GM may bring its self-driving Cruise program to Uber

Remember how GM’s autonomous vehicles division Cruise was planning to work with Lyft? The two companies hoped to put 300 more self-driving Chevy Bolts on the road next year. The fleet was supposed to start testing within the next year, and GM was already testing a ride-hailing system in San Francisco just for employees. Unfortunately, the thrill is gone between the two companies, according to a report by The Information, which says that GM is now meeting with Uber to launch those self-driving cars by next year.

There’s been no public announcement of a failed partnership between Lyft and General Motors, nor has there been a press release detailing a new connection between the automaker and Uber. The Information notes that Lyft has launched its own self-driving unit and is working with GM competition. It also points out that GM could launch its own ride-hailing service to compete with both Uber and Lyft. We’ve reached out to GM and will update this post when we hear back. Lyft and Uber both responded with no comment.

Source: The Information

Snapchat’s dumb dancing hotdog is now an $80 Halloween costume

As of today, Snapchat sells three physical products: Spectacles, a charging case for the Spectacles, and a Halloween costume based on its dancing hotdog filter. The company confirmed to Engadget that, yes, it IS officially hawking the getup. So if you really want to spend $80 to look like a meme that briefly crowned the internet earlier this year, here’s the link.

Snapchat moved beyond faces to add new animations into photos, AR-style, in November 2016. Somewhere along the way, the company added the hot dog to its list of filters, which sticks in your video boogying to an unheard beat. It’s the kind of internet ephemera — your Grumpy Cats, your Damn, Daniels — that generate buzz from their absurdity, and then overstay their welcome in the public consciousness as companies belatedly try to monetize them.

Frankly, I’m surprised Snap didn’t follow its marketing nose and announce some scripted series with DJ Snapdog, so that’s one thing going for this awful alternate reality. If you’re set on blowing $80 on outdated internet currency, well, there are worse hot dog costumes to sport. Or, given the internet, you could wait until some copycat app company sells a ripoff outfit for $20.

Source: Dancing Hotdog Costume (Amazon)

‘Lawbreakers’ adds new content despite few players

Despite a player count that’s bottomed out at ten people in the last week, Lawbreakers is forging ahead with a content release that includes two new maps and the launch of competitive mode, Boss League. The number of players has been reliably under a hundred every night, but studio Boss Key Productions is keeping its promise to continue on its roadmap of DLC.

It’s the biggest @lawbreakers update yet. Get more info on the All-Star Update in the latest community stream https://t.co/YmeAe3dyfo pic.twitter.com/UCvIkWdSHJ

— Boss Key Productions (@BossKey) October 14, 2017

Lawbreakers launched two months ago and its playerbase has dwindled since. A recent free weekend temporarily spiked it up to 1,000 concurrently playing, but it seems few, if any, stuck around. And yet, the game still has a large content block going up today. In addition to the two maps (one of which is a spooky version of an old one), it also includes balance changes, multi-region queueing and better tutorials, plus a bunch of items themed to the game’s in-universe sport Blitzball (not the one you’re thinking of).

Boss Key and Lawbreakers will be at TwitchCon 2017 this weekend, with a 5v5 game of streamers going head to head on stage tomorrow and time in the LAN room on Saturday evening for players to try a game and, hopefully, pick it up when they get home.

Source: Lawbreakers

Toyota applies long range fuel cell tech to its latest minivan concept

Toyota’s next concept car, which it’s debuting at the Tokyo Motor Show next week, isn’t yet another electric vehicle. The ‘Fine-Comfort Ride’ runs on hydrogen fuel cells (remember those?) with an intended range of 1,000 km (620 miles) per charge, and can be refuelled in about three minutes. While it looks like a futuristic minivan, the vehicle is geared for internal comfort and entertainment while emitting no carbon dioxide or similar pollutants.

What’s gleaming from “beyond the motor?” Learn more here. https://t.co/F1MTJfu5NY #FineComfortRide #TMStoyota #TMS2017 pic.twitter.com/WQFd7uI1vW

— Toyota Motor Corp. (@ToyotaMotorCorp) October 18, 2017

In a press release, Toyota described the Fine-Comfort Ride as a ‘premium saloon,’ which really fits the lounge-look of its interior. The seating is adjustable, enabling owners to shift it around and make it a group space for meetings. A virtual “Agent” turns the driver’s and passenger’s windows into screens.

Hyundai might have pivoted to abandon fuel cells for the more in-vogue EV, but several other automakers are still developing the former. Mercedes-Benz has a hybrid of both technologies aimed for consumer release in 2019, while Chevy is developing a fuel cell vehicle for the US Army’s transport fleet. Toyota’s own fuel cell big rigs have exited the testing phase and are set to cruise up and down Los Angeles’ port highways next week. EVs might have a lead on saturating the mainstream, but fuel cell vehicles are still in the race.

