The Zuckerberg hearings were a wasted opportunity

Over the past two days, members of Congress have peppered Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg with questions about how the platform manages users’ privacy, what went wrong with Cambridge Analytica and what it’s doing to strengthen protections going forward. These two hearings lasted a combined 10-plus hours, during which dozens of senators and representatives had a chance to ask questions in five- and four-minute allotments, respectively. Until this week, Congress had tried for years to get Zuckerberg to personally appear on Capitol Hill, instead of, say, dispatching another company executive. It’s a shame, then, that the lawmakers ultimately squandered the time they had with him this week.

Throughout the hearings, Congressional leaders repeated questions that had already been asked. We heard them ask again and again whether the company would work with Congress on legislation that would impose regulations on social networks like Facebook and others. We also heard many leaders ask when exactly Facebook learned that Cambridge Analytica had improperly obtained user data. This repetition continued with questions about changes to policy, Facebook’s dense terms of service and whether users have been notified if their data were purchased by Cambridge Analytica. If time was so precious to these individuals — and it should be, four minutes flies by and this is an important topic — wouldn’t they try to avoid repeating the same questions ad nauseam?

Similarly, much of these questions were addressed in reports and updates already released by Facebook. Rehashing them (often repeatedly) is a poor use of time.

Even worse, some lawmakers spent their time soapboxing, not asking any questions at all. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) mostly used his few minutes to focus on a tool the Obama campaign used to collect data on Facebook users. He made sure to say that Zuckerberg should be equally outraged at that as he is with Cambridge Analytica’s purchase of Facebook data and kept saying that Facebook needed to reexamine the chronology of the history of this sort of data acquisition. But he didn’t ask a single question of Zuckerberg except one about how large the regulatory affairs division was when Zuckerberg was launching the platform in his Harvard dorm room — a question that was largely facetious.

There were also some questions asked that Zuckerberg should have been able to answer but couldn’t. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse’s (D-RI) question about whether Aleksandr Kogan can have or does have another personal account on Facebook is one example. Zuckerberg should also have been able to answer Senator Maria Cantwell’s (D-WA) question about whether any Facebook employees worked with Cambridge Analytica while CA worked with the Trump campaign. He couldn’t answer Senator Dean Heller’s (R-NV) and Senator Cory Gardner’s (R-CO) about how long it takes Facebook to get rid of users’ data after they delete their Facebook or Instagram accounts. And Zuckerberg should have been able to answer Senator Tammy Baldwin’s (D-WI) question about what firms Aleksandr Kogan sold his data to other than Cambridge Analytica. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI) actually called out Zuckerberg during her questioning today on everything he couldn’t answer. “As CEO, you didn’t know some key facts,” she said.

Then again, some of the questions were unreasonable. For example, Senator Heller (R-NV) asked how many Nevada residents were included in the 87 million individuals whose data were obtained by Cambridge Analytica. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) brought up specific Facebook Pages during his questioning and asked Zuckerberg if they were Russian-created groups. Additionally, a number of representatives asked Zuckerberg about specific instances when particular groups were shut down, their ads were rejected or were in some way blocked from posting content on Facebook — somehow expecting Zuckerberg to have knowledge of every time a reviewer determined content was inappropriate. In these cases, Zuckerberg should be forgiven for having to say “my team will get back to you.”

On top of all this, some senators and representatives didn’t seem to fully understand how social media and other ad-supported services work. Obviously, the lawmakers weighing regulation on platforms like Facebook need to understand how these platforms work. But is the CEO of Facebook really the person that should be explaining that? And do those conversations need to happen during a public hearing when officials have such a limited time to ask questions? Put their young staffers to work and have them brief their powerful bosses beforehand.

These questions about how social networks work (and how they make money) bring to light a larger issue with Congress. And it’s that many of these individuals, who have the power to enact impactful legislation regarding citizens’ privacy, don’t have a basic understanding of what these companies are or what they do or how they do it. And that’s a problem. These hearings aren’t the only time we’ve seen questions like these — they were frequent during last year’s hearings on Russian use of social media to influence US elections — and it’s clear that some of these lawmakers haven’t made enough of an attempt to understand these powerful companies outside of these occasional public hearings.

There were also questions that these leaders should have asked Zuckerberg and didn’t. The CEO wasn’t pressed about Joseph Chancellor, Aleksandr Kogan’s business partner who helped start Global Science Research and now works for Facebook. And though many asked if Zuckerberg was open to regulation, none followed up his answers to the affirmative with questions about his thoughts on state efforts to enact stricter privacy laws. Additionally, while Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) perused an interesting line of questioning about whether Facebook is a monopoly (and therefore not to be trusted with regulating itself), no one floated the idea of breaking it up, even if it were determined to be.

