In the technology world, the latter half of the 2010s was mostly about slight tweaks, not sweeping changes: Smartphones got slightly better, and computer processing somewhat improved. Then OpenAI unveiled its ChatGPT in 2022 to the public, and—seemingly all at once—we were in a qualitatively new era. 

The predictions have been inescapable in recent months. Futurists warn us that AI will radically overhaul everything from medicine to entertainment to education and beyond. In this instance, the futurists might be closer to the truth. Play with ChatGPT for just a few minutes, and it is impossible not to feel that something massive is on the horizon. 

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37Signals, led by CTO David Heinemeier Hansson, implemented a cloud repatriation plan that has already saved them $1 million. Previously, the company spent $3.2 million annually on cloud services. They viewed that as being too much. Their repatriation project invested $600,000 in eight servers hosted by Deft. Hansson now projects that the plan can save $10 million over five years. That’s money they can put back into the business directly, investing in innovations and digital transformation projects. 

As a result, their cloud spending has decreased by 60%, going from around $180,000 to less than $80,000 per month. Hansson expects another significant drop in expenditures. Despite managing their hardware, the ops team size has stayed the same.

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Oracle has introduced GraalOS, a high-performance serverless Java-based application deployment technology that promises to help developers improve application responsiveness and cut costs.

GraalOS uses GraalVM Native Image technology to compile Java code to a standalone executable, leveraging x64 and AArch 64 processors on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI). Applications powered by GraalOS should require significantly less memory, thanks to Native Image ahead-of-time compilation, and be less expensive to operate, Oracle said.

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Data lake and analytics platform provider Starburst is adding new capabilities to its Enterprise and Galaxy offerings to support on-premises storage and connectivity for enterprises.

Starburst Galaxy — the company’s managed data lake analytics service that is available across AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud — has been updated to support on-premises connectivity.

The on-premises connectivity will allow an enterprise to analyze its local datasets along with data that is residing in the cloud, the company said.

Starburst has also partnered with Databricks to integrate the latter’s Unity Catalog data governance tool with its Galaxy offering.

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Push notifications are an important part of modern applications, whether you’re targeting desktop or mobile, or even the web. But as your applications grow, you need a service that can scale with them, delivering messages with minimal latency no matter how many users you have and no matter where your services are hosted.

While it’s possible to construct your own notification service, routing messages to the appropriate targets and users, scaling remains a problem, as well as supporting users across the world. Notifications need to be delivered asynchronously, allowing you to treat them as a fire-and-forget option, triggering a notification when it occurs with the assumption that it will be delivered in a timely fashion.

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The Shiny web framework for R is now officially available in a WebAssembly (Wasm) version that runs in-browser and doesn’t require a back-end Shiny server, Posit CTO Joe Cheng announced at the Posit::conf(2023) user conference today.

There are currently three ways to use this new R version of Shinylive (a Python version of Shinylive was announced last year):

A new Shinylive R package has an export function that can convert a local Shiny app.R application to a Shinylive application with an index.html file and additional assets. That can then run as other conventional HTML files. The Shinylive.io website now has an R version where users can write and share apps directly in browser, similar to a site like JSFiddle for JavaScript.  Shiny apps can now be included as {shinylive-r} code chunks within Quarto documents using the new Shinylive Quarto extension https://github.com/quarto-ext/shinylive. IDG

Cheng cautioned that Shinylive for R is still new, and it can currently be slow to download all the necessary R code to a user’s browser. That should speed up in the coming weeks, he said. In addition, not all packages and functions are immediately available, apps can’t connect directly to databases (although API calls may work), and all code and data is fully accessible to end users, so there’s no way to hide things like API keys.

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Oracle is adding a Vector Store and new generative AI features to its data analytics cloud service MySQL HeatWave, the company said at its annual CloudWorld conference.

MySQL HeatWave combines OLAP (online analytical processing), OLTP (online transaction processing), machine learning, and AI-driven automation in a single MySQL database.

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In the Linux world, package managers catalog and install the software available in a given Linux distribution. Until recently, Microsoft Windows software management wasn't that centralized. There was a system for adding or removing components for Windows itself, but not for third-party apps. And while we do have the Microsoft Store as an app-management solution, it's a proprietary system that's aimed mainly at consumers, not developers or admins.

Winget is a Microsoft-authored and -managed open source system for cataloging and managing software installations in Windows. It's meant to provide the closest thing we have to an official package management system for Windows that's not also a proprietary solution (like the Microsoft Store), focused on one aspect of the Microsoft ecosystem (like NuGet, which is chiefly for .NET components), or a third-party offering (like Chocolatey or Scoop).

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Oracle is planning to add vector search capabilities to its database offering, dubbed Database 23c, the company announced at its ongoing annual CloudWorld conference.

These capabilities, dubbed AI Vector Search, include a new vector data type, vector indexes, and vector search SQL operators that enable the Oracle Database to store the semantic content of documents, images, and other unstructured data as vectors, and use these to run fast similarity queries, the company said.

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Java Development Kit (JDK) 21, the newest long-term support (LTS) release of Oracle’s standard Java implementation, has arrived in a production release. Based on Java 21, the latest version of the Java SE (Standard Edition) platform, JDK 21 ushers in 15 features, including a key encapsulation mechanism API, virtual threads, and previews of string templates and structured concurrency. A proposed 16th feature, the experimental Shenandoah garbage collector, was dropped in June.

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The EU is investing $3.6 billion with the aim of attracting $43.7 billion more in private investment and doubling its current global semiconductor market share.

HPE's Aruba networking division announced a new access point and switch that are designed to enable faster speeds, increased capacity, and strengthened security for small and medium businesses that are grappling with bandwidth-intensive cloud applications.

The Aruba Instant On AP22D is a Wi-Fi 6 access point, and the Aruba Instant On 1960 is a stackable switch with 2.5GB port capacity. Both are designed to optimize network performance for employees and customers.

The combination is ideal for SMBs with high data demands and growing traffic. The two new products work together to provide increased throughput and improved security with minimal effort, according to HPE Aruba Networking.

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Intel took the wraps off a number of new chip designs during its Innovation 2023 event in San Jose, Calif. Among the highlights is a preview of fifth-generation Xeon processors, which gain performance improvements and faster memory while using the same amount of power as the current generation.

Scheduled to launch beginning December 14 and going into 2024, the fifth generation of Xeon processors splits the structure into two different core designs: the P (for performance) core, codenamed Granite Rapids, and the E (for efficient) core, codenamed Sierra Forest. P cores are high-performance cores for maximum computing power, while E cores are smaller, much less power-hungry, and designed for simpler tasks.

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AMD has formally launched its new Epyc 8004 Series processors, the fourth generation of server processors developed under the Siena codename. They're specifically built for energy-efficient and differentiated platforms such as the intelligent edge, as well as for data center, cloud services, storage and other applications.

The 8004 product family ranges from eight cores to 64 cores. The 8004 core design is known as Zen 4c, as in compact. It has fewer cores, fewer PCIe lanes and fewer memory channels, but the payoff is in much lower power requirements.

In an era of ever-increasing power consumption, the 8004 series is going in the opposite direction. The product family has thermal design power (TDP) measurements ranging from about 70 to 225 watts. That’s more along the lines of a desktop processor than a server processor, which can often be double that number.

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Cisco and F5 have extended their partnership with new technology that lets enterprises balance large amounts of traffic between multiple sites to ensure availability and improve application performance.

Specifically, the companies are meshing Cisco’s ACI Multi-Site/Multi-Pod package with F5’s Big IP DNS software to help customers more effectively utilize resources distributed across multiple locations, according to Yousuf Khan, vice president of technical marketing with Cisco’s enterprise and datacenter networking group.

ACI is built on Cisco’s intent-based networking technology, which gives customers the ability to implement network and policy changes on the fly and ensure data delivery. ACI Multi-Site typically lets two geographically dispersed data centers link via L2/L3 networks and offers consistent policy enforcement across both sites. The Multi-Pod technology lets multiple groups of equipment within the individual data centers network with each other.

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By: Trent Fierro, Blog Contributor.

While digital transformation is a heavily discussed topic, the idea that IT organizations must think differently and adapt to change is rarely mentioned. There’s an expectation that the person with 10 to 15 years of experience using CLI commands will embrace the cloud, templates, and AIOps (AI for IT operations) without hesitation. That they will jump at the chance of using something new and exciting. Wrong!

IT transformation involves technology advancements, people, and a new way of looking at processes and outcomes. What this means is that a network refresh usually turns into a discussion on how modern technology helps the team deliver a better user experience. Everyone from the CIO on down is looking for efficiency, and oddly, a way to preserve some form of normalcy.

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As the volume of IoT devices connecting to enterprise networks continues to climb, the number of security threats has been increasing in lockstep. Cybersecurity threats, alongside supply chain issues, chip shortages and geopolitical instability, are a major reason that IoT growth has been slower than many analysts had predicted.

Even so, the scale of the IoT security problem is great enough that 52 IoT startups raised a total of $840 million in the latest quarter, and even cautious analysts believe the IoT market will grow steadily in the coming years. In fact, research firm IDC predicts that the IoT market will expand to 55.7 billion connected IoT devices by 2025, with those devices generating 80B zettabytes (ZB) of data.

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As connectivity to cloud-based resources grows, cybercriminals are using valid, compromised credentials to access enterprise resources at an alarming rate.

That's one of the chief findings of the IBM X-Force Cloud Threat Landscape Report, which also found a 200% increase (about 3,900 vulnerabilities) in cloud-oriented Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) in the last year.

“Over 35% of cloud security incidents occurred from attackers’ use of valid, compromised credentials,” wrote Chris Caridi, strategic cyber threat analyst with IBM X-Force, in a blog about the report. “Making up nearly 90% of assets for sale on dark web marketplaces, credentials’ popularity among cybercriminals is apparent, averaging $10 per listing – or the equivalent of a dozen doughnuts.”

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Cisco is on a mission to make sure Ethernet is the chief underpinning for artificial intelligence networks now and in the future.

It has been a huge contributor to Ethernet development in the IEEE and other industry groups over the years, and now it’s one of the core vendors driving the Ultra Ethernet Consortium (UEC), a group that’s working to develop physical, link, transport and software layer advances for Ethernet to make it more capable of supporting AI infrastructures.

“Organizations are sitting on massive amounts of data that they are trying to make more accessible and gain value from faster, and they are looking at AI technology now,” said Thomas Scheibe, vice president of product management with Cisco’s cloud networking, Nexus & ACI product line.

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The UK government has announced it will build a £900 million (US$1.1 billion) supercomputer, to drive the country’s AI research and innovation capabilities.

The supercomputer, dubbed Isambard-3 after the 19th century British civil and mechanical engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, is set to be installed at the National Composites Centre in Bristol later this year. The University of Bristol is home to the UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training in Interactive Artificial intelligence and is part of the GW4 group of universities — an alliance of research-intensive universities that also includes Bath, Cardiff and Exeter.

Bristol University will also host the new AI Research Resource (AIRR or Isambard-AI), a national facility to help support AI research and promote the safe use of the technology. Both the supercomputer and AIRR are financed by the by the AI investment announced the government announced in March.

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The generative AI boom has put a spring in the step of Correcto, a Madrid-based language writing tool startup focused on Spanish speakers that’s today announcing $7 million in seed funding. The round is led by London-based Octopus Ventures, with Carya Venture Partners and River Park Ventures also contributing. The founding team began work on […]

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Welcome back to The Interchange, where we take a look at the hottest fintech news of the previous week. If you want to receive The Interchange directly in your inbox every Sunday, head here to sign up! Disrupt! Last week, our team was at TechCrunch Disrupt 2023, which featured a dedicated fintech stage for the first time […]

"Accessibility is a human right," reads a sticker from the Howe Innovation Center. And for sure, it is great to see startups help companies make this a reality.

Software spending is now the third-biggest expense for organizations, right after employee and office costs.

AquaLith looks to make new types of battery cell components that don't rely on the scarce metals normally used in lithium-ion battery packs.

Unity has done a 180 on a controversial new pricing scheme that users of its cross-platform game engine almost unanimously disparaged.

TechCrunch Disrupt 2023 ended yesterday, and out of all the events I've attended since working here, this one was my favorite.

Apple has released urgent security updates for iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple Watch, and Safari users to block two active spyware campaigns.

An updated version Pixel Pals takes advantage of new iOS features like Live Activities, the Dynamic Island, and interactive widgets on iOS 17.

American entrepreneurs have long fixated on extracting the maximum economic value out of, well really, any resource they can get their hands on — from Henry Ford's assembly line to Tony Hsieh's Zappos Happiness Experience Form. The same is true in the public sector where some overambitious streamlining of Texas' power grid contributed to the state's massive 2021 winter power crisis that killed more than 700 people. In her new book, the riveting Optimal Illusions: The False Promise of Optimization, UC Berkeley applied mathematician and author, Coco Krumme, explores our historical fascination with optimization and how that pursuit has often led to unexpected and unwanted consequences in the systems we're streamlining. 

In the excerpt below, Krumme explores the recent resurgence of interest in Universal Basic (or Guaranteed) Income and the contrasting approaches to providing UBI between tech evangelists like Sam Altman and Andrew Yang, and social workers like Aisha Nyandoro, founder of the Magnolia Mother’s Trust, in how to address the difficult questions of deciding who should receive the financial support, and how much.

Riverhead Books

Excerpted from Optimal Illusions: The False Promise of Optimization by Coco Krumme. Published by Riverhead Books. Copyright © 2023 by Coco Krumme. All rights reserved.

False Gods

California, they say, is where the highway ends and dreams come home to roost. When they say these things, their eyes ignite: startup riches, infinity pools, the Hollywood hills. The last thing on their minds, of course, is the town of Stockton.

Drive east from San Francisco and, if traffic cooperates, you’ll be there in an hour and a half or two, over the long span of slate‑colored bay, past the hulking loaders at Oakland’s port, skirting rich suburbs and sweltering orchards and the government labs in Livermore, the military depot in Tracy, all the way to where brackish bay waters meet the San Joaquin River, where the east‑west highways connect with Interstate 5, in a tangled web of introductions that ultimately pitches you either north toward Seattle or south to LA.

Or you might decide to stay in Stockton, spend the night. There’s a slew of motels along the interstate: La Quinta, Days Inn, Motel 6. Breakfast at Denny’s or IHOP. Stockton once had its place in the limelight as a booming gold‑rush supply point. In 2012, the city filed for bankruptcy, the largest US city until then to do so (Detroit soon bested it in 2013). First light reveals a town that’s neither particularly rich nor desperately poor, hitched taut between cosmopolitan San Francisco on one side and the agricultural central valley on the other, in the middle, indistinct, suburban, and a little sad.

This isn’t how the story was supposed to go. Optimization was supposed to be the recipe for a more perfect society. When John Stuart Mill aimed for the greater good, when Allen Gilmer struck out to map new pockets of oil, when Stan Ulam harnessed a supercomputer to tally possibilities: it was in service of doing more, and better, with less. Greater efficiency was meant to be an equilibrating force. We weren’t supposed to have big winners and even bigger losers. We weren’t supposed to have a whole sprawl of suburbs stuck in the declining middle.

We saw how overwrought optimizations can suddenly fail, and the breakdown of optimization as the default way of seeing the world can come about equally fast. What we face now is a disconnect between the continued promises of efficiency, the idea that we can optimize into perpetuity, and the reality all around: the imperfect world, the overbooked schedules, the delayed flights, the institutions in decline. And we confront the question: How can we square what optimization promised with what it’s delivered?

Sam Altman has the answer. In his mid-thirties, with the wiry, frenetic look of a college student, he’s a young man with many answers. Sam’s biography reads like a leaderboard of Silicon Valley tropes and accolades: an entrepreneur, upper‑middle‑class upbringing, prep school, Stanford Computer Science student, Stanford Computer Science dropout, where dropping out is one of the Valley’s top status symbols. In 2015, Sam was named a Forbes magazine top investor under age thirty. (That anyone bothers to make a list of investors in their teens and twenties says as much about Silicon Valley as about the nominees. Tech thrives on stories of overnight riches and the mythos of the boy genius.)

Sam is the CEO and cofounder, along with electric‑car‑and‑rocket‑ship‑magnate Elon Musk, of OpenAI, a company whose mission is “to ensure that artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity.” He is the former president of the Valley’s top startup incubator, Y Combinator, was interim CEO of Reddit, and is currently chairman of the board of two nuclear‑energy companies, Helion and Okto. His latest venture, Worldcoin, aims to scan people’s eyeballs in exchange for cryptocurrency. As of 2022, the company had raised $125 million of funding from Silicon Valley investors.

But Sam doesn’t rest on, or even mention, his laurels. In conversation, he is smart, curious, and kind, and you can easily tell, through his veneer of demure agreeableness, that he’s driven as hell. By way of introduction to what he’s passionate about, Sam describes how he used a spreadsheet to determine the seven or so domains in which he could make the greatest impact, based on weighing factors such as his own skills and resources against the world’s needs. Sam readily admits he can’t read emotions well, treats most conversations as logic puzzles, and not only wants to save the world but believes the world’s salvation is well within reach.

A 2016 profile in The New Yorker sums up Sam like this: “His great weakness is his utter lack of interest in ineffective people.”

Sam has, however, taken an interest in Stockton, California.

Stockton is the site of one of the most publicized experiments in Universal Basic Income (UBI), a policy proposal that grants recipients a fixed stipend, with no qualifications and no strings attached. The promise of UBI is to give cash to those who need it most and to minimize the red tape and special interests that can muck up more complex redistribution schemes. On Sam’s spreadsheet of areas where he’d have impact, UBI made the cut, and he dedicated funding for a group of analysts to study its effects in six cities around the country. While he’s not directly involved in Stockton, he’s watching closely. The Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration was initially championed by another tech wunderkind, Facebook cofounder Chris Hughes. The project gave 125 families $500 per month for twenty‑four months. A slew of metrics was collected in order to establish a causal relationship between the money and better outcomes.

UBI is nothing new. The concept of a guaranteed stipend has been suggested by leaders from Napoleon to Martin Luther King Jr. The contemporary American conception of UBI, however, has been around just a handful of years, marrying a utilitarian notion of societal perfectibility with a modern‑day faith in technology and experimental economics.

Indeed, economists were among the first to suggest the idea of a fixed stipend, first in the context of the developing world and now in America. Esther Duflo, a creative star in the field and Nobel Prize winner, is known for her experiments with microloans in poorer nations. She’s also unromantic about her discipline, embracing the concept of “economist as plumber.” Duflo argues that the purpose of economics is not grand theories so much as on‑the‑ground empiricism. Following her lead, the contemporary argument for UBI owes less to a framework of virtue and charity and much more to the cold language of an econ textbook. Its benefits are described in terms of optimizing resources, reducing inequality, and thereby maximizing societal payoff.

The UBI experiments under way in several cities, a handful of them funded by Sam’s organization, have data‑collection methods primed for a top‑tier academic publication. Like any good empiricist, Sam spells out his own research questions to me, and the data he’s collecting to test and analyze those hypotheses.

Several thousand miles from Sam’s Bay Area office, a different kind of program is in the works. When we speak by phone, Aisha Nyandoro bucks a little at my naive characterization of her work as UBI. “We don’t call it universal basic income,” she says. “We call it guaranteed income. It’s targeted. Invested intentionally in those discriminated against.” Aisha is the powerhouse founder of the Magnolia Mother’s Trust, a program that gives a monthly stipend to single Black mothers in Jackson, Mississippi. The project grew out of her seeing the welfare system fail miserably for the very people it purported to help. “The social safety net is designed to keep families from rising up. Keep them teetering on edge. It’s punitive paternalism. The ‘safety net’ that strangles.”

Bureaucracy is dehumanizing, Aisha says, because it asks a person to “prove you’re enough” to receive even the most basic of assistance. Magnolia Mother’s Trust is unique in that it is targeted at a specific population. Aisha reels off facts. The majority of low‑income women in Jackson are also mothers. In the state of Mississippi, one in four children live in poverty, and women of color earn 61 percent of what white men make. Those inequalities affect the community as a whole. In 2021, the trust gave $1,000 per month to one hundred women. While she’s happy her program is gaining exposure as more people pay attention to UBI, Aisha doesn’t mince words. “I have to be very explicit in naming race as an issue,” she says.

Aisha’s goal is to grow the program and provide cash, without qualifications, to more mothers in Jackson. Magnolia Mother’s Trust was started around the same time as the Stockton project, and the nomenclature of guaranteed income has gained traction. One mother in the program writes in an article in Ms. magazine, “Now everyone is talking about guaranteed income, and it started here in Jackson.” Whether or not it all traces back to Jackson, whether the money is guaranteed and targeted or more broadly distributed, what’s undeniable is that everyone seems to be talking about UBI.

Influential figures, primarily in tech and politics, have piled on to the idea. Jack Dorsey, the billionaire founder of Twitter, with his droopy meditation eyes and guru beard, wants in. In 2020, he donated $15 million to experimental efforts in thirty US cities.

And perhaps the loudest bullhorn for the idea has been wielded by Andrew Yang, another product of Silicon Valley and a 2020 US presidential candidate. Yang is an earnest guy, unabashedly dorky. Numbers drive his straight‑talking policy. Blue baseball caps for his campaign are emblazoned with one short word: MATH.

UBI’s proponents see the potential to simplify the currently convoluted American welfare system, to equilibrate an uneven playing field. By decoupling basic income from employment, it could free some people up to pursue work that is meaningful.

And yet the concept, despite its many proponents, has managed to draw ire from both ends of the political spectrum. Critics on the right see UBI as an extension of the welfare state, as further interference into free markets. Left‑leaning critics bemoan its “inefficient” distribution of resources: Why should high earners get as much as those below the poverty line? Why should struggling individuals get only just enough to keep them, and the capitalist system, afloat?

Detractors on both left and right default to the same language in their critiques: that of efficiency and maximizing resources. Indeed, the language of UBI’s critics is all too similar to the language of its proponents, with its randomized control trials and its view of society as a closed economic system. In the face of a disconnect between what optimization promised and what it delivered, the proposed solution involves more optimizing.

Why is this? What if we were to evaluate something like UBI outside the language of efficiency? We might ask a few questions differently. What if we relaxed the suggestion that dollars can be transformed by some or another equation into individual or societal utility? What if we went further than that and relaxed the suggestion of measuring at all, as a means of determining the “best” policy? What if we put down our calculators for a moment and let go of the idea that politics is meant to engineer an optimal society in the first place? Would total anarchy ensue?

Such questions are difficult to ask because they don’t sound like they’re getting us anywhere. It’s much easier, and more common, to tackle the problem head‑on. Electric‑vehicle networks such as Tesla’s, billed as an alternative to the centralized oil economy, seek to optimize where charging stations are placed, how batteries are created, how software updates are sent out — and by extension, how environmental outcomes take shape. Vitamins fill the place of nutrients leached out of foods by agriculture’s maximization of yields; these vitamins promise to optimize health. Vertical urban farming also purports to solve the problems of industrial agriculture, by introducing new optimizations in how light and fertilizers are delivered to greenhouse plants, run on technology platforms developed by giants such as SAP. A breathless Forbes article explains that the result of hydroponics is that “more people can be fed, less precious natural resources are used, and the produce is healthier and more flavorful.” The article nods only briefly to downsides, such as high energy, labor, and transportation costs. It doesn’t mention that many grains don’t lend themselves easily to indoor farming, nor the limitations of synthetic fertilizers in place of natural regeneration of soil.

In working to counteract the shortcomings of optimization, have we only embedded ourselves deeper? For all the talk of decentralized digital currencies and local‑maker economies, are we in fact more connected and centralized than ever? And less free, insofar as we’re tied into platforms such as Amazon and Airbnb and Etsy? Does our lack of freedom run deeper still, by dint of the fact that fewer and fewer of us know exactly what the algorithms driving these technologies do, as more and more of us depend on them? Do these attempts to deoptimize in fact entrench the idea of optimization further?

