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Latest by Brad Bourque

windows 10 pro default product key privacy

Windows silences the haters with an updated privacy statement

With all the mud people are slinging in Microsoft's direction, the Redmond giant has clarified its privacy policy so there won't be any more confusion.
Online Privacy

Advertisers are using inaudible noise to figure out what devices are yours

You can't hear it, but your TV and computer may be broadcasting ultrasonic noises to your phone to tie all of your devices together for advertising.
intel just cuase 3 bundle cause

Intel’s Haswell Core i7 chips include Just Cause 3 and CS:GO for a limited time

If you're thinking of upgrading your CPU, Intel is offering Just Cause 3, CS:GO, and in-game credit for World of Warships with Haswell Core i7 chips.
windows 10 pro default product key privacy

Tear off that tinfoil hat and chill, Windows 10 isn't watching your every move

With the frenzy the computing community has been whipped into over Windows 10, it's time someone sat down to explain why there's nothing to worry about.
dells 2 in 1 xps 12 packs a 4k display and skylake chip into fanless system dell featured

Dell’s 2-in-1 XPS 12 packs a 4K display and Skylake chip into a fanless system

With two different fanless models, the Dell XPS 12 boasts a Core m CPU, 8GB of RAM, and an optional 4K display with pressure-sensitive multi-touch.
cherry mx nature white cherrymxnaturewhite featured

Cherry’s new MX Nature White switch is built for gaming – and RGB lighting

Squeezing in between the MX Red and Black in terms of actuation, the MX Nature White has a clear body for backlighting and a smooth, linear action.
Fallout 4

Not alone in the wasteland: Fallout 4 shatters record for concurrent Steam users in a non-Valve game

Less than 24 hours after release, and Fallout 4 peaked at just under 450k concurrent users, shattering GTA V's previous non-Valve title record of 280k.
comcast user accounts dark web comcasttower

590K Comcast emails and passwords go on sale online

Around 200,000 Comcast customers had their passwords reset after 600,000 login details went up for sale on a dark Web marketplace.
washington post hacked chinese origin suspected hacker

Poorly written malware demands a ransom, but never releases your files

It's usually not a good idea to pay the ransom on a virus, but a newly discovered strain forgets the encryption key as soon as it finishes locking files.
asus ux305 skylake expansion desk 1500x1000

Asus’ new Skylake UX305 ups the ante for laptop screen resolution

Asus is capitalizing on the success of the Zenbook UX305 by releasing a slew of new configurations for both the Skylake and Broadwell versions.
amds next graphics chip architecture could be called polaris amd

AMD may be in hot water over CPU core exaggerations

Computer manufacturers aren't strangers to class action suits, but if the claims in this one are true, AMD could be in serious trouble over CPU cores.
ac syndicate 3gb vram acsyndicateburning

You may need a GPU upgrade to play Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate at 1080p

PC gamers are used to a slow system requirements creep, but Assassin's Creed: Syndicate may jump a bit too far forward for most gamers, even at 1080p.
windows 10 adoption slowing home screen user

Microsoft puts out a new bug-fix update for Insiders ahead of next week's big Threshold 2 release

Standing on the precipice of Threshold 2, Microsoft has potentially one last update for Insiders hoping to put their hands on it before everyone else.
samsung ativ book 9 pro spin ativbook9 featured

Want to step up to a faster laptop? Samsung’s new Ativ Book 9 Flip and Pro could be what you need

Looking for something a little more high-end? Samsung's new Ativ Book 9 Pro and Spin have great performance without skimping on display quality.
zotac dives head first into the steam machine battle with a pint sized gaming rig nen 1

Zotac dives head first into the Steam Machine battle with a pint-sized gaming rig

Not to be outdone, Zotac is rolling out its very own Steam OS computer with a bite-sized form factor and connectivity that will leave your desktop shaking.
Microsoft Surface Book

Microsoft’s Surface Book flops iFixit teardown

When iFixit tried to tear down the new Surface Book, they found a laptop with too much glue, not enough screws, and impossible Tetris-inspired motherboards.
warner bros admits defeat and offers refunds to arkham knight pc owners arkhamknight02

Warner Bros admits defeat and offers refunds to Arkham Knight PC owners

As one final attempt at making amends, Warner Bros is offering gamers their money back, regardless of how much time they've spent playing.
fallout 4 e3 2015

Fallout 4 is packed with new features, and brings mods to XBox One

Ready for the next Fallout game? Bethesda shared some revolutionary updates to the series that will be introduced when the game drops in November.
Microsoft Surface Book

Having trouble upgrading to Windows 10? Microsoft enlists cats to help

Even with 110 million devices running Windows 10, Microsoft isn't satisfied, so the upgrade process is easier and more cat-laden than ever before.
Batman Arkham Knight

