Must Have Products

Is your computer’s CPU too hot? If your PC starts spontaneously shutting down, locking up, or acting sluggish during intense tasks, overheating could be the issue. Keeping tabs on your CPU temperatures is crucial when you’re overclocking your PC’s processor , too—you don’t want to accidentally push the performance pedal too far to the metal when you’re supercharging your pricey Core i9-10900K . Save on holiday shopping with our picks of the best laptop PC deals of the season . Bizarrely, Windows doesn’t offer any way to check your computer’s CPU temperature. You could dive into your system’s BIOS to find the information, but that’s a lot of hassle to find a simple sensor reading. Fortunately, several free programs exist that make it easy to see your processor’s temperature. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2pAmA9t

When it comes to gaming PCs, nothing matters more than your graphics card. To push as many pixels as possible you’re going to want the fastest graphics card you can afford—but ever-shifting prices and product lineups make it difficult to keep track of what’s available. In honor of keeping frame rates high, we decided to rank all the major available discrete GPUs from Nvidia GeForce and AMD Radeon, starting with the fastest graphics card available and working on down. This list focuses on each company’s most current GPU lineups, and doesn’t include significantly older graphics cards (yet). Price to performance is  not a consideration here—just pure performance. (Concrete example: The GeForce RTX 2080 Ti is technically more powerful than the GeForce RTX 3070 , and hence higher on this list, but it’s essentially tied in performance and the newer GeForce option is significantly cheaper, making it a better buy.) To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld...

Are you on the hunt for a totally new gaming machine, only interested in gaming, and want as much raw firepower as possible for your money? Then you might want to consider the $500 Xbox Series X that launched on November 10 . There’s no way you can even come close to building a Series X-equivalent PC for anywhere near the $500 price tag of Microsoft’s next-generation console. We tried . But in the battle of Xbox Series X versus gaming PCs, there’s a lot more to consider than just pricing. Let’s dig in. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3kpwxwN

Are you on the hunt for a totally new gaming machine, only interested in gaming, and want as much raw firepower as possible for your money? Then you might want to consider the $500 Xbox Series X that launched on November 10 . There’s no way you can even come close to building a Series X-equivalent PC for anywhere near the $500 price tag of Microsoft’s next-generation console. We tried . But in the battle of Xbox Series X versus gaming PCs, there’s a lot more to consider than just pricing. Let’s dig in. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3kpwxwN

Say farewell to a disaster of a year with a selection of apocalyptic movies, plus some glimmers of hope for the future. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3hwZFT1

Even in a year like 2020, one thing didn't change in the tech world: Certain devices, technologies, and services shut down. The causes vary, as does the level of regret. Some things we'll miss; some things we never cared about; and others, we're glad to show the door. This year, we're dividing the departed by how much we think most people will actually care. Check out our list below and wave goodbye or good riddance to: Tech we'll actually miss : Good products we're sad to lose You're still here? Products that died of indifference or neglect Good riddance! Tech that can't die too soon Tech we'll actually miss FarmVille Zynga Few Flash games hitting end of life deserve their own entry, but few games have ever seized the public imagination like Zynga’s FarmVille . The company announced that as of December 31, 2020,  FarmVille would drift off into the sunset with the rest of the Flash-based world. To read this article in full, please c...

Nanoleaf’s impressive Hexagons light panels just got some company. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3o3VMay

Google is ushering in the new year by featuring an animated doodle with a ticking cuckoo clock, waiting to strike midnight to end the year. The cuckoo clock has 2020 written at the bottom. The rest of the letters of the Google doodle are decorated in festive lights. from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/2X0pjGi

Google is letting Android and iOS users look back at 2020 through a ‘Year in Review’ feature in the Memories carousel in Google Photos. You can also create a 2020 photo book from the pictures of the year gone by. from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/3hshdQ4

Worldwide spending on mobile apps reached $407.6 million (roughly Rs. 2,988 crores) across Google Play and Apple’s App Store on Christmas, according to Sensor Tower. A majority of the Christmas spending was on mobile games, with Tencent’s Honor of Kings becoming the category leader, while TikTok led the category of non-game app spending globally. from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/38KQM4e

This time last year I wrote a column titled, “ If you got a Pixel 4 for Christmas, you should probably return it .” I didn’t want to write it. Ever since the Pixel launched in 2016, I’ve rooted for Google’s phone to succeed. No other company is in such a position to bring an iPhone-like level of hardware/software integration and an experience unsurpassed on any other Android phone. Unfortunately Google never quite nailed it. The pieces were all there—flagship processor, fantastic camera, regular Android updates—but the design always left much to be desired, the features were gimmicky, and the battery was merely good-enough. On the Pixel 4, the compromises became too much to bear. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/38PUaum

In a great year for feathering your nest, these products are the best of the best. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3rEmsRc

In a year where we largely turned our backs on the real world and huddled indoors, technology and the companies that developed them gained outsized influence. Microsoft loomed larger than most, powering the PCs that ran Microsoft Teams  and the Xbox game consoles on which at least some of us passed their time after hours. So was it, overall, a great year for Microsoft? Not exactly. The pandemic disrupted its product development, for one, forcing Microsoft to readjust its dual-screen ambitions. The hype train that accompanied its Surface Duo never apparently panned out in actual sales.  We’ve collected Microsoft’s highlights, low points, and unexpected moments that made us scratch our head. It was a profoundly weird, awful year, and we’re all hoping to return to a sense of normalcy in 2021. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/38EWAfi

