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Sep 14, 2018
Lobe logo, Microsoft buys Lobe (Source: The Official Microsoft Blog)

Microsoft acquires Lobe to accelerate AI development

Microsoft's latest corporate acquisition is not the first one in the AI field and it surely will not remain the last, either. Lobe is a company based in San Francisco that provides a simple visual interface that allows anyone to develop and apply deep learning and AI models without having to write code.
Codrut Nistor, 14 Sep 2018 22:19
The Tesla T4 may come in a smaller 75 W TDP PCie factor, but it is almost as fast as RTX 2080 gaming GPU. (Source: Nvidia)

Nvidia unveils Tesla T4 inferencing GPU based on Turing

The new Tesla T4 is part of the latest enterprise offering based on the Turing architecture. While it features a TDP of only 75 W, it comes with a modified version of the TU104 chip almost as fast as the RTX 2080 gaming GPU. As such, the T4 can decode up to 38 concurrent 1080p video streams, offering maximum efficiency for smart video services based on deep learning frameworks.
Bogdan Solca, 14 Sep 2018 22:07
The cloud gaming console would only integrate a mid-range CPU, while the heavy graphics processing will be performed by the cloud-based GPUs. (Source: GamingBolt)

AMD and Microsoft working on next gen cloud gaming console

The two companies are envisioning a future where gaming consoles integrate the bear minimum computing power for CPU-based tasks, but rely on cloud-based GPUs to process complex graphics. Games would have an instance running on the local machine and another running in the cloud, and the cloud framework stitches the two concurrent instances into a seamless experience.
Bogdan Solca, 14 Sep 2018 21:23
Shadow of the Tomb Raider is now available. (Source: Softpedia)

Shadow of the Tomb Raider officially released

The latest installment in the Tomb Raider series is now globally available The game is the last in a line of Lara Croft origin-story portrayals. Eidos-Montréal is confident that it will showcase the studio's capabilities.
Deirdre O Donnell, 14 Sep 2018 21:21
The Honor 7S went on sale online for the first time, and sold out in minutes. (Source: Honor)

Honor 7S sells out on Flipkart in under 7 minutes

Honor, Huawei's sub-brand, released its news smartphone, the 7S, into an initial flash sale with the online retailer Flipkart today (September 14, 2018). It took less than 7 minutes for all units of the phone to be ordered on this platform.
Deirdre O Donnell, 14 Sep 2018 20:48
Dell XPS 15 9570 (Source: Dell)

A thinner Dell XPS 15 notebook could arrive in 2019

Frank Azor already revealed that the Dell XPS 15 9570 will not get any updates by the end of the year. However, when asked about a thinner model, he simply said that he can't comment on announced products and his answer makes us believe that such an update is, in fact, going to arrive the next year.
Codrut Nistor, 14 Sep 2018 18:15
The new ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming 9 motherboard. (Source: VideoCardz)

ASRock's upcoming flagship Phantom motherboard leaked

ASRock is set to update their Fatal1ty motherboard line with new ones, including the Z390 Phantom Gaming 9 offering exposed in a recent leak. This new product will sport triple M.2 and PCIe slots. It also has 3 Ethernet ports, one of which is 10-gigabit.
Deirdre O Donnell, 14 Sep 2018 14:37
Intel Core i9-9900K 5 GHz shown running the Cinebench R15 benchmark. (Source: Lau Kin Lam on YouTube)

Intel Core i9-9900K's leaked Cinebench score shows strong multi-core performance at 5 GHz

A Cinebench R15 multi-core score of the 8-core 16-thread Intel Core i9-9900K has leaked on the internet and the CPU has managed to score an impressive 2166 points at 5 GHz overclock on all cores. The video does not show single-core results but it can be expected that Intel's offering will put pressure on AMD once again to up their multi-core performance.
Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 14 Sep 2018 14:35
Luigi's Mansion 3, not to be confused with the Luigi's Mansion 3DS port, was one of many new titles announced. (Source: Nintendo)

