Best iOS app deals of the day! 6 paid iPhone apps for free for a limited time

Everyone likes Apple apps, but sometimes the best ones are a bit expensive. Now and then, developers put paid apps on sale for free for a limited time, but you have to snatch them up while you have the chance. Here are the latest and greatest iOS app deals available from the iOS App Store.

These apps normally cost money and this sale lasts for a limited time only. If you go to the App Store and it says the app costs money, that means the deal has expired and you will be charged. 

Stock Ticker

Stock TickerPicker is an intuitive, powerful application that lets you view watch lists of real-time stock quotes as well as stock/charting data for technical analysis about any listed company.

Available on:

iOS

Herotime

The world’s first and only single-button multi-stopwatch enables a single coach to time several athletes at once with maximum precision no matter the start configuration.

Available on:

iOS

iSchool

i-School is a study organizer and Timetable Schedule Planner, both for schools and universities. It’s very minimalistic but has everything you need.

Available on:

iOS

Beer Boards

Find out what’s on draught at all your favorite craft beer bars. Post your favorite bar’s beer boards for other people to see, check out upcoming events at each bar, and add them to your calendar.

Available on:

iOS

Cloud Hub

Cloud Hub is a simple documents reader and manager for the iOS platform. It allows you to download or upload files from cloud services like Box, Dropbox, OneDrive, Drive, and iCloud.

Available on:

iOS

Studio Music Player

This simple and smart player takes headphones like EarPods, and many other models, to a completely new level, providing playback quality usually delivered by professional studio headphones.

Available on:

iOS

Microsoft clarifies its vision for Windows Mixed Reality, partners with Steam

Why it matters to you

Windows Mixed Reality will partner with Steam for content, and two tiers of hardware requirements have been defined.

Microsoft has announced a major new software distribution platform that will be supported by Windows Mixed Reality. Steam content will run on Windows Mixed Reality headsets. Joe Ludwig of Valve had a few words to say about the importance of Microsoft’s building Steam support into its solution:

“The introduction of Windows Mixed Reality headsets is big step forward for VR. Working with Microsoft to include SteamVR compatibility with these devices is also a big step in growing VR as an open platform for developers and consumers. With a broad range of hardware options available from leading PC manufacturers, the Steam community will have more choice than ever to experience the amazing potential of VR.”

This reveal came as part of a broad push to put Windows Mixed Reality in the limelight at the start of IFA 2017, Europe’s largest consumer electronics show. We went hands-on with Windows Mixed Reality just prior to the show’s start, and found it to be a promising start at an affordable price point. Yet its present focus on virtual reality (VR) rather than augmented reality (AR) led us to wonder at Microsoft’s use of the word “mixed.”

In response, the company has clarified what the term means. A Microsoft representative told Digital Trends the following over email.

“While the upcoming Windows Mixed Reality headsets are closer to the full digital end of the spectrum, they do begin to incorporate elements of the physical world, such as environmental awareness and full 6DoF hand input via motion controllers. Furthermore, Windows Mixed Reality is a unified platform that spans the entire spectrum, enabling the upcoming headsets to elegantly interface with devices closer to the physical reality end of the spectrum, such as Microsoft HoloLens. Our vision has been clear from the start, and this is why we call all of it Windows Mixed Reality.”

Thus, in a sense, Microsoft’s believes its vision is realized with HoloLens representing AR, the new headsets representing VR, with the Windows Mixed Reality platform tying all of the hardware together.

Microsoft has also announced some tantalizing tidbits about the PCs that will be coming to host the platform. The company is introducing two levels of Windows Mixed Reality-compatible PCs depending on the kind of content that MR customers want to run and the level of performance at which they want to run it.

• Windows Mixed Reality PCs: Desktop and laptops equipped with integrated graphics will be able to drive immersive content at 60 frames per second. Prices will start at $500.
• Windows Mixed Reality Ultra PCs: Desktops and laptops equipped with discrete graphics will be able to run content at 90 frames per second

Again, this is just a teaser, as Microsoft will be releasing more details on the Windows Mixed Reality platform during IFA 2017. This includes the recently revealed Dell Visor, which is priced at $400 and can offer support for full motion control.

Dell joins the hologram party with its own mixed reality Windows headset

Why it matters to you

The Dell Visor will start at $400, and boast resolution higher than the HTC Vive or Oculus Rift. Handheld controllers cost an extra $100.

