Business Articles

The Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite. (Source: Samsung)

Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite finally lands in the US starting at $650; but why does it even exist?

The Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite has now officially made its way over the US with a not-so-insignificant US$650. Seeing it steps on the toes of the regular Galaxy S10, some may be wondering why exactly the phone exists at all, but there appears to be some logic to it.

Ricci Rox, 17 Apr 2020 08:35

PSA: Check your Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga for light bleed and dead pixels

It never feels good to drop a couple thousand dollars on a fancy new business laptop only to find stuck pixels or noticeable backlight bleeding. Even high-end laptops can have panel imperfections that should be discovered sooner rather than later.

Allen Ngo, 17 Apr 2020 05:35

Tech love across all age ranges. (Source: Parks Associates)

Up to 53% of US households with high-speed internet report appreciating tech more in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic

A new study of consumer attitudes in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in findings that 53% of its participants (US households with broadband internet services) were prepared to agree with a statement to the effect that their regard for technology had improved compared to that prior to the public health crisis.

Deirdre O Donnell, 16 Apr 2020 22:40

Disappointment for Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X fans: Cyberpunk 2077 will not be a next-generation launch title

CD Projekt Red has once again commented on the highly anticipated Cyberpunk 2077. The company is likely to disappoint potential buyers of a next-generation console, though.

Alex Alderson, 16 Apr 2020 20:42

HP ZBook Create and Studio workstation coming August with insane specifications and Quadro RTX 5000 and GeForce RTX 2080 Super options (Source: HP)

HP ZBook Create and Studio workstations will be even lighter than the Razer Blade 15 Studio, come with Quadro RTX 5000 and GeForce RTX 2080 Super options

HP says the ultra-thin 15.6-inch workstation will be the fastest in its size class per unit volume when it launches this August. It will also be the first mobile workstation to incorporate recycled plastic retrieved from oceans to promote sustainability.

Allen Ngo, 16 Apr 2020 14:00

The PS5's final design has not yet been revealed. (Image source: Reddit via u/Matst1)

PlayStation 5 initial production run limited to 6 million as high-end specs could lead to a high retail price for the PS5 console

A new report has stated that Sony is considering a limited production run initially for the PlayStation 5. Apparently, 5-6 million units could be made available by March 2021, with the figure being affected by the cost of the console’s components that will in turn influence the eventual retail price. A high price would likely reduce demand for the PS5.

Daniel R Deakin, 16 Apr 2020 11:32

Qualcomm's 3D Sonic fingerprint sensor technology. (Source: Qualcomm)

Qualcomm and BOE announce a collaboration to bring 3D Sonic fingerprint sensing to more displays

BOE has announced that it will make more displays that support Qualcomm's 3D Sonic fingerprint sensor technology in the future. These panels will also be of more types and for more use-cases than ever before. This includes flexible OLEDs and internet-of-things (IoT) components.

Deirdre O Donnell, 15 Apr 2020 21:30

Surface Pro 7 users are reporting random shutdowns and that Microsoft has done nothing about it

The Surface Pro 7 is one of Microsoft's latest 2-in-1s. Some people who have bought it have subsequently gone back to the Redmond giant's product forum reporting a bug in which the tablet shuts off without warning. The issue may be addressed with some work-arounds, but the OEM is apparently yet to issue an official fix.

Deirdre O Donnell, 15 Apr 2020 18:30

The Play At Home Initiative is more than just about giving away free games. (Image source: PlayStation)

Sony makes Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection and Journey free to download from April 15 through May 5

Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection and Journey are now free to download, no PS Plus required. Part of the Play at Home Initiative, the two games will be free from April 15 20:00 PDT through May 5 20:00 PDT. Sony has earmarked US$10 million to support indie developers, too.

