Month: August 2019

As much as PCs have changed in recent years, at least one thing has stayed the same: at some point, you’ll need to restart your computer. With that in mind, the first of next year’s two big Windows 10 updates could offer a subtle but helpful tweak to how the operating system handles restarts.

As part of the latest Windows 10 Insider Preview Build (build 18965, if you’re counting), Microsoft is testing a new setting that gives Windows users more explicit control over whether their apps automatically launch when they restart their PC. Outside of the latest Preview Build, the option that controls app restart behaviour is bundled together with a menu item related to setting up a new device. Understandably, if you’re unaware that the two settings are tied together, it can seem like Windows isn’t capable of launching some apps automatically. By default, Microsoft says the new setting is disabled. Insiders can activate it by navigating to the “Sign-in options” section of the Accounts settings menu. Alternatively, it’s possible to access the toggle by typing “restart apps” into either Windows 10’s Start menu or settings search bar.

As usual, not all the features Microsoft showcases in a Preview Build will make their way to a final release of Windows 10. However, should the company decide to include this one, it’ll be available when Microsoft launches its “20H1” update at the start of next year. That’s the same updatewhere Microsoft plans to add a built-in Linux kernel to Windows 10.

Like any new update, Build 18965 includes its share of bug fixes and stability improvements. One bug Microsoft says it has addressed involved an instance in which some apps weren’t able to execute background tasks. The company has also fixed a bug that caused the taskbar to sometimes hide when launching Windows’ touch keyboard. Build 18965 is currently available to Windows Insiders in the fast ring, a classification Microsoft uses to describe individuals who have volunteered to test the company’s newest features first, regardless of potential bugs.

Intel has unveiled two new CPUs designed for large computing centers which will be the chipmaker’s first to utilize artificial intelligence (AI).

The two chips are the company’s first offerings from its Nervana Neural Network Processor (NPP) line and one will be used to train AI systems while the other will handle inference.

The Nervana NNP-T, codenamed Spring Crest, will be used for training and comes with 24 Tensor processing clusters that have been specifically designed to power neural networks. Intel’s new system on a chip (SoC) provides users with everything they’ll need to train an AI system on dedicated hardware.

The Nervana NNP-I, codenamed Spring Hill, is the company’s inference SoC that uses its 10 nanometer process technology along with Ice Lake cores to help users deploy trained AI systems.

Google could ditch Intel’s server CPUs for AMD Epyc

Intel debuts Comet Lake processors for laptops and tablets

‘Nearly all’ Intel chips have major security flaw

AI workloads

Intel’s new AI-focused SoCs are designed to handle AI workloads in data center environments so that users no longer have to utilize its Xeon CPUs to handle AI and machine learning tasks. Xeon chips are capable of handling such workloads, though they are not nearly as effective or efficient.

The Nervana NNP-T and NNP-I were designed to compete with Google’s Tensor Porcessing Unit, Nvidia’s NVDLA-based tech and Amazon’s AWS Inferentia chips.

Vice president and general manager of Intel’s Artificial Intelligence Products Group, Naveen Rao explained how the company’s new processors will help facilitate a future where AI is everywhere, saying:

“To get to a future state of ‘AI everywhere,’ we’ll need to address the crush of data being generated and ensure enterprises are empowered to make efficient use of their data, processing it where it’s collected when it makes sense and making smarter use of their upstream resources. Data centers and the cloud need to have access to performant and scalable general purpose computing and specialized acceleration for complex AI applications. In this future vision of AI everywhere, a holistic approach is needed—from hardware to software to applications.”

At least one case maker is expecting Apple Pencil support for the upcoming 2019 iPhones, despite no solid rumors suggesting the new devices will work with the Apple Pencil.

Case site Mobile Fun is, as of this morning, stocking an “iPhone 11 Pro” case from Olixarwith a built-in mini Apple Pencil holder. The case maker seems to believe Apple is designing a smaller version of the Apple Pencil that will work with at least the larger 6.5-inch iPhone XS Max successor.

