| 8 Products That Were Ahead of Their Time Posted: 27 Mar 2014 02:51 PM PDT  Virtual Boy, Microsoft tablet, Dell phablet, and more
We all love innovation...when it works. Unfortunately when it comes to technological breakthroughs, timing is everything. For instance, did you know that Microsoft showed off its tablet PC way back in 2000? And who could forget Nintendo's attempt at a VR headset with its Virtual Boy in 1995? Many of those gadgets were simply ahead of their time. To give credit where credits due, we thought we would round up eight of these lone-gone pioneers. Did you own any of these devices? Let us know in the comments below! |
| Spotify Offers Students Half Off Premium Streaming Plan Posted: 27 Mar 2014 12:48 PM PDT  Special price for students
Looking for another reason to go back to school? Think of the discounts! We're seeing a growing trend in special student pricing for a variety of products and services, such as Razer's 20 percent promotion on 2013 model Blade laptops and Amazon's Prime service. Even Spotify is sharing the love with students -- if you're in school, you can subcribe to the company's ad-free premium service for $4.99 per month, which is half off the regular price. Spotify doesn't come right out and say the deal is limited to college students, though that's clearly the intended audience based on the way it's set up. Once activated, the student discount remains in effect for 12 consecutive months, which Spotify calls a "Discount Period." After 12 months, pricing will revert to the full cost, or you can activate another Discount Period up to three additional times. If you go all four years, you can save up to around $240 -- enough to buy a textbook these days. It's not clear how many Student Discounts will be made available, only that there are a "limited number" while supplies last, Spotify said. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Here's Why PC Purists Shouldn't Panic Over Gartner's Latest Shipment Forecast Posted: 27 Mar 2014 09:39 AM PDT  Gartner predicts a 6.6 percent decline in traditional PC shipments next year
There's no denying there's been a shift in the mainstream PC market. People who are primarily interested in surfing the web and sending emails no longer need a desktop to get the job done -- tablets and even smartphones are sufficient tools for basic connectivity. Knowing that, it's hardly surprising for Gartner to forecast a 6.6 percent decline in traditional PC shipments in 2014, but before diehard desktop and laptop fans throw their hands up in defeat, let's look at the bigger picture. By Gartner's count, there were 296.1 million desktop and laptop shipments in 2013, versus 195.4 million tablets. Given how many times we've heard market research firms talk about declining PC sales, would you have guessed that they outsold the trendy tablet category by more than a 100 million units? Looking ahead to next year, Gartner predicts traditional PC shipments will fall to 276.7 million, while tablets rise to 270.7 million. So even though traditional PC shipments are declining while tablets continue to grow at an amazing rate, it will be another year in which the PC 'wins,' so to speak. That goes out the window if you include smartphone shipments, but they're not having the same cannibalizing effect as tablets. Assuming Gartner's forecasts play out, the tide will finally turn in 2015, with tablet shipments ballooning to 349.1 million, while traditional PC shipments inch down to 263 million units. However, if we zoom out a bit, these numbers add up to 835.8 million desktop and PC shipments and 815.2 million tablet shipments from 2013 to 2015. Sure, that's a positive slant on the traditional PC side, but the point is, the traditional PC market isn't dead, nor does it appear to be dying. Instead, it's adjusting to the market shift. It's also adapting, hence all the hybrid devices that can function as both a traditional laptop or all-in-one PC and a tablet. Image Credit: Flickr (believekevin) Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Maxthon Browser Extends Reach into Linux Territory Posted: 27 Mar 2014 08:59 AM PDT  Now Linux users can run Maxthon, too
Over the years, the Maxthon browser (formerly known as MyIE2 way back in the day) has spread its reach beyond Windows and into different platforms, including the Mac and three mobile OSes: Android, iOS, and Windows Phone. Wondering where the love for Linux is at? You don't need to wonder anymore, because you can now download 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Maxthon for Linux. The Linux version retains Maxthon's popular features, such as Magic Fill (AES 256-level encrypted password and user account prompt), mouse gestures, easy tab management, 'Restore Last' button, extensions, and more. "The addition of Linux takes our core value proposition - high performance, independent, multi-platform browsing - one step further," said Karl Mattson, VP of Maxthon's International Division. "Desktop computing is evolving beyond the one-OS-to-rule-them-all dynamic and as that develops, Maxthon will be right there offering high performance alternative web browsers on the platforms that matter." If you want to give it a spin, you can download Maxthon for Linux (as well as other platforms) from here. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Xidax Doubles Down on Virtual Currency, Now Accepts Dogecoin Alongside Bitcoin Posted: 27 Mar 2014 08:07 AM PDT  Custom PC builder embraces the virtual coin movement
Back in January of this year, Xidax became the first system builder to add Bitcoin to its list of payment methods. Apparently happy with the way things have been going, the boutique builder is claiming another first in the virtual coin community by accepting Dogecoin, which is similar to Litecoin in that it can be mined much quicker than Bitcoins. Dogecoin is arguably the hottest virtual currency at the moment. It doesn't necessarily take a powerhouse PC to mine Dogecoins. The cryptocurrency is about three and a half months old and has become a popular tipping currency on the Internet. By the end of 2014, it's expected there will be around 100 billion Dogecoins in circulation, with over 5 billion more added each year thereafter. Though it's popular for tipping, Dogecoin is gaining traction among the competition and is being used for bigger, more expensive things. Reddit recently raised $55,000 in Dogecoin to sponsor Josh Wise, an up-and-coming NASCAR driver, and earlier this month a man listed his home for sale for 100 million Dogecoins, which would be worth about $135,000. Xidax's decision to accept Dogecoin is another stepping stone in becoming more than just a tipping currency. "The Dogecoin community is awesome. We've been approached by many customers who were excited to see us become the first custom PC builder to accept Bitcoin, but wanted to see us take it a step further," said Zack Shutt, Executive Vice President at Xidax PC. "What's important is listening to our customers, and that's why accepting Dogecoin was a no brainer for us." Xidax offers a range of desktops and laptops starting at $799. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Respawn Sends Titanfall PC Rule Breakers to Island of Misfit Cheaters Posted: 27 Mar 2014 06:21 AM PDT  An aimbot free-for-all'
Take your hands off your mouse and keyboard (or tablet and smartphone) and give a hearty golf clap for Respawn Entertainment. Why are we congratulating the development studio behind Titanfall? Respawn deserves kudos for the way it's decided to handle cheaters in the PC version of the popular game -- by banishing them from the rule-abiding public and sticking them in servers with other cheaters. "Great news: you get to keep playing Titanfall! Less-great news: you only get to play with other cheaters," Respawn states in an FAQ about its anti-cheat policy. "You can play with other banned players in something that will resemble the Wimbledon of aimbot contests. Hopefully the aimbot cheat you paid for really is the best, or these all-cheater matches could be frustrating for you. Good luck." Respawn's using FairFight to detect cheaters on the PC. The developers have been collecting data since the game launched, though held off on banning players until Friday, March 21st. Over time, they'll tweak the algorithm to catch more rule breakers. If you follow the rules but invite a cheater friend to your party, then your entire party will be treated as banned, meaning you'll only be able to play against other aimbot users. However, once you stop inviting cheaters into your group, you can return to the general population. "You do not get permanently tainted just by playing with a cheater - you are only banned for cheating if you are actually cheating," Respawn says. Well played, Respawn. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Newegg Daily Deals: Asus DirectCU II OC Radeon R9 290, Intel Core i5 3570, and More! Posted: 27 Mar 2014 05:52 AM PDT |
