The new iPhones 12 seem to be very powerful, according to the first speed tests, compared to competition with Android operating system. Thanks to the Apple A processor 14 Bionic, but also to a ecosystem now valid and super-efficient
by Nino Grasso published 05 November 2020 , at 15: 11 in the Apple channel Galaxy Samsung iPhone Apple iOS Android
The struggle between Apple and Samsung , competitors in the smartphone market but also in fact also seems a bit anachronistic business partners. However, the two brands continue to challenge each other and above all from South Korea the first digs towards the Apple have already started. Samsung recently made fun of Apple by claiming that it not only offers the charger with its own flagships, but guarantees the best “cameras, batteries, performance and memory”. But is it true?
As measured by PhoneBuff it seems that Samsung has bluffed , since the Apple A 14 iPhone Bionic 12 Pro managed to get past the Snapdragon 865 + installed on Galaxy Note Ultra from Samsung (US version) in the speed test conducted. Apple A 14 Bionic is the first on the smartphone market to be made with a 5-nm production process, it is present on all four iPhones of the new range, and is the most powerful ever integrated on an iPhone.
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This is enough for him to place himself even in front of all the competition direct, since it ousted Galaxy Note 20 Ultra from the first place of the PhoneBuff ranking. How much? 17 seconds within the two “rounds” of the test: 2 minutes and 24 seconds for iPhone 12 Pro, 2 minutes and 41 seconds for Galaxy Notes 20 Ultra with Snapdragon 865 +. And this with half the RAM , an important factor since the PhoneBuff test is based on the opening of a series of applications in sequence, and their reopening after keeping them in the background for the duration of the test.
It is clearly one atypical speed test and which does not clearly establish a winner in terms of absolute performance between the two smartphones, also because the final result can also be subject to the type of applications used and their optimization on the two different operating systems. The result, however, demonstrates, once again, the advantage of Apple for having believed from the beginning in its ecosystem based on hardware and software developed in house.
iPhone 12 Pro also has a list price of 300 lower dollars than Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, 200 dollars if we consider the Pro Max variant, more in line in terms of size with the Korean “phablet” which however has double the storage memory. Also iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini however, which cost less, implement the new Apple A processor 14 Bionic and the differences in performance should be quite small.
Our first response on the new Xbox Series X, the console that kicks off the ninth generation. Waiting for the PlayStation 5, here are the performance considerations, the tests on consumption, noise and loading times, and everything we can expect in the tomorrow of video games
by Rosario Grasso published on November 2020 in the Videogames channel Microsoft Xbox
“The ninth generation begun is” as Master Yoda would say. Well, after the endless flurry of rumors, rumors, more or less definitive specifications, announcements, denials and the usual process that anticipates the debut of a new generation of consoles, Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 are between us, or at least in the hands of the specialized press. A point that should not be overlooked so superficially, given the difficulties that producers are encountering in churning out the new systems en masse, with the health crisis that complicates everything.
new generation of consoles starts from two assumptions: greater computing power with the ability to play, even on consoles, at high refresh rates , resolutions up to 8K in upscaling and with latest generation visual effects such as Ray Tracing . The second assumption is the SSD , which will significantly speed up uploads and remove some historical obstacles for developers, who will be completely free to structure their game worlds without having to mind the restrictions related to the bottleneck generated by mechanical discs.
Let’s start from one point, the Xbox Series X review , with this type of timeline, cannot be exhaustive: it’s not so much because we have the console in the editorial office for only two weeks, but it is more a matter of vision and perspective. Evaluating if a console is presenting the specifications and has the prerogatives to be successful is almost impossible in such a short time, because “win” a “console race” depends on many factors, not all, or perhaps few or very few, controllable by console manufacturers. It would be better to say that it is a challenge, a bet that is launched by trying to guess what the entertainment tastes of current and future players will be (considering that PS4 and Xbox One have been on the market for 7 years now).
We can immediately make some assessments on energy consumption, temperatures , operating efficiency, skin characteristics, interface user, noise, loading times , but then the quality of the next exclusive and non-exclusive games, the capacity to update systems with new firmware, future features and offers for customers will, as usual, make a difference.
Although PlayStation has hands down won the previous generation, the two rivals (Nintendo, for obvious reasons, plays on a separate field) are very close. We saw it in the war of embargoes they triggered at the time of unboxing and we see it on many other fronts, starting with the technical specifications. Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 are both based on Zen 2 architecture for the CPU and RDNA 2 with hardware support for Ray Tracing as regards the GPU. This obviously comes with a lot of advantages, and could be considered indispensable from the point of view of developers, who are not so forced into a laborious conversion work when switching from one console to another.
Xbox Series X features a GPU at 52 Compute Unit , i.e. a significantly higher architectural density than to PlayStation 5, which stops at 36 Compute Unit . So, in terms of theoretical maximum computing power we are at 12 TFLOPS versus 10, 23 TFLOPS . Microsoft has thought of a fixed frequency system, with the CPU (practically identical between the two consoles, 8 cores) running at 3.8 GHz and the GPU set to 1825 MHz, against the variable frequencies of PS5, i.e. up to 3.5 GHz for the CPU and up to 2, 23 GHz.
It is very difficult, if not impossible, to say which of the two producers has guessed the correct path. Because it depends on how the games are made and to what depth they can exploit the hardware they run on. It can be said that a game well optimized for the Xbox Series X hardware has the potential to run better than the corresponding version of the PS5. This is what currently happens with Xbox One X and PS4 Pro : Several games feature a more stable frame rate and slightly higher resolutions on One X than on PS4 Pro. But in the coming months, this comparison will be done game by game .
Technical specifications
Here are the full technical specifications of the two new Xbox consoles.
Xbox Series X
CPU
3.6 core custom Zen 2 CPU GHz (3.4 GHz with SMT)
GPU
Custom RDNA 2 GPU 12 TFLOPS, 52 CU a 1, 825 GHz
SOC size
360, 45 mm
Processing
7 nm Enhanced
Memory
GDDR6 from 16 GB with bus from 320 bits wide
There memory bandwidth
10 GB a 560 GB / s (memory accessible by games), 6 GB at 336 GB / s
Internal memory
1TB Custom NVME SSD
Actual I / O Speed
2.4 GB / s (Raw ), 4.8GB / s (compressed, with custom hardware decompression lock)
Expandable storage space
support for the 1TB Seagate Expansion Card for Xbox Series X | S perfectly matches the internal memory (sold separately). Support for external HDD with USB 3.1 (sold separately).
Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1, Dolby TrueHD with Atmos, L-PCM up to 7.1
HDMI
1 HDMI 2.1 port
USB
3 Gen 1 USB 3.1 ports
Wireless
802. 11 ac dual band
Ethernet
802. 3 10 / 100 / 1000
Radio accessories
Dedicated Dual Band Xbox Wireless Radio
Format
15, 1 x 15, 1 x 30, 1 cm
Weight
4.4 kg
Xbox Series S
CPU
3.6 GHz (3.4 GHz with SMT) 8 core custom Zen 2 CPU
GPU
4 TFLOPS, 20 CU a 1, 565 GHz
SOC size
197 , 05 mm2
Memory
GDDR6 from 10 GB with bus from 128 bits wide
Memory bandwidth
8 GB a 224 GB / s (memory accessible by games), 2GB a 48 GB / s
Internal memory
NVME SSD customized by 512 GB
Actual I / O Speed
2 , 4GB / s (Raw), 4.8GB / s (compressed, with custom hardware decompression lock)
Expandable storage space
Support for Seagate 1TB Expansion Card for Xbox Series X | S perfectly matches internal memory (sold separately). Support for external HDD with USB 3.1 (sold separately)
Performance target
1440 pa 60 fps, with support up to 120 fps. It also supports native 4K if the developer chooses to render at 4K. It also contains advanced scalar hardware if connected to a 4K TV
HDMI 2.1 Features
Auto low latency mode. HDMI variable refresh rate. AMD FreeSync
Audio functionality
L-PCM up to 7.1, Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1, Dolby TrueHD with Atmos
HDMI
1 HDMI 2.1 port
USB
3 Gen 1 USB 3.1 Ports
Wireless
802. 11 ac dual band
Ethernet
802. 3 10 / 100 / 1000
Radio accessories
Dedicated Dual Band Xbox Wireless Radio
Format
6.5 × 12, 1 × 27, 5 cm
Weight
1, 92 kg
Test
These assessments must also be made in the light of the cooling systems and the energy efficiency of the two systems. Consoles, even more so than traditional desktop PC systems, must not overheat and must not incur energy inefficiencies, so that they can be used by the widest possible audience. After our first tests, we must say that they both work well and that they give a feeling of efficiency and stability greater than previous console launches. Xbox Series X features a voluminous fan at the top , and blows the hot air through a grille, towards the top.
In other words, if you are playing a Gears 5 and put your hand over the console, then you can feel a flow of hot air. Perhaps disturbing, certainly unusual if it is true that we are used to systems that emit the air from the rear. That said, based on the tests we’ve had so far, Xbox Series X overheats less than Xbox One X, is significantly less noisy, and is more efficient on the floor. of energy consumption . Immediately above the fan we have a perforated structure where, for each hole, there is a part in reflective green which returns a pleasant aesthetic effect, recalling the I find the typical green of the Xbox world. As for the power supply, the Xbox Series X comes with a 315 W and, as with all Xboxes from Xbox One S, the power supply will be internal. The regulators supply up to 100 W per square inch, with a charge peak of 128 TO.
The temperature test was done with the thermal imaging camera FLIR One , already used here in the editing of Hardware Upgrade for other works, for example for the thermal tests of laptops. We recorded a temperature of almost 48 ° C in the upper part of the console, which is the one that, for obvious reasons, heats up the most. Even after hours of gameplay, however, the Xbox Series X does not overheat excessively, and it always remains very quiet.
We were surprised that with the game running there is no noticeable increase in noise compared to the console at idle. We also tried to run Gears 5 for several hours and noises and temperatures increase a little: the console is therefore confirmed to be really very efficient in both aspects. The figure of just over 30 dB means that it is almost completely silent. Of course, as long as it is positioned in an airy environment and with the upper part completely free from obstacles.
Rather, it is the optical reader, when engaged in reading a disc, that generates the conditions of greatest noise. Moreover, it is a much quieter reading than that of the PS4 Pro player, which represents one of the sore points of the previous generation Sony console. Xbox Series X also is the most efficient console in terms of power consumption .
We ran the consumption test in idle and with three different games, Halo 5: Guardians, DooM Eternal and Gears 5 . Xbox Series X always holds firmly under the 190 Watts of power consumption and, beyond the case of Gears 5, always shows superior performance to the previous generation console. A very interesting data, which confirms the excellent manufacturing quality of the Xbox Series X power supply.
Given the debut of the SSD on consoles, it is very interesting how they improve i loading times of the games. It’s not so much how much it takes for the console to boot up in wonder, but how game loading times are cut, as our graph shows. The tests were carried out under normal conditions and not the presence of the Quick Resume functionality, which we will see better later.
The importance of the SSD does not end in the loading times because, as mentioned before, the very approach of the game developers, and will affect the shaping of the game worlds of future titles. We will explore this point further below.
Xbox Series X also gives the feeling of being a very compact system from the point of view of internal components, pursuing an approach already started with Xbox One X. An excellent engineering, therefore, which allowed to contain the dimensions and to give the console a minimalist aesthetic appearance, in line with the trend of the moment in terms of furnishings. In other words, if the designers of Microsoft Xbox drew on the way of thinking of an interior designer when they thought about the design of the new console, it seems that those of Sony were more based on the tastes of gamers and younger audiences.
The new Xbox Series X gamepad
The Xbox Series X gamepad is certainly not an evolution from previous generation Xbox gamepads. When you have it in your hand it immediately gives the feeling of great agility, with a very stable grip thanks to the increase in the knurled surface. This type of motif is in fact more accentuated and now also affects the upper part of the gamepad, starting with the triggers. Microsoft has also revised the buttons, since now they return a consistent sound feedback, as well as tactile, to the pressure, which provides greater guarantees about the fact that the pressure has occurred. The directional cross has also been significantly improved, and is now much more precise, with interesting implications also as regards the typing of the texts.
In addition, a vibration effect has been applied to the two upper triggers that reproduce a different type of feedback depending on what is happening in the game. These triggers have a different operation than the Xbox One pad triggers: inside them, in fact, there is an ERM (Eccentric Rotating Mass) motor , i.e. a system similar to the one already integrated into the controller handle. These vibration motors are activated at specific points and at different levels of intensity through a mechanical oscillation that rotates around a point of balance. This is a different technology than those based on sound waves (at the base, among others, of the Linear Resonant Actuators of the Nintendo Switch Joy-Con), which on paper guarantee more articulated vibrations and different levels of intensity.
Compatibility with a multitude of devices, apart from Xbox, is very important. The new controller, in fact, works with both Xbox Series X and Xbox One through the classic Xbox Wireless Radio proprietary protocol. At the same time it is compatible with PC, Android and iOS via the Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) protocol . Compared to the past, change the type of port on the controller, now type USB-C where up to the past generation was mini-USB type. The console, on the other hand, has no USB-C input on the body (unlike the PlayStation 5).
In addition, the new controller uses a higher frequency of communications with the system, in order to reduce latency. It falls within the concept that Microsoft with the new console is identifying with the name of Dynamic Latency Input (DLI) , that is a series of system-wide improvements that include a specific technology in the console and that also affects the HDMI connection to the TV / monitor.
At the bottom of the device we find the share button . With a single press we will create a screenshot, while with the double press on the screen the acquisitions and shares section will open where we can configure the type of acquisition. In all cases, however, these are clips with strong compression, basically usable for editorial purposes like ours (we had to proceed with the acquisitions with external box with the contents on the new consoles you see on the site these days).
SSD
With Xbox Series X debuts in console world the SSD as a reference point for storage. This has very important advantages not only in terms of game loading times, but also and above all of gameplay. Developers will have more design freedom for game worlds and will be able to manage large open worlds and populate them with very different polygonal objects.
