Apple : Windows 10 April 2019 Update release date, news and features |
- Windows 10 April 2019 Update release date, news and features
- Google Pixelbook 2: what we want to see
- MacBook Air 2019: what we want to see
- MacBook 2019 release date, news and rumors
- MacBook Pro 2019: what we want to see
- Surface Studio 3: what we want to see
- Microsoft Surface Laptop 3: what we want to see
- Microsoft Surface Pro 7: what we want to see
- Surface Book 3: what we want to see
- Google Fuchsia release date, news and rumors
- The best Ultrabooks 2019: top thin and light laptops reviewed
- Best HP laptops 2019: the top HP laptops we’ve seen and tested
- The best gaming routers 2019
- The best 13-inch laptop 2019: the top 13-inch laptops we've reviewed
- Google Pixel Slate 2: what we want to see
- This is a great weekend to get your fibre broadband deal sorted: see the best cheap plans
- Android banking malware hitting more users than ever
- Nvidia reports revenue dipping to its lowest level since mid-2017
- Samsung launches first-ever US retail stores
- Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order – release date, trailers and news
| Windows 10 April 2019 Update release date, news and features Posted: 15 Feb 2019 12:59 PM PST The Windows 10 April 2019 Update will be the first major update for Microsoft's constantly-evolving Windows 10 operating system this year. Also known as Windows 10 version 1903, or 19H1, the Windows 10 April 2019 Update continues Microsoft's habit of releasing major updates that bring new features, tools and apps to Windows 10. The Windows 10 April 2019 Update follows the Windows 10 October 2018 Update and the Windows 10 April 2018 Update. Both of these updates brought a number of helpful new features to Windows 10, but they were also had their fair share of controversy and issues as well – but at least it looks like Paint will no longer be ‘deprecated’, if a recent insider build is anything to go by. We’re hoping that the Windows 10 April 2019 Update will manage to arrive, as the name suggests, in April, avoiding some of the problems that plagued earlier updates. However, the April 2018 Update was infamous for missing its April launch date, as was the October 2018 Update, so we’ll have to wait and see. With the launch of the Windows 10 April 2019 Update approaching, Microsoft has begun releasing early versions to Windows Insiders – who are customers who have signed up to try out the latest version of Windows 10. Because of this, we've got a good idea of what sort of new features are coming with the Windows 10 April 2019 Update. So, read on to find out all the latest news, rumors, features and release date details about the Windows 10 April 2019 Update. Cut to the chase
Windows 10 April 2019 Update release dateWe don't have an official release date for the Windows 10 April 2019 Update, but going by the name, we can have a good guess. So, it's very likely that it will be ready to download at some point during April 2019. However, we won't say that's a complete certainty. That's because last year's April 2018 update only just released in April. After a few delays, it emerged on April 30, which is cutting it a bit fine. Meanwhile, the October 2018 Update was even more tardy, finally releasing on November 13 – and that's not counting the times the update rollout was paused while Microsoft fixed numerous Windows 10 October 2018 Update problems. With any major update to an operating system, delays and problems can arise, so the April 2019 release date isn't guaranteed. But, given that Microsoft has called given it the April 2019 Update title could mean that it’s finally confident that it will release the update during that month, as it won’t want the embarrassment of releasing a Windows 10 update with an outdated name again. Windows 10 April 2019 Update nameWe've known about the Windows 10 April 2019 Update for a while now, though it was mainly referred to as Windows 10 version 1903 and by its codename Windows 19H1. The 19H1 codename gave us a clue to the release date and possible name, as it suggests the update will be released in the first half of 2019. Rumours had been swirling that Microsoft would choose April 2019 Update as the name, following on from its April 2018 Update last year. Another recent rumor all-but confirms the name of the update as the Windows 10 April 2019 Update, as a reference to the April 2019 Update was spotted in the Windows Powershell tool when the "Get-VMHostSupportedVersion" command is run. This reference, which was found by Twitter user Tero Alhonen, is the strongest evidence so far that it will be called the Windows 10 April 2019 Update. Of course, Microsoft could always change the name of the update before it's released, especially if it looks like it will be delayed until later in the year. However, considering the evidence, including Microsoft's past naming conventions and the fact it wants it out in the first half of 2019, we're pretty confident it will be called the Windows 10 April 2019 Update. Windows 10 April 2019 Update confirmed featuresBecause an early version of Windows 10 April 2019 Update is available for Windows Insiders (like ourselves) to try, we've got a good idea of some of the new features that will be heading to Windows 10 with this update. As always with early versions of these Windows 10 updates, this list doesn't have every new feature, but we'll update it when major new features are announced. Also, bear in mind that some of these features may be removed from the final version of the Windows 10 April 2019 Update for various reasons. A new Light themeImage Credit: Microsoft The Windows 10 April 2019 Update will bring a new Light desktop theme, making a nice contrast to the Dark theme that we're used to with Windows 10. Not only does it make the taskbar and Start Menu lighter, but new icons have been created that better suits the new Light theme. Best of all, you can mix and match parts of the Light and Dark theme to get a look that best suits your tastes. A better Start menuImage Credit: Microsoft Microsoft has continued to tweak the Start Menu, and the changes it's made in the Windows 10 April 2019 are definitely welcome. First of all, the Start menu when you first use the update is much less cluttered, with tiles and shortcuts for pre-installed apps not taking up as much space. However, there are still a number of apps and games that come pre-installed, and there are probably some that you don't want to use. With the Windows 10 April 2019 Update, you can now uninstall more pre-installed apps that you used to. Another notable change comes in the form of switching the Start menu to have its own dedicated process – StartMenuExperienceHost.exe rather than it being hosted by ShellExperienceHost.exe. That might sound like a complex change under the bonnet, but the only noticeable ramification for the user will be that the Start menu runs more smoothly, and is protected from potential issues which might be caused by other areas of the OS. The end result is a more reliable Start menu, according to Microsoft, and a more responsive one too, because Start doesn’t suspend itself any longer, so that makes for a slightly quicker launch time. Cortana is no longer integrated into the search boxImage Credit: Microsoft In the Windows 10 April 2019 Update, Cortana will be separated from the search box in the taskbar. As well as splitting search and Cortana on the taskbar, settings for these two have also been split up in Windows 10, along with group policies. So now when you click search, you get a straightforward operating system search. And if you want to summon Cortana, you have to use her separate icon. You can now pause updatesImage Credit: Microsoft The Windows 10 April 2019 Update will allow people using Windows 10 Home edition to pause Windows updates for a set number of days. This is a very handy feature that allows you a bit of breathing room when an update is released. It gives you time to check out to make sure that the update is working correctly, and if there are issues, you can pause the update until they've been fixed. In a perfect world, a new Windows update would arrive without any problems, but as we've seen in the past, that rarely happens. This features has been available to Enterprise and professional Windows 10 users, so it's good to see it come to the Home version as well. Reserved space for updatesImage Credit: Microsoft One of the more controversial features that the Windows 10 April 2019 Update brings is that it will now reserve 7GB of space on your hard drive which will be used to store temporary files. While some people may not like Windows 10 helping itself to yet more storage space on your hard drive, the idea is that this will make downloading Windows 10 updates easier in the future, and will prevent people experiencing an error where an update fails to install due to lack of space. Windows Sandbox lets you experimentIf you're running Windows 10 Professional, then the new Windows Sandbox tool could be of interest. It allows you to easily run a virtualized version of Windows 10 in a window, allowing you to run software and test out settings and code without it affecting your main Windows 10 installation. This is only a taste of the new features that are coming to Windows 10 with the April 2019 Update. We'll continue to update this list as we discover more. Image Credit: TechRadar Helpful error messagesThe Blue Screen of Death is infamous at this point, popping up whenever Windows runs into a critical error, but they’ve never been very useful to average users. But, it looks like that might be changing with the Windows 10 April 2019 Update. Microsoft is finally changing error messages to be more helpful – they’ll now tell you how to fix the problems. The error message will pop up when a problem is encountered, and users should see options to try and fix it. The error messages will also have a link to a knowledge base, rather than forcing users to rely on Google for answers. 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| Google Pixelbook 2: what we want to see Posted: 15 Feb 2019 12:58 PM PST The Google Pixelbook, even though its been out for more than a year, is easily one of the best Chromebooks out there. It’s a perfect example of what the Chromebook is capable of. We gave it a shining five star review for just that reason. And, more than a year later, it stands up, even in the face of the Google Pixel Slate. And, with Chrome OS updates that bring the likes of virtual desktops, it will continue to shine. Still, in our minds, the ‘perfect product’ doesn’t exist – there’s always room for improvement. The Google Pixelbook is no exception to that rule. So, after using the Pixelbook daily for so long, we have crafted a wishlist of things we want to see in the follow-up. Now that 2019 has officially arrived, we may be seeing a new Google Pixelbook 2 in the very near future. So, keep this page bookmarked, as we’ll keep it updated with all the latest information. Cut to the chase
Google Pixelbook 2 release dateGoogle has held a special annual event for the last few years, pushing new Pixel phones. This event takes place each October, with the phones launching a few weeks later. In 2017, alongside the Pixel 2 and Pixelbuds, the company announced the first generation Pixelbook. Google did hold this event in 2018, but the Pixelbook 2 wasn’t there. Instead we got the Google Pixel Slate, a Chrome OS-powered tablet, which Google billed as the successor to the Pixelbook’s legacy. So, it’s possible we won’t even see a Pixelbook 2 in 2019, but seeing how the reception to the Google Pixel Slate hasn’t been too positive, we’re hoping to see a new Pixelbook this year. Google Pixelbook 2 priceWhen Google has released a Chromebook of its own, be it the original Chromebook Pixel or more recent Pixelbook, it has priced the laptops at the high end. Google has always positioned its devices as inspiration for its partners to strive for when developing Chromebooks of their own. It would be nice to see Google drop its pricing structure a couple hundred dollars, but we don’t see that happening. Expect the Pixelbook 2 to start around the $999/£999 mark and go up from there. What we want to see from Pixelbook 2Design With the Pixelbook 2, however, we would appreciate more color options. Indeed, the silver and white color scheme of the first generation Pixelbook looks stunning, but adding more color options — perhaps something as funky as the Really Blue Pixel, complete with orange button highlights like we’ve seen on the Pixel 2. Google is a company thats not afraid to be bold, bucking the trend of boring laptop design is something Google should embrace. Overall spec bump While a webcam may not be the most used part of any laptop the Google Pixelbook 2 needs more than a 720p shooter. We aren’t asking for a 4K webcam, but in 2018, it needs at least a Full HD camera. It’s unclear what kind of impact Linux apps (more on those in a minute) will have on system performance, but it can’t hurt to have more RAM. Right now, users are given the option of 8GB and 16GB, depending on configuration. And unfortunately, the 16GB setup is only available in the most expensive configuration — a Pixelbook with an Intel Core i7, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage for $1,649. For the Google Pixelbook 2, we’d love to see 16GB of RAM across more configurations, and not just for anyone with an engorged piggy bank. Display However, according to Evan Blass, the new Pixelbook will have smaller bezels around the screen. If that is indeed the case, then increasing the size of the display while leaving the overall size of the Pixelbook the same is something we welcome with open arms. Additionally, the 3:2 aspect ratio should stay. It looks good in landscape and portrait, as well as lends itself to displaying books, magazines, and movies in a natural-feeling layout. It also makes for a more realistic experience when using the stylus on the Pixelbook’s display for notes or sketches. Better battery life So, we’d like to see both better power efficiency and more battery capacity out of this year’s model. Perhaps software improvements could improve power efficiency, like Microsoft has done with its Battery Saver feature in Windows 10. Linux goes official Google is updating the project frequently as it gets closer to official public release. We can’t think of a better time to officially launch a major feature such as this than along with brand new hardware. Fingerprint sensor If the current design remains relatively unchanged, Google could place the reader in the power button on the left side. This provides access to the scanner, regardless of orientation, which has already been done on countless 2-in-1 laptops. Smart Display Mode With the second Pixelbook, Google should take Assistant one step further by adding an always-listening feature, regardless of unlock status, and replicate a similar experience to that found on the Lenovo Smart Display. Pen included Jotting notes on the lock screen is handy, but with the Pixelbook already sitting atop the the pricing scale, including a pen isn’t too much to ask for … is it? Ditch the palm rests Hopefully, if Google insists on using a similar material, they use something that is not white – or at least more dirt and grime resistant. Regardless, come back to this page every now and then ahead of the possible launch for the latest Pixelbook 2 rumors and leaks.
