From c32744b1771acbd2b485dd3bbee02c20eb410a15 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: luxagraf Date: Wed, 20 Nov 2019 10:31:53 -0500 Subject: archived old and organized --- 2603GL_apppack_factcheck_AS.docx | Bin 8045 -> 0 bytes Create Expense Report.pdf | Bin 1042671 -> 0 bytes WI030119_GL_AppPackWork_02.docx | Bin 8068 -> 0 bytes WIRED Gear Team Links and Resources.pdf | Bin 219048 -> 0 bytes Wired Style Guide Aug 2018.docx | Bin 95686 -> 0 bytes approved-2019-holiday-calendar.pdf | Bin 230077 -> 0 bytes cheap-laptops.txt | 36 +++++++++ coffee-lovers-gift-guide.txt | 36 --------- deals1010.txt | 42 ----------- fall-pitches.txt | 23 ------ google-nest-mini.txt | 30 -------- google-nest-wifi.txt | 39 ---------- gopro7deal.txt | 26 ------- leica-notes.txt | 5 -- macos-notes.txt | 52 ------------- magazine/wishlist2019.txt | 37 ++++++++++ ms-surface-review-final.txt | 44 ----------- ms-surface-review.txt | 44 ----------- notes.txt | 36 --------- old/2603GL_apppack_factcheck_AS.docx | Bin 0 -> 8045 bytes old/Create Expense Report.pdf | Bin 0 -> 1042671 bytes old/WI030119_GL_AppPackWork_02.docx | Bin 0 -> 8068 bytes old/WIRED Gear Team Links and Resources.pdf | Bin 0 -> 219048 bytes old/Wired Style Guide Aug 2018.docx | Bin 0 -> 95686 bytes old/approved-2019-holiday-calendar.pdf | Bin 0 -> 230077 bytes parrot-anafi-review.txt | 42 ----------- pitches.txt | 23 ++++++ pixel-buying-guide.txt | 72 ------------------ pixel4rewrite.txt | 69 ----------------- polaroid-lab.txt | 33 --------- published/best-instant-cameras.txt | 59 ++++++++++++++- published/best-smart-displays.txt | 40 ++++++++++ published/best-tablets.txt | 55 ++++++++++++++ published/coffee-lovers-gift-guide.txt | 36 +++++++++ published/deals1010.txt | 42 +++++++++++ published/google-nest-mini.txt | 30 ++++++++ published/google-nest-wifi.txt | 39 ++++++++++ published/leica-SL2-review.txt | 47 ++++++++++++ published/ms-surface-review-final.txt | 44 +++++++++++ published/ms-surface-review.txt | 44 +++++++++++ published/parrot-anafi-review.txt | 42 +++++++++++ published/pixel-buying-guide.txt | 72 ++++++++++++++++++ published/pixel4rewrite.txt | 69 +++++++++++++++++ published/polaroid-lab.txt | 33 +++++++++ published/which-surface-final.txt | 110 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ published/which-surface.txt | 110 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ scratch.txt | 40 ---------- toughbook-notes.txt | 3 - 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screen is lackluster, not super sharp + - hard to open from front edge + - edge is sharp on wrists in some situations + - tends to be quiet, speakers are weak + - plenty fast + - no problems with windows + +Acer Chromebook + - keyboard is nice + - same screen as Swift 3 + - Micro SD card is flush/recessed + - RAM was sufficient for chrome tasks + - Android apps are still hit or miss, mostly miss + - Linux on Chromebook works quite well and gives you access to tools you'd need for basic STEM-type courses, though not necessarily compiling software, probably not enough processing power. + +Acer Swift 3 + +Lenovo Chromebook C330 diff --git a/coffee-lovers-gift-guide.txt b/coffee-lovers-gift-guide.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 5d33f1c..0000000 --- a/coffee-lovers-gift-guide.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,36 +0,0 @@ -I love coffee. I have strong opinions on coffee. I spend more time making coffee each morning than most people do making breakfast. It's not a habit, it's a ritual. It's a ceremony. It involves fire, water, air, earth and dare I say spirit. I make coffee, have a bite to eat, then I make an espresso. Espresso of course requires a bit of good mineral water with it, and maybe a corner of bittersweet chocolate. Once the espresso and water and chocolate are arrayed on my desk, then, and only then, life begins. - -If you know someone like me (or you are someone like me), I'm here to help you find the perfect gift. It's a tricky thing finding the right gift for the highly opinionated coffee lover. Chances are they already have their ceremony the way they like it, but that doesn't mean it can't be improved with a thoughtful gift. Here's my guide to buying the perfect gift for the coffee lover in your life. - -## Nanopresso - -If your coffee lover is suffering through drip coffee at the office, hook them up with one of these. The Nanopresso is my favorite portable espresso maker. It strikes the best balance between ease of use, portability, and taste. It extracts a nice espresso from almost any beans and the compact all-in-one design also means you can shove it in the smallest of bags and have excellent espresso anywhere you go. - -The Nanopresso has an expansion pack called the Barista Kit with a larger water tank and grounds basket for making a double espresso. The overall size of device becomes larger, and doesn't fit in the handy carrying case, but I'd trade the case for a double shot any day. - -Not every coffee fanatic loves espresso, so it's worth asking before you buy. If they don't like espresso, consider my next pick. - -## Aeropress Go - -The Aeropress Go is barely bigger than a coffee mug, incredibly lightweight, and makes one of the best cups of coffee you'll get on the go. It's everything the standard Aeropress is -- easy to use, great at minimizing bitterness, and capable of an excellent cup of coffee -- it's just smaller. - -The Aeropress is also very forgiving. While it can take a bit of experimenting to get the Aeropress to make coffee exactly the way you want, it's almost difficult to make a bad cup of coffee. That makes it a great gift for someone who isn't necessarily a coffee fanatic, yet. - -## Burr Grinder - -You know those swirling blade grinders you can get at any home store for less than ten buck? Those are great for grinding spices. They're terrible at grinding coffee though. And freshly grinding whole beans is first leg of the cauldron that is coffee brewing of greatness. - - -Best Gifts for the Coffee Lover - -burr grinder One manual, one motor -insulated mug (i like contigo, but going to add a couple others as well) -pour over set up (louryn) -coffee subscription -fun mugs (ThinkGeek type stuff) -small roaster -milk frother - - -There's more to coffee than a coffee pot on a timer. - diff --git a/deals1010.txt b/deals1010.txt deleted file mode 100644 index d91ad85..0000000 --- a/deals1010.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,42 +0,0 @@ -This weekend is WIRED25, our annual festival. If you're in the Bay Area, [come visit us at WIRED25](https://www.wired.com/story/come-hang-out-with-wired-at-our-2-day-festival/) this weekend, which will bring many of the people that we spoke to in [our November issue](https://www.wired.com/story/wired25-stories-people-racing-to-save-us/), like Eva Galperin and Chris Evans, to our offices in San Francisco. - -If you live nowhere near SF not to worry, we have great deals for everyone. Black Friday is getting closer and many stores have already started their sales. This weekend we've got ongoing sales at [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/b/ref=gbps_ftr_m-8_1a0f_wht_502394?node=384082011){: rel=nofollow} and [Dell](http://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/8984107/type/dlg/https://deals.dell.com/en-us){: rel=nofollow}, plus we've highlighted our favorite deals from around the web. - -*Note: When you buy something using the retail links in our stories, we may earn a small affiliate commission. [Read more](https://www.wired.com/2015/11/affiliate-link-policy/) about how this works.* - -###Cameras - -Fall is camera deals season. Whether you're looking to step up from your phone to a still-pocketable point-and-shoot, or want to go full-frame DSLR, there's deals for nearly everything. Be sure to have a look at our guides to [the best compact cameras](https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-compact-cameras/), [the best mirrorless cameras](https://www.wired.com/story/mirrorless-cameras-buying-guide/), and [the best instant cameras](https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-instant-cameras/). - -- **[Sony RX100 III for $598 ($150 off)](https://www.amazon.com/Sony-Premium-Compact-F1-8-2-8-DSCRX100M3/dp/B00K7O2DJU/){: rel=nofollow}:** Sony updates the RX100 line so freqently it's almost comical. This model is over a year old, but still offers most of what you find in the latest RX100 IV ([7/10 WIRED Review](https://www.wired.com/review/sony-rx-100-vi/)) at half the price. You get top-tier 1-inch sensor, a very nice pop-up electronic viewfinder, a Zeiss 24-70mm F1.8-2.8 lens, and 1080 video (no 4K alas) in a very compact package. - -- **[Panasonic Lumix ZS100 for $448 ($50 off)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010NU5AX8/){: rel=nofollow}:** Panasonic's compact Lumix ZS100 gives you more zoom than the competition, going for a full 10x optical zoom lens. The camera's 1-inch sensor is on par with some of the best compact cameras and features 4K video, and a great touchscreen interface. The newer model, the [ZS200 ($698, $100 off)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079QYMWZX/){: rel=nofollow} is also on sale. - -- **[Fujifilm XT-3 Mirrorless Body Only $1300 ($200)](https://www.amazon.com/Fujifilm-X-T3-Mirrorless-Digital-Body/dp/B07H3Y9CJY/){: rel=nofollow}:** Fujifilm's flagship DSLR is on sale right now. The XT-3 has a 26.1 megapixel APS-C sensor and shoots 4K video at 60p. It's big and heavy, but well-built and the analog dials give it the feel, and quick and easy functions, of an older film camera. - -- **[Nikon W300 Underwater Camera for $296 ($55 off)](https://www.amazon.com/Nikon-Waterproof-Underwater-Digital-Camera/dp/B071ZMDBKL/){: rel=nofollow}:** Nikon's rugged W300 is waterproof to 30 meters, shockproof to 8 foot drops, and will generally take a beating and not complain. It's not always easy to use underwater, but no camera is really. We like the extra features in this rugged point-and-shoot, like GPS tracking, altimeter, depth gauge, and more. - -###Electronics - -[#image: /photos/5d853260a500f60009b585d5]|||||| - -- **[Garmin Fenix 5X Sapphire for $300 ($300 off)](https://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Fenix-5X-Sapphire-Slate/dp/B01MQX3306/){: rel=nofollow}:** This is a great deal on one the best multisport watches money can buy. The Garmin Fenix 5X ([8/10 WIRED Recommends](https://www.wired.com/2017/09/review-garmin-fenix-5x/)) brings performance tracking and GPS-based mapping to all your activities. It is big, but with that size comes great power. Also available at this price from [Best Buy](https://bestbuy.7tiv.net/qq6zj){: rel=nofollow}. - -- **[Apple Watch Series 3 for $199 ($80 off)](https://goto.walmart.com/c/1305164/565706/9383?subId1=weekenddeal110919&veh=aff&sourceid=imp_000011112222333344&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FApple-Watch-Series-3-GPS-Cellular-38mm-Sport-Band-Aluminum-Case-Silver-White%2F728936788){: rel=nofollow}:** The [Series 5](https://www.wired.com/story/apple-watch-series-5/) is Apple's current smartwatch, but the Watch Series 3 is still a [great fitness tracker](https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-fitness-tracker/) (the Series 4 has been discontinued). - -- **[Dell XPS 13 8th Gen i7, 256 GB SSD, 8GB RAM for $1050 ($250 off)](http://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/8984107/type/dlg/https://deals.dell.com/en-us/productdetail/3ac4){: rel=nofollow}:** Our favorite Dell ultrabook is on sale. The 13-inch XPS ([8/10 WIRED Recommends](https://www.wired.com/review/dell-xps-13-2019/)) has plenty of power, weighs under three pounds, and has a battery that lasts nearly all day (especially this model with the 1920 x 1080 display). Get an additional five percent off using the code DPASave5Nov. - -- **[Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 10th Gen i7, 256 GB SSD, 16GB RAM for $1480 ($170 off)](http://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/8984107/type/dlg/https://deals.dell.com/en-us/productdetail/3bn0){: rel=nofollow}:** This folding version of the XPS features a newer, faster processor, 16-gigabytes of RAM, and a touch display that folds into tablet mode. Get an additional five percent off using the code DPASave5Nov. - -###More Deals - -- **[Lego Ideas NASA Apollo Saturn V for $90 ($30 off)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071G3QMS2){: rel=nofollow}** For the serious Lego fan, this kit is a complete Saturn V three stage rocket that's over 39 inches tall when complete. - -- **[23andMe Health & Ancestry Kit for $99 ($100 off):](https://www.amazon.com/23andMe-DNA-Test-Ancestry-collection/dp/B01G7PYQTM){: rel=nofollow}** This deal matches the discount we saw on Prime Day. Unlike similar DNA testing kits, 23andMe doesn't try to upsell you on extra services. - -- **[SanDisk 128GB SDXC Memory Card for $20 ($48)](https://bestbuy.7tiv.net/330kK){: rel=nofollow}** This reasonably fast SD card can write at 70 megabytes per second, which is plenty fast for most digital cameras (if you have a full frame camera and want to record 4K or better footage, you may want to go with something faster like this [Sony SF-G UHS-II 64 GB card](https://www.amazon.com/Sony-SF-G64-T1-Performance-Blazing/dp/B06ZYNN6JP){: rel=nofollow}). - -- **[SanDisk 128 GB MicroSDXC Memory Card for $20 ($48)](https://bestbuy.7tiv.net/QgdjM){: rel=nofollow}** This fast MicroSD card is great for adding some extra disk space to your phone, or use it in a camera with the included adapter. - -- **[Western Digital 5TB USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive for $90 ($60 off)](https://bestbuy.7tiv.net/oW6nb){: rel=nofollow}** Where are you going to put all those pictures when it's finally time to dump the images from that 128GB card? On this massive portable drive of course. - diff --git a/fall-pitches.txt b/fall-pitches.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 75abae4..0000000 --- a/fall-pitches.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,23 +0,0 @@ -metal detectors -kitchen ware: - pans - knives - pressure cookers - juicers -coffee grinders -flashlights -ultralight tents -camp stoves - - -guides: - -Everything you need to find treasure on the beach -how to have a great camping trip sort of thing -How to have a great -Cook great meals outdoors -Sleep in your car -Everything You Need to Turn Your Kitchen into a Cafe -Engineer the ultimate night's sleep -Low cost ways to keep your kid entertained on long car trips -Pro Photo/Video on the Go diff --git a/google-nest-mini.txt b/google-nest-mini.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 8c28963..0000000 --- a/google-nest-mini.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,30 +0,0 @@ -Earlier this year, Google re-branded all its Home devices under the Nest name. What was once the Google Home Mini is now the Google Nest Mini and it's been updated for 2019. - -The Nest Mini is a step up over its predecessor, particularly when it comes to sound. The lows and mid-range tones are much clearer, with a level of separation in frequencies that didn't exist in in the Home Mini. I found this greatly improved with music, though in many cases podcasts still sounded muddy and washed out. - -Frankly, given the sound quality of the old Home Mini, there was nowhere to go but up. And I should caution that the Nest Mini still isn't a great speaker, but it sounds good enough to be useable as a speaker, which more than you could really say for the Home Mini. Given the entry level price of $49, it's a great way to see if the smart home is for you, or as a cheap way to extend your smart home into new rooms. - -### - -Outwardly the Nest Mini is very similar to the Home Mini. Google has changed fabric material to a fabric made recycled materials, but it looks and feels nearly the same. The Micro USB plug is gone, instead you get a round plug. It's not a big change, but it does mean that mean that any Home Mini accessories that used Micro USB plugs won't work with the Nest Mini. - -The big one here are wall mounts, but you won't need those anyway because the Nest Mini has a little notch for wall mounting built right into the back of it. And I highly recommend taking advantage of it. The re-designed sound system really shines when you mount the Nest Mini on the wall. Using the wall for added resonance, the Nest Mini is able to somewhat transcend its size and provide decent sounding music. It also makes any voice responses to your commands sound clearer. - -When Google announced the Nest Mini to touted an ability to adjust its sound to the room, tuning itself as more expensive speakers like the Sonos One ([8/10 WIRED Recommends](https://www.wired.com/story/review-sonos-one/)) do. If it did this, it was subtle enough that I never noticed it. Again, the biggest sound improvement in my experience is going to hanging it on the wall. - -There's a new sensor under the fabric cover that detects when you're reaching for the Mini. It lights up the volume control buttons on the side of the speaker when it detects your hand nearby. When this works it's great, but this, more than any other feature on the Nest Mini, was inconsistent. - -Interacting with the Nest Mini is the same as it is for all of Google's smart speaker devices. You say "Hey Google" or "Ok Google" and the LEDs in the middle to Nest Mini light up to let you know it's listening to you. This time around Google has added a third microphone, which makes the Nest Mini better at picking up your commands. I tested this along side the previous model in large room and it was indeed much better not just at picking up my voice, but hearing it accurately. - -The other big new feature in this update is a dedicated machine learning chip. This allows the Mini to learn your voice better, and speeds up the response time since in many cases it will be processed locally rather than sent to Google's servers. You'll still need a Wi-Fi connection, and all of your voice recordings are still sent to Google. In my testing it was impossible to tell when things were processes locally, if they ever were, but there's a potential speed boast there, especially down the road. - -One thing Google has not made a lot of noise about is the ability to pair two Nest Mini's for a stereo setup. I only had one, so I could not test it, but Google has [long offered this](https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/7559493?hl=en) on the more expensive Google Home Max speakers. Theoretically you could pair a left and right Nest Mini, and turn the two into a possibly not bad sound setup. - -Other new tricks for the Nest Mini include the ability to turn into an intercom broadcasting to other Google speakers throughout your house, support for calls through Google Duo, and it can become an alarm through Google's Nest Aware subscription plan. - -One of the nice things about Google's smart home devices is that they last. Google's updates are iterative and rarely revolutionary. To that end, if you already have a Google Home Mini, there's nothing here that screams upgrade now. By the same token, when the next Nest Mini arrives this one will likely continue working just fine. Because most of what you want out Google's device is Google Assistant, updates to that generally work on all devices. - -That's why, despite the fact that this is very capable speaker and well worth the money, I don't suggest tossing your older Home Mini. Yes the sound is better, but if you want to upgrade your sound, you're better off making a more substantial investment in a quality speaker like a JBL Link 20 ([8/10 WIRED Recommends](https://www.wired.com/review/review-jbl-link-speakers-with-google-assistant/) or Sonos One. - -If on the other hand, you want to extend your existing Google Assistant-based smart home into new rooms, or you want to try out Google Assistant on the cheap, the new Nest Mini is a great place to start. - diff --git a/google-nest-wifi.txt b/google-nest-wifi.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 3d0f65c..0000000 --- a/google-nest-wifi.