Apple : PS5 and next Xbox may feature this cutting-edge AMD chip |
- PS5 and next Xbox may feature this cutting-edge AMD chip
- Best gaming chair 2019: the best PC gaming chairs
- Best gaming keyboard 2019: the best gaming keyboards we've tested
- Best computer speakers 2019: the best audio systems for your PC
- The best monitor 2019: the top 10 monitors and displays we’ve reviewed
- The best motherboard 2019: the top Intel and AMD motherboards we've seen
- The best PC gaming headsets 2019
- The best keyboards of 2019: top 10 keyboards compared
- Best SSDs 2019: the top solid-state drives for your PC
- The best gaming monitor 2019: the 10 best gaming screens of the year
- Best gaming laptops 2019: the 10 top gaming laptops we've reviewed
- Best Mac apps: the best macOS apps for your Apple computer
- Best free games: the top free games to download on PC
- The best gaming routers 2019
- Android Q release date, features and rumors
- New Mac Pro release date, news and rumors
- macOS High Sierra news, updates and features
- The best Chromebooks 2019
- Ikea's discreet, shelving-based Sonos speakers arrive in August
- Best iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S cases
| PS5 and next Xbox may feature this cutting-edge AMD chip Posted: 18 Jan 2019 02:09 PM PST It feels as if announcements for the next Xbox and Sony PS5 are right around the corner, and now this gargantuan leak points to the next-generation AMD chip that may power it. AMD allegedly plans to introduce a whole new system-on-a-chip to power next-generation consoles with both the company’s upcoming Navi graphics and cutting edge 7nm Zen 2 CPU cores – like those found in the latest Ryzen 3rd Generation processors. The report comes from TUM_APISAK, a serial leaker in the silicon world, and this whole new part is apparently called Gonzalo. This AMD Gonzalo APU (accelerated processing unit) is said to feature eight processor cores that clock in at between 1GHz to 3.2GHz. Comparatively, the current AMD Jaguar APUs that power the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X currently run at up to 2.13GHz and 3.2GHz, respectively. On the graphics size, AMD Gonzalo is said to incorporate Navi 10 Lite graphics. This is the first time such a part has been even rumored, so information about this part of the chip is extremely sparse, but at the very least they’ll purportedly run at 1GHz. We expect E3 2019 will be chocked full of new hardware announcements, including a new next-gen Xbox and PS5, as well as AMD announcing its long-awaited Navi graphics architecture. Only time – and a likely increasing number of leaks leading up to the event – will tell if this pans out to be the truth.
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| Best gaming chair 2019: the best PC gaming chairs Posted: 18 Jan 2019 02:05 PM PST When you’re setting out to build the best gaming PC you can muster you shouldn’t forget about the best PC gaming chairs. You don’t want to walk away from your gaming session crouching over like Igor from Young Frankenstein. With the best PC gaming chairs, you can bring your gaming and sitting experience to the next level. Because, if you’re going to spend hours at a time gaming, you should at least do it comfortably. That’s why, now that the year is coming to a close, we decided to make a list of the best gaming chairs of 2019. Some might end up looking like your dad’s office chair, with all-black ‘real leather’ designs – others fully embrace the gamer aesthetic with RGB lighting and loud, clashing colors, making you look like futuristic race car driver. We will help you find the best PC gaming chairs on the market, so you can spend more time sitting down and less time shopping around. Because – let’s be honest – we do our own fair share of sitting, and we’re very familiar with the best PC gaming chairs. It’s no exaggeration to call the Noblechairs Epic Real Leather the best gaming chair. From the cross-thatched embroidery to the real leather of its namesake, if you’re looking for a no-compromises gaming throne, this is it. Plus, it’s surprisingly quick and easy to set up. And, once the set-up is complete, the Epic Real Leather is a dream to sit on – and you can customize your position however you want. Just do us a favor, and read the instructions while you’re setting it up. If you want to play games all day in comfort, but you don’t want a chair that looks like you’re playing games all day, the Autonomous ErgoChair 2 is for you. Marketed as an office chair, the ErgoChair 2 has a very modern and stylish aesthetic to it that will appeal to anyone that doesn’t use RGB as a personality trait. It’s not all style either, as the ErgoChair lets you adjust basically every part of the chair, so that no matter how your body is built, you’re guaranteed to be comfortable while gaming.
Leather and fabric have their advantages, namely to comfort and texture, but sometimes a mesh office chair is best – especially if you live in a warmer climate, where breathability is of utmost importance. The Respawn-300 combines the racing-seat design and lumbar support and mesh material from some high-end office chairs. It really does take comfort to another level and is one of the best PC gaming chairs you can buy today.
Corsair is known for making popular and high-end PC components and gaming peripherals. It’s only fitting, then, that they dip their toes into the gaming chair game – and they may have made one of the best gaming chairs yet. Covered top to bottom in breathable PU leather with neck and lumbar pillows wrapped in microfiber, you’ll be able to game both in comfort and style. And with its rollerblade-style wheels, you’ll be able to move it around on any surface without having to worry about scratching up your floor. Noblechairs is well known for crafting some of the best gaming chairs out there – and the Noblechairs Icon makes it clear why. While it’s more affordable than the flagship Epic Real Leather, it’s still extremely comfortable and one of the best PC gaming chairs out there. This is thanks to its nice lumbar pillow, which you can easily remove if you don’t like it. The Edge GX1 is a gaming chair that actively avoids the popular racing style that is increasingly popular with modern gaming chairs. Rather than sticking to a form factor that’s designed to limit your movement, the Edge GX1 instead aims to give an ergonomic experience, where comfort is the priority – while also providing a premium chair. And when we say premium, we mean it, with the Edge GX1 costing £800, a huge amount for a gaming chair. It’s hand-crafted in the UK, and there’s some great touches, such as inflatable lumbar support. It’s a huge asking price, but we’ve been using it for a while now, and it is very comfortable. You’ll have to adjust a bit, but once you get it right, it’s worth the high price. It ships worldwide from the UK, but US and Australia readers should beware the high shipping costs. You can only buy this chair direct from Edge There’s a certain subset of the PC gaming community that needs to have the absolute best of everything, at whatever the cost. These people are going to be absolutely enamored with the Vertagear Triigger 350 SE. It features over 350 individual components with a mix metal, mesh, leather and high-end plastics to create the ultimate PC gaming chair. If you have the money to spare, and you can’t stand to have anything less than the best, you might want to give this chair a look. Another day, another Noblechairs gaming seat – and the Noblechairs Epic is the best gaming chair for the classier gamer. It features a faux-leather covering inspired by car seats, combining both comfort and a high-end design to make it one of the best gaming chairs you can buy today. And, if you’re the type that shies away from the ‘gamer aesthetic,’ the Epic’s subtle black design is far more elegant than some of the more brightly-colored seats on this list. For the gamer looking for some extra room in their seat, the Vertagear Racing Series PL6000 is a must-have. Specially designed to provide both added width and height, this is the best gaming chair for anyone with a larger frame – no matter how tall you are, the adjustable headrest means you’ll never experience discomfort. However, this is a complicated chair to assemble, so use the buddy system to build this masterpiece. The Nitro Concepts C80 is a gorgeous, comfortable gaming chair that could easily blend in in an office environment – it looks more expensive than it is. Nitro Concepts made one of the best gaming chairs by keeping the price down, while keeping compromises to a minimum – like using polyurethane instead of leather. And, no compromises were made in the build quality, either – this is an impressively sturdy gaming chair. Just make sure you get a friend to help you put it together – constructing this thing had us tearing our hair out.
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| Best gaming keyboard 2019: the best gaming keyboards we've tested Posted: 18 Jan 2019 02:05 PM PST We understand that if you already have one of the best gaming PCs, it can be tempting to head to the local big box store and pick up the cheapest keyboard you can find – whatever works, right? Well, after dropping mad stacks on the best computer you could afford, you’re doing yourself and the best PC games a disservice by not using one of the best gaming keyboards. The best gaming keyboards can noticeably improve your skills in the best PC games, especially if you get a mechanical keyboard. So, when you’re out shopping for one of the best gaming keyboards, keep an eye open for the kind of switches it uses. Membrane switches aren’t usually great for gaming, but mechanical switches are often perfect. And, don’t forget about lighting, it wouldn’t be 2019 without having your desk lit up like a Christmas tree. So, what makes the best keyboard for gaming? Even if you just have a bit of cash to spends, you can still get one of the best gaming keyboards. And, if money isn’t an issue, there are a ton of feature-rich keyboards with all the bells and whistles. So, let’s dive into all the best gaming keyboards you can buy today, all of which have been tested and reviewed by us. Razer Huntsman Elite With the Huntsman Elite, Razer has taken speed to a whole new level with its optomechanical switches. That sounds like a mouthful, but Razer has managed to take mechanical switches and integrate optical sensors, this allows the Huntsman Elite to take actuation to another level – you simply won’t find a faster keyboard in 2019. But switches aside, it feels great to type on, and it’s covered in more RGB lighting than you can shake a stick at. Sure, it requires two USB cables for power with no passthrough and it costs a small fortune – but with tech like this, it’s absolutely worth it. Read the full review: Razer Huntsman Elite Roccat Vulcan 120 Aimo It’s becoming more and more common for the best gaming keyboards to abandon Cherry MX switches in favor of custom ones. And, if we keep getting keyboards as good as the Roccat Vulcan 120 Aimo and its Titan switches, we hope the trend never stops. Not only does this keyboard have amazing tactile feedback, but it’s comfortable to type on and won’t keep your roommates awake at night. When you add in just how gorgeous this keyboard is, there’s no denying that this is one of the best gaming keyboards you can buy right now. Read the full review: Roccat Vulcan 120 Aimo Logitech G513 One of the biggest problems with Cherry MX Red keys is that while they’re good for gaming, they’re not ideal for typing anything but your Steam credentials. And, that’s where the Logitech G513 and its Romer-G Linear switches steal the show. With its brushed metal finish that, miraculously, is nearly immune to fingerprints, it all adds up to one of the best gaming keyboards on the market in 2019. Read the full review: Logitech G513 Cooler Master MasterSet MS120 Not everything has to be super high-end, and the Cooler Master MasterSet MS120 is proof. It’s a keyboard and mouse set, and while the mouse isn’t all that great, the keyboard is the star of the show. Sitting at just under a hundred bucks, the MasterSet’s keyboard is up there with other, more premium ‘mem-chanical’ keyboards. The switches on offer bring a ton of tactile feedback and deep travel, and won’t keep your whole house awake at night while you’re furiously pounding away on it during an intense late-night Overwatch match. The Cooler Master MasterSet MS120 really is one of the best gaming keyboards under $100. Read the full review: Cooler Master MasterSet MS120 Corsair K63 Wireless We have seen plenty of wireless gaming mice over the last few years, but not many wireless gaming keyboards. Until now. The Corsair K63 Wireless keyboard takes what made the wired version of the K63, and transfers it into the wireless version – without sacrificing much at all. Packing tight Cherry MX Red switches, full RGB lighting and convenient media controls, the K63 wireless shows us what wireless keyboards can be capable of in 2019. Read the full review: Corsair K63 Wireless HyperX Alloy Elite Following in the footsteps of Kingston’s first HyperX-branded gaming keyboard, namely the HyperX Alloy FPS, the HyperX Alloy Elite tweaks the company’s first winning keyboard to provide only a few subtle changes. For only $10 USD more than its predecessor, you’re getting media keys, a light bar and even a palm rest, all of which were previously absent. They’re also a series of delightful treats, making for a value proposition that shouldn’t be ignored. Read the full review: HyperX Alloy Elite Corsair K95 RGB Platinum Just like the Corsair K70 Rapidfire that came before, the K95 RGB Platinum is a mechanical keyboard that puts gaming above all other things. Rocking 8MB of dedicated memory for storing different profiles, this keyboard certainly has the versatility to get the job done, whatever it may be. It features a beautiful build, as well, with a military-grade aluminum finish that complements Corsair’s fantastic RGB lighting perfectly. Read the full review: Corsair K95 RGB Platinum Razer Cynosa Chroma If you’re new to PC gaming, and you want a keyboard that’ll perform admirably without the high price tag that a lot of mechanical keyboards carry, the Razer Cynosa Chroma might be for you. It might not have the tactile clickiness of a higher-end board, but the hybrid mesh switches perform well enough, boasting a 1ms polling rate and 10-key rollover. That’s not to mention the sick RGB lighting. Read the full review: Razer Cynosa Chroma Corsair K68 RGB Accidents happen – it’s just a fact of life, especially when you’re gaming. Luckily, it’s becoming more common for the best gaming keyboards to be able to handle anything you could throw at them, even Mountain Dew. The Corsair K68 RGB takes a fantastic keyboard design with Cherry MX Switches and makes it water resistant, so you don’t have to worry about a sudden soda shower during a frantic play session. And, with its subdued, stylish design and reasonable price tag, it’s easy to recommend the Corsair K68 RGB. Read the full review: Corsair K68 RGB SteelSeries Apex M750 If you’re looking for a gaming keyboard, and you don’t plan on doing much else, the SteelSeries Apex M750 is a great choice. It has fantastic software for customization and gorgeous RGB lighting. It also has a great tactile feel to it and feels extremely robust and durable. The only drawback is that the keyboard is extremely loud and uncomfortable for productivity work. Read the full review: SteelSeries Apex M750 Bill Thomas and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Best computer speakers 2019: the best audio systems for your PC Posted: 18 Jan 2019 02:05 PM PST You’ve probably already heard plenty of people out there telling you that the best headphones are the only way to get fantastic sound when using a computer. But, what if you’re not comfortable wearing headphones day-in and day-out? For everyone else, the best computer speakers are a fantastic ideal. Still, like any PC hardware, finding the best computer speakers isn’t quite as easy as you’d think. Before you decide on the best computer speakers for you, there are a few questions you should ask yourself. What do they sound like? Is the surround or stereo separation up to snuff? Do you start to get a headache after a couple minutes? Do they have balanced sound? These are all important questions to ask. You should also consider what you’re going to do with the best computer speakers. Are you going to get into some of the best PC games like Resident Evil 2, where immersion is the name of the game? Are you going to watch the Spider-Man: Far From Home trailer over and over again like we did? Or, maybe you just want to relax and listen to the new James Blake album. No matter what you use them for, the best computer speakers will make every sound your computer makes delightful. Sure, the Audioengine A2+ launched four years ago, but they’re still the best computer speakers on the market. These aesthetically pleasing speakers will work with your PC’s USB port for uncompressed audio and beautiful audio quality with its built-in DAC. The Audioengine A2+ doesn’t come with a bass, but that’s not a problem unless you need really deep bass. Luckily, there is an RCA output, so it’s a breeze to connect an external woofer. While they may be more expensive than you’d expect to pay for the brand’s speakers, the Logitech Z623 is still very affordable when you consider just how powerful they are. The Z623 may look like your average pair of speakers, but its subwoofer produces a thundering sound that can easily dialed up or down depending on your preference. And, it offers a great soundstage – with great highs and mids – making for a more immersive gaming and movie experience. Logitech is practically a household name in home entertainment and gaming, but never before has it combined the two so spectacularly. The first Logitech computer speakers designed for gaming, the Logitech G560 are the best computer speakers for gaming – no contest. Not only do they feature RGB lighting, but through Logitech’s software, the multi-colored illumination can adapt to any kind of content you consume – whether it’s your favorite game, or the latest music. One of the first things you might notice about the Razer Nommo Pro speakers is their immense price tag. We get it, it’s kind of hard to swallow. However, once you get past that and get a chance to use these in person, you’ll see that the sound is worth forking over 500 bucks. Not only do you get a robust down-firing subwoofer that’ll almost literally blow you away, but it also features Razer Chroma integration, so they’ll look just as good as they sound. Sure, there are cheaper options out there, but for speakers this good, the price is well worth it.
If you look at the Harmon Kardon Soundsticks III long enough, they’ll start looking like some kind of jellyfish. These translucent computer speakers look more like a modern art installation, rather than a functional speaker system – but that all changes once you turn them on. This speaker and sub combo features booming bass thanks to its woofer, while still producing crisp highs. You’ll get excellent sound at a decent price, making it perfect for music fans with a mid-range budget.
It might be a bit bassy for some people, but the Edifier E25 Luna Eclipse is a gorgeous speaker setup that not only looks good, but it also features amazing sound. The Luna, which comes in red, white and black, offers a powerful but controlled bass, fantastic balance with sharp mids and good stereo separation. It even includes a really nifty little remote control. The Luna Eclipse are some of the best computer speakers out there, especially if you like to pump up the volume with little to no distortion – and, who doesn’t? The Logitech MX Sound Speakers are simply the best wireless PC speakers you can buy today. They’re a thing of beauty, with their eccentric circular design and silver accents. And, for the price, they definitely deliver a little more than what you’d expect from the best laptop speakers. The bass may sometimes overpower the mids and highs, but it still delivers an excellent soundstage and powerful audio, which makes it great for gaming. It also features dual Bluetooth connectivity so you can connect two devices simultaneously. Finally, the backlit motion sensor controls are so sensitive, a light touch is all it needs. Read the full review: Logitech MX Sound The Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 speaker system brings enhanced sound for versatile use, so that whether you’re listening to music, watching movies, or playing games, you’re getting the best computer speaker experience. These THX-certified speakers boast power, a wide frequency range (31Hz to 20kHz), and a detailed audio quality with punch bass, maximum clarity and great balance. We’re not exaggerating when we say it’s powerful enough to replicate that home theater quality.
Dell’s AE715 may not be the most powerful speaker in the market. It produces a decent 360-degree sound that, while is fairly common in portable audio, is a rarity with computer speakers. For it's low, low price, this Bluetooth speaker is nothing amazing; not a lot of bass and there’s a bit of delay, but the audio quality good enough if your listening standards aren’t quite as demanding. However, what you’re getting in exchange are its wireless functionality, the USB charging port so you can charge the device, and the built-in mic so you can use it for conference calls. It’s definitely a great portable, wireless solution.
Mackie CR4BT promises professional-grade performance, which is a lot more than what its competitors offer. The question is, does it really do that? Well, they sound good for a premium pair of speakers, but there are drawbacks including thinner mid range, and high bass cut off at 70 Hz, which means while there’s good bass presence, you might be missing the really low stuff. The pros, however, include the acoustic foam pads to isolate the speakers from the surface it’s standing on, and the front auxiliary input. Overall, these aren’t your run-of-the-mill computer speakers. They are useful for multimedia creation and production as well.
