Apple : PureVPN backs up no log claim with independent audit |
- PureVPN backs up no log claim with independent audit
- Best laptops for kids 2019: the top laptops for kids in elementary school and beyond
- Best touchscreen laptops 2019: the best touchsceen laptops we've tapped this year
- Best laptops for engineering students in 2019
- Best Mac 2019: the best Macs to buy this year
- Thousands of servers can be remotely hacked
- The best Windows tablets 2019: all of the top Windows tablets reviewed
- The best 2-in-1 laptop 2019: find the best convertible laptop for your needs
- The best student laptops: all the best options for school
- Excited to Exercise: Best fitness technologies for every personality
- The best Ultrabooks 2019: top thin and light laptops reviewed
- Best gaming laptops 2019: the 10 top gaming laptops we've reviewed
- The best Chromebooks of 2019
- AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3rd Generation release date, news, and rumors
- Best Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti: which version is best for your PC?
- Best mesh Wi-Fi routers 2019: the best wireless mesh routers for large homes
- A High-End Smartphone Without The High-End Price Tag
- Android 10 release date, new features and everything you need to know
- OnePlus TV: What we want to see
- Intel powers one of world’s fastest academic supercomputers
| PureVPN backs up no log claim with independent audit Posted: 03 Sep 2019 02:23 PM PDT Audits are becoming a trend in the VPN industry as providers look to legitimize their claims and PureVPN is the latest company to undergo an independent audit. PureVPN is committed to the online privacy and security of its users and as part of that commitment, the company hired the California-based Certified Information Systems Auditor Altius IT to perform a security audit of both its systems and its no-log policy. Last year, the VPN provider revised its privacy policy to become a zero-log VPN company and it now reads: “We DO NOT keep any record of your browsing activities, connection logs, records of the VPN IPs assigned to you, your original IPs, your connection time, the history of your browsing, the sites you visited, your outgoing traffic, the content or data you accessed, or the DNS queries generated by you.”
In addition to PureVPN, other VPN providers including NordVPN and ExpressVPN also have no-log policies and keep no records of their users' activity online. No-log VPNAfter updating its privacy policy to become a zero-log VPN, PureVPN received thousands of queries, emails, support tickets and feedback from its customers and visitors to its website regarding its internal logging policies. To substantiate its claims, the company decided to hire Altius IT to conduct an audit of its security systems and privacy policies. Once the audit was completed, Altius IT provided the following conclusion, stating: “[we] did not find any evidence of system configurations and/or system/service log files that independently, or collectively, could lead to identifying a specific person and/or the person’s activity when using the PureVPN service.” To celebrate its successful audit, PureVPN is offering new users 30 percent off any of its plans using the code “NOLOGVPN”.
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| Best laptops for kids 2019: the top laptops for kids in elementary school and beyond Posted: 03 Sep 2019 02:05 PM PDT Investing in your children by getting the best laptop for kids is not only a great idea. In some cases, it’s a necessity, especially if you’ve got teens at home whose schoolwork requires logging in a few hours on the computer. Before you go out there to purchase the best laptop for kids, however, you might want to consider a few factors first. For one, the best laptop for kids will usually take the form of a rugged, cheap tablet… that is, if they’re to be used by young to school age kids. If you’re kid is in high school, you might want to go for a proper laptop, especially when it’s for school projects and homework. If your kids don’t know their way around a Windows 10 or a macOS environment, on the other hand, the best Chromebooks are some of the best laptops for kids who need a simpler user interface. To make things better, these economical Chromebooks have large, durable displays that are great for getting schoolwork done. We put together a list of the best laptops for kids, all of which we tested and reviewed ourselves. With this list, we’ll go through all the devices with rugged frames, rigid parental controls and budget-friendly price tags. On this, you should be able to find the best laptop for kids that your own kids will love. Image Credit: Dell A Chromebook make for the best laptop for kids because it’s practically mistake proof, and the Dell Chromebook 11 2-in-1 is a fine example of that. Drop it, and it’s fine. Download any malicious software? Well, you can’t! It’s one of the most secure environments for your kids to use a computer, made better by parental controls that you can set yourself. If your kid needs a very affordable laptop to get some schoolwork done, you won’t want to miss out on this excellent device. It even transforms into a tablet for a bit of light gaming post schoolwork. Read the full review: Dell Chromebook Inspiron 11 3181 2-in-1 Image Credit: Lenovo Is your kid already used to Windows 10? If so, you’ll find the Lenovo IdeaPad 120S to be the best laptop for kids – especially with this bargain price. The laptop is mildly ruggedized to survive slips and drops, and touts a USB-C port for a bit of future-proofing. You can also trust that this device will be free of bloatware that may distract your child. That’s more than enough in our book to recommend this laptop to pretty much every parent – especially those who are Windows 10 fans. Image Credit: Acer When your kids have finally graduated to a proper laptop for writing up papers for class, but you still want to get them something that won’t break the first time it gets dropped, then the Acer Chromebook Spin 11 might just be the laptop for you. It’s powerful enough to get through the kids’ daily schoolwork, and it’s a 2-in-1 so they can flip its comfortable keyboard around to turn it into tablet mode for playing Android games or watching their favorite shows in their downtime. The display is a bit dim, and it’s unlikely to blow you away as far as performance, but it’s cheap, solid and reliable. What more can you ask for from the best laptop for kids? Read the full review: Acer Chromebook Spin 11 Image Credit: Acer When your kids approach double-digit years, they’re going to need something a bit more robust to support them through more demanding projects, as well as sharper streaming. Acer’s latest 15-inch Chromebook is, therefore, the best laptop for kids – or yours, at least – bringing serious sophistication to your kids’ computing experience and needs, from its design to its great features like a full HD display, fast USB 3.0 connections and an HDR webcam. Keep in mind that this laptop is ideal for adolescents, as you’re swapping its lack of kid-proof features for a larger size, a more luxurious experience and a great price tag. Read the full review: Acer Chromebook 15 Image Credit: Asus If your kid wants a tablet, but you want them to get used to a classic computer configuration, the Asus Transformer Mini is the perfect compromise. This tablet brings plenty of power and ports to the table – not to mention, a fingerprint sensor, stylus and keyboard cover – all in the box. That’s a lot of value for a budget price. Rounding it out is the 11 hours of battery life, so they can get through all their schoolwork and squeeze in some Netflix before bed. If your kids are just too used to tablets to unceremoniously jump to a traditional laptop, this is the one of the best Asus laptops for that transition. Read the full review: Asus Transformer Mini T102HA
Image Credit: Apple The 2015 MacBook Air might not be the newest kid on the block, but it’s still among the best laptop for kids who love the macOS environment – unlike the 2018 model. We know that parents aren’t made of cash, but it’s the cheapest Apple laptop out there, and the 2015 MacBook Air is available at bargain prices, especially in third-party websites. It also has excellent battery life, an operating system that’s smooth and easy to navigate, and a form factor that’s light and thin. The best Macs are famous for outlasting Windows laptops – and this one might just last your kid throughout high school and possibly even college. Read the full review: MacBook Air
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| Best touchscreen laptops 2019: the best touchsceen laptops we've tapped this year Posted: 03 Sep 2019 01:59 PM PDT There’s no denying that the best touchscreen laptops have forever changed the laptop scene, for better or worse. For one, the surge of the best 2-in-1 laptops has drastically affected the way we use laptops. Then there’s the fact that there are more touch-friendly operating systems – like Windows 10 and Chrome OS – available, targeting every market. This 2019 especially, it seems like every laptop under the sun has touchscreen capabilities. However, not all touchscreen laptops are created equal. For instance, while most will detect basic finger scrolling up or down a web page, the best touchscreen laptops are finely tuned for precise digital pen utility, and even offer some specialized features. With this in mind, we found all the best touchscreen laptops for everyone, from note takers to digital artists. You don’t even have to want to be a part of the touchscreen revolution. You could just be looking to upgrade to the next best thing or need some tech-savvy gifts in time for the holidays. Whatever it is that you want one of the best touchscreen laptops for, you’ve come to the right place. The touch model in the Dell XPS 13 line has every single thing we love about this highly-rated laptop, from its upgraded 8th-gen processor to its battery life boost. Of course, the display also inherits that excellent quality, with top-notch color reproduction, HDR features and 400 nits of brightness – as well as bezels that are practically non-existent. Better yet, it boasts that covetable 4K touchscreen feature, making it all the more useful for many productivity and creative endeavors. Is there any doubt why this tops our best touchscreen laptops list? Read the full review: Dell XPS 13 Chromebook fans practically worship the Asus Chromebook Flip, and so will those users who are in the market for a lightweight (at least on the inside) laptop with touchscreen functionality. This Chromebook’s stunning screen, which gets pulled tightly against the underside of the notebook by a magnetic clasp when in tablet mode, is sharp and vibrant – not to mention, extremely responsive. Whether you’re in laptop mode or in the middle of a creative project in tablet mode, you’ll enjoy the seamlessness of the experience, making this one of the best touchscreen laptops. Read the full review: Asus Chromebook Flip If a 13-inch slimline 2-in-1 laptop that gets you through your daily computing routine, whether for productivity or for entertainment and Internet browsing, is all you need, then you cannot go wrong with Envy x360's AMD upgrade. This laptop not only packs the latest AMD mobile CPU, but also boasts a premium chassis that will be the envy of other laptops at your office, making it deserving of its moniker. Better yet, it offers 9 hours of video playback, lasting you an entire work day without charging. Read the full review: HP Envy x360 (2019) Over the last few years, Microsoft has been hard at work in crafting some of the best touchscreen laptops on the market. Devices like the Surface Pro 6 and the Surface Book 2 are brilliant. However, it’s the new Surface Laptop 2 that really takes the cake, expertly combining that traditional laptop form factor with touchscreen technology in the most compelling way possible. Not only is its display dazzling, but it also boasts a charming chassis and a powerful hardware behind it. Some may lament the absence of Thunderbolt 3, but when it already does so many things right, it’s hard not to love the Surface Laptop 2. Read the full review: Surface Laptop 2 The Samsung Chromebook Pro is akin to an extremely large Samsung Note device in that it has a stowable stylus and an incredible touchscreen for handwriting notes. What’s even better is that every single thing you write down on the Samsung Chromebook Pro is saved to Google Keep, which digitizes your handwriting into a text document for convenient searching later. Plus, taking into consideration this Chromebook’s access to the Google Play Store for all the best Android apps, it isn’t hard to see why this is one of the best touchscreen laptops. Read the full review: Samsung Chromebook Pro
The HP Spectre x360 is not just one of the best touchscreen laptops out there, but it’s also one of the best laptops, full stop. It strikes that perfect balance between tablet and laptop. As a tablet, it has superbly slim bezels for immersive entertainment and is light enough to hold for a long period. As a laptop, it can power through any work you throw at it without having to scramble for the nearest outlet, with its long battery life and powerful full-fat Ultrabook processors. Read the full review: HP Spectre x360 Not only is the new Lenovo Yoga C930 one of the best hybrid laptops we’ve reviewed to date, but it’s also deserving of a spot on our best touchscreen laptops list. It’s all thanks to that high-quality IPS Glossy touchscreen display, which not only offers stylus support, but is also available in both Full HD and 4K – nifty if you work with high resolution photos. Get all your productivity tasks out of the way, and then throw in some decent gaming post work. Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga C930 The Surface Book 2 15-inch delivers the same great touch and pen experience as the Surface Pro. However, it also takes it to a new level by boasting a larger screen and extremely beefier hardware. Thanks to its quad-core processor and potent discrete GPU, it’s well-equipped to handle your most ambitious art projects, not to mention some of the best PC games that are currently taking up all your free time. If this isn’t one of the best touchscreen laptops on the market right now, we don’t know what is. Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Book 2 (15-inch) Budget users seeking touchscreen functionality will appreciate the value the Lenovo Yoga C630 offers. This 2-in-1 starts at $629 (about £517, A$927), with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 850 Processor, 4GB RAM, 128GB of SSD storage and integrated Qualcomm graphics. That means that it’s a lightweight option for those folks who aren’t entirely convinced by the Chrome OS environment. It has a few aces to top it all off, including the Lenovo Active Pen, a Fingerprint Reader and more than 23 hours of battery life. And what of the display? It’s a 13.3-inch, wide-angle FHD stunner, with touchscreen functionality, of course. Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga C630 In the market for a potent powerhouse and you have the funds to shell out a considerable amount of cash, then Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Extreme mobile workstation is among the best touchscreen laptops for you. It has several configurations on hand, depending on your needs and budget. At its most basic, however, it’s already pretty powerful, fitted with a solid graphics card and a 4K multi-touch display that is an absolute knockout. For gamers, this display also boasts the Dolby Vision high dynamic range (HDR) technology for top-notch image quality. Read the full review: ThinkPad X1 Extreme Mobile Workstation Michelle Rae Uy, Gabe Carey and Bill Thomas have also contributed to this article
