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Mar 22, 2019
Motherboard OEMs have started offering support for AMD Ryzen 3000 well ahead of launch. (Source: AMD)

AMD Ryzen 3000 support being rolled out to compatible motherboards

The AMD 'Matisse' Ryzen 3000 CPUs are still a couple of months away from launch but motherboards OEMs have started prepping for it by offering new AGESA updates that support the new processors. MSI, Asus, and BioStar have started rolling out AGESA v0.0.7.x that includes support for Zen 2 Ryzen 3000 CPUs. Other OEMs are expected to follow suit as we head closer to launch.
Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 22 Mar 2019 06:27
Samsung's interactive Galaxy S10+ billboard charges your Qi-enabled phone. (Source: Notebookcheck)

Charge your phone on this Samsung Galaxy S10 billboard

Samsung has come up with some clever ads over the years as it battles Apple for smartphone supremacy. Spotted in Sydney, Australia by Notebookcheck, this latest billboard is one of the first interactive campaigns we’ve seen with what would otherwise be a static poster.
Sanjiv Sathiah, 22 Mar 2019 06:12
The new Oculus Rift S is an iterative improvement over the original. (Source: Oculus)

Oculus and HP reveal new VR headsets

Oculus and HP have unveiled their latest VR headsets during GDC week in San Francisco. The new headsets are a step up their previous efforts and feature improved optics, comfort and overall performance.
Sanjiv Sathiah, 22 Mar 2019 04:17
This is the cheapest we've seen a brand new RTX laptop since launch

Deal | Dell G5 5590 with RTX 2060 graphics is only $1180 right now

This is the cheapest we've seen a brand new GeForce RTX laptop go for. It may be a budget-class Dell gaming laptop, but it should easily perform as well as any GTX 1070 Max-Q system.
Allen Ngo, 22 Mar 2019 01:07
Mar 21, 2019
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 what could be special launch-day offers for that region.
Deirdre O Donnell, 21 Mar 2019 23:36
In plain sight: Hundreds of millions of Facebook user passwords were stored in plain text

In plain sight: Hundreds of millions of Facebook user passwords were stored in plain text

Due to a security oversight made by some Facebook employees, certain Facebook apps have been inadvertently logging user passwords as plain text on internal company servers. While still secured against outside intrusion, between 200 and 600 million user passwords were visible and searchable by about 20,000 employees at Facebook.
Sam Medley, 21 Mar 2019 22:21
Can this new 'free phone' concept work? (Source: Volk Fi)

A phone with free calls, texts and data? This is what the Volk One offers, apparently

Could a phone establish data connections and load webpages independent of either WiFi or a SIM card? Volk Fi apparently thinks so. This company is currently advertising its first smartphone, the Volk One, which can apparently form part of its own 'mesh network' with every other unit of the same around it.
Deirdre O Donnell, 21 Mar 2019 19:01
The Redmi 7 is now available in Ukraine. (Source: Redmi)

The Redmi 7 makes it to its first Western market: Ukraine

Xiaomi has a thriving presence in Ukraine, with numerous physical stores and online sales through partner websites. This now extends to the new Redmi 7, the second device line to be sold under the OEM's latest sub-brand. Its availability has been announced on Mi Ukraine's Facebook page.
Deirdre O Donnell, 21 Mar 2019 18:21
The MSI GL63 8SD powered by the NVIDIA GTX 1660 Ti appears online. (Source: Hanoicomputer.vn)

A GTX 1660 Ti-powered MSI GL63 8SD gaming laptop gets listed on Vietnamese retail sites

Following the recent leak of a Dell G5 15 laptop featuring the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, a few Vietnamese PC retail sites have started listing the MSI GL63 8SD gaming laptop powered by the new Turing GPU indicating that an official launch of the new card is imminent. Apart from the availability of the GTX 1660 Ti option, the rest of the specs of the MSI GL63 are the same as what we've seen during its announcement at CES 2019.
Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 21 Mar 2019 18:16
The new iGPU from Intel improves vastly on UHD 620 graphics.

