Nov 2021 The HP Pavilion Aero 13 is not your average Pavilion laptop, a product line that is decidedly average. For HP, Pavilion is its everyday line with a focus on value, while its Envy and Spectre lines are the midrange and premium models, respectively. But wow, HP packed a lot of value into the …
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Facebook goes Meta: What is the metaverse and why is Big Tech obsessed?
This story is part of Making the Metaverse, CNET’s exploration of the next stage in the internet’s evolution. Neal Stephenson’s 1992 novel Snow Crash is about a pizza delivery man by day, VR superhero by night, who lives in an online universe called the Metaverse. “So Hiro’s not actually here at all. He’s in a computer-generated universe that his computer …
Read More »Facebook, pivoting to Meta, wants to pivot the Oculus Quest and AR too
The Oculus Quest (soon to be Meta Quest) started as a head-mounted game console, but now its parent company Facebook (renamed Meta) is trying to push the platform further by connecting with you across VR headsets, AR headsets, metaverse avatars and in other ways. The timing for the annual VR- and AR-focused Facebook Connect conference couldn’t be worse, with the …
Read More »Meta: Facebook’s new name focuses on metaverse
Facebook wants to look toward the future, and it’s taking on a new name to emphasize that. Facebook is renaming itself Meta. After weeks of intense scrutiny brought on after a whistleblower leaked thousands of internal research documents and memos to regulators, lawmakers and the press, Facebook tried to turn a page by focusing on its futuristic technology. To Mark …
Read More »Samsung’s next update will make your Galaxy phone feel a little more like an iPhone
Samsung’s Galaxy smartphones are getting a facelift that should make their software feel more seamless and more customizable. It might also feel familiar if you’re switching from an iPhone. Samsung detailed its forthcoming One UI 4 software update during its annual developer conference on Tuesday, where it also outlined its strategy for the smart home, Tizen TVs and Bixby voice …
Read More »Windows 11 review: Microsoft’s subtle changes make you ask, update or wait?
Microsoft made Windows 11 available on Oct. 5 on a rolling basis as a free upgrade to most Windows 10 users. If you have Windows 8, you’ll have to get the free upgrade to Windows 10 first, then download Windows 11. Before you decide whether or not to install the new OS, let’s talk about what we like and don’t …
Read More »Windows 11 has arrived, but here’s why not everyone will get the upgrade yet
Windows 11 started its wide rollout on Oct. 5 — the first major upgrade in six years. Windows 11 is available as a free download for existing Windows 10 users, but it’s not yet available for every compatible Windows device. And every major new feature promised isn’t available right now. (Microsoft announced this in an August blog post). We’ve already tested and published a full …
Read More »Surface Duo 2 review: Microsoft’s folding phone is innovative, but impractical
Microsoft’s Surface Duo 2 is like a Swiss Army knife. It can morph into a digital book, a small tablet, a screen I can prop up just about anywhere or a mini-laptop reminiscent of the T-Mobile Sidekick. But it’s not the one thing I want it to be: an excellent phone. The Surface Duo 2 is Microsoft’s second-gen foldable device, and …
Read More »New Microsoft Office rollout: When you’ll get it, pricing and major changes
Microsoft’s new, flat-price version of its Office productivity software started rolling out Oct. 5 — the same day as Windows 11. The company previously emphasized that while its main focus remains on its Microsoft 365 subscription offering, it will release the one-time purchase Office 2021 for those who aren’t yet ready to move to the cloud. Office 2021 arrives in two versions: …
Read More »Microsoft launched Windows 11. Now what? Essential info about the new OS
Windows 11 launched this month, and Microsoft delivered some big changes to the storied operating system, including its first name change in six years. The Windows 11 update began rolling out on Oct. 5, though it will be released in a phased approach on eligible devices. (Here’s how to see whether your PC is compatible first and how to download it early if you don’t …
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