desktop
Latest
Mac mini teardown uncovers all of the tiny desktop's updates
The long-overdue Mac mini update looks similar on the outside, but how much has it changed on the inside? Quite a bit -- though you'll be glad to hear some things have stayed the same. iFixit has torn down the diminutive desktop, and it's evident that Apple made only very strategic changes to the system's internals. It's still relatively easy to get inside the system by popping off the bottom and sliding out the entire motherboard. And when Apple said the memory was upgradable (unlike the 2014 model), it wasn't kidding. There's a shield to prevent interference, but it's easy to remove and install your own RAM sticks.
Apple's new Mac mini is all about increased power
Yes, it's actually happening: Apple is releasing a new Mac mini after four years of leaving the tiny desktop virtually untouched. The new design is familiar on the surface, outside of its space gray finish, but boasts a huge performance upgrade with a minimum four-core 8th-generation Intel desktop processor (with an option for six cores), up to 64GB of RAM and 2TB of storage. It's up to five times faster in raw computing power, with 60 percent faster graphics. And it doesn't skimp on connectivity. You'll find four Thunderbolt 3 ports, two USB-A ports, HDMI, audio and Ethernet (including a 10Gbps option).
Walmart's homegrown gaming PCs are surprisingly good
Walmart is getting into the gaming PC business. The retailer has announced an exclusive line of three laptops and three desktop towers under the name Overpowered -- and the specs are actually pretty good. The machines, available only from Walmart, have been designed in partnership with Esports Arena.
Sonos pares back its desktop app as it prioritizes mobile
Sonos has given its desktop controller app a makeover, bringing it more in line with its iOS and Android apps. The update, version 9.2, includes a bunch of new features designed to make it easier and more intuitive to use, including automatic player updates -- so you can set your Sonos players to download and install new versions when you're not listening -- and support for the forthcoming Sonos Amp.
Microsoft's Surface Studio 2 packs a 2TB SSD and improved display
In 2016, Microsoft unveiled its first all-in-one desktop, the Surface Studio, which was geared towards professionals and creatives and sported a huge touchscreen. Now, it's getting a bit of a refresh, and Microsoft gave a look at what the new Surface Studio has to offer during its Surface event today.
Leak reveals black Surface Laptop and Surface Pro
Those rumors of black Surface devices at Microsoft's impending October 2nd event might have some merit. WalkingCat (a historically good source of Microsoft scoops) has posted what appears to be a leaked press image showing matte black versions of the Surface Laptop and Surface Pro, along with what's likely a refreshed Surface Studio. The leak doesn't include specs or any other details. All the devices look similar to their existing counterparts apart from the new hue, though, reinforcing claims that these would be spec bumps rather than major revisions.
Tap's wearable keyboard makes typing in VR applications a breeze
To date, the VR experience has largely centered around games and entertainment -- doing any actual work, such as typing up a document or sending an email, has been a slow and cumbersome process due to clunky point-and-click virtual keyboards. Now, a company behind a wearable keyboard, mouse and controller has demonstrated that its kit can be used with Microsoft's virtual desktop environment, making it easier, quicker and more intuitive to get stuff down within a VR realm.
The best desktops for students
For some of you, picking up a MacBook like the rest of your peers just won't do. If you're willing to trade portability for power, desktop computers are the way to go. Since it's probably the biggest-ticket item you'll buy for your apartment throughout college, it's important to choose the right one for your needs (and budget). This goes double for those of you spending a little more on a machine that will get you through graduate studies and beyond.
Skype’s redesigned desktop app includes drag-and-drop photo sharing
Microsoft is rolling out an updated version of Skype for desktop today that comes with a handful of new features. Skype 8.0 will include free HD video and screen-sharing calls that can accommodate up to 24 people as well as the ability to share photos, videos and files -- up to 300MB worth at a time -- by dragging and dropping them into the chat window. Messaging is getting a tweak too and users will be able to react to messages in a conversation, address someone specifically with an @mention and easily see all of their @mentions in a notification center. Additionally, a new chat media gallery will house all of the files, photos and links that were shared in a conversation.
Chrome OS is fixing its app problem with Progressive Web Apps
Chromebook users are generally a happy lot, but few would argue that the biggest problem with Chrome OS is the lack of apps. Google is going a long way to correct that issue with version 67 of Chrome OS with the introduction of Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) for desktop. They appear on your home screen like regular apps, launch in the same way, and are quick and reliable because the service workers can cache all the needed assets.
YouTube direct messaging moves from mobile to desktop
YouTube has been flirting with in-app messaging for a bit on mobile, and now it's finally ready to roll out private video messaging to the web. It looks pretty easy to use too, according to 9to5Google. In the upper righthand corner where your account avatar resides, you'll find a new button sitting between the ones for YouTube apps and notifications. Click it and you'll find a new way to share videos on the platform.