The case in question is a rendering, not a real case, and it therefore doesn’t offer concrete evidence that Apple is planning to introduce Apple Pencil support for the 2019 iPhone lineup. It’s not even clear if Olixar has actually manufactured these cases, especially because the Apple Pencil sleeve on the back doesn’t look functional. From the accessory’s description:

Crafted from premium genuine leather, this exquisite grey case from Olixar for the iPhone 11 Pro provides stunning style and prestigious protection for your phone in a slim and sleek package, with the added convenience of an Apple Pencil sleeve.

There have been some rumors and analyst predictions hinting at Apple Pencil support, but thus far we’ve heard nothing from a reliable source.

Were Apple indeed developing a miniature version of the Apple Pencil that works with the 2019 iPhone, it’s likely we would have heard more about it by this point given the detailed rumors we’ve heard about other aspects of the 2019 iPhone lineup.

That said, Korean site The Investor said in 2017 that Apple would introduce Apple Pencilsupport for iPhone as soon as 2019, and recently, Citi Research listed the Apple Pencil as one prospective feature for the new devices.

One reliable source, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, has said that Apple Pencil support is a possibility for a future iPhone, but that was in 2018 and he has made no further mention about Apple Pencil support in the 2019 device lineup.

Many times, early case designs for upcoming iPhones are accurate because there’s a lot of money in being first to design a case for a new device, but in this situation, Olixar may just be aiming to draw eyes to its brand name using a case rendering for a feature that’s interesting, but likely not coming.

For details on all of the features we do expect in the 2019 iPhone lineup, such as triple-lens cameras, bilateral wireless charging, larger batteries, and more, make sure to check out our 2019 iPhone roundup.

Do you still have an Xbox 360 lying around? If so, there’s a surprise update for the console available now. As you’d expect from an update for the aging console, there’s nothing significant here, however.

The release notes for the update only cite “minor bug fixes and improvements.” So, if you’re still using your Xbox 360, your console may operate a little better after the update, but it’s unclear what issues it addresses.

In 2019, however, you’ll probably want to start eyeing an upgrade to an Xbox One if you’re still holding onto an Xbox 360. The newer console includes backward compatibility with a long list of supported games and we’re on the precipice of a new console generation next year with Xbox Project Scarlett. You can pick up an Xbox One S for far below $300nowadays as well.

Capping off Dell’s spate of laptop updates, today the company also announced an updated Vostro 13 laptop for small business. The relatively inexpensive Vostro 13 5391-series feature a solid build quality along with numerous enhancements that will be appreciated by business users, road warriors, and even consumers. The new machines pack Intel’s 10th Gen Core processors and a discrete GPU into a thin and light package.

The Dell Vostro 13 5391 comes in an aluminum and plastic chassis that is 14.9 mm thick, with total system weights starting from 1.18 kilograms, which is comparable to modern high-end notebooks such as Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1. According to Dell, the chassis is tested using 50 kinds of reliability, shock, and vibration programs to ensure its robust build quality. Furthermore, Dell will offer optional accidental damage and ProSupport services with this laptop. By default, the Vostro 13 5391 is equipped with a spill-resistant keyboard, whereas premium SKUs will come with a backlit spill resistant keyboard.

The Vostro 13 5391 is based on Intel’s 10th Generation Core i3/i5/i7 CPUs (Comet Lake), and are joined by NVIDIA’s GeForce MX 250 GPU with 2 GB of GDDR5 VRAM, 4 or 8 GB of system DRAM, as well as an M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 SSD with up to 1 TB capacity. The platform is enhanced with a hardware TPM 2.0 module, which will be appreciated by those concerned with security.

When it comes to display, the mobile PC is equipped with a non-touch 13.3-inch Full-HD monitor with Dell’s TrueLife LED backlighting and wide viewing angles.

Meanwhile for connectivity, the Vostro 13 5391 includes 802.11ac Wi-Fi, one USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C port with DisplayPort, one USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A, one HDMI 1.4 port, a microSD card reader, a 3.5-mm connector for headsets, and a power plug. On the multimedia side of things the notebook has a Windows Hello-capable IR-enabled webcam, stereo speakers co-designed with Waves MaxxAudio, a microphone array, a Windows Hello-supporting fingerprint reader, and other things.

The manufacturer does not make claims regarding battery life of the Vostro 13 5391, but it says that various SKUs will come with a 46 Wh or a 52 Wh battery.

Dell will start sales of the Vostro 13 5391 this week with prices starting at $849.