Maybach Ultimate Luxury EV brings its own tea service

If an automaker wants to succeed in China, they need to electrify their cars. The country has strict EV plans and for anyone looking to buy a car in a city like Beijing, going electric means not having to apply for the license lottery to own a car. So it’s no wonder that Maybach (the ultra-luxury arm of Mercedes) unveiled a concept crossover built specifically for the country’s ultra-rich that’s all electric.

The Vision Mercedes-Maybach Ultimate Luxury (yes, that’s the name), is a four-wheel drive EV with an emphasis on passenger comfort that comes with its own tea service. The pot, cups and wooden tray are housed in a center console that retracts with a push of the button.

The rest of the interior is equally fancy with ebony wood known as “Magic Wood” used in the tea set and doors. The seats are stitched white leather while there are rose gold and shiny aluminum accents throughout the interior.

The driver–which will more than likely be a chauffeur–will have two 12.3-inch displays to help them navigate the streets of China. The cockpit is minimalistic with all the real emphasis made on making the passengers feel as comfortable as possible.

The crossover will output 750 horsepower from four motors and have a range of over 200 miles. Under all that leather and Magic Wood is an 80kWh battery pack that thanks to CCS DC fast charging that supports 350kW, can suck up 60 miles of range in five minutes.

Since the driver will take care of all of that, the interior of the crossover looks like something you’d never want to leave. Which is great because as soon as you get out of the car you have to look at it. While the front of the vehicle is spectacular, the rear is just odd looking.

The automaker put a trunk on an SUV. It’s weird. Mercedes did say the design is based on a luxury sedan and SUV. But if you’re the person being pampered in the back seat, you probably don’t care because your tea is ready.

Internet Explorer has a zero-day bug that Microsoft needs to fix

Internet Explorer is pre-installed on every Windows PC, even though it’s been superseded by Microsoft’s new Edge browser in terms of long-term support. The reason is simple: Many organizations use the archaic browser for legacy applications, and so Microsoft has had to keep it around but isn’t spending a great deal of time on improving it. Unfortunately, according to one security firm, Internet Explorer has a serious flaw that’s leaving it open to malware attacks.

ZDNet reports on the zero-day bug, which is coming from Chinese antivirus software company Qihoo 360 Core. The company’s security research team claim that the bug uses a Microsoft Office document that has a vulnerability installed that opens a web page that downloads a piece of malware. According to the researchers, the malware exploits a user account control (UAC) bypass attack, and it also utilizes file steganography, which is the technology of embedding a message, image, or file within another message, image, or file.

Qihoo 360 also reported on the bug via Twitter:

We uncovered an IE 0day vulnerability has been embedded in malicious MS Office document, targeting limited users by a known APT actor.Details reported to MSRC @msftsecresponse

— 360 Core Security (@360CoreSec) April 20, 2018

Microsoft responded to ZDNet’s request for comment with the following rather generic statement:

“Windows has a customer commitment to investigate reported security issues, and proactively update impacted devices as soon as possible. We recommend customers use Windows 10 and the Microsoft Edge browser for the best protection. Our standard policy is to provide remediation via our current Update Tuesday schedule.”

The following image shows a basic flowchart of how the bug is executed on an affected system. Beyond this, there is not a great deal of information on the flaw and little else to go on in determining just how infected systems are impacted. Until Microsoft fixes the bug, of course, it will remain an issue for Windows users.

Qihoo 360

Apparently, the attack is being conducted globally by an “advanced persistent threat (APT) group.” That implies a group of hackers with some capabilities that can conduct such a sophisticated attack. Unfortunately, there is not much users can do at this point except follow the usual security advice: Keep your systems and software updated, make sure you’re using sufficient malware protection, and don’t open any files unless you’re absolutely certain that it’s from a trusted source and that it was sent on purpose.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Hackers can bypass the Windows 10 S lockdown due to security flaw
• Microsoft misses another Edge-related 90-day security disclosure deadline
• From pranks to nuclear sabotage, this is the history of malware
• Microsoft will pay you up to $250,000 to find Spectre-like flaws
• Microsoft Windows Defender extension offers Chrome users extra protection

Microsoft warns Windows Defender can’t stop rising tech support scams

While Windows Defender may stop malware and cyberattacks, consumers are still susceptible to a different type of threat that is gaining popularity. Microsoft warns that tech support scams are on the rise, with consumers losing between $200 and $400 per incident as a result of these social engineering attacks. In 2017, Microsoft received 153,000 reports from users who were victimized by these tech support scam, a 24 percent increase from a year prior, the company detailed in a security report.

These scams could occur in a number of ways. Hackers either place an unsolicited phone call to the victim, display a strategic online ad, send a phishing email, or install malware to lead consumers to believe that their systems have been compromised.

