A PC can start to show its age when the components installed start to slow down or are unable to keep up with newer software and games. Perhaps you built a desktop PC for light computing and are now needing a machine for video editing, which requires additional performance. This is what makes a desktop PC an excellent device as it can be upgraded at any time with new parts. The question is: which part do you upgrade first? The correct answer is ... it depends! If you need better gaming performance, it will likely be the GPU. For running more apps, I would recommend upgrading the RAM.

Illustration: The Verge This is not a joke: Google will now let you perform a “web” search. It’s rolling out “web” searches now, and in my early tests on desktop, it’s looking like it could be an incredibly popular change to Google’s search engine. The optional setting filters out almost all the other blocks of content that Google crams into a search results page, leaving you with links and text — and Google confirms to The Verge that it will block the company’s new AI Overviews as well. Screenshot by Sean Hollister / The Verge This is the new Web button. You know, for all your Web searches. “Isn’t every search a web search? What is Google Search if not the web?” you might rightfully ask. But independent websites like HouseFresh and... Continue reading…

If you're looking for a single-board computer to start some DIY computing projects, it's likely that you've come across the Raspberry Pi 5. It's easily one of the most recognizable name in maker boards, with great community support for beginners to get started with programming. However, that doesn't mean it's always the best choice. Nvidia's Jetson series of SBCs are designed for embedded use of AI workloads on robotics projects, as they bring the power of CUDA cores to prototyping projects. The Jetson Nano is slightly more expensive than the Raspberry Pi 5, but is it better for specialized workloads?

Apple's new iPad Pro is the latest high-end tablet on the market that's powered by the new M4 chip, and it's significantly more powerful than the previous models. It is, without a doubt, one of the most powerful computing devices out there, but you're not going to notice a huge performance improvement compared to its predecessor outside the powerful apps that can truly take advantage of the new chip. Yes, you may notice all your favorite apps and games load and close a touch faster on the new iPads with M4 than the ones with older chips, but it's not going to feel like a true performance bump if you use it for, say, media consumption.

Image: The Verge Google I/O introduced an AI assistant that can see and hear the world, while OpenAI put its version of a Her-like chatbot into an iPhone. Next week, Microsoft will be hosting Build, where it’s sure to have some version of Copilot or Cortana that understands pivot tables. Then, a few weeks after that, Apple will host its own developer conference, and if the buzz is anything to go by, it’ll be talking about artificial intelligence, too. (Unclear if Siri will be mentioned.)AI is here! It’s no longer conceptual. It’s taking jobs, making a few new ones, and helping millions of students avoid doing their homework. According to most of the major tech companies investing in AI, we appear to be at the start of experiencing one of those rare... Continue reading…

From left to right: Wireless Temperature Sensor X, Heat Pump Optimizer X, Thermostat X, and two Smart Radiator Thermostat X | Image: Tado Tado just launched a new range of heating products — called Tado X — that supports the Matter smart home protocol. It joins Nest as being one of the few (only?) European smart heating control systems to support the new standard designed to improve interoperability between devices from any smart home ecosystem, and the first to run natively on a Thread mesh network. The Tado X system is designed to replace traditional thermostats to control a boiler, underfloor heating, and radiator valves. It includes the Thermostat X, Smart Radiator Thermostat X, Wireless Temperature Sensor X, and Heat Pump Optimizer X which all promise to make your home’s heating system smart and easy to use. The optional new Bridge X acts as a Thread border router... Continue reading…

Where the Blade comes ahead in performance, the Zephyrus wins on value. Continue reading…

We're just days away from the introduction of the first wave of laptops powered by the Snapdragon X Elite, which we're expecting to include at least one Dell laptop in the form of the Inspiron 14 Plus. But if you want something even more premium, Dell has gone ahead and leaked even more of its plans, revealing that an upcoming Dell XPS 13 model will feature the new chip as well.

Image: ByoWave On Wednesday, Microsoft announced the Proteus Controller, a $299 modular video game controller kit that lets Xbox gamers with disabilities customize their controllers. Created by peripheral company ByoWave as part of the Designed for Xbox program, the wireless controller consists of small cubes with interchangeable faceplates that include controller buttons, a directional pad, and analog sticks. The “snap and play” parts connect together so gamers can build more than 100 configurations and LED lighting variations. As a result, one-handed gamers and other players with disabilities can use the controller in a way that’s most comfortable for them. The buttons are also remappable for a more individualized experience, albeit only via the... Continue reading…

Illustration: The Verge Ilya Sutskever, OpenAI’s co-founder and chief scientist who helped lead the infamous failed coup against Sam Altman and then later changed his mind, is officially leaving the company. Both Altman and Sutskever have posts announcing the news:Ilya and OpenAI are going to part ways. This is very sad to me; Ilya is easily one of the greatest minds of our generation, a guiding light of our field, and a dear friend. His brilliance and vision are well known; his warmth and compassion are less well known but no less…— Sam Altman (@sama) May 14, 2024After almost a decade, I have made the decision to leave OpenAI. The company’s trajectory has been nothing short of miraculous, and I’m confident that OpenAI will build AGI that is both... Continue reading…

Every month, streaming looks more and more like cable. | Image: The Verge Yet another streaming service bundle is on the horizon, this time courtesy of Comcast. Variety reports that the telecommunications giant is planning to launch a three-way bundle for Peacock, Netflix, and Apple TV Plus later this month, which will be available to Comcast broadband and TV customers at a discounted rate compared to subscribing to each service separately.Speaking at an industry conference on Tuesday, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts said the new “StreamSaver” package will “come at a vastly reduced price to anything in the market today.” The price of the bundle hasn’t been revealed yet, nor has the type of subscription tier — ad-free or ad-supported — users can expect. The deal will likely be competitive regardless, as Roberts says... Continue reading…

Photo Illustration by Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images We already know Dell is getting ready to launch a new Arm-powered variant of its popular XPS 13 laptop, but now a confidential document has leaked a lot more details on Dell’s future XPS plans. VideoCardz has obtained and published a 311-page document from Dell that goes into detail on the XPS 13 — that’s due soon — and when we can expect to see Qualcomm’s next-generation chips for Windows on Arm.Qualcomm-powered Snapdragon X Elite laptops look set to debut next week, with Asus announcing it has a new “AI PC” ready to launch on Monday — the same day Microsoft is holding a Surface and Windows event all about Windows on Arm. Dell’s own XPS 13 variant running the Snapdragon X Elite leaked just a few days ago, and this new document from V... Continue reading…