Microsoft’s new Cortana app for Windows 10 gets productivity-focused updates

Microsoft is working on a new Cortana app for Windows 10, and it’s been in testing with Insiders in the 20H1 development branch for some time now. Today, Microsoft shared a blog post detailing some new changes coming to this new Cortana experience, specifically for users in the Fast ring. The updates are aimed at boosting productivity, which is part of Microsoft’s vision for Cortana, positioning it as an assistant for productivity.

Some of the changes were already known of, like the fact that the new Cortana app isn’t docked to the taskbar anymore and you can move it anywhere on the screen. You can also now choose your favorite input method for talking to Cortana, so you can either type or speak after press the Cortana shortcut on your keyboard.

The new Cortana also has a set of improved skills, including the e-mail skill that lets users send e-mails to specific people or see received messages from them. There’s also an improved calendar skill that makes it easier to set up meetings or join virtual meetings, though the latter only works with Teams for now. Microsoft says it’s also improved the Windows skill, which is used for opening apps or controlling system settings. Finally, there have been “significant” improvements for accessibility, though the blog post didn’t specify what those are.

As a result of these updates, Cortana has also lost some features, though. For one thing, you’re no longer able to use the Connect accounts option, so once you sign into Cortana, you’ll only be working with information for that account. Microsoft has also temporarily removed some of the non-productivity features from Cortana, so for now, it won’t be able to tell you jokes, set timers, or get instant answers from Bing. These features are returning “with a fresh coat of paint” later on, though.

For now, the new Cortana app is still only available in English (United States), but Microsoft says it will expand availability soon.

Best Mechanical Keyboards: the top mechanical keyboards for gaming in 2019

The best mechanical keyboards aren’t just designed to be robust, boasting longer lifespans that can take all the abuse without falling apart. They’re also built specifically to deliver very high accuracy and super fast response times. Mechanical keyboards, therefore, make for some of the best gaming keyboards.

What’s more, the best mechanical keyboards are designed to be very ergonomic, so that they’re not just easy and comfortable to use, but they also improve your typing experience whether you’re gaming for long hours or just typing up emails and documents all day long. This makes them the best keyboards for school and work as well.

And, if you’re worried about saving space or sticking to your budget, worry not. Mechanical keyboards also come in many shapes, sizes and prices. You will, therefore, find one that’s the most ideal keyboard for you whether you’re looking for a small one, a light and thin one or an affordable one that won’t break the bank.

1. Razer Huntsman Elite

Best mechanical keyboard

Interface: Wired | Keyboard backlighting: Yes | Programmable keys: Yes

Fast key switches

Amazing layout

Needs two USB ports

As if having mechanical switches isn’t enough, Razer takes the switches’ best qualities and combines them with lightspeed optical technology, resulting in the opto-mechanical switches that make the Razer Huntsman Elite the keyboard to beat. True to its namesake, this mechanical keyboard is as fast and as precise as a huntsman, delivering blazing fast actuation thanks to an optical light sensor that’s inside every switch.

However, it’s not just performance that makes it the best mechanical keyboard of 2019. The Razer Huntsman Elite is also rich in features – namely, a multi-function digital dial with three tactile media keys, a luxurious leatherette magnetic wrist rest, on-the-fly macros, and hybrid on-board memory and cloud storage for saving all your profile configurations. This isn’t the cheapest of mechanical keyboards, but it’s certainly worth every penny.

2. SteelSeries Apex Pro

Great for gaming

Interface: Wired | Keyboard backlighting: Yes | Programmable keys: Yes

Beautiful build

Custom actuation

Expensive

Like Razer, SteelSeries also has a trick up its sleeve when it comes to its mechanical switches. This time, the peripherals manufacturer takes mechanical switches and gives them the ability for customization. These first-of-their-kind adjustable switches have customizable sensitivity levels, which means that you can fine tune per-key actuation to really personalize your gaming and typing experience. Whether you prefer featherlight touches or deep presses, you can adjust the SteelSeries Apex Pro to cater to your preferences.

But that’s not all. This keyboard also boasts a blazing fast response time and is twice as durable as its rivals. Its OLED Smart Display and integrated command center displays pertinent information like settings, profiles and updates. Finally, its Dedicated Multimedia Controls are also unique in that one of them is a clickable metal roller. Also like the Razer Huntsman Elite, this one isn’t cheap, so just be ready to shell out some silver.