“Once connected, a fake technician (an experienced scammer) convinces the victim of a problem with their device. They often scare victims with urgent problems requiring immediate action. They instruct victims to install remote administration tools (RATs), which provide the scammers access to and control over the device,” Microsoft said. “With control of the device, scammers can make a compelling case about errors in the device and pressure the victim to pay.”

The scam issue isn’t just isolated to Windows, with technical support scams also affecting users of MacOS, iOS, and Android operating systems. The FBI reported that there were 11,000 complaints about tech support fraud in 2017, resulting in nearly $15 million worth of losses, according to ZDNet. Some scammers even threaten to take legal action if the charges for fake tech support services aren’t paid.

In one instance, a scammer emptied 89,000 euros (about 108,600) from a bank account in the Netherlands as a result of a tech support scam, Microsoft said in its report. “In a 2016 survey sponsored by Microsoft, two in three respondents reported experiencing some form of tech support scam in the previous 12 months, with nearly one in 10 losing money.”

The problem is likely to be larger than what these statistics state. These figures only include consumers who have reported to being victimized by the tech support scams.

Because of the complexity of these types of scams, Microsoft recommends collaborative efforts between the tech industry and law enforcement to “make a significant dent on this issue.” Microsoft’s partnership with web hosting providers, for example, has lead to the takedown of fake support websites, and its work with telecom networks resulted in the shutdown of scam phone numbers.

If you have been hit with a scam, you should notify your bank to reverse the charges, change all your passwords, uninstall any software that was installed as part of the tech support scam, and run a virus scan. Microsoft said that the best way to prevent scams is education.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Hackers modify ransomware to deliver a Coinhive cryptocurrency-mining payload
• Everything you need to know about Google Assistant
• The best game-streaming services
• How to mirror your smartphone or tablet on your TV
• Best high-tech April Fools’ jokes

Summer school is a drag, so enroll your kids in Microsoft’s Summer Camps

Microsoft

If you want your kids to be more productive this summer, rather than wasting it on mindless TV or video games, drop them off at your local Microsoft Store. Not only would you get a few hours of “me time,” but your kids will pick up some new computing skills that they can apply to their careers in the future. The five free Microsoft Store YouthSpark Summer Camps, taking place from late May until August inside all Microsoft Store location in the United States, will focus on coding, robotics, 3D and mixed-reality moviemaking, and philanthropy. Parents can sign their kids up via the Microsoft Store website.

Designed for kids ages eight and older, the STEM-based (science, technology, engineering, and math) courses last from one to four sessions, depending on the activity, and each session takes two hours. Each course is led by Microsoft Store employees, with easy-to-understand curriculum developed by Microsoft product engineers, and using Microsoft hardware like Surface tablet computers. The availability and class sizes will be determined by the size of the store.

One course destined to be a hit is Minecraft Coding. Using Microsoft MakeCode, the students learn about game design and how it is coded, and, in turn, then use their newfound knowledge to create their own programming. The course consists of four two-hour sessions, and while the training can get pretty deep by the end of the course, Microsoft said kids do not need to have any prior coding knowledge.

But if you want to start your kids on the basics, sign them up for Beginners Fun with Computing and Coding, a partnership with Code.org. This introductory, two-hour one-day course is actually for children between the ages of six and eight, and it guides them to think like a computer when it comes to coding.

A slightly more advanced coding class is Code a Talking Robot with Ohbot. For this course, Microsoft partnered with Ohbot, a company that makes educational robots, to teach kids how to code for a robot with seven motorized expressions that moves and talks, using a graphical programming language that’s based on MIT Scratch. In addition, the lesson teaches how to solve problems in software. The course is made is up two two-hour sessions.

If your child is more of a creative type, Make Your Own Movie with 3D and Mixed Reality teaches how to create a movie, from beginning to end. The course, which takes place over four two-hour sessions, also introduces students to 3D drawing and how to integrate digital elements within footage, and Microsoft’s Mixed Reality technology.

The fifth option teaches kids how to use technology to raise awareness for causes that interest them. Called Create a Difference in Your World, students learn about fundraising, volunteering, holding community events, and other skills related to humanitarian work, in the four two-hour sessions. The focus here is more on life skills than technical abilities, but kids learn how to use technology to further their goals.

At the end of each camp, the students present to their friends and family what they have learned and created. It is hoped that each student would continue to grow his or her skills. Ohbot, for example, offers a free app that students can use at home.

Microsoft gave us a tour of the five camps, which a few are already being held at various Microsoft Store locations. It’s evident that there are serious skills to be learned, but it all revolves around fun. None of the courses are particularly difficult to grasp, but they can become very complex, particularly with the robot coding we saw. While there is the expected but unspoken push of Microsoft products, nearly all the lessons are universal and can be applied to non-Microsoft gear.