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,39 +0,0 @@ -Google has rebranded its flagship WiFi device the Nest WiFi, but one word you rarely hear from Google in reference to its router is, well, the word router. Routers are big ugly things. There's usually made of cheap black plastic, festooned with antennae, and look most at home tucked away in a closet. - -The problem is that these devices are supposed to cover your house in a warm cozy blanket of Wi-Fi signal and a closet seriously hinders that. The Nest WiFi wants out of the closet, and to Google's credit, it looks good enough, or at least innocuous enough, to display. - -The Nest WiFi comes in three colors: Snow White, Mist Blue, or Sand Pink. It looks at home on a bookshelf or counter, which gives it a leg up on signal strength over that plastic spider lurking in the closet. - -The icing on the cake for fans of Google Assistant is that the mesh extension unit, called a Point, also doubles as the equivalent to a Nest Mini, with a built-in voice-activated speaker. - -### Wi-Fi Something Something hed - -I tested the Nest Wifi two-pack which consists of the router and one Point extender, which sells for $269. Google says this combo will cover 3,800 square feet and up to 200 connected devices. It certainly had no trouble covering my 1200 square foot home. There's also a three pack available that adds a second Point and extends the coverage to 5,400 square feet and 300 devices. - -Another option, if you don't need the Google Assistant-powered Point, or if you like Alexa better, is to pick up just the router, or even [two routers for $299](https://www.amazon.com/Google-Nest-WiFi-AC2200-Coverage/dp/B07YMJ57MB/){: rel=nofollow}. - -The Nest Wifi system does not function as a modem, so you'll still need your ISP's modem. To get started you plug your Nest into your modem, download the Google Home app to your phone, and then connect to the Nest to get everything set up. The Google Home app had no trouble negotiating the setup with the two modems I tested, though it's worth noting that the Nest does not work in "bridge" mode, which some ISP's suggest using (Verizon FiOS for example). You can still get the Nest to work in these cases, but there may be a bit of extra setup involved. - -Once you have the Nest WiFi setup with Google Home, things get a little confusing because to access some more advanced features you'll need to use Google's Wifi app (it has not yet been rebranded to Nest). This will help you find the best location for your point, set up and test the speaker, and test your network speeds, both between router and point and your actual home connection, as well as block sites. Some, but not all of this, can also be done in Google Home and eventually Google Home will handle everything, but for now you'll need both which adds a little complexity to what's otherwise a very simple system. - -The WiFi app is where you can do more advanced things like prioritize traffic from certain points at certain hours. For example, set the point in your living room to have priority traffic in the evening for streaming Netflix, and the point in your office during the day for work. - -One of my favorite features of the Nest WiFi is the ability to easily connect guests. Everyone who comes over wants on your network, but I have all sorts of drives and data connected to my network that I don't want anyone else accessing, so I use a guest network for everyone else. Any router can do that, but then I have to remember the password, which I never do. And my guest has to type it in. The Nest eliminates that. All I have to do is open up any connected Google device with a screen and I can get a QR code. My guest scans the QR code and they're connected. There's no typing in passwords, it just works. - -### Shortcomings - -For as simple as the Nest WiFi is most of the time, that simplicity has some costs, the biggest of which is that this is very much a Wi-Fi system. The router has one Ethernet port, which means if you want to wire much of anything you'll need an additional Ethernet switch. Worse, the point extender has no Ethernet port at all. It is the Nest WiFi after all, not the Nest Router. Google claims only about 5 percent of Nest users had devices plugged in so it shouldn't matter for most users. - -How Google knows that is also something worth considering. It knows that because it collects a lot of data about your network and what happens on it. To setup the Nest Wifi using Google Home you'll need a Google Account, which means giving up some degree of privacy at the router level. - -According to the various terms of service and privacy policy notices I encountered with setting up the Nest WiFi, Google's Nest cloud services will collect information about your home network, the devices on it, and any surrounding Wi-Fi networks. That's in addition to collecting stats based on usage. All the data collection can be opted out of, but given Google's history of recording data even when you opt out of being recorded it seem best to assume this data is being collected. If you're not okay with that, there are a lot of other routers on the market. - -Another reason you might want to pass on the Nest Wifi is if you plan to be an early adopter of Wi-Fi 6. Wi-Fi 6, also know by the less-friendly name 802.11ax, promises to boost speeds, and connect more devices, especially the ever increasing number of IoT gadgets. Google opted to pass on Wifi 6 for now in order to keep prices down and because of the relatively few devices on the market that support Wifi 6. - -While that's a logical decision right now, Wifi 6 support is picking up speed. Dell's newest laptops support it, the Samsung Galaxy S10 and Galaxy Note10 smartphones are on board, and we expect even more devices with Wifi 6 support to arrive next year. Personally I don't update my router very often, my current router has served me well for over seven years now, and if I were looking to upgrade I'd want at least some Wi-Fi 6 support to future proof my purchase as much as possible. - -Still, it's hard to argue with the ease of use that the Google Nest Wifi provides. While I am comfortable flashing routers with open firmware's like [OpenWRT](https://openwrt.org/), most people are not. And for those who want a dead simple way to ensure good Wi-Fi speeds throughout the house with a minimum of fuss, the Nest WiFi system fits the bill. - -The most natural competitor for the Nest Wifi is Amazon's Eero mesh system, which behaves very similarly though it adds some nice features you won't find in the Nest Wifi like the ability to block ads at the home network level. Really though it comes down to which ecosystem you want to invest in: Google or Amazon? If the answer is Google, the Nest Wifi is what you want. - -The Nest WiFi is available as a single router ($169), the two-pack I tested with router and point ($269), a three pack with an additional mesh point ($349), and a router two-pack ($299). diff --git a/gopro7deal.txt b/gopro7deal.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 4db62df..0000000 --- a/gopro7deal.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,26 +0,0 @@ -The GoPro Hero Black series cameras created and defined the concept of action camera. It's been the best action camera around and a [WIRED reviewer favorite](https://www.wired.com/review/gopro-hero7-black-2018/) for years now. The latest model, the Hero 8 Black, brings some great new features, but the previous version, the Hero 7, is still a great camera and it's on sale right now. - -I've long been a fan of the Hero 7 as my go-to waterproof camera. My family loves the water—oceans, lakes, rivers, pools, ponds, mud puddles. It doesn't matter so long as my kids can jump in it. My main camera, a Sony A7II, does not love the water. Enter the Hero 7, which doesn't care what environment you throw at it. Well, maybe don't try putting in lava, but otherwise you should be good. - -The Hero 7 Black brought remarkable in-camera image stabilization and while the Hero 8 black makes some improvements to HyperSmooth, as GoPro calls it, they're not earth-shattering. The image stabilization in the Hero 7 is still going to produce great footage. Just a few days ago it was the best image stabilization you could get in a GoPro and now you can get it for less. - -*(Note: When you buy something using the retail links in our stories, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Much like [subscribing to WIRED](https://subscribe.wired.com/subscribe/splits/wired/WIR_Edit_Hardcoded?source=deal_guides_sub), these contributions help fund the journalism we put out every day. [Read more](https://www.wired.com/2015/11/affiliate-link-policy/) about how this works.)* - -**The GoPro Hero 7 costs $329 ($70 off) at Amazon** - -[B&H Photo](https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1430472-REG/gopro_chdhx_701_hero7_black.html){: rel=nofollow} and [Best Buy](https://www.bestbuy.com/site/gopro-hero7-black-4k-waterproof-action-camera-black/6283807.p?skuId=6283807){: rel=nofollow} also have the discount. - -### Pros and Cons of the GoPro Hero 7 Black - -The Hero 7 Black got 8/10 ([WIRED Recommends](https://www.wired.com/review/gopro-hero7-black-2018/)) in our review last year, but here are some of the highlights, along with some notes on what the Hero 8 Black offers if you want to spend the extra money. - - -**WIRED** The biggest reason to stick with the Hero 7 in my view is the removable lens cover. Not only are there a lot of third party filters out there that can improve your shots (neutral density filters, which are like sunglasses for your lens, are very handy in snow), but the one that comes with your Hero 7 Black is replaceable should you scratch it. And trust me, The GoPro is made to be used and abused, scratches happen. GoPro says the non-removable lens of the Hero 8 Black has stronger glass and is more scratch resistant, but until feedback from real world use starts to come in, I am hesitant to upgrade. - -The big news back when the Hero 7 Black launched was HyperSmooth, the electronic image stabilization (EIS) system. This will crop 10 percent of the image, using that zoom to reduce and mitigate shake. You lose some field of view, but it's a vast improvement over previous attempts. The Hero 8 Black does improve this even more, and makes it available to all video modes. The Hero 7 also got rid the rolling-shutter effect that plagued earlier versions. - -The microphone was also improved, reducing wind-noise. The SuperPhoto feature uses HDR to try to expose for both faces and background using multiple exposures which are then combined. SuperPhoto works well in some situations, but not all. This is one place the Hero 8 Black vastly improves on the Hero 7. - -**TIRED** The Hero 7 Black isn't all roses, and now that its successor is here you should keep in mind that the new form factor may mean fewer accessories support the Hero 7 going forward. That said, there are plenty of accessories on the market today that will likely continue to be available for quite some time. - -The Hero 7 is undeniably a clunkier user experience than the Hero 8, both in terms of hardware—the need to take off the mounting cage to change batteries or SD cards will never stop being annoying—and in software, the lack of customization in menus means more fiddling to change setting compared to the Hero 8. diff --git a/leica-notes.txt b/leica-notes.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 9ce2395..0000000 --- a/leica-notes.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5 +0,0 @@ -Embargo 11/6 9AM EST Sales 11/21 - -5999 euros k - -Leica SL-2, diff --git a/macos-notes.txt b/macos-notes.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 349c046..0000000 --- a/macos-notes.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,52 +0,0 @@ -After years of playing second fiddle to iOS devices and software updates, 2019 has been a year of Mac love. Apple fans have seen new Mac Pros worthy of the name, and MacOS 10.15 Catalina, the newest operating system for the Mac, has more updates and improvements than any release in recent memory. - -It's true many of the things I love in the new MacOS actually rely heavily on the iPad and iPad software, but Apple has clearly spent considerable time reflecting on, and then refining the MacOS experience. The outcome is the demise of iTunes, smoother device syncing, iPad apps on your desktop, , and you can track your screen time on your Mac just like you do on iOS devices, and plenty more in this sprawling, but worthwhile update. - -### The Best Thing in Catalina is Your iPad. - -Assuming you have an iPad, the standout feature in MacOS Catalina is the ability to use your iPad as a second monitor or, using the Apple Pencil, as a drawing tablet (much like a Wacom tablet). If you don't have an iPad Catalina might convince you to get one (see our [iPad buying guide](https://www.wired.com/gallery/the-best-ipad/)). Sidecar, as this feature is known, effectively turns your iPad into a portable dual monitor setup with a drawing tablet option to boot. - -Technically the dual monitor option has always been possible using an app like [Duet Display](https://www.duetdisplay.com://www.duetdisplay.com/), but native support offers better performance in my testing. The nice thing about Sidecar is there's no need for developers to update their apps, it just works. - -Sidecar is useful for everything from keeping your Photoshop palettes on the iPad screen while your work canvas is on your MacBook, to previewing presentation slides while you work on them. Using Sidecar in conjunction with the Apple Pencil opens up some new possibilities, like the ability to draw on the iPad while using proper desktop drawing apps like Adobe Illustrator rather than Adobe's somewhat neutered iPad drawing apps. - -In order for Sidecar to work you'll need an iPad running iPadOS 13, and a compatible Mac (see Apple's [list of compatible hardware](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210380#systemrequirements)). - -Catalina isn't just about bringing iPad hardware to MacOS, it also brings many iPad applications to MacOS as well. Thanks to some new tools, Apple has made it much easier for developers to port their iPad apps to MacOS. A few popular apps, like Twitter, are already available, and some of Apple's own apps also use this technology (notably, the new Podcasts app comes from iPadOS). - -### Musicology - -Having been on record as an [iTunes hater since 2008](https://www.wired.com/2008/11/the-top-ten-reasons-itunes-sucks/), I'd like to take this moment to do a little dance on its grave. Except for one thing: iTunes is not really dead. It's just back to doing what it was once really good at, managing your music. Oh, and it's been renamed, Music. - -Apple has pulled apart iTunes and assigned all its former functions to different apps: Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple Podcasts. All iDevice syncing now happens in Finder and, in perhaps my favorite MacOS change in years, when you plug in an iPad or iPhone... nothing happens. Sweet, sweet nothing. Your device will charge and show up the Finder sidebar if you want to interact with it, but no app launches. - -Apple Music is tightly focused on your music and nothing else. It looks like iTunes once did before Apple started bolting all kinds of odds and ends onto it. That said, it's still the most complex of the three new apps, handling your local music library, a music store (which is still called the "iTunes Store"), and Apple Music, Apple's streaming music service. Each section gets its own place in the sidebar, which means there's still a lot going on for a music app, but at least it's all music related and no music features have been removed. - -I no longer have a huge iTunes library to run through the upgrade process, but I did do an in-place upgrade with a small library and ran into no problems at all. One important thing to note, iTunes might be gone, but the monolithic iTunes library in the file system is not. Make sure you don't delete or move that file because all the new apps use it (see Apple's [help page](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210200) for details). The other slightly confusing thing is that you have to open Music to get the library converted. Until you do that, none of your content will show up in Podcasts or TV. - -If you've ever used the Podcasts app on iPad, you'll recognize the new MacOS version. Not only is it a nicely done podcasts app, it makes a good showcase of how apps from the iPad can be translated to MacOS. The best feature in Podcasts is the search tool, which will now search not just the metadata and descriptions that your favorite podcasters write for each episode, but also Siri-transcribed transcripts of the actual audio. This means if you search for "Gadget Lab" not only will you find the podcast, but also any podcasts that might talk about Gadget Lab, or use the phrase "Gadget Lab". - -The new TV app is where you'll go to view your purchased items, access any third-party streaming services you've paid for, like HBO or Hulu, and find recommendations on what to watch. The app itself looks like it does on Apple TV and iDevices, but the way it handles outside content is different, frustratingly so in some cases. - -If you subscribe to a streaming service, say PBS Kids, you might see a PBS Kids channel in the Apple TV channels app offering a subscription as well. These subscription services have some great features.They don't require additional apps or logins, you can share subscriptions between devices, and you can download episodes for offline viewing (something many of these services do not allow in their own apps). But, and this is a big but, you'll need to unsubscribe and re-subscribe within in the TV app for this to work. It's awkward and honestly I'm not sure I would have figured it out were it not for our friends at [Ars Technica](https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2019/10/macos-10-15-catalina-the-ars-technica-review/7/#h1) pointing it out. It is a very confusing and un-Apple-like experience. - -While iTunes is gone, it's features live on in separate apps, the same is not true of Dashboard, once Apple's way of giving quick access to widgets like notes, clocks, weather and so on. Dashboard was disabled by default in MacOS 10.10 Yosemite, and now it's gone. Most of the functionaity, like widgets, is still available through the Today tab in Notification Center, but [TK link to Lily's piece](link). - - -### Sweating the Small Stuff - -Apple has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to accessibility. Catalina continues that trend with a new voice-control feature makes it possible to completely control your Mac (or Pad, or iPhone) with spoken commands. It's partly driven by improved Siri speech recognition features (English only for now) and partly by using a very clever system of grids and numbers that overlay your screen. To navigate around you first activate the grid, then call out the part of grid you want to access, and then you can trigger mouse clicks or press buttons using your voice -- no mouse or trackpad necessary. - -Catalina is packed with other small, but useful improvements. The Notes app gains a gallery view, and the ability to share and collaborate on folders instead of just notes. The iOS app Screen Time comes to MacOS to let you know all the ways you're wasting time on the web. Other new apps include News, Stocks, Home, and Voice Memos, which all come from iOS, as well as Apple Arcade which makes games available across all your devices. If you own an Apple Watch, you can use it to authenticate on your Mac. Instead of typing your password to confirm a payment, unlock a note, or approve a download, you can use your Apple Watch. - -If that sounds like a frivolous thing, it is, but it's one you might come to appreciate because Catalina is going to ask you to approve more things. Like Mojave before it, Catalina introduces even more security restrictions to control which apps can access which files and folders on your system. While many of these security enhancements really are just that, they do create additional approval dialog boxes to wade through when all you want to do is download a file or open a new application. - -### Should You Upgrade? - -Absolutely. Though maybe not right this second. My approach has always been to wait a few weeks, let the early adopters find and report all the problems, let Apple release updates to address them and then upgrade. - -The good news is that updating your old Mac probably won't slow you down as has occasionally been my experience with past MacOS updates. You can check to make sure your Mac is compatible here (if it's not, have a look at our guide to [which MacBook you should get](https://www.wired.com/story/which-macbook-should-you-buy/)). I tested Catalina on a brand new MacBook Pro, a 2017 MacBook, and a 2016 iMac, and neither of the older machines felt any slower after the upgrade - -I haven't had any significant issues running Catalina since the GM release, but some users have reported problems, mainly with third-party apps (Adobe Creative Suite especially has had some hiccups). Additionally Catalina drops support for 32-bit apps. - -For most people this probably won't matter, but if you rely on software that hasn't or won't be updating to 64-bit, you won't be able to run it once you upgrade. diff --git a/magazine/wishlist2019.txt b/magazine/wishlist2019.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..43e2fb4 --- /dev/null +++ b/magazine/wishlist2019.txt @@ -0,0 +1,37 @@ +Instax Mini LiPlay + +Instagram your walls with this pocket-size instant camera and printer in one. The LCD screen allows you to preview before printing, so only the winners end up on your wall. The glass lens produces sharp images, or you can use images from your phone, printed with the app. + + +YubiKey for iOS +https://www.yubico.com/product/yubikey-5ci + +The YubiKey now works with iPhones. Unlike a laptop, you don't even need to insert the YubiKey into your phone. Instead the hardware key taps NFC authentication to identify you to apps on your iPhone. Some of our favorite security apps are already compatible, including the LastPass password manager. + +Raspberry Pi 4 (which we still need sent over, if you have it handy) +https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/raspberry-pi-4-model-b/ + +A $50 desktop computer? Yes please. The Raspberry Pi created and defined a new era of DIY computing and now the fourth generation wants to conquer the desktop too. It's not quite there, but with 4GB of RAM and support for dual 4K displays, it's tantalizingly close. And it's plenty powerful enough to handle whatever DIY project you throw at it.. + +DJI Robomaster S1 +https://www.dji.com/robomaster-s1 + +DJI took some time off building drones to create the coolest robotic vehicle we've tested. Designed for robotics competitions, the Robomaster S1 is fun to build and even more fun to program and drive. More of a STEM project than a laser-shooting, remote-controlled car, it is still a laser-shooting robot ready to do battle with other drivers. + +Breville Super Q +https://www.breville.com/us/en/products/blenders/bbl920.html +Breville brings the commercial blender to your kitchen. The powerful motor and surprisingly quiet operation make the Super Q a versatile and powerful tool. Not making sauces to feed dozens? No problem. The personal blender cup lets you churn out a smoothie for one with ease. + +"Sandworm" by Andy Greenberg +https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/597684/sandworm-by-andy-greenberg/ + +WIRED's own Andy Greenberg brings you a globe-spanning detective story in search of the new digital battlefield (spoiler: it's everywhere). Sandworm looks at where the digital and physical battlefields begin to merge and how that's going to shake up our world. + +Form Goggles +https://www.formswim.com/ +Runners have it easy, just glance at your wrist to see your workout stats. Now swimmers can see the same data just as easily with Form Goggles. The heads-up display brings real-time access to your workout stats without breaking your stroke—time, stroke rate, pace, distance, and more all float in front of your eyes. + + +Peek & Push +https://stellarfactory.com/shop/games/peek-and-push +This 2-player strategy game taps is little like playing dominoes blindfolded. You can peek to see which tiles are where, and then keep track of them as you and your opponent "push" them around the board. Create a set or run before your opponent does, and you win. diff --git a/ms-surface-review-final.txt b/ms-surface-review-final.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 27428c5..0000000 --- a/ms-surface-review-final.