Alex Alderson, 15 Apr 2020 17:13

Whitechapel may extend beyond Pixel smartphones. (Image source: Axios)

Whitechapel: Google's custom 5 nm Exynos SoC may be coming to Pixels and Chromebooks, but not the Pixel 5

Rumour has it that Google has already received working versions of its custom Exynos SoC, developed in partnership with Samsung. Codenamed Whitechapel, the 8-core ARM chip is said to be based on a 5 nm process. While there has been talk of the 5 nm chip making its way into the Pixel 5, Google may have even bigger plans for Whitechapel.

Alex Alderson, 15 Apr 2020 11:05

The Xperia 1 II will cost over €1,000 at launch. (Image source: Sony)

Xperia 1 II: Sony hints at upcoming release date for its most expensive flagship

The Xperia 1 II, Sony's most expensive flagship, is edging ever closer to being released. Due this quarter, Sony has hinted that we could be just days away from a proper unveiling. The device's €1,119 (~US$1,227.40) launch price may be a sticking point for most people, though.

Alex Alderson, 14 Apr 2020 22:55

It has not been a great 2020 for PCs thus far. (Source: NBC)

PC shipments dropped by 12% in the first quarter of 2020: Gartner

The latest market research from the Gartner group indicates that the market for PCs has experienced its "sharpest decline" since 2013. However, it seems this year-on-year drop in shipments, which applies to the first 3 months of this year (1Q2020), is related more to the Covid-19 pandemic rather than to demand for this category.

Deirdre O Donnell, 14 Apr 2020 16:38

Lenovo re-introduces the concept of a removable battery in the new A7 phone

Lenovo has launched the A7 in China. It is a considerable departure from your average smartphone, in that the processor here is from Unisoc. Not only that, but it has a swappable 4000mAh battery. It does not have a sale price as yet, but is likely to exhibit an ultra-budget one on its announcement.

Deirdre O Donnell, 14 Apr 2020 14:49

The Microsoft Surface Book 2 can be configured with a discrete graphics card. (Image source: Microsoft)

Potential Microsoft Surface Book 3 prices revealed for both display sizes and multiple configurations

A tech blogger has managed to get hold of some price lists that could be for the upcoming Microsoft Surface Book 3 devices. The listings also included prices for various related accessories and possibly the Surface Go 2. It has been opined that the “Surface Project T” could be the 13.5-inch Surface Book 3 while “Surface Project U” could be the 15-inch model.

Daniel R Deakin, 14 Apr 2020 12:26

Huawei launched the Ascend 910 chipset last year. (Image source: Huawei)

Huawei rumoured to be developing server GPUs as it rebukes "groundless criticism" over its ties with the CCP

Rumour has it that Huawei is planning on entering the server GPU market. The news comes as Huawei has attacked critics about its involvement in the UK's 5G infrastructure.

Alex Alderson, 13 Apr 2020 19:53

The Redmi K30 Pro was launched in March 2020. (Image source: Redmi)

Lu Weibing says IP53 for the Redmi K30 Pro is sufficient - social media users disagree and persuade him to consider IP68 for future Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones

Lu Weibing, Xiaomi executive and general manager of Redmi, has been pondering the subject of Ingress Protection ratings on the Chinese social media site Weibo. The Redmi boss declared that IP53 was enough for the Redmi K30 Pro but was soon convinced by his followers that IP68 should be considered in regard to future smartphones.

Daniel R Deakin, 12 Apr 2020 12:30

Intel Comet Lake-S is expected to be launched on April 30. (Image source: Intel)

Intel Core i9-10900, i7-10700K, and i7-10700 Canadian retail prices seem competitive against Coffee Lake chips but are a missed opportunity against AMD Matisse CPUs

A Canadian retailer has published the prices for the upcoming Comet Lake-S processors Intel Core i9-10900, Intel Core i7-10700K, and Intel Core i7-10700. The parts are similarly priced, at least with this particular outlet, to their Coffee Lake predecessors. However, it seems AMD Matisse processors could still offer users a decent price/performance edge.

