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Showing posts from April, 2020

Intel's 'Comet Lake-S' 10th-gen Core CPUs hit 10 cores and 5.3GHz speeds

Intel’s latest 10th-gen “Comet Lake S” desktop processors solve the hyperthreading issues that plagued Intel’s 9th-gen chips, with a unique wrinkle: the ability to dial hyperthreading on and off on a per-core basis. The fastest of the thirty-two new chips pushes clock speeds up to 5.3GHz, though that’s specific to a single core. Intel boasts the 10-core/20-thread Core i9-10900K will be the world’s fastest gaming processor, a claim that we’re eager to test.  Also in the mix are two derivatives Intel’s offered previously: specific F-series parts that lack integrated GPU cores, as well as ten T-series 35W chips optimized for small-form-factor designs. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2WbOsNf

Swapping streaming remotes for fewer cord-cutting annoyances

Annoyed by your Roku or Apple TV remote? Replace it with something better. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2Yjfjd2

Ryzen 7 4700U review: AMD's budget 8-core crushes Intel's 10th-gen chips, again

The AMD Ryzen 7 4700U arrives at a key moment for laptop CPUs. After AMD launched its 7nm  Ryzen 4000 CPU family at CES and dealt a first, crushing blow with  the Ryzen 9 4900HS chip  in high-end notebook PCs, the company has its eyes on the real prize: U-class laptops. Yes, those sub-three-pound slivers (known in a past life as Ultrabooks) everyone casually carries into meetings or lays on the table in a cafe.  To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2We1tWy

Motorola Lux65 Connect-2 video baby monitor review: This two-camera set offers monitoring and more

This baby monitor can operate as a conventional video monitor or a sophisticated smart camera, but a paid subscription is required to unlock its full feature set. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2YixEH2

Ryzen 4000 performance benchmarks: Ryzen 7 4700U beats Intel H-class mobile chips

Our first taste of the AMD Ryzen 7 4700U came in the form of the affordable Acer Swift 3 laptop. After AMD launched its 7nm  Ryzen 4000 CPU family at CES and dealt a first, crushing blow with  the Ryzen 9 4900HS chip  in high-end notebook PCs, the Ryzen 7 4700U tackles the next challenge: U-class, thin-and-light laptops. The company’s offerings in this area have been weak in the past, so AMD focused on optimizing Ryzen 4000 for thinner notebook PCs . Everyone wants to know if AMD’s Ryzen “U” chips finally have what it takes. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2W9P9qw

The best video baby monitors: Keep eyes—and ears—on your bundle of joy

Today's baby monitors are more capable—and more complex—than ever. Here's how to find the right one, so you and your baby can get some sleep. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2ENukK2

Google 'Task Force' Fights Bad COVID-19 Ads

Google has blocked and removed coronavirus-related marketing pitches in recent months for policy violations including price-gouging and misleading claims, according to ads privacy and safety vice president Scott Spencer. from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/2SiZnDS

Apple, Google to Release Early Versions of Contact Tracing Tool to Developers

The two Silicon Valley companies, whose operating systems power 99 percent of the world's smartphones, had said earlier this month that they would work together to create contact tracing technology to slow the virus spread. from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/3faQlTh

Microsoft starts pushing coronavirus info in Windows Search

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Microsoft said Wednesday that it will begin pushing coronavirus news and information to Windows Search within Windows 10. There’s also a quick and easy way to opt out. Search for “coronavirus” on either Google or Bing, and both providers will return a wealth of information before search results even appear. Now, Microsoft will jump the queue, so to speak, and provide a link to that information within the Windows Search box within Windows before you even begin typing. Mark Hachman / IDG An invitation to explore coronavirus news is now within Windows Search. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3aQbHSl

Want free games? You need to turn on the Epic Games Store's two-factor authentication

If you want to get your grubby gamer paws on all those free games coming to the Epic Games Store through the rest of the year, you’ll need to step up your security. This week, Epic announced that gamers will need to enable two-factor authentication on their accounts in order to claim the giveaways. “Beginning today and ending on May 21, we will periodically require two-factor authentication prior to claiming free games on the Epic Games Store,” Epic announced , with an in-store notification making users aware of the change. If you try to claim a free game without 2FA enabled, you’ll be prompted to activate the feature first. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2zIjIfl

Google Meet vs Zoom: Which One Should You Pick for Your Virtual Meetings Today?

Here, we are comparing Google Meet with Zoom to help you find who can be the ultimate option for your next virtual meeting. from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/3bORlu6

Google Pixel 4a May Go on Sale Starting May 22, Latest Leak Suggests

Google Pixel 4a launch date is yet to be officially announced but a new report has suggested the possible availability details of the phone in Germany. Pixel 4a will reportedly be available for purchase in the country starting May 22 via Vodafone Germany. from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/2W6UmiQ

Google Meet Is Now Free for Everyone as Google Races to Replace Zoom as Live Video App of Choice

Google has announced that Google Meet will now be available free to everyone with a Google account and not just enterprise and education customers via G Suite, as was previously the case. from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/2KLMRbz

OnePlus 8 review: Android's mid-range champ has less bang for more bucks

In a topsy-turvy world where Apple is releasing $399 iPhones and OnePlus is making $999 premium phones, the OnePlus 8 should be the perfect foil to the OnePlus 8 Pro. After all, OnePlus built its reputation on showing up the high-priced Galaxies and Pixels of the world with premium-specced Android phones for pennies on the dollar. It’s only fair that it does the same for its own four-figure phone. In some ways, the OnePlus 8 delivers on that promise. It has a great screen, the newest Snapdragon processor, 5G, and a triple-camera array at a price lower than the Pixel 4 and Galaxy S10. But when you zoom in on what the OnePlus 8 offers for its price ($ 699 from OnePlus ), which is $200 higher than last year’s 7T (currently discounted to $499 from OnePlus ), it becomes clear the while it’s a very good phone, it’s not quite the killer bargain OnePlus wants us to think it is. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2ySaLQc

OnePlus 8 Pro review: A great phone that's no longer a great value

The OnePlus 8 Pro ushers in a bunch of firsts for the humble Android phone maker. It’s the first OnePlus display with a hole-punch camera and a 120Hz refresh rate. It’s the first OnePlus phone with wireless charging and a quad-camera. It’s the first time OnePlus has made Wi-Fi 6 and 5G standard. Heck, it’s even the first OnePlus phone with IP-rated water resistance. It’s also the first OnePlus handset to top a thousand bucks (with tax), more than three times the cost of the original OnePlus One. To be fair, things have changed quite a bit since 2014, when Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S5 cost just $650 off-contract. But even though OnePlus can claim the 8 Pro costs $300 less than the closest apples-to-apples comparison Galaxy phone, a four-figure sticker price is still much more shocking on a OnePlus phone than a Samsung one. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2yVegVO

Blink Mini review: Amazon jumps into the budget security camera fray

from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2yYahrx

Google Meet becomes free for everyone, as the pursuit of Zoom continues

Google Meet is now free for everyone. As part of the video conferencing land rush begun by Zoom, Google has moved Google Meet out of its paid, premium tier, and made it available to both consumers and professionals alike. In the same way that rival Facebook Messenger Rooms requires you to belong to Facebook to launch a new Room, Google Meet does require users to have a Google account, such as a Gmail email address. The free tier also limits users to just 60 minutes, though the company said it won’t enforce it until after September 30. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3d0E0Pg

Sophisticated Android Spyware Attack Found Targeting Users in India: Kaspersky

Research firm Kaspersky has discovered a new spy campaign that has been stealing data off of hundreds of users for the last five years. Dubbed as PhantomLance, this campaign has been active since 2015, and may have been started by hacker group OceanLotus. from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/3bNBZGb

Google Makes Sharing Drive, Docs, Sheets Files Easier With Redesign

Google has released a new update for its Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Forms apps on the Web to make sharing files easier “with specific people without expanding access beyond what’s needed.” The redesign of the sharing interface brings separate dialogue boxes for sharing a file with friends and co-workers, and for copying the link. from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/2VLtpSx