A 1952 novel by Kurt Vonnegut highlights the temptation, and also the threat, of de-optimizing. Player Piano describes a mechanized society in which the need for human labor has mostly been eliminated. The remaining workers are those engineers and managers whose purpose is to keep the machines online. The core drama takes place at a factory hub called Ilium Works, where “Efficiency, Economy, and Quality” reign supreme. The book is prescient in anticipating some of our current angst — and powerlessness — about optimization’s reach.

Paul Proteus is the thirty‑five‑year‑old factory manager of the Ilium Works. His father served in the same capacity, and like him, Paul is one day expected to take over as leader of the National Manufacturing Council. Each role at Ilium is identified by a number, such as R‑127 or EC‑002. Paul’s job is to oversee the machines.

At the time of the book’s publication, Vonnegut was a young author disillusioned by his experiences in World War II and disheartened as an engineering manager at General Electric. Ilium Works is a not‑so‑thinly‑veiled version of GE. As the novel wears on, Paul tries to free himself, to protest that “the main business of humanity is to do a good job of being human beings . . . not to serve as appendages to machines, institutions, and systems.” He seeks out the elusive Ghost Shirt Society with its conspiracies to break automation, he attempts to restore an old homestead with his wife. He tries, in other words, to organize a way out of the mechanized world.

His attempts prove to be in vain. Paul fails and ends up mired in dissatisfaction. The machines take over, riots ensue, everything is destroyed. And yet, humans’ love of mechanization runs deep: once the machines are destroyed, the janitors and technicians — a class on the fringes of society — quickly scramble to build things up again. Player Piano depicts the outcome of optimization as societal collapse and the collapse of meaning, followed by the flimsy rebuilding of the automated world we know.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/hitting-the-books-optimal-illusions-coco-krumme-riverhead-books-143012184.html?src=rss

The New York Police Department (NYPD) is implementing a new security measure at the Times Square subway station. It's deploying a security robot to patrol the premises, which authorities say is meant to "keep you safe." We're not talking about a RoboCop-like machine or any human-like biped robot — the K5, which was made by California-based company Knightscope, looks like a massive version of R2-D2. Albert Fox Cahn, the executive director of privacy rights group Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, has a less flattering description for it, though, and told The New York Times that it's like a "trash can on wheels."

K5 weighs 420 pounds and is equipped with four cameras that can record video but not audio. As you can guess from the image above, the machine also doesn't come with arms — it didn't quite ignore Mayor Eric Adams' attempt at making a heart. The robot will patrol the station from midnight until 6 AM throughout its trial run that's running over the next two months. But K5 won't be doing full patrols for a while, since it's spending its first two weeks mapping out the station and roaming only the main areas and not the platforms. 

It's not quite clear if NYPD's machine will be livestreaming its camera footage, and if law enforcement will be keeping an eye on what it captures. Adams said during the event introducing the robot that it will "record video that can be reviewed in case of an emergency or a crime." It apparently won't be using facial recognition, though Cahn is concerned that the technology could eventually be incorporated into the machine. Obviously, K5 doesn't have the capability to respond to actual emergencies in the station and can't physically or verbally apprehend suspects. The only real-time help it can provide people is to connect them to a live person to report an incident or to ask questions, provided they're able to press a button on the robot. 

NYC is leasing K5 for around $9 an hour for the next two months. The mayor sounds convinced that's worth what the robot can do even though, as The Times notes, he recently ordered several agencies to reduce spending by 15 percent. "This is below minimum wage," he said. "No bathroom breaks, no meal breaks." Adams has a history of supporting the use of machines as police tools. Earlier this year, the mayor also announced that the NYPD will acquire two Digidog robots for $750,000 each for use in hostage and other critical situations. That's quite a reversal from the NYPD's decision in 2021 to cancel its lease on what was then known as Boston Dynamics' Spot after facing backlash for its use.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/an-nypd-security-robot-will-be-patrolling-the-times-square-subway-station-130029937.html?src=rss

Tinder has officially rolled out its most exclusive subscription — “Tinder Select” — according to a report by Bloomberg. This elite pay-to-date tier will cost love seekers $500 per month (or $6,000 annually — apparently there are no bulk discounts to be found here) for access to unique features like exclusive search and matching.

This may sound ridiculous to the general public, and it may be why Tinder has decided to hold off on making the new tier available to everyone just yet. Tinder Select has only been offered to less than one percent of users the company considers “extremely active.” Tinder told Bloomberg that it will open up applications for Tinder Select on a rolling basis but it didn’t say exactly when. Tinder's exclusive membership was originally hinted at all the way back in 2019.

Tinder’s parent company, Match Group, reported that the app’s direct revenue raked in about $475 million in the second quarter of 2023, growing about six percent year over year. However, the number of people willing to pay for Tinder subscriptions declined four percent to 10.5 million. At a Citi conference in early September, Match Group President Gary Swidler said he thinks Tinder Select has the potential to have an impact on the company’s overall revenue.

Bloomberg/Match Group

Match Group has dabbled in exclusive dating apps like “The League,'' which it bought in 2022, so it's not too surprising that it's getting its flagship app into this space too. But if you're not up for that kind of commitment (if you even qualify) you can opt for other Tinder subscriptions — Plus, Gold, and Platinum, which have monthly memberships that start at $20, $30, and $40, respectively. Each tier provides different exclusive features (Platinum members, for instance, can message who they like before even matching.) 

Whether these paid versions will increase your personal odds of finding a partner is anyone's best guess. Thankfully, Tinder (and the majority of competitor dating apps) retain unpaid membership options, so those of us without $500 a month to burn can continue to get ghosted for free.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/you-can-find-love-on-tinder-for-500-a-month-if-you-qualify-for-its-elite-tier-213159522.html?src=rss

The Federal Trade Commission looks set to drag Amazon into another legal battle between the two sides. The agency is preparing to file an antitrust suit against Amazon as soon as next week, according to Bloomberg. Reuters reports that the FTC has sent a draft complaint to attorneys general in an attempt to get as many states as possible on board with its case.

The details of the long-awaited legal challenge are not known as yet. It's anticipated that the FTC will take aim at Amazon Prime, as well as claims that Amazon pushes third-party sellers to use its logistics and advertising services. The FTC is also said to believe that Amazon has rules to prevent products from being sold for less on rival platforms, which could be a factor in the suit (California has sued Amazon over that alleged practice).

The FTC has been scrutinizing Amazon for several years. If it files suit next week, that will mark the fourth action it has taken against the company this year. In May, the agency sued Amazon over children's privacy concerns related to Alexa and claims that it was snooping on Ring users. Amazon paid a totalof $30.8 million to quickly settle charges in both cases.

The following month, the FTC filed another complaint against Amazon, this time claiming that the company coerced people into signing up for a Prime subscription then making it difficult for them to cancel. That case is still ongoing. This week, the agency added three Amazon executives as defendants. It claims those individuals rebuffed pleas from Amazon employees to stop using deceptive tactics to trick people into signing up for a recurring payment through Prime.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-ftc-may-file-an-antitrust-lawsuit-against-amazon-as-soon-as-next-week-194524903.html?src=rss

From alarming questions about Elon Musk’s role in Ukraine’s war effort, to new details about his complicated personal life, there has been no shortage of bombshells from Walter Isaacson’s recently released biography of Elon Musk.

The book covers his childhood in South Africa, as well as his business dealings, from his first startup to Tesla, SpaceX and Neuralink. Perhaps unsurprisingly, more than a quarter of the book is devoted to Twitter.

Isaacson spent two years with Musk and thus had a front-row seat to his takeover of Twitter, beginning with his move to become a major stakeholder last spring. While much of the drama that unfolded at Twitter (now, X) over the last year and half has been well-documented, Isaacson’s account adds telling — and at times bizarre — new details about how it all went down.

Musk almost immediately regretted his decision to buy Twitter

Isaacson describes Musk’s initial bid to buy Twitter as impulsive — the result of one of his frequent “manic” moods. And he writes that Musk regretted the plan almost immediately after the deal was put in motion — both because he thought he was overpaying, and because he was so unimpressed with Twitter’s former leadership. Musk later admits, more than once, that he bought the company because he didn’t have a choice.

“I don’t know why I did it,” he says two weeks after the deal finally closed. “The judge basically said that I have to buy Twitter or else, and now I’m like, okay, shit.”

The main motivation for increasing Twitter Blue subscriptions

We already know that Musk wants to bring banking and payments features to X, but the book makes it clear that those ambitions are very much intertwined with his push for Twitter Blue (now called X Premium) subscriptions. Isaacson writes that Musk was so focused on Twitter Blue because he saw it as a way to “get a user’s credit card information into the system, enabling Twitter someday to become the broader financial-services and payments platform.”

However, the plan was somewhat derailed by Apple, as most of Twitter’s subscribers signed up via its iPhone app, and Apple doesn’t share user data, like credit card and other financial details, with app makers. Incredibly, upon learning of this, Musk instructed Yoel Roth, Twitter’s former head of trust and safety, to “just call Apple and tell them to give you the data you need.” Roth, realizing that such a request would not go over well with Apple, declined to make the call.

Musk would later meet with Tim Cook amid a separate dispute related to Twitter’s iOS app, but, according to Isaacson, Musk opted not to bring up the user data issue. But it underscores just how important financial data is to his vision to make X an “everything app.”

Musk tried to ban the ADL and other activists in 2022

Musk often portrays himself as a noble defender of free speech, but even a sympathetic biographer is quick to point out all the ways Musk put his interests ahead of free speech after acquiring Twitter.

Months before Musk would boost the #BanTheADL hashtag, he wanted to ban the group and other activists for urging advertisers to boycott the platform, Isaacson writes. Musk apparently went to Yoel Roth, twitter’s former head of trust and safety, and demanded he “stop users from urging advertisers to boycott Twitter.”

Musk then tried to ad lib a new policy to justify what would have been an unprecedented ban. “I’m changing Twitter policy right now … blackmail is prohibited as of right now. Ban it. Ban them,” Musk said. Roth deflected and Musk apparently dropped the issue.

Musk flip-flopped on whether to restore Donald Trump’s account

Despite joking to his sons that he was buying Twitter to help Trump get reelected, Musk is no fan of Trump, according to Isaacson.

“I want to avoid the bullshit disputes about Trump,” Musk had told me a few weeks earlier, emphasizing that his principle had always been to allow free speech only if it was within the bounds of the law. “If he’s engaged in criminal activity — and it seems increasingly that he has — that’s not okay,” Musk said. “It’s not free speech to subvert democracy.”

Musk, of course, would change his mind and decide that a Twitter poll was a better way to decide the issue. Isaacson doesn’t speculate on a reason for the reversal other than saying he was in a “feisty mood” that day.

How the “hardcore Twitter” pledge came about

In the several weeks following his chaotic takeover of Twitter, Musk laid off thousands of Twitter workers. Isaacson sheds new light on how these decisions were made, writing that Musk tapped his two first cousins and their close friend — all of whom worked at Musk’s other companies — to help him identify who should be cut.

Around this time, one of the more infamous stories to come out of Twitter was an online form sent to the remaining staffers, giving them two days to commit to the new “hardcore” version of the company. According to Isaacson, the form was inspired by one of Musk’s cousins, who after digging through Twitter employees’ public Slack messages, “suggested to Musk that he give employees the chance to opt out.” Musk later decided to make the form opt-in, rather than opt-out. “We want people who declare they are hardcore.”

What really happened to Twitter’s servers

Last December, Musk decided to move thousands of Twitter servers from a data center in Sacremento to a facility in Oregon in order to save money. But when Twitter engineers said the move would take at least six months, Musk grew angry, saying he felt like the “head-explosion emoji.”

Then, two days before Christmas, Musk made an impromptu visit to the Sacramento facility and declared moving the servers didn’t “seem super hard.” By the next day, Christmas Eve, Musk had tapped his cousins and others to start the move. The group began rolling the 2,500-pound server racks, which contained “totally critical data” onto a Oregon-bound moving truck. Twitter’s rules required servers with user data to be wiped before such a move, but Musk opted to use Apple AirTags and store-bought padlocks to secure them instead.

Ultimately, all of the servers were relocated within weeks, rather than the several months the company’s engineers originally estimated. But the move also caused months of instability within Twitter’s systems. This resulted in a number of issues, including a disastrous live stream with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who was almost unable to announce his presidential bid.

The hasty move has also attracted the scrutiny of the FTC, which is investigating X over a number of privacy and data related issues. Recently revealed court documents refer directly to the incident as an example of the company failing to follow its own security policies.

Musk’s obsession with a mobile strategy game called Polytopia

The book is filled with details about Musk’s personal relationships. But one of the more bizarre details is his long-running obsession with a mobile strategy game called The Battle of Polytopia that many of his confidantes say is key to understanding him. Musk is apparently so addicted to the game that at one point in the narrative he skips a meeting with Tesla managers so he can keep playing.

Musk is so obsessed that he’s roped much of his inner circle, including Grimes, his brother Kimbal and Shivon Zilis, the Neuralink executive with whom he has twins, into playing as well. All of them eventually deleted the game, with his brother Kimbal saying it was “destroying” his marriage. Musk, on the other hand, deleted the app from his phone but, a couple months later, opted to keep playing.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/what-the-elon-musk-biography-revealed-about-his-tumultuous-twitter-takeover-184548188.html?src=rss

Eagle-eyed visitors to Samsung's Argentinian website have spotted something a little unexpected — a product page for new Galaxy Buds FE earbuds, along with images of a Galaxy S23 FE smartphone and Galaxy Tab S9 FE tablet. That's because the company leaked its latest Fan Edition devices, as noted by SamMobile. One of the smartphone images includes the date October 4 on the device, which could be a nod toward the announcement or a release date.

The company hasn't let slip any specs for the phone and tablet as yet. However, the Galaxy S23 FE and Galaxy Tab S9 FE were reportedly mentioned by name on the page. This is about as close as Samsung can get to a formal announcement without a press release or an Unpacked.

The product page (which Samsung has taken down) did mention some details about the Galaxy Buds FE, Samsung's first Fan Edition earbuds. They're slated to have a single 12mm driver, three microphones in each earbud to bolster the active noise cancellation function and a three-way speaker.

Samsung's Fan Editiondevices have proven popular over the years. They tend to pack in solid features for a more reasonable price than the company's flagship models. It's safe to imagine that quite a few people will be looking forward to snapping up this year's FE devices.

While the leak appears to have been an error, we can't count out the possibility that Samsung deliberately showed off the latest FE devices before an official announcement. Major hardware companies are all jostling for your attention around this time of year. Just before Apple revealed the iPhone 15 lineup last week, Google dropped some teasers for its Pixel 8 and Pixel Watch 2 devices — Google's Pixel event isn't until October. So, Samsung may have been looking for headlines with a purposeful leak here (in which case, it evidently worked).

The more likely scenario is that it's another unintentional slip up for the company. It's probably not quite as bad or as damaging as this week's massive Xbox leak, but you'd think Samsung would know better by now in any case.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/samsung-leaks-its-upcoming-fan-edition-devices-including-a-phone-tablet-and-earbuds-172156048.html?src=rss

Amazon has a half-off deal for Prime members on a Blink outdoor / indoor security camera bundle. The sale gives you a pair of Blink Outdoor 4 cameras, which launched last month, and a Blink Mini for only $117.49. Whether these are your first security cameras or you’re adding to an existing setup, this is a chance to save 50 percent off their usual cost.

The Blink Outdoor 4 is a wireless device that, despite its name, can work as an inside or outside camera. It supports person detection, which uses computer vision to alert you when it spots a human in its field of view (if you also subscribe to an optional Blink subscription). The camera offers 1080p HD video, infrared night vision, two-way audio and enhanced dual-zone motion detection. Its bundled AA batteries can last up to an estimated two years. Also included is the Blink Sync Module 2, required for offline storage (if you bring your own USB drive).

Meanwhile, the Blink Mini is the company’s classic entry-level indoor camera. The wired device also records and streams in 1080p. It includes motion detection, two-way audio and night vision. It also requires a Blink subscription to save clips in the cloud, but, like the Outdoor 4, the Blink Mini also supports offline storage if you connect a USB drive to the Sync Module 2.

Remember that the deal is only available for Amazon Prime members. And it only lasts until midnight Pacific time.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-prime-members-can-get-a-blink-camera-bundle-for-half-off-164520041.html?src=rss

Not everyone needs an NVIDIA RTX 4080, or a blazing fast 500Hz screen. These days, you can find plenty of affordable gaming notebooks that can easily hit decent frame rates in modern games. Cheaper machines are ideal for high school or college students who don't need the absolute best performance, but still want a solid gaming experience. And they're also great options for younger gamers, who, in our view, may not be ready for the responsibility of a premium, $2,000 notebook.

What is a budget gaming laptop?

To get a high-end gaming experience, you can easily spend $5,000 on a fully tricked-out notebook like the Razer Blade 18. But when it comes to the best budget gaming laptops, we're focusing on the other end of the pricing spectrum: laptops under $1,000. It used to be tough to find a decent gaming option at that price point but, as PC prices have fallen, they no longer seem like unicorns.

Stepping up a bit to systems between $1,000 and $2,000 puts you firmly in mid-range territory, which is beyond the scope of this guide. Still, it's worth keeping an eye out for sales that can push those PCs below $1,000. Be sure to check out our guide to the best gaming laptops for a general overview of what to look out for in these more expensive systems.

Are budget gaming laptops worth it?

Cheap gaming laptops are definitely worth it if you’re trying to save money and are being realistic about what you can get at this price range. You can expect to find Intel and AMD's latest (but not greatest) CPUs, as well as entry-level GPUs like NVIDIA's RTX 3050. Budget models are also typically paired with 1080p screens running at 120Hz or beyond. There are some exceptions though: Dell's G16 (currently discounted to $900) is notable for its 16-inch quad HD+ screen.

Many cheap gaming laptops also skimp on specs like RAM and storage. We'd recommend getting at least 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. Modern games need a decent chunk of memory to run, and they also tend to be large, so you wouldn't be able to fit much alongside Windows 11 on a 256B SSD. You might be tempted to jump on one of those dirt-cheap gaming laptop deals from Walmart or Best Buy, but it's just not worth it if you're stuck with 8GB of RAM or a tiny SSD.

As for build quality, expect to find more plastic than metal on budget systems. Still, the best cheap gaming laptops we're recommending should be sturdy enough to last a few years. Affordable systems will also be heavier and thicker than mid-range and premium models, and they typically don't have great battery life. These are worthwhile trade offs if you're looking to save money, though, and even the priciest gaming laptops struggle with battery life.

Best overall: Dell G15

Dell was one of the first PC makers to combine a decent amount of gaming power in a sub-$1,000 system. The latest G15 builds on that experience. It starts at $800 with Intel's 13th-gen i5-13450HX, an RTX 3050 GPU and 8GB of RAM. We'd recommend bumping up to the $1,000 model with 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD and a 165Hz 1080p screen with NVIDIA's G-SYNC technology.

While it's no Alienware, the G15 carries over some of that premium brand's design cues with a sharp, angular case and LED-backlit keys. There's a distinct lack of gamer bling, which for some may also be a plus. If you're looking for something larger, consider the 16-inch screen version mentioned above (which, funny enough, is also slightly lighter than the G15).

Runner-up: Acer Nitro 5

The Acer Nitro 5 is another great option, though we've yet to see it get Intel's 13th-gen chips. Still, the 12th-gen model is no slouch: It's equipped with 16GB of RAM, NVIDIA's RTX 3050 and 512GB of storage. (At the time of writing, it's also on sale for $800 at Best Buy, though it typically sells for $1,000.)

Just like Dell, Acer has plenty of experience building gaming laptops, so this will likely survive years of extreme play. The Nitro 5's multi-colored backlit keyboard and rear red accents also give off a stronger gamer vibe than the G15. Side note: Acer's Nitro 16 may also be worth considering if it dips below $1,000, since it features newer CPUs and GPUs.

A more understated option: HP Victus 15

The HP Victus 15 is the ideal gaming laptop for someone who doesn't want to be seen with a gaming laptop. Its all-black design is wonderfully understated, and its edge-to-edge screen is impressive for such an affordable system. It also has enough power to handle today's games, including an AMD Ryzen 7 CPU, NVIDIA's RTX 3050 Ti graphics, 16GB of RAM and a 144Hz 1080p display. And best of all, it's almost always on sale somewhere. In fact, at the time of writing, it's $828 on Amazon.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-budget-gaming-laptop-130004199.html?src=rss

The Ayaneo Slide is one step closer to becoming a real, in-your-hands device, with the launch of its Indiegogo holding page. The company first announced the Ayaneo Slide back in January and initially set a release date for the second quarter of 2023.

The Slide's shape is reminiscent of an early 2000s favorite, the Sidekick, giving it a real boost for nostalgia seekers. It has a six-inch 1080p floating screen with an adjustable angle for viewing preference. Ayaneo claims the keyboard has an ergonomic design and can display a range of light effects.

Its system is based on the Ryzen 7000 mobile APUs, utilizes a 46.2Wh battery and has a Hall sensing joystick and trigger — plus a master controller. The Slide also has the company's updated frontend, AyaSpace 2, which upgraded the interface, quick settings window and gameplay customization. Hyper Sound stereo dual speakers and a customized heat dissipation system round out its primary features, but a promotional video details the Slide's many functions.

An actual release date and cost for the Ayaneo Slide are still up in the air, with a call out on Indiegogo stating, "Sign up to get early-bird price on launch day!" Of course, a disclaimer adds that you'll also get updates and news from Ayaneo in the meantime. Once out in the world, the Ayaneo Slide will face some serious competition between rivals like the GPD Win 4 and Valve's ever-popular Steam Deck. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ayaneo-slide-the-sidekick-of-gaming-handhelds-is-coming-soon-145500588.html?src=rss

Solo Stove makes some of the best pizza ovens and other outdoor gear around, and thanks to some sitewide coupons, you can pick up the company's products for less than usual. Use SAVE20 to get $20 off purchases over $125, SAVE40 to get $40 off anything over $350 and SAVE100 to lower the price by $100 if you're buying something over $550. The codes should work with any fit pits, bundles, pizza ovens or other products on the Solo Stove storefront.

Best of all, the coupons stack on top of other discounts. Case in point: the Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 has dropped by $150 down to $250, and you can save an extra $20 by using the SAVE20 discount code.

The Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 is a smokeless fire pit you can use to help you stay warm, toast marshmallows and enjoy the outdoors more. Now that we're officially into fall, it's the kind of product that could help you make the most of the cooler evenings. In fact, the Bonfire 2.0 is among our favorite outdoor tech items for the fall. It's Solo Stove's medium-sized fire pit and the removable base plate and ash pan make it much easier to clean than the previous model.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/solo-stoves-sitewide-coupons-give-you-up-to-an-extra-100-off-140545319.html?src=rss

Enlarge / Road blockade due to Nipah affected areas at Chathamangalam panjayat on September 8, 2021, in Kozhikode, India. (credit: DeFodi Images News / Getty)

On the morning of September 11, critical care specialist Anoop Kumar was presented with an unusual situation. Four members of the same family had been admitted to his hospital—Aster MIMS in Kozhikode, Kerala—the previous day, all similarly sick. Would he take a look?

He gathered his team of doctors to investigate. Soon they were at the bedsides of a 9-year-old boy, his 4-year-old sister, their 24-year-old uncle, and a 10-month-old cousin. All had arrived at the hospital with fever, cough, and flu-like symptoms. The 9-year-old was in respiratory distress, struggling to breathe properly, and had needed to be put on a noninvasive ventilator, with air pumped through a mask to keep his lungs expanded.