Via: TechCrunch

Source: Toyota

National Association of Broadcasters Again Urges Apple to Add FM Radio to iPhones

Following Apple’s clarification that iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 models do not have FM radio chips or antennas designed to support FM signals, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has expressed some doubt about Apple’s statement and has called on the company to add FM functionality to its future iPhones.

In a blog post, the NAB points to a series of iPhone 8 teardowns that indicate the iPhone 8 uses a Broadcom chip with an integrated FM radio core as evidence that Apple’s devices already have some of the hardware required for FM radio support.

According to Apple, the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 8 do not currently have FM radio chips or antennas to support FM signals, and it is not clear how simple it would be for the company to add these features to future devices. From a statement made to MacRumors:

Apple cares deeply about the safety of our users, especially during times of crisis and that’s why we have engineered modern safety solutions into our products. Users can dial emergency services and access Medical ID card information directly from the Lock Screen, and we enable government emergency notifications, ranging from Weather Advisories to AMBER alerts. iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 models do not have FM radio chips in them nor do they have antennas designed to support FM signals, so it is not possible to enable FM reception in these products.

The disagreement between Apple, the NAB, and the FCC is related somewhat to their various points of view. Apple’s claim that recent iPhones do not have the necessary hardware to support FM radio is indeed true, which means Apple can’t simply flip a software switch to activate it.

The NAB seems to be making the case that it would be relatively trivial for Apple to make hardware revisions to enable it in future devices considering the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth chip in the iPhone can support it and Apple has proven it can incorporate FM antenna connections in the iPod nano.

Apple has built and offered a wonderful FM app in their iPod Nano for many years. They know how to make FM work, and work well, in their mobile devices. Apple even wrote its own Nano app that allows the user to pause live radio and buffer up to 15 minutes of content.

However, Apple has specifically chosen not to offer this functionality in their iPhone. Indeed, Apple has disabled FM chips despite the capability being available on the communications module within the iPhone. This means other app developers cannot offer FM apps either.

In its blog post, the NAB appeals to Apple CEO Tim Cook, highlighting the number of hurricanes experienced in Mobile, Alabama, Cook’s hometown, since 1969, and calling on the company to introduce FM support as a way for customers to get news alerts during disasters.

FM radio functionality in the iPhone first started gaining media attention last month, following a series of powerful hurricanes that struck several states. At that time, FCC chairman Ajit Pai issued a statement urging Apple to activate FM radio capabilities in its iPhones, which Apple later said was not possible.

“It’s time for Apple to step up to the plate and put the safety of the American people first,” Pai wrote. “Do the right thing, Mr. Cook. Flip the switch. Lives depend on it.”
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The best desktop computer you can buy

The desktop computer landscape has changed in recent years. Laptops, tablets, and smartphones have gained ground on their stationary cousins.

As those devices become more capable, the desktop — our old standby — is too easily forgotten. But while manufacturers might lament the decline in desktop sales, it’s all good news for consumers. You’ve always been able to get more bang for your buck out of a desktop computer than you could out of, say, a laptop. Now more than ever, desktop manufacturers are in fierce competition to provide you with the best value without sacrificing performance.

Here we’ve compiled the best desktop computers currently on the market. Whether you need something for your dorm room, your home office, or your gaming cave, we’ve got you covered with the best desktop PCs on the market today.

Our pick

Falcon Mach V

Why you should buy this: You want the best of the best — a grim obelisk, thrumming with dark power.

Our Score

The Best All-Around Desktop

Falcon Northwest Mach V (2016)

Falcon’s flagship is fast and handsome, and it even keeps quiet

$8,787.00 from Falcon NW

Who it’s for: Gamers, professionals, overclocking enthusiasts

How much will it cost: Between $2,500 and $8,800

Why we picked the Falcon Mach V

Like the Monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey, the Falcon Mach V is a solid black pillar of immense power. It’s understated, elegant, and expensive.

If you want a desktop that will outperform and outlast any other desktop on the market, and price isn’t too much of an issue, then you can’t do better than the Falcon Mach V. It’s fully configurable, from the processor to the paint job, and while it’s a little pricey you’re going to come away with something tailored to your specific needs.

Compared to some other systems, the Mach V may seem mundane, but that’s to its benefit. It doesn’t call too much attention to itself, so it can work as a high-end workstation, a supercharged gaming PC, or anything in between. You may want to seek another rig if flash is important to you, but we think most users will prefer this monolith’s look. Also, it tends to run quieter than competitors, so it won’t distract you with whirring fans.

The conventional design also makes the Mach V easy to upgrade. It has a large, spacious, logically arranged interior, with plenty of room for new hard drives or a large graphics card. And if it breaks within the first three years (god forbid), you’re covered: Falcon’s standard warranty is among the best in the business.

The best budget desktop

Dell Inspiron 5675

Why you should buy this: You want good performance on a budget.

Our Score

The Best Budget PC

Dell Inspiron 5675

This mid-range Dell can do it all … for less

$699.99 from B&H

$838.44 from Amazon

Who it’s for: Students, families

How much will it cost: Starts at $530, tested at $650

Why we picked the Dell Inspiron 5675

The Inspiron 5675 is a quiet desktop PC that just gets the job done. Properly specced it can do pretty much anything you need it to without breaking your budget. It can serve as a solid, reliable workstation, or its intended purpose: a budget gaming rig.

