[TechSpot Weekly Newsletter]
Latest in tech September 20
Software
[Rundown of Must-Have Portable Apps](
Portable apps are lightweight versions of applications that don't use an installer. Executables are contained within a single folder, meaning you can run them from a USB drive or a cloud folder synced across PCs. We've assembled [a collection of the best and most useful portable apps]( across a variety of categories.
Portable apps are lightweight versions of applications that don't use an installer. Executables are contained within a single folder, meaning you can run them from a USB drive or a cloud folder synced across PCs. We've assembled [a collection of the best and most useful portable apps]( across a variety of categories.
Build a PC
[Top 5 AMD X570 Motherboards](
You're ready to go AMD on your next build, and we can't blame you. Third-gen Ryzen offers great options with core-rich CPUs at compelling price points. The new AMD X570 platform consists of [high-end motherboards]( that enable PCIe 4.0 and M.2 Gen 4 storage along with other new features such as Wi-Fi 6, but expect to pay a premium for these.
You're ready to go AMD on your next build, and we can't blame you. Third-gen Ryzen offers great options with core-rich CPUs at compelling price points. The new AMD X570 platform consists of [high-end motherboards]( that enable PCIe 4.0 and M.2 Gen 4 storage along with other new features such as Wi-Fi 6, but expect to pay a premium for these.
iPhone
[iOS 13 just launched with a bunch of new features including Dark Mode](
As Tim Cook promised in Appleâs keynote last week, Apple Arcade is launching with iOS 13, and with it, users can take advantage of a free one-month trial. After that, the service costs $5 per month. The arcade is launching…
As Tim Cook promised in Appleâs keynote last week, Apple Arcade is launching with iOS 13, and with it, users can take advantage of a free one-month trial. After that, the service costs $5 per month. The arcade is launching…
Storage
[Samsung unveils new PCIe 4.0 SSDs that "never die"](
Samsungâs PM1733 and PM1735 series come in 19 different models covering the HHHL (card-type) and 2.5-inch U.2 formats. Designed for use in servers and data centers, their storage ranges from 0.8TB right up to a massive 30.72TB.
Samsungâs PM1733 and PM1735 series come in 19 different models covering the HHHL (card-type) and 2.5-inch U.2 formats. Designed for use in servers and data centers, their storage ranges from 0.8TB right up to a massive 30.72TB.
Gaming
[You can resell your Steam games, says French court](
Valve's ban on reselling games on its storefront is one of the few downsides of having a digital collection of games as opposed to a physical one that can be resold or restocked to your heart's content. And while Steam…
Valve's ban on reselling games on its storefront is one of the few downsides of having a digital collection of games as opposed to a physical one that can be resold or restocked to your heart's content. And while Steam…
Electronics
[Police testing taser alternative that wraps suspects up in a tether, Spider-Man-style](
Reuters reports that another 49 people died last year after being shocked by tasers, leading to more calls for a better alternative. In many cases, the tasers were used alongside hand strikes, pepper sprays, restraint holds, and other forces.
Reuters reports that another 49 people died last year after being shocked by tasers, leading to more calls for a better alternative. In many cases, the tasers were used alongside hand strikes, pepper sprays, restraint holds, and other forces.
Culture
[Vaping-related lung disease cases reach 530 as FDA opens criminal investigation](
Earlier this month, it was reported that four Americans had lost their lives to the mysterious lung disease caused by vaping. It had been suspected that a particular type of chemical, possibly vitamin E acetate, was to blame, though itâs…
Earlier this month, it was reported that four Americans had lost their lives to the mysterious lung disease caused by vaping. It had been suspected that a particular type of chemical, possibly vitamin E acetate, was to blame, though itâs…
Display Tech
[HP's new 43.4-inch ultrawide monitor can replace your dual-display setup](
The S430c is a very wide monitor with a 32:10 aspect ratio. Its curved 43.4-inch diagonal display is equivalent to two side-by-side 24-inch monitors. It delivers a 4K quality picture with a 60Hz refresh rate. The LED backlights deliver up…
The S430c is a very wide monitor with a 32:10 aspect ratio. Its curved 43.4-inch diagonal display is equivalent to two side-by-side 24-inch monitors. It delivers a 4K quality picture with a 60Hz refresh rate. The LED backlights deliver up…
Round-up
[Apple Watch Series 5 review round-up: Always-on, but not much else](
When we covered the unveiling of the Series 5, the always-on display was what we thought was its most exciting feature. Most reviewers concur with some saying it's "now the world's best watch. Period." The Verge said:
When we covered the unveiling of the Series 5, the always-on display was what we thought was its most exciting feature. Most reviewers concur with some saying it's "now the world's best watch. Period." The Verge said:
Quantum
[IBM is launching a 53-qubit quantum computer next month](
IBM on Wednesday said it will soon make a 53-qubit quantum computer available for broad use. When it goes online next month, itâll be the single largest universal quantum system available outside of experimental lab environments.
IBM on Wednesday said it will soon make a 53-qubit quantum computer available for broad use. When it goes online next month, itâll be the single largest universal quantum system available outside of experimental lab environments.