At the same time, we have lower specifications compared to PlayStation 5. Sony beat a lot on this point in the advertising phase of its new console: where PS5 is inferior in terms of GPU, it catches up compared to Xbox Series X thanks to the technology behind the SSD . If at Microsoft the declared performances in terms of Throughput I / O are the following, 2.4 GB / s (raw) 4.8 GB / s (compressed) , Sony declares 5.5 GB / s (raw), 8-9 GB / s typical (compressed) . Also from this point of view it is extremely difficult to immediately verify what the real repercussions of the theoretical specifications are, because we will have to wait for the work of the developers from the point of view of optimizing their games on the basis of the new hardware.
Microsoft has inserted a new chip of custom I / O located in the SoC of the new console and a decompression system that has been designed to deliver data in a precise and timely manner. With the new API DirectStorage and the new hardware decompression, Microsoft is able to further improve the performance of I / O and reduce CPU overhead, both of which are essential for speeding up loads. Looking ahead, the Xbox Series X Streaming Feedback Sampler (SFS) is a game changer for streaming game worlds and their levels of visual detail.
SFS can be further exploited to increase the level of detail of the textures by loading on the memory only the strictly necessary contents. In fact, much of the latency of a hard disk is that it employs a mechanical head that moves across the surface of the disk (platter) to search for the data it needs: a mechanism that takes more time to search than to do. actual reading. Therefore, the same data is often duplicated hundreds of times simply to make it easier to find.
One point where Microsoft seems weaker than Sony is the available storage expansion system. . On the rear of the console is one slot for the Seagate Branded 1TB Expansion Card , at prices not exactly affordable. Sony, on the other hand, has thought of a more versatile NVMe SSD slot inside the console, to which it is possible to connect a traditional NVMe SSD, easily available on the market.
Microsoft has the advantage if you look at the size of the main unit inserted into the console. If in the case of PS5 it is 825 GB, of which just over 650 GB available to the user, Xbox Series X offers a 1 TB drive which, net of the console operating system installation, offers approximately 900 GB freely manageable by players.
HDMI 2.1 and 120 Hz
A separate discussion must be made regarding the connection HDMI 2.1 . If up to Xbox One X we had two HDMI ports (one input and one output) now we only have one port, but of the HDMI 2.1 type, which is capable of providing enough bandwidth to handle image streams up to to 4K and to 120 Hz . It is precisely this latter aspect that interests us most, since now, even on consoles, you can enjoy very high refresh rates, with a consequent reduction in latencies.
Who plays on console is used to much higher latencies than 100 thousandths of a second, with disadvantages especially from the point of view of the integrity of the competitive multiplayer gaming experience. Now, since launch, Xbox Series X allows you to play Gears 5, in multiplayer mode Versus , with latencies wandering around on 30 / 40 thousandths of a second . But be careful, because to enjoy the 120 Hz you need to have the right monitor / TV, considering that traditionally in the PC environment, high refresh rates are managed via DIsplayPort and not HDMI. It may therefore happen that your monitor to 144 or 240 Hz has the HDMI 1.4 connection, insufficient for new consoles (bandwidth level to play in 1080 p requires at least an HDMI 1.4b connection).
Once the connection is successfully established, the Xbox Series X dashboard will immediately detect the ability to activate the 120 Hz and will ask if you want to switch to high refresh rate. From the display and TV options in at any time the user can choose the resolution and refresh rate based on the specifications of the connected monitor / TV. There is also a diagnosis screen, where Xbox Series X clearly highlights what the TV supports and what it doesn’t: for example, with the monitor 360 editorial Hz reports that “Your TV configuration supports up to 1080 p natives to 120 FPS “.
To these is added the tool to calibrate the TV: step by step, right from the console point of view and therefore in such a way that it is affordable for everyone, it explains how to perform a precise calibration for any type of television. A similar tool allows you to calibrate the HDR for games. Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S are able to leverage an innovative HDR rebuild technique to enhance existing SDR games with no developer work and no impact on available CPU, GPU or memory resources.
Xbox Series X, like the previous generation, can read discs Blu Ray 4K Ultra HD .
Xbox App
The new Xbox Series X debuts Xbox App (also available for Xbox One). This is associated with the console and allows you to remotely manage its contents, then start a download, manage friends lists, chat with them, search for new contents and purchase them, manage the acquisitions made on the console and share them, and much more. yet. As happens for a device like Oculus Quest 2 , even the Xboxes are in this way manageable via the smartphone.
Xbox Game Pass
A key component of Microsoft’s offering for this generation is Xbox Game Pass, to the point of being integrated directly into the console dashboard. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate includes all the benefits of Xbox Live Gold and beyond 100 quality games for console, PC and Android mobile devices, all at a low monthly price.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members can also access the EA Play at no additional cost. EA Play subscription includes more than 60 among the best games for PC and Electronic Arts consoles, such as FIFA 20, Star Wars Battlefront II, Titanfall 2 and Need for Speed Heat. It also includes some of EA’s most popular franchises, such as Battlefield, Mass Effect, Skate and Sims, access to trial versions of the games and discounts on EA digital purchases.
To Regarding backward compatibility , Microsoft has done a great job, making almost all games from the past Xbox available also on the new Series X and Series S. There may be problems only with certain games built around the logic of Kinect , but otherwise it almost always goes smooth as oil. While in the case of PS5 there may be some more hitches, probably due to the major architectural changes especially related to the functioning of the storage unit.
Smart Delivery and Quick Resume
These are two of Microsoft’s most touted Xbox Series X features. Very interesting is Smart Delivery , the technology of Xbox Series X that allows you to play the best version of games in based on your console. All Xbox Game Studios games that are optimized for Xbox Series X, including Halo Infinite , will support Smart Delivery. This means that if you purchase the Xbox One version of a supported title, Microsoft will identify it and serve you the optimized version for the new console on the Xbox Series X, at no additional charge, when available. Smart Delivery is implementable by all Xbox developers.
For some years now, Microsoft’s strategy has provided for a decentralization with respect to hardware , in order to allow for gamers to choose which device to play on while remaining in the Xbox ecosystem. This started with Xbox Play Anywhere and reaches a later stage with Smart Delivery. In the future, the approach will be further expanded when the cloud gaming technology Project xCloud is sufficiently refined.
The Quick Resume technology, on the other hand, will allow you to resume the game from where you left off . Quick Resume allows you to resume several games at the push of a button, instantly switching to the action, where you left off (even weeks later), “for multiple games at the same time”. It needs to be specifically supported by games, so it may not work with the 60% of titles.
Think you are playing a game and turn off the console later. Upon reopening, if you decide to return to play with that specific game, just click on the corresponding icon and the game will be immediately restored, as can happen in a Windows environment with an application running and immediately available through the taskbar.
Conclusions
Ultimately, what is Xbox Series X like? It certainly represents a very important evolution in hardware compared to the previous generation, from a certain historical point of view in consideration of the fact that Zen 2 and RDNA 2 are recently introduced technologies also in the PC world. The GPU configuration gives it more computing power than the PlayStation 5 which, together with the SSD, will allow developers to release gaming experiences that in many ways are unprecedented in the console world.