As Microsoft promised, headsets mixing virtual and augmented reality together are now beginning to pop up in the last quarter of 2017. One of these is the new Dell Visor, which does not give you mutant powers to blast through concrete using laser eyeballs. Instead, it supports the Windows Mixed Reality platform baked right into Windows 10 Creators Update, for both productive and entertainment experiences.

To get you caught up, “virtual” reality engulfs you in a virtual environment to battle robots, explore new worlds, and so on. But this experience can also flow into the workspace, enabling you to create a virtual office with shelves that display “grabbable” apps. We saw an example of this in October 2016 when Microsoft revealed the first Creators Update installment for Windows 10.

Meanwhile, “augmented” reality brings virtual objects into the real world, such as holograms. As we saw in October’s presentation, you could shop online for furniture, and bring those items into the real world to see how they look in your home or office. Of course, the presentation used Microsoft’s $3,000 Hololens headset, but you won’t pay anything close to that with the mixed reality headsets for Window 10.

As for the Dell Visor, the company set out to design a headset for long-term wear. That includes “well-cushioned” head and face padding, a cable management clip that secures the cable to the back of your head, and a “weight-balanced” headband (read more in our hands-on review of Windows Mixed Reality). This headband pulls the pressure off your nose and cheeks, which should make the Visor more comfortable than previous headsets.

According to Dell, its headset includes a flip-up visor so you can quickly jump back into reality without having to rip the entire headset off your noggin. That also should be a convenient feature for everyday use.

Other Dell Visor extras include a thumbwheel for adjusting the headset to any skull size, and an anti-stain coating that keeps the Dell Visor clean. It relies on two 1,440 × 1,440 LCD panels, which is higher than the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift’s two 1,080 × 1,200 screens. Those headsets produce a total screen resolution of 2,160 × 1,200, so expect the Dell Visor’s resolution to be even higher.

News of Dell’s headset arrives after the developer edition of Acer’s mixed reality headset went live on Microsoft’s store at the beginning of August. The hardware requirements for running both are likely the same, such as an Intel Core i7 processor with six cores or more (or AMD’s Ryzen 7 1700), 16GB of system memory, 10GB of free space, and a Nvidia GeForce GTX 980 (or 1060) graphics card. AMD’s Radeon RX 480 or better works too.

The Dell Visor mixed reality headset will be made available to pre-purchase for $400 in September and will begin shipping on October 17. A pack of two controllers will be sold separately for $100.

Windows Mixed Reality hands-on preview

More than two and a half years ago, I flew across the country to Seattle to try out HoloLens, an ambitious augmented reality project Microsoft had been secretly working on beneath (of all places) the campus visitor center. Last week, I travelled a much shorter distance, to the Microsoft Store in midtown Manhattan – and got a peek at just how the ideas behind HoloLens have translated to mainstream virtual and augmented reality.

Microsoft sells a Development Edition of the Hololens today for $3,000, which is a neat product, but not something for you or me. We probably aren’t building apps or figuring out how to incorporate mixed reality environments into our company’s workspace. We want to play games, explore new environments, and interact with our friends and colleagues in new ways.

For you and me, there’s Windows Mixed Reality.

No external gizmos required. These headsets can map a play space using the headset’s cameras.

Microsoft set up shop in the top floors of its Fifth Avenue retail facility to showcase a variety of headsets under that tagline from partners such as HP, Lenovo, Acer, and Dell. (Dell released details on the Dell Visor headset Monday morning.) Mixed Reality headsets are low-cost goggles you strap around your head just like an Oculus Rift or HTC Vive or Samsung Gear VR, and they run a special Windows environment optimized for virtual reality. The lineup will go on sale this fall, with headset and motion control bundles starting at $400. Those will work best with more-powerful computers featuring discrete graphics chips; systems that work with integrated graphics chips, and contain slightly more processing power of their own, will go for $500.

If you think that sounds a lot like the premise of those other VR headsets, give yourself a gold star. Everyone in technology thinks virtual reality or augmented reality (or some mixture of the two – hence the name) will transform the world of computing. Microsoft’s efforts are broader than what you’ll find in today’s best VR headsets, considering the company’s first-mover lead in the AR space, but the new line of products primarily caters to what consumers want now: games. After all, gaming is the primary reason people buy VR headsets today.