Further, the unwillingness of lawmakers to focus on a single topic meant they had little time for follow-up questions. Because of that, Zuckerberg wasn’t aggressively pushed to answer questions about Facebook’s response to Cambridge Analytica in 2015. He also mostly skirted questions about how Facebook tracks its users’ data.

While this questioning went on for more than 10 hours over two days, they still weren’t as exhaustive as other public hearings. Zuckerberg wasn’t subjected to a double round of questioning at each hearing, which is a typical practice, and he probably got off relatively easy only having to testify before one House committee and two Senate committees. And that makes the last two days especially bad. These lawmakers had limited time to grill Zuckerberg and they wasted it.

To be clear, Mark Zuckerberg deserved to be in front of those committees. And they should have pressed him for more information about how his company protects its users’ data. But Congress should have done a better job. Too many lawmakers could have made more of its short time with Zuckerberg. Yes, there are exceptions: Zuckerberg clarified how Facebook will implement Europe’s new GDPR privacy standards worldwide. Many lawmakers pressed Zuckerberg on whether it has removed groups using tactics similar to Cambridge Analytica’s — as they should have. Zuckerberg also said he was open to working with Congress on potential legislation. (What kind of legislation, exactly? That, too, would have been a good follow-up question.)

But when you subtract the repetitions, the grandstanding, the basic info that everyone should have known, and the pedantic “gotcha” queries that Zuckerberg couldn’t possibly be expected to answer on the spot, we emerged from those 10 hours of questioning with little new information. If anything, we learned more about how ill-equipped Congress is to weigh nuanced questions surrounding technology, data and privacy.

Images: Bloomberg, The Washington Post and Tom Williams via Getty Images

Unauthorized iPhone 8, 8 Plus and X Display Replacements Can Break Ambient Light Sensor

iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X models that have been repaired with a new display by an unauthorized third-party repair outlet are affected by a problem where the fix seems to disable the device’s ability to adjust brightness automatically, according to report from Engadget and Motherboard.

The issue appears to impact replacement displays installed by non-Apple certified repair shops even when using genuine Apple parts, and it seems to be related to the functionality of the ambient light sensor. It is not a problem that affects display components replaced by Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider.

iPhone X internal image via iFixit
According to Engadget, the aftermarket repair community has confirmed the issue in multiple countries and in several versions of iOS, including iOS 11.1, iOS 11.2, and iOS 11.3. Engadget also experienced the bug first hand after swapping the displays of two new iPhones, which disabled the ambient light sensor of the devices.

I was able to confirm that even swapping the displays of two brand-new iPhones causes the ambient light sensor to stop working, despite it not being altered or touched in any way. Experiments have shown that the sensor is disabled by iOS during the boot process.

It is not known if the disabling of the ambient light sensor after a display replacement is a feature or a bug, because there is precedent for iPhone features to be disabled following unauthorized repairs. As an example, after Touch ID was introduced, users who had their Home buttons and Touch ID sensors repaired by non-Apple technicians saw Touch ID disabled.

This was known as the “Error 53” issue, and Apple at the time confirmed that it was intentionally disabling Touch ID following unauthorized third-party repairs using non-original components because of security and validation issues. Error 53 initially bricked iPhones, which Apple said was in error and fixed, but to this day an unauthorized Touch ID repair will disable the Touch ID sensor on an affected device.

Repair outlets that spoke to Engadget suspect that Apple may be using the ambient light sensor as a “test-case” to control the repair process and “link hardware with logic boards so if [an iPhone is] repaired outside of the Apple network it loses functionality,” but this has not been confirmed.

“We try to offer a cheap alternative [to Apple], and we only use genuine parts. I’m worried that customers are going to come back to me and demand that I fix it. What can I do if Apple is the one disabling the sensor?” Another source said that they repaired between 20 and 50 iPhone 8 screens per month.

Apple has not yet commented on the ambient light sensor issue affecting iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X models repaired by non-Apple service providers, and there is also a separate but unrelated bug that appears to be impacting some iPhone 8 displays.

As discovered yesterday by Motherboard, some iPhone 8 and 8 Plus models that have had aftermarket display replacements are experiencing issues following the release of iOS 11.3, which appears to have disabled touch functionality in the repaired devices.

One repair shop told Motherboard that the issue has caused “over 2,000 reshipments.” “Customers are annoyed and it seems like Apple is doing this to prevent customers from doing 3rd party repair,” said the shop owner.

The iOS 11.3 bug seems to be related to a small microchip in the display, which disables touch functionality following the update. Repair shops have discovered a fix, but each affected iPhone must be re-opened so the chip can be upgraded, which is a hassle. Motherboard also learned that it’s “an absolute nightmare” for unauthorized shops to repair iPhone X components, with the front camera and Face ID components unable to be repaired by aftermarket shops entirely.