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| The best monitor 2019: the top 10 monitors and displays we’ve reviewed Posted: 18 Jan 2019 02:00 PM PST The best monitors aren’t going to make your PC run any faster, but they can improve your overall computer experience by making it look much better – and they can improve your productivity, too. They’re also often cost effective, so anyone can find one of the best monitors for a price that won’t break the bank. With high resolutions, speedy refresh rates and every screen size you could imagine, you can make your work smoother and less of a strain on your eyes. Whether you're looking for a gaming monitor to keep up with the gaming PCs, or if you just bought a MacBook Air and you need one of the best USB-C monitors, you’ve come to the right place. And, you can trust our picks – we’ve tested and reviewed them all ourselves. Now that the best PCs can handle 4K easier than ever, the best 4K monitors are becoming more common. This explains why BenQ has launched the PD3200U, a massive 32-inch Ultra-HD display, as a part of its Designer Monitor range. Marketed to creatives and professionals, BenQ has crafted, seemingly by mistake, a panel that gamers can get behind, too – as long as they can fit it on their desks. Then again, given the 4ms response time, the PD3200U is best suited for creatives. For instance, 3D designers will love the inclusion of a CAD/CAM mode, while everyone else will adore the factory-calibrated color accuracy. Read the full review: BenQ PD3200U The AOC Agon AG352UCG6 Black Edition is marketed as a gaming monitor, but if you need an ultra-wide monitor, you really can’t do much better. With its sublime color support, strong contrast ratio and lightning-fast 120Hz refresh rate – everything you do on your PC is going to feel quick, snappy and it’ll look good while doing it. It’s kind of expensive, but this ultra-wide monitor can significantly boost productivity, so it’s totally worth it – it’s one of the best monitors you can buy today, as long as you have the hardware to drive it. Read the full review: AOC Agon AG352UCG6 Black Edition When it comes to the best monitors, sometimes we’ll come across something that manages to combine so many high-end features that it seems almost alien – the Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ is one such display. Not only does this gorgeous display feature an Ultra-HD 4K display, but it tops that off with HDR and Nvidia G-Sync tech – a trifecta of high-end features that makes this the best monitor you can buy today, if you have the cash. If you’re doing any kind of photo or video editing work, you really can’t go wrong with this display. Read the full review: Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ When you start to grow weary of the same old 16:9 aspect ratio, nothing hits the spot like a cinematic 21:9 display. It’s probably not the best for watching Netflix or YouTube, but the Acer Predator X34 is a great example of what an ultra-wide monitor can do. Boasting an attractive aluminum bezel and polygonal stand that resembles a bird’s foot, this massive 34-inch monitor is a wonder to look at. More importantly, armed with Nvidia’s G-Sync tech, you won’t need V-Sync stressing out your graphics card. The Acer Predator X34 does all the heavy lifting for you. This is about as immersive as a gaming monitor gets. Read the full review: Acer Predator X34 We don’t often run into technology that’s so far ahead of the curve that we’re left dumbfounded. The Dell UltraSharp UP3218K is the most recent example. Finding a monitor that can reach the raw beauty this one does should be impossible. It’s not just the resolution, either – Dell went a long way to make sure that the build quality and color reproduction are the best in the business, and well, it is. The Dell UltraSharp UP3218K is aimed at professionals, obviously, so if that sounds like it’s up your alley, it’s probably the best monitor for you. Read the full review: Dell UltraSharp UP3218K
If you’re looking for a great 1440p monitor with HDR for multimedia and gaming, the BenQ EX3203R might be the best monitor for you. This monitor is notable because it manages to bring in a ton of high-end features into a monitor that is extremely affordable. And, while 32 inches might sound like a bit much for a monitor, the 1800R curvature on this BenQ panel means that it’s easy to use, both for productivity and for immersion in your games and media. Read the full review: BenQ EX203R
Depending on your budget, it might break the bank in classic Alienware style, but Dell’s 25-inch gaming monitor won’t let your screen tear. Whether you’re siding with Team Red or Team Green for your graphics needs, there’s a configuration designed with specifically you in mind. Taking away some of the heavy lifting away from the GPU that would otherwise be spent on VSync, the Alienware 25’s 120Hz refresh rate might actually be viable. So, as long as your graphics card can handle it, you can expect to reach 120 frames per second. The 1ms response time is just gravy. Read the full review: Alienware 25 You might not believe it at first glance, but the BenQ Zowie XL2540 is every bit the gaming monitor that the Asus Predator X34 is. And though it may not seem it from the outside looking in, it does its job remarkably well too, sacrificing dazzling lighting effects for a zippy 240Hz refresh rate and nigh-instantaneous 1ms response time. There’s no G-Sync or FreeSync, as this monitor assumes you already have a rig that’s plenty capable of eliminating screen tears on its own. Instead, this monitor keeps it simple by supplying you with lots of visual presets, an “S Switch” control pod for managing those presets and even a pair of adjustable light screens. Read the full review: BenQ Zowie XL2540 If you’re running games using a weaker GPU and you’re looking to get into ultra-wide displays without spending a fortune, you might want to check the LG 34UC79G-B out. This monitor, measuring in at 34-inches diagonally, is equipped with AMD FreeSync for screen tear elimination and a 21:9 aspect ratio best suited for games and cinema. Despite its resolution being lower than other ultrawide displays out there, this LG monitor pulls off a crisp image nonetheless – and with stunning color accuracy at that. Plus, you can change the height, which is more than can be said for even some of the more expensive 4K monitors out there. Read the full review: LG 34UC79G-B If you’re planning on picking up a new Nvidia Turing graphics card on launch (we can’t blame you), you’re going to want a monitor that can take advantage of that powerful graphics card. The HP Omen X 35, then, might just be the best gaming monitor for you. Rocking a WQHD panel with 98.7% sRGB coverage, the best PC games are going to just pop on this display. And, it’s G-sync enabled, so you don’t even need to worry about screen tearing or artifacting. Read the full review: HP Omen X 35 Gabe Carey and Bill Thomas have also contributed to this article
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| The best motherboard 2019: the top Intel and AMD motherboards we've seen Posted: 18 Jan 2019 02:00 PM PST The best motherboards obviously don’t get the same kind of attention as the best graphics cards or processors, and that’s kind of a shame. The best motherboards are arguably the most important part of your entire PC. With all the latest PC tech, they basically serve as the backbone of the best PCs. A good motherboard will make your PC hardware reach its full potential by fully utilizing and optimizing it. They can even make your processor go faster – by giving it more overclocking headroom. Because they’re so critically important to your PC build, you should only consider the best motherboards. If you cheap out and get a crummy motherboard, and it dies on you, you’ll have no recourse but to rebuild your entire PC from scratch – and trust us, that sucks. You should just do yourself a favor, and buy the best motherboard the first time, so you won’t have to go through the chore of replacing a bad one. There are dozens of motherboards out there, and the marketplace can get confusing. That’s why we went ahead and created this list of the best motherboards on the market. So, let us help you find the best motherboards that we’ve tested ourselves. Not only will they do everything you need them to and more, the best motherboards are built to last. When Intel launched its Coffee Lake Refresh platform, and promised that they’d be the best processors for gaming, we knew we were going to get some kitted out motherboards that put that theory to the test. And, lo and behold, the Z390 Aorus Gaming Pro Wifi – one of the best motherboards on the market today. Packed to the brim with gamer-centric features like reinforced PCIe slots and enough RGB lighting to blind you – this is the best Intel motherboard on the market right now. Sometimes, when building a new PC, you’re just want to throw your hands up and say “just give me everything.” In times like this, you’ll want the Asus ROG Maximus XI Code Z390 Gaming. Packed with every feature that Intel’s new Coffee Lake Refresh processors support and then some with a RGB-lit shroud covering every inch of circuitry on this motherboard. So, Coffee Lake Refresh is out, and you want to take advantage of all the performance it has to offer, but those more exotic motherboards are out of reach. If that sounds familiar, you might want to take a look at the Gigabyte Z390 UD. This doesn’t have the same level of RGB bells and built-in Wi-Fi whistles, but what it does have is great value. You’re getting all of the essential features that Z390 has to offer, while sacrificing some unnecessary features like SLI or extra M.2 slots. If you’re a budget gamer, the Gigabyte Z390 UD is the best motherboard out there. If you’re looking for an edge on the competition, and you don’t have a lot of extra room on your desk, you’re going to want a Micro-ATX motherboard – you’re going to want the MSI MPG Z390M Gaming Edge AC. What you’re getting here is a Micro-ATX motherboard with all the features a full-sized ATX part, but a fraction of the price. Despite it’s reduced size, you still get getting dual M.2 slots, SLI and Crossfire support and all the scalding performance that Intel Coffee Lake Refresh has to offer. If you’re looking for a smaller motherboard, you can’t afford not to get the MSI MPG Z390M Gaming Edge MC. If you need the smallest motherboard that you can get, without compromising on key features of your CPU, you should consider the Asus ROG Strix Z390-I Gaming. With this motherboard you don’t have to compromise on features or power. You don’t even need to settle for a measly 32GB of RAM, thanks to Asus’ double capacity memory compatibility – you can have up to 64GB of memory in the tiniest motherboard you’ve ever seen. Unfortunately, like most Z390 boards, it’s a bit pricey, so prepare yourself for that. With the X470 Aorus Gaming 7 Wi-Fi, Gigabyte further illustrates is mastery of motherboard design. Rocking the new AMD X470 chipset, allowing full support of the new AMD Ryzen 2nd Generation processors, this is the best motherboard if you’re looking to side with Team Red. What’s more, it supports Quad-GPU SLi and extremely fast RAM (up to 3,600 MHz) for peerless expandability, and thanks to its multi-zone RGB lighting, it looks good while kicking butt. For the longest time, AMD has been the reigning champion of budget builds, and in 2018 that doesn’t seem to be changing. Marketed exclusively to gamers, the MSI X470 Gaming Plus is loaded front to back with features like two PCIe M.2 slots and quick performance tweaking buttons to make sure you’re on the top of the leaderboards at all times. And, since it’s a gamer-focused motherboard, it comes with all kinds of flashy RGB lighting that you can even customize it from your smartphone. These days, small form-factor PCs are all the rage and with motherboards like the ASRock B450M-HDV, we think they’re going to stay that way. Now, while this motherboard doesn't do SLI and supports only up to 32GB of RAM– it is a B450 unit, after all – it is still compelling due to its low price. Outside of these omissions, you still get a slot for a NVMe SSD and four USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports around back. If you’re looking to build a solid budget gaming PC, this is going to be the best motherboard for you. Asus aims to prove that big things can come in small packages with the ROG Strix X470-I. Featuring the latest and greatest AMD chipset, everything in this tiny board is designed with performance in mind. Even down to the BIOS, where you can find a stress test for overclocks before you even boot into Windows. This board even elevates beyond the constraints of the Mnii-ITX form factor by including an M.2 Audio Combo riser, so that you can install your M.2 NVMe SSD without getting in the way of other components. The X-series processors are here and they're spectacular, so if you want to take advantage of all they have to offer, you need an X-series motherboard. This ASRock X299 is an excellent choice, with support for overclocked memory speeds up to 4400MHz(!!!) and 8 different slots for memory modules. It also supports up to 128GB of RAM, so with an X-series processor and a good graphics card (or 3…) this thing will absolutely tear apart anything you throw at it. If you’re the type of builder with lots of cash to burn and an ‘everything and the kitchen sink’ build method, the Ryzen Thredripper X399 Professional Gaming board is for you. Not only does it support 4-way SLI or Crossfire configurations, but you can also pack this thing with up to 128GB DDR4 memory. It even features a ton of flashy RGB lighting, so that people can’t help but stare at your rig when they walk in the room. And, if you upgrade to Ryzen Threadripper 2nd Generation, you can use this board, but keep in mind you may have to update your BIOS. Coming to termsIf you’re unfamiliar about what makes the best motherboards, well, better than the rest, we’d like to include a primer for anyone who might not know that much about them. Motherboards are available in a broad range of different form factors, the most common of which being ATX and Micro ATX. However, there are plenty of more less common form factors including mini ITX and E-ATX. Don’t worry though, most of the best PC cases will support multiple form factors. Moreover, in our rundown of the best motherboards, we detailed the socket type that each mobo adheres to. For those not in the know, the socket is the part on the motherboard that the CPU locks into. Typically, newer Intel processors use either LGA 1151 or 2066 while the latest AMD Ryzen architecture is designed for the AM4 chipset.
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| The best PC gaming headsets 2019 Posted: 18 Jan 2019 01:55 PM PST It’s more affordable than ever to get into the best gaming PCs and now is the perfect time to head out and buy one of the best PC gaming headsets. When you’re playing games, having high-quality sound is extremely important – you’ve already perfected your visual experience, so the next step is getting awesome sound. Not everything is about having pretty, ray traced graphics. The best gaming monitors won’t always have speakers, and the ones that do, you won’t really want to use. If you’re looking for a great, immersive audio experience while playing some of the best PC games like Battlefield V or Resident Evil 2, you’ll need either the best computer speakers or one of the best PC gaming headsets. You’ll want to hear background noises, sound effects, dialog and music in all their high-fidelity glory. The best PC gaming headsets will have all the bells and whistles that the best computer speakers will offer, but with one key difference – privacy. For anyone that wants to avoid keeping their roommates awake all night, here are the best PC gaming headsets on the market in 2019. HyperX Cloud Revolver S When we first sat down to review the HyperX Cloud Revolver S, we were a bit divided. On one hand, it features fantastic 7.1-channel surround sound, delivered through Dolby's trademark digital signal processor. On the other, it's extremely pricey when compared to other similar headsets. Luckily, as one of Kingston's most subdued pair of cans we've ever seen (or heard), the pristine comfort and top-notch sound more than make up for its high price and oddly placed detachable mic. Read the full review: HyperX Cloud Revolver S SteelSeries Arctis Pro If there's anything you can count on SteelSeries for, it's pristine audio – and the SteelSeries Arctis Pro is proof perfect of that. Not only will this headset provide immersive surround sound for all the explosive action of your favorite games, but, thanks to its included DAC (digital to audio converter), the Arctis Pro will also serve you well while listening to music. It may be a little expensive, but when you consider just how comfortable and bombastic this headset is, well, it's not hard to see why it's one of the best gaming headsets you can buy today. Read the full review: SteelSeries Arctis Pro Logitech G Pro Gaming Headset Valuing raw performance over the traditional ‘gamer aesthetic,’ the Logitech G Pro headset offers fantastic sound quality over long periods of time, and that’s about it – but we’re not complaining. The Logitech G Pro Gaming Headset focuses squarely on great sound quality and comfort, so you don’t have to fork over a fortune for unnecessary flourishes. If you’re looking for something without all the bells and whistles, but can perform where it counts, the Logitech G Pro might be the best gaming headset for you. Read the full review: Logitech G Pro Gaming Headset Anyone can simply listen to their games, but what if we told you that you could feel them? With the Razer Nari Ultimate, that can finally be a reality, this gaming headset has haptic motors in the ear cups that makes your ears vibrate. This would be enough to make this at least an interesting headset, but when paired with the long battery life, amazing sound quality and comfortable build, it’s easily one of the best gaming headsets out there. Just, do yourself a favor and turn off the haptic feedback when you’re listening to music. Read the full review: Razer Nari Ultimate Astro A20 If you're looking for one of the best gaming headsets, but those high-end $300 headsets make your stomach turn and you don't want something cheap, you should take a look at the Astro A20s. Featuring solid stereo sound performance in a wireless headset, not to mention the stunning 15-hour battery life, this headset has all the necessary features that you might want in its price range. Sure, it doesn't have surround sound, but it more than makes up for it with its economy and battery life. Read the full review: Astro A20 Creative Sound BlasterX H7 Tournament Edition Creative has created a name for itself over the ears for crafting sublime audio products – and the Creative Sound BlasterX H7 Tournament Edition further cements that legacy. Instead of just sitting and iterating on the winning formula of its previous products, Creative completely revamped the Sound BlasterX H7, resulting in a PC gaming headset that looks just as good as it sounds. If you’re looking for a comfortable, sturdy and meaty-sounding headset, the Creative Sound BlasterX H7 Tournament Edition is one of the best PC gaming headsets today. Read the full review: Creative Sound BlasterX H7 Tournament Edition SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless Compromises are a part of everyday life, but nobody actually likes making them. Luckily, with the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless you don't have to make any compromises, because you can get high quality lossless audio playback with a wireless headset. And, when you add in the unique and ultra-convenient dual-battery charging system that lets you wear this headset in perpetuity, you have a recipe for one of the best gaming headsets we've ever gotten our hands on. If you have the cash, and you absolutely need the best wireless headphones money can buy, you can't go wrong here. Read the full review: SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless HyperX Cloud Flight The HyperX Cloud Flight is a long-lasting wireless gaming headset featuring up to 30 hours of battery life. This means you can likely get two full days of gaming in between charges. However, there’s a catch – unlike the Cloud Flight’s competition, namely the Astro A20, this gaming headset only offers stereo sound, abandoning any surround sound implementation. You can thankfully get around it by playing around with the Dolby Access app, though, and the sound profile is balanced enough to make this a non-issue. Read the full review: HyperX Cloud Flight
Corsair released one of the best gaming headsets late last year with the Corsair HS50, and now, it has made it even better by making it wireless and giving it virtual surround sound capabilities. These features on their own would make a great gaming headset, but when you add in the fantastic Corsair CUE software on top of it, it makes a complete package that would make a great addition to your gaming setup. Read the full review: Corsair HS70 Wireless Gaming Headset Corsair Void Pro RGB Wireless It wasn't that long ago that Corsair was solely known for PC components but, over the last five years or so, its arguably become better known for its gaming peripherals. With products like the Corsair Void RGB Wireless, it's not hard to see why. Now, while at first glance, some may scoff at the asking price, the Void Pro RGB Wireless delivers on that price point with great build quality, fantastic sound fidelity and – perhaps most importantly – RGB lighting. Plus, if you've already got a full arsenal of Corsair peripherals, the Void Pro RGB Wireless fits in nicely, and can even synchronize lighting effects with other peripherals through the Corsair Utility Engine. Read the full review: Corsair Void RGB Wireless Corsair HS50 Stereo Gaming Headset As a general rule when you're buying anything, including gaming peripherals, you get what you pay for. You don't go into Walmart, pick up a $50/£50 gaming headset and expect to be blown away, but Corsair takes this rule and turns it on its head. The Corsair HS50 is, for the budget gamer, the best gaming headset you can buy today. Retailing at $50 in the US, the HS50 has sound quality and mic quality that rivals headsets that are twice as expensive. Everything, even down to the build materials radiates quality. If you're looking for a cheap gaming headset, and you don't mind giving up some extra bells and whistles, like 7.1 surround and Bluetooth connectivity, you need to take a look at the Corsair HS50. Read the full review: Corsair HS50 Stereo Gaming Headset Beyerdynamic Custom Game While it’s more expensive than we’d like, the Beyerdynamic CUSTOM Game is one of the best gaming headsets we’ve used in a while. It doesn’t feature flashy surround sound or wireless functionality, but this headset excels in two of the most important categories: sound and comfort. Seriously, once you put it on and experience your games in headphones this good, there’s no going back. Read the full review: Beyerdynamic Custom Game Turtle Beach XO Three If you're the type of gamer that isn't afraid to let the world know you're playing games, the Turtle Beach Elite Pro Tournament might just be the best gaming headset for you. Not only is it supremely comfortable to wear, but its 50mm drivers mean that sound quality is always top notch – even if it could use a bit more bass in the mix. You really do have to be into the 'gamer aesthetic' though, as its plastic build and orange highlights personify the style. But, if you can get past the looks and the price tag, there's a lot to love about the Turtle Beach Elite Pro Tournament. Read the full review: Turtle Beach Elite Pro Tournament Astro A50 Wireless Back when the original Astro A50 launched, we called it a ‘game-changing, experience-enhancing headset,’ and, thankfully, its wireless successor follows in its footsteps – while adding in wireless functionality. Not only is it ready to rock with your PC, but with PS4, Xbox One and legacy consoles as well – a headset that’s robust and versatile. Asus ROG Centurion 7.1 Abandoning all traditional aesthetics, the ROG Centurion 7.1 is a gorgeous piece of kit anyways. Even if it's a genuine pain to set up, this is one of the best PC gaming headsets both for its unique style and category-defying sound. The Asus ROG Centurion 7.1's onboard amp controls give you complete control over this bombastic sound, and this beast can even bolster its already great sound to an external set of speakers. Read the full review: Asus ROG Centurion 7.1 headset Bill Thomas and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article
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| The best keyboards of 2019: top 10 keyboards compared Posted: 18 Jan 2019 01:50 PM PST If your keyboard is starting to show its age, collecting dust and generally looking like something out of an old horror movie, you may want to consider picking up one of the best keyboards. Even if you don’t have a keyboard that barely works, the increase in comfort, speed and reliability you gain with one of the best keyboards easily pays for the price of entry. Once you lay your fingers on one of the best keyboards, you won’t want to go back. No matter what you’re doing with your keyboard – whether you’re writing code, or just chatting with friends – the best keyboards will make your life easier. And, if you’re looking for the best gaming keyboards, we’ve got you covered too. So, whether you’re just trying to get in touch with some old friends, or you’re looking to be productive, you should look for any keyboard that can get the job done. Luckily, you don’t need to worry about spending a fortune, many of the best keyboards are extremely affordable. So, we compiled a list of all the best keyboards for work and play, so you can get to typing, rather than shopping. It has become the norm for keyboard manufacturers to implement their own custom keyboard switches, and Roccat – with the Vulcan 120 Aimo – is no different. While this keyboard is primarily marketed as a gaming keyboard, its Titan Switches are tactile enough to be satisfying, while still bouncing back quickly enough to be comfortable to type on for extended periods. And, we’d be remiss to not mention the looks – the Vulcan 120 Aimo looks like a science fiction keyboard, we love it. Read the full review: Roccat Vulcan 120 Aimo Manufactured by the Topre Corporation in Japan, the Realforce is, truly, a force of nature in the keyboard landscape. It comes down to the unique Topre switches, which are super smooth to type on and are usually compared to playing on a piano. The RealForce comes in both 45 and 55-gram configurations, but the one that’s right for you will depend on the importance of key weight. Oh, and, it’s expensive – but it’s worth it to have one of the best keyboards.