Windows Mixed Reality systems aim to address many of the pain points with current systems. No external gizmos are required, as these headsets can map a play space using the headset’s cameras. They also don’t require third-party applications. The compatible Windows Mixed Reality software is built right into Windows 10.

I was blown away when I first tried on HoloLens. Would Mixed Reality prove as cool?

Slipping into mixed reality

On a steamy New York summer in a not so well-ventilated store, I stepped into a back room and fitted an Acer headset over my head. It looks and feels exactly as you’d imagine — picture blue ski goggles with rigid plastic rather than stretchy rubber bands around your head. A foam pad surrounds the eyepiece (I could feel “Oculus Face” setting in) and a dial at the back tightens to hold it to your head. The system can be put on by one person, but a perhaps overly cautious Microsoft employee insisted on helping me, tightening the dial through a series of clicks until it was comfortable. Well … somewhat comfortable.

Four headset that promise to bring consumers into the world of Mixed Reality.

The Acer headset felt heavier than the Playstation VR and less secure than the Rift, which you can dance in without having it slip off. The weight of the Acer system was a pressure on my nose and cheekbones that I wanted to relieve by adjusting the placement on my head, though honestly, overall it wasn’t too disconcerting. It was just very much there. A cord ran off the headset on the left side, which irritated my ear a bit, and connected the system to a laptop.

The system slipped over my eyeglasses comfortably, and once on my head, I didn’t give a second thought to my lenses. Almost every VR headset claims to be compatible with glasses, but most fail when you try it. Of course, your results will vary, depending on the size of your frames.

Overall, the Acer headset felt no better or worse than other headsets I’ve worn, and it doesn’t solve a fundamental issue of virtual reality. I don’t want to hang out in ski goggles. No one does.

Hand controllers are optional, and give you a way to interact with the world around you, as well as the built-in head tracking. Microsoft’s controllers look a lot like Oculus Touch: a molded plastic grip, triggers at your pointer fingers, a touchpad and a wand for each thumb. A “home” button lives under the ball of your thumb to get you out of an application and back to the main environment, though it lacked a dot or raised button to let you know where it was. Details, details. Still, once your thumb knows to go for it, you can find it.

Microsoft says its headset works just fine connected to an ordinary laptop. To test that, I wore the system when connected to a high end Razer Blade Pro (2017), a notebook PC with discreet graphics, and a more mainstream HP Spectre x360 “Sphinx” 13, a notebook PC with integrated graphics. The headset never lagged or stuttered during either demo.

Virtual reality? Windows has an app for that

Windows 10 has evolved with the Creators Update, but at heart it’s still based around the same 2D desktop metaphor as Windows 3.1. The same holds true for Apple’s MacOS 10 High Sierra. A 3D interface requires a new metaphor, so Microsoft has built a virtual house environment for you in its mixed reality space. You use the thumbstick to look around, and the thumbpad to jump forward to a different location. Or maybe it’s the other way around? I kept getting confused, but I only had half an hour or so with the headset; after a little use movement became second nature.

Within the various rooms of your virtual house, floating movie screens hang like pictures on the wall, and are used to access programs. Since Microsoft is focused on gaming at launch, the company filled my demo house with a variety of game demos. You can imagine how HP would build a house with a window to tech support, or Dell would build an out-of-the-box experience with a link to its software store. It’s a far more fleshed out and robust environment than that I’ve seen in other VR systems, though I didn’t have as much time to explore it as I would have liked.

But back to the games! I tried several titles that were exactly as immersive and wonderful as those you’ve tried or read about from other platforms. Standing before one of the hanging windows, I clicked a button to enter the app it stood for, and a virtual reality world leapt up to surround me: Space Pirate Trainer. Using one controller as a lasso to rope in alien invaders, I picked them off like an ace.

I also tried Arizona Sunshine, where I blew up shambling zombies with a six-shooter in the Wild West. Using the hand controllers, I picked up cartridges and an ammo belt, and found myself reloading and killing like a professional zombie hunter. I even fought off assailants in Superhot by throwing ninja stars at them, just as is possible with the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.

Then there’s the grand-daddy of the space: Minecraft. Minecraft in VR is vastly superior to the desktop version. After building a 3D world you can explore it, leaping from block to block like a gazelle. Using the thumbstick to look around, I found a likely spot, and hit the thumbpad to jump there.

