Tim Cook to Open Oxford University’s ‘The Foundry’ Innovation Space Tomorrow

Apple CEO Tim Cook will cut the ribbon at a new Oxford University startup hub and co-working space called “The Oxford Foundry” tomorrow, reports The Financial Times.

The Oxford Foundry is described as an “innovation space” and “entrepreneurial hub” open to all University of Oxford students. The Foundry website says it will aim to create a diverse and creative environment, deliver workshops on skills-building, self-awareness, and team-building, and offer startup incubation and support in the Amersi Foundation Accelerator space.

A select number of startups will be accepted throughout the year, with The Foundry providing co-working space and a “suite of support” to accelerate growth. Several tech leaders including Brent Hoberman, Phil Libin, and Biz Stone helped design the space.

The launch of The Oxford Foundry is set for tomorrow, with Apple CEO Tim Cook to attend alongside several other tech entrepreneurs. Cook will participate in a Q&A session.

We’re opening our doors! Join us for drinks and canapés, and take part in a panel Q&A with special guest Apple CEO Tim Cook, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, Prof Louise Richardson, Dean Peter Tufano of Saïd Business School and Ana Bakshi, Director of the Oxford Foundry. We invite you to take a look around our brand new space in the company of other entrepreneurially-minded people from across the University and beyond.

The new building is located on Hythe Bridge Street in a building that was formally the Oxford Ice Factory and it’s open from 8am to 10pm every day of the week.
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A tale of two hero devices: Google Pixelbook versus Microsoft Surface Pro

Windows 10 and Chrome OS are duking it out in the classroom and in the corporation, with low cost and ease of administration being Google’s trump cards and Microsoft relying on the popularity and sheer inertia of Windows to maintain its lead. But neither company is leaving anything to chance, with both pushing hero devices to show just what their platforms can do. We take a look at the Google Pixelbook versus the latest Microsoft Surface Pro to see which does the best job of showing off.

The Surface Pro is a detachable keyboard tablet 2-in-1 machine, while the Pixelbook takes the convertible route to transforming from a clamshell notebook to a tablet. Read on to see which formula better represents each company’s most important PC initiative.

Microsoft Surface Pro (2017)

Google Pixelbook

Dimensions
11.50 x 7.93 x 0.33 (in) tablet only
11.60 x 8.54 x 0.53 (in) with keyboard
11.4 x 8.7 x 0.40 (in)
Weight
1.69 to 1.73 pounds depending on processor, tablet-only
2.32 to 2.41 pounds with keyboard
2.4 pounds
Keyboard
Full size detachable Type Cover keyboard
Full size backlit keyboard
Processor
Up to seventh-generation Intel Core i7
Up to seventh-generation Intel Core i7
RAM
4GB, 8GB, or 16GB
8GB or 16GB
Graphics
Intel HD Graphics 615
Intel HD Graphics 620
Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640
Intel HD Graphics 620
Display
12.3-inch LED-backlit display with IPS technology
12.3-inch LED-backlit display with IPS technology
Resolution
2,736 x 1,824 (267 PPI)
2,400 x 1,600 (235 ppi)
Storage
Up to 1TB PCIe SSD
Up to 512GB NVMe SSD
Networking
802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.1
802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2
Ports
USB 3.0 Type-A, mini-SD card reader, Surface Connect, Type Cover port, headset jack
USB-C 3.1 (2), headphone jack
Webcam
1080p webcam
720p webcam
Operating System
Windows 10
Chrome OS
Battery
45 watt-hour
41 watt-hour
Price
$800+
$1,000+
Availability
Now (Microsoft Store)
Base model now (Google Play Store)
Review
4.5 out of 5 stars
Hands-on

Design

Microsoft’s Surface line has a well-deserved reputation for combining a futuristic, elegant, and recognizable design with outstanding build quality. The highly refined 2017 version of the Surface Pro is perhaps the company’s best example yet of how that combination can result in a machine that simply exudes quality. In our review, we found the Surface Pro to be a near-perfect rendition of the detachable keyboard tablet — it’s thin, light, and powerful and feels like a solid chunk of fused metal and glass. It also looks great, with its magnesium alloy chassis lending both a subdued but attractive silver color throughout. The hinge is smooth and securely holds maintains a user-customizable angle and the keyboard connects to the tablet with a satisfying snap.

The Google Pixelbook is an equally attractive machine, and it too uses subtle design cues, such as the glass cutout on the back of the chassis, to position it alongside the Pixel smartphones as a member of Google’s hardware family. It’s also thin and light, roughly the same as the Surface Pro when that machines detachable Type Cover is included, and the Pixelbook’s aluminum chassis is solidly built and also exudes a sort of futuristic elegance. As a 360-degree convertible, the Pixelbook offers the same ability to morph from a notebook into a tablet and it’s thin enough to be useful with a pen.

It’s difficult to choose between these two machines in terms of design and build quality. They’re both great looking and well-built examples of the best hardware available on their respective platforms. Indeed, the one knock that we had against the Pixelbook — overly large bezels — also applies to the Surface Pro.

Winner: Tie

Performance

The Surface Pro packs a lot of power into its very thin chassis, with the top-end seventh generation Intel Core i7-7660U as the highest end option. In our testing, the Surface Pro was competitive with much larger traditional notebooks, and indeed landed some of the highest dual-core scores ever in our processor benchmarks. Even the integrated graphics are beefed up, with Intel Iris Pro Graphics 640 adding a little extra oomph. The addition of up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB PCIe solid-state disk (SSD) options combine to make the Surface Pro a no-compromise performance machine in spite of its svelte frame.

The PixelBook is also powerfully equipped, with up to seventh-generation Intel Core i7 CPU (although not the high-end Core i7-7660U as in the Surface Pro), up to 16GB of RAM, and up to 512GB of NVMe SSD. That’s plenty of power for the relatively lightweight Chrome OS, and indeed sets the Pixelbook up well to provide good performance when running Android apps.

It’s difficult to directly compare performance between Windows 10 and Chrome OS machines. The latter is simply more lightweight and doesn’t always put the same demands on the processor, RAM, and storage as does Windows 10. However, all of the Pixelbook’s power will likely be wasted on Chrome OS whereas the Surface Pro’s components will be more fully utilized when running the demanding universe of Windows desktop applications.

