The Google Pixel 6a is affordable and looks great, but you can't buy the damn thing!
The Google Pixel 6a was announced today, and there is both good and bad news regarding it. The good news is, the Android smartphone doesn't cost an arm, nor does it cost a leg. Yes, as is typical with Google's "a" smartphones, the 6a is inexpensive. This is very much appreciated at a time when inflation is causing everything to be so expensive. The bad news we can touch on in a bit...
Despite being fairly affordable at just $450, the Pixel 6a is powered by the famed Google Tensor processor that is also found in both the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. The Pixel 6a has some other nice specifications too. For instance, you get 6GB RAM and 128GB storage, and that's it -- there's only one configuration to be had. I rather like that strategy, as it makes things less confusing for consumers.
PNY Pro Elite V2 USB 3.2 Gen 2x1 Type-C Portable SSD is fast and tiny
While solid state drives make wonderful internal boot drives for computers, they are also great options for external storage. Not only are SSDs much smaller than mechanical hard disk drives, but they use less power and are much faster too.
Today, PNY launches its latest external solid state drive, and it is both beautiful and fast. Called "Pro Elite V2," this diminutive USB-C SSD uses the USB 3.2 Gen 2x1 interface to achieve speeds up to 1,100 MB/s!
Teracube Thrive is a sustainable Android 12 smartphone that can monitor your children
Like it or not, children of all ages have smartphones these days. Long gone are the days where kids could just be outdoors without technology. While parents surely wish their little ones would just play hide-and-seek or baseball like in the good ol' days, instead, kids seem to just want to be on YouTube and TikTok. It is what it is, folks.
Thankfully, parents can still be in control of their child's online activity. There are apps and services which allow you to monitor and limit what your kids do while using a smartphone. Today, Teracube announces a new child-focused smartphone designed specifically for this purpose. Called "Thrive," it runs a specialized version of Android 12 designed to empower parents. And yes, like Teracube's other devices, Thrive is built with sustainability in mind.
Fedora Linux 36 is finally here and it is much better than Ubuntu
Ubuntu is a great Linux-based operating system that seems to get all the attention. Truth be told, however, Fedora is the better Linux distribution. Hell, some would argue it is the overall best distro. Quite frankly, if you are an open source champion, you should be using Fedora. It is the perfect no-nonsense distribution, and best of all, it largely focuses on truly free and open source software.
Today, following some delays, Fedora 36 finally becomes available for download. While hardly an exciting update, this new version of the Linux-based operating system is notable for utilizing GNOME 42 and kernel 5.17. Plus, for those using an NVIDIA GPU and driver, you will now get Wayland by default. You can read full release notes here.
Silicon Power launches SO-DIMM DDR5 laptop RAM with 4,800MHz clock speed
When you are a computer enthusiast or PC builder, there are peaks and valleys when it comes to excitement about internal components. Sometimes you are using desktops and/or laptops with bleeding-edge parts as an early adopter, while other times you are using ho-hum components that have been around a while. For instance, we have been using DDR4 memory for approximately seven years now.
Thankfully, the age of DDR5 is finally here, y'all! After dealing with DDR4 for so many years now, we are finally seeing PCs with DDR5 memory inside -- including laptops and mini desktop PCs that use SO-DIMM sticks. Today, Silicon Power unveils some really cool DDR5 notebook memory. This laptop/mini desktop RAM runs at an impressive 4,800MHz and comes in capacities ranging from 8GB (single stick) to 64GB (2x32GB).
TEAMGROUP launches T-FORCE VULCAN Z 2.5-inch SATA SSD for gamers
M.2 NVMe solid state drives are much faster than 2.5-inch SATA versions -- the former is clearly the future. And yet, companies continue to manufacture new models of the latter. But why? It is quite simple -- many computers don't have M.2 ports, so those types of drives are of no use to people with older computers. Not to mention, SATA SSDs are still more than fast enough, making them great drop-in upgrades.
With all of that said, today, TEAMGROUP launches a new 2.5-inch SATA SSD under its T-FORCE gaming brand. Called "VULCAN Z," it has a beautiful matte-black body and is offered in capacities ranging from 240GB to 2TB. While it is designed for gamers, it can, of course, be used by any computer user in need of a quality 2.5-inch SSD.
AMD turns its attention to Chromebooks with new Ryzen 5000 C-Series processors
While Chromebooks are often great, there is a big problem -- a lack of AMD processors. Most laptops running Chrome OS are powered by Intel or ARM-based chips. Wouldn't it be great if AMD released some new specialized processors designed for Chromebooks specifically?
Well, folks, AMD has done exactly that with the all-new Ryzen 5000 C-Series processors. There are four such chips coming to market -- the dual-core Ryzen 3 5125C, quad-core Ryzen 3 5425C, hexa-core Ryzen 5 5625C, and octa-core Ryzen 7 5825C. These processors are based on Zen 3 architecture and AMD says they will be paired with Wi-Fi 6E/Bluetooth 5.2 modules -- likely its own RZ600 series radio chips it co-designed with MediaTek.
