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Latest by M. Smith

three generations intel hd graphics tested gaming feat

Five generations of Intel HD Graphics tested

Intel's HD Graphics has come a long way over the years, but is it enough to play modern games at 1080p? We tested every modern incarnation of Intel HD Graphics, from HD 4000 up to the latest Intel UHD 620. The results are what you'd expect, but there is some hope.
rightmesh internet access is a human right john lyotier

Internet connectivity is a human right, and Rightmesh has a plan to fulfill it

Rightmesh believes internet connectivity is a human right, and it plans to help spread internet access using mesh networks built from users' existing smartphones, and other devices. The platform has completed an initial coin offering and plans a beta SDK to launch this fall.
eufy RoboVac 11S review

Eufy Robovac 11S (BoostIQ) review

Affordable and simple, the Eufy Robovac 11S isn’t going to wow you with smart home compatibility or a fancy app. It instead relies on simple, effective cleaning and a low price. Is that enough to compete against other robot vacuums with a long list of standard features?
intel quantum computing research lab jim clarke feat 1

To put a quantum computer on your desk, Intel has a plan unlike any other

Quantum computers, once they become common, will complete difficult tasks thousands of times more quickly than current PCs. That could obviously threaten a classic chipmaker like Intel, but it plans to use its knowledge of silicon production to build quantum chips more quickly than its peers.
Ghost of Tsushima

Here’s everything Sony revealed at its E3 2018 press conference

Sony came to E3 2018 with a focus on four heavy-hitting titles, three of which had yet to debut gameplay. The conference delivered on the promise to dig deep into each of the titles, including The Last of Us: Part II. In the end, though, Sony left PlayStation fans with as many questions as answers.
new years eve plans heres prevent hangover beer 11 jpg

Mozilla teamed up with a brewery for an open-sourced beer, and we downed a pint

Mozilla and Widmer partnered to create an open source beer. The result, OpenSourcery, is a drinkable American IPA typical of the style, but it's also just the beginning. The companies hope to offer more, and more detailed, community input to refine the beer into something great.
Scott Guthrie, executive vice president of cloud and enterprise at Microsoft

As Windows moves beyond the window, it’s going to get even better

Microsoft didn't talk much about Windows at Build 2018, but it did talk about two specific features -- Timeline, and Sets. These features are important not just on their own. They build upon 'activities,' a new form of multi-tasking that's every bit as important as the window.
microsoft build 2018 what to expect header getty

From evil empire to role model, Microsoft builds its claim to the high ground

Microsoft came to its Build 2018 conference with a slim selection of consumer-facing information, but that didn't dampen its positive attitude. While other tech companies wallow in scandals, Microsoft is building a vision for how a high-tech organization can innovate without destroying your privacy.
office 2019 mid 2018 satya nadella chief executive officer on stage at microsoft build 2017

What to expect from Microsoft Build 2018: Less Windows, more cloud

Microsoft's Build 2018 is about to begin. The annual developer conference held in Seattle, Washington focuses on all things Microsoft, but it has a bent towards business and productivity. That means more Azure, less Windows, and it's unlikely that we'll see any new Surface devices debut.
facebooks f8 keynote proves the company sees no reason to change us internet lifestyle computers media

Facebook’s very, very sorry, and it has absolutely no intention to change

Facebook’s F8 developer conference saw the company and its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, discuss new features like Dating and Clear History. While lip service was given to issues like data security and privacy, few good solutions were offered. That should be no surprise given Facebook’s history with Cambridge Analytica, and many others.
How to turn on Bluetooth in Windows

The dull Windows 10 April 2018 Update is everything a patch should be

Windows 10's latest patch is the April 2018 Update. The name is a bit dull, to be sure, and represents in change in tactic from previous patches, which hyped major features almost as if each patch was a new Windows release. Microsoft has embraced the fact that a patch is best when it's not an event.
future of blockchain in gaming spells genesis satoshi art feat

From gold to greatswords, blockchain lets gamers truly own their loot

Centralized and controlled entirely by their developer, modern online games engage players, yet often leave them with little they can claim as their own. Blockchain will disrupt that status quo. It’s also sure to have unintended consequences.
Huawei MateBook X Pro review

As laptop screen bezels get smaller, webcams are paying the price

The position of the webcam in Huawei's new MateBook X Pro laptop is less than ideal. That's because the thin display bezels leave no room for it. There's a solution, however -- putting the camera inside the display.
intel six core 8th gen intelchip

Intel shows off world’s first six-core mobile CPUs, adds Optane to everything

Intel has released its latest 8th-gen Core processors. They include the world's first mobile Core i9, the first six-core processors for mobile, and a wide variety of chips with Intel Optane memory support.
how intel put together hades canyon its best nuc yet inside 12

Inside the Intel lab that put a legit gaming desktop in the palm of your hand

Meta description: Intel’s Next Unit of Computing, or NUC, has worked hard to miniaturize desktops over the last six years. Now, with the help of AMD’s Vega, its taking pint-sized performance to the next level. We took an inside look at the lab where it all happened.
firefox 55 adds webvr support