Latest Nintendo Direct reveals a plethora of games coming to the Switch

The Nintendo Switch has been one of Nintendo's most successful consoles in history. While Nintendo has historically struggled with third party appeal, the Switch seems to have overcome its predecessors' struggles to date has received some of the most popular third party titles. With this most recent Direct, the Switch continues to garner third party games and ports, as well as first party titles.
Matthew Connatser, 14 Sep 2018 03:18
OnePlus may need to include an adapter such as this in the 6T's retail box. (Source: AliExpress)

It's official: OnePlus 6T will ditch the headphone jack

Carl Pei, the OnePlus CEO, confirmed the fact that his company's upcoming late-year flagship refresh will not feature a headphone jack in an interview with TechRadar. Pei claimed that user feedback had contributed to this decision. Accordingly, OnePlus' next branded headphones will have a USB type C connector.
Deirdre O Donnell, 14 Sep 2018 00:02
Sep 13, 2018
Google Inbox and Gmail logos, Inbox app going down in March 2019 (Source: Google - The Keyword)

Google plans to shut down the Inbox app by March 2019

Although it has grown to become an excellent Gmail alternative, Google's Inbox app remains an experimental piece of code. This means that Google is using the data provided by its usage to improve Gmail and, unfortunately, it seems that the internet giant has decided to discontinue Inbox at the end of March 2019.
Codrut Nistor, 13 Sep 2018 21:46
Zotac opens new offices in Japan, promises wider availability in Asian markets (Source: Zotac)

Zotac opens new offices in Japan, promises wider availability in Asian markets

Based in Hong Kong, Zotac also has offices in Korea, Germany, and the United States for its international products. Japan will now be added to the list in an attempt to expand to even more territories.
Allen Ngo, 13 Sep 2018 21:24
The Turing GPUs definitely pack more power, but is this power going to be fully utilized in current and near-future games? (Source: Nvidia)

New Nvidia Turing RTX 2000-series key features detailed ahead of review embargo lift

Besides the Deep Learning Super Sampling and ray tracing tech that might not be implemented in games right away, the RTX 2000-series GPUs also integrate a series of features that could theoretically bring 50% performance gains over the Pascal chips. Videocardz made a brief summary of all these features, which should be explained in detail after the review embargo lift from tomorrow.
Bogdan Solca, 13 Sep 2018 20:29
Samsung Health 6.0 mobile app (Source: Samsung Global Newsroom)

Samsung Health 6.0 comes with a new UI and updated tools

Providing health- and wellness-related services to a crowd of over 65 million active users worldwide, Samsung Health has just been updated to version 6.0. This major release comes with a redesigned interface, updated tools, as well as a whole new range of personalization options.
Codrut Nistor, 13 Sep 2018 20:28
The new Apple Watch being presented at the Gather Round event. (Source: TrustedReviews)

Apple Watch losing ground in the wearables market

The latest version of the Apple Watch (the Series 4) has just been released, promising upgrades in terms of hardware and features. Ironically, an equally new report from the analyst group ABI Research indicates that this device line is losing market share. However, the future of smartwatches in general is painted as increasingly rosy.
Deirdre O Donnell, 13 Sep 2018 19:53
This prompt pops up when you try to install Chrome or Firefox in the latest Windows 10 Insider Preview Build. (Source: Neowin)

Latest Windows 10 Insider Preview Build tries to dissuade users from installing Chrome or Firefox

Microsoft is doing an A/B testing of a new functionality in the latest Windows 10 Insider Preview that reminds users of Microsoft Edge whenever they try to install another browser such as Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. Microsoft, however, said that this is limited only to the Insider Preview Builds for feedback and will not appear in the final shipping release.
Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 13 Sep 2018 16:04
Forza Horizon 4 (Source: Xbox Wire)

Forza Horizon 4 is ready to hit the market

Forza Horizon 4 has just gone gold and will be launching globally on October 2. This racing title will come with no less than 450 cars, but those eager to take it for a spin can play the official demo which is already available for both Windows 10 PCs and Xbox One consoles.
Codrut Nistor, 13 Sep 2018 16:00
The iPhone Xr is the 'cost saving' version of the iPhone X/Xs

The slightly more affordable Apple iPhone Xr is the iPhone 5c/SE of this generation

The iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max — with their engineering triumphs and associated price tags — might have been the headlining announcement out of Apple today, but the cheaper iPhone Xr has the potential to be where most consumers direct their money. Reminiscent of the iPhone 5c and iPhone S, the iPhone Xr brings many of its flashier siblings features for US$250 less.
Craig Ward, 13 Sep 2018 07:42
The Apple Watch Series 4 looks similar to its predecessor, but is an all-new design with larger display. (Source: Apple)

New Apple Watch Series 4 is a full redesign and features an FDA-approved ECG monitor

Apple has launched the all-new version of the world's best-selling smartwatch. The new Apple Watch Series 4 gets a complete redesign with a larger display, thinner body and the ability to undertake a ECG assessment via the new Digital Crown among the headlining features.
Sanjiv Sathiah, 13 Sep 2018 06:27
Apple has announced the iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max. (Source: Apple)

Apple follows the size trend, announces the 5.8-inch iPhone Xs and behemoth 6.5-inch iPhone Xs Max

The Apple iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max were launched today as the ‘s’ year upgrades to 2017’s iPhone X. As is common for ‘s’ releases, iterative improvements have been made across the board, with a particular focus on the screen, dual camera system, and new A12 Bionic SoC.
Craig Ward, 13 Sep 2018 03:33
Your next smartphone will likely be from the same manufacturer again according to study (Source: Morning Consult)

Your next smartphone will likely be from the same manufacturer again according to study

An analytics group recently polled 2200 adults early last month to study brand loyalty and how factors like income, age, or region may impact user decisions. Apparently, more than two-thirds of adults say they would stick to the same smartphone manufacturer for their next upgrade.
Allen Ngo, 13 Sep 2018 00:13
Sep 12, 2018
The X processors have a higher TDP as they support overclocking, while the E processors have a lower TDP and have the Precision Boost Overdrive disabled. (Source: AMD)

AMD intros Ryzen 2700E, 2600E, 2500X and 2300X CPUs

The Ryzen 5 2500X and Ryzen 3 2300X were spoiled a few months ago and were known to have the frequency multiplier unlocked for overclocking. On the other hand, the Ryzen 7 2700E and Ryzen 5 2600E are totally new additions designed for silent desktops and mini PCs, thus having lower TDPs and no overclocking support.
Bogdan Solca, 12 Sep 2018 20:43
Verizon 5G Home coming October 1 (Source: Verizon)

Verizon 5G Home service coming next month

Although coverage will need time to improve, Verizon will launch its 5G Home internet service on October 1 in Houston, Los Angeles, Sacramento, and Indianapolis. Current customers will get it for US$50 a month and non-customers will have to pay US$70. The service comes with a few freebies, including a Chromecast Ultra or Apple TV 4K.
Codrut Nistor, 12 Sep 2018 20:22
A concept of the upcoming Note 10 featuring a bezel-less curved display. (Source: Wang Haiyin@Behance)

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 gets fancy codename, foreshadows innovative designs

As Samsung pushed hard to introduce the first foldable phone this year, the S10 and Note 10 flagships did not receive significant upgrades, leaving the real innovations for 2019. The Note 10 will be among the first 5G smartphones from Samsung and it could come with a new bezel-less display that integrates an ultrasonic fingerprint reader.
Bogdan Solca, 12 Sep 2018 19:52
Montblanc Summit 2 smartwatch with Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100 SoC

Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100-powered Montblanc Summit 2 smartwatch now official

The new Montblanc Summit smartwatch is scheduled to arrive in October, and what we already know is that it uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100 SoC. Unfortunately, most other details — including its price — have yet to be revealed, but it will probably cost more than US$1,500 (the launch price of the model currently on the market).
Codrut Nistor, 12 Sep 2018 17:35
The OnePlus 6T's purported appearance. (Source: GizTop)

OnePlus 6T's full specs have been leaked - or have they?

