Oct 12
Even if you’ve had your iPad or iPhone for years, there’s a decent chance you’ve not utilized every single feature the device has to offer.
Oct 12
House of the Dragon’s first season is racing towards an inevitable climax: the breakout of civil war between the myriad factions of the titular House Targaryen. But where does it go from here? Well, the good news is that George R.R. Martin knows exactly where, and how long it’ll take.
Oct 12
Like practically every other streaming network out there, Apple can’t seem to stay away from taking a big bite of the advertising pie that’s lingered uneaten since the dawn of TV streaming services.
Oct 12
Roblox, the online game that is massively popular amongst children, is facing the growing pains of moderation as it rolls out artificially intelligent bots to sweep the platform for unsavory content.
Oct 12
Microsoft Reveals Three New Surface Computers, Including One That Costs $4,300
Posted in: Today's Chili
Microsoft is still making Surface PCs! The company held a short virtual event earlier today to introduce two new models to its lineup, plus a few new software updates coming down the pipeline, including one with DALL-E integration.
Oct 12
Japan's Epsilon-6 Rocket Forced to Self-Destruct With 8 Satellites On Board
Posted in: Today's Chili
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, destroyed its Epsilon-1 rocket mid-flight on Tuesday, resulting in the loss of eight commercial satellites included in the rideshare mission, local media reported.
Oct 12
Microsoft Surface Pro 9 hands-on: Can Intel and ARM models live in harmony?
Posted in: Today's ChiliOn the one hand, the Surface Pro 9 is pretty much what we expected: a jump up to Intel’s 12th-gen CPUs. But Microsoft surprised us with a huge shakeup for its tablet PCs. There’s also a Surface Pro 9 running a custom SQ3 ARM chip, which also includes built-in 5G. Can an x86 Intel processor and a mobile Arm chip really sit side by side? We got a chance to compare the two new machines at Microsoft’s hands-on event, and to be honest, we just have more questions.
Both models look and feel the same, save for the more visible 5G antennas on the Arm model. Microsoft representatives say performance is also comparable between the SQ3 and Intel’s chips, something we’ll have to fully test to believe. (An early Geekbench 5 test on a demo unit hit 978/4,760, which is far slower than Intel 11th and 12th-gen systems we’ve reviewed. Those figures could improve with better software and firmware, though.) The same reps also noted that app compatibility with legacy x86 apps has gotten better for Arm devices, and there are an increasing number of native Windows apps which will run just fine across both platforms.
In either case, you’re getting tablet PCs that can easily transform into functional laptops with their keyboard cases. Unfortunately, those are still sold separately, as is the Slim Pen 2 Microsoft introduced last year. The Surface Pro 9 won’t change your mind about the viability of using a tablet as a PC, but on the Intel side it’s nice to see a major speed bump.
The SQ3 Arm model also has a few features the Intel version doesn’t, thanks to its neural processor. That includes some real-time video tweaks during video chats, like blurring your background. (The video quality across both systems also look fantastic.) According to Microsoft, it’s possible to bring those features to Intel chips when they have their own neural chips, but unfortunately those aren’t available on Intel’s current lineup.
Microsoft representatives admitted there may be some confusion among some shoppers, since they can easily walk out of a store with two very different computers. But it sounds like the company is willing to deal with those usability bumps, rather than splitting the Surface Pro line once again.
Follow along with the rest of our news from Microsoft’s 2022 Surface event.
Oct 12
Today Microsoft announced its refreshed Surface Laptop 5, which just like before will be available in 13.5 and 15-inch models. The new notebooks will also feature 3:2 touchscreens with a very familiar brushed aluminum design. Actually, almost everything about the Surface Laptop 5 is the same as before, aside from the addition of new 12th-gen Intel CPUs and one Thunderbolt 4 port. And for me, when I’m seeing at all the other advancements its competitors are making, I have to even wonder if Microsoft is really trying or if it’s just doing the bare minimum.
Now don’t get me wrong, improved performance is nice. And I suspect the Surface Laptop 5 will be a nice system. But that’s mostly because the Surface Laptop 4 was pretty good too. You still get a high-res PixelSense touch display that now has some built-in automatic color tuning thanks to support for Dolby Vision IQ. There’s also a new sage green color option which looks nice, though we’ve already seen this shade pop up before on the Surface Laptop Go 2.
