Business Articles

Gaming laptop market has grown from $1 billion to over $12 billion in the past five years (Source: Nvidia)

Gaming laptop market has ballooned from $1 billion to over $12 billion in the past five years

Nvidia will offer at least 45 different Max-Q laptops or configurations this year up from 19 in the previous year. The fast-growing gaming laptop market stands in contrast to the contracting Ultrabook market.

Allen Ngo, 30 Mar 2019 00:39

The 5G Samsung Galaxy S10. (Source: Samsung)

The Samsung Galaxy S10 5G's price has been set in Korea

The 5G variant of the Samsung Galaxy S10 will be released in South Korea on April 5, 2019. A news outlet in that country has claimed to have uncovered pricing details on this flagship option. It will start at the equivalent of abo...

Deirdre O Donnell, 29 Mar 2019 20:13

AirPods were the most popular true-wireless earbuds for the last quarter of 2018. (Source: Apple)

Apple got at least one thing right: AirPods were the most popular true-wireless earbuds in 2018

Apple's original AirPods snatched the majority of the true wireless earphone market at the end of 2018, according to Counterpoint Research. Its latest report on the subject put the earbuds' share at 60%. Jabra, Samsung, JLabs and ...

Deirdre O Donnell, 29 Mar 2019 18:32

Lyft is now trading on the Nasdaq. (Source: Investor's Business Daily)

Lyft has started trading on the Nasdaq

Lyft has successfully completed its IPO in the US, and is trading on the Nasdaq platform as of today (March 29, 2019). It had been estimated to start at US$72 per share; however, this value is now closer to $88. This, then, is the...

Deirdre O Donnell, 29 Mar 2019 18:05

The new Apple iMac could be in line for some serious aftermarket upgrades. (Source: Apple)

The 27-inch iMac 2019's RAM may be upgraded to 128GB

Apple puts the maximum RAM of its new 27-inch iMac at 64GB. However, the memory kit-maker OWC has confirmed that the PC is indeed compatible with twice this value. Therefore, it now sells upgrade kits for this PC that may allow a ...

Deirdre O Donnell, 29 Mar 2019 17:32

Sony Mobile was founded as Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications in 2001. (Source: India Today)

2018 sales projection of just 6.5 million smartphones possible catalyst for Sony Mobile restructuring that could cost 2,000 jobs

Sony has announced a “realignment” that involves Sony Mobile, the Imaging Products & Solutions Business, and the Home Entertainment & Sound Business. The merger will create Sony’s Electronics Products & Solutions Business. Some se...

Daniel R Deakin, 29 Mar 2019 07:11

The Samsung Galaxy S10+. (Source: Samsung)

Samsung Galaxy S10+ is now Consumer Report's best-rated smartphone

The Galaxy S10+ is at the top end of Samsung's latest flagship smartphone line. Despite the early point in the year, Consumer Reports has named it the best device in its category. This assessment was made based on the S10+'s camer...

Deirdre O Donnell, 28 Mar 2019 23:38

TCO develops industry standards for device longevity. (Source: TCO)

Lenovo, HP and Dell make the most upgradeable & sustainable PCs: device certifier

TCO Certified is a body that assesses the durability, recyclability and upgradability of desktops and laptops. The goal of this process is to improve sustainability in the IT industry. TCO claims that its 8th-generation criteria a...

Deirdre O Donnell, 28 Mar 2019 23:01

LG G8 ThinQ US launch set for April; preorders on Sprint start sooner

The G8 ThinQ is LG's latest flagship, and introduces its Crystal Sound technology among other features. This smartphone will become available in the United States from April 11, 2019. However, those who want it on Sprint can pre-o...

Deirdre O Donnell, 28 Mar 2019 19:13

The new Targus Mobile ViP+ Backpack. (Source: Targus)

Targus has made a backpack with Qi wireless charging

Targus, a name in the travel and laptop-carrying accessory space, has developed the Mobile ViP+ Backpack. It integrates Qi wireless charging, so that a phone such as the Samsung Galaxy S10+ can have a dedicated pocket within the n...