Ashes of the Singularity scores for Intel Gen11 GPU are allegedly leaked on Twitter

The Gen 11 GPU is Intel's upcoming integrated graphics solution for next-gen CPUs, as announced at GDC this year. It is associated with a possible 1 teraflop of single-precision performance. According to the leaker Tum Apisak, its first known benchmark shows double the score compared to the UHD 620.
Deirdre O Donnell, 21 Mar 2019 17:56
Google will give EU Android users a choice of search and browser apps in the future. (Source: Campaign)

Google will ask European Android users which browser and search engine they want in the future

Reports have just emerged that the European Commission has disciplined Google for anti-trust-related business practices. Coincidentally, the company has issued a new blog post outlining its new measures to ensure that there is "choice and competition" among digital services for users in this region.
Deirdre O Donnell, 21 Mar 2019 16:30
The sideways positioning of the touchscreen allows content creators to optimize their workflow. (Source: IF World Design Guide)

Compal shows innovative convertible laptop design

The new hinge system for convertible laptops was presented by Compal at this year's IF World Design Guide competition and it could soon be implemented in HP and Dell models. Thanks to a special locking mechanism, the touchscreen can be placed to the right of the keyboard, improving workflow for content creators that need access to keyboard shortcuts.
Bogdan Solca, 21 Mar 2019 16:17
The ProDesk 405 G4 mini PCs support CPUs up to AMD's Ryzen 5 Pro 2400GE quad-cores with Vega 11 iGPU. (Source: HP)

HP 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.
Bogdan Solca, 21 Mar 2019 15:49
Energizer P18K Pop 18,000 mAh battery smartphone hits Indiegogo

The Energizer P18K Pop crowdfunding campaign starts on Indiegogo, shipments could start in October

Although there is nothing special about it except the gargantuan battery size, the Energizer P18K Pop might prove that many people would pay more than US$500 to get the world's longest-lasting smartphone that has the technical specs of a US$200 mid-ranger otherwise. However, Energizer must hit the US$1,200,000 goal first.
Codrut Nistor, 21 Mar 2019 13:43
Microsoft Defender antivirus is coming to the Mac for the first time. (Source: Microsoft)

Microsoft Defender to launch on the Mac

Microsoft has become much more open under current CEO Satya Nadella with apps made for macOS, iOS, Android and Linux. The latest step in this initiative is the porting of a version of Microsoft Defender antivirus software for macOS, but in this instance, it is targeted at business users initially.
Sanjiv Sathiah, 21 Mar 2019 11:38
A CG version of actor Alicia Vikander developed for the film Troll using ray tracing tools in Unreal Engine 4.22. (Source: Nvidia)

New Epic Unreal Engine demos highlight the power its ray tracing tools for creating photorealistic graphics

Epic Games has used GDC to showcase its capabilities of its Unreal Engine 4.22 with ray tracing enabled. The demos, powered by a single Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080Ti, demonstrate jaw-dropping realism that could easily be confused for live action film.
Sanjiv Sathiah, 21 Mar 2019 10:43
The Samsung Galaxy S10 5G will be offered in markets with 5G networks. (Source: Digital Trends)

Launch date for the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G confirmed

The launch date for the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G flagship smartphone has been announced as April 5. Unsurprisingly, the device will go on sale on this date in the manufacturer’s home country of South Korea. The price for the 5G model of the S10 series has yet to be confirmed, but it is expected to be around 1.5 million won (~US$1330).
Daniel R Deakin, 21 Mar 2019 09:56
Sea of Thieves Anniversary Update coming April 30 (Source: Sea of Thieves on YouTube)

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.
Codrut Nistor, 21 Mar 2019 09:42
As is becoming tradition, purchases come with a Huawei Watch. (Source: Tek.no)

Norwegian retailer leaks the Huawei P30 Pro in full

The Huawei P30 phones are billed to be launched on March 26, next week, but a Norwegian retailer has revealed all we could hope to know about the P30 Pro. Notable features include a triple rear camera setup and a ToF sensor, a 4200 mAh battery, and a curved display.
Ricci Rox, 21 Mar 2019 09:12
Phil Spencer is preparing something big for Xbox at E3. (Source: Game Rant)

Microsoft's response to Google's Stadia: Going big at E3 with possible xCloud or Xbox announcements

A leaked email allegedly from Phil Spencer, the Xbox head executive, has given some ambiguous details about how Microsoft and Xbox will challenge Google’s recent massive announcement about its Stadia game-streaming service. It seems something big is going to happen at E3 though, which officially starts on June 11.
Daniel R Deakin, 21 Mar 2019 08:36
Renders of the Moto Z4. (Source: 91Mobiles)