For that reason, we the Surface Pro the win, while noting that the Pixelbook nevertheless represents the pinnacle of Chromebook computing power.

Winner: Surface Pro

Keyboard, Mouse, and Pen

Microsoft has provided two excellent accessories that complement the Surface Pro and allow it to transform from a touchscreen tablet to a productivity notebook and drawing easel. The Premium Type Cover not only adds a splash of comfortable color to the Surface Pro thanks to its Alcantara fabric, but it also provides for an excellent typing and mousing experience with deep key travel, a precise response, and a relatively large and responsive touchpad.

The newest Surface Pen is the most precise yet at 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, it offers tilt support for enhanced drawing and handwriting along with the best button support, and it enjoys low latency and therefore fast response at 21ms.

The Google Pixelbook is also well equipped for input. The full-size keyboard seems to have a solid action and the touchpad appears to be responsive. We haven’t had a chance to fully test either, however. The Pixelbook’s pen is also precise at more than 2,000 levels of pressure sensitivity and it offers the same kind of tilt support as the Surface Pen. Google says it’s more than twice as responsive, with only 10ms latency.

In short, this is another area where the Pixelbook and Surface Pro appear to be evenly matched. It’s important to note, though, that the Surface Pen will get more meaningful use given the extensive ink support baked into Windows 10 and a variety of important applications. The Surface Pen also has additional buttons, and thus added functions, that the Pixelbook stylus lacks.

Winner: Surface Pro

Connectivity

One area of weakness across the entire Surface mobile line is connectivity, where Microsoft maintains its antagonistic attitude toward the newest USB-C connectivity standard. The Surface Pro is no different, and it’s relatively poorly equipped in terms of connectivity. There’s a single USB-A 3.0 port, a micro-SD card reader, a Surface Connect port that fits Microsoft’s proprietary accessories, the Type Cover port, and a 3.5mm headset jack. That’s it.

The Google Pixelbook, on the other hand, fully embraces the new port standard, but it’s otherwise also relatively poorly connected. There are two USB-C 3.1 ports (no Thunderbolt 3 support) and a headphone jack. Google didn’t even see fit to include an SD card reader to make it easy to transfer images and video from a camera.

With either machine, you’ll need to attach a dongle to perform certain tasks. With the Surface Pro, you’ll need a dongle for newer USB-C peripherals or a hub to attach more than one thing at a time, and with the Pixelbook you’ll need a dongle for legacy devices or to attach a simple SD card reader. Both devices are limited in terms of connectivity, but the Pixelbook scores some points for having two of the newest ports where the Surface Pro has none.

Winner: Google Pixelbook

Display

Display quality has long been a strength of the Surface line of machines, and the Surface Pro is no different. Microsoft championed the 3:2 aspect ratio that’s a bit taller and so great for productivity (with some video letterboxing), and the Surface Pro makes great use of it with its 12.3-inch PixelSense display that’s incredibly sharp at 2,736 x 1,824 (267 PPI). Color support is very good, while contrast and brightness are excellent, meaning the just about everything you might use a tablet for is going to look great on the Surface Pro’s display.

The Pixelbook also utilizes the 3:2 aspect ratio, with a 12.3-inch 2,400 x 1,600 (235 PPI) display that’s not quite as sharp as the Surface Pro but still more than sufficient to make text and images look great. We haven’t subjected the Pixelbook’s panel to our colorimeter and so we can’t testify to its objective qualities, but it looked plenty bright and colorful during our hands-on review.

Both machines have nice displays, but the Surface Pro is simply sharper than the Pixelbook and that deserves some weight for machines that you’re likely to hold relatively close to your face in tablet mode.

Winner: Surface Pro

Portability and Battery Life

When you include the Type Cover in the Surface Pro’s overall dimensions — which is only fair given that the keyboard is attached on the Pixelbook — the two machines are very similar in weight, thickness, and overall dimensions. The Surface Pro is a bit thicker than the Pixelbook, but that’s really a wash when you consider that you can detach the keyboard and make the Surface Pro even thinner in tablet mode. In short, both machines are thin and light enough that you can toss them into a backpack and pretty much forget that you’re carrying them around.

In terms of battery life, we’ve already established that the Surface Pro is the first Microsoft detachable tablet that might provide for a full working day of battery life depending on the workload. Its battery is about 10 percent larger than the Pixelbook’s while both machines are similarly equipped. On the other hand, Chrome OS is arguably a less demanding OS than Windows 10 and so that might offset the difference in battery size.

Once again, it’s hard to pick a winner.

Winner: Tie

Availability and Price

The Surface Pro starts out at $800 when configured with an Intel Core m3, 4GB of RAM, and a 128GB SSD. That doesn’t include the $160 Signature Type Cover, however, making an apples to apples comparison price $960. The Surface Pen is also optional and run $100. At the high end, the Surface Pro runs $2,700 for an Intel Core i7-7660U, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD, and thus $2,860 with the Type Cover. That makes for a very expensive Windows 10 2-in-1.

The Pixelbook is also pricey, starting out at $1,000 for a Core i5, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB SSD and running all the way up to $1,650 for a configuration with Core i7, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB SSD. The Pixelbook pen isn’t included either and also runs $100.

While in absolute terms the Pixelbook is less expensive at the high end than the Surface Pro, it’s just as relatively more expensive than its Chrome OS peers where the next most expensive option, the Samsung Chromebook Pro, runs $550. Both are the most expensive 2-in-1s you can buy on their respective platforms, but we can’t overlook the fact that in absolute terms, at least, the Pixelbook is the less expensive machine.

Winner: Google Pixelbook

Surface Pro Takes the Win

More than usual, a user’s choice of platform has an inordinate impact on which of our comparison machines, the Microsoft Surface Pro or the Google Pixelbook, is the better machine. Some people need all of the power and desktop application support that Windows 10 affords, while others are just fine with the more lightweight and internet-reliant Chrome OS.

We’re going to award the Surface Pro the win, however, because at this point Windows 10 provides a better inking experience that’s more integrated into the platform, and really takes advantage of the Surface Pro’s excellent pen support. In addition, the Surface Pro is slightly more powerful than the Pixelbook, and that power brings a more complete computing experience to its users.

While both machines play are hero devices for their operating system, we think that the Surface Pro has more room to leverage the hardware thanks to Windows 10 offering so much extra value compared to the efficient, but feature-limited, Chrome OS.

