It’s no coincidence HP’s Omen X gaming laptop arrives after the eclipse

Why it matters to you

With the Omen X laptop, HP is targeting the do-it-yourself system building crowd who want the same insanely high performance in a mobile notebook form factor.

During Gamescom, HP introduced its latest product for high-end PC gaming, the Omen X laptop. The company first introduced its Omen brand in May 2016 with the launch of a desktop and two laptops focused on the mainstream gamer. HP followed up with the high-end Omen X desktop for the do-it-yourself PC builder who targets only premium components, and a backpack PC for virtual reality in June. Now HP is targeting the same DIY crowd with a premium Omen X-branded laptop.

Below you will find three of many configurations. HP says a starting point will be $2,300 and include the GeForce GTX 1070 graphics chip, 8GB of DDR4 system memory, and a G-Sync-enabled screen with a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution at 120Hz. Note that HP will overclock the GTX 1070 in the factory, providing a faster base clock speed of 1,480MHz and a boost clock speed of 1,695MHz. The overclocked GTX 1080 speeds are provided below.

Screen size:
15.6 inches
15.6 inches
15.6 inches
Resolution:
1,920 x 1,080 at 120Hz
3,840 x 2,160
3,840 x 2,160
Screen brightness:
300 nits
300 nits
300 nits
Adobe RGB Support:
72 percent
95 percent
95 percent
G-Sync:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Processor:
Intel Core i7-7700HQ

Intel Core i7-7700HQ
Intel Core i7-7820HK

Graphics:
GeForce GTX 1080
(No Max-Q)
GeForce GTX 1080
(No Max-Q)
GeForce GTX 1080
(No Max-Q)
Overclocked
GPU speeds:
1,582MHz base
1,771MHz boost
1,582MHz base
1,771MHz boost
1,582MHz base
1,771MHz boost
Memory:
16GB DDR4
Optional 2,800MHz
32GB DDR4
Optional 2,800MHz
32GB DDR4
Optional 2,800MHz
Storage 1:
256GB NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD
256GB NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD
1x 1TB NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD
Storage 2:
N/A
N/A
1x 1TB NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD
Storage 3:
1TB 7,200 RPM SATA HDD
2TB 7,200 RPM SATA HDD
1TB 7,200 RPM SATA SSD
Ports (left):
1x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A
1x Headphone jack
1x Microphone jack
1x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A
1x Headphone jack
1x Microphone jack
1x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A
1x Headphone jack
1x Microphone jack
Ports (back):
1x Gigabit Ethernet
2x Thunderbolt 3 Type-C
1x Mini DisplayPort
1x HDMI 2.0a (HDR)
1x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A
1x Gigabit Ethernet
2x Thunderbolt 3 Type-C
1x Mini DisplayPort
1x HDMI 2.0a (HDR)
1x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A
1x Gigabit Ethernet
2x Thunderbolt 3 Type-C
1x Mini DisplayPort
1x HDMI 2.0a (HDR)
1x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A
Ports (right):
1x SD card reader
1x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A
1x SD card reader
1x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A
1x SD card reader
1x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A
Audio:
DTS HeadphoneX
Audio by Bang & Olufsen
2x stereo speakers
DTS HeadphoneX
Audio by Bang & Olufsen
2x stereo speakers
DTS HeadphoneX
Audio by Bang & Olufsen
2x stereo speakers
Dimensions (inches):
1.43 (H) x 16.73 x 12.88 (D)
1.43 (H) x 16.73 x 12.88 (D)
1.43 (H) x 16.73 x 12.88 (D)
Weight:
10.69 pounds
10.69 pounds
10.69 pounds
External power supply:
330 watts
330 watts
330 watts

To keep the GTX 1080 cool, HP said it had to take a much more aggressive approach with the Omen X than it did with its other gaming laptops based on the GTX 1070. To do this, the company ripped out the optical drive to pack in two large fans that reside in the left and right rear sections of the laptop. These fans pull air in through vents mounted on the bottom and eject hot air through two exhaust vents on the sides and two on the back. HP said it managed a 61.7 percent increase in airflow using this method.

