Microsoft Covers All the Bases With Impressive Surface Lineup
Microsoft has introduced a slew of new products, including the Surface Go 2, the Surface Book 3, Surface Headphones 2 and Surface Earbuds. Both the Surface Go 2 and the Surface Book 3 come in consumer and corporate versions.
How to Stay Safe on the Internet, Part 3: Drive the Black Hatters Mad
Like conventional criminals, criminal hackers choose easy, lucrative targets. One group in the crosshairs is made up of companies that have data on millions of users, such as private sector entities with a Web presence. Why go after one user at a time when data is collected in one place? Criminal hackers also like to hunt small organizations that have modest capital but weak information security.
Red Hat’s Virtual Summit Crowds Hint at Future Conference Models
In what could be a trial run for more of the same, Red Hat last week held a first-ever virtual technical summit to spread the word about its latest cloud tech offerings. CEO Paul Cormier welcomed online viewers to the conference, which attracted more than 80,000 virtual attendees.
In the works right now are three things that may result in a better post-pandemic world. One is video conferencing, which has been on a slow ramp to overnight success since the mid-1960s when it was supposed to become the standard way we communicated. Another is robotics, which is getting a ton of attention right now, ranging from automated delivery to automated manufacturing. The third is 3D printing.
Google is integrating its Google Meet videoconferencing application with Gmail, and it already appears as an option in some users' accounts. It is making the service available to everyone for free in the coming weeks, on the Web and through mobile apps for iOS and Android.
Linux Foundation Leads Initiative for Better Digital Trust
The Linux Foundation on Tuesday announced that it will host the Trust over IP Foundation, a cross-industry effort to ensure more secure data handling over the Internet. This new foundation is an independent project enabling trustworthy exchange and verification of data between any two parties on the Internet.
Cracked or broken mobile device screens can be costly to fix, but a few inexpensive DIY strategies can eliminate a repair shop visit and salvage your tablet or phone.
HP's COVID-19 Response: There Should Be an Award for This
[Rob Enderle Op-Ed] Some of the corporate responses to COVID-19 make me incredibly happy I don't work for a large company anymore. There are exceptions though, and HP stands out.
The UK's plans to launch a smartphone application to track potential COVID-19 infections won't include Apple and Google. The country's National Health Service has designed its own mobile software to do contact tracing.
If your contact center agents are working from home, download this Remote Agent Checklist to ensure they can provide exceptional customer experience, no matter where they're based.
2020 Online Shopping Habits and Retailer Strategies
Episerver surveyed over 4,000 global online shoppers to learn about their ecommerce expectations and habits. Download Reimagining Commerce to get an exclusive look at successful retail strategies in 2020.
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And they have one week to decide -- the new policy goes into effect May 13th.
The current situation has put a lot of people and companies in difficult straits, but sticking customers with a brand new fee without allowing enough time to feasibly switch to another platform is pretty low. It's definitely something to think about the next time you're deciding on a smart light bulb or speaker.
-- Richard
Microsoft's new Surface lineup
Some items are available as early as May 12th.
Microsoft
Microsoft has overhauled its Surface lineup, with two new laptop/tablet combos, new headphones and earbuds, a $260 USB-C desktop dock and even some new keyboard bundles. The Surface Book 3 is the most high-profile device, but the design hasn't changed noticeably from its last iteration. Inside, however, it's packing the more powerful 10th-generation Intel Core CPUs along with NVIDIA graphics. The bad news: It's limited to quad-core CPUs while competitors from Apple and Dell have the option for six-core chips -- although, they have to live without its sweet detachable keyboard.
The Surface Go 2 tablet is the same size as its predecessor -- your old keyboard case or Type Cover will still work -- but smaller bezels give it more screen space this time around, and of course, the internals have had a refresh as well. Prices start at $399, with optional add-ons like LTE or an Intel Core M CPU available for more money.
If you're into audio then check out the new earbuds and headphones. Microsoft's new Surface Earbuds have a… distinctive look and promise all-day battery life for $199. Meanwhile, the Surface Headphones 2 have a design that's similar to the original model, but with improved noise cancellation and battery life for a lower starting price of $249. Continue reading.
Ring's new entry-level doorbell offers 1080p video and custom motion zones
The $100 doorbell launches June 3rd
Ring
Six years after the original Ring video doorbell debuted, the company is offering a revamped model. Video quality has improved to 1080p from 720p, night vision is better and owners can choose privacy zones to exclude from video recording. Also, in addition to using hardwired power, there are options to run it off a battery or even a $50 solar charger add-on. Continue reading.
