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The latest news and reviews of PCs, laptops, chips and accessories.
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Google cancels I/O developer conference amid coronavirus fears
Google has cancelled I/O, its annual developer conference, citing coronavirus concerns. The tech giant has sent out an email to all attendees informing them of the decision. I/O 2020 was set to be held from May 12th to the 14th at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California. According to the email, all guests will receive a refund by March 13th, and will be automatically granted an option to purchase a I/O 2021 ticket.
Apple may introduce a 14.1-inch MacBook Pro with a mini-LED screen
When Apple introduced the much-improved 16-inch MacBook Pro, it raised an obvious question: when will the 13-inch model get a similar update? You might not have to wait too much longer. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (who has a history of mostly accurate near-term forecasts) has followed up on past claims with an investor note asserting that Apple will replace the 13-inch MacBook Pro in 2020 with a 14.1-inch model using a mini-LED screen that would promise higher contrast ratios, wider color ranges and other image quality boosts. Kuo was shy on other details, but it's safe to presume this new model would get the upgraded keyboard and other refinements from its 16-inch sibling.
The gadgets that refuse to die
I have a drawer in my bedroom that's filled with defunct tech. It consists of old PDAs, bricked smartwatches and wearables that no longer work. Like many of you, I've realized that gadgets don't last forever. As Engadget Senior Editor Devindra Hardawar recently pointed out, every smart device you love will probably die, whether it's because the device can't be updated anymore, or the company goes out of business -- this is the reality of modern electronics.
An algorithm could make CPUs a cheap way to train AI
AI is the backbone of technologies such as Alexa and Siri -- digital assistants that rely on deep machine learning to do their thing. But for the makers of these products -- and others that rely on AI -- getting them "trained" is an expensive and often time-consuming process. Now, scientists from Rice University have found a way to train deep neural nets more quickly, and more affordably, through CPUs.
Intel's 10th-gen desktop CPUs are coming soon, according to a Dell ad
Intel's 10th-generation "Comet Lake" CPUs appear to be just around the corner to take on AMD's Ryzen chips, according to a new YouTube video from Dell. It shows the company's latest XPS Tower desktop computers equipped with 10th-generation Intel Core processors. That's interesting, because so far, we've only seen 10th-gen Intel consumer chips in mobile form on laptops, not desktops.
'Half Life: Alyx' gameplay videos showcase gravity gloves and more
With just a couple of short weeks before Half-Life: Alyx comes out on March 23rd, Valve has shared three new trailers from the upcoming game. If the game's first trailer left you wanting more, these provide a more in-depth look at Alyx's setting and gameplay without spoiling any of its story beats.
'Death Stranding' comes to PC on June 2nd
Death Stranding, Hideo Kojima's latest videogame turn movie opus, will arrive on Steam and the Epic Games Store on June 2nd. According to Kojima Productions and 505 Games, the PC version will feature a new photo mode, as well as support for ultrawide monitors and high frames rates. Most intriguingly of all, however, it will include "content" from Valve's seminal first-person shooter, Half-Life.
'Overwatch' college esports series will award $40,000 in scholarships
There's certainly an active Overwatch college esports scene, but it can be difficult for a player to stand out and turn pro when there are hundreds of schools. Activision Blizzard, Torque and UMG might have a way for serious players to shine. They're launching an Overwatch Collegiate Clash series that will have college competitive teams square off for a chance at both recognition and a total $40,000 in esports scholarships. The eight-week series will have eight teams face each other per week, with a final round pitting the winning teams against each other.
Co-head of 'Call of Duty' studio Treyarch leaves after 13 years
It's the end of an era if you're a Call of Duty fan. Jason Blundell, the co-head of series studio Treyarch, has left the company after 13 years. There wasn't a reason given for the exit, but the tone on both sides suggests he wasn't kicked out. He characterized his time as a "fantastic" stint, while the developer said it "enjoyed" the time together. It's something gamers will notice, at least.
Microsoft will remove Cortana from its Android launcher in April
Some significant changes are coming to Cortana. Starting this spring, Microsoft said it plans to make productivity the focus of the digital assistant. As part of the shift, Cortana will lose some of its more consumer-facing features, such as the ability to play music and control smart home devices. More significantly, the company plans to remove the digital assistant from its Launcher app on Android.
Coronavirus bursts Big Tech’s bubble
Virus enthusiasts from all over the world converged in San Francisco this week for America's largest security event: RSA Conference 2020. Before it began, fourteen companies withdrew from RSAC over concerns about the impending Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. On opening day, organizers sent a message through the conference app asking attendees to stop greeting each other with handshakes.
