Computing

Ever since it came out with its new Zen core architecture late last year, AMD has been aggressively pushing its Ryzen line of processors to almost every computing market its eternal rival Intel has a foothold. It even suspiciously named some of its processors, particularly those for desktops, to match Intel’s Core i scheme. So after the high-end Ryzen 7 and the Ryzen 5, it’s really no surprise that AMD has finally come out with the Ryzen 3 to target even more budget-constrained PC gamers.

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This close to the expected launch of Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, you’d expect Microsoft to be focused more on polishing and bug fixing. While that’s generally true, that hasn’t stopped ol’ Redmond from pushing out new features to its Insider testers. The latest 16251 build for PCs and 15235 for mobile has an unexpected surprise for mobile users. Yes, even Windows 10 Mobile, though it’s not as exciting as you might think.

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Despite the surge of interest and content in consumer virtual reality, thanks to the likes of Oculus and HTC Vive, proponents quickly saw the technical limits of current technology and devices. For one, wands and sticks make for poor approximation of our hands. For another, these VR headsets keep us tethered to desks or, at the very least, laptops. The next wave of VR innovation seems to be focused at freeing headsets from the shackles and cables, and HTC is jumping at the forefront with its new Vive standalone headset, powered by none other than Qualcomm’s latest platform.

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Spring cleaning or killing spree, you decide. Intel has been rather aggressively “retiring” some of its less profitable endeavors, most of them revolving around the Internet of Things and wearable devices. Although it hasn’t formally acknowledge letting go of its wearables division, Intel did put its low-power Curie chip to pasture. Naturally, that has meant that the Arduino 101 is also following suit, bringing a formal end to Intel’s dreams on small form factor computers and devices.

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For something that has “universal” in its name, the USB standard is anything but. It is honestly all over the place. USB Type-C, a.k.a. USB-C, was supposed to become the end all and be all of USB connections but, that is only true in an ideal world. In the real world, devices still use non-reversible USB 3.0, even much older USB 2.0, connections. And to keep things moving forward, the USB 3.0 Promoter Group has just proudly revealed the existence of yet another one: USB 3.2.

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Say what you want about Microsoft’s past hardware flops, but there’s no denying it has become somewhat of a trendsetter in some areas. The Surface Pro tablets, the HoloLens headset, and, lately, the Surface Studio. The latter, however, might take a bit of time before it sinks into OEMs mindsets, not to mention budgets. That is why it’s a bit disappointing that HP’s newest Pavilion All-in-One hasn’t made that jump yet. Powerful and gorgeous, it’s just a pen and a few angles away from becoming a Surface Studio rival.

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Google Assistant is almost in every notable Google product, from the Google Home, Android phones, Android Wear smartwatches, and at least one Android TV. Well, almost. The one remaining holdout is, unsurprisingly, Chrome OS, Google's desktop-like platform. Worry not, Chrome OS fans, you too will soon get your well-deserved AI assistant. And, no, it won't be coming via a still in beta Google Play integration but a feature in its own right, displacing the less used and even unknown "OK Google" hotword.

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People love cheap, usable notebooks. Rewind a decade or so and 'netbooks' were just becoming a hot item. Things like the Sony Vaio P existed. Consumers gobbled them up, and though the market as a whole eventually moved on from the ultra-tiny laptop trend, the fact remains that a portable, inexpensive laptop is almost always a desirable option to have. Thus enters Lenovo's new budget-friendly 2-in-1 Miix 320 convertible laptop.

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The AI invasion isn’t coming. It’s already hear. Forget Skynet, we already have Siri, Cortana, Google Assistant, and, now, Bixby. But AI is found in more than those. It’s also present in Google Search, Office Lens, email, photos, and, soon, your head. No, we’re not talking about plugging your head to a computer, but something close. Microsoft researchers have just revealed how the next version of the HoloLens will include a custom-made, special-purpose chip whose processing power will be dedicated solely to, what else, AI.

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The Fall Creators Update for Windows 10 will be released in the coming weeks, and Microsoft promises it will include new features not only for creatives, but improvements to accessibility, security, and UI as well. Unfortunately, there are several existing features of the operating system that will be getting removed or deprecated with the update. Most of them are aging and no longer being developed, or they're being folded into other tools and applications.

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While the Raspberry Pi is undoubtedly the darling of makers and tinkerers, it has always been envisioned for use in education. But in order to keep the single board computer (SBC) affordable and accessible, the Raspberry Pi had to remain what it is today: a bare bones board that, by itself, isn’t exactly useful. You need at least an external display, keyboard, and mouse, not to mention a compatible OS installed on a memory card. This simplicity it both a boon and a bane, the latter because of the nearly infinite amount of choices users, particularly educators, have to make. Fortunately, there are those like pi-top that build greatness on top of greatness. We take its flagship product, the pi-top, to build ourselves a laptop powered by the Raspberry Pi, with a bent towards educating and empowering the next generation.

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If you were one of the early, and probably disappointed, adopters of the first breed of Windows 8.1 hybrids and convertibles, Microsoft has a good news, bad news thing for you. The good news is that your device is going to be supported for another six years. The bad news is that it only applies to security fixes. As far as “Windows as a Service” is concerned, last year’s Anniversary Update is the end of the line for these devices.

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