Month: June 2021

  • Amazon Prime Day 2021: The Samsung Galaxy S20 and S20 ultra have over 30% off right now

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    The second day of Amazon Prime Day 2021 sale has continued to deliver endless amounts of savings across tech, TVs, gaming, home appliances, kids’ toys, clothing and alcohol.

    Throughout the biggest shopping event of the year so far, we’ve been handpicking the very best offers, ranging from Nespresso coffee machines and robot vacuum cleaners to Braun IPL devices and the cult favorite hot brush from Revlon.

    Samsung, in particular, is having a very generous sale on Amazon right now, with its A7 Android tablet, wireless earphones, and a Samsung Galaxy watch3 all included in our best tech deals roundup.

    Now added to the mix are two Samsung Galaxy mobile phones, the S20, discounted by £200, and the S20 ultra model, which has a £400 saving.

    If you’ve been needing a new phone upgrade for a while, now is the perfect opportunity to bag a bargain with one of these slick designs. Keep reading for everything you need to know.

    Continue Reading: Independent

  • HP Gaming Computers

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    Top HP gaming computers

    Whether you’re casually gaming or looking to battle competitively online, at home or on the go, the right computer is necessary to support your needs. Power, memory and graphic card quality all go into creating the perfect gaming computer.

    HP is one of the many companies vying to be your gaming hub. They offer both PCs and laptops in two different series. The Pavilion models are versatile, budget-friendly gaming laptops for more casual competitors, while the OMEN line provides high-end specs for serious players.

    HP gaming computer features

    HP computers feature the Windows operating system. While the Pavilion and OMEN series are geared towards gaming, they both allow users to work and stream with ease. As such, purchases also come with a free trial of Microsoft Office.

    HP gaming desktops and laptops are customizable, though the options available will vary based on the model. When looking at options, you’ll likely have a choice when it comes to the resolution, memory, storage, processor, graphics and even keyboard backlighting your model comes with. Keep this in mind when you browse options: the price will rise as you add more upgrades to your computer.

    HP also provides users access to the OMEN Gaming Hub. This platform allows gamers to optimize the computer’s performance based on what they’re doing at that moment, as well as personalize lights and other specs. The Hub also lets gamers track rewards and gameplay, connect with other players and win exclusive prizes.

    Pavilion vs. OMEN

    The Pavilion series comes at a lower price by sacrificing top-end performance and usually some amount of storage or memory. These models are ideal for those on a budget or who game casually, playing solo campaigns or online games that aren’t among the newest releases. Pavilion computers are stylish and allow for users to create content, stream, work and browse as needed.

    The OMEN line, meanwhile, is for those who want the fastest, most powerful options so as to gain an edge in competitive online play. These will come at a higher price, but will be equipped with extra bells and whistles, like the newest graphics cards and backlit keyboards. They often feature more diverse and fast ports and may cater to new gaming technologies, like VR.

    HP gaming PCs

    Pavilion Gaming Computer: available at HP

    This desktop is ideal for casual gamers who may be on a budget but want a device that can support recent games and online worlds. It includes 8GB of memory and a 256GB SSD, while the fast Wi-Fi, strong Bluetooth and rapid USB ports prevent any lag or delay when gaming. As the graphics card isn’t the newest and it features four cores, it may struggle with emerging large games.

    OMEN 30L: available at HP

    This is the go-to desktop PC for the biggest, most immersive new video games. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 24GB offers the most realistic graphics, while both storage and memory feature above-average capacity. The default option includes eight cores with Intel i7 processing, but you can upgrade to Intel i9 and 10 cores for even more power. It’s also stylishly designed with a shadow-black exterior.

    OMEN 25L: available at HP

    This mid-range desktop in the OMEN series balances out price with power. An NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card provides quality visuals and fast performance. It’s also among the most stylish of desktops with a clear side panel for viewing the powerful inner workings. Purchase also includes a wired keyboard and optical mouse.

    HP All-in-One 24-DF0130m PC: available at HP

    Though not part of the Pavilion or OMEN line, this multifunctional HP desktop offers plenty of value to casual gamers. At a relatively low price, it caters to a variety of uses, including work, school, streaming and gaming. Notably, the AMD Ryzen 3 processor allows for fast rendering and lag-free exploration of online worlds. It also boasts four USB ports to support your peripherals.

