phone's notifications on their Macs and share a clipboard between devices.

macOS Sierra

Apple Watch owners will be able to unlock their Macs when they're in range, making it easier to avoid typing your password. Speaking of passwords, Apple Pay is coming to Safari so you can pay for things instantly using Apple's mobile payment system.

If you want to try macOS before it's officially released in the fall, follow our how to download macOS Sierra public beta guide.

Why 100 million monthly Cortana users on Windows 10 is a big deal

Buying Guide: The 10 best PCs of 2016: which computer should you buy?

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Introduction

Update: Our latest round of reviews have focused on PCs you can carry with just one hand, indicating an increasing demand for smaller computers. If you're on the search for something fun-size, read our reviews of the Beelink BT7, Vorke 7, and Voyo V3 mini PCs today!

Although it's not nearly the behemoth it once was, the desktop PC still has its place in an ever-expanding landscape of devices. Unlike laptops, tablets or even smartphones, they aren't limited by portability and battery life requirements. Whether you want to expand on storage, memory, graphics or sheer processing power, a desktop PC gives you the most flexibility to upgrade on hardware.

It's also a surprisingly diverse category. These machines come in all shapes and sizes and can be used in many different ways. The beautiful, compact simplicity of the all-in-one computer is undeniably attractive. Components, such as the speakers and display are built directly into a single unit, with few cables left trailing around your desk. Therefore, it's the perfect for those of us who like to keep our workspaces neat and tidy.

Small form-factor PCs and inexpensive micro media machines are a popular choice as well. There are small desktop PCs that are intended to be used in the living room, designed to look attractive and provide a quick way to access all sorts of digital media. You can hook one up to a surround sound system and your main TV to enjoy Netflix or your own DRM-free media files with software such as Plex.

And, of course, the traditional desktop tower keeps trucking on. Whether you leave it on your desk or underneath it, this hulking form factor gives you the freedom to choose whatever components and specification your budget allows for, from an inexpensive family computer that can be used for word processing, spreadsheets and other office tasks, to a powerful video editing workstation complete with a top-end processor and graphics card.

Prices vary depending on the configuration, from less than £200 (around $303 or AUS$432) for an entry-level family desktop computer, to four figures for a desktop with a powerful video card suitable for demanding gaming.

And, with the exception of our Apple examples that naturally ship with OS X 10.11 El Capitan (soon to be replaced by macOS Sierra) and the Chromebase which beautifully packages Chrome OS, you can expect any of the PCs on this list to come with Windows 10 as standard. Here we've listed 10 of the best, ordered by price and spec starting first with only the most expensive and powerful machines money can buy.

Also check out: What does the future hold for the PC?

Apple iMac

1. Apple iMac with 5K Retina display

A stylish all-in-one with a stunning screen

Bright IPS screen

Few wires or cables

Tough to upgrade

As we already mentioned, the unique selling point of all-in-ones is their simplicity, and that's partly what makes the iMac so appealing. A built-in screen and speakers, 802.11ac wireless networking and a wireless keyboard and mouse means you only need a power cable to get up and running.

There's quite a range of iMacs, starting at £899 (around $1,365 or AUS$1,943) for an entry-level 21.9-inch model with a dual-core processor that's okay for basic tasks, up to 27-inch iMacs with quad-core processors, and even a 5K display.

Even on the low-end model, the IPS display is bright and vivid, with a clever design where the edges of the aluminium chassis are thinner than many standalone monitors. And as standard, the iMac runs OS X, although it's very easy to install Windows alongside if you want to continue using your existing Windows software.

Read the full review: Apple iMac with 5K Retina display

Apple 4K iMac

2. Apple iMac with 4K Retina display (21.5-inch, Late 2015)

CPU: Intel Quad-Core i5 (Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz) | Graphics: Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 | RAM: 8GB 1867MHz LPDDR3 | Storage: 1TB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400RPM | Communication: Wireless: 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.0 | Dimensions (W x D x H): 45cm x 52.8cm x 17.5cm

Display

Accessories

SSD not standard

Pricey

Featuring a vibrant Retina 4K display that's packed with color, Apple's new 21.5-inch iMac is a small bundle of aluminum joy. Its display's massive, 4,096 x 2,304 pixel-resolution is great for surfing the web in comfort with multiple windows side-by-side in El Capitan's Split View, image and video editing, watching 4K video content and just about everything else.