Renders of the Moto Z4 surface - Just one rear camera on board

The Moto Z3 was something of a flop last year, and Motorola will be hoping to make up for that with the Z4 this year. Renders of what appears to be the Moto Z4 have surfaced, showcasing the device with a waterdrop notch and, rather bizarrely, just one rear camera.
Ricci Rox, 21 Mar 2019 08:33
The Spartan demigod Kratos is the main character in God of War. (Source: Mashable)

God of War wins the Game Developers Choice Award for Game of the Year

God of War has won another “Game of the Year” title to add to its growing collection. This time, it was the Game Developers Choice Award for Game of the Year that was given to the acclaimed action-adventure game. God of War, which was developed by Santa Monica Studio and published by Sony, was released in April 2018.
Daniel R Deakin, 21 Mar 2019 07:10
Zotac launches Mek Mini PC with removable GeForce RTX 2070 graphics (Source: Zotac)

Zotac launches Mek Mini PC with removable GeForce RTX 2070 graphics

The Mek Mini is one step up from the ZBox series in terms of performance, features, and upgradeability. Its ample ventilation grilles on five of its six sides should hopefully be enough to keep temperatures and noise in check.
Allen Ngo, 21 Mar 2019 06:52
Doctors in China performed the world's first remote brain surgery using 5G technology. (Source: CGTN)

5G technology facilitates world's first remote brain surgery in China

Telemedicine could enter a whole new phase thanks to advancements made possible by 5G. Doctors in China's Hainan province could successfully perform a robotic brain surgery on a patient 3,000 km away in Beijing with the help of China Mobile and Huawei's 5G network, according to local media. The low latency and high bandwidth of 5G could be extremely valuable in performing more such remote procedures in the days to come, saving a lot of time and effort for both patients and clinicians.
Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 21 Mar 2019 06:18
One of the design renders for the Intel Xe discrete graphics card. (Source: TechRadar)

Intel shows off a few example renders of what its upcoming Xe discrete graphics card could look like

Intel has been very busy during a packed presentation at the Game Developers Conference. Among all the talk about the company's Odyssey initiative there was time to flash up some design renders of the upcoming Intel Xe discrete graphics card. Images of the card's potential shroud, created by designer Christiano Siquera, were shared with an excited audience.
Daniel R Deakin, 21 Mar 2019 06:03
Intel Graphics Command Center now available and Intel wants your help to improve it

Intel Graphics Command Center now available and Intel wants your help to improve it

The early access software is Intel's next step towards becoming a discrete graphics company. The chipmaker plans to take user feedback seriously by launching the Odyssey program for enthusiasts to share, engage, and collaborate with Intel along the way.
Allen Ngo, 21 Mar 2019 04:00
Intel confirms Gen 9 Core H series for Q2 2019, but details remain elusive

Intel confirms Gen 9 Core H series for Q2 2019, but remains mum on details

The Coffee Lake-H successor is mere months away and Intel is still being quiet on SKUs and specifications. For what it's worth, we at least know that Wi-Fi 6 and Optane H10 memory will be supported on the upcoming gaming laptops.
Allen Ngo, 21 Mar 2019 04:00
Mar 20, 2019
Amazon updates base-level Kindle eReader with a front light (and a higher price)

Amazon updates base-level Kindle eReader with a front light (and a higher price)

Amazon debuted a new version of their entry-level Kindle eReader with four front lights. The new eReader is the cheapest electronic book with a light, coming in at $90. This is $10 more than the previous base-level Kindle. Other than the front lights, not much has changed from earlier Kindles.
Sam Medley, 20 Mar 2019 22:49
Margrethe Vestager: The European Commissioner for Competition who today announced Google's third fine in under two years for antitrust violations (Image source: WIC News)

Google fined €1.49 billion by the EU for yet another antitrust breach

Today, the European Commission has fined Google €1.49 billion for abusing its market dominance of online search adverts. The company has now been fined over €8.25 billion by the Commission in less than two years for illegal practices.
Alex Alderson, 20 Mar 2019 19:30
Lenovo ThinkPad T490s using the same motherboard as smaller X390 may explain feature loss

Lenovo ThinkPad T490s using the same motherboard as smaller X390 may explain feature loss

As the release of Lenovo's newest business laptops of the well known ThinkPad brand comes closer, we discovered an interesting fact in the support documentation of the ThinkPad T490s and the smaller ThinkPad X390: Both use the same mainboard design.
Benjamin Herzig, 20 Mar 2019 19:29
The new case leak apparently pertains to the Meizu 16s. (Source: SlashLeaks)