    HP Pavilion Desktop PC: available at HP

    Another reliable model for gaming as well as everything else, this HP Pavilion is a worthwhile investment. Featuring a Ryzen 5 CPU and AMD Radeon graphics, this desktop provides speed and visual clarity that make gaming — or designing and creating new ideas — easy and stress-free.

    HP gaming laptops

    Pavilion 15z: available at HP

    At 15 inches, this budget gaming laptop features an FHD, anti-glare screen with a wide viewing angle and thin bezels for an immersive experience. A fast AMD Ryzen 5 4600H processor offers seamless gaming for most titles, while both memory and storage are above average in capacity. An integrated microphone, quality speakers and HD camera make communicating with others clear and easy.

    OMEN laptop 15z: available at HP

    With an AMD Ryzen 7 processor and NVIDIA RTX graphics card, this is one of the top OMEN laptops by HP, set up for the newest, largest online worlds. Base memory (8GB) and storage (512GB) are worthy but can both be upgraded. Battery life lasts over 10 hours, but when you’re in a pinch, it can quickly charge to 50% in about 45 minutes.

    Pavilion Laptop 15T: available at HP

    For those playing more recent games and looking to save some money, this HP laptop comes at a decent price without sacrificing power. Storage is on the lower end, but the NVIDIA GTX 1650i graphics card is worthy for casual gaming, and a high refresh rate prevents motion blur and lag. A lengthy battery life, slim profile and lightweight construction make this an ideal gaming companion on the go.

    OMEN Laptop 15t: available at HP

    Boasting NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics, this laptop is geared for fast rendering of vast, open worlds, preventing users from losing a step when gaming online. It’s also supplemented by extra rapid ports, including a USB, DisplayPort and HDMI connections. Though it comes at a higher price, it’s ready for the new titles coming down the line in the next few years.

    OMEN Laptop 17t-cb100: available at HP

    With power similar to that of a desktop, this OMEN model packs in everything a competitive gamer needs. NVIDIA® graphics are among the latest offerings, while 16GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage are sufficient for the most dedicated of players. From the 17-inch display with thin bezels to the high refresh rate and fast input, gameplay is immersive and seamless.

    Anthony Marcusa is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.

    BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.

    Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

    Source: ChicagoTribune

  • Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra vs. iPhone 12 Pro Max

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    Which phone should you buy?

    When you want the best phone available, the leading contenders are the top-end Samsung Galaxy and the top-end iPhone. So, should you buy the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra or the iPhone 12 Pro Max? The choice is a tough one as they’re both great smartphones with lots to recommend them.

    The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra uses the Android operating system. In contrast, the iPhone Pro Max uses Apple’s iOS, making it easier to integrate with the Apple ecosystem and products such as iPads and Apple watches.

    Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

    The largest of the Samsung Galaxy S21 models, the S21 Ultra is a premium smartphone perfect for those who favor performance and features over a compact size. It has an excellent camera and can record video in 8K. It runs the Android operating system, which is more open to customization than iOS, and buyers may prefer if they’re already used to Android phones.

    What you’ll love about the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

    The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has a large 6.8 inch OLED display with excellent color reproduction and slightly higher resolution than the iPhone 12 Pro Max. The screen has curved edges and a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz, making it excellent for watching videos and playing games.

    Keen phone photographers will love the four rear camera setup with a 108MP wide-angle lens, 12MP ultra-wide-angle lens, 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom and second 10MP telephoto lens with 10x optical zoom. You can also achieve a digital zoom of up to 30x. This phone can record video footage in 8K resolution while the iPhone can only reach 4K resolution.

    This phone runs quickly and smoothly, even when running multiple apps or power-hungry apps. Although the Snapdragon 888 processor chip isn’t quite as fast as the A14 chip in the iPhone, it has 12-16GB of RAM to make up for it, compared to the iPhone’s 6GB of RAM.

    What you should consider about the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

    Some colors can look slightly washed out when taking photos compared to the iPhone. They may also look artificially enhanced and less true to life. Although the 30x digital zoom gets you in close, the results are blurry. While it’s nice to have an 8K video option, the stabilization isn’t great. The file sizes are also enormous.