It’s not the most expensive system on this list, but it’s got a couple features that give the it a leg up over some of its more expensive competitors. For starters, it’s very quiet. Seriously, it’s whisper quiet even under a heavy load, which makes it a great choice for dorm rooms or living rooms, or anywhere that excessive fan noise wouldn’t be particularly appreciated. It never gets very loud, and it’s practically inaudible under a desk, even under heavy load.

The Inspiron is also surprisingly compact. You can put this thing anywhere; it’d fit comfortably under a desk, on top of it, or even in a small cupboard. It’s just flashy enough to look stylish without looking out of place in a home office. Overall, the Inspiron 5675 is a workhorse, plain and simple. If you need a new desktop PC, a new all-around workstation that will dutifully serve with only a sensible number of bells and whistles, the Inspiron is your best bet.

The best gaming desktop

Digital Storm Velox

Why you should buy this: You want a carbon-fiber clad jet engine that also runs games.

Our Score

The Best Gaming PC

Digital Storm Velox (Kaby Lake)

Hardcore gamers will love this rig’s power and customization

$4,737.00 from Digital Storm

Who it’s for: Gamers, game players, and anyone into video games

How much will it cost: Starts at $1,704, tested at $4,737

Why we picked the  Digital Storm Velox

The Digital Storm Velox is a hot rod. It’s big, ostentatious, and fast.

It might set you back a bit, depending on the specs, but it performs like a dream and it completely obliterated our benchmark tests. It’s designed for gaming from the ground up and it shows. No really, it shows. The Velox is not made for toiling under a desk, this is truly a desktop computer. Its design practically begs for the spotlight.

Like any good gaming PC, the Velox is built to be upgraded and customized. The internal components are very easily swapped out. The case looks impenetrable from the outside, but once you open it up, the internals are laid bare in a way that makes them easily accessible. The Velox is a good investment if you’re looking for a gaming PC that will outpace the competition for a long time. Even once it starts to show its age in a few years, you can just pop it open and upgrade it as needed without too much trouble. The Velox is built for long-term performance.

It’s not for everyone, but if you want a PC that can outperform the competition and show off while doing it, the Digital Storm Velox is your best bet (but check out our list of the best gaming PCs and best gaming laptops for more options).

The best mac

Apple Mac 27-inch with 5K Display

Why you should buy this: You want macOS and a stylish, compact computer.

Our Score

The Best Mac

Apple iMac with Retina 5K Display (2017)

If you’re going to buy an iMac, you might as well go 5K

$1,499.99 from Best Buy

$1,755.29 from Amazon.com

Who it’s for: Students, families, creative professionals, IKEA showrooms

How much will it cost: Starts at $1,800

Why we picked the Apple iMac 27-inch with 5K Display

Looking for a more reserved style? Maybe you just want an all-in-one with a tack-sharp screen? Then the iMac with Apple’s 5K display is a solid choice particularly if space is a consideration, or if you just don’t want to deal with all the hassles that come along with a typical desktop PC.

The iMac lives up to the famous Apple promise: it just works. This is a desktop that gets out of your way and gets the job done. The gorgeous, luxurious screen makes the iMac a great choice for multi-purpose use: As a workstation, it’s got a big enough monitor with all the space you could need; as an entertainment center or even a TV replacement, it’s got vivid colors, deep blacks, and unparalleled color clarity.

In addition to all of that, the iMac is surprisingly fast. It’s snappy and responsive, with quick load times, and decent multi-tasking performance as long as you don’t push it too hard.

Performance, paired with a classic glass-and-aluminum design, make the iMac a good choice for consumers looking for a well-rounded desktop that doesn’t take up too much of the desk top.

Should you buy now, or wait?

That’s the real question here, isn’t it? If you’ve read this far, you probably already have a good idea of what you want out of a new desktop, but when should you pull the trigger on the decision?

Well, now’s as good a time as any. Intel’s Kaby Lake chips rolled out late last year, and the new models (code-named Coffee Lake) are slated to come out soon — but they’re not going to be as big a leap forward as before. Additionally, Apple, Microsoft, Dell, and most other major manufacturers have already refreshed their flagship desktop lines for the year.

If you buy today, or sometime soon, you’re in a good position to get a reliable desktop at a reasonable price. Keep an eye out for those Cyber Monday deals though.

How we test

You’ve read our reviews. You’ve read our conclusions. And now you’re wondering how we came to them.

Reviews often lack context. We’ll give out a score and analyze the finer points of desktop performance, but how do we reach those conclusions? How do we test these machines?

Allow us to lift the veil. Here we’ll explain the benchmarks we use for objective testing and the perspective from which we approach subjective topics. We don’t expect everyone to agree with our opinions, but we hope that sharing our process will leave you better equipped to decide what desktop best fits your needs.