Apple’s Tim Cook says people don’t want iOS and MacOS to merge. What do you say?

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Even if Tim Cook and Apple’s top engineers believe that users may not want iOS and MacOS to merge, there are merits to combining the two operating systems. Apple’s Mac audience could gain some of the benefits from the iOS mobile platform, like LTE connectivity and touchscreen support, resulting in a more powerful MacBook Pro laptop experience.

Tim Cook believes that a merger of the OSes could result in “trade-offs and compromises,” but Apple’s rivals in the industry are already running with the idea.

Google added Android support to Chrome OS. Microsoft embraced the mobile computing world by adding LTE support on its Surface Pro late last year, and the recent launch of Windows on an ARM-powered processor helps give laptop owners more battery life on a single charge.

.@tim_cook thinks you wouldn’t want #MacOS and #iOS to merge, but a combined platform could result in a more integrated experience. Should @Apple keep MacOS and iOS separate?

(Please RT for a greater sample size)

— Digital Trends (@DigitalTrends) April 23, 2018

Even if Apple doesn’t fully embrace merging iOS and MacOS, it hasn’t been opposed to some cross-pollination between the two. Apple is reportedly working on a framework that could potentially allow iOS applications run on the Mac, a move that mirrors Google’s support for running Android apps on Chrome OS, and users may be able to experience this feature before the year’s over.

Given that iOS apps are designed around a touchscreen-first experience while MacOS is designed around a keyboard and mouse for input, it’s unclear how or if Apple will handle the touchscreen. Unlike Microsoft and Google, Apple had long opposed adding a touchscreen to MacOS systems, saying that the feature was best suited for the iPhone and iPad. However, with iOS apps possibly coming to the Mac, it seems the time is ripe for the addition of a touchscreen on the company’s MacBook Pro laptops.

Even if Apple’s ads position the iPad as a full-fledged computer replacement, the notebook form factor is still alive and popular. In the past, the lack of a touchscreen on a Mac, particularly one that supports handwriting and inking capabilities, has led some creatives to switch to Microsoft’s Surface Pro or Surface Book. With a powerful enough MacBook Pro supporting these features — LTE, touchscreen, and inking — that debuted first on Apple’s mobile-centric iPad, creatives could once again be wooed by the Mac.

But there’s also another radical approach that Apple could explore that could inject life into both the iPad and the MacBook series. Similar to how Google is exploring a new operating system called Fuchsia that’s believed to eventually succeed Chrome OS and Android, Apple could be building a new, third OS without making any compromises.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Tim Cook doesn’t believe customers want MacOS and iOS combined
• iOS 12 and new MacOS may let Mac users download iPad apps
• What’s weirder: A Chrome OS tablet or an Android laptop?
• Apple’s iOS 11.3 is now available for download on the iPhone and iPad
• Here’s how to use Apple Pay with your iPhone, Apple Watch, or Mac

Falcon Northwest Tiki 2018 review

Research Center:

Falcon Northwest Tiki 2018

The original Falcon Northwest Tiki was one of our all-time favorite gaming PCs. We loved its compact form factor, powerful internals, and unique exterior design. That means the 2018 model has some big shoes to fill.

The latest version of Falcon Northwest’s ultra-compact gaming features an Intel Core i7-8700K processor, an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti graphics card, 32GB of RAM, and a 2TB SSD. All for the not very low price of $3,500. Let’s see how it stacks up against of the latest and greatest gaming PCs on the market — and most importantly, let’s find out if it earns that pricetag.

Sleek, shiny, and compact

Just looking at the Falcon Northwest Tiki, it’s immediately apparent that this isn’t your average gaming PC. Instead of a giant tower with a big open window looking into a gaping maw of cables and LED lighting, the Tiki offers a sleek, compact silhouette. It’s small, meticulously engineered, and incredibly well-built. But there’s more to its visual design than you might suspect.

The Falcon Northwest Tiki isn’t just a brightly colored PC, it features an automotive paint job that gives the whole exterior a unique sense of depth. Up close, and under bright lights, the paint becomes luminescent and a little metallic, sparkling like a sports car on a summer drive. But be careful, the automotive paint job behaves exactly like an actual car’s paint job. It can chip and scratch much easier than cheap plastic or normal coated-steel PC cases do. And there’s a bit of an unfortunate side effect: The smell.

The Tiki’s paint job continues to cure and harden and as a result it gives off a bit of an unpleasant chemical smell.