Deirdre O Donnell, 28 Mar 2019 18:47

The Jabra Evolve 65e neckbuds. (Source: Jabra)

The new Jabra Evolve 65e is a pair of neckbuds with "professional-grade sound quality"

Jabra has released its latest generation of neckbuds, the Evolve 65e. The audio company claims that this wireless set of earphones has consumer-grade comfort with professional levels of audio. This product has attained Skype for B...

Deirdre O Donnell, 28 Mar 2019 18:24

Sony introduces the RX0 II, a 2nd-generation GoPro-like 4K camera with an adjustable LCD screen

Sony's RX0 line is the company's take on the compact camera. Its latest version, the RX0 II, crams 4K recording, advanced image processing and electronic stabilization into "the world's smallest and lightest premium compact camera...

Deirdre O Donnell, 28 Mar 2019 17:59

The Vnopn K1 features an AMD A6-1450 processor and up to 8 GB RAM (Image source: AliExpress)

Vnopn K1: A fanless Mini PC that comes with an AMD processor and starts at US$128

The new, ultra-compact Vnopn K1 does without a fan and has no moving parts, which helps keep its form factor down. Vnopn has equipped the K1 with an AMD processor too unlike many other PCs of its size.

Alex Alderson, 28 Mar 2019 15:19

Purported renders of the Nokia X71. (Source: OnLeaks)

The Nokia X71 is scheduled for an April 2 launch - Triple rear cameras, 48 MP, punch-hole

HMD Global has confirmed that it will launch its next device, the egregiously-named Nokia X71, on April 2, at an event in Taiwan. The X71 will be positioned directly below the Nokia 9 Pureview and will feature a punch-hole display...

Ricci Rox, 28 Mar 2019 14:15

New Lenovo ThinkPad laptops: T490, X390, T490s & T590 are now available

At MWC, Lenovo announced their new 2019 ThinkPad business lineup. Roughly a month later, the majority of the new ThinkPad laptops are now available, though all of the new models still miss some hardware options.

Benjamin Herzig, 28 Mar 2019 11:54

The free Office Depot PC Health Check allegedly operated in a similar fashion to scareware. (Source: FTC)

PC Health Check scareware allegations cost Office Depot and Support.com US$35 million

Office Depot, Inc. and Support.com, Inc. have agreed to pay a combined total of US$35 million to the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) after being accused of tricking customers into paying for unnecessary computer repair services....

Daniel R Deakin, 28 Mar 2019 08:49

The crease has been banished according to Samsung. (Source: Gizmodo UK)

Samsung smooths over reported Galaxy Fold crease crisis

A recent video leaked onto YouTube showed off a Samsung Galaxy Fold smartphone with a rather worrying visible crease running down the center of the display. However, a communications manager for Samsung has offered reassurance tha...

Daniel R Deakin, 28 Mar 2019 07:53

Stocks of phones like the Mate X may suffer from supply-side issues. (Source: Huawei)

Foldable phone prices may stay sky-high for some time after all

2019 may be the year of the first-generation foldable smartphones from familiar brands. They are likely to be linked to extra-large price-tags; however, a prominent industry figure has predicted that they may shrink steadily as ti...

Deirdre O Donnell, 27 Mar 2019 17:49

All of the most recent Apple flagships may face sales bans in the US. (Source: Apple)

First-party US iPhone sales may be banned soon

A recent legal ruling gave Qualcomm the right to force iPhones off its OEM's own shelves in China. Now, the chip-maker may get the chance to do the same in the US. A judge from the country's International Trade Commission has rule...

