The year 2020 undeniably belongs to AMD. The company's processors aren't just impressing reviewers and tech pundits, but consumers too -- they are universally acclaimed. It's not hard to see why, either -- AMD Ryzen desktop and mobile processors offer superior performance while also being offered in affordable computers from major manufacturers. Enthusiasts and gamers that build their own PCs are increasingly turning to AMD too. Lord knows what it's like to work for Intel these days... quite depressing, I'd imagine.

Today, AMD takes a victory lap around Intel by releasing its long-awaited Ryzen 4000G APUs. What is an APU, you ask? It is essentially a CPU and GPU in one, allowing respectable graphics performance without needing to buy a dedicated card -- often a great value. These 7nm Zen 2-based processors essentially come in two "flavors" -- regular and PRO. Unfortunately, there is one big catch...

Continue reading →

My first experience with a home voice assistance was Amazon Echo. You know what? It was life changing. While asking Alexa questions was neat, the real value was linking it to my smart home devices. It may not seem like a big deal in 2020, but the first time I turned on a lamp with my voice it was magical. Over time, I mostly transitioned to Google Home, however, as I found the search giant's assistant to be superior.

Not to mention, I fell in love with the Nest Hub -- a hardware assistant that I keep on my nightstand next to my bed. I trust it in my bedroom as it doesn't have a camera, but I digress. As a YouTube TV subscriber, I can even watch the TV service on the 7-inch screen, but I really don't. Why? Because I have a larger TV in the same room. That's why today's news that you can watch Netflix on Nest Hub and Hub Max doesn't really excite me. Is there a legitimate scenario where someone would use one of those devices to regularly watch Netflix video?

Continue reading →

LG is known for its revolutionary V-series and elegant G-series lines of Android smartphones. Over time, however, there became less of a difference between the two lines. Ultimately, LG's smartphone offerings became a bit crowded and confusing. Things felt a bit... stale.

This year, however, the company decided to go in an exciting and different direction. You see, with its new LG Velvet 5G phone, the company revamped its design focus and branding. For instance, it has a beautiful "teardrop" rear camera array. Today, LG announces that the Velvet is finally coming to the USA! You won't have to wait long either, as it will become available tomorrow -- on one carrier, at least. Best of all, it is shockingly affordable for a 5G smartphone.

Continue reading →

Chromebooks are wonderful computers and anyone that says otherwise is simply uneducated on the subject. These laptops run a Linux-based operating system called "Chrome OS" that is arguably the most secure web surfing platform on the planet. Not only can Chromebooks run web apps, but Android apps and desktop Linux programs too, giving them a huge library of useful software. Most importantly, they are very easy to use. For instance, you get periodic OS updates that silently install in the background -- very unlike the complicated Windows 10.

Even though Chromebooks are simple to use, that doesn't mean everyone will become an expert on day one. Through experience and education, Chrome OS users can always improve their knowledge of the platform. Today, Google launches a new app for Chromebooks called "Explore" aimed at helping users get the most from the Chromebook experience. For instance, as part of the onboarding process, it can teach you how to change your wallpaper or lock your screen.

Continue reading →

The Intel NUC has long been a favorite of Linux users, as the diminutive computer just works out of the box. Since almost everything is Intel-based -- including the graphics and Wi-Fi card -- you never have to worry about hardware having compatibility issues. They have historically been easy to upgrade too, allowing users to upgrade RAM, storage, and wireless. Sadly, new NUCs have soldered Wi-Fi cards, so you are essentially stuck with what it comes with. That stinks -- Intel is acting like Apple!

Thankfully, there is another mini computer that is also based on 10th generation Intel Core processors, but it does allow the wireless card to be upgraded. MSI's "Cubi 5," as it is called, is very similar to Intel's NUC, but it has better upgradeability. And yes, all modern Linux distributions will install and run without issue. I have been testing the Intel Core i5-10210U variant (there are also Core i3 and i7 models), which is a quad-core with 8 threads. While my configuration came with Windows 10 Home pre-installed, I immediately added Fedora to the mix in a dual-boot configuration.

Continue reading →

Historically, Microsoft was an enemy of the open source community. In more recent years, however, the Windows-maker has become an ally. In fact, under the leadership of Satya Nadella, it can be said that Microsoft is now an open source champion! Crazy, right?

If you want proof, look no further than Windows Subsystem for Linux. I mean, Linux is pretty much inside of Windows now. Not to mention, Microsoft is a huge contributor to open source projects. Hell, the Windows-maker even bought GitHub! And now, the company takes things even further. You see, Microsoft has ported the Windows Procmon tool to Linux.

Continue reading →

Only once in my life did I own a Mac, and the damn thing broke. In 2016, I purchased a MacBook Pro (which I have since sold) and the display started having lines go across the bottom. Long story short, I brought the laptop to a local Apple Store for service and it was fixed. When I got there, they checked me in and walked me to a wooden box and told me to have a seat. Wait, what? I spent $2,000 on a laptop from one of the richest companies on Earth, and I couldn't get a proper chair? I chose to stand instead.

Fast forward to today, and Apple announces the opening of a new physical store in China. This new store replaces the company's original Apple Sanlitun and is twice the size. Apple boasts about how great the store is, but strangely, it shared the above photo of people once again sitting on wooden boxes. What the hell is going on here? Why does Apple hate chairs?

Continue reading →

There have been a lot of new solid state drives released lately, some of which are run of the mill, while others are cutting edge. For instance, Sabrent recently launched an 8TB PCIe SSD, while Silicon Power unveiled a speedy PCIe 4.0 drive.

