Brian Fagioli

Voice assistants are changing the way consumers interact with their computers and devices. Services like Alexa and Siri are enabling people to use voice to ask questions and control home components, such as thermostats and lights. It really is an exceptional thing.

Microsoft's Cortana is also a great voice assistant, and since "she" is included in Windows 10, countless consumers already have access. Today, Microsoft announces that it is improving Cortana with a new feature called "Suggested Reminders". The assistant will scan your emails for dates and appointments, and then suggest reminders -- for times when maybe you forgot to do so yourself. Previously available to Windows Insiders, it is now an option for all Windows 10 users. There is one very big catch, however.

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As the news of the world gets crazier and crazier, people are increasingly needing distractions to cope. While TV, movies, and music are obvious choices, video games should not be forgotten. These games allow the player to escape into an alternate reality for a while, and can be more immersive than other media.

If you do not own a game console, you really can't go wrong with the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One -- both are powerful and have respectable game libraries. Today, however, Sony makes its offering very attractive. The company announces three new console bundles for a mere $249.

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All SSDs are relatively "fast" nowadays, but as time marches on, SATA variants are getting very long in the tooth. Don't get me wrong, if you are still running a mechanical hard drive, moving to an SATA SSD should be a very rewarding upgrade. If your computer is capable of using a PCIe NVMe M.2 variant, however, that is what you should target -- these newer drives are much faster than SATA.

Samsung makes wonderful solid state drives -- some would argue the manufacturer's offerings are best on the market. You know what? I wouldn't disagree. Samsung SSDs are very fast, but more importantly, they are extremely reliable. I have been testing one of the company's latest drives -- the 960 Pro 1TB. This PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD is supposed to be insanely fast, but just how fast is it? I decided to do a quick benchmark review.

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Whenever I am going on a day trip, such as spending an afternoon in New York City, I pack a special technology bag. Besides my laptop and camera, I am sure to include a USB battery pack. No matter what, I like to know that I can charge my iPhone in an emergency.

But what if I wanted something for a trip that is longer than a day? What if I wanted to stay juiced-up on a camping trip? Heck, what if there is a disaster that cuts my home's electricity? Renogy has a new hardcore product that is sure to excite. The Phoenix All-in-One Solar Powered Generator Briefcase could prove to be quite the life-saver -- it can charge an iPhone 6s 32 times! Not only does it offer a massive 16Ah internal battery, but it can be recharged by the sun. It can charge more than a mere smartphone too.

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Using a smartphone while operating a car can be a dangerous affair. You obviously shouldn't text while driving, but sometimes using the device while moving is necessary, such as when using a maps app. Logitech ZeroTouch is an interesting Android-only solution that puts your phone into a special hands-free driving mode when mounted in a dock. It can be quite the elegant solution.

Today, Logitech announces that ZeroTouch is getting even better. The company is adding Amazon Alexa support, meaning you can call upon the voice assistant while in the car. Quite frankly, as great as Alexa is in the home, the assistant should prove equally as valuable in an automobile too.

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When you buy a laptop nowadays, it will absolutely have a built-in webcam. Some desktop users may have a webcam built into their monitor too. For the most part, those integrated cameras should be passable in a pinch, but the overall performance often disappoints. It is for that reason that many consumers will still buy an external USB webcam.

Logitech has long offered well-reviewed USB webcams, and today, it is announcing what could be the best such camera ever. The BRIO 4K Pro Webcam is capable of recording or streaming 4K content. While UHD support alone makes it intriguing, it also has other notable features like HDR, USB-C connectivity and Windows Hello support. It even comes with a privacy shade in the box. If you want to mount it on a professional tripod, there is threading for that too.

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Mechanical keyboards are all the rage nowadays, and for good reason -- they can be brilliant for both gaming and typing. The tactile and audible feedback that they can offer are sometimes a world beyond the crappy pack-in keyboards that come with many desktops. That's not to say that all non-mechanical keyboards are bad -- that is not the case at all. In fact, it is largely personal preference.

Back in October, respected manufacturer HyperX (a Kingston gaming brand) released the 'ALLOY FPS' Cherry MX Blue mechanical LED backlit gaming keyboard. The problem? Not everyone likes Blue switches. You see, different switches perform in different ways, and consumers can vary wildly in their preferences. You can witness visual examples of the differences below. Today, the company refreshes the keyboard with two new Cherry MX switch colors/types -- Brown and Red.

