Saturday, January 5, 2019

Apple : AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation release date, news and rumors

Apple : AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation release date, news and rumors

AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation release date, news and rumors

Posted: 05 Jan 2019 02:00 PM PST

AMD changed the world with its first Ryzen processors and impressed us even more with its sophomore release of CPUs, but we expect Ryzen 3rd Generation will truly blow Intel out of the water. With Ryzen 3rd Generation, we expect AMD will introduce its first 7nm mainstream processors. 

If Team Red manages to pull this off, it will have created the first 7nm architectures to come to PCs. Considering Intel’s well-documented struggles to introduce 10nm Cannon Lake chips, AMD could swoop in and upstage its rival completely even before it gets a chance to launch Sunny Cove, while also introducing some of the most impressive CPUs ever created.

Cut to the chase

  •  What is it? AMD’s next line of mainstream processors
  •  When is it out? Likely March to August 2019
  •  What will it cost? TBD

AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation release date

Although there’s haven’t been any rumors or hard evidence to help us predict when Ryzen 3rd Generation processors will release we can make an educated guess based on previous launches. The first generation of Ryzen processors hit the market in March 2017 and Ryzen 2nd Generation arrived a month later in 2018.

With that in mind, it seems almost certain that Ryzen 3rd Generation processors will release in sometime in Spring (or within the months of March-August for those on the other side of the hemisphere).

More immediately, we fully expect AMD will introduce its Ryzen 3rd Generation family at CES 2019, where the company has promised to talk about 7nm processors and graphics cards.

AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation price

Once again we don’t have any empirical proof to list the price of AMD’s upcoming Ryzen 3rd Generation processors. However, thanks to a curiously detailed report from a YouTuber named AdoredTV, we have model names and prices for nearly every possible Ryzen 3rd Generation processor.

Here’s how much Ryzen 3rd Generation processors may cost:

  • Ryzen 9 3850X: $499 (about £400, AU$700)
  • Ryzen 9 3800X: $449 (about £350, AU$600)
  • Ryzen 7 3700X: $329 (about £260, AU$450)
  • Ryzen 7 3700: $299 (about £230, AU$400)
  • Ryzen 5 3600X: $229 (about £180, AU$320)
  • Ryzen 5 3600G: $199 (about £160, AU$270)
  • Ryzen 5 3600: $178 (about £140, AU$240)
  • Ryzen 3 3300X: $129 (about £100, AU$180)
  • Ryzen 3 3300G: $129 (about £100, AU$180)
  • Ryzen 3 3300: $99 (about £80, AU$140)

Although, this list of prices seems compelling and on track with the prices of AMD’s current lineup of Ryzen 2nd Generation processors, we would buy into them until Team Red officially announces prices.

Now what’s interesting here is AMD has a track record of lowering the prices of its processors going from Ryzen to Ryzen 2nd Generation. The AMD Ryzen 7 1700X originally launched with a $399 (£389, AU$569) price and it was succeeded by the more affordable $329 (£349, AU$515) AMD Ryzen 7 2700X. 

With that in mind, we couldn’t imagine/would be disappointed if the Ryzen 7 3700X were to cost more. For now, it seems AMD will hold onto the same pricing scheme from its current slew of chips going into the next generation.

AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation specs

Here’s where things get exciting. Whereas Ryzen 2nd Generation processors were built on a 12nm Zen+ architecture that introduced a slight die shrink from the original 14nm Zen architecture, Ryzen 3rd Generation is said to be built upon a much smaller 7nm Zen 2 platform.

As with most die shrinks, this refinement in process should lead to increases in speed and power efficiency. However, what is interesting is there are many rumors pointing to Ryzen 3rd Generation CPUs that will feature dramatic increases in core counts.