    Although the S21 Ultra’s 5,000 mAh battery is larger than the 12 Pro Max’s, the phone uses more power, so if you take advantage of all the bells and whistles, it can run down faster. However, it will still last all day with average use.

    iPhone 12 Pro Max

    On par with the S21 Ultra, size-wise, the iPhone 12 Max is a large handset with an impressive display. Although its cameras don’t boast as many megapixels, they have an arguably better sensor and take excellent snaps. Like all iPhones, it runs Apple’s operating system, iOS. People switching from Android can struggle with it initially, but many dedicated iPhone users would never move over to Android. It’s great for people who use other Apple products, like Mac computers, Apple watches and iPads.

    What you’ll love about the iPhone 12 Pro Max

    The 6.7-inch screen on the iPhone 12 Max is almost as large as the screen on the S21 Ultra, but the phone is slightly smaller and thinner overall, making it less bulky and awkward to carry around with you. Despite the screen resolution not matching the Samsung, the display still looks incredible overall with impressive color reproduction. The battery easily lasts all day, even when using your phone constantly.

    This phone features an array of three rear-facing cameras, including a main wide-angle camera, an ultra-wide-angle camera and a telephoto camera with 2.5x optical zoom. There’s also a LiDAR scanner in the array, which helps judge depth and distance for better and faster focusing. When snapping photos with the 12 Pro Max, the colors look more true to life than the S21 Ultra, plus it has an outstanding night mode for taking pictures in low light.

    What you should consider about the iPhone 12 Pro Max

    The iPhone 12 Pro Max features a notch in the front of the screen, where the front camera and face recognition hardware are stored, which some users can find annoying. However, you’ll hardly notice it once you get used to the phone.

    The rear-facing cameras only have 12MP, far less than the 108MP primary camera on the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, though the sensor on the iPhone makes up for it. You also don’t get as impressive optical or digital zoom on any of the iPhone’s cameras.

    Should you get the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra or the iPhone 12 Pro Max?

    The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and the iPhone 12 Pro Max are both excellent phones. While each phone has its areas where it’s slightly superior to the other, this balances itself out when you look at the phones as a whole.

    There’s no clear winner out of the two. Ultimately, people who prefer Apple phones should opt for the iPhone 12 Pro Max, while people who prefer Android phones should opt for the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra.

    Source: CBS42

  • How to update your PS5 controller

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    If you’re one of the blessed 8 million-ish people who’s been able to get their hands on a PlayStation 5, you’ve probably run into the controller update process at some point. I got mine on launch day (November 12th, 2020), and I’ve had to update the DualSense controller a few times since, as well as when I got the new red variant.

    It’s easy, right? Well, maybe not so much.

    HERE’S HOW TO UPDATE YOUR PS5 CONTROLLER AUTOMATICALLY
    Wake the PS5 from sleep
    See the text on-screen alerting you to the available controller update, which includes the choices to “Notify After 24 Hours” and “Update Now”
    Plug in a USB cable (because for some reason you can’t do this wirelessly)
    Highlight the “Update Now button,” and press X on the controller to update
    But. If you don’t press X at that point — if you press O, say, like I might, because as a long-term resident of Japan I am still getting over the fact that it’s not the confirmation button anymore — you will bring up the PS5’s account login screen, and the update prompt goes away. How do you get it back?

    Well, basically you don’t, unless you are willing to delve into unnecessarily convoluted trickery. That’s right. There is no option in the PS5’s settings that will let you manually update the PS5 controller. Waking the console from sleep again doesn’t bring the prompt back and neither does cutting the power altogether.

    As far as we can tell (and judging from the option to “Notify After 24 Hours”), the update prompt is tied to a 24-hour cycle, so you are probably meant to just wait a day and try again. The Verge’s Tom Warren, however, says he’s managed to force the update on his PS5 a few times.

    HERE’S HOW TO MANUALLY UPDATE YOUR PS5 CONTROLLER
    Disconnect from the internet by selecting Settings > Network > Settings
    Skip the internal clock forward by 24 hours by going to Settings > System > Date and Time
    DualSense firmware updates might not be particularly exciting or even essential, but I’m right there with anyone who’s found this whole process to be a baffling element of the PS5’s software. It’s deeply confusing to be told you need to update something upon booting it, and then find you don’t have any obvious way of doing so by yourself later on — say, when you actually have a USB-C cable to hand.