3. Roccat Vulcan 122 Aimo

A mechanical keyboard with a twist

Interface: Wired | Keyboard backlighting: Yes | Programmable keys: Yes

Gorgeous design

Comfy keyswitches

Expensive

Who says you can’t look stylish sporting a gamer’s look? Roccat’s Vulcan 122 Aimo certainly proves the naysayers wrong. This gaming keyboard – one of the best by far – isn’t only a pleasure to game on and comfortable to type on, but it’s also one of the smartest looking mechanical keyboards we’ve ever beheld with its floating keys, lit up Titan switches, anodized aluminum plate and Roccat’s AIMO lighting engine. And, did we mention that instead of the usual black, it’s sporting a silver on white color scheme? You’d happily pay its somewhat premium price for its design alone.

Of course, it takes more than just good looks to make our best mechanical keyboards list. Performance is still key, which this keyboard more than delivers. Those speedy and precise Titan switches are built for gamers, with a tactile and silent 1.8mm actuation point and a 1,000Hz polling rate to start.

4. Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition

Small and compact

Interface: Wired, wireless | Keyboard backlighting: Yes | Programmable keys: Yes

Fast switches

Removable cable

Expensive

When it comes to gaming, whether it’s gaming laptops or gaming peripherals, Razer is at the top of its, well, game. So it’s no surprise that two of theirs made our list of the best mechanical keyboards, with the Huntsman Tournament Edition taking the fourth spot. While many gaming keyboards boast a complete set of keys, including the numeric keypad, this one takes the small and compact approach forgoing those aforementioned keys altogether.

If you’re looking for a small keyboard for your small desk, this one’s a winner, as it doesn’t compromise on speed and accuracy despite its tiny frame. The Huntsman Tournament Edition, of course, boasts Razer’s impressive opto-mechanical switches as well as durability up to 100 million keystrokes, proving yet again that big things can come in small packages. There’s not a lot of features here, but sometimes, simplicity is king.

5. Havit Low Profile Mechanical Keyboard

Affordability in a slim body

Interface: Wired | Keyboard backlighting: Yes | Programmable keys: Yes

Customizable keys

Thin and light design

Loud

If you’re a fan of thin and light, then the Havit Low Profile Mechanical Keyboard’s svelte form factor will appeal to you. This sleek, ultra-thin mechanical keyboard may not look like much, owing to its lack of flashiness and nifty-looking keys, but it’s undoubtedly earned its spot in our best mechanical keyboards list.

It not only feels amazing under your fingers when typing or gaming, but it also has fully-programmable keys (all 104 of them), shorter yet satisfying travel, and fun lighting presets and controls you’d be hard-pressed to see in many of its rivals. On top of those, it’s also highly accurate and super responsive, perfect for any gamer, especially one who loves experimenting with RGB lighting. Though honestly, this keyboard is so good you’ll want to use it for productivity as well… as long as you don’t mind all the click clacking.

Rugged, Versatile Storage: Fstoppers Reviews the Gnarbox 2.0 SSD

Photographers and videographers are working on the go and traveling more and more, and their needs for advanced data storage devices are growing. The Gnarbox 2.0 SSD seeks to fill those needs while housing those capabilities in a rugged device made to stand up to the elements. Check out our review of this powerful device.

The Gnarbox 2.0 SSD comes with an array of features meant to make it an all-in-one solution for creatives on the go. I have been using it for the last few months, and it has been quite useful in my workflow.

Specs

2.4 GHz quad-core Intel CPU

Quad-core Intel Graphics HD

4 GB RAM

256 GB, 512 GB, and 1 TB storage NVMe SSD options

Two USB-C ports, one SD slot, one Micro-HDMI port

75 MB/s SD transfer rate

350 MB/s USB-C transfer rate

802.11ac Wi-Fi (up to 867 Mbps)

3,000 mAh 7.4v removable battery (3-6 hours of use)

Shock, dust, and water resistance

Image preview function in app

iOS and Android applications

OLED screen

0.8 lbs (375 g)

Build Quality and Ease of Use

The Gnarbox 2.0 SSD is remarkably rugged and very compact; it fits nicely in the hand, and the textured grip makes it easy to hang on to, even in wet environments or when you are wearing gloves. The metal case is very strong and goes far to protect the device. The weather-sealing is also quite good; ports are properly covered, and the device seems quite watertight. In my testing, it got rained and snowed on several times, and it kept ticking without an issue.