Deirdre O Donnell, 27 Mar 2019 14:35

AMD needs the Navi 10 and Navi 20 GPUs to compete against Nvidia's GTX 16 series and RTX 20 series. (Source: Ultragamerz)

Rumor: AMD's Navi 20 series could feature ray-tracing technology that would challenge Nvidia's RTX lineup

There is a rumor that AMD has been working on its own version of ray-tracing technology that could be incorporated into the red team’s expected Navi 20 series. The same source speculates that this high-end lineup could challenge o...

Daniel R Deakin, 27 Mar 2019 06:37

The new Huawei FreeLaces are debuted on stage in Paris. (Source: Huawei)

Meet Huawei's latest accessories: the FreeLaces, FreeBuds Lite and SuperCharge 12000 power bank

Huawei also introduced some new products to complement its latest flagships, the P30 and P30 Pro. They include the FreeLaces, a pair of 'neckbuds' with an innovative design. The OEM also now offers a power bank with its SuperCharg...

Deirdre O Donnell, 26 Mar 2019 23:13

The Huawei CEO introduces the company's most unusual wearable yet. (Source: YouTube)

Huawei unveils its own line of smart glasses

Huawei also revealed the existence of some new wearables at its early-2019 launch event in Paris. The least expected of these are the new 'smart' glasses the OEM has developed with the eyewear company Gentle Monster. Their main fu...

Deirdre O Donnell, 26 Mar 2019 17:34

The Xiaomi Mi 9 SE will have a global version; the Redmi Note 7 Pro will not

The Mi 9 SE has been spotted on Xiaomi's Global Compliance page, which alludes heavily to the device being set for a global launch. On the flip side, Redmi has confirmed that the Redmi Note 7 Pro will not join the regular Redmi No...

Ricci Rox, 26 Mar 2019 13:08

Marvel's Iron Man VR is currently in development. (Source: IGN)

Sony announces 4.2 million PlayStation VR headset sales; Iron Man VR should help sell some more

Sony has revealed in a PlayStation blog post that 4.2 million PlayStation VR headsets have been sold worldwide up to March 3. The PlayStation VR device was released in October 2016 and had passed one million sales by June 2017. A ...

Daniel R Deakin, 26 Mar 2019 10:43

Apple Arcade: the world's first gaming subscription service for mobile, desktop and the living room

Apple's latest release event debuted Arcade, a new elaboration on the App Store's gaming experience. The company claims that over 100 new and original games have been developed for this new subscription-based service. It is also a...

Deirdre O Donnell, 25 Mar 2019 23:29

Gigabyte Aero 15-X9 vs. Aero 15-Y9: you may want to reconsider the RTX 2080 Max-Q SKU

The Aero 15-Y9 is over $1000 more expensive than the Aero 15-X9 and yet both configurations perform about the same in all of our tests. Is there really a reason to get the pricier version? Based on our numbers, the less expensive ...

Allen Ngo, 25 Mar 2019 22:18

Titanium Apple Card for shopping at locations without Apple Pay support

Apple Card coming to the US this summer to help you "lead a healthier financial life"

Apple Card brings together hardware, software, and services to deliver a complete financial management and payment experience focused on providing "a healthier financial life" to its customers. This solution comes with a rewards p...

Codrut Nistor, 25 Mar 2019 21:39

Apple unveiled its own streaming competitor at its latest event. (Source: Apple)

The new Apple TV services are here

The Cupertino giant has unveiled the next generation of its TV arm. However, it is not a device; rather, it is a software- and content-based upgrade. The new Apple TV app allows users to cherry-pick channels or streaming providers...

Deirdre O Donnell, 25 Mar 2019 20:22

Apple unveils its magazine reading service News+, don't expect anything revolutionary

Apple News just got a spinoff that includes 300 magazine subscriptions and is simply called News+. Available for US$9.99 a month (the first month is free), this service is also rolling out in Canada in both French and English. Aus...

