While gaming GPUs get most of the attention, workstation graphics cards are essential for many kinds of engineering, scientific, AI, and multimedia tasks. So I was eager to get a chance to test out a pre-release version of AMD’s new Radeon Pro W5700 workstation GPU ($799). Radeon Pro W5700 By the Numbers First, it was a relief to get a new GPU that sticks to a similar power envelope to prior versions. In my case, it was simple to swap it in for an Nvidia GTX 1080, because it doesn’t require more power and uses similar PCIe power plugs (8 + 6 pins versus the 8 + 8 pins on my eVGA 1080 FTW).
As recently as last week, Google’s position was that it would launch Stadia with a carefully curated list of . The list did include some big names like Destiny 2, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Mortal Kombat 11, but it’s not just about the quality. Gamers on any other platform have their pick of many more titles, so Google is changing course. It has almost doubled the number of launch games, adding ten more titles to the lineup just in time for public availability. Here’s the full list of Stadia launch titles, newly added games in bold. The new games fill in some gaps in the store, but we’re still only talking about 22 titles total.
Last year, Microsoft launched its Xbox Adaptive Controller. The peripheral, which is designed for gamers with various accessibility challenges, was intended to serve as a central hub for the specialized components some gamers need to interact with titles more effectively. While the XAC was hailed for being affordable and innovative, it only provided two buttons and a D-pad, with 19 separate ports for other buttons, dials, and peripherals to connect. Microsoft’s rationale for the design was simple: It isn’t possible to build a controller (or even a handful of controllers) that could cover every conceivable use-case that various people require in order to play.
PCs are complicated. Sit down to troubleshoot one, and you’re signing up for an experience that runs a gamut between “Two minutes of Googling and I’m off to play Fornite,” and “Over the past 36 hours I’ve drunk 17 energy drinks, slept six minutes, mapped every single unlabeled UEFI option, and developed a niacin allergy.” Machines of the modern era may be more stable than their counterparts of yesteryear, but that doesn’t mean they don’t break. It’s useful to have someone to talk to at a time like that. Someone who hears you. Someone who understands. Unfortunately, you people are stuck with me.
Google’s Chrome browser has always had a very quick update cycle, but there are multiple release channels if you don’t want to live on the cutting edge and deal with bugs. Google also lets IT administrators control updates on their networks. However, the browser maker ruffled some feathers this week when it that broke Chrome on many remote enterprise environments like Citrix. IT staff began noticing issues early this week when thousands of machines started showing blank white tabs in Chrome. Users were unable to access the browser at all, causing work in some offices to grind to a halt.
Online electronics retailer Newegg just released its , which tips steep discounts on laptops, desktops, monitors, smart home devices, TVs, and more. Newegg will be offering deals the whole week of Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday. Its Black Friday sale officially kicks off Monday, Nov. 25 at 12 a.m. PST. The company promised a fresh batch of deals on Wednesday, Nov. 27 and Black Friday, Nov. 29. Then, its Cyber Monday sale will begin Sunday, Dec. 1 and run for one week. If you’re in the market for gaming gear, Newegg is already selling a ($200 off after $100 instant savings and $100 mail-in rebate).
The age of foldable phones is upon us, whether you like it or not. Just a few days after Motorola unveiled its revived foldable Razr, Huawei has finally launched its first foldable phone, the Mate X. However, it’s only on sale in China without Google apps. Any plans to launch the phone internationally would no doubt be hampered by the ongoing US export ban, which prevents Huawei from using Google apps. unveiled the Mate X at Mobile World Congress in February, just weeks after Samsung first showed off the Galaxy Fold. The two devices have similar use cases, but Huawei’s design uses a single outward folding screen.
Amazon’s pushing hard to grow its client base by offering discounts on several of its online services. You can also pick up one of Amazon’s new Echo Dot devices with a built-in clock bundled with a TP-Link smart plug and a large discount. This new Echo Dot from Amazon is essentially the same as the company’s 3rd gen Echo Dot, but it comes with a built-in LED clock that can also display the current temperature and work as a timer. This bundle also comes with a free smart plug from TP-Link, which can be used with the Echo Dot to turn a connected device on and off using Alexa voice commands.
Today’s you can save $400 on one of Apple’s 2019 MacBook Pro notebooks that comes with a fast Core i7 processor and an AMD GPU. Apple’s aluminum-clad MacBook Pro comes sporting a six-core Intel Core i7 processor that operates at speeds up to 4.5GHz. The system also has an AMD Radeon Pro 555x graphics processor with 4GB of VRAM for gaming. Currently, you can get it from Amazon marked down from $2,399.00 to $1,999.99. This budget-friendly computer comes with an AMD Ryzen 3 3200U dual-core processor that operates at speeds of up to 3.5GHz.