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,44 +0,0 @@ -Microsoft's Surface Laptop 3 wants to be great. *I* want the Surface Laptop to be great. I'd like to see the Microsoft AMD partnership produce something that sends other brands scurrying back to the drawing boards. - -Alas, that's not the case. Which is not to say that Surface Laptop 3 isn't worth considering. It's a very well-made laptop that has plenty of power for the average user, and a wonderfully large, 15-inch 3:2 ratio screen that's a joy to work on. Throw in a great trackpad, decent keyboard, and some nice extras like the facial recognition features in Windows 10 and you have solid, lightweight workhorse of a machine. - -###Going Big - -The 15-inch Surface Laptop is a new form factor for the Surface line. It joins the 13-inch model, which has also been updated. While I did not test the 13-inch model, this years update looks to be yet another incremental update of a solid laptop. You'll get a faster processor in roughly the same shell for the same price. - -To create the new 15-inch model it's almost as if Microsoft just hit the 13-inch model with some sort expanding ray gun. And there-in lies the rub in my view. - -If you're at all familiar with Microsoft's Surface line, the first thing that jumps out about this laptop is the all aluminium design. Yes, this is an Alcantara-free Surface. While the aluminum is fine, the Alcantara has defined the Surface family since it was released and its absence makes this feel less, well, Surface-y. - -Like the 13-inch, the 15-inch model is lightweight and has a very solid feel to it thank to the all-aluminum design. It also still has the 3:2 screen ratio of it's smaller sibling, making it really nice for editing documents and other tasks where a taller screen is welcome. - -The most disappointing thing about the Surface Laptop 3 is that Microsoft has not really done anything with the added space of a 15-inch chassis. For example, the keyboard is identical to the 13-inch model, which means there's considerable extra room on either side of it where there could be, well, have a gander at the 15-inch MacBook Pro and maybe add some bigger speakers. - -But no, the speakers in the 15-inch Surface are still right where they are in the smaller version, underneath. If better speakers aren't Microsoft's thing then maybe take a page from the Dell XPS 15 and pack in some extra USB ports and maybe a card reader too. But again, the Surface Laptop 3 sticks with the same single USB-A and USB-C ports found in the 13-inch model. Kudos to Microsoft for at least ditching the MiniDisplay in favor of a USB-C port, but charging still happens through the proprietary, magnetic Surface Connect port, which feels like a missed opportunity to pack in another USB-C port. - -And it's worth noting that the USB-C port you do get does **not** support Thunderbolt 3, which means you won't get the speed boost Thunderbolt 3 offers, nor can you use Thunderbolt 3 docking stations to expand your port options. Technically you can use it to charge the Surface Laptop, but I have no idea why you'd want to sacrifice your one USB-C port to charge. - -That's not to say the Surface 15-inch is all misses. There's some good stuff too. One high point for is the Windows Face Recognition login works great. You also get support for Microsoft’s Surface Pen, which is not included. - -Given it's place in the Surface universe as the beacon of light for those of us still clinging to trackpads and real keyboards that actually sit in your lap, it should be no surprise that both of these are very well done. The trackpad especially is first rate—the best non-Apple trackpad I've used. The keyboard lacks a certain snappiness I've come to appreciate from Lenovo's recent efforts, but it's still well-spaced and comfortable to type on. - -###AMD Inside - -The 15-inch form factor is the power users laptop. That's how Dell, Apple, Asus and others have positioned their offerings in this space. High end 15-inch laptops like the MacBook Pro and Dell XPS 15 offer six-core (or more) processors and features creative professionals need like color-tuned screens. Then there's 15-inch gaming laptops, which often sacrifice the sleek form factor, but pack in powerful graphics cards and plenty of ports. - -The Surface Laptop will make neither of these groups happy. As mentioned earlier this machine is really aimed at more casual users looking for a larger screen, but not needing the power of more expensive options. That's why the smart buy here is the low end model. - -The base model features AMD's new Ryzen 5 chip which Microsoft calls the Surface Edition Processor to indicate that it has been specifically tuned for the form factor of the Surface. The performance in my testing, using the PCMark 10 test suite pegged the processor at roughly the same performance as an eighth generation Intel i5. - -That's plenty of power for everyday tasks. I noticed no stutters or lags streaming 4K content, editing photos in Darktable, or working with some very large spreadsheets. That level of performance is not, however, going to be capable of editing high res video or compiling large pieces of software. Nor is it likely to impress gamers. There is an option to upgrade to a Ryzen 7 chip with a better graphics card as well, but even these fall short of similarly priced Apple and Dell models (at least on paper). - -One place the AMD chip did impress was battery life. Microsoft claims 11.5 hours. I was not able to get anywhere near that, but I did get a respectable 6.25 on the PCMark battery test and just a hair under 8 playing a looped video with the brightness at 50 percent. The good news is that the proprietary charging cord will get you from zero to 80 percent in just over an hour in my testing. - -The other notable thing, especially compared to some other 15-inch laptops I've used is that the Surface never gets hot in your lap and you hardly ever hear the fan. - -The Surface Laptop 3 15-inch base model is available in Platinum, and starts at $1,199 with a Ryzen 5 chip, 8-gigabytes of RAM, and a 128GB SSD. The unit I tested bumps the RAM to 16-gigabytes and the solid state drive to 256-gigabytes, which brings the price to $1,299. You can also get the higher specced models in black if you prefer. - -If you want a 15-inch laptop for the extra screen real estate it affords, and plan to use it to watch Netflix, edit documents, and browse the web, then the base model Surface Laptop 3 fits the bill. While there are cheaper, equally powerful options out there, none of them are quite as well designed, well-built, nor offer the battery life of the Surface. The base model is a solid buy if your needs are that of the casual user. - -If, on the other hand, you're looking for a 15-inch powerhouse that can handle everything from video editing to gaming, you're better off looking to the Dell XPS 15 or MacBook Pro, both of which offer better performance for roughly the same price as a maxed out Surface. - diff --git a/ms-surface-review.txt b/ms-surface-review.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 27428c5..0000000 --- a/ms-surface-review.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,44 +0,0 @@ -Microsoft's Surface Laptop 3 wants to be great. *I* want the Surface Laptop to be great. I'd like to see the Microsoft AMD partnership produce something that sends other brands scurrying back to the drawing boards. - -Alas, that's not the case. Which is not to say that Surface Laptop 3 isn't worth considering. It's a very well-made laptop that has plenty of power for the average user, and a wonderfully large, 15-inch 3:2 ratio screen that's a joy to work on. Throw in a great trackpad, decent keyboard, and some nice extras like the facial recognition features in Windows 10 and you have solid, lightweight workhorse of a machine. - -###Going Big - -The 15-inch Surface Laptop is a new form factor for the Surface line. It joins the 13-inch model, which has also been updated. While I did not test the 13-inch model, this years update looks to be yet another incremental update of a solid laptop. You'll get a faster processor in roughly the same shell for the same price. - -To create the new 15-inch model it's almost as if Microsoft just hit the 13-inch model with some sort expanding ray gun. And there-in lies the rub in my view. - -If you're at all familiar with Microsoft's Surface line, the first thing that jumps out about this laptop is the all aluminium design. Yes, this is an Alcantara-free Surface. While the aluminum is fine, the Alcantara has defined the Surface family since it was released and its absence makes this feel less, well, Surface-y. - -Like the 13-inch, the 15-inch model is lightweight and has a very solid feel to it thank to the all-aluminum design. It also still has the 3:2 screen ratio of it's smaller sibling, making it really nice for editing documents and other tasks where a taller screen is welcome. - -The most disappointing thing about the Surface Laptop 3 is that Microsoft has not really done anything with the added space of a 15-inch chassis. For example, the keyboard is identical to the 13-inch model, which means there's considerable extra room on either side of it where there could be, well, have a gander at the 15-inch MacBook Pro and maybe add some bigger speakers. - -But no, the speakers in the 15-inch Surface are still right where they are in the smaller version, underneath. If better speakers aren't Microsoft's thing then maybe take a page from the Dell XPS 15 and pack in some extra USB ports and maybe a card reader too. But again, the Surface Laptop 3 sticks with the same single USB-A and USB-C ports found in the 13-inch model. Kudos to Microsoft for at least ditching the MiniDisplay in favor of a USB-C port, but charging still happens through the proprietary, magnetic Surface Connect port, which feels like a missed opportunity to pack in another USB-C port. - -And it's worth noting that the USB-C port you do get does **not** support Thunderbolt 3, which means you won't get the speed boost Thunderbolt 3 offers, nor can you use Thunderbolt 3 docking stations to expand your port options. Technically you can use it to charge the Surface Laptop, but I have no idea why you'd want to sacrifice your one USB-C port to charge. - -That's not to say the Surface 15-inch is all misses. There's some good stuff too. One high point for is the Windows Face Recognition login works great. You also get support for Microsoft’s Surface Pen, which is not included. - -Given it's place in the Surface universe as the beacon of light for those of us still clinging to trackpads and real keyboards that actually sit in your lap, it should be no surprise that both of these are very well done. The trackpad especially is first rate—the best non-Apple trackpad I've used. The keyboard lacks a certain snappiness I've come to appreciate from Lenovo's recent efforts, but it's still well-spaced and comfortable to type on. - -###AMD Inside - -The 15-inch form factor is the power users laptop. That's how Dell, Apple, Asus and others have positioned their offerings in this space. High end 15-inch laptops like the MacBook Pro and Dell XPS 15 offer six-core (or more) processors and features creative professionals need like color-tuned screens. Then there's 15-inch gaming laptops, which often sacrifice the sleek form factor, but pack in powerful graphics cards and plenty of ports. - -The Surface Laptop will make neither of these groups happy. As mentioned earlier this machine is really aimed at more casual users looking for a larger screen, but not needing the power of more expensive options. That's why the smart buy here is the low end model. - -The base model features AMD's new Ryzen 5 chip which Microsoft calls the Surface Edition Processor to indicate that it has been specifically tuned for the form factor of the Surface. The performance in my testing, using the PCMark 10 test suite pegged the processor at roughly the same performance as an eighth generation Intel i5. - -That's plenty of power for everyday tasks. I noticed no stutters or lags streaming 4K content, editing photos in Darktable, or working with some very large spreadsheets. That level of performance is not, however, going to be capable of editing high res video or compiling large pieces of software. Nor is it likely to impress gamers. There is an option to upgrade to a Ryzen 7 chip with a better graphics card as well, but even these fall short of similarly priced Apple and Dell models (at least on paper). - -One place the AMD chip did impress was battery life. Microsoft claims 11.5 hours. I was not able to get anywhere near that, but I did get a respectable 6.25 on the PCMark battery test and just a hair under 8 playing a looped video with the brightness at 50 percent. The good news is that the proprietary charging cord will get you from zero to 80 percent in just over an hour in my testing. - -The other notable thing, especially compared to some other 15-inch laptops I've used is that the Surface never gets hot in your lap and you hardly ever hear the fan. - -The Surface Laptop 3 15-inch base model is available in Platinum, and starts at $1,199 with a Ryzen 5 chip, 8-gigabytes of RAM, and a 128GB SSD. The unit I tested bumps the RAM to 16-gigabytes and the solid state drive to 256-gigabytes, which brings the price to $1,299. You can also get the higher specced models in black if you prefer. - -If you want a 15-inch laptop for the extra screen real estate it affords, and plan to use it to watch Netflix, edit documents, and browse the web, then the base model Surface Laptop 3 fits the bill. While there are cheaper, equally powerful options out there, none of them are quite as well designed, well-built, nor offer the battery life of the Surface. The base model is a solid buy if your needs are that of the casual user. - -If, on the other hand, you're looking for a 15-inch powerhouse that can handle everything from video editing to gaming, you're better off looking to the Dell XPS 15 or MacBook Pro, both of which offer better performance for roughly the same price as a maxed out Surface. - diff --git a/notes.txt b/notes.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 936d1fe..0000000 --- a/notes.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,36 +0,0 @@ -- action cams -- portable coffee -- labor day sales -- REI sale update - - - -Low end laptop round up notes - -Acer Aspire 5 -Model Name: A515-54-51DJ Part Number: NX.HG5AA.001 $529.99: - specs: - Intel Core i5 i5-8265U 1.60 GHz quad core - Intel UHD Graphics 620 - Screen Size 15.6" LCD IPS 1920 x 1080 - 8 GB RAM - Ports: ethernet, USB, USB-C, HDMI, headphones - notes: - - screen is lackluster, not super sharp - - hard to open from front edge - - edge is sharp on wrists in some situations - - tends to be quiet, speakers are weak - - plenty fast - - no problems with windows - -Acer Chromebook - - keyboard is nice - - same screen as Swift 3 - - Micro SD card is flush/recessed - - RAM was sufficient for chrome tasks - - Android apps are still hit or miss, mostly miss - - Linux on Chromebook works quite well and gives you access to tools you'd need for basic STEM-type courses, though not necessarily compiling software, probably not enough processing power. - -Acer Swift 3 - -Lenovo Chromebook C330 diff --git a/old/2603GL_apppack_factcheck_AS.docx b/old/2603GL_apppack_factcheck_AS.docx new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d3dc9e7 Binary files /dev/null and b/old/2603GL_apppack_factcheck_AS.docx differ diff --git a/old/Create Expense Report.pdf b/old/Create Expense Report.pdf new file mode 100644 index 0000000..664e99c Binary files /dev/null and b/old/Create Expense Report.pdf differ diff --git a/old/WI030119_GL_AppPackWork_02.docx b/old/WI030119_GL_AppPackWork_02.docx new file mode 100644 index 0000000..08974f1 Binary files /dev/null and b/old/WI030119_GL_AppPackWork_02.docx differ diff --git a/old/WIRED Gear Team Links and Resources.pdf b/old/WIRED Gear Team Links and Resources.pdf new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4f0f629 Binary files /dev/null and b/old/WIRED Gear Team Links and Resources.pdf differ diff --git a/old/Wired Style Guide Aug 2018.docx b/old/Wired Style Guide Aug 2018.docx new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8156bcb Binary files /dev/null and b/old/Wired Style Guide Aug 2018.docx differ diff --git a/old/approved-2019-holiday-calendar.pdf b/old/approved-2019-holiday-calendar.pdf new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1c5c693 Binary files /dev/null and b/old/approved-2019-holiday-calendar.pdf differ diff --git a/parrot-anafi-review.txt b/parrot-anafi-review.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 5389dd4..0000000 --- a/parrot-anafi-review.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,42 +0,0 @@ -DJI drones have long dominated the skies, but there are plenty of other drone options out there. Parrot, which has long made some very fun toy-like drones, stepped up its game last year with the 4K-capable Anafi. - -The company is back with a slightly new take on the Anafi, the Anafi FPV (first person view), which adds FPV goggles, a convenient backpack, and still manages to keep the price at $800. Compare that with DJI's Mavic Air with goggles, which would set you back $tk. - -DJI's Mavic and goggles combo does offer a laundry list of features you won't find in the Anafi, but Parrot is betting there's a class of pilots out there who want the FPV experience, but don't want to shell out the big bucks to get it. - -### Same Same But Different - -Parrot released the Anafi earlier this year (see our [full review](https://www.wired.com/review/parrot-anafi-4k-hdr-drone/)) and it's largely unchanged in this release. The design is compact and lightweight, with arms that fold in making it easy to fit in your bag. Speaking of bags, one of my favorite parts of the FPV release is the included backpack, which neatly squares away all the components and is firm enough to double as a launch pad if there's no flat ground around. - -The camera is unchanged in this release, it still offers 4K video at up to 30 fps, and takes 21-megapixel still images (including RAW), but the camera unfortunately doesn't produce as good of an image as I would think given the specs. The RAW files are fine, but the JPGs straight out of the camera were a little flat to my eye. - -The Anafi has a top speed of 34 mph and manages a range of over two miles, though out of the box it's much more tightly geo-fenced. You'll need to go into the settings and tweak the geo fence to extend the range to its full potential. Parrot is now claiming 26 minutes flying time from on a single charge, that's up one minute from the original release. - -### Goggle Me Goose - -Small tweaks to the Anafi aside, the main point of this release is the first person view goggle headset. - -Parrot has opted for what you could call a goggle holster, a relatively comfortable harness that straps to your head and holds a phone in front of your eyes. It's simple to set up, just lock your phone in place, adjust the straps, and you're ready to go. Parrot has a [list of supported devices](){: rel=nofollow}, though in my testing, so long as you can run the app and your phone fits, you'll be fine. - -Tapping your phone to provide the screen allows Parrot to keep costs down, but it's not without some trade offs. There's less hardware to access controls and navigating your way through menus is definitely more difficult. There are two hardware buttons, one of which calls up a menu which you then navigate with the joysticks while the Anafi hovers in place. The other button toggles your phone display between the app and your rear camera, which is useful if you want to take a quick look around without removing the headset. - -The buttons in the headset are actually just levers which tap a spot on the phone's screen. There's something wonderfully low tech about this approach that I really like, and it eliminates the need for batteries in the headset, which keeps things lightweight and relatively comfortable. It's still not the most comfortable thing to wear though. I found the lack of focusing options (there are zero) made it difficult for my aging eyes to focus well on the screen for long periods of time. I was still able to fly without any trouble, but I never wanted to keep it on for too long. - -I should probably also confess that my bias is toward the drone as a flying camera, rather than as a racing copter. I understand the appeal of FPV for racing and some other scenarios, but it's not my control method of choice. That said, I did have a lot of fun flying the Anafi in Arcade mode, which makes the flight path follow the camera. This felt the most natural to me using the goggle headset. Pan the camera and the drone follows. - -The other main flight mode I enjoyed in FPV was Cinematic mode, which locks the camera’s horizon to the drone's horizon. More than anything this felt like an easier version of the old PC flight simulator games I played (or tried to play) as a kid. - -There's also a racing preset, which is what anyone with any experience and love of pure drone flying will want to use. I found the responsiveness of the Anafi in this mode to be impressive and on par with DJI's equivalent settings. - -The faster, more responsive modes highlight why I don't find FPV all that useful in the more general case, that is, outside of closely controlled situations. -- the lack of situational awareness. That is, you have tunnel vision and no awareness of anything happening outside the camera's field of view. - -That's fine for racing on a controlled course, or flying in an area with no obstructions like trees or buildings, but if you're flying at your local park, you can easily bank into a tree if you're not careful. Parrot has wisely defaulted the Anafi to what it calls "film" mode, which gives beginners a nice slow, gentle place to start flying. I'd also like to see Parrot include some object detection and collision avoidance features though. These have been standard issue for DJI drones for years now, but the Anafi offers nothing of the sort. - -The Anafi FPV does cost considerably less than a similar drone and google combo from DJI though. The trade off is, you'll lose a lot of features, some potentially drone-saving features, found in DJI's offering. - - - - -https://www.amazon.com/Parrot-Anafi-Lightweight-Cockpitglasses-Comprehensive/dp/B07WHDGR2R/ - -[B & H Photo Video](https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1497566-REG/parrot_pf728050_anafi_fpv_portable_drone.html){: rel=nofollow}, [Best Buy](https://www.bestbuy.com/site/parrot-anafi-fpv-drone-with-skycontroller-dark-gray/6366141.p?skuId=6366141){: rel=nofollow} diff --git a/pitches.txt b/pitches.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..75abae4 --- /dev/null +++ b/pitches.txt @@ -0,0 +1,23 @@ +metal detectors +kitchen ware: + pans + knives + pressure cookers + juicers +coffee grinders +flashlights +ultralight tents +camp stoves + + +guides: + +Everything you need to find treasure on the beach +how to have a great camping trip sort of thing +How to have a great +Cook great meals outdoors +Sleep in your car +Everything You Need to Turn Your Kitchen into a Cafe +Engineer the ultimate night's sleep +Low cost ways to keep your kid entertained on long car trips +Pro Photo/Video on the Go diff --git a/pixel-buying-guide.txt b/pixel-buying-guide.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 7d3eb78..0000000 --- a/pixel-buying-guide.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,72 +0,0 @@ -[#image: /photos/5da5ed0501e4a40008261467]|||||| - - -Apple's latest iPhones are here. There are three new iPhones to choose from: the iPhone 11 Pro Max, the smaller iPhone 11 Pro, and the standard iPhone 11. If you're wondering which one is right for you and where to buy them, look no further. We've broken down all your options and parsed out everything you need to know. - -If you need to enter the reality distortion field and hear all about Apple's latest pocket-size technological marvels, check out [our full recap of Apple's big event](https://www.wired.com/story/everything-apple-announced-sept-2019/). - -*Updated September 20, 2019: We've added some more iPhone deals and updated our links. The iPhone 11 models went on sale at 8 am Eastern/5 am Pacific time on September 20.* - -*Note: When you buy something using the retail links in our stories, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Read more about [how this works](https://www.wired.com/2015/11/affiliate-link-policy/).