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Jun 24
Huawei P20 handsets get stock Android thanks to OpenKirin

OpenKirin brings stock Android to Huawei and Honor devices that are stuck with EMUI otherwise

Those who love certain Huawei and Honor devices but cannot stand the company's custom interface, EMUI, can run stock Android thanks to a new project called OpenKirin. The list of supported devices currently includes no less than 1...
Google Android Oreo statue at Googleplex, Android apps feature DRM as of late June 2018 (Source: Louis Gray)

Google adding DRM to all Android apps

Earlier this week, Google silently introduced a feature that is supposed to increase the security of the Android platform by adding a string of metadata to all APK files. As long as Google does not go DRM-crazy the same way Electr...
Libre Computer Renegade Elite single-board PC with Rockchip RK3399 processor (Source: Libre Computer)

Libre Computer's single-board computer Renegade Elite coming in August, Rockchip RK3399 in tow

The successor of the US$35 Renegade single-board PC by Libre Computer will hit Indiegogo in July and general availability is scheduled for August. This Raspberry Pi alternative uses a Rockchip RK3399 processor and features USB Typ...
Schenker XMG A517
Schenker XMG A517 (Clevo N850EP6) Laptop Review
MSI GV62 8RE (i5-8300H, GTX 1060, FHD) Laptop Review
MSI GV62 8RE (i5-8300H, GTX 1060, FHD) Laptop Review
Cubot King Kong
Cubot King Kong Smartphone Review
Lenovo IdeaPad 720 (i5-7200U, RX 560) Laptop Review
Lenovo IdeaPad 720 (i5-7200U, RX 560) Laptop Review
600 MHz slot-mounted Intel Pentium III processor (Source: eBay)

Microsoft drops Windows 7 support for Pentium III processors

As incredible as it may seem, Windows 7 still offered support for pre-2000 processors until recently, when Microsoft confirmed that machines without SSE2 support must be upgraded to continue receiving updates for the operating sys...
Microsoft Andromeda unofficial render

The long-rumored Microsoft Andromeda device could use the next-gen Qualcomm Snapdragon 1000 chip

While most rumors that we heard so far mentioned an ARM processor, new ones reveal that the upcoming foldable Windows 10 device will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 1000, a chip that was specifically created for Windows on A...
Dell XPS 15 9570 performance laptop (Source: Dell)

The Dell XPS 15 9570 with Intel Core i5 could get the 97 WHr battery option in the US

In addition to the noticeable price bump from US$999.99 to US$1,059.99 that has been already applied to the Dell XPS 15 9570 with Intel Core i5-8300H processor, the most affordable hardware setup of this performance laptop is also...
Qualcomm's rumored Snapdragon 1000 is custom-made for PCs. (Source: Qualcomm)

Qualcomm’s rumored Snapdragon 1000 could be custom-made for notebooks

Already under threat from smartphone chip-based ARM-powered notebooks and having to recover from the unexpected loss of its CEO, Intel looks to be under renewed threat from Qualcomm. Unlike previous ARM-based notebooks, the rumore...
Now former Intel CEO, Brian Krzanich has been forced to resign. (Source: Intel)

Intel CEO Brian Krzanich forced to resign over inappropriate relationship

Intel CEO Brian Kraznich has been forced to resign over after it was revealed that he had been involved in a relationship with an Intel employee. Although the relationship was consensual, the relationship violated a company non-fr...
'Cheza' could be HP's first Snapdragon 845-powered Chromebook (Source: Aboutchromebooks.com)

'Cheza' could be HP's first detachable Chromebook with a Snapdragon 845

Promised features like eSIM and Always Connected PCs could debut on the Snapdragon 845-powered 'Cheza' Chromebook. More unverified code in Chromium have shed some light on the unannounced model including the potential for a 1440p ...
Jun 23
Apple's MacBook Pro and 12-inch MacBook keyboards are faulty. (Source: Apple)

Despite launch of keyboard repair program, Apple continues to sell affected MacBooks

Apple has finally admitted that its new 12-inch MacBook and MacBook Pro models are prone to malfunctioning. After months of user complaints, the company has officially launched a Keyboard Service Program for affected users, but it...
The Huawei P9. (Source: Trusted Reviews)

The Huawei P9, P9 Plus, and Honor 8 may not get the Oreo update after all

Huawei's customer support has announced that the Huawei P9 will not get the update to Android Oreo. This comes after the company sent out beta updates to users of the devices in China last month.
The Samsung Galaxy S9+. (Source: Android Central)