Their symptoms were concerning and mysterious—none of the team could pinpoint what was wrong. But delving into their family history, Anoop and his colleagues soon uncovered a clue. The father of the two young siblings, 49-year-old Mohammed Ali, an agriculturalist, had died less than two weeks previously. And when the team at Aster MIMS got in touch with the hospital that had treated Ali, they found that he had been admitted with similar symptoms, pneumonia and fever.

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Enlarge / Scientists created this mosaic of asteroid Bennu using imagery collected by NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. The asteroid spans about 1,600 feet (500 meters) across.

A NASA spacecraft will complete a round-trip journey to an asteroid this weekend, returning to Earth after a seven-year voyage to bring back unspoiled rock specimens from an alien world that could yield insights into the formation of life.

The landing Sunday at 8:55 am local time in Utah (10:55 am EDT or 14:55 UTC) will wrap up a round-trip journey of 4.4 billion miles (7.1 billion kilometers) for NASA's robotic OSIRIS-REx mission. The return will set into motion another sequence of tightly choreographed events to secure the asteroid sample capsule, fly it halfway across the country to a NASA facility at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, then open it up to reveal the bounty inside.

"The spacecraft trajectory and performance have just been spot on," said Sandra Freund, OSIRIS-REx's program manager at Lockheed Martin, the company that built and operates the spacecraft on behalf of NASA. "We have just a few remaining steps before we have Bennu samples on the ground."

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Enlarge / An intensive care nurse cares for a patient suffering from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), who is being ventilated in the children's intensive care unit of the Olga Hospital of the Stuttgart Clinic in Germany. (credit: Getty | picture alliance)

A Pfizer vaccine designed to protect newborns and infants from severe RSV illness won a recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Friday—but only for seasonal use.

The vaccine is Pfizer’s bivalent RSVpreF vaccine, called Abrysvo, and is administered to pregnant people late in gestation, between 32 and 36 weeks.

RSV, or respiratory syncytial (sin-SISH-uhl) virus, is the leading cause of hospitalization for infants in the US. Each year, 1.5 million children seek out-patient care for RSV, with 58,000 to 80,000 ending up in the hospital and 100 to 300 tragically dying from the infection.

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Enlarge / The Pixel 7 Pro camera layout. Between the first two lenses, you can make out sensors for laser autofocus and a color sensor.

Here's a fun new use for your Android phone: A PC webcam! In the latest Android beta, plugging a phone into a PC will reveal a new option in the USB Preferences menu for webcam functionality. Just pick that option instead of the default "file transfer," and the phone camera will register itself as a webcam. Then you can fire up Zoom and start video calling.

The Android build with this feature is "Android 14 QPR1 Beta 1." Android's getting confusing with all these overlapping betas, but the current stable version is still Android 13. Android 14, currently on its 10th beta/developer preview, will most likely be out alongside the Pixel 8 in October. Android 14 QPR1 is the quarterly release after the first stable build of Android 14, and it should be out around December. (QPR stands for quarterly platform release.) These happen between major releases, often marketed as "feature drops." Right now, Android 13 is technically "Android 13 QPR3."

Android's 14 QPR1's webcam settings. (credit: Ron Amadeo)

Android is technically copying this feature from iOS. In Apple land, this is called the "Continuity Camera," and will work wirelessly between an iPhone and a Mac, which is pretty cool. As usual, the Android version is much more flexible since the feature presents as a generic USB webcam. It should work on almost everything, like Windows, Mac, Chrome OS, and probably Linux. You can even plug an Android phone into another Android phone and use the first phone's camera as the webcam for the second phone.

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Enlarge / All the colors of the new iPhone 15. (credit: Apple)

Today marks the in-store launch of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro, plus the likely delivery date for at least the earliest preorders. Preorders went live a week ago, on September 15.

You'll be waiting for a while if you want the Pro model and didn't preorder, though.

In Chicago, delivery dates for new orders of the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max from the online Apple store are currently estimated to be between October 23 and 30—more than a month from now. Next-day in-store pickup is still a possibility for most configurations, except for the 1TB iPhone 15 Pro Max.

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Enlarge / Still no safeword in Tel'aran'rhiod, Rand. (credit: Amazon Studios)

Andrew Cunningham and Lee Hutchinson have spent decades of their lives with Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson's Wheel of Time books, and they previously brought that knowledge to bear as they recapped each first season episode of Amazon's new WoT TV series. Now they're doing it again for season two—along with insights, jokes, and the occasional wild theory. These recaps won't cover every element of every episode, but they will contain major spoilers for the show and the book series. We're going to do our best to not spoil major future events from the books, but there's always the danger that something might slip out. If you want to stay completely unspoiled and haven't read the books, these recaps aren't for you.

New episodes of The Wheel of Time season two will be posted for Amazon Prime subscribers every Friday. This write-up covers episode six, which was released on September 22.

Andrew: As usual for an episode of Wheel of Time, this one does a bunch of things and goes a bunch of places, but the episode's centerpiece will be very familiar to book readers: Egwene's capture by the Seanchan.

The Seanchan believe that channelers are too dangerous to be left to their own devices. They're captured and leashed and generally treated as beloved pets at best or monsters at worst. Egwene's capture and torment in the books is a cornerstone of her character, and this episode is tough to watch in places. It’s also one of the first times that the show's version of events is clearly more effective and impactful for me than the version in the books—the benefit of doing things in a visual medium.

High Lord Turak and the Seanchan, opening for GWAR this weekend at The Gasworks!

Lee: Oh yeah, absolutely—this episode definitely ratchets things up a notch or five. No more Bel Tine presents for Egwene or dancing with Aram—it's straight-up torture time, courtesy of our friends from beyond the western sea. We will likely (eventually) learn at least the broad outlines of Seanchan culture, but the important bit is the one we're being shown right off the bat: to the Seanchan, channelers are sub-human. "You are not a woman," Egwene is told. "You are a damane."

Egwene spends the episode trapped in a cell—in "the kennels," as they're called—learning about all the quirks and features of the Seanchan a'dam. It would be fascinating if it weren't so gruesome and awful. The a'dam's creator (an Aes Sedai, though we hear much more about her in the books) seems to have put considerable effort into thinking of all the potential ways a damane might fight back and then programmed around them. The a'dam can't be removed by the damane. The damane cannot touch the wristband control leash, even if it's not being held by anyone. The device even prevents the damane from touching other objects that the damane perceives to be weapons—which is just downright insidious, because it turns new damane into active participants in their own breaking. Egwene cannot even pick up a water pitcher to drink, because she can't stop thinking about smashing the sul'dam's head with it. She only gets to drink water after she has convinced herself that she won't attack the Seanchan.

It's rough. It's really rough. In between the put on the glasses pour the water scenes, we get to see Egwene convulsing repeatedly as she fights with the a’dam—so much so that she ruptures blood vessels in both eyes. And this takes up about half the episode.

As you point out, though, this is an absolute cornerstone of Egwene's character. It's the honing that will shape her into—well, into what she eventually becomes. (It's not a spoiler, I don't think, to say that the POV characters of an epic fantasy series all have Important Destinies laid on them, and Egwene wouldn't be able to inhabit the role—roles, even—she ends up having to inhabit without this shaping.)

Things are not going great for Egwene. (credit: Amazon Studios)

Andrew: My "this is true to the books" brain appreciates these scenes a lot but there is a fine line to walk; Game of Thrones became infamous for how frequently it brutalized its female characters. This almost always took the form of sexual assault, perpetrated by men in positions of power against women who lacked it. Wheel of Time hasn't gone to that well, and if it stays in any way true to the events and themes of the books, it won't. But it's something I hope the show is conscious of.

Moving on to other characters, we get a good bit of Mat and Min for the first time in a couple of episodes. Show-Min has made a deal with the devil (one of them, anyway) to bring Mat back into Rand's orbit, because Min has had a vision that Mat will kill Rand, and Ishamael has a vested interest in Rand being dead. Mat and Rand meet and have a genuinely touching reunion here, and I'll say I also think the show is handling their relationship a bit better than the books here. Book-Mat, especially at this stage in the story before we had ever entered his perspective, is honestly just kind of a dick?

Maybe it's because he picked up a dagger that makes him permanently suspicious of everyone around him, but his response to finding out what is going on with Rand is not to help him but to be a distant jerk. Of all the things not to like about the books, you almost never get a good sense of Rand and Mat and Perrin as actual friends rather than People Whose Fates Are Intertwined By Destiny. We're told that they're friends. Their actions usually imply some degree of loyalty to one another. But very rarely do you just get to see two dudes have a hug and a beer because they're genuinely happy to see one another.

Lee: We do indeed have yet to hear any one of the Two Rivers Bros lament that the other Two Rivers Bros are so much better with the ladies, if nothing else. I do wish that the show had time to let that friendship breathe a little more, but alas. And where is that dagger, anyway? I know where it's supposed to be in the books at this point—I don't want to say, in case it spoils something for someone, but it's addressed early on in The Great Hunt and in fact is one of the things that is being hunted for by our main characters—but I can't recall if we've seen where it currently is in the show.

I want to spend a moment on Rand and Logain, too—if for nothing else than to call out the first on-screen image of someone playing "stones," the in-universe name for what we'd recognize as Go. Stones is a game played in Randland by intellectuals and generals, and it's a given that if you see a character playing stones, that character is supposed to be super smart and brilliant and possibly an authorial self-insert. ("Take a shot every time someone is playing stones" is almost as popular a casual WoT drinking game as "Take a shot every time Nynaeve tugs her braid" or—my personal favorite—"Take a shot every time someone says something about the Dark One's taint.")

Logain is once again brought in to teach Rand—but really, to teach us—how channeling works for men. (I hope we still get you-know-who teaching Rand later, but Logain is definitely stepping into that other fellow's shoes here.) In a nice little compact scene, the false Dragon manages to teach the true Dragon three important science facts about the One Power: women "surrender" to saidar, but men "seize" saidin; if you take too much in, you'll burn yourself out; and that Rand is incredibly powerful, capable of doing "anything" and fighting "anyone."

Upon releasing the source, Rand then learns a bonus #4 fact: the Dark One's corruption suffuses saidin. The book makes it sound like channeling the corrupted male half of the power is sort of like railing ultra-heroin while simultaneously chugging down raw sewage, and when Rand releases the source, he also releases his lunch. Ew.

"UNLIMITED POWER!!!!" (credit: Amazon Studios)

Andrew: Yeah, the show has visually referenced the Dark One's taint (on saidin! His taint on saidin!) before, back when Logain could still channel. Women get to weave sparkly strands of light and men have to channel this inky black stuff. But now Rand is getting a big dose of it for the first time and it doesn't go great for him. Rand's sanity and the degree to which he is still "himself" will become major concerns.

The show's treatment of what happens to channelers after they can no longer channel is still pretty inconsistent with the books; former channelers in the books are no more capable of seeing weaves or teaching a channeler than a non-channeler would be, but Logain is still fully aware of what Rand is doing and what he can do.

On that topic, let's talk about something I am less enthusiastic about: we're at episode six, and I'm still not really sure where Moiraine or Lan's plotlines are going, and the decision to take Moiraine's channeling ability away and have her spend half the season sniping with her sister in their big stuffy house just feels like it was done so both Moiraine and Lan could mark time while things happened to the other characters. Maybe something stunningly explosive will come from it, and I am glad to see that Siuan Sanche is back in the action, but give me "scenes of Rand bargaining with Lanfear in the dream world" or "scenes of Nynaeve and Elayne trying to save their friend while doing some true-to-the-book bickering" over "scenes of a woman trying to write a letter while her nephew gives her a sandwich."

Lee: But Barthanes Damodred makes the best sandwiches. Moiraine said so and Aes Sedai cannot lie.

Yeah, I agree that parts of the season feel kind of interminable, in spite of how bloody short it is. I too could have done with maybe a bit less Moiraine-arguing-with-her-sister and also a bit less of whatever the hell it is Lan has been doing with Alanna and the Funky Bunch, but I've been pretty happy with the World of Dreams bits.

Speaking of, I want to ask a question that my wife and I both feel pretty unified on: when Lanfear banished Ishamael from Rand's dreams, was she really banishing him? Because it seems much more Lanfear-like for that entire bit to have simply been Lanfear conjuring and then de-conjuring an imaginary Dream Ishy. It seems like the kind of thing she'd do.

Perfection. (credit: Amazon Studios)

Andrew: OK, so, hear me out—I think it's really Ishamael, and it's because of a super subtle but-obviously-meant-to-be-noticed thing about how he appears in the World of Dreams.

Look at scenes early in the episode where Ishamael is communicating with Min in her dreams. Occasionally he "freezes," like you would on a Zoom call where Your Internet Connection Is Unstable. In the scene where he's tormenting Rand before Lanfear sends him away, he's doing the same thing. The visions Rand is getting from Ishamael occasionally freeze-and-jump in the same kind of way, something I thought was just a way to creep out the viewer until you made me start thinking about it.

But Lanfear, someone known for her mastery of the World of Dreams, doesn't move like this. I think the show is trying to use this to communicate that Ishamael can operate in the world of dreams, but he's not particularly adept at controlling it, and he can easily be booted by someone more talented than he is.

It does seem Lanfear-ish to try to earn Rand's trust this way, by constructing a scenario that makes her seem more trustworthy. But remember, book-Lanfear is the one who hooked Rand up with his book-channeling teacher. She's got her own motivations and delusions of grandeur, and the Forsaken often work at cross-purposes.

Lee: Ahhh, that is an excellent catch—I'd noticed Ishy's freezing but hadn't made the link to it maybe being tied to his World of Dreams mastery level. And Ishamael & Lanfear are already colluding, as we saw last episode, so it's not like Lanfear having Ishamael stop by Rand's dream for a minute so she can "vanquish" him would be a difficult ask. Hell, having Ishamael in on the deal would fit pretty well with both his and Lanfear’s plans—at least for now. Good call.

One way or another, though, Rand just can't catch a break. He finds Mat again, but rather than leaving town with Rand to escape, he chooses to heed Min's warning and stay away. Rand then decides to depart Cairhien on his own but gets stopped by Lan and Alanna. What are they going to do with him?

Our answer lies in the arrival of the Amyrlin Seat and fourteen other Aes Sedai (including several familiar faces, like Liandrin and Verin). A similar situation plays out in the novel—Rand delays leaving Shienar for too long and gets stuck having to talk to the Amyrlin, recently arrived in the Borderlands with her retinue. Here, it looks like Rand delayed leaving Cairhien for too long and is stuck having to do the exact same thing. The Amyrlin and Moraine are old schemers when it comes to the subject of the Dragon Reborn, so the plots are all twisting back together. (As they should, since next week is the season's penultimate episode.)

Andrew: I'd talk to someone for a long time about the process of adapting this season. Season one was, for all its departures, more or less a heavily compressed version of The Eye of the World with a bunch of stuff cut for time. For season two, it's like they wrote every single plot from book two (and parts of three) on a big whiteboard and then Tetris'd the story blocks around over and over again, shaving them down until they would fit in the amount of space that the show had to give. As different as the show seems to be, you're always running into recognizable bits, just moved around and recontextualized.

It certainly seems like most of our heroes are converging on Cairhien, before what I'm assuming will be a cataclysmic season-ending confrontation in Falme.

That's where Nynaeve and Elayne are still camped out, trying to figure out how to free Egwene and any of the other Aes Sedai-affiliated channelers who have been captured by the Seanchan. Nynaeve and Elayne are very true to their book-selves here as "powerful women who respect each other but would basically never hang out if they weren't both friends with the same person." Right now, it's on them to free Egwene and expose Liandrin, who just happens to be part of the Amyrlin's posse in Cairhien.

It does seem like the show is going to be less patient than the books about resolving Nynaeve's "block," where she can only channel under specific emotionally heightened circumstances. Leave it to Ryma (Nyokabi Gethaiga), a member of the healing-focused Yellow Ajah, to break it down in terms Nynaeve can understand: when someone is hurt, you don't decide to help them, you just help them.

Ryma and Elayne try to probe the a'dam while Nynaeve prepares to screw everything up. (credit: Amazon Studios)

Lee: That's a solid characterization of Nynaeve and Elayne's relationship. My wife said that Nynaeve calls Elayne "princess" with about the same level of contempt that Han uses with Leia in Empire Strikes Back. And poor Ryma—she'll now be joining Egwene and Maigan (the former Blue sitter, played by Sandy McDade) in the kennels.

Your description of playing Tetris with the plots is also spot on—that feels exactly like what's happening. I like some of it, and I don't like some of it, but I don't think I'd be able to do any better as a writer if faced with the same length and episode count constraints as the show is having to operate under. If there is a villain here, it's not really the Seanchan, or the Forsaken, or even the Dark One himself—it's whatever bean counters in the programming department decided on those constraints. (There is an obvious "a'dam around the neck of the show" metaphor that I could draw here, but I won't. Though I guess I just did.) Regardless, we're reviewing the show we've been given to work with, rather than the longer show we perhaps wish we had.

I have one additional note from my wife that I need to read into the record: "Ingtar has better smoky eye than Lanfear and Egwene's sul'dam put together." No argument from me there.

Anything else from your notebook, Andrew, or have we reached the end for this week?

Andrew: "Wheel of Time? More like Wheel of Prime!" Lee: Hah, yes, I suppose that does mean we are indeed done for this week. With only two episodes left, I'm expecting a lot of big things very soon. Big important things. Big important giant flaming things, in the sky. Because it would be silly to show us a horn in act one and not have someone blow it by act three, right?

We'll see you back here next Friday. Until then, may you all find water and shade.

(credit: WoT Wiki)

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Enlarge (credit: YouTube/Amazon Prime)

Next year, watching TV shows and movies on Amazon Prime Video without ads will cost more than it does now. In early 2024, Amazon will show ads with Prime Video content unless you pay $2.99 extra.

Amazon announced today that Prime Video users in the US, Canada, Germany, and the UK will automatically start seeing advertisements "in early 2024." Subscribers will receive a notification email "several weeks" in advance, at which point they can opt to pay $2.99 extra for ad-free Prime Video, Amazon said.

That takes the price of ad-free Prime Video from $8.99/month alone to $11.98/month and from $14.99/month with Prime to $17.98/month.

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Enlarge / iPhones running iOS 16. (credit: Apple)

Apple has released iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 (and their first minor patch, version 17.0.1) to the public this week, and by most accounts, it's a fairly mild and stable update that doesn't seem to be breaking much. But a few years ago, as you might recall, Apple made a change to how it handles operating system transitions—iOS 16 will keep getting updates for a short stretch so that people who want to wait a bit before they upgrade can do so without missing important security updates.

The iOS and iPadOS 16.7 update covers all devices that could run version 16, including older stuff like the iPhone 8, iPhone X, and first-gen iPad Pro that can't be upgraded to version 17. In a couple of months, if precedent holds, newer devices will have to upgrade to keep getting security fixes, while iOS 16 updates will continue to support older devices for at least another year.

On the Mac side, Apple continues releasing security updates for operating systems for two years after they're replaced by a new version. For the last year, that has meant that versions 11, 12, and 13 (Big Sur, Monterey, Ventura) have all been getting patches. Now that version 14 (Sonoma) is around the corner, version 11 will stop being updated.

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Enlarge / The E-Coast is a beautiful bike. (credit: Eric Bangeman)

Think long and hard about your next steps when you come across something like this. (credit: Eric Bangeman)

Sometimes, no matter what you think your level of expertise is, you need to follow the advice of others. I learned this lesson again while assembling the Priority E-Coast, a $1,999 electric beach cruiser from Priority Bicycles. Priority told me right there on the box. "Warning: Bicycle assembly should be performed or verified by a professional bicycle mechanic."

Once I finished putting the E-Coast together, I was left with a gorgeous e-bike that was enjoyable to ride. But getting there involved more time and swearing than I'm used to. The good news is that Priority apparently heard the curses of its customers, as the part that made assembly miserable has been removed. So you might not need a pro bike tech after all.

Unlike some e-bike manufacturers, which seem to have popped up out of nowhere in the last couple of years, Priority has been around since 2014, when it launched via Kickstarter. Nine years and two Kickstarters later, it has a robust lineup of motorized and human-powered bicycles.

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Enlarge / NASA Astronaut Loral O'Hara, Russian commander Oleg Kononenko, and cosmonaut Nikolai Chub prepare for launch September 15 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. (credit: NASA/Victor Zelentsov)

Welcome to Edition 6.12 of the Rocket Report! Two of the world's most successful small satellite launchers suffered failures this week. We've seen many small launch companies experience failures on early test flights, but US-based Rocket Lab and China's Galactic Energy have accumulated more flight heritage than most of their competitors. Some might see these failures and use the "space is hard" cliché, but I'll just point to this week as a reminder that rocket launches still aren't routine.

As always, we welcome reader submissions, and if you don't want to miss an issue, please subscribe using the box below (the form will not appear on AMP-enabled versions of the site). Each report will include information on small-, medium-, and heavy-lift rockets, as well as a quick look ahead at the next three launches on the calendar.

Rocket Lab suffers launch failure. Rocket Lab's string of 20 consecutive successful launches ended Tuesday when the company's Electron rocket failed to deliver a small commercial radar imaging satellite into orbit, Ars reports. The problem occurred on the upper stage of the Electron rocket about two and a half minutes after liftoff from the Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand. This was the fourth time a Rocket Lab mission has failed in 41 flights. A small commercial radar surveillance satellite from Capella Space was destroyed when the rocket crashed.

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Los Angeles Times:
The WGA and AMPTP reach a tentative deal to end the strike; sources: the proposed three-year contract adds new AI rules, increases streaming residuals, and more  —  The Writers Guild of America and the major Hollywood studios have reached a tentative deal that would end a strike that has lasted …

McKenzie Funk / New York Times:
A profile of Hank Asher, the “father of data fusion” who died in 2013 after initiating a vast shift in privacy norms through his data mining software companies  —  Hank Asher was a drug smuggler with a head for numbers — until he figured out how to turn Americans' private information into a big business.

Chethan Rao / Android Police:
EV maker Nio launches the Nio Phone in China with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and 30+ car-specific features, including automatic parking, starting at ~$890  —  - Nio, an electric car manufacturer, has entered the Chinese smartphone market with the Nio Phone, targeting owners of its EVs …

Zheping Huang / Bloomberg:
A look at the role of pro gaming in Tencent's long-term strategy as China hosts the Hangzhou Asian Games, the first event where esports are eligible for medals  —  - Hundreds of pro players will compete at Hangzhou Asian Games  — Tencent places esports at the heart of its online media empire

Dave Lee / Bloomberg:
Q&A with outgoing Amazon SVP of Devices and Services Dave Limp on using generative AI for Alexa, a possible Alexa subscription, advice for Panos Panay, and more  —  The departing executive in charge of Amazon's voice assistant has a conversation about its future in the age of AI.

Sean Lyngaas / CNN:
Three major US voting equipment makers let some researchers stress-test their software and hardware, to take on conspiracy theories with greater transparency  —  Major US voting equipment manufacturers are enlisting cybersecurity experts to provide additional stress-tests of their systems …

Sanket Vijayasarathy / 91mobiles:
A leaked Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro promo video reveals new camera features: an Audio Eraser, the ability to swap faces, full manual controls like ISO, and more  —  - A new promo video focuses on the many camera features of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.  — Both the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro will get a 50MP primary camera.

The Writers Guild of America has been on strike since May 2nd. | Photo by Frederic J. Brown / AFP via Getty Images

The Hollywood writers strike may be close to an end. After a more than 140-day work stoppage, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) announced on Sunday night that it reached a “tentative agreement” with major Hollywood studios on pay, working conditions, and more.

“We can say, with great pride, that this is an exceptional deal — with meaningful gains and protections for writers in every sector of the membership,” the WGA negotiating committee wrote in an email to members.

WGA leadership said details of the agreement couldn’t be shared until its language is finalized; after that, writers will have to vote to approve the deal. The guild said its leaders may end the strike as soon as Tuesday, once the contract is finalized and sent to members...

