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Windows 10's Timeline is the star of its latest update
When Microsoft launched Windows 10 three years ago, the company proudly said it was focusing on productivity. That might not sound very exciting, but it was a noble goal nonetheless -- one that made it clear Microsoft was paying attention to its more dedicated users. So it's not too surprising that the most interesting aspect of Windows 10's spring update (which launches April 30th) is once again productivity, and more specifically: Timeline. It's practically an inevitable feature, one that ties together what you're working on across all of your devices. And yes, it'll even be helpful for iPhone and Android users.
Roland’s TR-8S drum machine is ready to tackle the stage
If you know the history of drum machines, the first thing you want to do with the TR-8S is load up the 808 kick drum. It's a deep, satisfying boom that's been an important part of everything from hip-hop to rock. But after you get done having fun with four-on-the-floor bass hits, it's time to get to the real work -- your own rhythms. For that, it's tough to beat the latest digital percussion instrument from Roland for ease of use and features.
Intel’s Hades Canyon NUC is a tiny gaming powerhouse
We called Intel's last NUC the future of tiny desktops. And with this latest model, the Hades Canyon NUC, that's truer than ever. It has just about everything you'd want in a desktop, thanks to a single chip that houses Intel's eighth-generation Core i7 CPU and AMD's RX Vega M GPU. This is one of the first devices to use that hybrid processor, the product of a "frenemy" deal between Intel and AMD. It lives up to the meaning behind the NUC acronym: it's the "next unit of computing."
HTC Vive Pro review: Better in every way, but it’s not for you
What if HTC could make the Vive VR headset again, but with better ergonomics, and higher quality screens? That's basically the Vive Pro. It's not a sequel -- it's more of a remaster. One that incorporates everything VR headset makers have learned over the past few years. (Spoiler: Comfort matters. A lot.) At $799 with no sensors or controllers, though, it's strictly for enthusiasts and professionals with plenty of disposable income.
Huawei MateBook X Pro review: A polished yet quirky laptop
Laptops are exercises in compromise, with companies sacrificing what they deem to be unnecessary features on the twin altars of portability and longevity. The decisions on what to keep and what to ditch will ultimately be how the hardware is judged in the real world. Huawei's fourth traditional laptop, the MateBook X Pro, manages to avoid most of the pitfalls around cramming decent hardware in a slender, good-looking body. In fact, it might even be good enough to make laptop buyers think twice about simply running back to the usual cluster of brands.
Kia’s Niro Hybrid is a great SUV, if you’re not in a hurry
Crossovers, SUVs, CUVs or whatever you want to call them will continue to dominate showrooms. You can't blame automakers, the drivers of this country love a high-sitting utility vehicle -- even if it's really just a raised hatchback. It's also the reason more hybrid and EV powertrains are making their way into these vehicles. With that in mind, Kia introduced the Niro Plug-In Hybrid -- an electrified version of its small crossover. It has an impressive EV-only range (26 miles), and a lot of tech that people expect from a new car including semi-autonomous features. With a starting price of $27,900, the SUV is an impressive vehicle... as long as you're not in a hurry.
The Infiniti QX80 is too pricey to have this little tech
I'm not kidding (okay, I'm sort of kidding) when I say that the Infiniti QX80 (starting at $64,750) is only slightly smaller than a studio apartment I used to live in. It's a very large SUV that's packed to the gills with luxury features. It's certainly nicer than my old home. And, with room for eight, it has more seating, too. But like my old abode, it's not exactly on the cutting edge of technology. Sure, it's filled with modern touches you would expect from a luxury SUV, but the QX80 is in a weird spot right now. With parent company Nissan introducing its impressive semi-autonomous driving system ProPilot Assist to the Infiniti Q50 sedan and CarPlay making its way into Nissans, the QX80 feels left behind.
ThinkPad X1 Carbon review (2018): The best business laptop returns
Lenovo's ThinkPad lineup has always been focused on balancing tradition with modernity. It carries the legacy of IBM's iconic laptop brand, but the company also has to make sure it keeps up with the competition. That's truer than ever with the new X1 Carbon, Lenovo's flagship ultraportable, which packs in Intel's latest chips and a few nifty upgrades. It doesn't have a folding screen, and it can't be turned into a slate like the X1 Yoga and the Tablet can. It's simply a laptop -- but it's one that's polished enough to compete with the likes of Dell's XPS 13 and Apple's MacBook Air.
Samsung vs. Acer Mixed Reality headsets: Which handles VR best?
The big VR story this year isn't another headset from Oculus or HTC -- it's Microsoft's entry into the space with Windows 10 Mixed Reality devices. They promise to be cheaper and easier to use than the Rift or Vive, thanks to a bit of help from HoloLens' 3D tracking technology. Acer's was among the first we saw in action, and it was a promising example of what an inexpensive VR headset could look like. Samsung, meanwhile, was late to the party with HMD Odyssey, but it also gave us a glimpse at high-end Mixed Reality headsets. Now that we've spent some time with both (along with HP's headset earlier this week), it's time to decide which handles Mixed Reality best. (Spoiler: It isn't Acer.)
The 2018 Nissan Leaf gets a semi-autonomous upgrade
The Nissan Leaf is the top-selling electric vehicle in the world. Sure, Tesla and Chevy get all the hype with the Bolt and Model 3, but with more than 290,000 cars sold, Nissan's little electric car is the one people are buying. After seven years without a design refresh, the automaker dropped a new and improved model to continue to dominate the EV world. Although, that task will be a lot tougher thanks to increased competition.