The hand controls were intuitive in all the games I tried, and the system was robust, though admittedly still a little buggy. One or two games crashed, although they reloaded almost instantly at the push of a button. I also found myself frequently pushing the wrong button on the controller and zapping out of the game environment, which was frustrating.

A few paragraphs ago, I wrote that gaming was “as immersive and wonderful” as on other platforms, and that’s both a pro and a con. Sure, it’s great that Microsoft can equal what’s already available, through partnerships like one announced this morning with Steam. But all those games are already available elsewhere. That leaves Windows Mixed Reality without a much-needed killer app.

The VR/AR competition goes bonkers

As Microsoft has developed its platform, the world around it has evolved. What seemed groundbreaking two and half years ago is still impressive, but in that time virtual reality has exploded, and is becoming very complex. Windows Mixed Reality will have plenty of competitors.

Google said at its I/O conference in May that it plans to launch a whole array of standalone virtual reality headsets which won’t require a separate phone. Samsung has the exact same plan, something the company calls “Odyssey.” And there’s the looming threat of Apple’s ARkit, which turns an ordinary iPhone into an augmented reality marvel.

People want more affordable, more intuitive VR, and Windows Mixed Reality will bring it.

Microsoft’s advantage is supposed to be in augmented reality, given the head start HoloLens gave the company. Yet, based on the demo Microsoft gave me, I couldn’t tell how AR fits into the whole system, which is very much designed for virtual reality. So far, Windows Mixed Reality appears to be virtual reality with a different name. So I asked Microsoft where the AR was.

“We believe that mixed reality represents a spectrum spanning everything in between full physical reality and full digital or virtual reality,” a spokeswoman told me. “While the upcoming Windows Mixed Reality headsets are closer to the full digital end of the spectrum, they do begin to incorporate elements of the physical world, such as environmental awareness and full [six degrees of freedom] hand input via motion controllers.”

Two and a half years ago, I saw the future. An electrician remotely helped me rewire a light switch, drawing on the wall before my eyes to show me which wires to touch and which to stay away from. That’s the real power of AR, and it makes tremendous sense.

Microsoft’s Mixed Reality headsets don’t show that side of the equation just yet. They instead focus on a more convenient, slightly less expensive alternative to current virtual reality headsets. That falls short of the vision originally promised – but it may still be enough to move VR forward. People want more affordable, more intuitive VR, and Windows Mixed Reality will bring it.

Short on phone storage? Here is our guide on how to uninstall apps in Android

We’ve seen the reports — millennials are lacking in loyalty toward apps. When you look at the average user’s app habits, it is easy to see why. There are now more than 3 million apps available on the Google Play store, and not every app is going to be perfect for you. Your device’s memory is limited and it is filled with apps that you no longer want — it is time to purge your device of the apps you never use. But how do you cleanse your device of unplayed games, lifestyle apps, and otherwise? Have no fear! We heard your terrible plight and we put together this simple guide on how to uninstall apps in Android.

As a small tip before we begin, if you do not intend to reinstall the app you are removing, take the time to “Clear Data” on any app you are uninstalling. You can usually find this button in the “Storage” section near to the “Uninstall” button in each of our guides. This ensures that as little data from the app as possible will be left on your device post-uninstallation. If you are just removing an app temporarily — for instance, to make space for an operating system update — feel free to leave the data there, so it will still be available when you put the app back onto your device later.

Finally, some apps are not able to be removed. This is usually the case with apps crucial to your device’s daily running, or — in more insidious cases — apps that have been added by your carrier or phone manufacturer. Thankfully, even though you cannot remove these apps without rooting your phone (here is our guide on rooting your Android phone if you are interested in that), you can usually disable them, and we added small notes to each of our guides to highlight how you can do this. But be warned — be sure you know what you are disabling. While it is difficult to brick a phone by disabling apps, it never hurts to be sure you are turning off something you really don’t need. If you need a more in-depth guide to purging your phone of these apps, then check out our guide on removing bloatware.

How to uninstall apps in stock Android

Stock Android is the base level of Android, as created by Google. Though stock Android is found primarily on Google’s Pixel and Nexus devices, you will find that many phone manufacturers put a light modification on top of stock on their devices (usually referred to as “skins”). Since stock Android is the underlying skeleton of most Android phones out there, you usually only need to look further than this entry if your phone has a more heavily modified Android skin, like Samsung’s TouchWiz (recently re-dubbed Experience).