As long as you don’t mind missing out on some of that signature ‘thock’ sound that’s associated with regular Realforce keyboards, opting for a silenced model like the 104 UBS offers some solid benefits. Hitting the 104 UBS’s keys produces sound on par with a membrane keyboard, so it’s going to be great if you work in a busy office or a shared bedroom. The ‘dampened’ feel of Topre’s silenced switches can feel kind of like typing on sandpaper compared to a non-silenced board, but we found that it’s worth the trade-off if you need a quieter keyboard.
Filco's keyboards tend to be built like tanks, and the Majestouch TKL is no different. This space-saving mechanical keyboard features a compact tenkeyless design that has less than 1cm of space between the edge of the keys and the keyboard. Its durability doesn't simply allow it to stand up well to knocks and scrapes – it has a positive impact on its typing feel too. You can hammer away on it at speed, even bottoming out to your heart's content, and the Majestouch 2 will take every bit of punishment. We’ve seen all kinds of keyboards over the years here at TechRadar, from stylish tenkeyless keyboards to RGB-laden gaming behemoths, but something has always been missing – a focus on creatives. Thankfully, with the Logitech Craft, this is no longer the case. Not only is this a sturdy, tactile and attractive keyboard but it also features a unique dial on its top left corner, which will help creatives expedite their workflow. This dial’s utility will vary depending on the application, from simply controlling the volume on the desktop, to changing levels in various tools in Photoshop. If you spend a lot of time creating content on your PC, the Logitech Craft is one of the best keyboards you can buy today. Read the full review: Logitech Craft Somewhat legendary in keyboard circles, the PFU Happy Hacking Professional 2 (or HHKB2 as it's usually referred to) is that rare beast - a 60% Topre keyboard. Aimed at coders but fantastic for document warriors too, it foregoes traditional arrow keys, instead making use of function keys and key combinations to provide such functionality. It only takes a short while to get used to, once you've got there the huge benefit is that the HHKB2 is small and light enough to take anywhere, giving you access to that sweet Topre "thock" sound and feel anywhere, anytime.
You just need to look at Microsoft’s Surface devices to know that they’re kind of killing it when it comes to design, and the Microsoft Modern Keyboard with Fingerprint ID takes things to a whole new level. If you’re running Windows 10, and you’re into the Surface aesthetic, this is easily one of the best keyboards out there. Not only does it feel great, but it also features biometric security, by including a discrete fingerprint scanner right next to the “Alt” key. It is an expensive device, but as with everything Microsoft, you can be sure you’re getting what you’re paying for. Read the full review: Microsoft Modern Keyboard with Fingerprint ID Leopold's Fc660c is more portable than the Realforce 87u, but less so than the lighter and more compact HHKB2. However, the Fc660c benefits from its extra heft and feels like the more solid board. Despite having the same 45 gram actuation force as the HHKB2, the Leopold's keys feel slightly weightier - somewhere nearer to 50 grams. It results one of the most satisfying "thock" sounds on a Topre board.
Remember those old IBM Model M keyboards? Well, that’s what the Unicomp Classic 104 seeks to emulate. Available in both USB and PS/2 versions, it uses a buckling spring switch that takes more effort to press than just about every other modern switch. You’re rewarded for this hard pressing with a tactile response that feels like the classic mechanical keyboards of old, along with a noise that will drive everyone around you mad. Some keyboards just ooze class, and the Das Keyboard Prime 13 is one of them. Its features a solid aluminum top panel for added rigidity and a very minimalistic look. With Cherry's MX Red or Brown switches under the keycaps, you're given a choice between linear and non-linear offerings with a range of actuation points. It's a great option for media enthusiasts thanks to side lit media control and the inclusion of white backlighting is another bonus. It's not the most affordable keyboard on our list, but if you're looking for something a little bit more premium, Das is the way to go. According to a government survey, the average British household owned 7.4 internet-connected devices in 2015. Logitech is targeting smartphone and tablet owners who prefer to see their device's display while sat at a computer with its latest keyboard, the K780. If you liked its predecessor, the K380, there's more to love here. (Literally thanks to its added numberpad.) The K780 can still pair with up to three devices using Bluetooth or wireless, allowing you to chop and change between them, and it features the same comfortable rounded keycaps that remain a pleasure to type on. The star of the show, however, is the keyboard's base, which can hold mobile devices up to 11.3mm thick in an upright position. This places them within arms' reach to make anything from replying to WhatsApp messages or reading a digital magazine easy as pie. How to determine the best keyboard for you
It goes without saying that if you demand the look and feel only mechanical switches can provide, rather than those that are slim and stealthy, we suggest perusing our best gaming keyboards round-up instead. Gamers prioritize the actuation that clicky feeling mechanical keyboards bring, whereas traditional home and office users are more about practicality. That said, the sheer magnitude of sound produced by a lot of mechanical keyboards is offputting to some. For those folks, we have some membrane keyboards to recommend as well. Gabe Carey has also contributed to this article This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Best SSDs 2019: the top solid-state drives for your PC Posted: 18 Jan 2019 01:50 PM PST For too long, we were stuck buying one of the best hard drives when we wanted to expand our computer’s storage. However, with their spinning disks and slow transfer speeds, they haven’t aged well. In 2019, however, the best SSDs or solid state drives, are fast enough to free you from the mechanical shackles of hard drives. And, you don’t even need to rock one of the best PCs to take advantage of the best SSDs. The best Ultrabooks are practically designed to take advantage of the best SSDs, thanks to their unrivaled durability and speed. You can even slot one of the best SSDs into a PS4 Pro to seriously slash loading times. When you’re on the market for one of the best SSDs, you’ll probably notice that there are a lot of them out there. This is great for anyone on a budget, because there’s a wide spread in price points. However, because there are so many SSDs out there – literally hundreds of them – it can be hard to find the best SSD for your needs. Luckily, we took the time to curate a list of the best SSDs you can buy today. Western Digital has been busy making a name for itself among the best SSDs over the last few years, and with the WD Black SN750, it’s finally claimed the throne. This NVMe SSD has an insane sequential write speed of 2,993 MB/s, a huge improvement on the last generation. And, when you consider how affordable this SSD is, it’s hard not to proclaim it as the best SSD you can buy today. Read the full review: WD Black SN750 NVMe SSD When you’re playing the best PC games, there’s nothing worse than having the action stop for a load screen (we’re looking at you, Half-Life 2). Luckily, with the WD Black NVMe SSD, you can basically say goodbye to long loading screens forever, as this drive absolutely blows the pants off of every other SSD in its price range. At just under $300 you won’t find a faster drive that will last as long as the WD Black NVMe SSD. We can say without a doubt that this is the best SSD for gaming. Trust us on this one. Read the full review: WD Black NVMe SSD For years, Samsung has been behind some of the best SSDs on the market, and even though other manufacturers like Western Digital and Adata are creeping up on its turf, the Samsung 970 Evo is still the best SSD you can buy if you’re after raw speed. And, while the read speeds haven’t improved over the previous generation’s 960 Pro, the write speeds see a significant bump – up to 2,700MB/s – which is how it retains its ‘fastest SSD’ crown. If you’re after the best SSD, with no compromises, you can’t go wrong with the Samsung 970 Pro. Read the full review: Samsung 970 Pro If you're looking for plenty of options, the Toshiba OCZ RD400 series of drives come in 4 sizes and three different form factors: M.2, M.2 2280, and add-in card (AIC). Not all sizes are in all form factors, so if you're looking for a fast 1TB drive, make sure you have room in your computer case. If you’ve been waiting to jump on the M.2 train for an SSD that’s both fast and affordable, we have some good news for you. The Adata XPG SX8200 isn’t one of the best SSDs because it’s the fastest drive on the market, but because there isn’t a single drive out there that can match the raw price to performance ratio that the XPG SX8200 offers. Sure you can get any of the much faster, much more expensive SSDs on the market, but this is the drive we can recommend to anyone.to anyone. Read the full review: Adata XPG SX8200 People might not be going crazy about SATA 3 anymore, but the Samsung 860 Pro proves that there’s still plenty of life in the aging interface after all. With storage up to 4TB and transfer speeds that approach the theoretical maximum of the SATA 3 interface and top-of the-line reliability and security – the Samsung 860 Pro is the best SSD for anyone still clinging to SATA 3. Read the full review: Samsung 860 Pro The U.2 standard allows for bigger SSD capacities and uses your computer's PCIe x4 slot to send all that data back and forth. The Intel 750 series includes a cable so you can mount the drive in the bay on your case and still plug it into the PCIe slot on your motherboard. Samsung had a hard act to follow – the Samsung 850 Evo was beloved for its stunning performance and affordability. And, the Samsung 860 Evo absolutely succeeded. Though limited by the SATA3 interface, the Samsung 860 Evo delivers performance that iterates on its predecessor with improved read/write speeds and an array of form factors, while still maintaining its budget price. The 860 Evo is the best SSD for anyone looking for an entry-level SSD without having to break open their piggy banks. Read the full review: Samsung 860 Evo If you need an SSD that will last through multiple computers, the HP S700 Pro is exactly what you want. Its life will far exceed its warranty, offering up to 2 million hours of use and up to 650 terabytes written. This is one of the best SSDs you can buy if you need something that’ll last, but the SATA interface may slow things down a bit in the read/write department, which technically helps it last even longer.