* - -###Picking the Right iPhone 11 for You - -There are a few key differences between the new iPhones. Apple has a side-by-side comparison you can look at [here](https://www.apple.com/iphone/compare/){: rel=nofollow}, complete with all the specs if you're a spec junkie. You can also read [our iPhone Buying Guide](https://www.wired.com/gallery/iphone-buying-guide/) to learn why you should consider an iPhone XR. - -Our quick take is that all three phones are impressive pieces of hardware. The form factor hasn't changed much beyond the new camera layout (more on that below). The main hardware improvement is the new A13 Bionic processor. Apple claims its A13 chip has the fastest-ever CPU and GPU in a smartphone, and you can [read all about it here](https://www.wired.com/story/apple-a13-bionic-chip-iphone/). - -All models also start at 64 GB of storage. If you can swing it, go for 128 GB. If not, backing your photos up to iCloud can clear up a lot of space. - -- **The [iPhone 11 ($699)](https://apple.sjv.io/Jddmq){: rel=nofollow} is the best phone for most people:** The iPhone 11 ([8/10, WIRED Recommends](https://www.wired.com/review/apple-iphone-11/)) is very nearly as nice as its Pro siblings at a fraction of the cost. It has the same high-end chip set and a very similar size screen, and all of the software improvements work just fine on the iPhone 11. It can shoot the same 4K video at 60 fps, and Apple claims it gets an extra hour of battery life compared to the iPhone XR. What the iPhone 11 lacks is the brighter, sharper, HDR screen and the telephoto (2x zoom) camera of the Pro models. The 11 still has all the software upgrades like Night mode, which reduces noise in low-light situations, Portrait mode improvements, and a new lighting effect called High Key Mono, which produces black and white images. You also get Smart HDR, Slo-mo selfies, and all the rest of Apple's photo and video software upgrades. - -- **The [iPhone 11 Pro ($999)](https://apple.sjv.io/Qd52a){: rel=nofollow} has a nicer screen and third camera:** If you want a flagship piece of hardware and don't mind paying for it, this is your phone. The iPhone 11 Pro ([9/10, WIRED Recommends](https://www.wired.com/review/apple-iphone-11-pro/)) adds a third, telephoto camera (2x zoom) with a 52mm f/2.0 lens. The Pro models get a 2x optical zoom-in, along with a 10x digital zoom. Together these extras open up some additional photographic possibilities. Combine the extra camera with the brighter HDR screen, and the 11 Pro feels more like a camera that happens to take calls than a phone that takes pictures. It gets 4 hours more battery life than the XS and is waterproof up to 4 meters, instead of 2 meters like the 11. - -- **The [iPhone 11 Pro Max ($1,099)](https://apple.sjv.io/Qd52a){: rel=nofollow} is the over-the-top phablet:** The iPhone 11 Pro Max ([9/10, WIRED Recommends](https://www.wired.com/review/apple-iphone-11-pro/)) is mostly identical to the Pro, but larger. Its 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR display is notably bigger than the plain Pro's 5.8-inch display. Otherwise, though, it's the same phone, just turned to 11. It gets 5 hours more battery life than an XS Max from last year, according to Apple. - -###Accessorize (and Buy a Case) - -No matter which phone you end up with, get a case. The iPhone 11 line is mostly glass. Sure, Apple has ads showing the new iPhone dropping and bouncing off the ground in slo-mo, and the company claims it's the most scratch-resistant glass ever, but trust me, glass does shatter. - -Some people don't like the added bulk, but I prefer to protect my phone investment with a case. The [Speck Presidio Sport](https://fave.co/2UOGqJi){: rel=nofollow} provides good protection without being overly bulky, but if you want really bulletproof protection, go for an [OtterBox case](https://fave.co/2UO5tvL){: rel=nofollow}. - -###Buy It Unlocked - - -[#image: /photos/5d77f386933a7300086dc3a7]||| -iPhone 11 Pro -||| - - -The easiest way to order is from Apple.com. We recommend you buy the phone unlocked. That way you'll be able to use it on any wireless carrier, should you ever decide to switch. When it comes time to upgrade in a couple of years, you'll get more money back for an unlocked phone. And again, we recommend a 128 GB model if you go for a Pro. - -- **[iPhone 11 for $699+ at the Apple Store](https://apple.sjv.io/Jddmq){: rel=nofollow}:** Buy it unlocked. Apple offers up to a $300 trade-in credit. - -- **[iPhone 11 Pro (both models) for $999+ at the Apple Store](https://apple.sjv.io/Qd52a){: rel=nofollow}:** Buy it unlocked. Apple offers up to a $400 trade-in credit. - -###More iPhone 11 Deals - -Below are some major retailer offers, which should all sell unlocked versions of the phone (recommended). Again, unlocked is really the way to go, since it frees you up to use any network or sell/gift your phone down the road. Having said that, there are some carrier specific deals out there. They're worth a look if you're not planning to [sell your phone](https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-trade-in-or-sell-your-iphone/) in the future or switch wireless networks. We've linked to the standard iPhone 11 pages. - -- **[Walmart offers $50 off](https://goto.walmart.com/c/1305164/565706/9383?subId1=iphone11deals&veh=aff&sourceid=imp_000011112222333344&u=https://www.walmart.com/cp/9922722){: rel=nofollow}:** At the moment, Walmart has the best deal going. You can get $50 off all three iPhone 11 models if you order at Walmart. We linked to the standard iPhone 11, but you can also order the [iPhone 11 Pro](https://goto.walmart.com/c/1305164/565706/9383?subId1=iphone11deals&veh=aff&sourceid=imp_000011112222333344&u=https://www.walmart.com/cp/7927648){: rel=nofollow}. - -- **[Verizon offers $700 off to new unlimited subscribers](https://www.verizonwireless.com/smartphones/apple-iphone-11/){: rel=nofollow}:** Verizon has a couple deals. If you switch to Verizon and pony up for the unlimited plan, you can get a free iPhone 11, or up to $700 off any new iPhone when you trade in your smartphone. You'll get your $700 credit in the form of a $500 credit applied over 24 months and a $200 prepaid card. If you've been planning to switch anyway, and want an unlimited plan, this isn't a bad deal. Here's a link to the [iPhone 11 Pro page](https://www.verizonwireless.com/wireless-devices/smartphones/iphone-11-pro/){: rel=nofollow}. - -- **[AT&T also offers $700 off your second iPhone 11](https://www.att.com/buy/phones/apple-iphone-11-256gb-black.html){: rel=nofollow}:** If you buy one iPhone 11 and start a $100 per month new line of service, AT&T will give you a second iPhone 11. The [iPhone 11 Pro](https://www.att.com/buy/phones/apple-iphone-11-pro-256gb-midnight-green.html){: rel=nofollow} and [iPhone 11 Pro Max](https://www.att.com/buy/phones/apple-iphone-11-pro-max-256gb-midnight-green.html){: rel=nofollow} are listed separately on its site. - -- **[Sprint sort of has a deal](https://www.sprint.com/en/landings/apple/iphone-11.html){: rel=nofollow}:** Sprint is offering a $0 a month iPhone 11 with a new line and trade-in of qualifying phone (iPhone 7 or better, as well as newer Android phones). The [iPhone 11 Pro](https://www.sprint.com/en/landings/apple/iphone.html){: rel=nofollow} is slightly more per month ($12.50) and listed separately. - -- **[T-Mobile order page](https://www.t-mobile.com/offers/apple-iphone-deals){: rel=nofollow}:** T-Mobile is offering the iPhone 11 at 50 percent off ($350) provided you have an "equitable" device to trade in. For example, trade in an iPhone 7 and get half off the iPhone 11. Or trade in iPhone XS Max for half off the iPhone 11 Pro Max. - -- **[Best Buy order page](https://www.bestbuy.com/site/iphone/shop-iphone-11-iphone-11-pro-and-iphone-11-pro-max/pcmcat1568147641595.c?id=pcmcat1568147641595){: rel=nofollow}:** You can get all three phones from Best Buy, which also has trade-in offers. - -- **[Target order page](https://www.target.com/p/apple-iphone-11/-/A-78052843){: rel=nofollow}:** Target also has the [iPhone 11 Pro](https://www.target.com/p/apple-iphone-11-pro/-/A-78052805){: rel=nofollow} and [iPhone 11 Pro Max](https://www.target.com/p/apple-iphone-11-pro-max/-/A-78052840){: rel=nofollow} listed separately. - -*** -### More Great WIRED Stories -* Watch [how to solve a Rubik's cube](https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-solve-a-rubiks-cube-step-by-step/?itm_campaign=BottomRelatedStories_Sections_4), step by step -* Why the [Porsche Taycan's two-speed gearbox](https://www.wired.com/story/electric-car-two-speed-transmission-gearbox/?itm_campaign=BottomRelatedStories_Sections_4) is such a big deal -* Elon Musk: Humanity is a kind of [“biological boot loader” for AI](https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-humanity-biological-boot-loader-ai/?itm_campaign=BottomRelatedStories_Sections_4) -* You are already [having sex with robots](https://www.wired.com/story/you-are-already-having-sex-with-robots/?itm_campaign=BottomRelatedStories_Sections_4) -* The ethics of [hiding your data from the machines](https://www.wired.com/story/ethics-hiding-your-data-from-machines/?itm_campaign=BottomRelatedStories_Sections_4) -* 👁 [How do machines learn](https://www.wired.com/story/how-we-learn-machine-learning-human-teachers/?itm_campaign=BottomRelatedStories_Sections_4)? Plus, read the [latest news on artificial intelligence](https://www.wired.com/category/business/artificial-intelligence/?itm_campaign=BottomRelatedStories_Sections_4) -* 📱 Torn between the latest phones? Never fear—check out our [iPhone buying guide](https://wired.com/gallery/iphone-buying-guide/?itm_campaign=BottomRelatedStories) and [favorite Android phones](https://wired.com/gallery/best-android-phones/?itm_campaign=BottomRelatedStories) diff --git a/pixel4rewrite.txt b/pixel4rewrite.txt deleted file mode 100644 index fc63490..0000000 --- a/pixel4rewrite.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,69 +0,0 @@ -Google's [Pixel 4](https://www.wired.com/story/google-pixel-4-pixel-4-xl/) phones are here. There are two new models to choose from: the Pixel 4 and the larger Pixel 4 XL. If you're trying to decide which one to get and where to buy it, look no further. We've broken down all the ordering options and found the best places to snag a new Pixel 4 before it ships on October 24. - -If you'd like to see what else Google announced, including other new devices like the Pixel Buds earphones, Pixelbook Go laptop, and Nest Mini speaker with Google Assistant, check out [our full coverage of Google's fall hardware event](https://www.wired.com/story/everything-google-announced-pixel-4-event/). - -*Note: When you buy something using the retail links in our stories, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Read more about [how this works](https://www.wired.com/2015/11/affiliate-link-policy/).* - -###Picking the Right Pixel for You - -Google's latest flagship handset comes in two sizes: the 5.7-inch Pixel 4 and the 6.3-inch Pixel 4 XL. Aside from the screen, the hardware is each version is identical. - -Both Phones have OLED displays with the same resolution as last year's Pixel 3. Google has added HDR support, so this year's screens can better represent lights and darks. The new display is UHDA certified, which means it meets the industry standard for showing high dynamic range content. The bigger screen news in this update is the 90-megahertz refresh rate, which should make scrolling through webpages and apps feel even more smooth. - -[#cneembed: script/video/5da6107ebcdfff04c588071f.js?autoplay=0]|||||| - -Also new is the dual camera system. Google has plopped a 16-megapixel telephoto lens alongside the more familiar 12-megapixel wide angle lens. The Pixel 4 camera system still relies heavily on Google's [computational photography](https://www.wired.com/story/google-pixel-3-camera-features/) for many of its features, but the new lens allows for even more camera cleverness. - -The Pixel 4 has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chip with 6 gigabytes of RAM. Both versions of the Pixel 4 are available with two storage capacity options; one with 64 GB of storage and one with 128 GB. If you can swing it, go for 128 GB. If you can only afford the smaller capacity, learn to use the [cloud backup features in Google Photos](https://www.wired.com/story/how-tame-your-smartphone-pic-overload-google-photos/), which can clear up a lot of space. - -Aside from the specs, the Pixel 4 also looks significantly different from last year's model—at least, as much as a rectangular smartphone handset can. The characteristic dual-tone back panel that defined the first three generations is gone. Instead the Pixel 4 adopts a more uniform look on the back that's similar to its high-end competitors like the Apple iPhone and Samsung Galaxy. The Pixel 4 even has a glossy-backed option. Also gone is the rear fingerprint sensor—the Pixel 4 instead relies on face recognition to quickly unlock the phone. - -Here's our quick take on the new Pixel 4: - -- **The [Pixel 4 ($799)](https://www.amazon.com/Google-Pixel-Just-Black-Unlocked/dp/B07YMNLXL3/){: rel=nofollow} is the best phone for most people:** The 5.7-inch display of the Pixel 4 is going to provide more than enough screen real estate for most users, and with all other factors being equal, the base model Pixel 4 gives you the most bang for your buck. - -- **Grab the [Pixel 4 XL ($899)](https://www.amazon.com/Google-Pixel-Just-Black-Unlocked/dp/B07YMG37J4/){: rel=nofollow} if you want better battery life:** The Pixel 4 XL isn't really that huge relative to other hugephones, but the extra bulk does get you a larger battery. With the more power-intensive 90-Hz refresh rate on the display, frankly, you're probably going to want some extra battery power. The Pixel 4 XL has a larger, 3,700mAh battery, which is still on the small size for a phone of this size, but at least bigger than the plain Pixel 4's 2,800mAh battery. - -- **The [Pixel 3A (currently $349)](https://www.amazon.com/Google-Pixel-Memory-Phone-Unlocked/dp/B07R7DY911/){: rel=nofollow} is still the best deal on an Android Phone:** Google did not announce a successor to the Pixel 3A and likely won't until next May, but [Google's Pixel 3A (9/10, WIRED Recommends)](https://www.wired.com/review/google-pixel-3a-and-pixel-3a-xl://www.wired.com/review/google-pixel-3a-and-pixel-3a-xl/) is still a great phone. You get a fantastic camera, the still-fast Snapdragon 670 processor, 64 gigabytes of storage, and 4 GB of RAM. It's not going to be anywhere near as fast or smooth as the Pixel 4, or even the Pixel 3, but it's half the price, and often on sale. It's also fast enough that you probably won't notice a huge difference between this model and its more expensive cousins. - -###Buy a Case - -No matter which phone you end up with, get a case. The Pixel 4 has glass on the front and the back, and it's worth protecting your investment with a case. - -If you don't like the extra size and weight of a case, but still want one, the [Spigen Neo Hybrid](https://www.amazon.com/Spigen-Hybrid-Designed-Google-Pixel/dp/B07TCR26NT/){: rel=nofollow} provides good protection without being overly bulky. If you want really bulletproof protection though, go for an [OtterBox case](https://fave.co/2VKnuLW){: rel=nofollow}. - -###Where to Buy the Pixel 4 Unlocked - -The easiest way to order a Pixel 4 or Pixel 4 XL is from Google. We recommend you *buy your Pixel 4 unlocked* from Google, Amazon, or other retailers. That way you'll be able to use it on any wireless carrier, should you ever decide to switch. When it comes time to upgrade in a couple of years, you'll get more money back for an unlocked phone. - -- **[Google offers a $100 accessories credit with Pixel 4 orders](https://store.google.com/product/pixel_4){: rel=nofollow}:** Buy it unlocked. Google offers up to a $100 credit toward accessories. - -- **[Amazon offers a $100 gift card](https://www.amazon.com/Google-Pixel-Just-Black-Unlocked/dp/B07YMNLXL3/){: rel=nofollow}:** You can get a $100 Amazon gift card with purchase of a Pixel 4 or XL. - -- **[Best Buy offers a $100 gift card](https://bestbuy.7tiv.net/b9nbM){: rel=nofollow}:** Best Buy will give you a $150 Best Buy gift card with the purchase and activation of a Pixel 4 or 4 XL on Verizon, AT&T or Sprint. You can also get a $100 Best Buy gift card if you choose not to activate it. - -- **[Walmart also offers a $100 gift card](https://goto.walmart.com/c/1305164/565706/9383?subId1=pixel4guide&veh=aff&sourceid=imp_000011112222333344&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fbrowse%2Fpixel%2FYnJhbmQ6UGl4ZWwie%3Fcat_id%3D0%26facet%3Dbrand%3APixel%257C%257Cretailer%3AWalmart.com){: rel=nofollow}:** It's tough to find proper info about Walmart's sale, but supposedly you will get a $100 gift card if you order a Pixel 4. - -- **[Pixel 4 from B&H](https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1507476-REG/google_ga01188_us_pixel_4_64gb_smartphone.html){: rel=nofollow}:** B&H has no deals, but it is selling the Pixel 4. - -###Deals From Wireless Carriers - -Below are some major retailer offers, which should all sell unlocked versions of the phone. Again, unlocked is really the way to go, since it frees you up to use any network or sell/gift your phone down the road. Having said that, there are some carrier specific deals out there. They're worth a look if you're not planning to [sell your phone](https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-trade-in-or-sell-your-iphone/) in the future or switch wireless networks. We've linked to the standard Pixel 4 pages. - -- **[Verizon offers a buy-one-get-one deal for new unlimited subscribers](https://fave.co/2VOr2wS){: rel=nofollow}:** Verizon has a couple deals. New and existing customers can trade in an eligible smartphone and save up to $450 on a Pixel 4 (depending on the trade-in value). If you switch to Verizon and pony up for the unlimited plan, and pick up a full price Pixel 4, you can get a second 64 GB Pixel 4 free of charge. Here's a link to the [Pixel 4 page](https://fave.co/2VOr2wS){: rel=nofollow}. - -- **[T-Mobile offers a free Pixel 4 with Pixel trade-in](https://www.t-mobile.com/cell-phone/google-pixel-4){: rel=nofollow}:** You'll need to add a new line and have either a Pixel 2 or 3 to trade in. The original Pixel will get you $500 off. Unfortunately T-Mobile does not currently offer the 128 GB model. - -- **[AT&T offers $700 off with an eligible trade-in](https://fave.co/2nPCknW){: rel=nofollow}:** The catch is that you'll need an AT&T unlimited plan, and you'll need to begin paying off your new Pixel 4 or 4 XL on a "qualifying installment plan" before you start seeing the benefits of the discount. The plan in question means AT&T will begin charging you $28 per month on a 30-month plan, so you'll be charged a total of $840 for your new Pixel. However, after your first three payments, AT&T will start applying a monthly credit for whatever amount it determined you're getting based on your old phone's trade-in value. That credit can add up to as much as $700 total over the 30 months, meaning your phone will cost you as little as $140 in the end. This isn't the best deal since it plays out over two years, but if you want to be on AT&T's network, it's a way to get a cheap Pixel 4. - -- **[Sprint sort of has a deal](https://fave.co/2VLG86p){: rel=nofollow}:** The carrier is offering a leasing deal. Lease a Pixel 4 or Pixel 4 XL and get a second one for $0 per month when you either switch to Sprint or add a new line to your existing account. Sprint is the only vendor allowing you to choose either the 4 or the 4 XL for each of the two lines. - -*** -### More Great WIRED Stories -* The first [smartphone war](https://www.wired.com/story/the-first-smartphone-war/?itm_campaign=BottomRelatedStories_Sections_2) -* 7 cybersecurity threats [that can sneak up on you](https://www.wired.com/story/cybersecurity-threats-that-can-sneak-up-on-you/?itm_campaign=BottomRelatedStories_Sections_2) -* “Forever chemicals” are in your popcorn—[and your blood](https://www.wired.com/story/pfas-forever-chemicals-are-in-your-popcornand-your-blood/?itm_campaign=BottomRelatedStories_Sections_2) -* EVs fire up pyroswitches to [cut risk of shock after a crash](https://www.wired.com/story/evs-fire-pyroswitches-cut-risk-shock-crash/?itm_campaign=BottomRelatedStories_Sections_2) -* The spellbinding allure of [Seoul's fake urban mountains](https://www.wired.com/story/seoul-fake-mountains-gallery/?itm_campaign=BottomRelatedStories_Sections_2) -* 👁 Prepare for the [deepfake era of video](https://www.wired.com/story/prepare-deepfake-era-web-video/?itm_campaign=BottomRelatedStories_Sections_2); plus, check out the [latest news on AI](https://www.wired.com/category/business/artificial-intelligence/?itm_campaign=BottomRelatedStories_Sections_2) -* ✨ Optimize your home life with our Gear team’s best picks, from [robot vacuums](https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-robot-vacuums/?itm_campaign=BottomRelatedStories) to [affordable mattresses](https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-mattresses/?itm_campaign=BottomRelatedStories) to [smart speakers](https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-google-speakers-buying-guide/?itm_campaign=BottomRelatedStories). diff --git a/polaroid-lab.txt b/polaroid-lab.txt deleted file mode 100644 index a83513c..0000000 --- a/polaroid-lab.