Brian Fagioli

Both Windows Phone and Windows 10 Mobile are inconsequential in the mobile market. In other words, Microsoft has largely failed with its mobile platforms.

With that said, Microsoft is not a failure in mobile overall. Its applications and services work brilliantly on the mobile platforms that matter -- Android and iOS. Today, the Windows-maker announces that Xiaomi will be pre-installing both Office and Skype on its Android devices.

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PC gaming is so much more than graphics cards and powerful processors. Once you build your rig, you need to get quality accessories too. Things like keyboards, mice, and headsets contribute to the overall experience.

The latest rage in keyboards are the mechanical variants. While they can be more expensive than a rubber dome style keyboard, they are certainly worth the extra cost. Mechanical keyboards offer more precise and satisfying keystrokes, which is not only ideal for gaming, but all uses, really. Today, famed memory manufacturer, G.SKILL, announces two new mechanical keyboards -- the KM570 MX and KM770.

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When it comes to building a PC, there are many directions you can go. Of course, the most important question you must ask is, what are you going to do with it? Ideally, you don't want to pay for more than you need. If you will just be surfing the web, you probably don't need a hardcore GPU and 32GB of RAM. With that said, some folks with money will just buy the best regardless. If you can afford it, hey, why not?

Today, Intel announces its Broadwell-E line, including its fastest processor ever, the new Core i7 Extreme Edition i7-6950X. They feature support for DDR4 2400, and the top Extreme Edition has a jaw-dropping 10 cores. Before you get too excited, please know that these are designed for those with money to burn. For example, that 10-core variant costs more than $1,700!

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Computex 2016 is in full-effect, and news from the event is coming fast and furiously. Windows 10 laptops are a big part of the announcements, and consumers have a lot to be happy about. Not only are many of the new machines thin and beautiful, but powerful too. Windows OEMs are finally understanding the wants of consumers, and delivering the notebooks they have long desired.

Today, Dell announces its new line of Inspiron laptops, and they look fabulous. Featuring Skylake processors and multiple chassis color options, consumers should be able to find a machine that both meets their needs and is uniquely them. The manufacturer has even produced what it calls the world's first 17-inch 2-in-1 laptop.

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One of the things keeping hard disk drives relevant is the price to gigabyte ratio. While an SSD offers great performance as an OS drive, their often small capacities can make them a poor choice for storage -- depending on needs, of course. While there are larger capacity SSD offerings, they are often too expensive for the average consumer to afford.

Today, Patriot announces a new addition to its SATA-based "Ignite" line of solid state drives. The new member of the family has a wonderfully large 2TB capacity, which could make SSD-based consumer storage a reality. Well, depending on pricing, that is.

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Regardless of your religious affiliations or beliefs, meeting the Pope is a very monumental thing. After all, he is the leader of the Catholic Church, which has many millions of members. The current Pope, who adopted the moniker of "Francis", is quite popular with some folks thanks to his apparent rebuke of riches and excess.

Eleven lucky YouTube creators got to meet Pope Francis, even taking a selfie with His Holiness. However, the meeting was not just a photo opportunity. Actually, they got to speak with the Catholic Church leader, even asking him questions.

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As we approach the summer, back to school shopping becomes a focus for many parents and students. True, there is plenty of time to buy a laptop for the next school session, but it is never too early to begin your research. Now is the time when manufacturers begin unveiling their upcoming machines.

Today, Acer announces three new laptops, with two of them being detachable variants. Quite frankly, those two are probably better categorized as netbooks. In addition, the company announces a beautiful new 4K display, perfect for both computing and media consumption. This 32-inch monitor could be a wise choice for dorm rooms.

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As the world's need for high-speed internet grows, there will be an increasing strain on existing infrastructure. While both the internet and the web can create a border-free exchange of data, something still needs to connect continents so that it can be shared. While you will likely never see it with your own eyes, there are actually data cables under the sea which connect large masses of land.

Today, Microsoft and Facebook announce a partnership to build a transatlantic subsea data cable. Called 'MAREA', it will connect the United States to Europe. More specifically, it will connect the State of Virginia to the country of Spain. The project will begin this August, with a targeted completion date of October 2017.