Google Wants to Help You Avoid COVID-19 Related Online Scams

Google has launched a dedicated webpage on its Google Safety website focused on the topic. The webpage lists all best practices and offers tips to avoid COVID-19 related scams. from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/35mqAe8

PUBG Now Available for Free on Google Stadia, More Games Announced at Stadia Connect

PUBG has been added to the growing library of Google Stadia games and is available for free to all Stadia users. from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/2xmf0mG

YouTube Expands Fact-Check Features to US Video Searches During COVID-19 Pandemic

YouTube, the video service of Alphabet's Google, said on Tuesday it would start showing text and links from third-party fact-checkers to US viewers, part of efforts to curb misinformation on the site during the COVID-19 pandemic. from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/2KK8sRS

Google Parent Alphabet Says Ad Sales Steady After Coronavirus Drop, Warns of Difficult Q2

A drop in Google ad sales steadied in April and some consumers returned to using the search engine for shopping in addition to finding novel coronavirus information, parent Alphabet said on Tuesday. from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/3cZXOlQ

AMD reaps big profits from Ryzen and Radeon, but PC sales remain a question mark

AMD reported very strong earnings for the first quarter of 2020, though AMD executives acknowledged that lower consumer spending may offset the strong demand for its Ryzen CPUs and Radeon GPUs as the year progresses. AMD provided important context into how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting the technology industry, providing a counterpoint to rival Intel’s earnings last week . Chief executive Lisa Su said that AMD has already seen strong demand in the work-from-home category, specifically notebooks. It’s unclear, however, whether that demand will slow if the economy continues to be hit hard. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3bKSrqA

Best robot vacuums: We name the most effective cleaners

Vacuuming is one of the most hated household chores. Here are your best choices for outsourcing it to some automated help. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2ulEWtm

The best graphics cards for PC gaming: 'Get amped' for new Nvidia GPUs?

“What graphics card within my budget gives me the best bang for my buck?” That simple question cuts to the core of what people hunting for a new graphics card look for: the most oomph they can afford. Sure, the technological leaps behind each new GPU can be interesting on their own, but most everyone just wants to crank up the detail settings on Battlefield   and get right to playing. Gaming GPU cheat sheet Our quick-hit recommendations: Best budget GPU: GeForce GTX 1650 Super   [amazon.com] Best 1080p GPU: GeForce GTX 1660 Super  [ newegg.com ] Best 1440p GPU: Radeon RX 5700   [amazon.com] Best 4K/60Hz GPU: GeForce RTX 2080 Super   [GeForce.com] Best 4K/144Hz GPU: GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Founders Edition Remove non-product link   [BestBuy.com] Updated April 28, 2020  to update the news section with information about Nvidia’s GTC 2020 keynote plans, where details about next-gen “Ampere” GPUs are expected to be revealed . To read this artic...

The best SSDs of 2020

Switching to a solid-state drive is the best upgrade you can make for your PC. These wondrous devices obliterate long boot times, speed up how fast your programs and games load, and generally makes your computer feel fast . But not all solid-state drives are created equal. The best SSDs offer solid performance at affordable prices—or, if price is no object, face-meltingly fast read and write speeds. Many SSDs come in a 2.5-inch form factor and communicate with PCs via the same SATA ports used by traditional hard drives. But out on the bleeding-edge of NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) drives, you’ll find tiny “gumstick” SSDs that fit in M.2 connections on modern motherboards, SSDs that sit on a PCIe adapter and slot into your motherboard like a graphics card or sound card, futuristic 3D Xpoint drives , and more. Picking the perfect SSD isn’t as simple as it used to be. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2UuEZi9

Sonarworks’s SoundID Listen software aims to wring better sound out of your headphones

The just-released software for Windows and Mac customizes and (hopefully) improves the audio your headphones deliver, based on a personalized profile. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2W7lMot

$750 PC build challenge: Watch us debate how we'd spend our money

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If we had $750 to build a new PC from scratch, what would we spend our money on? That was the challenge presented to the Full Nerd gang on PCWorld’s YouTube channel, and the selections diverged much less than in our recent  $3,000 PC build challenge . Keep reading if you don’t mind spoilers, or just watch the video below if you want to hear us walk through the hardware in our builds without knowing what’s coming. The biggest takeaway? If you’re building a $750 gaming PC, AMD’s modern Ryzen 5 processors are what you want. While the $235 Ryzen 5 3600X earns the nod as the best pick for most people in our roundup of the best CPUs for PC gaming , the Ryzen 5 3600 is just a step behind, and it’s a killer value at just $173 right now . Every single one of us chose the 6-core, 12-thread chip as the brains of our systems. And it’s not just us: The builds submitted on the Full Nerd Discord server all tapped into Ryzen 5 as well, though some of those leaned on older Ryzen 5 1600...

The best internet radio stations: Streaming tips and our top station picks

Streaming music via internet radio is one of the world's best free entertainment options. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2VYl7pi

PNY Pro Elite SSD review: A fast, affordable external drive with nice extras

The PNY Pro Elite (CS2060) is a portable SSD that doesn’t break the bank. In real-world testing, it performed on a par with the Samsung T5 , and even the newer T7 Touch , but it costs about $20 to $70 less. It comes with the requisite cables and Acronis True Image (one of the best backup programs you can buy), perhaps surpassing Samsung’s amenities, so you miss out on nothing. It's a great value that earns our Editor's Choice. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3bK1PLl

Anker Soundcore Wakey bedside speaker review: Booming audio, with a side of wireless charging

Use your Apple or Samsung smartphone to configure this Bluetooth speaker, then drop it on top to charge it. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3eZ8lje

Popular Google Doodle Games Series Continues on Tuesday With a Cricket Game

Google Doodle has been updated to the Cricket doodle from 2017 that celebrated the ICC Champions Trophy. from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/358XEWS

New Google Pixel Buds True Wireless Earphones Go on Sale in the US: Price, Specifications

After being announced back in October 2019, Google has finally put the new Pixel Buds on sale in the US, priced at $179. from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/2YbnLLf

Digital-Ad Downturn May Complicate Life for Google, Facebook

Demand for digital advertising is shrivelling after a decade of explosive growth amid the pandemic-fuelled downturn. That could complicate things for Google and Facebook, who for the first time may have to contend with revenues that are actually shrinking. from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/3aIL9Cn

How to tell Microsoft Word how many spaces to use after a sentence

Microsoft Word will reportedly flag two spaces after the period as a default grammatical error, in changes that are supposedly rolling out now. But what if you  want two spaces after a period? Here's how to tell Microsoft Word to let you make your own decisions about spacing. First off, to be clear: At press time, I didn't see Microsoft Word flag the spacing between sentences at all , either in the version of Word downloaded onto my PC, nor in the online version of Word. Will it do so in the future? Who knows. Nevertheless, Microsoft's currently rolling out Editor for Microsoft Word , a new assistant to help you improve your writing and grammar. It's inside Editor where you can tell Word how many spaces should go after a period. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3cREBTp

Gears Tactics review impressions: A turn-based spinoff with shooter sensibilities

“Watch those rockets!” “Grubs are moving!” “He’s turning around!” The Locusts are relentless. In threes and fours they take to the field, emerging out of the ground until I can get close enough to toss a grenade down the hole. The Locusts don’t make it easy though, setting up complicated webs of cause-and-effect. Step here, get shot. Flank, and another is watching the first’s back. And on their turn, a swarm. Luckily I can set just as deadly a trap. As the drones and wretches sprint towards my position they find a wall of bullets, a double pincer that cuts them to pieces. But even as I cut this first force down, more are emerging behind. I sit. I stare at this moment, frozen in time—my four ragtag Gears facing down an unstoppable army. I pour myself a drink and I think it over, calmly and quietly, the way Gears Tactics demands. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2SbN0cA

Dell XPS 13 9300 review: The bezel has finally died!