Transcend recently unveiled a new line of solid state drives, and while they that won’t “wow” anybody, they are still worth a look. They all use 3D NAND, but the four SSDs come in different sizes, speeds, and interfaces.

Continue reading →

Want to know a secret? The iPad is a great computer. No, I don't just mean it is a very good tablet (which it absolutely is), but with the latest versions of iPadOS, it is an honest-to-goodness exceptional computer too. Once the OS received proper mouse and trackpad support, iPad became much more useful. Of course, it isn't that way out of the box. To truly embrace the laptop-like iPad experience, you also need a keyboard case with a trackpad. Apple sells its own Magic Keyboard that can convert an iPad Pro into a laptop, but it starts at $299 -- that is way too experience.

In-the-know iPad owners are aware of  another company that has long made quality iPad keyboard cases -- Logitech. Yes, that company's keyboards are well-made and elegant, but also, much more affordable than Apple's own Magic Keyboard. Today, Logitech launches a variant of the Folio Touch keyboard case made specifically for the 11-inch iPad Pro (first and second generation). Best of all, this new product is priced way below Apple's offering. And yes, it has an integrated Apple Pencil holder.

Continue reading →

Another day, another solid state drive. Yes, folks, we are once again telling you about a new SSD. There sure are a lot of new models hitting the market lately, right? This time, the drive is from Silicon Power. We recently reviewed one of that company's external SSDs, but I digress.

Called "UD70," it is a PCIe 3.0 SSD that uses 3D QLC NAND. Unfortunately, it is not a PCIe 4.0 drive like the company's similarly named US70. While a PCIe Gen 3x4 SSD is nothing out of the ordinary, Silicon Power boasts about it having superior cooling capabilities. No, it doesn't have a huge heatsink. In fact, it has no heatsink at all. Actually, SP says the cooling capabilities are baked into the UD70's firmware.

Continue reading →

I'm a big fan of tenkeyless keyboards, which come without the number pad on the right side. Since I don't use those keys (I use the top row of numbers instead), it allows me to save space on my desk. Why have a number pad take up valuable desk space?

Taking things even further, there are "60 percent" keyboards that remove everything from the right of the enter key (arrow keys, insert, print screen, etc). Instead, it maps those as function options on other keys. These keyboards save even more space, all while looking rather cool too. Now, Razer is launching its own 60 percent gaming keyboard. Called "Huntsman Mini" it comes with two options for optical switches -- clicky and linear. And yes, they feature RGB lighting.

Continue reading →

When people ask me for advice on buying a computer, I usually recommend a laptop. Why? Because a laptop offers more versatility than a desktop, allowing it to be taken from place to place. Unless they are a gamer or enthusiast, a desktop is probably a bad choice. Even if they plan to work from a desk with a keyboard, mouse, and monitor, a docking station can easily transform the laptop into a makeshift desktop. Why limit yourself?

Speaking of docking stations, today, Plugable launches two new models. Called "UD-3900Z" and "UD-6950Z" these vertical space-saving docks use USB rather than Thunderbolt, which should be fine for most consumers. Best of all, they are rather affordable, with a starting price below $100.

Continue reading →

Nowadays, 8GB of RAM is pretty much the bare minimum that should come with any decent computer. Sure, maybe some light users can get by fine with 4GB, but with memory prices so low, there is really no excuse for anything less than 8GB. Hell, I would recommend all consumers target 16GB -- if their budget allows it, of course.

With all of that said, there are some hardcore computer users -- primarily designers and creators -- that can benefit from much more than 8GB or 16GB. Just how much? It isn't crazy for some folks to need 32GB, 64GB, or even more. Today, HyperX unveils that its popular Predator and Fury lines DDR4 RGB RAM are getting some new kits. Believe it or not, you can now get Predator kits featuring capacities up to 256GB or with speeds up to 4800MHz! And yes, there are RGB variants of both Predator and Fury too.

Continue reading →

Backing up data is an essential part of computing responsibility. Just like regularly changing your car's oil, you should regularly back up your computer's files. The sad reality is, many people don't think about their important files until they are lost forever. How sad would it be if you lost your entire music library, your work projects, or worst of all, your family photos?

Nowadays, the cloud makes data backup easy, but you should not trust that solution exclusively. What if there is a situation where you don't have internet access, or even worse, the cloud provider goes out of business? You should also backup your files locally -- redundancy is key. Depending on how much data you have, a portable solid state drive often makes a lot of sense, as they offer very fast speeds and no moving parts. Not only does an external drive allow you to move data between multiple computers, but you can easily lock it in a safe or fireproof box if needed.

Continue reading →

We are in the middle of a pandemic, and lots of us are working from home these days. It is because of technological advances, such as the computer and internet, that so many can work remotely. Let us not forget the mighty webcam which allows our coworkers, friends, and family members to video chat with us. Hell, even doctors are seeing patients using video chat nowadays.

You know who else loves webcams? Hackers! Yes, it is possible for nefarious people to hack into your computer and access your webcam. Any hardware connected to the net can be hacked. And no, you cannot trust an activity light -- hackers can turn them off too. Look, no one wants to be watched by a stranger -- especially when naked or in some other embarrassing situation. Thankfully, something as simple as placing a piece of tape or a privacy shutter (such as this) over the webcam can thwart the bad guys in this regard (the microphone is another story). Unfortunately for those that own Apple laptops, the company is warning users against covering their webcam.

Continue reading →