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,33 +0,0 @@ -The physical world will probably forever retain an emotional primacy digital lacks. I suspect that millions of evolutionary years without screens has primed us to enjoy a Polaroid taped to a bathroom mirror over Instagram any day of the week. - -At least that's what Polaroid is hoping. - -Polaroid Originals' new Lab printer takes images from your phone and turns them into Polaroids. Yes, actual Polaroids just like Dad's (Granddad's?) Polaroid used to spit out in the 1970s. The result is a fun, if pricey way to bring your digital snaps into the real world. - -### Photo Lab in Box - -The new Polaroid Lab is the second iteration of Impossibles [Instant Lab](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/impossible/impossible-instant-lab-turn-iphone-images-into-rea). Polaroid acquired Impossible in 2017 and rebranded it Polaroid Originals. As a result there's no more trademark issues to worry about so Instant Lab has be renamed Polaroid Lab. - -Unlike all [other instant camera and printers](https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-instant-cameras/) we've looked at, the Polaroid Lab does not simply grab an image from your phone using Bluetooth and print it out. Instead you pull up the image on your phone using the Polaroid Originals app and then you lay your phone face down on the Lab. The Lab then takes a picture of the picture on your phone, optimizes the color for printing and then spits out a Polaroid which, like the Polaroids of old, takes about 15 minutes to full develop. - -While the focus of the Lab is analog, it does offer the ability to "embed" a video with your print. Fujifilm recently did something similar with audio in it's [Mini LiPlay camera/printer](https://www.wired.com/review/fujifilm-instax-mini-liplay/) and in both cases it feels very awkward and gimmicky. The problem is that nothing is embedded anywhere, it's just stored a server and anyone who wants to see the video has to install the Polaroid Originals' app. And it's worth noting that anyone with the app installed can view the video, which has some potentially awful privacy consequences that I'd be more worried about if the feature wasn't so utterly useless anyway. I wish the instant camera world would just drop this idea. - -Aside from the video gimmickry, the Lab is dead simple to use. The Polaroids Originals app can select any media file on your phone, and you can edit the image a little with in the app (I suggest increasing brightness). The one quirk of the app is when you edit, there's no preview, the slider covers the image which is, quite frankly, crazy. Since I started testing before the app was publicly released, I assumed this was a beta software bug. However, the final app is out and the lack of preview remains. - -Honestly, while this is a ridiculous design decision, it really didn't bother me much since all I was doing was increasing brightness about 20 percent for every photo. I arrived at this value after some experimenting and a lot of overly-dark prints. - -###Outside the Lab - -The finished prints from the Lab approximate the vibe of old school Polaroids in many ways: washed out colors and soft edges (and I mean that in the best way possible). The Lab got enough right to trigger my nostalgic love of Polaroids, image quality be damned. But in some other ways the look of images from the Lab just didn't work for me. I found some colors, particularly bright greens and blues to be over-saturated in ways that old school Polaroid images never are. They gave certain scenes a garish look that's not really fun, just unpleasant. - -The Lab also introduced considerable vignetting (where the corners become darker) that was not in the original images. I am guess this is due to either the design of the case or light leaking around the phone when it's place atop the Lab. - -Fortunately the best results I had were with images of people, and really that's what most people will probably want from the Lab. It was fun, and a touch disconcerting, to turn snaps of my kids taken yesterday into images that look like they were made in 1983. - -What's missing though is the spontaneity of old Polaroid cameras, which were as much about producing an artifact in the moment as the artifact itself. Separating the fun of making the image -- now the job of your phone -- and the fun of getting it makes getting it somehow less exciting. Or maybe it's the fact that seeing your image on the phone creates a set of expectations that no instant printer can reproduce. - -It's too bad because Polaroid co-founder Edward Land very clear saw the world of ubiquitous cameras coming long before most of us even considered the idea. In a [video made for Polaroid shareholder in 1970](https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=727&v=zbmq9R0dtVg) Land says that one day we'll be taking photos using "something like a wallet." He then reaches in his pocket and pulls out a black object that could easily be mistaken for a smartphone. He goes on to say that "we're still a long way from... a camera that would be, oh, like the telephone, something you use all day long." - -Land's vision is here, but Land, and the modern-day Polaroid, now Polaroid Originals, are not the makers of the camera that's the size of a wallet and as ever-present as a telephone. Instead Polaroid Originals is on the outside, trying to get back in with efforts like the new Lab. And while the Lab is definitely in the spirit of the old Polaroids, and it undoubtedly fun, in the end it feels pricey for the results it produces. - -Fujifilm's SP-3 printer produces better quality images, without the strangely over-saturated blue and greens of the Lab. This is somewhat subjective, but to my eye nearly all the Instax-based options in our [guide to instant cameras and printers](https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-instant-cameras/) produce better images the Lab, including the Polaroid OneStep. On the other hand I like the Lab's images better than most of cameras and printers in our [guide to Zink-based printers](https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-zero-ink-instant-cameras-and-printers-zink/). And the Lab does print larger images than either the Zink or Instax options, so if it's full size Polaroids you're after, the Lab is your best bet. diff --git a/published/best-instant-cameras.txt b/published/best-instant-cameras.txt index dc0e04d..c4aacc6 100644 --- a/published/best-instant-cameras.txt +++ b/published/best-instant-cameras.txt @@ -1,5 +1,58 @@ -Fuji Instax SP2 prints are nice, but phone app is terrible, unresponsive, difficult to change settings, once you hit print there's no taking it back. It feel like Fujifilm spent millions on the instax hardware and had about $100 left over to build an app. +Sure, smartphone cameras are great, but there’s nothing like watching a freshly snapped photo print and develop in front of your eyes. Instant photography, like the Polaroid pictures of old, is back. There’s a wealth of printing cameras on the market from manufacturers like Fujifilm, Polaroid Originals, Lomography, and even Leica. We've snapped pics with most of them, and these are our favorites. -Small green line at the bottom edge of the image, resolves itself in a day or so. +And if you're hunting around, we have guides to the [best compact cams](https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-compact-cameras/) and some of the best [mirrorless cameras](https://www.wired.com/story/mirrorless-cameras-buying-guide/). -https://domvarney.com/2016/11/07/instax-sp2-part-1/ +*Updated for November 2019: We've added the Fujifilm Instax Mini Link as a great option for parties.* + +### Best Overall + +Fujifilm's latest Instax offering, the [Mini LiPlay (8/10 WIRED Recommends)](https://www.wired.com/review/fujifilm-instax-mini-liplay/){: rel=nofollow}, works as a camera and a printer. The pocketable form factor makes it easy to tote around and enjoy the immediate gratification of an instant camera. As a bonus, if you want to print a photo from your phone, you can do that too with the mobile app. The LiPlay has a nice glass lens, a mirror for selfies, and the ability to review images before committing them to paper. We found the embedded QR codes for audio gimmicky, but many users enjoy it. + +### Best Photo Quality + +If you're aiming for the best photo quality, this Fujifilm camera is the best instant camera the company makes. Compared to some of the other Instax Mini cameras, the Mini 90 Neo Classic is compact, comes with a long-lasting rechargeable battery, and gives you more creative control with a push-button close-up lens and a double exposure mode. We like its dual shutter buttons, which make it super easy to take a selfie from just about any angle. It often sells for around $120, so check prices often. + +### Best on a Budget + +For penny-pinchers or parents shopping for tweens, the Instax Mini 9 is the best camera to buy. It’s by far the cheapest, which is its main virtue. Because the Mini 9 is so affordable, you don’t have to feel quite so bad if your son breaks it or your daughter goes through packs of film like sticks of chewing gum. Unlike past low-end Mini cameras, the Mini 9 now has a high-key exposure feature and a standard selfie mirror up front. It's the best value in instant photography and [comes in several colors](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Fujifilm%20Instax%20Mini%209&i=electronics&rh=n:172282,n:291227,p_6:ATVPDKIKX0DER,p_89:Fujifilm,p_n_condition-type:2224371011&dc&qid=1565124959&rnid=2224369011&ref=sr_nr_p_n_condition-type_1){: rel=nofollow}. + +### For Extra Abilities + +If you have an artistic flair, try Lomo’s latest camera on for size. This Instax Mini-compatible cam is great on its own, taking sharp shots (especially if you opt for the [glass-lensed, wide-angle Magellan](https://www.wired.com/2017/09/review-lomography-lomoinstant-automat-glass-magellan/) edition) and including features many Fuji-made cameras omit. Long exposures, multiple exposures, and some exposure compensation abilities let you further express yourself. If you spring for this Automat’s [bundles](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HV2KJRO/?tag=w050b-20), you’ll get macro, fish-eye, and wide attachments, along with the fantastic lens-covering Splitzer, which divides the frame up into sections that you can expose individually for a collage effect. + +### For Square Prints + +Fuji’s first [square film camera](https://www.wired.com/2017/08/review-fujifilm-instax-square-sq10/) was kind of a dud, but this one is not. Its reasonable price and easy-to-use design make it a great choice if you just gotta have the classic, 1:1 aspect ratio, Polaroid-style shots you remember from days gone by (and from Instagram). The Instax SQ6 ([7/10, WIRED Review](https://www.wired.com/review/review-fujifilm-instax-square-sq6/)) has plenty of modes, from basic to double exposure. Even if you don’t plan on experimenting, it's dead easy to use. It’s not our favorite Instax Square camera, but it’s incredibly simple. + +### For Luxe Square Prints + +If the idea of Instax Square has you intrigued, but you find the above SQ6 a little ... square, then this is what you should buy. Lomo has applied its excellent Automat tech to the [Lomo’Instant Square](https://www.wired.com/review/review-lomography-lomoinstant-square/), making it the funky, fun, creative pick for Instax Square shooters. From its unique folding design to its excellent optional attachments and built-in infrared remote, it makes its higher price feel totally justified. And, if you need to save a buck on film, an adapter lets you shoot cheaper and smaller Instax Mini instead of Instax Square. + +### For Polaroid Purists + +If you want to relive the glory of vintage Polaroids, the OneStep Plus is best choice. It's competitively priced and very easy to shoot with. It has a USB-rechargeable battery, two built-in focal lengths, and a great companion app that lets you control the camera’s settings with a smartphone. Compared to the OneStep 2, the OneStep Plus is simply a more capable camera for the money. *A note though: we've had some bad batches of film, and buyers have complained about this, as well.* But when you get a good batch, the OneStep Plus is the closest you'll get to that vintage Polaroid of yesteryear. + +If you want the Polaroid look, but not the bulk camera, consider the [Polaroid Lab ($130)](https://www.amazon.com/Polaroid-Lab-Digital-Analog-Printer/dp/B07WHMKXQB/){: rel=nofollow}. The Lab makes Polaroid images from images on your phone. It actually takes a photo of your phone screen and therefore the better phone you have, the nicer the results. + +### For Extra Wide Prints + +If you want to shoot with Fujifilm’s wider film, you have to buy a larger-size camera to shoot it. The Instax Wide 300 is the only first-party camera to shoot said Instax Wide film, and it’s not our favorite. Sure, it has the right features, but its huge, plasticky body isn't portable compared to a Polaroid-compatible shooter or an Instax Mini camera. Its biggest drawback is that the viewfinder can make framing close-up shots challenging. But if you want to go wide and don't mind the bulk, it's decent. + +### For Parties + +Fujifilm's Mini Link is very close to our top pick, the LiPlay, but ditches the camera functionality. Instead the Mini Link prints images from your phone. Fujifilm's new mobile app is much better than its past efforts. I'd recommend this over the older SP-2 printer ([7/10 WIRED Review](https://www.wired.com/2017/08/review-fujifilm-instax-share-sp-2-printer/)) for that reason alone since otherwise, this results are very similar. + +What makes the new app more fun are what Fujifilm calls Fun Modes. Party Print creates collages from multiple phone while Match Test takes images of two people (or two images of one person) and prints a combined image. It'll also tell your how "compatible" it thinks the two are. It's gimmicky, but what party doesn't lighten up with a little gimmickry? + + +### For Portability + +For those of us who value portability, Fujifilm offers the Instax Mini 70. This tiny camera can go anywhere with you, and it doesn’t skimp on things like the valuable selfie mirror. There are two wrinkles that make the Mini 70 less desirable than either the Instax Mini 9 or Instax Mini 90: It’s more expensive than the Mini 9, and it requires the less common [CR2 batteries](https://www.amazon.com/Duracell-Lithium-Battery-lasting-battery/dp/B00005T3DX/?tag=w050b-20){: rel=nofollow}. But you can usually find it sold at a discount just about anywhere. + +### For Leica Lovers + +This stylish but expensive camera is fantastic—just not for everyone. Unless you value eye-catching design and the signature Leica red dot more than you value getting what you’ve paid for, the Sofort has little extra to offer. I enjoyed shooting with it but routinely questioned why it costs more than twice as much as the incredibly similar Fuji Instax Mini 90. Its aesthetic loveliness can't be denied, but unless you’re a dedicated Leica fan, just get the Fujifilm version. + +### Best Instant Printer + +Okay, it's not a camera, but your phone already has a camera, so why carry another one around? If you just want to print existing images, this printer is the way to go. The Fujifilm app for your phone can be a little fiddly, but the printer itself is simple to set up and use. If you want to edit photos first, skip Fujifilm's app and use a dedicated photo editing app to save the results, then print. We prefer the square format of the SP-3, but if you want the rectangular prints, the [Instax Share SP-2 printer ($88)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GTKG5Z8/?tag=w050b-20){: rel=nofollow} is another, cheaper option. The price fluctuates a little on this, but don't pay more than $100. diff --git a/published/best-smart-displays.txt b/published/best-smart-displays.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6e80917 --- /dev/null +++ b/published/best-smart-displays.txt @@ -0,0 +1,40 @@ +arrive Early afternoon Sunday for CES. + +Smart displays are the tech world's latest fetish. Put Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa into a [smart speaker](https://www.wired.com/story/best-smart-speakers/) with a tablet-sized screen and you get a fun way to see the weather, album art, TV shows, video calls, and other (mostly) useful stuff. With [Facebook](https://www.wired.com/story/facebook-portal-smart-home-device/) and [Google](https://www.wired.com/story/google-home-hub-smart-display/) each jumping into the fray with their own displays, it's a good time to step back and examine the LCD-filled terrain. Below are the major smart displays, and the best use-case for each. + +*Updated November 2019: We've included all the latest models and added the Echo Show 8, and some hands-on thoughts about the Facebook Portal.* + +### Best for Music + +If you want a speaker with a screen, which is to say you want good sound above all else, JBL's Link View ([8/10, WIRED Recommends](https://www.wired.com/review/jbl-link-view-google-smart-display/)) is an early frontrunner. It has the best speakers of any display we've tried, and its 8-inch screen is almost ideal—small enough that it doesn't take up your whole countertop, but big enough for squint-free Google Duo video chats. Plus, it has a built-in privacy cover over its webcam to ensure no one is snooping on you unless you allow it. + +### Best for the Kitchen + +Lenovo's Smart Display ([8/10, WIRED Recommends](https://www.wired.com/review/review-lenovo-smart-display/)) can't pump out the jams as well as JBL's Link View, but it has a stylish design that's kitchen friendly. Google Assistant's step-by-step recipe directions work perfectly on it. You can prop it up vertically for Google Duo calls or keep it widescreen, and it comes in two sizes: [8-inch](https://goto.walmart.com/c/1305164/565706/9383?subId1=bestsmartdisplays&veh=aff&sourceid=imp_000011112222333344&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FLenovo-Smart-Display-8%2F599801301){: rel=nofollow} or [10-inch](https://goto.walmart.com/c/1305164/565706/9383?subId1=bestsmartdisplays&veh=aff&sourceid=imp_000011112222333344&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FLenovo-Smart-Display-10-with-the-Google-Assistant%2F552189414){: rel=nofollow}. The 10-inch may be too large for some, but we loved the bamboo wood grain design touches on the back. And, like the Link View, this also has a privacy shutter so you can keep the camera covered. + +### The Amazon Show + +Amazon's [2nd Echo Show](https://www.wired.com/story/amazon-echo-show-future-of-tv/) has a larger 10-inch screen and enhanced, rearward-firing speakers. It has a more high-end look and can now play NBC and Hulu videos. Amazon has even added step-by-step recipes to Alexa to combat what Google cooked up for its displays. Frankly, it's still not as good as Google Assistant in this regard, but Amazon invented this category and the latest Echo Show is a promising evolution of the smart screen concept. + +There's also the [Echo Show 5 ($90](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HZLHPKP/){: rel=nofollow}, with a much smaller screen that makes it more at home on a bedside table then anywhere else. This year Amazon added the [Echo Show 8 $130](https://www.amazon.com/Echo-Show-8/dp/B07PF1Y28C/){: rel=nofollow}, the middle child you might say. We haven't laid hands on one yet, but with the same pixel density of the 10.1 inch model in a smaller form factor, the Echo Show 8 will likely offer the best screen quality of the Echo show family. + +### The Creepy Clock + +The Echo Spot is the smallest Alexa smart display, and it creeped us out at first (we gave it a [6/10](https://www.wired.com/review/review-amazon-echo-spot/) when we reviewed it). Amazon positioned it as a smart alarm clock of sorts, but it has a camera without a privacy shutter—giving you the uneasy feeling that it watches you sleep. The round 2.5-inch screen is also too small for watching Netflix or video calling, even if it's fine for at-a-glance info. But if you have some electrical tape handy and want to wake up to Alexa in the morning, it's a fun little device. + +### Tablet Transformer + +Amazon's new Show Dock recharges one of its 8-inch or [10-inch Fire HD](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DDDPWML/){: rel=nofollow} tablets and turns it into a very nice Echo display, complete with voice commands. The microphones won't pick up your voice quite as well, but using a tablet adds portability to the smart display experience. If you want apps, but tend to place your Fire HD back in the same spot each night, a Show Dock might be right for you. One thing to note, your Fire will only stay active for 30 minutes at a time. + +### Facebook Has One Too +Adrienne So + +Facebook wants in on the hardware market. The [10-inch Portal and 16-inch Portal Plus](https://www.wired.com/story/facebook-portal-smart-home-device/) are its answer. WIRED senior writer Andrienne So, liked using the portal ([6/10 WIRED Review](https://www.wired.com/review/facebook-portal-2019/)), but found the portal "difficult to separate this family of devices from the social network that makes them." And therein lies the rub. To add to the creepiness the Portal can rotate, with a camera that follows your movements. Other than video chatting, Amazon's Alexa runs the show. It should operate similarly to the Echo Show and pull off most of Alexa's usual abilities without trouble. Facebook also stresses that calls are encrypted and the camera can be disabled or blocked with the included camera cover. + +### Google's First Display + +There are a growing number of smart displays with Google Home, and finally Google makes one of its own. The Google Nest Hub Max has an unobtrusive design, 10-inch touch screen display, some pretty good speakers, and a camera for video calls over Google Duo. There's also the slightly smaller [Google Nest Hub](https://store.google.com/config/google_nest_hub){: rel=nofollow} with a 7-inch screen. This ends up a slightly odd size, too small to be useful in places like the kitchen, but a little large for the bedside. It also doesn't have a camera. It can do voice calls, but Google opted out of the growing concerns over the amount of cameras in our lives. + +### Go Screenless + +If you don't feel the need for a screen, a smart speaker offers the power of an assistant and often much better sound to boot. We like the JBL Link 20 ([8/10, WIRED Recommends](https://www.wired.com/review/review-jbl-link-speakers-with-google-assistant/)) which strikes a great balance between price, size, and sound quality. If you want the best sound you can get from a smart speaker, the [Sonos One](https://www.amazon.com/Sonos-One-Gen-Controlled-Built/dp/B07NJPXRBC/){: rel=nofollow} is a good choice ([8/10, WIRED Recommends](https://www.wired.com/story/review-sonos-one/)). Be sure to read our [guide to choosing the right Sonos speaker setup](https://www.wired.com/story/best-sonos-speakers-buying-guide/). diff --git a/published/best-tablets.txt b/published/best-tablets.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3d074b2 --- /dev/null +++ b/published/best-tablets.txt @@ -0,0 +1,55 @@ +Tablets have yet to make themselves essential, but that doesn't mean they aren't nice to have around. A good tablet can be a portable TV screen around the house, or a great way to enjoy apps and games on the go. + +The iPad's ease of use and best-in-breed software still make it the obvious choice for most people, but if you don't want an iPad, there are options. Android tablets have become useful enough to consider, and Amazon's incredibly affordable tablets are also worth it if your needs are light. Finally, if you mostly need a laptop that can stand in for a tablet, a Windows 2-in-1 might be your best bet. Be sure to check out all of [WIRED's Buying Guides](https://www.wired.com/tag/buying-guides/). + +*Updated November 2019: We've added the new iPad, the Galaxy Tab S6, and removed some older tablets that are no longer available.