Android’s Smart Text Selection tool has added a feature for unit conversions. If you select part of a measurement, it will automatically select the full measurement, with the number and the unit, and a button offering to convert it will pop up. The feature doesn’t appear to have rolled out to all users as of now. from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/37W5XZ5

Google Assistant is ending what is admittedly a terrible 2020 with a really strange song. You can get the voice assistant to sing the song by saying “Ok Google, sing the new year song” on any Google Assistant-enabled device. from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/3aSy39j

Google is testing a feature that will aggregate videos from TikTok and Instagram in dedicated carousels in the Google app, as per a report. It appears to be a limited early-stage feature as of now. If this feature rolls out widely, users won’t have to open individual apps to watch short-form videos. from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/3n5QRok

Google is celebrating New Year’s Eve with a virtual party on YouTube. Users in India can join ‘Hello 2021 India,’ which will premiere at 11pm IST on December 31 on YouTube and feature performances from celebrities such as actor Tiger Shroff, rapper Badshah, singer Jonita Gandhi, and comedian Zakir Khan. from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/2WUUmDb

This is the best video doorbell we’ve tested, but not everyone will want the professionally installed and monitored smart home/home security system that it's part of. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3dUTplM

Give your old laptop a big performance boost with one simple upgrade: replacing its traditional, spinning-platter hard drive (HDD) with a chip-based solid state drive (SSD). SSDs are becoming more affordable, and they are magnitudes faster than a hard drive in reading and writing data.  There's just one question: Can your laptop even take an SSD? If you're not sure, we'll help you figure it out in this video. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3rDnzAQ

This headphone has a wonderfully transparent, precise, neutral sound that reveals everything in a recording, and for a much lower price than most planar-magnetic cans. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3mV7Ycb

If you just got a new Android phone this Christmas, there’s a pretty good chance it has a Samsung logo on it. The Galaxy S20 and Note 20 phones among the very best of 2020, and with Samsung’s very aggressive end-of-year pricing, your secret Santa likely saved a bundle to boot. But you might want to return it while you still can. I'm not here to tell you that your new phone is flawed or busted—in fact, you’re probably going to love it. Samsung’s flagships have been leading the Android pack for years, and the displays, cameras, and designs of the S20 and Note 20 are among the best you can get right now.  But if you can squeeze just a couple more weeks of life out of your old phone, there’s a new one on the way much earlier than usual. Samsung has all but confirmed that the new Galaxy S21 will land in January , just a couple of weeks from today and more than a month earlier than usual. By the looks of things, to, you’re going to be getting a lot more than a slightly updated S20. F...

This fingerprint-scanning lock lacks smart features, and it has more bugs than I’d want on my front door. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2JrdDZQ

In many ways, 2020′s pandemic-induced isolation threw our dependence on technology into overdrive, snipping away at our real-life connections while bringing digital relationships to the fore. from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/34S8kdl

These were the best cord-cutting services, devices, and developments in 2020. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/38DYDjS

We need backup software for our PCs because our storage drives won’t last forever. Backup software ensures we’re covered when the day comes that our primary drive up and dies. It would be nice if Microsoft itself provided Windows users with something like Apple’s Time Machine: an effective, set-it-and-forget-it, total system recovery and backup solution that requires little interaction or thought on the user’s part.  Instead, Microsoft delivers a mishmash of restore points, recovery discs, file backup, and even the un-retired System Backup (Windows 7), which was probably originally put out to pasture for its propensity to choke on dissimilar hardware.  Online backup services  are another option, but desktop clients tend to offer far more flexibility.  To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2TZpP8e

Yes, still the best, but Ring hasn’t done much to extend its reach into the broader smart home universe. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/38D7fr3

Whatever else you might say about 2020, it’s been a banner year for PC hardware. For enthusiasts, AMD claimed the desktop CPU performance crown from Intel for the first time in over decade. Both Nvidia and AMD released blazing-fast next-gen graphics cards. For mainstream users, laptops got faster and cheaper, and so did phones. Meanwhile, speedy SSDs finally started hitting mainstream prices after years of being out of reach for most buyers. It’s a shame so many of these innovations remain hard to find on the actual street, as the pandemic led to unprecedented demand for tech products. Shopping for a webcam this summer was pure hell (but it’s easier to find a webcam now, at least). To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3nTlYEM

Whether you've cut the cord or are sticking with cable, our guide will show you all the ways you can watch America's favorite sport on TV, including Monday Night Football and NFL RedZone. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2LlVF9s

Google has reportedly updated the Fast Pair UI for a new connection experience that closely mirrors the way iOS devices work with AirPods. It seems to only be available with the Google Pixel Buds for now, though. from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/37SyOxc

Google Camera 8.1 update disabled ultrawide lens for astrophotography shots for Google Pixel 5 and Pixel 4A 5G phones, as per a report. A Google support page was updated to say that astrophotography only works on zoom settings equal to, or greater than, 1x on Google Pixel 5 and Pixel 4A 5G. from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/3pulLZ2

Apple isn’t supplying a power adapter with new iPhones anymore, so we’ve rounded up a list of our favorite ones. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3ofqg9Q

So you’ve got a new computer. Awesome! That humble metal box is the key to a wide world of potential. It can help you with everything from juggling your finances to keeping in touch with your family to blowing off some steam on, uh, Steam . But a new PC isn’t like a new car; you can’t just turn a key and put the pedal to the metal. Okay, maybe you can —but you shouldn’t. Performing just a few simple activities when you first fire it up can help it be safer, faster, and better poised for the future. Here’s how to set up a new laptop or desktop computer the right way, step by step. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/35QYI0R