The Arc has dedicated center, left and right channels, along with surround left and right and two upwards-firing speakers for height. Sure, plenty of soundbars support Atmos at this point, but Sonos is doing something interesting with how the Arc responds to different audio formats. For example, if you're watching a movie that doesn't support Atmos, the Arc will adapt and use the upwards-firing speakers to improve bass performance.
The Arc will cost $799 when it goes on sale June 10th -- that's $100 more than the Playbar it replaces, but it has enough upgrades to explain the difference.
Meanwhile, Sonos is also making a few internal updates to some other existing products. There is a new Sub that looks identical to its predecessor but has some major internal updates. Sonos says it has increased memory and processing power as well as a new wireless radio. The Sonos Play:5 is also receiving a nearly identical refresh, aimed at extending how long it'll receive software updates. Continue reading.
The Switch has now sold more than the N64 and GameCube combined
'Animal Crossing: New Horizons' has already sold 11.77 million copies.
Nintendo
Nintendo sold 3.29 million Switch consoles in the first three months of the year, bringing lifetime sales to 55.77 million. That's more than the combined lifetime sales of the Nintendo 64 and GameCube, which sold 32.93 million and 21.74 million, respectively. It's also beyond the SNES — an impressive milestone eclipsed over the holidays — and 6.14 million behind the NES.
When it comes to games, the company released Animal Crossing: New Horizons last quarter, which may be the perfect lockdown distraction from the coronavirus pandemic. The Switch exclusive came out on March 20th — only 10 days before the end of the quarter — and sales already approached 12 million. That's more than a million copies sold each day. Continue reading.
How I smart-homed my tiny studio apartment
Haven't got anywhere else to go.
Philips
Making your home a smart home can be complicated, especially if your living space isn't technically your own. Renters have tighter restrictions on what they can and can't do to their homes -- rewiring the place is usually a no-go. But it's still possible. Cherlynn Low shows you how. Continue reading.
Moto G Stylus review: The highs and lows of a $300 smartphone
14-hour battery life and solid performance are points in its favor.
According to Chris Velazco, the Moto G Stylus "is defined by its built-in pen, but it's anchored by not-too-shabby specs, including an FHD+ display, a 4,000mAh battery and a camera trio that includes a macro lens." The only bad news? Its budget price cuts out some key features like NFC and a camera that can handle night-time photography. Continue reading.
Apple's online-only WWDC is free and it starts on June 22nd
Just like Microsoft Build.
The company confirmed that this year's online-only WWDC will begin on June 22nd and will be available for free to "all developers" interested in tuning in. WWDC 2020 will also provide our first real glimpse at Apple's latest major software updates for iPhones, iPads, Macs and Apple Watches. Continue reading.
Oculus is reportedly working on a lighter Quest VR headset
With redesigned controllers.
Engadget
Facebook's Oculus division is redesigning its standalone wireless Quest VR headset, according to Bloomberg. Some of the prototypes are both smaller and lighter than the current model, and they pack a faster refresh rate for added realism. Oculus is reportedly working on a new controller design, too.
The versions in testing might weigh 10 to 15 percent less than the current model, addressing an issue we had with the original Quest. The next model may also offer a 90Hz refresh rate, but Oculus is reportedly testing models with up to 120Hz displays -- that would put it at the same level as the Oculus Rift headsets. Continue reading.
NASA is helping Tom Cruise film a movie in space
The International Space Station could play a role in movie history.
While it reportedly isn't a Mission Impossible movie, NASA is working with Tom Cruise to shoot a movie aboard the International Space Station. This would make it the first non-documentary movie filmed in space. According to an earlier report from Deadline, SpaceX is involved in the project, and Elon Musk tweeted that the project "should be a lot of fun."
It's all in very early stages, with no studio involved and no release window. Of course, SpaceX doesn't expect to offer tourist flights aboard its Crew Dragon until the second half of 2021. Continue reading.
Amazon's free-to-play shooter 'Crucible' arrives May 20th
Originally announced in 2016, the game is coming to Steam first.
Apple
The first AAA game from Amazon is almost here, ready to launch for PC players in a couple of weeks. Crucible is an FPS that contains elements cribbed from other popular games, with TF2 and League of Legends providing some clear inspiration. It's unclear how Crucible will link to Twitch or Amazon's still-in-development cloud gaming platform, but we should know more once players dive in to start fighting each other... and the game's environment. Continue reading.
Microsoft to slowly reveal Xbox Series X details through a monthly video series
The vision, explained.