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Illustration by Nick Barclay / The Verge

Meta is preparing to announce a generative AI chatbot, called “Gen AI Personas” internally, aimed at younger users, according to The Wall Street Journal. Reportedly set to launch during the company’s Meta Connect event that starts Wednesday, they would come in multiple “personas” geared towards engaging young users with more colorful behavior, following ChatGPT’s rise over the last year as one of the fastest-growing apps ever. Similar, but more generally targeted, Meta chatbot personas have already been reportedly tested on Instagram.

According to internal chats the Journal viewed, the company has tested a “sassy robot” persona inspired by Bender from Futurama and an overly curious “Alvin the Alien” that one employee worried could imply...

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NASA

Seven years after the OSIRIS-REx mission launched, a capsule containing rocks captured from the asteroid Bennu in 2020 will land in Utah on Sunday morning.

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Driverless trucks from Waymo. | Credit: Waymo

Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed Assembly Bill 316, which would have required human attendants in driverless vehicles over 10,000 pounds, reports Reuters. The bill saw broad support among state legislators and was backed by the Teamsters and other labor organizations. At the moment,

The governor wrote in his veto message that the bill “is unnecessary for the regulation and oversight of heavy-duty autonomous vehicle technology,” adding that the existing regulatory framework is “sufficient.”

The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) was given regulatory authority over autonomous vehicles in the state. Newsom writes that the DMV consults the state highway patrol, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “and others with...

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The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Pixel 8 camera specs and a new AI promo video for the phone were posted by 91Mobiles, courtesy of leaker Kamila Wojciechowska, giving us our first real look at how Google will integrate more AI into its flagship smartphones (via 9to5Google).

Magic Editor, which the company said earlier this year would come to “select” Pixel phones, is like a supercharged version of Magic Eraser. It enables you to remake any picture you take so it looks like you want it to. That’s shown in a demonstration where a person takes three pictures of a family on a carousel and combines them into one shot so that everyone is smiling and looking at the camera at the same time.

Screenshot: Wes Davis / The Verge This will be a nice family...

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Credit: JerryRigEverything on YouTube The new iPhone 15 Pro series uses Titanium for the side frame and an aluminum mid-frame, while the older iPhone 14 Pro series uses Stainless Steel. In extreme drop tests, the iPhone 15 Pro performed worse than the 14 Pro. The iPhone 15 Pro Max failed the bend test, shattering its back with a moderate-intensity bend.

The iPhone 15 series went on open sale at the end of last week, and people are finally getting their hands on them. This year, the top two talking points are the shift to USB-C and the switchover to Titanium instead of Stainless Steel as the build material on the Pro phones. Titanium is comparable in strength to Stainless Steel, but it is significantly lighter, which makes a difference in the handling and ergonomics of phones. The first set of durability tests on the Titanium iPhone 15 Pro series have now rolled in, bringing in some surprising results.

One of the first durability tests was performed by AppleTrack on the iPhone 15 Pro, comparing it against the iPhone 14 Pro.

Credit: Google A reliable leaker has dished out a Pixel 8 series spec sheet. The sheet lists seven years of software updates for the new phones. It looks like the Pixel 8 Pro will have superior durability too.

We already have a ton of Pixel 8 series details thanks to leaks, rumors, and even Google’s own promotional materials. Now, a frequent leaker has dished out full spec sheets for Google’s upcoming flagship phones.

Kamila Wojciechowska shared the Pixel 8 series spec sheets on X and 91mobiles, seemingly derived from Google’s own materials. These specs generally line up with the tipster’s previous leaks shared with Android Authority. Check out the table below.

Credit: Google / YouTube Prices of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro have leaked. The standard model will likely be $100 more expensive than its predecessor. Tipsters are divided over the price of the Pixel 8 Pro.

Google has apparently slipped up and let out information about the Pixel 8 series prices. Over the weekend, frequent Android Authority contributor and tipster Kamila Wojciechowska posted a comparison table between the Pixel 7 series and Pixel 8 series on X, formerly Twitter. The image looks like it was lifted from Google’s promotional material for the upcoming Pixel 8 series. It even bears the Google logo and “Pixel for Business” branding, making it seem pretty official. The best part is the image reveals the price of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.

Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority Opinion post byRita El Khoury

For years now, Google has touted its on-device processing for all kinds of Assistant-capable devices: smart speakers, Pixel phones, Android Auto, and yes, Wear OS watches too. All of these claims make very little difference from a user perspective, though, because Google Assistant just zones out whenever it has no internet access.

When you're offline, Assistant grinds to a halt on any phone, speaker, or smartwatch.

If your Nest Audio is offline, it can’t answer a simple question like “What time is it?”. If your Google Pixel is offline, Assistant can’t turn on the flashlight. If your Pixel Watch is not connected, Assistant can’t set a 10-minute timer. Even if Google can process your voice locally and understand what you’re saying, it needs to send that request to a server — either directly via Wi-Fi or indirectly through Bluetooth to an online phone — to fetch the appropriate answer or action. So when you’re offline, everything grinds to a halt. Summoning Google’s voice assistant results in an error and you can’t even begin to say your request.

This article was updated and checked for accuracy in September 2023. It was originally published in 2014.

The internet has revolutionized the way we consume news, liberating us from the editorial influence of TV producers or newspaper editors. Today, we have the freedom to navigate the vast web in search of news that aligns with our interests. In this multitude of news websites available, keeping track of them all can be challenging. In this list, we will explore the top news apps for Android, offering organization, staying informed, and finding news tailored to your preferences. Notably, we prioritize unbiased and crowd-sourced news sources over politically inclined networks like CNN or Fox News, ensuring factually accurate information. Here are the finest news apps for Android.

We’d also like to give an honorable mention to Google’s official app. The discover feed keeps track of stuff you like and slowly caters itself to your sensibilities over time. It’s quick, easy, and free. You can also get a similar feed in Google Chrome’s mobile app.

This article was updated and checked for accuracy in September 2023. It was originally published in 2015.

You should always back up your files. It’s one of the most important things people need to do with their electronic devices. You never know when things will go wrong, and you don’t want to lose any of your stuff when such events occur. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to back up your files and apps on Android. For this list, we’ll take a look at the best Android backup apps. Unfortunately, with native tools becoming more popular, the app scene for this is getting a little weaker. Generally speaking, unless you’re a root user, your best options are usually cloud storage and Google’s native backup, but we talk about that more in depth below.

Also, don’t forget that Google plans on backing up your phone for free anyway, so make sure to take that into consideration.

Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority

With modern laptops having fewer and fewer ports each passing generation, you may have considered various adapters to connect displays, external storage, and other peripherals. But most run-of-the-mill USB-C dongles and adapters don’t have enough bandwidth to support multiple connected devices simultaneously. That’s where the Thunderbolt interface comes in with its ability to handle multiple high-resolution displays and SSDs simultaneously. The latest Thunderbolt 5 takes things even further, allowing you to connect even more devices with just a single cable.

So in this article, let’s take a closer look at what’s new with Thunderbolt 5, what it can do, and when you can expect laptop makers to adopt it.

Credit: Andrew Grush / Android Authority Opinion post byAndrew Grush

The United States is known for its high utility costs, especially for services like cable, mobile access, and internet. The average median price for internet service in the US in 2023 is $75 per month. Think that’s a lot? I currently pay $250 a month after switching to Starlink Business (also known as Priority access). And I’m not even mad about it. Sure it’s a lot, but as a tech nerd, my lifestyle has improved because of it. Why do I pay such a price, and what kind of experience does this provide? Good question.

Living in Rural America means making digital sacrifices

I’ve written about this topic before, but Rural America is falling further behind the rest of the country. While many rural towns are laying down fiber and cable lines, it’s much more challenging for those on farms, acreages, or in very small rural communities. According to a 2021 report, only 70% of the 287 most rural counties in the nation have access to high-speed internet. Many of these people live outside of towns, like myself.

Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority Opinion post byRita El Khoury

Happy 15-year anniversary, Android! It hasn’t been an easy start to the journey, but you have evolved so much over the years and look at you now! More than 2 billion people use you every day and rely on you to communicate with loved ones, search for answers, read the web, pay for goods, take photos and videos, and more.

Sadly, though, if I take a trip down memory lane and look back at that fateful September 2008 launch, I’m not sure I was optimistic about Google’s endeavor. Android 1.0 and the T-Mobile G1 (also known as T-Mobile Dream) were nothing more than a blip on my personal radar, not because I wasn’t interested in mobile tech. Quite the contrary. I was already writing about mobile phones and tech back then, but my drug of choice was Nokia and its Symbian operating system.

Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority

Today marks the 15th anniversary of Android 1.0, as it was announced back on September 23, 2008. We didn’t even have features like multi-touch or widgets back then, let alone anything like the amount of features we’ve got in Android 14.

What’s the best version of Android, though? That’s what we’re asking you, so give us your answer in the poll below.

Our PC storage drives won’t last forever and that’s why it’s always a good idea to use backup software to keep your data safe. The best Windows backup software can cover our butts when our primary drive finally up and dies.

While Apple’s Time Machine provides users with an effective, set-it-and-forget-it recovery system, Microsoft users aren’t so lucky. Instead, users are stuck deciding the best way to keep their data safe with a patchwork system of restore points, recovery discs, and file backups. Thankfully, a number of excellent third-party backup options have cropped up in recent years to help solve the woes of Windows users.

Below you’ll find a list of our favorites, which come with easy-to-use and attractive designs as well as a full range of file and image backup capabilities. We’ve even included a couple free options that are more than worthwhile. Scroll to the bottom of this article for more info about what to look for in a Windows backup program.

Also, check out PCWorld’s roundup of best external drives for recommendations on reliable storage options—an important component in a comprehensive backup strategy. Alternatively, if you’d prefer to keep your data on the cloud or need the flexibility of data storage for different operating systems, then check out our list of best online backup services.

Updated 09/24/2023: Check out our latest review of Microsoft OneDrive. It’s not only the most affordable cloud storage service on the market, but it also allows you to pair it with other third-party backup applications for even more versatility.

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Super-reliable, fast disk and partition imaging File and folder backup Partition manager Lean-and-mean Linux and WinPE boot media Supports Microsoft’s nearly ubiquitous VHD format

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Would like to see multiple destinations per job Price When Reviewed: $44.95 Best Prices Today: $44.95 at R-tools Technology

R-Drive Image has always been a favorite of ours—a low-resource-consuming product that was ultra-reliable in creating backup images of partitions and disks. But it didn’t have as much polish as Acronis’s backup program (below) and wasn’t as feature-rich. That has changed with this latest version, which now has a more modern, user-friendly interface and more versatility in the types of backups you can perform.

The latest 7.1 version adds WinPE boot-disc support and VHD compatibility to an already impressive arsenal of features. VHD compatibility, in particular, is a great new feature as R-Drive no longer entirely relies on its own proprietary images, but now allows users the option to keep backups in VHD (Virtual Hard Disk) format—which addresses one of the only previous complaints we had about the service.

Read our full R-Drive Image 7 review Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office – Best Windows backup runner-up

Pros

Excellent imaging and file backup capabilities Actively protects against ransomware Cloud storage included

Cons

Heavy installation footprint All-or-nothing install doesn’t let you choose modules Price When Reviewed: $49.99 Best Prices Today: $29.99 at PCWorld Software Store$49.99 at Acronis

There’s a reason Acronis is renowned in the world of backup software. Cyber Protect Home Office (previously named Acronis True Image) is capable, flexible, and rock-solid reliable. Indeed, it’s easily the most comprehensive data safety package on the planet.

Besides offering unparalleled backup functionality that’s both robust and easy to navigate, it integrates security apps as well, which protect against malware, malicious websites, and other threats using real-time monitoring. 

Read our full Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office review Retrospect Solo – Best for added ransomware protection

Pros

Easy to use (once learned) Copious feature set Good performance New anti-ransomware backup protection

Cons

Somewhat steep learning curve Price When Reviewed: $49 Best Prices Today: 49 at Retrospect

The latest version (18.5) of this stalwart Windows backup program is every bit as feature-packed as we’d expect. It even adds an interesting pre-backup file scanning to root out anomalies before overwriting your previous backup—a nod to the emergence of ransomware as a concern. It’s got a bit of a learning curve, but once familiar, Retrospect Solo delivers the goods.

Read our full Retrospect Solo review Perfect Backup – Best free Windows backup

Pros

Familiar and easy interface Friendlier data selection than Windows File History Backs up to local media, network locations, and online services Logging, notifications, FTP support, and lots of other options

Cons

No image backups Must be loaded for scheduled backups Price When Reviewed: Free Best Prices Today: $0 at Perfect Backup

Perfect Backup provides you with excellent backup options at no cost, and there’s no better price than free. Perfect Backup is both more stable and easier to use than many of the premium options for Window’s backup software. It lacks image backups for disaster recovery, which is admittedly disappointing, but also to be expected in a free service. Fortunately, it allows just about every other type of backup you’d need, such as backing up to local media, the company’s online service, and other network locations. Most users looking for an easy and free way to securely store their important data need look no further.

Read our full Perfect Backup review Windows File History backup – Best free Windows backup runner-up

Pros

Excellent continuous data protection with versioning Easy, timeline browsing of backed-up files Integrated into Windows Backs up user-created libraries

Cons

Easy “Add folder” function removed from Windows 11 Price When Reviewed: Free with Windows

Among the free programs we tested, Windows File History backup is one of the easiest continuous data protection software for Windows. It’s unfortunate that the latest version removed the “add folder” function from File History, but otherwise it continues to improve upon an already solid backup program. Also, it provides many of the features and functions of other third-party paid backup programs, all for free. And you can’t argue with free. It would’ve taken the top spot for free options if not for the fact that Perfect Backup has easier-to-use data selection tools.

Read our full Windows File History backup review Arcserve ShadowProtect SPX – Best Windows backup for SMBs

Pros

Fast and reliable continuous data protection Super easy restores to real or virtual hard drives Handy timeline overview Excellent disaster recovery

Cons

Slightly daunting login dialog Image-based backup only Pricey for end users Price When Reviewed: $99.95 Best Prices Today: $99.95 at StorageCraft

If you are looking for something more robust than just file and folder backup for your business, then Arcserve ShadowProtect SPX has you covered. It comes loaded with a full feature-set that allows you to quickly and easily restore your data and it has support for third-party virtual hard drives. It is also an excellent choice not just for Windows users, but also Linux users or those in mixed Windows/Linux environments. ShadowProtect is a bit pricey, but it is an extremely reliable backup software with foolproof continuous data protection.

Read our full Arcserve ShadowProtect SPX Desktop review How we test

We run each program through the various types of backups it’s capable of. This is largely to test reliability and hardware compatibility, but we time two: an approximately 115GB system image (two partitions), and a roughly 50GB image created from a set of smaller files and folders. We then mount the images and test their integrity via the program’s restore functions. We also test the USB boot drives created by the programs.

How to pick a backup software

As with most things—don’t over-buy. Features you don’t need add complexity and may slow down your system. Additionally, if you intend to back up to a newly purchased external hard drive, check out the software that ships with it. Seagate, WD, and others provide backup utilities that are adequate for the average user.

File backup: If you want to back up only your data (operating systems and programs can be reinstalled, though it’s mildly time- and effort-consuming), a program that backs up just the files you select is a major time-saver. Some programs automatically select the appropriate files if you use the Windows library folders (Documents, Photos, Videos, etc.).

Image backup/imaging: Images are byte-for-byte snapshots of your entire hard drive (normally without the empty sectors) or partition, and can be used to restore both the operating system and data. Imaging is the most convenient to restore in case of a system crash, and also ensures you don’t miss anything important.

Boot media:  Should your system crash completely, you need an alternate way to boot and run the recovery software. Any backup program should be able to create a bootable optical disc or USB thumb drive. Some will also create a restore partition on your hard drive, which can be used instead if the hard drive is still operational.

Scheduling: If you’re going to back up effectively, you need to do it on a regular basis. Any backup program worth its salt allows you to schedule backups.

Versioning: If you’re overwriting previous files, that’s not backup, it’s one-way syncing or mirroring. Any backup program you use should allow you to retain several previous backups, or with file backup, previous versions of the file. The better software will retain and cull older backups according to criteria you establish.

Optical support: Every backup program supports hard drives, but as obsolete as they may seem, DVDs and Blu-Ray discs are great archive media. If you’re worried about optical media’s reliability, M-Disc claims its discs are reliable for a thousand years, claims that are backed up by Department of Defense testing.

Online support: An offsite copy of your data is a hedge against physical disasters such as flood, fire, and power surges. Online storage services are a great way to maintain an offsite copy of your data. Backup to Dropbox and the like is a nice feature to have.

FTP and SMB/AFP: Backing up to other computers or NAS boxes on your network or in remote locations (say, your parent’s house) is another way of physically safeguarding your data with an offsite, or at least physically discrete copy. FTP can be used for offsite, while SMB (Windows and most OS’s) and AFP (Apple) are good for other PCs or NAS on your local network.

Real time: Real-time backup means that files are backed up whenever they change, usually upon creation or save. It’s also called mirroring and is handy for keeping an immediately available copy of rapidly changing data sets. For less volatile data sets, the payoff doesn’t compensate for the drain on system resources. Instead, scheduling should be used.

Continuous backup: In this case, ‘continuous’ simply means backing up on a tight schedule, generally every 5 to 15 minutes, instead of every day or weekly. Use continuous backup for rapidly changing data sets where transfer rates are too slow, or computing power is too precious for real-time backup.

Performance: Most backups proceed in the background or during dead time, so performance isn’t a huge issue in the consumer space. However, if you’re backing up multiple machines or to multiple destinations, or dealing with very large data sets, speed is a consideration.

FAQ 1. How often should backups be scheduled?

Ideally, you should schedule backups of your data as often as possible. This is especially true if you are working on an important project or have data that you absolutely cannot afford to lose. It is a good idea to automate the backup process and have the Windows software back up your data every hour or so.

2. What is the difference between Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and Windows backup services?

Services such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive are considered to be cloud storage services. This means that a user must place their files or data onto the service’s cloud manually. It’s almost like having a physical storage drive in the internet’s virtual cloud.

Windows backup software, meanwhile, provides continuous versioning and backup of all the file history on your device. It will continuously and automatically backup every specified file on a device. Windows backup software also offers additional data security measures such as file encryption. Furthermore, these backup services allow you to create a bootable optical disc or USB thumb drive for recovery after a system crash.

There are cloud backup services (distinct from those mentioned above) that offer much, though not all, of the benefits of a Windows backup program, such as continuous backups and versioning for multiple devices. You can learn more about them in our roundup of best cloud backup services.

3. Will Windows backup software slow down my computer?

In most situations Windows backup software won’t noticeably slow down your computer. If you are backing up to more than one device or multiple different destinations, or if you are backing up very large data sets, then you may notice your system slow down as it performs the backup. Otherwise, Windows backup software typically runs in the background or during dead time so you shouldn’t notice a decrease in performance.

Also, it’s a good idea, if the option is available with your software, to run a continuous backup. This will cause the software to perform backups of only the files you change in real time and it requires less bandwidth and processor resources to maintain.

4. Does Windows Backup save everything?

Yes, by default Windows Backup and Restore saves all data files including those in your library, on your desktop, and in Windows’ default folders. It will also create a system image if you need to restore Windows in the case of an emergency or system failure.

A system image is a great way to save all the data on your system including installed applications. But be careful as this system image can potentially take up hundreds of gigabytes of storage on your computer’s hard drive.

Business, Personal Software, Professional Software, Security Software and Services

Gone are the days of overloaded backpacks full of notebooks and hand-cramps from trying to write as fast as possible. Nowadays, a good laptop elevates your productivity and allows you to keep all your important lesson materials in one place. Whether you’re a freshman or heading into your final year, having a laptop that’s capable, sturdy, and portable, with good battery life will help keep you on top of your studies—or gaming (no judgement).

Why you should trust us: It’s in our name, PCWorld. We’ve been reviewing laptops for decades, with exacting standards applied to all facets of the user experience, from performance benchmarks to features to the rigors of daily use. Our experts know their stuff and have curated a comprehensive list of the best laptops for college students, with their particular needs in mind.

After you finish looking over our recommendations, be sure to hit our roundup of best back to school deals and our daily updated roundup of the best laptop deals to try and score your favorite laptops on sale. Or check out our roundup of the best laptops for even more recommendations

Updated 9/23/2023: To include the Acer Aspire Vero as our new choice for best eco-friendly option. Read our summary below to learn more about this environmentally friendly laptop made from recycled materials.

Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 – Best overall

Pros

Stunning OLED upgrade in resolution, performance, more One of the first 13th-gen Core laptops Top-notch battery life Solid inking 1080p webcam and very good audio

Cons

Good, not great, performance Webcam effects are iffy Price When Reviewed: From $1,699.99 Best Prices Today: $1,249.99 at Amazon$1420.25 at Walmart$1449.99 at Best Buy

From the convertible form factor and 1080p webcam to the spectacular battery life and lovely OLED display, the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 really has it all. The laptop itself weighs 3.66 pounds, which is light enough to take with you from class to class. The display swings back 360 degrees, which is really nice, especially when you want to share notes with a fellow classmate. The 1080p webcam will make you look good during remote sessions and the 13.5 hours of battery life means you’ll be able to keep working well into the evening hours. Let’s take a quick peek at the hardware inside.

The Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 comes equipped with an Intel Core i7-1360P CPU, Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage. That’s more than enough power for writing papers, watching YouTube, working on collaborative class projects, and much more. The 16-inch AMOLED touch display features a resolution of 2880×1800 and a refresh rate of 120Hz. That means visuals should be both smooth and vibrant. Overall, this is one killer laptop. If you’re looking for a laptop with powerful hardware and plentiful features, then the Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 is one to consider.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 review Acer Chromebook Spin 514 – Best Chromebook

Pros

Great processor performance Sturdy, premium design Top-notch keyboard and touchpad Two USB-C ports with Power Delivery Long battery life

Cons

A bit heavy for a 2-in-1 device Display could be brighter Android game performance is unreliable Expensive compared to Windows alternatives Price When Reviewed: $699.99 Best Prices Today: $699.99 at Acer

If you regularly use Google apps, you should consider picking up the Acer Chromebook Spin 514, as it’s a phenomenal productivity machine based on ChromeOS. The design is chic and durable, and processor performance is quite zippy. It’s designed to handle most day-to-day tasks like checking email, working on documents, or using web-based apps. The keyboard and touchpad are a joy to use as well. According to our reviewer, the Spin 514 has a “wide keyboard layout with large, easily located keys.” As for the hardware, it’s got a decent amount of power for a Chromebook.

The Spin 514 is packing an AMD Ryzen 5 5625C CPU, AMD Radeon graphics, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of SSD storage. The display, which folds back 360 degrees, has a resolution of 1920×1080 and is touch-enabled. It’s plenty sharp for general use. Contrast and color performance are adequate, too. The $699.99 price tag is a little steep for a Chromebook, but if you’ve got the money to spend, then you won’t be disappointed.

Read our full Acer Chromebook Spin 514 review Acer Aspire 3 – Best budget laptop

Pros

Spacious keyboard with number pad HD webcam Solid video playback performance Decent business app performance Workday-long battery life

Cons

Poor gaming graphics performance Basic 1080p display Small 128GB storage drive Price When Reviewed: $329.99 Best Prices Today: $293.75 at Amazon$349.99 at Walmart

With its affordable price point, solid build, decent performance, and excellent battery life, the Acer Aspire 3 is a good budget option for students. While the aesthetics are a bit bland, the build is surprisingly rugged. During our testing we were surprised by its solid and durable feel—this is not some cheap plastic kids toy, but rather a rugged machine built for work. The full-size keyboard is nice, too. It has a spacious layout, which is perfect for longer typing sessions. Performance is fast enough for general-use tasks like writing emails and browsing the web, but that’s about it. If you’re shopping around for a solid everyday laptop that won’t break the bank, the Aspire 3 is definitely worth a look.