This UPS isn’t the right fit for modern computers, but it’s perfect for keeping your internet connection alive. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3mWEhYt

These days, optical drive bays in cases have all but gone the way of the dinosaurs. Whenever you do find one, it’s usually in an ultra-budget model—hunting for a more premium case that supports a Blu-Ray or even DVD drive can be rough going. So our late discovery of the SilverStone Redline RL08 was a delight, as it doesn’t make you choose between your media collection and having an attractive PC case that’s easy to build in. As you’ll see in the video above, this unique inverted micro-ATX case sports a 5.25-inch external drive bay, while still offering a modern look, better materials (no cheap plastic here!), and support for radiators, plenty of fans, and removable elements. It’s roomy too, with a volume of 36 liters. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2KWOczB

Gaming never went out of style, but in 2020, it evolved from a fun hobby into an essential lifeline. Staying sane isn’t easy when you’re stuck in isolation for months on end. You can only watch so much Netflix before your brain starts dripping out of your ears. Games provide more active experiences that can help you forget that you’ve been staring at the same walls for weeks, letting you explore far-away virtual worlds or hang out with friends in multiplayer lobbies. In 2020, gaming became vital . So rather than wrap up the year with our traditional list of the best PC games, we instead asked PCWorld’s staff to share the essential games that carried them through 2020. It’s a diverse list—some of us preferred light, airy games, while others preferred virtual tourism. Several of us leaned into the comfort of ongoing “live service” games that we’ve been playing for years. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3nQG1DF

These were the best cord-cutting services, devices, and developments in 2020. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3mPELzg

The Twinkly app scans each individual LED in the string, setting the stage for eye-popping animations. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3rnOgct

TiVo vs. Tablo vs. Channel Master vs. Plex: None are ideal, but one might work for you. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2GKVRh9

If you still think of wireless mice as laggy, battery-sucking substitutes for a real mouse, we’ve got good news for you. Mouse manufacturers have largely solved the latency, connectivity, and power-efficiency problems that once blighted these devices. The best of today’s wireless mice rival their wired counterparts in performance, battery life, features, and design. There are two rather obvious benefits of a wireless mouse. It eliminates the tether to your computer, giving you greater range—essential if you are constrained by your work area or playing PC games on your TV—and removes a source of friction that often interferes with speed and accuracy. It also makes an essential device more travel friendly. No one objects to one less cord in their gear bag. You’ll probably pay a bit more for a wireless mouse than a wired one, but if you value this kind of convenience it’s worth it. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3fx88oc

The latest news in dash cams: Not one, not two, but three  cameras, to cover your front, rear, and interior. We look at just such a model, the Zenfox T3 3CH ( $249.90 on Amazon ), and find out that fitting three cameras into your car may take a little extra thought. Read our full review . Meanwhile, 4K dash cams continue to be hot—but there are caveats, which we’ll discuss below and in the individual reviews.  Say, did you buy an Owl Car Cam? After the startup Owl Cameras Inc. shut down abruptly , users were stuck with expensive dash cams and no support. Things are finally looking up: Xirgo Technologies, the company that acquired Owl Cameras Inc.’s intellectual property, has partnered with CallPass to take over the consumer service. Read more about the rehatching of Owlcam , and stay tuned for reviews of the new Owlcam products promised later this year. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2CAistf

Your hardware is only half the equation Image by Gordon Mah Ung/IDG The best free PC software programs aren’t about the cost (or lack thereof), they’re about a fresh opportunity—collections of code that put the dumb hardware in your computer to smart use, tools that can accomplish anything from balancing your household budget to helping cure cancer. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2tNRDAp

Built to last Image by Brad Chacos/IDG Far too many games these days are built to be played in small bursts: brief encounters, designed for a world with too few hours in the day and too many digital distractions. And that’s fine! Blasting through a few rounds of Overwatch  or Rocket League  matches is a wonderful way to spend some time. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2SKVJlc

Where and how people work has changed dramatically in 2020. With more end users working from home, and more IT staff having to support those workers remotely – often from their own homes – managing a fleet of PCs has never been more challenging. That means it has never been more important to make the right choice in purchasing PCs to meet your organization’s needs today, and into the future. In July 2020, AMD, along with Spiceworks Ziff Davis, surveyed 409 ITDMs and administrators from the U.S. and EMEA regions (specifically from the U.K., Germany, and France) about the current landscape of PC purchase priorities and maintenance patterns. Respondents belonged to organizations of all sizes, from SMBs to enterprise organizations (as long as the company had 100+ PCs). To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2KOy7fp

Bells are ringing, snow is flying, and the Epic Games Store’s already generous gift-giving is going into overdrive. The Epic Games Store Holiday Sale 2020 kicked off on Thursday, December 17. You can find deep discounts on most of the store’s catalog, of course, but Epic’s throwing in some mighty enticing doorbusters to coax you into its virtual aisles, giving away a free game each day for 15 straight days. Epic’s aggressive freebies have lured hordes of gamers to The Store That Fortnite Built. The Epic Games Store gives away one or two games for free every week, and they’re of surprisingly high quality. Last year, Epic gave away games for 12 days for its holiday sale, and the company actually earned recognition from our Full Nerd podcast as the unorthodox winner of “Best PC accessory” in 2019 . Hey, it’s hard to argue with free games. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3heNYA1