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| Best laptops for engineering students in 2019 Posted: 03 Sep 2019 01:53 PM PDT The best laptops for engineering students are those that are powerful enough and touting the best graphics, to start. These laptops, therefore, should be able to handle all the complex applications and computational tasks that an engineering school work requires while still flexible enough to let you enjoy a bit of entertainment after school. The exacting demands of an engineering student can, in some cases, make the hunt for the perfect laptop somewhat easier, as it narrows your options in an increasingly crowded market. However, there’s only a few possible contenders out there for best laptops for engineering students, and the choice gets harder when you factor in the price. After all, best laptops for school are the ones that won’t break the bank. Lucky for you, we’re about to make your life easier. We put together a list of the best laptops for engineering students. Now, you can spend less time considering all your options, and more time studying. Image credit: TechRadar The HP Spectre x360 15-inch’s beauty isn’t only skin deep. HP fitted it with powerful Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti graphics and an equally powerful processor, so that one of HP’s latest and greatest 2-in-1s has the brains and brawn as well. This makes it a capable machine and one of the best laptops for engineering students. It also has a beautiful and responsive 4K touchscreen display, and the optional HP Tilt Pen so you can create those 3D models like a pro. Read the full review: HP Spectre x360 15T (2019) If you’re looking for a workhorse and you have the funds for it, then Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Extreme mobile workstation is the ultimate machine to shell out a lot of cash on. It has several configurations on hand, fitting different needs and budgets. But, at its most basic, it’s already pretty powerful, rocking a solid graphics card in a robust carbon-fiber and aluminum package that will survive any field work. There’s no doubt that this mobile workstation earned its spot in our best laptops for engineering students list. Read the full review: ThinkPad X1 Extreme Mobile Workstation Make no mistake: the Razer Blade Pro is a gaming laptop first and foremost. However, it also makes for an excellent mobile workstation for engineering. Yes, it is a tad expensive for students, but it’s less than an inch thick so you can haul it around campus, and packs a Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 – what’s not to love? That’s not all; the Razer Blade Pro also brings Razer’s Ultra-Low Profile Mechanical switches to a laptop for the first time ever. It kind of resembles an everyday chiclet keyboard, but press down on it, and you’ll fall in love… though you probably shouldn’t be hitting those keys hard when you’re in a classroom. Read the full review: Razer Blade Pro The Samsung Notebook 9 has been the epitome of mobile computing since the emergence of 2-in-1 devices. It enhances the S-Pen, Samsung’s own proprietary stylus with 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity (the same as Microsoft’s new Surface Pen), a nifty little accessory that doesn’t require charging for convenience. While the touchscreen display is only 1080p, with that 350 to 450 nits of brightness, you won’t be paying any mind to the pixels, or lack thereof. Plus, the long battery life more than makes up for this hybrid’s very few shortcomings. Read the full review: Samsung Notebook 9 Pro
The Dell G3 15 might not be a lot of things, but for this price, you can get some pretty powerful components to back you up – whether you’re just gaming or actually completing engineering projects for school. We’re talking 9th-generation Intel chips and GTX graphics. It’s a great combination of affordability and power, and that’s exactly why it’s one of the best laptops for engineering students. As long as you don’t mind lugging a heavier gaming laptop around campus. Read the full review: Dell G3 15 How to choose the best laptop for engineering students?So, what exactly makes for the best laptops for engineering students? Since you're likely to be running complex programs like AutoCAD, you're definitely going to need a laptop with enough power to run them. We recommend a laptop with the latest Intel Core i5 or Core i7 chips, and at the very least, 8GB of RAM – though 16GB is even better. Many of the programs engineering students rely on are also graphically intensive programs – especially CAD, MATLAB and Solid Works, which are used for 3D modelling and video rendering. This means that it's crucial to have a laptop with a dedicated graphics card - rather than an integrated one powered by the processor. This is why the best gaming laptops are also ideal choices for engineering students, since they offer that kind of graphic power, and the fact that they can handle games for unwinding after classes is just the cherry on top. A large screen with a high resolution is also advisable, and if you're going to be working on site a lot, Finally, it would be a fine idea to take a look at some of the rugged or well-built laptops that are built to withstand accidents on work sites.
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| Best Mac 2019: the best Macs to buy this year Posted: 03 Sep 2019 01:48 PM PDT Thanks to the fierce competition, Apple is under more pressure to design the best Macs ever. As a result, we’re getting better and more powerful machines like the Mac Pro 2019, which is coming later in 2019 possibly alongside the rumored 16-inch MacBook Pro. In fact, if you’d rather not wait and want to get your hands on one of the best Macs now, there’s already quite a few excellent options to choose from, especially with Apple recently giving its MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro and 15-inch MacBook Pro much-needed refresh. To expand your choices further, the Apple computers are incredibly diverse. The best Macs cover everything from thin and light notebooks like the 12-inch MacBook, which is still on hand at third-party sites despite being discontinued, to professional workhorses like the iMac Pro. Taking all these into consideration, it can be tricky choosing the perfect Mac for you. We put together a list of the best Macs we’ve tested ourselves – from iMacs to MacBooks – to help you with that important decision. Let’s dive in to all the best Macs you can buy right now, no matter your budget and use. Mac Mini fans, rejoice! The Mac Mini has finally been upgraded with modern hardware, ushering Apple’s smallest Mac to the modern age and naturally warranting it the top spot in our best Macs list. This tiny thing is packed with 8th-generation desktop processors, a ton of RAM and some of the fastest SSDs we’ve seen – all while keeping the same adored form factor. It’s a tad pricier this time around, but with the raw speed on offer, you’ll find that it’s worth the price increase. Read the full review: Mac Mini 2018 If you want the most performance you can get in a MacBook without needing to pull off a heist, you’ll want to look into the MacBook Pro 15-inch. Now refreshed with hexa-core 9th-generation processors and up to 32GB of RAM, you won’t be held back by anything you throw at it – especially now that you can get Radeon Pro Vega 20 graphics. With that kind of performance, the MacBook Pro takes a lofty spot on our best Macs list without breaking a sweat. Read the full review: MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019) The iMac has long been one of the cheaper ways to get into the macOS ecosystem, and we’re glad that hasn’t changed. Though what has changed, we also appreciate. The new iMac is packing with 8th- and 9th-generation desktop-class processors, letting this stylish all-in-one reach that fabled 8-core performance. If you’re looking for an all-in-one Mac, the new 27-inch iMac might just be the best Mac for you, at least if you’re on a budget. Read the full review: iMac (27-inch, 2019) The biggest issue with the older MacBook Pro was that it was still packing Kaby Lake processors while its rivals had moved ahead. Luckily, the MacBook Pro 2018 changes everything, making it more powerful than ever. It still has the controversial Butterfly keyboard, but that’s also been improved so that its quieter and more reliable. It’s not hard to recommend the 13-inch MacBook Pro 2018 to anyone looking for the best Macs. Read the full review: MacBook Pro with Touch Bar (13-inch, mid-2018) Professionals and creatives need something that can handle any workload they can possibly throw at it. If you’re one such user, the iMac Pro isn’t just one of the best Macs for you; it’s the only Mac to consider. Not only does it have a vibrant 27-inch 5K display with a P3 wide color gamut, but it also boasts the most powerful hardware Apple could get its hands on. It’s extremely expensive though, so it’s really only meant for folks who have deep pockets and need that unbridled power to get through their daily workloads. Read the full review: iMac Pro Apple takes the MacBook Air (2018) and gives it a bit of refresh, adding True Tone technology to its display and an even more reliable keyboard. Unfortunately, it hasn’t upgraded the specs – which actually leads us to think that there might be a bigger update by early 2020. However, to be fair to this refresh, the 2018 version has already made our list, so this improved version is just as deserving or more so. But the best part is yet to come: this refresh is even cheaper, so you’re definitely getting more value for less. Read the full review: MacBook Air (2019) While Apple has officially taken the MacBook out of its MacBook lineup, many third parties are still carry it. And because the 12-inch MacBook has found its niche as an ultraportable and lightweight laptop, it’s still deserving of a spot on our best Macs list… that is, until stock runs out. It’s low on ports, but that’s hardly a surprise in a laptop this thin. It can support basically everything under the sun with its Thunderbolt 3 port, anyway. It’s not as powerful as the MacBook Pro, but if you’re looking for a MacBook that’s easy to take with you wherever you go, look no further. Read the full review: Apple MacBook (2017) Michelle Rae Uy, Bill Thomas and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article
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| Thousands of servers can be remotely hacked Posted: 03 Sep 2019 01:28 PM PDT Security researchers have discovered that at least 47,000 Supermicro severs in 90 countries have unpatched vulnerabilities in the firmware for their baseboard management controllers (BMCs) and this could leave them open to remote attacks. The security firm Eclypsium found the vulnerabilities and reported them to Supermicro and the company has since issued a patch to fix the issue. However, if left unpatched, the vulnerabilities could be exploited to allow an attacker to connect to a server and virtually mount any USB device over the internet. The attack, called USBAnywhere, could be carried out against any vulnerable BMC by attackers after gaining access to a corporate network. This means that the number of vulnerable servers could be much higher than the 47,000 which are exposed to the internet.
BMCs are designed to allow administrators to perform out-of-band management of a server and this is why the vulnerability discovered by Eclypsium is so serious. USBAnywhereThe USBAnywhere vulnerability arose from several issues in how BMCs on Supermicro's X9, X10 and X11 platforms implement virtual media which gives administrators the ability to remotely connect a disk image as a virtual USB CD-ROM or floppy drive. Eclypsium's researchers found that, when accessed remotely, the virtual media service allows for plaintext authentication, sends most traffic without encryption, uses a weak encryption algorithm and is susceptible to an authentication bypass. Potential attackers could exploit these issues to gain access to a server by capturing a legitimate user's authentication packet, using default credentials or without any credentials at all in some cases. Once a connection has been established, the virtual media service allows an attacker to interact with the host system as if they had directly connected a USB device to it. From here, an attacker could load a new operating system image, use a keyboard and mouse to modify the server, implant malware or even disable the server entirely. Usually it is recommended that organizations isolate BMCs on their own private and secured network segment. However, Eclypsium found that many organizations forget or choose to ignore this step and the firm used a Shodan scan which revealed that at least 92,000 BMCs are easily discoverable on the internet to illustrate this. To avoid falling victim to such an attack, Eclypsium recommends that all organizations update their BMC with the latest firmware and that they avoid exposing them directly to the internet as new BMC vulnerabilities are being discovered at a rapid rate.
