Saturday, July 13, 2024

Best Prime Day Monitor Deals: Massive Savings on Acer, Samsung, Dell and More

Elevate your gaming or work setup with these great monitor deals available before Prime Day.

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Friday, July 12, 2024

I Spent 24 Hours Testing the Galaxy Z Flip 6 in Paris video

Samsung's newest foldable has a new hinge, updated screen and camera and costs $100 more than last year. So I took it for a spin in Paris.

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Latest Tech News

Movie of the day

Every day, we cut through the bottomless list of streaming options and recommend something to watch. See all our Netflix movie of the day picks, or our Prime Video movie of the day choices.

Vampires are sexy, and Bram Stoker's Dracula knows it. With Francis Ford Coppola at the helm and a cast including Winona Ryder, Keanu Reeves and Gary Oldman, it's a lavish, stunning and highly erotic horror movie that’s so tense it's almost unbearable. 

It's grand. It's operatic. It's wildly over the top. And it's not scared to be silly. No wonder it's so beloved. It's one of the best Prime Video movies for goths, for movie lovers and for anyone else who wants a movie they can – oh yes – get their teeth into.

They did things differently in the past, and by the past I mean 30-odd-years ago: when Bram Stoker's Dracula was released in 1992 it was a breath of fresh – if slightly coffin-fragranced – air compared to the rather tired Dracula movies we'd become accustomed to. That's not to say there weren't some great vampire movies in the years leading up to its release – The Lost Boys, anyone? – but we'd drifted some way from the true gothic horror of Bram Stoker's 1897 story. 

As Stoker's name in the title indicates, this movie was an attempt to address that, but he was mainly there to avoid a lawsuit: the author's name is in the title because another studio had the rights to the singular Dracula.

It's a beautiful production. Roger Ebert wrote that "the sets are grand opera run riot, Gothic extravaganza intercut with the Victorian London of gaslights and fogbound streets, rogues in top hats and bad girls in bustiers," and that lushness helps distract from some of the more clunky dialog and Keanu Reeves' less than stellar performance: "I enjoyed the movie simply for the way it looked and felt," Ebert said.

Gary Oldman was an inspired choice for the count. As The Guardian put it in a 2022 retrospective review, "Oldman’s performance is outstanding"; he is "the fierce and anguished count who hundreds of years ago renounced God and embraced an eternity of parasitic horror in his rage at the unjust death of his countess". As for Keanu, he was just Keanu: "Reeves plays Jonathan with that innocent, faintly torpid calm which audiences would come to know and love for the next three decades."

As far as Esquire is concerned, this is "more than gothic horror. It's a love letter to movie making," a "deafening thunderclap in an endlessly long line of otherwise mostly forgettable Dracula films". Reviewer Dom Nero argues that the movie "is not unlike Apocalypse Now, an awesome work of terror that is so filled with ideas and ambition that it always seems on the verge of complete self-immolation."

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Thursday, July 11, 2024

Best Internet Providers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The Steel City has several fast, reliable and affordable internet plans, but one provider outshines the rest.

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Wednesday, July 10, 2024

What Is a Flexible Spending Account and How Does It Work?

An FSA can help you cover health care costs and lower your taxable income. But there are some rules you'll need to follow.

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Latest Tech News

Mini PCs are gaining in popularity due to their compact size, stylish appearance, and surprisingly powerful performance, often at an affordable price. These small-form-factor computers also frequently offer unique functionalities not typically found in traditional desktops.

The most noteworthy feature of the Topton RGB Color Mini PC is the large, colorful fan mounted on top. This keeps the unit cool under load (helped by a large heat dissipation plate inside), but also looks good with its bright RGB lighting. The fan includes customizable lighting settings, such as "Breathe" and "Horseman", and it can remember your preferences and start them automatically. You can also opt to turn off the colors or kill the lights completely if you find it too distracting.

This mini PC comes equipped with up to an AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS processor with integrated Radeon 780M graphics. If you want to save some money, then you can downgrade to a 7840HS, and R9 6900HX CPU instead. The device supports DDR5 4800MHz dual-channel memory, and M.2 NVMe SSD storage. You can buy it barebone or configure it how you like with up to 64GB RAM and a 2TB SSD.

Surprisingly affordable

Connectivity options include dual Gigabit Ethernet ports and Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2. There are  HDMI and DisplayPort outputs and USB 2.0, USB 3.2, and USB 4 ports, plus an audio jack. The mini PC can drive up to three 4K displays at 60Hz.

The Topton RGB Color Mini PC measures a compact 13cm x 13cm x 5.4cm, weighs 0.5kg, and can sit flat or sideways with a handy stand.

Available to buy from AliExpress now, the mini PC is currently priced at $399.79 for the barebone 8845HS model, a 36% discount from its usual price of $624.67. The figure rises to $700 if you want to populate it with full complement of RAM and storage. The 7840HS version will set you back $330.04, also at a 36% discount, while the 6900HX model, presently out of stock, typically sells for $319.83.