Right out of the box, the Tiki’s paint job continues to cure and harden and as a result it gives off a bit of an unpleasant chemical smell — like an auto body shop. It’s not noticeable unless the Tiki is in a closed room with poor ventilation, or if you get really close to it, but it’s definitely there. During the time we had with the Tiki, the smell did eventually wane to the point that you could only smell it by getting really close to it, but it’s something you should be aware of if you opt for the automotive paint job. It looks great, but it does have a downside.

Port problems

The Falcon Northwest Tiki features all the ports you’d expect out of a gaming PC, with a standard I/O plate in the back, and a couple extra USB ports up top alongside the vertically-oriented optical drive. Everything is easy to reach, and right where you’d expect it. With one tiny exception.

Tomas Patlan

To be clear, this exception is likely just an oversight, not a big deal at all, but when you’re paying $3,500 for a PC, it’s not unreasonable to expect a certain degree of perfection. The problem is the top USB ports. The I/O panel here was not completely fastened to the top plate of the case, so when you try to use either USB port on top, you’re basically pushing the whole I/O panel into the computer. It’s not a good look.

That said, it’s an easy fix, all we had to do was open it up and screw the I/O panel to the top of the case. Still, as we mentioned, it was a little disappointing but nowhere near a deal-breaker. This is still an exceptionally well-built computer in every other respect.

Compact, but not cramped

Inside the Falcon Northwest Tiki the first thing you’re likely to notice is how clean and compact everything is. Remember, this is a very small PC, it has a slim form-factor that would basically fit inside any of our other testing PCs here in the office — with room to spare. The internals in the Tiki are arranged with precision, everything’s carefully fitted together, because there’s not a lot of room in there. Despite the lack of extra space in the interior it doesn’t feel cramped — just dense.

Pull off the side and you’ll immediately have access to the graphics card, the motherboard, RAM, and the M.2 slot. There’s an internal stabilizing bracket that walls off some of the other internal components — like the wiring for the top USB panel — but it’s there for a good reason. It keeps the case stable and holds everything in place during shipping. So, if you pull it out for some at-home cleaning or repairs, remember to put it back if you ever need to ship your Falcon Northwest back for repairs.

There’s really not much to say about the internals here that photos don’t illustrate more clearly. Just look at how everything is laid out in there. The water-cooling unit on the processor has just enough slack to comfortably let down the side panel cable management is tight, efficient, and purposeful.

Six core showdown

The Falcon Northwest Tiki features an overclocked 8th-generation Intel Core i7-8700K, which is a processor you’re going to see pretty often in high-end gaming PCs like this one. It’s quick, powerful, and just about the best you can get in the i7 range. Unlike its i7 predecessors in the 6th and 7th-generations, the i7-8700K is a six-core processor, rather than a quad-core processor. That means for this processor generation Intel has decided to cram more cores onto the chip instead of just speeding up the cores that are there. The end result? This thing is fast.

Looking at how it stacks up to the same processor in a different machine, it’s clear that the Intel Core i7-8700K is quick on its feet in single core performance and multi-core performance. It easily eclipses the performance we got out of the AMD Ryzen 1800X in the Velocity Micro Raptor M60 and demonstrates substantial gains over previous generation processors.

The Falcon Northwest Tiki managed to crunch a 4K video encode in just over three minutes.

For most games, you’re not going to see the Core i7-8700K do much of the heavy lifting, but you will notice when you have about a million browser tabs open with Excel and Word running in the background. The i7-8700K does an excellent job of keeping up with you during everyday productivity tasks.

For an example of the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it speed we got out of the i7-8700K, we just have to look at the Handbrake benchmark. The Falcon Northwest Tiki managed to crunch a 4K video encode in just over three minutes, putting it just ahead of the same processor in the Origin Millennium and a full minute ahead of the AMD Ryzen 1800X.

Quick and quicker

The Falcon Northwest Tiki ships with a huge 2TB SSD in its M.2 slot — the one that fits SSDs the size of a stick of gum. Given the Tiki’s high-end pedigree, it only makes sense that it would be outfitted with a luxuriously large and lightning-quick SSD, and the included Intel 760P M.2 SSD does not disappoint.

Looking at how the 2TB SSD performs against a couple of its peers one thing is abundantly clear: SSDs have become incredibly quick. Looking at read speeds, all three of these PCs managed to hit upward of 2,500 megabytes per second. The Velocity Micro comes in first with 2,876 MB/s, just ahead of the Tiki’s 2,867 MB/s.

Given the Tiki’s high-end pedigree, it only makes sense that it would be outfitted with a luxuriously large and lightning-quick SSD.

Looking at write speed, things slow down a bit with the Tiki hitting 1,504 MB/s — which is still incredibly fast especially considering the Intel 760P is quadruple the size of the SSDs in the Velocity Micro M60 and the Origin Millennium. Speaking of which, the Velocity Micro Raptor M60 took the lead with 2,042 MB/s, to the Origin Millennium’s also impressive 1,972 MB/s.