Also included in the cooling layout is an integrated vapor chamber connecting the two fans, and four 3.5mm heat pipes that pull the heat away from the processor and graphics chip, and away from the PC gamer in the process. Overall, this cooling design enables the company and users to overclock the CPU, GPU, and the memory.

Given that HP’s new cooling design pulls heat away from the gamer, Omen X’s keyboard should stay somewhat cool. It relies on mechanical switches developed exclusively for this laptop and provides the clicky tactile feel similar to Cherry MX Blue switches. Other features include per-key RGB LED illumination, N-key rollover on every key, a 2.5mm travel distance, an oversized space bar, and eight programmable macro keys.

That said, the entire notebook supports full RGB lighting across eight different zones. These zones can be highly customized through HP’s revamped Omen Command Center, which is also used for prioritizing network traffic, overclocking the CPU and memory on the fly, customizing the macro keys, and running a benchmark to see if the laptop is performing optimally.

Finally, HP says you can easily upgrade the laptop’s storage and memory via a special access panel that is secured by Philips-head screws. HP did not say what the memory limit would be at the time of this publication, but you are likely facing a 32GB memory ceiling versus 64GB or 128GB in a desktop.

HP’s new Omen X laptop will be made available in November for a starting price of $2,300. It follows a batch of Omen-branded accessories announced in June spanning peripherals to displays.

HP’s first Omen X gaming laptop is built for overclocking

With an over-the-top gaming desktop, you expect certain things: lots of overclocking potential, expansion, a mechanical keyboard… and, of course, windows and RGB lighting to show it off. Some laptops already include a few of those features, but all of them? That was rare… until now, at least. HP is unveiling its first laptop with Omen X branding (the appropriately-titled Omen X Laptop), and it’s clear this is built for gamers who can’t bear to part with what they’re used to on desktops.

To start, the 17-inch system’s vapor chamber cooling and high-powered fans are good enough to allow both your own processor overclocking (it’s an unlocked Core i7, naturally), memory overclocking and factory-overclocked graphics chips up to the GeForce GTX 1080. Need to upgrade? There’s a single panel that offers access to the RAM, storage and other user-replaceable parts. There’s a mechanical keyboard with programmable macros, too. And even compared to many other gaming laptops, it’s flashy — on top of per-key RGB lighting on the keyboard, there’s a translucent window to let you see inside.

It’s not a slouch in other areas. You can choose between either a 1080p 120Hz (with G-Sync) or 4K depending on whether you prioritize frame rates or sheer pixel density. There’s DTS Headphone support for simulated surround sound, a RAID 0 option for faster storage, Bang & Olufsen-tuned speakers and a slew of ports that include two Thunderbolt 3 connectors and a headset-ready dual audio jack.

The Omen X Laptop should reach Europe, the Middle East and Africa sometime in November for €2,799 (about $3,300). We’ve asked HP for American launch details and will keep you posted. The price definitely isn’t outlandish for an all-out gaming laptop (that’s Acer’s territory), but nor would we call it a tremendous value — as with most systems like this, it’s about performance (and bragging rights) above all else.

Follow all the latest news live from Gamescom here!

Source: HP

Nintendo’s second ‘Classic’ console is better, but not perfect

When Nintendo announced that the already impossible to find NES Classic Edition was going out of production, there were two reactions: outrage that the company could introduce such a popular product and fail to meet demand, and curiosity — why would Nintendo kill off the most popular throwback console ever made?

The official line is that it was never intended to be a long-term product, but in the months that followed, you had to wonder if the original retro console was merely discontinued to make way for a sequel: The Super Nintendo Entertainment System Classic Edition.

Now, that console is almost ready to hit the market, and Nintendo promises that it will make up for the original’s shortcomings. The company expects to ship “significantly more” of the new console than the original. And we hope it does — because if the short preview we had with the console last week is any indication, it’s going to sell just as fast as its predecessor.