Samsung to ditch the iris scanner on the Galaxy S10

With the recent rise of both 3D facial recognition technology and in-display fingerprint sensors, Samsung is set to ditch the iris scanner on the Galaxy S10 in favor of something more mainstream.
Kirin. (Source: XDA-Developers)

Purported Kirin 1020 to end the current Snapdragon dominance

Huawei is said to be working on an SoC that will end Qualcomm's reign over the Android SoC market. The chipset, supposedly the Kiirin 1020, is touted to offer twice the performance of the current Kirin 970.
The Blackberry KEY2. (Source: Evan Blass)

The Blackberry KEY2 goes on sale in the US on June 29

Blackberry's new device, the KEY2, was launched a short while ago. The device will be go on presale in the US on June 29, and will hit shop shelves on July 13–with a base price tag of US$649.99.
Qualcomm may be turning to TSMC instead of Samsung for its 7 nm Snapdragon series (Source: DigiTimes)

Qualcomm may be turning to TSMC instead of Samsung for its upcoming 7 nm Snapdragon series

The race for smaller and more efficient semiconductor processes continues with 7 nm being the next magic number. Qualcomm is apparently ready to contract TSMC to manufacture the next generation of Snapdragon SoCs for the first tim...
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Top 10 Smartphones under 500 Euros

Notebookcheck's Top 10 Smartphones under 500 Euros

Update June 2018. Upper class. Up until a few years ago, high-end smartphones were usually in the price range of between 500 and 600 USD/Euros, but this segment is now occupied by upper class models and older high-end smartphones. The latter might not be new anymore, but are still good alternatives.
The Best Notebooks for School-Aged Kids and University Students

The Best Notebooks for Teenagers and University Students

Update May 2018. Whether you are looking for a notebook that will not break the bank, a high-performance all-rounder, or a luxury laptop, here you will find relevant notebook recommendations from Notebookcheck for school-aged kids and university students.
Jun 22
The LG Stylo 4. (Source: LG)

The new LG Stylo 4 is a cheaper alternative to the Samsung Galaxy Note devices

LG has launched its new Stylo 4 phablet. The device comes with a Stylus Pen for productivity, and a US$179 price tag that makes it a hard pass for those seeking a Galaxy Note device in a much cheaper form.
Renders of the Nokia 5.1 Plus. (Source: Tigermobiles)

Nokia 5.1 Plus listed on TENAA

HMD's upcoming device, the Nokia 5.1 Plus, has stopped by at TENAA with a 5.86-inch HD+ display, a notch, dual rear cameras, and what looks an awful lot like a Helio P22.
Mi Max 3 renders. (Source: Cnmo)

The Mi Max 3 could feature a Snapdragon 636, a 3.5mm jack, and no notch

The Mi Max 3 popped up on TENAA a few days ago, throwing some more light on what we should expect from the device. Some highlights include an IR blaster, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a 5400 mAh battery, and a notchless 6.9-inch display...
The Honor 10. (Source: GSMArena)

New update brings EIS to the Honor 10 and Honor V10

The Honor 10 and Honor View 10 are great camera devices by their own rights but didn't come with any form of image stabilization out of the box. Both devices are currently receiving a security update that brings that feature, howe...
Notebookcheck's Top 10 Smartphones

Notebookcheck's Top 10 Smartphones

Update June 2018. Here you will find the latest smartphones reviewed by Notebookcheck. Our Top 10 list is regularly updated, maintained and commented on by our editors. This page is intended to help our readers decide which product to purchase.
best gaming laptops

Notebookcheck's Top 10 Gaming Laptops

June 2018 update. Here you will find the current best gaming notebooks reviewed by Notebookcheck in the last few months. Our list of top models is regularly updated, maintained and commented on and should assist in purchasing decisions.
best budget gaming laptops

Notebookcheck's Top 10 Budget Gaming Laptops

June 2018 update. The following article contains a list of the best budget gaming notebooks reviewed by us. This overview will allow you to find the right notebook that fits your budget and requirements quickly and easily.
Top 10 Thin & Light Gaming Notebooks

Notebookcheck's Top 10 Slim & Light Gaming Laptops

June 2018 update. Here you will find the latest best slim and lightweight mobile gaming notebooks reviewed by Notebookcheck. Our list of top models is regularly updated, maintained and commented on and should assist in purchase decisions.
Top 10 notebooks under 1,000 Euros