In practice though, the Falcon Northwest Tiki is very fast — quick enough that it’s not going to slow you down in everyday use. Its expansive storage space plus its incredible performance make it an excellent choice for a compact gaming PC like the Tiki.

1080 Ti Battle Royale

The nice thing about the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is that it’s almost always an impressive graphics card. No matter what system it’s in, this little thing will run just about any game at max settings, and just about any resolution — in 4K, 1440p or 1080p. To be fair, it should run this well, it’s currently the top-of-the-line gaming graphics card — unless you’re stepping up into Nvidia’s professional lineup of GPUs designed for 3D animation or something. But for gaming it’s hard to do better than a 1080 Ti, and the Falcon Northwest Tiki demonstrates that beautifully.

Looking at 3DMark, you can see how the 1080 Ti in this machine stacks up against similar builds. The Origin Millennium, one of our favorite gaming desktops, features not one but two GTX 1080 Ti graphics cards running in SLI. The Velocity Micro Raptor M60 features a single GTX 1080 Ti, In our 3D Mark results, the Falcon Northwest Tiki landed right in the middle, just ahead of the Raptor M60 and just behind the double-GPU Origin Millennium.

It’s about what we’d expect out of the GTX 1080 Ti, it likely performed slightly better than the card in the Raptor M60 due to the natural variations you get from card to card, even when they’re the same make and model.

Moving on to our first batch of real-world results, there are some interesting things happening under the hood in the Falcon Northwest Tiki. First, looking at Civilization VI, you’ll notice that the Falcon Northwest came within just a few frames per second of the Origin Millennium despite its dual GPU setup. There are a couple reasons that could be. One, it’s likely Civilization VI doesn’t really need to leverage the power of a two GPU setup, and two, the slightly quicker processor in the Falcon Northwest (due again to natural variations between processors of the same type) likely pushed it ahead since Civilization VI is a bit of a CPU-intensive game.

Looking at the rest of our testing suite, it’s clear that you’re not going to have any trouble at all running games at 1080p on the Falcon Northwest. It sailed through Battlefield 1 at Ultra settings, hitting 185 FPS on average, just barely behind the Origin Millennium, and quite a bit ahead of the Velocity Micro Raptor M60.

The 1080p results set the stage for what we end up seeing further up the scale at 1440p. At this resolution, games looked great and continued to run well on the Falcon Northwest. In Battlefield 1 for instance, we hit an average of 143 FPS at ultra-high settings. Even in Deus Ex: Mankind Divided we saw 70 FPS with all the settings maxed. That’s impressive considering Deus Ex has a bad habit of bringing powerful systems to their knees at higher resolutions.

Which brings us to 4K. The Falcon Northwest Tiki is a very expensive gaming rig so surely it should have no problem running games at 4K, right? That’s actually correct. The GTX 1080 Ti, and all the other hardware inside the Falcon Northwest, managed to keep up and hit smooth, playable framerates in all of our testing games.

Looking at Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, the Falcon Northwest hit 74 FPS on average with all the settings maxed. Stepping down to High, it hit 48 FPS. In both cases it was just barely behind the Origin Millennium’s dual GPU setup, illustrating just how far you can go on a single GTX 1080 Ti with the right supporting hardware.

This is an exceptional machine.

In a less demanding, but slightly better-looking game, Battlefield 1, the Falcon hit an impressive 74 FPS at Ultra detail in 4K. So as long as you don’t need an ultra-high FPS for a 144Hz monitor, the Falcon Northwest Tiki will be able to keep up with 4K games reasonably well.

With a PC this powerful coming out so close to the release of the new HTC Vive Pro, you might be asking yourselves, how well does it handle VR games? That’s an easy question to answer because we used this review model to power the HTC Vive Pro during our review for that product, and the Falcon Northwest Tiki was more than up to the challenge. With its GTX 1080 Ti and powerful Core i7 processor, we never experienced stuttering, lag, or framerates dipping below 90 FPS during while running brand-new VR games like Mage’s Tale.

Falcon Northwest Tiki 2018 Compared To

Dell Inspiron 5675

Dell XPS 8930 Tower

Origin Millennium

Asus G11DF-DBR5-GTX1060

Asus ROG Strix GD30CI

Velocity Micro Raptor M60

Origin Neuron

Alienware Area 51 (2017)

Digital Storm Velox (Kaby Lake)

Cybertron CLX Ra

Digital Storm Velox

Falcon Northwest Talon (2015)

iBuyPower Erebus

Gateway FX6800-01e

HP Blackbird 002

Our Take

The latest Falcon Northwest Tiki absolutely lives up to the legacy of its predecessors, delivering high-end performance, design, and build quality at a premium price. Other than the minor issues we encountered, there’s not much to complain about here. This is an exceptional machine. Still, let’s break it down and make sure it really earns that $3,500 price tag.