* + +### Best For Most People + +We haven't had a chance to test Apple's 2019 update to the base model iPad, but we're confident that it's going to be best buy for most people. It's mostly the same as the 2018 model, which topped previous versions of this list. It even, somewhat disappointingly, has the same A10 Fusion processor as the 2018 model. It's plenty powerful enough for most use cases, but if you're planning a lot of photo editing, you may want to look into the iPad Pro models. + +We like the small .5-inch bump in screen size, which makes this latest model half an inch taller, and the Smart Connector hookup that lets you use an Apple Keyboard (Amazon). + +Our only real gripe remains the same as last year's model -- the larger air gap (space between glass and screen) than what you get with the iPad Air, Mini, and Pro. For this reason, it isn't our top choice if you're planning to make heavy use of the Pencil, though it is compatible and does work just fine. + +### A Good Upgrade. + +The 2019 iPad Air uses the faster A12 Bionic processor in the chassis of the 10.5-inch iPad Pro that came out in 2017. It's the same size as most every iPad you've ever held, but with slightly more screen space than the 10.2-inch default iPad above. + +The Air still has a home button and fingerprint sensor, which we like. The display is also better for writing and drawing with the [Apple Pencil](https://apple.sjv.io/ebGaX){: rel=nofollow} (also [$99 at Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Apple-MK0C2AM-A-Apple-Pencil/dp/B016NY7784/){: rel=nofollow}), because it's laminated more tightly (there's less distance between the glass and pixels). It's also compatible with [Apple's Smart Keyboard](https://apple.sjv.io/qB9qN){: rel=nofollow}. + +### The Ultimate Tablet + +The [iPad Pro](https://www.wired.com/review/review-ipad-pro-2018/) is a cut above the rest. It ditches the home button in favor of a larger display (either 11 or 13 inches) and Face ID. The 13-inch model is about the size of a magazine and wonderful for drawing, but the 11-incher is more than enough tablet for most. + +If you want to draw or write, spend extra to get the new [$129 Apple Pencil](https://apple.sjv.io/XKjqb){: rel=nofollow} ([Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Apple-MU8F2AM-A-Pencil-Generation/dp/B07K1WWBJK/){: rel=nofollow}). It's the best stylus around, and it magnetically clings to the side, auto-pairing and charging. The [Smart Keyboard is a good keyboard](https://apple.sjv.io/V0WgM){: rel=nofollow} ([both](https://www.amazon.com/Apple-Smart-Keyboard-11-inch-English/dp/B07JZYSTNR/){: rel=nofollow} [sizes](https://www.amazon.com/Apple-Keyboard-12-9-inch-Generation-English/dp/B07JZYSWPY/){: rel=nofollow} are also at Amazon)—just know that it's still a challenge to accomplish many laptop tasks on an iPad. It's also available at [Amazon for $799 or less](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K344J3N/){: rel=nofollow}. + +### Best 8-Inch Tablet + +After more than three years, Apple finally took the time to update the iPad Mini 4 and, predictably, we love it ([8/10, WIRED Recommends](https://www.wired.com/review/review-ipad-mini-2019/)). It's faster than the old model and now compatible with the [Apple Pencil](https://apple.sjv.io/ebGaX){: rel=nofollow} ([Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Apple-MK0C2AM-A-Apple-Pencil/dp/B016NY7784/){: rel=nofollow}) and other Bluetooth styli. Mostly, the only good reason to buy this tablet is because you like the portability. Kids have an easier time using it, and it's fantastic for travel. You may want to invest in a [stand-up case](https://apple.sjv.io/KWmmy){: rel=nofollow} ([Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PTMPCLN/){: rel=nofollow}). You can also purchase the tablet at [Amazon for $399](https://www.amazon.com/Apple-iPad-Mini-Wi-Fi-64GB/dp/B07PRD48RS/){: rel=nofollow}. + +### Best Tablet Under $200 + +Amazon's tablets aren't for everyone. They *really* push Amazon Prime services and apps, and they're best for more passive tasks like playing games and watching movies. But for $150, it's hard to beat the Fire HD 10, which is our [favorite Fire Tablet](https://www.wired.com/story/best-amazon-fire-tablet/). It has hands-free Alexa and a specifically designed optional [standing case](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MSPQ4TL/?tag=w050b-20){: rel=nofollow} accessory. I've used an HD 10 interchangeably with an iPad for more than a year now. It's not as speedy, but it gets the job done. Make sure to [also get a standing case](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NHH3V7H/){: rel=nofollow}. + +### Best Tablet Under $100 + +At $80, the Fire HD 8 is our favorite value-priced tablet. It's a completely functional 8-inch device that's great for travel and reading. The only downside might be the sub-par screen, which does have visible pixels at its 1,280 x 800 resolution, though it's honestly [not that bad](https://www.wired.com/review/review-amazon-fire-hd-8-2018/), and neither is the tablet's slight sluggishness. The latest version has hands-free Alexa. You may want to pair it with a [standing case](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N44JBS4/){: rel=nofollow} or [Echo Dock](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BNXZDJ3/){: rel=nofollow}. Keep an eye out for sales on this one, we've seen it dip as low as $50 several times. + +### Best Android Tablet + +The Galaxy Tab S5e is Samsung's latest answer to the iPad. The battery life isn't as good, and there's no headphone jack, something you'll sorely miss unless you've gone all wireless already. Still, the S5e is about as good as an Android tablet can get right now. Imagine a Samsung phone blown up to a 10.2 screen size and you've got the idea. + +We think the S5e is a better buy for most people than the more expensive (albeit slightly more powerful) Galaxy Tab S6. The only exception is if you need the stylus, which the S5e does not support. Really though, if you're planning to do a lot of drawing, the iPad Air is worth the money. + +### Also a Good Galaxy Tab + +The Galaxy Tab S4 was Samsung's answer to the iPad Pro. It isn't as good as an iPad Pro (iPads just have better apps and last longer), but it's still powerful and useful if you want a tablet primarily for media, or browsing the web on the couch. It comes with an S Pen stylus, and Samsung sells its own keyboard as well. Like Apple's keyboard, it has its ups and downs—it adds a lot of bulk to the tablet. + +### Excellent Android Tablet + +Huawei's [MediaPad M5 10.8](https://www.wired.com/review/review-huawei-mediapad-m5-tablets/) is a simple, good Android tablet. It has great fit and finish, and it's about as powerful as a smartphone from a few years ago—which is normal for a tablet. At around $300 (plus [$10 for a case](https://www.amazon.com/MoKo-Huawei-MediaPad-10-8-Case/dp/B07BBLYK43/){: rel=nofollow}), it's relatively affordable, and its wide display is better suited for movies or TV shows. The lack of a headphone jack may bug you, even though it includes a USB-C adapter in the box. + +### Most Powerful 2-in-1 + +If the Surface Pro is half tablet and half laptop, the Surface Book 2 ([8/10 WIRED Recommends](https://www.wired.com/review/review-microsoft-surface-book-2/))is more like 90 percent laptop, 10 percent tablet. It runs Windows 10 and has a glorious keyboard with a 13-inch or 15-inch detachable tablet screen, though you probably won't detach it often. You might twist it around the keyboard 360 degrees to draw or take notes, though. Mostly, this is a powerhouse. The 15-inch version can pack a Nvidia GeForce 1060, which makes it powerful enough for gaming and even VR. diff --git a/published/coffee-lovers-gift-guide.txt b/published/coffee-lovers-gift-guide.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5d33f1c --- /dev/null +++ b/published/coffee-lovers-gift-guide.txt @@ -0,0 +1,36 @@ +I love coffee. I have strong opinions on coffee. I spend more time making coffee each morning than most people do making breakfast. It's not a habit, it's a ritual. It's a ceremony. It involves fire, water, air, earth and dare I say spirit. I make coffee, have a bite to eat, then I make an espresso. Espresso of course requires a bit of good mineral water with it, and maybe a corner of bittersweet chocolate. Once the espresso and water and chocolate are arrayed on my desk, then, and only then, life begins. + +If you know someone like me (or you are someone like me), I'm here to help you find the perfect gift. It's a tricky thing finding the right gift for the highly opinionated coffee lover. Chances are they already have their ceremony the way they like it, but that doesn't mean it can't be improved with a thoughtful gift. Here's my guide to buying the perfect gift for the coffee lover in your life. + +## Nanopresso + +If your coffee lover is suffering through drip coffee at the office, hook them up with one of these. The Nanopresso is my favorite portable espresso maker. It strikes the best balance between ease of use, portability, and taste. It extracts a nice espresso from almost any beans and the compact all-in-one design also means you can shove it in the smallest of bags and have excellent espresso anywhere you go. + +The Nanopresso has an expansion pack called the Barista Kit with a larger water tank and grounds basket for making a double espresso. The overall size of device becomes larger, and doesn't fit in the handy carrying case, but I'd trade the case for a double shot any day. + +Not every coffee fanatic loves espresso, so it's worth asking before you buy. If they don't like espresso, consider my next pick. + +## Aeropress Go + +The Aeropress Go is barely bigger than a coffee mug, incredibly lightweight, and makes one of the best cups of coffee you'll get on the go. It's everything the standard Aeropress is -- easy to use, great at minimizing bitterness, and capable of an excellent cup of coffee -- it's just smaller. + +The Aeropress is also very forgiving. While it can take a bit of experimenting to get the Aeropress to make coffee exactly the way you want, it's almost difficult to make a bad cup of coffee. That makes it a great gift for someone who isn't necessarily a coffee fanatic, yet. + +## Burr Grinder + +You know those swirling blade grinders you can get at any home store for less than ten buck? Those are great for grinding spices. They're terrible at grinding coffee though. And freshly grinding whole beans is first leg of the cauldron that is coffee brewing of greatness. + + +Best Gifts for the Coffee Lover + +burr grinder One manual, one motor +insulated mug (i like contigo, but going to add a couple others as well) +pour over set up (louryn) +coffee subscription +fun mugs (ThinkGeek type stuff) +small roaster +milk frother + + +There's more to coffee than a coffee pot on a timer. + diff --git a/published/deals1010.txt b/published/deals1010.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d91ad85 --- /dev/null +++ b/published/deals1010.txt @@ -0,0 +1,42 @@ +This weekend is WIRED25, our annual festival. If you're in the Bay Area, [come visit us at WIRED25](https://www.wired.com/story/come-hang-out-with-wired-at-our-2-day-festival/) this weekend, which will bring many of the people that we spoke to in [our November issue](https://www.wired.com/story/wired25-stories-people-racing-to-save-us/), like Eva Galperin and Chris Evans, to our offices in San Francisco. + +If you live nowhere near SF not to worry, we have great deals for everyone. Black Friday is getting closer and many stores have already started their sales. This weekend we've got ongoing sales at [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/b/ref=gbps_ftr_m-8_1a0f_wht_502394?node=384082011){: rel=nofollow} and [Dell](http://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/8984107/type/dlg/https://deals.dell.com/en-us){: rel=nofollow}, plus we've highlighted our favorite deals from around the web. + +*Note: When you buy something using the retail links in our stories, we may earn a small affiliate commission. [Read more](https://www.wired.com/2015/11/affiliate-link-policy/) about how this works.* + +###Cameras + +Fall is camera deals season. Whether you're looking to step up from your phone to a still-pocketable point-and-shoot, or want to go full-frame DSLR, there's deals for nearly everything. Be sure to have a look at our guides to [the best compact cameras](https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-compact-cameras/), [the best mirrorless cameras](https://www.wired.com/story/mirrorless-cameras-buying-guide/), and [the best instant cameras](https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-instant-cameras/). + +- **[Sony RX100 III for $598 ($150 off)](https://www.amazon.com/Sony-Premium-Compact-F1-8-2-8-DSCRX100M3/dp/B00K7O2DJU/){: rel=nofollow}:** Sony updates the RX100 line so freqently it's almost comical. This model is over a year old, but still offers most of what you find in the latest RX100 IV ([7/10 WIRED Review](https://www.wired.com/review/sony-rx-100-vi/)) at half the price. You get top-tier 1-inch sensor, a very nice pop-up electronic viewfinder, a Zeiss 24-70mm F1.8-2.8 lens, and 1080 video (no 4K alas) in a very compact package. + +- **[Panasonic Lumix ZS100 for $448 ($50 off)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010NU5AX8/){: rel=nofollow}:** Panasonic's compact Lumix ZS100 gives you more zoom than the competition, going for a full 10x optical zoom lens. The camera's 1-inch sensor is on par with some of the best compact cameras and features 4K video, and a great touchscreen interface. The newer model, the [ZS200 ($698, $100 off)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079QYMWZX/){: rel=nofollow} is also on sale. + +- **[Fujifilm XT-3 Mirrorless Body Only $1300 ($200)](https://www.amazon.com/Fujifilm-X-T3-Mirrorless-Digital-Body/dp/B07H3Y9CJY/){: rel=nofollow}:** Fujifilm's flagship DSLR is on sale right now. The XT-3 has a 26.1 megapixel APS-C sensor and shoots 4K video at 60p. It's big and heavy, but well-built and the analog dials give it the feel, and quick and easy functions, of an older film camera. + +- **[Nikon W300 Underwater Camera for $296 ($55 off)](https://www.amazon.com/Nikon-Waterproof-Underwater-Digital-Camera/dp/B071ZMDBKL/){: rel=nofollow}:** Nikon's rugged W300 is waterproof to 30 meters, shockproof to 8 foot drops, and will generally take a beating and not complain. It's not always easy to use underwater, but no camera is really. We like the extra features in this rugged point-and-shoot, like GPS tracking, altimeter, depth gauge, and more. + +###Electronics + +[#image: /photos/5d853260a500f60009b585d5]|||||| + +- **[Garmin Fenix 5X Sapphire for $300 ($300 off)](https://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Fenix-5X-Sapphire-Slate/dp/B01MQX3306/){: rel=nofollow}:** This is a great deal on one the best multisport watches money can buy. The Garmin Fenix 5X ([8/10 WIRED Recommends](https://www.wired.com/2017/09/review-garmin-fenix-5x/)) brings performance tracking and GPS-based mapping to all your activities. It is big, but with that size comes great power. Also available at this price from [Best Buy](https://bestbuy.7tiv.net/qq6zj){: rel=nofollow}. + +- **[Apple Watch Series 3 for $199 ($80 off)](https://goto.walmart.com/c/1305164/565706/9383?subId1=weekenddeal110919&veh=aff&sourceid=imp_000011112222333344&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FApple-Watch-Series-3-GPS-Cellular-38mm-Sport-Band-Aluminum-Case-Silver-White%2F728936788){: rel=nofollow}:** The [Series 5](https://www.wired.com/story/apple-watch-series-5/) is Apple's current smartwatch, but the Watch Series 3 is still a [great fitness tracker](https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-fitness-tracker/) (the Series 4 has been discontinued). + +- **[Dell XPS 13 8th Gen i7, 256 GB SSD, 8GB RAM for $1050 ($250 off)](http://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/8984107/type/dlg/https://deals.dell.com/en-us/productdetail/3ac4){: rel=nofollow}:** Our favorite Dell ultrabook is on sale. The 13-inch XPS ([8/10 WIRED Recommends](https://www.wired.com/review/dell-xps-13-2019/)) has plenty of power, weighs under three pounds, and has a battery that lasts nearly all day (especially this model with the 1920 x 1080 display). Get an additional five percent off using the code DPASave5Nov. + +- **[Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 10th Gen i7, 256 GB SSD, 16GB RAM for $1480 ($170 off)](http://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/8984107/type/dlg/https://deals.dell.com/en-us/productdetail/3bn0){: rel=nofollow}:** This folding version of the XPS features a newer, faster processor, 16-gigabytes of RAM, and a touch display that folds into tablet mode. Get an additional five percent off using the code DPASave5Nov. + +###More Deals + +- **[Lego Ideas NASA Apollo Saturn V for $90 ($30 off)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071G3QMS2){: rel=nofollow}** For the serious Lego fan, this kit is a complete Saturn V three stage rocket that's over 39 inches tall when complete. + +- **[23andMe Health & Ancestry Kit for $99 ($100 off):](https://www.amazon.com/23andMe-DNA-Test-Ancestry-collection/dp/B01G7PYQTM){: rel=nofollow}** This deal matches the discount we saw on Prime Day. Unlike similar DNA testing kits, 23andMe doesn't try to upsell you on extra services. + +- **[SanDisk 128GB SDXC Memory Card for $20 ($48)](https://bestbuy.7tiv.net/330kK){: rel=nofollow}** This reasonably fast SD card can write at 70 megabytes per second, which is plenty fast for most digital cameras (if you have a full frame camera and want to record 4K or better footage, you may want to go with something faster like this [Sony SF-G UHS-II 64 GB card](https://www.amazon.com/Sony-SF-G64-T1-Performance-Blazing/dp/B06ZYNN6JP){: rel=nofollow}). + +- **[SanDisk 128 GB MicroSDXC Memory Card for $20 ($48)](https://bestbuy.7tiv.net/QgdjM){: rel=nofollow}** This fast MicroSD card is great for adding some extra disk space to your phone, or use it in a camera with the included adapter. + +- **[Western Digital 5TB USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive for $90 ($60 off)](https://bestbuy.7tiv.net/oW6nb){: rel=nofollow}** Where are you going to put all those pictures when it's finally time to dump the images from that 128GB card? On this massive portable drive of course. + diff --git a/published/google-nest-mini.txt b/published/google-nest-mini.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8c28963 --- /dev/null +++ b/published/google-nest-mini.txt @@ -0,0 +1,30 @@ +Earlier this year, Google re-branded all its Home devices under the Nest name. What was once the Google Home Mini is now the Google Nest Mini and it's been updated for 2019. + +The Nest Mini is a step up over its predecessor, particularly when it comes to sound. The lows and mid-range tones are much clearer, with a level of separation in frequencies that didn't exist in in the Home Mini. I found this greatly improved with music, though in many cases podcasts still sounded muddy and washed out. + +Frankly, given the sound quality of the old Home Mini, there was nowhere to go but up. And I should caution that the Nest Mini still isn't a great speaker, but it sounds good enough to be useable as a speaker, which more than you could really say for the Home Mini. Given the entry level price of $49, it's a great way to see if the smart home is for you, or as a cheap way to extend your smart home into new rooms. + +### + +Outwardly the Nest Mini is very similar to the Home Mini. Google has changed fabric material to a fabric made recycled materials, but it looks and feels nearly the same. The Micro USB plug is gone, instead you get a round plug. It's not a big change, but it does mean that mean that any Home Mini accessories that used Micro USB plugs won't work with the Nest Mini. + +The big one here are wall mounts, but you won't need those anyway because the Nest Mini has a little notch for wall mounting built right into the back of it. And I highly recommend taking advantage of it. The re-designed sound system really shines when you mount the Nest Mini on the wall. Using the wall for added resonance, the Nest Mini is able to somewhat transcend its size and provide decent sounding music. It also makes any voice responses to your commands sound clearer. + +When Google announced the Nest Mini to touted an ability to adjust its sound to the room, tuning itself as more expensive speakers like the Sonos One ([8/10 WIRED Recommends](https://www.wired.com/story/review-sonos-one/)) do. If it did this, it was subtle enough that I never noticed it. Again, the biggest sound improvement in my experience is going to hanging it on the wall. + +There's a new sensor under the fabric cover that detects when you're reaching for the Mini. It lights up the volume control buttons on the side of the speaker when it detects your hand nearby. When this works it's great, but this, more than any other feature on the Nest Mini, was inconsistent. + +Interacting with the Nest Mini is the same as it is for all of Google's smart speaker devices. You say "Hey Google" or "Ok Google" and the LEDs in the middle to Nest Mini light up to let you know it's listening to you. This time around Google has added a third microphone, which makes the Nest Mini better at picking up your commands. I tested this along side the previous model in large room and it was indeed much better not just at picking up my voice, but hearing it accurately. + +The other big new feature in this update is a dedicated machine learning chip. This allows the Mini to learn your voice better, and speeds up the response time since in many cases it will be processed locally rather than sent to Google's servers. You'll still need a Wi-Fi connection, and all of your voice recordings are still sent to Google. In my testing it was impossible to tell when things were processes locally, if they ever were, but there's a potential speed boast there, especially down the road. + +One thing Google has not made a lot of noise about is the ability to pair two Nest Mini's for a stereo setup. I only had one, so I could not test it, but Google has [long offered this](https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/7559493?hl=en) on the more expensive Google Home Max speakers. Theoretically you could pair a left and right Nest Mini, and turn the two into a possibly not bad sound setup. + +Other new tricks for the Nest Mini include the ability to turn into an intercom broadcasting to other Google speakers throughout your house, support for calls through Google Duo, and it can become an alarm through Google's Nest Aware subscription plan. + +One of the nice things about Google's smart home devices is that they last. Google's updates are iterative and rarely revolutionary. To that end, if you already have a Google Home Mini, there's nothing here that screams upgrade now. By the same token, when the next Nest Mini arrives this one will likely continue working just fine. Because most of what you want out Google's device is Google Assistant, updates to that generally work on all devices. + +That's why, despite the fact that this is very capable speaker and well worth the money, I don't suggest tossing your older Home Mini. Yes the sound is better, but if you want to upgrade your sound, you're better off making a more substantial investment in a quality speaker like a JBL Link 20 ([8/10 WIRED Recommends](https://www.wired.com/review/review-jbl-link-speakers-with-google-assistant/) or Sonos One. + +If on the other hand, you want to extend your existing Google Assistant-based smart home into new rooms, or you want to try out Google Assistant on the cheap, the new Nest Mini is a great place to start. + diff --git a/published/google-nest-wifi.txt b/published/google-nest-wifi.