Thanks to a multitude of leaks we pretty much can fully outline what Ryzen 3rd Generation processors there will be and they are as follows:

  • Ryzen 9 3850X: 16-cores, 32-threads, clocked at 4.3GHz to 5.1GHz
  • Ryzen 9 3800X: 16-cores, 32-threads, clocked at 3.9GHz to 4.7GHz
  • Ryzen 7 3700X: 12-cores, 24-threads, clocked at 4.2GHz to 5.0GHz
  • Ryzen 7 3700: 12-cores, 24-threads, clocked at 3.8GHz to 4.6GHz
  • Ryzen 5 3600X: 8-cores, 16-threads, clocked at 4.0GHz to 4.8GHz
  • Ryzen 5 3600G: 8-cores, 16-threads, 12 GPU cores, clocked at 3.2GHz to 4.0GHz
  • Ryzen 5 3600: 8-cores, 16-threads, clocked at 3.6GHz to 4.4GHz
  • Ryzen 3 3300X: 6-cores,12 -threads, clocked at 3.5GHz to 4.3GHz
  • Ryzen 3 3300G: 8-core, 12-thread, 12 GPU cores, clocked at 3.2GHz to 4.0GHz
  • Ryzen 3 3300: 6-cores, 12-threads, clocked at 3.2GHz to 4.0GHz

We heard the first murmurs of what Zen 2 processors could do as early as October 2018. In the report suggested that AMD Radeon Technologies Group received its first engineering sample for the unreleased architecture in the form of an 8-core chip capable of reaching frequencies up to 4.5GHz.

In December 2018, the rumors began to really head up as we received an almost complete breakdown of this new series of CPUs. This nearly complete set of listings came from a YouTuber named AdoredTV and while they seemed unlikely to be true, a Russian retailer would later back up the Influencer’s report with nearly identical specs on all its product pages for the whole series of chips.

We’re not sure if the Russian retailer was just cribbing AdoredTV’s video like a cheat sheet, but so far no other rumors or reports have contradicted what we know so far. This is also all we know so far, but we’re certain that AMD will officially announce Ryzen 3rd Generation processors and a whole lot more at CES 2019.

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We're at CES 2019, bringing you the latest tech news, launches and insights

Posted: 05 Jan 2019 12:00 PM PST

The sun is out (still pretty cloudy though...), the arrivals hall at McCarren International Airport is filled with a buzz of excitement and there's a lanyard hanging round our neck. It can mean only one thing... it's time for CES 2019!

CES 2019 is the world's biggest tech show, and we're reporting live from Las Vegas for the next week to bring you all the latest news, launches, insight, analysis and exciting developments in the world of technology.

We'll be getting hands on with all the hottest gear, speaking to the people who matter from the biggest companies around, and unearthing the weirdest, wackiest and potentially game-changing under-the-radar tech the show's vast halls have to offer.

What to expect

CES 2019 officially runs from January 8 - January 12, but most of the major press conferences will take place on January 6 and 7, which means we've got a full week of exciting tech announcements.

We're expecting to see 8K TVs, the next generation of computing, flexible phones, exciting new car tech and lots more including wearables, drones and smart speakers.

You can keep up to date with all the latest news and hands on reviews with our CES 2019 hub, which will be rounding up all the hottest tech at the show.

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Watch out for this genuine-looking Apple Support scam

Posted: 05 Jan 2019 06:30 AM PST

As users get wiser to phishing scams, so the scammers are producing cons that are ever more complex – like the very genuine-looking Apple Support scam that's doing the rounds, as reported by security expert Brian Krebs.

What happens is you get an automated call that appears to come from Apple itself: the logo, the address, and the phone number all appear to check out. The call warns about a data breach at the company and then asks users to get in touch – via a different number – to protect their Apple IDs before doing anything else.

When the scammer's phone number is called, it reaches what seems to be a foreign call center. Krebs tried ringing it and was put on hold before being disconnected, so it's not clear exactly what the scam is supposed to be.

Stay protected

While details are thin on the ground at the moment as to the purpose of the phishing attack, we do at least know what it looks like. Be wary of any calls you get out of the blue that appear to be from Apple Support.

As with any suspected phishing attempt, whether it's over email or the phone, don't follow any embedded links or numbers. Instead, contact the company involved directly using the official numbers listed on its website – in this case, if you rang Apple Support, they would be able to confirm they hadn't been in touch and your Apple ID was fine.

Scammers continue to use a variety of tricks to try and get people to part with personal information or to install something that they really shouldn't. To help minimize the risk, keep all your apps and devices up to date with the latest security patches.

Via AppleInsider

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Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite tipped to pack a premium processor chip

Posted: 05 Jan 2019 02:30 AM PST

We're expecting the Samsung Galaxy S10 smartphones to arrive at the end of February at the MWC industry event in Barcelona, and if rumors are to be believed, there are three different models on the way. New leaks over the weekend suggest the entry-level S10 Lite is still going to pack quite a punch.