Uninstalling apps from stock Android is simple:

Select the Settings app from your app drawer or home screen.
Tap Apps or Applications.
Scroll down the list until you find the app you want to remove and tap it.
Select Uninstall.

If you come across one of the apps that cannot be removed, then simply follow the same instructions as above, just substituting Disable for Uninstall in the final step. That should ensure that the offending app — while not removed totally — cannot be activated or impact your day-to-day activity.

How to uninstall apps in Samsung Experience

Simon Hill/Digital Trends

Samsung’s modified Android skin has evolved a lot over the years. Previously known as Touchwiz, it was maligned as one of the worst Android skins in the world — to the point where Google almost stepped in to make it better. The Samsung Experience that comes with the Galaxy S8 (and now with the Note 8) is a much better experience and one that changed a lot since the bad old days, giving us the smooth and sleek feel we have come to crave.

Strangely enough, uninstalling apps on Samsung Experience is actually easier than on stock Android. While you can still navigate to the Settings app, to the app list, and so on — Samsung has given users an even quicker shortcut to uninstall or disable unwanted apps.

Find the app you wish to uninstall.
Long-press (tap and hold your finger) on the app, and wait for a pop-up menu to appear.
Tap Uninstall.
If you want to uninstall multiple apps on an S8 or newer, then you can tap “Select multiple items” from the same pop-up menu, select each app you want rid of, then tap “Uninstall” at the top left. This option isn’t available on older Samsung phones like the S7 Edge pictured.

To disable apps that are not able to be uninstalled, simply follow the same steps again, only tapping Disable instead of Uninstall.

That is the simple low-down on how to uninstall apps in Android and one of the most popular non-stock Android devices out there. Looking to refill that space after doing a good clear-out? Then check out our up-to-date list of the best Android apps currently available, or just relax with our pick of the best Android games.

The refreshed Dell XPS 13 laptop is a pretty and speedy way to get things done

Why it matters to you

Dell’s updated XPS 13 laptops include new technologies offered by 8th gen Intel Core CPUs, and Thunderbolt 3 connectivity.

In addition to conjuring up a huge new load of Inspiron 7000 2-in-1s and clamshell laptops, Dell also snuck in a refreshed XPS 13 laptop just prior to the opening of IFA in Berlin. Arriving in Silver and Rose Gold flavors, the device is based on a handful of seventh-generation Core i3/i5/i7 “U” processors, and two of the latest eighth-generation i5/i7 “U” chips. The XPS 13 also includes a battery promising up to 22 hours of run-time when the screen is set to a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution.

This is what is on the new Dell XPS 13 menu:

Screen size:
13.3 inches
Screen resolution:
3,200 x 1,800 with optional Touch
1,920 x 1,080 no Touch
Screen brightness:
400 nits
Screen contrast ratio:
1,000:1
Processor (7th Gen):
Intel Core i7-7560U
Intel Core i5-7200U
Intel Core i3-7100U
Processor (7th Gen with vPro):
Intel Core i7-7660U
Intel Core i5-7300U
Processor (8th Gen):

Intel Core i7-8550UIntel Core i5-8250U

Graphics:
Intel HD Graphics 620
Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640
Intel UHD Graphics 620
Memory:
4GB / 8GB / 16GB LPDDR3 @ 1,866MHz
Storage:
128GB SATA SSD
256GB PCI Express SSD
512GB PCI Express SSD
1TB PCI Express SSD
Audio:
Waves MaxxAudio Pro
2x one-watt stereo speakers
Dual array digital microphones
Connectivity:
Killer 1535 Wireless AC (up to 867Mbps)
Bluetooth 4.1
Ports:
2x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A (one charges)
1x SD card reader
1x Headphone jack
1x Thunderbolt 3 Type-C
Camera:
720p webcam
Battery:
60WHr, not replaceable
Keyboard backlighting?
Yes
Precision touchpad?
Yes
Dimensions (in inches):
7.88 (D) x 11.98 x 0.33 to 0.60 (H)
Starting weight:
2.7 pounds non-Touch
2.9 pounds with Touch
Operating system:
Windows 10
Ubuntu Linux
Chassis:
CNC machined aluminum
Carbon fiber composite palm rest with soft touch paint
Availability:
September 12
Starting price:
$800

Fundamentally, this is the same Dell XPS 13 that we’ve consistently called the best laptop you can buy. Now, though, it offers a quad-core processor instead of a dual-core chip — though, to be clear, base models will continue to ship with the 7th gen Intel Core dual-core. If you do upgrade to the quad-core ship, you should see a big boost in multi-core performance.

Aside from the processor, the Dell impresses with strong hardware across the board. It offers up to a terabyte of fast PCI Express hard drive space, up to 16GB of RAM, and a screen resolution of up to 3,200 x 1,800. While the small XPS 13 is still more about portability than speed, it can become quick in high-end configurations.

The look and feel of the design hasn’t been touched. “The top cover and base are precision cut from a single block of aluminum,” Dell says. “The carbon fiber palm rest is strong like aluminum, and thin, but feels cooler to the touch. Machined aluminum provides strength and durability.” Frankly, Dell still doesn’t need to overhaul the system. It remains one of the thinnest, lightest, most attractive laptops sold today.

Given that the screen bezels are so narrow, Dell shoved the built-in webcam to the bottom left of the screen’s lower bezel. Thin, horizontal speakers are mounted on each side of the laptop, but there’s no sign of a dedicated microphone jack.

Dell’s new XPS 13 laptop will land on September 12 for a starting price of just $800.

The refreshed Dell XPS 13 laptop is a pretty and speedy way to get things done

Why it matters to you

Dell’s updated XPS 13 laptops include new technologies offered by 8th gen Intel Core CPUs, and Thunderbolt 3 connectivity.

In addition to conjuring up a huge new load of Inspiron 7000 2-in-1s and clamshell laptops, Dell also snuck in a refreshed XPS 13 laptop just prior to the opening of IFA in Berlin. Arriving in Silver and Rose Gold flavors, the device is based on a handful of seventh-generation Core i3/i5/i7 “U” processors, and two of the latest eighth-generation i5/i7 “U” chips. The XPS 13 also includes a battery promising up to 22 hours of run-time when the screen is set to a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution.

This is what is on the new Dell XPS 13 menu:

Screen size:
13.3 inches
Screen resolution:
3,200 x 1,800 with optional Touch
1,920 x 1,080 no Touch
Screen brightness:
400 nits
Screen contrast ratio:
1,000:1
Processor (7th Gen):
Intel Core i7-7560U
Intel Core i5-7200U
Intel Core i3-7100U
Processor (7th Gen with vPro):
Intel Core i7-7660U
Intel Core i5-7300U
Processor (8th Gen):

Intel Core i7-8550UIntel Core i5-8250U

Graphics:
Intel HD Graphics 620
Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640
Intel UHD Graphics 620
Memory:
4GB / 8GB / 16GB LPDDR3 @ 1,866MHz
Storage:
128GB SATA SSD
256GB PCI Express SSD
512GB PCI Express SSD
1TB PCI Express SSD
Audio:
Waves MaxxAudio Pro
2x one-watt stereo speakers
Dual array digital microphones
Connectivity:
Killer 1535 Wireless AC (up to 867Mbps)
Bluetooth 4.1
Ports:
2x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A (one charges)
1x SD card reader
1x Headphone jack
1x Thunderbolt 3 Type-C
Camera:
720p webcam
Battery:
60WHr, not replaceable
Keyboard backlighting?
Yes
Precision touchpad?
Yes
Dimensions (in inches):
7.88 (D) x 11.98 x 0.33 to 0.60 (H)
Starting weight:
2.7 pounds non-Touch
2.9 pounds with Touch
Operating system:
Windows 10
Ubuntu Linux
Chassis:
CNC machined aluminum
Carbon fiber composite palm rest with soft touch paint
Availability:
September 12
Starting price:
$800

Fundamentally, this is the same Dell XPS 13 that we’ve consistently called the best laptop you can buy. Now, though, it offers a quad-core processor instead of a dual-core chip — though, to be clear, base models will continue to ship with the 7th gen Intel Core dual-core. If you do upgrade to the quad-core ship, you should see a big boost in multi-core performance.