For end users who don’t want to hassle with non-functional iPhone components, Apple’s message is clear: visit an Apple retail store or an Apple Authorized Service Provider to avoid serious issues. For devices out of warranty, authorized repairs can be prohibitively expensive, however, which leaves customers with limited options.

These reports of repair issues come as Apple works to fight “Right to Repair” legislation in multiple states, which would potentially require smartphone manufacturers to provide repair information, replacement parts, and diagnostic tools to both product owners and independent repair shops.

Related Roundups: iPhone 8, iPhone XTag: Right to RepairBuyer’s Guide: iPhone 8 (Neutral), iPhone X (Neutral)
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Instagram Developing Tool to Let You Download Everything You’ve Shared

Instagram is working on a new data portability tool that will let you download all of the content that you’ve shared on the social network, reports TechCrunch.

According to an Instagram spokesperson, Instagram users will be able to download photos, videos, and messages using the upcoming tool.

Instagram parent company Facebook already offers such a tool on Facebook, allowing you to download your photos, videos, and other content that’s been uploaded to Facebook, but as of right now, Instagram has no equivalent feature.

That makes it difficult for Instagram users who have shared a lot of content on Instagram to leave the platform, as the content is inaccessible and can’t be transported to another photo sharing service.

As TechCrunch points out, Instagram has made an effort to make it difficult for its users to get content off of the platform in the past. There are no options for saving images through simple sharing tools or tap/drag gestures.

Instagram has not shared information on what will be downloadable aside from images, and it’s not yet clear if downloaded content will be full resolution. Instagram says it plans to share additional details “very soon” when the tool is launched.

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The Anker PowerCore 20000 PD is the portable charger you need

Nowadays, there are just a few smartphones that can reliably last you throughout the day. This is where portable chargers come into play, but these have been getting better over the years. The Anker PowerCore 20000 PD may just be the best portable charger I’ve ever used, and I’ll tell you why.

Anker made its name by releasing and providing excellent portable chargers. The company has been on the market for years and continues to impress. The same can be said about the PowerCore 20000 PD which arrived on my doorstep a few weeks ago. I was immediately greeted by the familiar blue and white packaging that Anker is known for.

What are the specifics?

Opening the box, you are greeted with the PowerCore 20000 PD itself, a USB Type-C cable, protective sleeve, and the standalone charging brick. Other than that, there’s nothing else here to be concerned with short of warranty information.

• Size: 6.5 x 2.4 x 0.9in
• Weight: 358g
• Battery Capacity: 20000 mAh
• Input: 5V/2A(MAX)
• PD Output: 5V/3A, 9V/2.6A, 15V/1.6A
• Standard Output: 5V/2A
• Ports: 2

The PowerCore 20000 PD is rated to charge the Galaxy S8 more than 5 times. Of course, your mileage may vary depending on the device, but this is still impressive.

Anker also claims that you can recharge the PowerCore 20000 in just 4 hours with the included charger. This included charger can also work with those who are rocking the new MacBook with USB C.

Design & Performance

After you have unpacked the PowerCore 20000, you’ll notice a familiar look. On one end, you’ll find the specs, while the single USB A port and USB C port can be found on the other.

Atop the charger, we have 4 LED indicators, letting you know when the time is almost up. These indicators are also in line with the USB C side, for those who need some extra help finding the right end.

On the right-hand side of the PowerCore 20000, we have the power button. This will activate the charger when a device has been connected, along with showing off how much juice is left.

On the performance side of things, I was pleasantly surprised. All of the Quick Charge needs that I ran into were properly taken care of. This includes being able to charge up my phone in a pinch, without worrying about the right charging speeds.

Perhaps what impressed me, even more, was the included wall charger. This features just a single USB C port, but can also charge devices thanks to the Power Delivery technology. Oh, and it’s super convenient to be able to recharge a portable charger of this capacity in just a few hours.

Normally, this would take at least a full day, if not longer to achieve. This package from Anker is super impressive and is a set of chargers that don’t leave my side.

Conclusion

Anker definitely knows its stuff when it comes to portable chargers, and is one of the most trusted brands. The PowerCore 20000 PD is one of the best options available on the market, but it is a bit pricey.

At the time of this writing, the PowerCore 20000 is priced at $79.99 from Amazon. However, there’s a limited coupon that is being included which knocks off an extra $10.

Sure, $70 for a portable charger may be a bit steep to some, but there are considerations to be made. You’re getting one of the best chargers from a trusted brand. You’re also getting two chargers that can both charge just about anything you throw at it, including USB C laptops.

If you want to learn more about the PowerCore 20000 PD, hit the button below. In the meantime, feel free to ask any questions and let us know what you think about this portable charger set.