The last time we took a look at an OttterBox battery pack, we were impressed, awarding the Fast Charge 20,000mAh  4.5/5 stars. For the past few weeks, we’ve been testing the $59.95 OtterBox Fast Charge Qi Wireless Power Bank Premium. It’s a long name, indeed. This pack boasts the type of rugged exterior we’re accustomed to seeing from OtterBox. In a lot of ways, this power bank has shades of OtterBox’s Symmetry case line, or maybe its Defender. Either way, the rubber coating on the outside of the case is built to withstand drops from 2 meters. There are port covers that lock in place, concealing the standard USB-A port and USB-C port on the front edge of the pack. To the left of the ports you’ll find four indicator lights letting you know how much charge is left, as well as a power button. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2WDDr7V

In a move to tighten its control over scientists’ papers, Google launched a “sensitive topics” review and asked researchers to not cast its technology in a negative light, according to internal communications and interviews. from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/3pm6xoC

How hot is your PC’s graphics card temperature? During normal operations, your GPU temperature shouldn’t matter much—your graphics card should simply drive monitors and play games without overheating and shutting down. But if you have an older PC, or if you want to try your hand at graphics card overclocking , being able to monitor your GPU temperature is vital. Save on holiday shopping with our picks of the best laptop PC deals of the season . The good news? Checking your PC’s graphics card temperature is dead simple, especially now that Windows finally includes a native way to keep tabs on temps. All sorts of free GPU monitoring tools are also available, and many of them can help you check your PC’s CPU temperature , too. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/32pHZPO

This Android TV delivers an average picture at best, but you won't encounter a lot of 50-inch 4K TVs at this price. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2WC71uC

You don’t need to be an expert or spend a fortune on cutting-edge gear, these first steps will lay a foundation you can build on. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/38rYSi1

There’s a new version of Android floating around, and whether you get Android 11 via an OTA update or a shiny new phone upgrade, there will be new things to explore. Android 11 includes numerous quality of life improvements and security enhancements, some of which might replace features you had in the previous version. Here are eight things you should look for when acclimating to the latest OS. New media playback controls Media controls have been part of the Android notification shade for years, but that changes in Android 11. That playback notification still exists, but it’ll be above your notifications in the quick settings. The upshot is your controls will always be in the same place, and they won’t push important notifications out of the way. You can even swipe left and right to switch between multiple media apps. However, you do lose a row of quick settings toggles. It’s probably a worthwhile trade-off. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https:...

Bells are ringing, snow is flying, and the Epic Games Store’s already generous gift-giving is going into overdrive. The Epic Games Store Holiday Sale 2020 kicked off on Thursday, December 17. You can find deep discounts on most of the store’s catalog, of course, but Epic’s throwing in some mighty enticing doorbusters to coax you into its virtual aisles, giving away a free game each day for 15 straight days. Epic’s aggressive freebies have lured hordes of gamers to The Store That Fortnite Built. The Epic Games Store gives away one or two games for free every week, and they’re of surprisingly high quality. Last year, Epic gave away games for 12 days for its holiday sale, and the company actually earned recognition from our Full Nerd podcast as the unorthodox winner of “Best PC accessory” in 2019 . Hey, it’s hard to argue with free games. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3hmRw3v

Google and Facebook had agreed to "cooperate and assist one another" in case of antitrust action against their work together in online advertising, the Wall Street Journal has said in a report, citing a unredacted draft version of the lawsuit filed against Google by 10 states in the US. from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/3pddYi4

While it’s hard to find the latest and greatest PC hardware right now, there are still great options for mid-range PC builds—especially if you focus on video production in Adobe Premiere Pro, something I care about as the Lead Video Producer here at PCWorld. I’ve personally built many Intel-based systems over the years, but this time I wanted to build a PC based on an AMD Ryzen CPU—my first try at relying on Team Red for a production machine. I have a separate gaming rig, so I wasn’t too concerned about gaming performance. But luckily the GPU I put in this machine can still hold its own at 1080p. Watch me build this PC live on PCWorld’s YouTube channel: To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/37H3Nwh

Google’s offer of an undertaking that it would behave in certain ways toward rivals, not use health data for advertising and, in some cases, allow competing businesses access to health and fitness data after its planned $2.1 billion (roughly Rs. 15,400 crores) acquisition of Fitbit, has been rejected by Australian antitrust regulator. from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/3pggOD6

Sometimes, you get what you pay for. Outfitting your computer with useful software doesn’t have to cost a dime, as our roundup of the best free software for your PC proves. But paying up for programs often gets you perks you won’t find with freeware, from smoother interfaces to more plentiful features, or even customer support if you need help. Some of the most useful software is available only in premium form. Freebies tend to get the headlines, but today, let’s shine a light on some programs and services that are actually worth paying for, drawing on both our extensive testing archives and a few personal picks. Break out your wallet, you won't regret it. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3bpfNRB

With pristine sound, support for every major high-res wireless codec, power to drive any headphone, and elegant industrial design A&K's Kann Alpha delivers sonic bliss. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2KNtuSZ

We review hi-res audio players from Astell&Kern, Pioneer, Questyle, and more. Find out which shine above the others. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2KvqE17

Microsoft, Google, Dell, and Cisco have joined Facebook in a legal battle against hacking company NSO. The tech giants have filed an amicus brief in a US federal court saying that the Israeli firm's tools were "powerful and dangerous”. from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/2Wzc7rF

Bells are ringing, snow is flying, and the Epic Games Store’s already generous gift-giving is going into overdrive. The Epic Games Store Holiday Sale 2020 kicked off on Thursday, December 17. You can find deep discounts on most of the store’s catalog, of course, but Epic’s throwing in some mighty enticing doorbusters to coax you into its virtual aisles, giving away a free game each day for 15 straight days. Epic’s aggressive freebies have lured hordes of gamers to The Store That Fortnite Built. The Epic Games Store gives away one or two games for free every week, and they’re of surprisingly high quality. Last year, Epic gave away games for 12 days for its holiday sale, and the company actually earned recognition from our Full Nerd podcast as the unorthodox winner of “Best PC accessory” in 2019 . Hey, it’s hard to argue with free games. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3nKO59a

App for virtual meeting now runs natively on the M1 SoC. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2WDeOrW

Executives and employees at big tech companies such as Amazon, Facebook, Google, and Microsoft are pushing to place candidates in senior roles at government agencies, according to four sources with knowledge of the matter. from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/3mFxfad

This mid-priced botvac holds its own with premium models—and it can mop, too. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/34xl9Kd

Scheduling is in the Wemo app is dead on arrival with this outdoor smart outlet. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3nPS18g

Sabrent must’ve read some of my articles and discovered my love of the color copper. The heat-spreader and the metal carrying case for the brand spanking new Rocket 4 Plus PCIe 4 NMVe SSD feature the color in copious amounts. I like it. Even if copper leaves you flat, the drive’s stellar performance will grab your attention—it bested the Samsung 980 Pro in many tests. Specs and pricing The NVMe SSDs we review all use the M.2 connector, and are 22 mm wide by 80 mm long (2280). The Rocket 4 Plus is an x4 PCIe 4.0 device featuring a Phison PS5018-E18 controller and 96-layer, Micron TLC NAND. Sabrent promises not to change to slower components, as has happened with a couple of SSD vendors recently . There’s also 2MB of DRAM cache. NAND is treated as SLC for secondary caching to the tune of 25 percent.  To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3ayOBDc

OnePlus Watch development has been suggested by Co-Founder and CEO Pete Lau. Lau said in a media roundtable that OnePlus was working with Google to bring improvements to Wear OS. from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/38i2yTm

Grogu, aka Baby Yoda, can now be invited into one's home using Google's 3D model and augmented reality (AR) experience. Searching for the terms ‘Baby Yoda,’ ‘Grogu,’ and 'The Child' on Google Search will pull up a 3D model of the tiny, adorable alien and the users can now view it in their own room using a smartphone. from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/2Kh558u

Cyberpunk 2077 has consistently been in the news for all the wrong reasons. The developers have now released a new patch to make the experience better for console players. from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/3p56SMw

US district judge Amit Mehta hearing an antitrust case against Google filed by the US Justice Department and joined by many states has suggested a potential trial of September 12, 2023. from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/2KcsjN0

When you think about antivirus, you don’t tend to think about its appearance. Typically, your concern is that the AV works and isn’t too hard to figure to out. With Panda Dome Premium, however, you can’t help but think about its looks. Similar to Microsoft’s Bing homepage, Panda Dome features a beautiful background photo, with the interface elements placed on top of it. It’s an interesting alternative to the usual flat, primary-color AV interfaces, and might take getting used to. But the image doesn’t obscure any of the important parts of the UI. That’s good, because Panda Dome Premium is chock-full of features, all of which get their own tile on the primary interface.  To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/37uHERB

If you’re expecting boffo news from CES 2021, it looks like you won’t have to wait beyond day two, when both AMD and Nvidia are expected to talk up new hardware in back-to-back streams. AMD will go first on January 12, with a keynote address by CEO Lisa Su at 8 a.m. PST. Su is scheduled to “highlight AMD’s high-performance computing and graphics solutions portfolio and outline the company’s innovative vision for the future of research, education, work, entertainment and gaming.”  Su’s keynote time and date was announced about two weeks ago, but today Nvidia announced a “special broadcast event” timed for 9 a.m. PST on the same day.  In it, Nvidia senior VP of GeForce Jeff Fisher is expected to “unveil the latest innovations in gaming and graphics.” To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3murjko

Bells are ringing, snow is flying, and the Epic Games Store’s already generous gift-giving is going into overdrive. The Epic Games Store Holiday Sale 2020 kicked off on Thursday, December 17. You can find deep discounts on most of the store’s catalog, of course, but Epic’s throwing in some mighty enticing doorbusters to coax you into its virtual aisles, giving away a free game each day for 15 straight days. Epic’s aggressive freebies have lured hordes of gamers to The Store That Fortnite Built. The Epic Games Store gives away one or two games for free every week, and they’re of surprisingly high quality. Last year, Epic gave away games for 12 days for its holiday sale, and the company actually earned recognition from our Full Nerd podcast as the unorthodox winner of “Best PC accessory” in 2019 . Hey, it’s hard to argue with free games. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3gZbmBv

“Frames win games,” Nvidia likes to say, but there’s more to esports domination than raw frame rates. How those frames get delivered matters too. Latency—the time it takes for an on-screen action to happen after you press a button—reigns supreme in the blink-and-you’re-dead competitive esports scene. If your game looks beautiful but feels sluggish, you’ll find yourself outgunned by rivals playing with crummy visual settings to increase responsiveness. Enter Nvidia Reflex, introduced alongside the GeForce RTX 3080 and RTX 3090 . If you’ve heard of it before, you probably associate it with low-latency features being added to games like Call of Duty: Warzone, Valorant, and Fortnite . But Reflex is actually Nvidia’s overarching brand name for a wide range of new latency-obsessed tools. Yes, the Low Latency Mode being added to games is part of it, but on Tuesday, Nvidia and its partners are also rolling out blisteringly fast 360Hz G-Sync Esports monitors with Reflex Latency Analyz...