The best NVMe SSDs used to be way too expensive for most users. But, those days are coming to an end – the Intel 760p Series SSD changes everything. This SSD features awesome performance that’s only slightly behind the beloved Samsung 960 Evo, boasting speeds of 3,056 MB/s read and 1,606 MB/s write. But, what makes the 760p stand out is the fantastic price to performance ratio. Yeah, there are faster NVMe drives on the market, but you’ll be paying a premium that, frankly, isn’t worth it. This is one of the best SSDs out there, not just because it’s fast, but because the Intel 760p makes us excited about the future. Read the full review: Intel 760p Series SSD If you’re a creative or a professional, and you need an external NVMe SSD that’s going to save you time rather than waste it, you might want to give the Samsung X5 Portable SSD a look. Thanks to its use of Thunderbolt 3, rugged magnesium build and AES 256-bit encryption, it’s fast, secure and durable – everything you want in an external SSD. However, this isn’t a cheap accessory, this is one of the best SSDs and it’s priced as such. Everyday users may want to look elsewhere, this is all about sheer speed. Read the full review: Samsung X5 Portable SSD Bill Thomas and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The best gaming monitor 2019: the 10 best gaming screens of the year Posted: 18 Jan 2019 01:50 PM PST These days, the best PC games can take you to places and let you do things that you never thought possible, which is why you should think about picking up one of the best gaming monitors to bring your experience to the next level. But, what separates the best gaming monitor from any old monitor. Well, it usually depends on the kinds of features you need and your own personal preferences. There are all kinds of gaming monitors out there, and what you need will vary greatly on what kind of games you usually play. If you’re looking to sit back and chill, playing your favorite single player games like Hitman 2 or Resident Evil 2, you may be interested in a 4K Ultra HD gaming monitor with HDR. However, if going head to head with strangers on the internet in eSports titles like Overwatch or CS:GO is more your speed, you’ll want one of the best gaming monitors with a high refresh rate and response times. This is a lot to take in, but we have you covered. We've gathered up all the best gaming monitors we’ve ever used. So, no matter what kind of games you’re into, we’ll help you find the best monitor for gaming. HDR has been a major selling point for the best TVs for a little while now, but it has been suspiciously absent from the best gaming monitors. Until now. The BenQ EX3501R takes HDR and runs with it, crafting a curved ultra-wide that is not only what we would deem ‘attainable’, but beautiful as well. BenQ bills this monitor as a ‘video enjoyment monitor’, but from the moment you launch your favorite HDR-enabled games, you’ll see straight away why it tops our list of the best gaming monitors. Read the full review: BenQ EX3501R The Alienware AW3418DW is one of the few ultra-wide monitors that can offer the level of immersion that only 21:9 monitors offer, while also featuring a high refresh rate. With a gorgeous 3,440 x 1,440 display, lightning fast 4ms response times and a stunning 120Hz refresh rate, the AW3418DW is the best of both worlds. However, all these features come with a high price, so it may not be the best choice if you’re looking for a bargain. Still, it’s not hard to see why it’s one of the best gaming monitors 2019 has to offer. Read the full review: Alienware AW3418DW The AOC Agon AG352UCG was already one of the best gaming monitors, so when we heard that AOC was putting out a revision on it, with a higher refresh rate and better contrast, we were overjoyed. The AOC Agon AG352UCG6 Black Edition takes everything the original did and turns it up to 11, making it one of the best ways to experience ultra-wide gaming. It’s expensive, sure, but if you have the hardware to power a 3,440 x 1,440 monitor at 120Hz, you’re doing yourself a disservice by not buying it. Read the full review: AOC Agon AG352UCG6 Black Edition The Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ may just be the most advanced and best gaming monitor out there – as long as you have the cash. Not only does it feature a gorgeous 4K Ultra-HD resolution and HDR, but it also features G-Sync and a 144Hz refresh rate. These specs make for one of the most impressive gaming monitors that’s ever existed – and when you see it in action, your mind will be blown. The only thing that holds this thing back from true greatness is the insane price tag. But, then again, if you have this kind of cash lying around, you should be able to afford a PC powerful enough to drive it. Read the full review: Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ The BenQ PD3200U is primarily targeted at CAD professionals, but it’s still one of the best gaming monitors out there. This is because it has a rock-solid focus on graphic design, so it’s able to offer fantastic viewing angles – meaning your friends can watch you play in comfort. Plus, unlike a lot of 4K monitors on the market, you don’t need to mess around with the settings in order to get the best picture – every unit is individually calibrated by BenQ before it’s shipped. This is one of the best gaming monitors out there, even if it’s not actually a gaming monitor. Read the full review: BenQ PD3200U There’s a certain subset of PC gamers out there that need the absolute best hardware money can buy, and the Acer Predator X27 may be the best gaming monitor for them. The list of high-end features packed into the panel is almost as long as our arm – 4K resolution, HDR-10, G-Sync, 144Hz refresh rate – you’d be hard pressed to find a more advanced monitor. And, once you get a look at this monitor in person, you’ll be sold. That is, until you see the price tag – at two grand, only recent lottery winners need apply. Still, there’s nothing wrong with dreaming. Read the full review: Acer Predator X27 You might not believe it at first glance, but the BenQ Zowie XL2540 is every bit the gaming monitor that the other monitors on this list are. And though it may not seem it from the outside looking in, it does its job remarkably well too, sacrificing dazzling lighting effects for a zippy 240Hz refresh rate and nigh-instantaneous 1ms response time. There’s no G-Sync or FreeSync, as this monitor assumes you already have a rig that’s plenty capable of eliminating screen tears on its own. Instead, this monitor keeps it simple by supplying you with lots of visual presets, an “S Switch” control pod for managing those presets and even a pair of adjustable light screens. If you're a professional gamer, then this is the best gaming monitor for you. Read the full review: BenQ Zowie XL2540 With this display, Samsung not only brings QLED to gaming monitors in a big way, but they also offer the widest ultra-wide monitor on the market today. Coming in at 49.5 inches, this behemoth will take up a lot of space, likely peeping over the sides of your desk, but with its impressive 3,840 x 1080 resolution and HDR, you’ll at least be blown away by the image. Even if you decide not to play in this resolution (it will require a beefy rig), you can still use all of the extra screen real estate to have a browser or a movie playing on the same screen. The only real drawback is the monstrous price tag. But for a display this premium, it may very well be worth it. Read the full review: Samsung CHG90 QLED If you have a powerful graphics card that you want to take full advantage of, and you don’t mind missing out on 4K Ultra HD, Samsung’s got something just for you. The Samsung CHG70 is a curved 1440p monitor with a blazing fast 1ms response time and 144hz refresh rate, which makes this one of the best gaming monitors you can buy in 2018. And, considering it’s regularly going on sale, this screen is a bargain as well. Check it out. Read the full review: Samsung CHG70 QLED When you’re playing competitive shooters like Overwatch or Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, you’re going to need speed more than anything to stay on top of the leaderboards. That’s where monitors like the MSI Optix MAG271CR come in. With a 1080p resolution, 144 Hz refresh rate and 1ms of latency, you’re going to have fast, smooth gameplay as long as you have the hardware to drive it. After all, 60 Hz panels are so 2014 – the best gaming monitors embrace high refresh rates. Read the full review: MSI Optix MAG271CR How to buy the best gaming monitor in 2018When you are shopping for the best gaming monitor 2018 has to offer, there are a few things that you should consider before you decide on what display should grace your desk. By studying the following terms and specifications, you can make sure you pick the best gaming monitor for your needs – which also means you're not paying extra for additional features that you don’t need. Screen size: When shopping for the best gaming monitor, one of the most crucial things to think about is screen size. Larger display sizes can contribute to more immersive gaming experiences, as the game fills more of your field of vision, but you'll need to make sure you have the room to feature a large monitor. It also goes without saying that larger monitors will usually mean a higher price. Aspect ratio: The aspect ratio of a gaming monitor determines the width and height of the screen. Most widescreen monitors have an aspect ratio of 16:9, while older monitors had a more square 4:3, which will likely look pretty outdated in 2018. Ultra-wide monitors with aspect ratios of 21:9 are quickly gaining prevalence – they offer a wide view of your games, and many ultra wides have made our list of the best gaming monitor 2018. Resolution: Another important factor when looking for the best gaming monitor for your needs is resolution. Here, the higher the numbers, the sharper the picture.. You will, however, need a more powerful graphics card for anything over full HD (1,920 x 1,080), even if many gaming monitors feature resolutions as high as 2,560 x 1,400 (WQHD) and 3,840 x 2,160 (4K). Refresh rate: When you’re looking to primarily play Counter-Strike, or shooters like it, refresh rate is especially important. The higher the refresh rate, the more frames per second (fps) it can support, which lends to a smoother experience on high-refresh-rate displays. A 60Hz refresh rate is most common, with refresh rates rising to 144Hz and even 200Hz. Response time: The best gaming monitors have low response times, which means the action remains fast and fluid, with little to no input lag. The lowest response time for TN monitors (we explain this in the next section) is 1 millisecond, whereas the newer IPS monitors usually have more delayed, 4ms response times. When you’re playing games competitively, it’s crucial to keep this number as low as possible in order to combat lag. Panel type: This is where things get a little technical. The type of panel the gaming monitor uses will largely contribute to its response time and image clarity. TN panels (twisted nematic) have the lowest response times, and they are usually cheaper as well, but they generally don’t have great viewing angles. IPS panels (in-plane switching) have fantastic viewing angles and color reproduction, but usually higher response times. Meanwhile VA panels (vertical alignment) sit between the two, though the slow response times makes these panels rare amid the best gaming monitors. Viewing Angle: Most people play games while positioned in front of their gaming monitor, but this may not always be the case, particularly when you’re among spectators. A monitor’s viewing angles tell you what angle you can look at the monitor from and still clearly make out the image. The closer these numbers are are to 180, the better your viewing experience will be when standing further to either side of the monitor or looking at it from above or below. G-Sync and FreeSync: You'll likely notice that many of the best gaming monitors in 2018 come with either G-Sync or FreeSync technology – sometimes both. This helps keep frames per second (fps) smooth, combats screen tearing and diminishes input lag. G-Sync is developed by Nvidia, so you'll need an Nvidia GPU, and the tech is built into the monitor, which can bump up their price tag. Meanwhile FreeSync was developed by AMD but, as it is free to use by manufacturers, the monitors usually cost less. Check out our HDR Explained video below. Gabe Carey and Bill Thomas have also contributed to this article
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| Best gaming laptops 2019: the 10 top gaming laptops we've reviewed Posted: 18 Jan 2019 01:40 PM PST In the past, it wasn’t always so easy to distinguish the best gaming laptops from any other laptop. As long as you had an Intel Core i7 processor, dedicated graphics and at least 8GB of RAM, you had one of the best laptops for gaming. However, in 2019, the top gaming laptops come in every shape and size. That’s why we decided to gather up all the best gaming laptops in one place. It’s easy to just look over the best gaming laptops that try to disguise themselves as more reserved office laptops, but with Nvidia Turing Max-Q graphics for laptops, revealed at CES 2019, you really shouldn’t. However, that’s not your only option. There are still gigantic desktop replacement laptops that’ll brute force their way though everything. No matter what kind of gaming laptop you’re after – whether it’s a traditional thick gaming behemoth, or a more thin and light notebook you can use for both work and play – we have the recommendations you’re looking for. And, because we’ve reviewed, tested and ranked the best gaming laptops ourselves, you can shop for a gaming laptop, confident that you’re getting something worth your while. If you want to play some of the best PC games on the move, but you don’t want everyone to know you’re playing games, the MSI GS65 Stealth is the best gaming laptop for you. Coming in at just .69 inches thick and featuring impressive hardware like Intel Coffee Lake processors and Nvidia GeForce GTX 10-series – refreshed with RTX 20-series graphics at CES – the MSI GS65 Stealth packs a ton of power into a very svelte package. There’s nothing you won’t be able to throw at this thing that’ll slow it down. And, thanks to the subdued design, you’ll be able to bring this beefy rig everywhere you go, making it the best gaming laptop on the market right now. Read the full review: MSI GS65 Stealth Kicking Nvidia’s Max-Q technology off right, the Asus Zephyrus GX501 combines the heralded thinness of an Ultrabook with the performance of a gaming PC to bring the best of both worlds to your feet. Despite exhibiting subpar times in our battery life benchmarks, this svelte powerhouse of a notebook is one for the books when it comes to both portability and style. Plus, it’s virtually silent if noise is a cause for distraction in your everyday routine. Read the full review: Asus ROG Zephyrus GX501 If you’re looking for a gaming laptop that doesn’t pull any punches, and can run any game you can throw at it without a care in the world, you’ll want to look at the MSI GT75 Titan. It’s a titanic desktop replacement rocking 6-core Intel Coffee Lake CPUs, tons of RAM and GTX 1080 graphics. You’re not going to be able to carry it around with you, and it’s not going to be something you’ll want to be caught with in a coffee shop, but if raw power is what you’re after, look no further. Just be ready to break open your piggy bank. Read the full review: MSI GT75 Titan Thin and light gaming laptops are everywhere right now, but if you don’t care about that, and want a thick, heavy and monstrous laptop that can demolish any game you throw at it – the Asus ROG G703GI is for you. This is a massive – and expensive – laptop, but it justifies its size and price with gaming performance that rivals the best gaming PCs. Just don’t think you’ll be able to haul it along with you to your local coffee shop without its two power bricks – or awkward stares. Read the full review: Asus ROG G703GI The Razer Blade might still have an unbearably edgy name, but now that the 2018 version is here, it’s fitting – it’s still on the cutting edge. Beyond its insanely high-end specs and beautiful chassis, it can fit up to a 4K Ultra-HD display, with the specs to actually back it up. That’s not to mention the expandability that the Razer Core X opens up. It might be expensive, but if you’re a Razer fan looking for the best gaming laptop, it might just be for you. Read the full review: Razer Blade If you want one of the best gaming laptops, but don’t want to miss out on the ultra-portable craze, you need to consider the Dell XPS 15 2-in-1. Packed with an Intel Kaby Lake G-series processor, this gaming laptop can keep up with its competitors rocking a GTX 1050 without featuring truly discrete graphics. And, when you combine that gaming horsepower with a chassis that looks this good, it’s a total win – even if you have to endure some fan noise to get there. Read the full review: Dell XPS 15 2-in-1 It may not boast the most innovative design, substituting the usual black and red aesthetic for one that makes it feel like Halloween all year round (no complaints here). But, it’s undoubtedly one of the best when it comes to gaming in 1080p. In fact, we were able to crank the setting s all the way up in Overwatch without ever straying below 60fps. It doesn’t feature the longest battery life, but the screen, power and onboard sound system more than make up for it. Read the full review: Asus ROG Strix GL502
When you’re setting out to buy one of the best gaming laptops, one of the first things you’ll likely notice is how expensive they can get. Luckily, the Dell G3 15 is not just extremely affordable, but it punches above its weight class with great 1080p gaming performance. With up to an Nvidia GTX 1060 GPU, you’ll be able to play all the latest games at 1080p without breaking a sweat, even if it’s not at max settings all the time. And, that blue on black color combo is quite a looker, if that’s your aesthetic. Read the full review: Dell G3 15 It used to be that the best gaming laptops were thick, bulky devices that were necessary to experience the best PC games on the move. Those days are over. The Gigabyte Aero 15 packs a 6-core 8th-generation Intel Core i7 processor and a GTX 1060 into a package that allows it to pass as an Ultrabook. And, thanks to that beefy 6-core processor, it’s not just one of the best gaming laptops – it’s one of the best laptops, period. Read the full review: Gigabyte Aero 15 Ever since Intel unveiled its i9-8950HK, we just knew that it would find its way behind the best gaming laptops 2018 had to offer, and we’ve been proven right heading into 2019. The Alienware 17 R5 is a beast of a gaming laptop with the aforementioned CPU and an overclocked GTX 1080. If you’re willing to get an absolute tank of a laptop that weighs nearly 10 pounds, this hulking computer will demolish any and all games you throw at it. Just don’t expect to throw it in a bag without some severe back pain. Read the full review: Alienware 17 R5 Gabe Carey and Bill Thomas have also contributed to this article
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| Best Mac apps: the best macOS apps for your Apple computer Posted: 18 Jan 2019 01:35 PM PST Now that macOS Mojave is available on our Macs, we finally have access to some key iOS apps, like News and Stocks. However, that’s not even close to representing the smorgasboard of software available to macOS. Your Mac can do everything from playing games to getting some work done. At the end of the day, the software, more than anything else, is what keeps people coming back to the Jony Ive-designed hardware year after year. You can do so many different things with the best Mac apps, so some might not appeal to you. However, there are some Mac apps like Evernote, the best note-taking app around, that anyone can find a use for. You won’t be able to find every single one of the best Mac apps on the Mac App Store, but that doesn’t mean they’re not worth your consideration. So, with this guide, we gathered all of our favorite apps that we use every day in one place. From free apps and utilities to programs for creatives and professionals, these Mac apps will make even the best Mac better than ever. Bill Thomas and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article Check out our Linux vs Windows vs Mac - OS comparison video below.
A computer free of annoyances simply doesn’t exist – and Macs are no exception. For the longest time, it’s been impossible to use our MacBooks – unbound by the chains of a power adapter – while video outputs to an external monitor. As we all know here at TechRadar, Apple’s laptops will automatically enter sleep mode when the lid is closed. This can be a huge inconvenience should you prefer the sheer magnitude of one of the best monitors as opposed to a 12, 13 or 15-inch screen. Fortunately, Amphetamine allows you to continue using your MacBook while closed. Before, you could do this by using a similar app called Caffeine, but we prefer the UI features you get with this freebie. Not only does it fit in naturally with the rest of your Menu Bar items, but Amphetamine also supports hotkey commands as well as deactivation reminders – not to mention there are no annoying ads in sight.
While you’ve been able to snap programs to the edge of the screen in Windows since Windows 7, Apple didn’t have a solution until OS X El Capitan. What’s more, even then it lacked some of the comprehensiveness of Microsoft’s alternative. Luckily, HyperDock gives us that full-fledged functionality we so desperately crave, allowing anyone with a Mac to apply it to both the app Dock and windows. In Windows, you can drag an app to the left or right edges of the screen (or the corners) and it’ll automatically fill that space. This makes it much easier to be productive on the desktop without wasting time dragging windows from the corners. For the Dock, hovering over apps activates something close to Windows 7’s thumbnail previews, giving an overview of the window that can be accessed by a click or closed directly from the preview. Useful.
If you have recently picked up a Mac and miss some of your old Windows applications, don’t fret – Parallels Desktop 13 can bring them back. Instead of having to dual-boot your Mac into a Windows partition, Parallels Desktop 13 allows Windows and macOS Sierra to co-exist side by side, and you can even run Microsoft-only programs such as Visual Studio 2015, or the Windows versions of the company’s Office 365 apps, alongside your native macOS ones. All you need is a Windows 10 license – so prepare to buy one if you haven't already. Or, alternatively, you can use Parallels to try a handful of free operating systems including Chromium (a free distribution of Chrome OS) or Linux Debian. The latest version of Parallels in particular has seen improvements such as Touch Bar support, better resolution scaling for Retina displays and picture-in-picture for using other operating systems in conjunction with macOS.
If you’re anything like us, working on just one monitor or screen is just painful. Portable monitors are still fairly expensive (and bulky), luckily, though, you can use an iPad instead using a nifty app called Duet. Developed by ex-Apple engineers, it works by tethering your iPad to your Mac using one of Apple’s Lightning cables and firing up the app on both devices. You can then drag apps and windows onto your iPad’s screen just like you would with a second monitor, and if you have a more recent iPad with a Retina display, you’ll get the full benefit of all those beautiful pixels. Just realize that the bandwidth isn’t quite what you would get with one of the best monitors, so it can be a bit laggy when you bump the quality up. But it’s still better for watching videos, reading websites and typing up documents.
Atom is a text editor that's primarily designed for coders, but its flexibility and customization options make it a viable option for many different types of users. That's because of two reasons: first, you can download a number of different Packages - effectively plug-ins - to make it bend to your will. It can be transformed into a Markdown editor for writing blog posts, for example, or you can hook it up to Evernote for storing notes in the cloud. There's at least 10 different word counters out there, and you can even add typewriter sound effects as you hammer out your delicious prose. Atom is also infinitely customizable on the visual side thanks to an editable back-end, allowing you to do anything from changing the font size, line height and colors to giving the caret Word 2016-like elasticity.
Whether you’re a big time producer or you just like making some jams in your downtime, Macs are kind of known for being among the best laptops for music production – and Logic Pro X is a big part of that. Developed by Apple itself, its accessible interface hides a ton of advanced functionality. The latest version also comes with a svelte design, 64-bit architecture and a new session drummer that will save you from having to drop more cash on a drum machine. It also works in natural harmony with iPads, providing a touch-based alternative method of creating song structures to dragging and dropping blocks in the main visual editor. Whether you're a seasoned producer already (Sia used the app to record her hit song 'Chandelier') or are looking to upgrade from Garageband, Logic Pro X likely has what you need.
An uncomplicated app, but a great one, to do app Wunderlist’s selling point is its cross device functionality. It’s available on Mac, PC, Android and iOS, allowing you to sync your to do list wherever you’re using macOS’ Handoff feature. Once you've started a list, you can schedule reminders, add notes and embed it into the macOS Notification Center using a widget. Team-based features are unlocked by signing up for Wunderlists’s pro subscription, and you can add files of any size without running into limits.
Evernote has morphed into a mighty note-taking app over the years. While some people will say that it's too bloated, the sheer number of things that you can do with it still makes it best-in-class. You can type up notes, obviously, organizing them using a combination of folders and tags. You can even embed Google Drive documents, which are accessible in a click. There's also the ability to set reminders, share notes with friends, find information related to notes using Evernote's 'Context' feature, create lists, and favorite notes that you frequently return to. Better yet, all of your notes are synchronized using the company's servers, making them accessible on nearly any PC (through a browser or the native Evernote app) or mobile device in the world. The paid version lets you use Evernote with more than two devices while upping the amount of data you can sync each month.
GIMP or GNU Image Manipulation, is one of the best free image editing apps out there. It’s a great alternative to Adobe Photoshop and comes with a wide array of pro-level functions that let you tweak existing images in a range of formats or create fresh ones from scratch. Features include layers, highly customizable brushes, automatic image enhancing tools and filters. You can do even more with plugins, which are available to download from the GIMP Plugin Registry.
These days, balancing features with simplicity and good design in the best Mac apps is critically important. However, unlike Word 2016, or even Apple’s own Pages, Ulysses has an extremely minimalistic interface. This allows you to get on with writing without being distracted by so many buttons and menus. The app uses its own version of Markdown – a type of text formatting engine – that allows users to focus on their writing in a way that not only makes organization easier but also makes exporting easier – Ulysses will format it in an attractive way, using one of many export styles, when you’re done writing. There's a handy attachments bar on the right-hand side that features an attractive word counter and lets you write notes to assist you in your writing. Notes can be accessed anywhere thanks to iCloud support, so you can pick up your iPad and carry on where you left off using macOS's Handoff feature.