If you’ve played Nintendo’s original throwback console, you know what to expect out of the SNES Classic Edition. It’s a tiny replica of the original Super Nintendo, and it catches all the right nostalgic hooks. The dimensions are perfect, the colors are spot on, and the power and reset buttons not only work, but feel nearly identical to the respective click and springy tactility of the originals. On its own, it’s a charming desk toy — but actually flick the power button on, and magic happens: 21 of the best 16-bit Nintendo games are piped directly to your TV over HDMI.

The experience is more or less the same as it is with the SNES Classic’s 8-bit predecessor — offering players a horizontal carousel of each game. In fact, it’s almost identical, offering the same interface underneath a Super Nintendo theme. There are some extras in this version, however. Tapping up still lets players choose between CRT Filter, 4:3 and Pixel Perfect visual modes — but now you can choose various frames to dress up the unused screen space that surrounds your gameplay. You can flank your session of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past with a wood veneer or a pastel color palette, or stage a game of Super Mario World between a set of theater curtains.

The Classic menu’s save state system has been upgraded, too. Now, in addition to having four instant save slots for each game, players can rewind up to 40 seconds of gameplay from the moment they made their latest save. Lose a boss battle in Mega Man X, but you’re all out of lives? Use a save state, activate the rewind feature, and try again. This mode also doubles as a screen saver — activate the “My GamePlay Demo” mode, and the SNES Classic will play rewind data if you linger on the menu screen for too long.

The rewind feature is handy and seems like a nice evolution on the original Classic’s save state system, but accessing it is still a little cumbersome. If you’ve started a game on the SNES Classic, the only way to get back to the menu is by pressing the physical reset button on the tiny console itself. There’s no button combination or menu button on the console’s controllers. That’s kind of a double-edged sword. Not being able to call up the menu from the controller makes for a worse user experience, but the lack of a dedicated menu button makes the gamepad identical to the SNES original. It may not be the best user experience, but it is a very pure one.

Just like the original Nintendo Classic Edition, there doesn’t seem to be a way to load new games on the miniature SNES, but for most gamers, there is at least one experience they haven’t played before: Star Fox 2. This direct sequel to the original Star Fox was nearly completed before it was cancelled, and has never seen an official release — making Nintendo’s new throwback console the exclusive platform for an extremely rare piece of gaming history.

We only got to spend a few minutes with the unreleased game, but for Nintendo history buffs, it’s a real treat. Not only does Star Fox 2 feel like an authentic, complete game, but fans of the series can see its influence on titles that followed — from the alternative tanks and vehicles in Star Fox 64 to the strategic map of Star Fox Command. It’s a little surreal to play a fully realized, yet unreleased, classic Nintendo game, too.

In all, we were only able to spend about half an hour with the SNES Classic Edition, but Nintendo’s next nostalgia toy is off to a good start. It has everything that made the original great — a fantastic library of games, an adorable form factor, excellent controllers and good emulation. Still, it’s not perfect. With no way to access the home menu from the controller, it still might be inconvenient in your living room.

The jury’s also still out on if Nintendo’s second throwback console will avoid the supply issues of the original — but assuming it does and you can find one, the SNES Classic has the chops to scratch your 16-bit nostalgic itch.

Facebook to Make ‘Safety Check’ a Permanent Feature on its Mobile App

Facebook’s Safety Check service is set to become a permanent feature of the social media network on both mobile and web, with the next update of the iOS app.

The Safety Check feature first appeared in 2014 to help users let loved ones know they are safe if they are close to a crisis. Facebook announced on its Disaster Response page that the service will roll out to become a permanent feature over the next few weeks.

Safety Check helps our community let loved ones know they are safe during a crisis, find and give help, as well as learn more about a crisis. There’s now a single place to go to see where Safety Check has recently been activated, get the information you need and potentially be able to help affected areas. We will gradually roll this out in the upcoming weeks starting today.

Facebook’s example images show the service being accessed on Android, but the Safety Check feature should make its way onto iOS with the next update to the app, as an additional option in the Explore tab, which can be displayed by tapping the hamburger button in the lower right corner of the interface.