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HP’s mainstream Pavilion PCs refreshed with latest AMD Ryzen, Intel Core CPUs

In addition to revealing a new portfolio of laptops and desktops for mainstream PC gamers, HP also introduced new laptops and desktops for the non-gamers, too. In this batch we have the new Pavilion x360 2-in-1s, the traditional Pavilion Notebook in 14- and 15.6-inch variants, and revamped Pavilion desktops packing the latest processors from AMD or Intel. All models listed below will arrive in North America sometime between May and June.

First, let’s start with HP’s refreshed 2-in-1!

Pavilion x360

Key Specs

Screen size: 14 & 15.6 inches

Resolution: HD or FHD

CPU: Up to Core i5-8250U

Graphics: Integrated, discrete

Memory: Up to 8GB (one slot)

Storage: SDD and HDD options

Connectivity: Wireless AC, Bluetooth

Ports: USB-C, USB-A, HDMI

Camera: IR or world facing

Battery: Up to 11 hours

Weight: Up to 4.58 pounds

Peripheral: Pen included

Availability: May/June

Starting price: $499

 

For starters, this is HP’s 2-in-1 with a 360-hinge supporting four positions: Laptop, tent, stand, and tablet. HP said it improved the overall design to produce tighter, narrow bezels for a near-borderless screen, an edge-to-edge keyboard, and a unibody-like design in Natural Silver, Pale Gold, and Sapphire Blue colors, depending on the model. Even more, the keyboard deck has a vertical brushed pattern while the front-facing speakers mounted just above the keyboard sit under geometric speaker grills. 

Customers can opt for a world-facing 5-megapixel camera with a 120-degree ultra-wide view lens that’s mounted in the top center of the speaker grill. HP also moved the fingerprint scanner to the right side of the device, parking it next to the SD card slot, USB-C port, USB-A, port, and the HDMI port (another USB-A port is on the other side). This design essentially “cleans up” the keyboard area so all you see are the keys and touchpad. 

According to the specifications, models will be available with a discrete graphics chip provided by Nvidia on the 14-inch model, and a discrete GPU manufactured by AMD on the 15.6-inch model. Otherwise, you’re locked to the integrated graphics provided in the Core i5-8250U and Core i3-8130U processors. There is only one inaccessible slot for DDR4 system memory clocked at 2,400MHz, but HP says there are dual storage options mixing together hard drives and solid-state drives. 

For the 14-inch model, HP installs a 41WHr battery promising up to 10 hours and 30 minutes of “mixed usage.” Meanwhile, the 15.6-inch version has a slightly larger 48WHr battery supporting up to nine hours and 15 minutes of “mixed usage.” If you’re streaming wirelessly, knock that time down to six hours and 30 minutes. Both batteries can reach 50 percent of their capacity after charging for 45 minutes. 

Here are a few example configurations: 

• $499 — Intel Core i3 / 8GB / 500GB HDD / HD Touch
• $729 — Intel Core i5 / 8GB / 128GB SSD / FHD IPS Touch
• $759 — Intel Core i5 / 8GB / 1TB HDD / FHD IPS Touch 

Pavilion Notebook 14/15

Key Specs

Screen size: 14 and 15.6 inches

Resolution: HD or FHD

CPU: AMD or Intel

Graphics: Integrated, discrete

Memory: Up to 8GB (one slot)

Storage: HDD and SSD options

Connectivity: Wireless AC, Bluetooth

Ports: USB-C, USB-A, HDMI

Battery: Up to 12 hours

Weight: Up to 4.63 pounds

Availability: May/June

Starting price: $629 

 

This is HP’s Pavilion-branded clamshell laptop without the cool 360-degree hinge. Again, HP refined the overall design with narrow bezels that is 10 percent thinner than the 2017 models. It also sports an enhanced lift hinge, and what HP calls an hourglass-shaped lid that is easily opened from the left, right, or front of the laptop. Its overall height is slightly shorter than the 2017 model too, measuring 0.70 inches versus last year’s 0.78-inch height. HP throws in lots of colors as well: Mineral Silver, Pale Gold, Sapphire Blue, Velvet Burgundy, Tranquil Pink, and Ceramic White. 

With this model, HP is only supplying the optional fingerprint reader on the 14-inch model, located on the side like the Pavilion x360 model. Joining the scanner are a handful of ports on both 14 and 15.6-inch models such as a USB-C 3.1 Gen1 port, two USB-A 3.1 Gen1 ports, one HDMI connector, one Ethernet port, one headphone/microphone combo jack, and an SD card slot. The 15.6-inch model also has room for an optional old-school optical drive. 

Based on the data sheets, the 14-inch model is locked to eighth-generation Intel processors. The 15.6-inch model relies on those chips as well, but you can also grab an AMD Ryzen 3 or Ryzen 5 processor if you’re wary of Intel chips. We presume the discrete Nvidia GPU option is tied to the Intel-based models whereas the discrete AMD GPU is a component of the Ryzen chips. HP didn’t provide any CPU specifics prior to this publication, but we presume the 15.6-inch models will offer Ryzen 5 2500U, Ryzen 3 2300U, and Ryzen 3 2200U all-in-one CPU options. 