    Hopefully the knowledge that you’re not missing something in the menus — or that you can engage in Animal Crossing-style time-skipping as a last resort — gives you some peace of mind the next time you press the wrong button.

    Source: TheVerge

  • The best Macbook in 2021: The best Macbook for your needs

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    If you need a new Apple laptop, it’s a really good time to buy one. The latest MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro models use a proprietary chip designed by Apple — the M1— instead of the Intel processors the company has used for several years. In our testing, the M1 set new standards in speed and energy efficiency, and it is available even in the company’s least expensive notebook, making the $999 MacBook Air a clear choice for the best Mac laptop for most users. For those who need a little more power and battery life, the 13-inch MacBook Pro should fit the bill.

    At $999, the MacBook Air with M1 is a budget laptop that can take on any task — from web browsing to productivity to 4K video editing. And if you’re in the Apple ecosystem, it will work perfectly with other Apple devices.

    For $1,299, the 13-inch MacBook Pro adds a graphics core and a cooling system that lets it take on more intense tasks   It’s a true portable powerhouse with a battery that can last for days.

    Our top pick for a laptop isn’t that surprising: the entry-level, M1-powered MacBook Air ($999). It keeps the same exact build of the previous Air, including the Magic Keyboard that’s truly a treat to type on. But this new model removes the fan and swaps out the Intel chip for the M1, the first Apple Silicon processor.

    Apple’s M1 chip sets a new standard with blazing performance, and it’s so energy efficient that it stays cool enough that the new Air doesn’t need a cooling fan. That’s something we haven’t encountered on a Mac before. In our benchmarking, the M1 Air beats the previous Air and the Intel-powered 13-inch MacBook Pro, and ties the 16-inch MacBook Pro. That’s $2,399 performance for $999.

    But what about in everyday use? Well, it’s great for productivity and personal tasks like writing, emailing, messaging, browsing the web, streaming and even creative tasks. We were easily able to export 1080p HD and 4K videos at full resolution with no slowdowns. It can handle multiple instances of the same app — several windows in Safari or Chrome with multiple tabs open — and you can leave Photoshop open in the background.

    Apple’s macOS is also optimized for the M1 chip, as are several major apps. Apple’s entire suite of applications is optimized, and Chrome already has a new version. But fear not, for most Intel apps will run just fine, thanks to an emulator called Rosetta 2, which is installed automatically when you open a non-optimized app. Just open the app and dive right in — the initial launch might take a little extra time as Rosetta 2 works, but it will run normally afterward. You’ll also find that the standard 8GB of RAM is plenty — even for those creative tasks.

    The new MacBook Air has the same battery inside as the previous Intel version, but the M1 uses a lot less energy while pushing out more power. This means the Air stays cool in operation (it doesn’t even have a fan) and delivers ridiculous battery life, clocking more than 12 hours. In everyday use, you’d be hard-pressed to kill the battery. That makes it perfect for remote work around the house, and gives students enough bandwidth to make it through a day of classes and then hit the library to crank out an essay afterwards.

    The 13-inch Retina display comes in with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 and 227 pixels per inch, it supports the P3 wide color gamut, and 400 nits of brightness were enough for us to see the display clearly wherever we used it. Apple’s True Tone adjusts the color temperature to suit the space you’re in.

    The controls are all great. The M1 Air, like last year’s Intel Air, uses the improved Magic Keyboard that replaced the problematic butterfly keyboard that marred some recent Apple laptops. The keyboard is punchy, with a typewriter-like recoil, and was very comfortable to type on, with plenty of travel (aka the depth needed for a proper keypress). The large trackpad is smooth to the touch, with clear haptic feedback for right, left and double clicks.

    It’s difficult to find a better overall machine than the M1 Air. Performance is so much improved that it makes the budget Air competitive with Apple’s power-user oriented MacBook Pro range. Yes, it’s good for productivity and personal needs, but it can meet the demands of creative and power users as well. It’s our choice for the best Apple laptop.

    Continue Reading: CNN