Is there a better alternative?

There are certainly cheaper alternatives on the market, getting a gaming desktop with these specs wholesale or from a different retailer would probably save you some cash. But you would be hard-pressed to find a gaming desktop that is as well-built, powerful, and with such above-and-beyond tech support as you get with the Falcon Northwest Tiki.

The best alternative to a Falcon Northwest Tiki, might just be a slightly different Falcon Northwest Tiki.

The Origin Millennium we used in our test comparisons is more powerful, with two GTX 1080 Ti graphics cards running in SLI, but it’s also about a thousand dollars more expensive. The Velocity Micro Raptor M60 can be outfitted with almost identical specs for about the same price, but you’ll end up missing out on the killer engineering and build quality you get with the Falcon Northwest.

The nice thing about buying from a custom PC builder like Falcon Northwest, is that you have a ton of options available. The Falcon Northwest Tiki is available in dozens of different hardware configurations, With the same 8th-generation chipset as our review model, the Tiki starts at just $2,437 with a GTX 1060.

You can also pick up the Tiki with an X99 chipset, if you’re interested in one of Intel’s high-end 18-core i9 processors. Point is, the Falcon Northwest Tiki can be customized down to the smallest details depending on your budget, so the best alternative to a Falcon Northwest Tiki, might just be a slightly different Falcon Northwest Tiki.

How long will it last?

It’s pretty rare that a gaming PC’s warranty is noteworthy in any way, but the Falcon Northwest Tiki is an exception. Our Falcon Northwest Tiki shipped with a three-year limited warranty covering manufacturer defects and parts and labor.

You also get one year of Falcon Overnight Service, which means if at any point your system develops a serious hardware issue that can’t be solved via technical support, Falcon will pay to have your computer shipped overnight to the Falcon repair facilities, and then overnighted again to get it back to you in a timely manner. That’s pretty impressive, and it is definitely above and beyond what you’d get going with a bigger manufacturer like Dell or HP.

The Falcon Northwest Tiki will likely last a lot longer than your average gaming PC, in part because of the aforementioned Falcon Overnight service. Secondly, the Tiki ships with powerful hardware that is currently the top-of-the-line for gaming PCs. It’s going to be a while before the 1080 Ti starts to show its age, even once Nvidia’s next series of graphics cards end up hitting store shelves. Just look at how long the 980 Ti has remained relevant.

And third, this thing is built like a tank. It might be small but it is dense. The case is solid metal and built to last, chances are your Falcon Northwest Tiki will outlast most of the other electronics in your life.

Should you buy it?

This is always the trickiest question for luxury computers, and the Falcon Northwest TIki definitely falls under that category. It’s hard not to recommend the Tiki, and for that reason we definitely think you should buy it if you’re in the market to invest in a high-end gaming rig. This thing will last a long time, and it’s one of the best-built gaming desktops we’ve had come through our offices in recent memory — even if it does have a few minor downsides.

Moto G6 Plus vs. Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro: Spec comparison

Here’s an early look at how the Moto G6 Plus compares to Xiaomi’s budget behemoth.

Xiaomi extended its lead in the budget segment with the launch of the Redmi Note 5 Pro earlier this year, which demonstrated the brand’s ability to offer incredible value for money. Featuring a Snapdragon 636, up to 6GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, overhauled cameras, and a 4000mAh battery, there really isn’t much wrong with the device.

Motorola will be looking to take a slice out of Xiaomi’s market share in India with the launch of the upcoming Moto G6 series. India is Motorola’s second-largest market after Brazil, and its Moto G series was always well-received in the country. The Moto G6 Plus has key improvements over its predecessor, including a more premium design that sees a glass back, USB-C, Wi-Fi ac, and the switch to an 18:9 form factor.

The Moto G6 series fields three phones — the Moto G6 Play, Moto G6, and the Moto G6 Plus — and given that India is a key market for Motorola, all three devices will likely make their debut in the country. There’s no mention of when the phones will be launched in the subcontinent, but it’s likely we’ll see an announcement at the end of May.

Here’s an early look at how the Moto G6 Plus compares to Xiaomi’s budget behemoth, and what you can look forward to from Motorola’s budget phone.