Stretchy, strong, and reusable, Adventure Tape is like duct tape on steroids

Why it matters to you

If you’re a travel enthusiast or an extreme sports lovers, this super-powered duct tape is for you.

Whether you want to fix a leaky hose, fix the strap on your backpack, fashion an emergency sling, or protect the chainstay on your bike, an impressive new adhesive tape that’s just arrived on Kickstarter may be the answer. Adventure Tape is like duct tape on steroids — it’s a polyurethane tape that’s superstrong, stretchy, waterproof, reusable, and highly abrasion-resistant.

“Adventure Tape can be used for many things, but currently we are targeting outdoor and travel enthusiasts and survival or extreme sports lovers,” Anthony Cooper, co-founder of Adventure Tape, told Digital Trends. “The biggest advantage it has over duct tape is that it won’t leave any sticky residue, so it can be removed from your kit without any damage. That’s especially handy for not ripping up your bubble wrap.

“The advantage it has over string and rope is that it’s very strong and stretchy, so it won’t tear — and because it’s self-tacky, it can easily be fastened with a simple tuck, meaning no complicated knots. It can [also] replace existing items: our favorite has to be the snowboard binding fix. There’s nothing more annoying than being stuck at the top of the mountain, and no way to get down. It won’t damage your boots or boarding pants, and most importantly, because of its stretchy properties, it will still have a little give in it, and thus allow for a wider range of movement.”

Cooper says the multipurpose Adventure Tape was discovered by accident in 2014 when Adventure Tape team member and “mad-keen downhill mountain biker” Richard Brooks developed a thin polyurethane tape to protect the chainstay on his Enduro racing bike, since no other product on the market met his standards. Two years later, Cooper found the material in a drawer, and immediately spotted its wider potential.

The tape is currently available for pre-order on Kickstarter, and is available in thin (9mm), medium (18mm) and thick (43mm) widths. The Adventure Tape team is asking for $20,000, which it plans to use to buy a machine that will allow for mass production of the adhesive tape to introduce it to a wider audience. A pledge of $24 will get you a pack with one each of the three sizes of tape — plus a free buckle for good measure. Other price points are available. Shipping is set to take place in April 2018.

Bug on T-Mobile website allowed hackers to access account info

Why it matters to you

If you’re a T-Mobile customer, you don’t want your account information so easily accessible.

Another day, another privacy issue. Until last week, a T-Mobile website allowed hackers to gain access to personal information like email addresses, T-Mobile account numbers, and more, using only the customer’s phone number. The story was first reported by Motherboard, which said that T-Mobile fixed the issue one day after Motherboard asked the company about it.

Discovered by security researcher Karan Saini, the flaw basically allowed hackers who knew or guessed your phone number to gain valuable information that could then be used in a social engineering attack or even to gain access to other personal information elsewhere online. That put 76 million T-Mobile customers in danger of having their data compromised.

Even more concerning is the fact that, according to Saini, it would have been pretty easy for an attacker to write a script that automatically retrieved all account details through this bug. As part of the bug, hackers could also access a user’s IMSI number, which is basically a unique identifying number for customers. Using that, hackers could do things like track a user’s location, intercept texts and calls, and more. On top of that, the number could theoretically be used to conduct fraud through taking advantage of the notoriously insecure SS7 network, which is a backbone communications standard.

T-Mobile, for its part, disputes some of the claims made by Saini. Instead of affecting all 76 million customers, T-Mobile says that the bug only affects a small portion of customers. The company also said that it fixed the bug within 24 hours of it being discovered and according to Saini, the company gave him $1,000 for being a part of the T-Mobile bug bounty program, which rewards people who find and report bugs and flaws.

The report comes at a time when it’s looking more and more like Sprint and T-Mobile will announce a merger in the next few weeks. It’s unlikely this report will have an affect on talks about the merger.

There does not seem to be any evidence that any malicious hackers knew about or exploited the bug, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. Either way, we reached out to T-Mobile and will update this story if we hear back.

Bug on T-Mobile website allowed hackers to access account info

Why it matters to you

If you’re a T-Mobile customer, you don’t want your account information so easily accessible.

Another day, another privacy issue. Until last week, a T-Mobile website allowed hackers to gain access to personal information like email addresses, T-Mobile account numbers, and more, using only the customer’s phone number. The story was first reported by Motherboard, which said that T-Mobile fixed the issue one day after Motherboard asked the company about it.

Discovered by security researcher Karan Saini, the flaw basically allowed hackers who knew or guessed your phone number to gain valuable information that could then be used in a social engineering attack or even to gain access to other personal information elsewhere online. That put 76 million T-Mobile customers in danger of having their data compromised.

Even more concerning is the fact that, according to Saini, it would have been pretty easy for an attacker to write a script that automatically retrieved all account details through this bug. As part of the bug, hackers could also access a user’s IMSI number, which is basically a unique identifying number for customers. Using that, hackers could do things like track a user’s location, intercept texts and calls, and more. On top of that, the number could theoretically be used to conduct fraud through taking advantage of the notoriously insecure SS7 network, which is a backbone communications standard.

T-Mobile, for its part, disputes some of the claims made by Saini. Instead of affecting all 76 million customers, T-Mobile says that the bug only affects a small portion of customers. The company also said that it fixed the bug within 24 hours of it being discovered and according to Saini, the company gave him $1,000 for being a part of the T-Mobile bug bounty program, which rewards people who find and report bugs and flaws.

The report comes at a time when it’s looking more and more like Sprint and T-Mobile will announce a merger in the next few weeks. It’s unlikely this report will have an affect on talks about the merger.

There does not seem to be any evidence that any malicious hackers knew about or exploited the bug, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. Either way, we reached out to T-Mobile and will update this story if we hear back.

Google Pixelbook vs Dell XPS 13: Which is the best midrange laptop?

As a firm favorite of our reviewers, the Dell XPS 13 has its own place in our heart (in its various guises), but that’s not to say there isn’t some competition for it out there. The newest fighter to enter the arena is the Google Pixelbook, which is the thinnest Chromebook Google’s ever released. It’s super-portable, pretty powerful, and has a decent price tag. But when you pit it against the Dell XPS 13, who’s going to come out on top?