As expected from an Apple computer, it's a typically well-built machine that, in true iMac tradition, barely takes up more space on your desk than a large laptop. Apple is bundling the 4K iMac with a superb set of accessories, including the latest versions of its Magic Mouse 2, Magic Trackpad 2 and its all-new Magic Keyboard.

Just make sure you upgrade the standard spinning hard drive to a 1TB Fusion Drive (or even better, the 256GB SSD) if you want to shell out a bit more cash to eliminate lengthy loading times.

Read the full review: Apple iMac with 4K Retina display (21.5-inch, Late 2015)

Dell Inspiron 3000

3. Dell Inspiron 3000

A slim mini-tower which is a decent performer

Slim tower design

Core i5 is surprisingly powerful

No SSD option

Core i3 only dual-core

Dell's Inspiron desktop computers aren't quite as small as a PC like the Acer Revo One, but they still come in a mini-tower, and therefore won't take up too much space either on a desk or underneath it. With a black design and a silver trim, Dell has gone to some length to make this standard PC chassis look quite sleek and a bit more exciting than a mere black box.

As standard, it has a dual-core Intel Core i3 processor rather than a Celeron, and 8GB of memory – so it's a lot more powerful than the Revo One.

For an extra bit of cash, you can upgrade the processor to a quad-core Intel Core i5-4460 and the graphics card to a discrete Nvidia GeForce GT705, for a decent all-round performance boost. Dell also sells complete packages with a bundled 23-inch S2340L display.

Apple Mac Mini

4. Apple Mac mini

The cheapest way you can go Mac

The most affordable Mac

Internal power supply

Few expansion options

Upgrades get expensive

The Mac mini exhibits the luxury of an Apple desktop without the price tag to match. Starting at a mere $499 (£399, AU$779), the Mac mini is barebones yet affordable. Though it ships without the otherwise expected Magic Mouse and Keyboard peripherals, getting to choose your own accessories is liberating (plus you can buy used and save a trunkload of cash if you're so inclined).

And, while it hasn't been updated in quite some time on the hardware front, the Mac Mini's Haswell-based i5 processor still chugs along nicely. Plus, with Iris Graphics onboard, you'll get a bit more juice than expected. Combined with 500GB of storage space and 4GB of RAM, the Mac mini is arguably the best starting point for OS X newcomers even if a contemporary makeover is long past due.

With an aluminum shell and simplistic industrial design, the Mac mini represents Apple at its very core. Where it mainly lacks, however, is in performance. Luckily the option for a Fusion Drive, which marries the power of both HDD and SSD technology, somewhat makes up for this inadequacy. A configuration sporting 8GB of RAM is an option too, but if you don't want to shell out the extra cash, the base model will do just fine.

Read the full review: Apple Mac mini

Asus K31ADE

5. Asus K31ADE

A compact desktop machine for everyday computing

CPU boosts to 3.7GHz

Blu-ray drives available

No SSD option

Only 4GB of memory

Asus is a unique PC maker in that it offers a wide range of computers for a variety of different types of users. The K31 desktop towers in particular the company describes as "all you need for daily computing."

So, you shouldn't expect them to run Crysis with the Intel Core i3 processor paired with 4GB of RAM. However, you can get a Core i5 or Core i7 processor instead for an added cost. Other configurations include discrete graphics cards from Nvidia and AMD, along with USB-C for increased data transfer rates.

Acer Revo One

6. Acer Revo One RL85

A compact media PC with plenty of storage

Small, sleek, smart design

Plenty of storage

Fairly weedy performance

Lacks 802.11ac Wi-Fi

If you're looking to share your PC with an entire household rather than locking it behind a desk in your home office, Acer's Revo One accomplishes just that. Though it doesn't have the most powerful processor on the market, don't underestimate its versatility.

The Revo One packs in not only two USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0 ports, HDMI and DisplayPort, but it also comes with a 2TB hard drive in case you're worried about running out of space for your massive movie collection. Plus, thankfully, it has a built-in wireless card meaning there's no need to reconfigure your entire house's network wiring just to keep it underneath the TV.