Alleged Meizu 16s case leak suggests departure from predecessors' design

A phone that may be the next generation of the Meizu 16 line is yet again the subject of a post on SlashLeaks. This time, it is described as a case for this new phone. It indicates that the OEM will drop the usual central position for the rear cameras for a triple-sensor in one corner.
Deirdre O Donnell, 20 Mar 2019 19:27
Android Pie-based Color OS 6 now official (Source: Oppo Global)

Android Pie-based Color OS 6 coming soon to older Oppo handsets

Although handsets like the Oppo F11/F11 Pro and the RealMe 3 have been shipping with it onboard for a while, Android Pie-based Color OS 6 has finally received a proper official launch as well. This piece of code should be rolling out as an update for older Oppo handsets soon, but the roadmap is not available yet.
Codrut Nistor, 20 Mar 2019 18:55
Look familiar? These are the new Apple AirPods. (Source: Apple)

Apple releases AirPods 2 with new wireless charging case option

Apple's latest press release has unveiled the AirPods 2. These new earbuds integrate handsfree Siri activation, faster switching between different devices and wireless charging. However, their design is largely unchanged compared to their preceding generation.
Deirdre O Donnell, 20 Mar 2019 17:31
Motorola One Vision will be released as the Motorola P40 in China. (Source: Times Now)

Motorola One Vision mid-range specs leaked

Motorola's One Vision smartphone appears to be the same as the previously leaked P40 model, which is intended for the Chinese market only. Surprisingly enough, Motorola chose to add a Samsung Exynos 9610 SoC and only 3/4 GB of RAM, with 32/64/128 GB storage options. The 6.2-display will get FHD+ resolution and a punch-hole selfie, while the rear dual cam setup will include a 48 MP sensor.
Bogdan Solca, 20 Mar 2019 17:08
Google Stadia is set to bring the best gaming experience to devices like smartphones, tablets, laptops and even PCs with no gaming GPUs. (Source: CNet)

Hands-on Google Stadia testers report noticeable lag and mild image artifacts

While Google has the performance side of Stadia covered with a custom hyperthreading CPU plus and AMD GPU capable of delivering 10.7 TF of processing power, testers of the demo version pointed out that input lag is quite noticeable, and the image quality may be affected in dynamic scenes. Hopefully Google is taking notes and the final version releasing this summer will be better optimized.
Bogdan Solca, 20 Mar 2019 16:42
The purported Xperia 4 compared to the Z5 Compact and XZ2 Compact. (Source: SumahoInfo)

The Sony Xperia 4 could be a disappointing successor to the Xperia Compact flagships

Sony is set to launch a new Xperia device, the Xperia 4, in the coming months. The Xperia 4 is said to be a replacement for the Xperia Compact flagship line, but it's looking more and more like a poor one.
Ricci Rox, 20 Mar 2019 14:26
Renders of the Pixel 3a. (Source: OnLeaks)

Details of the Pixel 3a and 3a XL surface - AMOLED, 64 GB, and an iffy camera app

The Pixel 3a and 3a XL are set to be launched in the coming months, and a new report has now given us our clearest view yet of the smaller of the devices, the Pixel 3a. Notable features include Active Edge, an AMOLED display, 64 GB of storage, and a 3000 mAh battery.
Ricci Rox, 20 Mar 2019 14:25
OWC offers memory kits for the new 27-inch iMac. (Source: OWC)

OWC has prepared RAM upgrades for the 27-inch 2019 iMac already

OWC is a company that caters to iMac fans who want to upgrade their new Apple all-in-ones. It has announced its new Memory Kits for the 2019 27-inch iMac (the 5K model). As this new 2019 variant has 4 user-accessible slots, OWC is also currently testing out the possibility of maxing its RAM to 128GB.
Deirdre O Donnell, 20 Mar 2019 14:25
The Blue Yeti is apparently the best USB mic. (Source: Amazon)

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.
Deirdre O Donnell, 20 Mar 2019 13:54
The LumiCharge is back with wireless charging this time. (Source: Lumicharge)

LumiCharge II: The teched-out desk lamp returns with a wireless-charging upgrade

LumiCharge made a good impression among tech correspondents with its first-gen desk lamp. This product had an LED clock, not to mention ways to charge iOS and Android smartphones with built-in wired connections. Now, the company is back on Indiegogo with the LumiCharge II, which adds wireless charging to this set-up.
Deirdre O Donnell, 20 Mar 2019 13:15
Mixed results. (Source: NDTV)