How to edit 360 photos in Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop has finally caught on to the 360 trend. Beginning with Adobe Photoshop CC 2018, the popular photo editor can now open and edit 360 photos — and not muck your images all up. Earlier versions could open the files, sure, but the process rendered an image into a regular aspect ratio, removing features like the ability to scroll around when viewing the image on Facebook or the ability to turn around to see different perspectives of the image with a VR headset.

Editing a 360 photo in Photoshop is a bit different than editing a typical photograph, however. In order to maintain that scroll around 360-ness, there are a few extra steps. Learn how to edit 360 photos in Photoshop with this quick tutorial.

Important: While working, don’t save over the original file. Instead, save your progress as a PSD file until you reach the final export step.

1. Open the image and apply universal edits

Universal edits, or the changes applied to the entire photo, aren’t accessible once the image is rendered into a 360 file that you can scroll around inside, so those changes must be made at the beginning. First, open the image in Photoshop. Don’t worry that it looks distorted, you’re not in the 360 workspace yet — that comes later.

Next, make any changes that apply to the entire image. These adjustments include options found inside the Image > Adjustments menu such as exposure, saturation, and black and white conversion, as well as options accessible from the Filters menu, such as the unsharp mask or turning the photo into an oil painting.

You won’t be able to use layers once the image is converted in the next step, so if you want to make any adjustments that require them, such as adding text or shapes or using adjustment layers, make those edits before converting as well. If you do make any changes using layers, flatten the image before you move on to the next step or you’ll lose everything not in that background layer.

Finish all the adjustments that apply to the entire image first before entering the 360 workspace.

2. Render the image as a 360 layer

Next, you need to tell Photoshop that the image you are working on is in the 360 format, in order to get that scroll-around view. Switching to this view makes it easier to apply local adjustments and will also maintain the 360 format after exporting.

To turn the photo into a 360 layer, make sure the original photo is selected in the layers panel, then go to 3D > Spherical Panorama > New Panorama From Selected Layers.

After clicking, you’ll get a pop-up dialog where you can change the size of the window in which you scroll around the image, along with other options. If you want to crop the 360 photo to a traditional aspect ratio, you’ll want to make sure you use a size large enough to see the entire desired view at once — but in most cases, sticking with the defaults is fine.

Don’t need to make universal adjustments first? You can also head to 3D > Spherical Panorama > Import to start inside the 360 workspace.

3. Choose your workspace

A pop-up window will ask if you want to switch to the 3D workspace, which includes a few tools specifically for 3D. The 3D workspace highlights tools that work best with 360, but it also eliminates a few tools, including the healing brush and the dodge and burn. Workspace is largely a matter of personal preference and available tools, so there’s no wrong choice. You can always switch back and forth between workspaces by going to Window > Workspace.

4. Navigate through the 360 photo

Photoshop’s new 360 compatibility means you can move around the image as you would on Facebook. Just outside of the left corner of the current view of the image, use the orbit, pan, and dolly controls to look around the image to find the perspective you want to edit. You can also click the hand tool and click and drag to change the perspective as well.

Can’t navigate? Make sure the 360 photo is selected from the layers panel.

4. Use the toolbox to make local adjustments

Once you’ve imported the image as a 3D panorama and navigated to the problem area, just use Photoshop’s tools to make local corrections. For example, we used Photoshop’s clone and healing brush tools to remove pieces of the tripod on which our 360 camera sat. The options are nearly endless, but some of the available tools you might want to try out for 360 shot include:

• Clone tool: Use this to copy a section of the image and paint over another object to remove it from the photo. Control click to select the area that you would like to copy.
• Healing brush: This is a smarter version of the clone tool that blends the adjustment in with the surrounding area. This tool is slower than the clone tool in 360, so you can also eliminate as much as possible with the clone tool fist, then switch to the healing brush to smooth out the edges.
• Dodge: Lighten an area of the image.
• Burn: Darken an area of the image.

Editing 360 photos is a data-intense task, so if your computer slows down during the edits, try closing out of all other programs before editing.

5. Export the image

You can’t open a 360 image normally and still maintain that 360-ness, and you can’t use the “usual save as” command either. Once you’re finished with the edits, don’t save — go back up to 3D > Spherical Panorama > Export Panorama. If you use the export option, the image will still have that scroll-around ability inside Facebook as well as compatibility with VR headsets. If you need to come back and finish edits later, save the image as a PSD file, then use the export option when you are finished.

The option to edit 360 photos in Photoshop means you can now take out that pesky portion of tripod that’s showing, eliminate those distracting power lines, or fix a minor exposure error — you just have to take a few extra steps for importing, exporting, and navigating around.

Need to uninstall a program in Windows 10? Here’s how to do it

Deleting programs on Windows 10 is a little more complicated than the old method of “dragging it to the recycle bin and hoping it goes away.” If you’ve got Windows apps that need to go, here’s how to uninstall a program in Windows 10, along with automated methods of making sure everything really is gone.