Culture
[Football Manager 2020's recyclable cardboard packaging could save '20 tonnes' of plastic this year](
The vast majority of physical game copies are sold in thin plastic packaging, which is arguably not the ideal choice where sustainability is concerned. However, the package feels good in one's hands, it's good at protecting fragile discs, and it's…
The vast majority of physical game copies are sold in thin plastic packaging, which is arguably not the ideal choice where sustainability is concerned. However, the package feels good in one's hands, it's good at protecting fragile discs, and it's…
Mobile
[Huawei launches Mate 30 Pro with "Horizon" display and "Halo ring" camera system](
Huawei's new Mate 30 lineup has a questionable future, but that didn't stop the company from proudly unveiling its alternative to Apple's iPhone 11 and Samsung's Galaxy Note 10 at a press event in Munich. The most recent leaks and…
Huawei's new Mate 30 lineup has a questionable future, but that didn't stop the company from proudly unveiling its alternative to Apple's iPhone 11 and Samsung's Galaxy Note 10 at a press event in Munich. The most recent leaks and…
[Impossible Burgers will soon be available at your local grocery store](
Youâll soon be able to grill out meatless burgers in your own backyard as Impossible Foods, the company behind the plant-based Impossible Burger, makes its grocery store debut on September 20.
[Intel's Cascade Lake-X Core-i9 CPUs appear on Geekbench](
Intelâs next line of HEDT CPUs is a Skylake-X refresh thatâs still on the 14nm++ process node, and, as shown by the Geekbench entries that used an X299 motherboard, remain compatible with its LGA 2066-based mobos.
[Celebrate Batman's 80th anniversary with six free games courtesy of Epic](
From now through September 26, users can nab Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batman: Arkham City and Batman: Arkham Knight absolutely free of charge. Developed using Unreal Engine 3, this trio of highly regarded games received Metacritic scores of 91, 91 and 87, respectively.
[Google, Facebook, and Amazon are collecting advertising data through smart TVs, studies claim](
The studies examined smart TVs of various types and checked for advertising cookies and trackers. While the first study focuses on tracking in smart TVs, the second study is much broader and encompasses consumer Internet of Things (IoT) devices as…
[Amazon pledges to tackle climate change head-on](
Amazon on Thursday partnered with Global Optimism to launch The Climate Pledge, a commitment to meet the requirements set forth in the Paris Agreement a full 10 years early.
[HP's Elite Dragonfly is a lightweight 13-inch business laptop with style](
HP on Wednesday introduced the HP Elite Dragonfly, a 13-inch business-class convertible that doesnât quite fit the standard enterprise mold. Thatâs readily apparently by the name alone but of course, the Elite Dragonfly is much more than a catchy moniker.…
[RuneScape player spends $62,000 on microtransactions](
The situation was highlighted in the UK Parliamentâs recent report on immersive and addictive technologies, which includes a subsection on RuneScape. It mentions âa member of the public whose adult son built up considerable debtsâ of around $62,000.
[Roku refreshes streaming media player lineup for the holidays](
The new Roku Express is 10 percent smaller than its predecessor and is designed to better blend in when connected to a television. According to Roku, most televisionsâ USB port should have enough juice to power the dongle without requiring…
[Two tech-support scammers arrested for allegedly stealing $10 million from over 7,500 people](
Romana Leyva, 35, of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Ariful Haque, 33, of Bellerose, New York were arrested on September 18 and charged with one count of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Each charge carries a maximum 20-year prison sentence.
[Vivo unveils the V17 Pro, a phone with two pop-up selfie cameras](
While phones such as the OnePlus 7 Pro use only a single lens in their pop-up selfie systems, Vivoâs offers a little more. The V17 Pro dual selfie cameras consist of a 32-megapixel main sensor and an 8-megapixel ultrawide. The…
[With subscribers dwindling, AT&T considers ways to ditch DirecTV](
The acquisition seemed a good idea at first. The Wall Street Journal notes that after the merger, AT&T took Comcastâs place as the largest pay-TV distributor with 26 million subscribers. It now has 23 million as of the second quarter…
Software
Downloads
-
[VMware Workstation 15.5.0](
-
[Q-Dir 7.83](
-
[Adobe DNG Converter 11.4.1](
Drivers
-
[Intel Extreme Tuning Utility XTU 6.5.1.355](
2019-09-17 17:48:06
-
[AMD Radeon Adrenalin 2019 Edition Graphics Driver 19.9.2 Hotfix](
2019-09-13 11:47:49
Tech Pic of the Day
[Glorious](
Credit: [Reddit](
Hot discussion
[News and Comments]( [Impossible Burgers will soon be available at your local grocery store](
[News and Comments]( [Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss returning for fourth Matrix movie](
Follow TechSpot
TechSpot: [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Steam]( [Flipboard]( [YouTube]( [RSS](
[View this email in your browser](
This email was sent to {EMAIL}
[We only send these emails with your permission after you've registered on TechSpot.com](
[Click here to unsubscribe](
© 2019 TechSpot, Inc.