Q4 2018: Xiaomi's smartphone division sees 28% drop in revenue

A new report has detailed Xiaomi's sales numbers for the fourth quarter of 2018. The company managed to beat its profit estimates for the quarter but also suffered from a heavy quarter-on-quarter drop in revenue from smartphone sales.
Ricci Rox, 20 Mar 2019 11:55
Epic Games store-exclusive RollerCoaster Tycoon Adventures for PC now available (Source: Atari)

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.
Codrut Nistor, 20 Mar 2019 11:05
The Alienware Alpha R2 PC/console hybrid could be fitted with a GPU from Nvidia or AMD. (Source: Dell)

Dell's Frank Azor says no to Alienware gaming phones and more consoles

During a visit to India where he has been discussing newly launched Dell and Alienware laptops for the Indian market, Dell executive Frank Azor had time to make a few interesting comments about what direction Alienware won’t be taking in the near future. It seems an Alienware gaming phone certainly isn’t in the picture.
Daniel R Deakin, 20 Mar 2019 10:31
Dell's G7 15 gaming laptop has a 15.6-inch FHD (1920x1080) IPS 144 Hz display. (Source: Dell India)

Dell launches G7 15, Alienware m15, and Alienware Area-51m gaming laptops in India

Dell has announced that the G7 15 gaming laptop, the Alienware m15 notebook, and the powerful Alienware Area-51m computer are now available to customers in India. The devices can currently be ordered from the website for Dell India, and they will be made available in retail outlets such as Reliance Digital and Croma from April 1.
Daniel R Deakin, 20 Mar 2019 09:40
The Blackview A60. (Source: Blackview)

The new Blackview A60 is an Android Go phone with a big 4080 mAh battery

Blackview's latest offering is one for those looking for a cheap phone with decent software and adequate battery performance. The A60 features a 6-inch HD display, dual rear cameras, and a beefy 4080 mAh battery.
Ricci Rox, 20 Mar 2019 08:22
The Samsung Galaxy Fold has a 7.3-inch main display. (Source: YouTube/phoneoftime)

Hands-on video of Galaxy Fold shows it may not be as seamless as Samsung hoped for

A hands-on video of a Samsung Galaxy Fold has been uploaded to YouTube. The clip in question is actually focused on unlocking the smartphone; however, the thing that is immediately apparent is how noticeable the crease down the middle of the device is. The Galaxy Fold will be officially launched on April 26.
Daniel R Deakin, 20 Mar 2019 08:06
The Galaxy A40. (Source: AndroidPlanet)

Samsung launches the Galaxy A40 in Europe - Exynos 7885, 25 MP selfie camera, One UI

Samsung is on a roll. The company released the Galaxy A20 in Russia yesterday and has now launched another device, the Galaxy A40, in the Netherlands. The A40 sports a 5.9-inch Super AMOLED display, dual rear cameras, 4 GB of RAM, and 64 GB of storage.
Ricci Rox, 20 Mar 2019 07:53
Google's Stadia has access to over 7,500 edge nodes around the world. (Source: Google)

Custom AMD GPUs will help power Google Stadia beyond current-generation consoles

Google has officially announced its Stadia cloud gaming service at the 2019 Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. Google Stadia will allow users to play games from any computer, smartphone, smart television or tablet that has an Internet connection. The GPUs that have been selected for the service’s hardware are custom Radeon chips from AMD.
Daniel R Deakin, 20 Mar 2019 07:21
The Alienware Area-51m laptop can utilize desktop processors. (Source: Dell)

Alienware Area-51m with GeForce RTX 2080 and i7-9700K achieves amazing score in 3DMark Fire Strike

An Alienware Area-51m laptop with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 GPU and an Intel Core i7-9700K processor has recorded a very impressive score of 25,039 in 3DMark’s Fire Strike 1.1 test. According to the chart details for the run, this puts this particular system ahead of 98% of all other results. The Graphics score was 30,306.
Daniel R Deakin, 20 Mar 2019 05:59
Alienware Area-51m review coming soon; ask your questions here (Image source: Dell)

Alienware Area-51m review in progress; ask your questions here

Can a laptop equipped with the Core i9-9900K CPU and GeForce RTX 2080 GPU match or exceed the performance of a desktop PC with the same core specifications? If you have any other pressing concerns before investing in the pricey purchase, just let us know below.
Allen Ngo, 20 Mar 2019 04:41

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Notebookcheck, 2021-10-10 (Update: 2026-09- 9)