With Dell’s XPS 13 9300, you can mark a momentous date in laptop history: the death of the laptop bezel. Previous models killed the top and sides, but that last useless part has stuck around until now. Dell’s XPS 13 9300, however, kills that bottom bezel dead. More importantly, the smaller bezel makes the XPS 13 possibly one of most compact laptops around. The story of the XPS 13 is a long and storied one at this point. When the first “InfinityBezel” version hit the scene in 2015, it set the trend for what could be done in a tiny laptop, forcing competitors to reevaluate their designs. The latest XPS 13 9300 ( $1,749 at Dell.com ) may not move the ball forward much in performance, but its 16:10 aspect-ratio InfinityBezel touch screen and dual biometric inputs still make a difference. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2VH8XlP

5 apps to prepare you for any emergency

The novel coronavirus has given us all a crash course in emergency preparedness—or, more specifically, in how unprepared most of us are. Many of us are just now scrambling to learn how to stock a 14-day pantry, assemble a bug-out bag, or create a makeshift quarantine room. But the most critical emergency response tool is already in your pocket. While your supplies will be stored away in your home or car, your phone is always with you. Loaded with the right apps, it can be the most important life-saving device in your emergency arsenal. There are a lot of emergency response apps out there, though, many with similar features, and it can be overwhelming trying to separate the truly disaster-ready from the duds. So, we did it for you, narrowing it down to a handful that cover the essential bases for getting you through just about any crisis. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2VJq4DP

Ring Stick Up Cam Battery review: Inexpensive and reliable wireless video surveillance, indoors and out

This inexpensive wireless home security camera can be deployed indoors or out, and you can buy a cheap solar panel to keep its battery forever topped off. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2YgbncK

Google Doodle Games Series to Help Deal With Stay at Home Boredom, Starting With Coding for Carrots

Popular Google Doodle games: Google has updated its doodle to bring back the 2017 game Coding for Carrots to keep kids entertained during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/2xaAyT1

Germany Flips to Apple-Google Approach on Smartphone Contact Tracing

Germany changed course on Sunday over which type of smartphone technology it wanted to use to trace coronavirus infections, backing an approach supported by Apple and Google along with a growing number of other European countries. from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/3aHLJAv

5 Useful Features Coming in Android 11: Developer Preview 3 Edition

Android 11 developer preview 3 dropped earlier this week as latest and probably the last developer preview for the next version of Android. Here are the five great new features that are coming in Android 11 or are at least the part of Android 11 developer preview 3. from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/3axigJq

I wish the PC had game creation tools as intuitive as PlayStation 4's Dreams

Let me say up front: I am not a game developer, and am not approaching this topic as a game developer. Call me an enthusiastic hobbyist, maybe. Inform, Ink, Unity and Unreal, Blender—I’ve played around with plenty of tools over the years, and I do it for the magic , for the moment when an idea takes shape and you go “Wow, I made this.” Finding that magic is hard though. Game development is hard . But it could be (slightly) easier, at least for hobbyists like myself. The past few weeks I’ve spent a lot of time messing around with Dreams , Media Molecule’s game and/or game creation suite for the PlayStation 4. Now I’ve got my fingers crossed it comes to PC. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2yMpvzK

Apple, Google Update Coronavirus Contact Tracing Tech Ahead of Launch

Apple and Alphabet’s Google on Friday updated technical details of the coronavirus contact tracing system they plan to release next month, saying new features would strengthen privacy protections and give health authorities more detailed data. from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/2Y2HOvf

Facebook Messenger Rooms challenges Zoom with free, unlimited group video calls

As Zoom becomes synonymous with group video chat, Facebook announced a number of different options to connect friends remotely, including a new feature: Messenger Rooms. Like Zoom, as well as a new feature in Skype, Messenger Rooms won’t require a Facebook account. (It does appear, however, that the person who  creates the invitation will need to belong to Facebook. The same will be true when the service eventually comes to Instagram and WhatsApp.) It’s not quite live yet, though. Messenger Rooms is rolling out in some countries this week and will expand to the rest of the world—including the U.S.—in coming weeks, Facebook said in a blog post. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2VRD2hw

Nintendo account hack FAQ: What happened, who’s at risk, and how you can secure your ID

Since you’re probably playing a whole lot more Switch and 3DS games than usual these days, this hack couldn’t have come at a worse time. Nintendo has announced that more than 150,000 older accounts have been hacked and are warning users to change their accounts. Here’s what you need to know: What happened? Hackers were able to obtain access to 160,000 Nintendo Network ID (NNID) login names and passwords. When did the hack occur? It’s unclear exactly when the hack happened, but Nintendo says accounts have been compromised since the beginning of April. How do I know if my account has been hacked? Nintendo is notifying affected users via email, but only people with an older NNID account are at risk. However, even if you have a newer Nintendo Account for Switch, you may have linked it with your NNID to share eShop funds across the different systems. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/359QDFi

This random message notification will cause your iPhone to crash before you even read it

A new iOS messaging bug will lock up and crash your iPhone with a single text. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3cNroLE

Android 11 Developer Preview 3 Released, Brings Wireless Debugging, New Security Protocol, and More

Android 11 developer preview 3 (DP3) is here for Pixel smartphones and it brings several new features and changes. The Android 11 DP3 comes with build number RPP3.200230.017 with the April 2020 security patch. Pixel phone users who are using the Android 11 developer preview 2 will receive over-the-air (OTA) update for DP3. from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/3bBRjFH

XCOM meets SWAT: Chimera Squad's radical tweaks make for a refreshing spinoff

If XCOM and SWAT had a baby, XCOM: Chimera Squad would be it. This refreshing spinoff looks like XCOM , sounds like XCOM , and even largely feels like XCOM . But it also feels tremendously different at the same time, thanks to a much tighter focus and experimentation with some of the series’ fundamental design tenets. As a longtime series fan with hundreds of hours invested in various XCOM campaigns— the mod’s called Long War for a reason, friends—I’m really grooving on this remixed take. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3ay8d6P

Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar review: High-end sound for a high-end price

Sennheiser expects to fetch top dollar for this sophisticated soundbar, but it fully doesn't deliver the immersive audio experience it promises from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2Y8fPKV

Is upgrading a laptop's SSD and RAM worth it? We try it in the Dell Inspiron 15 7000

Is it worth it to upgrade a laptop's RAM or storage? We had a chance to find out when Dell asked us to test the upgradability of its Inspiron 15 7000. I admit that as I faced this challenge, I started sweating. Panic-sweating. In my experience, upgrading a laptop is never a fun time. Cracking the case open feels borderline illegal, and once you’re inside you find a maze of tiny screws, tiny parts, tiny wires—like disarming a bomb built for ants. Many laptops don't want to be opened, hiding the screws or voiding the warranty if you dare.  Imagine my surprise when I found the Inspiron 15 7000 almost...friendly? Getting inside still feels a bit illicit, but it was pretty easy to do. Was it worth it? We ran benchmarks to find out.  To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2VAByJD

Google to Verify All Advertisers, and Their Location

Google said Thursday it would expand its program of verification of advertisers on its platform as part of an effort to weed out fraud and "bad actors." from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/2S3o9b0

Intel shrugs off coronavirus with solid Q1 earnings, confirming that Tiger Lake is on track for midyear

Intel overcame the early effects of COVID-19 and reported a strong first quarter of 2020, confirming that the company plans to add its next Tiger Lake processor near the middle of the year, as well as add manufacturing capacity. Intel chief executive Bob Swan also praised his staff for remaining on duty as the coronavirus ramped up, promising $100 million in assistance to his workers including special recognition for those who reported to Intel’s facilities to keep the company running. Intel reported net income of $5.7 billion, up 42 percent from a year ago, on revenue of $19.8 billion, up 23 percent from the same period. (Intel’s second-quarter outlook calls for revenue to drop slightly, to $18.5 billion.) Intel’s data-based businesses exploded, specifically its Xeon-centric Data Center Group, whose revenue rose 43 percent to $7 billion. The larger PC-specific Client Computing Group experienced slower growth, up 14 percent to $9.8 billion. Intel attributed the growth in DCG to...

