Network and Beyond NaB

The Alienware AW2721D is a high-end 27-inch 1440p monitor, giving us our first look at the combination of a 240Hz refresh rate and IPS technology at this resolution. Alienware are touting "true 1ms GTG response time" - we'll see about that. https://www.techspot.com/review/2205-alienware-aw2721d/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Intel’s eleventh-generation desktop processors, codenamed Rocket Lake, were announced in general terms at CES 2021, but only the flagship i9-11900K was formally named. https://www.techspot.com/news/88766-intel-unreleased-i7-11700k-sold-shipped-germany.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Stadia broke from Google's typical "start small and build" philosophy of product development. Unlike other Google products with long beta cycles, like Gmail, it was marketed and hyped as a full service that was ready to kill off consoles. Stadia head Phil Harrison said it was "the future of gaming."... https://www.techspot.com/news/88765-insiders-google-lacked-focus-discipline-run-successful-game.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Resizable BAR is a feature of the PCIe standard that enables a system’s CPU to see the entirety of the GPU’s memory subsystem, instead of just a small 256 MB portion. Implementing the feature requires low-level support in the CPU, motherboard, and GPU, which is how AMD, who designs all... https://www.techspot.com/news/88764-nvidia-begins-rolling-out-resizable-bar-support-rtx.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Since this is a remake and not a remaster, everything from the gameplay, graphics, and user interfaces to the levels and acquire-able gear have been revamped, updated, or outright replaced. While exploring the game, you'll find entirely new areas that never existed in the original System Shock, though your core... https://www.techspot.com/news/88754-night-dive-system-shock-remake-arriving-summer-download.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

The Emergency Broadband Relief Program is a $3.2 billion federal initiative that’ll provide eligible households with discounts of up to $50 per month for broadband service. Those living on tribal lands may be eligible for a $75 monthly discount, the FCC said in its announcement. https://www.techspot.com/news/88761-fcc-approves-50-monthly-broadband-subsidy-low-income.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Whether you just want to play Skyrim in bed, or take your your work apps with you to the living room, solutions like Steam in-home streaming and remote dek offer a near-flawless experience. https://www.techspot.com/article/2198-steam-remote-play-vs-moonlight/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

We had already heard that EA would soon decide the future of its overhyped and not-so-successful third-person shooter/RPG. Many Anthem fans held hopes of a No Man's Sky-style overhaul, but while that was previously the plan, it looks like it just wasn't meant to be. https://www.techspot.com/news/88750-bioware-stops-anthem-next-development-focus-next-mass.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

The retailer on Thursday announced an enhanced Apple shopping experience that’ll debut online and start appearing in select brick-and-mortar locations this month ahead of a broader rollout this fall. https://www.techspot.com/news/88749-target-setting-aside-space-stores-apple-products.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Screen tear or input lag? To vsync or not to vsync? For the longest time, this was an either-or question in the PC gaming space. You could either have a tear-free, properly frame-paced image or low input latency. But here's a trick to try. https://www.techspot.com/article/2192-screen-tearing-fix-pc-gaming/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Google's Pixel 5a is slated to be released sometime this year, and the good news is the company has kept the overall recipe unchanged for what is essentially a mid-range smartphone for people looking to get a lot of value for much less money than what you'd have to pay... https://www.techspot.com/news/88736-google-pixel-5a-leak-reveals-familiar-features-design.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Fry’s Electronics, once considered by many to be the holy grail of electronics stores, is calling it quits. https://www.techspot.com/news/88733-fry-electronics-calls-quits-after-nearly-36-years.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that rep. Marcus Evans Jr. has filed an amendment to a 2012 law that prevents some video games from being sold to minors. House Bill 3531 would amend that law, prohibiting the sale and rental of all “violent video games” in Illinois. https://www.techspot.com/news/88728-illinois-legislator-looks-ban-sale-violent-video-games.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

This is big news for Roblox, as well as its more avid fans. Interested parties can check out the company's full SEC filing here. The prospectus lays out the details of Roblox's business model and financials (it earned $924 million in revenue throughout 2020), as well as some of the... https://www.techspot.com/news/88725-roblox-plans-go-public-march-10-direct-listing.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

The two companies announced that an Arm-compatible version of the Sophos Intercept X cybersecurity software application will be available on Snapdragon-powered PCs in the second half of 2021. https://www.techspot.com/news/88720-qualcomm-sophos-strike-cybersecurity-deal-highlights-benefits-5g.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