Option 1: Uninstall specific programs

Windows provides a Settings option that allows you to go in and remove individual programs that you do not want. This method is useful if there’s an app or two that are causing trouble (taking up too much space, not working, etc.) and you want to get rid of them entirely. This helps keep Windows 10 efficient and uncluttered, but it works best if you already know the program you want to uninstall. For uninstalling many programs at once, check out option 2.

Step 1: Head to your Start Menu in the lower left-hand corner and open it up. You should see the option for Settings in the primary sidebar, with a gear icon beside it. Select it. If you can’t find Settings in the sidebar, search for it in the search box and it should pop up.

Step 2: Look at the icons in Settings and select the one that says Apps, denoted by a list-like icon. This should open up the Apps & features window.

Step 3: The Apps & features window lists all the programs currently downloaded onto your computer. With the most recent versions of Windows 10, you can look at the top and a search bar, a “Sort by” option, and a “Filter by” option will be there. These are useful tools for finding exactly what apps you want to delete. Yes, you could scroll through the whole list, but if you have downloaded a lot of programs this could take too long. If you know the program name, search for it with the search bar. If you want to filter programs by how much space they take up, by when you installed them, or by where they are located, use the filter options.

Step 4: Select the specific app you want to uninstall. This will show you how much space the app is taking up, who made the app, and when it was downloaded: It will also bring up a large gray button to “Uninstall” the program (next to the “move” option). Select Uninstall, and confirm the process. Windows will then remove the program from your operating system.

Note: Sometimes the Uninstall button will be grayed out. That means the program is a system app that is too important for Windows to just delete. If you see this, double-check that you have picked the right app. If something is going wrong with this program, you need to explore updates or repairs instead of trying to delete it.

Option 2: Batch uninstall bloatware

Sometimes Windows 10 can get bogged down with too much bloatware or too many casually downloaded apps: When they start creating slowdowns or storage issues, it’s time to remove them. The Windows 10 tool isn’t well designed for finding and deleting multiple apps, but fortunately there are many “uninstallers” you can download online to help out (anti-virus software can also be useful here).

Use an uninstaller when you aren’t sure how many apps you want to remove, or when Windows 10 fails to uninstall an app because of internal issues. If you download a lot of apps as a matter of course, you should keep a quality uninstaller handy on Windows 10. Here are a couple of our favorite free picks.

Geek Uninstaller: Geek uninstaller has precisely the features you need to delete any unwanted programs (fully compatible with Windows 10 and Windows Store apps): It will scan your computer for particular files by name, or for bloatware that looks ripe for removing. When you remove programs it will also scan for “leftovers” or related files that no longer have relevance, so you can clear even more space. It also has a Force Removal option if a normal uninstall isn’t working. The interface is a little dated, but shouldn’t present any problems, especially if you are looking for a quick batch uninstall option to clear things up.

Wise Program Uninstaller: Wise Program has a slicker, stronger interface than Geek Uninstaller, but also offers features like searching, scans, deleting leftover files, and force uninstall. There are a couple advanced tools for more tinkering, such as organizing apps by review scores, or the ability to enable a right-click to uninstall option on Windows. Wise Program has more to offer as a long-term uninstaller that you will use repeatedly over the life of your computer.

For larger problems, you may want to think about reinstalling Windows 10 completely. For more on apps that you don’t want to delete, check out the best starter apps for your Windows 10 machine!

Want to know how to create a scatter plot in Excel? Here’s our guide

So, you want to know how to create a scatter plot in Excel. Chances are, you probably already know what the term means, but given Microsoft Excel’s arsenal of options packed into each tab, getting started can be somewhat daunting, especially for Excel newcomers. The process isn’t quite as hard as it sounds, but you’ll need to understand exactly what you want before you go digging through Excel’s extended toolset.

That said, scatter plots are limited in how data is presented. If you’re looking for a chart using lots of text, a line chart might be a more appropriate option for your needs. You can use text labels along the horizontal axis in a line chart, as well as a time scale. Regardless, here is our guide to get you started on creating a scatter plot in the latest version of Excel and you can decide later if a different chart style is in order.

Grab your data

In our demo, we wanted to see how 12 laptops performed when we benchmarked their hardware with an extremely taxing PC game. Our data includes the types of discrete graphics chips installed in each model and the average framerate generated by each using high and ultra detail settings when benchmarking the game at 1080p. The chart will be simple so you can get the hang of creating a scatter plot quickly.

First, select all the data you want to include in the chart. After that, click on the “Insert” tab and navigate to the “Charts” section in the middle of Excel’s ribbon. The Scatter button is hard to see in the most recent version of Excel, which resides between the Pie/Donut button, and the web-like Surface/Radar button (see above). A drop-down menu will then appear to present five scatter-based styles:

• Scatter (dots only)
• Scatter with smooth lines and markers
• Scatter with smooth lines (no markers)
• Scatter with straight lines and markers
• Scatter with straight lines (no markers)

Because the scatter chart only plots numbers, the points and lines will be based on the columns of numbers you chose to plot. For instance, our chart renders two lines with 13 points each: The blue line charts our “high” data, and an orange line charts our “ultra” data. The chart may appear over your Excel sheet’s raw data once it’s generated, but you can easily move it anywhere on the sheet by clicking on the chart, and then holding down the mouse button while you drag the cursor across the screen.