You can play XCOM 2 for free through April 30, and it's not the only freebie right now

It’s a big week for tactics games. Tomorrow the XCOM: Chimera Squad spinoff releases (and we’ll have some impressions of it as well), and next Tuesday is the debut of Gears Tactics . If you’re a few years behind the curve though, or simply can’t afford to jump into a new tactics game right now, 2K’s got your back. As part of its “Give Back Project,” XCOM 2 is free-to-try from now through April 30 on Steam . To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2VyPvri

Ancient Enemy review: Somehow 'fancy solitaire' is one of my favorite games of 2020

Solitaire. One of my favorite games of 2020 so far is solitaire. Here’s a card—now stack another on top of it. That’s it. Mindless, or maybe just mindless enough. Fwit , fwit , fwit , the sound of the cards stacking on top of each other as I go on a run, my combo meter climbing higher and higher. And then because this is fancy solitaire I unleash the combo as a bolt of lightning into the face of a strange skeleton-witch. Then it’s onto the next level, and onto the next run, and oh god I can’t stop playing Ancient Enemy . Is this the next manifestation of my Globesweeper and Pictopix addiction? It certainly feels that way. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3cGH8jf

YouTube Originals Embrace Lockdown With Melinda Gates, MrBeast, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, More

Embracing the stay-at-home guidelines issued to a third of the global population, YouTube has announced a series of 11 new originals centred around that philosophy, involving the likes of Melinda Gates, MrBeast, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Sonali Bhadauria, John Grisham, Ken Jeong, and Yungblud. from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/3asGbK5

The best USB-C hubs for your laptop or tablet

A USB-C hub allows you to add connections and ports that your laptop or tablet lacks: an HDMI connection, for example, or an SD card slot. But it's also important to know if what you're looking for is a true USB-C hub, or a more powerful, pricier Thunderbolt dock. Both have their uses. Laptops with USB-C ports are becoming more and more common, as the world slowly move away from slower, somewhat inflexible USB-A to this faster, more versatile connection standard. Some laptops only have USB-C ports—that means a USB-C hub is essential if you want to connect a wired USB mouse or keyboard, or an older wired printer.  Fortunately, there are so many USB-C hubs available with various combinations of legacy I/O that finding one to meet your particular needs is as easy as ordering off a menu. We’ve divided our picks into two categories: basic and full-featured, the latter denoting hubs that offer greater extensibility, including charging. Expect to pay about $20 for the “basi...

Retrospect 17 Solo review: Backup software that gives you everything

Retrospect 17, one of the most comprehensive backup programs you can find, is the latest incarnation of a venerable, capable, and reliable program that PCWorld has actually used to back up its content in the past. The Solo version I tested offers the same file backup and disaster recovery and vast media type support I became used to, but adds modern niceties such as online storage, storage pool support, and more. It served us well once, and will serve you well if you need its advanced feature set. The flip side of that is that the program would be overkill for many users. Also, the interface, while efficient, involves a learning curve, especially because of the jargon-heavy terminology used.  To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2VuEgjD

Internet radio: Everything you need to know to stream a world's worth of fantastic music for free

Hey, we dig Sonos Radio, but you don’t need a Sonos speaker to enjoy internet radio. Allow us to be your guide to this fabulous resource. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2yG9dbC

How to record all the free streaming TV before it's gone

How to record streaming TV shows from HBO, CBS, Netflix, and others before their free previews end from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3eK0rdr

Google Meet Getting Chrome Tab Presentations, Layout Updates, Low-Light Mode, and More

Google Meet, the video conferencing service by Google, is getting a major feature upgrade. The company says it wants to make sure people have the much-requested features amid the coronavirus pandemic. from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/34VPVva

Google Stadia Gains Users After Giving Free Access for 2 Months: Sensor Tower

Stadia's mobile app, one of the multiple platforms to use the service and required to configure the Stadia controller, has crossed 1 million installs globally, according to data from analytics firm Sensor Tower. from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/2Vt9TdE

Google Says State-Backed Hackers Increasing Coronavirus Phishing Attacks

Security experts at Alphabet's Google have identified more than a dozen government-backed hacking groups using the COVID-19 pandemic as cover for phishing and malware attempts. from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/2VOOaM1

The Full Nerd ep. 136: AMD B550 motherboards, exploring the vintage PC gear in Gordon's garage

In this episode of The Full Nerd, Gordon Ung , Brad Chacos , Adam Patrick Murray , and special guest Keith May of Wccftech talk about new AMD hardware before taking a stroll down memory lane. We kick this off by discussing AMD’s newly revealed 3rd-gen Ryzen 3 processors and long-awaited B550 motherboards , a tandem that aims to bring blazing-fast PCIe 4.0 speeds to the masses with affordable pricing—though you’ll be waiting a couple months more before the new boards hit the streets. We also wade into whether or not it’s still a good idea to buy a four core, eight thread chip for a gaming PC. (Spoiler: yep!) To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2VtOBfX

The Verizon-exclusive Motorola Edge+ has high-end specs and a headphone jack for $1,000

If you’ve been patiently hoping for Motorola to get back in the premium Android phone game, your wish has been answered. Following years of solid mid-range offerings, Motorola has launched the Edge Plus , a full-on premium Android phone that’s locked to Verizon and costs as much as the Galaxy S20. The bigger news might be that it features a 3.5mm headphone jack. Long extinct from iPhones and endangered on most Android phones, the tiny port is a welcome sight on the Motorola Edge+, which also sports speakers tuned by Waves audio. You’ll also get a dramatic waterfall screen with a near-90-degree edge, 5G with support for Verizon’s super-speedy mmWave network, and the latest Snapdragon 865 processor, along with other ultra-premium specs: To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2VuEAiI

You can finally play Fortnite on your Android phone without side-loading

When Epic announced in 2018 that it was bringing Fortnite to Android phones , it was a huge moment. For one, one of the biggest games of all time was finally available for mobile devices. For another, Epic sidestepped the Play Store and Google’s cut by only offering the game via a third-party installer. A year and a half later, Epic has given in to Google’s terms. Fortnite fans will now find the game listed in the Play Store and will receive updates directly from Google. As a result, more phones will be able to play the game and Epic will pay Google 30 percent of all in-app purchases, having failed in its bid to get an exemption due to terms that Epic deemed “illegal in the case of a distribution platform with over 50% market share.” To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2VqVRJn

How to turn your Kindle on or off: Finding the power button

Turning your Amazon Kindle on and off is as easy as finding the power button—except the location of that button has varied from model to model over the generations. Our handy guide will help you, and we've included photos of a variety of models, working our way from the latest down to some older vintages.  How to turn your Kindle on or off The process to turn your Amazon Kindle on or off is the same regardless of the model or generation. Depress or flick the button, and hold it for one second. Then, let it go. If your Kindle was powered off, its display will now power on. Not sure of where your Kindle's power button is located? This comprehensive list, organized by model and moving from the latest to the older generations, will help you track it down. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2xQK3Hh

Call of Duty: Mobile Teasers Hint at Arrival of Rust Map With Next Update

Activision has released a pair of teasers that hint at the arrival of Rust map in Call of Duty: Mobile with the next update. from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/2RXCm93

Excel: How to create simple and dependent drop-down lists

Drop-down lists in Microsoft Excel (and Word and Access) allow you to create a list of valid choices that you or others can select for a given field. This is especially useful for fields that require specific information; fields that have long or complex data that’s hard to spell; or fields where you want to control the responses. Creating dependent drop-down lists (when combined with an INDIRECT function) is another benefit. This allows you to select a product category from the main menu drop-down list box (such as Beverages), then display all the related products from the submenu (dependent) drop-down list box (such as Apple Juice, Coffee, etc.). This works very well for ordering and inventory purposes because it divides all the products into manageable categories. This is how most wholesale and retail companies handle their product lines. In fact, companies from hospitals and insurance carriers to banks and more use drop-down lists, check boxes, combo lists, and/or radio buttons ...