Moto G6 Plus vs. Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro: Specs

Operating System	Android 8.0 Oreo	MIUI 9.2 based on Android 7.1.1 Nougat
Display	5.9-inch 18:9 FHD+ (2160×1080) IPS LCD panel403ppi pixel densityGorilla Glass 3	5.99-inch 18:9 FHD+ (2160×1080) IPS LCD panel403ppi pixel densityGorilla Glass
SoC	Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 Eight Cortex A53 cores up to 2.2GHz 14nm	Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 Eight Kryo 260 cores up to 1.8GHz 14nm
GPU	Adreno 508	Adreno 509
RAM	4GB/6GB	4GB/6GB
Storage	64GB/128GB microSD slot up to 256GB	64GB/64GB microSD slot up to 128GB
Rear camera	12 MP (f/1.7) + 5 MP (f/2.2)PDAF, LED flash4K video recording	12MP (f/2.2)+ 5MP (f/2.0)PDAF, LED flash 1080p video recording
Front shooter	8MP with f/2.2 lens1080p video	20MP with 1um pixels, f/2.2 lens and LED Selfie light 1080p video recording Beautify 4.0
Connectivity	LTE with VoLTEWi-Fi 802.11 ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, GLONASS USB-C, 3.5mm audio jack, FM radio	LTE with VoLTEWi-Fi 802.11 ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, GLONASS Micro-USB, 3.5mm audio jack, IR blaster
Battery	3200mAh batteryUSB-C (15W)	4000mAh battery 5V/2A over MicroUSB
Fingerprint	Front fingerprint sensor	Rear fingerprint sensor
Dimensions	160 x 75.5 x 8mm	158.6 × 75.4 × 8.05mm
Weight	167g	181g
Colors	Deep Indigo, Nimbus, Gold	Gold, Rose Gold, Blue, Black

As you can see from the specs above, the Moto G6 Plus shares a lot of similarities with the Redmi Note 5 Pro. Both have similar-sized displays, but the Moto G6 Plus is taller as it has a fingerprint sensor located at the front. Motorola says it retained the fingerprint sensor at the front to facilitate One Button Nav, the home button-based navigation system it rolled out on last year’s phone.

The Snapdragon 630 may not be as powerful as the Snapdragon 636 on the Redmi Note 5 Pro, but it shouldn’t pose many problems in day-to-day use. And while the 3200mAh battery isn’t as large as the huge 4000mAh unit on the Redmi Note 5 Pro, it should still be able to deliver a day’s worth of use comfortably.

Motorola needs to crush it with the camera and deliver timely updates.

The success of the Moto G6 Plus hinges on two key areas: camera quality and software updates. Xiaomi overhauled the camera experience on its phones this year, and the Moto G6 Plus needs to have a camera that’s as good — if not better — than the one on the Redmi Note 5 Pro. Same goes for software updates: Motorola isn’t the leader in this area anymore, and it needs to make sure it rolls out timely updates or risk losing further ground to Android One devices like the Mi A1.

The Moto G6 Plus is set to retail for €299 ($365), which comes out to ₹24,250. That is a non-starter for the Indian market, as that would put the device in the vicinity of the Moto X4, which is available for ₹24,999.

In a sense, the Moto G6 Plus is essentially a Moto X4 with an 18:9 screen, but the Moto G series is associated with the budget segment, and as such it’s possible we’ll see a price point that’s around the ₹18,000 figure. Anything beyond that and the Moto G6 Plus won’t be able to compete effectively against the likes of the Redmi Note 5 Pro or even the Mi A1.

What price point do you think the Moto G6 Plus will retail for in India?

Moto G6 series hands-on preview

Target promises EV chargers at more than 100 stores

Walmart isn’t the only big retailer installing a slew of EV chargers in its parking lots. Target and a collection of retail property owners (PDF) have unveiled plans to add a horde of charging stations in the (relatively) near future. In Target’s case, it’s adding chargers at more than 100 locations (600 parking spaces in total) over two years with the help of a variety of backers, including Tesla, VW’s Electrify America and ChargePoint. The big-box store only has chargers at 18 locations out of 1,800-plus as we write this, so it’s no trivial expansion.

The other companies, meanwhile, are working with Electrify America to install chargers at more than 100 “retail, convenience and refueling” locations across the US, including Target’s. They’ll range from ordinary 50kW chargers to 150kW in urban areas and 350kW along highways. Those last two charging levels will require cutting edge EVs, of course. All of the stations should either be active or under construction by June 2019.

In both cases, the goal is the same: retailers want to both help the environment and (crucially for them) draw you to their stores with the promise of more electricity. If you have your choice of stores, you may be more likely to visit the ones that let you recharge while you’re busy shopping. Not that this strategy is necessarily a problem. Many chargers still tend to be limited to dedicated stations — this could be helpful if you’d rather not go out of your way just to plug in.

Source: Target, Electrify America (PDF)

Forget plastic — Glowforge 3D laser printer builds with wood, fabric, leather

Forget what you know about conventional 3D printers, because a Seattle-based company has unveiled what appears to be the next generation of 3D construction. Called the Glowforge 3D laser printer, this revolutionary new machine throws out the common model of printing with additives and instead cuts away at supplied materials to produce almost anything you want.

