Players can team to explore a shared world when ‘Anthem’ debuts in February 2019
Electronic Arts and BioWare saved "Anthem" for last during the E3 2018 press conference, revealing when the game will arrive on the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. The game will feature a "living," shareable open world where everyone experiences the change of day, seasons, weather effects, and more.
Facebook takes on YouTube, Twitch, and Mixer with a game broadcast channel
Facebook is experimenting with a new gaming video "destination" that combines onto one page all the live and pre-recorded gaming videos posted on the social website. Labeled as FB.GG despite the portal's longer real-world address, Facebook splits its one-stop video showcase into five sections.
High-end Always Connected Windows 10 PCs may pack Snapdragon 1000 in 2018
Qualcomm is supposedly working on a new high-end Snapdragon-based always-connected laptop reference design. It will be based on the Snapdragon 1000, and not the 850 chip just reveled for Windows 10 devices. Asus is supposedly one of the first to use the design, code-named "Primus."
Apple could make MagSafe a reality on USB-C MacBooks if it really wanted
Apple has a patent that could bring back MagSafe functionality to the company's newest MacBook and MacBook Pro laptops. While Apple's latest notebooks abandoned all legacy ports -- including the MagSafe -- in an effort to embrace the USB-C future, Apple's innovation calls for an adapter that can bring back MagSafe.
You’ll soon be able to send texts on your Chromebook
Google could be following Apple's iMessage lead by linking Android Messages to Chrome OS. Evidence of a native client appears on a new commit in Chromium Gerrit although there are no details about how the integration works. A separate commit describes pairing a Chromebook with an Android device.
Yahoo Messenger will soon die as Squirrel lives on in its wake
Yahoo is closing the doors on its instant messaging application, Yahoo Messenger for good. Existing users have until July 17 to enjoy its features before they lose access to it forever. The only caveat to longtime fans is that any conversations saved on the platform can be downloaded and saved for posterity.
Brace yourself! The age of keyboard-less laptops is upon us
One of the biggest trends at Computex this year was dual-screen laptops -- 2-in-1s that have completely ditched keyboards. With prototypes from Intel and Asus on display, you can expect to see more of these keyboard-less laptops coming in the future.
Intel Anniversary Edition 5GHz six-core CPU hits 7.2GHz in supercooled overclock
The Intel Core i7-8086 Anniversary Edition CPU, which boosts to 5GHz, will be on sale soon. The binned 8700K CPU made its first appearance on June 8, lining up with the 40th anniversary of its original 8086 CPU. The new chip is the fastest six-core CPU Intel has released and it's giving away thousands for free.
Another Facebook fail: Bug caused it to publicly share 14M private messages
Facebook blamed a bug for making the private posts from 14 million users public during a four-day period. Facebook said it has fixed the problem and is beginning to notify affected users to check their posts. The latest incident comes with the now infamous Cambridge Analytica breach still fresh in people's minds.
Google prepares an always-connected Chromebook to take on Microsoft
Google is working on adding eSIM and Project Fi support to future Chromebooks, which will challenge Microsoft's Always Connected PC platform. A code commit reveals Google's ambition in in adding LTE data connectivity, and by not requiring a physical SIM cards, Chromebook manufacturers can save space on their devices.
Congress has until Monday to save net neutrality and keep the internet open
With net neutrality set to expire Monday, June 11, Senate Democrats are calling on House Speaker Paul Ryan to schedule a vote in the House of Representatives to preserve rules governing an open internet. Even if the bill passes the House of Representatives, it still needs President Trump's signature to become law.
Microsoft’s Surface Pen may never need recharging in the future
Microsoft's patent for a solar-powered Surface Pen means you'll never need to recharge or replace the battery in your stylus again. Rather than collect ambient light and convert it into energy, Microsoft's invention calls for the Surface Pen to collect light emitted from the LCD screen on your Surface Pro.
Nvidia’s ‘infinite resolution’ patent could change gaming forever
In a patent filing released today, Nvidia describes a technology that could fundamentally alter the way your games look, feel, and perform. Nvidia calls it "infinite resolution," and it's effectively a clever way of using vector graphics to replace static textures in games.
Valve will stop regulating Steam, save for illegal content, straight up trolling
Valve Software said it will stop regulating Steam save for policing illegal content and "straight up trolling." Steam is going back to its roots, allowing customer choice and the ability to filter out games they don't want to see. Developers will have the freedom to sell mostly anything.
Microsoft dumps a 40-foot data center to the ocean floor off Scotland’s coast
Microsoft's Project Natick enters stage two by dropping a 40-foot prototype datacenter 117 feet below the ocean surface near Scotland's Orkney Islands. It contains 12 racks playing host to 864 servers, and connects to a single cable feeding it power and a fiber optic network connection.
FBI: Reboot, reset your router immediately to prevent cyberattacks
To protect yourself from the VPNFilter malware, the FBI urges all users to reboot their routers. To be extra cautious, you can also perform a factory reset to restore your router to factory conditions and permanently clear out all traces of the malware. If infected, the malware can steal and wipe out your data.
Huawei jumps on AMD’s Ryzen bandwagon via an upcoming 14-inch MateBook D laptop
During AMD's Computex press event, Huawei introduced an upcoming 14-inch version of its MateBook D laptop sporting AMD's Ryzen 5 2500U chip. Unfortunately, Huawei didn't say when this laptop will hit the market or how much it will cost. Huawei was one of four to showcase laptops during AMD's event.