Topton RGB Color Mini PC: was $624.67 Now $399.79 at AliExpress 

Topton RGB Color Mini PC features a top-mounted, colorful RGB fan and is powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS processor with support for up to 64GB DDR5 RAM and 2TB SSD storage. Extensive connectivity includes dual Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, multiple USB ports, and the ability to drive up to three 4K displays.View Deal

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Tuesday, July 9, 2024

Best Smart Scale for 2024

Smart scales can be a great tool for tracking your progress towards your fitness goals. Here are the best smart scale options in 2024, tested and reviewed by our in-house expert.

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HP recently launched its new EliteBook Ultra G1q AI PC, the first Copilot+ PC business laptop featuring Qualcomm's 12-core Snapdragon X Elite chipset

The arrival of this ARM-based laptop, could, in theory, go some way to challenging the dominance of Intel and AMD in the business market, but two of the first reviews, from Laptop Mag and Notebookcheck, present differing opinions that might make you think twice about opening your wallet.

Laptop Mag’s review is optimistic about the EliteBook Ultra's capabilities, highlighting its fast performance, over 16 hours of battery life, and vibrant 14-inch 2.2K IPS display.

The jury is still out

"With the EliteBook Ultra, HP has made a fantastic case for why Windows on ARM systems are ideal for business professionals. Between the quality performance, impressive battery life, and vibrant display, the EliteBook can be kept up in most professional settings. While its poor graphics performance is disappointing, it will be fine for an enterprise machine," writes reviewer Madeline Ricchiuto.

She also praises the laptop's thin, lightweight design and sustainability efforts, including its use of recycled materials and EPEAT Gold certification. But while recognizing its strengths, Laptop Mag also points out potential issues with graphics performance and specialized app support, advising users to evaluate their specific needs before making a purchase.

Notebookcheck casts a more skeptical eye on the EliteBook Ultra's position in the competitive landscape. The review acknowledges the laptop's decent performance and build quality but stresses that it faces tough competition from existing Intel and AMD machines. "Buyers already have a handful of excellent subnotebooks to choose from (including from HP's own portfolio) that can match or exceed the features and capabilities of the EliteBook Ultra," Allen Ngo, the site’s lead US editor, writes.

The review further notes that the laptop's price point of $1,699 does not offer significant advantages over rivals, suggesting that it might have been more appealing at a lower cost. "The EliteBook Ultra G1q 14 is a good start for Qualcomm, but it's going to need to do much more as the latest from Intel and AMD are a step ahead for the same price."

Ultimately, while the EliteBook Ultra showcases potential with its cutting-edge AI and ARM architecture, its mixed reviews suggest that it may not yet be the definitive go-to for business professionals. 

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Monday, July 8, 2024

TP-Link Deco W7200 Review: The Best Mesh Router for Most People

Editor's Choice: The Deco W7200 is CNET's pick for the best mesh system thanks to its fast speeds and low price.

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Windows 11 is getting some fixes for various frustrating issues with stuttering in the interface here and there.

Windows Latest points out there are numerous problems around glitchy animations and generally sluggish loading when using certain parts of the desktop interface in Windows 11, both in testing, and in the release version of the OS. However, the good news is that the 24H2 update is bringing some fixes for all these gremlins when it’s rolled out later this year.

The problems witnessed in test builds of Windows 11 include freezing or stuttering with Task View previews and other UI elements. However, Microsoft has implemented a cure in the recent build 26100 (24H2 in the Release Preview Channel).

Microsoft observed: “This update addresses an issue believed to be the underlying cause of some Insiders noticing stutters in some animations recently (dropping frames), particularly with Task View.”

More broadly, Windows Latest notes that issues around sluggish or buggy animations are evident in older Windows 11 versions already out there. Furthermore, the tech site also highlights a glitch with the Quick Settings interface, which has been slow to appear when invoked on Windows 11 23H2 (or indeed older versions of the OS).

The Quick Settings panel itself may appear swiftly enough, but some elements may not actually become visible – and therefore usable – for a few seconds. Again though, with the 24H2 update this problem has been ironed out, we’re told.

Small bugs, but seriously annoying glitches

While these glitches might sound like little things – and indeed they are in the grand scheme of bugs, which can really mess with your PC in the worst cases – they are still wrinkles that can hamper the overall experience of using an operating system.

When you flit around from menu to menu in Windows 11, if, at times, you’re having to pause to wait for a panel of options to actually appear, it feels like using a piece of beta software more than anything else. And true, some of these problems are indeed only in testing right now – but not all of them, with others actually affecting the finished version of Windows 11.

A modern OS must not only look good – and Windows 11 has done some impressive work on that front – but it has to feel good, too, which means no unresponsive bits of interface ruining the smooth flow of navigating around the desktop. Still, at least these fixes are inbound now, and should be here before too long – we’re expecting the 24H2 update to arrive in September or thereabouts.

Note that the 24H2 update is not to be confused with Windows 11 24H2 as installed on Copilot+ PCs – the latter was needed for these Arm-based machines, but it doesn’t contain all the full fixes and features that’ll be delivered in September (in theory). Think of it as a barebones version, with the meat still to be added as an update when Microsoft finalizes everything for the 24H2 update (which is officially still in testing).

