ThinkPad X1 Extreme is louder after BIOS update
Some users of the ThinkPad Extreme X1 contacted us and reported problems with annoying fans. We organized another test sample and checked some aspects with the latest BIOS updates.
Windows
additional restrictions: Windows
Halo Reach test flights to kick off later this month
Halo Reach is ready for its return to the latest Xbox consoles and it will also reach the Windows PC realm for the first time. This title that will be a part of the Halo: The Master Chief Collection is expected to enter the public testing stage later this month, confirmed 343 Industries' community director — formerly with Bungie — Brian Jarrard.
Entry-level Microsoft Surface Book 2 now comes with 8th Gen Intel Core i5 option
The base model of the Microsoft Surface Book 2 has just received an additional choice among its configuration options. Microsoft has given potential purchasers the opportunity to have the device fitted with a quad-core 8th Gen Intel Core i5 processor. Previously, shoppers had to make do with the dual-core i5-7300U CPU.
Dell Latitude 7424 Rugged Extreme (i7-8650U, RX540) Laptop Review
Extreme durability. The Latitude 7424 Rugged Extreme is an absolute tank. The Latitude 7424 wraps a competent computer in a dust-tight and water-resistant shell that can take a beating without much fuss. However, this durability comes at a high cost - weight and size.
Intel Core i7-8650U, AMD Radeon RX 540, 14", 3.5 kgMSI RTX 2070 Gaming Z 8G Desktop GPU review
Quiet, fast and colourful! The GeForce RTX 2070 offers more power than the base model RTX 2060. With 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM, the GeForce RTX 2070 is equipped with just as much VRAM as the higher model RTX 2080. MSI has furnished us with a test sample which has a significantly higher TDP rating than the Nvidia reference model - read on for our review with numerous benchmarks to find out where the MSI RTX 2070 Gaming Z 8G sits in the rankings, and how well it performs in games.
AMD Ryzen 7 2700X, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 (Desktop), 32"The Royole FlexPai wins a 2019 Red Dot Design Award
The FlexPai by the start-up Royole can be thought of as the first flexible phone. This achievement has been rewarded by a Design Award from Red Dot. The company has also won a second such prize for another of its products: a flexible, portable keyboard.
April Fools' Day 2019: World of Tanks 0.7.0 goes live once again
Released back in late 2011, World of Tanks 0.7.0 only had three tech trees, different physics and spotting mechanics, there was no arty cap, no stun, and more. Those who were not around to play it back then and those who would like to travel back in time can play it until April 3 as World of Tanks Classic.
AAEON reveals the UP Xtreme single-board computer with Whiskey Lake processors
AAEON has added a new single-board computer (SBC) to the UP product family: the UP Xtreme. As is befitting the hyperbolic name, the board can operate with a CPU from Intel’s 8th Generation Whiskey Lake series. The board also has the UHD 620 iGPU solution at its disposal and can be fitted with up to 16 GB RAM.
Deal | Best Buy knocks up to US$575 off i5 and i7 versions of the Microsoft Surface Laptop
Best Buy is currently offering an incredible sale on the first generation of Microsoft’s Surface Laptop. However, stocks seem to be selling out quickly, so if you’re interested in either an i5 or i7 variant of this device you better hurry fast. Up to a whopping US$575 has been slashed from the usual listed price for certain models.
MSI RTX 2060 Gaming Z 6G Desktop Graphics Card Review
The entry point to the RTX world! The Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 is a budget RTX GPU that includes such features as Ray tracing and DLSS. We received a sample GPU from our partner MSI. This graphics card uses MSI’s proprietary board design. We put the MSI RTX GPU through its paces by running numerous benchmarks and video games with it. You can learn how well it did by reading our review.
AMD Ryzen 7 2700X, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 (Desktop), 32"Facebook announces banning of all white nationalist and white separatist groups
Facebook has announced that it is finally cracking down on white nationalism and white separatism on both Facebook and Instagram. The move follows live streaming of an attack on two New Zealand mosques which was also shared repeatedly on the social network via various groups.
Microsoft spots critical flaw in Huawei's Matebook device manager driver
The backdoor-like vulnerability was discovered through the Windows Defender ATP kernel sensors back in January, but Microsoft did not alert the media. Instead, the company contacted Huawei directly and a patch was promptly released. Microsoft presumably did not want to add to the list of serious allegation currently targeting Huawei.
Vivaldi 2.4 comes with customizable toolbars, multiple user profiles, and more
Vivaldi 2.4 comes with no less than 42 bug fixes, as well as 9 new features. The most important changes are the ability to remove buttons from the Navigation Toolbar and move them between the Navigation and Status bars, as well as the introduction of multiple user profiles — each with a separate set of Bookmarks, Extensions, history, and so on.
The Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air (2019) is now official, starting at US$536
The 2.4-pound Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air (2019) is now official in China and comes with Harman Kardon audio with DTS surround, fast charging, and more. The starting price (in China) is the equivalent of US$536 and this amount would get you the model with Intel Core m3-8100Y/4 GB RAM/128 GB storage.
The Lord of the Rings: Gollum could debut on the next-generation PlayStation and Xbox consoles
Daedalic Entertainment has just announced its development of the game The Lord of the Rings: Gollum. However, a seemingly innocuous comment by the CEO of the company to The Hollywood Reporter has sparked some speculation that this action-adventure game could end up being one of the first titles to appear on the next-generation PlayStation and Xbox consoles.
Schenker XMG Neo 15 (i7-8750H, RTX 2070 Max-Q) Tongfang GK5CQ7Z Laptop Review
Compact gamer. Thanks to its Core i7-8750H CPU and its GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q GPU all games should run smoothly on the Neo's matte 15.6-inch display. Other highlights include a mechanical keyboard, a fast SSD, and a 144 Hz panel. In return, the notebook lacks modern connectivity features such as Thunderbolt 3 and USB 3.1 Gen 2.
Intel Core i7-8750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, 15.6", 2 kgMSI GE75 8SG Raider (i7-8750H, RTX 2080) Laptop Review
Full GPU power? MSI also offers its slim GE75 Raider with the high-end GeForce RTX 2080 and does not use the Max-Q version. We check the performance and see if the upgrade is worth the money.
Intel Core i7-8750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, 17.3", 2.6 kgFile Explorer to get Fluent Design revamp with Windows 10 April 2020 update
Microsoft plans to implement the new Fluent Design framework across the entire Windows 10 OS, and File Explorer appears to be the next part to get the new look. Apart from new transparent and reworked visuals, File Explorer will finally support tabbed windows and sets. This revamp is scheduled to be introduced with the 2020 major update.
Funcom and Rock Pocket Games announce Moons of Madness, a title that takes the horror genre to space once again
Funcom, the name behind Conan Exiles, has teamed up with Rock Pocket Games to deliver a new horror title for PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4. Its name is "Moons of Madness" and should arrive during this year's Halloween season and shares the same thematic universe with Funcom's Secret World Legends.
Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air sequel teased for March 26
Xiaomi’s official Chinese Weibo account has issued a teaser indicating that it is prepping an update to its 12.5-inch Mi Notebook Air. The teaser shows a scale with the current weight of the device at 1.07 kg hinting at either a refresh or that the company is targeting a sub 1 kg weight target.
Mortal Kombat 11 Closed Beta kicks off on March 28
The Closed Beta of Mortal Kombat 11 will debut on March 28 with a roaster of five fighters, namely Baraka, Jade, Kabal, Scarlet, and Scorpion. At launch, the game is expected to come with a lineup of no less than 28 characters, including Cassie Cage, Kano, Sub-Zero, Raiden, and Kano. This new Mortal Kombat title will launch on April 23.
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9 (i9-8950HK, RTX 2080 Max-Q) Laptop Review
Well endowed. The well-equipped Aero 15-Y9 allows (almost) all games to be played smoothly on its matte 4K screen. However, Gigabyte has chosen to equip the laptop with only the Max-Q variant of the GeForce 2080. As a result, it isn't able to offer much more gaming performance above the Aero-15 models with RTX 2070 Max-Q GPUs.
Intel Core i9-8950HK, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, 15.6", 2.1 kgHP announces ProDesk 405 G4 mini PCs with Ryzen Pro CPUs
As the 14 nm CPU shortage Intel is still in full effect, OEMs are now switching to AMD's solutions for select line of products. HP's newly announced ProDesk 405 G4 mini PCs are a good example in this regard, since they pack AMD's Ryzen Pro 2000-series coupled with up to 32 GB of DDR4-2933 RAM, plus they integrate the Vega GPUs.
The Anniversary Update promises to take Sea of Thieves to a whole new level, coming April 30
Yesterday, Sea of Thieves celebrated its first anniversary. During the year that passes, the game received four major updates, and now everyone should get ready for the Anniversary Update, which is set to arrive at the end of April. This massive update — the biggest so far — promises to take Sea of Thieves to a whole new level.
The best USB microphone is made by Blue: new analysis
In a world where everyone seems to be a streamer or caster or some kind, a USB microphone may be a viable purchase. They combine the possible advantage of improved audio with a power source that is already built into your machine. A recent "data-driven" review puts the Blue Yeti at the top of a new list of the best of these devices.
RollerCoaster Tycoon Adventures for PC hits the Epic Games store
Released at the end of November for the Nintendo Switch hybrid console, RollerCoaster Tycoon Adventures is now finally reaching PC gamers all over the world. However, this release comes with a twist that Steam fans will not enjoy: Atari's new game is exclusively available via the Epic Games store.
Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged (i7-8650U, AMD RX 540) Laptop Review
Tough but thin. Rugged Notebooks aren't known for their svelte profiles, but the Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged tries to trim things down while maintaining the durability of the Latitude Rugged line. While there are some sacrifices compared to other rugged laptops, the Latitude 5420 Rugged is an overall convincing machine.
Intel Core i7-8650U, AMD Radeon RX 540, 14", 2.8 kgRay tracing and DLSS now available for Shadow of the Tomb Raider
A new patch for Shadow of the Tomb Raider has been announced that contains software for ray tracing and DLSS support. Users will need to have an Nvidia GeForce RTX 20-series GPU in their system to enjoy the new features. The action-adventure game was released in September 2018 with Nixxes Software developing the Windows port.
Armored Warfare 0.28 now live with new French vehicles, Battalion Ranked Battles, and more
After a rather long wait, the French and Italian vehicles are finally joining Armored Warfare as the offerings of a new dealer, named Francine De Laroche. The Arabian Nights campaign is now moving on with new events, but the 0.28 update also comes with Battalion Ranked Battles, new achievements, as well as many tweaks and fixes.
Lenovo IdeaPad 330-15IKB (Core i5-7200U, Radeon 530, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, FHD) Laptop Review
Leftovers. Lenovo has introduced the IdeaPad 330-15IKB, a 15.6-inch office laptop that it equips with a dual-core Intel Core i5 processor, a nimble SSD and 8 GB of DDR4 RAM running in dual-channel mode. The device is not free from weaknesses though, particularly its disappointing TN display, its comparatively small battery along with its outdated CPU and GPU. Read on to find out how the IdeaPad 330-15IKB compares against other 15.6-inch business laptops.
Intel Core i5-7200U, AMD Radeon 530, 15.6", 2.2 kgLenovo Legion Y740-15ICH (i7-8750H, RTX 2070 Max-Q) Laptop Review
Quieter, Sleeker… Better? Lenovo is back in the 15” gaming laptop fray with their Legion Y740—nearly identical to the previous Y730, but now packing an i7-8750H and an RTX 2070 Max-Q GPU alongside other improvements. At a price point of just around $1990 USD, its performance might surprise you.
Intel Core i7-8750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, 15.6", 2.3 kgWacom MobileStudio Pro 13 (Core i7-6567U, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD) Tablet Review
A drawing board with Windows 10. The MobileStudio Pro is part drawing tablet and part Windows PC. Wacom may have equipped the device with an outdated Skylake dual-core processor, but read on to find out how this tablet fares in 2019.
Intel Core i7-6567U, Iris Graphics 550, 13.3", 1.4 kgWindows on ARM: Where we are now and what the future holds
Windows on ARM (WoA) has a lot of potential benefits, from extended battery life to standby LTE connectivity, while still running x86 software. Performance complaints meant the initial launch was a little rough, but this has improved with more powerful SoCs and the slow increase in ARM-native applications for Windows. The future release of the Snapdragon 8cx and development of third-party ARM software could be the change needed to push WoA into the mainstream.
Dell XPS 13 9380 (i7-8565U, 4K UHD) Laptop Review
Now with a standard webcam. What benefits does the Core i7 SKU offer over the Core i5 SKU? We benchmark the most expensive XPS 13 9380 configuration and compare it to the less costly Core i5 SKU to show all the differences users can expect. Update: 5 hours more with FHD.
Intel Core i7-8565U, UHD Graphics 620, 13.3", 1.2 kgHP ProBook 430 G6 (Core i5-8265U, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, FHD) Laptop Review
A cheaper EliteBook 830 clone. HP has updated its ProBook series for 2019 with a new design that looks much more like its EliteBook series than past ProBooks. Can the HP ProBook 430 G6, the smallest model in this series, compete against major competitors like the Lenovo ThinkPad L390? Read on to find out in this detailed review.
Intel Core i5-8265U, UHD Graphics 620, 13.3", 1.4 kgPower-hungry display — Dell XPS 13 4K UHD configurations have shorter battery life by several hours
If you're in the market for a new XPS 13 Ultrabook, you may want to consider the less expensive 1080p options for their significantly longer runtimes. We are able to measure a difference of 4 to 5 hours when running the same WiFi test on both the FHD and 4K UHD SKUs.
Oculus Rift is the most popularly used VR headset on Steam
The Oculus Rift virtual reality headset has been surveyed as the most popular VR hardware utilized by Steam users. The rival headset from HTC, the Vive, also has a commanding share of users, but it has seen the gap between itself and the Oculus Rift widen over the last month. Also getting a worthy mention is Windows Mixed Reality, which can be utilized by owners of Microsoft HoloLens smartglasses.