Cord-cutting myths busted: Why you should stop worrying and dump cable

If you're not sure if cord-cutting is for you, we've broken down, busted, and dispelled the biggest myths that might be holding you back from saving serious money. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3eDFSzr

HP Envy 13 Wood Series review: Walnut enhances a slender, capable laptop

The HP Envy 13 Wood Series is the company’s second foray into natural design flourishes—remember the leather-bound Spectre Folio ? Now the company’s thin-and-light Envy 13 laptop has a Wood Series variant, featuring a walnut wood palm rest and touchpad. While these details might seem frivolous to some, the finely textured wood panel makes for a surprisingly warm, yet practical touch in a laptop that (for the most part) nails the fundamentals. That said, the 4K display on this reasonably priced Envy model skimps on a key feature, and we also had some (non wood-related) touchpad issues. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/352QHXm

Leviton Decora Smart Wi-Fi 4-Button Controller review: This device fits its niche almost perfectly

This Wi-Fi smart home device can control Leviton light switches, dimmers, outlets, and ceiling fans all over your home. But it's not designed to control a local load. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3cAiYaf

Google Duo Calls to Soon Be Clearer on Low Bandwidth Connections, Group Call Participant Limit to Be Increased

Google Duo is getting a bunch of new features over the coming weeks. According to Google, Duo is getting the new updates as an increasing number of users are using the video calling app amid the coronavirus pandemic. from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/2VwaQC5

Google Drops Charges on Shopping Service to Counter Amazon's Surging Ad Sales

Google said on Tuesday it would stop charging merchants to place products on its Google Shopping search page as it looks to win e-commerce advertising business from Amazon.com and other online retailers, just as they are struggling to supply customers with some items due to the coronavirus pandemic. from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/2RVmMe4

The best CPUs for gaming

Buying a processor for a gaming rig isn’t as hard as it used to be. Now that AMD’s Ryzen and Intel’s 9th-gen Core CPUs come with more performance and cores than ever before, it’s hard to buy a stinker these days—especially because most games favor graphics firepower over CPU oomph. All that said, there are specific chips that stand out from the horde as the best gaming CPUs due to their price, performance, or nifty extras. Best CPU for gaming cheat sheet Our quick-hit recommendations: Best gaming CPU for most people: AMD Ryzen 5 3600X Best budget gaming CPU: AMD Ryzen 3 3200G Best high-end gaming CPU: Intel Core i9-9900K Remove non-product link Remove non-product link Whether you’re on a budget or willing to pay for sheer face-melting speed , these are the best CPUs for gaming PCs that you can buy. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2PBT7Gx

The best online film festivals and virtual art house movie screenings

SXSW, the Ashland Independent Film Festival, Film Forum, and more are turning to virtual screenings in the wake of COVID-19. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2XeLHwE

Spotify rolls out curated podcast playlists for true crime fanatics, foodies, and more

Following in the footsteps of its Your Daily Podcast playlists, Spotify’s new podcast playlists feature hand-picked episodes from the latest and greatest pods. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2yxb2rD

AMD's B550 motherboards will bring PCIe 4.0 to the masses, $99 Ryzen 3 CPU in tow

When AMD’s excellent Ryzen 3000-series processors released last summer, snatching the desktop computing crown from Intel , one of their key features was support for the blazing-fast PCIe 4.0 interface—but only if you purchased a pricey X570 motherboard, too. No more. After months of constant leaks (and constant pining by enthusiasts) AMD confirmed Tuesday that it’s bringing PCIe 4.0 to the masses with the announcement of B550 motherboards, revealed alongside two  extremely affordable new Ryzen 3-series processors. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2Kog3FG

How to improve your writing using Editor for the online version of Word

Microsoft’s conversion from Office 365 subscriptions to Microsoft 365 , beginning Tuesday, will be accompanied by features that will be rolled out over the coming months. But there’s an exception that’s already available: Microsoft’s new Editor for the online version of Word, which provides a handy dashboard of suggestions to improve your writing. As the name suggests, the new Editor feature isn’t available for the downloadable version of Word, whether it be in Office 365/Microsoft 365 or in Word 2019.  You’ll need to load Word Online to use it, as well as subscribe to Office 365/Microsoft 365. (Microsoft sometimes refers to it as Word Online, Word for the Web, or Office Online.) To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3cClCMu

All-new Sonos Radio brings free music to Sonos customers

Internet radio stalwarts iHeartRadio and TuneIn are participating, but Sonos is also drawing on Napster to build its own streaming catalog. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2XSRmZN

Funny Zoom trick: Wear a celebrity's face to your next meeting

Here's a free and funny Zoom trick that could  really  mess with people during your next video call: Use Snap Camera and Zoom to wear a celebrity's face over your own. Who will it be? Joe Exotic? Joe Biden? Brad Pitt? Most people don't know how to do this, and it’s scary how realistic it is! It’s also about as simple as Zoom tricks get. (While this may also work in Teams and Skype, Zoom’s the easiest to configure.) To take advantage of it, you’ll need to be familiar with our previous tutorial on how to enable a funny custom Zoom background , as well as our earlier guide on how to use Snap Camera to change the way you look in Zoom, Teams, and other chat apps. Naturally, better hardware helps, too, and maybe a green screen. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2RW7shn

How to use Nvidia's magical RTX Voice app to eradicate background noise in calls and videos

The futuristic Turing GPUs inside of Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 20-series graphics cards come packed with dedicated RT and tensor cores devoted to accelerating ray tracing and AI tasks, respectively. Thus far, the tensor cores have mostly been used to supercharge visuals by reducing noise in ray traced games and enabling the faster, better, deeply impressive DLSS 2.0 feature . But a new Nvidia app called RTX Voice puts those machine learning chops to a much more practical use for your ears, leveraging the hardware to filter out background noise in conferencing apps like Zoom and Skype, as well as broadcasting apps like OBS Studio, Discord, and Xsplit. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2VPSQkK

AT&T TV review: This pricey solution for cord-cutters includes hardware

AT&T TV preserves almost everything you love—and hate—about cable. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2VnrCDg

Microsoft adds Microsoft Teams for consumers as Office 365 becomes 'Microsoft 365' for all

Office 365 is dead. Long live Microsoft 365, the renamed version of Microsoft’s productivity suite that now includes an expanded version of Microsoft Teams designed expressly for consumers. (Editor's Note: This story originally published on March 30. We're re-publishing it as the changes to the subscriptions have taken effect today, April 21.) Today, April 21, current Office 365 subscriptions for consumers will shift over to become Microsoft 365 subscriptions, Microsoft said, available at the current price of $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year for a shared group of up to 6 people. (Personal subscriptions are $6.99 per user per month, or $69.99 per year.) Those subscriptions will still include features like a terabyte of OneDrive cloud storage, access to Microsoft’s Office apps, and more. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2Js2nsw

Google Updates Chrome After Spotting 'Critical' Security Vulnerability

Google is updating Chrome browser across Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms after spotting the bug. The vulnerability 'CVE-2020-6457' was pointed out earlier this month and is probably found in the speech recognition tool. from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/3btg0UW

Facebook-Powered Virus 'Heat Map' Unveiled

Researchers Monday unveiled a coronavirus "heat map" powered by Facebook data which is aimed at helping track the spread of the disease and plan for reopening society. from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/2zaMWmC