If storage is what you need, HP provides up to 2TB. The laptops appear to support two storage devices: one stick-shaped M.2 SSD and one small 2.5-inch hard drive. The company isn’t exactly clear regarding the capacities installed in these laptops, but several sheets indicate a maximum 512GB on an M.2 SSD and a maximum 2TB on a hard drive. Other notable features include dual speakers with B&O Play, a front-facing camera, support for Intel’s Optane memory, and an optional IR camera supporting Windows Hello. 

Here are a few example configurations: 

• $629 — Intel Core i5 / 8GB / 1TB HDD / HD No Touch
• $699 — Intel Core i5 / 8GB / 256GB SSD / FHD IPS No Touch
• $739 — Intel Core i5 / 8GB / 1TB HDD + ODD / FHD IPS Touch 

Pavilion Desktop

Key Specs

CPU: AMD or Intel

Graphics: AMD or Nvidia

Memory: Up to 16GB (two slots)

Storage: SSD and HDD

Connectivity: Wireless AC, Bluetooth

Ports: HDMI, Ethernet, USB-A

Size: 10.9 (L) x 6.69 x 13.3 (H) inches

Weight: 17.64 pounds

Availability: May/June

Starting price: $399 

 

Finally, we arrived at HP’s refreshed Pavilion desktop. HP says it reduced the desktop’s depth by 10 percent versus the 2017 model, giving you a bit more space in your office environment. The company also updated the overall look: One design with an angular cut bezel in brushed Natural Silver (shown above, far right), and another version with a geometric faceted pattern using vertical brushing in Ash Silver and Natural Silver colors. 

On the processor front, the desktop supports up to an eighth-generation six-core CPU from Intel, and up to a second-generation Ryzen CPU from AMD. For instance, in the specification sheet for the 590-a0010 model supplied by HP, the PC sports a seventh-generation AMD A9-9425 processor. You can bump up to a second-generation Ryzen 3 processor in the 590-p0020 model starting at $399 or jump on Team Intel with the 590-p0050 and the Core i5-8400 starting at $599. 

As for other hardware options, you can configure the PC with up to a Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 graphics card, or up to an AMD Radeon RX 580 card (sorry, no RX Vega 56 or 64 here). For storage, you can cram in up to 512GB on a PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD, and up to 3TB on a clunky hard drive. You can have both if the budget allows along with a DVD burner and Intel’s Optane memory device for speeding up hard drive performance. 

The PC’s port complement typically consists of two USB-A 3.1 Gen1 ports on the front along with an SD card reader and a headphone jack. On the back, you will find two USB-A 2.0 ports, two USB-A 3.1 Gen1 ports, and HDMI output specifically for integrated graphics. Other video outputs will depend on the installed video card, such as additional HDMI and VGA ports. Audio input/output is likely on the back as well supporting 5.1 surround sound. 

Here are a few example configurations: 

• $399 — AMD Ryzen 3 / 4GB / 1TB HDD (590-p0020)
• $599 — Intel Core i5-8400 / 8GB / 1TB HDD + 16GB Optane (590-p0050)
• $899 — Intel core i7-8700 / 16GB / 256GB SSD + 1TB HDD (590-p0071)

Editors’ Recommendations

• HP targets gamers on a budget with new Pavilion notebooks, desktops, and more
• Dell rebrands Inspiron gaming laptops to G Series, serves up four new models
• Dell’s latest Inspiron notebook packs in AMD’s Ryzen APU with Vega graphics
• Lenovo takes wraps off Windows 10, Chromebook device lineup at MWC
• Acer’s stylish new all-in-one PC packs a built-in Qi wireless charging station

HP targets gamers on a budget with new Pavilion notebooks, desktops, and more

On Wednesday, April 11, HP introduced a new family of laptops, desktops, and an AMD FreeSync display built for gamers. Aptly named the Pavilion Gaming Series, you will find a plethora of options based on the latest processors from AMD and Intel along with discrete graphics provided by Nvidia and AMD. The new laptop line has a starting price of $799, targeting mainstream gamers on a tight budget. Meanwhile, the desktops start at a mere $549 and are served up in small form factor and standard tower sizes. 

Let’s dig in! 

Laptops

In the overall big picture, these new laptops replace HP’s Pavilion Power family. They are at the bottom of the company’s gaming totem pole to serve its mainstream audience. The Omen family is your next step up providing better hardware at a higher price for those who want smooth high-resolution gameplay. Meanwhile, the Omen X laptops are at the top for enthusiasts, stuffing in the latest high-performance hardware for a hefty price. HP says it uses the “Pavilion Gaming” brand with these new laptops so they won’t be confused with the other Omen products.