Aside from the processor, the Dell impresses with strong hardware across the board. It offers up to a terabyte of fast PCI Express hard drive space, up to 16GB of RAM, and a screen resolution of up to 3,200 x 1,800. While the small XPS 13 is still more about portability than speed, it can become quick in high-end configurations.

The look and feel of the design hasn’t been touched. “The top cover and base are precision cut from a single block of aluminum,” Dell says. “The carbon fiber palm rest is strong like aluminum, and thin, but feels cooler to the touch. Machined aluminum provides strength and durability.” Frankly, Dell still doesn’t need to overhaul the system. It remains one of the thinnest, lightest, most attractive laptops sold today.

Given that the screen bezels are so narrow, Dell shoved the built-in webcam to the bottom left of the screen’s lower bezel. Thin, horizontal speakers are mounted on each side of the laptop, but there’s no sign of a dedicated microphone jack.

Dell’s new XPS 13 laptop will land on September 12 for a starting price of just $800.

Giphy’s new view counts show just how popular GIFs are

Why it matters to you

It’s hard to see how popular a GIF’s gotten without scouring the web for clues, but Giphy’s public view counts make it easier than ever.

If you’ve ever shared a GIF on Twitter or Facebook Messenger, chances are you used Giphy to do it. The GIF-making platform’s 200 million users publish more than 25,000 GIFs per minute on Messenger alone, Giphy says. And now, those users are gaining a way to see how much traction their GIFs are getting.

Giphy is adding YouTube-like view counts to every GIF in its library, the company announced. Every time a Giphy GIF is viewed on Facebook, Twitter, Apple’s iMessage, WhatsApp, or the web (regardless of how many times it loops), that’s one count, and each view adds to the cumulative view count of the Giphy artist or partner who uploaded it.

via GIPHY

It’s not just new GIFs that are getting metrics. Giphy is publishing historical view counts for channel pages, so that users can see how many times GIFs have been viewed since the channels’ inception.

“Behind this simple feature is a lot of complex engineering,” Tom Smith, Director of Product at Giphy, said in a statement. “We are counting several billions of views happening on Giphy, as well as those happening across the thousands of platforms powered by our API. Whether in messaging apps, social platforms, or sites across the whole internet, we power expression — and all that is reflected in GIF view count.”

Giphy’s view count rollout comes as an increasing number of GIF-sharing platforms experiment with monetization .

via GIPHY

Tenor (formerly Riffsy), which powers GIF searches in Google’s Gboard, Duck Duck Go, Kika, and TouchPal, charges brands like Starbucks and Dominos for prime placement in search results. Advertisers pay to map their content to terms like “good morning,” for example, so that their content shows up first in results.

Giphy, for its part, runs a production studio in Los Angeles for customers like Fox, McDonald’s, Nike, Paramount, and Converse, where it creates sponsored GIFs using 3D animation, puppets, and live actors. It also works with Viacom and South Park Studios to make GIFs of TV shows and cartoons.

View counts are one way Giphy can assure its partners that their money’s being well spent.

New Dell Inspiron PCs pack 8th Gen Intel CPUs, optional UHD screen, Geforce GPU

Why it matters to you

Dell has a new batch of Inspiron 2-in-1 and clamshell laptops ripe for the picking if you’re on the market for a new mobile PC with the latest Intel CPU.

Prior to the IFA 2017 show in Berlin, Dell unleashed a huge batch of PCs spanning traditional notebooks, 2-in-1 devices, and gaming machines. This year, we have the revamped Dell Inspiron family packing Intel’s freshly baked eighth-generation processors and in some cases, Nvidia GeForce 940MX discrete graphics.

Dell Inspiron 17 7000 2-in-1

The Dell Inspiron 17 7000 is the largest mobile computing device of the updated Inspiron batch. This model, like all the others listed afterward, is based on in-plane switching (IPS) panel technology, which provides wide viewing angles and rich colors. This screen is backed by graphics built into the new eighth-generation Intel processor, or an optional Nvidia GeForce 940MX discrete graphics chip.

In addition to transferring data at up to 5Gbps, the included USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C port can be used to charge the laptop. It also supports the DisplayPort protocol, meaning you can use it, along with the HDMI port, to connect two external displays. Of course, that is not really ideal if you have the 2-in-1 in a tent, stand, or tablet position.