Tested: Minecraft showcases the beauty of ray tracing—and Nvidia's DLSS 2.0

The day has finally come. On Thursday, after an endless drip of teases, Minecraft for Windows 10 is rolling out a beta that adds support for real-time ray tracing and Nvidia’s faster, better Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) 2.0 technology . I’ve been playing around with it for a few days, and friends, the wait was worth it. Ray-traced Minecraft is glorious to behold, completely altering the look and feel of the game—though this low-fi legend can make even the most fearsome graphics cards sweat when you activate the cutting-edge lighting technology. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2KksNNj

Microsoft's free Minecraft for Windows 10 giveaway ends at midnight for Java players

If you’ve been stalling on grabbing a free code for Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition , you better get on it, because the long-standing offer ends tonight at midnight. Microsoft has long pledged to give anyone who purchased Minecraft: Java Edition before Oct. 19, 2018 a free code for the Windows 10 version, but the deadline for that offer expires tonight at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time. After that, you’ll have to pony up $26.95 for a copy of Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition . While the Windows 10 and Java versions will continue to be developed in parallel, many of the most advanced features come to the Windows 10 Edition first, which supports cross-platform play with consoles and mobile devices. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2yvuxR4

5 Alternatives to Zoom App for Video Conferences From Home

We are here listing top five free alternatives to the Zoom app to help you pick the best suitable option. from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/2xBsdrY

Google's Apple Card Rival Leaked Online, Will Reportedly Integrate With Google Pay

Google is reportedly working on a Google Card which will be its answer to the Apple Card launched last year. from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/2xMsHeP

How to organize your Kindle library

Kindle e-readers make it easy to amass and read books. Unfortunately, they don’t make it particularly easy to organize them. There’s no folder structure or tagging system to impose order on large libraries. Instead, Kindle offers Collections, a way of sorting books into logical groupings on the device screen. Alas, Collections are far from perfect. You can’t drag-and-drop books, even if your Kindle has a touchscreen, or otherwise organize books en masse . You have to open each book and assign it to a collection individually. Still, with some effort and patience, Collections can help you streamline your library, which will definitely help you better enjoy your Kindle. Here’s how to get started. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2XTUeFJ

How to survive homeschooling with nothing more than an Echo, Roku, and a Disney+ subscription

Homeschooling can be a pain for everyone involved, but with the help of a few smart devices, it can be much more pleasant. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2XM9kgx

Will Microsoft launch Surface Book 3, Surface Go 2, and Surface Dock 2 soon? Here's what we know

We’ve known for a while that Microsoft plans to launch the powerhouse Surface Book 3 and ultramobile Surface Go 2 sometime before the end of April. But what will be inside Microsoft’s new devices, exactly? We’ve rounded up what’s leaked and what’s been rumored about each device. We’ve been told that the launch was pushed back a bit because of the coronavirus, and Microsoft’s fears that it wouldn’t have enough finished product to stock store shelves. No one’s been able to pin down a shipping date yet, though it’s sure to be within the near future if these leaks are to believed. Microsoft Surface Book 3 Like the original Surface Book 2 , we’ve been told that the Surface Book 3 should ship in two different configurations, with 13.5-inch and 15-inch displays. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3cudVIn

Eufy Security Wireless Video Doorbell review: Very high-res video and no subscription needed

Local network storage means you won't need to pay for an ongoing subscription to use Eufy's high-resolution doorbell camera. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3eAyfcW

Fallout 76 re-review: The free Wastelanders expansion deserves a second trip into West Virginia

To say I had low expectations for Fallout 76 ’s new Wastelanders expansion would be an understatement. My original Fallout 76 review was not kind , but at least ended on a hopeful note. “Maybe like Elder Scrolls Online , Bethesda can tease a decent game out of this foundation in a year or two,” I wrote. But as time went on, and as the controversies mounted, I became less and less convinced. Still, when Wastelanders released on Tuesday I figured I might as well give it a shot. After all, the expansion is free for anyone who owned the game, and...well, I owned the game. Why not, right? It’s not like there’s much releasing this spring . To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2VCMUf0

Should you wait for AMD Ryzen 4000 or Intel Comet Lake H laptops, or get an older model for cheap?

Now that AMD’s boffo Ryzen 4000 chips and Intel’s 10th-gen Comet Lake H are both out, laptop shoppers have to decide whether to wait for shiny new models to ship, or jump now to find some good deals on the current generation still available.  The biggest surprise was the Ryzen 9 4900HS we reviewed in the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 laptop . We expected the CPU to be fast, but we didn’t know it would handle its acoustics and thermals so well, too. Ryzen 4000 and the ROG Zephyrus G14 have reset what to expect out of a gaming laptop for performance and portability.  To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3dsR7tC

Galaxy S10 Lite vs S10e: Samsung's new low-cost phone costs more than its old one

Hot on the heels of Apple’s extremely affordable iPhone SE , Samsung has announced that its own “budget” version of last year’s flagship Galaxy S10 is available to purchase. But with a $650 price tag, it might not fly off the shelves. Samsung describes the S10 Lite as “a device with speed, storage and plenty of battery life, along with a pro-grade camera, and gorgeous Infinity Display,” which is all true, but Samsung already cut the price of its existing S10 line when the Galaxy S20 launched . So instead of undercutting the whole line, it has a price that’s actually more than the Galaxy S10e. Here’s how the phones stack up: To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2VhHGX0

The HP Envy 15 leads a rebranded product line made for creators

The HP Envy 15 laptop leads its entire product family in a new direction—straight toward the rising “creator” class. These users, whether they’re coders, visual artists, or social media darlings, need the same high-end CPUs and GPUs that PC gamers use, and they demand the stylish packages that the Envy line is already known for. The related Envy 17 is shipping now, while the Envy 15 and other models are coming out in May or June.  HP Envy 17: Wide-open spaces Let’s start with the laptop available now, the HP Envy 17—starting at $1,100 from HP.com Remove non-product link , or there’s a specific SKU selling for $1,250 at Best Buy Remove non-product link . To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2yjyjgD

Best web browser 2020: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Opera go head-to-head

The web browser is by far the most important piece of software on your PC. Unless you’re at a workstation crunching numbers or editing Hollywood blockbusters, you probably spend the majority of your computer time staring at a webpage. That’s why it’s important to have the best tool for the job. So much has changed since our last browser showdown in early 2019. Not only is Internet Explorer out, but classic Edge is about to be replaced by Chromium-based Edge . The latter is not officially a part of Windows yet, but you can already download it manually to replace the original (and basically terrible) Edge. For the PCWorld browser showdown 2020 edition, we’ve dumped classic Edge and replaced it with the stable version of Chromium Edge.  To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2VA4ZdD

PNY XLR8 CS3030 NVMe SSD review: Cheap and exceptionally fast for everyday chores

The PNY XLR8 CS3030 NVMe SSD shows how the market has split into two camps. One is bargain drives such as this one: It can handle everyday performance capably, but it slows down on long sustained writes. Then there are pricier drives that can handle long writes without the slowdown. Most users will be just fine with the XLR8 CS3030, or any bargain drive for that matter, and quite likely will never encounter a slowdown. If you don’t regularly write large amounts of data, read on—the CS3030 posted some very nice numbers with smaller data sets, and is less expensive than the competition. It also features spectacular endurance ratings for a bargain drive. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2RHNQgL

Even more great movies you can stream online for free

There is no time like the present for catching up on some cinema greats. Here are 15 more quality movies to help you pass the time under quarantine. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3cr9f5X

Ring Indoor Cam review: There are less-expensive cameras, but none that belong to such a broad ecosystem

The smart home market is awash in cheap security cameras, but the Ring Indoor Cam is one of the few that can be integrated into a security system that's as comprehensive as Ring's. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2RIFQMC

Google Updates Play Store Rules to Stop Android App Subscription Fraud

Google has updated its subscriptions policy for app developers asking them to be more transparent with their subscription terms. from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/3ajzV78