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Sunday, July 7, 2024

Best Extended July 4th Mattress Deals: 23 Different Designs to Find the Best Night's Sleep

Shop extended July 4th sales on mattresses and bedding from Purple, DreamCloud, Nectar and other top brands to score the best deals.

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Japanese memory giant Kioxia says it has begun sampling shipments of 2Tb QLC devices, utilizing its eighth-generation BiCS FLASH 3D flash memory technology. 

This new chip will be used in SSDs, servers, and other forms of digital storage hardware that require high-capacity, high-efficiency memory components.

Kioxia's BiCS FLASH technology expands the memory die vertically and laterally, while the integration of CBA (CMOS directly Bonded to Array) technology supports denser memory creation and interface speeds of up to 3.6Gbps. The new product features a bit density about 2.3 times higher than Kioxia's previous fifth-generation QLC device and 70% greater write power efficiency. With a 16-die stacked architecture in a single memory package, Kioxia says its new QLC device can achieve 4TB capacity.

Pure Storage to adopt the technology

Hideshi Miyajima, Chief Technology Officer of Kioxia, said, “With its industry-leading high bit density, high speed data transfer, and superior power efficiency, the 2Tb QLC product will offer new value for rapidly emerging AI applications and large storage applications demanding power and space savings."

Pure’s DirectFlash Module (DFM) storage (which allows all-flash arrays to communicate directly with raw flash storage) already offers improved density and efficiency, as well as longer life spans compared to SSDs. The firm has previously said it will release 150TB DFMs in 2025, with the aim of shipping 300TB DFMs by 2026. Incorporating Kioxia’s technology in its products will assist that aim. 

Kioxia also added a new 1Tb QLC memory device to its portfolio. Compared to the 2Tb QLC, the 1Tb device provides approximately a 30 percent faster sequential write performance and about a 15 percent improvement in read latency and will be used in high-performance applications including client SSDs and mobile devices.

Charles Giancarlo, Chief Executive Officer of Pure Storage, said, "We have a long-standing relationship with Kioxia and are delighted to incorporate their eighth-generation BiCS FLASH 2Tb QLC flash memory products to enhance the performance and efficiency of our all-flash storage solutions. Pure’s unified all-flash data storage platform is able to meet the demanding needs of artificial intelligence as well as the aggressive costs of backup storage.” 

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Saturday, July 6, 2024

Best Solar Panel Installation Companies in North Carolina

North Carolina has multiple programs designed to help make the switch to clean energy easier and several great solar panel companies to choose from. Here's what you need to know to get solar in the Tar Heel State.

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Despite US trade restrictions aimed at keeping advanced chips and chip-making equipment out of China, domestic semiconductor production continues to impress there. 

Loongson recently informed investors that the first samples of the Loongson 3C6000/3D6000/3E6000 series of server-grade processors had been successfully returned and are "meeting expectations". In line with its roadmap, the release is on track for Q4 2024.

Loongson claims that its 3C6000 design, a single chip with 16 cores and 32 threads, significantly improves the performance-price ratio of its server CPUs.

The chip features a hexa-issue LA664 processing core, which Loongson says doubles the general processing performance compared to the previous generation 3C5000.

Additionally, it includes DDR4-3200 4x4 RAM, boosting memory bandwidth multiple times over its predecessor. The PCIe 4.0 x64 interface also enhances IO performance significantly compared to the 3C5000. The 3C6000 supports high-speed national encryption standards calculation, with SM3 encryption bandwidth exceeding 20Gbps.

Loongson's 3D6000 contains two 3C6000 chips connected via "Loongson Coherent Link" technology, creating a 32-core/64-thread processor, while the 3E6000 connects four 3C6000 chiplets for 64 cores and 128 threads. Chiplet architectures are increasingly recognized as the future of microprocessors, and things are no different in China.

The Coherent Link technology is similar to Nvidia's NVLink and AMD's Infinity Fabric (or the recently announced UALink) and enables core cache coherent interconnects between multiple devices, ensuring all resources are virtualized, allowing for dynamic allocation of devices and chips. Loongson says its technology is compatible with mainstream hardware ecosystems and PCIE electrical standards, and supports the interconnection and upgrading of 1 to 8 chips.

While there’s no independent verification of the 3C6000's performance, Loongson does continue to make impressive strides within regulatory constraints. Leveraging its in-house MIPS-based LoongArch ISA and domestic Chinese fabs, the company may not be directly challenging EPYC and Xeon chips yet, but the gap is narrowing.

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Friday, July 5, 2024

34 Best Apple July 4th Deals Still Available: Save on AirPods, Apple Watch, MacBooks and More

Even though the Fourth is over, there are plenty of Apple-specific deals you can take advantage of.

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Could Apple's New Adaptive Power Feature Extend Your iPhone's Battery Life?

With this new feature being tested in the iOS 26 developer beta, you may be able to ditch the Low Power Mode setting in the future. from C...