According to seasoned tipster Ice Universe, who has a respectable record when it comes to revealing smartphone specs ahead of time, the S10 Lite will feature the same Snapdragon 855 or Exynos 9820 processor as the more expensive models.

If that's true, it means you'll still be getting a very powerful phone for your money, even if you opt for the Lite model. It would seem Samsung is going to make the savings on the S10 Lite in other areas like the screen and camera – perhaps following the example of the iPhone XR, which has the same chip as the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max.

Peak S10 rumor season

It's just about peak rumor season now for the Samsung Galaxy S10 models, so more leaks and speculative predictions are likely between now and February. Thinner bezels than ever before are on the cards, with battery sizes up to 4,000mAh also rumored.

With the Galaxy S10 Lite specifically, it would appear it's going to come sporting a 5.8-inch screen. The standard Galaxy S10 is being tipped to roll up with a 6.1-inch display, while the most expensive Galaxy S10 Plus will come with a 6.4-inch screen. We've already mentioned the internal chipsets, which will be Snapdragon or Exynos depending on the region.

Price-wise, the suggestion is the S10 Lite will roll up for a cost of around $650-$750 (that's roughly £510-£590 or AU$915-AU$1,055). Within a couple of months we should have confirmation on all of these details – and of course we'll bring you the news on launch day.

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Best Wear OS watch faces 2019: great looks for your smartwatch

Posted: 05 Jan 2019 02:00 AM PST

Wear OS watches tend to feel quite similar. Unlike Android phones, they don’t have radically different interfaces that give models different personalities.

This makes the watch face you choose all the more important. It’s the root of your watch’s character. You’ll find thousands of watch faces on Google Play, but thanks to its limited discovery features, finding the gems can be awkward and time consuming.

That’s why we’re here to help, with a rundown of some of our favorites, all of which you’ll find below, along with links to their store page.

Invert (ustwo Watch Faces)

If you know ustwo, you’ve probably tried its games, like Monument Valley. However, ustwo is also a design studio, one that has devised some of the most interesting smartwatch faces available. Download its ‘Watch Faces’ app and you’ll find its most artistic and unusual designs.

This app was released at the tail end of 2014, but still contains many of Wear OS’s most interesting faces. The gang of 15 are so stylish and confident, it’s hard to pick just one. But Invert is one of the most accessible.

Purple and bright orange, the colors invert as the seconds hand ticks across the face. There’s no extra data and no complications, but ustwo is a master of distinctive style.

Stellar (ustwo Looks Android Wear Watch Faces)

ustwo deserves one more plug in this list, for its third collection of watch faces. These are the most conventional, but also offer the most customization.

Stellar is part of ustwo’s Looks app, which focuses on faces with space for Wear OS complications, the data widgets that let you choose which data fields end up on your watch. It’s an analog face, with three spots for complications.

There’s none of ustwo’s left-field design style here, but it’s eminently tasteful.

Rawmariner

This watch face has the look of a serious diver’s watch. But it doesn’t go in for fake metallic finishes you’ll find elsewhere, and avoids the uncanny valley effect of a face that tries and fails to look ‘real’.

You can try Rawmariner for free, but if you pay for the premium version you can customize the color and use the timer feature. Just tap on the watch face and the timer view pops up.

Folds (Facer Watch Faces)

Facer is perhaps the best-known platform for smartwatch faces. You install it like a normal Wear OS watch face but can then use the Facer phone app to choose the actual design.

The Facer platform offers thousands of looks. Some are free, others cost a dollar or two. Folds is a good place to start if you want something less than completely conventional. It’s free to download and use, and arranges a bunch of info fields onto a series of virtual pieces of colored card.

You get the time, date, the battery life of your watch and phone, the date and weather. And somehow it doesn’t appear at all cramped. Magic.

Flight A3 Classic (Facer Watch Faces)

Here’s another of our Facer favorites. Flight A3 Classic is one many roundly realistic-looking watch faces available from the Facer store.

You get a clear, bold face, the date and a second mini face inside that shows you the time in 24-hour style. Y’know, in case you live in a window-less house and have jet lag so bad you can no longer tell if it’s day or night.