In this comparison, we’ll take a look at everything from the internal hardware, to the advanced feature sets and pricing of both brands of laptop, to see which one is the best.

Specifications 

Google Pixelbook

Dell XPS 13

Dimensions
11.4 x 8.7 x 0.4 (in)
11.98 × 7.88 × 0.60 (in)
Weight
2.4 pounds
2.7 pounds non-touch display; 2.9 pounds touch display
Processor
7th-generation Intel Core i5 or i7
7th-generation Intel Core i3 or i5, or 8th generation Intel Core i7
RAM
8GB or 16GB
4, 8 or 16GB RAM
Display
12.3-inch LCD IPS display
13.3-inch IPS display
Resolution
 2,400 x 1,600
Full HD (1,920 x 1,080)
QHD+ (3,200 x 1,800)
Storage
128GB, 256GB, 512GB SSD, 512GB (NVME)
256GB, 512GB, 1TB SSD
Wireless connectivity
802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2
802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.1
Ports
2 x USB 3.1-C, 3.5mm headset
2x USB 3.0 Type-A, 1x USB 3.1 Type C with Thunderbolt 3, SD card reader, 3.5mm headset
Webcam
720P webcam
720p HD
Operating System
Chrome OS
Windows 10 Home or Pro
Battery
41 watt-hour
60 watt-hours
Price
$1,000+
$800+
Availability

On sale – most models
On sale
Review
Hands-on

4.5 out of 5 stars (last-generation)

Design

Google took some bold steps with the Pixelbook, emulating its Pixel smartphone design in a notebook format. Although predominantly aluminum, part of the chassis is made from glass, which not only makes it feel like the smartphone, but improves the wireless connectivity, too.

Its bezel is chunkier than some of its contemporaries — Google claims this is to aid in converting it into tablet mode — but it’s still very thin and lightweight. It’s thinner than the XPS 13 by a noticeable margin. It’s lighter too, although only by .3 pounds when compared with the non-touch XPS 13.

Dell’s XPS 13 is somewhat of a classic design at this point, even if it is iterated upon each generation. The latest one has the thin bezels we’ve come to expect from it, holding in the slightly larger 13.3 inch display. It’s built using a combination of aluminum and carbon fiber which helps keep the weight down.

It’s not quite enough to make it lighter than Google’s offering, however. The XPS 13 is also a little thicker, though neither laptop could be considered hefty.

With two laptops matched so closely in terms of portability and premium building materials, it’s hard to definitively say one is better than the other. While we do like the thinner bezel offered by the Dell XPS 13, the Pixelbook’s slightly smaller footprint and weight cut give it the edge in this category.

Winner: Google Pixelbook

Performance

We’ll need to get a full review of the Pixelbook under our belt before we give you the real low-down on how it performs. However, by taking a look at the raw hardware under the hood of each of these laptops, we can get a good idea how capable they should be compared to one another.

Dell’s range of XPS 13 laptops come with varied hardware configurations depending on what you’re willing to spend. At the low-end, it offers Core i3 and i5 CPUs from Intel’s 7th generation of processors, specifically the i3-7100U and i5-7200U. At the higher-end, it offers chips from the new Intel 8th generation, specifically the Core i7-8550U quad-core.

Memory wise it offers between 4GB and 16GB of LPDDR3, and up to 1TB of solid-state storage space.

In comparison, Google’s Pixelbook has a slightly more limited hardware range. Although it too has several different options, it eschews the option of a Core i3 processor, offering in its most basic configuration a 7th-generation Core i5 CPU. It doesn’t name what chip specifically, though we do know that the top end features a Core i7 CPU of the 7th-generation. There’s no 8th-generation processor option at this time.

In terms of memory, you have a choice of 8GB or 16GB of RAM of an unspecified type, and up to 512GB of solid state storage.

Although the Pixelbook is likely to be the faster of the two systems at the low-end thanks to its use of a Core i5 (over an i3) processor, the XPS 13’s support for Intel 8th generation CPUs at the top end could make a big difference. While it’s possible that the use of Windows 10 on Dell’s systems might mean it lags a little behind the Pixelbook’s Chrome OS environment, in terms of hardware potential, the XPS 13 takes the lead.

Winner: Dell XPS 13

Keyboard, mouse, pen and assistant

A laptop is only as good as the ways in which you can interact with it, and both the Dell XPS 13 and Pixelbook offer a variety of methods. You’ll need to pay to have a touch-enabled XPS 13, but the option to tap away on your device is there for both offerings. However, only Pixelbook allows the display to swing back 360 degrees, converting the laptop into a tablet.

Both also offer backlit keyboards, though the Pixelbook’s 0.8mm travel distance is less than the Dell laptop’s 1.6mm, which may give an edge to the Dell. In our hands-on with the Pixelbook, we noted its keyboard was comfortable to use.

The touchpads on both notebooks feature a glass surface and precision inputs, though it’s the Pixelbook’s optional ($100) Pen that might help the Google machine stand out. Said to offer as many as 2,000 different levels of pressure, it has the potential to be a great tool for artists. The Pixelbook also has palm-rejection technology, so you can lean on the screen while using the Pen, and it won’t impact what you’re doing.

Another area where the Pixelbook stands out is the inclusion of Google’s “Assistant.” Using your voice, or the specific Assistant key on the keyboard, you can call up the Assistant, which can give you information about what’s on your screen. This is further improved with the Pen, as you can circle content you’d like to learn more about and ask the Assistant to find it for you, removing steps you might otherwise take to search for it yourself.

The Pixelbook’s extra pen support, 2-in-1 form factor, and Assistant function gives it an edge of the more traditional XPS 13.

Winner: Google Pixelbook

Connectivity

Even though both laptops in this comparison are small, Dell packs quite a few more portsinto the XPS 13’s chassis. It comes with a pair of USB 3.0 ports, a USB 3.1 USB-C with Thunderbolt 3 connector, an SD card reader, and a headset jack. Wirelessly, it supports the latest 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard, and Bluetooth 4.1.

In comparison, the Pixelbook has a pair of USB 3.1 USB-C ports and a headphone jack. Wirelessly, it also supports 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2, giving it a slight edge over the XPS 13 in that regard.

While the Pixelbook’s USB-C is forward thinking, it leaves Type-A devices out in the cold, lacks SD card support, and has no Thunderbolt 3, giving the Dell XPS 13 the edge here.

