Thursday, August 31, 2023

Best Noise-Canceling Headphones of 2023 - CNET

Looking for the best noise-canceling headphones to drown out background noise? We've rounded up the best ANC headphones to help you focus on the sound you want to hear.

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Google Kills Pixel Pass Subscription, Which Bundled Phone, Services - CNET

The news comes as the company is expected to unveil the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro in October.

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Beginning today, Google is offering Chromebook owners a free, three-month subscription to Nvidia’s GeForce Now cloud gaming service.

For those who may be unfamiliar, GeForce Now gives people access to a powerful gaming rig on Nvidia’s servers. That way, you can play popular titles with high definition graphics even if your computer doesn’t have the greatest hardware. This new deal is specifically for a subscription to GeForce Now Priority which is the mid-range tier of the service. It gives access to games running up to 1080p resolution at 60FPS, six-hour session lengths, and enables RTX ON for optimal graphic fidelity. 

Also, if you own a specific Cloud Gaming Chromebook model, that free subscription gets upgraded to GeForce Now Ultimate – the highest tier. The third plan offers games running up to 4K resolution at 120FPS, eight-hour sessions, plus “exclusive access to RTX 4080 Servers.” A full list of supporting models can be found on Google’s website. They include the Acer Chromebook 516 GE and ASUS Chromebook Vibe CX55 Flip.

GeForce NOW on Chromebook

(Image credit: Google/NVIDIA)

How to get the membership

To get this promotion, you first have to head over to the Chromebook Perks page. Scroll down until you find the GeForce Now entry then click the Get Perk button. Once redeemed, Google states you’ll have to “create a GeForce Now account and download the [official] app from the Google Play Store.” Sync any pre-existing gaming accounts from digital stores like Steam to the new one. After that, you can play whatever’s in your library.

Chromebook Perk page

(Image credit: Future)

There is one restriction. A Google spokesperson told TheVerge users must own a “Chromebook from 2017 or newer” to get the perk. Apart from needing a modern Chromebook, you’re good to go. You don’t need to “enter any credit card information” or commit to anything.

On the Nvidia side of things, the hardware giant announced it’s going to be adding 24 new games to its service next month such as Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty. What’s more is the company very recently entered a partnership with Microsoft bringing Xbox Game Pass to GeForce Now, introducing hundreds of the best PC games to another audience.

Positive influence

It is good to see something positive come out of Google’s gaming efforts. Of course, there was the death of Google Stadia in late 2022, but there was one more incident.

Not too long ago, it was discovered Google had canceled multiple projects for Chromebook powered by Nvidia graphics cards. These devices were supposed to be its big push into PC gaming, however it just didn’t pan out. To this day, no one knows exactly why these laptops were scrapped although speculation suggests developmental difficulties.

If you’re interested in diving deeper into the world of PC gaming, be sure to check out TechRadar’s recently updated list of the best gaming laptops for 2023

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Best Dating Apps for 2023 - CNET

Fairy tales used to start with "Once upon a time," but now more love stories start with a swipe. Use these dating apps to begin writing your modern fairy tale.

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Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Starz Lowers the Price of Its Annual Subscription, Report Says - CNET

It comes just weeks after increasing the price of its monthly subscription.

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Latest Tech News

Google is integrating generative artificial intelligence (AI) into a couple of its security products, to give the tools a boost and make them easier to use. 

At its recent Google Cloud Next 23 event, the company announced its Duet AI will make its way to Mandiant Threat Intelligence, Chronicle Security Operations, and Security Command Center.

Google’s head of UX for cloud security, Steph Hay, explained that the goal was to lower the burden on IT teams, minimize threats, and lower the barrier to entry into the cybersecurity space.

Improving security posture

“We’re really trying to supercharge security with generative AI to mitigate threats, and in particular prevent downstream impacts that our practitioners face today, to reduce the toil that the security teams deal with having to manage a growing attack surface, and really bridge the cyber talent gap,” Hay said.

“AI is enabling security teams to improve their security posture by generating AI summaries to describe threats, by searching for patterns in security data to identify if teams have been targeted or companies have been targeted, and finally, by recommending actions to take both in response to active threats and also to proactively improve security posture,” she added. 