Frank Micelotta/Picturegroup
Who needs E3? With the video game showcase canceled, Microsoft will detail its upcoming Xbox Series X console, new games and additions to Xbox Game Pass every month for the rest of the year in Xbox 20/20 previews. Also, the company confirmed that, just like on consoles, major first-party PC titles like Microsoft Flight Simulator will be included with Game Pass at launch.
The first 20/20 stream is coming up on Thursday, and a teaser video in the announcement showed off what appears to be a very calming new boot up sequence for the Xbox platform. Continue reading.
Was Devindra Hardawar wrong about something? Our fellow editor explains why he purchased a standalone Ultra HD Blu-ray player in 2020, after declaring the format "already lost" to streaming four years ago. Apparently the Xbox One X's built-in player and streaming options just can't beat the standalone's ease of use or Dolby Vision HDR picture quality from a disc.
Sony
Plus, the $250 Sony UBP-X800M2 can play his SACD and DVD-Audio discs. Guess some people just can't stay away from "dead" disc formats.
-- Richard
Apple brings its new Magic Keyboard to the 13-inch MacBook Pro
The butterfly keyboard is dead, but the touch bar remains.
Apple
Five years after Apple introduced the "butterfly" keyboard that had so many issues, the company has excised it from the lineup. The 13-inch MacBook Pro was the last device to get refreshed with the Magic Keyboard that our reviewers prefer, along with available 10th-gen Intel CPUs for more power and a physical escape key. The new laptops are available to order now, starting at $1,399 (for a 10th-gen CPU with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, the price starts at $1,799). Continue reading.
Microsoft shifts the focus on Windows 10X to single-screen devices
Stay tuned.
Engadget
According to Microsoft's chief product officer Panos Panay, "single-screen devices will be the first expression of Windows 10X that we deliver to our customers, and we will continue to look for the right moment, in conjunction with our OEM partners, to bring dual-screen devices to market."
Reading between the lines, it appears that dual-screen machines, like Microsoft's Surface Neo, the Dell Duet concept or a future Yoga Book, will take a bit longer to ship than anticipated. In the meantime, Windows 10X will deliver its more efficient version of computing to traditional single-screen laptop hardware. Continue reading.
How to buy a smart display in 2020
Amazon vs. Google
Amazon
Smart displays are the second-wave devices born out of the success of the Amazon Echo, Google Home and others. Companies recently decided to make new smart speakers with touchscreens of all sizes, adding visual and tactile components to what were once devices you could only bark orders to. While this may seem counterintuitive, there are a number of reasons to choose a smart screen instead of a smart speaker -- glanceable information and video streaming are just a couple of them.
Amazon and Google dominate the space, but your decision of which smart speaker to buy isn't as simple as choosing between the two tech giants. Check out our guide to buying a smart display and our list of the best smart displays you can get today. Continue reading.
Updated Theraguns run quieter and have a companion app
The Theragun mini might be the most interesting one.
Theragun
You can't browse social media without coming across massage guns from the likes of Theragun. Using a jackhammer motion to soothe aching muscles, they're apparently an expensive hit. The company, now known as Therabody, has revealed its fourth-generation series, including a new petite (and cheaper) model, the mini, which comes in at under $200. The top-end models come with exchangeable batteries, wireless charging (why?!) and swap-out massage accessories, including a thumb. They're available to order now. Continue reading.
Billy Mitchell is taking his 'Donkey Kong' cheating saga to court
'If anybody wants to see, there's a 'Donkey Kong' kill screen coming up.'
Twin Galaxies
Arcade expert Billy Mitchell made a name for himself by earning record-breaking scores in games like Pac-Man and BurgerTime. However, two years ago, de facto scorekeeper Twin Galaxies stripped Mitchell of his Donkey Kong records after concluding that his most recent score was not achieved on authentic arcade hardware. (Guinness also subsequently stripped him of his records.)
Mitchell and his lawyer announced they'd be taking Twin Galaxies to court, after claiming that the company had defamed his name. The case was served to Twin Galaxies this February, and a hearing will be held in July. Continue reading.
Review: Samsung Galaxy Book Flex laptop
A pretty QLED laptop with a useful S Pen
Engadget
Want some non-Macbook options? Try, perhaps surprisingly, Samsung's Galaxy Book Flex. It's a gorgeous, powerful laptop with a vibrant QLED display. According to Cherlynn Low, while its battery life isn't as good as some of the competition, the Flex is still a capable machine with a helpful S Pen onboard. Continue reading.