Sometimes you want to play your Xbox One, but you can’t because your roommate has decided to use the living room TV for watching the whole run of Ugly Delicious in one sitting. Now, you could technically stream Halo 5 or Sea of Thieves if you had a Windows PC. However, you just have a Mac. That’s where OneCast comes in, a third-party work of reverse engineering performed by an independent developer to bring Xbox One game streaming to macOS. It works as easily as connecting both your Mac and Xbox One to the same network and subsequently logging in to Xbox Live. It works pretty well in our experience, though you should have both systems connected to your modem via ethernet if possible.
Nobody can deny that the best Macs are great for network admin uses, and if you need to manage a bunch of Windows devices, being able to remote into a PC to diagnose problems is critically important. Luckily, Microsoft has provided an app just for that. With Microsoft Remote Desktop 10, you get an officially-supported app that gives you remote access to any PCs on your network – as long as you’re a network admin or an authorized user. It can be a bit of a pain to set up, and the PC you’re trying to access will need to be running Windows 10 Pro. But once you get going, you can access files, copy/paste across desktops and even run games – though, we don’t recommend that last bit. Microsoft Remote Desktop 10 is a godsend for network admins and IT professionals, and is easily one of the best Mac apps you can download right now.
It’s simple and not at all essential in the grand scheme of things, but DeskCover is a free and easy way to stay focused when you need to. For anyone working on larger monitors, full screen apps can strain your peripheral vision, and so you’ll have no other choice but to resort to smaller windows. Of course, this can lead to you getting distracted by your desktop background – this is where DeskCover comes in handy. Allowing you to easily blur your desktop and lower the opacity, DeskCover puts the task at hand front and center so that nothing else can get in the way of getting your work done. In other words, DeskCover is basically a free version of Hazeover, which we’re not complaining about. What’s more, your options aren’t limited to manipulation of your existing wallpaper alone. You can also temporarily replace your background with something a little more plain, blocking it out with a solid color of your choosing. Best of all, DeskCover is compatible with hotkeys, thereby minimizing the distraction possibilities of the app itself.
The market for disk optimization apps is neither desolate nor particularly interesting, particularly on the Mac – where Apple usually does a good job of cleaning up its drives on its own. However, for a program that’s far more intuitive and user friendly than, say, the built-in Macintosh HD storage management software, your best bet is to turn your attention to Dr. Cleaner. This app splits up all your data into easily digestible chunks that would otherwise be obtuse. Dr. Cleaner groups up all the trash on your Mac and labels them in groups like ‘Junk Files’ and ‘Big Files’ – rather than listing off 30GB of documents and 10GB of iOS files you can’t comprehend. Then, you can look at the file names themselves and decide whether or not you want to keep them on your PC. You can also use Dr. Cleaner to monitor CPU, network and RAM usage as well, for the sake of putting some pep in your aging Mac’s step.
It might be kind of like three apps than just one, but SoftMaker Office 2018 takes all the key features of Microsoft Office and puts them into an interface that tailors to your needs. It comes with a group of programs called TextMaker, PlanMaker and Presentations 2018 that are similar enough to Office 365 without the rolling subscription. Regardless of whether you need an easy-to-use word processor or a spreadsheet or slideshow creator of equal accessibility, SoftMaker Office has what you’re looking for. And, because it’s still in beta, you can get a complimentary, albeit temporary, license over email if you want to give it a spin. Otherwise, there’s a permanent free version called SoftMaker FreeOffice, but it’s only available on Windows, Android and Linux.
Since you’re obviously going to install all of the other apps we’ve mentioned, you’re going to need at least a utility that, well, declutters your desktop. Unclutter is the solution you’re looking for whether you’re a frivolous notetaker or a temporary file hoarder like we are. It’s designed to keep your memos, documents and pasteboard clips in one place rather than scattered across several folders. It’s a brilliant idea made even better by the fact that it can be configured for use with gesture controls. At any given point, you can swipe down from the top of the screen with two fingers on the trackpad (or one on the mouse) to reveal a trio of windows that can be concealed and re-summoned whenever you please.
When you’re out there hustling every day, it’s easy to lose track of messages. With so many social media companies, SMS platforms and instant messaging services to choose from, most of us also have a number of different accounts used to administer to all of those messages. But what if you only had to log into one? That’s the central idea in Franz, a messaging app that allows you to view and send messages in WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Slack, HipChat and more. It lets you seamlessly switch between any of these apps as easily as you can toggle between Slack workspaces. Best of all, there’s no limit to the amount of services you can use at once. That way, even if you have 10 Facebook accounts for whatever reason, all of your messages will be visible in the same place.
If you’re anything like us, you have tons of packages coming in all the time – and it can get hard to keep track of everything. Luckily, there’s an app for that. With Deliveries, you can keep track of all your incoming deliveries in one place in an easy-to-read interface. It will notify you whenever there’s a change in your delivery, syncing the information between macOS and iOS so you are on top of things, even on the go. All you have to do to track a package is hit Command + New and paste in the tracking number – that’s it. It really is one of the best Mac apps for anyone with a busy mailbox.
If you do a lot of cooking, and you have a hard time keeping your recipes organized – especially on a digital platform – you’re going to love Paprika. With this app, you can download any recipe you find online, and it will automatically format it in a way that’s extremely easy to read. What’s more, if you download the iOS app, you’ll be able to sync your recipes between all of your devices, so that you can keep tabs on the ingredients you need when you run to the store in a panic.
Sometimes, life gets hectic, and you need some help getting everything organized. Luckily, there’s an app for that. Fantastical 2 is the most fully-featured calendar and reminder suite we’ve ever seen. You’re able to set events and reminders using natural language, and it’s fully compatible with your iCloud reminders. There’s also an iOS app for iPhone and iPad that will effortlessly sync with the Mac app, so that you can stay on top of your busy life no matter where you are. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Best free games: the top free games to download on PC Posted: 18 Jan 2019 01:35 PM PST Who doesn’t love free stuff? When it comes to the best PC games, there are a ton of freebies out there these days. Unlike PlayStation and Xbox, which have their own ecosystems for free games through PlayStation Plus and Xbox Games with Gold, the best free games on PC take an entirely different approach. The best free games will be available from Steam, GOG and even (brace yourself) EA’s Origin client, due to the huge popularity of free-to-play titles. You can even download the Epic Games Store app and get some premium indie games for free every couple weeks. So, from Battle Royale free-to-plays, like Fortnite, to MMORPGs, like Lord of the Rings Online, the best free games cover a wide range of genres and styles. Let’s dive in. Linux, Windows or Mac - which one is best for you? Watch our guide video below: Gabe Carey has also contributed to this article Save up to 46% on a magazine subscription Everyone knows Monster Hunter at this point – it’s basically become an overnight success on PC – even Capcom was surprised. However, what if we told you there was a cheaper way to get into some monster hunting action, that was also easier on your hardware? Enter Dauntless. Rather than the clear environmentalist focus of Monster Hunter: World, where you’re trying to preserve the habitats, Dauntless simplifies things a bit and just tasks you with slaying behemoths to protect a human colony. The gameplay itself is much simpler as well, free of some of the more obtuse gameplay systems that you either love or hate in the Monster Hunter series. But, the core DNA of the series is there – hunt monsters, craft gear, hunt more monsters. And, this time, it’s free to play. 1. Fortnite Battle RoyaleThe Battle Royale trend is huge right now, and Epic Games has all but perfected it with Fortnite Battle Royale. Initially developed as a sort of add-on for Fortnite, Battle Royale took off in a way that nobody was anticipating, quickly becoming one of the most played games of 2018. The game is entirely based around a simple scenario: you’re dumped in a map with 99 other players in a free-for-all melee, and the only winner is the one who is left standing at the end. And, thanks to its meteoric success, Epic Games is hard at work adding new game modes and features all the time. Take Playground mode, for instance – it dumps you in the map and lets you build up structures for a set amount of time before the floodgates open and the carnage begins. What’s especially cool is that Fortnite lets you play with your friends, no matter what platform they’re on. Whether you’re on PC, Xbox One, iOS, Android and even soon PS4, you’ll be able to be matched up against millions of other players from all different platforms. 2. Dota 2The Dota universe may have derived from a Wacraft 3 mod, but Dota 2 is very much its own entity, not to mention one of the most popular free-to-play games. This top-down arena battler is incredibly active, attracting multi-million dollar prize funds for serious tournament players. It's not just for obsessives, though. A brief tutorial now points out the ropes, with the Steam Community stepping in to provide guides to the original MOBA. Don't expect a warm welcome or easy learning curve from its sophisticated gameplay mechanics, but bring a few friends and Dota 2 will have you hooked on one of the biggest crazes in PC history. 3. Planetside 2Two years before Destiny dropped into orbit, we had Planetside 2. It’s an epic, all-out first-person battle so unbelievable, you’ll have to pinch yourself every time you load it up to remind yourself it’s completely free. There are in-game purchases, sure, but you can still dive into the biggest battlefield in gaming and be useful with the default equipment. There's simply nothing like taking part in a massed assault on an enemy base and coming out on top, or living in a world where an enemy convoy could appear on the horizon at any second. If you need any proof that 'free' doesn't mean uninspired, Planetside 2 will provide it.
4. Path of ExilePath of Exile is a free dungeon crawler in the style of Diablo III, and it’s a bit different than most free games out there. It’s not just about fragging real-life people until they scream at you in shrill pubescent tones through their Skype headsets. It’s a bit more slow-paced than your typical multiplayer fragfest, but if you give it time, you may just get addicted to this loot gathering hit – it’s really the best free games for Diablo addicts. There are hidden depths that you can uncover after playing for hours and a huge skill tree to slowly progress through. There are no game ruining issues like that short-lived real-money auction house, either. Instead, even basic loot can be useful because there's always an opportunity to enhance even the simplest weapon with magic. If you got tired of the grind of Diablo III, it's a good one to check out. 5. League of LegendsPick a champion and head into battle in this seminal free-to-play game from the creators of the Warcraft III mod, Dota. League of Legends’ automated matchmaking, diverse cast of characters and pristine maps have made it a multiplayer behemoth over the last few years, and one that will certainly stand the test of time. It’s an aggressive gameplay experience, but one that rewards good teamwork and careful tactics. You won’t master it overnight, but you’ll be having fun shortly after you hit that ‘play’ button. Like Dota 2, League of Legends attracts many high-end players, and the top tournaments offer prize pools of over $1 million. The weird world of esports, eh? 6. Hearthstone: Heroes of WarcraftEver played Magic the Gathering, the card game? Hearthstone is Blizzard’s attempt at making a free online version of it. And, in typical Blizzard style, it’s awesome. It’s immediately inviting, lacking the terrifying learning curve you would expect from an online fantasy card game. Hearthstone plays quickly, boasts a very casual visual approach, and benefits from a basic rule set, all of which adds up to a very accessible card battler that will give you plenty of enjoyment – especially if you’re a World of Warcraft fan. Despite being accessible, it's still quite challenging as well, especially if you're up against an opponent that plays their cards right. 7. Star Wars: The Old RepublicTaking the Star Wars MMORPG after Star Wars Galaxies went away (rest in peace), Star Wars: The Old Republic was not free at release. However, since then, like so many MMORPGs before it, adopted the free to play model. If you want to get Sith kicks, this is the best way to get them for free. Keep in mind though, that subscriptions are still available, and will give you more in-game potential and end-game content. All the story missions, however, are still available for free – it just might take a bit longer now. It’s worth your time just to see the Star Wars universe from different sets of eyes, like the hyper-professional Imperial Agent and Bounty Hunter. If you want to go with the dull option and just have a generic Jedi Knight, though – you can totally do that. 8. Forza Motorsport 6 ApexWhen Xbox head Phil Spencer said he was going to bring the console's best franchises to the PC, he wasn't joking around. Among these notable series is Forza Motorsport. Shunned by petrol-heads and embraced by gamers, Forza Motorsport may seem like an arcadey offshoot of its biggest rival on PlayStation, but it consistently looks and feels superb nonetheless. Forza Motorsport 6 Apex in particular brings a complete Forza Motorsport game to PC gamers for the first time – before Forza Horizon 3 came out in 2016. While it’s not quite the full-fledged experience you can expect with full entries to the series, Forza Motorsport 6 Apex is the best free game would could have asked for from Microsoft’s long-standing racing series. 9. Killer InstinctRare's classic fighting series Killer Instinct may not be the household name it once was, but the ability to play one character for free is enticing nonetheless. What's more, characters can be purchased a la carte as downloadable content, which means you don't have to shell out a wad of cash unnecessarily for characters you'll never play. And, for the Xbox fans out there, this game is essentially Microsoft's equivalent of Super Smash Bros. and PlayStation All-Stars: Battle Royale since you can pick up numerous Xbox mascots. These include Arbiter (Halo), Rash (Battletoads) and General RAAM (Gears of War) in addition to a growing catalog of Killer Instinct-specific characters. While Killer Instinct isn't as popular with the Fighting Game Community, there is a certain novelty of being able to control these classic Xbox-derived characters, and on PC at that. 10. World of TanksWorld of Tanks is a different kind of MMO – which you should have guessed from the title. Team-based, massively multiplayer action with a huge range of war machines to drive into battle awaits, with new players able to jump into the fray right away. The upgrade system adds a sense of personalization, while being surrounded by an entire army at all times reminds you that loners won’t survive on the battlefield. Get sucked in, though, and you may find yourself spending a chunk of your wages on great big chunks of virtual metal. While some premium tanks cost just a few dollars, others are more expensive. You can see where maker Wargaming is earning some cash from World of Tanks enthusiasts. 11. Heroes of the StormIt was only a matter of time before Blizzard dipped its toe into the MoBA phenomenon, and with Heroes of the Storm, we’re left asking: what took so long? It’s an incredibly approachable esports title, somewhere between League of Legends and DOTA 2 in terms of complexity, with the added bonus of characters you know and love. That’s right, the roster is completely made up of Blizzard characters from across its library of classic games. Have you ever wondered who would win in a fight between Thrall and Kerrigan? Well, now you can see that fight play out on the battlefield. Blizzard knocked it out of the park here, making one of the best free games that keeps getting better by the day. 12. EverquestThough its future was briefly uncertain after the sale of Sony's online entertainment division in February 2015, Everquest has returned better than ever with new expansion packs and continued support by Daybreak Game Company. The first of its kind to commercially succeed with a 3D game engine, Everquest was released in 1999 as an MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game) and has since been documented as one of the most important games in the medium's history. Featuring consistently released expansion packs (quite massive in scale, at least early on) with vast new areas, races and classes, Everquest brings to the table just about everything you would expect from an MMO – plus it's notably better at handling co-op than its alternatives. 13. RiftOriginally hailed as the game that would finally dethrone World of Warcraft, Rift had its moment – and is still going strong depending who’s talking. It brought innovation to a genre that was changing very slowly, letting you change your class whenever you felt like it. The whole game is focused on separating giant boss battles and events that occupy entire zones. It’s ambitious, exciting and huge with dozens of interdimensional rifts that keep things fresh and unique from other MMOs. And, after Rift went free to play, Trion has stayed on top of things, releasing regular expansions for everyone to enjoy. Plus, you can ride on a landshark. 14. RunescapeRunescape is one of the biggest free-to-play MMOs out there, and now would be a good time to take a look. In 2013 it entered its third reboot – this is actually 'Runescape 3', although just jumping in now you might not appreciate it has been around in one form or another for more than 10 years. It's certainly not the shiniest MMO in the world despite the revamp, but hanging onto this many players shows it's doing something right. The big change introduced in Runescape 3 that made it appear a lot more modern was the ability to see much further – in Runescape 2 the horizon quickly gave way to fog. Not so now. You can download the game for free or run it in your browser using Java, making it much more convenient than most other online role-players of this epic scale. 15. MaplestoryIf the bleak appearance adopted by the typical MMORPG is a turn-off for you, you’ll be delighted to see that Maplestory takes the traditional art style of the genre and turns it on its head. Described by Nexon as the original 2D side-scrolling MMO, Maplestory takes the classic Dungeons & Dragons-inspired genre and makes it kawaii. The lighter tone and customization of Maplestory makes it feel more like Harvest Moon than World of Warcraft or Rift. It’s also more focused on improving cosmetics than many other MMOs, allowing players much more control over how their characters look. There’s even in-game weddings and dinosaurs that play guitar. Really, the only thing Maplestory is missing is an Oasis-composed soundtrack. 16. WarframeIf you're into third-person co-operative shooters, Warfarme is one of the best free games out there. Players take control of members of the Tenno, an ancient race at war with enemies such as the Grineer, the Corpus, the Infested and the Sentients. Your Tenno soldier uses the Crysis-style Warframe armor equipped with guns or melee weapons to fight back. Better looking than your average free-to-play shooter, much fun can be had in Warframe's player-vs-enemy raids — so much so that some gamers see it as, "The Destiny that never was". High praise indeed. 17. SmiteGods from every pantheon come together in Smite to battle it out in a free Dota/MOBA inspired clash. Even though Smite wears its influences on its sleeve, it comes from the same developer that made the FPS smash Tribes Ascend – a completely different beast. The camera is behind the characters this time, making for a more direct connection to the action than simply guiding your lord around with a mouse, but the premise will be either familiar if you've played its inspirations, or a way to get the feel for the style if you haven't. Gods include Zeus, Thor, Kali, Artemis and... Cupid? Well, at least he has his own bow… 18. Lord of the Rings OnlineThere are so many MMOs that have been launched or relaunched as free-to-play games, but Lord of the Rings Online is one of the titles that most warrants a second look. Not only is it an excellent game in its own right, it’s one of the more mature MMOs on the market. You’ll probably have to pay eventually, if only to unlock adventure packs, but there’s no subscription fee and nothing to buy up front. If you missed it at launch, or even if you quit playing since then, it’s time to give it a try. 19. The Awesome Adventures of Captain SpiritLife is Strange, and its sequel, are among the best modern adventure games on PC in 2018, and luckily, there’s now a free way to get into this amazing series. Revealed back at E3 2018, the Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit places you in the shoes of a 9-year-old Chris as he, and his alter ego, Captain Spirit, goes on, well, an awesome adventure. It’s a free-to-play single player adventure game free of any kind of malicious microtransactions or predatory monetization – just a nice prelude into Life is Strange 2. Just don’t go in expecting the longest gameplay experience in the world, you’ll likely get through it in just a couple of hours. 20. Eve OnlineIn 2003, Icelandic developer CCP Games unleashed Eve Online, an immersive and in-depth “sci-fi experience” that would eventually garner the attention of well over 500,000 players. Eve Online is unlike any game in its category, thanks to the vast range of activities to take part in as well as its (appropriately) out of this world in-game economy. Unfortunately, the Eve Online player base has been dwindling since 2013. It shouldn’t be surprising that as time goes on, fewer and fewer gamers are interested in paying a subscription fee for a glorified space sim with a steep learning curve. However, since the Ascension Update, released back in November 2016, Eve Online has gone free to play – at least to an extent. The new ‘alpha clones’ system featured in Eve Online is similar to the “unlimited free trial” featured in World of Warcraft. You can still engage with other player in piracy, manufacturing, trading, mining, exploration and combat, but certain skills will be off limits. If you don’t want to limit your access to some of the game’s most lumbering ships you can always opt for the Omega subscription – otherwise, the game won’t cost a cent. 21. Blacklight: RetributionWhile it may not be as ‘free’ as it was before it showed up on PS4, Blacklight: Retribution is still a damn fine and affordable way to play an FPS. Almost like a free-to-play Titanfall, Blacklight: Retribution has no single-player mode to offer and takes place in a futuristic Cyberpunk setting complete with fan-favorite game types like Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, Team Deathmatch, Kill Confirmed, King of the Hill and Domination. Featuring customizable weapons and mechs, of course, Blacklight: Retribution is a fun, free and safe way to let off steam after that 9 to 5. Plus, with over 1 million registered players and counting, there's bound to me no shortage of teammates (and rivals) to join up with. 22. HawkenAs it's been in beta since 2012 with little to no marketing push, you may have forgotten about Hawken or were unfamiliar with it in the first place. Most notably, Hawken is a game about mechs. But, not just any mechs – fast mechs. These are your average slow, lumbering tanks of MechWarrior Online. These are more comparable to the Exoskeletons of Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare. Of course, being a free-to-play game, you can expect to pay for upgrades to your starter mech. However, you can still get a taste for Hawken without spending a dime. Plus, attach an Oculus Rift and you can see for yourself what VR games have in store for you. Admit it, you've wanted to know what it's feels like to power a mech for yourself since Pacific Rim came out. 23. Evolve Stage 2Hey, remember Evolve? Yeah, we didn’t think so – it quickly fell off the face of the Earth after release, until it was eventually removed from Steam. Turtle Rock then re-released Evolve back into beta a year and a half after its initial release. It was then that Evolve was released as a free-to-play experience, and even given a new name: Evolve Stage 2. Despite going free-to-play, the game's core structure remains intact. It's a game of humans vs. zombies, err, monsters, a new twist on a beloved pastime. A team of four players, called hunters, is pitted up against a single monster, with each hunter assigned their own class. Of course, with four players taking on one, there is a unique catch: hence the game's title, monsters start out at a basic level but evolve over time by killing and consuming wildlife in nearby areas. Evolve cost $40 before, so rest assured you'll get access to a game that looks triple-A, even if much of the content is locked behind a paywall. Nevertheless you can give it a shot for yourself for the nominal cost of $0 on Steam. 