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| MacBook Air 2019: what we want to see Posted: 15 Feb 2019 12:58 PM PST After what seemed like years of waiting, Apple finally launched the new MacBook Air. And, while it did bring some new features to the popular laptop lineup, like the awesome fingerprint sensor, we think the MacBook Air 2019, if it comes out, can do more to adapt to the modern laptop landscape. Now, we don’t know what Apple is planning on releasing this year, beyond the Mac Pro 2019 at least, so we’re not even sure whether a MacBook Air 2019 is going to happen much less when. However, we’re going to make some educated guesses about when the MacBook Air 2019 might hit the street, and create a wish list of what we want to see. So, be sure to keep this page bookmarked, and we’ll update it as soon as the inevitable MacBook Air 2019 rumors and leaks come rolling in. Cut to the chase
Image Credit: TechRadar MacBook Air 2019 release dateTrying to predict the next MacBook Air release date is going to be tricky, thanks in large part to the strange history Apple’s had with the mainstream laptop lineup. Ever since Apple redesigned the MacBook Air in July 2011, a new MacBook Air came out within the same April-to-July timeline. At least, until 2015. After that, Apple skipped 2016 altogether, waiting to release a simple refresh of the MacBook Air with the same 5th-generation processor and a faster SSD in June 2017. Then, Apple released the most recent Macbook Air in November 2018, with a redesigned chassis and updated internals. Now, we don’t think a MacBook Air refresh will come out this summer – that’s way too soon. So, if a MacBook Air will indeed launch in 2019, we’d put our money on a November launch. But, the safer bet might be in 2020. Image Credit: Apple MacBook Air 2019 priceThe MacBook Air has always been the cheapest way to get macOS running on a laptop. And, while that’s still true, Apple raised the price from $999 (£949, AU$1,499) to $1,199 (£1,199, AU$1,849) with the MacBook Air 2018. We believe Apple will keep the price the same with the next MacBook Air, barring another complete redesign – in which case the price would more than likely just go up. We don’t think we’ll see a lower price, unless Apple launches a MacBook Air with an ARM processor. Of course, that’s more likely for a 2020 release at the earliest. Image Credit: TechRadar What we want to seeThe MacBook Air 2018 did a lot to bring it to the modern age, with 8th-generation Amber Lake fanless processors, modern SSDs and a Retina display. However, it wasn’t quite as revolutionary as many were hoping it’d be – there’s a lot of room for improvement. So, here’s what we want to see in the MacBook Air 2019. Let’s see some faster processors So, we’d like to see Apple shove some full-fat, Ultrabook-class processors in the MacBook Air, and maybe design a fresh cooling solution. Who knows, maybe once Intel’s Ice Lake hits the market, we’ll see some Ultrabook-class processors that don’t produce so much heat. Fix that keyboard, Apple The third-generation Butterfly keyboard placed a rubber film below the keyboard that was supposed to stop it from malfunctioning. But, the MacBook Air is running into its own problems, with key presses repeating. We’re not sure how Apple can fix this problem without designing a whole new keyboard, but we’ve seen a patent that suggests it’s doing just that. We might see a touchscreen MacBook keyboard with raised, tactile keys. This might be Apple’s answer to its keyboard problem. Cheaper storage upgrades The base MacBook Air comes with a paltry 128GB SSD, which might be fine for people with cloud storage and not a lot of app use. . However, to upgrade to 256GB of SSD storage you’re looking at a $200 (£200, AU$300) price jump. That’s huge by itself, but if you want a 1.5TB SSD, you’re looking at a whopping $1,200 (£1,200, AU$1,800) price jump. For that price, you could literally buy a second MacBook Air. Apple’s SSDs are admittedly some of the fastest in the business, but there’s no way a 1.5TB SSD costs that much. The SSD upgrades for the MacBook Air 2019 need to be cheaper.
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| MacBook 2019 release date, news and rumors Posted: 15 Feb 2019 12:57 PM PST 2018 came and went with no sign of the new MacBook, instead Apple launched the new MacBook Air – which some would argue replaced it. However, because the latest thin and light has been out for nearly 2 years, we’re ready for the sequel. But, looking back, the MacBook 2017 was exactly what we’d been asking for since its reincarnation back in 2015 – on paper, at least. The Butterfly keyboard was better than ever while it also experienced a dramatic boost in power, thanks to the 7th-generation Intel Kaby Lake Y-series chips. We have Intel Amber Lake processors now, though, that feature improved performance over their Kaby Lake counterparts. We expect the MacBook 2019 will use these to take a huge leap over the 2017 model. Hopefully it will be as dramatic as the leap the new MacBook Pro experienced. So, be sure to keep this page bookmarked, and we’ll update it with any new information that comes our way. Cut to the chase
MacBook 2018 release dateNone of the most recent reports, rumors or leaks give any idea as to when we’ll see the 2019 MacBook. Of course, we’ll gladly speculate based on the previous three releases of Apple’s 12-inch laptop. In 2015, Apple released the first MacBook during April, directly following a March keynote. That’s a largely odd time for Apple to release a device, but that obviously didn’t happen this time. However, Apple went all of 2018 without releasing a new 12-inch MacBook, and while we initially thought the blame was on Intel’s 14nm shortage – the Cupertino behemoth had no problem putting out the MacBook Air 2018. So, maybe we’ll see the MacBook 2019 in the Spring, like we saw with the 2018 iPad for education? Either way, we’ll see the new MacBook when Apple decides its time. MacBook 2018 priceRight now, we think that Apple will launch the MacBook 2019 around the same price as the current models. This is another aspect where we’ll have to speculate based on the current pricing of the MacBook. The entry-level MacBook will run you $1,299, £1,249 or AU$1,899 to start. Only one more model, with more storage and power, goes for another 300 to 450 bucks on top of that. However, there is speculation that Apple is going to be releasing a cheaper 13-inch MacBook, but that turned out to be the new MacBook Air. With the pricing so tight here, amounting to minute differences in hardware between offerings, we probably won’t see a price drop. The only way we see the current version of the MacBook budging in price is if Apple introduces more capacious storage or higher power options, which will send the price up, rather than the opposite. For the MacBook price to come down, or for Apple to release a cheaper MacBook model alongside more expensive version, something has to give. Apple could lower the memory down to 4GB from 8GB, but we don’t think that’ll happen. Instead, we believe the only way we’ll see a cheaper MacBook 2019 would be a MacBook with a 128GB SSD instead of starting with 256GB. We’ll look out for new rumors and update this article as soon as the MacBook 2019 price begins to crop up as we inch closer. What we want to see in MacBook 2018All of this uncertainty surrounding a possible MacBook 2019 release is fertile ground for a well-crafted wishlist. So, while we wait for any kind of official word from the Cupertino behemoth, here’s what we hope to see Apple improve about the MacBook for 2019. MacBook 2018 keyboard and screenThroughout 2018 there were plenty of rumors that Apple was planning on making a MacBook with dual screens. One of these screens would be a capacitive touch keyboard. We’ve seen a recent rumor that the touchscreen keyboard would have raised glass and haptic feedback, so it feels as much like a traditional keyboard as possible. However, it’s easy to expect this to raise the price in any MacBook that implements it. Even if this touch-screen keyboard doesn’t make its way into the 2019 MacBook, that doesn’t mean the Butterfly mechanism keyboard won’t be improved upon. Apple has recently admitted that some of the keyboards in recent MacBooks are faulty – and will even repair them for free. That’s why we’re pretty sure that the MacBook 2019 will feature the same third-generation Butterfly keyboard as the new Macbook Pro and MacBook Air with a membrane that makes it less prone to jamming up. More ports, pleaseOne of the biggest problems with the 12-inch MacBook, ever since its initial launch has been the sheer lack of ports. With only one Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) port and a headphone jack, this absolutely needs to change in the MacBook 2019. Maybe just one more port? We’ve already seen Windows laptops accomplish this feat, like the Huawei MateBook X with its two USB-C ports. Even the similarly priced MacBook Pro has two. Maybe there’s room for a microSD card reader too, but that may be pushing it. Punchier processorsCosting what it does, Apple really needs to inject some more power into its 12-inch MacBooks. Then again, the MacBook has consistently used energy efficient Intel Core ‘M’ and ‘Y’ series CPUs up to this point, we wouldn’t bank on seeing full-fat Ultrabook processors, as they’d generate too much heat for the tiny chassis. But, now that Amber Lake Y-series CPUs have been launched by Intel, we’d like to see Apple shove these latest 8th-generation processors into the new MacBook. but those are essentially old tech already, we’ll just have to see. We’ve also seen some rumors that Apple is planning on crafting an ARM-based MacBook at some point, and if the iPad Pro 2018 is any indication, we could definitely see this happening. Apple would just have to work out some kinks in getting macOS to run on an ARM system. It’s also safe to assume that Apple will shove its T1 or T2 processor into the MacBook 2019 – as it has with all of its latest Macs. Since the 12-inch MacBook doesn’t have a Touch Bar, it’s safe to assume that if one of these co-processors is implemented, it will be used for the automatic wake and ‘Hey Siri’ functionality presently exclusive to the iMac Pro, MacBook Air 2018 and MacBook Pro 2018. Sturdier buildThe Apple MacBook already feels remarkably sturdy in hand, but over time it can become covered with scratches – even if you are extremely careful. Luckily, Apple has recently filed a patent that details plans for making ‘indestructible’ hardware, through some unique coatings. Not only will this be a great option for a premium device that most users won’t upgrade for four to five years, but it’ll keep the MacBook looking as gorgeous as the day you opened it. We don’t know if this patent will ever surface, but this approach along with the improved Butterfly keyboard found in the MacBook Pro 2018 could make the MacBook 2019 a much more durable device. Stronger audio and videoSpeaker performance and webcam quality are two corners that Apple obviously cut through in crafting the MacBook. With the MacBook 2019, this needs to stop. Tinny speakers and a sub-HD webcam for a laptop this expensive simply isn’t acceptable. All Apple needs to do is simply beef the webcam up to 1080p, like its price tag suggests, and problem solved. The speakers, though, are a problem we don’t necessarily have a solution for. Supporting the speakers with down-throwing bass modules in the base might work?
