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If you're a bit short of cash, consider the regular-sized XS for US$74,995. (Source: Brikk)

Own a solid gold Apple iPhone XS Max for just under US$100,000

A luxury customization company called Brikk has created a solid gold Apple iPhone XS Max that costs US$94,995. The device features 313 g (11.08 oz) of 22K gold and is appropriately part of the firm's Ingot Collection. Brikk has also developed a gold DualShock 4 controller, featuring diamond-studded buttons, available for US$13,995. A rather opulent set of AirPods with a whole carat of diamonds on each bud can be snapped up for US$9,995.

Daniel R Deakin, 16 Oct 2018 21:36

The iPad Pro line may be refreshed with a super-thin 2018 model without many ports. (Source: Apple)

Next iPad yet again rumored to sacrifice 3.5mm jack for slimness

The next Apple tablet, which is likely to be the 2018 iPad Pro, may be even thinner than its predecessor. So thin, in fact, that it will not be able to accommodate the headphone jack any more. This leak comes from a relatively unknown, yet heretofore accurate, tipster.

Deirdre O Donnell, 15 Oct 2018 18:58

An EUV machine used in semiconductor manufacturing. (Source: Medium)

2019 iPhone processors to be exclusively provided by TSMC

Apple reportedly only has one partner to make chips for the next iPhones after the XS/R series: TSMC. These A13 processors are likely to be 7nm in die size. If so, TSMC could make history in being the first company to manufacture this architecture using the EUV technique.

Deirdre O Donnell, 12 Oct 2018 22:39

Lenovo dominates the PC market

Both IDC and Gartner revealed that Lenovo dominated the global PC market in the third quarter of the year, shipping around 16 million desktops, notebooks, and workstations out of a total of 67.4 million (according to IDC), and 67.2 million (Gartner) units sold worldwide during the given period.

Codrut Nistor, 11 Oct 2018 20:48

Fortnite - Disco Domination mode and quad rocket launcher now available as of mid-October 2018 (Source: Wccftech)

Fortnite gets Disco Domination mode, quad rocket launcher, and more

The patch 0.62 brings a new 50v50 battle mode to Fortnite, namely Disco Domination, as well as a quad rocket launcher. In the new mode, players fight to capture dance floors and raise disco balls. The new patch also brings back the Port-a-Fortress, loot drop rate adjustments, and various fixes.

Codrut Nistor, 11 Oct 2018 18:30

Farmer in my Pocket: Stardew Valley is coming to iOS October 24, Android port will follow soon

The uber-popular indie farming simulator Stardew Valley is getting an iOS port this month. The title is up for pre-order on the Apple App Store now and will be available for download October 24 for US$7.99. An Android port will be coming soon. If you haven't tried one of the many ports of the excellent farming/relationship-building/role-playing game, you can check it out on your iPhone later this month.

Sam Medley, 11 Oct 2018 16:13

Apple-branded device owners would choose Huawei over Samsung devices. (Source: Tech.Co)

Smartphone research data shows Apple winning over Android users

Research data, created by BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research and shared by Horace Dediu on Twitter, has shown that Apple and its products seem to be succeeding in tempting Android users away from their currently owned devices. For example, according to the statistics in the chart, 19% of Samsung-smartphone owners are considering an Apple device as their next purchase.

Daniel R Deakin, 11 Oct 2018 00:51

Concept art of what may be the 2018 iPad Pro. (Image source: iDownloadBlog)

The rumored 2018 iPad Pro will have an edge-to-edge display, Face ID, and more

With rumors swirling around a possible iPad Pro announcement later this month, 9to5Mac has reported new features supposedly coming to Apple's upcoming tablet refresh. Citing sources familiar with the development of the iPad Pro, the new devices will bring an almost bezelless display, Face ID, and a few new tricks to Apple's "prosumer" tablet line.

Sam Medley, 10 Oct 2018 17:02

Pokemon GO to get fourth-generation Pokemon (Source: Niantic/The Pokémon Company)

Pokemon GO to get fourth-generation Pokemon and many minor tweaks in the near future

Although the rumors about it surfaced back in April, it took a while for Niantic to finally confirm the arrival of the fourth-generation Pokemon from the Sinnoh region. However, the details are still not out yet, but Pokemon GO players should get ready to capture Turtwig, Piplup, Chimchar — or at least one or two of them.

Codrut Nistor, 10 Oct 2018 12:30

Western Digital creates world's first 96-layer 3D NAND UFS 2.1 for next generation of smartphones

Western Digital now sampling world's first 96-layer 3D NAND UFS 2.1 for next generation of smartphones

The embedded flash drive is no different in volume than existing 64-layer solutions for compatibility with a wide range of other consumer devices. Storage capacities begin at 32 GB and top out at 256 GB for high-end smartphone SKUs.