Read our full Acer Aspire 3 (2022) review Acer Swift X 14 – Best compact design

Pros

Excellent CPU performance Pleasant keyboard and touchpad Beautiful OLED display Good range USB-C and USB-A connectivity

Cons

Generic design Extremely disappointing battery life RTX 4050 held back by 50-watt TGP Price When Reviewed: $1,499.99 Best Prices Today: $1,349.99 at Amazon$1499.99 at Acer

Calling all coffee shop goers and laptop notetakers. The Acer Swift X 14 is the perfect laptop to take to class or to your local café. It provides strong CPU and GPU performance with a 13th-gen Core i7-13700H processor and an Nvidia RTX 4050 graphics card. And at just 12.9-inches wide and 0.7-inches thick, it packs all of that performance into a very small package. Plus, it weighs a mere 3.31 pounds, which means it’s about the same size as a MacBook Pro 14 but weighs even less.

The Acer Swift X 14 also comes with a superb 14.5-inch OLED display, which is a big upgrade over similarly priced models with LCD displays from competitors. It’s only real downside is its less-than-ideal battery life, which is seemingly a direct result of the energy-hungry performance components. Still, while the Swift X 14 might not be the best for long-haul flights, it’s more than worthy of being your main around-town portable laptop.

Read our full Acer Swift X 14 review Asus Chromebook CM34 Flip – Best battery life

Pros

Spectacular battery life Spacious touchpad 1080p webcam Lovely display

Cons

Heavier than expected Display is too reflective in outside environments Middling performance Price When Reviewed: $499 Best Prices Today: $279.00 at Best Buy

The Asus Chromebook CM34 Flip has a fantastic battery that just doesn’t seem stop. In our testing it lasted a jaw-dropping 19 hours on a single charge—we even ran the benchmark twice just to double check. That’s positively wild. For most laptops if you can eek out 10 hours on a single charge that’s considered a great battery life. But the CM34 Flip almost doubles that number.

In addition to a marathon battery life, this 2-in-1 Chromebook also comes with a vibrant touchscreen display, spacious touchpad, and surprisingly high-quality 1080p webcam. It does run heavier than the average convertible at just over 4 pounds. But if you’re on the hunt for a long-lasting everyday machine that won’t break the bank, you can’t get much better than the CM34 Flip.

Read our full Asus Chromebook CM34 Flip review HP Dragonfly Pro – Best MacBook alternative

Pros

Premium materials Powerful AMD Ryzen chip Surprising four speaker setup Good battery life High degree of value for the dollar

Cons

All myHP keyboard keys should be remappable No user upgradeable components No headphone jack Only 2 high-speed USB-C ports Price When Reviewed: $1,399 Best Prices Today: $1549.99 at HP

Want the attractive design, incredible efficiency, and great performance of a MacBook Pro but in a Windows device? Well, the HP Dragonfly Pro comes about as close as you can get to Apple’s line of premium laptops. HP partnered with AMD to create this slim laptop that packs the latest generation Ryzen 7 processor with 8 high-performance cores and a surprisingly powerful Radeon 680M graphic card. The laptop’s design is thin and attractive with a high quality feel made from aluminum and polycarbonate. However, just like the MacBook Pro models, this laptop takes a minimalist approach to ports, making those who rely on a bunch of plug-in accessories to feel a little hard done by. The display is nice enough, but it does have some catching up to do if it hopes to rival Apple’s best. Still, for a laptop that is significantly cheaper than the current line of MacBook Pro models, this Dragonfly Pro laptop from HP is a more than worthy competitor.

Read our full HP Dragonfly Pro review XPG Xenia 15 KC – Most portable gaming laptop

Pros

Very light Very quiet (relatively) very fast

Cons

Subpar RGB Just barely adequate audio SD card reader barely adequate Price When Reviewed: 1999 Best Prices Today: $1,349.00 at Amazon

When it comes to gaming laptops, many, if not most, of them are pretty bulky and heavy, often tipping the scales at five or six pounds. Well, that’s not the case with the XPG Xenia 15 KC. It weighs a little over four pounds, which is fairly lightweight for a gaming laptop. Plus, it runs very quiet. According to our review, it “rarely makes noise under normal use.” That’s impressive, as most gaming laptops tend to sound like a rocket blasting off. If you’re looking for something that’s both quiet and portable, the Xenia 15 KC is an excellent choice.

Suffice to say, it’s up to task of all your productivity tasks as well. With the XPG Xenia 15 you can follow up a hard day’s work with a fun and rewarding gaming session.

Read our full XPG Xenia 15 KC review Acer Swift 3 SF316-51 – Best big screen laptop

Pros

Solid chassis and build quality Large, attractive 16-inch 1080p screen Enjoyable keyboard and touchpad USB-C with charging and DisplayPort

Cons

Webcam, microphone, and speakers don’t impress Intel processor falls behind AMD alternatives  Disappointing battery life Lots of bloatware Price When Reviewed: $999 Best Prices Today: $907.23 at Amazon$907.23 at Walmart

If you’re a college student working with a modest budget, and you like the idea of a big screen to spread out on, the Acer Swift 3 is a fantastic option. It features an attractive 16-inch 1080p display, a solid chassis, and an satisfying keyboard and touchpad. However, battery life isn’t great, so you’ll want to keep the charger on hand. This is rather unfortunate, as the Swift 3’s slim profile makes it an agreeable laptop for travel. If you don’t mind the lackluster battery life, this is a great laptop for watching movies and streaming video on, in addition to its more academic-oriented functions.

Read our full Acer Swift 3 SF316-51 review Acer Aspire Vero – Best eco-friendly option

Pros

Peppy performance Good 1080P display Eco-friendly, quality materials Excellent battery life Convenient, fast fingerprint reader

Cons

Still some bloatware Flex in the laptop is more noticeable Price When Reviewed: $899.99 Best Prices Today: $849.99 at Acer

The Aspire Vero is Acer’s latest from their eco-friendly line of notebooks. The eco-conscious buyer can rest easier knowing this laptop is built from recycled materials, meaning you’re reducing your carbon footprint. It also sports some pretty good hardware for the price too. From strong Core i7 CPU performance to a surprisingly good 1080p display, this laptop has more to offer than just being environmentally friendly.

All of these things and more make the Aspire Vero a great everyday laptop. Its only real downside is that some components such as the soldered-on RAM are not replaceable, meaning you won’t have the option to upgrade in the future. This is a minor nitpick however and doesn’t take away from a well-performing laptop that’s both affordable and sustainable.

Read our full Acer Aspire Vero review Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Gaming Chromebook – Best Chromebook for gaming

Pros

Large, bright 2560×1600 display Ideal wireless and wired connectivity Good display, strong speakers

Cons

Unimpressive design Mediocre keyboard and touchpad Lackluster webcam and microphone Price When Reviewed: $569.99 Best Prices Today: $459.99 at Walmart$569.99 at Amazon$569.99 at eBay

Chromebooks are a college student’s best friend—reliable, lightweight, and affordable. But they might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you want a gaming computer. Thankfully, Lenovo has made gaming more accessible to Chromebook users with its IdeaPad 5 Gaming. It comes with a Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD, and a bright 16-inch 2560×1600 display. Plus, in a rarity for any type of laptop, the speakers are surprisingly good.

If those specs seem good, but not enough to game with, don’t worry. Gaming on a Chromebook is done mostly, if not entirely, through a cloud gaming service anyways. For only the monthly fee of one of these services, you’re able to stream the very best modern games straight from the cloud to your Chromebook. When testing this Chromebook we even found that we could stream AAA games at good resolutions and up to 120Hz. That’s pretty impressive for a laptop that costs less then a third of what you’d pay for a more powerful Windows gaming rig. For more on which cloud gaming services are our favorites, check out our roundup of the best cloud gaming services.

Read our full Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Gaming Chromebook review How we tested

The PCWorld team puts each and every Windows laptop through a series of benchmarks that test GPU and CPU performance, battery life, and so on. The idea is to push the laptop to its limits and then compare it against others we’ve tested. Chromebooks, on the other hand, go through a series of web-based tests. It wouldn’t be fair or possible to run the same kinds of tests on a Chromebook, as they’re Chrome OS-based machines. Below, you’ll find a breakdown of each test and the reasons why we run them.

Windows laptops PCMark 10: PCMark 10 is how we determine how well the laptop handles lighter tasks like web browsing, word processing, spreadsheets, and so on. HandBrake: HandBrake is more intensive than PCMark 10. It basically measures how long a laptop’s CPU takes to encode a beefy 30GB file. Cinebench: Cinebench is a brief stress test of the CPU cores. It does this by rendering a 2D scene over a short period of time. 3DMark: 3DMark checks if 3D performance remains consistent over time by running graphic-intensive clips. Video rundown test: To gauge battery life, we loop a 4K video using Windows 10’s Movies & TV app until the laptop dies. Chromebooks CrXPRT 2: The CrXPRT 2 benchmark tests a Chromebook’s battery life. Speedometer 2.0: This test determines a Chromebook’s web browser performance. It simulates this by adding, completing, and removing a to-do list. Basemark Web 3.0: This benchmark gauges how well a Chromebook can handle web-based applications. Kraken 1.1: Kraken 1.1 is a JavaScript performance benchmark. Jetstream 2: Jetstream 2 is a combination of WebAssembly and JavaScript benchmarks. This is a way to gauge how well a Chromebook runs advanced workloads. What to look for in a laptop for college

The first thing to consider is budget. How much are you willing to spend on a laptop? If you’re working with an inflexible budget, Chromebooks are a good option. They’re affordable and designed to handle everyday tasks like writing papers, working on spreadsheets, and so on. Chromebook prices can range anywhere from $200 up to $1,000. If you want to spend a bit more, laptops with convertible touchscreens (otherwise known as 2-in-1s) offer a great deal of functionality. You can flip the screen around and use it like a tablet or prop it up like an easel for watching movies.

If you’ve got a jam-packed schedule, you’ll probably be running from class to class with very little downtime in between. That’s why we recommend a laptop with a long-lasting battery. We recommend something that’ll last 7 to 10-plus hours on a single charge, unless you want a notebook that can play games on the side—gaming laptops are notorious for their shorter endurance, even during everyday tasks. That 7 to 10 hours is a good figure if you plan on taking your laptop with you everywhere.

Things like navigating your e-mail or watching Netflix will require more RAM. We recommend springing for 8GB of RAM or more. 4GB of RAM is fine and good for web browsing and basic office work, but 8GB is better for having more tabs open and whatnot. Plus, applications like Google Chrome and Spotify tend to eat up a lot of RAM. Most people can get by with 4GB in a pinch if you’re on a tight budget, but you won’t be able to multitask as much.

The final thing is a decent keyboard. In college, you’re going to be spending a lot of time typing. Depending on your personal preference, you may want either a full or short travel keyboard. Mechanical keyboards, for example, normally have longer travel. This helps prevent accidental keystrokes. The keys also give a lot of tactile feedback, as they bounce back after they’re pressed down.

For more specifics regarding the hardware you want inside your laptop, be sure to check out our comprehensive guide on how to buy a budget laptop without getting screwed, as well as our broader cheatsheet on what to look for in a laptop CPU and GPU.

FAQ 1. Can you use your Chromebook for gaming?

Simply put, no—at least, not well. It comes down to what type of gaming you intend to do. Chromebooks can run web games and Android games perfectly well. But if you’re looking to play the latest high-powered titles such as Elden Ring, a Chromebook just won’t cut it. This is mainly due to the fact that most titles only run on Windows and Chromebooks typically don’t come with sufficient graphics power.

All that said, Google is trying to bring cloud gaming to its Chromebooks. Cloud gaming services work by using a remote PC or console to play games streamed through the cloud down onto the Chromebook. However, until this service becomes more common, Chromebooks are not good options for gaming.

2. Can you game with integrated graphics?

Yes, recently the the latest integrated graphics processors from the likes of Intel and AMD can handle modern PC games at reasonable settings. For example, Intel’s latest Iris Xe line of processors with integrated graphics have been shown to run some of the latest releases at 1080p and 30fps. Be careful, however, as not all integrated graphics are created equal.

Regarding gaming performance, Intel and AMD’s integrated graphics have made huge leaps in recent years. So if you’re on a budget or looking for an ultra-thin laptop and the only options include integrated graphics, fear not, you can still game on. For more information check out Intel’s Core 12th-gen Iris Xe versus AMD’s brand new Ryzen 6000 RDNA 2.

3. What laptop size is best?

This is mostly personal preference. Students who bring their laptops to class or intend to travel a lot should consider a smaller, more portable size. Anything in the neighborhood of 13 to 14 inches is recommended. However, if you want to use your laptop for gaming, then you should consider something in the 15- to 17-inch range. It’s also important to keep in mind the weight of the laptop before buying it. Ultra thin laptops can weigh a featherlight 2 pounds while hefty gaming rigs top the scales at three or four times that—not exactly something you want to carry in a backpack everyday.

Laptops

When you’re traveling, you need to be able to rely on your devices to navigate and communicate responsibly. So what happens when you run out of battery in a new country? A whole lot of inconvenience.

Don’t let that happen to you. With the Adam Elements Mag 3 Magnetic 3-in-1 Foldable Travel Charging Station, you’ll always be able to get powered up, and it’s on sale for our Travel Campaign, running through 9/24.

This folding station works for iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods all at once and packs up neatly into your bag. It even has a USB-C charging cable that supports up to 15W of power output to give your MacBook a little boost too, if needed. It supports both vertical and horizontal charging to work how you need it while you’re traveling and is made with a solid metal construction that’s sure to stand the test of time.

Gear up for your next adventure! Now through 11:59 pm on 9/24, you can get the Adam Elements Mag 3 Magnetic 3-in-1 Foldable Travel Charging Station for just $75.97 (reg. $109), no coupon needed.

 

Adam Elements Mag 3 Magnetic 3-in-1 Foldable Travel Charging Station – $75.97

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Prices are subject to change.

Accessories

Do you want a huge amount of usable display space, but also want to stick with a single monitor? If so, an ultrawide monitor is the ticket. These monitors have a wider display panel that’s far more impressive, and immersive, than your average widescreen. I’ve tested a bunch of ultrawide monitors in order to name the best picks in various categories. You can learn more about our evaluation process and what to look for in an ultrawide monitor below our recommendations.  

You can find even more monitor recommendations in our roundup of the best monitors.

Updated 09/14/2023: We’ve added the Monoprice 35-inch Zero-G Ultrawide as our choice for best budget ultrawide monitor. Read our summary below for more info on this affordable new pick.

Alienware AW3423DWF – Best ultrawide monitor

Pros

Excellent contrast ratio  Top-notch color gamut and accuracy Great motion clarity  Respectable HDR performance Extremely competitive price

Cons

Stand is a bit too large No USB-C Maximum HDR brightness is lackluster Price When Reviewed: $1,099.99 Best Prices Today: $999.99 at Dell

The Alienware AW3423DWF is a legendary monitor. It packs the incredible contrast and realism of OLED in a 34-inch widescreen panel, yet it’s priced at just $1,099. That’s not inexpensive, but it’s better value than other OLED monitors available right now.

Image quality is where it stands out. It delivers a vivid, immersive, rich experience with deep black levels and bright highlights, which are enhanced by the display’s glossy finish. Movies and games seem nearly three-dimensional—as if you’re looking through a window, not staring at a monitor.

What’s the catch? The monitor is not bright, especially in SDR, so it’s a bad choice for a brightly lit room. We also noticed the OLED panel has trouble rendering small fonts smoothly. These are minor issues, though, and shouldn’t trouble most owners.

This monitor targets gamers, so it offers an enhanced refresh rate of up to 165Hz and supports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro for smooth frame pacing in games. However, its excellent image quality will be impressive in everyday use, as well.

It has good connectivity, with two DisplayPort inputs and one HDMI, as well as a USB-A hub with four ports. There’s even a healthy range of calibration options that help demanding owners dial in the image to their personal specifications.

Read our full Alienware AW3423DWF review Monoprice 35-inch Zero-G Ultrawide – Best budget ultrawide

Pros

Strong contrast ratio Excellent color performance Sturdy design and stand Plenty of video input

Cons

Setup requires a screwdriver Stand lacks ergonomic adjustment Motion clarity could be better Best Prices Today: $399.99 at Monoprice

The Monoprice 35-inch Zero-G curved ultrawide monitor (model #38035) is a versatile monitor well-suited to a huge range of tasks. Though marketed for gaming, it’s also a great display for beginning content creators and home office warriors who want more display real estate.

This monitor has a VA panel with an excellent contrast ratio of 3650:1. The strong contrast ratio helps the monitor achieve a rich, immersive image. It’s helped by a color gamut that spans 93 percent of DCI-P3, good color accuracy, and impressive sharpness. These traits are key to the monitor’s versatility. It’s great for games, office productivity, amateur photography, and entry-level video editing.

Gamers will enjoy the monitor’s 120Hz refresh rate and support for AMD FreeSync. The monitor provides a responsive, smooth image with decent detail in most titles. It can suffer meager response times in some situations, which leads to blur in darker games, but remains an upgrade over a typical 60Hz monitor.

The monitor’s build quality and design are solid for the price, with one notable exception: the stand. It looks and feels nice but only adjusts for tilt, which is a problem if your stand is too low or high on your desk. Third-party monitor arms are an option, but that cuts against the monitor’s budget price.

And it’s a budget price. The monitor retails at an MSRP of $399.99 but can go on sale for as list as $269.99. It’s great value at MSRP, and an absolute steal when it’s on sale.

Read our full Monoprice 35in Zero-G Curved Ultrawide Gaming Monitor V2 review LG Ultragear 34GN850 – Best midrange ultrawide for gamers

Pros

21:9 panel with a 34-inch screen Curved monitor Impressive gaming performance Ergonomic adjustment options

Cons

Only average power consumption Expensive Price When Reviewed: 999.99 Best Prices Today: $750.00 at LG$941.04 at Amazon

The LG Ultragear 34GN850-B, released in 2020, was once the king of ultrawide gaming. It was dethroned by Alienware’s AW3423DWF—and as a result LG has slashed the price. Originally $999.99, this monitor is now available for $699.99 (and sometimes less).

That’s great news. Although surpassed by the Alienware, LG’s Ultragear 34GN850-B is an attractive monitor with excellent color performance, good image clarity, and a bright, vivid picture. It has an enhanced refresh rate of up to 144Hz (with a 160Hz overclocked mode) and supports both AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync for smooth gameplay.

Its weakness? Contrast. The IPS panel scores lower in contrast than other monitors on this list, including the Asus ProArt PA348CV, which also has an IPS panel. The image can look hazy in darker scenes.

Connectivity is respectable with two HDMI ports, one DisplayPort, and two-port USB-A hub for connecting wired peripherals. The monitor also retains many of the features that would be expected of a high-end monitor including a sturdy ergonomic stand and attractive design. 

Read our full LG Ultragear 34GN850 review Asus ProArt PA348CGV – Best ultrawide monitor for professionals

Pros

Excellent SDR image quality  Sturdy, hefty design  Wide range of customization 120Hz refresh rate

Cons

USB-C hub lacks video-out or ethernet HDR is merely passable Price When Reviewed: 729.99 Best Prices Today: $699.00 at B&H Photo$729 at Adorama$729.00 at Amazon

The Asus ProArt PA348CV surpassed our expectations. Priced at just $729.99, it’s towards the low end of pricing for a professional ultrawide display—yet its performance is near the top of the pack.

This monitor has a wide color gamut, excellent color accuracy, and a virtual buffet of image-quality calibration features that let users precisely tune the image. It’s also a bright and vivid monitor, making it easy to use in nearly any office. Admittedly, it doesn’t set any records in image quality tests—but it ties or comes close to alternatives that are hundreds of dollars more expensive.

Asus throws in a useful USB-C port that supports DisplayPort Alternate Mode and delivers 90 watts of USB Power Delivery. It also drives a USB-A hub with four downstream ports. Additional video connectivity includes two HDMI and one DisplayPort for a total of four input options.

Surprisingly, Asus throws in an enhanced refresh rate up to 120Hz. It’s not sold as a gaming monitor, but it can handle gaming well enough. That’s good news if you need one home office monitor for both work and play.

Read our full Asus ProArt PA348CGV review What to look for in an ultrawide monitor

Ultrawide monitors are a favorite of PC enthusiasts, but remain a niche within the larger monitor market. This leaves shoppers with fewer options. Most ultrawide monitors have a 34-inch panel with a resolution of 3440×1440, and similar connectivity.

Still, these monitors can differ in several key areas. Here’s what to look for.

Panel type is a big deal

Ultrawide monitors offer less choice in some regards but that script is flipped when it comes to panel type. Ultrawide monitors come in a variety of panel types: IPS, VA, and OLED.

IPS panels are common in mid-range and premium ultrawide monitors. This panel type delivers great color performance, high maximum brightness, superb sharpness, and good motion performance. It’s weak in contrast, however, which can disappoint when viewing TV shows or movies.

VA panels are typically a budget option, though some are found in premium ultrawide monitors. They have better contrast than IPS panels and deliver similar color performance and brightness—however, budget VA panels tend to be merely okay in these areas. Most VA panels fall short in motion performance and may look blurry when playing fast-paced games.

OLED is king of the hill. It leads in color, contrast, and motion performance. Sharpness is often slightly reduced compared to IPS and VA, but most people will find it a minor downgrade. OLED also is the best choice for HDR.

In general, OLED is better than IPS, and IPS is better than VA. However, some people might prefer VA over IPS because it has a better contrast ratio and looks darker in dark content.

A height-adjustable stand is a must-have

All the monitors on this list provide an ergonomic stand that adjusts for height, tilt, and swivel. This is a must-have feature, but one that isn’t found on the least expensive ultrawide monitors.

As tempting as it may be to save money on a budget model without a height-adjustable stand, you would regret it.

Ultrawide monitors are bulky and tend to require a larger, heavier stand, which in turn makes them more difficult to place on an elevated platform. The old college trick of sticking a monitor on a shoe box won’t work.

Look for USB-C, but don’t expect it

USB-C compatibility is an excellent feature, and USB-C hub monitors can clear away tons of clutter on your desk. Unfortunately, many ultrawide monitors don’t support USB-C yet, or have limitations that detract from the USB-C port’s usefulness.

Asus’s ProArt PA348CV, our favorite ultrawide for professionals, is one exception. It has a USB-C port with up to 90 watts of Power Delivery, and the port drives a USB-A hub with four downstream ports.

Dell, HP, and BenQ also offer ultrawide monitors with USB-C. Most of these lack an enhanced refresh rate, however, and they’re typically more expensive than the Asus.

Pricing is important—and can swing wildly

Monitor pricing is always important, but it’s key for ultrawide monitors. Although very expensive at MSRP, ultrawide monitors routinely see huge price cuts during seasonal sales. They also receive major semi-permanent price cuts later in their life.

The LG Ultragear 34GN850-B is an example of this. Originally sold for $999.99, it’s now routinely available for $699.99, and went as low as $599.99 during Amazon’s Black Friday sale. That’s a 40 percent reduction in price! Waiting for a deal can save you hundreds.

Don’t buy an ultrawide for console gaming

A quick word of warning: You should not buy an ultrawide monitor if you plan to connect a game console frequently.  

Game consoles don’t support ultrawide aspect ratios, so you’ll see black bars on either side of the image. That’s unattractive and wastes the monitor’s potential. It’s best to stick with a widescreen monitor if console gaming is a priority.

How we test monitors

PC World’s team of staff and freelance reviewers conduct in-depth testing to compare monitors across a wide range of categories and price points. We test dozens of monitors each year to find the best pick for every category and price point.