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3d0f65c --- /dev/null +++ b/published/google-nest-wifi.txt @@ -0,0 +1,39 @@ +Google has rebranded its flagship WiFi device the Nest WiFi, but one word you rarely hear from Google in reference to its router is, well, the word router. Routers are big ugly things. There's usually made of cheap black plastic, festooned with antennae, and look most at home tucked away in a closet. + +The problem is that these devices are supposed to cover your house in a warm cozy blanket of Wi-Fi signal and a closet seriously hinders that. The Nest WiFi wants out of the closet, and to Google's credit, it looks good enough, or at least innocuous enough, to display. + +The Nest WiFi comes in three colors: Snow White, Mist Blue, or Sand Pink. It looks at home on a bookshelf or counter, which gives it a leg up on signal strength over that plastic spider lurking in the closet. + +The icing on the cake for fans of Google Assistant is that the mesh extension unit, called a Point, also doubles as the equivalent to a Nest Mini, with a built-in voice-activated speaker. + +### Wi-Fi Something Something hed + +I tested the Nest Wifi two-pack which consists of the router and one Point extender, which sells for $269. Google says this combo will cover 3,800 square feet and up to 200 connected devices. It certainly had no trouble covering my 1200 square foot home. There's also a three pack available that adds a second Point and extends the coverage to 5,400 square feet and 300 devices. + +Another option, if you don't need the Google Assistant-powered Point, or if you like Alexa better, is to pick up just the router, or even [two routers for $299](https://www.amazon.com/Google-Nest-WiFi-AC2200-Coverage/dp/B07YMJ57MB/){: rel=nofollow}. + +The Nest Wifi system does not function as a modem, so you'll still need your ISP's modem. To get started you plug your Nest into your modem, download the Google Home app to your phone, and then connect to the Nest to get everything set up. The Google Home app had no trouble negotiating the setup with the two modems I tested, though it's worth noting that the Nest does not work in "bridge" mode, which some ISP's suggest using (Verizon FiOS for example). You can still get the Nest to work in these cases, but there may be a bit of extra setup involved. + +Once you have the Nest WiFi setup with Google Home, things get a little confusing because to access some more advanced features you'll need to use Google's Wifi app (it has not yet been rebranded to Nest). This will help you find the best location for your point, set up and test the speaker, and test your network speeds, both between router and point and your actual home connection, as well as block sites. Some, but not all of this, can also be done in Google Home and eventually Google Home will handle everything, but for now you'll need both which adds a little complexity to what's otherwise a very simple system. + +The WiFi app is where you can do more advanced things like prioritize traffic from certain points at certain hours. For example, set the point in your living room to have priority traffic in the evening for streaming Netflix, and the point in your office during the day for work. + +One of my favorite features of the Nest WiFi is the ability to easily connect guests. Everyone who comes over wants on your network, but I have all sorts of drives and data connected to my network that I don't want anyone else accessing, so I use a guest network for everyone else. Any router can do that, but then I have to remember the password, which I never do. And my guest has to type it in. The Nest eliminates that. All I have to do is open up any connected Google device with a screen and I can get a QR code. My guest scans the QR code and they're connected. There's no typing in passwords, it just works. + +### Shortcomings + +For as simple as the Nest WiFi is most of the time, that simplicity has some costs, the biggest of which is that this is very much a Wi-Fi system. The router has one Ethernet port, which means if you want to wire much of anything you'll need an additional Ethernet switch. Worse, the point extender has no Ethernet port at all. It is the Nest WiFi after all, not the Nest Router. Google claims only about 5 percent of Nest users had devices plugged in so it shouldn't matter for most users. + +How Google knows that is also something worth considering. It knows that because it collects a lot of data about your network and what happens on it. To setup the Nest Wifi using Google Home you'll need a Google Account, which means giving up some degree of privacy at the router level. + +According to the various terms of service and privacy policy notices I encountered with setting up the Nest WiFi, Google's Nest cloud services will collect information about your home network, the devices on it, and any surrounding Wi-Fi networks. That's in addition to collecting stats based on usage. All the data collection can be opted out of, but given Google's history of recording data even when you opt out of being recorded it seem best to assume this data is being collected. If you're not okay with that, there are a lot of other routers on the market. + +Another reason you might want to pass on the Nest Wifi is if you plan to be an early adopter of Wi-Fi 6. Wi-Fi 6, also know by the less-friendly name 802.11ax, promises to boost speeds, and connect more devices, especially the ever increasing number of IoT gadgets. Google opted to pass on Wifi 6 for now in order to keep prices down and because of the relatively few devices on the market that support Wifi 6. + +While that's a logical decision right now, Wifi 6 support is picking up speed. Dell's newest laptops support it, the Samsung Galaxy S10 and Galaxy Note10 smartphones are on board, and we expect even more devices with Wifi 6 support to arrive next year. Personally I don't update my router very often, my current router has served me well for over seven years now, and if I were looking to upgrade I'd want at least some Wi-Fi 6 support to future proof my purchase as much as possible. + +Still, it's hard to argue with the ease of use that the Google Nest Wifi provides. While I am comfortable flashing routers with open firmware's like [OpenWRT](https://openwrt.org/), most people are not. And for those who want a dead simple way to ensure good Wi-Fi speeds throughout the house with a minimum of fuss, the Nest WiFi system fits the bill. + +The most natural competitor for the Nest Wifi is Amazon's Eero mesh system, which behaves very similarly though it adds some nice features you won't find in the Nest Wifi like the ability to block ads at the home network level. Really though it comes down to which ecosystem you want to invest in: Google or Amazon? If the answer is Google, the Nest Wifi is what you want. + +The Nest WiFi is available as a single router ($169), the two-pack I tested with router and point ($269), a three pack with an additional mesh point ($349), and a router two-pack ($299). diff --git a/published/leica-SL2-review.txt b/published/leica-SL2-review.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..06dc6ea --- /dev/null +++ b/published/leica-SL2-review.txt @@ -0,0 +1,47 @@ +Let's get something out of the way right from the start: Leica's are not cheap. Leica cameras and lenses live in a class of their own, and that includes price. Leica's are an investment and the new Leica full frame SL2 mirrorless camera is no exception. You want the red dot, you pay for it. + +The question is what do you get aside from the logo? + +In the case of SL2 the answer is a lot. You get a fantastic 47-megapixel full-frame sensor capable of incredibly sharp, wonderfully saturated images, and some of the best support for high end video you'll find in a mirrorless camera system. + +You'll also get support for nearly every lens Leica has ever made, some native, some adapted, but all with that legendary Leica quality. And that, finally, is why you buy a Leica—for the lenses. + +###Meet the SL2 + +The Leica SL2 is the successor to the SL, which arrived back in 2015. The SL2 is a full-frame mirrorless SLR-style camera, not a rangerfinder-style camera that Leica is perhaps best known for. The SL2 uses Leica's L mount lenses. Since the SL launched a few years ago, Leica, Panasonic, and Sigma have all released L mount lenses, giving you a wide selection of native lenses to chose from. There's also an M mount adapter for using other Leica lenses with the SL2. More on that in a minute. + +The first thing that jumps out at you when you pick up the SL2 is how solid it it is—it's downright heavy, but not in a bad way, rather in a solidly built way. It's a tank of a camera. It feels good in the hand though, and balanced nicely with the 90mm f/2 lens that Leica sent along for testing. + +It's definitely bigger and heavier than any of the Sony A7 series cameras I've used, possibly even heavier than the Panasonic S1R, a very similar camera body. + +Shooting with the Leica is an absolute pleasure. This is one of the best designed, ergonomically well-thought out cameras I've ever used. + +The body is made of machined magnesium, with machined aluminum top and bottom caps. There is no plastic anywhere to be found (there is a bit rubber in the flap that covers the ports, which feels a little out of place, but does it's job). The SL2 looks solid and it is solid. + +As you would expect from Leica, the attention to detail is fantastic. My favorite part about shooting with it is the slight scallop on the inside of the grip where your fingers wrap around and grab hold. It makes holding it much nicer than holding my Sony A7II. + +The rear of the camera strikes a nice balance between minimalist aesthetics and actually useful tools. There are three buttons near the LCD (the 3.2-inch LCD does not move, but does pack 2.1 million dots onto the screen for a very sharp display). Then there's a joystick style nub for navigating menus, changing focus point, and so on. I've been a huge fan of the nub since I first used it on a [Fujifilm X-Pro2](https://www.wired.com/2016/03/review-fujifilm-x-pro2/) and I wish more camera makers would use it. + +Another thing other camera makers could take from Leica is the wonderful menu system. Leica has put some serious thought into the menu system, especially the way Photo and Video-related features are separated out, yet both easy to access and change. Activate the menu and you'll see all the items for whichever mode you're in, and near the top of the screen buttons for "photo" and "video" to switch between settings. + +It rarely takes more than two taps to get where you want in this menu system. It's efficient and fast. To be fair, most of my experience is with Sony cameras, which have perhaps the labyrinthian menu systems out there, but even next to Panasonic's reasonably simple menus, the Leica SL2 really shines. This is the way menus should be done. + +The Leica has also taken a welcome agnostic approach to buttons. The understated styling does not have a ton of buttons, but nearly all the buttons it does have are unlabeled and fully customizable. There are eight buttons total and six of those can be customized to your liking. One thing I really like, for those familiar with the original SL, there are now two function buttons on the front of the camera and they're designed so you can tell them apart by feel. + +There's also a DSLR-style mini screen on top of the SL2 to see the current settings at a glance—shooting mode, ISO, shutter speed, battery status, and more. + +###The Results + +Nearly everything you would expect in a camera of this caliber is here. Reasonably fast autofocus, which is to say, autofocus is fast, though not stunningly so. There's phase detect focusing, face detect, and various ways to tweak and optimize the auto-focus defaults. Also present is 5-axis stabilization, which is a first for the SL line. There's also a very big, bright, sharp viewfinder, dual memory card slots, HDMI, USB-C, 3.5mm microphone, and 3.5mm headphone ports. + +All of that is nice, but what about the images? Well, with a 47-megapixel sensor, as you would expect, the Leica SL2 turns out some stunningly sharp, crisp images. The Leica shoots both JPG and DNG format RAW files. The use of DNG is noteworthy since it means you can edit the images with any piece of software (I like [Darktable](https://www.darktable.org/)), rather than waiting for your favorite app to add support for some proprietary RAW format. Kudos to Leica for going with the standard. + +The SL2 is one of the more capable video cameras you'll find in the full frame space. It can shoot 4K 60p full frame video, something no other camera I'm aware of can pull off (the Panasonic S1R can do 4K 60p, but it crops slightly). There's also quite a few log recording options videographers will appreciate. In fact, given the very high level of support for quality video, and the excellent results I got from the SL2, the fact that the rear LCD doesn't rotate is even more frustrating. Outside of that, the SL2 is a video powerhouse. + +As noted above, the SL2 is capable of shooting with legacy Leica glass, and while you can argue that the cameras are overpriced, very few would say the same of the lenses Leica has made over the years. Leica doesn't just adapt legacy lenses though, the sensor has been optimized to handle older Leica lenses. Specifically Leica has optimised the sensor design to improve image quality at the edges when using legacy Leica lenses from the M mount system. + +My one gripe with The SL2 is the bursts autofocus. The SL2 is can shoot at 20 frames per second with the electronic shutter and 10 frame per second with the mechanical shutter. That's quite good, but the catch is that in both cases that rate is with auto focus locked. If you want continuous focus and exposure, you'll need to drop down to the slower 6 frames per second burst rate. This is primarily of concern if you shoot things like sports or perhaps wildlife, though it did bite me once or twice trying to shoot my kids running around. + +Leica has updated its Fotos app for the SL2 and there's a new iPad version. If you pony up for a $50/year subscription you can integrate Fotos and Lightroom, as well as gain access to a few other extras. + +In the end the SL2 is an premium camera at a premium price. I have always resisted the lure of Leica, but the SL2 has a certain feel to it—there's something about the experience of using it that I really can't put into words well, except to say that maybe there is something to the magic of the red dot. diff --git a/published/ms-surface-review-final.txt b/published/ms-surface-review-final.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..27428c5 --- /dev/null +++ b/published/ms-surface-review-final.txt @@ -0,0 +1,44 @@ +Microsoft's Surface Laptop 3 wants to be great. *I* want the Surface Laptop to be great. I'd like to see the Microsoft AMD partnership produce something that sends other brands scurrying back to the drawing boards. + +Alas, that's not the case. Which is not to say that Surface Laptop 3 isn't worth considering. It's a very well-made laptop that has plenty of power for the average user, and a wonderfully large, 15-inch 3:2 ratio screen that's a joy to work on. Throw in a great trackpad, decent keyboard, and some nice extras like the facial recognition features in Windows 10 and you have solid, lightweight workhorse of a machine. + +###Going Big + +The 15-inch Surface Laptop is a new form factor for the Surface line. It joins the 13-inch model, which has also been updated. While I did not test the 13-inch model, this years update looks to be yet another incremental update of a solid laptop. You'll get a faster processor in roughly the same shell for the same price. + +To create the new 15-inch model it's almost as if Microsoft just hit the 13-inch model with some sort expanding ray gun. And there-in lies the rub in my view. + +If you're at all familiar with Microsoft's Surface line, the first thing that jumps out about this laptop is the all aluminium design. Yes, this is an Alcantara-free Surface. While the aluminum is fine, the Alcantara has defined the Surface family since it was released and its absence makes this feel less, well, Surface-y. + +Like the 13-inch, the 15-inch model is lightweight and has a very solid feel to it thank to the all-aluminum design. It also still has the 3:2 screen ratio of it's smaller sibling, making it really nice for editing documents and other tasks where a taller screen is welcome. + +The most disappointing thing about the Surface Laptop 3 is that Microsoft has not really done anything with the added space of a 15-inch chassis. For example, the keyboard is identical to the 13-inch model, which means there's considerable extra room on either side of it where there could be, well, have a gander at the 15-inch MacBook Pro and maybe add some bigger speakers. + +But no, the speakers in the 15-inch Surface are still right where they are in the smaller version, underneath. If better speakers aren't Microsoft's thing then maybe take a page from the Dell XPS 15 and pack in some extra USB ports and maybe a card reader too. But again, the Surface Laptop 3 sticks with the same single USB-A and USB-C ports found in the 13-inch model. Kudos to Microsoft for at least ditching the MiniDisplay in favor of a USB-C port, but charging still happens through the proprietary, magnetic Surface Connect port, which feels like a missed opportunity to pack in another USB-C port. + +And it's worth noting that the USB-C port you do get does **not** support Thunderbolt 3, which means you won't get the speed boost Thunderbolt 3 offers, nor can you use Thunderbolt 3 docking stations to expand your port options. Technically you can use it to charge the Surface Laptop, but I have no idea why you'd want to sacrifice your one USB-C port to charge. + +That's not to say the Surface 15-inch is all misses. There's some good stuff too. One high point for is the Windows Face Recognition login works great. You also get support for Microsoft’s Surface Pen, which is not included. + +Given it's place in the Surface universe as the beacon of light for those of us still clinging to trackpads and real keyboards that actually sit in your lap, it should be no surprise that both of these are very well done. The trackpad especially is first rate—the best non-Apple trackpad I've used. The keyboard lacks a certain snappiness I've come to appreciate from Lenovo's recent efforts, but it's still well-spaced and comfortable to type on. + +###AMD Inside + +The 15-inch form factor is the power users laptop. That's how Dell, Apple, Asus and others have positioned their offerings in this space. High end 15-inch laptops like the MacBook Pro and Dell XPS 15 offer six-core (or more) processors and features creative professionals need like color-tuned screens. Then there's 15-inch gaming laptops, which often sacrifice the sleek form factor, but pack in powerful graphics cards and plenty of ports. + +The Surface Laptop will make neither of these groups happy. As mentioned earlier this machine is really aimed at more casual users looking for a larger screen, but not needing the power of more expensive options. That's why the smart buy here is the low end model. + +The base model features AMD's new Ryzen 5 chip which Microsoft calls the Surface Edition Processor to indicate that it has been specifically tuned for the form factor of the Surface. The performance in my testing, using the PCMark 10 test suite pegged the processor at roughly the same performance as an eighth generation Intel i5. + +That's plenty of power for everyday tasks. I noticed no stutters or lags streaming 4K content, editing photos in Darktable, or working with some very large spreadsheets. That level of performance is not, however, going to be capable of editing high res video or compiling large pieces of software. Nor is it likely to impress gamers. There is an option to upgrade to a Ryzen 7 chip with a better graphics card as well, but even these fall short of similarly priced Apple and Dell models (at least on paper). + +One place the AMD chip did impress was battery life. Microsoft claims 11.5 hours. I was not able to get anywhere near that, but I did get a respectable 6.25 on the PCMark battery test and just a hair under 8 playing a looped video with the brightness at 50 percent. The good news is that the proprietary charging cord will get you from zero to 80 percent in just over an hour in my testing. + +The other notable thing, especially compared to some other 15-inch laptops I've used is that the Surface never gets hot in your lap and you hardly ever hear the fan. + +The Surface Laptop 3 15-inch base model is available in Platinum, and starts at $1,199 with a Ryzen 5 chip, 8-gigabytes of RAM, and a 128GB SSD. The unit I tested bumps the RAM to 16-gigabytes and the solid state drive to 256-gigabytes, which brings the price to $1,299. You can also get the higher specced models in black if you prefer. + +If you want a 15-inch laptop for the extra screen real estate it affords, and plan to use it to watch Netflix, edit documents, and browse the web, then the base model Surface Laptop 3 fits the bill. While there are cheaper, equally powerful options out there, none of them are quite as well designed, well-built, nor offer the battery life of the Surface. The base model is a solid buy if your needs are that of the casual user. + +If, on the other hand, you're looking for a 15-inch powerhouse that can handle everything from video editing to gaming, you're better off looking to the Dell XPS 15 or MacBook Pro, both of which offer better performance for roughly the same price as a maxed out Surface. + diff --git a/published/ms-surface-review.txt b/published/ms-surface-review.