Google backtracked from a Chrome feature that blocked autoplaying audio on some websites, but the feature will be back in October. The autoplay blocking, intended to make the web a more pleasant place and to rein in push websites, also had the unintended side effect of crippling lots of web-based games in Chrome. So Chrome …
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Nvidia wants to woo frugal gamers with weaker cards
You may not have heard, but the cryptocurrency card crunch is over. There’s no longer a global shortage of high-octane graphics cards and GPU hardware. Also bear in mind that a refresh of Nvidia’s GeForce line will happen sooner or later. That means you should actively avoid under-powered products like Nvidia’s latest GeForce GTX 1050 3GB. With lower memory bandwidth (96-bit bus …
Read More »No, Apple supplier Foxconn isn’t scaling back its US factory
Foxconn, an electronics manufacturer that provides parts for Apple, is investing $10 billion in a US factory that could create up to 13,000 jobs, and no, it isn’t going back on this. Despite reports saying that the company is scaling back the US factory, Foxconn says it’ll stay true to its US investment. While the factory’s original plans were to produce …
Read More »Garbage Pail Kids cards from the ’80s to return as a mobile game
Remember Junky Jeff, Meltin’ Milton and Methane Max? These characters from the retro Garbage Pail Kids collectible cards could get a newfound fan base thanks to an upcoming mobile game from Jago Studios. The game studio announced Tuesday that it will partner with the Topps Company to develop the mobile game based on the trading cards. The new role-playing game …
Read More »Block explicit lyrics in music subscription services
A while back I offered advice on choosing the best music service for your family, with an eye toward convenience, versatility and especially price. One important consideration I completely forgot was explicit lyrics. Given that pretty much every modern song contains bad language (that’s right, I said it — now get off my lawn!), parents might want the option of …
Read More »Preorders for the LG G7 ThinQ begin this week for US carriers
The LG G7 ThinQ will launch June 1, but you can preorder the new handset from major US wireless carriers beginning this week. Verizon will kick things off Thursday, with Sprint and T-Mobile following suit on Friday, all with different purchase options, of course. Sprint is offering the handset for $33 per month on an 18-month Sprint Flex lease, while …
Read More »Cracking Open the Polaroid Snap Touch camera printer combo
Take a palm-size photo printer, bolt on a digital camera and you’ve got the Polaroid Snap Touch. Just like the instant shooters of yesteryear, the Snap Touch will give you a paper photo seconds after you take a shot. But with this new camera, you can pick which photos to print, edit your shots beforehand and even decorate your pics …
Read More »Snapdragon 710 chip brings AI to cheaper phones in June
By the end of June, a new wave of phones with trendy AI features will start to sell for less. That’s when the first handsets to use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 710 processor will be ready for business. Mobile processors, or chipsets, are the brains behind everything from photo processing to device security and data speeds. The nuts and bolts of chipsets …
Read More »Spotify’s $112 million class
A federal judge on Tuesday approved the $112 million settlement of a class-action lawsuit against Spotify. Two lawsuits, brought separately by musicians David Lowery and Melissa Ferrick and later combined, accused the streaming giant of not licensing or paying them for use of their music. The Sweden-based music-streaming service reached a proposed settlement of $112.5 million, with an immediate cash …
Read More »Watch the Acer 2018 global press conference Wednesday at 11 a.m. ET
Acer has introduced a sizable lineup of new laptops and accessories at the company’s annual New York press conference. Similar to the 2017 version of this event, the new products include mainstream laptops, Chromebooks and gaming PCs. Highlights include: Acer Swift 5 A redesign gives this slim laptop a bigger 15-inch screen, now with a minimized bezel. The metal body …
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