Apple’s new M1 processor took the laptop world by storm, with many proclaiming it had ended the PC’s whole career . Hyperbole and irrational fanboy flexing aside, Apple’s M1 is indeed a powerful chip. But to get a better feel against its contemporaries we sat down and retested a pile of current Windows 10 laptops to get an idea where the M1 MacBook Air 13 lands in the pecking order of laptops. While we don’t have direct access to an MacBook Pro M1, our sister publication, Macworld does, so we cribbed from its glowing review of the 13-inch MacBook Pro M1 . Macworld also graciously ran a couple of additional tests for our analysis. For two other results, we relied on published results from Puget Systems,  a bespoke system builder that manufactures workstations and rolls its own productivity-focused benchmarks. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3mwA0dG

It’s that time of year once again. In this episode of the Full Nerd,  Gordon Mah Ung ,  Brad Chacos ,  Alaina Yee ,  Adam Patrick Murray , and  you —the live Full Nerd audience—engage in fierce debate (and occasional swooning) to crown the best PC hardware of 2020. And what a year it’s been for PC hardware, even though much of the most impressive new gear remains impossible to acquire. These  aren’t  PCWorld’s formal picks—they’re the opinions of the Full Nerd podcast gang alone. We didn’t hold staff-wide meetings or create elaborate Excel spreadsheets full of information about every gizmo we've reviewed. Instead, each member of the Full Nerd crew brings a single nominee for each category. Then the group argues, pleads, and deals until we reach a consensus victor. If we can’t determine a winner for a category via majority vote, we ask the live viewing audience to help break the tie. You helped select a champion in not one, but two categories this y...

Home for the holidays takes on a whole new meaning this year. These movie picks will help you celebrate the season. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3ajQweV

Superb sound, exceptional build quality, extensive feature set—you get it all for a princely sum. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3r4i2mF

Google will start showing recommendations from beauty, apparel, home, and garden enthusiasts and experts in its Discover feed and on Google Shopping, to users in the US. The feed will also reportedly feature a ‘What to watch’ carousel. Google will let users visualise makeup looks and virtually try on products. from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/2KCluUM

Enforcers from 38 US states hit Google with its third antitrust suit in recent months, accusing the Internet giant of abusing its internet search dominance to eliminate competition. from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/2Kj1CGa

The European Union on Thursday approved Google's $2.1-billion (roughly Rs. 15,400 crores) purchase of smartwatch maker Fitbit, after the tech titan agreed to conditions including not using health data from European users for advertising. from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/3gX2sV0

The best laptops of 2020 are a bit of a moving target, because of hearty sales brought on by the forced isolation of the pandemic . Some of our favorite models have come and gone quickly. That said, the biggest story of the year continues to be the pitched battle between AMD and Intel: Ryzen 4000’s cores vs. Core’s clock speeds. Most recently,  Intel launched its Tiger Lake CPUs for thin-and-light laptops , promising yet again that thanks to flexible clock speeds , and its potent new Iris Xe discrete graphics , it would hammer Ryzen 4000. Or so Intel says. The normally diplomatic company even went so far as to say Ryzen 4000 stinks on battery . Maybe Intel is sore that  AMD’s laptop share is increasing . To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2VwDY9f

Bells are ringing, snow is flying, and the Epic Games Store’s already generous gift-giving is going into overdrive. The Epic Games Store Holiday Sale 2020 kicked off on Thursday, December 17. You can find deep discounts on most of the store’s catalog, of course, but Epic’s throwing in some mighty enticing doorbusters to coax you into its virtual aisles, giving away a free game each day for 15 straight days. Epic’s aggressive freebies have lured hordes of gamers to The Store That Fortnite Built. The Epic Games Store gives away one or two games for free every week, and they’re of surprisingly high quality. Last year, Epic gave away games for 12 days for its holiday sale, and the company actually earned recognition from our Full Nerd podcast as the unorthodox winner of “Best PC accessory” in 2019 . Hey, it’s hard to argue with free games. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3nwdbZ1

On Thursday, Intel debuted “Clover Falls,” an AI companion chip that the company will ship as a platform-level enhancement for commercial PCs, and presumably later for consumer PCs as well. Intel described Clover Falls, aka the Intel Visual Sensing Controller, as a “secure companion chip that helps make PCs more smart and secure through the power of Intel artificial intelligence.” It will be mounted on the laptop’s motherboard, “bringing new low-power capabilities to the PC and helping it sense and adapt to its surroundings,” according to a blog post published by the company.  To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3nxURPa

After what seemed like an endless wait, Lian Li has finally released the O11 Dynamic Mini —the littlest version of its popular O11 Dynamic cases. Since we last saw it at CES 2020 , it’s undergone several minor changes, but has hung onto its most important feature: modularity. As you’ll see in the video above, the Lian Li O11D Mini still sports its set of swappable back plates that lets you choose between three main configurations, each with a different number of PCIe slots available. In 7-slot mode, you can install ATX, micro-ATX, or mini-ITX motherboards, with varying limitations on the clearance for fans and/or radiators mounted to the top and bottom of the case. In 5-slot mode, your options shrink to micro-ATX or mini-ITX, and 3-slot mode restricts you to just mini-ITX but also opens up the most amount of room for water cooling. Want to rock a push-pull config for your radiator up top? You’ll have plenty of space. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld...