Our testing uses a SpyderXElite color calibration tool. It delivers objective, unbiased measurements for a wide range of metrics including brightness, contrast, color gamut, color accuracy, color temperature, and gamma. Results are recorded and logged for future comparison. This allows our experts to easily compare many monitors at once and eliminates subjective bias from the results.

FAQ 1. What size of ultrawide gaming monitor is best?

Most ultrawide monitors have a 34-inch panel with a 21:9 aspect ratio, which is the best option for most gamers. 

Some ultrawide monitors are available in larger sizes, but these typically aren’t the best choice for gamers. Many do not support high refresh rates. Those that do are expensive and often use the same 3440×1440 resolution found on smaller ultrawide monitors, which means they appear less sharp than a 34-inch display.

2. What is the best resolution for an ultrawide monitor?

Nearly all 34-inch ultrawide monitors have a display resolution of 3440×1440. This is an excellent choice for gamers. 

It’s sharp enough to look impressive in modern games. However, this resolution remains significantly lower in total pixel count than 4K, which makes it less demanding on graphics hardware. That’s good news if you have a mid-range graphics card like an Nvidia RTX 3060 or AMD Radeon RX 6650XT. 

Larger 38-inch models have a higher resolution of 3840×1660—however, nearly all these monitors lack support for high refresh rates, making them a bad choice for gamers. LG offers a line of 34-inch 5K2K ultrawide monitors with 5120×2160 resolution, but this line also lacks support for enhanced refresh rates.

A few new 45-inch ultrawide monitors are available with 3440×1440 resolution. This can be a problem, because stretching the same resolution across a much larger display reduces sharpness. We recommend 3440×1440 only for 34-inch ultrawide monitors.

3. What’s the best refresh rate for an ultrawide gaming monitor?

A refresh rate of 144Hz to 165Hz is ideal for most ultrawide gaming monitors. 

Very few ultrawide monitors exceed this refresh rate, and those that do are too expensive to make it a good value. 

Also, gamers shopping for an ultrawide gaming monitor are likely to prefer immersive and graphically demanding games that make it difficult to see the full benefit of a refresh rate above 144Hz. You’ll need a high-end video card, like an RTX 3080 or AMD Radeon 6800, to drive most ultrawide gaming monitors at frame rates above 144 frames per second.

4. Does an ultrawide gaming monitor need HDR?

HDR isn’t a must-have for an ultrawide gaming monitor, but it’s a nice addition. 

Gaming is a great use case for HDR—arguably the best, in fact—and it can deliver improved image quality. We recommend buying an ultrawide gaming monitor with HDR support if your budget is $500 or more. 

Monitors

Wireless keyboards are now the standard, and that means it’s finally time to cut the cord. Thanks to hyper-fast connections and long-lasting batteries, you no longer have to sacrifice some more practical functions to enjoy the freedom of using a wireless keyboard. In fact, they’re so fast and reliable nowadays that even the hard-to-please PC gamer crowd is beginning to embrace them. Whether you want a sleek low-profile board, a big clicky mechanical design with tons of customization options, or just something that fits both your use case and your budget, there’s something out there for every user.

We’ve spent hours and hours using each model, banging away on our reviews, surfing the web, and keeping up on social media to bring you a list of the very best wireless keyboards around. While there’s no one-size-fits-all keyboard, our recommendations aim to help you make an informed decision based on your own personal needs. After you’ve perused our best picks, be sure to check out our buying advice at the end to help you learn what to look for when shopping for a wireless keyboard.

For more tetherless convenience, see our roundup of the best wireless mice.

Logitech MX Keys S Wireless Keyboard – Best overall wireless desktop keyboard 

Pros

Great typing experience Customizable keys Long battery life Auto-dimming backlight

Cons

No height adjustment Wireless can get choppy in crowded environments Price When Reviewed: $109.99 Best Prices Today: $107.74 at Amazon$109.99 at Logitech$119.99 at Adorama

Logitech’s top-of-the-line keyboard design returns in an S variant, this time with an updated Bolt multi-device receiver and new a new auto-adjusting backlight feature. The typing experience is as good as it was in the original model, and it’s even a tiny bit cheaper, so this upgrade is a win-win if you like your keyboards thin and stylish. Just be aware that dozens of Bluetooth devices in the vicinity might bog it down. If you prefer your Logitech boards a little more clicky-clacky, check out the MX Mechanical variant.

Read our full MX Keys S Keyboard review Logitech MK540 Advanced Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo – Best value proposition

Pros

Quiet yet tactile keys Programmable function keys and mouse gestures Roomy, comfy design

Cons

Too bulky for mobile use Limited MacOS support Price When Reviewed: $59.99 Best Prices Today: $44.99 at Lenovo$49.99 at Adorama$49.99 at Best Buy

Logitech does it again with the MK540 Advanced combo. It might not have the convenience of backlighting that the K800 offers, but it hits all the other important features for productivity: a roomy layout, dedicated media buttons, a numpad, programmable keys, and tactile typing. In addition to all that, the keyboard comes with a decent wireless mouse, that is itself programmable, so you’re good to go.

Read our full Logitech MK540 Advanced Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo review Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro – Best wireless gaming keyboard

Pros

Super-smooth switches  Great media controls  Comfy wrist rest 

Cons

Expensive  Keycaps are a little cheap Price When Reviewed: $229.99 Best Prices Today: $179.99 at Razer$224.99 at Amazon$229.99 at Best Buy

For a long time, Corsair’s K63 has been our pick for best wireless gaming keyboard. We still like that keyboard a lot, but after recently reviewing the Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro, we’ve found a new favorite. It’s got everything you’d want from a gaming keyboard: full-size layout, mechanical switches, RGB, a wrist rest, a volume wheel—and the convenience of a wireless connection. Yes, it’s also pretty pricey, as premium products often are. That leaves the K63 as a still-very-respectable lower-priced alternative.

Read our full Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro review Redragon K596 – Best ultra-budget wireless gaming keyboard

Pros

Low price Included wrist rest Long battery life Volume wheel

Cons

Ugly keycaps Can only program G keys No Bluetooth Price When Reviewed: $74.99 Best Prices Today: $74.99 at Amazon$79.99 at Gamestop

The Redragon K596 is a fully wireless mechanical gaming keyboard packing many of the features you’d expect from a premium model. While the K596 isn’t amazing in any one particular area, at this price it doesn’t have to be. It covers all of the basics you would want from a wireless keyboard such as programmability, per-key RGB, volume wheel, macro keys, and a magnetic wrist rest. In contrast to the ballooning prices of modern gaming keyboards, the Redragon K596 represents a fantastic value.

Read our full Redragon K596 Wireless Keyboard review Logitech MX Keys Mini – Best wireless keyboard for travel

Pros

Tiny size Great typing experience Customizable controls Multi-device pairing

Cons

High price No riser feet Price When Reviewed: $99.99 Best Prices Today: $93.99 at Best Buy$99.99 at Adorama$99.99 at Amazon

Don’t let the relatively high price scare you off. The MX Keys Mini is probably the best compact wireless keyboard around. It’s small but mighty—super comfortable to type on, offers a semi-customizable layout, supports multi-device switching, and more. If you want to work on the go, this board is not only an easy pack, it easily earns its keep by deftly standing out from others in its class.

Read our full Logitech MX Keys Mini review Logitech Casa – Best all-in-one travel option

Pros

Clever, aesthetically pleasing design Excellent battery life Range of remappable keys Makes working-from-home more ergonomic

Cons

Not travel friendly Expensive Price When Reviewed: Not available in the US

If you need something a little more comprehensive for your travel needs, Logitech’s Casa might just hit the spot. It’s a keyboard and touchpad set that also come in a swanky bento-style case, which doubles as a stand that significantly elevates your laptop. As an all-in-one solution for those who want to set up an office-style workstation on the go, it’s a pretty neat little package. It is on the pricey side, though — for the same price you could get a laptop stand, keyboard, and touchpad and save a bit of dough, albeit without the neat travel-friendly design.

Read our full Logitech Casa Pop-Up Desk review Keychron Q1 Pro – Best high-end mechanical keyboard

Pros

Great hardware Excellent wireless performance Unbeatable value

Cons

Bluetooth only wireless Price When Reviewed: $199 Best Prices Today: $199 at Keychron

This wireless update to Keychron’s best-in-class Q series has everything: a full aluminum case, hot-swap sockets and VIA programming for customization, PBT keycaps, and multi-device Bluetooth pairing. It’s equally at home with Mac or Windows users, and shockingly, it’s less expensive that a lot of of the boutique mechanical designs it’s aping. Not that it’s cheap, mind you, but if you want a wireless mech with every possible bell and whistle (except 2.4GHz wireless), this is it.

Read our full Keychron Q1 Pro Keyboard review Keydous NJ80-AP – Best typing experience

Pros

Amazing typing experience High-quality parts Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless Long battery life

Cons

Clunky software Plastic case A bit heavy Price When Reviewed: $150 Best Prices Today: $115 at Drop.com$130 at AliExpress$135 at Amazon

We’ve reviewed a lot of keyboards at PCWorld, and this one has the best “feel” of any of them. If you spend hours a day typing, then the high-quality keycaps, exotics switches, and classy components like a brass deck plate and interior foam will make your fingers feel like they’re at a day spa. The plastic case is a bit of a let-down and the customization software is clunky, but there’s no better mech on the market for pure typing performance. And a nice bonus: Wireless comes in both Bluetooth and 2.4GHz flavors.

Read our full Keydous NJ80-AP wireless mechanical keyboard review K780 Multi-Device Wireless Keyboard – Best full-size multi-device option

Pros

Works with all major platforms Can toggle between three paired devices Quiet keys with great travel

Cons

Not built for portability Price When Reviewed: $79.99 Best Prices Today: $59.99 at Dell Small Business$64.97 at Amazon$64.99 at Adorama

If you like the convenience of a Bluetooth keyboard that can switch among different devices, but don’t require the compact layout of the MX Keys Mini, Logitech’s K780 Multi-Device Wireless Keyboard promises to be the one keyboard to rule all your computing gizmos. Indeed, it’s fully compatible with Windows, Mac OS, Chrome OS, Android, and iOS for fast and effortless switching between your computer, smartphone, and tablet. It also costs a good deal less than the MX Keys Mini, and offers a roomy layout with a numpad.

Read our full Logitech K780 Multi-Device Wireless Keyboard review Logitech Ergo K860 – Best ergonomic wireless keyboard

Pros

Curved and split ergonomic design Comfortable wrist support Palm raise feature lets you adjust height for sitting or standing

Cons

Requires some time to get used to split design Expensive Price When Reviewed: $129.99 Best Prices Today: $122.99 at Best BuyNot Available at AdoramaNot Available at Lenovo

Logitech’s Ergo K860 has finally conquered our skepticism about awkward ergonomic keyboards. In the course of our review, there was a marked improvement in typing comfort and reduced muscle tension, all without sacrificing productivity to a steep learning curve. It’s a little expensive compared to a conventional wireless keyboard, but if you’re struggling with comfort, the K860 is the only ergonomic keyboard we’d heartily recommend. 

Read our full Logitech Ergo K860 review How we test wireless keyboards

It was hands-on all the way with our keyboard testing. We spent at least one full workday typing exclusively on each model we tested, with follow-up time to allow for a learning curve. We assessed the primary typing experience: key design, typing feel, and even noisiness. We also tried the secondary features: hotkeys, switches and dials on multi-platform models, and even the ability to adjust the angle or other comfort characteristics.

We considered the size, weight, and durability of each model against its purpose—whether it was designed to be portable or desk-bound, and compact or fully featured. For instance, we balance the versatility of multi-platform models like Logitech’s K780 against its performance as an actual keyboard you need to use everyday (and in this case, it wins on all counts). 

How to shop for a wireless keyboard

You’re going to use this keyboard every day, so make sure it fits your typing habits and your needs. Here’s what to keep in mind as you shop. 

Size: A model that will always sit on your desktop can be bigger and heavier, and usually some other advantages some with that. As more of us carry laptops or tablets, however, we’ll look for models that are compact or portable. These will sacrifice some features but be easier to take with you. 

Keys: Look for keys that are sculpted and spaced for typing comfort. This is why we encourage trying before buying: We’ve had very different experiences with traditional keys vs. chiclet-style vs. flatter key designs, and it’s surprising how little things like the texture or the amount of dimple will make or break a choice. Most mainstream keyboards use membrane technology, which is adequate for most users, but heavy-duty users and gamers will likely prefer keyboards with mechanical switches (which are not reviewed here). Windows hotkeys, or even programmable keys, are great bonuses, especially for power users.

Adjustability: Some keyboards offer no adjustment for angle or height. Look for models with adjustable legs or feet. We haven’t included ergonomic models in this round of reviews.

Battery needs: All wireless keyboards use batteries. Check closely for the type and number of batteries you need, and whether a starter set is included. We note the vendors’ specified battery life in each review.

FAQ 1. What’s the difference between a Bluetooth keyboard and a wireless keyboard?

Wireless keyboards connect to a PC in one of two ways: via Bluetooth or a USB receiver. Wireless keyboards that connect via a USB receiver or dongle can only connect to a computer or device if it has a USB port. Bluetooth connectivity on the other hand does not require any dongle or extra receiver and can therefore easily connect to other Bluetooth-enabled devices without the need for any ports. Additionally, Bluetooth keyboards tend to cost a little more but also offer longer battery life.

While shopping, you may find that older devices do not support Bluetooth. However, if you need a keyboard to work across different platforms on newer devices, a Bluetooth-enabled model is the way to go.

2. Can a laptop be used with a wireless keyboard?

Yes, you can use a wireless keyboard with a laptop without issue. Depending on whether you are using a wireless USB dongle keyboard or a Bluetooth keyboard, you just need to connect to the laptop and then you are good to go. This is true if you wish to connect a wireless keyboard to your tablet or 2-in-1, as well.

3. Do wireless keyboards need special batteries?

Usually wireless keyboards are powered using either rechargeable or disposable batteries. Wireless keyboards with rechargeable batteries will just need to be plugged into an external power source such as a computer or wall outlet when the battery is low. Otherwise, wireless keyboards with disposable batteries will need those batteries to be replaced when they die. The most common types of batteries these keyboards use will be either AA or AAA alkaline batteries.

4. Are wireless keyboards good for gaming?

Wireless keyboards are a fantastic option for most people, but they have a few limitations when it comes to gaming. Wireless keyboards can produce some slight latency issues between the keystroke being made and it being registered by your computer. This lag can be especially frustrating when playing games that require fast reaction times or in competitive environments — the latency may in some instances lead to a competitive disadvantage.

That being said, wireless technologies have improved immensely in recent years and any lag or interference issues are becoming extremely rare with the latest technology. Most casual gamers will be just fine with a wireless keyboard — opt for 2.4GHz wireless over Bluetooth for the most reliable results. You can minimize interference issues by keeping other wireless devices away from your wireless keyboard, as well.

Business, Keyboards

The “gamer aesthetic” is a shifting, nebulous thing. From the transparent plastics of the ’90s to today’s seas of rainbow LEDs and brushed metal, we’ve seen a lot of trends come and go. And so has MSI, specifically when it comes to the designs of their customized graphics cards. On his way to Computex back in June, Gordon swung by MSI’s Taipei offices to check out a huge and fascinating collection of the company’s custom-made coolers, fans, and shrouds.

MSI has a distinctive look to its shroud designs, placing the fans front and center on double- and triple-fan cooler designs. Lately they’ve gone for a distinct octagonal look, but if you go all the way back to the original GTX 260 design from 2008, you can see things were a lot simpler and more straightforward, with an elevated cooler, much smaller fans, and an all-aluminum shroud.

Moving through MSI’s cooler and shroud designs, you can see it progress to larger fans, larger heatsinks, and just generally more robust designs all around. Eventually MSI moved away from the aluminum covers to the more ubiquitous plastics and red-and-black coloring into the 600 and 700 series cards. Moving into the 900 series you can see a lot of the elements that will be familiar if you’ve bought one within the last few years, particularly the “dragon” branding. The Ventus and Evoke lines are far simpler, offering up a nice contrast.

This was a really cool dive into an area of GPU design that doesn’t always get a lot of attention. For more looks at the past and present of computer hardware, be sure to subscribe to PCWorld on YouTube.

Graphics Cards

If the era of the AI PC is here, Microsoft and Windows 11 are leading the charge. But to where? It’s worth stepping back and figuring out where everyone is headed.

Just two days after Intel’s Pat Gelsinger helped make the case for integrated AI on PCs with new AI-infused Core Ultra “Meteor Lake” processors, Microsoft unveiled new Surface hardware and its upcoming Windows 11 feature update at an event in New York. Windows 11’s big fall 2023 update (which still doesn’t have a formal name, yet), will be led by Copilot, formerly known as Windows Copilot. Now, everywhere that Microsoft has sprinkled AI inside Windows (from Windows to Edge and other places) will be known just as Copilot.

And AI is everywhere within Windows 11 and its apps now. Copilot. File Explorer intelligently recommends files. Paint now has background removal and layers, and soon a “Cocreator” image generation tool, too. Windows’ Photos app is back with background blurring features. Snipping Tool will be able to extract text from your snips via OCR. Outlook will help you write emails. Image generation is coming to Word. Heck, we’re even calling out AI chips now: the Surface Laptop Studio 2 contains the Intel Gen3 Movidius 3700VC VPU AI Accelerator.

It’s here! The future is here! Or is it? Let’s take a deep breath and start taking a look at this new era of AI promises.

The dawn of the Windows PC’s AI era Even the humblest of Windows apps (like Paint) are getting an AI infusion.

Microsoft

Since last year, AI has been used for image generation, such as Stable Diffusion. That’s here, now with DALL-E powered Microsoft Image Creator. (It now uses DALL-E 3, a more powerful upgrade that eliminates the option to generate public figures like Donald Trump.) That means if you want to generate some AI art, you can do that quickly and easily, and you can do it in more places across Windows 11 and Office.

AI has also been used for text generation and summarizing large documents and pages. That’s here as well. Microsoft has offered this capability previously within Microsoft Edge Copilot (again, now just Copilot) and now has migrated to Microsoft 365 Copilot. Here, Microsoft wants to call this out, because it also wants to charge you or your company $20 per user per month to use it.

Today, Microsoft began promoting what it calls Microsoft 365 Chat, which is a new way of “querying” a document to learn more about it. That’s database jargon carried over to the business world — basically, there’s a need for businesses and users alike to extract information from a collection of data points. In reality, what that means is you’ll be able to “chat” with Microsoft 365 to learn what a document or spreadsheet doesn’t explicitly tell you: what sales region underperformed the others? Why? What can be done about it?

Microsoft 365 Chat will be one way you can keep on top of your workday, Micrsoft hopes.

Microsoft

But we still are in the very early stages of it all. For one thing, Microsoft’s Copilot doesn’t look all that impressive right now, sizzle reel (embedded below) aside. Remember, Copilot wants to be two things: a front door to Bing Chat’s cloud-based AI engine, and a butler for performing tasks on your PC. If you want to Windows to write a poem about tacos, Copilot’s your tool. If you have no idea how to change your PC to dark mode and want Windows to do it for you, Copilot is there for you, too.

Well, theoretically. For one thing, Microsoft Copilot requires a cloud connection to work, at least as a replacement for Bing Chat. This is exactly the problem that Intel wants to solve: put local AI on your PC with its new Core Ultra (Meteor Lake) chips to eliminate the need for a persistent connection. (Poor AMD risks being overshadowed, but they have AI too with their Ryzen 7040 chip.)

But Microsoft’s latest Surface devices don’t use the Core Ultra; they use an older Intel chip instead. With Asus appearing at Intel’s Innovation to show off image generation that takes on the PC, it looks like Microsoft’s hardware rivals are, ironically, better positioned than Microsoft itself is.

The other problem? Copilot is very limited on what it can do on your PC. It appears (and we don’t know this for sure) that Microsoft will have to hard-code what Copilot can or can’t do on your PC, so you don’t have someone accidentally erasing their hard drive or replacing their system fonts with Sanskrit. It can also hook into apps and services, which can give Copilot a bit more punch. All this is going to mean that Copilot risks becoming the new Cortana: cool, fun to play with, but then overlooked.

These are the early days of AI. The hype is immense. But being able to clearly understand what the PC industry wants to do, and what it can do, will benefit you in the long run.

Get windows 11 pro cheap in pcworld's software store Windows 11 Pro Price When Reviewed: 199.99 Best Prices Today: $79.99 at PCWorld Software Store Windows

At a glanceExpert's Rating ProsHigh-quality workmanship and elegant designHigh sound qualityTwo connection cables for flexibilityRobust hardcase transport bagMulti-platform compatibility thanks to jack connectionMany interchangeable partsConsHigh priceOpen design not ideal for noisy environmentsHardly any sound shielding to the outsideOur Verdict

The Corsair Virtuoso Pro has an elegant design, high-quality materials, and high-quality sound. The option to choose between two cable variants, depending on whether you need a microphone or not, shows that Corsair understands and responds to the needs of its users. For those who are willing to invest in their gaming and streaming equipment, the Corsair Virtuoso Pro could be a worthwhile purchase.

Price When Reviewed

$199.99

Best Prices Today: Corsair Virtuoso Pro Retailer Price $199.99 View Deal Corsair $199.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Price comparison from Backmarket

In a world where gaming and streaming are increasingly merging, equipment that does justice to both is in demand. The new Corsair Virtuoso Pro presents itself as such a candidate: an analogue gaming headset that not only wants to shine with technical sophistication, but also with performance that’s convincing both in heated battles and in live streams. But can it really meet the high expectations that its name and price of just under 200 dollars arouse? We put the Virtuoso Pro to the test in intensive gaming sessions and streaming.

Further reading: See our roundup of the best gaming headsets to learn about competing products.

Design and comfort

The Corsair Virtuoso Pro presents itself in an elegant yet functional design. The choice of materials, which includes a combination of robust plastic and metal elements, promises durability and at the same time a pleasant wearing experience with a high-quality look and feel. The ear pads, filled with memory foam, adapt optimally to the shape of the head and, in combination with the fabric cover, ensure a high level of comfort even during hours of gaming sessions.

The Corsair Virtuoso is equipped with high-quality materials and thus offers a valuable feel.

Friedrich Stiemer

Corsair has opted for an open headphone design for the Virtuoso Pro. We also rate the better heat dissipation as an additional plus. But the open design can have its pitfalls: In noisy environments, there is hardly any shielding. This could be particularly problematic in multiplayer games, where detailed communication is crucial.

On the other hand, the sounds reproduced in the headset itself are only moderately shielded from the outside. Anyone in the same room can usually hear quite clearly what the gamer or streamer is hearing at the moment. This can also be transmitted to sensitive microphones, which of course nobody wants. So fine-tuning in the equalizer is necessary if this “problem” occurs.

The Corsair Virtuoso Pro is very comfortable to wear.

Friedrich Stiemer

Real-time monitoring thanks to open design

Nevertheless, the open design offers the advantage of monitoring one’s own voice in real time, which is particularly useful for streamers who rely on clear communication. The adjustable headband and the moderate headset weight of around 338 grams round off the ergonomic design and make the Corsair Virtuoso Pro a very comfortable gaming headset.

Very nice: The ear cup covers can be replaced without tools.

Friedrich Stiemer

Particularly praiseworthy: with the Corsair Virtuoso Pro, the ear cushions, the ear cup cover, the emblem with the Corsair lettering in the headband, and the headband padding itself can be changed without tools.

The adjustable headband and the moderate headset weight round off the ergonomic design and make the Corsair Virtuoso Pro a very comfortable gaming headset.

Technical specifications

The Corsair Virtuoso Pro uses high-quality 50mm graphene drivers, which are supposed to provide precise sound reproduction. These drivers are known for their ability to reproduce both deep bass and clear treble with great detail. They are also much more robust than conventional diaphragms. The transmission is analogue via TRRS plugs (3.5mm jack).