Apple, Google Weigh Location Tracking Rules as EU Seeks Privacy-Based Virus Apps

Apps to help contain the spread of the novel coronavirus should not collect user location data, the European Commission said on Thursday. from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/2XHy89n

What to expect in Microsoft's new Windows 10 May 2020 Update release, due soon

Now known as the Windows 10 May 2020 Update , what was formally called Windows 10 20H1 (version 2004) looks like it’ll finally be giving Windows users something to talk about. Using Microsoft's Insider builds as a guide, you can expect the most significant changes in the Windows Subsystem for Linux, Cortana, Windows Search, and Your Phone. There’s also the usual mix of small “utility” improvements and conveniences. Before we dive deeper into the new features to expect, let’s talk timing. Microsoft's wrapped development on the Windows 10 May 2020 Update, and has begun delivering the "final" version to the Release Preview ring of the Windows 10 Insider program. We still don't know exactly when it will be released to Windows 10 PCs at large, though we know it will be sometime in May. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2SmFs7a

Windows 10 May 2020 Update review: Microsoft boosts Linux and Your Phone, but Cortana slips hard

Our review of Microsoft’s Windows 10 20H1 update—also known as version 2004, or the Windows 10 May 2020 Update—shows an OS focused primarily on building out existing features, rather than launching new ones. Some scaffolding is still apparent in tweaks to Your Phone, and especially Cortana. Microsoft has further polished Task Manager, Settings, and Game Bar, however, and isn’t afraid to serve niche audiences with upgrades to the Windows Subsystem for Linux and the related Terminal app.  As in the past, we’ve based our review on the Insider builds of the Windows 10 May 2020 Update, beginning with the major features and working through to its minor additions. Though Microsoft essentially signaled that the May 2020 Update release was finished by January, we waited until the end of February to complete our tests. It’s important to note, however, that Microsoft hasn’t announced when the “final” 20H1 version will ship to the general public, and a few more bugs may ...

Microsoft announces the Windows 10 May 2020 Update, the next Windows for your PC

Meet Microsoft’s Windows 10 May 2020 Update. On Thursday, Microsoft said the latest iteration of Windows 10—known informally as Windows 10 20H1 or version 2004—has reached what Microsoft is calling its final build of the cycle, Build 19041.207. The May 2020 Update build will begin rolling out soon to members of the “Release Preview” ring of the Windows 10 Insider program, which is reserved for those who wish to receive what are essentially final release builds early, with minimal risk to their devices. Microsoft isn’t saying when the Windows 10 May 2020 Update will roll out to the general public—beyond the general May 2020 timeframe, of course. Microsoft is also apparently reserving its right to keep publishing new bug fixes until then. “We will continue to improve the overall experience of the May 2020 Update on customers’ PCs as part of our normal servicing cadence,” wrote Brandon LeBlanc, senior program manager of the Windows Insider program, in a blog post. To read this ar...

9 new iPhone SE tips and tidbits you need to know before you buy

The iPhone SE has the body of an iPhone 8 with the brains of an iPhone 11, but there are some things you might not know. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3ciM2CS

Crytek announces Crysis remaster releasing this summer

“Can it run Crysis ?” has been a PC-building meme for over a decade now, but once upon a time it was a legitimate question. When Crysis released in 2007, very few PCs could run it, and even fewer could run it well. The game itself was fine, but the foliage? The foliage was incredible. It felt like Crysis pulled back the curtain on the future and showed people what games might look like in 2012 or 2013. Those moments come once in a hardware generation, at best. And now it runs on a Nintendo Switch. Go figure. On Thursday morning Crytek announced Crysis Remastered , due to release this summer on PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and yes, the Nintendo Switch. Lumping all those consoles in with the PC version does not give me high hopes for seeing a second coming of the “Can it run Crysis ?” phenomenon. If two 2013-era consoles and a handheld can run this remaster, your PC almost certainly can. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3cpuW6p

How to use Snap Camera to transform yourself in Zoom, Skype, and Teams calls

Creating a  funny Zoom background is so March, 2020. Instead, it’s time for the new hotness: Dress up as a virtual pirate, a potato, or a slice of pizza! It’s all available with Snap Camera and its photo filters for your next video call—Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or something else. And yes, you can do it on your PC’s webcam. You may already know how to mess around with Snapchat filters on your smartphone, but did you know you can use them on your PC, too? Zoom (and now Teams ) can superimpose a custom background behind you, but Snap Camera can do that  and give you a digital costume. Here’s how. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2XL4HTR

Report: Sony PlayStation 5 could be sold in limited quantities early on

Bloomberg reports that the upcoming Sony PlayStation 5 could be sold in limited quantities, due to its price and economic concerns with the coronavirus. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2wKxE7j

The Full Nerd ep. 135: Intel Comet Lake H and Ghost Canyon NUC reviews, ray traced Minecraft

In this episode of The Full Nerd, Gordon Ung , Brad Chacos ,  Alaina Yee , and Adam Patrick Murray review the next-gen Intel laptop chips and NUC mini-PCs released this week, then talk about what to expect from the beta version of Minecraft that will add real-time ray tracing to the legendary game. It’s coming out this week, too. We kick things off with Gordon’s review of Intel’s “Comet Lake H” 10th-gen Core laptop processors , as championed by the fantastic Gigabyte Aero 17 . The Core i7-10875H brings 8 cores and 16 threads to the mobile Core i7 lineup for the first time ever, resulting in a kick-ass, enthusiast-class chip that’s both loaded up with cores and blazing along at 5GHz-plus clock speeds. It’s easily the best Core i7 chip ever. But how does it stack up against the game-changing Ryzen 4000 laptop chips released at the end of month? We dig in. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3a98NI0

Google's Fast-Growing Meet Video Tool Getting Zoom-Like Layout, Gmail Link

The integration of Meet with e-mail is the first of several features being launched ahead of schedule because of a surge in demand for video conferencing, Google vice president Javier Soltero told Reuters. from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/2z6Tm6n

Google Launches YouTube Learning for Students, Play Store to Get Kids Section

Google has launched a new feature on YouTube to help students and educators who are stuck at home during lockdowns due to coronavirus outbreak. Dubbed as YouTube Learning Destination, the new feature contains resources like curriculum-relevant topics in physics, math, and biology, language studies, study hacks, and much more, from YouTube’s educa... from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/34I4UJ1

Tested: Minecraft showcases the beauty of ray tracing—and Nvidia's DLSS 2.0

The day has finally come. On Thursday, after an endless drip of teases, Minecraft for Windows 10 is rolling out a beta that adds support for real-time ray tracing and Nvidia’s faster, better Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) 2.0 technology . I’ve been playing around with it for a few days, and friends, the wait was worth it. Ray-traced Minecraft is glorious to behold, completely altering the look and feel of the game—though this low-fi legend can make even the most fearsome graphics cards sweat when you activate the cutting-edge lighting technology. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3enmKFA

Sundar Pichai's Memo on Google Decision: 'Significant Pain' of Pandemic

Google parent Alphabet is “significantly” slowing hiring for the remainder of the year, Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai told employees in an email on Wednesday. from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/3adoo9x

The OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro aren’t overpriced, but they’re way too expensive

The OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro smartphones are out now , and normally we'd be intrigued. Over the years, OnePlus has played a game of priorities, offering the newest processor and latest display enhancements for hundreds of dollars less than its peers do. With Verizon joining T-Mobile this year in offering OnePlus, it seemed like the little phone maker was on the verge of its big breakthrough.  That breakthrough might not happen, unfortunately. While the newest OnePlus phones certainly bring the goods, with stunning displays, impressive camera arrays, and gorgeous designs, they also bring a change no one will like: Their prices have gone up. A lot. It also doesn't help that OnePlus is removing its biggest competitive advantage at a time when millions of people are suddenly unemployed, and premium phone sales are cratering. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2XEqpc8