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| The best Windows tablets 2019: all of the top Windows tablets reviewed Posted: 03 Sep 2019 01:20 PM PDT There’s no stopping the best Windows tablets from taking over the computing world. They’re not only excellent for entertainment and connecting with pals from other places, but they’re also lightweight and powerful. In fact, the best Windows tablets have evolved into the best 2-in-1 laptops alternatives on the market, perfect for people on the go who want to squeeze in a bit of work without lugging around a heavy laptop. Because they offer the best of both worlds and because of the versatility offered by these best Windows tablets, it’s not hard to see why they’re so universally beloved. From light and slim showstoppers to processor-hungry powerhouses, the best Windows tablets – some of which also makes our best tablets list – have something for every need and budget. We found the best Windows tablets, testing and reviewing them ourselves, and put together this list. Guaranteed you’ll find something on this list that’s perfect for you. The Microsoft Surface Go meets that large demand for a budget Surface device, while also being among the best Windows tablets for anyone who wants to do a bit of work on the go. It’s thin, light, portable and elegant like its more expensive cousins, but it has a price tag that’s a bit more affordable for regular users, thanks to Microsoft packing in everything they could in a device with a reasonable price tag. If you’re a student, or just someone who wants to consume some media while traveling, including playing some of the best laptop games on an airplane, then you can’t go wrong with the Microsoft Surface Go. Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Go Touted by Lenovo as ‘an IT admin’s dream,’ the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet indeed offers many of the makings of such a device. That includes dual Thunderbolt ports for faster data transfers, Windows Hello login via fingerprint reader, and the optional IR camera for a more secure login and Microsoft AutoPilot readiness. And, that’s without mentioning the SSD and battery that are field serviceable so that you can get a certified technician to come to you if you need parts replaced. But that’s not all; it’s also got a light and sleek chassis, and it comes with the ThinkPad Pen Pro, which means it’s great value all around. Read the full review: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet Microsoft’s Surface Pro lineup is the epitome of what other Windows tablets should strive for – and the Surface Pro 6 has followed in its predecessors’ footsteps. While it doesn’t bring anything particularly fresh to the table, it does iterate in a relevant way, inheriting all the best parts of the previous model then rolling out with more powerful hardware and a new black color option to boot. The Surface Pen and Type Cover are still for purchase and not included in the box, but that’s just the reality we have to live with these days. Either way, the Microsoft Surface Pro 6 easily tops our list of the best Windows tablets you can buy today. Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Pro 6 The Acer Switch used to be a more affordable alternative to the Surface Pro. These days, the Acer Switch 5 will cost you just as much, but that’s also for comparable specs except perhaps an older processor. Price increase aside, this tablet is still one of the best Windows tablets – not to mention, best performing – out there, and it’s the perfect solution for students and professionals who don’t want to buy into the Surface trend. Read the full review: Acer Switch 5 The Lenovo Yoga Book C930 is a truly innovative 2-in-1 laptop, with a second E Ink display that moonlights as a keyboard, a pad for making notes and drawing and a traditional E Ink reader for viewing documents. It's perhaps this second stunning screen that's the biggest selling point of the Lenovo Yoga Book C930. That fact that it's thin and light makes it an excellent tablet as well. If you're looking for a laptop that doubles as a tablet and a drawing pad, this one's an ace in our book. Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga Book C930 Bill Thomas, Gabe Carey and Michelle Rae Uy have also contributed to this article Images credit: TechRadar
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| The best 2-in-1 laptop 2019: find the best convertible laptop for your needs Posted: 03 Sep 2019 01:13 PM PDT The best 2-in-1 laptops have had a hand in changing the computing landscape forever – not to mention, the way we use our laptops. While the traditional laptop form is still the norm, many tablet users are getting the best of both worlds in one device thanks to these hybrid laptops. Indeed, there’s nothing like flipping one of the best 2-in-1 laptops into tent mode to watch Netflix or into tablet mode to play Plant vs Zombies after a long yet productive day of work in laptop mode. What’s better is that these hybrid laptops go even further than their multi-mode form, coming in many shapes, sizes and levels of power. Some come touting the best processors, making them some of the best laptops on the market right now. Some have a detachable screen, their display held in place by sheer magnetic force when in laptop mode. Many typically have stylus compatibility – even if it’s now becoming rarer to find a stylus included in the box. To help you choose the ideal hybrid notebook that matches your needs and budget, here are the best 2-in-1 laptops we recently tested, taking all their pros and cons into account. For years, HP’s Spectre line of Ultrabooks and 2-in-1 laptops has been about combining elegance with performance. The 2019 HP Spectre x360 15 is no different. It deserves a top spot on our best 2-in-1 laptops list for packing an 8th-generation Intel Core i7 CPU, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti graphics and 8GB of RAM in its base configuration. This 2-in-1 can handle pretty much anything your everyday workload throws at it – and then some (like a bit of light gaming, for example) – while looking like royalty. Bear in mind that the Spectre x360 is a bit big and heavy for a 2-in-1, so you likely won’t be using it in tablet mode that often. Put it in tent mode instead, so you can watch some movies on its spectacular 4K display. Read the full review: HP Spectre x360 15T (2019) It might strike you as odd that a Chromebook is on a list of the best 2-in-1 laptops, and rated so highly at that. But the Google Pixelbook merges the two forms perfectly, making it well-deserving of its spot. It’s an impressive device that takes the Chrome OS platform and elevates it to levels never seen before when it first rolled out. The Google Pixelbook is fitted with powerful components, as well as supports full Android apps, tearing down those walls that prevented Mac and Windows devotees from truly embracing the best Chromebooks. Read the full review: Google Pixelbook The Pixelbook is downright tempting, but economical buyers might prefer the Asus Chromebook Flip C302, a worthy pinch hitter. Having introduced a touchscreen hybrid design to Google’s cloud-based Chrome OS, the Asus Chromebook Flip is made better by its compatibility with Android apps. Just like the Pixelbook, you can use the Asus Chromebook Flip for Google Play apps, albeit after installing an out-of-the-box update. It’s without a doubt one of the best 2-in-1 laptops right now. And, if you're already a fan of Asus laptops, this one will make you a true convert. Read the full review: Asus Chromebook Flip The HP Spectre x360 isn’t just one of the best 2-in-1 laptops on the market; it’s also one of the best laptops to date. There are only a handful of manufacturers out there that combine powerful components with a dazzling design quite as well as HP does here. The gem cut chassis will draw plenty of jealous looks in the office, while the formidable hardware will breeze through all of your daily workload. That light and compact design – well, it’s so you’ll fall in love at first sight. And, when you’ve had enough showcasing is prowess, you can flip it around into tablet mode to squeeze in some late-night gaming. Read the full review: HP Spectre x360 Are you in the market for one of the best 2-in-1 laptops that delivers solid performance and serious horsepower? Well, you’ll find it in the Dell XPS 15, which incidentally also gets our vote as one of the best Ultrabooks you can buy today. This 2-in-1 is perhaps among the most coveted 2-in-1 laptops – with discrete class Radeon RX Vega graphics to boot. With it, you get a stunning convertible that doesn’t sacrifice sheer power. So, while it has a price tag that’s a bit on the high end, it’s also completely worth breaking the piggy bank. Read the full review: Dell XPS 15 2-in-1 We had nothing but love for the original Surface Book so when we heard that there was going to be a 15-inch Surface Book 2, we could barely contain our excitement. In the end though, the Microsoft Surface Pro 2 didn’t turn out to be the best 2-in-1 laptop out there. However, it’s still an impressive machine, even if it’s held back by a handful of compromises that were necessary to begin with. This 2-in-1 laptop features cutting-edge 8th-generation processors as well as Nvidia 10-series graphics for gamers and creatives alike. Combine that with its unique convertible solution, and the Surface Book 2 is an ace in our book. Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Book 2 (13-inch) Sleek, slim and with solid specs to boot, the new Lenovo Yoga C930 is undeniably worthy of a spot in the best 2-in-1 laptops list. And, that’s without mentioning the fact that it now offers a 4K display model, so that high-end viewing experience and decent gaming may be had once users have gotten their day-to-day workload out of the way. This 2-in-1 is a strong contender for consumers strapped for cash, but if you do decide to go for gold, be ready to break the bank. Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga C930 It’s no secret that we’re fans of the Microsoft Surface Book 2 13-inch, seeing as how we only raved about it earlier in this list. But how about its 15-inch brother? Well, with its long battery life, high-end specs that will breeze through the demands of day-to-day workload as well as a lot of entertainment, and of course, its unique design features, we’re inclined to feel the same way. This model isn’t for the budget shoppers, however. However, if you do have the money, its base model with 256GB storage is well worth the price tag and the best 2-in-1 laptop money can buy. Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Book 2 (15-inch) Thanks to its sleek, 13-inch design, this 2-in-1 is slimmer that you would have expected, which works in your favor when using it in tablet mode. There are other compelling reasons why the HP Envy x360 (2019) is worth considering when you’re in the market for the best 2-in-1 laptops. This HP beauty offers a premium build, boasts 9 hours of video playback and delivers a performance that will get you through most of your schoolwork and project, at a very affordable price. Read the full review: HP Envy x360 (2019) Acer has a knack for designing affordable laptops that are reliable enough for your typical productivity tasks and some viewing pleasures. They’re proving that once again with their cut-rate contender, the Acer Chromebook Spin 11, declared by many as one of the best Chromebooks to have hit the shelves to date. Some compromises were made, understandably with its low price tag, including that middling battery life. But for budget buyers who are unlikely to tackle processor-intensive work, this one’s for the books. Read the full review: Acer Chromebook Spin 11 Gabe Carey, Bill Thomas and Michelle Rae Uy have also contributed to this article Images Credit: TechRadar
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| The best student laptops: all the best options for school Posted: 03 Sep 2019 01:04 PM PDT The best laptop for students beautifully balance value and performance, so that they can deliver the level of performance students need for schoolwork while saving them some cash as well. After all, school can get very expensive very fast without even factoring in shelling out some money to purchase one of the best laptops for students. Staying on budget matters a lot, especially for college students who also need to pay for housing and are already scrimping with their steady diet of instant ramen. However, performance also matters, so that not just any budget laptop will do. The best laptops for students also deliver a performance good enough for getting schoolwork and projects done, with a bit of video streaming, movie watching and perhaps some gaming in between. The top contenders for the best laptops for students put value over having the top-of-the-line processors and graphics cards, giving you some budget-friendly options. And yet, they still have enough juice to get you through a demanding workload then let you partake in some post-schoolwork entertainment. You don’t need to stay with Windows 10, either, as some of the best Chromebooks are also capable of going head to head with some of the best laptops while being economical. Going to school can be a stressful time. You don’t need the added frustration of having to work on a barely functioning laptop. So we sought out the 10 best laptops for students that are ideal for your budget, no matter how low. Because no one should be restricted to an ancient relic just to get some work done, but you shouldn’t have to sell an organ, either. We’re massive fans of laptops that can skillfully strike a balance between price and performance with hardly any compromises, and the Huawei MateBook 13 comes closer to than anything else in 2019 so far. It’s light and compact, perfect for carrying in your backpack while you hurry from class to class; but it’s fast and affordable as well. This stunning 13-inch Ultrabook will make sure you’ll get all your work done in style, without burning a hole in your pocket. Sure, you might need to keep that charger on hand if you want it to last you the whole day, as the battery life is underwhelming. However, there’s still no doubt that the Huawei Matebook 13 deserves its lofty spot on the best laptops for students list. Read the full review: Huawei MateBook 13 Dell’s flagship laptop has always been rated as one of the best laptops for students, not to mention among the most ideal devices for professionals and casual, everyday users. This time around, the Dell XPS 13 2019 welcomes back the entry-level model, making it affordable enough for college students once again. Dell has also addressed our biggest frustration with the XPS lineup – the webcam. It has finally been moved back above the display where it belongs. This means that your family and friends won’t have to stare up into your nostrils when you’re video chatting ever again. Read the full review: Dell XPS 13 While the Surface Laptop was arguably one of the 10 best laptops for students, it was still held back by its below average performance, a lack of ports and Windows 10 in S Mode. Luckily, the Surface Laptop 2 has considerably improved on its predecessor – with the exception of the ports. It’s now packed with 8th-generation Intel Kaby Lake Refresh processors, full-fat Windows 10 Home and a black color option. We only wish it included even a single USB-C port. Still, you will get all your tasks done in style with this laptop with little to no effort, making it deserving of a high spot on this list. Read the full review: Surface Laptop 2 Even if you’re only in the market for a laptop for school that strikes a balance between cost and performance, it can’t hurt to factor in a splash of style. The Microsoft Surface Go isn’t just one of the best Windows tablets, but it’s also one of the most beautiful devices on the market. Better yet, it also gets our vote as among the best laptops for students, especially from a value perspective. Don’t be duped by the low-power components: Microsoft engineered this tablet to take on all your general schoolwork and more without breaking a sweat. Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Go The Dell XPS 15 has been making our list of best laptops for students for several years now, and Dell has stuck with that old “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach with its latest model. Not much has changed since the 2017 version, but we aren’t complaining. After all, you’re getting an Ultrabook that’s not only reliable, but also has enough power to get you through pretty much any workload. And, the Dell XPS 15 is very reasonably priced. In fact, the base configuration should work swimmingly for most users. If you want more power, you can also configure this thing with up to an Intel Core i9 processor and 32GB of RAM, upgrading their Dell XPS 15 into an extremely powerful workstation. Now, if Dell would just move that webcam, we’d be gravy. Read the full review: Dell XPS 15 There are so many compelling reasons why the HP Envy x360 (2019) belongs to our best laptops for students like, and its slim, sleek design is the least of them. This 13-inch 2-in-1 has premium build, delivers up to 9 hours of video playback and a performance that will get you through most of your schoolwork and project, all without burning a hole in your pocket. Read the full review: HP Envy x360 (2019) The Microsoft Surface lineup has made a name for itself for being among the best Windows devices on the market, with beautiful touch displays, excellent performance and a battery life that lasts a long time. The Surface Pro 6 continues that tradition, even if it doesn’t improve much on its predecessor. You’re getting a fast Windows tablet that can effortlessly turn into a laptop with the addition of the Surface Type Cover. What does that mean for you? Simply that you can get your work done then effortlessly transition into Netflix time, making it one of the best laptops for students. Read the full review: Surface Pro 6 Most schoolwork that’s not specialized (i.e. engineering) can be done on a Chromebook. So if you aren’t anticipating to do a lot of projects that require the use of processor-hungry apps, getting a Chromebook can save you hundreds of dollars. If you’re a student on the market for one of the best laptops for students to help you with all your research, type up papers and not much else, the Dell Inspiron Chromebook 11 2-in-1 might fit the bill. The Dell Chromebook 11 2-in-1 won’t be able to handle much heavy lifting, but at this price, it doesn’t need to. This is the best laptop for students on a very limited budget. Read the full review: Dell Inspiron Chromebook 11 2-in-1 Apple takes the MacBook Air (2018) and gives it a bit of refresh, adding True Tone technology to its display and an even more reliable keyboard. Unfortunately, it hasn’t upgraded the specs, but seeing as the 2018 version has already made our list of the best laptops for students, this improved version is just as deserving because of the improved hardware. But the best part is yet to come: this refresh is even cheaper, so you’re definitely getting more value for less. Read the full review: MacBook Air (2019) Apple’s most powerful MacBook in existence has just juiced-up, which means that the 15-inch Cupertino powerhouse is faster than ever. Whether you’re doing school projects, photo editing or light gaming, this will blow you away as one of the best laptops for students. What’s behind this refresh? To start, an improved keyboard, as well as some of the latest and most powerful processors from Intel. Now, you not only have the option to take one home with an 8-core Intel Core i9, but also configure one to rock a Radeon Pro Vega 16 or Pro Vega 20 GPU to give you a boost in graphics. Read the full review: MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019) Bill Thomas, Michelle Rae Uy and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article. Images Credit: TechRadar
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| Excited to Exercise: Best fitness technologies for every personality Posted: 03 Sep 2019 12:54 PM PDT No matter what motivation you need to get moving, there’s a tool for that. Aurora University Online’s Modern Fitness Technology Guide lays out the many and various ways that technology – from wearable tech to streaming fitness classes – can help consumers and athletes get excited to exercise. In this guide, we’ll highlight findings from the University’s online M.S. in Exercise Science study on modern fitness technology tools. Whether you’re just starting out, seeking the next hottest workout, or looking to get more competitive with your training, here are the many technology options for limbering up, stretching out, and raising your heart rate. Best for: People Who Think Exercise is BoringA common excuse for not working out is that exercise is boring. Staring at the bottom of the pool while doing laps or the screen of a stationary bike can get old, fast. Luckily, there are other options – specifically, a category of working out called “exergaming.” Exergaming, or the combination of exercise and high-tech gaming, became popular with the advent of Nintendo’s Wii console and the arcade game Dance Dance Revolution. For those who find exercise boring, playing these games will give them a workout without even realizing it. Research from Harvard found that “the Wii Aerobics package, for example, gives you a workout that’s the equivalent of walking at 3 miles per hour.” That kind of moderate-intensity activity won’t turn players into pro-athletes, but it does provide tons of health benefits without the tedium of some workouts. The next iteration of exergames includes virtual reality (VR) technology. VR promises to up the workout intensity while providing an immersive, entertaining experience. Games like Knockout League and Thrill of the Fight have been proven by the Virtual Reality Institute of Health and Exercise to burn approximately 8-10 calories per minute, the equivalent of rowing. And, as VR is still relatively new, expect to see more types of this exercise tech come to the market in the next few years Best for: Fitness FanaticsFor those who want to get a solid workout in frequently, on-demand, in-home fitness technology is usually the best option. Peloton has cornered the in-home market with its stylish bike, treadmill, and schedule of live classes available digitally, achieving almost cult-like status since its first product launched in 2012. The company is worth more than $4 billion as of February 2019 and has a reputation for being the “Apple of fitness.” According to AU Online's guide, “The major draw is that the device provides home users with 24-hour access to live and on-demand group workout classes . . . Additionally, in the spirit of virtually any piece of modern fitness technology, home users receive live, in-class data metrics that span cadence, resistance, output, and heart rate.” Best for: Early Adopters Looking For The Next Fitness TrendPeloton has many competitors, but one piece of in-home fitness technology is causing a buzz: Mirror. Mirror looks like its namesake, a mirror, until you turn it on. It’s actually an LCD screen that streams fitness classes right into your home. Users open the Mirror app, add key health details such as their height, weight, and fitness goals, as well as any injury details. Then, users connect with the Mirror screen using a Bluetooth heart rate monitor (or Apple Watch) that tracks heart rate and calories burned. Sign up for any of Mirror’s 50-plus on-demand classes: barre, yoga, boxing, strength training, HIIT, and more, all at different levels. When not in use, the Mirror goes back to being . . . a mirror. Best for: Professional AthletesIn-home technology is great for those who aren’t getting paid to compete at the top of their game. But, professional athletes require more advanced fitness technology that can provide data points to improve and optimize performance. Catapult Sports produces fitness technology used by the NBA to reduce injuries and collect data on how players move, including their accelerations, elevations, and jumping ranges. This is the next level of fitness technology, a tool that allows coaches to “tailor programs specifically to each player’s unique physiology, correcting injury-inducing problems like imbalances between each side of the body,” according to Fast Company. “A player, for example, could be favoring one leg over the other when jumping, due perhaps to an old injury that never properly healed or muscular weakness never addressed.” Best for: Amateurs Looking To Raise Their GamePerhaps the best multi-use fitness tech tool is the Apple Watch, used by pros and amateurs alike to improve training. Apple Watch is one of the best smartwatches on the market, getting high ratings in our TechRadar guide. Why is it great for athletes and fitness aficionados? Apple Watch can differentiate between regular movement and actual exercise. There are reminders to stand up and move around during the day. And, even more importantly, users can see how much they’ve moved, exercised, and stood throughout the day right on the easily read interface. GPS capability can show how far the wearer has run or cycled, and the sleep tracker monitors the user’s recovery between sessions. Like the Fitbit line, Apple Watch is one of the many great fitness tracking tools on the market today. Modern fitness technology continues to evolve as capabilities become more advanced and consumers demand more data for their workouts. For more on the future of fitness wearables, read AU Online's guide here. |
| The best Ultrabooks 2019: top thin and light laptops reviewed Posted: 03 Sep 2019 12:28 PM PDT The best Ultrabooks are more than just status symbols. These stylish and svelte laptops are also capable of delivering excellent performance for productivity and to see you through your creative endeavors. As they’re feathery-light and compact, they’re the ultimate grab and go devices, which means that you can edit your photos, render your videos and catch up on work, whether you’re on a train in Europe, at a cafe at home or in between classes. What’s more is that they’re now more powerful than ever, coming fitted with the best processors and SSDs out there. They really are powerful little machines that can help you run through projects like no one’s business. And, often that power is coupled with a pretty remarkable battery life that might last you an entire workday in one full charge. We’ve put quite a few Ultrabooks out there through our tests and picked out the best ones for our best Ultrabooks list, which include stalwarts like Dell and HP as well as newer entries like Razer and Huawei. Not quite sure which Ultrabook is the right one for you? By the time you go through this list, you’ll have a top contender to consider. For a few years now, Huawei has been waiting in the shadows, biding its time to take on the best Ultrabooks. But now, that time in the limelight is here. Like the Huawei MateBook X Pro before it, the Huawei Matebook 13 crams a ton of powerful hardware into a beautiful shell, all while offering it at a price that’s more than reasonable. Those discrete graphics are also worthy of a mention – the Huawei Matebook 13 may be one of the tiniest 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 The Dell XPS 13 has been the top dog of the Ultrabooks for years, and while it’s been dethroned by the Huawei MateBook 13, it’s still 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 issues that held back the XPS 13 for years. Add the updated internals to the mix, and the Dell XPS 13 still makes the best Ultrabooks list – even in the face of tough competition. Read the full review: Dell XPS 13 Sometimes an Ultrabook appears that completely changes everything. When the 2018 model of the Huawei MateBook X Pro came on the scene, it did exactly that. This gorgeous Ultrabook brings high-end components into a stylishly designed package that puts even the MacBook Pro to shame. It truly is one of the best Ultrabooks on the market, despite its 2019 successor’s attempts to best it with an Intel Whiskey Lake processor. It’s still the 2018 model that’s captured our computing cores. Read the full review: Huawei MateBook X Pro If a striking Ultrabook housing 2-in-1 functionality and plenty of power fulfills what you’re looking for, it’s hard to find a better laptop than the HP Spectre x360. This slim and light Ultrabook isn’t just packed with the latest Intel Whiskey Lake processors and plenty of RAM. It also may just be the most exquisite laptop you can buy today. The HP Spectre x360 won’t just see you through your workload, but will also make you smart and stylish in the process – leaving no doubt that it’s well-deserving of its lofty spot on our best Ultrabooks 2019 list. Read the full review: HP Spectre x360 The original Surface Laptop hit the market nearly two years ago, and while it was a great Ultrabook, it was held back by relatively weak internals and Windows 10 S. Thankfully, Microsoft rolled out the Surface Laptop 2 in late 2018, providing quad-core processors and the full-fat version of Windows 10. It’s through these primary improvements that the Surface Laptop 2 is able to bring the purest Windows 10 experience to a laptop – not to mention, join the ranks of the best Ultrabooks available right now – at a price that won’t make you run in the opposite direction. Read the full review: Surface Laptop 2 The Lenovo Yoga C930 has many of the makings of the best Ultrabook – from a ridiculous 14.5 hours of battery life and dual Thunderbolt-enabled USB-C ports to internal components that will easily power through those daily productivity tasks. That’s without even mentioning a 2-in-1 that offers form flexibility so you can squeeze in some light gaming and movie-watching after you’re done working. It has a few cherries on top as well, namely the integrated self-charging stylus and the fab speaker system. Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga C930 Razer has made quite a name for itself in the gaming world. Yet, with the Razer Blade Stealth, the green-themed manufacturer wants people to know that they’re more than just a company “for gamers, by gamers.” This Ultrabook will definitely change your mind with its 13.3-inch, QHD+ beauty. You can no longer opt for a 4K screen, but the performance this Ultrabook offers is more than worth the compromise – especially given how beautiful the chassis is. Read the full review: Razer Blade Stealth Durability meets portability and performance in this slender laptop with an affordable price tag. The Lenovo Yoga 730 isn’t the close-to-perfect machine many premium buyers might be in the market for, with a few less-than-favorable flaws like heavier weight, average battery life and weak speakers. However, this laptop will easily take you through your weekly workload. Lenovo then rounds out that performance with a reliable keyboard and trackpad, sturdy hinges to switch between tablet and laptop mode, and a display with thin bezels. Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga 730 There are so many compelling reasons why the HP Envy x360 (2019) should be on our best Ultrabooks list, and its trim, stylish design is the least of them. This 13-inch 2-in-1 has a premium build quality, boasts 9 hours of video playback and a performance that will power you through most of your schoolwork and projects, all without burning a hole in your pocket. Read the full review: HP Envy x360 (2019) In many cases, a Windows Ultrabook can be just as capable as a MacBook Air. Take the Asus ZenBook UX310UA, for example. With decent 7th-generation Intel Kaby Lake processors, a remarkable 178-degree viewing-angle QHD+ display, a USB-C port and an aluminum build, it’s still one of the best Ultrabooks on the market, even after all this time. Read the full review: Asus ZenBook UX310 Michelle Rae Uy, Bill Thomas and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article Image credit: TechRadar
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| Best gaming laptops 2019: the 10 top gaming laptops we've reviewed Posted: 03 Sep 2019 12:25 PM PDT The best gaming laptops this 2019 are nearly just as high-powered as the best gaming desktops, as surprising as that might sound to some people, and they will more than satisfy your gaming needs. After all, the best gaming laptops these days are fitted with powerful components, some even touting the latest and greatest like Nvidia’s Super RTX and AMD’s Navi graphic cards. Whether you need a replacement for your dated gaming laptop or you’re looking to invest in your very first one, now’s certainly the best time to shell out some cash. The best gaming laptops can run the best PC games at the highest resolutions and frame rates. So much so that you won’t even need to build the best gaming PC to get top-notch performance anymore. You’ll have quite a few options to choose from as well, as the best gaming laptops come in many shapes and sizes, from thicc desktop replacements that pack plenty of power to svelte ones for gaming on the go. We found the best gaming laptops 2019 has to offer for your consideration. Since we reviewed each ones ourselves, you can be sure they’re the best of the best on the market right now. If you fell head over heels upon seeing the Alienware Area-51m’s quirky and stunning white chassis, you’re not alone. And, if you happen to shell out that couple of thousand dollars based on looks alone, you’ll be happy to know that it wasn’t all for naught, as this gaming laptop – or rather, the best among best gaming laptops of 2019 – packs a hefty punch, gaming-wise. This is so far the most powerful gaming laptop on the market currently, and you won’t be able to help but be impressed. Its comfy keyboard and VR readiness are just cherries on top. Read the full review: Alienware Area-51m These days, the best gaming laptop manufacturers are scrambling to design the thinnest gaming laptop that also showcase raw power. At the moment, the one that might be leading the charge might just be the Asus ROG Zephyrus GX701. At just 0.7 inches thick, this beast of a laptop boasts an Intel Coffee Lake Core i7 chip, Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q graphics and 16GB of RAM. That means you can play any PC game under the sun on Ultra, and also take it with you wherever you go – ideal for travelers with a penchant for gaming. Plus, it’s packed with RGB lighting that’ll dazzle just about anyone. Read the full review: Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701 Play some of the best PC games on the move and very discreetly with the MSI GS65 Stealth, which might just be the gaming laptop of your dreams. Coming in at just 0.69 inches thick and featuring impressive hardware like Intel Coffee Lake processors and Nvidia GeForce GTX 10-series – refreshed with RTX 20-series graphics at CES – the MSI GS65 Stealth packs a punch in its very thing package. There’s nothing you won’t be able to throw at this thing that’ll slow it down. And, thanks to the smart aesthetic, you’ll be able to lug this beefy rig everywhere you go, making it among the best gaming laptops to hit the streets. Read the full review: MSI GS65 Stealth For a few years now, the Razer Blade has constantly been named as among the best gaming laptops on the market. And for good reason, as it packs some powerful components and boasts a beautiful display in its elegant chassis. That’s true for the 2019 model as well, which now rocks up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080. That is, frankly, a ton of power for a laptop with this thin. If that’s not enough graphics power for you, you can use the Razer Core for future expansion. Make no mistake: it is pricey; but it might be worth it if style and power are equally important to you. Read the full review: Razer Blade The Lenovo Legion Y740 packs a lot of muscle inside its stylish yet accessible chassis, combining a very high refresh rate, Nvidia Turing graphics and a powerful processor with a gloriously effective thermal cooling, a cable management system and a number of applications for customizations. It’s as close to a complete package as you can get, wrapped in a stunning chassis that you’d be proud to show off to friends and strangers. It still has the remnants of that gaming aesthetic, but it’s made elegant so that you could be gaming in public without anyone knowing. Despite its shortcomings – unfortunate keyboard and webcam placement, as well as its subpar battery life – it’s still one of the best gaming laptops to date. Read the full review: Lenovo Legion Y740 Some gaming laptops just don’t pull any punches, enabling you to run any game you can imagine on Ultra without breaking a sweat – and the MSI GT75 Titan is a terrific example. It’s a behemoth of desktop replacement, packed with 6-core Intel Coffee Lake processors, plenty of RAM and powerful Nvidia Pascal graphics. Aptly named, this is indeed a titan, and is neither portable nor cafe-friendly. However, if raw power is what you’re after, this is the best gaming laptop for you, as long as you’re prepared to shell out the money. Read the full review: MSI GT75 Titan It may not have the most original or inventive design, trading in the usual black and red aesthetic for one that makes it feel like Halloween all year round (no complaints here, but some might not find it particularly appealing). Yet, Asus ROG Strix GL502 is still one of the best laptops when it comes to gaming in 1080p. In fact, we are able to crank the settings all the way up in Overwatch without ever dipping below 60fps. It doesn’t offer the longest battery life, but just have your charger on hand at all times. Plus, the screen, power and onboard sound system more than make up for it. Read the full review: Asus ROG Strix GL502
If you’re looking for a gaming powerhouse, but you don’t have the cash to shell out for one of those svelte gaming laptops, the Acer Predator Helios 500 is the obvious choice. It’s packed with up to an Intel Core i9 processor and full-fat Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 graphics, and therefore will be able to handle any game you throw at it. It’s not the most portable device in the world, and the speakers and trackpad are mediocre, but when it comes to gaming, you’ve still got an ace here. Read the full review: Acer Predator Helios 500 Thin like an Ultrabook, yet powerful as any gaming machine should, and with an incredible cooling system to boot, the Asus Zephyrus S GX531GX is one of the best gaming laptops we’ve gotten our hands on in 2019. It boasts an 8th-generation Intel Core i7 backed by Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q graphics and up to 24GB RAM, which means that this beast should take you a long way in gaming, whether you’re a casual gamer or a pro. We’re huge fans, though probably not of how much it costs. This pricey powerhouse is not for the shallow-pocketed, but with premium components come a premium price. Only invest if you’ve got the tenders. Read the full review: Asus Zephyrus S GX531GX Fitting the svelte yet cheap bill, on the other hand, is the Gigabyte Aero 15, which – at 0.74 inches. Despite its thin chassis, it still delivers top-notch gaming performance. That’s mostly thanks to its Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 and an Intel Core i9 CPU. It’s also ray tracing ready, so it’s even more future-proof. However, its thin form factor is a double-edged sword: the Core i9 gets way too hot and can throttle. Keep that in mind if you plan on doing any sustained creative work, like editing all your videos. And, maybe have a desk fan or cooler on hand. Read the full review: Gigabyte Aero 15 Gabe Carey, Bill Thomas and Michelle Rae Uy have also contributed to this article Images Credit: TechRadar
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| Posted: 03 Sep 2019 12:22 PM PDT There are many reasons why you should purchase one of the best Chromebooks, whether you’re looking to get a new laptop or seeking the ideal secondary one for work. Alongside an incredible battery life that will last you all day and their uncanny ability to multitask despite their typically lightweight innards and Chrome operating system, the best Chromebooks are now more powerful than ever this 2019. This means that they are now capable of so much more than their predecessors. What makes one of the best Chromebooks an ideal candidate for your next laptop? It’s worth your time knowing what exactly a Chromebook is, but the point of a Chromebook is to have a more secure, lightweight and typically affordable laptop that gets you through most non processor-hungry productivity and creative tasks, as well as many games and a whole lot of video streaming. If your computer use generally boils down to word processing, emailing, watching Netflix, surfing the internet and mobile gaming, with very light photo and video editing, you really can’t go wrong with one of the best Chromebooks on this list. The Google Pixelbook is the best Chromebook of 2019 Not long after declaring the Chromebook Pixel’s demise, Google revived it Chromebook line in a completely unexpected way. So, now we have the Google Pixelbook, and it stands completely independent of its predecessor. Part of the reason is because, unlike the Chromebook Pixel, it can run Android apps natively, on top of building upon Chrome OS. When you factor in the huge amount of storage space, superb stylus and addition of Google Assistant, it shouldn’t surprise you when we say that the Pixelbook is the best Chromebook 2019 has to offer – even so long after its launch. Read the full review: Google Pixelbook The best convertible Chromebook Before Google rolled out the Pixelbook, and showed us exactly what the best Chromebooks should be, the Asus Chromebook Flip was the Google laptop many Google laptops aspire to be. With a full Intel Core processor and a full-HD display, the Asus Chromebook Flip was a game-changer. Put simply, if you want key features that the Pixelbook offers, but you cannot afford its premium price, the Asus Chromebook Flip is the next best thing. If you're on a budget, this is one of the best Asus laptops to consider. Read the full review: Asus Chromebook Flip A brilliant Chromebook for productivity When Android apps first became available to the best Chromebooks, it was only a matter of time before Samsung threw its hat into the ring, designing a Chromebook that’s as beautiful as it is powerful. With a 12.3-inch QHD touchscreen and a 360-degree hinge, the Samsung Chromebook Pro also has a built-in stylus, the first of its kind to show up in a Chromebook. This device gives many of its competitors a run for their money – that includes most Android devices – even if the keyboard could use some tightening up. Read the full review: Samsung Chromebook Pro