Arkham Knight's PC port is back on Steam, and still a steaming mess

After four months cloistered away in the Batcave, you'd think Arkham Knight's PC port would be new and improved. but users are reporting the same issues.
nzxt hue plus annnouncement nzxthuefeatured

Colorize your next PC build with NZXT's HUE+ LED lighting

If your gaming PC is boring, your next build won't be if you strap in NZXT's new HUE+ lighting system, with support for up to eight color-changing LEDs.
steelseries new gaming mouse is all the bells and whistles without high price tag steelseriesrival100 3

SteelSeries’ new gaming mouse is all the bells and whistles, without the high price tag

There are plenty of mice for casual users, and for high-end gaming, but SteelSeries strikes a happy medium by packing in features, but keeps the price down.
mplayer

Gaming community MPlayer rises from the grave

Back in the day, playing online games meant finding friends, and online communities like MPlayer helped. It's poised to return in 2015, but is it relevant?
14 problems mac os x 10 11 el capitan fix apple osx hero

El Capitan update adds support for 150 new emoji

It's not the most exciting OS update ever, but OS X 10.11.1 packs in emoji for Unicode 7 and 8, plus bug fixes for a number of issues plaguing users.
twelve arrested starcraft gambling blizzard

Illegal gambling, match fixing, mafia ties — eSports is starting to look interesting

You might not normally associate mafia ties and illegal gambling to professional gaming, but apparently it's a bit of an issue in South Korea.
mad catz star citizen hotas madcatzstarcitizen 1

Mad Catz insane Star Citizen controller will make you the envy of the galaxy

If you spent $14,000 on a spaceship, you want a control panel that's fittingly luxurious, and Mad Catz has a HOTAS that's basically the real thing.
heroes of the storm performance guide

Is your Heroes of the Storm performance Illidan? Here’s how to patch it up

If you play MOBAs, you know 10 frames per second is life or death, so we've got the tips to help ensure Heroes of the Storm always runs smooth as butter.
acer reveals the final details of x34 predator monitor as it launches for sale

Acer launches X34 ultra-wide gaming monitor – and yea, you can overclock it

Ready to make the leap to ultra-wide gaming? Acer's Predator X34 is now for sale, with a 34-inch 21:9 QHD panel and Nvidia's G-Sync refresh management tech.
you might not be able to touch the screen but future macs may let log in untitled 1

You might not be able to touch the screen, but future Macs may let you touch to log in

Fingerprint readers on everything from smartphones to laptops are nothing new, but Apple is finally ready to add them to Macs after a 2007 patent approval.
Asus GX700

Hands on: Asus ROG GX700

Asus’ ROG GX700 packs desktop-grade parts and never-before-seen features into a laptop, but it’s only for those honest about their gaming habits.
microsofts surface pro 4 rides the wave 3 started microsoft news 002

Microsoft’s Surface Pro 4 rides the wave the Surface Pro 3 started

The Surface Pro 4 didn't surprise anyone at Microsoft's press conference, but it still showed off new features and a slimmer, more efficient design.
Apple OSX El Capitan Office

Office 2016 is having trouble staying alive on El Capitan

Despite users complaining of issues since the first beta for El Capitan, Microsoft is just now working to prevent Office 2016 from crashing on the new OS.
Dell XPS 13

Dell lets Skylake upgrade details slip for the XPS 13

A since-deleted page on Dell's online store points to an XPS 13 makeover with Skylake processors and twice the RAM and storage of the Broadwell version.
cougar targets the esports crew with highly customizable 700m cougar700m featured

Cougar targets the eSports crew with the highly customizable 700M

The Cougar 700M packs in every feature that you find further down the line, as well as some unique to it, while keeping it super light.
HP Workstations

HP’s new workstations are built with input from real users – and it shows

The latest from HP's workstation line shows that sequels really can be better, with new features from performance to convenience based on real use input.
windows 10 tech preview privacy policy data collection search

Windows 10: Our complete guide to Microsoft’s next OS

With the past few technical preview builds, Windows 10 is starting to take shape into a modern and relevant OS that is sure to please users from XP and 8.1.
vaio surges back into the party with a unique convertible tablet offering vaiozcanvas featured

Vaio surges back into the party with a unique convertible tablet offering

If you've been patiently waiting for Vaio's triumphant return, wait no longer. The Z Canvas packs a high-end display and parts into a 12-inch device.
hate fans hdplexs new h5 packs 16 heatpipes into an amplifer sized case hdplexh5 3

Fans are so 2014 — this enclosure uses heatpipes to cool your PC

If you think spinning plastic at your components is a brutish way of cooling them, the new HTPC case from HDPlex uses 16 heatpipes instead.