24. The Elder Scrolls II: DaggerfallWhile we sit, anxiously awaiting whatever The Elder Scrolls VI ends up being, you should take the time to give the classic The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall a try. This 1990s RPG is a precursor to those incredibly popular RPGs, and is a bit of a classic in its own right. Its game world is many times the size of any of its sequels, and indeed it’s the size of a continent – and it’s absolutely packed with atmosphere. It might look a little rough by today’s standards, but it’s worth looking at if you’re an Elder Scrolls fan. It's available direct from Bethesda. The publisher started offering it for free to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the game. As if we didn't feel old enough already. 25. Starcraft IIOne of the biggest games to ever hit the PC/Mac landscape is Starcraft II, a competitive real-time strategy game whose Wings of Liberty installment is just one of three parts of the campaign. At one time, it was a phenomenon in South Korea, but the scene fizzled out a bit when MOBAs like League of Legends and Dota 2 took the world by storm. Maybe that’s why Blizzard decided to convert Starcraft II to the free-to-play business model. As a result of its compelling strategy game mechanics, combined with brilliantly designed environments and a fascinating narrative that can only be expressed in a video game, Starcraft II is one of the most widely enjoyed eSports in the entire world. Of course, being a Blizzard game, you’ll need a Battle.net account to enjoy it, but otherwise, both the campaign and the multiplayer are free to enjoy. Only certain characters require your prized coin. 26. Wolfenstein 3DInterested in knowing what Wolfenstein was before The New Order? Wolfenstein 3D is now free, and will take you back to the year 1992 when celebrity game developers John Carmack and John Romero teamed up to make a shareware game like nothing before it. Wolfenstein 3D took concepts from Muse Software's Castle Wolfenstein and Beyond Castle Wolfenstein to create a three-dimensional first-person shooter that would later inspire the development of Doom. Keep in mind while playing, though, that while Wolfenstein 3D was impressive for its time, it's probably not what you would expect from a first-person shooter of today's standards. Nonetheless, it's an easy and free way to experience game history in an old-school World War II game rich with narrative about, well, shooting Nazis in the face. Don't expect to be blown away by the story in the same way as the Wolfenstein franchise's more recent entries. 27. Team Fortress 2It may be an old vet in gaming terms, but nothing offers so much crazy fun as Team Fortress 2. Unlike most shooters of its age, players are still there to have a good time rather than hurl abuse at newcomers, and there's no shortage of cool toys to have fun with. Endlessly silly and amazingly fresh, it's still one of the shooter genre's kings, free-to-play or not. As you might guess, there are some micro-transactions involved. You can buy additional items, often used to customise your character. You can create your own. It's fun, and gets you even more involved in TF2. Those cheeky devils at Valve know what they're doing. 28. GiganticThough it may have gotten lost in the fog of Overwatch, Lawbreakers and the like, Gigantic is yet another hero shooter in a jumbled sea of hero shooter fanaticism. The difference is that Gigantic, much like the unfortunately fated Battleborn, is a lot more MOBA-esque than Blizzard and Boss Key Studios’ similarly styled games. The gameplay largely revolves around two teams of five players who are both trying to defeat both each other and a mystical leviathan known as a guardian. Likewise, Gigantic gives players the choice between a wide variety of characters each with their own abilities and upgrades. Plus, it’s on Xbox One, too, in case you want to continue the fun in the living room. 29. Magic DuelsMagic: The Gathering is fun, right? But what if you could play it from the warmth and comfort of your PC? Luckily, Magic Duels will let you do just that. Whether you’re a first time player or a 20-year vet, Duels will let you do everything the card game does and more. While over 300 new cards are advertised as being attainable throughout the game, there’s also a unique story mode where you can experience Magic like never before. If narrative in your card games isn't your cup of tea, there's also a Battle Mode in which you can challenge your friends, a four-player Two-Headed Giant battle and even an offline solo mode you can use for practice against AI. 30. DC Universe OnlineThough it's yet another free-to-play MMO on this list, DC Universe Online takes characters like Superman, Batman, Green Lantern and more into a massive (and shared) public world. Choose whether you want to be a member of the Hero or Villain faction then customize your character and you'll be sent out into the world of DC Universe Online at the hands of Daybreak Game Company. After some training, the game assigns you a position as either a member of the Justice League or The Society depending on your choice of hero or villain. Unlike other MMOs on this list and outside it, DC Universe Online is designed to be much more interactive while still retaining traditional MMORPG elements such as leveling, raiding, inventories and post-game progression. Favorably, it's not difficult to play without using real-world currency too. 31. PaladinsIt’s not hard to see why Paladins catches a lot of flack for its resemblance to Overwatch. At the same time, the team-based shooter bears many distinctions from that of Blizzard’s. Abilities are upgraded based on a collectible card system, which can completely change the way each character plays. What’s more, unlike Overwatch, Paladins is completely free-to-play. While cosmetic items are available to buy using real-world currency, everything else can be unlocked simply by playing the game. For instance, you’ll start Paladins with a single deck of basic cards, and from there, more dramatically impactful decks can be unlocked. Regardless of how you choose to play Paladins, you’ll get XP as you play. As long as you’re completing the daily quests and achievements featured in the game, you’ll be rewarded with Radiant Chests and Gold. These can be used to purchase more cards, costumes and weapon skins to make your characters more unique and skillful on the battlefield. 32. Pro Evolution Soccer 2018 LiteYou may be familiar with Fifa already, but Pro Evolution Soccer – or PES – is one of the best-selling video game franchises of all-time. It doesn’t have all the flair (or the licensing) of its EA Sports rival, but some would argue that it’s the better soccer game series, not to mention one of the better sports series overall. PES 2018 in particular isn’t too much of an improvement over its predecessor, but it does introduce better dribbling and makes an effort to perfect the fan-favorite Master League mode. The ‘Lite’ version of Pro Evolution Soccer 2018 gives you access to the Online myClub and PES League Mode in addition to the Offline Exhibition Match and Training Mode, entirely for free. There are in-app purchases along the way, but you can always upgrade to the full version later should this one not satisfy. 33. SpelunkyYou can now get Spelunky on all sorts of platforms – it's pretty high-profile for an indie title. But it began its life PC-exclusive, and its original 'non HD' Classic version you can still get for free today. The catch is that every time you play, the entire game is randomized. In one game you'll stumble through screen after screen of spiked horrors and swarming monsters; in the next, the software will bend over backwards to give you gold and help you on your way. You learn how each randomized world ticks and which equipment will give you a fighting chance. And then you'll die some more. And scream. And restart. Again. 34. NeverwinterAs a free MMO, Neverwinter sets a high standard for itself as it's based on perhaps the most iconic role-playing game of all-time, Dungeons & Dragons. Like everything else in the Dungeons and Dragons universe, the game takes place in Forgotten Realms, specifically, as the name suggests, in Neverwinter. Featuring eight character classes with groups of up to five players supported, Neverwinter is based on the fourth-generation rules of Dungeons & Dragons. However, the rules are slightly modified, letting players heal their allies in addition to allowing for the use of special abilities in combat after racking up enough action points. 35. Doki Doki Literature ClubAn ostensibly charming visual novel on the surface, Doki Doki Literature Club is a game that’s best experienced blindly. It comes from Dan Salvato, a game developer known best for his work in the Super Smash Bros. Melee modding community, who says he developed Doki Doki Literature Club because of his indifference towards anime. That’s ironic considering the main character in Doki Doki Literature Club is obsessed with anime and manga and has minimal experience with the writings of more prestigious authors. As engrossing as the trio of female supporting characters appear to be in Doki Doki Literature Club, we would advise getting too attached to them. Without spoiling the story, the first thing you see when you boot up Doki Doki Literature Club is a content warning, suggesting that those with severe anxiety refrain from playing at all. It’s not entirely unwarranted either, as you’re bound to learn the hard way that Doki Doki Literature Club is more horror than generic fan service. 36. Puzzle Pirates: Dark SeasFor nearly 15 years now, Puzzle Pirates has been a household name for kids with unrestricted access to the computer labs at school. It’s a completely free-to-play massively multiplayer online role-playing game originally developed by the Sega-owned Three Rings Design. The goal is to join a crew and ideally become a captain, by completing puzzles alongside other players. Puzzle Pirates: Dark Seas, on the other hand, is the Steam-exclusive version of Puzzle Pirates that introduces an entirely new ocean known as Obsidian. Dark Seas introduces factions and player-versus-player (PvP) combat in a way that didn’t exist prior to the Steam release of Puzzle Pirates. It also comes from a different developer, a nonprofit called Grey Havens founded by several former members of Three Rings Design. Before the advent of Dark Seas, you could only get the multiplayer portion of Puzzle Pirates on Steam. Now it appears as though the single-player mode can be downloaded and installed from Valve’s client as well. Although it’s only in early access for the time being, early reviews suggest that it’s worth a shot for Puzzle Pirates veterans and newcomers alike. 37. Phantom DustIts development cycle was a disaster, but in the end, the Phantom Dust remaster turned out just fine. A new IP in the form of a Japanese budget card game for the original Xbox, it seemed to good to be true when Microsoft revealed back at E3 2014 that a complete remake was in the works… and, as it turns out, it was. The remake was canned in 2016, but Microsoft still wanted to revive the cult classic one-off. As it turns out, the company did so with a remaster, not a remake. Luckily, the new version of Phantom Dust for Windows 10 (and Xbox One, for console-goers) doesn’t cost a thing to play unless you opt to purchase some of the in-game “multiplayer cards”. 38. Dwarf FortressInspiring the creation of Minecraft was no small feat for 2D sandbox game Dwarf Fortress. Dubbed a construction and management simulator, Dwarf Fortress takes simple text-based graphics into a more modern, 2006 piece of software. The game is often classified as a cult classic because of its open-ended nature and serving as one of the most iconic examples of a procedurally generated roguelike. This means Dwarf Fortress both randomizes its environments and makes the game's permadeath system a much more difficult problem to avoid. This led to the unofficial slogan for the game "Losing is fun," which was either ironic or an accurate description of what happens in the game. Tough to say either way. One thing's for sure, though. If you want to experience an important part of games history, Dwarf Fortress is a solid start, as it was exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City back in 2013. Can't say that for a lot of free-to-play games. 39. Fable FortuneAfter a troubled development cycle, Fable Fortune is the collectible card game that you probably thought would never release. Either that, or you’ve never even heard of it. We wouldn’t blame you. The team behind the Fable franchise – the illustrious group of individuals at Lionhead Studios – has since departed its doors, which were coincidentally permanently shut two years ago. In the time following Lionhead’s closure, its parent company, Microsoft, licensed off Fable Fortune to a group of former Lionhead developers at a new company called Flaming Fowl Studios. It was there that Fable Fortune found private funding despite a failed Kickstarter campaign. The end result is a fairly competitive card game that’s completely free to play. Skeptics will be quick to compare Fable Fortune to Hearthstone. However, the two games differ drastically due to its more complex set of hero powers, less randomness and a morality system that rewards an understanding of its ‘good’ and ‘evil’ points. 40. Fallout ShelterIf you're more interested in the property management systems of Fallout 4 rather than the overwhelming majority of the role-playing game's content, Fallout Shelter is a great place to start. Up until recently, the simulation game was limited to mobile platforms Android and iOS. However, with the introduction of Quests in version 1.6 of Fallout Shelter, Bethesda Softworks also felt the need to port the game to PC by way of the Bethesda.net client. All in all, Fallout Shelter doesn't feel much different on PC, and that's undoubtedly a good thing. Mouse controls work well in place of a touchscreen, graphics are optimized even for low-end hardware and with windowed mode enabled by default, it's easy to find yourself caring after your vault residents during your downtime at work. With an indisputably manageable price point (free), Fallout Shelter could very well become the next Solitaire in your office or at school. 41. BrinkAs a result of being overshadowed when it originally released six years ago, Brink is now completely free to play on Steam – no microtransactions added. Bittersweet considering its lukewarm commercial reception, but we should celebrate the fact that this unique spin on the traditional multiplayer first-person shooter is now available for all to enjoy. Set on a floating city called the Ark that’s running low on resources, Brink pits a team of refugees, the “Resistance”, against the security officials deemed responsible for those living in poverty. The result is a fun, if flawed, experience that blends single-player objectives harmoniously with heated multiplayer gunplay. From developer Splash Damage and publisher Bethesda Softworks, you might have turned your nose up at Brink during its initial release in 2011, but now that it’s free, you’ll certainly get your money’s worth. 42. BattlebornCEO and president of Gearbox Software Randy Pitchford will tell you differently, but Battleborn is free-to-play. Officially classified as a “free trial” on Steam, there isn’t much to differentiate the hero shooter from other free-to-play games on the market. You can play for as long as you want using six of the game’s 30 characters, rotated weekly to shake things up. Battleborn was originally released in May 2016, the same month as Overwatch. The main difference is that Battleborn draws influence from MOBA games while Overwatch is a more traditional PvP shooter with an eccentric cast of characters. Battleborn also has a single-player campaign, which can be unlocked using real-world currency. 43. The Elder Scrolls: LegendsThere’s an ostensibly neverending arms race developers are in right now to put out the next Hearthstone. That is, a wildly popular collectible card game (CCG) that’s “easy to learn but challenging to master.” Those are the words, verbatim, publisher Bethesda Softworks is using to describe The Elder Scrolls: Legends. A CCG that draws from the lore of the company’s beloved RPG franchise, The Elder Scrolls: Legends differentiates itself from the likes of competing virtual card games such as Hearthstone and The Witcher 3’s Gwent by enacting a two-lane system that keeps players on their toes when it comes to devising strategies. And, if you’re simply craving more Skyrim, you’ll be elated to know that the Heroes of Skyrim expansion for The Elder Scrolls: Legends packs in 150 additional cards, some of which are familiar faces like Aela the Huntress, J’Zargo and Delphine. 44. RobocraftWhether you loved or hated World of Tanks, you’ll be pleased to know that Robocraft is what you get when you take conventional vehicle combat and completely turn it on its head. From independent developer and publisher Freejam, Robocraft lets you commandeer jet cars (not jets and cars, but jet cars), tanks, flying warships, helicopters and drones. In doing so, you’ll spend most of your time engaging in combat with other players online. Like a vehicle-based Fortnite, you’ll also experiment with different combinations of 250 preset blocks using a simple crafting interface, allowing you to equip the vehicle of your choosing with the weapons of your choosing as well. Likewise, Robocraft lets you create or join clans with up to 50 members. Within those clans, you can invite friends to ‘parties’ and play cooperatively in an effort to take down other teams. Once everything is said and done and you’re satisfied with your creations, you can show them off at the virtualized Community Robot Factory in exchange for likes and shares. 45. Total War Battles: KingdomReal-time Strategy (RTS) games don't come much grander than those in the Total War series, and the latest entrant, Battles KINGDOM, is free-to-play. Currently in open beta on the PC, it's also available to play on iOS and Android, so you can pick up where you left off when you're away from your battlestation. Set at the turn of the 10th Century, Total War Battles: Kingdom combines army management with kingdom building to deliver a bite-sized RTS game you can pick up and play anywhere, anytime. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 18 Jan 2019 01:30 PM PST If you play the best PC games online as much as we do, you likely want one of the best gaming routers to make sure your online gaming is never interrupted. The best routers for gaming will prioritize gaming network traffic, thanks to a handy little trick called Quality of Service (or QoS), so your gaming won’t be interrupted by someone on an hours-long Netflix binge. You’ll also want to keep an eye out for MU-MIMO (Multiple user, Multi-Input, Multi-Output), so that everyone on your network can get high speeds without having to fight over bandwidth. When you’re playing games online, a wired connection is generally considered the best way to go about it, and we’d have to concur. So, the best gaming routers will feature plenty of gigabit Ethernet ports. Still, we know that it’s sometimes just not possible to have everyone in your home using a wired connection, so the top gaming routers are going to feature the latest and greatest Wifi standards – currently Wi-Fi 5. Having external antennae which can be moved to direct the Wi-Fi signal to certain areas of your house can’t hurt, either. So, taking into consideration the needs of gamers, we’ve gathered up all the best gaming routers 2018 has to offer. If you want all the latest tech, but you’re still a fan of that old-school aesthetic, the TP-Link Archer C5400 v2 is right up your alley. This is a gaming router that blends enthusiast-grade features and accessible setup into a package that’s appealing to pretty much everyone. And, when you add in the Alexa support, you have a router that can adapt to any situation, whether you’re focusing hard on winning your latest match in Fortnite, or you have guests all connecting to your network. Read the full review: TP-Link Archer C5400 V2 The Asus RT-AC5300 is one of the best gaming routers – it comes with a variety of advanced features, making online and network gaming as lag and frustration free as possible. This includes an easy-to-use yet powerful interface, as well as comprehensive QoS settings. The spider-like design won’t be to everyone’s taste, but the eight antennae serve a purpose, as they can be used to direct your Wi-Fi signal throughout your home, giving this router an excellent range. Read the full review: Asus RT-AC86U We already covered the TP-Link Archer C5400 v2 earlier, but the manufacturer slapped an ‘X’ at the end of this one, to signify the extreme boost in performance. It’s significantly more expensive, but this may be one of the highest-end gaming routers out there. With eight ethernet ports around the back, it’s perfect for hardwiring a wealth of gaming equipment. And, the MU-MIMO and Tri-band support mean that wireless connections are also top-notch. You’ll be able to top the leaderboards wherever you are in the house. Read the full review: TP-Link Archer C5400X For PC gamers that are always fighting for bandwidth with roommates, a beefy gaming router like the Netgear Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR500 is going to be a godsend. Not only will this gaming router provide an insane 2.6Gbps of speed, but with MU-MIMO support and unique gaming-focused features like location-based connection filters and QoS, you’ll be able to get your game on lag-free. Just prepare for the high price, and maybe wait for a sale to pick it up. Read the full review: Netgear Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR500 The Asus RT-AC5300 is an excellent high-end gaming router that comes with a number of advanced features for making online and network gaming as lag and frustration free as possible. This includes an easy-to-use yet powerful interface, as well as comprehensive QoS settings. The spider-like design won't be to everyone's tastes, but the eight antennae serve a purpose, as they can be used to direct your Wi-Fi signal throughout your home, giving this router an excellent range. Read the full review: Asus RT-AC5300 Tri-band Gigabit Router It might look like it’s getting ready to abduct a close friend or family member, but we promise the Zyxel Armor Z2 AC2600 isn’t as alien in function as in appearance. Rocking the latest MU-MIMO support, which improves speed when multiple devices are connected to the same network, this gaming router prides itself on its performance capabilities. Because it can handle a ton of devices, while prioritizing bandwidth depending on the needs of each device, it’s one of the best gaming routers you can buy today. Read the full review: Zyxel Armor Z2 AC2600 The Asus RT-AC88U is an expensive gaming router, but it justifies the price with insane 802.11 wireless performance. Rocking four antennas and NitroQAM tech, which pushes speeds even further, this gaming router enables wireless performance that can break the 1GB/sec limit. But, there’s a catch – you’ll need to pick up a NitroQAM wireless adapter, like the Asus PCE AC88, to see these fast speeds. But, with speeds like this, it’s easy to see why this is one of the best gaming routers out there. It might look like something from Battlestar Galactica – the old Battlestar Galactica – but, the D-Link DIR 885L/R is a dependable mid-range gaming router with great range and speed. If you’re looking for the best gaming router, you may want to give this one a chance – it has a good variety of port, and a nicely designed UI. It also features DD-WRT open-source firmware, which makes this router as flexible as it is powerful.