Samsung PRO Endurance microSD card puts longevity and durability over speed
Speed is great, but it isn't always the most important thing. For instance, a very fast car is surely fun, but if the vehicle is unreliable and dangerous, who really cares about speed? I'd rather arrive to my location alive and without breaking down -- even if it takes a bit longer.
That is sort of the philosophy behind Samsung's newest "PRO Endurance" microSD card. Rather than focus on raw performance, this card is instead designed for longevity and durability. It is an ideal storage solution for surveillance cameras, police body-cameras, automobile dash-cams, and more. With all of that said, while the card isn't the fastest on the market, it isn't really slow either -- it offers up to 100MB/s read and up to 40MB/s write.
Apple Music comes to Roku
Apple Music is the best streaming music service. Yes, it is much better than Spotify. This is fact. I know this to be true, as I have used both and found Apple's offering to be superior. Apple Music isn't limited to the company's own devices like iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV either -- it can also be accessed on Android and the web, for instance.
Today, Apple Music comes to yet another platform -- Roku. Yes, whether you have a Roku media box or TV with Roku integrated, you can now access Apple Music with it. How cool is that?
Generation 4 Kubuntu Focus M2 Linux laptop now available with 12th gen Core i7
Can you buy a Windows laptop and replace Microsoft's operating system with a Linux distribution? Sure, but you shouldn't have to. Look, folks, in 2022 you should be supporting the open source community by purchasing computers with Linux pre-installed. Even if it costs you a few bucks more, it will be worth it for the community overall.
Today, the latest Linux laptop is released, and it looks like a beast. You see, the 4th generation Kubuntu Focus M2 Linux laptop is powered by a bleeding-edge 12th gen Intel Core i7 processor. The company claims this chip will increase performance by 20 percent compared to the 3rd generation of the notebook. And yes, it comes with the latest-and-greatest Kubuntu 22.04 LTS pre-loaded.
Steam snap now available for Linux gamers
Today we get some very exciting news for the Linux gaming community. And yes, smart aleck, people do play video games on Linux these days. What is the big news? Canonical has released an early-access snap version of Steam for Ubuntu and other compatible Linux-based operating systems!
What exactly does this mean? Well, Canonical is aiming to make it even easier to get Steam up-and-running on Linux. Gamers will be able to install Valve's software from the snap store for a more elegant experience.
PATRIOT VIPER VENOM DDR5 6200MHz 32GB desktop RAM kits now available with and without RGB
When you are a computer-builder, there are peaks and valleys when it comes to excitement about PC components. What do I mean by this? Well, sometimes you are building machines with cutting edge parts as an early adopter, while other times you are using ho-hum components that have been around a while. For instance, we have been using DDR4 memory for about seven years now. It is time to move on.
Thankfully, the age of DDR5 is finally here. After dealing with DDR4 for so many years now, we will soon see many PCs with DDR5 memory inside. One of the companies leading this industry shift is PATRIOT, and today, that company begins selling the 6200MHz variants of its VIPER VENOM DDR5 32GB (16GB x2) RAM kits.
KIOXIA unveils XG8 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
Solid state drives continue to get faster, with many new computers supporting the PCIe 4.0 standard. If you have such a cutting-edge PC, you will probably want to get a PCIe 4.0 SSD to maximize your performance. Is it largely for bragging rights and benchmarks? Yeah, arguably, but if you can afford it, you might as well go for a PCIe 4.0 drive. The price shouldn't be that much more than a PCIe 3.0 SSD.
Today, KIOXIA unveils its latest PCIe 4.0 NVMe solid state drive. Called "XG8," the SSD will be offered in your choice of four capacities -- 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB. Of course, this solid state drive can be used in both desktop and laptop computers.
Samsung T7 Shield is a fast and durable USB-C SSD you can beat the crap out of
Portable solid state drives are a great way to store data. Not only are they fast, but because they don't have moving parts, they are more durable than external mechanical hard drives too.
But what if you want a portable SSD that you can really abuse? Well, the Samsung T7 Shield is a durable USB-C SSD you can beat the crap out of. Don't misunderstand, you shouldn't purposely try to damage the small (88 x 59 x 13mm) drive, but Samsung says you can drop it from nearly 10 feet without worry. That means it will likely survive falling from a regulation basketball rim. But no, you shouldn't intentionally slam dunk it.
System76 takes Ubuntu Linux to the next level with Pop!_OS 22.04 LTS
Ubuntu is a great operating system -- and so are the many Linux distributions that are based on it. Quite frankly, you really can't go wrong by choosing any Ubuntu-based distro. With that said, there is one Ubuntu-based operating system in particular that really takes things to another level -- Pop!_OS by System76.
System76's operating system focuses more on the user experience, making it a superior desktop distribution compared to "regular" Ubuntu. Following the release of Ubuntu 22.04, today, Pop!_OS 22.04 becomes available as well, and yes, you should be excited. The distribution uses Linux kernel 5.16.19, Mesa 22, and the GNOME 42 desktop environment (with System76's COSMIC UX enhancements).
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