Notebookcheck's Top 10 Laptops under 1,000 Euros

June 2018 update. Here you will find the best notebooks under 1000 USD/Euros reviewed by Notebookcheck over the last few months. Our list of top models is regularly updated, maintained and commented on and should assist in purchasing decisions.
best budget multimedia laptops

Notebookcheck's Top 10 Budget Multimedia Notebooks

Update June 2018. Here you will find the best multimedia notebooks under 1000 USD/Euros reviewed by Notebookcheck in the last few months. Our list of top models is regularly updated, maintained and commented on and should assist in purchasing decisions.
best budget office laptops

Notebookcheck's Top 10 Budget Office/Business Laptops

Update June 2018. Here you will find the current 10 best office/business notebooks for under 800 USD/Euros reviewed by Notebookcheck in the last few months. Our list of top models is regularly updated, maintained and commented on and should assist in purchase decisions.
Notebookcheck's Top 10 Tablets under 250 Euros

Notebookcheck's Top 10 Tablets under 250 Euros

Q2 2018 update. Here you will find the best tablets under 250 USD/Euros reviewed by Notebookcheck. Our list of top models is regularly updated, maintained and commented on and should assist in purchasing decisions.
Top 10 Laptops for Picture and Video Editing

Top 10 Laptops for Picture and Video Editing

Update April 2018. Here you will find the best current notebooks for picture and video-editing on the go. Our list of top models is regularly updated, maintained and commented on and it should assist in purchasing decisions.
best subnotebooks

Notebookcheck's Top 10 Subnotebooks

June 2018 update. Here you will find the current best subnotebooks reviewed by Notebookcheck in the last few months. Our list of top models is regularly updated, maintained and commented on and should assist in purchase decisions.
The best alternatives to Apple's MacBook Air

Notebookcheck's Top Windows Alternatives to the MacBook 12 and Air 13

Update April 2018. Lighter than Air? Apple shocked the whole industry with the first MacBook Air: We had never seen such a slim and light notebook before. However, in the meantime the other manufacturers have come up with several slim Windows devices that are good alternatives to the current MacBooks.
Jun 21
Upcoming Samsung handset with screens on both sides (Source: Mobiel kopien)

New Samsung patent shows a dual-screen handset similar to the YotaPhone

Although the space on the back of the Samsung device shown in the patent that surfaced online thanks to Mobiel kopen might not be a secondary display after all, it is nice to think that a device similar to the YotaPhone might hit ...
U.S. government wants Google to break up with Huawei (Source: Reuters)

U.S. government wants Google to break up with Huawei

In a second letter this month, lawmakers are again expressing concern that Google has been showing preference in working with the Chinese telecommunications company rather than the U.S. army. The search giant only sees Huawei as j...
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon prototype: Current model was planned with 3:2 display and as MacBook-competitor (picture-source: pc.watch.impress.co.jp)

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon prototype: Current model was initially planned with a 3:2 display and as a MacBook-competitor

Getting an inside view into the notebook industry is a rare thing and seeing actual prototypes even rarer still. A few days ago, Lenovo showcased such a prototype to Japanese journalists – the prototype of its current ThinkPad X1 ...
Schenker XMG A517

82% Schenker XMG A517 (Clevo N850EP6) Laptop Review

Mixed performance. From a purely technical point of view, the XMG A517 from Schenker Technologies is quite up-to-date. Key words such as hexa-core CPU, 144-Hz panel, and NVMe SSD will please a gamer's heart and promise a good performance. We clarify in our test why the 15-incher still cannot completely convince.
Intel Core i7-8750H | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (Laptop) | 15.6" | 2.3 kg
MSI GV62 8RE (i5-8300H, GTX 1060, FHD) Laptop Review

82% MSI GV62 8RE (i5-8300H, GTX 1060, FHD) Laptop Review

New engine, same body. MSI brings Coffee Lake to their entry-level GV62 line. While the new Intel CPU is a breath of fresh air, it is the only real change to the machine since last year. Buggy system behavior and a cheap plastic case keep the GV62 8RE from being little more than white noise.
Intel Core i5-8300H | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (Laptop) | 15.6" | 2.2 kg
Amazon Fire TV Cube (Source: Amazon)

Amazon Fire TV Cube is finally available for purchase

After a brief pre-ordering period, Amazon's Fire TV Cube can be acquired for a price of US$119.99 (the player alone) or US199.98 (Fire TV and Cloud Cam package). Later this year, this device should get support for sleep timers, Al...
Microsoft News app for Android, iOS, Windows 10, and the Web now available June 2018 (Source: Google Play)