Daniel R Deakin, 12 Apr 2020 11:22

Quiet Mode is coming to Facebook's mobile apps. (Source: Twitter)

Facebook introduces a Quiet Mode for its iOS and Android app

Facebook has recently introduced a new group of settings to help the user manage the time they spend on its mobile app. Now, it has been augmented further with Quiet Mode, a set of toggles that allows notifications to be silenced for all or a specific part of the day. They may be followed by even more granular controls in the future.

Deirdre O Donnell, 11 Apr 2020 19:44

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite features an Exynos 9611 SoC. (Image source: Naver)

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite prices for 64 GB Wi-Fi variant and LTE model leaked; official support pages suggest upcoming release

European prices for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite have been leaked online. The prices relate to the 64 GB Wi-Fi variant and the 64 GB LTE model, although more SKUs with 128 GB storage are expected. Samsung has started publishing support pages for the upcoming Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, which suggests the tablet will soon be released.

Daniel R Deakin, 11 Apr 2020 10:43

Sony Xperia 10 II billed to launch for US$400 - An iPhone SE 2 and Pixel 4a competitor?

The Sony Xperia 10 II was unveiled back in February but is unlikely to hit store shelves until June at the earliest. When it does, it's expected to carry a price tag in the region of US$400, which places it in competition with the upcoming Pixel 4a and iPhone SE 2.

Ricci Rox, 11 Apr 2020 08:33

The Snapdragon 845-powered LG Style3 makes a stealthy entrance into the Japanese market

With little fanfare, LG has released a new phone, the Style3, in Japan. It has 4GB of RAM and 64GB of fixed storage, but also rocks a 1440p display and Qualcomm's 2018 flagship SoC. This phone is only available through the carrier NTT Docomo in black or white.

Deirdre O Donnell, 10 Apr 2020 17:55

Have we not been here before, Microsoft? (Image source: The Verge)

Coronavirus kills hopes of a 2020 release for the Surface Neo and any Windows 10X devices

Rumour has it that we will not be seeing the Surface Neo or Windows 10X this holiday season after all. Thought to be because of the pandemic, the delay means that there will be no Windows 10X devices this year, either. Are we surprised? Not really.

Alex Alderson, 10 Apr 2020 16:41

Google announced the Pixel Buds 2 last year. (Source: Google)

Potential Pixel Buds 2 dark clouds appear as pre-orders are canceled

Google's upcoming Pixel Buds 2 are billed for a spring release. The true wireless earbuds were put on pre-order at a third-party retail store a while ago, but it would appear that all orders have now been canceled, the implications of which are unknown.

Ricci Rox, 09 Apr 2020 23:32

Gamers are playing more in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. (Source: KryptoSzene)

The Covid-19 pandemic has increased gaming time by up to 53% among German players

A blog has presented a new infographic showing the effect of the "coronavirus crisis" on gaming habits. It shows that 36% of causal gamers reported spending more time on this pursuit due to this situation, compared to 53% of non-casuals. In addition, it appears that, amidst a general market decline, stocks in gaming companies are up.

Deirdre O Donnell, 09 Apr 2020 21:49

Chinese retailers cut prices on iPhone 11 devices to boost sales

Online Chinese retailers are selling the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max at significant discounts. Retailers hope the cuts will spur Chinese consumers to buy an iPhone. However, many Chinese people are delaying the purchase of their next smartphone due to the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus outbreak.

Sam Medley, 09 Apr 2020 17:36

Lenovo ThinkPad T14, T14s & X13: AMD Ryzen 4000 versions do not feature Thunderbolt after all

When Lenovo announced the new 2020 ThinkPad lineup in late February, the addition of Thunderbolt 3 to the AMD versions of the new ThinkPad T14, ThinkPad T14s and ThinkPad X13 was big news. Two months later and close to the release of the new devices, it turns out that the initial spec-sheet was wrong: Thunderbolt remains Intel-exclusive.

