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Samsung Notebook 9 Pro gets a stylus
At Computex 2017, Samsung announced their latest notebook, the Samsung Notebook 9 Pro.
This notebook is a 2-in-1 convertible that has a 360-degree hinge that allows for it to close completely and to open all the way into a tablet. It also comes with a Samsung S Pen built-in, which is great for using while the laptop is in tablet mode.
The S Pen has 4,000 levels of pressure sensitivity and the ability to detect tilt like Microsoft's Surface Pen. Samsung also uses their Air Command software for quick launching drawing, notes, and editing documents. The S Pen is also compatible with the latest Windows 10 Creator's update feature, Windows Ink.
Continue reading: Samsung Notebook 9 Pro gets a stylus (full post)
G.SKILL's 16GB DDR4 RAM hits 4800MHz with Intel Core X
Computex 2017 - G.SKILL today announced a high-speed memory breakthrough at the showfloor in Taipei, Taiwan by hitting DDR4-4800 speeds with its 16GB TridentZ kits--and breaking the DDR4-4000 threshold with its RGB memory.
Armed with Intel's new high-end Core X series of processors and X299 chipset motherboards, G.SKILL was able to push its 16GB (8GB x 2) DDR4 kits to an amazing 4800MHz with CL19-19- 19-39 timings. This inches G.SKILL even closer to the DDR4-5000 mark without liquid nitrogen cooling. The demo leveraged an Intel Core X-Series processor and a ASRock X299 OC Formula motherboard.
G.SKILL also pushed its new RGB memory beyond DDR4-4000, too: the company pushed its ultra-high capacity 64GB (8GB x 8) Trident Z RGB DDR4 RAM kit to an impressive DDR4-4200MHz with CL19-21-21-41 timings, again using Intel's new Core X-Series processors and an ASUS Prime X299-Deluxe motherboard.
Continue reading: G.SKILL's 16GB DDR4 RAM hits 4800MHz with Intel Core X (full post)
ASUS unveils two new ZenPad 10 tablets
During the ASUS Computex 2017 Press Conference, ASUS announced two new versions of their ZenPad 10 Android tablet.
Both tablets are powered by a MediaTek MT8735 processor with slight performance differences.
The faster of the two ZenPad 10 tablets has a 1080P panel and a 1.4GHz processor paired with 2GB or 3GB of RAM as well as 32GB or 64GB of storage capacity. To keep costs down, ASUS has only included a 5MP main camera and a 2MP front-facing camera on the ZenPad 10 with an expected battery life of 10 hours.
Continue reading: ASUS unveils two new ZenPad 10 tablets (full post)
Take-Two says its 'under-monetizing' games
In today's games market, whole titles are built with microtransactions and live services in mind, and games seem to be built around these services instead of being supplementary to triple-A gaming experiences. But GTA V publisher Take-Two Interactive says that it's in-game monetization approach is different and that it leaves money on the table so that it doesn't have to "nickle and dime" gamers.
"I have to emphasize that our approach to monetization is different than our competitors. We focus first and foremost on delighting the consumer and giving the consumer more than they bargained for," Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick said at the Cowen and Company 45th Annual Technology, Media & Telecom Conference in New York.
"It's sort of axiomatic, but the better the product, the more people will be willing to spend on it. Recurrent consumer spending is not a panacea; if we put out something that doesn't work, we can't get people to buy more of it. And they don't even want more of it for free if it really doesn't work."
Continue reading: Take-Two says its 'under-monetizing' games (full post)
Nintendo Switch voice chat is a mess
Peripheral-maker HORI has revealed how online voice chatting will work on the Nintendo Switch, and it's not pretty.
Nintendo's new Switch handheld-console hybrid requires a convoluted audio pass-through connector to enable optimum multiplayer voice chat with online games like Splatoon 2. HORI, a Japanese company that makes peripherals for the Switch, revealed an official Splatoon 2 gaming headset--and shows just how the Switch's online chatting works in the process.
Switch audio chat is only available via a smartphone app, and since the Switch's 3.5mm headphone jack only broadcasts game audio, users will have to connect the headset to both their smartphone and the Switch at the same time in order to hear game audio and chat audio while playing in Handheld Mode. Thus an audio pass-through splitter connector is required. HORI's official Splatoon 2 headset comes with one such peripheral.