Winner: Dell XPS 13

Display

Although its common to see a few display options with laptops, Google opted for just a singular offering across its entire Pixelbook line up. Whether you opt for the top of the line or entry-level model, you’ll receive a 12.3 inch LCD IPS display with a resolution of 2,400 x 1,600. That’s pretty respectable and in our hands-on, we thought it looked sharp, bright and colorful.

That technically gives the Pixelbook an advantage over the XPS 13 in the entry-level segment of this comparison, as there the Dell offering is a 13.3 inch 1,920 x 1,080 display. However, at the top end, it has a QHD+ panel with a resolution of 3,200 x 1,800.

While those on a budget will appreciate the higher-quality display in the Pixelbook’s lower-cost models, with Dell’s XPS 13 sporting a larger panel across the range, a higher-resolution display at the top-end, and a thinner bezel design, it’s the clear winner here.

Winner: Dell XPS 13

Portability and battery life

Battery life and portability are a little hard to judge by specifications alone, as usage and hardware configuration can make a big difference to both. However, on paper, both machines have an edge on the other in different ways.

The Google Pixelbook is slightly thinner and lighter than its Dell counterpart, especially when the latter has the touch display. However, the XPS 13 packs a 60 watt-hour battery, equating to around 12.5 hours of battery life, while the Google notebook comes with just 41 watt-hours of power. Google claims that translates to around 10 hours of battery life.

We haven’t tested the Pixelbook but, in our experience, there’s no substitute for capacity. The XPS 13’s battery is 30 percent larger, and we feel confident that will give it an edge in endurance tests.

Winner: Dell XPS 13

Availability and price

The original purpose of the Chromebook brand was to compete in the low-cost laptop game with an efficient, portable device. The Pixelbook is a departure from that, targeting the much more mid-range laptop market, and its pricing reflects that. Starting at $1,000 for the Core i5 model with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, you can spend up to $1,650 on the top-tier model to bump it to a Core i7 CPU with double the RAM and 512GB of storage. You’ll also need to spend an additional $100 if you want the smart Pixelbook Pen.

The Dell XPS 13 starts its pricing at $800, so is certainly the more affordable at the entry level. However, that model comes with a Core i3 CPU and just 4GB of RAM, so it’s fairer to make the comparison with its $1,000 model which has a Core i5 CPU, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of SSD storage just like the Pixelbook. That model, however, does not come with a touchscreen.

At the top end, Dell’s XPS 13 is a little more expensive at $1,750 but sports the newer 8th generation Core i7 CPU along with 16GB of RAM. Its storage is half that of the Pixelbook’s however, at just 256GB. You can upgrade that to 512GB or 1TB, which raises the price to $1,900 or $2,400, respectively.

When it comes to availability, you can order Google’s $1,000 and $1,200 models now, though they won’t ship out until the end of October. We don’t know when the high-end model will be available. As of now all you can do is join its wait list.

In comparison, Dell’s XPS 13 models are all available for purchase, though there is a wait of up to 10 days for the top-end model.

That improved availability gives the Dell XPS 13 a slight edge over the Pixelbook for now. When Google’s notebooks are much more readily available, however, their pricing could be more competitive. There’s a definite battle between value and performance here. Google’s Pixelbook is not as expensive overall, but Dell’s XPS 13 is more capable when tricked out.

Winner: Dell XPS 13

Dell’s pedigree wins out

As solid as both Google’s new Pixelbook seems, at the moment there isn’t much to recommend Google’s offering over the reigning champion of laptops. With older CPUs at the top end, chunkier bezels, a smaller battery, and less connectivity options than the Dell XPS 13, the Pixelbook’s big selling point in this comparison is its weight cut and its alternative inputs.

The Dell XPS 13, on the other hand, has a broader range of hardware and pricing options, has a sleeker bezel design, a larger display and options for a QHD+ resolution panel. Although the Pixelbook may be more competitive when all of its models are available and we’ve had more time to test it out, it’s hard to recommend it over the Dell alternative when the XPS 13 is such a solid buy.

Hard luck for the Pixelbook, but perhaps it will fare better when it takes on the Samsung Chromebook Pro.

Here’s how you can download the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update early

Why it matters to you

If you’re champing at the bit to get Windows 10 Fall Creators Update installed, then here’s how you can gain some early access.

The next major Windows 10 update, Fall Creators Update, is scheduled to being its rollout to the general public on October 17. That’s exactly a week away, and while not everyone will automatically receive the update immediately, there will likely be a way to force the update for the truly anxious. If you just can’t wait until even then, you can now receive the update if you’re willing to join the Windows Insider program.

And, you don’t need to risk using any preview code, either. Rather, as WMPU reports, Microsoft is pushing the Fall Creators Update bits to the Release Preview ring, which is reserved for users who want to early access to actual release code. If you sign up today then you’ll receive the same update that non-Insiders will receive starting next week.

The news comes via the Windows blog, where Windows Insider chief Donna Sarkar posted the following update on Tuesday, October 10:

“As part of final preparations for the general availability of the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update on Oct. 17th, we have begun releasing Build 16299.15 to Windows Insiders in the Release Preview ring. If you are in the Release Preview ring and don’t see this build offered yet – be patient as it will be rolling out over the course of the next few days to everyone in the Release Preview ring.”

You can check out everything that’s coming in Windows 10 Fall Creators Update in our news roundup. As a summary, Microsoft continues to focus on creative types this time around, with the new Windows 10 Photos app adding in “Story Remix” functionality. Other important changes include significant new features for the Edge browser, a new Fluent Design system that allows Microsoft and developers to make the user interface more dynamic and appealing on different kinds of machines, and the arrival of the new My People feature that was delayed in the Creators Update earlier this year.

In addition, OneDrive Files on Demand makes Microsoft’s cloud storage service more useful on machines with limited storage space. The new “Continue on PC” feature lets you link your smartphone to your Windows 10 PCs and then pick up where you left off in documents and web pages. And then, a host of other smaller fixes and enhancements will be coming your way to make using your Windows 10 PC a more efficient and enjoyable affair.

Again, you’ll want to join the Windows Insider program and set your PC to the Release Preview ring. Then, just sit back and wait until Microsoft’s servers decide it’s your turn to download and install the Fall Creators Update.