Facebook recently made several changes to the News Feed to make it easier to read and navigate, with tweaks to the design and the use of chat bubbles to display comments. Facebook is a free download for iPhone and iPad available on the App Store. [Direct Link]

Tag: Facebook
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WhatsApp borrows Facebook’s colorful status updates

Now you can switch your WhatsApp status update to suit your mood. You can stitch photos and videos together to make it look like Snapchat — or you can make it look more like its parent company’s status updates. The chat application has updated its iOS and Android versions, giving it the ability to post text-based updates (with links, if you want) against colorful backgrounds, just like Facebook’s. It’s a non-essential feature, really, but it’s definitely more eye-catching than your typical text-based status — we won’t judge if you want to use it to catch people’s attention.

As usual, you can control who sees your status and find out who viewed it by clicking on the eye icon at the bottom of the screen. You can also respond to any status if you have no idea how to start a chat with a contact. According to 9to5mac, you can now start making more colorful status updates on iOS and Android, but you can only view them on the web for now.

Source: 9to5mac, VentureBeat

‘Life is Strange: Before the Storm’ trailer showcases its story

Since Max and her time traveling powers won’t be in Life is Strange’s upcoming prequel, you might be wondering what to expect. Well, this new trailer out of Germany’s Gamescom expo can give you a pretty good idea of what Before the Storm is all about. While Max was out of the picture three years before the events in the first game, her best friend Chloe found another friend in Rachel Amber — yes, that Rachel — who leads a double life.

Unfortunately, it’s more of a cinematic trailer that doesn’t delve into gameplay. But it was previously revealed that the game features an ability called “Backtalk,” which lets Chloe provoke characters or talk her way out of sticky situations.

The first of the title’s three episodes entitled “Awake” is dropping on August 31st and will be available for the PS4 and the Xbox One. It’s worth noting that this isn’t the sequel the original game’s developers are working on, though, so you’ll have another entry in the franchise to look forward to.

Follow all the latest news live from Gamescom here!

Source: Life is Strange (YouTube)

Here’s how to figure out what size TV to buy

It’s easy to say simply bigger is better when it comes to TVs, but the truth is, choosing the right TV involves lots of considerations beyond the sheer size of your new set. What’s the ideal viewing distance? What about picture quality vs. TV size? And where do you even find a TV’s measurements? You may not have a multi-thousand-dollar home theater, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have the perfect TV for your setup. Here are a few tips for picking what size TV to buy in any situation.

Will it fit? This is the first question to ask yourself before buying a TV. Before you start shopping, decide where you want your TV. Once you’ve chosen the location, measure the height, width, and depth for that spot; there may be limitations due to the size of an entertainment center or space on a wall. Later, when shopping for a TV, you can match this up with the measurements of the TV itself, not its screen-size, to make sure the TV will fit. Some 55-inch TVs are larger than others, so always look to the TV’s dimensions for a concrete answer as to whether it will fit.

The second size-related consideration is the TV’s stand. If you aren’t going to mount your television on a wall, you’ll need to use the TV’s stand, and many of today’s TV’s have feet at the far edges. You need to ensure that wherever you plan to place the TV is wide enough to accommodate the stand.

Next, think about where people will be watching the TV from. There are viewing distance calculators (here is another calculator) that can recommend a screen size based on where you sit. If you don’t want to bother with an online calculator, just keep in mind this simplified calculation that you can do on your own: Measure the distance from your seat to the TV in inches and multiply by .84. That should give you the ideal screen size. (Use the calculator on your smartphone, Rain Man.)

This method isn’t perfect, however. For example, if you are sitting 8 feet from the TV you would want an 80-inch screen, and that’s just not realistic for most of us. For that reason, we suggest that most living rooms will do best with at least a 50-inch TV. You can technically go as big as you like, provided you don’t sit just four feet from your TV.

There’s one reason not to just shoot for the biggest TV you can get, and that has to do with picture quality. If you are trying to maximize screen size purely based on budget, you’ll find that you can probably get a TV as big as your wallet will allow, but you’ll have to sacrifice some on picture quality this way. We find it’s best to balance size with picture quality for long-term watching enjoyment. Keep that in mind as you peruse our suggestions for the best TVs you can buy.