Xbox Series X gives the feeling of being engineered in an accurate and very precise way, and offers interesting performances both in terms of silence and temperatures. In addition, it is the most efficient console ever in terms of energy consumption. Of course, as we mentioned, there is insufficient data to be able to give a complete judgment, because the performance on the market will depend on other factors, on the future support and on how the video game and entertainment industry will change. From these points of view, despite recent efforts, Microsoft could still pay a gap compared to Sony PlayStation, in terms of games and exclusives.
Xbox Series X is also minimalist, not only in appearance but also in functionality. Microsoft gives the feeling of having wanted to develop something “clean”, without overdoing it. It provides a very competitive hardware, for the price at which it is granted, but leaving doubts about the level of innovation of the Series X project. Microsoft gives the feeling of having taken great care in improving the hardware, but the rival has focused on the ‘to offer players a different experience compared to the past generation, in terms of controllers, user interface and other elements in such a way as to convey the idea that something changes in the way of playing, beyond the power made available to the players. We close with a scheme of Pros and Cons in comparison to PS5 .
PRO
More powerful hardware than PS5, especially the GPU
Quiet and optimized from the point of view of energy consumption 5873
Apple has iOS 14. 2 and iPadOS 14. 2 released for download. The operating system update can be downloaded via the integrated software update (Settings / General / Software update) or installed from a desktop PC via iTunes.
The new iOS version integrates the Unicode standard 13. 0 and contains over 80 new emojis, from ninja to beaver to a classic Italian hand gesture. New groceries, household items and musical instruments are also available, as Apple announced – as well as other gender-neutral emojis.
A small selection of the new emojis in iOS 14. 2.
(Image: Apple / Emojipedia)
New functions in iOS 14. 2 iOS 14. 2 contains a revised music control in the control center, which enables quick access to the audio content last played and music output via multiple AirPlay -Speaker intended to simplify. Apple also allows the purchased music recognition service Shazam to be added to the control center in order to quickly identify music played on the device via headphones.
With the update, Apple is also introducing the battery management system known from iPhones on AirPods: “Optimized charging” is intended to extend the battery life by using the earphones only up to 80 percent are loaded – instead of immediately to 100 percent. When playing very loud music through headphones, the operating system should also warn the user of possible hearing damage.
The magnifying glass function can be used in iOS 14. 2 the LiDAR sensor of iPhone Pro and iPad Pro 2020 to record people in the area and to name their distance – a new operating aid for users with impaired vision.
iOS 14. 2 also brings eight fresh background images as well as support for the new intercom function, with which voice messages can be sent to Apple’s WiFi speaker HomePod and other devices. Optionally, users can also anonymously share information about coronavirus encounter notices with health authorities, as Apple notes. Whether this function will also be introduced in Germany remains unclear for the time being.
Many bug fixes The updates for iOS and iPadOS also address a number of errors and problem areas, including jumbled apps in the dock or problems with the photos widget. Also, when creating new reminders, points in time from the past should no longer be suggested, as Apple lists, a possibly black screen during Netflix playback has been fixed. IPhone charging via the Qi charging mat should work reliably again instead of possibly being interrupted.
Apple also seems to have tackled a persistent bug that can lead to missing GPS tracks when recording sports activities with the Apple Watch – watchOS is probably also improving here 7.1 after. According to the manufacturer, restoring an iPhone via backup and migrating data from another iPhone no longer deactivates the corona encounter messages.
With iOS and iPadOS 14. 2 Apple also closes security holes. The manufacturer should publish information on the plugged vulnerabilities shortly.
In macOS 11 the Little Snitch firewall can only work to a limited extent for the time being. The network traffic of certain Apple apps and services remains invisible to the tool: the reason for this is a restriction in Apple’s network extension programming interface, which “surprisingly” whitelists a number of system services, as the developers announced. This allows pre-installed Apple software such as the App Store or the integrated software update to hide their network activities from third-party firewall apps.
Firewall no longer works at the kernel level You can no longer rely on the previous method of implementing your own firewall as a kernel extension in order to monitor all outgoing network traffic . Instead, macOS 11 requires the use of Apple’s Network Extension API with the corresponding restriction, writes the Little Snitch developer Objective Development in one FAQ entry for the new version 5 of the software, which is specially designed for macOS 10.
The Little Snitch developers are currently looking for an approach to make the network traffic of the services on Apple’s whitelist still visible with “other techniques”. Since the limitations have already attracted media attention, it is also hoped that Apple will remove them themselves with a system update in the future.
Kernel extensions from Apple discontinued Security researchers and other app providers have been warning of Apple’s exclusion list since October, which affects the network extensions NEFilterDataProvider and NEAppProxyProviders and which are already in macOS 10. 15 Catalina exists. In Catalina, however, network filters can still work at the kernel level and are therefore ultimately not affected by the restriction.
Apple’s kernel extensions have been in effect since 2019 as discontinued, macOS already warns against the use of the “outdated system extensions”. They are being replaced by system extensions that run in user space – this step is intended to make the operating system more secure. macOS 11 still supports kernel extensions from third-party manufacturers to a limited extent – but no longer loads them if an “equivalent” already exists as a system extension, see above as is also the case with the Little Snitch network filter. (lbe)
Our journey through time from Windows 1 to Windows XP tells how Microsoft technically advanced the Windows operating system.
(Image: Albert Hulm)
Operating system architecture: The technological development of Windows The Root The memory is tight Virtualized early Company chance Segment curse Article in c’t 27 /2020 read The DOS of these days, which Microsoft had sold cheaply and expensively to IBM, offered a pure text interface that usually consisted of a fixed matrix of 80 characters and 25 Lines consisted: The user had to enter commands using the keyboard. There were the first tentative attempts by individual programs to use the graphics capabilities of the PC to display italic or bold text, for example in Microsoft’s Word. The smooth fonts commonly used today with variable spacing were out of the question.
The roots Word could even be operated with the mouse. Every program needed its own driver for the graphics card used if it wanted to use the graphics. The same applied to the output of work results on the printer. Each manufacturer came up with their own user interfaces. “Large” application programs that combined word processing, database and spreadsheets under one surface were very popular, such as Open Access from SPI.
At that time, Windows came in handy as a complement to DOS. It created a framework for graphic applications that software manufacturers could build on. Initially, it only brought a few adjustments to the hardware: drivers that controlled the printer and graphics card and integrated the mouse. For access to the hard drive, i.e. the files, DOS continued to be used. The old DOS devices were also used to contact the printer.
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The teachers’ group in the Society for Computer Science (GI) describes the change to commercial solutions such as Microsoft Office 365 for the planned by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Culture Education platform as a “big step backwards”. This would affect “all areas” such as data protection, education for democracy in the digital area, methodology and didactics as well as “uniformity, openness and collaboration”.
