Laptops

Apple is making big changes to MacBook Pro line — Bloomberg

Published

August 10, 2016

Monch Lopez

It looks like Apple fans won’t have to wait until next year for a MacBook Pro refresh. And there’s a pretty good chance the upgrade will be well worth it. A new report from Bloomberg claims Apple is making big changes to its line of pro laptops — the first major overhaul in four years. There have been similar reports in May, when KGI Securities analyst Ming-chi Kuo said the 2016 MacBook Pros would have an “OLED display touch bar.”

It has been more than 440 days since the American tech juggernaut released the current Retina MacBook Pro. Frankly, we were beginning to worry; the iPad Pro isn’t a laptop replacement. Don’t be silly.

The next MacBook Pros will be thinner and will have a wider, pressure-sensitive trackpad, plus the option to cram in a powerful graphics processor that can run more demanding games smoothly. They are also said to have smaller footprints and straighter edges.

A Touch ID fingerprint reader and a Type-C port that supports charging, data transfer, and video output are likewise included in the assembly. However, the most intriguing addition we’ve heard yet is the secondary OLED display right above the keyboard. Users can assign keyboard shortcuts to the panel; that way, media playback controls will be accessible while iTunes or Spotify is running.

The new MacBook Pros could come in gray, gold, and silver colors, like the iPhone and iPad. But don’t expect to see them at the next Apple event rumored for September 7th. Which is okay. A quiet release is better than no release at all.

Despite significant declines in the global PC and tablet markets, Mac sales have fared better than expected. In fact, business was up 6 percent to $25.5 billion during the previous fiscal year, whereas iPad numbers were down 23 percent to $23.2 billion.

[irp posts=”8953″ name=”Xiaomi’s ‘MacBook killer’ now has a 4G variant”]

Source: Bloomberg
Image credit: Martin Hajek

Related Topics:Apple MacBook MacBook Pro

Gaming

MSI, Capcom partner for limited-edition Monster Hunter products

Featuring Rathalos

Published

September 26, 2023

GadgetMatch

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Monster Hunter, MSI and CAPCOM have partnered for a series of limited-edition gaming products.

The announcement of the collaboration took place at the 2023 Tokyo Game Show and the products are set for a March 2024 release.

The exclusive line will include gaming laptops, monitors, graphics cards, motherboards, cases, liquid coolers, and controllers.

Rathalos, one of the series’ most iconic monsters, gets to be infused to the various gaming peripherals.

Both MSI and the developer exchanged ideas to be able to craft unique products that will represent the game well.

The Monster Hunter series features action RPG games that pit players against giant monsters in a natural environment. The first title debuted in 2004, and the franchise has since grown into a megahit, with a movie of the same name even hitting cinemas in 2020.

Laptops

Acer launches Nitro V 15 laptop

Gaming made more accessible

Published

September 25, 2023

GadgetMatch

Acer unveiled the new Nitro V 15 gaming laptop which is a reliable device for gaming, content creation, video-editing and multi-tasking on the go.

The Acer Nitro V 15 is equipped with up to the latest 13th Intel Core i7 processors. It’s designed with the most advanced hybrid architecture yet. It has up to a GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, up to 32GB of DDR5 RAM. There’s also up to 2TB of PCIe storage.

The laptop has a 15.6-inch full HD display. You get up to a 165Hz refresh rate, 3ms response time, and a 16:9 aspect ratio.

This is paired with DTS X: Ultra for enhanced sound placement, acoustics. You get a more fine-tuned sound that fits the game genre of choice.

The device also features dual rotating fans and a dual-intake cooling system. It has strategically-placed vents to keep its internals battle ready for prolonged periods.

Users may also download the NitroSense utility app to customize game settings conveniently at their fingertips.

For those opting to work with the Nitro V 15, there are AI solutions like Acer Purified View and Purified Voice technology for higher-quality video calls.

Connectivity-wise, the laptop supports Wi-Fi 6 while its I/O ports include a Thunderbolt 4 for charging, data transfer, video displays, and more.

Price and availability

Exact specifications, prices, and availability will vary by region. Customers are encouraged to contact their local Acer office via www.acer.com.

The Acer Nitro V 15 comes with one month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

Laptops

Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Studio 2 is good enough for gaming

Starts at $1,999

Published

September 22, 2023

Luigi Leonardo

The Microsoft Surface series isn’t a usual go-to destination for gaming. However, if you have the cash, the series, especially the new Surface Laptop Studio 2, can be your friend if you’re a gamer or a creator. Launched today, the new laptop features a ton of improvements for all your needs.

As you might expect from the series, the Surface Laptop Studio 2 offers the same form factor as other devices in the lineup. But don’t let the foldable design fool you. It is more than capable.

The screen contains a 14.4-inch touchscreen display capable of putting out images in 2400 x 1600 resolution. The laptop touts an Intel 13^th-generation i7-13700H processor. Alongside the processor, the laptop will also have an Intel Gen3 Movidius 3700VC VPU AI accelerator.

It will start with 16GB of RAM but can go up to 64GB. Plus, if you have the cash to splurge, you can outfit the Surface Laptop Studio 2 with up to a GeForce RTX 4060. It will also have up to 2TB of internal storage.

Thankfully, the world is adopting more accessibility features. The new laptop is no different. Its new trackpad allows for more customization. Users can adjust the trackpad’s sensitivity and feedback. They can also turn the pad into a two-button device for those with limited hands.

Though USB-C is the main connectivity port on the device, the Surface Laptop Studio 2 will have a USB-A 3.1 port, a microSD card, and a slot for the Surface Slim Pen 2. Users will still get the same USB-C slots and headphone ports.

Preorders are already available. The Surface Laptop Studio 2 will start at US$ 1,999.