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| MacBook Pro 2019: what we want to see Posted: 15 Feb 2019 12:56 PM PST There are some long time MacBook users out there that are starting to feel like Apple has lost the spark that showed the company out of its dark ages. There have been a number of new MacBook Pro models in recent years, and other devices, that have been releasing faster than our bank accounts can keep up. And, while some of these upgrades have resulted in improved devices – looking at you, Mac mini – some of these updates have fallen flat. Apple has approached the MacBook Pro in a different way since 2016, focusing on features that make one of the best Macs more appealing to the mainstream, further streamlining the design – evidenced by the removal of non-Thunderbolt 3 ports. It’s a case of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,’ but some old school Apple fans have been feeling a bit jaded. However, the MacBook Pro 2018 did see a substantial internal upgraded, now rocking 8th-generation Coffee Lake processors and some of the fastest SSDs we’ve seen to date – giving it unprecedented speed. Apple has also improved the display with True Tone tech, fixed problems with the Butterfly keyboard, or some of them at least, all while maintaining battery levels from the 2017 model. Do we have high hopes for the MacBook Pro 2019? Well, this direction probably won’t change any time soon, so you may just have to get with the times. However, we hope that Apple dials down the frills and impresses us with updates that the MacBook Pro 2019 really needs. Here’s to hoping Apple gives us a Macbook Pro 2019 with more features that we loved about the original models. Cut to the chase
MacBook Pro 2019 release dateAlthough a 2019 update to the MacBook Pro (as well as the Mac Pro) is expected, there’s no rumored release date at the moment. It’s hardly a surprise, as the the last update just dropped in July 2018. We might need to wait a few months or even early next year for a clearer date. However, going by Apple’s previous release dates – MacBook Pro 2017 debuted in June 2017 while the MacBook Pro 2018 model came out under the radar in July 2018 – a summer release for the MacBook Pro 2019 makes sense and is highly plausible. However, after Intel announced the 10nm Ice Lake chips at CES 2019 for a late 2019 release date, we could see Apple delay the MacBook Pro until Fall to take advantage of the new tech. Either way, we’ll continue to keep an eye out for updates. MacBook Pro 2019 priceJust the fact that Apple hasn’t upgraded its non-Touch Bar MacBook Pros this year says a lot about its direction, which is likely to phase them out and continue asking us pay for tech that, while promising, hasn’t been perfected yet. The worst part of the 2018 models is the fact that you need to shell out thousands to get the highest amount of RAM (the 32GB RAM option is only available to the 15-inch models) and the largest SSD combo. Otherwise, you’re stuck with base amount of RAM and a Touch Bar that isn’t even universally compatible yet. Photographers and filmmakers who need a bigger screen? You can forget about getting a non-Touch Bar model. You can also forget about upgrading your 13-inch. The majority of its parts are soldered, so you’ll have to bring in a professional and break your warranty. Then you may have to invest in a third-party docking station because the only ports available to you are the USB-C Thunderbolt 3 ports and a headphone jack. Of course, it’s hard to predict these things, but you’ll probably see more of the same prices. At the moment, the basic 13-inch with Touch Bar configuration, featuring 8GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD and four Thunderbolt 3 ports, will set you back $1,799 (£1,749, A$2,699). You’re basically paying 300 bucks more for the Touch Bar, Touch ID and two additional Thunderbolt 3 ports. What we want to see from MacBook Pro 2019Apple hasn’t been getting a lot of love lately, what with the great keyboard debacle of 2016-2017, the troubled Touch Bar and the soldered RAM, to name a few. But, we’re still hoping Apple takes a new lease on life in 2019 and actually gives the users some of the things they need. More port variety, please However, if we’re really being honest, limiting us to Thunderbolt 3 is inconvenient. MacBook Pro is for professionals who want a more seamless workflow. Yes, the Thunderbolt 3 is powerful and versatile, allowing for charging, output and data transfers; but we’re still using other devices and accessories that don’t support it. If we’re expected to connect this cable to that adapter to plug in to that port, we’re not going to be happy. And, while we’re at it, can we just bring back MagSafe charging, please? Some of us tend to trip over those cables, and it was nice to know that we wouldn’t damage those older models in the process. But, seeing how Apple launched the latest MacBook Air with just two Thunderbolt 3 ports and no MagSafe charger, we don’t exactly have our hopes up that Apple is going to diversify the ports on the MacBook Pro 2019. Improved Touch Bar That’s all fine and dandy and, we must admit, the technology has promise. However, if Apple is going to ask for a few hundred bucks for a new feature, can we please get more use out of it? So far, Touch Bar compatibility is only limited to a few programs and apps, and we want to see more added to this list. Plus, it would be nice to get it properly working without the freezes and fat finger issues. Or offer an alternative We’d like to see an option for such users. Bring back the Touch Bar-free 15-inch model and upgrade the 13-inch model without it, perhaps. Better keyboard, display and sound The MacBook Pro designers should take cues from the iPhone X and get rid of the bezeled display. That’s a lot of precious real estate wasted, and pushing for a bezel-free display will give users a bigger screen without having to compromise the size. Plus, by going bezel-free, it’ll give the update a fresher, more modern look. Also, a laptop designed to edit 4K media should have a 4K screen option. And, while Apple’s at it, we’d like to see it reconsider those speakers. We get that Apple is pushing for a more compact design, but the speakers in the older MacBook Pros are so much better. With all the technology they come up with, it would be welcome to receive a premium set of speakers with better base and more volume. New Intel processor However, at CES 2019, Intel announced Ice Lake, its first round of 10nm Sunny Cove processors for laptops. We’re expecting to see these chips in late 2019, so if Apple wants to include these next-gen CPUs in its next MacBooks – which it definitely should – it would need to delay the next MacBook Pro until late 2019. Still, we’d rather see it delayed and have an even better processor than invest in one with only superficial upgrades. Regardless, keep it locked to TechRadar as this page includes more and more rumors and leaks in the lead up to launch.
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| Surface Studio 3: what we want to see Posted: 15 Feb 2019 12:55 PM PST The Surface Studio 2 just came out a couple months ago, with a 7th-generation Kaby Lake Intel processor designed for laptops and high-end Nvidia Pascal graphics. It’s a computer designed with digital artists and illustrators in mind, and it has a price tag to match. However, seeing how the Surface Studio 2 has dated hardware already, we’ve been thinking: what about the Surface Studio 3? Now, the Surface Studio 2 is still a new device, so there’s obviously no hard information about the Surface Studio 3. However, we can still do a bit of wishing, can’t we? So, be sure to keep this page bookmarked, and we’ll keep it updated with all the latest news and rumors as they arrive. Cut to the chase
Surface Studio 3 release dateWe’re just going to come right out and say it: you probably shouldn’t expect to see the Surface Studio 2 any time soon. The original Surface Studio was released in December 2016, with the Surface Studio 2 following almost two years later in November 2018. So, just based on the two releases we’ve seen so far, we probably won’t see the Surface Studio 3 until the tail end of 2020. Surface Studio 3 priceBoth the Surface Studio and its sequel are expensive computers. Both represent a massive expense for artists. And, it would be safe to expect the Surface Studio 3 to be at least as expensive. The Surface Studio 2 already bumped the price up by $500 (AU$800, about £390) over the $2,999 (AU$4,699, about £2,390) original, setting users back $3,499 (AU$5,499, about £2,720). If Microsoft does decide to hike the price further, we just hope it means that the Surface Studio 3 is packed with some more up to date hardware upon release. What we want to seeThe Surface Studio 3 is already an incredibly niche product, so it’s kind of hard to draw comparisons to existing devices to try and create a wish list. But, because we here at TechRadar don’t believe a perfect product exists, here’s what we want to see in the Surface Studio 3 if and when it comes to market. Come on, Thunderbolt 3 There are so many storage drives, monitors and other accessories that rely on Thunderbolt 3 to get the job done, and this is especially true for professional products. By 2020, when we’re likely going to see Thunderbolt 3 on flash drives, it will be all but essential. The Surface Studio 2 already has the USB-C port – it just needs to go that step forward. For a device that wants to take center stage in the professional artist’s setup, the lack of Thunderbolt 3 – especially at this price point – is inexcusable. Hardware that’s actually up to date But, Intel launched Coffee Lake H-series mobile processors way back in April 2018 – more than six months before the Surface Studio 2 hit the streets. We’re not saying that the Kaby Lake chips aren’t going to get the job done, they will – as long as you’re not trying to edit video. But, is it too much to ask for a processor that’s up-to-date upon release? We aren’t sure which ‘Lake’ Intel will be on in late 2020 but, please, Microsoft: include the most modern processor? Because, if you’re forking over thousands for a computer, you should be getting up-to-date hardware. Up the screen resolution So, we’d like to see the Surface Studio 3 take screen resolution to a whole new level. We’re not saying go straight to 8K, but maybe we could see something in between – outclass that iMac Pro display to make it a better sell to would-be Apple converts. At the end of the day, no one knows what the Surface Studio 3 is going to look like. But, keep it locked to this page, and if we hear anything, we’ll update this article.