Key Specs

Screen size: 15.6 inches

Resolution: Full HD or UHD

Processor: Up to Core i7-8750H

Graphics: AMD or Nvidia

Memory: 8GB

Storage: Single and dual options

Connectivity: Wireless AC, Bluetooth

Weight: About 5.18 pounds

Starting price: $799

Availability: May/June

According to HP, the company designed its new Pavilion gaming laptops with a more efficient airflow by placing the cooling fans on each side of the laptop versus bunching them together in the middle. The laptops also incorporate an angular design focused on venting along with narrow screen bezels (9.8mm on the sides, 16.14mm on the top) and a geometric-faceted speaker grill. 

Under the hood, you will find up to an eighth-generation Core i7-8750H six-core processor, with other CPU options including Intel’s four-core U-series chips and four-core H-series CPUs. On the graphics front, you will see up to an AMD Radeon RX 560X discrete graphics chip, or up to a Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 GPU with Max-Q technology. Two configurations provided by HP include the GTX 1050 Ti with 4G of dedicated graphics memory. 

As for the screens, they are based on in-plane switching technology and either sport a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution at 60Hz or 144Hz, or a 3,840 x 2,160 resolution at 60Hz. Backing the visuals is system memory clocked at 2,666MHz with an unknown maximum amount (configurations show one 8GB DDR4 stick), and a wide variety of storage options spanning single and dual storage configurations using stick-shaped solid-state drives and small mechanical hard drives. Intel’s Optane memory is also an option. 

Several provided specifications show a choice of Intel or Realtek-based Wi-Fi components, dual speakers with B&O Play, an HP Wide Vision HD webcam, and an island-style backlit keyboard with Ghost White (Intel Core U-Series only), Acid Green, and Ultraviolet color options and “dome” keys. The port complement includes Ethernet, USB-C, two USB-A ports, an SD card slot, and a microphone/headphone combo jack.

Here are the starting points:

• Select markets — Core i5-8250U / 1080p @ 60Hz / GeForce GTX 1050 (price not given)
• $799 — Core i5-8300H / 1080p @ 60Hz / Radeon RX 560X
• $909 — Core i5-8300H / 1080p @ 60Hz / GeForce GTX 1050 Ti
• $1,019 — Core i7-8750H / 1080p @ 144Hz / GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q

Desktops

Like the new Pavilion Gaming laptops, HP is targeting mainstream gamers with its new Pavilion Gaming desktops. They’re at the bottom of HP’s three-tier portfolio with the Omen series targeting the performance-per-price high-resolution gaming audience (mid-tier) and the Omen X sitting at the top, offering everything HP can stuff into a desktop for a premium price (high-tier). 

Key Specs

Processor: Intel Core and AMD Ryzen

Graphics: AMD or Nvidia

Memory: Up to 64GB DDR4 @ 2,666MHz

Storage: Up to four devices

Connectivity: Wireless AC, Bluetooth

Starting price: $549

Availability: May/June

With these desktops, HP is serving up two sizes. First, we have the Pavilion Gaming 690 model measuring 13.30 (height) x 11.02 (depth) x 6.69 (width) inches. It supports half-length graphics cards, up to three storage devices, and only two sticks of system memory. Meanwhile, the 790 model measures 14.52 (H) x 14.80 (D) x 6.06 inches. This larger PC supports full-length graphics cards, up to four storage devices, and four system memory sticks. 

That said, you can configure the 690 desktop with up to an AMD Radeon RX 580 graphics card, or Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 1060 model. For the 790 model, you can choose up to the Radeon RX 580 graphics card or up to Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 1080 if you prefer Team Green. What is surprising is that HP doesn’t offer AMD’s newer Radeon RX Vega 56 and Vega 64 cards, but rather previous-generation RX 500 Series models. Both PCs only support one graphics card: HP reserves dual-GPU configurations for the Omen desktops. 

On the processor front, the 690 model supports up to a second-generation AMD Ryzen desktop processor, and up to one of the latest eighth-generation Intel four- or six-core processors. Meanwhile, the 790 model does not come with an AMD Ryzen processor option: it’s all Intel. Backing these processors is up to 16GB of system memory on the 690 model, and up to 64GB on the larger 790 model. 

For example, one list of specifications provided by HP (690-0010) includes AMD’s Ryzen 3 2200G processor, 8GB of system memory, AMD’s Radeon RX 550 graphics card, a DVD burner, and a 1TB hard drive. The USB ports include two USB-A 2.0, seven USB-A 3.1 Gen1, and one USB-C 3.1 Gen1. Meanwhile, another configuration (790-0020) shows an Intel Core i5-8400 processor, 8GB of system memory, Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 1060 graphics card, and a 256GB SSD. The desktop’s USB ports consist of two USB-A 2.0, eight USB-A 3.1 Gen1, and one USB-C 3.1 Gen1. 