Both ear cups must be connected for operation.

Friedrich Stiemer

In terms of technical data, the Virtuoso Pro offers an impedance of 32 ohms, which means it also works without problems on mobile devices. The microphone is unidirectional, which means that it primarily picks up sound in a certain direction — ideal for minimizing background noise. In addition, the frequency range of 100 hertz to 10 kilohertz promises a broad recording spectrum that does not undercut fine details.

Flexible setup

Unsurprisingly, Corsair recommends that buyers use its own Elgato Wave Link software, ideally in conjunction with the company’s own Elgato Wave XLR DAC. With this combination, in-depth personalization of the sound profile is possible: Users can adjust EQ settings to tailor the audio experience exactly to their preferences and the game or application in question.

Additionally, VST plugins can also be integrated to tune the voice and playback even more flexibly. All of this adds an extra layer of customizability that is especially useful for those who want to further optimize their audio experience.

The ear pads can also be swapped — very good!

Friedrich Stiemer

Alternatively, the Corsair Virtuoso Pro can be connected to a PC or other devices — or indeed to other DACs — without any fancy software fuss, thanks to the common jack plug.

Complete package and versatility

The Corsair Virtuoso Pro comes with two cables: one with a boom arm microphone and one without. Corsair is aware that many content creators usually use an external microphone. Therefore, the manufacturer has decided to include both cable variants in order to offer users the greatest possible flexibility. The included cable without a microphone is particularly convenient if you just want to use the headset to listen to music or watch movies without having a microphone in the way.

The boom-arm microphone sits on the cable and also comes with a mute button.

Friedrich Stiemer

The cable with the microphone arm, on the other hand, is ideal for gaming sessions or voice chats where two-way communication is the main focus. Thanks to the 3.5mm plug, the headset can also be easily connected to game consoles and the mobile devices already mentioned. In addition, the package includes a robust hardcase transport bag, which not only protects the headset, but also ensures easy and safe transport — ideal for gamers and streamers who are frequently on the move.

The headset also includes a hard case to protect the Virtuoso Pro when on the move.

Friedrich Stiemer

Gaming and streaming performance

When immersed in the virtual worlds of games like Cyberpunk 2077 or Battlefield 2042, the Corsair Virtuoso Pro shows its true strengths. The 50mm Graphene drivers deliver a rich and clear sound that brings out almost every detail, from the quiet footsteps of an approaching enemy to the thunderous sound of an explosion.

The wide frequency response of 20Hz to 40kHz ensures that both deep bass and high frequencies are reproduced clearly and without distortion. This allows gamers to be fully immersed in the action and gives them a tactical advantage, as they can use acoustic cues to locate their opponents or spot impending danger. Sometimes, however, S or distortion sounds can seem a little too sharp — so you would have to readjust the equalizer here if this bothers you.

Thanks to the fabric cover and the open design, good heat dissipation is guaranteed.

Friedrich Stiemer

For streamers who both play games and interact with their community, the clarity of the microphone is crucial. In a test stream on platforms like Twitch or YouTube, the voice could be transmitted clearly and distinctly. Although it doesn’t come close to the quality of a condenser microphone because the voice sounds somewhat artificial and cool, but still!

This article was translated from German to English and originally appeared on pcwelt.de.

Computer Accessories, Gaming, Headphones

At Microsoft’s fall event today, the company’s signature tablets appear to be a no-show. But that doesn’t mean there’s no new hardware to show off. Both the low-price Surface Laptop Go and the high-end Surface Laptop Studio are getting refreshed with new chips, the latest Windows 11 AI-focused features, and a few exterior touches that might be hard to spot at first. Both the Surface Laptop Go 3 and the Surface Laptop Studio 2 will be availble on October 3.

Surface Laptop Go 3

The Surface Laptop Go 3 gets an extremely gentle update — in fact, it would be hard to tell at a glance that this is a new product at all, aside from some of the color choices. Underneath, the laptop is running a 12th-gen Intel Core processor, with the i5-1235U being the sole choice at launch. The base model will use 8GB of DDR5 RAM, more capacious and speedier than the 4GB DDR4 offering on the last generation, with a choice of 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB of SSD storage.

Michael Crider/Foundry

In the hand, the Laptop Go 3 feels much as it ever has, extremely light and well-finished with its aluminum body and soft-touch plastic base. The 12.4-inch touchscreen appears unchanged, complete with its somewhat disappointing 1536×1024 resolution and signature 3:2 aspect ratio. Microsoft says that this version of the laptop can last up to 15 hours on a charge, which seems to be in line with similar laptops in this class. The I/O options remain the same: the Surface charging port on the right with a USB-C, USB-A, and headphone jack on the left. The fingerprint reader on the power button is still in place.

Michael Crider/Foundry

The biggest change might have nothing at all to do with the hardware. The base price for the Laptop Go 3 is now $799, a significant jump over the $600 base for last year’s model. That pushes the “budget” option for the Surface laptop line into what many consumers would consider the midrange (for example, you can often find a base model XPS 13 for this price with a lot more power). Frankly it’s a lot to ask for what appears to be a new processor (and not the latest one at that) and some faster memory. The $1,000 upgrade, which is the cheapest model with a much-needed 16GB RAM, isn’t much better in terms of value.

Michael Crider/Foundry

Surface Laptop Studio 2

The Surface Laptop Studio 2 gets a much more substantial update. Microsoft listened to media creators who wanted this large-and-in-charge design to be more flexible, adding a USB-A port on the left side for older hardware interfaces and a MicroSD card slot on the left for easy photo and video transfers.

Michael Crider/IDG

The touchpad is also completely new, in both hardware and software, with reactive haptics powering a much more accessible interface for users who have trouble using conventional designs. (Last year’s model had some reliability issues, it should be noted.) The exact “special sauce” wasn’t something anyone on hand could tell me about, but a dramatic demonstration with a Microsoft employee who lacks fingers on one hand showed why such evolving changes are important. Microsoft’s commitment to accessibility, as seen in so many of its new peripheral designs, is fully on display here.

Michael Crider/Foundry

The Studio design is otherwise still in place, with that fold-down hinged screen that can cover the keyboard and stay in place magnetically remaining the showstopper. The new Surface Slim Pen 2 hangs out just under touchpad, where it also charges wirelessly in easy reach. The screen’s 14.4-inch, 2400×1600 panel is impressive, even if it foregoes newer OLED tech, showing excellent color depth and contrast in a demo game of Cyberpunk. The 650-nit peak brightness will be particularly useful for working on the go.

Speaking of which, there’s new silicon under the hood. The Studio 2 gets access to the latest in both Intel CPUs (maximum Core i7-3700U) and Nvidia GPUs (RTX 4050 or 4060). There’s also an option for a more industrial-friendly RTX 2000 chip, plus an i7-3800U option for enterprise customers, or models without discrete graphics at all if you don’t need it. The new design includes a dedicated chip to handle all of Windows 11’s incoming AI features, which Intel calls the “Movidius 3700VC VPU AI Accelerator.”

Michael Crider/IDG

The Surface Studio 2 is an imposing laptop, hefty at nearly four and a half pounds and brimming with sharp edges, even as it becomes more accessible in both ports and interface. You’ll want to really know you can take advantage of its power if you are going to spend that kind of dough — notably Microsoft wasn’t keen to talk about the battery life during its initial presentation. (The spec sheet says “up to 18 hours,” but who knows how long it’ll last if you’re really putting that power to use.)

Storage comes from a single PCIe 4.0 SSD, which is user-accessible. You’ll have a choice of 512GB to 2TB out of the box. RAM is just as flexible, with DDR5 coming in at up to 64GB (sadly, no mention of whether you can remove it or not). Other hardware goodies include a full HD camera with Windows Hello, double USB-C/Thunderbolt ports, and a much more comfortable keyboard than some laptops in this size category.

Michael Crider/Foundry

I get the impression that while the new more powerful CPU and GPU will be appreciated, the extra ports will help sell the Studio 2 as a real creator machine. Someone carrying around the ultimate in creator-focused hardware probably doesn’t want to carry a dongle or USB-C hub as if it was a teeny-tiny ultraportable (or indeed, a Surface Laptop Go). The Studio Laptop 2 will start at $2,000 for the base model, packing 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and integrated Intel Xe graphics. The most fully loaded model will hit your wallet hard at $3,700.

Laptops

Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Go 2 allows Microsoft to take a another crack at the budget laptop market. It remains virtually unchanged from its earlier offering, simply providing an updated 12th-gen Core chip inside of it.

The Surface Laptop Go 2 always struck us as a struggle for Microsoft to establish a budget laptop in a competitive market, but with the premium Surface name attached. The Surface Laptop Go 3 tries again, this time moving from a Core i5-1135G7 to a Core i5-1235U.

The trouble is that Microsoft is again trying to convince you that a sub-1080p screen (12.45-inch, 1536×1024 touchscreen) is satisfactory. And to be fair, it kind of is, at least in our earlier reviews. The trouble is that back-to-school laptop deals and just general laptop deals routinely offer discounts on laptops that are comparable, if not better. That’s going to be a challenge for the Surface Laptop Go 3 on paper, right off the bat.

Essentially, the Surface Laptop Go 3 is the same as the Laptop Go 2 in all respects, except for 8GB or 16GB RAM options and 256GB of SSD storage for consumers. There is a 512GB option for business users, which a consumer could presumably buy as well. That option, with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, is reportedly priced at $1,199. We haven’t been able to confirm that on Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Go 3 for Business page, but it sounds a little ridiculous if true.

Otherwise, you can preorder Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Go 3 on Microsoft’s site for between $799 and $999. They’ll ship October 3. And if you don’t want a Surface Laptop Go 2, you could always opt for a Surface Laptop Studio 2 or a Surface Go 4 for Business, both of which Microsoft announced today.

Surface Laptop Go 3 specs Display: 12.4-inch (1536×1024, 148 PPI) 10-point multitouch PixelSense display Processor: Core i5-1235U Graphics: Xe Graphics Memory:  8GB-16GB LPDDR4x (8GB as tested) Storage: 128GB (removable UFS), 256/512GB (removeable SSD) Ports: 1 USB-C, 1 USB-A, Surface Connect, 3.5mm audio jack Camera: 720p f2.0 (user-facing) Battery: 39.7Wh (design capacity), 40.7Wh (measured full charge capacity) Wireless: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.1 Operating system: Windows 11 Home (consumer); Windows 11 Pro/Windows 10 Pro (business) Dimensions (inches): 10.95 x 8.12 x 0.62 inches Weight: 2.49 pounds Chassis: Aluminum, with polycarbonate resin (30 percent post-consumer recycled content) Colors: Ice Blue, Sandstone, Platinum, Sage Price: Beginning at $799 Laptops

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American Truck Simulator is so realistic that an actual truck company has begun to hire players, attributing their skills to the realistic sim game. 

American Truck Simulator is one of our favorite Simulation games thanks to its dedication to detail. Players can deliver various cargoes across Nevada, California, and the Grand Canyon State of Arizona. You can take in stunning views as you master the craft of a truck driver. 

Developers SCS Software has begun to advertise this unique selling point with billboards popping up around the simulator announcing how American Truck Simulator players can finally turn their "dreams into a reality". The billboards point to a vast logistics company: Swift Transportation. This company started back in 1966 and has since gathered a fleet of tricks with a dedicated workforce, and a solid commitment to safety, efficiency, and customer satisfaction. 

(Image credit: SCS Software)

Swift Transportation isn't the only company that has decided to contact American Truck Simulator. Earlier this month, trucking company Schneider National began cooperating with the simulation game after it found that players showed "skill above their experience level", according to media relations manager Kara Leiterman (via Axos).

"With this new cooperation, we hope to continue inspiring our ATS players who share a deep interest in real-life trucks. For those who have always been intrigued by the idea of a career as a truck driver, this could be the spark that ignites a lifelong journey", SCS Software said in a blog post. 

While many players may choose to keep their passion for truck driving digital, SCS says that the billboards are up just in case even one player decides to check out the real-world possibilities for themselves. "We hope and believe that together, we have a chance to light the path to new careers and aspirations for our ATS players, who are not only virtual truckers but also real-life trucking fans", SCS said. 

For more games to enjoy outside the simulation genre, check out these top PC games and single-player games that you can play right now. 

It's time for your daily dose of Quordle hints, plus the answers for both the main game and the Daily Sequence spin off. 

Quordle is the only one of the many Wordle clones that I'm still playing now, around 18 months after the daily-word-game craze hit the internet, and with good reason: it's fun, but also difficult.

What's more, its makers (now the online dictionary Merriam-Webster) are also keeping it fresh in the form of a variant called the Daily Sequence, which sees you complete four puzzles consecutively, rather than concurrently. 

But Quordle is tough, so if you already find yourself searching for Wordle hints, you'll probably need some for this game too. 

I'm a Quordle and Wordle fanatic who's been playing since December 2021, so I can definitely help you solve Quordle today and improve your game for tomorrow. Read on for my Quordle hints to game #609 and the answers to the main game and Daily Sequence. 

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #609) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too). 

Quordle today (game #609) - hint #2 - total vowels What is the total number of vowels in Quordle today?

• The total number of vowels across today's Quordle answers is 9.

Quordle today (game #609) - hint #3 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.

Quordle today (game #609) - hint #4 - total letters How many different letters are used in Quordle today?

• The total number of different letters used in Quordle today is 13.

Quordle today (game #609) - hint #5 - uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• Yes. One of Q, Z, X or J appears among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #609) - hint #6 - starting letters (1) Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 2.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #609) - hint #7 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• L

• G

• G

• K

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #609) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #609, are…

LEASHGAZERGUILEKNEED

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Daily Sequence today (game #609) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #609, are…

MARCHPRIMEPASTYMINER Quordle answers: The past 20 Quordle #608, Sunday 24 September: LUCKY, ANGRY, QUIET, LUCIDQuordle #607, Saturday 23 September: HEARD, LOATH, GUEST, SIGMAQuordle #606, Friday 22 September: CHILI, METRO, PUREE, KIOSKQuordle #605, Thursday 21 September: AWARE, SHONE, SHADE, SHELFQuordle #604, Wednesday 20 September: TAMER, SNOUT, BLAND, SLEEPQuordle #603, Tuesday 19 September: WACKY, LAYER, FRUIT, MINERQuordle #602, Monday 18 September: SWEAR, LOWLY, STAND, UPSETQuordle #601, Sunday 17 September: SCRUB, DUSTY, QUOTH, UNCLEQuordle #600, Saturday 16 September: FLAIL, ALTAR, YACHT, HAUNTQuordle #599, Friday 15 September: FISHY, DRAKE, TORUS, SMOTEQuordle #598, Thursday 14 September: CHEST, RIVER, THERE, EMCEEQuordle #597, Wednesday 13 September: GUESS, MICRO, DROOP, ELATEQuordle #596, Tuesday 12 September: CYNIC, GRUEL, CACTI, TOWERQuordle #595, Monday 11 September: RECUT, GREED, COVER, METERQuordle #594, Sunday 10 September: TRAIN, RIPER, BLACK, SCRAMQuordle #593, Saturday 9 September: MARRY, INFER, STALE, SUITEQuordle #592, Friday 8 September: SAPPY, STALL, RAYON, CIVICQuordle #591, Thursday 7 September: JOUST, RIVER, PENNY, CHALKQuordle #590, Wednesday 6 September: POLKA, THREW, MAGIC, SPURTQuordle #589, Tuesday 5 September: DRYLY, CURVY, MOSSY, TORUS Quordle FAQs: Everything you need to know What is Quordle?

Where Wordle challenges you to guess a new five-letter word each day, Quordle presents you with four puzzles to solve. And rather than complete them in turn, you do so simultaneously. You get nine guesses, rather than the six for Wordle, but the rules are otherwise very similar. 

It's played online via the Quordle website and you can also get to it via the Merriam-Webster site, after the dictionary purchased Quordle last year. 

As with Wordle, the answers are the same for every player each day, meaning that you're competing against the rest of the world. And also as with Wordle, the puzzle resets at midnight so you have a fresh challenge each day.

The website also includes a practice mode - which I definitely recommend using before attempting the game proper! - and there are daily stats including a streak count. You also get Quordle Achievements - specific badges for winning a game in a certain number of turns, playing lots of times, or guessing particularly hard words.

Oh, and it's difficult. Really difficult.

What are the Quordle rules?

The rules of Quordle are almost identical to those of Wordle.

1. Letters that are in the answer and in the right place turn green.

2. Letters that are in the answer but in the wrong place turn yellow. 

3. Letters that are not in the answer turn gray…

4. …BUT the word you guess appears in all quadrants of the puzzle at the same time, so an A could turn green in one square, yellow in another and gray in the final two. 

5. Answers are never plural.

6. Letters can appear more than once. So if your guess includes two of one letter, they may both turn yellow, both turn green, or one could be yellow and the other green.

7. Each guess must be a valid word in Quordle's dictionary. You can't guess ABCDE, for instance.

8. You do not have to include correct letters in subsequent guesses and there is no equivalent of Wordle's Hard mode.

9. You have nine guesses to find the Quordle answers.

10. You must complete the daily Quordle before midnight in your timezone.

What is a good Quordle strategy?

Quordle needs to be approached in a different way to Wordle. With four puzzles to solve in nine guesses, you can't blindly throw letters at it and expect to win - you'll stand a far better chance if you think strategically.

That's the case in Wordle too, of course, but it's even more important in Quordle.

There are two key things to remember. 

1. Use several starting words

Firstly, you won't want just a single starting word, but almost certainly two or three starting words. 

The first of these should probably be one of the best Wordle starting words, because the same things that make them work well will apply here too. But after that, you should select another word or possibly two that use up lots more of the most common consonants and that include any remaining vowels.

For instance, I currently use STARE > DOILY > PUNCH. Between them, these three words use 15 of the 26 letters in the alphabet including all five vowels, Y, and nine of the most common consonants (S, T, R, D, L, P, N, C and H). There are plenty of other options - you might want to get an M, B, F or G in there instead of the H, maybe - but something like that should do the trick.

If all goes well, that will give you a good lead on what one or sometimes two of the answers might be. If not, well good luck!

2. Narrow things down

Secondly, if you're faced with a word where the answer might easily be one of several options - for instance -ATCH, where it could be MATCH, BATCH, LATCH, CATCH, WATCH, HATCH or PATCH - you'll definitely want to guess a word that would narrow down those options. 

In Wordle, you can instead try several of those in succession and hope one is right, assuming you have enough guesses left. It's risky, but will sometimes work. Plus, it's the only option in Hard mode. But in Quordle, this will almost certainly result in a failure - you simply don't have enough guesses.

In the scenario above, CLAMP would be a great guess, as it could point the way to four of the seven words in one go.

Destiny 2 players – and its development team – have had it tough this week. Not only has the sci-fi shooter endured DDoS attacks that have taken the game down for hours at a time, but players have continued to experience connection errors and strange bugs and glitches over the weekend, too.

Beyond confirmation of maintenance over the weekend, developer Bungie has yet to formally comment on the issues plaguing players, but some have taken to Reddit and Destiny's social media channels to report a range of strange happenings, including doors that don't open, PvP scores that don't update, and even pacifist enemies that refuse to engage.

As u/Indecisive_um said on the Destiny subreddit earlier today, "the game is currently broken, it's not just you".

The game is currently broken, it's not just you. from r/DestinyTheGame

"If you're trying to use interactions but can't or doors aren't opening, don't worry, it's not you, it's everyone," Indecisive_um – just one of dozens of thread starters bringing attention to the current issues – wrote.

"It seems [...] something has broken big time with the game, and some of the following issues have popped up."

The thread then lists a handful of issues that players have reported today, including:

Doors are not opening for any activity including Savathun's Spire, Dungeons like Prophecy or Shattered Throne, and even the Helm.Most, if not all, interactions are not working like the Chalice of Light in Crotas End, or the rally flag for public events.Enemies are bugged out to the point that it seems they can't die, nor can they notice the player in any way.

"I'm sure there's more things going on that I haven't listed, but just wanted to put this out for anyone who may be wondering what's going on," the OP said. "In the meantime, it might be a good idea to play another game while Bungie tries to address the issue, or do what I'm doing and get a chance to look up close to some of these enemies in their natural habitat."

Whilst it seems that most issues have since been resolved – many suggest rebooting your system, particularly if you're in the midst of a heavy session – some players report issues still persisted after Bungie's background maintenance earlier today (thanks, PCGN).

Earlier today, both PvP and PvE were broken for a brief period in #Destiny2, with enemies in PvE completely unresponsive, doors in activities not opening, and rounds in Trials of Osiris always resulting in a tie. pic.twitter.com/6cxjZKz3cdSeptember 24, 2023

See more

Last week, Bungie announced plans to temporarily disable players from using crafted weapons in a bid to get on top of another in-game glitch.

After acknowledging that players could give Legendary guns Exotic traits – essentially circumventing the game's usual balance systems and allowing players to equip what is, in essence, three exotic weapons at once – Bungie confirmed that it's "working on two fixes" that it hopes will address the issue. 

The first was a server-side update that will disable all crafted weapons from being equipped, after which the team will address "illegal" weapons by resetting them "to a default state".

Earlier this week, Bungie said this issue was "now resolved". 

"Illegitimate frames and perks on crafted weapons have been replaced by legitimate ones. Please be advised that any players attempting to utilize the previous crafting exploit will receive a WEASEL error code and be kicked to the login screen."

Even the most committed Destiny 2 player should check out our guide for the best Destiny 2 PvE weapons. We've also got a guide to the best FPS games if you're looking for an experience further afield, too. 

AMD has bolstered its Kria portfolio of adaptive system-on-module (SOM) boards with the K24 and KD240 Drives Starter Kit, which are designed to control electric motors in robotics systems.

With this new platform, Kria is aiming to lower the barrier to entry for using chips designed for robotics, according to Serve the Home. 

Starting from $250, the K24 SOM and its corresponding starter kit target cost-sensitive industries and commercial edge use cases. It could be used in electric motor systems, robotics for factory automation, power generation as well as public transportation, including elevators and trains. It may also be fitted into medical systems, including in surgical robotics devices, and MRI beds.

Robotics made simple

Armed with a quad-core Arm Cortex-A53 processor as well as a dual-core Arm Cortex-R5F real-time processor, and running Ubuntu, the K24 is something of an entry-level module. It also features a Mali-400 MP2 GPU, and an AMD Deep Learning Processor, alongside 2GB LPDDR4 RAM.

It’s far more accessible than the souped-up K26, and it’s specifically tailored for computing and input/output (I/O) for motor control. What makes it especially useful for motor control is the lower latency than comparable units, with the K24 expressing 120ns, which AMD claims is up to half the 276ns of the Texas Instruments’ AM64XX.

The K24 can, however, be used in conjunction with the K26 in the same robotics systems thanks to a compatible connector.

The integrated fan-out packaging means it’s also roughly half the size of a credit card. As a result, it consumes much less power than other options on the market; it guzzles as half as power as the aforementioned K26.

Kria’s starter kit, meanwhile, includes an array of additional components that make getting started much quicker and easier to build robotics systems, even at home. This will come in addition to a second starter kit, the REB Robotics 2-in-1 Motor Kit Accessory, which is coming out in the near future.

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The Google Pixel 8 is almost here, as Google has announced that it's holding a launch event on October 4, where we're also expecting to see the Pixel 8 Pro and probably the Pixel Watch 2.

Ahead of that, teasers, rumors, and leaks continue to flow concerning both upcoming devices and below we've detailed all the latest rumblings, alongside our expert predictions as to their respective specs and prices.

Further down, you'll also find a list of features we want to see from the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, because while the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are the two of the best phones Google has ever made, there's definite room for improvement.