Want to design your own etched leather wallet? Simply supply the piece of leather you wish to use, upload your desired design into the Glowforge’s web or smartphone app, and voila! The printer perfectly etches your design into the leather while also cutting it into a shape that’s easy to fold into a wallet. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination.

First introduced via a Kickstarter campaign in 2015, the Glowforge went on to set a 30-day crowdfunding record, raising more than $27.9 million. And while it’s taken a little while for these printers to actually come to market, on Monday, April 23, Glowforge officially took the covers off its 3D laser printer. Now, whether you want to print a personalized leather pet collar, a coffee maker, an outdoor business sign, or even a pediatric surgical training tool, you should be able to do so at the touch of this device’s button.

“From the very start, we designed the Glowforge 3D laser printer to unlock people’s creativity,” CEO Dan Shapiro said.  “We set out to reinvent the idea of ‘homemade.’ What if you could print what you wanted, when you needed it? What if you could sketch a design, then turn it into something real you could use, without complicated software? What if your gifts were personal instead of purchased? What if it was easy to print your ideas a hundred times, so you could launch a business?”

Because the Glowforge 3D laser printer utilizes a subtractive manufacturing process instead of the traditional additive manufacturing, the list of compatible materials is nearly endless. Owners have the option of using wood, fabric, felt, acrylic, paper, and even chocolate, among many others mediums. After placing the preferred material inside the printer, the Glowforge begins carving and etching the product using an incredibly precise laser light. In a demonstration video posted to the company’s website (and embedded above), it claims the laser possesses a precision accuracy of up to the width of a human hair.

Outside of the innovative hardware native to Glowforge’s printer, the machine purports to allow even the most amateur of artists to create unique projects. You can upload image files, hand drawn sketches, or use one of Glowforge’s many available templates and designs to begin a project. Moreover, users have the ability to customize or create new images and templates via Glowforge’s web application, or by using their smartphone. If using a computer program isn’t ideal, the printer has the ability to analyze drawn images, then cuts or etches the materials accordingly.

Glowforge doesn’t require any additional software, and should need only a stable Wi-Fi connection to work. You can create and print from software including Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape, CorelDraw, Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, Autodesk 360, and Sketchup, or forego software altogether — the Glowforge comes with cameras capable of scanning a drawing and transforming it into a print.

The Glowforge Basic, Plus, and Pro are now available for purchase on the company website, but be warned that these devices don’t come cheap. The Basic version will set you back $2,495, and is meant for home and hobby use. The Plus costs $3,995, and features “upgraded components” and more power to print 20 percent faster, as well as a double warranty. Finally, the Pro is meant for serious designers, entrepreneurs, and small businesses, and can handle all day use. Glowforge claims that this model can print large projects like home decor and furniture, but you need to be willing to pay $5,995.

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In blow to coal industry, tech firms push for renewable energy

Since 2008, renewable energy sources have gone from generating 9 percent of America’s electricity to 18 percent, and, as USA Today reports, a large part of that is due to tech giants such as Amazon and Google. Several of these firms have pledged to run their data centers on renewable energy.

Both Google and Apple have said that many of their facilities and data centers are running on 100-percent renewable energy. This is driving energy companies to shift their focus away from coal to wind and solar.

Renewable energy is more expensive than traditional sources, but these tech firms have the money to spend and, in doing so, they are obliging the market to adapt to them.

“We have the ability to shape the market,” said Michael Terrell, head of Google Energy Policy. “If you build it, we will come.”

This is bad news for the coal industry which has been struggling for several years now. The Trump administration has billed itself as coal-friendly, but coal companies still need to sell their product on the market and the market is increasingly demanding clean energy.

When Amazon wanted to open a data center in Virginia, it found that Dominion Power, the local utility company, did not have the means to supply it with 100-percent renewable energy. Dominion resisted at first but eventually worked out an agreement with Amazon allowing the online retail giant to obtain its energy from renewable sources.

“We thought about it, we understood their reasoning, we convinced ourselves that it was in our best interests to do it and we ended up signing,” said Dominion’s Greg Morgan.

It’s not just Google and Apple that are pushing for clean energy. Many of their suppliers have made the move to renewable energy. Nearly two dozen of Apple’s suppliers have announced that they will move to 100-percent renewable energy. These companies see it as an investment to help maintain Apple’s business.

“The smart ones are seeing it as a competitive advantage,” said Apple’s VP of environmental policy, Lisa Jackson. “They know they have an edge in competing for Apple’s business.”

Coal is not dead yet, but it is becoming increasingly clear to power companies that if they want to do business with tech titans such as Amazon and Google, they need offer clean renewable energy.

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