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An overlooked feature for Intel’s 14th-gen chips boosts gaming performance with one click
Intel’s new Application Optimization feature can provide significant gaming performance boosts for the company’s new 14th-gen processor. However, the feature currently only supports two games.
AMD vows to fix Ryzen chip stuttering issues on Windows with new update
Have you been noticing random performance stutters, slow loading and other issues on AMD Ryzen-powered Windows 10 or 11 machines?
Samsung may be throttling apps to save battery life on Galaxy phones
Samsung is looking into reports that it has been limiting the performance of a large number of apps on its Galaxy devices.
TCL update fixes Google TV performance issues
TCL has released an update for its 5- and 6-series Google TV models that fixes performance and software issues.
Polestar will increase its EV's horsepower with a €1,000 software update
The update is available now in some European countries, and it will hit the US and Canada this spring.
Tesla shows off the $130,000 Model S Plaid's performance
Tesla delivered its first 25 Model S Plaid EVs while CEO Elon Musk detailed all the new features that give it so much extra quickness and enhanced range.
'Horizon Zero Dawn' devs are investigating problems with the PC version
Shortly after Horizon Zero Dawn arrived on PC last week, players started reporting problems including crashing, freezing and frame rate issues. Now, Guerrilla Games has acknowledged the reports in a Steam post and said that it’s looking into them.
Dropkick Murphys will livestream a St. Patrick’s Day show with no audience
The Dropkick Murphys have been playing St. Patrick's Day shows for 24 years. This year the show, like most things, will be a little different. In an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19, the band is canceling its regular concert but will livestream a free performance tomorrow at 7pm ET.
Watch Ford’s Mustang-inspired EV crossover race around in the snow
Ford's Mustang-inspired EV crossover is expected to launch in 2020. The company hasn't released too many details, other than that it will have a 370-mile range and fast-charging. But this week, Ford shared two videos of the vehicle in action. The first shows a prototype of the Mustang-inspired ride zipping around Grattan Raceway and brags about the EV's acceleration.
Early version of the new 'Plants vs. Zombies' is available today for $30
As we get closer to the October 18th launch of Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville, PopCap Games is ready to share a Founder's Edition. Today, fans can play the digital-only version of the game. New features and content will be added weekly over the next six-weeks, as PopCap polishes the title for its official launch.
Intel's Performance Maximizer tool overclocks CPUs with one click
Intel has launched a new feature designed to make overclocking more straightforward. Called the "Intel Performance Maximizer," the tool examines your processor's individual settings, then uses what Intel calls "hyper-intelligent automation" to tweak them for a performance boost. Basically, it's overclocking without having to fiddle around with custom settings in BIOS yourself.
This is the year of the CPU ‘chiplet’
In the second episode of Upscaled, our new deep-dive explainer series focused on the components that make tech better, we're looking at what is going on with CPUs. Chips are still getting faster, but at a rate much slower than most predictions. 2019 might be the year that finally changes, though, and we're excited about a few developments that should be coming later this year.
NVIDIA shows how much ray-tracing sucks on older GPUs
NVIDIA recently announced that ray-tracing is coming to older Pascal GPUs, and now it has detailed how well -- or not well, rather -- it will actually work. If you're happy with basic effects, the news isn't too bad. The RTX 2080 Ti will outperform its 1080 Ti counterpart by just over double for reflections, in line with what you'd expect for a next-gen card. However, for stuff that really adds realism, like advanced shadows, global illumination and ambient occlusion, the RTX 2080 Ti outperforms the 1080 Ti by up to a factor of six.
Intel's stunt drones will join the Rockettes at Radio City
Fireworks? Pah. These days, it's all about armies of drones creating majestic aerial displays over national sporting events. Intel, which is making a name for itself in the space, is bringing an army of mini drones to New York for the holidays. Specifically, the UAVs will be the backing act for the Rockettes at this year's Radio City Christmas Spectacular.