Get those creative juices flowing

With the chart created, Excel defaults to the “Design” tab on the ribbon. Here, you have a choice of 11 visual styles via the Quick Layout option. You also see the “Change Colors” button as well, enabling you to select one of four “colorful” color schemes/pallets or one of 13 “monochromatic” pallets.  As shown above, we chose Style 11 because it gives the lines and dots visual depth but we kept the color scheme unchanged.

For our chart, we didn’t want the horizontal lines nor the numbers stacked on the left. To remove the numbers, we made the ribbon’s “Design” tab active, and then clicked the “Add Chart Element” button listed above “Chart Layouts.” After that, we chose “Axis,” and then deselected “Primary Vertical.” As shown above, this method removed all the numbers on the left but kept the numbers running along the bottom intact. Note that the “Primary Horizontal” icon remains gray, indicating its active state.

To remove the horizontal lines, we clicked “Add Chart Element” again, but this time scrolled down to the “Gridlines” option. Here, all you need to select is “Primary Major Horizontal” to turn off the horizontal lines, but make sure “Primary Major Vertical” is highlighted in gray so that the vertical lines remain.

But the vertical lines still aren’t right — we want a line to represent each laptop even though we can’t inject text into its root. To solve this, we clicked “Add Chart Element” again, then “Axis,” and then “More Axis Options.” The “Format Axis” panel appeared on the right providing four sections, and the first section — Axis Options — expanded by default. Here we set the Major and Minor units to 1.0 so we’re counting each laptop, and the Bounds minimum to 1.0 and the Bounds maximum to 13.0 so we actually have 13 lines from left to right.

Because we can’t assign laptop names or graphic chip labels to the base of each line, we removed the numbers at the bottom, aka the horizontal value axis, or X-axis. To do this, we stayed on the “Format Axis” panel, and expanded the “Labels” category towards the bottom. Here we merely chose “None” as the “Label Position” as shown in the second circle in the screenshot above, which removed the unnecessary horizontal numbers.

Other pretty things

Of course, to change the chart’s heading, simply double-click on it to edit the text. This will produce the “Format Chart Title” panel on the right so you can spruce the heading up with a background fill or border. You can do something similar with the chart itself by double-clicking anywhere on the chart to pull up the “Format Chart Area” panel on the right. In our case, we went with a solid blue line with a width of two points so it stands out on the sheet. We also gave it a cool blue gradient fill to spruce it up with some color, but you can use fills based on solids, patterns, textures, and pictures as well.

But using a gradient meant we lost the lines in the blue background. To change the color of your grid lines, simply click on them within your chart to produce the “Format Major Gridlines” panel on the right. Here you can set the type of lines you want to use, their transparency, width, color, and so on. Since we didn’t need to see the sole horizontal line along the bottom, we clicked on it to produce the “Format Axis” panel again and chose “No line” to remove it.

But we still can’t tell what’s what on the chart — it’s all just dots and lines. Thankfully, you can show data in several ways. In one example, we could click on one of the points to activate it, and then right-click on it to access the “Add Data Label” option. You can choose to show the number data associated with that point (the average frames per second in our case), or show all the data associated with that point along the X-axis. For our chart, we did this with three points to show the performance difference when switching internal graphics.

Another example would be to simply show the number data of each point. Click on a point on the chart again to activate it, right-click to show the “Add Data Labels” option again, and then select “Add Data Labels” in the rollout menu. The numbers will appear and can be visually altered using the “Format Data Labels” panel on the right. Here you can re-position the labels, add or remove the data from other cells, and change the thickness of the text.

Be a cheater… it’s OK

So while we now have the average frame rates for each plot on the chart, we still can’t see the hardware that was used. Even more, we can’t use text as data along the bottom of the chart, but we can put the horizontal axis title back on our chart and “cheat.” Unfortunately, the axis title text box doesn’t completely extend from one side of the chart to the other (it’s locked by an algorithm, says Microsoft), so we entered text and used spaces to get a general idea of the major changes in hardware. It’s not exactly what we wanted, but it will do given the scatter chart’s limitations.

Finally, many visual elements can be altered on your chart using tools supplied on the “Format” tab when your chart is highlighted. What you alter depends on what is selected in the “Current Selection” area on Excel’s ribbon, such as “Horizontal (Value) Axis Title” when manipulating the horizontal text as we just did. You’ll see options for selecting a bounding box, text styles, text effects, and more. Alternatively, you can right-click on anything within the chart to pull up the option for modifying that element. In the case of horizontal axis title, you can quickly fill the text box, create an outline, or select from a large collection of styles.