Read the full review: Acer Revo One RL85

HP Pavilion Mini

7. HP Pavilion Mini

The Windows-toting answer to a Mac Mini

CPU: 1.9GHz Intel Core i3-40255U | RAM: 4GB 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM | Storage: 1TB 5,400rpm HDD | Communication: 802.11n Wi-Fi, Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth 4.0 | Dimensions (W x D x H): 144mm x 144mm x 52mm

Nice design

Small footprint

Limited upgrades

Excess bloatware

If you'd rather prevent a computer from occupying your entire desk space, the Mac Mini is worth your consideration. However, if Apple's OS just doesn't do it for you, HP offers a stunning Windows alternative. The Pavilion Mini as it's called won't blow your mind in terms of specs, but it will get the job done if you're not planning on doing any intensive gaming or video editing.

Plus, it's still faster than a lot of mini computers on the market, and with plenty of storage space to boot. And, if you don't need a mouse and keyboard, most retailers are selling it for downwards of $300. Not a bad deal if you just need a compact computer to get you through the day to day.

Read the full review: HP Pavilion Mini

HP 260 G1

8. HP 260 G1

The tiny computer that can

CPU: Intel Celeron 2957U | RAM: 2GB to 16GB 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM | Storage: 32GB M.2 SSD | Communication: HP 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi | Dimensions (W x D x H): 17.5 x 17.7 x 3.4 cm

Two memory slots

DisplayPort and VGA

No Wi-Fi or Bluetooth

Storage capacity

For the money, the HP 260 G1 is a surprisingly speedy performer. Sure, the Celeron chip isn't exactly hardy, but it boasts specs more comparable to an Intel Core i3-4020Y than what you'd normally expect from the Celeron moniker. And, of course, as a mini computer focused on business, the HP 260 G1 entitles you to special treatment when it comes to customer support. Run into a hardware problem? You can expect attentive care within the next business day. Need phone support? It's available 24 hours a day.

Sure, the HP 260 G1 is a year old now, but it still runs like a charm, especially if you're on a budget. However, if the included 2GB of RAM isn't enough, HP was generous enough to allow for memory expansion up to 16GB using a pair of 8GB twin modules. Keep in mind, though, that this is still a budget PC, so don't be surprised when you find out that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities aren't built into the device.

Read the full review: HP 260 G1

Lenovo IdeaCentre Q190

9. Lenovo IdeaCentre Q190

A micro PC which you can mount on the back of your display

Versatile design

Enough memory

Sluggish CPU

Poor graphics

Let's face it: most of us don't need a tricked out desktop rig with the fastest processor and the flashiest case. If you're looking for a computer that can pull off the basic necessities like web browsing, email, social media, watching videos and word processing, the Lenovo IdeaCentre Q190 kicks tail.

As one of the lowest-cost offerings on this list, Lenovo's offering doesn't impress specs-wise, only bolstering a mere 1.6GHz dual-core Celeron 1017U processor and 4GB of RAM but it shouldn't matter for the price. Bang for buck is Lenovo's game with the IdeaCentre Q190, and it unabashedly succeeds in our book.

Plus, if you appreciate the design of the Q190, but your day-to-day demands something a bit more powerful, upgrades with faster Pentium and Core i3 processors are also available.

Read the full review: Lenovo IdeaCentre Q190

LG Chromebase

10. LG Chromebase

An easy to use and excellent value all-in-one

Astonishing value

Simple to use

Annoying keyboard

Chrome OS is a decent alternative to Windows on laptops, but there's no reason why it can't be used in a desktop computer in the same way. LG has had that very idea when making the Chromebase, an all-in-one PC that runs Google's desktop OS.

Being an all-in-one, it carries the same benefits as Apple's far more expensive iMac – no need for cables everywhere, the speakers are built into the display, and it's all very straightforward. And actually, some of the hardware is really quite smart. You get an IPS screen, which looks really good.

Of course, Chrome OS has some downsides. You can't run Windows software, so that means no Microsoft Office, for example. That said, Google has recently started making Android apps from the Google Play Store available on a handful of Chrome OS devices, which could breathe new life into the LG Chromebase's software catalog later down the road.

Chrome OS is intentionally designed to work with files stored in the cloud rather than locally, and has equivalents of Microsoft's software which run in a browser rather than from the computer. It takes some getting used to, but it does work, and works well.

Once again, for basic use, this type of setup will prove to work well, although it may take some time to get used to. All said, it's tough to beat a deal like this.

Read the full review: LG Chromebase

Now, what about the best Chromebooks?

Gabe Carey has also contributed to this article

Yahuui Blog

Thursday, July 21, 2016