Its size is impressive given its capabilities; the company has jammed a lot of power and features into the device. Between the SD slot and the USB port, you can import files off of any sort of memory card with the proper reader, and the micro HDMI port allows you to preview photos and videos on an external display without the need to use a computer. The processor and the device’s Photo Mechanic underpinnings make image preview (including raw files) very quick and useful.

Navigating the device is very straightforward using the four buttons. My only complaint is that the buttons are quite small and can dig into your fingers a bit when you use them; I’d prefer them to be larger to reduce the pressure they place on fingertips. That being said, the interface is very simple to navigate and provides you with quick access to all the essential functions, including free space, backup settings, and USB and Wi-Fi settings. The majority of your more advanced interaction with the device will be done through the Safekeep and Selects apps.

Backup

Of course, the primary function of the Gnarbox is in-the-field backup, and in that respect, it works quite well. The process is simple: as soon as you insert an SD card or connect a reader and insert a card there, the device will offer you the option to back up immediately or make more advanced selections (such as where to place the backup). It will then run the proper verifications if you have them turned on.

If you’re particularly careful about backups or you want to hand off a drive of files to someone else, the device also offer multi-destination copy, which will create a backup on a second drive connected to the Gnarbox. You can even bypass the Gnarbox’s internal drive and just use it to pass files from a memory card to a drive.

In terms of performance, the device did quite well, and I frequently hovered near the quoted 75 MB/s transfer speed of the SD slot. This is great performance. It allows a wedding photographer to back up the ceremony’s files on the drive to the reception with ease, for example. Performance will be much faster when using the USB-C connection with a reader, which is rated at 350 MB/s. This is good for those shooting large amounts of images or hefty 4K video.

When connected to a computer, you need to switch the device to Mass Storage mode, which will cause it to reboot, a minor inconvenience. The other thing to note is that the drive can’t charge when connected to a computer, so your time to work will be limited, unless you’re swapping batteries. It then functions as a normal external hard drive and does so well; I normally experienced zippy transfer speeds. It doesn’t approach that of some of the really fast portable drives, which typically hover around 500 MB/s (nor is it rated as such), but it normally sped along around 150 to 220 MB/s, which is plenty for most workflows.

Apps

Safekeep

The first of the two apps you use to interact with the new Gnarbox is Safekeep, the primary use of which is backups (it also provides firmware updates). From here, you can control settings like Smart Backup, which ensures the device only copies new files (great, for example, if you’re dropping the same memory card in the device across the same day — weddings, for example). You can also set the device to run an MD5 Checksum after copy tasks to ensure proper data integrity. The Gnarbox also has some nifty automatic organization features built in that can go far to pre-sort your files at the time of ingestion. One of the most useful is folder presets. These allow you to define custom folder structures with different parameters. These presets will then appear on the device itself (so you’re not tethered to your phone), allowing you to apply them whenever you insert a memory card or attach a device for backup.

You can also use the app’s file browser to perform tasks like folder management, file renaming (with batch capabilities), and more. The app keeps a task history that allows you to check on the status of transfers and processes and ensure that you’ve actually done the things you intended to do. Finally, it allows you to switch the Gnarbox between Field mode and Home mode. Field mode is designed for general on-the-go usage, while Home mode is for when you’re on a Wi-Fi network (or using an Ethernet cable via a USB converter) and allows for cloud backup and firmware upgrades.

In practice, the Safekeep app was perfectly straightforward and simple to use and made controlling backup behavior both easy and customizable.

Selects

The Selects app is where you’ll interact with your media, culling and viewing photo and video files. The app has Photo Mechanic underpinnings, and it does a great job of loading previews quite quickly. You can rate images individually or by selecting a larger batch, and you can also view and add keyword tags to the metadata — a great function for organizing images while they’re still fresh in your mind. Of course, since ratings and keyword tags are added to the EXIF data, they will carry into whatever desktop app you like to use, such as Lightroom. I appreciate the simplicity of the Selects app: it’s meant to quickly browse sets of images and perform quick culling and organizational tasks on them to make your job easier when you sit down to your computer.