Benjamin Herzig, 09 Apr 2020 16:12

Early concept render of the Nokia 9.2 or Nokia 9.3. (Source: Techno Mobile)

Nokia's next flagship phone appears to have been delayed...again

One year after, we're yet to get a successor to the incredibly promising but ultimately disappointing penta-camera Nokia 9 PureView. The phone in question has apparently been delayed yet again, with Covid-19 touted as the reason this time.

Ricci Rox, 09 Apr 2020 09:26

Fancy spending several thousand US dollars on an RTX 2080 Ti? (Image source: NVIDIA)

NVIDIA RTX 2080 Ti Cyberpunk 2077 Edition GPUs are fetching crazy amounts of money online

Having given 77 of 200 units away to fans, NVIDIA does not plan to sell the RTX 2080 Ti Cyberpunk 2077. However, several have appeared online and are fetching prices upwards of US$6,152. Act now if you want an over-priced piece of gaming history.

Alex Alderson, 08 Apr 2020 22:53

Razer has already converted existing manufacturing lines to make face masks. (Image source: Razer)

Razer puts face masks into development to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic

Razer is now making face masks. Likely a temporary move during the COVID-19 pandemic, the move follows on from it redesigning its logo to promote social distancing.

Alex Alderson, 08 Apr 2020 20:46

HP's Elite Dragonfly is a very good business convertible

The lightweight Elite Dragonfly from HP is primarily designed for mobile users looking for a light device without sacrificing familiar security features from the EliteBook series. We were very pleased with the compact convertible in our review, but not all configurations make sense.

Andreas Osthoff, 08 Apr 2020 17:28

Fan-made PS5 concept design with DualSense and Xbox Series X-factor. (Image source: Reddit - u/robo3687)

PlayStation 5 news: Latest unnerving retailer placeholder price; new fan-made PS5 concept design influenced by DualSense controller and Xbox Series X

Another retailer has created a placeholder price for the upcoming PlayStation 5, and yet again the figure chosen is high enough to unnerve those fans hoping for something well under US$500. An interesting fan-made PS5 concept design has taken its cues from a combination of the just unveiled DualSense controller and the Xbox Series X.

Daniel R Deakin, 08 Apr 2020 12:20

The iPad Pro 11-inch 2020 on Amazon.in. (Source: MySmartPrice)

The 2020 iPad Pros may launch in India via Amazon soon

Amazon.in has reportedly made pages for the new iPads Pro live, suggesting that these tablets will be available on this platform soon. The site allegedly has listings for the 11- and 12.9-inch variants of this series, which both have Wi-Fi only and SIM-enabled options too. They may be sold with 128GB to 1TB of internal storage.

Deirdre O Donnell, 07 Apr 2020 18:31

Xiaomi claims that Google is behind its Mi 10 box branding. (Image source: Weibo)

Google is playing the pettiest of all games against Huawei on Xiaomi Mi 10 series boxes; other Android OEMs likely to follow suit

Xiaomi has included a special message for its major competitor Huawei on the boxes of European versions of the Mi 10 series. In case you needed reminding, the Mi 10 series provides "easy access to the Google apps that you use most often." Xiaomi claims that its hands are tied though, pointing the figure elsewhere.

Alex Alderson, 07 Apr 2020 17:04

HP ProBook 445 G7 and 455 G7 launching this month with 7 nm AMD Ryzen 7 4700U options (Source: HP)

HP ProBook 445 G7 and 455 G7 launching April with 7 nm AMD Ryzen 7 4700U options

Looks like we'll have to wait a little bit longer before we get to see proper Ryzen PRO 4000U processors for business laptops. Until then, HP will be including the regular consumer Ryzen SKUs onto its latest ProBook models set to launch by the end of the month.

Allen Ngo, 07 Apr 2020 15:00

Atari has still not paid the designer behind its latest game console for his work. (Image source: Atari)

Atari VCS: The console's designer is suing Atari for US$260,000 following the console's indefinite delay

While Atari is still struggling to manufacture its latest game console and ship it to Indiegogo backers, the system architect is suing the company for US$260,000, the salary that he claims the company still owes him.