Shockwave support will finally come to an end in April 2019
Adobe Shockwave was once the essential plug-in for interactive website elements and functions. However, it has been long overtaken by more up-to-date options. Its maker has announced the cessation of support for this relative dinosaur, with the exception of some business-focused licenses, on April 9, 2019.
You weren't expecting this: Windows 7 gets DirectX 12 support
Although Windows 7 still controls a noticeable share in the desktop market, many gamers were forced to upgrade just to fully enjoy various DirectX 12 titles. However, the latest update for World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth — patch 8.1.5 — is the first title to bring full DirectX 12 support to Microsoft's outdated operating system.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection coming to PCs via Steam
Microsoft is bringing back Halo to PC after 12 years since the last ported title. The new Halo: Master Chief Collection will be released on the Windows 10 Store, as well as the Steam platform and will include all 6 FPS titles of the franchise. Microsoft is also adding PC-specific features like seamless mouse and keyboard controls with remappable key bindings, plus support for different FOVs, resolutions and aspect ratios.
Asus launches ZenBook 14 (UX431) with Whiskey Lake CPUs and upcoming GeForce MX150 configuration
Asus has announced the ZenBook 14 (UX431). Two configurations of the laptop are currently available, with a third higher-specced option coming in the second quarter of the year. The usual slim ZenBook aesthetic is present with the latest additions, which come with 8th Gen Intel Core processors and the option of a discrete graphics card.
War Thunder 1.87 "Locked On!" update goes live with new top-tier military hardware
War Thunder 1.87 "Locked On!" is a massive update to Gaijin Entertainment's popular vehicular combat title and — just like its predecessors — has a suggestive name. The game now features French helicopters, new cruisers, rank VII ground vehicles, advanced supersonic jets, complex radar systems, and more.
HP Spectre x360 15 (Core i7-8750H, GTX 1050 Ti Max-Q, 2 TB SSD, 4K) Convertible Review
Six cores with stamina. The new HP Spectre x360 is an all-rounder that gets most things right. The convertible scores highly for its powerful hardware, backlit keyboard, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, good battery life and its 2 TB SSD. The touchscreen supports the HP Tilt Pen too, which adds more functionality than many 15-inch convertibles have.
Intel Core i7-8750H, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Max-Q, 15.6", 2.2 kgHP ProBook 440 G6 (i7, 512 GB, FHD) Laptop Review
Both visual and technical improvements. HP has presented its 14-inch office notebook with a new case and the most up-to-date Intel processor available. Some of its predecessor's weaknesses have clearly been corrected, but does this mean that the current ProBook 440 G6 is better than the last?
Intel Core i7-8565U, UHD Graphics 620, 14", 1.6 kgApex Legends datamine leaks suggest NPCs will watch you wall-running and flame-throwing all day and night
Dataminers have been busy exploring the code for Apex Legends, and it seems there could be some interesting developments coming soon for the battle royale hit. NPCs could be making an appearance in the game, as could flamethrowers. Arguably the most-exciting rumor for Titanfall fans is the possible introduction of wall-running.
A Pixel 3 XL owner claims to have ported Windows to the device
The Twitter account @NTAuthority has posted a video in which a Pixel 3 XL appears to boot into Windows. The OS' logo shows up at the start of this process, which is followed by not much more than a blue screen with what appears to be a command window. Should the claim prove true, it appears that Windows can run on yet another device not intended to do so.
Lenovo IdeaPad S530 (i5-8265U, UHD620) Subnotebook Review
Small and portable. The Lenovo IdeaPad S530 shows once again how compact and mobile a notebook can be. Because of this, users will have to deal with a limited selection of ports. However, those who are not bothered by the lack of ports will be well served by the S530. Read our review to learn what else buyers can expect from the small 13-inch laptop.
Intel Core i5-8265U, UHD Graphics 620, 13.3", 1.2 kgApex Legends mods have already booted over 355,000 players for cheating
Jay Frechette, the Community Manager for Respawn Entertainment, has shared information about the company’s battle against cheaters, specifically in the smash-hit battle royale game Apex Legends. Apparently, over 355,000 players have already been banned from the PC version, and the game developer is busy working on additional methods to combat cheating.
Windows 10 update KB4482887 causing issues with graphics and mouse performance in certain games
Microsoft has recommended that Windows 10 users suffering from problems with graphics or mouse performance degradation in certain games should uninstall the latest update for the ubiquitous operating system. KB4482887 was rolled out for “quality improvements” but has ironically affected quality in a number of crucial areas.
Update | Critical bug in Anthem is causing PS4 consoles to shutdown; PC and Xbox users also reporting hard crashes
Anthem, the new action RPG game from BioWare, is apparently causing hard crashes on PlayStation 4 consoles. A growing number of gamers are taking to both Reddit and Electronic Arts’ Answers HQ to complain about issues with PS4 shutdowns while playing the game. Apparently, the critical bug is also affecting PC users and Xbox owners, too.
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