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| Android Q release date, features and rumors Posted: 18 Jan 2019 01:21 PM PST Google's Android Q release date and features are what we're focusing on in 2019, even though the last update, Android 9 Pie, is still slowly rolling out to smartphones after its launch last August. When does Android Q come out? Which features will be added? What phones can download Android? Right now, we're mostly answering these questions through historical data and leaks, and we'll know more concrete facts as Google IO 2019 approaches. Cut to the chase
Android Q release dateGoogle hasn't announced when Android Q will come out. Heck, it hasn't even acknowledged that the next OS version will even be called Android Q – but given each version's progression to the next letter in the alphabet, Android Q is a pretty safe bet. If Android 9 Pie's announcement window is anything to go by, we could see Google officially announce Android Q in early March – and perhaps, like last year's release, see an alpha build released to developers on the same day. The full Android Q name may happen in early August. As to when you can get Android Q, well...that requires even more divination. We'll likely get it in mid-August 2019, according to Google's historical OS update timing, and that's just on Google Pixel phones. The roll out to other Android phones will happen throughout 2019 and even into 2020. Android Q featuresGoogle IO 2019 will likely play host to a deep dive into Android Q features. However, we may have a heads-up on which features to expect from Google's mobile operating update thanks to leaks. System-wide dark modeThe first big leak, and our first real look at Android Q, is by the site XDA Developers. They allegedly got a hold of a January 2019 build of the new OS and showed off what might be coming. Chief among them is an all-system dark mode. Toggle it on in Display Settings, and the main interface, Settings and Files will turn a dark gray. Other parts like the Volume panel, Quick Settings and Notifications turn black to show up against the darker background. Developers will also get an option that seems to force apps without dark modes to switch to the nighttime-friendly color scheme. More permissionsXDA's leak also revealed a revamp of permissions, from the general to specific. Users can look at a broad overview of which apps they've given permission for certain things – like, say, location or microphone access. There's a search function that lets you filter by permission item, allowing you to quickly see which apps you've given access to your camera, contacts, location and so on. You can also look at permissions each app has been granted and toggle them individually to set whether access is off, on, or only on while the app is open. Developer toolsThere are plenty of new developer tools described by the XDA leak, but it's not clear how all of them will function. Freeform windows return, which lets you enable them after pressing and holding an app icon in the recent apps overview. On the other hand, XDA also found a feature called "Game Updates Package Preference" whose purpose is a bit of a mystery. Another, titled "force desktop mode," seems like it would push Android to an external display, Samsung DeX-style. Not all of the UI is finished, either, making some features – like screen recording – not totally comprehensible. Anything else?There were a couple other additional odds and ends from that XDA leak, including a pair of new accessibility settings. Both apply to how long notification messages stay up, and seemingly apply to different kinds of notifications. The first are for "messages that ask you to take action," while the other apparently refers to notifications that pop up with simple reminders. You can toggle these to stay up between 30 seconds and 2 minutes. We haven't seen much else, but given Google's precedent of announcing the next version of Android in early in 2019, we may see more leaks in the coming weeks. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| New Mac Pro release date, news and rumors Posted: 18 Jan 2019 01:20 PM PST There hasn’t been much information about a new Mac Pro for quite a while. However, more than a year ago, Apple recognized the public outcry for a new Mac Pro by hinting that it’s working on a ‘modular’ and ‘upgradeable’ Mac Pro. It doesn’t stop there – Apple has declared support of the Mac Pro through a press release for the iMac Pro sale date back nearly two years ago. So, a new Mac Pro is certainly in the works, and it looks like we’re going to see it this year. So, when in 2019 will we see it? Our money is on a mid-year release, but 2019 has officially begun, and we can see Apple holding a special event pretty much anytime – that’s been its M.O. recently. If the new Mac Pro is going to be modular like Apple suggests, what will that look like? What will be upgradeable? Will it look like a juiced up HomePod? Before we dive into all the boundless speculation, let’s lay out some basics. Cut to the chase
Mac Pro 2019 release dateNow, while the new Mac Pro used to be the one Apple product we actually knew with absolute certainty could have been released in 2018, we were mistaken. It turns out the new Mac Pro has been confirmed for a 2019 release date. The current Mac Pro computer debuted at the June 2013 Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), with a December 2013 final release date. Of course, many purchasers didn’t get their computers until April 2014 on account of backorders.
Before that, the original Mac Pro was revealed to the world during the August 2006 WWDC, getting into the public’s hands within the same month. However, after Apple’s roller coaster of a year in 2018, particularly with the MacBook Pro’s release, we don’t know what to expect. Apple’s strategy last year seemed to be ‘wait until it’s ready and then put it out there’. Whether that will extend to 2019 remains to be seen, but we’re sure we’ll see the Mac Pro 2019 soon. If Apple is planning to reveal the new Mac Pro ahead of its release, we could see a special Mac Pro event, like the October 30 Mac event a couple months ago. Or, we could see Apple repeat its approach with the new MacBook Pro, and release the new Mac Pro under the radar – as it is a professional product. Mac Pro 2019 priceWe have absolutely no Mac Pro 2019 pricing information from neither leaks nor Apple’s own remarks on the device. So, once again we’re left to speculate based on the pricing of previous Mac Pro models. The current Mac Pro, largely unchanged since its 2013 release, calls for a whopping $2,999, £2,999 or AU$4,899 to start. The only other model available hikes the price up by $1,000, £900 and AU$1,600, respectively, for some beefy component upgrades.
Given how long its been since the previous update to the Mac Pro, it would be unwise for Apple to drive the asking price any higher. However, if the new Mac Pro’s ‘modular, upgradeable’ nature turns out to be true, that could lead the firm to price the device accordingly, knowing that end users would no longer have to turn to it for upgrades. Mac Pro 2019 specsWhat will be inside the computer is, sadly, another unknown regarding the Mac Pro for 2019, save for a scant few details. For starters, we know that Apple is focused on issuing a Mac Pro with a modular and upgradeable design. “In addition to the new iMac Pro, Apple is working on a completely redesigned, next-generation Mac Pro architected for pro customers who need the highest performance, high-throughput system in a modular, upgradeable design,” Apple wrote in a December 2017 press release announcing the new iMac Pro, “as well as a new high-end pro display.” So, we know that Apple is intending to make at least some of the Mac Pro design easy to manage, upgrade and set up in different configurations. If true, the Mac Pro 2019 will have to work with a large variety of off-the-shelf parts – at least ‘off the shelf’ for business pros or IT managers.
Simply put, there wasn’t enough room in the last Mac Pro for storage expansion, and that needs to change in the 2019 model. We also know that Apple has a display in the works, presumably one that was designed with the performance of the Mac Pro in mind. As of last September, reports circulated that an 8K (7,680 x 4,320) resolution display was in the works at Apple, and that it would compete with the 32-inch Dell UltraSharp monitor that we recently reviewed. It would come with either 10-bit dithering or native 10-bit colors as well, but not a touchscreen, which isn’t surprising given Apple’s aversion to adding touch to the Mac. The other sliver of information that we have is that the Mac Pro 2019 may launch with a co-processor, which would likely hint at the Mac Pro 2019 being an early part of Apple’s rumored Kalamata initiative, which will see the Cupertino giant replacing all Intel silicon with its own by 2020. The fact that we won’t see it in 2018 on top of Apple hiring a bunch of ex-Intel engineers to work on Apple chips gives this theory more credence. As far as the Co-processors go, we could see something like the T1 (which manages the MacBook Pro Touch Bar and Touch ID) and T2 (which manages the iMac Pro hardware security and allows for the automatic ‘Hey Siri’ command). Whichever role it fills, it will offload critical tasks from the Intel processors that will likely be inside the Mac Pro 2019. How will this manifest inside the Mac Pro for 2019? The most likely scenario is the latter one: implementing the very same T2 chip inside the iMac Pro into this device. That would bring pro-grade security and on-demand Siri to the Mac Pro, the former of which is crucial for getting traction in office environments. However, the inclusion of the T2 chip might go against the Mac Pro’s ability to be serviced by users. It’s recently come out that Apple has locked out the iMac Pro and 2018 MacBook Pro, which both use the T2 chip, from being serviced by anyone other than Apple and its authorized service providers. Beyond the co-processors that will almost certainly be present, it’s a pretty good bet that we’ll see Apple use a 7nm Vega II GPU from AMD. What we want to see in Mac Pro 2019All of these rumors swirling around a potential Mac Pro 2019 release puts us in prime position for a well-crafted wishlist. So, here’s what we hope to see Apple upgrade within the Mac Pro for 2019. More internal expansion Dual-processor options A keyboard and mouse included iOS apps on Mac Pro After WWDC 2018, though, we now know exactly how Apple is going to handle this. Instead of just opening the App Store on macOS, we’ll be getting a limited selection of key iOS apps ported over. MacOS 10.14 will have access to News, Stocks, Voice Memos and Home, with more eventually coming over in 2019. These apps will be redesigned to feel natural on macOS – so, no touchscreen necessary.
Gabe Carey has also contributed to this report This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| macOS High Sierra news, updates and features Posted: 18 Jan 2019 01:20 PM PST Now that macOS Mojave has replaced macOS High Sierra, you might think that the mountain-themed OS is completely out-of-date. Well, if you consider the fact that macOS Mojave requires newer hardware than macOS 10.13, you’ll realize that plenty of users will be stuck on High Sierra for a while. And, back when macOS High Sierra first launched, it had its own fair share of problems, like password vulnerabilities and other security issues. Apple eventually patched all of these problems out, and macOS High Sierra grew into one of the best macOS releases we’d ever seen. Thanks to the new file system and built-in photo editing tools – Apple more than made up for any problems faced by macOS High Sierra upon release. When all is said and done, macOS High Sierra faced – and still faces, to a certain extent – the same problems that Mountain Lion did, following Lion. It brings some interesting changes, but doesn’t do anything all that new and exciting. So, without further delay, let’s dive into everything there is to know about macOS High Sierra. Cut to the chase
macOS 10.13 High Sierra release dateApple revealed macOS 10.13 High Sierra at the WWDC 2017 keynote, which is no surprise, given Apple’s tradition of announcing the latest version of its Mac software at its annual developer event. Yet, it wasn’t until September 12 that Apple revealed that the full release of High Sierra would launch little more than a week later, on September 25. There was a developer version of the operating system you could enroll in leading to the final release, but luckily that’s no longer required to take advantage of the latest features found in macOS 10.13. The final build of macOS High Sierra, 10.13.6 is available right now. Beside a few bug fixes, it integrates Airplay 2 into iTunes – though you will need to update iTunes to take advantage of it. You can download the update from the Mac App Store. More importantly, this update contains the bug fix that stops the Core i9 MacBook Pro from thermal throttling. Safari 12 is also available for macOS High Sierra users, which not only supports website icons in your tabs, but also has better security. Websites, for instance, won’t be able to track your specific Mac when using the native web browser. If you’re ready to jump to the next version of macOS , you can download macOS Mojave today. And, fortunately, we can show you how to download and install macOS Mojave. macOS 10.13 High Sierra compatibilityLuckily, because macOS High Sierra doesn’t really shake things up, the barrier to entry didn’t change. In fact, macOS High Sierra has much more lenient requirements than Mojave, so it should be popular for a while. As long as you're on one of the following Mac models, you can upgrade to macOS High Sierra (if you haven’t done so already).