Codrut Nistor, 25 Mar 2019 18:55

The connected living room is a billion-dollar marketplace these days. (Source: Amazon)

The "connected living room" is a concept that may make a US$900+ billion market in 5 years

Transparency Market Research's latest report is based on the observation that the demand for a 'smart' or 'connected' living room is growing steadily these days. It may consist of entertainment or media hardware that works seamles...

Deirdre O Donnell, 25 Mar 2019 18:24

Smartphone sales have been in steady decline in the US. (Source: YouTube)

The US market has seen 14 consecutive months of falling smartphone sales

The months of December 2017 through to January 2019 have been associated with declining smartphone sale numbers in the United States on a year-on-year basis. Counterpoint, a market analysis firm, cited the lack of deals on flagshi...

Deirdre O Donnell, 25 Mar 2019 17:04

Vivo will sponsor the PUBG Mobile Club Open 2019. (Source: Tencent)

Vivo will sponsor the 2019 PUBG Mobile Club Open

Vivo has announced that it will partner with Tencent Games in order to sponsor the annual PUBG Mobile Club Open 2019. This involves competitive battles of the game in question in 10 regions worldwide for an ultimate prize of US$2....

Deirdre O Donnell, 25 Mar 2019 14:24

Undervolting your Dell notebook might void the warranty.

Undervolting your Dell laptop can void the warranty

Dell Support has informed a customer that any non-factory settings to the processor, such as undervolting, are not covered under warranty. This seems a bit contrary on their own policy, which clearly mentions that the warranty bec...

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 25 Mar 2019 12:33

It's long been rumored that EA Access was coming to a new platform. (Source: Game Spew)

Brazilian PlayStation Store may have just leaked upcoming EA Access service

A screenshot posted on Reddit has been stirring up some excitement among PlayStation 4 owners. The image shows a page from the Brazilian PlayStation Store, and there is a small window advert for EA Access. The EA Access service of...

Daniel R Deakin, 25 Mar 2019 05:48

iPhones may act as charging pads in 2019. Source: MacOtakara

2019 iPhones may come with 18W charging as standard and reverse wireless charging

Apple has developed a habit of disappointing its fans by including power bricks that charge at only 5W with its iPhones. However, a new leak has predicted that the company will put an end to this in 2019. It also projects that the...

Deirdre O Donnell, 24 Mar 2019 23:53

Esports Arena is bringing its gaming services inside Walmart stores. (Source: Variety)

Walmart could be the next major corporation to join the race for game-streaming supremacy

It has been reported that Walmart has been meeting with a number of game developers and publishers to discuss a potential video-game streaming service. With Google just revealing its Stadia service and Nvidia’s GeForce Now platfor...

Daniel R Deakin, 24 Mar 2019 11:00

Bitwise's report was submitted to the US Securities and Exchange Commission. (Source: The Daily Reckoning)

Study declares 95% of reported bitcoin trading is fake

A comprehensive study carried out by Bitwise Asset Management has come to the conclusion that the majority of reported volume in bitcoin trading is faked. Some unethical bitcoin traders are deliberately manipulating the volume to ...

Daniel R Deakin, 24 Mar 2019 08:57

Apple is reportedly losing traction in China. (Source: Apple)

Apple is losing its majority in the Chinese smartphone market

Apple's market share in China has reportedly fallen by 26.6% in 2018. Unsurprisingly, the culprits are more 'local' OEMs such as Huawei and Xiaomi, who offer more innovative features in premium handsets that go for less than those...

Deirdre O Donnell, 23 Mar 2019 19:57

Huawei may release its 1st smart TV soon. (Source: TechnoBlitz)

The first-generation Huawei TV may launch next month

Last year, we reported on rumors that Huawei was working on its first smart TV. Now, a Chinese news outlet claims that its sources have told it these products are nearly ready for release. These products are apparently to be relea...

Deirdre O Donnell, 23 Mar 2019 18:16

Tencent games may run better on Razer Phones/controllers in the future. (Source: Razer)

Razer and Tencent announce mobile-gaming collaboration

Tencent, which publishes games such as PUBG, has set up a collaboration with Razer in order to improve said apps' function on the gaming hardware giant's Android phones. This involves optimizing Tencent titles for the Razer Phones...