HP's new Envy PC is the first all-in-one with Alexa built-in
If you treat your all-in-one PC as the central hub of your home, shouldn't it double as a voice control hub, too? HP thinks so. It's launching a new version of its 34-inch curved Envy all-in-one with Amazon's Alexa built-in -- the first AIO with Alexa, in fact. Talk to your desktop and you can play music or check the weather, complete with Alexa's signature blue light to confirm that it's listening to your commands.
Apple's influential, iconic iMac turns 20
There are few individual computer models that have left a lasting mark on the industry, but you can definitely put the iMac on that list. Apple introduced its signature all-in-one desktop at a special event on May 6th, 1998, and it's safe to say the system has had a lasting impact on technology at large. At the same time, the iMac has also been a symbol of the cultural zeitgeist, including for Apple itself -- it shows how the company evolved from an underdog in a Windows world to a behemoth focused more on phones than PCs. The iMac has had a long journey, but it's worth following to see just how much the industry has changed in the past 20 years.
PUBG’s furious arcade mode comes to mobile
The developers of Player Unknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) has been adding features to their popular battle royale game since launch, with a roadmap that includes new maps and more stable gameplay. A new map, Savage, started testing a few weeks back, and a brand new war mode shakes up the game play in custom matches. Now, mobile players will see some cool new tweaks, according to Pocket-Lint, including a fast-paced Arcade mode that's out on Android and likely headed to iOS soon.
Apple warns Mac users that 32-bit apps will soon stop working
Starting tomorrow, you'll see an alert box when you open a 32-bit app in MacOS 10.13.4. The one-time-per-app warning is designed to encourage users -- and developers -- to update their apps before Apple's full transition to 64-bit. It's not clear when the complete switch will happen, but when it does, all support for the legacy architecture will cease and apps that haven't been updated will stop working.
HP's latest Pavilion PCs are built for gamers on a budget
Many conspicuously gaming-oriented PCs are aimed at high-end buyers, the sort who won't flinch at splurging on top-end parts and extravagant RGB lighting. But that's not really how the gaming market works -- there are many, many people only ask for just enough performance to run their favorite games at a decent clip. And HP is most definitely aware of this. It's refreshing its Pavilion PC lineup for the spring, and the focus this time is on a new Pavilion Gaming line that offers some of the trappings of gaming PCs without venturing into the higher prices of the Omen and Omen X lineups.
Apple will ship its redesigned Mac Pro in 2019
If you were budgeting for the redesigned Mac Pro this year, you'll want to earmark that money for something else. Apple has revealed to TechCrunch that the modular workstation is now slated to ship in 2019, rather than sometime in 2018 as many expected (though it was never set in stone). The company is providing the heads-up now so that customers who need a system soon can buy an iMac Pro without worrying that the Mac Pro might be right around the corner, according to Hardware Engineering VP Tom Boger. It might be worth the wait, however -- as Apple explained, it's shaping the system based on its potential customers.
ASUS' latest laptop embraces eSports with help from a top team
ASUS has partnered with SKT T1, one of the biggest teams in eSports, on its latest iteration of the ROG Strix laptop line. The ROG Strix SKT T1 Hero Edition is a laptop designed to play Multiplayer Online Battle Arena games like League of Legends, featuring an Intel Core i7 processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Graphics and a wide display with 100 percent sRGB color gamut. These details have been floating around since November, so here's the new bit: The ROG Strix SKT T1 Hero Edition costs $1,700 and will be available in Q1 of 2018.
ASUS rounds out its all-in-one lineup with the Vivo AiO V272 and V222
ASUS might be better-known for its laptops, but let's not forget that the Taiwanese company churns out some solid all-in-one desktops, too. Sadly, despite announcing two new models today -- the Vivo AiO V272 and V222 -- ASUS has been pretty tight-lipped with respect to specs. Consider the V272: as the model number suggests, it packs a 27-inch multitouch display and it produces 100 percent of the sRGB color gamut while offering a 178-degree field of view. Fueling the fun is one of Intel's eighth-generation Core I7 chipsets, and while this wasn't meant to be a full-blown gaming machine, the discrete NVIDIA GeForce MX150 graphics should get through you a few rounds of Overwatch without too much trouble.
Acer's new gaming PCs include an 18-core liquid-cooled desktop
It wouldn't be an Acer CES event without some gaming PCs, and this year the focus is on the desktop crowd. The PC maker is unveiling two systems headlined by the US release of the Predator Orion 9000, a spare-no-expense tower for dedicated gamers. If you can get past the over-the-top "look ma, I'm a gamer" styling, you'll find a lot of power under the hood. The system uses a combination of liquid cooling and a partitioned airflow system to drive some seriously high-end components with little noise and some room for overclocking, including up to an 18-core Intel Core i9, twin GeForce GTX 1080 Ti graphics cards and as much as 128GB of RAM.