Take note of the two different kinds of solid-state drives this device will support. An SSD connecting via SATA 3 uses the same lanes as a hard drive and can push speeds around up to 560MB per second. An SSD that uses a PCI Express connection is a whole different ballgame, pushing speeds above one gigabyte per second. They are quick, to say the least, but could mean a 2-in-1 model with a higher price tag in the end.

Screen size:
17.3 inches
Screen type:
In-Plane Switching (IPS)
Screen resolution:
1,920 x 1,080 with touch
Processor:

Intel Core i5-8250UIntel Core i7-8550U

Graphics:

Nvidia GeForce MX150 (2GB)
Nvidia GeForce 940MX (4GB)
Memory:
Up to 16GB DDR4 at 2,400MHz
Single storage:
128GB to 1TB SATA SSDs
256GB to 512GB PCI Express NVMe SSDs
1TB to 2TB 5,200RPM HDDs
Dual storage:
128GB SATA SSD
1TB 5,400RPM HDD
Audio:
Waves MaxxAudio Pro
2x speakers
Connectivity:
Wireless AC 1×1 (up to 433Mbps)
Wireless AC 2×2 (up to 867Mbps)
Bluetooth 4.2
Ports:
1x Headphone / microphone combo
1x HDMI 1.4a
1x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C (receives charge)
1x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A (charges devices)
1x USB 2.0 Type-A
1x SD card reader
Cameras:
720p webcam
Infrared camera for facial recognition
Precision touchpad:
Yes
Battery:
56 WHr 4-cell
Dimensions:
(in inches)
10.93 (D) x 16.24 x 0.87 to 0.89 (H)
Starting weight:
6.6 pounds
Color:
Era Gray Aluminum
Availability:
October 3
Starting price:
$950

The Insta360 One takes amazing 360-degree flying-camera shots, no drone needed

Why it matters to you

Clever software and advancing technology are making it possible to take amazing, highly creative 360-degree videos without spending a fortune.

Making your own visually stunning 360-degree movie no longer needs to be a long, complex, or hugely expensive endeavor. The new $300 Insta360 One 360-degree camera has it all — 4K video recording, 24-megapixel stills, and an incredibly versatile software suite with editing features that make it seem like you had a film crew with you. And the camera even gives you a way to capture those cool flying-camera shots without the need for a drone.

The Intsta360 One camera has three primary shooting modes. You can capture 3,840 x 1,920 pixel 4K video at 30fps, or at 60fps when the resolution drops to 2,560 x 1,280. The camera shoots 360-degree stills at 24 megapixels. It directly plugs into your iPhone’s Lightning port using a pop-out connector, and it can be used with its own holder, or you can use the standard tripod screw mount to connect it to any regular tripod or other mount.

What about those flying-camera shots? You can attach the device to a drone if you like, but fit the Insta360 One to the Insta360 selfie stick and it’s automatically removed from the video or picture, creating the impression that the camera is up in the air. The really cool part comes when you engage the 240fps slow-motion mode, and whirl the camera around your head using the stick, or a custom lasso-style attachment. Who needs a drone when you can create “Bullet Time” shots so easily, on your own?

All of this would be a wobbly, vomit-inducing nightmare without any kind of image stabilization, of course, so it’s good news the Insta360 One has six-axis image stabilization onboard.

Insta360 One’s software makes clever use of your 360-degree videos, by converting them into fixed-frame Full HD videos — which are easier to share — that look like they were made by multiple people and multiple cameras. Using the Insta360 One’s FreeCapture mode, a recorded video is edited on your phone as if you were actually shooting it there and then, allowing you to focus in on, and follow, the action as it happens. You can also tell the video to track a subject automatically with the SmartTrack feature. FreeCapture meanwhile lets you change perspective as you edit, adding different effects — including the Tiny Planet view we liked from the Insta360 Air 360-degree camera — as you go.

If that wasn’t enough, the Insta360 One has an HDR mode (which is very helpful for 360-degree images), easy Facebook Live and Periscope sharing, a manual mode for adjusting exposure, ISO, shutter speed, and more, plus a RAW setting for stills. The camera comes with a MicroSD card, a stand, and the lasso-like string for flying-camera shots. The selfie stick is an extra, and an IP68 water-resistant case can also be purchased separately.

The Insta360 One is $300 and will be available to buy from September 5 through Amazon, B&H Photo, and Insta360’s own online store. It’s for the iPhone only at the moment, but an Android version is in development and will come soon.