In our last installment of the history of the modern graphics processor, we had reached a point where the market consisted of just three competitors: AMD, Intel, and Nvidia. However, in the following years, graphics processors became one of the largest, most complex, and most expensive components that could be... https://www.techspot.com/article/2176-history-of-the-gpu-part-5/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Last month, renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted that starting with 2021 models, MacBook Pros would lose the highly criticized Touch Bar feature. Apple will reportedly use the extra internal real estate to add more ports. But it appears that Cupertino might not be ditching the Touch Bar altogether. https://www.techspot.com/news/88705-recent-patent-suggest-apple-might-not-ditching-touch.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Earlier this year, billionaire Jared Isaacman announced he was chartering a private flight from SpaceX. Rather than invite friends or family to join him on the trip, Isaacman elected to donate two of the four seats on the spacecraft to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. https://www.techspot.com/news/88704-spacex-first-private-flight-put-29-year-old.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Market research firm Gartner in its latest report said Apple sold 79.9 million iPhones during the final three months of 2020, an increase of 14.9 percent compared to the same period a year ago. For comparison, Samsung managed to sell 62.1 million smartphones to end users during the quarter, down 11.8 percent versus Q4 2019. https://www.techspot.com/news/88703-apple-sold-80-million-iphones-q4-become-top.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

A Zoom meeting of the Oakley Union Elementary School District board of trustees was caught by NBC News Bay Area reporter Bigad Shabad and posted to Twitter. As you can tell by the liberal use of profanity and amount of insults aimed at parents, the participants didn't realize the call... https://www.techspot.com/news/88698-entire-school-board-resigns-following-parent-mocking-zoom.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

The malware—identified by Red Canary researchers—has been found in 153 countries, with concentrations in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, and Germany. According to the researchers, Silver Sparrow, as they're calling this security threat is mysterious: so far, it simply forces affected computers to check a server once... https://www.techspot.com/news/88696-new-macos-malware-discovered-but-threat-remains-unknown.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

For the past few months, reports of sporadic USB disconnections on 500-series motherboards have been stacking up on the desk of AMD’s subreddit. Some users have reported that their keyboard will suddenly become unresponsive for 5 to 10 seconds, every few minutes. Other users complain that their mouse will slow... https://www.techspot.com/news/88695-amd-acknowledges-usb-connectivity-issues-x570-b550-motherboards.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Intel Rocket Lake CPUs are slated to launch next month. A new leak from VideoCardz has revealed the packing we can expect to come with the top-of-the-line Core i9 chips. Based on the leaked images, the new packaging is made entirely, or at least largely, of hard plastic with opaque... https://www.techspot.com/news/88693-intel-core-i9-rocket-lake-cpus-get-glow.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Huawei is stuck between a rock and a hard place as US sanctions have resulted in a significant reduction in global sales of its smartphones throughout 2020. In fact, it's become so hard for the Chinese company to manage the financial impact, that it not only divested in one of... https://www.techspot.com/news/88689-huawei-tells-suppliers-only-expects-sell-70-80.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Or, to be more accurate, a "controller" made from pomegranate pieces, connected with wires and sensors from the Makey Makey invention kit. The kit can turn ordinary household objects, including everything from stairs to bananas and even buckets of water, into interesting and exciting inventions. https://www.techspot.com/news/88678-twitch-streamer-beats-hades-using-controller-made-real.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

When Apple unveiled the iPhone 12 last October, one of its key features was its MagSafe ring. The component provides a wireless charging solution while also allowing for magnetic clip-on accessories like wallets and cases. A variety of attachments are already for sale on Apple's website. https://www.techspot.com/news/88684-apple-has-magsafe-battery-pack-works-but-technical.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

The Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo GX551 is one of the most innovative and ambitious laptops around, serving up an Nvidia RTX 3080 and Ryzen 9 5900HX combo, plus a large secondary touchscreen that delivers extra functionality in games and creative applications. https://www.techspot.com/review/2202-asus-rog-zephyrus-duo-gx551/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

According to numbers from market research firm IDC, Chrome OS overtook macOS for the first time in 2020 in user install base. For decades, Windows has had a stranglehold on the PC market, and that has not changed. The contest has historically been between macOS, Linux, and, more recently, Chrome OS. https://www.techspot.com/news/88677-chrome-os-overtakes-macos-second-place-annual-market.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