That being said, Google’s Duet AI will be integrated into Mandiant Threat Intelligence (a company Google bought last year), to help IT teams make sense of mountains of data more easily. Then, it will be added to Chronicle Security Operations, where it expects the tool to be used by teams to learn more about specific threats and how they can be mitigated. 

Finally, Google is adding Duet AI into its Security Command Center, allowing security analysts with less experience to understand security findings and to learn more about potential attacks and means of mitigation. 

The new additions are currently in preview and should be released before the end of the year.



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You Can Upgrade Your Current Ride With a Sizable 9-Inch Car Display for Just $105 (Save $185) - CNET

This wireless display supports Apple CarPlay or Android Auto -- and you can snag one for 63% less right now.

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Tuesday, August 29, 2023

Best Video Doorbell Cameras of 2023 - CNET

We've tested the best doorbell camera brands, from Arlo to Wyze, on a variety of factors to determine our top picks. Find the perfect video doorbell camera for your needs.

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Latest Tech News

Apple is hosting a ‘Wonderlust’ event at its Apple Park compound on September 12 at 10am PST / 1pm EST / 6pm BST. Nothing has been officially confirmed although there are a variety of clues.

For instance, the iPhone 15. Notable Apple insider Mark Gurman claimed on X this will be the official reveal of the tech giant’s upcoming flagship phone. Plus, it follows the company’s MO of announcing mobile devices in mid-September. 

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Gurman states in a new Bloomberg report the company will introduce “two entry-level models and two high-end models” for the iPhone series. The lower-end devices, as he refers to them, will most likely be called the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus. He doesn’t mention the names of the higher-end phones, but they could be dubbed the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max – assuming Apple continues with the same naming convention it established with the iPhone 14 line.

The report goes on to detail some of the expected changes. All four will sport a USB-C charging port in order to comply with European Union legislation.  Moreover, the higher-end models will utilize a titanium frame instead of a stainless steel one and have thinner bezels and a “new camera with deeper optical zoom.”

Most of what is in the Bloomberg piece does line up with previously established rumors. He doesn’t detail what colors the iPhone 15 will come in. However, images posted on X by leaker Majin Bu suggest the device will be available in a light pastel green. 

We believe this shade will actually be referred to as cyan by Apple if we go by other rumors. Additionally, we’ve heard talk about options for Pink, Midnight black, and a vibrant hue of red.

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Gurman goes on to say we could also see the introduction of the new Apple Watch 9 as well as the next generation AirPods. There hasn't been a lot of leaked information for the wearable, though it has been said the future smartwatch will run watchOS 10 on a “much more powerful chipset than the Apple Watch 8”.

The next gen AirPods are said to sport a USB-C input on (presumably) the charging case. Back in May, we heard through the grapevine that the AirPods Pro 2 will support USB-C connectivity. Gurman could be referring to those or the AirPods 4.

Analysis: What we might see

It's hard to say for sure what exactly will be at Wonderlust 2023. Compared to previous events, the clues this time are way more obtuse. To get any idea of what the event will bring, we’ll have to look at the logo.

The swirl of silver and blue metallic sand could refer to the titanium frame of the higher-end devices as well as their color since light blue and silver are two of the rumored shades for the line. But that’s pretty much all we can extrapolate. "Wonderlust' as a name could mean anything. Apple is playing its cards close to its chest. 

Stay tuned for TechRadar’s coverage of the Wonderlust event where we’ll break down every bit of detail as the information comes out. 

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Today's Mortgage Rates for Aug. 28, 2023: Rates Tick Up for Homebuyers - CNET

A few closely followed mortgage rates crept higher this week. See how the Fed's interest rate hikes could affect your home loan payments.

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Blue Light Glasses Don't Protect You From Eye Strain. Here's What Does - CNET

Blue light glasses are helpful for some things, but not so much for eye strain. Use these tips instead.

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Latest Tech News

Even though Intel’s 5th Gen Xeon (Emerald Rapids) chips won’t be launching until the final three months of this year, we already know what to expect in 2024.

The company has lifted the wraps off its up-and-coming Sierra Forest and Granite Rapids products, and yet again, there’s a clear emphasis on artificial intelligence while tackling some of the industry’s biggest issues.