Intel hopes to kick-start dual-screen Windows 10 market with its own designs
Intel is looking to kick-start the dual-screen computing trend with its Tiger Rapids concept. Combining a traditional LCD panel with an E Ink display, Tiger Rapids is geared toward digital inking and is powered by Intel's Kaby Lake processors. The secondary E Ink display gives this concept 15 hours of battery life.
Dell Inspiron Gaming Desktop 5676 packs AMD CPUs and graphics cards
Dell's new AMD-focused Inspiron Gaming Desktop 5676 builds upon its predecessor and installs a brand new Ryzen 2000-series processor at its heart. Combined with AMD RX 500 graphics, up to 32GB of RAM, and as much as 2TB of storage space, the redesigned desktop should be a capable and affordable gaming machine.
AMD Threadripper 2 with 32-cores and 64-threads one ups Intel
AMD stole all of Intel's high-powered CPU thunder at Computex this year, by debuting a 32-Core CPU just a day after Intel revealed its 28-core monster. The new Threadripper chip will be joined by a 24-core version and will fit the same sockets and motherboards as the last-generation Threadripper chips.
TSA hopes Windows 10 upgrades will keep its systems safe for travelers
The Transportation Security Agency hopes that its update to Windows 10 will improve cybersecurity for the department and keep American travelers safer. The agency also upgraded its laptops and desktops, and may move its custom software to the cloud, leveraging the software-as-a-service model.
To save the Mac, the App Store needs more than just a redesign
In its newest version of MacOS, Apple announced a complete revamp of the Mac App Store. But if it wants to revive the Mac, it's going to need more than a fresh coat of paint and some slight changes to its API. In order to truly save the Mac, Apple needs to do the thing it's been insisting it'll never do.
How to download the Windows 10 April 2018 Update
The Windows 10 April 2018 update is officially here. The update brings new features, security enhancements, and updated privacy controls to Windows 10, with Timeline being the most notable addition. If you haven't downloaded the latest iteration of Windows 10 already, here's how.
My Surface Book 2 is sleek, fast, innovative — and I hate it
I both love and hate Microsoft's Surface Book 2. Here's why some of its glaring design limitations make it a far less attractive option as a standalone PC.
Apple reiterates why touchscreens won’t be coming to Macs anytime soon
It might be a touchy subject for loyal Apple users, but Apple continues to state that it has no plans on making a Mac or MacBook with a touchscreen despite support for iOS apps on the upcoming MacOS Mojave release. Apple said that adding a touchscreen would compromise the user experience on laptops and desktops.
92 million accounts at DNA testing service MyHeritage have been hacked
Popular DNA testing service MyHeritage said on Monday that a third-party security researcher discovered a file on a private server outside MyHeritage's network that contained email addresses and hashed passwords of everyone who signed up for the service before and on the day of the breach.
Asus made a dual-screen laptop that looks like the future of computers
Asus introduced a concept design called Project Precog during the Computex technology show. It borrows Lenovo's Yoga Book design to create an artificial intelligence-powered dual-screen 2-in-1 PC on a larger scale. It can detect the placement of your hands to render the keyboard accordingly.
Samsung may be developing a Snapdragon 850-powered Windows 2-in-1
Qualcomm announced at Computex that one of the first companies to use its new Snapdragon 850 SoC will be Samsung, though in what capacity is currently unknown. Since the Korean manufacturer has previously made convertible Windows tablets, maybe soon we'll see a new Galaxy Book with an efficient Snapdragon chip.
Intel just showed how it can substantially increase laptop battery life
Intel has shown off a brand-new display power saving technology at Computex 2018, which it claims can greatly increase battery life. The new 1W display technology was shown running on a Dell XPS 13 laptop, which Intel claims can have its 13-hour battery life boosted by between four and eight hours.
Intel throws down a gauntlet with its 28-core extreme CPU
Intel is working on a new 28-core CPU, and in early testing at Computex, it looked to be far more powerful at multithreaded applications than its already monstrous Core i9-7980XE. Capable of hitting 5GHz on all cores, it could be the highest-performing consumer chip ever released when it debuts later this year.
Massive Gmail redesign rollout will begin in earnest in July
Google has announced the much-anticipated arrival of its new Gmail and Gsuite enhancements. Google said the changes focus on improving people's productivity on the web and at work. The first place you'll see changes is in your Inbox. Come July, the redesign will be rolled out broadly to G Suite customers.
Microsoft Office 365 apps will hit the revamped Mac App Store later this year
During the Worldwide Developers Conference keynote, Apple said Microsoft is working on Office 365 apps for the Mac App Store. They're likely based on Apple's just-revealed support for the iOS development platform in MacOS Mojave arriving later this year. Adobe Lightroom CC is on the way, too.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 850 is made for Windows PCs with ‘innovative form factors’
At Computex 2018, Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon 850, a chipset designed specifically for Windows PCs. Unlike the first generation of Always Connected PCs, these devices will use a chipset designed specifically for the Windows PC experience. In addition, we may see some "innovative" and "aggressive" new designs.
iPhone apps are finally coming to your MacBook. Eventually. Sorta.
Apple's Craig Federighi made the company's stance perfectly clear during Monday's WWDC 2018 keynote, stating that Apple is not merging iOS with MacOS. Instead, Apple is working on bringing UIkit to MacOS so that app developers for iPhone and iPad aren't required to start from scratch for Macs.