Allen Ngo, 09 Oct 2018 19:41

Apple iPhone XS charging bug solved by iOS 12.0.1

Apple fixes iPhone XS charging problems (and more) in iOS 12.0.1

Apple has just released iOS 12.0.1, just in time to stop what appeared to be an upcoming "charge gate" scandal caused by an issue that made iPhone XS handsets fail to charge when using a Lightning cable. This brand-new iOS update also irons out a WiFi-related problem, a Bluetooth bug, and more.

Codrut Nistor, 09 Oct 2018 19:34

Jailbreaking in iOS 12 is looking more and more likely. (Source: redmondpie.com)

Developer claims to have jailbroken iPhone XS Max

A well-known iOS developer, Luca Tudesco, is reported as stating that jailbreaking in the iPhone XS Max's A12 chip is possible. It may be a follow-up in which the related group Pangu claimed that they had done the same in iOS 12. However, there is no evidence that this option is more generally available yet.

Deirdre O Donnell, 08 Oct 2018 19:52

New Samsung Galaxy Note 9 or old iPhone X? Hm... (Source: CNET)

Samsung US is temporarily doubling its trade-in payoffs - even for iPhones

How about a new Galaxy S9, S9 Plus or Note 9 for your iPhone X? No? What if you get $600 as well? This is the premise of Samsung USA's new promotion. The company will increase its usual trade-in price, even for Apple products, for a limited time.

Deirdre O Donnell, 08 Oct 2018 19:22

Smartphone manufacturers need to stop marketing inaccurate product renders

Narrow bezels are all the rage these days—so much so that some OEMs have been overtly exaggerating their claims through marketing material. We want users to be aware of deceiving product shots that are seemingly becoming more commonplace amongst smartphone OEMs.

Allen Ngo, 08 Oct 2018 09:00

The T2 chip found in new MacBooks. (Source: macsales.com)

Can you fix your own 2018 MacBook? An internal Apple report says no, but iFixit says yes

An internal service document recently leaked from within Apple states that no-one but company staff and Authorized Apple Service Providers (AASPs) can repair or replace most MacBook 2018 and iMac Pro components without the devices becoming inoperable. However, iFixit has claimed to have done so with a MacBook Pro - and nothing happened.

Deirdre O Donnell, 06 Oct 2018 17:49

The latest iPhone series has already beaten its forebears in early market share. (Source: Engadget)

iPhone XS series has outdone its predecessors in first-week sales

The iPhone XS and XS Max models have collectively outdone their predecessors when it comes to capturing a share of Apple customers in their launch year. They have also exceeded the iPhones 8 and 8 Plus when it comes to gaining this share in the week after their launch. However, the iPhone 7 Plus remains the most popular Apple smartphone.

Deirdre O Donnell, 04 Oct 2018 23:13

The iPhone 6S is being rivalled by Apple's newest wearable in some respects. (Source: takealot.com)

Apple Watch 4 found to be just as fast as iPhone 6S, but only for certain metrics

A developer has created an app that can test the 60fps rendering capabilities of the S4 SIP, the processing platform found in the 4th-gen Apple Watch. He has reported that the watch equals the iPhone 6S in this test. The watch also used less than 70% of its processing power while running this app.

Deirdre O Donnell, 04 Oct 2018 19:11

Huawei might have been a bit too overconfident with their claims regarding the supermacy of the Kirin 980. (Source: Pocketnow)

Huawei's Kirin 980 does not beat Apple's A12 Bionic in leaked Geekbench results

The latest Geekbench results come to contradict Huawei's claims from last week. The Kirin 980 is certainly not faster than the A12 Bionic, but it does perform better than Qualcomm's Snapdragon 845. This might just be an early Mate 20 test sample and performance might be better on the final version, we'll just have to wait two more weeks to find out for sure.

Bogdan Solca, 02 Oct 2018 21:48

Vivaldi 2.0 last setup screen (Source: Own)

Vivaldi 2.0 now available for download with Sync, Resizable Tab Tiling, Floating Web Panels, and more

Introduced last week, Vivaldi 2.0 is a major update that delivers essential features like Sync, Resizable Tab Tiling, and Floating Web Panels to this niche browser, as well as a fresh look with window background images and Start Page backgrounds. Vivaldi is now available for macOS, Windows, and Linux.