Another top convertible Chrfomebook When you think of Chromebooks, education is one of the first things that comes to mind. With the Acer Chromebook Spin 13, Acer wants its Chromebooks to be synonymous with business as well. Beautifully built from aluminum with a gorgeous QHD screen, it will perfectly fit in any office setting, as well as actually draw some envious looks at a cafe. It’s more than just its attractive chassis, however: the Acer Chromebook Spin 13 is packed with full-fat Ultrabook processors, so you can get work done – whether it’s at school or in the office – in style. Read the full review: Acer Chromebook Spin 13 Another great 2-in-1 Chromebook The best Chromebooks are affordable devices that are accessible to anyone, no matter the budget. And, in that spirit, the Dell Inspiron Chromebook 11 2-in-1 perfectly fits the bill. This isn’t the most powerful Chromebook on the market, obviously. However, it boils Chromebooks down to what they need to be: affordable, easy to use and durable. This rugged Chromebook is great for doing all your web browsing, paper writing and show binging needs, and may just be one of the best laptops for kids, as it won’t break from a simple drop. Read the full review: Dell Inspiron Chromebook 11 2-in-1 Acer has made one of the best Chromebooks ever with the Chromebook Spin 11 The best Chromebooks make the most compelling student laptops, and that’s exactly where the Acer Chromebook Spin 11 excels. Whether you’re a student or a parent of one, this is a cheap, capable and durable laptop that will let you get some schoolwork done while commuting or traveling. You might not get any hardcore gaming or proper video editing done on it. However, if you only need to write up some papers and stream videos or shows in your downtime, then the Acer Chromebook Spin 11 should be at the top of your list. Read the full review: Acer Chromebook Spin 11 Another brilliant Chromebook from Acer With a solid build quality that rivals a MacBook, it’s easy to excuse the Acer Chromebook 15’s aversion to 2-in-1 form factors. Still, given that the best Chromebooks rolling out this year are fully convertible, thanks to the wide adoption of Android app support, the Acer Chromebook 15 had to prove itself with more than great style. Beyond its aptitude for laying flat using a 180-degree hinge, this beautiful 15-inch Chromebook also makes a great impression with its battery life, lasting nearly 17 hours in our battery test. Read the full review: Acer Chromebook 15 Acer Chromebook R11 has a 360-degree hinge We wouldn’t be surprised to see Acer replacing the Chromebook R11 someday soon – at least, judging by the recent release of the Chromebook Spin 11, and owing to the fact that it isn’t the most powerful choice out there. Yet it still holds up to this day as among the best Chromebooks on the market, giving you full access to Android Apps on the Google Play store. What’s more, it does so on a touchscreen display that can be rotated around into tablet mode, fitted in an all-metal finish that you would be proud to show off. Read the full review: Acer Chromebook R11 A brilliant value Chromebook from HP The best Chromebooks balance a bargain price and efficient use of Chrome OS – and the HP Chromebook 14 is the perfect example of that. While it’s similar to the Acer Chromebook 15 in a lot of ways, this 14-inch Chromebook is a tad more compact and looks slightly better. Complemented by a bright blue finish and a screen made to astound, the HP Chromebook 14 offers the best value of any Chromebook out there. Even if the battery life and performance are average – the HP Chromebook 14 is easily one of the best Chromebooks to date. Read the full review: HP Chromebook 14 The Acer Chromebook Spin 15 is the ultimate Chromebook for multitasking We can easily forgive the Acer Chromebook Spin 15’s shortcomings – namely, its subpar trackpad and the fact that doesn’t take full advantage of the space it has – as it more than makes up for them with enough power for formidable multitasking, a battery life that will outlast yours and a beautiful touch display that’s surprisingly premium for the price. All those certainly warrant this Chromebook a spot in our best Chromebooks list, and that’s without even factoring in its affordability. If you’re not convinced that you should jump on the Chromebook bandwagon, this one will make a convert out of you. Read the full review: Acer Chromebook Spin 15 Juan Martinez, Michelle Rae Uy and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article. Images Credit: TechRadar Watch the video below for the top 7 things to consider when buying a laptop:
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| AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3rd Generation release date, news, and rumors Posted: 03 Sep 2019 12:02 PM PDT Now that AMD has released its first 7nm Ryzen 3rd Generation processors, what will the future look like for Threadripper 3rd Generation – its next line of HEDT processors? The new Zen 2 architecture was revealed at CES 2019, with AMD promising dramatically improved efficiency and performance, thanks to the new 7nm manufacturing process. This is the architecture behind the latest Ryzen processors like the AMD Ryzen 9 3900X, and sees performance jump up dramatically, thanks to a 15% boost to IPC (instructions per clock). In fact, a mysterious Threadripper 3rd Generation chip recently appeared, boasting an incredible performance. More leaks about the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3000 series have also emerged to suggest that the new range of CPUs will be using new chipsets and set to launch in 2019. This is definitely exciting information if you’re looking to upgrade to a new Ryzen chip, but we’re interested in Threadripper 3rd Generation here. But, if this same jump in performance can appear in the next Threadripper processors, we could see some of the best CPUs for creative work yet. Still, AMD has yet to officially announce when we'll actually see these processors, much less how powerful they'll actually be. However, that doesn't mean we don't have anything to go off of – we've used our tech expertise to gather up all the Threadripper 3rd Generation rumors and speculation in one spot. So, be sure to keep this page bookmarked, and we'll keep it updated with all the latest Threadripper news. Cut to the chase
Image Credit: TechRadar AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3rd Generation release dateAMD CEO Lisa Su took to the stage at the Hot Chips conference and promised that we’d get more information about the third generation of Threadripper processors “soon”, later clarifying that we’ll hear more later this year. However, AMD hasn’t actually come out and announced the release date for the next Threadripper chips. Still, the last two generations have had pretty consistent release dates, so we have a solid basis for speculation. Both the original Threadripper and Threadripper 2nd Generation launched in August of 2017 and 2018, respectively. We’re fairly sure that AMD is going to follow the same general release schedule this time around, but, obviously we don’t know that for sure. The Zen 2 architecture launched with Ryzen 3rd Generation in July 2019, however we still don't know when we'll see this architecture enter the HEDT market. For a while there, it looked like we may have to wait until 2020 to even see these processors. AMD’s next-gen HEDT chips have dropped off of Team Red’s roadmap entirely, so we might be waiting quite a while to get our hands on them. This isn’t the most concrete of rumors, but it’s better to be prepared for the worst. We’ll update this article as soon as we hear more substantial rumors about the release date. Image Credit: TechRadar AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3rd Generation priceAs we’re ahead of AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3rd Generation’s launch, we don’t have any official pricing information, but we can look at past generations to get an idea of what AMD’s next HEDT chips will cost. The original lineup of Threadripper topped out with the $999 (£999, AU$1,439) AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X, but the second generation introduced surprisingly lower priced replacements. There were also two higher specced – and higher priced – additions. We believe Threadripper 3rd Generation will follow the latter model. The prices of AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2nd Generation chips are as follows:
AMD could very well surprise us and introduce an even higher-end SKU, like it did with the Ryzen 9 3900X and 3950X, but we're not sure that will actually happen. Stay tuned, and we’ll update this page as soon as we hear any Threadripper 3rd Generation price information. Image Credit: TechRadar AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3rd Generation specsWith AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3rd Generation, we expect to see a huge bump in core counts, efficiency and per-core performance with Threadripper 3rd Generation. If you need a refresher on last year’s Threadripper lineup’s specs they’re as follows:
With its Ryzen 3rd Generation processors, the move to 7nm has massively improved specs, not only resulting in higher core counts, but boosted clock speeds, much higher cache and lower power consumption. So, we're sure that performance is going to be massively improved. You can just look at the recently-announced Epyc processors, also based on Zen 2, which feature up to 64-cores. The AMD Ryzen 9 3950X, which will hit store shelves in September, features 16-cores, for instance, double that of the previous-generation Ryzen 7 2700X. And, when it comes to power consumption, just look at the Ryzen 7 3700X, which beats the Intel Core i9-9900K with a 65W TDP (thermal design power). AMD Zen 2 processors feature up to 8-core chiplets that are smaller than the IO die. This means that Threadripper 3rd Generation should have many more cores in the same amount of space. Right now, all the rumors are pointing to AMD Threadripper 3rd Generation processors having up to 32-cores and 64-threads. That's the same amount of cores and threads featured in the Threadripper 2990WX, but a leaked 3rd Generation Threadripper processor appeared that's 13% faster with the same amount of cores. In addition, more leaks are suggesting that the new range of CPUs will be using new chipsets - TRX40, TRX80 and WRX80, which means you’ll need a new motherboard if these are accurate. If AMD is able to bring higher core counts to Castle Peak HEDT processors, we could see AMD absolutely dominate Intel’s Basin Falls Refresh – and potentially the Cascade Lake-X family that’s rumored to follow it. And, if Intel can’t answer with anything but 14nm silicon, AMD might claim the HEDT throne just as it toppled Intel’s mainstream sales. This is especially true if Intel can’t get a smaller manufacturing process out before Zen 3 comes out and refines AMD’s 7nm process, likely in 2020.
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| Best Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti: which version is best for your PC? Posted: 03 Sep 2019 11:57 AM PDT Hands down, the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is the best graphics card for anyone who is looking for an affordable GPU without compromising on performance. If you’ve been in the market for an Nvidia Turing card that matches your limited budget, the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is the graphics card for you. The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is able to hit that sweet price-to-performance spot by cutting out the RT and Tensor cores that power Nvidia’s new RTX and Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) technologies. Even after sacrificing these extra features however, the GTX 1660 Ti is still such a great performing card that’s made even better by its affordability. It is the best budget graphics card on the market right now – even if the GTX 1660 does an admirable job of trying to give it a run for its money . With this new focus on value, it’s easy to see why its growing faster than other Nvidia Turing cards. Unlike Nvidia releases in the past, Team Green didn’t roll this one out with its own Founders Edition of the GTX 1660 Ti. Without this base model to set the stage for what we could expect from third-party cards, there’s a wide variety of cards going for varying prices. It’s for this reason that we went ahead and found all the best Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti models you can buy today. The PNY GeForce GTX 1660 Ti XLR8 Gaming OC may not look like much, being tiny and all, but it also packs a punch. Fitted with a 70MHz factory overclock and solid specs, this card delivers on the dream of 1440p Ultra quality gameplay at 60 fps. That’s pretty impressive. What’s even better, all of this performance costs less than 300 smackers. This is the best bang-for-your-buck graphics cards you’ll find so far. Read the full review: PNY GeForce GTX 1660 Ti XLR8 Gaming OC On the other hand, if you’re looking to max out the performance of the GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, then go with the Asus ROG Strix GTX 1660 Ti OC. It might just be the card for you, touting the highest factory overclock we’ve seen on this mid-range graphics card yet. In addition, its oversized heatsink and triple axial fans keep this card running a full 10C cooler than most of its rivals. Thanks to its extreme cooling system, overclocking this card is a non-issue. Read the full review: Asus ROG Strix GTX 1660 Ti OC review Want something more middle of the road? The Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Windforce OC is the closest thing to your average GeForce GTX 1660 Ti. The downside to this is that it’s only equipped with a middle-of-the-road dual-fan cooler. The upside? Gigabyte offsets that by utilizing 3D molded curves on the fan blades for even better airflow. The graphics card’s fans also spin in alternate directions to further increase airflow. Round it out with a 1,845MHz boost clock, and this card delivers more performance for not much more cash. The Palit GeForce GTX 1660 Ti StormX OC is one of the most compact graphics cards ever built, designed to fit in the smallest of PC cases. Despite its small size, however, this graphics card still packs all the might of a full-sized GTX 1660 Ti and then some, with a factory set 1,815MHz boost clock. Best of all, it will set you back about the same as the most affordable versions of the GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, so it won’t break the bank. Just because you’re gaming with a mid-range card doesn’t mean you can’t also be trendy. The MSI GeForce GTX 1660 TI Gaming X 6G is easily the best looking of the bunch, with a stylish aesthetic and fully programmable RGB lighting. In other words, you can personalize how it glows in sync with an MSI motherboard. It isn’t just all looks either; this card delivers a solid performance and a Twin Frozr cooler to keep things chilled.
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| Best mesh Wi-Fi routers 2019: the best wireless mesh routers for large homes Posted: 03 Sep 2019 11:55 AM PDT Welcome to our picks for the best mesh Wi-Fi routers of 2019. Unlike traditional wireless routers, which are typically single receivers located in one room and broadcast Wi-Fi throughout the rest of your home, the best mesh Wi-Fi routers are comprised of a number of units that you can strategically position around your home or office, ensuring that there's consistent strong Wi-Fi signal throughout your space. By placing several nodes in key areas of your home, you’ll get a solid, unified Wi-Fi network with the best mesh Wi-Fi routers, no matter where you are in your house. This is different from how Wi-Fi extenders work, which only take the Wi-Fi signal from the best wireless routers and repeat it to extend the range of the original router. The problem with this approach is that it requires a separate SSID for the extender, as you’re just creating a second network. This can be a pain since your device won't automatically switch to the different network. Also, filling your home with multiple Wi-Fi networks can negatively impact network performance. The best mesh Wi-Fi routers can be easy to set up. Simply connect the main unit to your internet connection. Then with a few button presses, pair up the other units, resulting in one large – not to mention, fast – Wi-Fi network. Bear in mind that the best mesh Wi-Fi routers can be on the pricey side, and can require some technical skills in order to figure out what’s the best option for your home. Lucky for you though, we have you covered. We went ahead and picked out the best mesh Wi-Fi routers that we’ve been fortunate enough to test and review. To say that the Google Wifi is just one of the best mesh Wi-Fi routers we’ve ever used is not an exaggeration. In fact, we’d go so far as to say that it might be the best wireless router, at least to date. Not only does it have the power to push fast Wi-Fi throughout your home – an even more impressive feat considering its tiny size – but it’s also not that expensive and very easy to set up at. It’s so easy that all you have to do to set up Google Wifi is download an app to your smartphone, scan some QR codes and just place the nodes where around your house. With Google WiFi, Google has taken dominion over the mesh WiFi world. Read the full review: Google Wifi If you have the money for a splurge, then the Netgear Orbi might be one of the best mesh Wi-Fi routers you can buy in 2019. Instead of something like the Google Wifi, which uses three identical nodes to create your network, you’ll receive one main router and several satellite nodes to plug into power outlets around your home. In addition, because of the sheer number of Ethernet ports found on the Orbi, it’s a fantastic option for anyone who has a bunch of devices that need a hardwired connection. This is the best choice for anyone who uses their network primarily for gaming, especially across multiple devices. Read the full review: Netgear Orbi If you’re looking for a way to spread Wi-Fi throughout your home while also saving a few bucks in the process, take a closer look at the TP-Link Deco M5. It’s not as fast as some of the other best mesh Wi-Fi routers on this list, but if you’re not necessarily worried about getting the maximum theoretical throughput – which you likely wouldn’t be able to take full advantage of anyway – it shouldn’t be too much of an issue. Setup, much like the other devices here, is a breeze, even if you’re not tech-savvy. The TP-Link Deco M5 is among the best wireless mesh routers for anyone who doesn’t want to get too technical. Read the full review: TP-Link Deco M5 If you loves Apple’s design philosophy and likes having attractive gadgets set up around your home, without paying much attention to the price, then the Ubiquiti Amplifi HD is the perfect mesh router for you. You’ll find a lot to love here, especially if you live in a large home and can take advantage of the full power that this mesh Wi-Fi setup offers, as it’s capable of a very large amount of throughput. You might find that the value diminishes quite a bit when you live in a smaller space however, since there are more cost-effective alternatives on hand for small to medium homes. The Ubiquiti Amplifi HD may be expensive, but you’re paying for a piece of tech that has both exude style and a lot of substance. That’s more than enough to justify the price, making this a great addition to the best wireless mesh routers list. Read the full review: Ubiquiti Amplifi HD While it’s pricey and not quite as powerful as the rest of the Wi-Fi mesh routers on this list, there’s something to be said about the simplicity that the Linksys Velop delivers. It may come with a heftier price than the competition, but the Velop will appeal to people who need to set up a Wi-Fi network and want to avoid setting it up. More tech-savvy users will probably look elsewhere – why spend the money when you can do the work yourself for free? However, for most people, the Linksys Velop is among the best mesh Wi-Fi routers because of the convenience it offers from the start. It’s also fully modular, so you only need to pick up as many nodes as you actually need – one node will cover up to 2,000 square feet. Read the full review: Linksys Velop This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| A High-End Smartphone Without The High-End Price Tag Posted: 03 Sep 2019 11:19 AM PDT It’s not often that a smartphone comes along that packs in all the bells and whistles we’ve come to know and love - err demand - in a smart device, that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. But, that’s exactly what the Axon 10 Pro - the latest flagship smartphone from ZTE - does! The Axon 10 Pro features a sleek, elegant design and brilliant display. It has a 3D-curved Corning Gorilla Glass display on the front and back and is encased in a high-strength aluminum alloy frame. There’s a triple rear camera, and the whole device measures just under 8mm thick. The 6.47” screen is the first smartphone to integrate AMOLED and touchscreen into a quad-curved display. They’ve also - very smartly - integrated Chip on Pi into the device, which has helped to reduce the bottom bezel allowing the device to have a larger screen and provides more antenna room under the display for a stronger network signal. The Axon 10 Pro screen has an in-display fingerprint sensor, front camera facial recognition and an RBG sensor to adjust the temperature of the screen when inside, outside, or in reading mode. On the inside, you’ll find a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 octa-core processor, which as it happens is the same processor you’ll find in the new Samsung Galaxy Note 10. What that means is you’re going to get a fast phone that has smooth multitasking and provides a great user experience. It comes with 8GB of RAM, or you can upgrade to the 12GB model, and 256GB of memory. There’s also a MicroSD slot that can hold up to 2TB of additional data! The Axon 10 Pro has a large 4,000mAh battery and uniquely customizable battery software, which means you’re not going to lose juice! Supporting the F2FS file system, combined with the smarts to learn your behaviors, this highly intelligent device will get smarter over time. It’s ready to launch with Android P OS and ZTE is promising it will provide an update to the next major release of Android before the end of the calendar year. Today’s smartphones are known more for their stunning picture quality and ability to take amazing video. Good for us, ZTE thought of that too. With AI Portrait Lighting Adjustment, AI Motion Capture and AI scene recognition, the Axon 10 Pro brings all the benefits of AI to picture-taking. And with optical and digital zoom, 20x smart tracking, new portrait types and other modes all optimized by artificial intelligence - your selfie game will be on point. As if that wasn’t enough, it also features DTS:X Ultra 3D sound, which provides a stunning on-the-go concert experience through the in-ear headphones included in the box. Alternatively, you can hear and optimize the sound through its dual speakers, for a center-stage experience in the comfort of your own home. Either way the Axon 10 Pro offers exceptional sound quality for videos and music. It’s also been optimized to enhance your gaming experience, ensuring games load quickly and play smoothly. The Axon 10 Pro is the ideal device for those of us who are increasingly frustrated by the rising cost of smartphones that feature only minor performance enhancements. And when it comes to what really matters in a smartphone: speed, performance, memory, clarity and camera - you can’t deny you’re getting the best bang for your buck. The Axon 10 Pro is available for preorder in the US now! Get yours online at zteusa.com and through participating retailers Newegg Inc. and B&H Photo. And the best part, the 8GB model is only $549 while the 12GB versions is $599. That’s a fraction of the cost of what other smartphone manufacturers are charging! ZTE may be onto something with the new Axon 10 Pro. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Android 10 release date, new features and everything you need to know Posted: 03 Sep 2019 10:44 AM PDT We know everything about the next big Android operating system update, Android 10, which has been publicly released as of September 3 - but only for Google Pixel phones at first. The latest major update was introduced as Android Q at Google IO 2019 but has been officially rebranded as Android 10. Sorry, dessert names - switching to numbers is easier for global users to grasp. "As a global operating system, it’s important that these names are clear and relatable for everyone in the world," Google VP of product management for Android, Sameer Samat, wrote in a blog post. "We think this change helps make release names simpler and more intuitive for our global community." The Android 10 update brings a ton of new features, which Google has listed on its official page for the new software. Among all the new toys, the long-awaited system-wide dark mode (called 'Dark Theme') is the biggest shift from Android Pie. iOS-like Gesture Navigation has also been added, along with privacy controls and Focus Mode for shutting notifications off when you need to get things done. There's also details on Project Mainline, which was introduced at Google IO 2019 that enables Google to beam over-the-air security updates to phones between major updates. What else is new with Android 10? We've got a working features list below, based on everything we've seen on the official page, in the ongoing beta, and what we saw at Google IO. Cut to the chase
Android 10 release date
Android 10 has been officially released, but that doesn't mean it's available for all phones just yet. Each OEM must develop their own version of the update for each phone and work with carriers to release it, which can take months. Don't be surprised if your handset doesn't get Android 10 until 2020. Of course, the Google Pixel phones get the latest version on launch day - and surprising no one, the Essential phone is also getting day one compatibility in select markets, according to this tweet. Below is a full list of all the phones that have Android 10 thus far.
Android 10: what's newWe're getting a better idea of the new Android 10 features to come thanks to the beta of Google's mobile operating system. Additional features and bug fixes have come with all the beta releases up through the sixth and final beta that came out in early August. Some of the changes are confirmed, while others remain rumors. Here's what you can expected ahead of the official Android 10 release date in August. Beta 6 (Final)The sixth and final beta doesn't add much - mostly bug fixes and optimizations - but it does allow apps to semi-disable the swipe-to-go-back gesture. In essence, apps can block the gesture from working on a certain part of the screen (specifically. there’s now a “200dp vertical app exclusion limit for the Back gesture"). But it won't block the gesture from working entirely - we'll have to see if that exclusion zone is large enough for users to keep from accidentally swiping out of an app (say, when they're gaming) when they expect not to. Image Credit: TechRadar Android Q won't have Android BeamOne feature Android 10 won't have is Android Beam, the NFC peer-to-peer sharing method when two devices are nearby. Placing phones back-to-back will do nothing in the beta and final software, we confirmed at Google IO. Will Google replace Android Beam with another peer-to-peer sharing method? That remains to be seen. We may have to wait until the final Android 10 release date to see it, or maybe when the Google Pixel 4 launches (excepted in October). Closing privacy loopholesA report from the International Computer Science Institute found that over 1,300 apps on the US Google Play Store routinely scraped personal data from users even if explicitly denied by relevant permissions settings. Appmakers have been using multiple clever workarounds to get the info they wanted: if a user set their permissions to not share location data, the apps took their MAC address from routers connected to the phone. They stored the device-identifying IMEI number accessed by one app and shared it with others. They even determined user locations with image metadata. Google is reportedly fixing these issues with the full release of Android 10 in August, though presumably not in any planned beta beforehand. Android 10 beta 2 foldables emulator (Image credit: Google) Foldable supportAndroid 10 is preparing for foldable phones in 2019, or "foldables and innovative new screens," according to the Android Developers Blog post. The Samsung Galaxy Fold – while it was in our hands briefly – seamlessly switched between the folded and unfolded screen states. By Google natively supporting this type of UI continuity in the backend, it'll likely come to more foldable phones when they launch with Android 10 onboard. For developers, Android 10 beta 2 includes a 'foldables emulator' in Android Studio 3.5, according to Dave Burke, Google's VP of Engineering. Android Q 'bubbles' multitaskingYou've seen the bubbles UI before if you've used Facebook Messenger chat heads. It's an easy way to keep active conversations on-screen as small floating profile pics, while going about your normal tasks in the rest of the interface. You can tap the pic when you want to switch back to the conversation. Google is supporting this idea throughout Android 10 and calling it a new way to multitask. So far, its examples are coming to Messages and Hangouts. But Google is reducing development time, interactivity consistency, and user privacy safeguards, so expect to see it in additional apps outside of Google's ecosystem. Dark Theme, the system-wide dark modeThere's a system-wide dark mode coming to Android 10 and it's called Dark Theme. We've tested in out at Google IO and it works as intended, but needs to roll out to more of the menus. So far it's limited to the settings menu. It's very early. You'll be able to trigger Dark Theme in two different ways, and both are in the notification shade. The first way is with a dedication Dark Theme quick settings button that switches between the default Light Theme and new Dark Theme. The second way is to turn on a Battery Saver mode, which automatically turns on Android 10 Dark Theme. This is a boon for phones with OLED screens, which will burn fewer pixels by essentially turning off pixels in regions of the display that are intentionally black. New Android 10 privacy featuresThe Android Developer Blog post announcing the developer beta confirmed a heavy emphasis on boosting privacy in Android 10, a focus that was reaffirmed in the Google IO 2019 keynote. Users will have more control over app access to location info, shared files and repositories like Photos and Videos. Another helpful change: instead of apps automatically switching focus when they have an Activity in the background (like an alarm or call), appmakers can opt to send high-priority notifications first. Android 10 beta 3 also introduced a new feature – Scoped Storage – which allows users to control how apps access external storage (say, in a MicroSD card). It will also better protect users from being identified by restricting access to non-resettable device identifiers, like your phone's serial number and/or IMEI, and randomizing its MAC address when connected to different Wi-Fi networks. These might be some of the most onerous changes for developers in Android 10, which is why, as the Android Developers Blog post reads: "We are bringing these changes to you early, so you can have as much time as possible to prepare." Project Mainline: security updates in the backgroundAnother new endeavor announced at Google IO 2019 is Project Mainline, which enables Android devs to update critical parts of Android (so-called 'modules') without a full software package – and critically, without a full update from OEMs. These surgical upgrades download in the background from Google Play and load them up whenever the phone next reboots. They will mainly be used to improve privacy and security, though the Android Developers Blog post also mentions game developers will use it to update modules for consistent platform implementation. All devices that can run Android 10 will be able to get Project Mainline. 5GAndroid 10 has some particular tricks up its sleeve for 5G. New APIs will enable apps to detect user connection rate and latency, as well as detect if the connection is metered. This will give developers more refined control over how much data to send to users, especially when they have poorer connections or have data-downloading limits. Live Caption, and moreOne of several accessibility features announced at Google IO 2019, Live Caption does what it says on the tin – captioning video and audio in real-time. The feature doesn't require an internet connection, transcribing text from the device's own speech recognition and NLP. On the Google IO 2019 stage, we saw Live Caption used in combination with Live Transcribe to input incoming audio to text, then have a user text a response which was spoken. In the demonstration, the combo – called Live Relay – allows a texting user to interact on a phone call without ever speaking a word. The last accessibility feature coming to Android 10 is Project Euphonia, which aims to improve Android's verbal recognition to better process words spoken by users with speech impediments. Developer tools for apps: system settings, connectivity, media and moreDevelopers will be able to show contextually-important system settings within their apps, which harnesses the 'Slices' feature that came in Android 9 Pie. So instead of having to navigate to Settings to switch on Airplane Mode or toggle Wi-Fi or Mobile Data on/off, say, you'll be able to do that right within your mobile browser. There are also tweaks to connectivity, including 'adaptive Wi-Fi' that enables high performance/low latency modes, which would be useful for things like online gaming or voice calls. Like all the depth and blur in Pixel camera software? In Android 10, apps can request depth data (JPEG + XMP metadata + depth and confidence map) to, say, offer "specialized blurs and bokeh options in your app," as the Android post suggests. "You can even use the data to create 3D images or support AR photography use-cases in the future." Android 10 will also support more multimedia codecs: AV1 to let media providers stream high-quality video, Opus for audio encoding, and HDR10+ for high dynamic range video "on devices that support it" – like, say, the Samsung Galaxy S10 family. As for gaming, the Android 10 beta enhances support for OpenGL along with bug fixes and more functionality. More permissions to preserve privacyAndroid 10 will revamp permissions, from the general to specific, and we've heard that users will be able to better view what info they've shared. Here's what we don't know for sure, but have heard about: per the aforementioned XDA Developers leak, users will be able to look at a broad overview of which apps they've given permission for certain things, like location or microphone access. There's a search function that lets you filter by permission item, allowing you to quickly see which apps you've given access to your camera, contacts, location and so on. You can also look at permissions each app has been granted and toggle them individually to set whether access is off, on, or only on while the app is open. Developer toolsThere are plenty of new developer tools described by the XDA leak, but it's not clear how all of them will function. Freeform windows return, which lets you enable them after pressing and holding an app icon in the recent apps overview. On the other hand, XDA also found a feature called "Game Updates Package Preference" whose purpose is a bit of a mystery. Another, titled "force desktop mode," seems like it would push Android to an external display, Samsung DeX-style. Not all of the UI is finished, either, making some features – like screen recording – not totally comprehensible. Face ID-style authentication for logins and purchasesAnother dive into the developer build XDA Developers acquired revealed the OS might get a feature iOS users have bragged about for awhile: Face ID. The next version of Android might support phones packing the hardware to use facial scans for authentication. It's unclear just how it will work, or if it would combine sensor readings for a comprehensive scan of facial features. But we did get hints via error codes in one of the OS' APK, which variably tell the user to move the phone in different directions for the device to get a better look at their face. Other strings of code found by XDA are also promising, like one that blatantly informs users they can "Use your face to unlock your phone, authorize purchases, or sign in to apps." Whether phones will be able to use Face ID is another story: they need to have the hardware installed – whether that's sensors or the right specs – for the feature to work. Goodbye back button, hello (only to) gesture controlsWhile recent Android phones from different brands have tried to push their own gesture controls for years, the OS has always kept its static three-button navigation as an option. Those days might be at an end as that XDA preview build showed only gesture controls, per Tom's Guide. From the looks of it, users may only be able to use the navigation system present in the Google Pixel 3: a small pill at the bottom of the screen that you can swipe in the cardinal directions to get around. It's key to note that Android allows brands to develop their own navigation methods and systems to go along with their overlays, so it's very unlikely that this will be the only way to navigate. This build is also a bit out of date, so who knows if something as integral as OS movement would be finalized that far out. Anything else?There were a couple other additional Android 10 odds and ends from that XDA leak, including a pair of new accessibility settings. Both apply to how long notification messages stay up, and seemingly apply to different kinds of notifications. The first are for "messages that ask you to take action," while the other apparently refers to notifications that pop up with simple reminders. You can toggle these to stay up between 30 seconds and 2 minutes. We're also seeing official support for HDR10+. A few phones this year, including the Samsung Galaxy S10 series, support the codec, and expect that trend to continue as Android 10 launches on new devices. That's all we've seen for now, but new details will surely come up in the coming beta versions, at Google IO 2019 in May and from any leaks in between.
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| OnePlus TV: What we want to see Posted: 03 Sep 2019 10:40 AM PDT You'll likely know OnePlus as the fast-growing smartphone brand from China, which found a huge following for making high-spec handsets that still manage to sharply undercut the increasingly astronomical price of the competition (we're looking at you, iPhone XS Max). But do you know about the OnePlus TV? UPDATE: The OnePlus TV will have a pretty rocking sound system if a new Amazon product page is correct. According to the info we found the TV will have eight discrete speakers that total 50W and will be capable of playing Dolby Atmos soundtracks. OnePlus is now looking to repeat the trick with a new smart TV, out sometime in 2020. It will launch first in India and China in September 2019 – with four different model sizes, from a 43-inch TV to a massive 75-inch display – with the possibility of a wider global rollout sometime after. There's talk of a Bluetooth remote, rather than infra-red, and a Dolby Atmos speaker system that could trump other mid-range TVs in terms of audio – but what exactly is the OnePlus TV, and what will it do that others can't?
Cut to the chase
The OnePlus 6 was one of 2018's best mid-range phones OnePlus TV release dateWhen will the OnePlus TV release? We know know that the smart TV will launch in September 2019, according to a blog post by OnePlus CEO Pete Lau. Lau also verified that the smart TV will initially roll out in India, and that the smartphone company is "working hard to launch OnePlus TV in North America, Europe and China", while OnePlus tries to "establish partnerships" with local and regional content providers. That September release date is a lot earlier than we had initially anticipated: in a December 2018 interview with India's daily newspaper Economic Times, Lau stated that there was no official deadline for launch, but that a 2020 release date was the rough plan. Lau added: "India will be one of the first markets to get the OnePlus TV. It will be available through Amazon. We haven’t set a deadline as yet, as we want it to be the best there is." There's still no official confirmation on the availability of the OnePlus TV in Western markets, though a wider global release beyond Asia will probably depend on how much buzz the product gets on release. Update: The OnePlus TV will be unveiled in India first towards the end of September, followed by other markets. OnePlus TV rumored specificationsLeaked OnePlus TV specifications As we approach the launch date, more details around the OnePlus TV have started surfacing. GizmoChina was able to get its hands on a Google Play Developer Console listing of the OnePlus TV that revealed the internal specifications of the upcoming smart TV. The OnePlus TV will be powered by the MediaTek MT5670 processor. This isn't particularly a well-known chipset, but has four cores clocked at 1.5GHz. The tetra-core Mali G51 GPU will take care of the graphics. The TV will have 3GB of RAM and will run a customized version of Android TV 9. The listed resolution is 1920 x 1080 as that's the maximum resolution Android TV supports for menus. The panel will have a 4K resolution and will be able to playback compatible content in that resolution. In the audio department the OnePlus TV is now rumored to include eight discrete speakers that are capable of Dolby Atmos playback. The total output of the speakers is only 50W - so not much more than your standard mid-range Samsung or LG - but it could offer a pretty solid audio upgrade compared to your old flatscreen. OnePlus TV priceThere's no prices yet for the OnePlus TV – or whatever they'll call it – but OnePlus' strategy in the smartphone market has been to offer upper-mid-range products that undercut the competition by about 20-30% of the price. The end price could be in the range of $600 / £500 to $1,000 / £800, depending on who OnePlus decide to lock horns with, but we'd be surprised for it to fall out of those margins. It's probably a safe bet to say it won't be cheaper than the OnePlus 6 handset ($529 / £469), but it's difficult to predict with so little information to go on. In the Economic Times interview, CEO Pete Lau did say to expect "a flagship killer, like we do with smartphones, at a very competitive pricing [sic]". OnePlus TV: what's in a name?OnePlus CEO Pete Lau first announced the set in a blog post on the official OnePlus forum – rather than a flashy launch event – in keeping with the brand's customer-focused outlook. A follow up post a few days later invited forum members to suggest names for the new television – with 10 finalists getting a free pair of OnePlus Bullets Wireless for their suggestions (listed below). OnePlus was careful to note that "the OnePlus team is not obligated to use any suggestions submitted to this contest", though one winner (listed below) will be rewarded with a OnePlus TV and fancy hotel stay for the set's first launch event.
Of course, now we know the OnePlus TV will officially be called what everyone was calling it anyway: the OnePlus TV. OnePlus TV: what we want to seeA mid-sized television set Remember when 40" screens seemed excessive? Today's televisions market is moving towards ever-larger 55" and 65" displays, even as the average home gets smaller. If OnePlus could offer a well-made 40" television that didn't skimp on resolution or smart features – so a modern set that consumers could actually fit in their living rooms – we could see it making a big splash. 4K display 4K is the buzzword of the moment, and failing to match that resolution would make the OnePlus TV a hard sell. Our guess is OnePlus is angling for a mid-quality 4K television – one that doesn't try to compete with the big-screen OLED forerunners but doesn't settle for a low resolution either. That sleek OnePlus design – at a decent price The success of the OnePlus range of smartphones has been in its ability to stay affordable compared to the competition – even if the company has moved more towards high-end devices in recent years. And just as importantly, OnePlus phones look good. The smart TV need to offer a sleek design to stand out and sell itself as a lifestyle item as much as it does as a television. Maybe take a leaf from the smartphone arena with some more imaginative color options (like a limited edition red television)? A standout smart TV plaform Given that the OnePlus smartphone range runs on Android OS, it's unsurprising that the OnePlus TV will run on the Android smart TV platform. A Bluetooth SIG listing oddly describes the set as a "unique Android TV", so we're expecting to see some out-of-the-ordinary features, possible based around a Bluetooth-enabled remote and smartphone connectivity. Google doesn't usually allow third-party alterations to its Android OS, so it'll be interesting to see if OnePlus have been allowed an exception – or what it can include without changing the base software on the television. There are a lot of perks for Android TV, being a widely-used platform and one that comes with Chromecast and therefore a large number of streaming services built in. But it's also prone to software bugs, and what we really want to see in a OnePlus TV is a smooth user experience, which is worth more than all the quantum dots in the world. A connected service We'd hope the OnePlus TV would find smart ways of connecting to handsets: using your phone as a stand-in remote, having a smartphone app to browse the TV guide or flick through the Netflix catalogue, and easy casting of video and images to the set. With the smart home sector larger than ever, it would be really surprising not to see the likes of Alexa and Google Assistant built-in from the get-go, allowing you to connect to other devices around the home with ease. We'll be keeping a close eye on OnePlus TV announcement in the coming months, so stay tuned – if we're sure of anything it's that this will be one to watch. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Intel powers one of world’s fastest academic supercomputers Posted: 03 Sep 2019 10:20 AM PDT Intel, the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) at The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), the National Science Foundation (NSF), Dell Technologies and other science and technology partners have unveiled the 5th most powerful supercomputer in the world, Frontera. The new supercomputer is based on 2nd generation Intel Xeon Scalable Processors and features Intel Optane DC persistent memory to help accelerate scientific research and innovation. Vice president and general manager of Extreme Computing Organization at Intel, Trish Damkroger explained how the Frontera supercomputer will power the next generation of academic research, saying: “The Frontera system will provide researchers computational and artificial intelligence capabilities that have not existed before for academic research. With Intel technology, this new supercomputer opens up new possibilities in science and engineering to advance research including cosmic understanding, medical cures and energy needs.”
Frontera supercomputerFrontera is the world's fastest academic supercomputer and it will enable breakthrough research across a number of fields including astronomy, medicine, AI, quantum mechanics and mechanical engineering. Early projects currently being run on Frontera include understanding the influence of distant stars, diagnosing and treating glioma brain tumors, teaching neural networks quantum chemistry, eradicating emerging viruses and building a sunnier energy future. Frontera was first announced in August of last year and the supercomputer was built in early 2019 at which time it earned the fifth spot on the top500 list of the world's most advanced supercomputers. The system features Dell EMC PowerEdge servers outfitted with 2nd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors and Frontera's 8008 compute nodes can deliver peak performance of 38.75 petaFlops. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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