Sam Rutherford/Engadget
But that’s about it in the way of new specs or features. And that’s really frustrating because it seems like there are a lot of low-hanging fruit that Microsoft could address that would make its mainstream laptop line a much better rival for systems like the XPS 15 or an equivalent ThinkPad.
For starters, while you get an IR camera for Windows Hello, the main webcam is still 720p, which is really not OK on a premium laptop in 2022. You also still only get a total of two USB ports: the aforementioned Thunderbolt 4 jack and a vanilla USB 3.1 (not even 3.2) Type-A socket. Look, that’s fine for a budget system, but especially on the 15-inch model, there really ought to be better connectivity. How about an SD card reader or something? Thankfully, at least Microsoft is keeping the bonus 5-watt USB-A charging port on the Surface Laptop’s power brick, which can come in handy when you need to charge your phone in a pinch.
On top of that, unlike the Surface Laptop 4, this year’s model is only available in Intel-based configurations. There’s no AMD version, which is kind of a shame. And while I don’t mind only getting integrated graphics on the 13.5-inch version, I really wish Microsoft had built at least one variant of the 15-inch with a discrete GPU. It doesn’t even have to be something super beefy like an RTX 3080. A 3060 or even a 3050 Ti would be just fine. I really don’t think I’m asking for too much. After all, Microsoft included an optional 3050 Ti GPU on last year’s Surface Laptop Studio, which is a slightly smaller, but thicker system.
But more importantly, after seeing Dell add a new member to the XPS 13 family and all the changes Apple is making on the MacBook Air and Pro lines, it’s just a bit disappointing to see Microsoft simply going through the motions. And all this is coming from the company that basically invented the modern detachable 2-in-1, so I know Microsoft can do better.
Oct 12
Amazon’s October Prime Day offers a great opportunity to pick up a new monitor for your work-from-home or gaming setup. They’re often some of the most expensive peripherals to get, so it always helps when you can wait and pick up a new model on sale. A number of monitors from brands like LG, Samsung, Dell and others have been discounted for the Prime Early Access Sale, so chances are you’ll find one that’s been discounted that’s the appropriate size and resolution for your needs. Here are the best monitor deals we could find for October Prime Day.
LG monitor deals
LG
LG discounted a mixture of standard and gaming monitors for Prime Day this time around. The cheapest of the bunch is this 32-inch FHD IPS display for $180, or 28 percent off its normal rate. But if you’re a gamer, you should consider this 27-inch LG Ultragear QHD monitor — it has a 144Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time and support for NVIDIA G-Sync.
Shop LG monitor deals at Amazon
Samsung monitor deals
Samsung
Samsung’s monitor deals include the Smart Monitor M8 for only $500. That’s the best price we’ve seen on the display that doubles as a smart TV. When you’re not using it for productivity, you can access streaming services like Netlfix and Prime Video directly from the device, and it has a built-in smart home hub, too. If you don’t need all those extra bells and whistles, displays like the $160, 24-inch SR35 monitor and the $280, 32-inch Odyssey G5 are also good options.
Shop Samsung monitor deals at Amazon
Dell monitor deals
Dell
There’s a big sale on Dell and Sceptre monitors that knocks up to 43 percent off select models. This 24-inch Dell IPS gaming monitor with a 240Hz refresh rate is cheaper than ever at $200, and you can get this all-purpose, 27-inch Dell FHD USB-C monitor for only $224.
Shop Dell monitor deals at Amazon
Acer monitor deals
Acer
If you’re looking for a true budget monitor, Acer’s got a handful of deals worth considering. You can pick up this 23.8-inch FHD IPS monitor with a 178 degree wide viewing angle for only $95, or this 27-inch Nitro WQHD gaming monitor, with AMD FreeSync Premium and overlocking to 170Hz refresh rates, for only $210 — $90 off its usual rate.
Shop Acer monitor deals at Amazon
Get the latest Amazon Prime Day offers by following @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribing to the Engadget Deals newsletter.
Oct 12
Biden Vows ‘Consequences’ For Saudis After OPEC+ Moves To Cut Oil Production
Posted in: Today's ChiliSen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) has been calling for the U.S. to freeze arms sales to the kingdom.
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