Apple MacBook 12-inch review

Research Center:
Apple MacBook 12-inch (2017)

It’s been a tough couple of years for the entry-level MacBook. The 12-inch offering has always been a reliable member of Apple’s lineup, but after the redesign in 2015, and the move away from the iconic white polycarbonate design, sales took a hit. In early, 2016 Mac sales saw first year-over-year decline in 15 years.

The new MacBook was a looker, but its high price and low performance pushed customers toward more cost-effective competitors. The new 2017 model aims to change all that. Featuring a 7th-generation Intel Core m3 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage space, the new 12-inch MacBook ramps up performance across the board and aims to give customers more bang for their buck. Let’s dig into the review, and see if it’s earned its $1,300 entry price.

Meticulous craftsmanship

The 12-inch MacBook is an impeccably crafted laptop. Every inch is engineered to perfection, from the laser-cut speaker grille, to silky glass trackpad, and the high-gloss sheen applied to the iconic Apple logo on the lid. There’s no doubt that this is a luxury device from the moment you first touch it, and it’s an absolute joy to use.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

There are some clever design flourishes that help set the MacBook apart from similar competitors. When it’s closed and set on a flat surface, it looks impossibly thin — the angled edges give the appearance that it’s much thinner than it is. Opening it up, the keyboard stretches to either edge of the chassis, with the speaker running the full length of the top-edge. It’s an elegant, economical design that uses all the available space to maximum effect.

Every inch is engineered to perfection, from the laser-cut speaker grille, to the silky glass trackpad.

You can see the DNA of previous MacBooks here, in the bezels around the display, in the proportions of the chassis. It’s clearly a descendent of the popular $1,000 MacBooks of yore, but there’s a refinement here, a uniquely modern feel. It’s plain but never boring.

Huawei’s Matebook X is perhaps the MacBook’s most obvious competitors, as it rather directly apes Apple’s design. We like the Matebook X, but its design isn’t quite up to Apple’s standard. Though also rather efficient in its use of space, the Huawei option doesn’t feel as solid when handled, or when the display is opened.

Other laptops, like the Dell XPS 13, go a different direction entirely, using soft-touch materials to make the system feel warmer and more approachable. We like that approach, but if you want a cool, slick, thin device that feels like it was chiseled from one piece of metal, it’s hard to beat the MacBook.

Elegant, but insufficient

On the MacBook’s larger sibling, the MacBook Pro 13, each side of the chassis features a single USB-C port (or two, if you go for the Touch Bar model). It’s simple, elegant, and just enough for everyday use. You can charge your phone while your laptop is plugged in, or use an external mouse. You can even choose which side your power adapter plugs into, which is much more convenient than it sounds.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

By contrast, the 12-inch MacBook has a single USB-C port one the left side, and a single headphone jack. At first glance, it seems like a daring move, an effort to pare away the non-essential elements. It’s a step backward, plain and simple. During everyday use you will butt up against this limitation, probably more than once during a single day.

The MacBook has only one port. It’s an unnecessary hindrance, not a feature.

You can’t plug in an external mouse and keyboard (without a dock). You can’t charge while you load photos off a flash drive. You can’t choose which side to plug your power cord into. Investing in the 12-inch MacBook means investing in a USB-C hub, which also means its ultra-lightweight build is compromised by the need to carry around a bulky adapter if you ever need to, say, plug in your phone while your laptop charges. Prepare to live that #donglelife.

Some of the Windows-based competitors do follow in Apple’s footsteps, but most have at least one additional port. Huawei’s Matebook X has two USB-C ports, the Dell XPS 13 has a variety of options, and Microsoft’s Surface Laptop has a USB 3.0 port combined with DisplayPort. The Asus Zenbook 3 UX 390UA is the only Windows competitor we’ve tested which has followed directly in Apple’s footsteps with a single USB-C.

Just for reference, how many ports did the 2011 MacBook Air have? Five — two USB ports, a Thunderbolt 2 port, an SD card reader, and a MagSafe power port.

Taptic feedback

The new MacBook keyboard could be a polarizing issue for keyboard purists. It features the same second-generation butterfly switches introduced in the 2016 MacBook Pro lineup, with its characteristically short key travel and snappy response. It can feel like keystrokes end a bit suddenly at first, but once you get used to it, the keyboard is enjoyable, even if it’s not the best.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

The keys themselves feel large and spacious, which is an achievement considering the size of this laptop. Every keystroke ends in a sharp, satisfying click, which can be pleasantly loud of you’re a quick typist. It’s also worth mentioning that the keyboard itself doesn’t flex at all, not even a bit. When you’re typing, the MacBook rests firmly on your lap or a table, and the keyboard is perfectly rigid no matter how hard you type.

Compared to the keyboard on a laptop like the Dell XPS 13, there’s a clear difference in the feel of each keystroke. On the XPS, you can expect a pleasant typing experience, as it feels like most other high-quality laptop keyboards these days. The MacBook’s keyboard feels very different. It’s louder, more tactile, and a bit too stiff.

Just below the keyboard is the touchpad. Even on such a small laptop, Apple somehow managed to make it feel spacious without ever feeling too big or too small. The Taptic Engine simulates actual mechanical clicks so well, we had to double-check that the 12-inch MacBook didn’t have a mechanical touchpad.

Multi-touch support continues to be among the best in class. The silky-smooth all-glass touchpad responds immediately to swipes of all kinds, offering a seamless multi-touch experience.

Feast your eyes

The display is another high point for the MacBook, an arena in which Apple has few real competitors. The glossy Retina display features 226 pixels per inch, and a max resolution of ,304 x 1440. That degree of pixel density is impressive on a display this small. Text is crisp and inky, and images possess a remarkable sense of depth — but finding wallpapers of sufficient resolution can be a bit of a chore.

In our tests, the MacBook’s display achieved top marks in nearly every category, coming in second only to the MacBook Pro 13. Its superb contrast ratio of 915:1 fell just shy of the MacBook Pro 13’s contrast ratio of 1200:1, while the Dell XPS 13 and Huawei Matebook X fell into a typical range for most laptops, coming in at 400:1 and 690:1, respectively.

The displays on all four laptops are crisp, clear, and rich, but the MacBooks are just a cut above the rest, offering the kind of crystal-clarity you just don’t find very often elsewhere.