An online retailer has posted a pre-order page claiming to list all the details on the upcoming OnePlus 6T, release date included. it describes a device with a teardrop notch, the Snapdragon 845 and triple cameras. However, some details on this 'leak' do not add up.
Deirdre O Donnell, 12 Sep 2018 14:31
Dell's Alienware 13 R3 gaming laptop will not get any more updates as of mid-September 2018 (Source: Dell)

There are no more updates for the Alienware 13 in the pipeline

Back in early July, Frank Azor revealed that the Alienware 13 gaming laptop will not get a Coffee Lake refresh. Those still living with the hope that some other update might arrive should move on, because Alienware's co-founder has just pointed out that there are no more updates coming to this machine.
Codrut Nistor, 12 Sep 2018 10:50
Sep 11, 2018
Gadget Labs Falcon is an 8-inch convertible laptop with a modern Pentium Silver CPU (Source: Gadget Falcon)

Gadget Labs Falcon is an 8-inch convertible laptop with a modern Pentium Silver CPU

The OEM is looking to secure funding via Kickstarter to launch one of the smallest Windows laptops around. The Falcon promises USB Type-C, a 1080p IPS touchscreen, and a water-resistant keyboard for what we hope will be an affordable price.
Allen Ngo, 11 Sep 2018 21:36
7-Eleven now supports Google Pay and Apple Pay (Source: PR Newswire)

7-Eleven stores in the US finally accept Google Pay and Apple Pay

The 7-Eleven convenience store chain has just begun accepting both Google Pay and Apple Pay as digital payment options. Most of its stores will be able to handle transactions via these two services by the end of September. Until now, this store chain has been providing support for Samsung Pay.
Codrut Nistor, 11 Sep 2018 20:07
Samsung SmartThings Tracker and SmartThings app (Source: Samsung US Newsroom)

Samsung unveils the SmartThings Tracker GPS tracking device

The new Samsung SmartThings Tracker GPS tracking device connects through an LTE-M network to allows its users to track the objects, animals, or even kids that it gets attached to. The first carrier to bring it to the US is AT&T, who will add it to its portfolio on September 14. Verizon will join AT&T at a later time.
Codrut Nistor, 11 Sep 2018 18:45
New predictions concerning the next iPad Pro indicate that it will dump the Lightning port. (Source: techgenyz.com)

Ming-Chi Kuo: Next iPad Pro will trade Lightning for USB-C

The respected technology analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo, is on record with yet another prediction for upcoming Apple devices. This time it's the iPad Pro, which, Kuo projects, will lose the Lightning port this year. Instead, it will use USB-C - and also, possibly, an 18-watt adapter.
Deirdre O Donnell, 11 Sep 2018 18:29
Two prominent VPN providers have needed to push updates for vulnerabilities in their systems. (Source: danielmiessler.com)

NordVPN and ProtonVPN obliged to push updates to patch new CVEs

Two popular VPNs have been reported as subject to newly-discovered security issues discovered by Cisco Talos. These flaws apply to those using the services on Windows PCs, and could allow a hacker access through a 'Connect' command. Both companies say they have issued updates to prevent this.
Deirdre O Donnell, 11 Sep 2018 18:24
NVIDIA recently went to an AT&T conference to introduce the idea of GeForce NOW over 5G. (Source: nvidia.com)

Could 5G and NVIDIA make gaming hardware obsolete?

NVIDIA brought its GeForce NOW to the AT&T Spark Conference to showcase the service's potential when combined with 5G. The company is confident that its new cloud-based graphics solution can negate the need for expensive hardware in areas such as 60fps gaming. It is now moving to build partnerships to bring this to a wider audience.
Deirdre O Donnell, 11 Sep 2018 18:22
Samsung Galaxy Xcover 4 rugged Android smartphone gets 8.1 Oreo software mid-September 2018 (Source: Samsung)

Samsung Galaxy Xcover 4 gets Android 8.1 Oreo

Samsung Galaxy Xcover 4, a 5-inch rugged handset that arrived more than a year ago with Android 7.0 Nougat onboard, is finally ready for Oreo. The best part of the update that has started to roll out in a few Asian countries is that it brings Android 8.1 with the August 2018 security patch and Experience UX 9.5 on top — same as the Galaxy Note 9.
Codrut Nistor, 11 Sep 2018 16:15
The new Spiderman game is evidence of just how much the Marvel brand has grown in recent years. (Source: CNET)

Spiderman becomes the fastest-selling PS4 title of the year in the UK as New Game+ looms

Spiderman was released a few days ago and has done extremely well in the UK market, with it selling double the number of God of War units over the same period in their sales cycles on its way to becoming the fastest-selling game of the year.
Ricci Rox, 11 Sep 2018 15:32
The OnePlus 6T will sport a waterdrop notch. (Source: XDA-Developers)

OnePlus 6T officially confirmed to feature an in-display fingerprint reader

OnePlus has officially confirmed that its next device, the OnePlus 6T, will feature an in-display fingerprint sensor. We expect the technology to be Synaptics' ClearID that has been seen on numerous OPPO and Vivo devices this year.
Ricci Rox, 11 Sep 2018 15:30
The HTC U12+. (Source: HTC)

HTC could be working on a flagship with 5G support

HTC is said to be working on a successor to its U12+ flagship. The device will reportedly be powered by a Snapdragon 855 and will boast of 5G capabilities.
Ricci Rox, 11 Sep 2018 15:22
The Mi 8 Youth Edition. (Source: Mysmartprice)

Xiaomi set to unveil two new devices in the Mi 8 series

Xiaomi could be set to unveil two new devices in the premium Mi 8 lineup, the Mi 8 Youth Edition and Mi 8 Screen Fingerprint representing taking up opposite ends of the price-feature spectrum
Ricci Rox, 11 Sep 2018 15:21
The new Pixelbook looks to have ultrathin bezels for a notebook. (Source: Chrome Unboxed)

Next-gen Pixelbook 2 Google Chromebook leaks out in pictures

Google's next-generation Pixelbook 2 has leaked out ahead of launch by the company itself as part of a Facebook advertisement. Also present in the ad is what looks to be the notch-less smaller Google Pixel 3 leaving little to be revealed during Google's official October 9 launch event.
Sanjiv Sathiah, 11 Sep 2018 11:39
NetSpeed Systems team is now a part of Intel's Silicon Engineering Group (Source: Intel Newsroom)

Intel acquires NetSpeed Systems to speed up SoC development

San Jose-based NetSpeed Systems, a company which provides SoC design tools and interconnect fabric IP, has just joined Intel. NetSpeed's team is now part of Intel’s Silicon Engineering Group, but those who would like to know all the details will be disappointed to find out that the terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
Codrut Nistor, 11 Sep 2018 10:45
Fortnite Season 5 ends on September 25, Fall Skirmish competition announced to start soon and last for 6 weeks

Fortnite Fall Skirmish kicks off soon, US$10 million up for grabs

As the end of the fifth Fortnite season is drawing near, the start of the Fall Skirmish event is also heading our way. This competition will last for 6 weeks and the best players will have the chance to win a total of no less than US$10,000,000 (yes, that is 10 million). More details will be available later this week.
Codrut Nistor, 11 Sep 2018 09:52
Samsung Galaxy Book convertible successor checks in at FCC

Next-gen Samsung Galaxy Book surfaces on FCC

A few months after being spotted on the website of the Russian certification authority EEC, the next-gen Samsung Galaxy Book finally arrives at the well-known FCC. Earlier this month, the device also received the approval of the South Korean National Radio Research Agency and the Wi-Fi Alliance.
Codrut Nistor, 11 Sep 2018 09:10
Nvidia is still supporting its three-year old Android TV with even more features (Source: NVIDIA)