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| Microsoft Surface Laptop 3: what we want to see Posted: 15 Feb 2019 12:53 PM PST When the original Surface Laptop hit the market nearly two years ago, it was stuck in Windows 10 S Mode, and generally didn’t make much sense in the midst of the tablet-focused Surface Lineup. But, it all finally made sense when Microsoft launched the Surface Laptop 2 back in October 2018, refining the formula to become one of the best laptops. So, we want to know: what will the Surface Laptop 3 look like. Beyond the obvious stuff, like an upgrade to either Intel Whiskey Lake or Ice Lake processors, a higher screen resolution and the inclusion of Thunderbolt 3 would be the most obvious upgrades – that is, if Microsoft is willing to abandon its proprietary Surface connector. Now, obviously, we don’t have any solid information – or even rumors – about the Surface Laptop 3 yet, but that doesn’t mean we can’t craft a sort of wish list of what we want to see in the third Surface Laptop. So, be sure to keep this page bookmarked, and we’ll update it with any Surface Laptop 3 rumors that come our way. Cut to the chase
Surface Laptop 3 release dateUnlike something like the Surface Pro 7, there have only been two Surface Laptop releases, and it’s a product line that’s been around for less than two years. So, we have less info to work from when guessing at a release window. The original Surface Laptop came out in June 2017, alongside the Surface Pro. However, the Surface Laptop 2 saw an October 2018 release. So, we might end up seeing the Surface Laptop 3 sometime in 2019, but it’s hard to predict exactly when we’ll see it. We could see it launch during or before September, as it’s popular for students. However, if Microsoft does launch it then, it would have to use Intel Whiskey Lake processors instead of the next generation Ice Lake chips, and that may not be a substantial enough upgrade from the Kaby Lake Refresh parts in the Surface Laptop 2. Therefore, we could see Microsoft waiting until 2020 to launch the Surface Laptop 3 – depending on when Intel launches its new processors, of course. This is all speculation, of course, so you should take it with salt. We’ll update this section as soon as we hear anything about the Surface Laptop 2 release date. Surface Laptop 3 priceThe original Surface Laptop launched a $799 (around £560, AU$1,000), with an Intel Core m3 processor and Windows 10 S out of the box. But, the Surface Laptop 2 significantly raised the price of entry, charging users $999 (£979, AU$1,499). This higher price point did come with full-fat Ultrabook processors in every configuration, plus the full Windows 10 Home. We think Microsoft will continue to charge the same $999 (£979, AU$1,499) for the Surface Book 3, to keep it competitive with similar Ultrabooks, like the Dell XPS 13. What we want to seeThe Surface Laptop 2 already improved so much on the Surface Laptop, that it’s hard to think of what else Microsoft could do to make it even better. Still, we’ve come up with a few things we’d like to see in the Surface Laptop 3, using our tech expertise as a guiding hand. Faster processors There are technically faster Ultrabook-class processors out already, with Intel’s Whiskey Lake, but they provide such a small upgrade in performance, that it really isn’t worth upgrading. However, at CES 2019, Intel announced its 10nm Ice Lake processors, promising to increase performance two fold in certain workloads. While Intel’s performance claims should be taken with a grain of salt, the gains to performance and battery life that a 10nm process would afford are still exciting. Thunderbolt 3, please Fortunately, Microsoft has patented a new magnetic USB-C charger, that would have the best of both worlds. We just hope the technology is ready before the Surface Laptop 3 hits the streets. Freshen up the design And, it’s not like Microsoft isn’t pursuing thinner designs. Microsoft has patented a thinner Type Cover, with a touchpad built right into the printed circuit board. This could lead to the Surface Pro 7 to have a smaller footprint overall, but we’d be interested to see if this design philosophy would carry over to other Surface devices. Thinner laptops are always in demand, so a thinner and lighter Surface Laptop 3 is definitely possible. However, we have seen a recent patent from Microsoft that could make the fur-coated design of the Surface Laptop 3 make a little more sense. The patent describes a touch-sensitive fabric, that could give the Surface Laptop 3 more touch controls on the chassis of the device. Maybe for volume or brightness – like a fuzzy Touch Bar. Image Credit: TechRadar This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Microsoft Surface Pro 7: what we want to see Posted: 15 Feb 2019 12:52 PM PST Over the last few years, Microsoft’s Surface Pro lineup has consistently pumped out some of the best Windows tablets and 2-in-1 laptops we’ve seen. But, when the Surface Pro 6 launched with few substantial changes, we started wondering when we could expect more meaningful improvements on the Surface formula. Cue the Surface Pro 7, which we’re starting to see all kinds of patents for coming out of the woodwork that can change how we use Microsoft’s tablets. Intel’s Ice Lake processors should be launching this year, and alongside rumors of a new USB-C magnetic Surface charger in the works, we think the Surface Pro 7 may end being the most powerful yet. However, because nothing has been confirmed, keep in mind that this is all gossip and educated speculation. Still, we’ll keep this article up to date with any news and rumors, along with our wishes – so you’ll have an idea of what to expect. Cut to the chase
Surface Pro 7 release dateBecause the Surface Pro 6 essentially just came out, it’s unlikely that we’ll see the next one any time soon in 2019 much less this year at all. The Surface Pro 4 and Surface Pro 6 both launched in October 2015 and 2018, respectively. However, the Surface Pro 2017 saw a June release date. It’s possible that the Surface Pro 7 will launch in October 2019, but the release cadence for Surface Pro devices appears to be approximately every 16 to 18 months. So, we might see the Surface Pro 7 until Spring or Summer 2020. We could see it hit the streets in October, if Microsoft wants to target that annualized release, but we’ll believe that when we see it. Don’t worry, though, we’ll update this article just as soon as we hear any word – official or otherwise – on the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 release date. Surface Pro 7 priceThe Surface Pro 6 launched at $899 (£879, AU$1,349) for the base model, but that marked an increase in price over the Surface Pro 2017, the base model of which was $799 (£799, AU$1,199). So, the pricing of the Surface Pro 7 could go one of two ways: another increase of $100, or it may just stay the same price – we doubt the price will drop again, though. If the price does go up by another $100, and start at $999 (about £770, AU$1,380), it’ll put the Surface Pro 7 in the same league as devices like the Dell XPS 13 and the HP Spectre x360 – not to mention the new iPad Pro. Much like anything else here, we won’t know the actual pricing of the Surface Pro 7 until Microsoft is ready to share it. But, we’ll update this article as soon as that happens. What we want to seeBecause the Surface Pro 7 is so far out right now, it’s hard to predict what exactly will be in the next Surface device. However, with all the patents that Microsoft has filed recently, like a update to the Surface Pen that would make it more accurate, we have come up with a wishlist of updates we’d like to see. Blazing Speed If the Surface Pro 7 includes these new processors, you can expect much greater performance, while also getting improved battery life across the board. Thunderbolt 3, please Luckily, we have reason to believe that Microsoft will launch the Surface Pro 7 with Thunderbolt 3 support, or at the very least basic USB-C charging. Microsoft has patented a new magnetic charger with a USB-C input that would function like the current Surface charger. We’re truly not sure whether Surface Pro 7 will support Thunderbolt 3, as it depends upon Microsoft’s willingness to trade its proprietary technology for Thunderbolt 3, which it must pay Intel to license. An improved Type Cover And, we might have an idea of the next generation Type Cover will look like. Microsoft has patented a thinner Type Cover that should reduce the footprint of the device all around. It looks like Microsoft is planning on doing this by using a trackpad that’s built right into the printed circuit board. It would also use haptic feedback in the keys, to improve the tactile response of typing – which would be necessary on a thinner keyboard cover. It’s a bizarre move, but we’re nonetheless intrigued – if Microsoft can make the Type Cover slimmer without falling in the same trap as Apple’s Butterfly keyboards, it could change the game. We’ve also seen a patent that would make the fabric covering the Type Cover smarter. It would feature touch sensitivity, so you could swipe through news stories and photos without having to find the touchpad or the touchscreen. We’re not sure who was asking for this tech, but it’s a cool idea nonetheless.