Battery Life

Battery life is quite good, and I easily got the quoted six hours out of the device. What is particularly nice, however, is that the batteries are hot-swappable, meaning you can remove the battery while the Gnarbox is plugged in and install a new one without losing power or your work. And at $50 for a replacement battery, it certainly isn’t an unreasonable prospect to carry two. That being said, I was never anywhere near worrying about not having enough power to get through a day of backups and culling between shoots, and I think most anyone will have no problem getting through a day and topping off the device at night. The only people who might need extra batteries are those going on multi-day trips without power sources, and even then, if you are only using the device for backups, you’ll more than likely be fine with just one battery.

What I Liked

Very rugged design

Removable battery

Hot-swappable capabilities

Straightforward apps with useful culling and backup controls

Useful automatic organization features

Ability to verify backups

Good performance

What I Didn’t Like

Buttons

Slightly slow boot-up

Can’t charge when connected to computer

Conclusions

Altogether, the Gnarbox 2.0 SSD is a highly rugged device that’s both straightforward to use and versatile. Its companion apps allow one to cull files before ever sitting down to a computer, and its configurable automatic organization features make it easy to sit down to your computer with pre-sorted files that are ready to be edited. For creatives on the go who need to be able to rely on their backup device no matter what the conditions, it’s an excellent choice.

HUAWEI MATEPAD PRO APPEARS ON GEEKBENCH, REVEALS SPECIFICATIONS

Huawei is all set to introduce its next-gen premium tablet dubbed Huawei MatePad Pro in its homeland i.e. China. The tablet has already been leaked numerous times before revealing bits of information every single time. We are already aware of the fact that the device will come with thin bezels, stylus support, and a massive 40W fast charging. Furthermore, the tablet is also expected to come with a punch-hole camera on the front. After bagging the 3C and TENAA certification, the tablet has finally made its way to the GeekBench listing.

HUAWEI MATEPAD: SPECIFICATIONS, FEATURES

The GeekBench listing of Huawei MatePad Pro shows the model number MRX-AL09. As per the listing, the tablet will run on the latest version of the Android 10 operating system. Under the hood, the device is powered by an octa-core HiSilicon processor clocked at 1.8GHz. This information points towards the Kirin 990 chipset which we recently saw in the Mate 30 Pro. As of now, there is no information on the internal memory but the device seems to come packed with a massive 6GB RAM. Coming to the scores, the tablet managed to get 3808 points on single-core and 11832 on multi-core performance.

Apart from the GeekBench, the device also managed to make its way to the Bluetooth SIG listing revealing more model numbers. The revealed model number includes MRX-AL09, MRX-W09, MRX-L00, and MRX-AN09. It is already confirmed that the tablet will come in WiFi-only and 4G LTE variants as well. Furthermore, the model number MRX-AN09 suggests that the device might also come with a 5G connectivity option.

PRICE, AVAILABILITY

At the time of writing this article, there is no solid information on pricing and availability. As mentioned earlier, the tablet will first hit the Chinese market with its official unveiling set for November 25. In the near future, we might see the tablet hitting the other global major markets.

Pixio PXC273 Curved Gaming Monitor Review: 144Hz and DCI-P3 on Budget

When shopping for a new monitor, the first thing most consider is price. Features and performance are important, but price is king, especially if you’re on a tight budget. A relatively new brand, Pixio offers the PXC273 with specs that can challenge some of the best gaming monitors. That includes a speedy 144Hz refresh rate in a 27-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) resolution package. The best part is it sells for just $200 at the time of writing. But that low price also means making some sacrifices, including around image quality

The PXC273 starts with a high-contrast VA panel running at 1080p resolution. The biggest surprise is its wide color gamut. Pixio doesn’t specify the coverage, and since there’s no HDR here, we’d expect a screen that sticks to the sRGB color gamut. But after testing, we discovered it covers more of the DCI-P3 spec than nearly every other monitor we’ve tested. A little more digging revealed a Samsung-sourced panel with a quantum-dot backlight. Users looking for maximum color will certainly want to check out the PXC273.