The Morning After: Meeting Citroën's tiny two-seater EV
Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. These days, the internet community experience centers around social networking apps. But some of us recall the old days when it was weird to talk to strangers online, whether via BBS, IRC or Kris Holt's preferred stomping grounds: a message board. The Foo Fighters fan page where he came of age has shut down, taking with it 20 years of memories and the usual share of low-grade internet drama. Its exit provides space to reflect on what that site (not #thatsite) got right and wrong in building space for all kinds of conversations. While Facebook, Twitter and TikTok struggle with issues of memes, disinformation and free speech at the billion-user scale, it certainly feels like they're just repeating work that small community-moderated sites figured out years ago. -- Richard
Apple's keyboard cover for the next iPad Pro could add a trackpad
With the launch of iPadOS, Apple's tablet has become more of a conventional computing device than ever. As such, it makes sense that the line between iPad Pro and laptop could become even more blurred. A rumor from The Information claims Apple is gearing up to mass produce a new keyboard accessory for the tablet line that includes a built-in trackpad, with plans to release it at the same time as an updated version of the iPad Pro later this year. If you just can't wait, accessory maker Brydge is one of the the third parties promising a solution. It has opened pre-orders for its wireless Pro+ keyboard that includes a a trackpad plus backlit keys and adds a very MacBook-like look to the tablet. They're supposed to start shipping in late April, with an 11-inch version available for $200 or the 12.9-inch edition for $230. The third-party company also announced a standalone trackpad, but there's no release date or price listed for that yet.
Minecraft Festival is coming to Orlando in September
Minecraft's annual event started out as a convention, but flipped to a streaming-only format in 2017 in a bid to maintain the tight-knit atmosphere for an increasingly large audience. It's moving back to that in-person experience, however, and it now has details to share. The renamed Minecraft Festival is now slated to take place at Orlando's Orange County Convention Center between September 25th and September 27th, with tickets available starting March 6th at 12PM Eastern. Mojang and Microsoft are promising plenty of things to do besides hearing the latest Minecraft news, including panels, exhibits, tournaments, "live entertainment" and, of course, exclusive merch.
Microsoft won't be at GDC because of coronavirus
Microsoft is skipping the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco this year, citing concerns about the global coronavirus outbreak. It isn't the only company to bow out of GDC 2020: Sony, Facebook, Kojima Productions and Unity Technologies previously announced they would miss the show in order to keep their employees and attendees as safe as possible. GDC is scheduled to run from March 16th to the 20th.
'GTA Online' gets competitive F1 racing today
Rockstar refuses to let GTA Online die, and why would it when it's one of the company's biggest moneymakers? If you haven't played GTA 5's online component in a while, today's update may convince you to step back into the world of San Andreas. Rockstar is adding a new competitive racing mode to GTA Online called Open Wheel Races that allows you to drive the game's equivalent of F1 cars against other players.
Instagram adds direct messaging on Windows 10
If you use Instagram on your Windows 10 PC, you may notice a subtle change the next time you open the app. Instagram has updated its Windows software to make it into something called a progressive web app (PWA). What this means is that you're effectively interacting with the Instagram website through a wrapper that makes it feel like a native application.
The Morning After: Herman Miller's first gaming chair
Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. Buying a gaming chair when space is often at a premium and when it has to at least make some effort to blend with your home is mostly impossible. Now, iconic furniture company Herman Miller and Logitech's gaming hardware brand, Logitech G, are teaming up to create a line of ergonomic furniture for gamers, starting with a chair -- of course. The companies plan to incorporate feedback from esports teams like Complexity Gaming, TSM and NaVi to make sure they deliver on gaming comfort and support. Herman Miller is perhaps best known for its legendary, thousands-of-dollars Eames Lounge Chair, but the company has been in the (corporate) smart-furniture business for a while. It'll be interesting to see how Herman Miller and Logitech split the difference on aesthetics and color palettes. Lest you forget, this is a Logitech keyboard. Hmm. That said I've never been more interested in a gaming chair. Let's see what it looks like. -- Mat
Xbox Series X's game resume feature even works after a reboot
Microsoft has been gradually dropping nuggets of information about its next generation Xbox. The first Xbox Series X games will be cross-gen, the console with have a 12 teraflop GPU and -- possibly -- it will rely on one HDMI port instead of two. Now, Microsoft's Larry Hryb has revealed a feature: quick game resume following a reboot.
The $35 Raspberry Pi 4 now comes with double the RAM
Raspberry Pi is celebrating its eighth birthday, and it's come a long way in those eight years. Since launching its very first computer back in 2012, the company has sold more than 30 million units. Every year since has brought a newer version with higher specs and better processing power, with the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B arriving in 2019 with 40 times more speed than the humble original. Now, thanks to falling RAM prices, Raspberry Pi enthusiasts can get their hands on the 2GB device for $35 (around £35, depending on where you buy it) -- which is the same price as the very first version from eight years ago.