Deirdre O Donnell, 23 Mar 2019 15:30

The Powerbeats are Beats' take on the wireless earphone. (Source: Amazon)

Next-generation Powerbeats could come in true-wireless form and with the new Apple AirPods' features

Beats by Dr. Dre has been an Apple subsidiary for some time now. The brand's next product may be a pair of truly-wireless earbuds. According to a CNET report, they may run on the new Apple H1 chip, which is also found in the newly...

Deirdre O Donnell, 23 Mar 2019 14:56

"Great device. Would be a shame if we siphoned your data from it without your permission." (Source: MySmartPrice)

Nokia's official response on the case of user data violations

HMD Global has come up with an official response on the issue of its devices sending sensitive user data to Chinese servers. While the company's reasoning appears sound, it's still a tad appalling that something of this sort is as...

Ricci Rox, 23 Mar 2019 08:30

The new Huntkey 90W charging brick looks deceptively much like any other. (Source: Huntkey)

A power brick maker will release a 90W wall charger later this year

Huntkey, a company based in Shenzhen, has announced that it is currently producing a 90-watt wall-wart intended for mobile devices. This next-gen power-brick also has a USB type-C output, rather than type-A as normal. It supports ...

Deirdre O Donnell, 22 Mar 2019 18:46

The Apple AirPower's release may be on the cards (again). (Source: Apple)

The Apple AirPower charging mat may launch soon: new leak

DigiTimes has cited sources at a components supplier in a new report that alleges the AirPower accessory is finally going to be released soon. This article also asserts that the long-awaited wireless charging pad will work with at...

Deirdre O Donnell, 22 Mar 2019 17:51

Razer did well for itself last year. (Source: The Drum)

Razer made nearly US$80 million in gross profit last year: new report

Razer has released its financial report for 2018. It shows that the gaming company's revenues are now stands at US$274.2 million. The firm made $79.5 million in terms of gross profit last year, and also cut its losses by 4.3% comp...

Deirdre O Donnell, 22 Mar 2019 15:17

The transparent Mi 9 alongside an 'opaque' sibling. (Source: Xiaomi)

Xiaomi releases cheaper 8GB version of the Mi 9 Transparent Edition

The transparent variant of the Xiaomi Mi 9 seems to be doing very well this year. Chinese blogs have reported that the OEM cannot keep it on shelves, despite its relatively high price tag. Perhaps this is why a new, cheaper varian...

Deirdre O Donnell, 22 Mar 2019 14:43

AMD's EPYC 2 server chips are expected to be released in the second half of 2019. (Source: ServeTheHome)

Google could be planning on adopting AMD's Zen 2-based EPYC 2 "Rome" server chips

A market analyst for financial services company Cowen has predicted that Google will utilize AMD’s upcoming EPYC 2 server CPUs, codenamed “Rome”, for its own services. This would be a huge deal for AMD, which has already been sele...

Daniel R Deakin, 22 Mar 2019 10:39

The Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus. (Source: Samsung)

Samsung hopes to win back the Chinese market with the Galaxy S10 phones

Samsung released the S10 phones a few weeks ago and is hoping to use the devices as a tool in a bid to claw back its lost market share in China. It appears to be working, too, with sales said to be already twice that of the Galaxy...

Ricci Rox, 22 Mar 2019 08:36

One of the "official" Huawei P30 and P30 Pro images. (Source: SlashLeaks)

Alleged Huawei P30 and P30 Pro marketing material shows up online ahead of launch

The next Huawei flagships are due to launch on March 26, 2019. However, a leaker claims to have gotten hold of genuine promotional images for the two phones ahead of this event. These posters are for the French market, and show wh...

Deirdre O Donnell, 21 Mar 2019 23:36