Continue reading: Nintendo Switch voice chat is a mess (full post)
AMD prepares 9 models of ThreadRipper, up to 16C/32T
Computex 2017 - AMD unleashed their new HEDT platform at Computex 2017, detailing ThreadRipper and its new X399 chipset. Intel fought back with its new Core X-Series announcement and the new $1999 flagship CPU with Core i9-7980XE.
AMD might not have a consumer CPU with 18C/36T, but it will be offering 16C/32T with their flagship ThreadRipper 1998X processor. Interestingly, AMD has nailed the TDP on ThreadRipper where they're offering far superior TDP numbers on their processors. For example, Intel's new 6C/12T right up to the 10C/20T have 140W TDPs, while AMD sips 125W. It's only 15W, but traditionally it has been Intel that has superior TDP numbers.
There will be 9 different Ryzen ThreadRipper CPUs in total, with the 'X' models featuring XFR (Extended Frequency Range), which allows the ThreadRipper CPUs to scale their clock speeds past the traditional boost clocks, and it scales the CPU clocks with cooling. So if you have air cooling, you'll hit a certain frequency, but AIO water cooling and LN2 setups will benefit more with XFR.
Continue reading: AMD prepares 9 models of ThreadRipper, up to 16C/32T (full post)
AMD ThreadRipper: X399, 16C/32T, 64 PCIe lanes and more
Computex 2017 - AMD might not have Radeon RX Vega anywhere near ready for consumer and gamers' consumption, but that didn't stop them from unleashing their new ThreadRipper CPU at Computex.
AMD detailed their new ThreadRipper in Taipei, announcing it has a whopping 16C/32T of CPU performance, 64 PCIe 3.0 lanes (more on why this is the most important part in a minute), quad-channel DDR4 support, and their new X399 chipset for HEDT.
The new X399 chipset supports 64 PCIe 3.0 lanes which is perfect for 2/3/4-way GPU setups (4-way Radeon RX Vega anyone?!) and the world of M.2 SSDs that use those precious PCIe lanes. Not only that, but we have quad-channel DDR4 support with up to 8 x DIMMs on high-end motherboards.
Continue reading: AMD ThreadRipper: X399, 16C/32T, 64 PCIe lanes and more (full post)
AMD's mainstream Radeon RX Vega delayed until 2018?
Computex 2017 - AMD had a tiny little whimper of Radeon RX Vega at Computex this year, revealing that it would detail Radeon RX Vega at Siggraph 2017 - which takes place between July 30 and August 3. For our entire Radeon RX Vega coverage, I have a big article on it here.
But since I'm on the ground in Taipei, I talked with some friends in the industry and we had an interesting discussion to say the least. First off, I exclusively revealed that AMD will have less than 16,000 units of Radeon RX Vega in the months after its launch, and this seems to be something that is forming into a solid fact.
Then there's the fact that AMD promised a Q2 2017 launch of Vega, and while they met it by making Radeon Vega Frontier Edition available on June 27 - that's the professional card, not the consumer RX Vega. On top of that, the enthusiast level cards will launch in Q3 - while the mainstream cards are supposedly being pushed back to Q4 2017 at the earliest, but it could spill into Q1 2018.
Continue reading: AMD's mainstream Radeon RX Vega delayed until 2018? (full post)
Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 now powers Windows 10 PCs
Computex 2017 - Qualcomm did tease a few weeks ago that they were working with Microsoft on something big, and here we are: Snapdragon 835 powered Windows 10 devices, which will really change everything.
Qualcomm announced that it's working with some of the biggest names in the industry with ASUS, HP, and Lenovo to make Snapdragon 835-powered PCs, with Qualcomm's super-fast X16 LTE modem. This will usher in a new era of mobile computing that will allow for even smaller and thinner devices that blur the line between smartphones, tablets, and traditional laptops.
Snapdragon 835 is made on the 10nm process and powers a slew of flagship smartphones, but the upcoming mobile PC platform is going to do an Apple, and really change everything. Until now the Windows ecosystem has been dominated by Intel designs, but Intel's SoC attempts have been futile, while Qualcomm continues to innovate and push the boundaries of what we thought was possible.