Codrut Nistor, 02 Oct 2018 10:50

Notebookcheck's Guide To How Much RAM/Storage Your Devices Need

In desktops and laptops alike, RAM is usually the easiest component to upgrade. However, tablets and smartphones all come with the memory chips soldered to the motherboards. In both cases you have to weigh all the options before making your purchase decision. How much memory do you need in a laptop? Is memory capacity more important than storage capacity? We will answer your questions in our in-depth article.

Sergey Tarasov, 01 Oct 2018 08:00

The weekly roundup - new Microsoft Surface devices, iPhone XS Max manufacturing costs, and 32 GB DDR4 RAM

This past week saw a plethora of smartphone rumors overshadowed by the launch of the iPhone XS and XS Max. Laptops with 32 GB DDR4 RAM modules are now a thing and Microsoft will almost surely announce new Windows features and Surface products in the days to follow.

Allen Ngo, 30 Sep 2018 23:57

Do the latest iPhones have a fundamental issue with their use? (Source: iPhoneTricks.org)

'Charge-gate'? Emerging reports of charging-port issues in some iPhone XS and XS Max units

Reports coming from several different sources claim that some brand-new iPhones are not charging unless their screens are on. This issue apparently affects both the iPhone XS and XS Max. However, the reports also suggest that this problem is software based, yet not constant across all devices.

Deirdre O Donnell, 30 Sep 2018 19:48

Google is shelling out billions to remain the default search engine for Apple's Safari browser

Google will reportedly pay US $9 billion over 2018 to remain the default search engine for the Safari browser. This price may go up to as much as $12 billion next year. However, due to the growing popularity of Apple's devices, the privilege may be worth the cost to Google.

Sam Medley, 30 Sep 2018 07:53

The iPhone XR will hit Apple stores and retailers on October 26, but do not expect it to be too affordable. (Source: Apple)

iPhone XR gets FCC approval, will ship in late October

The FCC has finally approved Apple's iPhone XR, and the smartphone is expected to hit the stores on October 26. Apart from the fast A12 Bionic SoC, the "more affordable" iPhone does not really feature anything that justifies the US$750 price tag. It only has 3 GB of RAM, a 12 MP rear cam and a 7 MP selfie, which in most cases is subpar even for mid-range phones.

Bogdan Solca, 28 Sep 2018 20:11

Opera 56 with video pop out (Source: Own)

Opera 56 now available with multiple improvements

The latest version of the Opera browser is now available as "the best browser for multitaskers" and its list of changes includes volume control for the video pop-out player, a page zoom indicator in the address and search bar, an easier way to report bugs, and more. Opera 56 is compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Codrut Nistor, 26 Sep 2018 20:27

Microsoft Office 2019 PowerPoint (Source: Microsoft 365 Blog)

Cloud-independent Microsoft Office 2019 now available for Windows and macOS

Although there is still cloud support available across the apps of the new Microsoft Office 2019 suite, independence from the cloud — coming in the shape of an "on premises" version — is an excellent offering for the customers who do not need/do not trust/are not ready for the cloud. Obviously, there are some new features in the package as well.

Codrut Nistor, 26 Sep 2018 14:15

Appple macOS 10.14 Mojave now available as of September 2018 (Source: Apple Newsroom)

Apple launches macOS "Mojave" with dark mode, new apps, redesigned app store, and more

The 15th major release of Apple's desktop operating system and the successor of macOS High Sierra 10.13, macOS Mojave 10.14 is now available. In addition to the new dark mode, this release brings a few iOS apps to the desktop, including Apple News, Home, Voice Memos, and is also the last macOS version to support 32-bit apps.

Codrut Nistor, 26 Sep 2018 10:55

The iPhone XS Max (left) is estimated to cost Apple US$443 each in components. (Source: Apple)

iPhone XS Max component costs revealed

If there’s one thing that matches the size of the new iPhone XS Max models from Apple, it is their price. If you want to know how much money of yours the Cupertino giant is sticking straight into its bank account, read on. If you don't, it might be best to look away.

Sanjiv Sathiah, 26 Sep 2018 06:32

Antennagate 2.0? The iPhone XS and XS Max users are complaining of poor cellular and WiFi connections

The new iPhone XS and XS Max may have inherited the iPhone 4's poor cellular connection strength. Several users are complaining of poor or dropped cellular and WiFi connections. While these claims are still just conjecture, they are rapidly growing in number.

Sam Medley, 26 Sep 2018 05:59

A new survey suggests that consumers prefer their services as on-the-go as possible. (Source: SlashGear)

Over half of consumers surveyed would prefer a service accessible from their phones: new data

A new survey has indicated that the majority of consumers today may be more likely to support a business that demonstrates good mobile service implementation. This means that their apps, websites or online presences are easily accessible from a smartphone. The data suggests that this holds true for many industries, but applies to food delivery services in particular.