The display is another high point for the MacBook, an arena in which Apple has few real competitors.

The MacBook also hit 91 percent of the finicky AdobeRGB color space, while the MacBook Pro 13 achieved a rare perfect score. On color accuracy, the MacBook hit .96, to the MacBook Pro’s .72. In that test lower is better, and these scores mean either one would be an excellent choice for creative professionals who need pitch-perfect color reproduction. The Huawei MateBook x and Dell XPS 13 don’t come close to achieve a score below one.

Taken together, these results add up to a very simple verdict – the MacBook’s display is a stunner. The only vaguely similar system that can be said to beat it the Samsung Galaxy Book 12, which has an OLED display. Yet that system, which is a 2-in-1, has plenty of other flaws, and isn’t competing in quite the same arena.

Big sound in a small package

The speakers on the MacBook are a pleasant surprise. Usually laptops of this size skimp on sound, but that’s not the case here. The single speaker grille running along the top-edge of the keyboard produces bright, resonant sound, with remarkable clarity — no matter how high or low the volume. Speaking of volume, the MacBook’s humble little speakers are more than capable of filling a room with sound.

Quick, and quicker

The MacBook features an Intel M3 processor, which doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. As a low-powered mobile processor optimized for battery life over raw performance, it lacks the punch and horsepower of Intel’s Core i5 and Core i7 processors, but during everyday use it’s a surprisingly strong performer.

Even when we tried to stress the MacBook with daily tasks, it rose to the challenge. Opening several browser tabs all at once, working with Microsoft Word and Excel running multiple documents at once, the scrappy little M3 kept up beautifully.

Fire up some 4K video while Spotify is running, with a couple Word documents open, and you can start to see the upper limits of its capabilities, especially on battery power. When this happens, you might see some input lag until you close a few windows.

Looking at Geekbench scores, you can see how the Intel Core M3 stacks up to beefier processors like Core i5s and i7s. The Dell XPS 13 maintains a sizable lead in single core and multi-core performance here, thanks to its 7th-generation Core i7 processor. It’s a robust dual-core with Hyper-Threading, so it runs circles around the Core i5 and M3.

The XPS 13 takes that lead further in our Handbrake test, a standard 4K video encode. The Dell XPS 13 finished the encode in just 13 minutes, while the MacBook and even the 13-inch MacBook Pro finished it in 28 and 25 minutes respectively.

That’s an important note because the XPS 13, outfitted with an Intel Core i7, is the same price as the 12-inch MacBook. That’s a substantial performance gap for two laptops of the same exact price. Clearly, your money will buy better performance elsewhere.

Speedy storage

Moving on to storage, the 12-inch MacBook is very quick on its feet, capable of throwing big files around without breaking a sweat. The 256GB SSD also partitions quickly, making it easier than ever to install a full version Windows with Boot Camp.

Looking at raw speed, the MacBook’s read speed topped out at 1355 megabytes-per-second, with a write speed of 1035MB/s. These are impressive figures, just ahead of what we’d expect from a laptop in this price range. For reference, the Dell XPS 13 hit a read speed of 469MB/s, and a write speed of 405MB/s (when last tested, with a SATA hard drive). At the other end of the spectrum, the MacBook Pro 13 achieved an impressive write speed of 1,348MB/s, and a read speed of 2,000MB/s right in the same neighborhood as what we got out of its larger sibling, the MacBook Pro 15.

The MacBook Pro 13 more than doubles the MacBook’s hard drive speeds. However, the entry level 13-inch MacBook Pro is the same price as the MacBook. Again, your money goes so much further elsewhere, even at Apple. Are you seeing a pattern here?

No fun and games

It’s no surprise that the entry-level MacBook is utterly incapable of running even the least demanding games. Its Intel Core M3 processor can get you through a workday, but its onboard graphics will never get you through a round of Battlefield 1.

Even when running 3DMark in Windows, the MacBook just can’t keep up with its competitors. The Huawei Matebook X and Dell XPS 13 both easily eclipse the MacBook’s graphical performance. Even in a relatively lightweight game like Civilization VI, the MacBook was only able to manage about 8 FPS on 1080p at medium settings (again, testing in Windows).

You might be able to run Hearthstone, but even then you’ll experience some significant slowdown when the effects kick in. The MacBook just isn’t made to game.

Portability

While Apple’s decision to use the Intel Core M3 chip might sacrifice some performance, it’s great at keeping power draw low even under heavy workloads.

Moving on to benchmarks, the MacBook managed to play our video loop test for a little over 8 hours. That’s more than you’d get out of most laptops, though just shy of what we got out of the MacBook Pro 13, which managed to survive for 10 hours on the same test. The Dell XPS 13 fell between the two, managing 9 hours.

On the more demanding Peacekeeper test, the 12-inch MacBook survived for just over four hours, while the MacBook Pro 13 and Dell XPS 13 were neck and neck at around five hours.

During everyday use on the MacBook we could get about six to seven hours of battery life before hitting the last 15 percent. That’s solid for such a small laptop, and it will see you through most of a workday. Having said that, the MacBook doesn’t appear to have an advantage over similar Windows machines. Most can match the MacBook’s endurance, and some can beat it.

Visiting the High Sierra

The MacBook doesn’t come loaded down with bloatware, but it does feature the standard set of MacOS specific applications like Pages, Numbers, Keynote, and Garage Band. MacOS continues to provide a pleasant, streamlined user experience, and it’s been further refined by the latest update, High Sierra.

High Sierra doesn’t have features you’ll notice immediately when making the jump, but there are some behind-the-scenes changes that make life a little easier on MacOS — like automatically pushing files you haven’t used to the cloud, to save some storage space. For a full breakdown, check out our guide to High Sierra.

Apple MacBook 12-inch (2017) Compared To

Apple MacBook (2015)

Dell Precision M3800

HP EliteBook 820 G1

Apple MacBook Air 11.6-inch (2012)

Lenovo ThinkPad T420s

HP EliteBook 2560p

Apple MacBook Air 13.3-inch…

ASUS U6S

Apple MacBook Air (80GB)

Lenovo 3000 V200

Gateway E-100M

Gateway NX100X

Sharp Actius MM20

Sony VAIO V505BX

Sony VAIO TR1A

Warranty information

The MacBook comes with 90 days of complimentary tech support, and a one-year limited warranty protecting against manufacturer defects. It’s eligible for the usual extended service via Apple Care.