NVIDIA Shield TV update brings 120 Hz, voice chat, and more

It's common for Android TV consoles to receive just a few OTA updates before being forgotten. The Shield TV, however, is now up to its 20th update with no signs of slowing down. Nvidia has added 120 Hz output, voice chat, and more UI tweaks to its aging Android TV product to make it an even better streaming box.
Allen Ngo, 11 Sep 2018 06:16
Sep 10, 2018
The Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100 has been released. (Source: XDA)

Qualcomm officially launches Snapdragon Wear 3100

The Snapdragon Wear 3100 is likely to feature in many next-generation wearables. Qualcomm held a launch event for it yesterday (September 10, 2018). The company claimed it will bring improvements in battery life and usability. The Wear 3100 is also to be used by new, high-end players in the wearables game.
Deirdre O Donnell, 10 Sep 2018 23:50
Intel's first 8-core mainstream CPUs get a decent performance boost. (Source: ExtremeTech)

Intel Core gen 9 CPU series performance surfaces on Geekbench

The Geekbench scores place Intel's gen 9 CPUs ahead of the AMD competition, but the success of these chips will also depend on the launch prices. AMD's Ryzen 2 CPUs are selling like hot cakes due to a very good price/performance ratio, and Intel needs to adjust the gen 9 prices accordingly if it wants to rebalance the market share.
Bogdan Solca, 10 Sep 2018 21:52
The X399 chipset now supports both the first and the second gen Threadripper CPUs, but it looks like the third gen may require a new chipset. (Source: PC Games)

AMD could announce X499 HEDT platform for upcoming Threadripper CPUs at CES 2019

AMD looks prepared to update each of its mainstream and HEDT CPU lineups annually, and the third gen processors coming next year will most likely need a new chipset, since the red team is making the jump to 10 nm and even 7 nm. The upcoming Threadrippers are rumored to be accompanied by a new X499 chipset, which should bring support for PCIe 4.0 and DDR5.
Bogdan Solca, 10 Sep 2018 21:09
Due to several inconsistencies in this screenshot, one may conclude that this is a faked benchmark result. (Source: El Chapuzas Informatico)

Spanish website leaks alleged R7 2800X, but it is almost certainly a fake

El Chapuzas Informatico has leaked what they claim is the Cinebench score of a Ryzen 7 2800X. However, several inconsistencies within the screenshot of the score and the idea of a 10 core Ryzen CPU reveal that this leak is almost certainly a fake.
Matthew Connatser, 10 Sep 2018 20:58
Upcoming Apple iPhone Xs/Xs Max/9 listed in Romania (Source: QuickMobile.ro via Go4It)

Apple iPhone Xc, iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max details surface online

With screen sizes between 5.8 and 6.5 inches, the upcoming Apple iPhone handsets will bring the A12 processor into the spotlight, but they are also expected to be the first phones released by the Cupertino giant to ship with a fast charger and a Lightning-to-USB Type-C cable in the retail box.
Codrut Nistor, 10 Sep 2018 20:35
The weekly roundup - top news from September 2 through September 8

The weekly roundup - top news from September 2 through September 8

Samsung is promising a foldable smartphone soon, GeForce RTX 2080 for laptops could debut as a Max-Q variant, and the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are seemingly inevitable at this point. News has slowed back down to normal following an intense week of IFA announcements.
Allen Ngo, 10 Sep 2018 06:28
Sep 9, 2018
The test device, equipped with the Qualcomm X50 modem, used to make the 5G data call. (Source: Qualcomm)

Qualcomm and Ericsson announce first successful data call using new 5G standard

Qualcomm and partners such as Ericsson have been developing 5G for commercial use in (hopefully) 2019. The two companies have conducted data call tests for the latest release (15) of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) using the new Qualcomm X50 modem.
Deirdre O Donnell, 09 Sep 2018 23:53

All news articles from Sept. 2010 on are located in our News Archive.

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