Alex Alderson, 07 Apr 2020 14:50

The Redmi K30 Pro Zoom Edition has a 6.67-inch AMOLED screen. (Image source: XiaomiAdictos)

Redmi follows Xiaomi's lead by pricing the top-specced Redmi K30 Pro Zoom Edition at 4,499 yuan (US$638)

Redmi has revealed the price for the top-specced variant of the Redmi K30 Pro Zoom Edition, and it has taken many by surprise. The Xiaomi sub-brand is going to sell the smartphone at a price of 4,499 yuan, which at the current exchange rate is about US$638. This model of the Redmi K30 Pro Zoom Edition comes with 12 GB of RAM and 512 GB storage.

Daniel R Deakin, 07 Apr 2020 13:10

Asus ExpertBook B9450 with Core i7, 16 GB RAM, and 1 TB PCIe SSD now shipping for $1800 USD

The consumer-business hybrid series from Asus will compete directly with the Lenovo ThinkBook lineup designed for smaller businesses and workers on-the-go.

Allen Ngo, 06 Apr 2020 21:10

OnePlus' next pop-up will be online. (Source: OnePlus)

OnePlus promises an online pop-up for the 8 series

The smartphone OEM OnePlus has taken to arranging pop-up events so that its fans can see and handle its new flagships as soon as possible after launch. However, this would obviously be in extremely bad taste in the case of its early-2020 releases. Therefore, the company will convert these events into a virtual experience.

Deirdre O Donnell, 06 Apr 2020 19:33

Ultra-thin glass is made by firms such as Schott. (Source: YouTube)

Samsung Electronics reportedly plans to bring glass for its next-gen foldables in-house

Samsung's Display division sources the ultra-thin glass found in the Galaxy Z Flip from a company in which it has a major share. However, this has not stopped rumors that the same OEM now plans to manufacture the same material by itself. The apparently paradoxical move could reduce the cost of future foldables.

Deirdre O Donnell, 05 Apr 2020 22:27

The average weekly gaming-app download counts shot up in 1Q2020. (Source: AppAnnie)

A new report details the time (and money) spent on apps in 2020 so far

A research group has released its report on app use and purchasing for the first quarter of 2020 (1Q2020). It has concluded that the average amount of time spent on them per week increased by 20% year-on-year (YoY). In addition, app revenues increased 5% on both the App Store and Play Store.

Deirdre O Donnell, 05 Apr 2020 20:30

Samsung's Exynos team apparently feels humiliated by Samsung releasing the Snapdragon variant of the Galaxy S20 series in South Korea. (Image source: Samsung)

Opinion | Samsung's Exynos 990 snub in South Korea could be the final nail in the coffin for its beleaguered chipset subdivision

The Exynos 990 has come in for a lot of criticism internationally. As we have discussed in our reviews of the Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+ and Galaxy S20 Ultra, the Exynos 990 is a bit of a stinker. Samsung even dropped its in-house chipset from the Galaxy S20 series in South Korea, apparently leading to feelings of humiliation for the company's Exynos team.

Alex Alderson, 05 Apr 2020 00:36

Opinion | Samsung refutes reports of performance disparities between the Exynos 990 and Snapdragon 865

The Exynos 990 being a significantly worse chipset than the Snapdragon 865—or even last year's Snapdragon 855—may as well be fact at this point. Samsung appears to disagree, though, for what it's worth.

Ricci Rox, 04 Apr 2020 23:53

Early leaked LG G9 ThinQ renders. (Source: OnLeaks)

Snapdragon 765G-powered LG G9 ThinQ replacement billed for May 15 launch

Going by recent reports, LG has now killed off its flagship G-series, with the LG G9 ThinQ all but officially dead in the water. According to word on the grapevine, the replacement to the G9 ThinQ has now been penned down for a May 15 launch, and is touted to feature a Snapdragon 765G, four cameras in total, and a 4000 mAh battery.

Ricci Rox, 04 Apr 2020 23:52