Bear in mind that if you want to take advantage of the High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) benefits posed by macOS High Sierra, you’ll need a Mac donning – at the very least – an Intel sixth-generation Skylake processor. Unfortunately, that discounts everything released prior to 2015, but on the bright side, everything else macOS High Sierra brings to the table is fair game. macOS 10.13 High Sierra featuresBeyond the Hackintosh users being reasonably worried about the newly enforced security checks on EFI firmware automatically implemented each week, Apple has revealed a number of awesome new features with macOS 10.13 High Sierra. These include improvements to Safari – which will now stop ad-tracking and auto-playing videos in their tracks – and a more expansive Spotlight Search in the Mail App. Additionally, when you’re composing emails, the app now allows split view for the compose window – and, to make matters better, it uses up to 35% less disk space. The Photos app has also been updated, with a better sorting tool to boot. All of this is accompanied by a better layout, improved facial recognition thanks to neural networks, and improved syncing across all Apple devices – this all makes macOS High Sierra’s photo experience better than ever before. Editing tools, too, have seen improvements, in turn making it easier than ever to enhance the quality of your photos without learning the ins and outs of Photoshop or Camera RAW. And of course, you can count on Instagram-like filters being a part of this. One of the biggest changes that comes with macOS High Sierra is with the file system. It’s ditching the HFS – which Apple has used for around 30 years, and is now using the Apple File System (APFS) instead. Every Mac that has been upgraded to macOS High Sierra will receive these file system updates automatically with the exception of those sporting Fusion Drives and older HDDs. Similarly, all new Macs will ship pre-formatted for APFS. To be exact, APFS is a 64-bit file system that supports native encryption and faster metadata operation. This may all sound a bit techy, but the bottom line is that this will make your Mac feel a lot faster, while also being more secure and more transparent about the nature of your files and folder contents. Unfortunately, this comes with the caveat of Apple’s confirmation that 32-bit apps will be discontinued in later versions of macOS High Sierra. The update also brings HEVC, or H.265, video compression to the Mac. Apple claims that this new standard can compress video files 40% more than the previous-generation H.264 standard. The end result will be faster video streams at higher resolutions – ahem, 4K – and smaller video files sizes when stored locally. VR finally comes to the MacOne of the biggest bits of news surrounding macOS High Sierra is that it will finally bring support for virtual reality headsets officially. Namely, the HTC Vive and Steam VR will work with Macs running the new OS this autumn. However to use such a device, you’ll need at least a 5K iMac or MacBook Pro – or, any Mac that can run the new OS with an external GPU solution. Support for such devices comes part and parcel with macOS High Sierra, but won’t be an active function until later this year. The good news is that macOS High Sierra comes with a helping of refinements to its graphics API that make up for the scarce GPU support. Metal was a step forward for hardware-accelerated 3D graphics, but with Metal 2, Apple promises less strain on the CPU as well as proper machine learning and better Xcode profiling/debugging in macOS High Sierra. Perhaps more important, though, is the fact that MoltenVK was recently brought to Mac by Khronos Group. An implementation of the open-source Vulkan API, it’s said to bring frame rate gains of up to 50% in Dota 2. As it’s cross-platform, too – being supported by Windows and Linux as well as Apple’s devices – MoltenVK is likely to be more widely adopted by creators. Joe Osborne and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this report This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 18 Jan 2019 01:15 PM PST When the first Chromebooks hit the market, no one, including ourselves, knew what to make of them. However, just a few years later, and not only are there more than 25 million Chrome OS users, but the best Chromebooks continue to wow us with all-day battery life – something that Windows 10 laptops still can’t achieve. The best Chromebooks don’t just have great battery life, but they’re also affordable for everyone. This is because they don’t need all the latest and greatest technologies – the best Chromebooks pack the hardware they need, and nothing more. And, they keep getting better, just look at the Google Pixel Slate – an extremely promising Chromebook-tablet hybrid Some users might feel wary of the top Chromebooks, of being restrained by what your web browser can do – we get it. If you’re looking to play games or do media editing, you might want to look elsewhere. But, if your computer use boils down to word processing, email and video streaming, the best Chromebooks are going to tick all of your boxes. Shortly after proclaiming the Chromebook Pixel as dead, Google revived it in a way nobody expected. Now, it’s the Google Pixelbook and it stands completely independent of its predecessor. That’s because, unlike the Chromebook Pixel, it can run Android apps natively, on top of building upon Chrome OS. And, when you add in the huge amount of storage space, fantastic stylus and Google Assistant, it shouldn’t surprise you when we say the Pixelbook is the best Chromebook 2018 has to offer – even so long after its launch. Read the full review: Google Pixelbook Before the Google Pixelbook showed up and showed us exactly what the best Chromebooks are capable of, the Asus Chromebook Flip was the Google laptop to get. Rocking a full-fat Intel Core processor and full-HD display, the Chromebook Flip changed everything. With this Chromebook, all the features we take for granted came to life. Put simply, if you want the key features that the Pixelbook offers, but you don’t want to drop that much cash the Asus Chromebook Flip is a fantastic option. Read the full review: Asus Chromebook Flip When Android apps started heading to the best Chromebooks, it was only a matter of time before Samsung took its mastery of the two OSs and crafted something truly beautiful. With a 12.3 inch QHD touchscreen and a 360-degree hinge, the Samsung Chromebook Pro is widely acclaimed for its built-in stylus – the first of its kind to show up in a Chromebook. Not only does it show up a majority of laptops in its own category, but it’s better than most Android devices as well, even if the keyboard could use some improvement. Read the full review: Samsung Chromebook Pro
The best Chromebooks are kind of synonymous with education in 2018. And, with the Acer Chromebook Spin 13, Acer wants them to be ubiquitous in the business sector, as well. Beautifully built from aluminum with a beautiful QHD screen, it will not only fit into any office, but it might actually draw some envious glances. It’s more than just a pretty chassis, though – the Acer Chromebook Spin 13 is backed by full-fat Ultrabook processors, so it can get work done, and look good while doing it. Read the full review: Acer Chromebook Spin 13 If the Samsung Chromebook Pro is all about versatility, the Dell Chromebook 11 is about value. Reinforced by a 180-degree hinge, sturdy design and a sealed keyboard and trackpad in addition to a punchy typing experience, this Chromebook is a perfectly portable package. Not only adequately suited for school and work, the Dell Chromebook 11 even packs a set of loud stereo speakers for listening to music or watching videos. Don’t worry about dinging it, either, as this device remains the most rugged Chromebook on our list. Read the full review: Dell Chromebook 11 One of the most compelling use cases for the best Chromebooks is that of the student laptop – and the Acer Chromebook Spin 11 is a perfect example. If you’re a student, or even a parent of a student that’s looking for a cheap, capable and, more importantly, durable machine to get some homework done on the go, you shouldn’t need to look further than the Acer Chromebook Spin 11. You won’t be able to do any hardcore gaming or video editing on this thing, but if you just need something to write some papers and watch some YouTube in your downtime – you should give it a look. Read the full review: Acer Chromebook Spin 11 With a pristine build quality that rivals a MacBook, it’s easy to forgive the Acer Chromebook 15’s aversion to 2-in-1 form factors. However, given that most Chromebooks releasing this year are fully convertible, thanks to the wide adoption of Android app support, the Acer Chromebook 15 had to prove itself to us with more than good style. And, beyond its ability to lay flat using a 180-degree hinge, this beautiful 15-inch Chromebook makes a great impression with its battery life, too, lasting nearly 17 hours in our battery test. Read the full review: Acer Chromebook 15 We wouldn’t be surprised to see Acer replacing the Chromebook R11 – at least, judging by the recent release of the Chromebook Spin 11, but it still holds up to this day as one of the best Chromebooks on the market. It isn’t the most powerful option out there, but it still gives you full access to Android Apps on the Google Play store. What’s more, it does so on a touchscreen display that can be rotated around into tablet mode, complemented by an all-metal finish that you won’t be ashamed of. Read the full review: Acer Chromebook R11 In our mind, the best Chromebooks are the ones that balance a rock-bottom price and speedy use of Chrome OS – and the HP Chromebook 14 is a perfect example. While it’s similar to the Acer Chromebook 15 in a lot of ways, this 14-inch Chromebook is a bit more compact and even looks better. Complemented by a bright blue finish and a screen made to astonish, the HP Chromebook 14 boasts the best value of any Chromebook out there. Even if the battery life and performance are average – the HP Chromebook 14 is easily one of the best Chromebooks on the market right now. Read the full review: HP Chromebook 14 The HP Chromebook 13 is way better than anyone would expect from a Chromebook. You’re getting a 1440p display, two USB-C ports and, if you’re willing to shell out a bit more cash, you can get yourself an INtel Core M processor rather than a Pentium. All of this is complemented by incredible style and a metallic design that exudes Pixel influence. It might not be as powerful as the Google Pixelbook, but it’s still one of the best Chromebooks when it comes to sheer style. Read the full review: HP Chromebook 13 Watch the video below for the top 7 things to consider when buying a laptop: Juan Martinez and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article.
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| Ikea's discreet, shelving-based Sonos speakers arrive in August Posted: 18 Jan 2019 11:08 AM PST In 2017, Sonos announced a ground-breaking partnership with Ikea that would integrate full-fledged Sonos speakers into everyday furniture. Today, we found out those speakers will be available starting in August of this year. When they're released later this year, the Syfonisk series will encapsulate everything that makes Sonos speakers so great – namely, their sound quality and multi-room functionality – in a number of everyday pieces of furniture, like shelves and cabinets. When the speakers were first announced, Ikea debuted a number of prototypes, including a few speakers that were built directly into shelves, but said that those weren’t final products and were just prototypes. While today's announcement gives us a window of when to expect the Symfonisk series on Ikea shelves, it doesn't provide any more details on what those speakers will look like – or, more importantly, how much they're going to cost. For those details, much like your typical shopping experience at Ikea, you're going to have to wait. Via Variety
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| Best iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S cases Posted: 18 Jan 2019 10:35 AM PST Apple's 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S are years past their prime as the best on the market, but they're still excellent phones that are still useful long after bigger, pricier iPhones have come out. And both have a new lease on life after updating to iOS 12. Luckily, both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S have identical designs, so you won't have any trouble browsing the cases below and choosing a cool one that fits either model just right. Below are several recommendations covering a range of budgets and style choices. While we haven't tested all of these cases, they are each a cut above the rest due to their value and design, and are backed by positive consumer feedback.
Mophie Juice Pack AirMophie Juice Pack Air There's no case more functional than Mophie's Juice Pack Air. Not only does it work to protect your iPhone, but it fills it up with precious power, too. It can even charge wirelessly. Considering the triple benefit, the asking price of around $50 is fairly low right now. The case itself contains a 2,600mAh battery, which itself is larger than the internal battery within the iPhone. Vivibin Purple Marble caseIf you're looking for that finished countertop look, Vivibin has a selection of cases with a marble appearance in a variety of pinkish, pearlescent hues. If that's not your style, they also have several nature and aesthetic designs. It may not protect your phone as much as other cases on this list, but if looks are paramount, you can nab the Vivibin iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S case for under $7 (£5, AU$9) on Amazon here. Arae leather wallet caseIf you want a full-size folio wallet to store your cards and cash next to your phone, Arae has a case for you. It comes with a handle you can clip to the case, and the phone section can even be tilted and perched against the outer layer to prop it up at an angle for watching media. Obviously, this larger case may not fit in some pockets. If that's not an issue, you can pick up an Arae case for $10 (£8, AU$13) on Amazon here. Pegai leather wallet with optional personalizationIf you want a bit more refined leather in your folio wallet case, check out this one by Pegai. It's certainly pricier than other cases on this list, but the 'chestnut brown' coloring looks handsome and classy. The Pegai wallet has three pockets, which is enough space for six cards. If you want to pay a little extra, you can even get it monogrammed. The Pegai wallet costs $44 (around £34, AU$60) on Amazon here. Super Thin case from PeelSuper Thin case from Peel Peel makes cases for people who hate using cases. There comes a point when you realize that protecting your investment is actually a sound idea, but you really don't want to hide away your phone's clever design. Thankfully, there's a solution for you. Otterbox DefenderOtterbox Defender The Otterbox Defender locks your iPhone 6 into a well-molded polycarbonate shell that doesn't impede access to the handset's buttons or ports, and is covered with an extra layer of silicone. A neat window lets the Apple logo see daylight, but while a sizeable belt clip holster encloses much of the case for added protection, some might not like the overall plasticky feel. Definitely one for the utility belt. Griffin Survivor All-TerrainGriffin Survivor All-Terrain At the core of the Griffin Survivor is a polycarbonate frame enmeshed in silicone. This rubber exterior offers excellent protection against drops, while sealed ports and a screen protector do a superb job of fending off rain and sand without compromising access. The phone face gets a defensive layer of scratch-resistant film that doesn't affect the fingerprint sensor, but may impact the volume of a caller's voice in especially loud environments. Otherwise a quick-release belt-clip rounds off a case that lives up to its claims of military-spec protection. Ted BakerTed Baker iPhone 6 case Check out this beautiful case from world renowned fashion brand Ted Baker. This one has a spot for your credit cards and sits snuggly around your iPhone 6 or iPhone 6S. The little back section even flips out to keep your phone up as a little stand. But this case is best when closed showing off the emblazoned Ted Baker logo on the front. This one is beautiful.. Xqisit Folio Case TijuanaXqisit Folio Case Tijuana This folio case from Xqisit conceals more than just a polycarbonate shell, and we don't mean the dual pockets lining the front flap, the magnetic closure or its detachable carrying strap. Thanks to a midway fold in the nylon material lining the back plate, the Tijuana doubles as a landscape oriented stand that's sturdy enough for prolonged viewing on dreary commutes. With decent all-over protection for your phone, you can't go wrong. Griffin RevealGriffin Reveal iPhone 6 case Griffin Reveal stays true to the adage "if you've got it, flaunt it" with what at first appears to be a classic bumper. Closer inspection of this iPhone 6 case however reveals a transparent polycarbonate shell lined with a rubberised edge that adds just 1.6mm in thickness to your handset. That provides fair-to-middling protection (when dropped from average handheld height) without veiling the machined beauty of your superior tech. Quite possibly as minimalist as it gets. Cygnett UrbanShieldCygnett UrbanShield The close-fit and smooth bevelled edges of the Cygnett UrbanShield emphasise the solid protection it gives your iPhone 6 against keys and coins in a bag or pocket. The edges hold fast to the handset without impeding button access, and the hard rubber rim around the front panel of the case protects the glass from falls, and even dips into a nice carbon weave detail on the aluminium rear. A window for the Apple logo seals the look. Speck CandyShell Grip-+Speck CandyShell Grip-+ A bigger iPhone is more prone to drops, however you hold it. This slim Grip case from Speck tackles the issue head on with a raised rubber bevel and textured grilles on the rear of its polycarbonate-polyurethane dual-layer design. Placing the phone face down on a table demonstrates good grip and front glass protection; even the volume and power buttons get rubberised covers without diminishing access. Certified to military-grade drop defence standards, this should keep your iPhone sitting pretty. Apple Leather CaseApple Leather Case for iPhone 6/6S If you want to be sure you're getting an iPhone 6S case as high quality as the phone itself going straight to Apple is probably a good start. The Leather Case is, as the name suggests, made of leather, and it's available in five colors - Midnight Blue, Saddle Brown, Rose Grey, Brown and Black. It's a simple shell which covers the back and sides of the phone, but as it's leather it looks and feels high end, plus it's slim enough that your iPhone 6S still appears thin even with the case on. Spigen Liquid Crystal CaseSpigen Liquid Crystal Case for 1Phone 6/6s Sometimes less is more, especially when we're talking about a phone as nice-looking as the iPhone 6S. It would be a shame to keep it hidden away in a case and that's the thinking behind the Spigen Liquid Crystal Case. It's transparent so you can still see your new phone in all its glory and it's thin enough to maintain the handsets look and shape, yet strong enough to provide protection against scratches and bumps. OtterBox MySymmetry CaseOtterBox MySymmetry Case for iPhone 6/6S If you don't want the same old case day after day the OtterBox MySymmetry Case might be for you. At its heart it's a clear case with tough bumpers, but you can get inserts for it, each of which have a different design. There are quite a few available so you should be able to find some you like and if you grab a few then you can change the design whenever you feel like it. Sadly you only get one with the case itself, so you'll have to spend a little extra to build up a collection. Spigen Tough Armor CaseSpigen Tough Armor Case for iPhone 6/6S The iPhone 6S is expensive and fragile, so you'll probably want to keep it well protected. In which case the Spigen Tough Armor Case would be a good choice. With MIL-STD 810G 516.6 level defence and Air Cushion technology for protection against drops it should keep your phone safe in day to day life and even through tougher scenarios like...erm...hiking and camping. It's chunky but stylish and it's even available in Rose Gold, to match the new iPhone shade. i-Blason Transformer Holster Casei-Blason Transformer Holster Case for iPhone 6/6S The i-Blason Transformer Holster Case is rubberized and textured, so your iPhone 6S will be in no danger of sliding out of even the greasiest hands. But there's a lot more going on here than that, as the Transformer Holster also features a kickstand, so you can prop your phone up on a surface, and a belt clip for those who don't believe in pockets. All that and it's still fairly slim. Although we would recommend you think about whether a phone clipped to your belt is a great look... OtterBox Strada CaseOtterBox Strada Case for iPhone 6/6S If you like the look of the official iPhone 6S Leather Case but want a bit more protection you might want to consider the OtterBox Strada. It too is leather but unlike Apple's offering this one also wraps around the screen, for 360 degree protection. Its inner shell is impervious to everyday knocks, drops and tumbles thanks to Otterbox's long-established Drop+ protection, but it looks so swish you'd never know it was so rugged. A vertical card slot keeps stashed cards safely inside, while a discreet magnetic latch keeps the case securely closed in a pocket or handbag. You'll just want to stroke your phone with this case on. It even smells great too. Caseology Wavelength Textured Pattern Grip CoverCaseology Wavelength Textured Pattern Grip Cover The Caseology Wavelength Cover is something a little different. It provides all the drop protection you'd hope, with air cushions providing shock absorption. But on top of the TPU shell there's a textured fabric finish, making it comfortable to hold and giving it an eye catching look, particularly in combination with the two-tone colour scheme. Supcase iPhone 6S ArmbandSupcase iPhone 6S Armband If you're a runner then you're going to want easy access to your phone when on the move, which counts out digging around in your pocket. An armband is far more ideal and the Supcase iPhone 6S Armband is a strong option. Its silicone case keeps your phone protected and an adjustable Velcro strap ensures it can fit almost any arm size. It's even got a reflective mark to keep you visible when running in the dark. iPhone 6S Silicone CaseiPhone 6S Silicone Case The iPhone 6S Silicone Case keeps things simple, providing a basic slim silicone cover but with the fit-based confidence that comes from buying a case made by Apple itself. It's available in eleven different colors, so you'll be able to find one to match or contrast your iPhone 6S and it gives your phone basic protection without adding too much bulk. Griffin Survivor SummitGriffin Survivor Summit case Found yourself in a sandstorm recently? Griffin has a phone case for you. The Summit's removable belt holster feels nice and solid, and even doubles up as a stand. The grippy shell keeps a slim profile compared to previous Griffin protectors too, despite offering a concrete-defying 10 feet of drop protection. The quality of the seal is the best we've seen. Pulling up a tab on the top of the case opens it up to slot in your device, which gets a scratch-proof screen guard that doesn't hinder TouchID, while keeping rain and dirt at bay. Make no mistake, this case is hard. Very hard. RhinoShield Crash Guard BundleRhinoShield Crash Guard Bumper Not satisfied to fall back on standard polycarbonates for its products, Evolution Labs created its own polymer blend for increased impact absorption, and this bumper bundle has it in spades. We mean literally – you could whack your handset with a spade and it wouldn't even blink with one of these cases on it. It's super-light too, adding just 12g to the 143 grams of an iPhone 6S, and yet the bezels of the Crash Guard reassuringly envelope the handset. Needless to say, its slim profile is completely disarming. It's hard to know just how much its amazing protection is due to the well-publicised inner honeycomb structure, but who cares when it's this stubbornly effective? Optrix Body Glove ProOptrix Body Glove Pro case If you're a surfer, diver, stunt rider, or just like the idea of being able to capture photos and footage in extreme environments, then consider Optrix's Body Glove case for your iPhone 6S. It's drop-proof to 20 feet for a start, with rugged sealed hinges that allow your handset to be safely submerged in liquid up to 10 metres. Its all-action smarts also include an integrated mount system that makes it ready for Optrix's separate selfie Monopod, Super Suction cup (for surf boards etc.), chest strap and Tripod Flex. Not only that, it comes with four interchangeable lenses, including wide angle, telephoto and macro. Granted, the Body Glove Pro isn't your everyday case, but it could make your iPhone a whole lot more exciting to use on vacation… This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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