Moodle open source platform “It is very important to us that the excellent infrastructure in Baden-Württemberg’s schools is maintained on an open source basis” , stated the committee in a position paper that has now been published. “The center of a digital school should always be a learning management system that is really focused on learning.” With the already used open source platform Moodle this is available – “including open standards and interoperability”.
For the teachers’ group it is also questionable, ” whether our training and collaboration structures would cope with the parallel operation of several systems “. An additional platform certainly only makes sense if it reliably supports “an open export and exchange of the materials created”. For Moodle with the associated video conference system Big Blue Button this is “the case now and in the future”, with proprietary systems like those from Microsoft “usually not”.
“Damage to the image of our technology country” The switch to a commercial solution could after the 2018 education platform Ella, which was declared failed “The next damage to the image of our technology country will be”, warns the Gesellschaft für Informatik. Baden-Württemberg threatens to “lose its digital sovereignty in the education system”.
With their plan to introduce Microsoft 365, move Education Minister Susanne Eisenmann (CDU) is “on thin ice,” it says. Because: “The software collects telemetry data of unknown type and scope.” The fact that the legal basis for this ceased to exist in the summer in the course of the “Schrems II judgment” “does not seem to concern anyone”. The Cloud Act also obliges Microsoft to “break European law” and to release this information to US authorities.
Open and low-threshold Even today, sensitive student data such as behavior, performance, health and absenteeism “should not actually be processed by teachers on digital devices”, states the GI. “At least permanent storage must currently take place in the school’s administration network.” If the information just went into a Microsoft cloud, “the problem worsens”. The pragmatic consequence is likely to be a prohibition of such storage processes: The responsibility will be “again shifted to teachers”.
The Society for Computer Science therefore appeals to the state government: “Take responsibility – stay open source ! ” Platforms with free software made broad access “independent of the operating system and device” possible. Even with the mini computer Raspberry Pi, schoolchildren could participate in digital school life. The executive could “also do justice to the freedom of teaching materials at low cost”.
Data flow could not be stopped Similar had The Association for the Promotion of MINT Teaching (MUN), which campaigns for the subjects of mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology and “clearly opposes the use of Microsoft Office 365 – tools “in schools. Even a specially developed, more data-efficient version of the office package, as it is now to be tested at vocational schools in cooperation with the state data protection officer, is unsuitable: due to US surveillance laws, the use of European servers does not guarantee adequate data protection, since the obligation to publish remains.
The market strategy of the lock-in effect, which begins at school, implies “a strengthening of the Microsoft monopoly and an already dangerous technological dependence of Europe on an American company”, emphasizes the MUN in its submission to Eisenmann. This development can be countered with Linux and open source programs of European origin. A rethinking has to “start early, that is, at school”. Other parent and teacher associations and other civil society organizations also see no place for Microsoft at educational institutions.
While you can buy one of the best gaming PCs and resolve your dilemma about whether to buy or build a PC that way, putting together your own system is less expensive and more rewarding. When you build a system yourself, you get total control of everything from the exact make and model of motherboard to aesthetics of the chassis and how many RGB fans you want.
Depending on what type of computer you create, you may also be saving a few hundred dollars over the cost of buying a prebuilt system. To help you assemble the best PC build for gaming or productivity on your budget, we’ve created a set of recommended parts lists below, organized by total price.
Getting High-End GPUs for Best PC Builds
However, before we get to our recommendations, we have to talk about the state of the market right now and why this is a terrible time to buy a high-end graphics card and a very difficult time to build a high-end gaming PC. At the moment, Nvidia’s new RTX 3080, 3070 and 3090 cards are top-of-the-line, but nearly impossible to get (see how and where to buy an RTX 3080, 3090 or 3070 card for your best chance). And AMD’s new Radeon RX 6000 series cards won’t be out until later this month and, at that time, could also sell out quickly.
So, while we will be recommending RTX 3000 series cards in our $1,500+ builds, know that you may have a difficult time finding one in stock right now. Your options are either to wait and keep trying, buy a prebuilt PC with the card inside or substitute in a cheaper, mid-range card, which we’ll offer some suggestions for. However, if you’re building a PC that’s about $1,250 or less, this is a perfectly good time to build as sub-$300 CPU and graphics cards aren’t getting replaced or lowering in price anytime soon.
Best PC Build Caveats
We will update this best PC builds page on a regular basis to keep pace with the changing hardware marketplace. Because availability and price of components changes so frequently, we will not have tested every single component. Nor, unless otherwise stated, are we able to gather all the parts for each suggested build together and test for clearance issues or other potential compatibility issues.
Note also that hardware prices change daily and vary by country, so the total cost for any given build may be slightly higher or lower when you read this than it was at publication time. We don’t include the cost of an operating system, because you can get Windows 10 for Free or Cheap. Nor do we include the price of peripherals such as the best gaming monitors, best gaming keyboards or best gaming mouse.
Best $500 PC Build for Gaming
(Image credit: Cooler Master)
For around $500, you can build a brand new gaming PC that has a recent-generation Intel Core i3 processor, Nvidia’s entry-level GTX 1650 graphics and 512GB of speedy solid-state storage. At this price point, you can expect AAA games to run at low to mid settings at 1080p resolution, but you will be able to at least play them. Dropping down to 720p will allow you to turn on some more eye candy.
For the best $500 PC build for gaming, we recommend a Core i3-9100F processor from Intel, which has a reasonable four cores and a max rated turbo boost of 4.2 GHz. The 9100F comes with a usable stock cooler in the box and, with a TDP of 65W, it’s not going to require a high-end power supply.
Our graphics card is the GTX 1650, because it’s the most powerful card we could fit into this budget, though you’d be better off stretching another $30 or so and getting a 1650 Super Card of some kind. This card should allow you to play games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Borderlands 3 at around an 80 fps average at 1080p and normal settings.
If you’re looking to save money on your $500 PC build, you can find chassis that are $10 to $20 cheaper than the Cooler Master MasterBox Q300L, but we’ve built in this case and found it has excellent build quality and an attractive clear side panel for the price. You can also find other B365M motherboards for around $10 less, but we went with the Gigabyte B365M DS3H because it is highly rated.
Best $800 PC Build for Gaming and Productivity
(Image credit: Antec)
If you can stretch your budget up to $800, you can build a very strong PC with the ability to play games, broadcast your gaming to Twitch (see how to stream PC games to Twitch) and even do some serious photo editing. We actually made the best $800 PC Build for Gaming a just a few weeks ago and were able to pack in a 6-core, 12-thread AMD Ryzen 5 3600 CPU, an Nvidia GTX 1660 Super graphics card and 1TB of speedy PCIe storage, all in a case with an attractive RGB front panel.
For the best $800 PC build for gaming and productivity, we chose AMD’s Ryzen 5 3600 as our processor. For just $175 (at pub time), this CPU offers 6 cores and 12 threads with a maximum boost clock of 4.2 GHz and a competent Spectre Stealth cooler in the box. With that many threads, streaming games via OBS with x264 compression was really smooth, with a degradation of only about 10 percent in frame rates over playing the games alone.