Here are the starting points: 

• $549 — Ryzen 3 2200G / 8GB / Radeon RX 550 (690 model)
• $749 — Core i5-8400 / 8GB / GeForce GTX 1050 (790 model)
• $1,079 — Core i7-8700 / 12GB / GeForce GTX 1060 (690 model)
• $1,699 — Core i7-8700 / 32GB / GeForce GTX 1070

Display

Finally, we have HP’s new Pavilion Gaming 32 HDR display. In a nutshell, it’s an HDR 600-class device, meaning it falls under VESA’s new DisplayHDR certification for desktop monitors. There are three tiers in this certification, throwing HP’s new gaming monitor right in the middle. The panel promises a peak brightness of 600 nits (300 nits typical), a 6,000:1 target contrast ratio, and support for 95 percent of the DCI-P3 color space.

Key specs

Size: 32 inches

Type: Vertical Alignment

Resolution: 2,560 x 1,440 @ 60Hz

Sync tech: AMD FreeSync

Aspect ratio: 16:9

Brightness: 300 nits (typical)

Contrast ratio: 3,000:1 (typical)

Response time: 5ms gray-to-gray

Price: $449

Availability: May/June

According to HP, the company chose AMD’s FreeSync technology to keep the price low and is reserving Nvidia’s G-Sync technology for its Omen-branded monitors. The specifications show that HP’s monitor supports a QHD resolution at 60Hz, but also shows it supports 75Hz refresh rates too although that may only apply to settings lower than the default QHD resolution. 

On the connectivity front, HP’s new monitor provides two HDMI ports, one DisplayPort, and two USB-A 3.1 Gen1 ports. The on-screen display enables you to set your preferences including brightness, contrast, color control, and more. There are two user-assignable modes with six options each backed by the HP My Display Smart Software.

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Felix Gray adds prescription lens option to its stylish computer glasses

If you’ve ever felt like your eyes could use a break after staring at a smartphone or laptop screen for too long, computer glasses could be the answer to your problems. They are often anti-glare, and they block some blue light from digital screens. They’re also usually ugly. Felix Gray doesn’t think they should be, and the startup’s new prescription lens collection means you can wear its fashionable computer glasses all day instead of just in front of a screen.

Until now, the New York-based company — which was founded in 2016 — only sold nonprescription computer glasses. These are ideal for people with 20/20 vision or those who wear contact lenses. The new prescription lens option means people that don’t wear contacts can wear these glasses, and it also makes the glasses more versatile as you can wear them anywhere.

Computer glasses are meant to help people deal with problems such as eye strain, dry and tired eyes, headaches, and blurry vision — issues that typically stem from staring at a screen for too long. The main culprits are blue light, which emanate from screens, and glare. Studies have shown that excessive exposure to blue light before bed can cause sleep (and therefore, health) issues, which is why smartphone and computer operating systems now come with a “night mode” feature built in that limits the amount of blue light emitted from the screen at night.

The glasses block around 50 percent of blue light emitted from screens.

Felix Gray’s glasses use an anti-glare coating to keep the eyes relaxed, but a synthesized version of a naturally occurring, blue-light filtering pigment is embedded directly into the lens material. This, along with a few other added materials, helps keep the lens look relatively clear. There’s still a slight yellow tint, but it’s far less noticeable than most other computer glasses. David Roger, co-founder and CEO of Felix Gray, told Digital Trends the glasses block around 50 percent of blue light emitted from screens. Some people may notice a difference as soon as they put the glasses on, while it may take others up to seven days.

The new prescription lens collection means people that don’t wear contacts, but wear glasses, can get the same benefits. More importantly, you can continue wearing these glasses outside of the office as your everyday pair if you desire. Roger said a key role the company wanted to achieve was “marrying fashion and function” to provide glasses people will want to wear. A crucial component is the fact that Felix Gray’s glasses don’t look like traditional computer glasses.

“The idea is we want it to be classic with a modern twist, and above all timeless,” Roger said. ” We want you to feel comfortable wearing your glasses three years from now just like you’re comfortable wearing them today. Your glasses are not going to go out of style.”

We received two pairs of glasses from Felix Gray to try. While we didn’t have many of these issues the glasses are supposed to help with, we found them to be immensely comfortable to wear and well-built. You can see a slight yellow tint when looking though the glasses, but it’s not distracting. It’s important to remember to swap out to a normal pair of glasses when you’re working with colors on a display — such as if you’re working in Photoshop. We also wore the glasses outside of the office, when we weren’t particularly looking at screens, and it can be a little odd to see everything through a slight yellow hue. We’re not sure if we’re ready to completely switch to using these lenses as our everyday pair, but Felix Gray has easily earned a place in front of our computers.