Amazon vs. Roku: Which $70 4K streaming device is best?
Streaming video boxes just aren't very exciting anymore. There, I said it. The Apple TV 4K was mostly intriguing because it dramatically lowered the price of 4K content. But most consumers don't need an expensive streaming box, since most TVs today have a decent selection of built-in apps. That's why I find cheaper portable video gadgets, like last year's Roku Stick, to be far more interesting. Now we've got two new contenders for $70: Amazon's new Fire TV, which looks more like a Chromecast dongle than a set-top box, and Roku's Streaming Stick+. Both devices support 4K HDR video and give you access to all of the streaming apps you could want. Plus they integrate voice searching in useful ways. But, of course, there are some major differences between them. And it turns out, picking a winner isn't very easy.
Google’s Trusted Contacts app arrives on iOS
Google released Trusted Contacts for Android at the end of last year as an app version of Facebook's Safety Check that automatically shares your phone's status to close friends and family. So long as your phone is on and moving, contacts can check the app to make sure you're okay. After half a year, the safety service is now live on iOS, while Android users get a few extra features.
Surface Pro review: Microsoft's best hybrid notebook plays it safe
The Surface Pro is everything we've ever wanted from Microsoft's Surface line. It fixes the few remaining problems from the Surface Pro 4, a machine that I adored. And yet it's far less exciting than its predecessors. It's the second incremental upgrade since the Surface Pro 3, and while there's something to be said for sticking with a solid design, in a way it feels like we've seen all of this before. Given that it's been a year and a half since the launch of the Surface Pro 4, I expected more.
The success of Andy Rubin's Essential Phone may depend on carriers
When Android co-founder Andy Rubin left Google in November of 2014, shortly after a major executive shake-up, his next move wasn't particularly clear. All we knew back then was that he reportedly wanted to strike out on his own, which ultimately meant building a high-end phone with a company called Essential Products Inc. And after much speculation and multiple teases by Rubin himself, we now know that device is the Essential Phone, an Android handset with a gorgeous design and top-of-the-line specs.
Alienware 15 review: Bigger, but not necessarily better
Getting your hands on a bleeding-edge gaming laptop is an exercise in chasing chip architecture. It's sort of a waiting game. You wait for Intel and NVIDIA to upgrade their GPU and CPU standards, you wait for early adopter manufacturers to put them through their paces and, finally, you wait for the machine you want to hit the market with the new bells and whistles. In spring, we saw Dell's Alienware 13 kitted out with Intel's new Kaby Lake Core i7-7700HQ CPU and NVIDIA Pascal graphics -- and now that same combo is available in the company's larger 15-inch notebook.
The new Nokia 3310 is too basic for 2017
Nostalgia's a funny thing. It makes us leave the house in the dead of night to imprison a wild Clefairy and scramble over each other to buy an NES Classic Edition decades after we sold our original consoles for a pittance at yard sales. Companies are always finding new ways to push our sentimental buttons, and for HMD Global, that means launching a new Nokia 3310 more than 16 years after the original made its debut in 2000. But does anyone really have fond memories of a cellphone that was only good for calling your dad to come pick you up from school?
The ZTE Quartz is an affordable intro to Android Wear 2.0
ZTE has made a name for itself by selling affordable smartphones that are best described as "not bad." Now, the company is extending its "affordable premium" philosophy to Android Wear watches with the Quartz -- a sub-$200 wearable running Google's newest OS. For $192, the Quartz delivers an onboard radio for phone-free calls and texts, as well as a surprisingly big battery. But despite these features, ZTE isn't going after early adopters. Instead, the Quartz is designed for first-time smartwatch buyers, and, for them, it gets the job done.
Moto G5 and G5 Plus review: Still the best budget phones
The year was 2013, the company was Motorola, and the device was the Moto G. It set a new standard for affordable smartphones, offering a user experience that left the existing sea of cheap, crappy Android handsets in the dust. Years later, it seems the Moto G bloodline can do no wrong. As another generation of G emerges, can Motorola do with the G5 and G5 Plus what it does best, striking an ideal balance between hardware and price point? Of course it can.
Yahoo hackers accessed 32 million accounts with forged cookies
In a regulatory filing, Yahoo revealed some additional details about data breaches that have affected over a billion accounts. Among that information is the news that hackers who obtained Yahoo's code and were able to create their own cookies were able to access 32 million accounts through 2015 and 2016. Additionally, the 10-K statement provided to the SEC says that Yahoo notified 26 individuals and consulted with law enforcement after it became aware that state-sponsored hackers had exploited its account management tool for access.
Wileyfox Swift 2 series review: Affordability upgraded
British smartphone brand Wileyfox came onto the scene in 2015, kicking things off with two distinct devices. Of these, the Swift turned out to be one of the best affordable handsets you could buy -- quite the achievement for a new, unknown company. Since then, though, Wileyfox hasn't done anything particularly exciting, but now it's back with a follow-up, or three. The recently launched Swift 2, Swift 2 Plus and Swift 2 X are all slight variations of the same core device, offering a few different options while sticking to the affordable end of the smartphone spectrum, where the original Swift excelled.