Adding to the existing Performance-core (P-core) architecture will be a new Efficient-core (E-core) architecture to help data centers in their ongoing (and frankly colossal) battle with energy efficiency.

Intel’s 2024 lineup will be even better for the environment

According to the company’s announcement, it is the provider of the best AI performance on any CPU, and the processors with P-cores (Granite Rapids) promise to give a significant boost to those looking to carry out intensive AI workloads.

Compared with the 4th Gen Xeon chips that we know today as Sapphire Rapids, Granite Rapids looks to be able to deliver 2-3x better performance for mixed AI workloads.

It’s the processors with E-cores, codenamed Sierra Forest, which are most worthy of the spotlight, though. Compared with 4th Gen hardware, Sierra Forest chips promise up to 2.4x better performance per watt. Despite each CPU being able to accommodate up to 144 cores, the vastly improved efficiency should help data centers to significantly reduce their power consumption where applicable in 1S and 2S servers.

Data centers in particular have come under scrutiny recently over their intensive consumption of numerous resources, particularly energy and water. While the solution clearly lies in a multifaceted approach, including reducing our own digital footprint, being able to carry out the same work with fewer resources is clearly an important piece of the puzzle.



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Monday, August 28, 2023

Eero 6 Plus Review: Now That's More Like It - CNET

Editors' Choice: Eero's latest Wi-Fi 6 mesh router delivers faster, more reliable speeds than the system that preceded it.

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Upgrade to Windows 11 Pro for Just $33 With This StackSocial Deal - CNET

This limited-time offer saves you over $160 compared to Microsoft's price.

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Latest Tech News

Key Windows 11 features may soon be customizable as Microsoft further integrates its Windows Copilot AI assistant into the operating system.

This tidbit comes from tech news site Windows Latest, which claims to have discovered new .json (JavaScript Object Notation) files within recent preview builds of Windows 11. These files apparently hint at future upgrades for the desktop AI assistant. For example, a “TaskManagerService-ai-plugin.json” was found which is supposedly a “plugin for Task Manager integration”. If this ever comes out, it could give users the ability to “monitor or close running apps using” Copilot.

In total, six are currently tested and they affect various aspects of Windows 11.

Next, there is an “AccessbilityTools-ai-plugin.json” that gives Copilot a way to “control accessibility [tools]. This would make it "easier for those with [a] disability to navigate through the system.” Third is “ai-plugin-WindowsSettings.json” for controlling important Windows 11 settings. Which ones exactly are not stated within the report. 

Fourth is “ClockService-ai-plugin.json” to help people manage their computer’s alarm settings. Rounding out the pack are “LaunchApplication-ai-plugin.json and SmartFileActions-ai-plugin.json” for opening apps through AI commands.

Modular control hub

Windows Copilot was in limited release when it first came out back in late June 2023, and it was pretty barebones. Since then, Microsoft has been repeatedly upgrading the AI function to be more comprehensive. Earlier reports state Copilot may be able search for specific files as well as offer “store suggestions”, presumably for apps to download at the Microsoft Store.

You may read all this and think that the AI assistant may become a bloated mess, but on the contrary, it might not. Due to the fact all the .json files mentioned are plugins, Windows Copilot will most likely be a modular tool, meaning you can pick and choose particular Windows 11 features it can control. This effectively turns the AI into your personal control hub for the OS.

Upgraded AI assistants

Of course, that’s assuming the final version will release exactly as we just described. Nothing in the news story has been officially confirmed by Microsoft. Be aware there’s a chance, if small, that the company could terminate certain plugins at any time. 

So far, the updates have been first-party only. Windows Latest claims the tech giant could begin offering third-party plugin support within the coming weeks. Partnered third-party companies or developers remain unknown at the time of this writing. 

Generative AI models have opened a lot of possibilities for personal assistants. Gone are the days of asking simple questions to Siri or Cortana. Technological improvements have made it possible for AIs to help in our day-to-day tasks. Google, for example, is working on an AI writing tool for upcoming Chromebooks.

To learn more, we recommend checking out TechRadar’s list of the best AI chatbots for 2023 to see what the technology is capable of. 



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DDR5 memory sticks with a triple-fan cooler on top are going to leave your wallet quaking in fear. from Latest from TechRadar https://ift....