Cut to the chase What is it? The next flagship phone from GoogleWhen is it out? October 4How much will it cost? Likely from $599 / £599 / AU$999 Google Pixel 8: release date and price

The Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are set to land on October 4, as Google is holding an event then where it's said we'll see new Pixel devices. The Pixel 8 isn't mentioned by name, but a number eight is used in a post the company made about the event, so there's no real doubt that this is what we'll see.

It makes sense too, as Google's main numbered phones almost always land in October of their release year.

In fact, every Pixel model outside of the A-line has been announced in October, except the Pixel 5, which was unveiled on September 30, 2020 (so, almost October) and didn’t ship until October.

Big fall launches are stressful, but Pixel helps its friend stay cool as a cucumber. #BestPhonesForeverThe w8 is almost over. Rest up for #MadeByGoogle on October 4th and sign up for updates: https://t.co/hcAzJ83ajV pic.twitter.com/NWBP2RTdSnAugust 30, 2023

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We’re not sure what the Pixel 8 will cost, but the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro both had exactly the same prices as their predecessors, so it’s possible Google will stick with that pricing structure for another year.

In this case, the Pixel 8 will start at $599 / £599 / AU$999, while the Pixel 8 Pro will start at $899 / £849 / AU$1,299. That said, we wouldn’t be surprised if Google pushes the phones' respective prices up a bit, especially as the current models undercut key competition like the iPhone 14 line.

On the other hand, reports have claimed that the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro could be a little more expensive than the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. They could start at a $50 to $100 higher, according to tipster Yogesh Brar. Some have claimed it would be a lot more expensive in Europe, with prices going up to €874.25 ($943/£757/AU$1,461) for the base Pixel 8 and €949.30 ($1042/£812)/AU$1587) for the base Pixel 8 Pro. Though these include tax, which American rates do not, it's quite likely we could see price increases of $100, at a bare minimum following general trends. With a £50 or AU$100 increase not being out of the question.

Google Pixel 8: design and display

Before we get to the leaks, there's some official news on the design of these phones, as Google has now posted a video teaser on Instagram, showing off the back of both the Pixel 8 and the Pixel 8 Pro.

Some images from this video can be seen below, but basically these phones look very similar to the current models, just with a new sensor (reportedly for measuring temperatures) on the Pixel 8 Pro's camera bar, a slightly different look to the camera bar on the Pro model (with all three lenses housed in a black section), and slightly more rounded corners.

We can also see some of the color options here, with the Pixel 8 Pro shown in a porcelain white and the Pixel 8 in a pinkish rose color. Further information on colors was revealed in a subsequent leak.

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(Image credit: Google)

The biggest Pixel 8 Pro leaks so far also come from Google itself, which accidentally posted an image of the Pixel 8 Pro on its website. You can see the image in the post below.

The color shown is an off-white, which the image alt text reveals is called Porcelain. Based on other leaks, the standard Pixel 8 colors might include Haze, Jade, Licorice, and Peony.

Here's a look at the Google Pixel 8 Pro in Porcelain.This image is from the Google Store website, which inadvertently published this image early in the promo page for "Google Subscriptions & Services".Thanks to @android_setting for the tip! pic.twitter.com/nARd4Hz8hkAugust 30, 2023

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Since then, Google has leaked the Pixel 8 Pro once again, and this time in even more detail.

In a seemingly accidental update to its website, users were briefly able to examine the phone from all angles, revealing that it has a SIM card slot (so isn't eSIM only had been rumored), and has a temperature sensor.

The colors were also revealed, and largely match up with leaks. The listed shades are Sky (blue), Porcelain (white), and Licorice (black).

No way. It happened AGAIN. Google themselves leaked the Pixel 8 Pro.You can see a full 360 degree view of the phone here, confirming the colors (Licorice, Porcelain, and Sky) as well as the components (like the temperature sensor). https://t.co/xfpn4t3tyR pic.twitter.com/UzmtR7ov1LSeptember 6, 2023

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Beyond that, we've also seen high-quality unofficial renders showing off both the Pixel 8 itself and the Pixel 8 Pro.

These show largely familiar designs, but with more rounded corners, leading apparently to smaller sizes. In the case of the Pixel 8 that's said to mean a 6.2-inch display (down from 6.3 inches on the Pixel 7). The Pixel 8 Pro is expected to keep the same 6.7 inches as the 7 Pro, though.

A report from display analyst Ross Young corroborates these sizes, albeit giving the Pixel 8's screen size as a more petite 6.16 inches. It's all swings and roundabouts anyway, as 6.16 rounds up to 6.2 inches in any case.

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An unofficial render of the Pixel 8 (Image credit: @OnLeaks / MySmartPrice)Image 2 of 4

An unofficial render of the Pixel 8 (Image credit: @OnLeaks / MySmartPrice)Image 3 of 4

An unofficial render of the Pixel 8 Pro (Image credit: OnLeaks / Smartprix)Image 4 of 4

An unofficial render of the Pixel 8 Pro (Image credit: OnLeaks / SmartPrix)

More recent leaks put the screen sizes at 6.17 inches and 6.70 inches respectively, though both phones are said to have a 120Hz refresh rate (which would be an upgrade for the standard model), and to have higher maximum HDR brightness levels than their predecessors (at 1,400 and 1,600 nits for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro respectively).

As for the resolution, the same source says the Pixel 8 is 1,800 x 2,400, while the Pixel 8 Pro is 1,344 x 2,992. But according to another source, the Pixel 8 has a 1080 x 2268 screen, while the Pixel 8 Pro has a 1344 x 2822 one.

Given that the Pixel 8 might have a smaller screen than the Pixel 7, its rumored dimensions are also smaller as a result, at 150.5 x 70.8 x 8.9mm, while the Pixel 8 Pro is said to be 162.6 x 76.5 x 8.7mm, in both cases rising to around 12mm at the camera visor.

The Pixel 8 is shown with rear two camera lenses like the current model – those presumably being wide and ultrawide ones again, while the Pixel 8 Pro is shown with three and a temperature sensor.

What seems to be a promotional video showing off the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro has also leaked out online, and we get a good look at the rear of the Pixel 8 Pro.

Seems like the new Pixel 8 series will introduce Audio Magic Eraser feature to reduce video background noise.#Pixel8 #Pixel8Pro #GooglePixel pic.twitter.com/Tb23MoDuUIAugust 11, 2023

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We've also now seen leaked hands-on photos of the Pixel 8 Pro, which you can see below. It appears to be in a case, but you can see that the screen is less curved than the Pixel 7 Pro's, that the corners are more curved, and that the camera has a slightly different design, matching the renders above.

(Image credit: Reddit)

Finally, there’s evidence of a mystery Pixel phone in the works, which based on leaked specs might be the Pixel 8 or Pixel 8 Pro. 9to5Google has found this evidence in publicly available code from the Android Open Source Project, and it points to a phone with a 1440 x 3120 120Hz screen, a Tensor chipset, and dimensions of 155 x 71mm.

Those screen specs are in line with the current Pro models, but the dimensions are more what we’d expect from the standard Pixel 8, so that might mean a resolution and refresh rate upgrade is planned for the standard model.

However, that screen resolution is also different to the leaked resolutions above, so we'd take all of these leaks with a pinch of salt for now.

Google Pixel 8: camera and battery

When it comes to cameras, the main camera sensor is expected to stick at 50MP, but with an upgraded sensor that lets in more light. The ultrawide camera will be upgraded on both phones too, we're hearing, but more so on the Pro model – while the Pro telephoto zoom is predicted to stick at 5x.

Indeed, Google itself has now leaked the Pixel 8 Pro, revealing a 5x telephoto alongside a main camera and an ultra-wide, but with no megapixel numbers listed. Those numbers were filled in, potentially, by a leak that came later.

While we still don't know battery specs, we have at least seen the Pixel 8 pop-up on the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC)'s certification website, with the listing revealing wireless charging details that suggest the Pixel 8 will retain the same wireless charging speeds as its predecessor (12W unless placed on the official Google Pixel Stand which then delivers 20W of power, wirelessly).

However, wired charging speeds are rumored to be rising: 24W for the Pixel 8 (up from 20W) and 27W for the Pixel 8 Pro (up from 24W). The same leak has also predicted slightly larger battery capacities for both phones. 

Google Pixel 8: specs and features

Leaked hands of photos of the Pixel 8 Pro that you can see further up show a partial specs list, including 12GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and mentions of 'zuma', which is believed to be the codename for the Tensor G3 chipset.

Beyond that, a handful of other leaks have emerged regarding both phones. For one thing, there are reports that the Tensor G3 chipset we’re expecting to power the phone is in the works, and that this will once again be made by Samsung.

This could be significantly more powerful than the Tensor G2 in the Pixel 7 series, as it's rumored to be built on a new 3nm process, down from 5nm for the current one. That change is likely to mean a big boost in power and efficiency.

A more detailed Tensor G3 leak has revealed all sorts of things about it, but the gist is that it should be a lot more powerful, enable ray tracing, offer improved photo processing and AI skills, and more.

Speaking of which in an aforementioned leaked video, it appears the Pixel 8 will get a new feature in the form of Audio Magic Eraser, which seems to use AI to separate music, vocals, and background noise on video clips. This was given more weight by a Google Pixel Superfans survey which mentions the tool in the context of being able to remove unwanted noise at sports games while also enhancing the audio you want to hear. 

Another leak, meanwhile, suggests the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro might be codenamed Shiba and Husky respectively, and that they both might have 12GB of RAM and run Android 14.

We also know that satellite communication capabilities are likely to be offered by the Pixel 8, much like the iPhone 14. Hiroshi Lockheimer (the senior vice president of Android) has said that support for the feature will be coming with Android 14; so it’s likely the Pixel 8 will be the first Google phone to offer it.

Plus, one source predicts the arrival of Wi-Fi 7 for the Pixel series. Another leak from Brar appeared to corroborate everything we'd already heard about the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, tipping it to be a mild, refining update. 

There have been predictions that the Pixel 8 and the Pixel 8 Pro are going to come with upgrades to the integrated Camera app, with some shuffling of the various modes and a better distinction between photo and video modes.

Finally, some say that the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro could have an extended support life cycle with up to 5 years of software updates compared to 3 with the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7. 

Google Pixel 8: what we want to see

Below we’ve listed the five things that we most want the Pixel 8 line to offer.

1. A 120Hz screen for both models

The Pixel 7 only has a 90Hz refresh rate. (Image credit: Future / Alex Walker-Todd)

The Pixel 7 Pro has a 120Hz screen, just as you’d expect from a flagship phone, but the standard Pixel 7 doesn’t – it’s stuck at 90Hz.

Given that even some of the best cheap phones now have 120Hz screens, that seems somewhat unacceptable, so we really hope Google offers a 120Hz screen on both the Pixel 8 and the Pixel 8 Pro.

2. More power

The Pixel 7 line uses the Google Tensor G2 chipset, and it’s a chipset that has a lot going for it.

Designed specifically for these phones, it excels in areas like machine learning and AI, but when it comes to raw power, the Tensor G2 is a little lacking, as it performs worse in most benchmarks than key rivals like the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 and the Apple A16 Bionic. In fact it performs significantly worse.

So, we’d like to see a focus on power from the Tensor G3 (or whatever the next model ends up being called), so that the Pixel 8 line is more competitive on that front. However, we don’t want that to come at the expense of the things Tensor chipsets are currently good at.

3. Better battery life and faster charging

The Google Pixel 7 Pro has middling battery life. (Image credit: Future / Philip Berne)

Both the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro should comfortably get you through a day of fairly heavy use, based on our tests, but they aren’t going to get you through a second day, or even halfway through a second day in most cases.

So, their longevity is respectable but far from exceptional, and they also both charge quite slowly, so we’d like to see improvements to both the battery life and the charging speed for the Pixel 8 line.

4. Longer-term support

Google has promised three years of Android version updates and five years of security patches for the Pixel 7 line, which has some Android phones beat but doesn’t come close to the number of years of support Apple typically offers with its iPhones.

Since Google makes Android and is using a bespoke chipset designed specifically for the phones here, there really shouldn’t be any reason it can’t support its phones for longer, so we’d like to see extended support offered with the Pixel 8.

5. 10x optical zoom on the Pro

The Google Pixel 7 Pro offers 5x optical zoom, up from 4x on the Pixel 6 Pro, but we’d like to see a bigger jump for the next model, bringing it up to 10x in line with the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.

That said, we still want a shorter distance zoom – of ideally 2x or 3x – to be offered as well, so there are two distinctly different zoom distances available. The Google Pixel 7 Pro is already one of the best camera phones, but with this upgrade the Pixel 8 Pro could be even better.

The iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max are now out in the wild, and there have been reports of some discoloration appearing on the new titanium frames on these handsets – an issue Apple has now officially acknowledged.

In an updated support document (via MacRumors), Apple goes on the record to say that "for iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, the oil from your skin might temporarily alter the color of the outside band".

No need to panic though – because wiping the frame of the handset with a "soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth" will "restore the original look" and your phone will look as good as new. That said, you might want to invest in a case.

The Pro and Pro Max phones are using titanium with a brushed effect instead of stainless steel this year, which seems to be why fingerprints show up so much. Of course, these signs of gradual wear and tear may not bother you at all.

Built to last

In our iPhone 15 Pro Max review, we praised the "exquisite" build quality of the most expensive iPhone 15 model, as well as describing it as a "pleasure to hold" – and problems with fingerprints weren't something we particularly noticed.

The switch to titanium means the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are lighter than their immediate predecessors, and should be more resistant to corrosion, though they're also slightly thicker as well.

As we've explained in our iPhone 15 review, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus stick with the usual aluminum frame, so you shouldn't be noticing any kind of discoloration there. There's glass front and back on all four of the new iPhone 15 handsets.

The cleaning process for your iPhone remains the same: use a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth for the job, avoid cleaning products, and don't use compressed air. You should also avoid getting moisture in any of the phone's openings.

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The first products using Nearlink – a revolutionary next-generation wireless protocol – are hitting the market, with Huawei leading the charge.

The company's Huawei Mate 60, MatePad Pro 13.2, and Freebuds Pro are among the first devices shipping with the Nearlink standard, which Huawei is championing as a much faster and more effective rival to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

Announced at its HDC 2023 event in August, Nearlink works by making the most of existing wireless technologies, including Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, according to Huawei Central.

What Nearlink means for the future of mobile networks

The benefits include 60% less power consumption, six times the data transmission speeds, and they support roughly ten times the device connections. 

The standard is designed to strip away latency (offering latency of 1/30th of a millisecond) while offering high bandwidth to boot.

Not only is Huawei loading its latest devices with Nearlink, but it’s also leading a consortium of 300 tech companies to build the standard – all Chinese apart from Mediatek and St Gobain – to integrate the standard into their products. 

This group includes a broad range of companies from sectors such as automotive, AV, home appliances, as well as electronics, and they specifically include Lenovo, Hisense, Honor, among others.

No major US names including the likes of Intel, Qualcomm, AMD, or Nvidia, are included, leading to a very real possibility the technology could take off in China and leave the rest of the world behind. 

There are, however, alternatives, including the ultra-wideband (UWB) technology Apple is developing for its devices, including the new iPhone 15 series.

Although the US has blacklisted Huawei, it remains a significant player in the global technology market. 

A China-only wireless protocol built and developed only by Chinese companies – led by Huawei – may result in a parallel form of networking that’s impossible to peer into – especially when it comes to shaping how the standard improves over time, and what that means for users and businesses.

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For the third day in a row, Payday 3 players are continuing to struggle to get online to play.

Earlier today, developer Starbreeze said that despite recent turbulence, "things are starting to look better", but players have reported throughout the day that matchmaking issues still persist, essentially preventing anyone from playing, even if they want to play alone.

It all started on September 21, when Payday 3 launched across PC and consoles. Although the first day of the early access period had a bit of a wobble, servers had mostly been okay, but the moment the game became available for all players – including those playing via Xbox Game Pass – matchmaking ceased, especially at peak times in Europe and the US.

"We're sorry to report that matchmaking is still unavailable, our team is working overtime to get this resolved," the team announced on social media on launch day. 

"We realise that the matchmaking issues are frustrating, they are for us as well," Starbreeze later added. "We're still here and still working on getting you all back into the game, stay tuned."

SERVERS DOWN AGAIN GOOD JOB STARBREEZE SEE YOU IN 12 HOURS HEISTERS 👊😎 from r/paydaytheheist

Since then, however, servers only seem to stabilize when demand eases and most of the game's European and American player base give up and go to sleep. 

However, the game's social channel and subreddit have been full of comments from unhappy gamers that they still can't connect via matchmaking – and the lucky few that do are getting kicked, too.

"I had to f*cking work like an adult the only time it was working, and now it's not working again. I've never seen such a piece of shit this is literally the new ET of gaming. Throw this shit in the landfill where it belongs," seethed one particularly unhappy player.

"You're right to complain about the server issues, it's unacceptable to still be having these issues so long after launch. You're also right that it should have had offline capabilities," agreed one conciliatory responder.

"But we all know the servers are going to be fixed, likely quite soon. So while the frustration is absolutely warranted, especially to those that cleared their schedules, were super hyped, etc. don't be an idiot and trash the entire game. We'll all be having proper heists soon."

At the time of writing, Starbreeze has not responded to reports of further server disruption. 

STOP DEFENDING THESE SCHMUCKS its been 72 hours since launch. from r/paydaytheheist

Developer Starbreeze recently confirmed a jam-packed calendar of seasonal DLC content, outlining its plans for the next 12 months to keep players of the co-op action game well-fed for much of 2024. 

Payday 3 is out now on PC (Steam/EGS), PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. Xbox Game Pass subscribers can also play for no additional cost, too.

"Payday 3 is a competently made and fairly polished heist-’em-up but while stealth gets an upgrade, the shooting is the same as its decade-old predecessor," we wrote in our 3/5 star Payday 3 review.

"Hitman-esque levels provide a nice distraction, but this feels like a foundation for Payday 3 as a live service game rather than a total product."

If you're also struggling to play Payday 3, then be sure to check out all of these fantastic co-op games, as well as the best shooters on PC  available to play with friends right now. 

You'd think that tech firms would manage not to leak their own products by now, but apparently not: Samsung seemingly just leaked its more affordable Fan Edition (FE) Galaxy phone, earbuds and tablet on its own website. 

Whether down to an employee mistake or as part of a deliberate marketing strategy, we now have lots of details about the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE as well as photos of the Galaxy Tab S9 FE and Galaxy S23 FE.

Here's what just leaked [via SamMobile].

Samsung Galaxy Buds FE: key features

Assuming the information displayed was genuine, the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE have a single driver and three mics in each earbud, active noise cancellation and up to 30 hours of play time with ANC turned off; that drops to a still-decent 21 hours with ANC enabled. They have Bluetooth 5.2 and a larger, tipped design, and as before there's the familiar compact charging case with USB-C on the back. They're SmartThings Find-compatible and feature an ambient mode, auto device switching and Samsung's Bixby digital assistant. 

The price of the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE hasn't been announced - or accidentally published - yet, but previous rumors suggested $99 in the US, which is likely to be £99 in the UK.

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE and Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE: what do we know so far?

In addition to the leaked photos, Samsung has also been publishing teaser images of the forthcoming Samsung Galaxy S23 FE – the first FE phone since the Galaxy S21 FE. They show the rear camera assembly with three lenses arranged vertically and the headline, "The New Epic". That would appear to corroborate previous rumors that the S23 FE would be getting a camera upgrade this year.

According to the rumor mill, the SE will have a 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED with full HD+, 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+. The selfie shooter is reportedly 10MP, and the main camera is 50MP alongside a 12MP ultrawide and an 8MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom. 

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is believed to have the Exynos 2200 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chips from last year's Galaxy S22 series, although leaked benchmarks indicate that Samsung has optimized it to deliver better performance than before. 

The Galaxy Tab S9 FE has leaked elsewhere too: it's appeared on the Google Play Console database alongside its budget sibling, the Galaxy Tab A9. Alongside renders of the new tablet there are some specifications: it appears to have a 1440 x 2304px display, an Exynos 1380 chip and 6GB of RAM. As expected, it's running Android 13.

We don't know when these devices will actually launch, but one of the leaked images of the Galaxy S23 FE shows a date of 4 October, which seems like a likely date for a Fall product launch: much later and you're leaving it dangerously late for the holiday season. And given the fact that Samsung is teasing while also deliberately or accidentally leaking complete product pages, it's clear that the Fan Edition devices are ready to roll.

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A new video suggests that the iPhone 15 Pro may be more prone to accidental-drop damage than the outgoing iPhone 14 Pro. 

The video, by Sam Kohl of AppleTrack (via 9to5Mac, compares the two iPhone Pro models during a series of drops. The iPhone 14 remains in apparently as-new condition even after the drops reach double figures, but by that point the iPhone 15 Pro is completely trashed.

It's important to keep perspective here: when you accidentally drop your iPhone, you don't then pick it up and drop it again several times; it took multiple drops to do any damage to the iPhone 15 Pro in the video. But there does appear to be a structural difference between the outgoing iPhone and the new one, and that difference could seemingly make the Pro more prone to spiderweb cracks when dropped onto a hard surface. 

Why is the iPhone 15 Pro getting damaged differently?

The new iPhone 15 Pro makes extensive use of titanium alloy, which is strong and light, and has a titanium alloy frame rather than a stainless steel one. However, while titanium is stronger it's also a little more flexible, and that along with the move from a vertical to a curved edge appears to have removed some of the shock-absorbing properties of the iPhone 14 Pro's stainless steel band. 

What that means in practice is that while the titanium itself is very tough, it may transmit more vibration to other parts of the phone – such as the glass back, which is what you can see cracking in the video. So while the structural integrity of the iPhone remains undamaged, the shock can be transmitted through the glass, causing that to crack.

It's unlikely to be a significant issue for most users, especially those of us who put their phones in a case (partly for protection and partly to protect the resale value). But it's perhaps fortunate timing that Apple has made it cheaper to repair the glass back of the iPhone 15 Pro: according to Apple's latest repair price estimates, the cost of replacing the back glass on the iPhone 15 Pro is $169 / £169 / AU$275, rising to $199 / £199 / AU$319 for the iPhone 15 Pro Max. That's significantly less than the previous models, which were $499 / £519 / AU$879 and $549 / £559 / AU$899 respectively. 

Still, if you're clumsy you might want to consider AppleCare on your new iPhone: that gives you unlimited repairs for accidental damage and cuts the cost to $29 in the US, £25 in the UK and AU$45 in Australia. 

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Macworld

Now that the iPhone 15 has USB-C, you can finally dump your Lightning cables and charge everything with the same cord. But you still need a great power adapter and Apple’s newest dual-port charger is one of our favorites, especially at this price: Amazon is selling Apple’s 35W Dual USB-C Port Compact Power Adapter for $45, a savings of $14 and matching the lowest price we’ve ever seen.

This power adapter has a pair of down-facing USB-C ports and a compact design with folding prongs. Either port can deliver 35 watts of juice to your device, and it has enough power to fast charge an iPhone and Apple Watch. Apple recommends this charger for use with the MacBook Air, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and AirPods.

So whether you need a new power adapter or have an old one lying around, this charger will quickly become your favorite. So go grab one before the price shoots back up.

iPhone

Macworld

Apple ships a simple but effective charging cable with the Apple Watch that will fast-charge an Apple Watch Series 7 or later (Watch 8, Watch Ultra). You won’t find a faster charging accessory but you can also choose from a wide range of stylish and practical charging stands, docks and power banks for your Apple Watch—including some that can also charge other Apple devices such as your iPhone and AirPods.

Here, we round up some of the best Apple Watch chargers, docks and charging stands—some of which can charge your other Apple devices at the same time. Most should be compatible with all generations of the Watch, but be sure to check compatibility before buying.

Apple Watch Magnetic Fast Charger to USB-C Cable – Best Apple Watch charging cable

Pros

Fast charge Watch Simple

Cons

One use only Price When Reviewed: $29 Best Prices Today: $25.49 at Target