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Solid state drives are one of the greatest things to ever happen to computers. Whether for business or personal computing, these SSDs have increased disk access performance dramatically. Heck, for mobile devices like laptops, the switch from physical hard drives has also improved battery life, while better protecting data from bumps and jostles.

As great as these solid state drives are now, they are only getting better. For example, SATA-based SSDs were once viewed as miraculous, but they are now looked at as slow -- PCIe-based NVMe drives are all the rage. To highlight the steady evolution of flash storage, Western Digital today unveils the first-ever 512 gigabit 64-layer 3D NAND chip.

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Today is Super Bowl Sunday, and I am so excited. Yesterday I went to the grocery store and bought chicken wings, fried mozzarella sticks, and seven-layer dip. By halftime, I will probably be in a food coma.

As a New Yorker and Jets fan, I don't have a horse in the race, but I do have a team that I am rooting for -- the Atlanta Falcons. Why? Because the Patriots have already won many championships, and quite frankly, New York and New England generally have a hardcore sports rivalry. Unfortunately for me and some others, according to Microsoft, Tom Brady and team will be victorious tonight.

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If you find yourself needing an operating system that respects your privacy, you cannot go wrong with Tails. The live Linux-distro can be run from a DVD which is read-only, meaning there is less of a chance of files being left behind. Heck, Edward Snowden famously used it to protect himself when shining a light on the overreaching US government.

Unfortunately for some users, Tails will soon not work on their computers. The upcoming version 3.0 of the operating system is dropping 32-bit processor support. While a decline in compatibility is normally a bad thing, in this case, it is good. You see, because there are so few 32-bit Tails users, the team was wasting resources by supporting them. Not to mention, 64-bit processors are more secure too.

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If you are a PC gamer, you probably own a hardcore graphics card and fancy mouse, am I right? Some of you will even have a mechanical keyboard and premium headset. Here's the question, though -- how's your monitor, bro? Are you still gaming on a small 1080p display with poor viewing angles? We are in 2017 -- it might be time to upgrade.

If your computer is powerful enough, and your pockets are deep enough, Acer has a new monitor that will make you drool. Called "XR382CQK," it is a 37.5-inch 21:9 ultrawide QHD (3440x1600) monitor. It even features a 5ms response and 75Hz refresh -- nice! AMD fans will particularly want this display as it supports FreeSync. There is one huge problem, though -- the price.

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When I want to stream locally stored media to my television, I turn to Plex. The popular service has apps for many devices such as Xbox One and Apple TV -- both of which I own. Heck, even my Samsung 4K TV has Plex support built in. Ultimately, the value of the service is found in both its ease of use and cross-platform support.

Never known to stand on its laurels, Plex is constantly improving, and today, it gets a really exciting new feature. Users of the service that are also owners of Amazon Echo or other compatible devices can now leverage the Alexa voice assistant to interact with Plex.

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This Sunday, many people around the world will tune into Super Bowl LI. The annual NFL championship has become something of a holiday in the USA, as people have parties and cook special foods. In fact, some people are more interested in the eating aspect (and commercials), as opposed to the actual football game. While I personally enjoy watching the big game (Jets fan rooting for Falcons), I'd be lying if I said I wasn't also excited for chicken wings and taco dip.

If you will be cooking or preparing snacks for the Super Bowl, Google has a new way for you to interact with online recipe searches. When using the company's search app for food recipes, you will be treated to an all-new carousel interface.

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Want to know something shocking? Like, literally shocking? Barnes and Noble is recalling 147,000 faulty NOOK Tablet 7 power adapters due to shock risk. In other words, owners of this tablet could face an electricity related injury when charging it.

If you own this tablet, it is important that you stop using the charger immediately. While there is no guarantee that you will be injured, it is not worth the risk. Barnes and Noble will replace the power adapter at no charge. To make up for the inconvenience, the company will also give you a free gift.

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4K and 5K displays are all the rage nowadays, but as far as I am concerned, they aren't always worth the money. With the exception of macOS, these expensive high-resolution displays don't perform well with scaling on Windows 10 and Linux. With that said, 1080p is too low in 2017. It is for this reason that I tend to prefer 2560 x 1440 resolution -- it is usable on Windows, Fedora, and macOS without breaking the bank. The sweet spot.

Today, AOC unveils a new monitor with that resolution. This company is known for budget offerings, but its newest model aims more for elegance. The 27-inch Q2781PQ is what the company calls "frameless," which is really just marketing-speak for very thin bezels on all four sides.

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