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| Surface Book 3: what we want to see Posted: 15 Feb 2019 12:51 PM PST Everyone fell in love with the Surface Book when it first launched. Then, the Surface Book 2 followed a couple years later, took everything the original did and turned all the dials up to 11. It really was one of the best 2-in-1 laptops running Windows 10 we’ve ever used – and it mostly still is. So, you can understand why we’re anticipating the Surface Book 3, even though it might be 2020 before we see it in the wild. Just imagine – what could the Surface Book 3 look like? A Surface Book 2 with a sharper, brighter display, more powerful components and Thunderbolt 3 – it could be amazing. With these features, the Surface Book 3 would be the perfect foil to the MacBook Pro. If Microsoft releases a Surface Book 3 that improves on the Surface Book 2’s shortcomings, while fortifying its successes, it could be one of the best laptops. Now, while there is little to no concrete information about the Surface Book 3, we can at least do a bit of speculation based on past releases and our tech expertise. So, with that in mind, let’s dive into what we think the Surface Book 3 may look like. Cut to the chase
Image Credit: Microsoft Surface Book 3 release dateThe Surface Book 2 was released in late 2017 – it’s more than a year old. But, if we follow the release pattern of Surface devices that aren’t the Surface Pro, you shouldn’t expect the Surface Book 3 until late 2019 at the earliest. There were a couple new Surface devices launched in October 2018: the Surface Pro 6 and Surface Laptop 2. However, there was no sign of the Surface Book 3. This shouldn’t be too surprising, as we expect the Surface Book 3 will launch in late 2019 or early 2020 at the latest. Until we get more concrete information, or even rumors, we’re going to stick with our late 2019 or 2020 Surface Book 3 release date speculation. Image Credit: Microsoft Surface Book 3 priceUnfortunately, because there’s no concrete information about the Surface Book 3 right now, we don’t really know anything about its price. However, we can look at the pricing of the Surface Book and the Surface Book 2 and do a bit of speculation. Right now, thanks to a new lower-storage model, the 13.5 inch Surface Book 2 starts at $1,199 or £1,149, while the 15 inch version still sits at a $2,499 or £2,349 (AU$3,649) price of admission. If you ask us, that’s already enough scratch. Still, let’s hope and pray that the would-be Surface Book 3 stays well within that price range, as we likely wouldn’t be able to afford much more. Image Credit: Microsoft What we want to see in a Surface Book 3Because the Surface Book 3 is so far off, and we don’t have any solid information on what it’ll look like, all we can do is create a wishlist for what we want to see improved in the next Surface Book. So, here’s our Surface Book 3 wish list, based on speculation, leaks and rumors. More powerful internals And, if Microsoft waits to release the Surface Book 3 until Ice Lake hits the streets in late 2019, the Surface Book 3 could be both powerful and battery efficient. Use the extra space accordingly Thunderbolt 3, please And, it looks like it may actually happen. Microsoft has patented a magnetic USB-C connector that would sort of function like the existing magnetic Surface charger. Whether or not this will actually support Thunderbolt 3 remains to be seen, but we don’t see why it wouldn’t. Better power management A 4K display would be nice All accessories included Black color option Just imagine, a Surface Book 3 that could not only compete with the MacBook Pro 2018, but one that has a more beautiful color option than the Space Gray on the latest Apple flagship.
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| Google Fuchsia release date, news and rumors Posted: 15 Feb 2019 12:43 PM PST We were expecting to see Google announce Google Fuchsia, or Google Andromeda – a fusion of its Chrome and Android operating systems (OS) – back in October 2017. That announcement never happened. What will Google Fuschia look like, though? Well, the Google Pixelbook, alongside some other Chromebooks, are able to run both Android apps from the Play Store and even an early build of Google Fuchsia – which itself is rumored to run Android apps. We believe that Google Fuchsia – whenever it sees the light of day – will end up being the penultimate Google operating system across all different kinds of devices. Essentially, we don’t know what form Google Fuchsia will actually take. Information is both thin on the ground and very abstract. But, we do know that Google Fuchsia revolves around the concept of being able to do whatever you want on whatever device you have around. We can see this approach in some recent moves by Google – like bringing Android Messages and a VR video editor to a broad range of hardware. Actually, the Google Pixel Slate may give us a look into the future of Google Fuchsia – even if it neither runs the nascent OS, and doesn’t give a clue about the release date. With the new Chrome OS tablet, Google has changed the UI of the operating system to be more palatable on a tablet – bringing it closer to a unified OS across different families of devices. Whether or not it relates to Fuchsia remains to be seen, but we look at it like a step in the right direction. So, regardless of what the final product is, or whether or not Google Fuchsia ever makes it to the public, be sure to keep this page bookmarked, as we’ll update it with any new information comes our way. Cut to the chase
A Google Pixelbook running an early version of Fuchsia OS (Image Credit: Ars Technica) What is Google Fuchsia?Right now, there appears to be a divide within Google regarding what Fuchsia actually is. While the team working on it says they want Fuchsia to be the penultimate Google OS, running on all phones, tablets, laptops and smart home devices – Google’s leadership is still referring to it as an experiment. So, we’ll just have to wait and see what happens, and what materializes out of all this experimentation. Google Fuchsia, then, is a hybrid OS that is still very much in development. The entirety of Fuchsia OS is comprised of two distinct but connected user interfaces (UI): a phone-centric one codenamed ‘Armadillo’ and a traditional desktop UI known as ‘Capybara’ internally, according to 9to5Google. So far, more is known about the mobile version of Fuchsia than the laptop one, but ArsTechnica was recently able to get Fuchsia running on a Google Pixelbook in an awfully early state. And, it looks like both versions should be able to run Android apps, much like many Chromebooks in 2019. So, backwards compatibility looks to be something that early Fuchsia adopters can look forward to.
Dividing the OS up into two separate UI based on the hardware it’s being used with is a classically Microsoft-inspired move. Windows 10 already scales depending on whether it’s being used with a desktop computer, phone, tablet or game console. In fact, Windows 10’s only unifier is its kernel, the root code that controls the bulk of the operating system. In the case of Fuchsia, that kernel is known as ‘Zircon’, and it’s designed to be consistently upgradeable in addition to being safe from applications accessing it constantly, adding an extra layer of security and eliminating situations in which apps are rendered incompatible with OS updates. Whether it’s in the mobile or desktop orientation, Fuchsia is laden with Google’s Material design found all over its Android and Chrome OS products. Shadows are a big focus on the design aesthetic, using a new Vulkan-based graphics renderer known as ‘Escher’ to do the job. The result is an interface with more depth to its look than traditionally flat OS products. Google Fuchsia as it appears on a smartphone device. Image Credit: Google Fuchsia is also heavily focused on a cards-based interface, in which every app you open appears inside one of these cards – plus, you can place multiple apps into a single card. This orients the user around tasks at hand rather than apps. Those apps are expected to look the same across different devices because of a new cross-platform mobile app development framework, developed by Google, known as Flutter. Beyond that, Google Fuchsia revolves around Google Assistant more deeply accessing and working with your apps and information to provide even more actions and insights. Google has referred to these apps and pieces of information as ‘entities’, according to a GitHub developer page, and they’re all accessible by Google Assistant on Fuchsia. We’ve even seen a recent demo that further illustrates how deeply ingrained Google Assistant is on Fuchsia. And, it looks like Google will also be changing how it collects analytic data within Fuchsia, according to a report from 9to5 Google. Fuchsia will see the implementation of a new analytic program called ‘Cobalt’ which will collect information on how you use apps within the OS. Cobalt is supposedly a part of Google’s security-minded approach to the OS, but encryption hasn’t been worked in yet – but, we’re sure Google will work better security into Cobalt eventually. Google Chrome, or at least an early build of Chromium is up and running on early builds of Google Fuchsia, according to a report from 9to5 Google. And, while it’s not ready for the spotlight, this does mean that the fledgling OS is getting closer to being usable without days of preparation. Finally, Fuchsia wants to be the best cross-device OS to date. To achieve this, Fuchsia uses a new tool known as ‘Ledger’ by the GitHub community. Ledger, once you’re signed into a Google Account on a Fuchsia device, will automatically save your place in all installed apps across all Fuchsia devices. All in all, Fuchsia is Google’s attempt to get the best of Chrome and Android into a single operating system that’s more efficient both while you’re using it and when you’re away – not to mention in between those states or between devices. This is likely where Fuchsia will make its debut. Google Fuchsia release dateEver since August 2016, we’ve seen a ton of rumors about Google Fuchsia’s release date – and each turned out to be false. These rumors usually come up before Google’s big Google IO developer event in California, or when we know a big hardware release is around the corner. Back in February, it was revealed that Google’s former head of Android platform security, Nick Kralevich, had left the Android team to ‘define security’ over in the Fuchsia department. Describing it as a “new, experimental operating system,” Kralevich doesn’t hint at any specific launch window, however it does show where Google chooses to put its most crucial resources. Right now, the speculation points to Fuchsia running within the next three years just on smart home devices, with a full public release coming within the next five years. However, even that seems to be an extremely shaky rumor – we’d be surprised if we saw it release before 2024 (or actual androids), if it ever actually comes out. However, recent developer messages through the Android Open Source Project suggest some movement. One of the commits mentions two repos, that the folks at 9to5Google take to be the “incorporation of the official Fuchsia SDK”. Another commit mentions the Huawei Honor Play smartphone, so we could see Fuchsia tested on actual devices soon. What might help point to some movement for the Google Fuchsia release date, though, is a new hire from Apple. Bill Stevenson, a senior macOS engineer for Apple, announced on LinkedIn that he is joining Google to bring Fuchsia to market. At any rate, keep it locked to this page as we draw closer to a possible release date and therefore might have some new information for you. Is Fuchsia the end of Android as we know it? Image Credit: TechRadar What could Fuchsia mean for Android and Chrome – and Windows and macOS?Word on the street is that Google Fuchsia is Google’s answer to Microsoft and Apple’s united platforms. In turning Android into one of the two biggest smartphone platforms and later popularizing Chrome OS – not to mention G-Suite, Google’s web-based productivity programs. Google has already kind of become a major player on all platforms. From the sound of it, Google is setting out to accomplish much of what Microsoft and Apple already have in place with Windows 10, iOS and macOS High Sierra. Continuity, respectively, but in a very Google way. It’s easy to expect access to Google’s inimitable search and data-tracking at your fingertips – Google Assistant and ‘entities’, anyone? – which it could boast as better than Microsoft and Apple’s, and an interface that evolves to meet the needs of the device from which it’s accessed. Will this eventually mean the end of Android and Chrome? In name, most likely, but their principles will almost certainly live on – there's too much solid foundation not to build on top of them. Just look at the Material design language found throughout these early builds of either version of Fuchsia. The end result, likely to be seen in a preview form later this year and in purchasable devices in 2019, will be just one platform for Google to worry about. With Fuchsia, Google will be able to push new updates and features to all versions at once, simplifying support as well as user understanding. With that, Google will become that much more formidable a foe to Microsoft and Apple, and that much appealing an option to Android and Chromebook users all over. Who knows, perhaps it will be enough to bring people over from the other side of Microsoft and Apple’s fences.