At pub time, cards based on the Nvidia GTX 1660 Super graphics card were the best we could fit into our budget for the best $800 PC build. With this card, we were able to play games like Borderlands 3 at Badass settings and Shadow of the Tomb Raider at its highest settings while getting average frame rates in the high 40s and 50s at 1080p. Less demanding games such as Grand Theft Auto V pulled over 60 fps at very high settings.
We picked the WD Blue SN550 SSD because it’s a speedy NVMe SSD for the money. Priced at $105 at pub time and often on sale for less, the 1TB capacity of this drive provides plenty of room for games and media files while offering sequential read and write speeds of 2,400 and 1,750 MBps, respectively.
The Antec Dapper Dark Phantom DP301M case is a great value. While it’s not full-featured enough to make our list of the best PC cases, it is easy to build in and has excellent cable management, along with a tempered-glass side panel for under $60. It also has an attractive RGB light panel on its front, though you can only control it using a button and not via software.
Best $1000 PC Build for Gaming
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
With a $1,000 budget, our best PC build for gaming keeps the same solid Ryzen 5 3600 CPU but provides a much faster graphics card in the Nvidia RTX 2060, which is the cheapest card to support hardware ray tracing. It can also take advantage of Nvidia’s Broadcast software for filtering out unwanted background noise and blurring the messy home office behind you during video calls.
In addition to upgrading the graphics card from what we had on our $800 PC build, we doubled our RAM to 32GB, went with the speedy XPG SX8200 Pro drive, which tops our list of the best SSDs, and chose the very attractive NZXT H510 as our case.
We also got a Bronze 80+ rated power supply, which should be more efficient and reliable over the long haul than some cheaper models that don’t make the Bronze designation. At this price point, you wont’ get one of the best power supplies, but the Cooler Master MWE 600 should be more than competent.
The MSI MPG B550 Gaming Plus is a nice upgrade over the Gigabyte B550M DS3H we chose for the $800 Build. MSI’s board has USB 3.1 Gen 2 on the board and some RGB lighting to boot. If any of these components are sold out or have gone up in price, you can cut costs by going with a cheaper SSD, a non-Bronze PSU or a lower-cost B550 motherboard.
Best $1500 PC Build for Gaming
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Jumping up to a $1,500 budget, our best PC build for gaming incorporates a 6-core, 12-thread Intel Core i5-10600K, the best CPU overall right now, and a speedy Nvidia RTX 3070 card. Now, as we stated above and elsewhere, you may have a hard time getting an RTX 3070 card at this time. The card listed above is just one of many that third-party RTX 3070s that’s out of stock; grab whatever one you can.
If you can’t get an RTX 3070 right away, your options are to delay your purchase, buy one of the best prebuilt gaming PCs, or settle for a lower-end card like the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT or, if you can find one, an RTX 2060 Super. If you need to build right now, your best bet might be to stick with integrated graphics for a few weeks or pop in an old video card you have on hand from a prior build.
We also have adequate cooling and power to do some overclocking (see how to overclock Intel processors) and push our CPU past its stock boost speed of 4.8 GHz. In our tests, we were able to get the Core i5-10600K up to 5-GHz and you should be able to do the same with the CoolerMaster MasterLiquid ML240L V2 240mm AIO cooler on board. However, spending another $50 on the Corsair H100i, our pick for best CPU cooler, might yield even better results.
To accommodate the 10th Gen processor, we went with the MSI Pro Z490-A motherboard, which promises excellent passive cooling, including a built-in heatsink for the M.2 slot, great cable management for the SATA ports and support for both 2.5 Gbps Ethernet and USB 3.2.
We’ve stuck with the same RAM and SSD from our $1000 Build, simply because they offer the best combination of performance and value here. Available in black or white, the Lian Li Liancool II has plenty of room for our 240mm radiator and any extra case fans you’d like to add. We love the sleek DRGB lights on the front panel and the in-depth cable management options. This is one sleek looking case.
Best $2000 PC Build for Gaming
(Image credit: NZXT)
For the best $2000 PC build for gaming, there’s an elephant in the room that we can’t ignore. We’re recommending Nvidia’s brand new RTX 3080 (see our RTX 3080 review) as the GPU, because you can fit it into the $2,000 budget, if you can actually find one selling for the MSRP of $799. However, RTX 3080 cards are nearly impossible to buy right now (see where to buy an RTX 3080).
However, if you can’t get an RTX 3080 card today, you have the same choices that we mentioned with our $1,500 build. You can delay your build entirely, waiting for either more 3080 stock or a Radeon RX 6800 XT, you can buy a prebuilt PC with RTX 3080 inside or you can temporarily live with either integrated graphics or whatever old graphics card you have lying around from a prior build.
To go along with the graphics card, we’ve chosen an Intel Core i7-10700K CPU. This unlocked chip has 8 cores, 16 threads and the ability to overclock up to 5 or 5.1 GHz when paired with an adequate AIO cooler like the NZXT Kraken X63. That makes the 10700K a much better value than the Core i9-10900K which currently costs $100 more.
Even though this is a $2,000 PC build, we still have to make some compromises to hit our price point. That means that we’re sticking with 32GB of RAM rather than 64GB and, instead of getting a speedy 2TB SSD, we’re using the fast XPG SX8200 Pro as our boot drive and pairing it with a cheap Team Group GX2 SATA drive for additional storage.
If we had a higher budget, we could put some money into purchasing a more glamorous case, but instead we’ll go with the classy but affordable NZXT H510i, which provides plenty of space for fans in an elegant black or white design. You may, however, want to add a few dollars to buy your own front case fans.
The Austrian manufacturer StreamView brings a range of smart TVs and a streaming box to European retailers under the licensed brand name Nokia. Of seven TVs, six models represent 3840 × 2160 pixels (Ultra HD); only one 32 – Zöller is satisfied with 1920 × 1080 pixels (Full HD). The top model is 75 inches in size.
All seven smart TVs come with a preinstalled Android 9 operating system. They show 60 Hertz, light up depending on the model with 250 to 350 cd / m² and process 10 Bit per color channel. The specified 178 -Grad viewing angles speak for VA panels. HDMI 2.0 ports transmit Ultra HD signals with 58 Hertz – one at a time outputs sound to the AV receiver using the ARC (Audio Return Channel) function, even if the TV-internal streaming apps are used.
USB 2.0 ports, optical audio outputs, Ethernet, jack connections, Wi-Fi 5 (WLAN 802. 11 ac), Bluetooth 4.2, stereo speakers with 6 to 14 Watt output power and triple tuner for DVB-T2, DVC-C and DVB-S2 round off the equipment.
Nokia Smart TVs and streaming boxes from StreamView (8 images) Nokia Stream Box 8000
(Image: StreamView) High prices at first glance The prices seem high: The 32 – Zöller costs 300 euros, for which there are significantly larger smart TVs elsewhere. The other models cost 450 Euro (43 Customs), 500 Euro (50 Customs), 550 Euro (55 Customs), 600 Euro (58 Customs), 700 Euro (65 inches) or 1200 Euro (75 Inch). The 75 -Zöller Nokia 3840 A is priced in the upper class without having unusual specifications. The specified 320 cd / m² are sufficient hardly for a particularly nice HDR picture.