Like most monitors today, the PXC273 has a flicker-free backlight. Pixio specs it with a max brightness of 200 nits and contrast ratio of 3,000:1, but we found higher numbers in our testing. Right out of the box, this display offers some nice surprises.

At $200, the value ratio is high when you take specs and features into account. But the proof is in the testing and gameplay.

Unpacking and Accessories

The only bundled cable is DisplayPort, which you’ll need to use the maximum 144Hz refresh rate. If you use the HDMI port you’re limited to 120Hz, and DVI tops out at 60Hz. The power supply is a small wall-wart. You must assemble the stand and base, but tools aren’t required.

Product 360

The PXC273 features a no-frills design that leaves out things like lighting effects, USB ports and speakers. The screen is surrounded by thin 8mm bezels and flush-mounted. There’s a tight-fitting anti-glare layer that minimizes the air gap to the TFT (thin film transistor), resulting in a clear picture with no grain. There was no bleed or glow on our sample.

The stand is quite light and offers only a 15-degree tilt adjustment. It’s made from plastic and attaches near the bottom of the panel. There’s a bit of wobble, thanks to a small mount point. The base is small, saving some desktop space but sacrificing a little stability. The back also features a 75mm VESA lug pattern if you want to use your own stand or bracket.

The curve radius is 1800mm, which is a little more open than recent screens we’ve reviewed that are 1500mm in the same size and aspect ratio. In practice, the curve was barely noticeable and neither enhanced or detracted from the image. The curve only showed a significant impact if we were using two or three monitors simultaneously. But at the PXC273’s price, three screens aren’t out of the question.

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The PXC273’s simple design extends to its on-screen display (OSD) control, which is a single joystick that works well with a solid click and feel.

The input panel has one each of DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 1.4 and DVI. We don’t see the latter much on newer screens, and in this application, due to its 60 Hz refresh rate limit. Even though the monitor is only certified to support FreeSync with AMD graphics cards, we also found that the monitor is G-Sync compatible, even though Nvidia hasn’t officially certified it as such, with the DisplayPort (here’s how to run G-Sync on a FreeSync monitor).

In lieu of speakers, there’s a 3.5mm headphone jack and volume control in the OSD.

OSD Features

The OSD appears as a strip across the bottom of the screen, similar to AOC’s method but far less intuitive. Large icons represent different functions, not all of which are obvious at first glance.

The first three options are easy enough to understand. DCR is a dynamic contrast feature, which we recommend leaving off. The PXC273 has excellent contrast already, and DCR will just clip highlight and shadow detail. There are five picture modes, but only Standard comes anywhere close to providing accurate color. The native and only available gamut is DCI-P3; there’s no sRGB mode or HDR. This means you see more color than intended for all content, which may be attractive to some users.

Color adjustments have two color temp presets, plus a user mode with RGB sliders. They work well and can improve the PXC273’s image with a few tweaks. Gamma presets are in a menu called Adjust. Confusingly, that menu shows a picture of an aiming point, which made us think that’s where one adjusts the aiming point. Nevertheless, Adjust features two gamma presets. The gamma presets also have two options for DVI only: auto adjust and auto color.

The Other menu includes overdrive (on or off) and a FreeSync toggle. With the FreeSync toggle on, our Nvidia control panel instantly recognized the PXC273 as G-Sync Compatible, even though Nvidia hasn’t officially certified the display.

All menu screens show the input resolution and refresh rate at the top left and the firmware version at the top right.

Setup and Calibration

Only the Standard picture mode offers accurate color and only in the DCI-P3 gamut. There is no sRGB mode. The default color temp preset is Custom, which needs some tweaking for best results. We only needed a few clicks to bring grayscale tracking to a high standard. The default gamma is quite dark, but changing the gamma from 2 to 1 improved the luminance curve; although, it still wasn’t perfect. Overall color was good once we made these changes.