Modern Times by Pluto

This is a good choice if you want to give your smartwatch a touch of Swatch-like analog charm. Modern Times by Pluto is a minimalist analog face with curvy hands and fonts, for a tasteful but friendly appearance.

There are extra data fields here, but while they look like Wear OS complications, they are actually custom parts. This lets them fit more perfectly into the watch face, but means you don’t get control over what bits of info are shown. However, many of you should be happy with the date, and the dual phone/watch battery indicator on offer.

Primary Basic

Here’s one of our favorite clean and simple watch faces. Primary Basic is a digital watch face that fits in the date and the battery life as well as the time. However, those extras are displayed in grey, letting the time take center stage.

The pleasantly rounded font isn’t retro and doesn’t try too hard to look deliberately styled. However, the characters’ curves and their position on-screen give Primary Basic an accomplished, professional appearance. This may not sound that important, but there are many amateurish Wear OS watch faces on Google Play.

Brownstone (Pujie Black)

Pujie Black is a smartwatch face platform, not just a single watch face. Wouldn’t know that from the name, would you?

It’s not free, but in the default package you get a bunch of faces, effectively for the price of one. Many styles are on board, but we settled on the no-nonsense Brownstone. It is a clean and simple analog face with spots for three Wear OS complications.

The potential of Pujie Black is immense, as it also lets you create your own faces.

Timr Face

The key to making a watch face feel unusual, rather than just looking so, is the mechanic used for the passing of seconds. Timr has this nailed, with what looks like a ruler scrolling along the bottom to show the granular passage of time.

It’s quite handy too, if you need to frequently (but casually) see how long things take. You can also customize the color of the highlights, picking from 10 different shades.

Face-ify HD

This is a watch face that seems inspired by comic books, with bold outlined fonts and punchy colors. There are no complications here unless you pay for the premium version, but even with the free one there’s a level of interaction.

A double tap on the clock can be used to start up the stopwatch, timer or alarm clock. One of our favorite parts here, though, is the look it uses for the always-on display. The monochrome version is, if anything, better looking than the standard colored-in one.

Cronosurf Wave

Most chronograph-style watch faces only borrow the style of their ‘real’ watch inspirations. Add in slightly dodgy drop shadow effects and faux shiny parts, and they can seem almost embarrassingly try-hard.

Cronosurf Wave is not only one of the most authentic digital alternatives to big wrist timepieces visually, it is also one of the most ambitious Wear OS faces in terms of function. You can set timers, there are multiple night modes, and even one that shows your compass bearing, using the reading from your phone.

You’ll need to put a little effort into learning its functions, though, as Cronosurf Wave has its own UI style, rather than using generic complications.

Interactive Rich Watch Face

Most of our picks have either aimed for a traditional look or one with quite a minimal style. Interactive Rich Watch Face may prove to be more of an audience divider.

It has a hint of steampunk styling, or perhaps that of an old luxury car’s dashboard. If the default two-tone color scheme is a bit too rich, you can switch to a white, silver or black theme. Tap the center and the face shows you your daily steps and battery life as well as the date.

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Can anybody compete with Vodafone's cheap fibre broadband deals?

Posted: 05 Jan 2019 02:00 AM PST

Broadband can be a pretty competitive market, each supplier undercutting the other to get the title of best fibre broadband deal. But Vodafone has been holding on as one of our favourites recently offering fibre for an incredibly cheap price but the question probably on your mind is can any other broadband deal compete?

The deals in reference are Vodafone's Superfast 1 and 2 packages which have received big price cuts recently knocking them down to some seriously cheap prices. The standout deal for us is Vodafone's Superfast 1 package which you can now get for £20 a month. That's average speeds of 35Mb for a very low price. 

But what other options are there? Well BT has always been a favourite of ours, mainly due to it's big reward cards. Right now you can get BT Superfast Fibre for £29.99 with average speeds of 50Mb. While that is already a great deal, the £100 BT reward card you get with it really sells it. 

If you wanted something a bit extra with your fibre then Virgin has dropped the price of its Player Bundle. That's superfast fibre speeds averaging 108Mb, over 70 TV channels and the ability to rewind and record TV, all for £32 a month. 

You can see all of the deals mentioned in full down below but if for whatever reason you're needing something a little bit different then you can find all of the options available in the UK on our best broadband deals page.

Vodafone's cheap fibre deals

The best of rest fibre broadband deals

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