Deirdre O Donnell, 25 Sep 2018 20:17

Cables, cables everywhere - but for how long? (Source: Electricals4Dummies)

Cable-based connectivity set to be worth US$34 billion in 5 years

The wired interface market - which encompasses all types of USB cable, as well as others (e.g. Thunderbolt or HDMI) - is estimated to have a compound annual growth rate of 6.2% well into the next decade. However, it appears that their wireless counterparts have the potential to outstrip them in the same general time-frame.

Deirdre O Donnell, 25 Sep 2018 18:57

Shazam now owned by Apple, mobile app to go ad-free for everyone soon as of late September 2018

Apple acquires Shazam, mobile app to go ad-free for everyone

Shazam is now finally a part of Apple, but the best part of this corporate acquisition is that the mobile app will soon become ad-free for all users. Shazam has been downloaded over 1 billion times so far, and nowadays it is being used to identify songs more than 20 million times a day.

Codrut Nistor, 24 Sep 2018 20:05

The iPhone XS (right) has a single battery. Notice the slightly smaller width along the top right edge. (Image source: FixjeiPhone)

The iPhone XS has a smaller battery capacity than the iPhone X

According to TENAA, the iPhone XS has a 2658 mAh battery, a small downgrade from the iPhone X's 2716 mAh battery. Considering that the iPhone X was criticized for its mediocre battery life last year, this could be a sticking point for the XS.

Sam Medley, 22 Sep 2018 03:52

A new reports estimates the worth of the smart home market in 2025. (Source: medium.com)

Smart home market to exceed US$90 billion by 2025: new report

Smart home technology has definitely caught on by now, with many people automating or controlling their living spaces with new products designed to be integrated into them. A new market research report suggests that the market built up around this trend is worth billions now and will be worth even more in the future.

Deirdre O Donnell, 21 Sep 2018 19:14

Code buried in iOS 12.1 heavily implies that new iPads are coming this year

Code discovered in the Setup app for iOS 12.1 references a device called "iPad2018Fall," This, combined with other rumors of upcoming features that make sense for an iPad, all but confirm that new Apple tablets are coming in the next couple of months. This would coincide with Apple's typical release schedule.

Sam Medley, 21 Sep 2018 05:07

This image makes the purported Huawei Freebuds 2 Pro look quite like Apple Airpods. (Source: WinFuture)

Huawei may wow the wireless audio market with earbuds that charge off a phone

Huawei are now rumored to have updated their Freebuds wireless earphones. The new models, which look oddly familiar, are purported to be capable of charging via Qi charging or a USB cable. They may also be capable of charging from a smartphone such as the upcoming Mate 20.

Deirdre O Donnell, 20 Sep 2018 19:04

Shopping For A New Laptop? Here Are The Seven Worst Mistakes You Can Make

Whether you are looking to purchase your very first laptop or just upgrading from a five-year-old model, the following list of points should help you navigate the mine-field that is the modern technology world. We point out some of the tricks manufacturers employ to get you to buy their products and share quite a few tips in a simple, easy to understand manner.

Sergey Tarasov, 20 Sep 2018 14:15

Apple's Homepod had a mere 6% share of the smart speaker market in June, according to CIRP

Apple's Homepod has so far been a flop, only managing to capture 6% of the smart speaker market as of June 2018. The picture is even more bleak among Apple's own consumers; of Apple users that own a smart speaker, only 2% have purchased a Homepod.

Sam Medley, 19 Sep 2018 06:37

Sony has released a limited edition of aibo in the United States. (Source: hothardware)

Limited "First Litter" edition of Sony's robotic dog, aibo, released in US

aibo, Sony's robot in the shape of a puppy, is available from today (September 18, 2018) for purchase in the US. This event is being dubbed the "First Litter" release of the mechanical pets. Sony claims that aibo can learn to recognize up to 100 faces and develops a unique personality based on how it is treated.

Deirdre O Donnell, 18 Sep 2018 23:12

iOS 12 is here, bringing performance improvements, AR features, Siri Shortcuts, and more

Apple release iOS 12 today as a free update. The new version of Apple's mobile OS includes better AR support, automation via Siri, and performance optimizations. The update largely feels like Apple playing catch up with Android, which has offered some of the new features for years.