Gaming and Hands-on

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On paper, the PXC273 looks like a winner, but specs don’t always translate to gaming performance. Luckily, in the PXC273’s case, it did. We had to make a few adjustments after calibration, but eventually, we tweaked the monitor to a point where it stood up well against other 27-inch gaming displays costing more, like the Aorus CV27F and Samsung C27RG5. We saw no difference in video processing quality between playing with FreeSync or using G-Sync (unofficially, again, see our article on how to run G-Sync on a FreeSync monitor). Neither platform showed any artifacts. Frame rates hovered around 100 frames per second (fps) with an AMD Radeon R9 285 graphics card and stayed near the max 144 fps with a Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti FE.

We fired up Tomb Raider and noted quickly that it looked a little drab. Color was nicely saturated and detail was excellent, but the pop expected from a monitor that delivers, according to our test, 4,100:1 contrast wasn’t there. The culprit was a dark gamma curve, which, even after changing the preset from 2 to 1, made the picture murkier. Turning up the backlight to its maximum improved things.

The overdrive worked well at managing motion blur, which was almost invisible at the highest frame rates. There were neither artifacts nor ghosting. Control response was as expected for a 144Hz monitor: instant with no stutter or lag. We’re getting more accustomed to playing sRGB games in extended color. Since the PXC273 runs in DCI-P3 all the time, there was no other choice. But it didn’t diminish the experience for us.

Call of Duty: WWII is a good test of a monitor’s shadow detail rendering. The Pixio had no issues there. As we holed up in a bombed-out church we saw fine texture among the rubble with clearly visible splinters of wood and fine dust. Characters’ faces had an ideal level of sweat and dirt that really added to the game’s depth and realism. Once we played for a few hours, we forgot that the monitor was just FHD. Fast frame rates and high contrast have a greater impact on gaming image quality than high resolution.

After working in Windows for an afternoon, we missed having a higher pixel density. Our sweet spot is 109 pixels per inch (ppi), but the PXC273 has just 81.6ppi. Tiny fonts in a spreadsheet were harder to read. Workday tasks are the only limitation for an FHD monitor; QHD (2560 x 1440) is still an ideal resolution that works well for just about everything one does with a computer.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

Today’s group are all 27-inch VA panels. Besides offering HDR, the Aorus CV27F and Aorus CV27Q are similar to the PXC273 in every other way. Also here is Samsung’s C27RG5, the MSI Optix G27C4 and MSI Optix MAG271CQR.

Pixio claims 250 nits max brightness for the PXC273, but our sample delivered about 322 nits. That’s plenty of light for any application or environment. There’s no backlight strobe or HDR here, so any more brightness would be unnecessary.

The black level is very low at just 0.0776 nit. Only the two Aorus screens can get darker, but they don’t quite match the PXC273’s performance in the intra-image test (3rd chart). For sequential contrast, Pixio is the best of the rest with a super result of 4,147.8:1. The PXC273’s dynamic range is among the best we’ve tested.

After Calibration to 200 nits

Calibration (see our recommended settings) didn’t change the PXC273’s contrast much at all. It’s still nearly 4,000:1, which puts it ahead of every display here, save the Aorus screens. This is all thanks to an excellent black level that helped up the ANSI test results. Coupled with a large color gamut, this monitor delivers a really good picture with lots of depth and highly saturated color.

For the best color, stick with the PXC273’s Standard picture mode and Custom color temp. They deliver reasonable color accuracy out of the box. Improvements are possible with a few adjustments.

Grayscale and Gamma Tracking

Out-of-the-box Standard mode (graph 1) has grayscale tracking running a bit green from 40% brightness and on. Given the PXC273’s price point, we can forgive this default performance. What’s more concerning is the gamma tracking. It makes the picture darker than it should be and reduces the effect of all that wonderful contrast. You can compensate somewhat by turning up the brightness, but gamma tracking closer to 2.2 would be a better solution.

Once we adjusted the gamma presets in the Adjust menu (2nd chart), we improved the curve visibly, but it was still darker than it should be. The PXC273 would have more pop if the upper brightness steps were at the correct output levels instead of slightly under. This could be fixed with a firmware update that included a more-accurate gamma preset. However, our grayscale calibration had a positive effect, with all errors moving below the visible threshold.

Comparisons

In the recent past, a 4.27 Delta E (dE) average grayscale error would be typical for a gaming monitor. But today’s displays boast better out-of-box accuracy, as evidenced by our sample group. The top four monitors in the grayscale error chart don’t require calibration. However, the PXC273 should be calibrated for the best possible picture (see our settings on page 1).