As Samsung explains, most computing systems today are based on the von Neumann architecture. This sequential processing approach involves separate CPU and memory units with data constantly being shuffled between them, creating a bottleneck. https://www.techspot.com/news/88672-samsung-develops-high-bandwidth-memory-onboard-ai-processing.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Not everyone likes gaming. Picture the scene: you're with a perfect new partner who shares many of your likes and interests, but upon asking if they prefer shooters or RPGs, they respond with, "Oh, I don't really play games, though I enjoy Candy Crush---does that count?" https://www.techspot.com/article/2203-watchable-games-for-nongamers/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Microsoft is introducing FPS Boost, a feature that improves frame rates for older games without developer action. While some games will see twice the amount of frames per second, other titles can see even larger boosts. https://www.techspot.com/news/88662-xbox-series-xs-gain-fps-boost-mode-doubles.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Were they always 3.5-inch? Also, do you remember the Zip drive? https://www.techspot.com/trivia/77-youve-seen-35-floppy-disk-before-but-do/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

A report on the state of the livestreaming industry from StreamElements and Rainmaker.gg shows that Twitch and Facebook Gaming viewing hours increased 117 percent YoY in January 2021. https://www.techspot.com/news/88653-rust-helped-twitch-reach-record-views-january.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

The password manager on Tuesday revealed that starting March 16, 2021, LastPass Free users will only be able to use the service on one category of device: computers or mobile devices. Computers include all types of Internet browsers running on desktops, laptops and tablets (Windows, macOS and Linux) while mobile... https://www.techspot.com/news/88647-lastpass-free-tier-users-have-decide-between-mobile.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

According to data storage research and consulting firm TrendFocus (per Storage Newsletter), manufacturers shipped 333.12 million solid-state drives in 2020 – an increase of 20.8 percent year-over-year. Hard drive shipments, meanwhile, were down 18 percent annually to 259.81 million units. https://www.techspot.com/news/88645-ssd-shipments-outpaced-hdds-2020-but-capacity-favors.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

We want to see how the Ryzen 5 1600X, 2600X, 3600X and 5600X compare in half a dozen games using the GeForce RTX 3090, RTX 3070, Radeon RX 5700 XT and 5600 XT, using both the ultra and medium quality presets at 1080p, 1440p and 4K. https://www.techspot.com/article/2201-four-years-of-ryzen-5-gpu-scaling/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Screenshot above showcases Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition's new visual effects https://www.techspot.com/news/88637-metro-exodus-enhanced-edition-arrives-later-year-dlss.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Nvidia 3000-series cards went live in the latter half of 2020 but myriad of issues ensured in-store inventory remained virtually extinct. That’s still the case today, as the only way to get your hands on a new card is to pay an exorbitant price on a third-party marketplace. https://www.techspot.com/news/88633-nvidia-geforce-rtx-3060-launches-february-25-but.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

The team has since learned that Farfarout resides 132 astronomical units (AUs) from the Sun. A single AU is defined as the distance from the center of the Earth to the center of the Sun, or about 91.757 million miles. For comparison, dwarf planet Pluto is just 34 AU from the Sun. https://www.techspot.com/news/88632-scientists-confirm-most-distant-object-our-solar-system.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Windows Latest writes that Sun Valley has been in the works since last year and will introduce a “sweeping visual rejuvenation of Windows,” including a new interface that takes full advantage of Microsoft’s Fluent Design and WinUI language. https://www.techspot.com/news/88628-future-windows-10-update-reportedly-add-floating-start.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Following the 15.49.6 update, privacy details for the YouTube app are now appearing on the App Store. https://www.techspot.com/news/88627-google-updates-youtube-iphone-first-major-ios-update.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Arm is the largest designer of processors in the world, if the sale of their designs is counted instead of the number of designs they produce: their rather slim Mali GPU series, for example, encompasses just nine models but has been the number one shipping GPU since 2015. If Arm... https://www.techspot.com/news/88625-every-second-842-arm-chips-built-end-2020.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Epstein had struggled for some time with shoddy Internet coverage in his North Hollywood home, where he was accessing speeds of “up to” 3Mbps, and had previously found that complaining to AT&T directly didn’t help. That’s when he decided to take a more direct approach, paying $10,000 for a quarter-page... https://www.techspot.com/news/88623-att-rushes-install-fiber-after-90-year-old.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Over the past 5 years, the Steam Controller has been my primary driver for PC gaming from the couch. I've tried Microsoft's controller, DualShock, DualSense, and even the Switch Pro and none come even close. But then, what went wrong with the Steam Controller? https://www.techspot.com/article/2190-steam-controller-confession/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Resizable BAR defines how much of your graphics cards VRAM is to be mapped for access by the CPU. Typically the CPU can access up to 256 MB of mapped VRAM, but with the resizable BAR it can have full access to the graphics cards' VRAM buffer. https://www.techspot.com/news/88620-intel-bring-resizable-bar-11th-gen-rocket-lake.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Researchers at NASA have come up with another technique to search for advanced extraterrestrial civilizations that could potentially inhabit nearby star systems. https://www.techspot.com/news/88618-nasa-could-hunt-extraterrestrials-looking-signs-pollution.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