Continue reading: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 now powers Windows 10 PCs (full post)
MSI unleashes new fleet of X299 motherboards
Computex 2017 - MSI today unveiled its latest fleet of motherboards to compliment Intel's new X299 chipset, built specifically to leverage Intel's high-end Core i9 Skylake-X and Kaby Lake-X processors.
MSI's new X299 motherboard fleet is composed of three main series: the higher-end feature-rich MSI Enthusiast Series, the stylish MSI Performance Series, and the durable metal-infused MSI Arsenal Gaming series, all of which offer a range different motherboards and features for different price points.
MSI's Enthusiast Series includes the premium X299 GAMING M7 ACK motherboard is the X299 variant of the company's popular GAMING M series. This particular motherboard is "designed for gamers and PC enthusiasts who love performance," and features high-end tools for overclockers including a 10 phase DigitALL power design with Loadline Calibration and MSI's Turbo Socket.
Continue reading: MSI unleashes new fleet of X299 motherboards (full post)
Thermaltake announces tempered glass full-tower PC case
Computex 2017 - Thermaltake today revealed its full-towered chassis with stylish tempered glass and innovative features.
Thermaltake's new View 71 TG Edition full-tower chassis is enclosed with 5mm-thick tempered glass on four sides to show off your rig, and also comes with everything you'd expect from a PC case: seven tool-free drive bays and modular drive racks to ensure adequate storage and ample room for liquid cooling solutions, magnetic fan filters and dust filters to ensure your rig stays nice and dust-free, and two built-in 140mm Riing Blue LED fans for cooling components.
The View 71 TB Edition can fit a complete full-tower build that supports up to 3x 140mm liquid cooling radiators or 3x 140mm front-facing case fans as well as 2x 120mm bottom-mounted fans, and can fit video cards up to 410mm in size.
Continue reading: Thermaltake announces tempered glass full-tower PC case (full post)
GIGABYTE reveals new fleet of Aorus X299 motherboards
Computex 2017 - GIGABYTE today revealed its new fleet of Aorus X299 gaming motherboards in Taipei, Taiwan.
The new Aorus gaming motherboard line is specifically built for Intel's new enthusiast-grade X299 series processors, and features a number of premium additions to enhance users' PC gaming experience. The line features Ultra Durable base plates and reinforced PCIe lanes to reduce GPU sag damage as well as thermal head spreaders for M.2 SSDs and Intel's new Optane Memory technology. Stylish accenting is added by the Aorus X299 Gaming 9 and 7's RGB LEDs, which can be customized with software to add more flair to any build.
GIGABYTE's new X299 Aorus Gaming Series also comes with Smart Fan 5 software which allows users to optimize and control their cooling system. The company explains the benefits of its Fan Stop Technology in the latest press release: "Fan stop technology reduces unnecessary wear on fans when the system is below a specific temperature, stopping all fans until they are needed. With improved control and up-to-the-second information on flow-rate and water-temperature through the Hybrid Fan Pin Headers, the new Smart Fan 5 offers users complete mastery over their PC. To ensure the ultimate liquid cooling experience, high-current 3 amperage pin header has been added to power the most demanding water pumps available for PC cooling."
Continue reading: GIGABYTE reveals new fleet of Aorus X299 motherboards (full post)
The Essential PH-1 smartphone ships in 30 days
Essential, the company created by Android founder Andy Rubin, recently launched their much-awaited smartphone, the PH-1 (PH-One or Phone).
The PH-1 currently sells for $699 but is available with a 360-degree camera attachment for $749. However, even though we have known the price of the PH-1, we had no idea when it would actually be available. You could go on the Essential site and 'reserve' an Essential PH-1 without knowing when it would ship or arrive.
That wait is over now, thanks to Andy Rubin's interview and informal launch at the Code Conference put on by Recode.
Continue reading: The Essential PH-1 smartphone ships in 30 days (full post)
ASUS launches the ZenPad 3S 8.0 at Computex
Computex is a crazy show, every year there are numerous announcements from all of the biggest tech companies in the world. ASUS is no exception to this, in fact, they held two separate press conferences this year to space out their announcements.