We couldn’t completely fix the PXC273’s gamma tracking with our adjustments. Changing the preset from 2 to 1 made a visible difference, but it still didn’t track as well as the two Aorus or Samsung monitors. Ultimately, we like the Pixio’s image, but it could be even better if the gamma were more accurate.

Color Gamut Accuracy

It’s obvious from the initial gamut chart that the PXC273 is a DCI monitor. All colors are oversaturated in the sRGB realm except for blue. The average error is increased by a low color luminance level, which is largely due to the high gamma values we recorded.

Calibration brought the secondary colors onto their hue targets, but the over-saturation didn’t change. If you’re looking for an accurate sRGB gaming monitor, the PXC273 is not it. But if you like a more colorful presentation, it will suit just fine. You can see in the final chart that it covers a large part of the DCI-P3 gamut, coming up short only in the green primary. Again, the average error is inflated by low color luminance. Fixing the gamma to a proper 2.2 level would address that issue.

Comparisons

With a calibrated color error of 2.62dE average, you won’t see any major issues in the PXC273’s image presentation. Our recommended settings make things visibly better with greater image depth and a more natural look.

In the gamut volume calculation, the PXC273 turned out to have one of the largest gamuts we’ve seen in a gaming display. It covers almost 85% of DCI-P3, which is more than some HDR-capable screens, like the Aorus CV27F. With over 124% coverage of sRGB, you’ll need a custom profile to rein in the gamut if you do anything color-critical. For gaming, however, many will welcome the extra color.

Viewing Angles

The PXC273 acquit itself well in the viewing angle test. Our photo shows a green shift at 45 degrees to the sides and a 30% light reduction. Detail remains solid in both the horizontal and vertical planes with all steps still visible. From the top, the gamma is much lower, making lighter shades harder to see. Performance is typical of other VA panels we’ve reviewed.

Screen Uniformity

Our PXC273 sample has some of the best screen uniformity we’ve ever measured. There are no visible hotspots, bleed or glow. This is impressive, given the tight fit of its anti-glare layer. Dark material was artifact-free and remained well-detailed down to the zero-signal level. This is excellent performance.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

A gaming monitor must deliver speed and smooth game performance above anything else. The PXC273 manages both. Its 8ms screen draw time is 1ms slower than typical 144Hz screens, but in practice we couldn’t see a difference. Motion blur was barely visible, and there was no stutter, no matter how fast on-screen movements were.

Input lag is last place among our comparison sample, but 29ms is by no means slow. Unless you’re a highly skilled gamer, you won’t notice any lag when playing fast-paced games on the PXC273. To casual gamers, control response will feel every bit as fast as with the other screens here. Those with more frag cred will want to check out the Samsung C27RG5, which recently set a new speed record in our testing. For everyone else though, the $200 PXC273 is more than qualified for the weekly LAN party.

When shopping for a gaming monitor, the principal considerations come down to price, performance and features, and in most cases you’ll have to sacrifice one of those. But if you’re willing to give up features like speakers, USB ports, RGB lighting and fancy styling, the Pixio PXC273 is worth considering. It has a few flaws; but when gaming it manages to deliver a lot for just $200.

On the positive side, it supports both FreeSync and G-Sync (unofficially) up to 144Hz, has an effective overdrive that eliminates motion blur and low input lag. Contrast is better than many other VA panels, and it delivers nearly 85% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut.

To get the best possible image, including nixing a green tint, some adjustments are required. Once we made those changes, we enjoyed a decent picture in both games and video. That means an artifact-free experience without frame tears, stuttering or overdrive ghosting. The extra color afforded by its native DCI-P3 gamut will appeal to many, but if you want an sRGB mode, you’re out of luck.

The Pixio PXC273 has room for improvement, but when considering its price it’s hard to fault. At $200, it undercuts similar displays by at least $100, and that may be enough to overcome what’s been left out. For the price-conscious gamer, we have no problem recommending the PXC273.

Update to modified Ryzen power profile delivers further performance tweaks

The power profile modifies Collaborative Processor Performance Control, making adjustments to CPU task scheduling on Windows to deliver snappier performance for AMD Precision Boost, which dynamically adjusts clock speeds. The end result is better performance and core usage while idling or performing heavy load tasks. AMD will likely be investigating these improvements itself too to improve Precision Boost behaviour in the future.