Firefox is on the front line in the fight to protect your privacy

How do browsers handle the Meltdown and Spectre flaws, as well keep user data as secure as possible on social networks? We asked Dave Camp, Vice President of Engineering at Firefox, for his insider insight.
intel hades canyon nuc8i7hvk review nuc skull1

Intel Hades Canyon NUC8i7HVK

The latest NUC, or Next Unit of Computing, from Intel’s lab once gain tries to make headway in the always competitive, and skeptical, world of PC gaming. Skull Canyon, the company’s last effort, was less than perfect – but the new backs up its cutting-edge Intel processor with AMD Radeon Vega graphics.
AMD Ryzen 5 2400G & Ryzen 3 2200G Review fingers motherboard.

Nowhere is safe now that AMD has suffered its own Meltdown

The public disclosure of flaws in AMD processors caught the company, and security researchers, off guard. They expose hardware some had come to regard as the PC’s last safe harbor.

Spring cleaning for your PC: How to tame the tangle of wires under your desk

Computers are often a mess of cords that consume lots of desk space. Fortunately, there are easy ways to minimize PC clutter.
Dell XPS 13 2018 Model

You should buy the Dell XPS 13 — just not with the 4K display

Dell's new XPS 13 is a smart, sleek, quick laptop, and the top choice for anyone seeking a 13-inch machine. Yet it does have one hidden, optional, problem -- the expensive 4K display.
Panos Panay Surface Pro

Five years on, Microsoft’s Surface has made your PC better

Microsoft is celebrating the fifth anniversary of its innovative and controversial Surface line. The company's 2-in-1s and laptops aren't perfect, but they have indisputably paved the way for new categories of PCs.
cfpb investigation equifax hack headquarters

Federal investigation into Equifax hack said to wither, even with more data exposed

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is the federal agency responsible for protecting consumers from financial companies. Yet reports suggest it's neglecting an investigation of Equifax, which was hacked in 2017, exposing information on millions of people.
insecure security breach cfpb

Companies are sorry about security flaws. Just not sorry enough to change

is a weekly column that dives into the rapidly escalating topic of cyber security. Reuters reported on February 6 that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a key agency responsible for overseeing financial companies, is neglecting its investigation into the Equifax hack that compromised the personal information of millions. The CFPB allegedly has failed to issue […]
Bitdefender Box review

Bitdefender Box (2018) review

The Bitdefender Box is a home router that’s also a home security hub, watching over not only PCs and smartphones, but also IoT devices. It’s effective and easy to use, but you must go all-in on Bitdefender’s software.
Surface Book 2 op-ed header

I tried using the Surface Book 2 as my only PC, and it let me down

Can the Surface Book 2 make it as a potential PC replacement? I tried -- and was disappointed with the results. Here's what I found and why it doesn't work.
geforce now hands on preview screens 5

GeForce Now hands-on preview

GeForce Now, Nvidia’s game streaming service, is now available as a free beta for PC and Mac. You can play games on systems that normally couldn’t – if you have an excellent internet connection.
Dell XPS 13 2018 Model

The Dell XPS 13 is thinner, and talks to your phone. Here’s how it happened.

The new Dell XPS 13 is thinner than ever before. We spoke with Dell's Justin Lyles to find out more about how it was engineered.
Maingear F131 review

Maingear F131 hands-on review

If you want a custom gaming rig, you probably want it to look special – and Maingear’s F131 might catch your eye. We went hands-on.
how nvidias bfgd could replace your television with a computer monitor nvidia big format gaming display concept art

They’re smart AF, and Nvidia’s monstrous BFGD monitors are a BFD

Today’s HDTVs are fantastically beautiful works of engineering that pump out incredible images, but they’re based on outdated assumptions. Nvidia’s Big Format Game Displays challenge the status quo, and could become the display of the future.
Intel Hades Canyon NUC

Intel ‘Hades Canyon’ NUC hands-on review

The first version, Skull Canyon, faltered at the starting line, but this year Intel is back with AMD Radeon RX Vega M graphics. Find out more in our hands-on.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 3rd-Gen

OLED is dead on the laptop at CES 2018, but there’s still hope

OLED first appeared on laptops at CES 2016, and seemed to make some progress the following year – only to disappear in 2018. That absence is a disappointment, but there’s still a few displays that will make you weep tears of joy.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 3rd-Gen

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 3rd-gen hands-on review

Lenovo’s third-generation ThinkPad X1 Yoga looks a lot like the previous model, but it adds an HDR display to the mix.
razer project linda feature

Razer Project Linda Preview

What if your smartphone could be your laptop, and the touchpad? That’s the idea behind Razer’s Project Linda.
Lenovo Miix 630 Review

Lenovo Miix 630 hands-on review

The Lenovo Miix 630 is an $800 detachable tablet with a keyboard folio and stylus that promises 20 hours of battery life.