US firm dbrand's PS5 Darkplates are now available for pre-order. Owners of Sony's console can simply pop off its white faceplates and replace them with these customized black versions, making it look more like previous-gen PlayStations people know and love. https://www.techspot.com/news/88613-go-ahead-sue-us-maker-black-ps5-faceplates.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Microsoft reportedly approached social media company Pinterest in recent months regarding an acquisition. https://www.techspot.com/news/88604-microsoft-tried-buy-pinterest-recent-months.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Was it Yahoo, Excite, AltaVista or Lycos? https://www.techspot.com/trivia/18-which-search-engine-google-nearly-sold-90s/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

The new Ryzen 9 5900HX is bound to be widely used across high-end gaming laptops. While not the outright fastest processor in the series, it should be a better performer than other Zen 3 APUs we've reviewed so far, namely the 5800H and 5980HS. https://www.techspot.com/review/2200-amd-ryzen-5900hx/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

GOG is offering its deepest discount yet on The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Game of the Year Edition, yours for just $9.99 (80 percent off the usual $49.99 asking price). https://www.techspot.com/news/88591-gog-valentine-day-inspired-love-games-sale-under.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Audi initially teased the e-tron GT concept at the 2018 LA Auto Show as part of its major EV push and has now finally revealed the production version at a recent livestream event. The company's latest flagship EV will be available in three flavors later this summer, namely the $100,000... https://www.techspot.com/news/88587-audi-takes-tesla-model-s-porsche-taycan-100000.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Who would have guessed that stealthily scaling a building with a trusty hidden blade would become an annual tradition, but back in 2007, the exploits of Altair in Assassin's Creed were practically revolutionary. https://www.techspot.com/article/2189-13-years-of-assassins-creed/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei left the Chinese electronics maker in October to launch a London-based consumer technology brand named Nothing. Just weeks after announcing the startup, we now know what the firm’s first product will be. https://www.techspot.com/news/88576-carl-pei-nothing-focusing-wireless-earbuds-first.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Anthem arrived two years ago with a slew of problems: repetitive missions, long loading times, unsatisfying mechanics, clunky UI, lack of end-game content, and so on. Problems made all the worse by the bugs and performance issues. All of which contributed to the game’s Metascore of 59—and a user score... https://www.techspot.com/news/88569-anthem-future-reportedly-decided-week.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Twitter has been researching steps to reduce dependence on advertising revenue per reporting from Bloomberg. This includes offering paid subscriptions to services like Tweetdeck, a popular Twitter client that allows users to manage multiple profiles at once. The company's reliance on targeted advertising has not proved to be as profitable... https://www.techspot.com/news/88567-twitter-considering-subscriptions-boost-revenue.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Tesla in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday revealed that it has invested $1.5 billion in Bitcoin. https://www.techspot.com/news/88560-tesla-buys-15-billion-worth-bitcoin-pushes-value.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

As reported by Windows Latest, cumulative update KB4598291 arrived earlier this month as a fix for some of the features broken by the October 2020 Update, including the Alt-Tab apps switcher and Windows Credentials manager. https://www.techspot.com/news/88556-new-windows-10-updates-causing-more-problems-than.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

In this review we want to see how the Ryzen 5 5600X, Ryzen 7 5800X, Ryzen 9 5900X and 5950X compare in gaming performance using the RTX 3090, RTX 3070, 5700 XT and 5600 XT, using various graphics quality presets at 1080p, 1440p and 4K. https://www.techspot.com/review/2197-zen-3-cpu-gpu-scaling-benchmark/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger