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Posted in General
Hammond

Google's Face Unlock vs Apple's Face ID

I would suppose that iPhone's Face ID is more popular, but then Android's face unlock is closing the gap well. Would we now say that this feature is secure enough for transactions?
The Pixel 4's new face unlock is probably more important than its camera. Here's why It catches up to the iPhone in a way that other Android phones don't -- and that will spur them to action. CNET.COM
Smartphones
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VeryPunny
It's just speculation since only the Pixel has the technology out of all the Android smartphones.  I bet it's more expensive for the manufacturers to include facial recognition capabilities, so I doubt it will be widely adopted.  Google's Pixel... See more
ItsFidgety
I don't think this feature is save enough yet for transactions, purely due to the fact that I've had it happen many times that my phone unlocks when I don't mean to. It can be at a weird angle, or I'll be wearing sunglasses and it unlocks. To... See more
Posted in General
Fancyyfrog

Great use of space

I am a big fan of this setup especially because I am into minimalism and this setup makes great use of space on the desk by having the vertical Macbook stand and the screen lifted off the table. I actually just ordered a stand!
"New desk and rep...
ItsFidgety
This is really beautiful indeed. I like the vertical stand as well. I am just not a fan of the speakers on the side, I feel like they kind of mess up the minimalistic feel.
ApplesNOranges
I like this as well. My desk is quite cluttered and full of things, but I like this aesthetic. The only thing that bothers me about this is that the screen is covering a big part of the window. I would put my monitor off to the side a bit more.
Posted in General
Jade25

Optimizing your PC's performance

From this list, all I have been able to do well is use strong passwords. Would anyone still be using Windows XP in 2019? It is easy to forget the small tasks like clearing junk files and removing unnecessary files from the hard drive.
13 Ways You're Screwing Up Your Computer We're sure you're doing everything right but you might want to pass this along to your friends who are probably making all of these mistakes! LIFEWIRE.COM
Computers
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Elijah
From that list, my only sin is not physically cleaning my desktop and laptop often enough.  Cat hair tends to get in the fans and I should clean them out more often. 
DevonJMarsh
I'm not the best about backing up my computer in a timely manner.  I feel you on the cat hair.  I don't even know how it gets inside the fans in the first place.  
DarrenJax
Backing up my hard drive feels so tedious at times.  I've tried setting it up so that it syncs to my Amazon Drive account every three days, but it really slows things down so I tend to abort it. 
Dante5
Backing up to an external hard drive can be tedious, and I also find myself aborting this process. Has anyone of you used a backup software tool before? Someone spoke highly of 'Cobian Backup'.
Posted in General
Eileenchionh

Are These New Features of MacOS Catalina Worth the Upgrade?

While it doesn’t come without its shortcomings, MacOS Catalina has arrived with a lot of excitement. It comes loaded with exciting features such as Sidecar that could be a huge boon to making Apple computers a lot more productive. Other improvements are much less likely to get the same enthusiasm... See more
Others
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SilentCrescendo
I noticed that Apple has already released a supplemental update.  I wonder if they pushed out Catalina too soon without enough testing as reports suggest it's pretty buggy. 
DevonJMarsh
I'll enjoy using  the Sender Block email option. That should've been applied years ago as spam has gotten outrageous.  I haven't upgraded yet because I've been so busy at work. 
GamerGlitter
I'm pretty excited about that feature too.  Sidecar seems exciting, but I'm sure the fun will wear off quickly for me.  I don't need those capabilities for anything and I don't like carting both my iPad and Mac to work.  
Posted in General
Eileenchionh

The Rise of Visual Shopping in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

E-commerce has taken over the world of retail. Those who were first to the scene are now considered titans of the information age. Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and Alibaba’s Jack Ma, for example, have reached a mythical business guru status like Henry Ford. But online shopping has become old news.... See more
Others
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VeryPunny
I'm all for taking part in a service that shows me how the setup might look in my home.  I also appreciate being able to build wish lists without tying them to one specific store. 
ItsFidgety
Yes, I am onboard with this development. I think it is long overdue to be honest. I just think it is a shame you will need a VR set. I've seen them use a similar technique on a YouTube show about interior design where you just use your iPad to... See more
Posted in General
Devonjmarsh

MSI's Latest Gaming Laptop to Hit the Scene

Check out #MSI's Alpha 15 gaming laptop. It's decently priced for a cutting-edge device that includes a #Radeon RX 5500 graphics card and a #Ryzen 7 3750H processing chip. It's speaker system is supposed to be powerful too. #MSIAlpha15 #gaminglaptop #gamer #digitalgames #videogames #AMD
MSI's new Alpha 15 brings AMD Navi graphics to its gaming laptops AMD continues making headway into mobile computing TECHRADAR.COM
MSI Alpha 15 Gami...
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Garham
MSI is a well-known manufacturer of gaming machines and they've been around for a while.  Unfortunately, they have a bit of a rep for providing horrible customer service.  
KateWilliams
I've owned a similar model by MSI and my only complaint was that it ran very hot when I'd be gaming for a while.  That's a common issue with any gaming laptop, though.  
Posted in General
Phoenix

HTC Launches First Phone That Can Run a Full BTC Node

#HTC released a truly innovative #smartphone. The #Exodus1s can hold a full ledger and has the capability to run a full bitcoin node. It's the first of its kind. There's only one catch - it's not available in the U.S. #cryptocurrency #Bitcoin #BTC #crypto #digitalcurrency #technews #innovation
HTC releases a cheaper blockchain phone – TechCrunch Whatever you might say about HTC (and believe me, there’s plenty to say), at least the company takes some fascinating chance. As newly minted CEO Yves Maitre admitted to me at Disrupt a couple of weeks back, the once mighty smartphone giant has lost the thread in recent years. But if nothing else, the Exodus […] TECHCRUNCH.COM
Smartphones
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SystemWars
I'm sure we'll see more of these types of phones in the future and from other manufacturers too.  This model is a big improvement over HTC's original Exodus 1 smartphone.  Who knows what's coming down the pipeline next.
Jade25
Such a great innovation from HTC, despite its best years seemingly being behind it. That it's also available in various equivalent cryptocurrencies is a big plus. 
Posted in General
Hazard

Will this device get better with time?

This device is a bold attempt by HP to ensure that it meets the requirements of a majority of applications. Hopefully, Chromeboxes will gain traction over time, although it may take time for people to get used to programs that are non-Windows based.
HP Unveils Chromebox Enterprise G2: A Chrome OS-Based Business Desktop ANANDTECH.COM
HP Chromebox Ente...
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codechaser
The article made a huge point - what worries business owners is that the web applications require an internet connection.  Few would risk the possibility of crippling their day-to-day operations with something like that.    
Octane
That's true but most places will have a hard time once the internet goes down anyway, as inventory and cash registers are often connected to the parent company via internet.  I'd assume they have alternatives in place.  
Hazard
Business owners have a valid point, but like @Octane says, internet outages cripple other services as well, but not entirely. It is a bold move by both companies to create such a device. 
Elijah
I disagree with the article that needing an internet connection to access documents in the cloud could be a deal breaker.  Most operations rely on both hot and cold storage of data in the cloud and in-house.  There will be backups on in-house... See more
Posted in General
Marnin

Good move from Google?

I am not sure I get it, probably because I hardly use Google Photos, but either way, do you think this is going to thrill iOS users? I agree with the article that this would (effectively) hurt functionality.
Google to fix 'bug' that uploads free full-quality iPhone pics to Photos Google is about to patch a quirk in Photos that effectively gives iPhone users a free ride. The company told Android Police in a statement that it's planning t... ENGADGET.COM
Others
Jade25
I don't store iOS photos on Google Photos because it is more secure to store them on iCloud. All the same Google Drive is useful for storing other documents.
SilentCrescendo
I don't think most people will be concerned either way.  Consumers have access to numerous places to store their photos in the cloud.  Plus, there are several websites that offer gorgeous photos for free that can be used for any purpose. 
Marnin
I agree, and I doubt if many iPhone users will even notice this. There's no point in hurting functionality, to place most of the users on equal footing.
Posted in General
Clyde33

Online gaming challenges

I hardly play online fighting games, but I agree that translating the offline success of these games to the online environment can be challenging. At its core, players need a stable network and reliable connection.
Explaining how fighting games use delay-based and rollback netcode How to design your game for optimal play over a network. ARSTECHNICA.COM
Gaming
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Carter
It's fascinating how much goes into consideration when designing a game.  I've been addicted to gaming since I was a kid and it's easy to forget how much work it takes behind the scenes.  
Clyde33
There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes, and yes, it is easy (at times) to fail to appreciate all the effort that is put in. All the same, this is a challenge that developers can surmount. 
Phoenix
I'm all about PUBG at the moment.  That was a long article, but I appreciate the author's attempt to explain the issue in plain language. 
VeryPunny
Plain language or not some paragraphs took a couple read throughs to sink in.  The writer makes a strong point, but also seems to have an agenda to push.  
DevonJMarsh
It felt a little preachy at times, but I do appreciate the simple explanations and the subject is clearly something the author is passionate about.  
Posted in General
Katewilliams

Is This Really Important to Users?

#Google is taking some heat for creating the new #NestWiFi without upgrading to the newest wireless technology, Wi-Fi 6. The excitement around Wi-Fi 6 is real, but in practice its advantages are largely useless since it won't be faster unless all the other devices have Wi-Fi 6 built in too. Do you... See more
Google defends its use of Wi-Fi 5 in Nest Wifi Google decided to save a few bucks and skip the Wi-Fi 6 for now. But only a few. ARSTECHNICA.COM
Google Nest WiFi
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ApplesNOranges
I think it is partially bragging rights as well. If the world is moving towards Wi-Fi 6, there's always going to be companies that want to be first even though there is no use for it for now, in the future there will be.
PX1995
I bet it's something that most consumers don't even know about.  They just see and hear the greater number and think that means it's better, it's faster, and it's more advanced,  without considering how it plays out in the real world.
FancyyFrog
I agree with this actually. As for the company, I think the consumer is also blinded by the fact that it is the newest thing out there, so if they get to use it they get to tell everybody about it. I remember the same happening with 3G, 4G, 5G.
Posted in General
Garham

Best Headset for Gamers

I used to think that any headset would do. I wasn't picky at all. I quickly realized I'd been missing the immersive experience when I tired my buddy's #HyperX Cloud Alpha headset. I became an instant convert. Get a decent headset and you'll be blown away by the difference. #gamer #gaming... See more
The best gaming headsets for 2019 These are our top picks for the best gaming headsets that offer sound, comfort, and style for the most immersive PC gaming experience. PCGAMER.COM
HyperX Cloud Alpha S SteelSeries Arctis 7 ...
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Marnin
It's not until recently that I realized that a decent microphone (on a gaming headset) makes a huge difference. I prefer wireless headsets,  and I was wondering if the wired ones are preferable when it comes to gaming? 
ApplesNOranges
The most important thing to me when choosing a headset, especially for gaming is that it needs to be over-ear. If I wear it for hours on end, which with gaming definitely happens, I cannot have anything touch my ear.