How to limit screen time on Xbox and Windows for your kids

If you’re working from home, chances are you’ve let your kids sit down in front of the Xbox or a Windows PC...then you lose track of time, and they end up playing for hours unattended. It’s easy to set screen time limits on the Xbox and on Windows 10, allowing parents to set precise limits on screen time per day and define the hours during which it’s okay to play. Setup’s a bit of a hassle, though, especially if the kids aren’t already set up with a Microsoft account. We’re here to walk you through it. ( Want more screen-time guidance for phones and tablets? We pitted  Screen Time, Family Link, and FreeTime versus a seven-year-old .) To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2VwZ214

This app could change how you use your Roku

The remote control feature in the Reelgood could change how you use your Roku. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3agAGOi

Tech Companies Step Up Fight Against Bad Coronavirus Info

Potentially dangerous coronavirus misinformation has spread from continent to continent like the pandemic itself, forcing the world’s largest tech companies to take unprecedented action to protect public health. from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/2yXISGe

Best smart thermostat: Reviews and buying advice

There are so many smart thermostats to choose from today. We'll help you pick the right one. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2CPRXAd

Microsoft adds new Your Phone features, but just for Samsung devices

Microsoft’s Your Phone app was originally designed for both iOS and Android, then narrowed to an Android-only feature. Now Microsoft seems to be focusing the app further, limiting Your Phone’s advanced functionality to just Samsung devices. As part of a new Windows 10 Insider build for the Fast Ring, Build 19608 , Microsoft is improving the Windows 10 Your Phone app by adding drag-and-drop capabilities for files. But if you don’t own a supported Samsung phone , you’re out of luck—it won’t work. Microsoft is adding copy and paste features to more Samsung devices, too, which is similar—it simply requires you to use the actual “copy” and “paste” commands instead. In the Build 19582 update in March, Microsoft also added support to turn off your phone’s screen remotely—but again, just for some Samsung phones. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2wIGjr1

How to lower your Internet bill: Just ask

We’ve rounded up what ISPs are doing for customers during the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic. But there’s something you can do as well: Call your ISP and ask for a lower price on your Internet service. I did, and it’s saving me about $20 per month. Everyone’s struggling right now: consumers, businesses, and ISPs alike. Millions of Americans are filing for unemployment (including my wife). But your Internet provider wants you to remain as a customer. My advice: Meet in the middle. Normally, negotiating a better rate with your ISP is best left to the end of the month, when the company doesn’t want to ruin its retention numbers. But why wait? To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3ep4VpH

iPhone SE 2020 vs iPhone 8: Why Apple’s new phone is its best deal in years

Apple has replaced the iPhone 8 with a phone that looks the same but is better in every way. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/34C5jwF

Google Launches Free Tool in Beta to Help Quickly Create Short YouTube Videos

As businesses struggle to shift from the traditional to the digital space given the current pandemic crisis, Google has released a new beta tool that lets you create short YouTube videos. from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/2wFfnIv

Apple-Google Alliance Welcomed by European Coronavirus App Platform

Apple and Alphabet's Google said last week that they would launch tools to support application of short-range communications between devices as a proxy for measuring the risk an infected person can on. from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/3emvX0Q

Intel 10th-gen Comet Lake H review: The best Core i7 in a laptop you can buy

Intel’s 10th-gen Comet Lake H is easily the best Core i7 available today in a gaming laptop. In fact, we’d be bold enough to say that 10th-gen Core i7 Comet Lake H is easily the best Core i7 we’ve ever seen in a gaming laptop.  With the 8-core, 16-thread Core i7-10875H, Intel’s finally giving gamers and power users the cores they want in a Core i7. Previously, Intel sequestered 8-core chips behind that First-Class curtain accessible only to Core i9 buyers. With Core i7-10875H, such luxury is trickling down to Economy Plus users. Intel isn’t doing this out of the goodness of its heart, though. A little 7nm chip called Ryzen 4000 is looming over every single result here, having sent shock waves through the laptop world when it made its debut last month .  To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3eu2gv5

Gigabyte Aero 17 review: A gorgeous 4K laptop that finally makes sense

If you’re squinting at this review from your tiny 13-inch laptop screen, you may be like the many people who started working from home a few weeks ago and realized that portability means nothing if you’re going blind using a tiny screen. Gigabyte’s Aero 17 has the answer, by offering superb performance and a gorgeous, 17.3-inch UHD 4K HDR 400 panel to boot. Never mind that the laptop also features Intel’s newest 10th-gen, 8-core, Core i7-10875H Comet Lake H CPU and Nvidia’s stellar GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q GPU. This review is part of our ongoing roundup of the best laptops . Go there for information on competing products and how we tested them. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2wFqscA

Intel Ghost Canyon NUC9i9QNX review: The first modular NUC heralds a new future for mini PCs

The NUC 9 Extreme NUC9i9QNX (also known as Ghost Canyon), like its forebears, showcases Intel’s latest, cutting-edge tech—and the most unpronounceable product names. It continues a tradition begun in 2016 with Skull Canyon and its 45-watt quad-core processor, followed in 2018 by Hades Canyon and its unique integrated graphics capable of modern 1080p gaming. This time, the newest Next Unit of Computing challenges preconceptions of mini PCs by swinging away from the silicon and over to its housing. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2xzzCIb

Google Developing Its Own Mobile Chip for 2021 Pixel Phones: Report

Google is reportedly readying its own chip for Pixel and Chromebook devices. A report says that the tech giant has partnered with Samsung to work on custom chips for Pixel devices, and it is codenamed as Whitechapel. from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/3clt5zG

Fitbit Charge 4 review: Small and steady wins the race

Fitbit’s Charge 4 isn’t a flashy update over the Charge 3, but it brings just enough to keep it on top of the pack. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2REA9PS

YouTube Now Supports UPI Payments in India

YouTube has introduced UPI as a new mode of payment on its platform. The new facility will make it easier for YouTube users to perform transactions like sSuperChat, memberships, movie rentals, and more, on the video-sharing platform. from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/2wHfH9R

Treatlife Smart Dimmer review: A generic switch with generic performance

The good news is that adding this Wi-Fi switch to your smart home won't cost much. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/34Ap9bB

Tribit StormBox Micro BTS10 review: The more affordable micro Bluetooth speaker

A surprising amount of sound and thump emanates from this palm-sized speaker, modeled after the Bose SoundLink Micro and JBL Clip. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3clhXmh

Now Locate Delhi Government's Food Distribution Centres and Night Shelters on Google Maps

Welcoming Google and Delhi Government's collaboration, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday tweeted, “As we prepare for an extended lockdown, we are proud to work together with @GoogleIndia Maps in ensuring easy accessibility of all our food and night shelters." from RSS Feeds | GOOGLE - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/3a782PD

OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro test drive: Big, beautiful, and brimming with confidence

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For the first time since its’ first phone landed in 2014, the newest OnePlus flagship isn’t missing anything. Wireless charging? Check. 120Hz screen? Check. 5G? Check. Wi-Fi 6? Check. Quad-camera system? Check. IP68 water resistance? Check. The OnePlus 8 Pro can stand spec to spec against any phone available today and more than hold its own. Without the OnePlus logo on the back, in fact, you could easily mistake it for the newest Galaxy phone or iPhone. It’s that luxurious. Michael Simon/IDG The OnePlus 8 has four cameras, including a strange “filter” lens. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2XCJtYu

Which Internet providers are lifting data caps during the coronavirus, and which aren't

As American businesses are forced to shut down because of COVID-19 (the novel coronavirus), customers are anxious about their bill for Internet access. Data caps, an annoyance in the best of times, suddenly can mean paying additional fees if a family sheltering in place goes over their limit. Think of it: you're working from home , videoconferencing over Skype or Zoom, while your kids are playing games and chatting with friends. There's streamed movies to watch in the evenings. Disney+ and Netflix may be in constant rotation, adding to the bandwidth strain. That's a lot of data!  To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3d0t9Wu