This week without much fanfare ASUS launched a new ZenPad tablet, the ZenPad 3S 8.0. It features a Snapdragon 652 processor and 4GB of RAM with a less expensive 3GB model as well.
ASUS has also upgraded the storage capacity to 32 or 64GB from the previously offered 16 and 32GB of the ZenPad 3 8.0.
Continue reading: ASUS launches the ZenPad 3S 8.0 at Computex (full post)
OPPO reveals the R11 in an official teaser
OPPO's upcoming R11 has been subject to numerous leaks in the past week. The company will officially announce the device on June 10th, but they have decided to publish a teaser to put an end to leaks and speculation.
The video shows the phone in its full glory, and it confirms that the device will come with dual rear camera setup, as rumored. The dual camera is previously rumored to have 16MP + 20MP, while the front shooter should come with a lofty 20MP.
The earlier rumored color options, black, gold, and pink have also been confirmed in the video.
Continue reading: OPPO reveals the R11 in an official teaser (full post)
Nokia smartphones globally available by the end of June
Back in February, alongside the Nokia 3310, HMD Global announced three Android smartphones - the Nokia 6, 5, and 3. The devices are mid to low-range phones, but the company believes that they might become popular between customers.
However, when the phones were announced, the company didn't have the answer to when and where they will be available.
Now, the company has finally announced that the three smartphones will hit markets around the world before the end of June.
Continue reading: Nokia smartphones globally available by the end of June (full post)
NASA to send a spacecraft into the Sun next year
NASA plans to send a spacecraft straight into the Sun next year. The space agency made the announcement during a news conference and a ceremony at the University of Chicago.
The mission begins in August 2018. Since this isn't a journey that a human can take, NASA will send a 10-foot high probe on the historic mission, since this will mark the first time humanity has reached the giant star.
NASA named the probe Parker Solar Probe in honor of astrophysicist Eugene Parker, which is the first time in the space agency's history a space vessel is named after a living person.
Continue reading: NASA to send a spacecraft into the Sun next year (full post)
OnePlus is giving away 10 OnePlus 5 units before launch
OnePlus 5 is one of the most-anticipated smartphones this year, and we don't have to wait much longer for its official launch planned for the summer.
However, if you want to get your hands-on the phone before the company launches, and even finalizes the device, you can. OnePlus has started an initiative called 'The Lab.' The company wants to receive customer's feedback about the OnePlus 5's camera.
OnePlus will give away ten OnePlus 5 devices to people willing to work with them and give them feedback.
Continue reading: OnePlus is giving away 10 OnePlus 5 units before launch (full post)
OPPO R11 images leak ahead of the launch
While we are waiting for the launch of OPPO's long-rumored flagship, the Find 9, the company is all set to unveil another smartphone - the R11.
Earlier this month, a poster leaked revealing the most likely launch date, June 10th. Now, images of the phone have leaked confirming that the R11 will come with a rear dual camera setup.
The dual camera is previously rumored to have 16MP + 20MP, while the front shooter should come with 20MP.
Continue reading: OPPO R11 images leak ahead of the launch (full post)
HyperX reveals 16GB Predator DDR4 4000MHz RAM kits
Computex 2017 - At the latest Computex showcase in Taipei, Taiwan, HyperX today announced the expansion of its Predator DDR4 RAM to 4,000MHz.
HyperX's new high-density Predator DDR4-4000 RAM is available in 16GB kits (2 x 8GB modules) with CL19 timings. The company also expanded its Predator DDR4 128GB kits (8 x 16GB modules) to include 3,000MHz frequencies with CL15 timings. For reference, single HyperX Predator DDR4 modules are available in 8GB and 16GB capacities, with kits of 2, 4 and 8 modules with capacities varying from 8GB to 1280GB.
Furthermore, HyperX has now divided its memory line into two simplified types: its FURY system memory line is aimed for PC users "looking for simplicity in overclocking", whereas its premium Predator XMP memory is aimed at "giving PC builders the best performance."
Continue reading: HyperX reveals 16GB Predator DDR4 4000MHz RAM kits (full post)






