Finding a new TV shouldn’t be a hard process. With these tips you’ll have no trouble finding a TV that will fit your home and give you the best TV quality. Just remember, find the TV’s measurements, calculate the ideal viewing distance, and balance picture quality with size.

The video accompanying this articles features the Samsung Q9F 65-inch TV, the BDI OLA stand, and the Sony A1E OLED.

How to buy a soundbar: An in-depth explainer

These days, even the cheapest televisions are rocking pristine, high definition displays. You can sort through Amazon’s bargain bin, pinching pennies like Scrooge McDuck, and still come away with a TV screen detailed enough to make out the individual hairs on a spider’s leg. But in the age of 4K Ultra HD and HDR color, there’s still one aspect where modern TVs don’t cut it: sound. It’s no surprise that wallpaper-thin screens don’t have room for top-tier speakers, but what’s the best solution? The most popular option: soundbars. They’re slim, unobtrusive, and easy to set up. But figuring out how to buy a soundbar can be difficult, given the diversity of options and the confusing numerical suffixes attached.

Digital Trends is here to help, and our soundbar buying guide will tell you what you need to know when shopping for one. So, read on and prepare yourself for a viewing experience filled with sweet, sweet sound. Don’t let your dreams be dreams, as Shia Labeouf would say!

Subwoofers

Regardless of which soundbar you choose, it’ll be a major improvement over the internal speakers of just about any modern TV. Still, there are decisions to be made, and the first one’s extra important: Should you get a soundbar with a subwoofer, or without?

Subwoofers are speaker drivers dedicated to the reproduction of low-pitched frequencies — think rumbling bass, exploding bombs, the whump-whump of a helicopter’s blades. A soundbar with a subwoofer will add punch and rumble to TV shows and movies, creating a fuller sound and more effectively projecting audio across the room. If you plan on watching lots of action movies or movies with epic music, you’ll likely want a subwoofer.

Connections

For the most part, you’ll need just one cable to connect a soundbar with your TV. Some soundbars use optical cables, which work fine, but HDMI is preferable: The HDMI interface supports more audio formats than does optical, which effectively means you’ll get higher quality sound that’s more immersive with HDMI.

Optical

HDMI

Stereo
Stereo
 Dolby Digital

Dolby Digital

DTS
DTS

DTS:X

Dolby Digital Plus

Dolby Atmos

Additionally, HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) is a protocol that appears on most HDMI cables, allowing the television and soundbar to more easily exchange information. It also allows you to control the volume with a single remote. Some soundbars can even act as entertainment hubs for your home, where you can plug in all your gear for simple, easy control.

Channels and Dolby Atmos

When shopping for soundbars, you’ll probably come across some confusing numbers. Labels like ‘2.0,’ ‘3.1,’ or ‘5.1’ are there to let you know A) how many channels a soundbar has, and B) whether or not it has a subwoofer. The first number (before the period) refers to the number of drivers, and the number after the period tells you whether there’s a subwoofer (1) or not (0). Two channels means two drivers, left and right, while three means left, right, and center; five adds channels for rear or surround sound speakers.

Often, a soundbar will come with wireless satellite speakers and a wireless subwoofer. These don’t need to connect physically with the soundbar itself, but they’ll need a power source, so you’ll have to position them near wall outlets (or get creative).

If there’s a third number — i.e. 5.1.4 — that means the soundbar supports Dolby Atmos surround sound. The number itself refers to the number of dedicated drivers that fire upwards at the ceiling, bouncing sound down to create an enveloping effect. Some surround speakers are actually built to be mounted on the ceiling itself. Atmos is currently the most popular surround sound technology, capable of processing 128 distinct objects in a given scene.

IR sensors and placement

Assuming you want to be able to control your TV (you do), you’ll need to be careful with where you place a soundbar. Typically, soundbars are at home directly below your TV — even mounted on the wall, if that’s where the TV is. But if you’re using an entertainment center, you don’t want the soundbar sitting on it in front of your TV’s infrared (IR) sensor, which is where the remote control directs its signal.