A similar problem overtakes the Nokia Streaming Box 8000: It brings the operating system Android TV 10 including streaming apps such as Amazon Prime Video and Netflix on televisions without their own smart TV functions. With 100 However, it is more expensive than established alternatives such as Google’s Chromecast or Amazon’s Fire TV Stick.
The Nokia Streaming Box 8000 transmits via HDMI 2.0 Ultra HD with 3840 × 2160 pixels and 60 Hertz. On board are decoders for H. 264 and H. 265. StreamView does not comment specifically on HDR formats in the data sheet.
Carbon Copy Cloner is the first backup tool for creating bootable backups of macOS 11. The new version 5.1. 22 of Carbon Copy Cloner is now “officially qualified for Big Sur”, as the developer announced. The creation of a bootable backup can initially only be carried out using a manual workaround: You have to install Big Sur via a data backup created with Carbon Copy Cloner (CCC) to make the backup bootable, explains CCC developer Mike Bombich. macOS Big Sur with a signed system drive The backup tools have difficulties with the in macOS 11 Apple-signed system drive (“Signed System Volume”). The system drive is cryptographically sealed by the manufacturer, explains Bombich, if you simply copy it to another drive as usual, it will not be bootable without Apple’s seal.
Apple offers its in-house tool “Apple Software Restore – ASR” for cloning drives and thus supports its own APFS file system, but the tool does not seem to be comprehensive for macOS 11 Big Sur ready: The currently existing bugs in ASR will probably not be fixed until the general release of the operating system, emphasizes the developer – the workaround must be used accordingly for the time being. The procedure has been tested extensively with CCC.
Workaround probably only required temporarily In the “near future” the backup tool will probably be able to use ASR to clone the signed system drive of Macs with Big Sur. The backup of the user data continues to be done by Carbon Copy Cloner’s own copy routine. Then bootable backups of macOS will be able to be created automatically again, says Bombich. macOS 11 bring the biggest changes to macOS in round 20 Years, it took around a quarter to half a year just to get CCC running under macOS 11 – time for implementing new ones Functions are missing then.
As on 23. August 2019 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare was released First person shooter in addition to the scandalous story also caused a stir due to the required hard drive space. With full 150 GB presented itself to the 16. Part of the Call-of-Duty series as extremely memory-hungry. Also in the upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, which will start from 13. November 2019, the Activision development studio is not exactly reluctant regarding the resources required on the hard drive. As can be seen from the published system requirements, the latest part of the series in the Ultra RTX specifications requires at least 250 GB of free space.
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Whoever screws down the requirements comes with 175 GB out. If you only want to play the multiplayer of the new Call of Duty with the minimum requirements, you only have to 50 GB of free space available. An Intel Core i3 – 3700 or an AMD FX – 6300 out. When it comes to graphics cards, all shooter fans should have at least one NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670 or GTX 1650 or a Radeon HD 7950. The required 8 GB of RAM should hardly be a problem. The operating system can also be used with both Windows 7 and Windows 10 – each in the 64 – bit version – can be accessed.
As soon as the demands are higher and gamers want to use ray tracing, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 recommended. Since this is very rare at the moment and is difficult or impossible to obtain in retail, at least a GeForce GTX 970 or better be built into your own computer. Otherwise, high FPS can hardly be implemented on displays that have a high refresh rate. For the supreme discipline “Ultra RTX”, in addition to an RTX 3080, an Intel i9 9900 K or an AMD Ryzen 3700 X required.
System requirements
Minimum:
Windows 7 64 – Bit (SP1) or Windows 10 64 – Bit (Version 1803 or higher)
Intel Core i3 – 4340 or AMD FX – 6300
8 GB RAM
50 GB (multiplayer only), 150 GB (all game modes)
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670 / GeForce GTX 1650 or Radeon HD 7950
Recommended:
Windows 10 64 Bit (latest update)
Intel Core i5 – 2500 K or AMD Ryzen R5 1600 X processor
The first Windows versions were not very appealing. But talented developers, good marketing and skilful behavior by Microsoft changed that.
(Image: Albert Hulm)
Microsoft Windows through the ages: From ugly duckling to high-flyer From DOS to 1 From two to 286 Gone into the network Explorer lands In court and … Failures Article in c’t 27 / 2020 read As the author of this article 1990 to c ‘ t, Microsoft was preparing for the market launch of Windows version 3. Before that, two versions of Windows had become known in this country: Windows 1. 02 and 2. 11 were the middle of the 80 s one of several attempts to give personal computers a graphical interface. Also at the start: Visi On, TopView, DESQview and GEM. Nobody talks about these software packages anymore, but even the two early Windows versions had little role in the fact that almost everyone knows Windows today.
In May 1986 came Windows 1. 02 in Germany, cost several hundred marks and was only considered as an auxiliary program to be able to carry out selected applications. The common operating system on PCs was DOS 3. Even back then it was advisable to set up Windows on the hard drive. It became like a DOS program by entering win started. On top of the DOS operating system, which accepted commands in text mode, was a graphical surface that could be operated with a mouse connected to the serial port.
From DOS to 1 In c’t 8 / 1986 Eckart Steffens discussed Windows 1 and its applications: Notepad and calculator are still on board today. The card file, which had long since disappeared, functioned as a card index box, e.g. for addresses, and at that time could dial illegally stored phone numbers via modem. Steffens praised “Cut and Paste” as a simple pleasure to insert graphics into texts – a real innovation for the PC at the time. Also that you could see different fonts on the screen and print them out on a printer was delightful at the time.
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Sign in and read Register now and read the article immediately More information about heise + Microsoft Windows through the ages: From ugly duckling to high-flyer From DOS to 1 From two to 286 Gone into the network Explorer lands In court and … Failures Article in c’t 27 / 2020 read
Apple’s first or first Macs based on the company’s own Arm system circuits will be unveiled at this release event.
Apple’s traditional fall release for iOS and iPhone had to be split in two due to delays caused by the corona pandemic. Nevertheless, the company has another release event in its pocket this autumn.
Apple’s next release event will be held in a week 10. November 20 00 Finnish time. Decorated with a “One More Thing,” the invitation to the event doesn’t say what the company intends to introduce at the event, but it will most likely be the first or first Macs based on Apple’s own Arm system circuits. In addition, a finished version of the Big Sur (mac11) operating system, which will be unveiled at WWDC earlier this year, will be released at the event.
In addition to previous leaks, the new MacBook speaks in favor of an augmented reality app that Apple has placed on its site. The app features an animated Apple logo that first lies flat on the surface, but then opens up like a laptop screen, revealing the rainbow-like splendor of the pool. You can watch a video of the augmented reality animation, for example, from this tweet by Neil Cybart.
Flashback: We write the year 1997. The competition could have been warned after Volkswagen had raised the perceived quality of the VW Passat, which had recently taken place in a model change, to a level that made most of the players look a bit down-to-earth. But when the first pictures of the VW Golf 4 were seen in Cologne and Rüsselsheim, those responsible first fell into shock and then into hectic activity – the second Opel Astra was postponed by half a year in order to be able to improve at least a bit of its appearance.