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| The best Ultrabooks 2019: top thin and light laptops reviewed Posted: 15 Feb 2019 12:42 PM PST In 2019, the best Ultrabooks are kind of the ultimate status symbol, especially if you’re a student, a professional, or you just spend a lot of time in your local coffee shop. Rather than having a big and bulky budget laptop or Chromebook, you’ll bring out a lighter, thinner and faster laptop, one packed with the best SSDs and processors you can find today. These thin and light laptops are as much about portability as raw power. The best Ultrabooks aren’t going to freeze up in the middle of an important project or run out of battery on a short flight – you don’t have to worry about any of that. So, we took the time to find all the best Ultrabooks you can buy today. From brands you recognize like HP and Dell, to those you may not be aware of, like Huawei, these thin and light beauties will get you through your work day in style. Plus, we tested and reviewed all these Ultrabooks ourselves, so you can be confident you’re getting your money’s worth. For a few years now, Huawei has been lurking in the shadows, ready to take on the best Ultrabooks, and its time has finally arrived. Like the Huawei MateBook X Pro before it, the Huawei Matebook 13 packs in a ton of powerful hardware into an attractive shell, while keeping the price low enough for anyone to afford. Plus, we have to mention those discrete graphics – it may be one of the smallest laptops out there to pack an MX150 GPU. It’s not hard to see why the Huawei Matebook 13 is the best Ultrabook right now. Read the full review: Huawei MateBook 13 Sometimes, we’ll come across an Ultrabook that completely destroys everything that came before. The Huawei Matebook X Pro is one of these Ultrabooks. This gorgeous laptop brings high-end components into an elegantly-designed package that puts even the MacBook Pro to shame. And, with its 3K touchscreen, the Huawei MateBook X Pro has a display that’s just as nice to look at as the chassis. It really is one of the best Ultrabooks you can buy today. Read the full review: Huawei MateBook X Pro The Dell XPS 13 has been the best Ultrabook for years, and while it’s been dethroned by the Huawei MateBook 13, it remains one of the Ultrabooks to beat in 2019. This time around, Dell has moved the webcam from the bottom of the display to the top, fixing one of the biggest problems faced by the XPS 13 for years. Add in the updated internals, and the Dell XPS 13 is still one of the best Ultrabooks out there – even if some of the competition has caught up. Read the full review: Dell XPS 13 The original Surface Laptop launched nearly two years ago, and while it was a great Ultrabook, it was held back thanks to relatively weak hardware and Windows 10 S. Thankfully, Microsoft launched the Surface Laptop 2 in late 2018, bringing quad-core processors and the full-fat version of Windows 10. Its through these core improvements that the Surface Laptop 2 is able to bring the purest Windows 10 experience on a laptop, at a price that won’t make you gasp. Read the full review: Surface Laptop 2 Few Ultrabooks are as brilliantly designed as the Lenovo Yoga 920, a 2-in-1 laptop that’s as illustrious to look at as it is to use. In contrast to its nearest competitors, such as Microsoft’s Surface Book 2, it’s also a far less expensive endeavor. For the modest price you pay, you’re getting a gorgeous, all-metal finish that can be flipped inside out for extended functionality. It also houses the latest 8th-generation Intel processors, just in case speed was a concern. Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga 920 From the moment your eyes meet the HP Spectre 13, you’ll be impressed by its sheer beauty. HP has taken the already luxurious Spectre and dialed the design up to eleven with gold trim and packed it with internal specs that blow the competition out of the water. One of the first Ultrabooks rocking an 8th-generation Kaby Lake Refresh chip, the 2017 Spectre 13 more than doubles the CPU performance of most of its competitors. This added performance comes at the cost of battery life, but clocking in at just under 6 hours – the battery life is still passable. Read the full review: HP Spectre 13 Razer has been known as a gaming company for years now, but with the Razer Blade Stealth the green-themed manufacturer wants to dispel that. If you’re not convinced, this Ultrabook might change your mind by turning into a 13.3-inch, QHD+ beauty. You can no longer upgrade to 4K, but the performance this Ultrabook offers is more than worth that compromise – especially given how beautiful the chassis is. Read the full review: Razer Blade Stealth It’s rare that a manufacturer thinks of everything when creating one of the best Ultrabooks, but for what it’s worth, the HP Spectre x360 comes pretty close. It’s a 2-in-1 convertible laptop,, which by itself makes it a bit of a niche product. Still, for those right-brained users out there, the HP Spectre x360 comes bundled with a Windows Ink-compatible stylus, unlike the vast majority of hybrids. That would mean very little if the HP Spectre x360 didn’t have great sound and visuals – and it definitely does. Read the full review: HP Spectre x360 Anyone familiar with Apple’s thinnest and lightest laptop would be wise to compare the Asus ZenBook 3 to the 12-inch MacBook. The similarities are obvious, but one look at the specs and the differences stand out too. Adorned with the choice of a U-series Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, the ZenBook 3 is awfully powerful considering it’s less than half an inch thick and weighs two pounds. The port selection is sparse, but ultimately it’s well worth the sacrifice. Read the full review: Asus ZenBook 3
It’s no secret that Apple neglected the MacBook Air – at least until the MacBook Air 2018 launched – but, in some cases a Windows Ultrabook can be just as good. Take the Asus ZenBook UX310UA, for instance. With still-good 7th-generation Intel Kaby Lake processors, a 178-degree viewing-angle QHD+ display, a USB-C port and an aluminum build, it’s still one of the best Ultrabooks out there, even after all this time. Read the full review: Asus ZenBook UX310
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| Best HP laptops 2019: the top HP laptops we’ve seen and tested Posted: 15 Feb 2019 12:41 PM PST Over the last few years, HP has been working hard to rebuild its reputation, and it’s done so mostly through the best HP laptops. These mobile beauties, thought to be dead just a few years ago, have been reborn though the magic of the best Ultrabooks running on Windows 10. HP’s best laptops, then, have transformed into devices that focus on design flair rather than cheapness. This approach has resulted in some of the most beautiful devices in the laptop world right now, like the HP Spectre x360, with its gold trim and high-resolution displays. And, HP isn’t slowing down in 2019 – it’s showed some gorgeous devices at CES 2019. HP’s resurgence has also brought about the popular ‘privacy filter,’ called Sure View to prominence. Plus, the best HP laptops are bedecked with a gorgeous gold trim that we’re used to seeing in HP’s high-end Spectre 2-in-1s and Ultrabooks. Image Credit: HP In our mind, the best HP laptops balance design flair with raw power, and the HP Spectre x360 is a perfect example. The 2018 model features perfectly slim bezels and is light enough to use in tablet mode comfortably. As a regular laptop, you’ll have trouble finding a better keyboard, brighter display and more powerful components – especially considering its size. And, at CES 2019, HP revealed the 2019 model of the 15-inch version, with more angular chassis and updated internals. Read the full review: HP Spectre x360 Image Credit: HP The HP Spectre 13 isn’t just one of the best HP laptops – it’s one of the most beautiful laptops period. The ceramic white finish is beautifully topped off by a two-prong hinge design that’s pure aesthetic. That’s not all – the HP Spectre 13 iis one of the most powerful HP laptops. It leverages the power of 8th-generation Intel Kaby Lake Refresh processors to a stunning degree. The HP Spectre 13 will get your work done – and look good while doing it. Read the full review: HP Spectre 13 Image Credit: HP While it doesn’t redefine the PC like HP’s marketing claims, the HP Spectre Folio does enough right to be one of the best HP laptops you can buy. Covered front to back in leather, this 2-in-1 laptop is aimed directly at the luxury market, with a price tag to match. It’s not the fastest laptop out there, but the fanless chip on board has enough juice to get through most everyday tasks, just don’t expect to get any serious video editing done. This is more for the professional taking a device between meetings. Read the full review: HP Spectre Folio Image Credit: HP The HP Pavilion 15 isn’t going to blow your mind with sheer power, but it will make up for it with finesse. It’s one of the few remaining AMD Ryzen-based laptops in HP’s stable – which could change – but the Ryzen chips here are worth paying attention to. This is the best HP laptop for anyone on a budget, it's a rare example of a laptop that can strike a golden balance between price and performance, making it one of the best laptops for college students. Image Credit: HP You shouldn’t have to break open your piggy bank to get one of the best HP laptops, which is why devices like the HP Chromebook 14 G5 exist. It’s an economical Chromebook that never feels cheap, which is a distinction that Chromebooks wear like a badge of honor. This Chromebook in particular boasts a sleek aesthetic and passable performance, especially when you spec it out. It’s easy to see why, for people on a budget, the HP Chromebook 14 G% is one of the best HP laptops. Image Credit: HP The best gaming laptops have a shaky reputation for their lack of upgradeability, making them more disposable than a gaming desktop by nature. Luckily, HP has subverted this issue by adding plenty of essential features that most gaming laptops lack. For instance, you can overclock the Omen X, which just means free performance – which will keep it at the top of the stack longer than competitors. For gamers, the HP Omen X is the best HP laptop on the market. Image Credit: HP HP’s flagship Spectre line of Ultrabooks and 2-in-1s might get all the hype, but the manufacturer has a long-running tradition of crafting some of the best business laptops. The HP Elitebook continues this tradition by packing in powerful Ryzen processors, plenty of memory and speedy SSDs beneath a svelte all-metal chassis. It is a bit expensive, but if you’re looking for an office laptop, with all the requirements that business-grade products require, this is the best HP laptop for you. Read the full review: HP Elitebook 745 G5