The 1usmus Ryzen power profile is now in version 1.1. As the creator himself explains, this new update adjusts the Windows task scheduler to “must use best cores”, which means low threaded workloads should see better CPU utilisation.

Microsoft just recently began rolling out a new Windows 10 update but the Ryzen Universal power plan v1.1 should benefit all Windows 10 builds with any BIOS. You can get the full details and download over on TechPowerUp.

WHATSAPP USERS URGED TO UPDATE APP IMMEDIATELY OVER SPYING FEARS

WhatsApp users are being urged to update to the latest version of the app due to fears that spy agencies are snooping on people through a major security vulnerability.

The issue relates to a malicious video that allows hackers to access people’s messages simply by sharing the MP4 file across WhatsApp. The Facebook-owned messaging app fixed the bug earlier this week – but anyone who has not downloaded the latest update remains vulnerable to the hack.

India’s Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) posted an advisory outlining the “high” severity of the threat, warning that it “could be exploited by a remote attacker” at any time.

The security agency issued the advisory after the Indian government said it is empowered to “intercept, monitor or decrypt… any information generated, transmitted, received, or stored” on the phones or devices of its citizens.

On Tuesday, Minister of State for Home Affairs Kishan Reddy cited the Information Technology Act of 2000 when justifying the state’s surveillance policy.

Earlier this month, 19 activists, journalists and politicians in India revealed that their WhatsApp accounts had been targeted. They were among 1,400 people around the world to receive a message warning that their digital communications may have been compromised.

“In May we stopped an attack where an advanced cyber actor exploited our video calling to install malware on user devices,” the message stated. “There’s a possibility this phone number was impacted, and we want to make sure you know how to keep your mobile phone secure.”

WhatsApp claims that this warning was not related to the recent discovery of the malicious video file and claimed that there is no evidence that this particular flaw has been exploited by hackers.

The messaging app says that these users were instead targeted with spyware developed by controversial Israeli technology firm NSO Group.

“WhatsApp is constantly working to improve the security of our service,” a spokesperson told The Independent.

“We make public reports on potential issues we have fixed consistent with industry best practices. In this instance, there is no reason to believe that users were impacted.”

Intel releases free file transfer app to help you ditch Windows 7: how to download it

If you still need to switch from Windows 7, Intel and software developer Laplink have released a free tool that will transfer your files to a new PC.

There are now just two months until Microsoft ends support for Windows 7, but despite this – and in spite of the fact that the operating system is now an astonishing 10 years old – huge numbers of people are still using it. Why?

But with end of support for Windows 7 fast approaching, the millions of people still using the operating system are at risk of missing security updates from Microsoft – in addition to using very old software.

Make the switch

To help with this, Intel has teamed up with Laplink Software and announced a free version of its data migration tool. PCmover Express has been made completely free for personal use and can be used to move from an old Windows 7 computer to a new, Intel-based Windows 10 machine (previously it cost $29.95, €23.95 or £20.95 in different parts of the world). The software can migrate files, documents and user settings, making the process of moving to a new computer much less of a headache.

The software is only free for home users; Laplink says that a commercial license is available “for about $20”.

The free edition of PCmover Express will be enough for most people, but there’s also a special offer if your needs are a little greater. Laplink is offering a 50% saving off the usual price of PCmover Professional, which can also transfer applications from one computer to another. The pro version of the software can be yours for $29.98/£20.98 (about AU$40) (down from $59.95/£41.95 (about AU$90).

Related product: Microsoft Windows 10 Home

Our Verdict:

☆☆☆☆☆

With the May 2019 Update, Windows 10 becomes more secure, reliable and efficient than ever before, offering features that will actually save you time and frustration as well as keep your computer protected. Of course, there’s always room for improvement, but Windows 10 is now better than ever and still continues to progress with a host of constant updates.

FOR Start menu improvements

Action Center, Cortana are useful

Edge continues to improve

Windows Hello faster, easier

Timeline genuinely useful

AGAINST OneDrive needs work

Improvements also cause issues

Some changes are incomplete

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