Google and Qualcomm are working together under the banner of Project Treble to support four Android OS versions (launch plus three new versions) and four years of security updates for upcoming Android 11 phones with Snapdragon chipsets. Qualcomm has reportedly confirmed that this will be implemented on Snapdragon 888 and beyond. from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/389SU5f

The SSD you’ve bought may not be exactly the SSD you think it is. That’s because of a common vendor practice of swapping out internal parts due to supply, pricing pressure, or other reasons. Usually this practice has focused on the NAND flash storage modules on SSDs, and the vendor has met or exceeded the promised specification. If the change is significant, the vendors have usually changed the SKU. But as Sean Webster of Tom’s Hardware discovered in his investigation of the Adata XPG 8200 Pro , the company changed the SSD controller without changing the name—except the performance changed, for the worse. There was no way of knowing the difference from the outside.   To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/34nRyTn

Hulu + Live TV alternatives: FuboTV is cheaper with this hidden package. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/34oLjia

It's more precise than competing sensors, but it doesn't track VOCs or other types of indoor air pollutants. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3ajjX0x

Google Photos gets a new Maps timeline feature to show users pictures of their trips on the routes taken during a trip. Users can also use their photos’ locations to search and explore more photos based on the locations they were taken. from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/2KbYIDf

Google Assistant driving mode has started rolling out to Android users in the US in English. It is meant to be a replacement for the Android Auto app. The new driving mode is available for phones running Android 9 or later with at least 4GB RAM. from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/389VAzG

Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge browsers are hosting malware-laden extensions that may have affected up to 3 million people, cybersecurity software company Avast said. These extensions were billed as a way to download content from platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Vimeo, and Spotify. from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/3p0Svsx

Google Search is reportedly testing a new UI that shows image previews if you hover the mouse pointer over a search result. It also shows an expanded text preview. The new feature has appeared for some users, but hasn’t rolled out widely. from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/3anEmS7

A group of Google artificial intelligence researchers sent a sweeping list of demands to management calling for new policies and leadership changes, escalating a conflict at one of the company’s prized units. from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/2Wkd5rH

Google at its L10n event on Thursday announced a list of features focused on Indian language users. The new features include the ability to switch search results between English and four newly added Indian languages — in addition to Hindi. Google also highlighted that it would start showing relevant content in supported language even if the local language query was ... from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/3rcnKmz

Google faces a lawsuit brought by 10 US states who accused the search giant of “anti-competitive conduct" in the online advertising industry, including a deal to manipulate sales with rival Facebook. from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/2Kbwokp

Apple TV and its paid streaming service Apple TV+ will be available on Google's latest Chromecast device early next year, the search giant said. from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/38aHgXH

The long-awaited deal comes just in time for 'Wonder Woman 1984,' which will debut on HBO Max on Christmas Day. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3akqVm6

If you’re expecting boffo news from CES 2021, it looks like you won’t have to wait beyond day two, when both AMD and Nvidia are expected to talk up new hardware in back-to-back streams. AMD will go first on January 12, with a keynote address by CEO Lisa Su at 8 a.m. PST. Su is scheduled to “highlight AMD’s high-performance computing and graphics solutions portfolio and outline the company’s innovative vision for the future of research, education, work, entertainment and gaming.”  Su’s keynote time and date was announced about two weeks ago, but today Nvidia announced a “special broadcast event” timed for 9 a.m. PST on the same day.  In it, Nvidia senior VP of GeForce Jeff Fisher is expected to “unveil the latest innovations in gaming and graphics.” To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/38aqfwH

One of the benefits of Google’s Chrome browser is that when you create a new account on a website, it can generate a unique password, then store and autofill it when you visit the site again. Microsoft Edge will now do the same, though the process is much more complex and uses its mobile Authenticator app instead. The new capabilities are part of a public preview of password management and autofill functions within the Authenticator app for iOS and Android, which already serves as a two-factor authenticator (2FA) solution for websites. Until now, however, you were required to come up with your own password for those sites, which Edge could store if you so chose. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/37pVqF7

Intel may be selling its NAND division to storage rival SK Hynix , but the company will nonetheless introduce a newer, faster M.2 670P SSD, along with an updated Optane Memory drive. Intel is introducing a 670P SSD drive that’s a sequel to its popular, low-priced 660P SSD. Like its predecessor, the 670P will be based on commodity QLC NAND using a new 144 layer design. The new 670P will feature a next-gen controller and support for Pyrite 2.0 encryption, and is rated for 150 terabytes written per day for every 512GB of capacity. Intel said performance will improve thanks to better dynamic SLC cache, as well. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3afRt7M

Google has quietly acquired Neverware, a developer that can take an old Mac or PC and essentially retrofit it into a Chromebook via its CloudReady technology. The technology will be folded into the ChromeOS team, Neverware said. Neverware quietly announced the acquisition in a blog post on Monday night and said that more details would be revealed over the coming months. A corresponding FAQ didn't indicate any major changes would be coming to the CloudReady technology, though the two companies will begin to more closely sync their development cycle: "As CloudReady becomes an official Chrome OS offering, you can expect the release mechanics to fall in line with official Chrome OS releases," the company said. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/34gLE6c

Google One higher-tier plans have received a price cut of 50 percent and are available starting at $49.99 (roughly Rs. 3,700) per month for 10TB storage. The new change comes just over a month after Google announced the discontinuation of free unlimited backups through Google Photos. from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/3gUCmSQ

This powerful robot vacuum/mop hybrid is easy to recommend, and there's an automatic dustbin emptier option available, too. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/34kC3LN

Microsoft has some suggestions for the sad and depressing situation we’re in—stuck indoors during a season where we’ve traditionally enjoyed holiday parties with friends and coworkers, sipping adult beverages while noshing on tasty bites of all kinds. Yes, we know this is the same Microsoft that’s been  very hit-or-miss when it comes to consumers. The company can’t design a PC games store to save its life. On the other hand, selling Windows-themed ugly holiday sweaters for a good cause was absolutely inspired. But how can a PowerPoint holiday party possibly be a good idea? To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3r3IGvG