Additionally, Apple Stores are an often-overlooked advantage for anyone who has invested in a Mac. Take your Mac into one when you’re having technical issues, and you’ll find someone who will be able to help you.

If it’s been a while, or if your complimentary support has lapsed, that help might cost you — but it’s nice to be able to head directly into an Apple Store and receive support, without worrying about shipping your computer away to some service center on the other side of the country.

Our Take

The MacBook is an exceptionally well-made device, and if you bought one you probably wouldn’t be disappointed. It will do everything you expect it to do — if you don’t try to play games — but it has one flaw. The price. It’s not just a problem because it’s expensive. Apple products are always more expensive than their competitors, as it’s a premium brand. There’s more to it.

Is there a better alternative?

And here it is. The biggest hurdle the MacBook faces. There are better alternatives everywhere.

The MacBook Pro 13 now starts at $1,300 (sans Touch Bar), and it’s superior in nearly every way. You miss out on a little hard drive space, but what you gain in processor speed, battery life, display quality, and ports more than makes up for the smaller hard drive.

If you’re just looking for a compact laptop, you have even more options. The Dell XPS 13 and Huawei MateBook X are best examples, but there are similar options from Asus, Acer, Microsoft, and even Razer, which offer superior performance and similar build quality at the same price, or lower.

How long will it last?

If there’s anything that long-time Mac users will tell you, it’s that Macs will last for a very long time if you take care of them. The 12-inch MacBook is no different. Apple goes the extra mile when it comes to build quality and it pays off down the line. This thing is well-built, and should survive long enough to see itself become obsolete.

Should you buy it?

No.

The MacBook is a good, even great laptop, meticulously engineered and beautiful. Apple itself makes it a tough sell, though, by pricing the standard 13-inch MacBook Pro at the same entry price. Yes, the MacBook is more portable – but that’s the only reason we’d recommend it over the Pro. Before you buy, we recommend you go to the Apple Store and look at both models. We think you’ll find MacBook’s slightly slimmer size isn’t worth sacrificing performance.

There’s also a few strong Windows alternatives, if you want to go that route. The Huawei MateBook X is the same size, and less expensive, yet has a faster processor. Dell’s XPS 13 is always a good selection, and isn’t much larger despite its bigger display.

Russian search engine Yandex debuts its own voice assistant, Alice

Why it matters to you

With some voice assistants limited in the languages it offers, Russia’s Yandex has decided to create its own.

The Russian search engine known as Yandex has officially launched Alice — its own voice assistant. Alice only speaks Russian, but is specifically built to interact with others, understand users’ requests, and provide answers to their questions.

Yandex has been around for quite some time — branching out into a real-time bidding platform, language translation, and even offering antivirus software. Now, it’s thrown Alice into the mix of capabilities.

To create its latest voice assistant, Yandex first released a beta version back in May to test out ideas and see how users responded. In addition, Alice is equipped with a neural network based “chat” engine to allow users to have conversations about any topic. Similar to Google Assistant — and now Siri — you can either speak to Alice verbally or type out your questions instead.

Alice is integrated into the Yandex search app, but it will only speak to you in Russian. Alice has been specifically trained to understand, listen, and speak to users through natural language. Even if you were to ask Alice, “What’s the weather like in Moscow, followed by “What about Peter?” — the voice assistant will automatically understand you mean St. Petersburg.

The voice assistant specifically uses speech recognition and synthesis capabilities from SpeechKit — Yandex’s toolkit used on products such as Navigator and Music. Since the Russian language is extremely complex when it comes to grammar and morphology, SpeechKit has been able to provide the best accuracy for Russian recognition.

To make sure Alice’s voice sounds as authentic and natural as possible, its voice was derived from the well-known film Her — by Spike Jonze. Yandex specifically used the recording actress who dubbed the voice of Samantha in the Russian language version of the film.

Alice is available for use in the Yandex search app — available for download on both iOS and Android. Aside from Alice, you can check the weather forecast and traffic, follow events in Russia or other countries, and receive email notifications. Even though Alice is only available in Russian, the app itself works in Ukrainian and Turkish as well.

The company also plans on releasing a beta version of Yandex Assistant for Windows. Alice will soon be released on the Yandex mobile browser and other Yandex products as well.

See how food changes your smoothie’s nutrition with NutriBullet Balance

Why it matters to you

Those closely tracking calories, cholesterol, or other nutrition information will appreciate seeing exactly how much of each is in at least some of their food.

When making comparisons, you’re supposed to use apples to apples. But check out a calorie-counting website, and you see that even these fruits are not all created equally.

Apples can range in calories from 53 to 116 depending on where you look and you might have to grab a measuring tape or scale to tell where yours falls.

NutriBullet, along with Perfect Company, wants to make keeping tabs on nutrition a bit more seamless with its new NutriBullet Balance blender. The smart blender — introduced this week at the Smart Kitchen Summit in Seattle — has an accompanying app and integrated scale and can recommend recipes based on what you like and your diet.

The app lets you choose your eating style, with options such as low-sugar, dairy-free, and paleo. Each recipe lists nutritional information, including calories, protein, carbs, sugar, and fiber. As you start adding ingredients, the app will show you when you’ve got the right amount. This should help you see what happens when you add an extra glob of peanut butter or a handful of spinach.

Featuring a Bluetooth-enabled Smart Nutrition Sensor, the blender acts as a “Virtual Nutritionist,” assisting you in counting calories or assessing what you’re putting in your smoothie.

Even though the blender itself has just one button, users can make the consistency of their smoothies more personalized via the app. Based on the ingredients, the app uses six algorithms to determine speed and duration of the blender, so you shouldn’t find celery chunks when you open the lid. The company hopes that you end up with a perfect blend.

It has a 1,200-watt motor and comes with two 32-ounce cups that serve as the blender’s jar and your to-go cup. The app will launch with more than 300 recipes and continue to add more; in addition to smoothies, it will have recipes for desserts, soups, dips, and other blender-made fare.

When the $180 NutriBullet Balance launches this fall (date TBD) you will be able to upload your nutrition data to Apple Health and Google Fit — helpful for those of us who don’t use a blender for 100 percent of our meal prep.