MSN News becomes Microsoft News, mobile app now available for iOS and Android

Five years after the latest redesign and relaunch, the MSN News service gets a new design and a new name: Microsoft News. Microsoft News now features a dark theme, an impressive collection of curated news, as well as quick and acc...
Cubot King Kong

76% Cubot King Kong Smartphone Review

As strong as a gorilla? Affordable and robust, that is how the Cubot King Kong presents itself. It is a 5-inch smartphone with an averagely fast SoC in a weighty, water and dust-protected case. Is this enough for the tough reality of everyday life?
Mediatek MT6580M | ARM Mali-400 MP2 | 5" | 246 g
The OnePlus 6 can be made to run Google ARCore apps. (Source: Dylan Raga / XDA Developers)

OnePlus 6 can unofficially run Google ARCore apps

The OnePlus 6 was conspicuous by its absence on the list of supported devices for Google ARCore but it turns out that the ARCore app can be sideloaded on the phone and it works just fine. It is not known when the OnePlus 6 will be...
 

Laptop GPU roadmap 2018 – The upcoming mobile GeForce & Radeon graphics cards

We summarize all the rumors and announcements for the upcoming notebook GPUs. Volta and Vega are two completely new architectures in 2018 – it stays interesting.
Lenovo IdeaPad 720 (i5-7200U, RX 560) Laptop Review

85% Lenovo IdeaPad 720 (i5-7200U, RX 560) Laptop Review

Misleading first impressions. Lenovo is equipping its 2018 multimedia notebooks with 2016 processors. Even more surprising is the consistently solid concept, which does not shy away from the competition. The AMD Radeon graphics is a small highlight and one which allows for some gaming.
Intel Core i5-7200U | AMD Radeon RX 560 (Laptop) | 15.6" | 2 kg
An example of the display stripes/banding showing on some Sony Xperia XZ1 and XZ2 phones. (Source: Tweakers)

Sony Xperia screen stripes explained with electrifying description

Concerned Xperia owners who were experiencing intermittent stripes appearing on the displays of their flagship XZ1 and XZ2 phones have been told by Sony that static electricity build up is the cause. The stripes aren't considered ...
Bonsai team to join Microsoft (Source: The Official Microsoft Blog)

Microsoft acquires AI firm Bonsai

The Californian AI firm Bonsai achieved a few major breakthroughs in the field of industrial machine learning over the last years and will be joining Microsoft to help the latter in building better autonomous systems. As it usuall...
Dell XPS 15 9570 not available in India yet due to supply shortages reveals Frank Azor (Source: Dell)

The Dell XPS 15 9570 was delayed in India due to supply shortages

Although Frank Azor said that the Dell XPS 15 9570 would become available in India on June 19, he has just confirmed that the company is facing supply shortages. A Twitter user also claims that Dell India removed the product page ...
The Oppo Find X is the first smartphone equipped with Super VOOC charging. (Source: Oppo)

Oppo Find X Lamborghini Edition features Super VOOC charging

Oppo has followed in the footsteps of Huawei by partnering with a prestige automobile house to co-brand one of its phones. The new Oppo Find X Lamborghini Edition features high-end materials and is the first smartphone to feature ...
VR/MR on the Xbox One consoles is still a distant dream. (Source: MBG / YouTube)

Virtual Reality and Mixed Reality not on Microsoft's radar for the Xbox One consoles anytime soon

In an interview to GamesIndustry.biz, Microsoft's Chief Marketing Officer for Gaming, Mike Nichols, said that there are no immediate plans to bring VR/MR capabilities to the Xbox consoles. Nichols feels that VR/MR is more suited t...
Samsung 8 TB NF1 NVMe SSD for business applications now official (Source: Samsung Newsroom)

Samsung intros the first NF1 NVMe SSD

The industry's first NF1 NVMe SSD that has just been introduced by Samsung is optimized for data-intensive analytics and virtualization applications, targeting next-gen data centers and enterprise servers. This drive provides twic...
IGTV enables users to take vertical, full screen videos. (Source: Instagram)

IGTV is Instagram's take on social video

Facebook-owned Instagram has launched IGTV — a new app for sharing and viewing videos on the platform. IGTV enables users to take vertical full screen videos that can last up to an hour with each creator being the channel. Users c...

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