Cord-cutters can get their fill of big nationally televised games, but local broadcasts are still left on the bench. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/31vuUUz

Google Photos has introduced a feature called Cinematic photos. Google will use machine learning to predict an image’s depth and produce a 3D representation of the scene, after which it will animate a virtual camera for a smooth panning effect. New themes for Memories are also being rolled out on Google Photos. from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/3mln3n3

Hardware releases washed over everyone in one big autumn wave this year—a predictable result given months of worldwide chaos, but one that’s hardly left us a chance to breathe. The onslaught hasn’t just been a first set of Ryzen, GeForce, and Radeon parts, either. Some of the best cases we’ve seen in awhile hit streets in the last three months as well. But now that 2020’s major launches are finally done, the PCWorld staff at last has a little time to celebrate. And we’re going to do it by building a lux PC live! You can think of this one as an updated riff on our Viva Las Vegas build from 2018. However, instead of imitating the Vegas Strip, the goal is to save a tree and use RGB fans to get our fix of flashing holiday lights. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3oSOeHF

Google has hired Fiona Cicconi, a top executive from pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, to oversee its personnel policies amid ongoing tensions with many employees who are upset with the company's policies. from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/34gZ7uN

Google's cloud-hosted email service Gmail suffered a "significant" disruption Tuesday, just a day after it went down during a massive outage of the internet giant's platform. from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/37mWmdu

Microsoft’s Game Pass for PC may be the best deal in gaming, and we’ve previously listed five reasons to back that up . Now we can add a sixth: E ven more games from EA Play are joining Xbox Game Pass for PC on December 15—or they were supposed to. Unfortunately, EA Play won’t be joining Game Pass for PC until 2021.  “We established this partnership with Electronic Arts because they are as passionate as we are about helping people and communities discover great games, and we knew we could provide a great experience for members by working together,” Microsoft said in a blog post . “In order to deliver on that, we need more time to provide the Xbox Game Pass experience.” To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3pi0n9U

If you want a Galaxy Note, your window of opportunity may be closing. Following months of rumors suggesting that Samsung is going to do away with the original phablet phone, the company today may have signed the Note’s death warrant as president TM Roh outlined the company’s plans for 2021 . Unsurprisingly, Samsung plans to focus on “expanding our portfolio of foldables” over the next 12 months and deliver “super-intelligent, pro-grade camera and video capabilities” across its family of phones. But Koh also had this to say about the upcoming crop of Galaxy smartphones: “We’ve also been paying attention to people’s favorite aspects of the Galaxy Note experience and are excited to add some of its most well-loved features to other devices in our lineup.” To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2KsObn2

After a slow start , ray tracing continues to spread its wings. What started as a geeky Windows 10 feature now finds a home in the next-gen Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 consoles as well, and on Tuesday, the Khronos Group consortium announced that ray tracing is developer-ready for Vulkan , releasing the long-awaited final extensions. Vulkan is an open, cross-platform alternative to Microsoft’s proprietary DirectX 12 graphics API, used by games like Doom Eternal, Rainbow Six Siege, and Half-Life Alyx . To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2JYD2KV

The Google Home Max was a great-sounding smart speaker held back by its bulky design and lofty price tag. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2JYk2w5

Google Assistant routines setup is getting a redesign with a simplified page, as per a report. Google Assistant is also reportedly testing a new feature that lets users select sunrise/ sunset as triggers. The Routines page can be accessed from the Google Home app or from Google Assistant settings. from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/3nnRQkn

After Apple released its impressive M1 Arm chip on its new Macs, and Microsoft followed with its long-awaited 64-bit X86 emulator, we had just one question: How does Windows on Arm compare to MacOS on Arm? The answer: badly. Very, very badly. Running Windows apps on Arm processors has a few wrinkles. For one, there are only two chips currently powering Windows on Arm machines: Qualcomm’s own processors, such as the Snapdragon 8cx and Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 , as well as the derivative SQ1 and SQ2 processors Microsoft co-designed with Qualcomm. The latter two processors both appear in Microsoft’s Surface Pro X tablet. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/37lOcSC

Vizio's high-end smart TV offers the lush picture you'd expect from OLED for less money than LG or Sony, but this isn't the best OLED TV you can buy. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3ag7F98

This bargain-priced smart plug offers some features its better-known competitors don’t. from PCWorld https://ift.tt/2Lv0JKY

The launch of AMD’s Radeon RX 6900 XT marks the seventh new graphics card to hit streets in the last three months—making for a densely packed field of competition in the ultra high-end. That crowd is what puts AMD’s top card in a difficult spot, which we summarize in the video above. Our exhaustive review dives deep into the details, but for the TLDR folks, we lay out in a more brief eight minutes why the $1,500 Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090, $700 Nvidia GeForce 3080, and $650 Radeon RX 6800 XT are more compelling than this new hero GPU. In addition to outlining the conundrum that the 6900 XT faces in the market, we cover performance benchmarks, including with AMD’s Smart Access Memory switched on, as well as for ray-tracing, along with our observations regarding noise, power draw, and temperatures. You’ll get all the important information needed. To read this article in full, please click here from PCWorld https://ift.tt/3nly9cV

Google is discontinuing the Google Home Max smart speaker, as per a report. Google Nest Hub Max, meanwhile, has started receiving an early preview of Zoom calling in select countries. Google Meet on the Nest Hub Max is also receiving updates such as a 2x2 grid view and an in-call clock. from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/3nkgCSI