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| Posted: 15 Feb 2019 12:36 PM PST Playing the best PC games online means that you’ve likely run into a ton of lag at some point, but what if we told you that the best gaming routers could make sure your online gaming is never interrupted? It’s true – 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 their game on without having to get in each other's way. When you’re playing games online, a wired connection is typically considered the best way to go about it, and we’d have to concur. So, the best gaming routers will have a ton of Ethernet ports. But, even if it would be ideal to have all of your devices hardwired to your router, you don’t want your entire apartment or home covered with a criss-cross of errant wires. That’s why the best gaming routers will also feature the latest Wifi standards – currently Wi-Fi 5. Having multiple external antennae which you can move to boost signal is a bonus, too. into consideration the needs of gamers, we’ve gathered up all the best gaming routers 2018 has to offer. If you’re looking for the latest router technology but you still love 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 anyone. And, when you add in the Alexa support, you have a router that can adapt to any situation, whether you’re focusing on winning the latest match in Apex Legends, 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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| The best 13-inch laptop 2019: the top 13-inch laptops we've reviewed Posted: 15 Feb 2019 12:35 PM PST These days, it’s hard to avoid the need for one of the best laptops. However, there’s one core reason to opt for one of the best 13-inch laptops – they’re the perfect size. 15-inch laptops are just too big, and if you get something less than 12 inches you’ll be left squinting. The best 13-inch laptops, then, are right in the sweet spot – they’re perfect for watching online videos and getting some work done. We still love the Dell XPS 13, but it’s not the only ‘right’ choice. We’d get it if you wanted the new MacBook Air, or even the HP Spectre x360. Yeah, the XPS 13 is beautiful, but you don’t have to worry about awkward camera placement on those other laptops. The best 13-inch laptops all excel in different ways. At the end of the day, finding the best 13-inch laptop depends on what you need it for. Are you just looking for a traditional laptop, without any extra features? Or, are you looking at the best 2-in-1 laptops that can transform into one of the best Windows tablets? What about the best Macs, with macOS Mojave rather than Windows 10? The choice is yours – there’s a whole world of laptops out there. It’s not often that we run into a 13-inch laptops that hits all the right boxes, without having to compromise on anything. And, the Huawei MateBook 13 does exactly that. Packed with the latest Intel Whiskey Lake processors and Nvidia MX150 graphics in a chassis that really should be too small to handle them, the Huawei MateBook 13 is a powerhouse that will fit in any travel bag. And, it’s affordable – what more could you ask for? Read the full review: Huawei MateBook 13 The Dell XPS 13, while its changes over last year’s model are subtle, is still one of the best 13-inch laptops. On the high end, the 4K display offers a sharper picture across the board. But, even if you can’t afford the top end model, the gorgeous design, lengthy battery life and SD card slot aren’t going anywhere – plus, you’ve got a quad-core processor no matter what poison you pick. It’s going to be one of the best 13-inch laptops, no matter which configuration you go for. Read the full review: Dell XPS 13 It’s not as powerful as its 15-inch counterpart, but everything else about the 13.5-inch version of the Surface Book 2 makes for one of the best 13-inch laptops for anyone looking for a mobile workhorse. No matter if you’re a professional or creative, the Microsoft Surface Book 2, with its more compact form factor, rocks an aesthetic that’s just as gorgeous as its predecessor. What’s more, the dynamic fulcrum hinge is even stronger now, which only complements its robust, quad-core processor. Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Book 2 With Razer’s reputation, a laptop as pretty, thin and light as the Razer Blade Stealth comes as a major surprise, but it’s one of the best 13-inch laptops out there. The Razer Blade Stealth – in its all new gunmetal finish – rocks not just style, with its 400-nit display brightness and full-size USB 3.0 ports, but it also has a few tricks up its sleeve to make it a performance beast. The 8th-generation Kaby Lake Refresh processor makes this laptop a force to be reckoned with. It doesn’t have the best battery life in the game, but for a laptop this good, it’s worth it. Read the full review: Razer Blade Stealth For anyone who prefers premium build quality over everything, the HP Spectre x360 contains everything you could ever ask for in a 2-in-1 without compromise. Weighing in at just 2.78 pounds and measuring just over half an inch thick, it’s as thin as it is light. Plus, with up to a 4K display and 8th-generation Intel processors, it’s one of the best ways to experience high-quality video streaming as well as 720p gaming on a hybrid. We didn’t even mention the plentitude of ports. You’ll get two USB-C Thunderbolt 3 ports on top of a USB 3.1 Type-A – so you shouldn’t need a ton of adapters. Read the full review: HP Spectre x360 If you’re looking for a thin, svelte and fast 13-inch laptop to haul around with you, and you don’t mind giving up some premium features, you’ll fall in love with the Asus ZenBook 13. Coming in at just half an inch thick and weighing just 2.5 pounds, this is the perfect laptop to carry when traveling. And, don’t think you have to give up on power with all this portability, either. The Asus ZenBook 13 features quad-core Intel processors, 8GB of RAM and a fast SSD. The only thing you’re missing here is USB-C, and while it’s a nice feature to have, it’s easy to look past in a laptop this stylish. Read the full review: Asus Zenbook 13 No one likes change, we get it. Still, the 15.6-inch frame of the Samsung Notebook 7 Spin we once knew will soon be erased from our memories forever, but the new 13.3-inch model doesn’t seem like an awful upgrade. It’s bounced two generations into the future in terms of processing power, and even though there are no discrete graphics – we’re happy to see a keyboard that can compete with some of the heavy hitters. It’s not going to blow your mind, yet as far as hybrid notebooks go, this one ain’t too shabby (plus it’s cheaper than a weaker MacBook Pro). Read the full review: Samsung Notebook 7 Spin
The original Surface Laptop was already one of the best 13-inch laptops – it had a gorgeous screen, competent internals and fantastic build quality. It shouldn’t be surprising, then, that its sequel, the Surface Laptop 2 takes everything the original did and does it better. You’re not going to find any radical changes here, but the speedy 8th-generation processors, 8GB of RAM at the base level and, most importantly, the removal of Windows 10 S, all add up to make one of the best laptops out there. Especially if you’re a student. Read the full review: Surface Laptop 2 As time goes on, 2-in-1 laptops are becoming more popular, and their manufacturers are improving them at a rapid pace. This is especially true for Lenovo – it’s been creating drop-dead beautiful convertibles for years, much like the Lenovo Yoga 920. This 13-inch laptop brings Thunderbolt 3 to the table, an improved webcam – and most importantly – an 8th-generation Intel Kaby Lake Refresh processor with every configuration. The fans get loud, but the Lenovo Yoga 920 is certainly among the best 13-inch laptops on the market. Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga 920 The MacBook Pro 2018 feels like the final form of Apple’s pro series laptop since its 2016 redesign. It keeps the thin and light design, but brings a wealth of improvements, both to the hardware within and, more importantly, Apple has vastly improved the Butterfly keyboard – making it quieter and more reliable. So, you no longer have to worry about it breaking cause a piece of dust appeared under the spacebar. So, if you need an ultra-portable workhorse running macOS Mojave and you can justify the cost, the 2018 MacBook Pro won’t let you down. Keep in mind, though, the model without the Touch Bar is still running last year’s hardware. Read the full review: MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid-2018)
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| Google Pixel Slate 2: what we want to see Posted: 15 Feb 2019 12:17 PM PST It’s too early to tell what the future has in store for Google’s ill-fated Pixel Slate, having released in November 2018. Google may not even release a Pixel Slate 2, following the negative feedback that is now – and possibly, forever – attached to it. The first Pixel Slate was designed to compete with Apple’s iPad Pro and Microsoft’s Surface Pro, but an otherwise stunning, elegant device was cursed with substandard performance and software costing a bizarrely premium price. Of course, it’s a little too soon for Google to make good on this now, so – like you – we know nothing regarding the existence of a Pixel Slate 2. One thing we do know though is that, if Google pursues a Pixel Slate 2, it needs to make some serious changes. Here’s what we’re hoping to see from a Google Pixel Slate 2 as well as some speculation on when to expect it and for how much. Cut to the chase
The first Pixel Slate. (Image Credit: Google) Google Pixel Slate 2 release dateSince the original Google Pixel Slate was announced in October 2018 and officially released in late November, it makes sense that Google would follow suit with the next generation. Obviously, we don’t know how long it took for Google to design the original model, but if Google were to follow up this one with an annual release, we’d rather wait even longer for a better product. Of course, it would be great to see Pixel Slate 2 rise from the ashes of the original around the same time this year, just in time for everyone’s favorite holiday pastime: tech shopping. Until we begin hearing from anonymous sources and leakers, this is all speculation. The first Pixel Slate. (Image Credit: Google) Google Pixel Slate 2 priceWhen we say that the Pixel Slate is pricey, we mean that it’s pricey specifically for a Chrome device with its level of hardware inside. Heck, it’s pricey for something that has been notorious for software issues. Compared to the Surface Pro and the iPad Pro, the Pixel Slate is actually slightly cheaper, saving you $100 in the US, which you can put toward a Pixel Slate Keyboard. If Google kept the same prices and fixed its performance, consumers could be quite satisfied, especially with that stunning hardware design. The original Pixel Slate starts at $599 (£549) with an Intel Celeron processor, a 4GB RAM and 32GB of storage space. It’s currently unavailable in Australia, but if Google decides to make Pixel Slate 2 available there and keep the same prices, it might start around AU$845. The first Pixel Slate. (Image Credit: TechRadar) What we want to seeThe Google Pixel Slate isn’t all bad. As mentioned a few times, it’s an excellently designed tablet, a design we definitely want to see again on a Pixel Slate 2, only bigger and better. With that, we’d be happy to keep a similar design with much better software and hardware inside. Same impressive hardware Of course, it won’t hurt to tweak the design in the next generation. The bezels could use a bit of trimming, facial biometric login would catch it up to the other ‘Pro’ tablets and the speakers could be much better as far as sound quality. Better starting configuration A better processor in the Pixel Slate 2’s starting configuration – one closer in power to an Intel Core chip – is essential if Google wants to redeem this device in the eyes of consumers. No more stuttering Is it not enough that we’re already limited to what apps we can use with the Chrome OS? We have to deal with lag, too? This is something that definitely must be fixed with the second generation. Optimization with Android apps and games We’d love to see Google work more closely with app designers to fix this constant and frankly inconvenient problem. Otherwise, why pay $600 or more for a device that we can only reliably surf the Internet and play movies? Longer battery life We’d definitely like to see Pixel Slate 2 offer longer battery life to compete with Surface Pro and iPad Pro, especially if Google is finally able to fix the main issues.