The company doesn’t have a physical retail store presence, so you can only order the frames you like online. There’s free shipping for returns up to 30 days, so you can easily send back any pairs that don’t suit your style. When you’re ordering a prescription lens, you’ll need to provide your prescription as well as a selfie, so the company can measure your pupillary distance.

The new prescription lenses start at $145 in various styles, and the nonprescription computer glasses will set you back $95. You can buy nonprescription blue-light blockers for much cheaper prices, but most won’t do a good job masking the yellow tint on the glass. Chances are they also won’t look as stylish.

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AMD has a fix for Spectre variant II, but will motherboard makers support it?

AMD has announced it has begun providing updates for the variant 2 Spectre vulnerability which has affected many generations of its hardware. However, this isn’t an update that will go out with a Windows patch — it instead require distribution by motherboard manufacturers, so although AMD’s update can shore up processors dating back to the 2011 Bulldozer release, the question remains, which motherboard makers will support it?

The Spectre and Meltdown bugs are two of the worst holes in hardware security ever seen in the PC industry. Affecting just about every CPU released in the last 20 years in one way or another, both Intel and AMD have released several updates to fix it. While a hardware upgrade is the only true solution to the problem, software fixes should be sufficient and Microsoft has played its part in distributing them as part of Windows updates. However, motherboard maker cooperation is also required and not all of them have released updated BIOS and driver releases with these hotfixes in mind, as per PCWorld.

In the case of AMD processors, the Spectre 1 variant has been rendered ineffective through Windows updates, so anyone with an updated operating system should be safe from that one. Likewise, AMD hardware is not affected by Meltdown. The Spectre 2 variant however, could affect AMD chips and that’s where the motherboard makers come in.

“While we believe it is difficult to exploit Variant 2 on AMD processors, we actively worked with our customers and partners to deploy [a] combination of operating system patches and microcode updates for AMD processors to further mitigate the risk,” AMD said in a statement. It went on to say that it had released microcode updates for Variant 2 mitigations to its ecosystem partners. It suggests potentially affected users check in with their motherboard manufacturer to download the update if and when possible.

AMD didn’t provide any kind of update on what to do if you’re running older hardware than its Bulldozer line. The firm has made it clear that it sees the risk of the second Spectre variant being exploited as very low, so it may not go down the route of patching it for hardware that’s nearly a decade or more old. Intel has previously stated that some of its chip lines prior to 2011 will not be protected with updates either.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Microsoft’s latest Windows 10 patch will address Spectre Variant 2 CPU flaw
• Intel’s 9th-generation ‘Ice Lake’ CPUs will have fixes for Meltdown, Spectre
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Keep your browsing private for life for $49

It’s probably trite and a bit cliché at this point, but we increasingly live our lives online. Our bank information, personal information, likes, dislikes, and more are all over the internet — often whether we like it or not. That’s all data, and nowadays, data is a commodity. Your information is being bought and sold. Sometimes it’s simply to show you catered ads; other times it’s for the stuff that after-school specials used to warn you about.

What can you do to combat all of this online tracking? Do you turn to VPNs? Sure, but they don’t necessarily block tracking in every sense. Did you know that there are services and apps that actually block online trackers in order to keep your data safe?

Disconnect is one of the best tracker blockers around. It blocks tracking requests from connecting to any of your devices, thereby keeping your data safe. It even masks your location so that you can access websites as though you’re in another country (like a VPN). Apps like these have subscription rates, and some charge an arm and a leg. If you were to go directly to Disconnect for a lifetime subscription, you’d pay $500. Through Android Central Digital Offers, you’ll pay only $49, a savings of 90%.

Disconnect is available for iOS, Android, PC, and Mac, so you can cover all of your devices and keep your browsing habits private. If you often deal with sensitive information or would rather just keep your internet habits completely your own, you’ll need a quality tracker block, and Disconnect is one of the best around. Check it out at Android Central Digital Offers and save 90%.

The Dyson Small Ball upright vacuum is down to $200 today only

An affordable Dyson. You know you want one.

The Dyson Small Ball Multi-Floor Upright Vacuum is down to $199.99 on Amazon. This is Amazon price-matching Home Depot’s Special Buy of the Day. The next best price at another retailer is $300 at Walmart. Some places sell it as high as $400.

This is a corded vacuum. It works on multiple surfaces including carpet and hard wood. It weighs 12.15 pounds and has a retractable handle that makes it easy to store. The cleaner head will adjust to the surface it’s on to provide the best possible suction power. The radial cyclones increase airflow to lift up fine dust, and the carbon fiber filaments remove it. The cord, wand, and hose extend up to 42 inches. It is backed up by a five year warranty.

See on Amazon