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Despite negative sentiment towards Windows 10 because of Microsoft's shady upgrade tactics, it is actually a wonderful operating system. It is fast, secure, and compatible with many hardware configurations. Its Windows Store, which first debuted in Windows 8, allows users to easily download content -- both paid and free.

When it comes to apps and games, there is a lot of garbage in the Windows Store -- more crap than not. With that said, there are quite a few gems too. Today, Microsoft announces a special summer sale, delivering big discounts for shoppers in the store. Even the super-popular Minecraft gets a whopping 50 percent discount! However, not everything seems to be getting a reduction in price.

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PC gaming is a huge deal nowadays. Not only are consumers playing these computer games themselves, but watching other people stream them on services like Twitch and YouTube Gaming. While prior generations of humans enjoyed watching "classic" sports such as baseball, basketball and football, modern millennials -- some of whom like the aforementioned sports too -- are increasingly spectating e-Sports. In other words, video games are beyond mainstream -- they are no longer just a hobby, and certainly not just for kids.

Today, HP announces that it is refreshing its "OMEN" gaming brand. These gaming PCs have the normal elegance of high-end HP computers, while also blending in youthful -- yet tasteful -- styling to appeal to gamers and millennials. Even if a consumer isn't necessarily a hardcore gamer, these OMEN branded desktops, laptops, and monitors are drop-dead gorgeous, and should appeal to all PC enthusiasts. The beauty is not skin deep, however, as HP has equipped these machines with high-end specs too.

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When I bought my first-ever iPhone last year -- the 6s Plus -- I was super excited. As a longtime Android user, buying the iconic Apple device was a big deal for me. Not only did I have to have the largest capacity of 128GB, but I demanded the color of my desire -- gold. It was absolutely perfect.

As soon as I received the phone, however, I stuffed it into a case. Unfortunately, this means I never get to see the gold color, nor do I get to enjoy the full beauty of Apple's design. Today, X-Doria announces a new case that not only protects the smartphone from damage, but it lets you largely experience the natural aesthetics of the iPhone as Apple intended.

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While there are many great streaming music services nowadays, such as Spotify and Apple Music, the best value is Google Play Music. Why do I say this? Well, it costs $9.99 monthly for an individual, but the real killer-deal is the $14.99 offer for the six-person family plan. The icing on the cake is free access to YouTube Red, delivering an ad-free video-watching experience, plus exclusive content.

Today, Google Play Music on Android is getting even better, thanks to a partnership with TripAdvisor. The popular travel-planning app can now deliver regional playlists, meaning you can hear the music popular with locals when you travel. Best of all? If you do not already subscribe to Google's streaming music service, you will be awarded two months free for just downloading the TripAdvisor Android app. This is absolutely brilliant for the upcoming summer season.

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When you are either building a desktop or upgrading a laptop, one of the first things you should focus on is the SSD. This drive will hold your precious data -- it is not the component where you should try and save money. Even if it costs a bit more, it is totally worth spending on a reliable brand.

For solid state drives, Samsung is one of the best such brands. While its drives can be a bit pricey, you get what you pay for. Today, that company announces that the budget-focused 750 EVO SSD is gaining a 500GB option to go along with 120GB and 250GB. Even better, the SATA drive is getting wider availability starting in June. Yes, the SSD is leaving the confines of emerging markets and heading to major ones, such as the USA, China, Europe, and Korea.

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If you are still using a SATA SSD, you probably think your drive is fast. Yeah, compared to an old-school mechanical hard drive it is. However, the future of computing is all about NVMe PCIe drives. These solid state drive variants break past the SATA barrier, delivering amazing performance that older SSDs can't match.

Today, Toshiba announces the ultra-fast OCZ RD400 NVMe PCIe SSD. This drive offers insane read and write speeds, making it a wise choice for both gamers and PC enthusiasts alike.

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Gaming mice are pretty common nowadays -- there are many makes and models available. Some are rather basic, while some have advanced features, such as adjustable weights and DPI. Many of them light up for aesthetic purposes too. It can be almost impossible to stand out from the crowd.

Today, however, SteelSeries begins selling a gaming mouse that raises the bar. The wired Rival 700 gaming mouse is modular, and has some unique features -- an OLED display and tactile feedback. Believe it or not, the price is quite affordable too.

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