What Volkswagen had created in terms of superficial sheen, however, was not so easy to recreate . In addition to optical gadgets such as clear-glass diffusers, small gaps or the blue-red illumination of the instrument cluster, this included above all a fine lining of the interior that was previously unusual in this class. In the first contact, the fourth Golf looked much higher quality than the competition. The fact that this fact aroused expectations in terms of quality and durability that the car did not meet at every point is of course also part of the truth.
Time jump A little more than 20 years later, the general conditions are completely different in every respect. With its exhaust gas fraud, which is often glossed over as cheating, Volkswagen has sparked a conflagration that the group, which is still powerful in the market, wants to exit with all its might. To this end, it has been decided to push ahead with the conversion to electromobility with all available means. When this plan was tied down, it was a courageous decision, because the registration figures for e-cars were by no means encouraging.
Nevertheless, the heavy industrial tanker Volkswagen set in motion and, measured in industrial terms Benchmarks, a platform for electric cars created in an incredibly short time, on which countless group models will be based in the coming years. That little bit of packaging, i.e. what the customer sees on the surface, is only an accessory in vehicle development.
Almost finally stumbled At the pace of development at which Volkswagen has tried, collateral damage can probably hardly be avoided. But the start of the first car on this basis was so bumpy that CEO Herbert Diess almost stumbled. He only narrowly escaped complete disempowerment, but had to give up part of his decision-making power. This was not only due to the rough start of the ID.3, but also to the unfortunate start of the Golf 8 – still the most important pillar of the group. In a figurative sense: If this successful model has symptoms of a mild cold, the entire company is at risk of severe flu. Accordingly, one reacts behind the scenes in Wolfsburg when things don’t go as planned in golf.
Save on the mainstay … For VW, the Golf is the carrier that has to handle a lot of load. Now one can argue about whether this is wise and whether it will stay that way in the future. The fact is that the company has not done badly with this strategy in the past. Against this background, it seems downright bold what VW has presented to loyal Golf customers. The unbuttoned operating system polarizes what is an astonishing risk with such an eminently important mass model. At least as amazing is the haptic refinement that VW is openly displaying with the model change.
This was one of Volkswagen’s competencies: things appear to be of high quality on the surface allow. It’s brutal what VW delivers with the Golf 8 in this regard. A Mazda 3 (test) looks much more cleverly put together in this regard, and it is not the only competitor with which this is the case. VW is in a sense going the opposite way as in the year 1997.
. .. and on the bearer of hope Volkswagen has great hopes for the ID.3. So much has been invested that a flop would be dramatic for Wolfsburg’s cash situation. That is not to be expected, but in the first contact one wonders whether VW has not stopped investing a little too early. This doesn’t mean the embarrassing software glitch or the processing defects. Both can be attributed to a hasty start of production. I believe that Volkswagen can and will remedy these deficiencies relatively quickly, however annoying they are for the first customers.
What is not so easy to cure is this superficial goodness. In its latest edition, the Golf has already clearly declined for everyone compared to its predecessor. The ID.3, which is so important for the group, undercuts it again to such an extent that some will wonder whether VW is only thinking of its shareholders. Almost everything in the interior gives the impression that one tried with brute force to sell the base model under the brand of 30. 000 to press Euro. Whether that was successful remains to be seen, because the cheapest ID.3 should only start in the middle 2021.
Apple announced in mid-September its new iPad Air with the new SoC A 13 with 5 nanometer technology, a month later announced its new iPhone 12 with some surprise like the iPhone 11 mini or the new HomePod mini , but now to the amazement of many has announced a new event that will take place next day 10 of November , in its presentation poster it indicates one more thing phrase that usually presents a surprise product.
In the middle of this year we saw how Apple is going to ditch the Intel technology in the Macs to start making its own ARM-based processors like the ones in its iPads Air A 14 Bionic who has called Apple Silicon, according to Bloomberg sources and as recently announced, Apple plans to launch this day a new MacBook Pro from 13 ”, a new MacBook Pro from 16” and a new Macbook Air of 13 ” that will integrate the new Apple Silicon processors.
Following the presentation of these models, Bloomberg also indicates that the move to Apple Silicon from Apple’s desktop line is close , both the iMac and the MacPro would have this new processor, it also specifies that the MacPro It would be half the size of the current one , without certainty that it will be replaced or both models will coexist in the market.
Hopefully, if these presentations are true, Apple will release the version Final ón of your new totally redesigned operating system macOS Big Shur .
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Antonio Delgado
Computer Engineer by training, writer and hardware analyst at Geeknetic since 2011. I love gutting everything that comes my way, especially the latest hardware that we get here for reviews. In my spare time I fiddle with 3d printers, drones and other gadgets. For anything here you have me.
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Announced at The Game Awards 2019 Godfall is an action RPG by Counterplay Games studio, which is created under the aegis of the well-known fans of the Borderlands and Brothers in Arms series by Gearbox Software. The manufacturer included the title in the so-called looter shooter, i.e. a mishmash of a classic TPP slasher like God of War, Devil May Cry or Darksiders and elements characteristic of the mentioned Borderlands series, only instead of shooting, the action will focus on hand-to-hand combat. Don’t worry – Godfall offers more than just cooperation for up to four players. We will also complete the story campaign alone. The premiere of the game will take place next week, so Counterplay Games studio finally revealed the hardware requirements for the PC version.
We know the hardware requirements for Godfall slasher, which will be released on PS5 and PC (Epic Games Store) now 12 November 2020 year.
Game releases November 2020 – DiRT 5, Assassin’s Creed and Call of Duty
From the very beginning, Godfall was promoted as one of the first games developed exclusively for next-gen hardware. This is also the case – the creators will skip the current generation consoles, focusing only on PlayStation 5 (and PC). Therefore, should we expect hardware requirements worthy of a “new generation” game? Not necessarily, because although the graphics in Godfall are not too bad, it is difficult to talk about any noticeable qualitative leap. Here are the hardware requirements for the PC version (it is worth noting that the game requires a permanent connection to the Internet):
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT
Disk
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no data
Watch Dogs Legion – Performance test of graphics cards with RTX and DLSS
In minimum w there is only a quad-core and quad-threaded Intel Core i5 processor – 6600, which has its heyday long ago behind. In the recommended, however, the manufacturer gave clearly more powerful CPUs: Ryzen 5 3600 or Intel Core i7 – 8700. As for graphics cards, the minimum is the GeForce GTX level 1060 6 GB or Radeon RX 580. For higher settings, GeForce GTX 1080 Ti and Radeon RX 5700 XT. The developers implemented ray tracing (DXR) together with AMD. Ray tracing will also be available on PS5, and the effect will be limited to shadows only. The Sony console will provide 4K gameplay in Godfall and 60 FPS. The premiere of the game will take place 12 November 2020 on PC (Epic Games Store) and PS5. Both platforms are temporary exclusivity (probably for one year).
Source: Twitter
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