Sam Medley, 17 Sep 2018 23:27

Apple iPhone X flagship, iPhones plagued by a CSS bug (Source: Apple)

Defective CSS code crashes, causes iPhones to restart

Using the rather new backdrop-filter CSS property can lead to a crash of the entire iOS on an iPhone. An exploit that does this and the code behind it have recently been unveiled by a software engineer and security researcher at Wire. The even worse part is that this issue might affect macOS-driven systems as well.

Codrut Nistor, 17 Sep 2018 19:45

SIM cards through the years. (Source: GSMArena)

eSIM phone shipments could number at least 400 million by 2022

Traditional nano-, micro- or mini-SIMs have dominated mobile connection delivery for smartphones during the devices' rise in the 21st century. Now, however, ABI Research think eSIMs are going to start getting much more popular, mainly as a result of Apple's inclusion of them in their newest iPhones.

Deirdre O Donnell, 17 Sep 2018 19:31

WhatsApp are now rumored to be bringing Dark Mode to its popular interface. (Source: WhatsApp)

WhatsApp may implement a dark mode soon

WhatsApp is working on a dark mode for its app, according to a Twitter-based leaker. The relevant posts project that this option will be OLED-screen friendly. Dark mode may also help save battery life while messaging on the app.

Deirdre O Donnell, 16 Sep 2018 00:00

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

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

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

Apple

Own a solid gold Apple iPhone XS Max for just under US$100,000

Next iPad yet again rumored to sacrifice 3.5mm jack for slimness

2019 iPhone processors to be exclusively provided by TSMC

​Lenovo dominates the PC market

Fortnite gets Disco Domination mode, quad rocket launcher, and more

Farmer in my Pocket: Stardew Valley is coming to iOS October 24, Android port will follow soon

Smartphone research data shows Apple winning over Android users

The rumored 2018 iPad Pro will have an edge-to-edge display, Face ID, and more

Pokemon GO to get fourth-generation Pokemon and many minor tweaks in the near future

Western Digital now sampling world's first 96-layer 3D NAND UFS 2.1 for next generation of smartphones

Apple fixes iPhone XS charging problems (and more) in iOS 12.0.1

Developer claims to have jailbroken iPhone XS Max

Samsung US is temporarily doubling its trade-in payoffs - even for iPhones

Smartphone manufacturers need to stop marketing inaccurate product renders

Can you fix your own 2018 MacBook? An internal Apple report says no, but iFixit says yes

iPhone XS series has outdone its predecessors in first-week sales

Apple Watch 4 found to be just as fast as iPhone 6S, but only for certain metrics

Huawei's Kirin 980 does not beat Apple's A12 Bionic in leaked Geekbench results

Vivaldi 2.0 now available for download with Sync, Resizable Tab Tiling, Floating Web Panels, and more

Notebookcheck's Guide To How Much RAM/Storage Your Devices Need

The weekly roundup - new Microsoft Surface devices, iPhone XS Max manufacturing costs, and 32 GB DDR4 RAM

'Charge-gate'? Emerging reports of charging-port issues in some iPhone XS and XS Max units

Google is shelling out billions to remain the default search engine for Apple's Safari browser

iPhone XR gets FCC approval, will ship in late October

87% Apple iPhone XS Smartphone Review

86% Apple iPhone XS Max Smartphone Review

Opera 56 now available with multiple improvements

Cloud-independent Microsoft Office 2019 now available for Windows and macOS

Apple launches macOS "Mojave" with dark mode, new apps, redesigned app store, and more

iPhone XS Max component costs revealed

Antennagate 2.0? The iPhone XS and XS Max users are complaining of poor cellular and WiFi connections

Over half of consumers surveyed would prefer a service accessible from their phones: new data

Cable-based connectivity set to be worth US$34 billion in 5 years

Apple acquires Shazam, mobile app to go ad-free for everyone

The iPhone XS has a smaller battery capacity than the iPhone X

Smart home market to exceed US$90 billion by 2025: new report

Code buried in iOS 12.1 heavily implies that new iPads are coming this year

Huawei may wow the wireless audio market with earbuds that charge off a phone

Shopping For A New Laptop? Here Are The Seven Worst Mistakes You Can Make

Apple's Homepod had a mere 6% share of the smart speaker market in June, according to CIRP

Limited "First Litter" edition of Sony's robotic dog, aibo, released in US

iOS 12 is here, bringing performance improvements, AR features, Siri Shortcuts, and more

Defective CSS code crashes, causes iPhones to restart

eSIM phone shipments could number at least 400 million by 2022

WhatsApp may implement a dark mode soon

Apple Watch losing ground in the wearables market

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

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

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

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

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Lenovo dominates the PC market