This is just one of many

A scatter plot is just one style of chart-making in Excel. If you find that you need more flexibility in the presentation, you can right-click on the chart and select “Change chart type.” Here, you will see a list of all the charts Excel supports and previews of how your data will be used for each type. These styles include “Column,” “Line,” “Bar,” and even templates you used or downloaded in the past. There’s a “Combo” option too for using multiple styles on one chart.

Have fun with your scatter plot. This was just one example of how to use this feature, and could be put to better use, such as tracking the amount of rainfall for seven days, the growth of various plants over a month’s time, forecasting the company’s growth based on current sales numbers, and so on. But again, a scatter plot deals with numeric data such as dates, times, currencies, percentages, and so on. It’s capable of showing text related to those numbers but the horizontal and vertical values can’t use text. If that’s what you’re looking for, a line chart would be more appropriate.

For more tips and tricks to make your Excel experience better, check out these three guides:

• How to password protect a Microsoft Excel document
• Master the way of the spreadsheet with these Excel tips and tricks
• Need to know how to convert a PDF into an Excel document? Try these methods

Huawei Mate 10 Pro vs. Google Pixel 2 XL: Can Huawei top the Android powerhouse?

Huawei has finally taken the wraps off the Mate 10 and Mate 10 Pro. These devices boast top-tier specs, beautifully large displays, and a design that puts them firmly in the 2017 flagship category.

Of course, the Huawei Mate 10 and Huawei Mate 10 Pro are not the only flagship phones to recently come out. Google unveiled the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL to much fanfare at its recent hardware event, and they could pose quite a threat to the newly launched Mate 10 series. How does the larger Huawei Mate 10 Pro compare to the Google Pixel 2 XL? We put the two phones head-to-head to find out.

Specs

Google Pixel 2 XL

Huawei Mate 10 Pro

Size
157.9 x 76.7 x 7.9 mm (6.22 x 3.02 x 0.31 inches)
154.2 x 74.5 x 7.9 mm (6.07 x 2.93 x 0.31 inches)
Weight
175 grams (6.17 ounces)
178 grams (6.28 ounces)
Screen
6-inch P-OLED display
6-inch AMOLED display
Resolution
2880 x 1440 pixels (538 ppi)
2160 x 1080 pixels (402 ppi)
OS
Android 8.0 Oreo
Android 8.0 Oreo
Storage
64GB, 128GB
64GB, 128GB
MicroSD card slot
No
No
NFC support
Yes
Yes
Processor
Snapdragon 835, with Adreno 540
Kirin 970
RAM
4GB
4GB, 6GB
Connectivity
4G LTE, GSM, CDMA, HSPA+
GSM, HSPA, LTE
Camera
12.2MP rear, 8MP front
Dual 20MP + 12MP rear, 8MP front
Video
Up to 4K at 30 fps, 1080p at 120 fps, 720p at 240 fps
Up to 4K at 30 fps, 1080p at 60 fps
Bluetooth
Yes, version 5.0
Yes, version 4.2
Fingerprint sensor
Yes
Yes
Other sensors
Barometer, gyroscope, accelerometer, compass, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, Active Edge
Accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity, barometer, compass
Water resistant
Yes, IP67 rated
Yes, IP67 rated
Battery
3,520mAh

Fast-charging with 7 hours in 15 minutes of charge

4,000mAh

Huawei Supercharge with 58 percent in 30 minutes

Charging port
USB Type-C
USB Type-C
Marketplace
Google Play Store
Google Play Store
Colors
Just Black, Black & White
Midnight Blue, Titanium Gray, Mocha Brown, Pink Gold
Availability

Best Buy, Unlocked from Google, Verizon

 Mid-November
Price
$850
800 Euros (around $945)
DT review
Hands-on review
Hands-on review

It’s clear that both of these phones are powerful devices, but they take a different approach. While the Google Pixel 2 XL offers the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, Qualcomm’s latest and greatest chip, the Huawei Mate 10 Pro features Huawei’s latest chip — the Kirin 970, which is coupled with the Kirin Neural Processing Network.

We don’t yet know exactly how well the Kirin 970 performs against the likes of the Snapdragon 835, but the fact is that both chips are powerful and both should be able to handle everything you can throw at them right now.

While the 64GB model of the Mate 10 Pro has 4GB of RAM, just like the Pixel 2 XL, Huawei also offers a hefty 6GB of RAM in the 128GB version. It’s debatable how much RAM your smartphone needs, but multitaskers looking for a high-performing device might prefer to go for the Mate 10 Pro over the Pixel 2 XL. You can also get a version of the Pixel 2 XL with 128GB of storage, but it still has 4GB of RAM. Neither phone has a MicroSD card slot.

Both of these phones are top-performing phones, but without benchmark results for the Mate 10 Pro, we don’t know which one performs better just yet. Right now, this one’s a tie.

Winner: Tie

Design, display, and durability

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Both the Google Pixel 2 XL and the Huawei Mate 10 Pro feature some very 2017 design elements. The Pixel 2 XL, for example, has a large display that features beautifully rounded corners and only tiny bezels. Similarly, while the Huawei Mate 10 Pro doesn’t have rounded corners, it does have a nice big display worthy of a 2017 flagship. The Pixel 2 XL continues the previous Pixel’s trend of offering a mixture of glass and metal on the back — unlike the Mate 10 Pro, which sticks with solely glass on the back.

Speaking of the display, both phones offer pretty nice ones — but the Pixel 2 XL slightly edges out the Mate 10 Pro. That’s because it offers a much sharper 2880 x 1440 resolution display over the Mate 10 Pro’s 2160 x 1080 pixel display. Both displays come in at 6-inches, and the Pixel 2 XL has a pOLED display, while Huawei has opted for an AMOLED display.

The Huawei Mate 10 Pro offers a fully glass back, while the Google Pixel 2 XL only has a little glass on the back. That could be a big deal for durability, especially if you’re prone to dropping your phone, but we’d still advise getting a case. As far as water goes, both phones come in with an IP67 rating, which means they can handle rain and even submersion in water up to one meter deep for up to 30 minutes.

Because of the better display, Google’s Pixel 2 XL wins this category.

Winner: Google Pixel 2 XL

Battery life and charging

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The batteries on these two phones are actually pretty different. While the Google Pixel 2 XL comes in with a pretty big 3,520mAh battery, Huawei takes things a step further with a larger 4,000mAh battery. That’s a big difference. The bigger battery should go a longer way too, thanks to the lower resolution display.

Both of the phones have fast charging of some kind, with the Google Pixel 2 XL able to charge up to 7 hours in 15 minutes, and the Huawei Mate 10 Pro able to charge up to 58 percent in 30 minutes.

Because of the much bigger battery, this one has to go to the Huawei Mate 10 Pro.

Winner: Huawei Mate 10 Pro

Camera

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

When Google unveiled the Pixel 2 XL, it highlighted the record DxOMark score, hailing it as the best camera in a smartphone ever. That’s a big deal, and while it’s likely that title will be passed around a lot in the next few years, the fact still remains that right now, the Pixel 2 XL takes the best photos.

Still, the Huawei Mate 10 Pro does offer a few advantages. For starters, unlike the Pixel 2 XL, it has a true dual-lens camera. There’s a 20-megapixel monochrome camera alongside a 12-megapixel RGB camera, while the Pixel 2 XL only has a single 12.2-megapixel camera. The ability to take two shots simultaneously and merge them allows all sorts of camera cleverness, but Google is able to achieve some similar effects, like bokeh, through machine learning and its so-called “dual-pixel” technology. On the Mate 10 Pro both lenses have a dual f/1.6 aperture — which should be super helpful in low-light situations. The Pixel 2 XL camera has a slightly smaller f/1.8 aperture.

Both phones have an 8-megapixel front-facing camera.

We’ll have to conduct more testing to see which camera is truly better, but initially it seems that they’re just better for different situations. For now, this one’s a tie.

Winner: Tie

Software

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

While the Google Pixel 2 XL offers a near stock Android experience, Huawei has done some tweaking to Android for EMUI. The Huawei Mate 9 offered EMUI 5.1, but instead of upgrading to EMUI 6.0, Huawei has jumped to EMUI 8.0 for the Mate 10 and Mate 10 Pro — in an effort to bring the software more in line with Google’s latest platform release, which is currently Android 8.0 Oreo.

EMUI offers various tricks and is tweaked to promote Huawei’s software and take more advantage of the edge-to-edge display. Whether that’s a good thing depends on your tastes, but there are some compelling advantages to stock Android, not least the fact that the Pixel 2 XL will get updated features and security patches immediately as Google rolls them out.

Because of its simplicity, quick updates, and overall lack of bloatware, we’re giving Google the win here.

Winner: Google Pixel 2 XL

Price and availability

The Google Pixel 2 XL was first announced on October 4, and it’s currently available from the Google Store — though you may have to wait a while considering the stock issues that Google has been having. The device starts at $849, which is pretty pricey — but we don’t know yet if it’ll be more or less expensive than the Huawei Mate 10 Pro in the United States. All we do know about the Mate 10 Pro’s pricing is that it comes in at 800 euros in Europe — which is around $945 right now — though that’s not necessarily an indicator of how much it’ll go for in the U.S.

The Pixel 2 XL is also available from Verizon. We’re not yet sure if any American carrier will offer the Mate 10 Pro. For now, this one’s a tie — though that could change.

Winner: Tie

Overall winner: Google Pixel 2 XL

This one was a very close call. While the Huawei Mate 10 Pro is certainly a promising phone — especially in performance, thanks to its NPU, and in battery life, thanks to its massive battery. Those things still aren’t enough to beat the Pixel 2 XL’s better display, arguably easier-to-use software, and what we expect to be better camera.

Both phones are excellent, and we’ll have to wait and see what the price point of the Mate 10 Pro ends up being — but for now, if you’re looking for a great flagship phone, we recommend going for the Google Pixel 2 XL.