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| This is a great weekend to get your fibre broadband deal sorted: see the best cheap plans Posted: 15 Feb 2019 10:59 AM PST There's no denying it, this has been a brilliant week for fibre broadband deals. We don't say that lightly - we see a lot of great broadband deals come and go. But this week we've seen offers stuffed with freebies, big broadband and TV deals cut in price and the UK's cheapest widely available fibre hold the rest back. Below, we've picked out our three favourite broadband deals from this week, all from some of the best known names in the world of internet packages. So whether it's BT with a pre-paid Mastercard and free Amazon Echo, Virgin Media with blistering speeds, TV and a £84 price cut or TalkTalk with its incredibly cheap fibre offer, there is plenty to choose from. And if you're sat there completely unsure whether you can even get fibre in your home, then go straight to the bottom of this article, enter your postcode and you'll know all the deals available to you. 1. TalkTalk has the UK's cheapest fibre broadband2. BT's best fibre, with freebies and quick speeds3. Virgin has it locked down for Broadband and TV
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| Android banking malware hitting more users than ever Posted: 15 Feb 2019 10:41 AM PST Cybercriminals are always looking for new ways to steal consumer's banking credentials and new research from ESET has highlighted the often overlooked threat of fake banking apps. The firm compiled its findings in a new white paper titled, “Android banking malware: Sophisticated Trojans vs. Fake Banking apps” which revealed that fake banking apps and sophisticated banking Trojans are the two most prevalent types of Android banking malware.
ESET malware researcher Lukáš Štefanko explained that fake banking apps pose a significant threat and could be as effective as banking Trojans, saying: “Our analysis of the two types of banking malware – both of which have previously been discovered in the official Google Play store – has shown that the simple operation of fake banking apps comes with certain advantages that the feared banking Trojans don’t have. While banking Trojans have long been regarded as a serious threat to Android users, fake banking apps have sometimes been overlooked due to their limited capabilities. Despite not being technically advanced, we believe fake banking apps might be just as effective at emptying bank accounts as banking Trojans.” Fake banking apps vs TrojansThe main strength of fake apps is their direct impersonation of legitimate banking applications and if a user falls for their tricks, there is a high chance that they will treat the app as legitimate and submit their credentials. Additionally, fake banking apps do not request for the intrusive permissions usually asked for by Trojans which tend to raise user suspicion after installation. Sophisticated banking Trojans are also more prone to detection due to their advanced techniques which act as triggers for various security measures. To prevent falling victim to fake banking apps, ESET recommends that users keep their Android devices updated and avoid unofficial app stores. The company also suggests checking the ratings, reviews, number of installs and requested permissions before installing any app from the Google Play Store. Fake apps often appear identical to their real counterparts which is why due diligence is required to detect them effectively.
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| Nvidia reports revenue dipping to its lowest level since mid-2017 Posted: 15 Feb 2019 10:19 AM PST In its latest earnings report, Nvidia announced it generated $2.21 billion in revenue, just managing to beat expectations the company recently lowered by $500 million. Compared to how the company faired last quarter, Team Green saw a precipitous 31% drop in revenue from $3.18 billion. Revenue at Nvidia is also down by 24% year-over-year; at this time last year the GPU maker recorded $2.91 billion in revenue. In fact, the last time Nvidia’s revenue was so low it was Q1 FY 2018 back in May 2017 when the company reported $1.94 billion in revenue. The one silver-lining in Nvidia’s earning’s report was the company set multiple full-year records, including a total $11.72 billion in revenue.
There are multiple contributing factors to Nvidia’s revenue drop. One definite root cause is the cryptocurrency craze dying out in the middle of last year. Of course, another factor is the high prices of Nvidia’s Turing RTX cards dissuaded widespread adoption and resulted in lackluster sales for new GPUs. Nvidia has already begun reacting to these new market realities by introducing a mid-range GeForce RTX 2060 graphics card and over 40 RTX-powered gaming laptops at CES 2019. We’re also expecting Team Green to release an affordable, non-ray tracing GeForce GTX 1660 Ti on February 22nd. Going from what Nvidia has recently released and rumors of its future pipeline, it’s easy to expect more lower-priced graphics cards from Nvidia in the near future.
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| Samsung launches first-ever US retail stores Posted: 15 Feb 2019 09:55 AM PST As Samsung celebrates the ten year anniversary of its Galaxy line, the Korean hardware giant has announced that it will open its first retail stores in the US. The company plans to open three Samsung Experience Stores at locations around the US with one at the Americana at Brand in Los Angeles, one at Roosevelt Field on Long Island in Garden City, New York and one at the Galleria in Houston, Texas. Samsung's new retail stores will open on February 20, the same day the Galaxy S10 and the firm's foldable smartphone are unveiled at an event in San Francisco. The company also plans to launch pop-up stores at other malls throughout the US next month.
In 2013, Samsung partnered with Best Buy to offer minishops within the retailer's stores and in 2016 the company opened its Samsung 837 showroom in New York's Meatpacking District to provide consumers with demos of its products. Samsung ExperienceSamsung's new stores will not only allow customers to try out its products, they will actually be able to buy them as well as receive customer support and assistance including walk-in repair. The company will use its new retail locations to push its other products besides smartphones including its TVs, tablets, wearables and SmartThings devices. President and CEO of Samsung Electronics America, YH Eom explained the company's decision to launch its new retail stores in the US in an announcement, saying: “Our new Samsung Experience Stores are spaces to experience and see Samsung technology brought to life, to empower people to do what they never thought was possible before. We want to build a ‘playground’ for Samsung fans—a place to learn about and try out all of the amazing new products we have to offer.” Via CNET
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| Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order – release date, trailers and news Posted: 15 Feb 2019 09:45 AM PST Hold on to your lightsabers: there's a new Star Wars game in development, and it's called Jedi: Fallen Order. The reveal came in a surprisingly low-key fashion during EA's conference at E3 2018, during an off-the-cuff interview with Vince Zambella, co-founder of Respawn Entertainment (of Titanfall fame). While fans of the galactic franchise have seen official tie-ins in the form of Star Wars Battlefront I and II, the new entry seems to be taking a different tack, possibly focusing on a single-player experience more in line with 2008's The Force Unleashed – but we have all the concrete news and wild speculation you could want below. [Update: Disney has announced the Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order toy line will release in October, 2019.] Cut to the chase
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order release dateEA has confirmed Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order will release in Fall 2019 (so between mid September and December), just in time for Christmas. Star Wars Battlefront I and II were both released on November 17, in 2015 and 2017 respectively, so it's likely Fallen Order will fall on the same date (or in November anyway). Given the two-year windows between each game, though, this may mean a third Battlefront game is a long way off. Star Wars: Battlefront II. (Image credit: EA) Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order trailersAt the time of writing, there's no trailer, or even any concept art to go on. When there is one, it's likely to be at EA's official Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order webpage – but feel free to stare at the site and drool in the meantime. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order news and rumorsStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Order toys Disney has announced that Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order merchandise will become available in October 2019 suggesting, not only that the game will release around that time, but that the company expects it to be a title (or series) with a long life-span within Star Wars fandom. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order release window "In addition to Apex Legends, another team at Respawn is set to deliver Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order this fall," EA CEO Andrew Wilson revealed during a quarterly earnings call (via Seeking Alpha). "This game's development is led by the former director of the God of War series, with a team of veterans from some of the industry's biggest action-adventure games. Development is well underway "It’s very far along in development, and having spent time with it recently myself, it plays spectacularly well," EA CEO Andrew Wilson revealed during a quarterly earnings call (via Seeking Alpha). "This game truly captures the fantasy of becoming a Jedi, and we will have a lot more to share soon." We will start seeing more soon "You'll start to see in the next few months glimpses of the Star Wars game and I think you'll be blown away by what you see," said EA CFO Blake Jorgensen during a quarterly earnings call (via Seeking Alpha). "We've played 20 plus minutes of it last week and it is exceptional in terms of its like level of polish depth and what living inside of the Star Wars world is a Jedi and I think people will be blown away by." A Padawan called Cal? According to rumored information from a Star Wars marketing day (which obviously made its way to Reddit) the story will take place roughly five years after Revenge of the Sith and will follow surviving Padawan Cal (via GamesRadar). This rumor also states that one of the game's main plot points will revolve around Cal's mentor figure - a woman named Ceres. It's set after Revenge of the Sith We don't know the specific time in which the game is set, but we've heard that it will take place at some point between Episodes 3 and 4, after the end of Revenge of the Sith but before Luke Skywalker's appearance in A New Hope. This places it after the Galactic Empire hunted the 10,000-strong Jedi Order practically to extinction, leaving only a small fraction of Jedi alive (aka Order 66). With the promise that the game will be set 'in the dark times', it sounds like our Jedi protagonist may be more the hunted than the hunter. Star Wars: Battlefront II. (Image credit: EA) You'll play as a young padawan EA's official webpage for Fallen Order specifies you'll play "a surviving Padawan", technically meaning a Jedi apprentice rather than a fully-fledged master of the Force. Given the dearth of living mentors left to train you, it's possible Obi-Wan Kenobi or Yoda – or some less high-profile Jedi, like Quinlan Vos – will appear in a supporting role. The single-player mode comes first Respawn co-founder Vince Zambella tweeted about the upcoming game, describing it as an 'SP' (single-player) story. While a multiplayer component seems likely, given both Respawn's strengths in the area and EA's focus on online play, it sounds like the primary focus this time could be on a well-delivered single-player experience. I find your lack of faith disturbing It's been a bit of a fallow year for Star Wars, with Star Wars: A Solo Story struggling in cinemas and the negative player response to EA Dice's Star Wars: Battlefront 2 – largely in reaction to its prevalent use of microtransactions – still in recent memory. Jedi: Fallen Order has been handed to a different studio, albeit one that's still a subsidiary of EA. But Respawn has garnered a lot of respect as the studio behind Titanfall and Titanfall 2, two critically acclaimed sci-fi action games that pit players against each other in giant mechanized suits, and which both came with strong single-player and multiplayer offerings. So, while we haven't heard much about Fallen Order so far, it looks like the game is in safe hands. Keep checking back here for all the latest Jedi: Fallen Order news This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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