It's fair to say that Microsoft's newest hardware is proving divisive, with Surface Duo splitting opinion between those who think it's potentially the future of computing, and critics who say it's just too expensive. The dual-touchscreen clamshell will cost a heady $1,400 when it goes on sale in September, and now Microsoft has released its thirty minute briefing video on just why it thinks that's worth it.
Intel has revealed a new GPU for gamers, with the new graphics chip promising to be the fourth variant of its next-generation Xe architecture. The Intel Xe-HPG will be a performance version of the Xe family, joining the chip-maker's version's for low-power systems, data centers, and creators, as it tries to take on graphics stalwarts AMD and NVIDIA.
Jobs that bosses insisted couldn't be done at home are now being done at home, as are jobs that normally done at home. The sudden rise in remote working setups has naturally resulted in a rise in the use of collaboration software and services, from video conferencing apps like Zoom to cloud storage services like Dropbox. The latter has recently announced new features that offer to keep your personal and work digital lives from descending into chaos and those tools can now be yours if you can pay the literal price.
As the makers of the world's most-used web browser and search engine, Google has taken upon itself to come up with and enforce policies that will protect users against less conscientious people on the Web. As the makers of the world's most-used web browser and search engine, however, the company is also often accused of pushing its own agenda with these new policies. Even something like hiding a website's full URL has gotten a bit negative feedback but Google assures that it's doing it to protect unwitting users from harm.
Google has been heavily pushing Chromebooks and Chrome OS almost as the all-in-one computer system you'll ever need, especially with the upcoming support for running Windows applications (at least on the enterprise). As a software platform, however, Chrome OS's story has never really been complete and that is manifested in the lack of quality or even notable apps and games for Chrome OS. Google is finally adding a new chapter to that story with ChromeOS.dev, its new one-stop-shop to help developers get up and running on making software for Google's OS.
There's no denying that Microsoft's new Surface Duo has the wow-factor. A waif-like clamshell of soft-touch metal, that smoothly hinges open to reveal not one but two touchscreens - complete with Surface Pen support - it's hard not to look at it and think of a sci-fi movie prop. Yet Microsoft aims to put its futuristic gizmo on sale next month.
School is starting soon for many kids in the US and some countries around the world but it won't be the same kind of school they've been used to for years. For many, school will be synonymous to home as educational institutions try to grapple with the restrictions imposed by the coronavirus pandemic. School will now be dependent on technology and the Internet more than ever and Google is more than ready to meet the growing needs of learning with its suite of products and features geared towards education.
All companies, no matter the size, have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Of course, smaller companies and organizations have had a more difficult time adjusting and coping compared to those with more resources to spare. Although not exactly tiny, the makers of the popular Firefox web browser is dwarfed by the giant that is Google and was already struggling to find stable revenue streams even before the coronavirus hit the world. Now Mozilla Corporation, the for-profit subsidiary of the Mozilla Foundation, is announcing a "significant restructuring", including letting go of 250 people.
It isn't just work that was suddenly plunged into a new world. Schools are also scrambling to adjust to the "new normal", which mostly means holding lessons remotely without direct teacher supervision. That also means relying more heavily on devices, of which Chromebooks and iPads are fiercely competing in the market. Whichever of the two you choose, there will now be a Minecraft learning world ready for you as developers Mojang (owned by Microsoft) rolls out at long last Chromebook support for its Education Edition.
Google had a grand vision for Chrome, one that included treating web apps as first-class citizens, a vision that almost saw its fulfillment in Chrome OS. Chrome Apps, however, didn't exactly fly on their own and was eventually made redundant by the more browser-agnostic and standardized Progressive Web Apps or PWAs. That said, Chrome Apps did gather a few true believers and users, especially among its enterprise customers, causing Google to now push back its earlier plans to sunset Chrome Apps until June next year.
It looks like NVIDIA is gearing up to make some kind of big announcement. Today, the company published a very vague teaser to its Twitter account in which it seems to be building anticipation for an announcement that's three weeks away. Obviously, without more information it's difficult to say for sure, but this could be the GeForce 3000-series announcement PC hardware enthusiasts have been expecting for some time now.
Apple just announced a refresh of its largest iMac with some of the highest specs you would be able to get from that all-in-one computer family. Of course, you might not be able to tell just by looking at it because the very familiar face hides all the upgrades inside. It's not all upgrades, however, as Apple did remove something important and its absence leaves a literal empty spot inside this year's 5K 27-inch iMac.