Some soundbars come with IR repeaters; these pass the signal through the soundbar itself to the TV’s sensor. If yours has one, awesome — just make sure the soundbar isn’t obscuring the screen. Generally speaking, you want a soundbar that’s approximately the same width as your TV; soundbar proportions are mostly an aesthetic factor, though, and shouldn’t be a deal breaker.

Soundbases

If a soundbar isn’t for you, or if you’ve got more available real estate on an entertainment center below the TV, it’s worth looking into soundbases as well. A soundbase is similar to a soundbar, except noticeably thicker, with more room for big drivers and built-in amplification. If you want bass without the hassle of a standalone subwoofer, a high-quality soundbase might be a good fit.

If you do decide on a soundbase, consider its measurements to make sure the TV stand will either fit on the surface of the soundbase, or that the soundbase will slide under the TV and fit comfortably between its legs.

The video guide attached to this post features the AmazonBasics 2.1 Channel Bluetooth Sound Bar with Built-In Subwoofer.

Google may be readying its own smart headphones

Google might be planning a foil to smarter-than-usual headphones like Apple’s AirPods or the Bragi Dash line. After some sleuthing inside the Google app, the team at 9to5Google has found references to headphones that would use Google Assistant to augment the usual physical controls. Nicknamed Bisto, they would let you hear and reply to notifications using your voice — you wouldn’t have to reach for your phone to punch out a reply. Other details are scarce, but a mention of a Google Assistant button on a left earcup suggests these are over-ears (possibly wireless) instead of earbuds.

As for release details? Those are also up in the air. Given the timing, though, it wouldn’t be shocking if Google had Bisto ready for its now-customary fall hardware event, which could include new Pixel phones, a reborn Chromebook Pixel and an entry-level Home speaker. An Assistant-powered set of cans definitely makes sense. Google is betting big on AI, and that means making AI technology available wherever possible.

Via: Variety

Source: 9to5Google

Early iOS 11 Videos Appear to Depict Prototype Control Center and App Switcher Gestures

A pair of videos that appear to depict prototype iOS 11 features have been found “deep within the iOS 11 beta image” by developer Guilherme Rambo, who has recently become known for digging deep into iOS code to suss out upcoming features.

According to Rambo, the files were created in May, suggesting they depict iOS 11 iPhone functionality that was scrapped rather than functionality that has not yet been implemented, but there’s technically no way to tell.

In the first 13 second video, the Lock screen is demonstrated. The implementation of the Lock screen is similar the current iOS 11 implementation, but there are small changes.

This is interesting pic.twitter.com/X4GLiMy1c5

— Guilherme Rambo (@_inside) August 21, 2017

While a swipe downwards pulls down the Lock screen cover and a swipe left opens up the widget view, a swipe right brings up the Control Center. In the current incarnation of iOS 11, a right swipe brings up the camera and not the Control Center.

The second video shows a different implementation of the App Switcher. Instead of double tapping on the Home button, the App Switcher is accessed through a swipe upwards on the Home screen, the gesture used for Control Center. Control Center remains accessible as an app at the right side of the screen, though.

This is also interesting pic.twitter.com/JdYDhZDkev

— Guilherme Rambo (@_inside) August 21, 2017

In the current version of iOS 11, an upwards swipe on the Home screen brings up the Control center and not the App Switcher, but the video is reminiscent of the way App Switcher works on an iPad. On the iPad, an upwards swipe on the Home screen brings up the dock, while a longer swipe brings up the App Switcher with access to Control Center.

It’s possible Apple originally planned to mimic the iPad App Switcher functionality on the iPhone, but later decided against it for a more familiar set of gestures. It’s also possible, though, that the videos offer up a look at how iOS 11 will work once the iPhone 8 is released, since it has no Home button.

If there are any significant changes to the way iOS 11 is used on the upcoming iPhone 8, we’ll know soon enough. We’re expecting Apple to introduce the new iPhone in September, and if past event dates are any indication, we have just two to three weeks to wait.

Related Roundup: iOS 11
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