Bosch unveils a rugged sport e-bike computer
There's seemingly endless choice when it comes to monitoring tech you can wear on your body, now Bosch have come up with an equally useful bit of kit that can be attached to an e-bike. The Kiox on-board computer monitor is designed for sporty e-bikers, providing riders with data on speed, personal performance, cadence and even their heart rate (via a wearable sensor).
Tesla opens Model 3 orders to more people and trims prices
If you're in line for a Model 3 then we have good news. The company has announced that it's opening pre-orders to all reservation holders in the US and Canada, now that it's able to produce more cars (apparently that tent manufacturing line is helping). Better yet, the pricing has improved, with certain options (like dual-motor AWD) getting cheaper, as well as lower starting prices for options like the Performance package, now that many of the features in it are optional. All of this points to the company's improved production process, which would help with the price cuts and make it easier to build different configurations. While a $35,000 Model 3 still has not appeared, the current base model with Long Range 310-mile battery is available for $49,000. The price to add a second motor and AWD (plus 0 - 60 MPH in 4.5 seconds) is now $4,000 extra instead of $5,000 and starts at $53,000. According to Electrek there are also updated color options available in the online design studio, however, estimates for a cheaper "standard" battery has changed to 6 - 9 months out.
Tesla's performance Model 3 delivers 3.5 second 0-60 for $78,000
Tesla is almost ready to start shipping Model 3s equipped with an AWD dual-motor option, so CEO Elon Musk announced specs and pricing for the new options on Twitter. The Performance trim Model 3 will sit at the top of the line, with 20-inch wheels, carbon fiber spoiler, black and white interior and specially-selected dual-motor setup available for $78,000 (adding AutoPilot costs extra). Musk said that its cost is "about" the same as BMW's M3 (a base model starts at $66,500), but it's supposedly quicker by 15 percent (3.5 seconds 0-60, 155 MPH top speed, 310 miles of range) and handles well enough to fulfill a promise it will "beat anything in its class on the track." If you're not looking for all of the upgrades, simply adding a second motor for all-wheel-drive (and extra reliability -- Musk said either one can drive the car if the other breaks) is an option that costs an extra $5,000, just like it used to on the Model S. Compared to the standard sedan's 0-60 time of 5.1 - 5.6 seconds and 130 MPH top speed, this one can do it in 4.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 140 MPH.
Elon Musk: Tesla Model 3 dual-motor ordering opens next week
In a sign that Tesla's Model 3 production continues to improve, CEO Elon Musk tweeted that the company will enable ordering of dual-motor versions of the sedan at the end of next week. Customers waiting for a Model 3 in performance or all-wheel-drive trim can find out how much the options will cost and put orders in with production scheduled to start in July, consistent with Musk's statement last month. We don't know anything about the specs on either model, but AWD was a $5,000 option on the Model S until it became standard (as it is on the Model X) late last year. Also, in his response to IGN's Ryan McCaffrey, Musk said air suspension could arrive as an option in 2019.
London’s best orchestra is putting on a PlayStation concert
PlayStation, Classic FM and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra are teaming up to bring new meaning to the term "gaming culture". This May, PlayStation in Concert comes to London's Royal Albert Hall, bringing to life music used in games from Original PlayStation, PS2, PS3 and PS4, performed by the 80-strong Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and City of London Choir. Expect the sweeping soundscapes of The Last of Us, The Last Guardian, Everybody's Gone to the Rapture and LittleBigPlanet, among others. And there will be a "spectacular" light show, too.
Microsoft powers a DJ’s live show with a Surface Book and Kinects
When it comes to live shows, the visuals are key to making a lasting impression. I'd even argue that what you see is just as important as the quality of the music. It is a performance, after all. Touring musicians employ all kinds of A/V gear in an attempt to offer a unique experience for concertgoers. For years, some acts have turned to Microsoft's Kinect camera to capture movement live, translating that to graphics on a video display, among other things. To make the camera-based setup more portable, Microsoft teamed up with DJ Alison Wonderland to create a simplified Kinect-driven system that runs primarily on a Surface Book.