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..27428c5 --- /dev/null +++ b/published/ms-surface-review.txt @@ -0,0 +1,44 @@ +Microsoft's Surface Laptop 3 wants to be great. *I* want the Surface Laptop to be great. I'd like to see the Microsoft AMD partnership produce something that sends other brands scurrying back to the drawing boards. + +Alas, that's not the case. Which is not to say that Surface Laptop 3 isn't worth considering. It's a very well-made laptop that has plenty of power for the average user, and a wonderfully large, 15-inch 3:2 ratio screen that's a joy to work on. Throw in a great trackpad, decent keyboard, and some nice extras like the facial recognition features in Windows 10 and you have solid, lightweight workhorse of a machine. + +###Going Big + +The 15-inch Surface Laptop is a new form factor for the Surface line. It joins the 13-inch model, which has also been updated. While I did not test the 13-inch model, this years update looks to be yet another incremental update of a solid laptop. You'll get a faster processor in roughly the same shell for the same price. + +To create the new 15-inch model it's almost as if Microsoft just hit the 13-inch model with some sort expanding ray gun. And there-in lies the rub in my view. + +If you're at all familiar with Microsoft's Surface line, the first thing that jumps out about this laptop is the all aluminium design. Yes, this is an Alcantara-free Surface. While the aluminum is fine, the Alcantara has defined the Surface family since it was released and its absence makes this feel less, well, Surface-y. + +Like the 13-inch, the 15-inch model is lightweight and has a very solid feel to it thank to the all-aluminum design. It also still has the 3:2 screen ratio of it's smaller sibling, making it really nice for editing documents and other tasks where a taller screen is welcome. + +The most disappointing thing about the Surface Laptop 3 is that Microsoft has not really done anything with the added space of a 15-inch chassis. For example, the keyboard is identical to the 13-inch model, which means there's considerable extra room on either side of it where there could be, well, have a gander at the 15-inch MacBook Pro and maybe add some bigger speakers. + +But no, the speakers in the 15-inch Surface are still right where they are in the smaller version, underneath. If better speakers aren't Microsoft's thing then maybe take a page from the Dell XPS 15 and pack in some extra USB ports and maybe a card reader too. But again, the Surface Laptop 3 sticks with the same single USB-A and USB-C ports found in the 13-inch model. Kudos to Microsoft for at least ditching the MiniDisplay in favor of a USB-C port, but charging still happens through the proprietary, magnetic Surface Connect port, which feels like a missed opportunity to pack in another USB-C port. + +And it's worth noting that the USB-C port you do get does **not** support Thunderbolt 3, which means you won't get the speed boost Thunderbolt 3 offers, nor can you use Thunderbolt 3 docking stations to expand your port options. Technically you can use it to charge the Surface Laptop, but I have no idea why you'd want to sacrifice your one USB-C port to charge. + +That's not to say the Surface 15-inch is all misses. There's some good stuff too. One high point for is the Windows Face Recognition login works great. You also get support for Microsoft’s Surface Pen, which is not included. + +Given it's place in the Surface universe as the beacon of light for those of us still clinging to trackpads and real keyboards that actually sit in your lap, it should be no surprise that both of these are very well done. The trackpad especially is first rate—the best non-Apple trackpad I've used. The keyboard lacks a certain snappiness I've come to appreciate from Lenovo's recent efforts, but it's still well-spaced and comfortable to type on. + +###AMD Inside + +The 15-inch form factor is the power users laptop. That's how Dell, Apple, Asus and others have positioned their offerings in this space. High end 15-inch laptops like the MacBook Pro and Dell XPS 15 offer six-core (or more) processors and features creative professionals need like color-tuned screens. Then there's 15-inch gaming laptops, which often sacrifice the sleek form factor, but pack in powerful graphics cards and plenty of ports. + +The Surface Laptop will make neither of these groups happy. As mentioned earlier this machine is really aimed at more casual users looking for a larger screen, but not needing the power of more expensive options. That's why the smart buy here is the low end model. + +The base model features AMD's new Ryzen 5 chip which Microsoft calls the Surface Edition Processor to indicate that it has been specifically tuned for the form factor of the Surface. The performance in my testing, using the PCMark 10 test suite pegged the processor at roughly the same performance as an eighth generation Intel i5. + +That's plenty of power for everyday tasks. I noticed no stutters or lags streaming 4K content, editing photos in Darktable, or working with some very large spreadsheets. That level of performance is not, however, going to be capable of editing high res video or compiling large pieces of software. Nor is it likely to impress gamers. There is an option to upgrade to a Ryzen 7 chip with a better graphics card as well, but even these fall short of similarly priced Apple and Dell models (at least on paper). + +One place the AMD chip did impress was battery life. Microsoft claims 11.5 hours. I was not able to get anywhere near that, but I did get a respectable 6.25 on the PCMark battery test and just a hair under 8 playing a looped video with the brightness at 50 percent. The good news is that the proprietary charging cord will get you from zero to 80 percent in just over an hour in my testing. + +The other notable thing, especially compared to some other 15-inch laptops I've used is that the Surface never gets hot in your lap and you hardly ever hear the fan. + +The Surface Laptop 3 15-inch base model is available in Platinum, and starts at $1,199 with a Ryzen 5 chip, 8-gigabytes of RAM, and a 128GB SSD. The unit I tested bumps the RAM to 16-gigabytes and the solid state drive to 256-gigabytes, which brings the price to $1,299. You can also get the higher specced models in black if you prefer. + +If you want a 15-inch laptop for the extra screen real estate it affords, and plan to use it to watch Netflix, edit documents, and browse the web, then the base model Surface Laptop 3 fits the bill. While there are cheaper, equally powerful options out there, none of them are quite as well designed, well-built, nor offer the battery life of the Surface. The base model is a solid buy if your needs are that of the casual user. + +If, on the other hand, you're looking for a 15-inch powerhouse that can handle everything from video editing to gaming, you're better off looking to the Dell XPS 15 or MacBook Pro, both of which offer better performance for roughly the same price as a maxed out Surface. + diff --git a/published/parrot-anafi-review.txt b/published/parrot-anafi-review.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5389dd4 --- /dev/null +++ b/published/parrot-anafi-review.txt @@ -0,0 +1,42 @@ +DJI drones have long dominated the skies, but there are plenty of other drone options out there. Parrot, which has long made some very fun toy-like drones, stepped up its game last year with the 4K-capable Anafi. + +The company is back with a slightly new take on the Anafi, the Anafi FPV (first person view), which adds FPV goggles, a convenient backpack, and still manages to keep the price at $800. Compare that with DJI's Mavic Air with goggles, which would set you back $tk. + +DJI's Mavic and goggles combo does offer a laundry list of features you won't find in the Anafi, but Parrot is betting there's a class of pilots out there who want the FPV experience, but don't want to shell out the big bucks to get it. + +### Same Same But Different + +Parrot released the Anafi earlier this year (see our [full review](https://www.wired.com/review/parrot-anafi-4k-hdr-drone/)) and it's largely unchanged in this release. The design is compact and lightweight, with arms that fold in making it easy to fit in your bag. Speaking of bags, one of my favorite parts of the FPV release is the included backpack, which neatly squares away all the components and is firm enough to double as a launch pad if there's no flat ground around. + +The camera is unchanged in this release, it still offers 4K video at up to 30 fps, and takes 21-megapixel still images (including RAW), but the camera unfortunately doesn't produce as good of an image as I would think given the specs. The RAW files are fine, but the JPGs straight out of the camera were a little flat to my eye. + +The Anafi has a top speed of 34 mph and manages a range of over two miles, though out of the box it's much more tightly geo-fenced. You'll need to go into the settings and tweak the geo fence to extend the range to its full potential. Parrot is now claiming 26 minutes flying time from on a single charge, that's up one minute from the original release. + +### Goggle Me Goose + +Small tweaks to the Anafi aside, the main point of this release is the first person view goggle headset. + +Parrot has opted for what you could call a goggle holster, a relatively comfortable harness that straps to your head and holds a phone in front of your eyes. It's simple to set up, just lock your phone in place, adjust the straps, and you're ready to go. Parrot has a [list of supported devices](){: rel=nofollow}, though in my testing, so long as you can run the app and your phone fits, you'll be fine. + +Tapping your phone to provide the screen allows Parrot to keep costs down, but it's not without some trade offs. There's less hardware to access controls and navigating your way through menus is definitely more difficult. There are two hardware buttons, one of which calls up a menu which you then navigate with the joysticks while the Anafi hovers in place. The other button toggles your phone display between the app and your rear camera, which is useful if you want to take a quick look around without removing the headset. + +The buttons in the headset are actually just levers which tap a spot on the phone's screen. There's something wonderfully low tech about this approach that I really like, and it eliminates the need for batteries in the headset, which keeps things lightweight and relatively comfortable. It's still not the most comfortable thing to wear though. I found the lack of focusing options (there are zero) made it difficult for my aging eyes to focus well on the screen for long periods of time. I was still able to fly without any trouble, but I never wanted to keep it on for too long. + +I should probably also confess that my bias is toward the drone as a flying camera, rather than as a racing copter. I understand the appeal of FPV for racing and some other scenarios, but it's not my control method of choice. That said, I did have a lot of fun flying the Anafi in Arcade mode, which makes the flight path follow the camera. This felt the most natural to me using the goggle headset. Pan the camera and the drone follows. + +The other main flight mode I enjoyed in FPV was Cinematic mode, which locks the camera’s horizon to the drone's horizon. More than anything this felt like an easier version of the old PC flight simulator games I played (or tried to play) as a kid. + +There's also a racing preset, which is what anyone with any experience and love of pure drone flying will want to use. I found the responsiveness of the Anafi in this mode to be impressive and on par with DJI's equivalent settings. + +The faster, more responsive modes highlight why I don't find FPV all that useful in the more general case, that is, outside of closely controlled situations. -- the lack of situational awareness. That is, you have tunnel vision and no awareness of anything happening outside the camera's field of view. + +That's fine for racing on a controlled course, or flying in an area with no obstructions like trees or buildings, but if you're flying at your local park, you can easily bank into a tree if you're not careful. Parrot has wisely defaulted the Anafi to what it calls "film" mode, which gives beginners a nice slow, gentle place to start flying. I'd also like to see Parrot include some object detection and collision avoidance features though. These have been standard issue for DJI drones for years now, but the Anafi offers nothing of the sort. + +The Anafi FPV does cost considerably less than a similar drone and google combo from DJI though. The trade off is, you'll lose a lot of features, some potentially drone-saving features, found in DJI's offering. + + + + +https://www.amazon.com/Parrot-Anafi-Lightweight-Cockpitglasses-Comprehensive/dp/B07WHDGR2R/ + +[B & H Photo Video](https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1497566-REG/parrot_pf728050_anafi_fpv_portable_drone.html){: rel=nofollow}, [Best Buy](https://www.bestbuy.com/site/parrot-anafi-fpv-drone-with-skycontroller-dark-gray/6366141.p?skuId=6366141){: rel=nofollow} diff --git a/published/pixel-buying-guide.txt b/published/pixel-buying-guide.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7d3eb78 --- /dev/null +++ b/published/pixel-buying-guide.txt @@ -0,0 +1,72 @@ +[#image: /photos/5da5ed0501e4a40008261467]|||||| + + +Apple's latest iPhones are here. There are three new iPhones to choose from: the iPhone 11 Pro Max, the smaller iPhone 11 Pro, and the standard iPhone 11. If you're wondering which one is right for you and where to buy them, look no further. We've broken down all your options and parsed out everything you need to know. + +If you need to enter the reality distortion field and hear all about Apple's latest pocket-size technological marvels, check out [our full recap of Apple's big event](https://www.wired.com/story/everything-apple-announced-sept-2019/). + +*Updated September 20, 2019: We've added some more iPhone deals and updated our links. The iPhone 11 models went on sale at 8 am Eastern/5 am Pacific time on September 20.* + +*Note: When you buy something using the retail links in our stories, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Read more about [how this works](https://www.wired.com/2015/11/affiliate-link-policy/).* + +###Picking the Right iPhone 11 for You + +There are a few key differences between the new iPhones. Apple has a side-by-side comparison you can look at [here](https://www.apple.com/iphone/compare/){: rel=nofollow}, complete with all the specs if you're a spec junkie. You can also read [our iPhone Buying Guide](https://www.wired.com/gallery/iphone-buying-guide/) to learn why you should consider an iPhone XR. + +Our quick take is that all three phones are impressive pieces of hardware. The form factor hasn't changed much beyond the new camera layout (more on that below). The main hardware improvement is the new A13 Bionic processor. Apple claims its A13 chip has the fastest-ever CPU and GPU in a smartphone, and you can [read all about it here](https://www.wired.com/story/apple-a13-bionic-chip-iphone/). + +All models also start at 64 GB of storage. If you can swing it, go for 128 GB. If not, backing your photos up to iCloud can clear up a lot of space. + +- **The [iPhone 11 ($699)](https://apple.sjv.io/Jddmq){: rel=nofollow} is the best phone for most people:** The iPhone 11 ([8/10, WIRED Recommends](https://www.wired.com/review/apple-iphone-11/)) is very nearly as nice as its Pro siblings at a fraction of the cost. It has the same high-end chip set and a very similar size screen, and all of the software improvements work just fine on the iPhone 11. It can shoot the same 4K video at 60 fps, and Apple claims it gets an extra hour of battery life compared to the iPhone XR. What the iPhone 11 lacks is the brighter, sharper, HDR screen and the telephoto (2x zoom) camera of the Pro models. The 11 still has all the software upgrades like Night mode, which reduces noise in low-light situations, Portrait mode improvements, and a new lighting effect called High Key Mono, which produces black and white images. You also get Smart HDR, Slo-mo selfies, and all the rest of Apple's photo and video software upgrades. + +- **The [iPhone 11 Pro ($999)](https://apple.sjv.io/Qd52a){: rel=nofollow} has a nicer screen and third camera:** If you want a flagship piece of hardware and don't mind paying for it, this is your phone. The iPhone 11 Pro ([9/10, WIRED Recommends](https://www.wired.com/review/apple-iphone-11-pro/)) adds a third, telephoto camera (2x zoom) with a 52mm f/2.0 lens. The Pro models get a 2x optical zoom-in, along with a 10x digital zoom. Together these extras open up some additional photographic possibilities. Combine the extra camera with the brighter HDR screen, and the 11 Pro feels more like a camera that happens to take calls than a phone that takes pictures. It gets 4 hours more battery life than the XS and is waterproof up to 4 meters, instead of 2 meters like the 11. + +- **The [iPhone 11 Pro Max ($1,099)](https://apple.sjv.io/Qd52a){: rel=nofollow} is the over-the-top phablet:** The iPhone 11 Pro Max ([9/10, WIRED Recommends](https://www.wired.com/review/apple-iphone-11-pro/)) is mostly identical to the Pro, but larger. Its 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR display is notably bigger than the plain Pro's 5.8-inch display. Otherwise, though, it's the same phone, just turned to 11. It gets 5 hours more battery life than an XS Max from last year, according to Apple. + +###Accessorize (and Buy a Case) + +No matter which phone you end up with, get a case. The iPhone 11 line is mostly glass. Sure, Apple has ads showing the new iPhone dropping and bouncing off the ground in slo-mo, and the company claims it's the most scratch-resistant glass ever, but trust me, glass does shatter. + +Some people don't like the added bulk, but I prefer to protect my phone investment with a case. The [Speck Presidio Sport](https://fave.co/2UOGqJi){: rel=nofollow} provides good protection without being overly bulky, but if you want really bulletproof protection, go for an [OtterBox case](https://fave.co/2UO5tvL){: rel=nofollow}. + +###Buy It Unlocked + + +[#image: /photos/5d77f386933a7300086dc3a7]||| +iPhone 11 Pro +||| + + +The easiest way to order is from Apple.com. We recommend you buy the phone unlocked. That way you'll be able to use it on any wireless carrier, should you ever decide to switch. When it comes time to upgrade in a couple of years, you'll get more money back for an unlocked phone. And again, we recommend a 128 GB model if you go for a Pro. + +- **[iPhone 11 for $699+ at the Apple Store](https://apple.sjv.io/Jddmq){: rel=nofollow}:** Buy it unlocked. Apple offers up to a $300 trade-in credit. + +- **[iPhone 11 Pro (both models) for $999+ at the Apple Store](https://apple.sjv.io/Qd52a){: rel=nofollow}:** Buy it unlocked. Apple offers up to a $400 trade-in credit. + +###More iPhone 11 Deals + +Below are some major retailer offers, which should all sell unlocked versions of the phone (recommended). Again, unlocked is really the way to go, since it frees you up to use any network or sell/gift your phone down the road. Having said that, there are some carrier specific deals out there. They're worth a look if you're not planning to [sell your phone](https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-trade-in-or-sell-your-iphone/) in the future or switch wireless networks. We've linked to the standard iPhone 11 pages. + +- **[Walmart offers $50 off](https://goto.walmart.com/c/1305164/565706/9383?subId1=iphone11deals&veh=aff&sourceid=imp_000011112222333344&u=https://www.walmart.com/cp/9922722){: rel=nofollow}:** At the moment, Walmart has the best deal going. You can get $50 off all three iPhone 11 models if you order at Walmart. We linked to the standard iPhone 11, but you can also order the [iPhone 11 Pro](https://goto.walmart.com/c/1305164/565706/9383?subId1=iphone11deals&veh=aff&sourceid=imp_000011112222333344&u=https://www.walmart.com/cp/7927648){: rel=nofollow}. + +- **[Verizon offers $700 off to new unlimited subscribers](https://www.verizonwireless.com/smartphones/apple-iphone-11/){: rel=nofollow}:** Verizon has a couple deals. If you switch to Verizon and pony up for the unlimited plan, you can get a free iPhone 11, or up to $700 off any new iPhone when you trade in your smartphone. You'll get your $700 credit in the form of a $500 credit applied over 24 months and a $200 prepaid card. If you've been planning to switch anyway, and want an unlimited plan, this isn't a bad deal. Here's a link to the [iPhone 11 Pro page](https://www.verizonwireless.com/wireless-devices/smartphones/iphone-11-pro/){: rel=nofollow}. + +- **[AT&T also offers $700 off your second iPhone 11](https://www.att.com/buy/phones/apple-iphone-11-256gb-black.html){: rel=nofollow}:** If you buy one iPhone 11 and start a $100 per month new line of service, AT&T will give you a second iPhone 11. The [iPhone 11 Pro](https://www.att.com/buy/phones/apple-iphone-11-pro-256gb-midnight-green.html){: rel=nofollow} and [iPhone 11 Pro Max](https://www.att.com/buy/phones/apple-iphone-11-pro-max-256gb-midnight-green.html){: rel=nofollow} are listed separately on its site. + +- **[Sprint sort of has a deal](https://www.sprint.com/en/landings/apple/iphone-11.html){: rel=nofollow}:** Sprint is offering a $0 a month iPhone 11 with a new line and trade-in of qualifying phone (iPhone 7 or better, as well as newer Android phones). The [iPhone 11 Pro](https://www.sprint.com/en/landings/apple/iphone.html){: rel=nofollow} is slightly more per month ($12.50) and listed separately. + +- **[T-Mobile order page](https://www.t-mobile.com/offers/apple-iphone-deals){: rel=nofollow}:** T-Mobile is offering the iPhone 11 at 50 percent off ($350) provided you have an "equitable" device to trade in. For example, trade in an iPhone 7 and get half off the iPhone 11. Or trade in iPhone XS Max for half off the iPhone 11 Pro Max. + +- **[Best Buy order page](https://www.bestbuy.com/site/iphone/shop-iphone-11-iphone-11-pro-and-iphone-11-pro-max/pcmcat1568147641595.c?id=pcmcat1568147641595){: rel=nofollow}:** You can get all three phones from Best Buy, which also has trade-in offers. + +- **[Target order page](https://www.target.com/p/apple-iphone-11/-/A-78052843){: rel=nofollow}:** Target also has the [iPhone 11 Pro](https://www.target.com/p/apple-iphone-11-pro/-/A-78052805){: rel=nofollow} and [iPhone 11 Pro Max](https://www.target.com/p/apple-iphone-11-pro-max/-/A-78052840){: rel=nofollow} listed separately. + +*** +### More Great WIRED Stories +* Watch [how to solve a Rubik's cube](https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-solve-a-rubiks-cube-step-by-step/?itm_campaign=BottomRelatedStories_Sections_4), step by step +* Why the [Porsche Taycan's two-speed gearbox](https://www.wired.com/story/electric-car-two-speed-transmission-gearbox/?itm_campaign=BottomRelatedStories_Sections_4) is such a big deal +* Elon Musk: Humanity is a kind of [“biological boot loader” for AI](https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-humanity-biological-boot-loader-ai/?itm_campaign=BottomRelatedStories_Sections_4) +* You are already [having sex with robots](https://www.wired.com/story/you-are-already-having-sex-with-robots/?itm_campaign=BottomRelatedStories_Sections_4) +* The ethics of [hiding your data from the machines](https://www.wired.com/story/ethics-hiding-your-data-from-machines/?itm_campaign=BottomRelatedStories_Sections_4) +* 👁 [How do machines learn](https://www.wired.com/story/how-we-learn-machine-learning-human-teachers/?itm_campaign=BottomRelatedStories_Sections_4)? Plus, read the [latest news on artificial intelligence](https://www.wired.com/category/business/artificial-intelligence/?itm_campaign=BottomRelatedStories_Sections_4) +* 📱 Torn between the latest phones? Never fear—check out our [iPhone buying guide](https://wired.com/gallery/iphone-buying-guide/?itm_campaign=BottomRelatedStories) and [favorite Android phones](https://wired.com/gallery/best-android-phones/?itm_campaign=BottomRelatedStories) diff --git a/published/pixel4rewrite.txt b/published/pixel4rewrite.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fc63490 --- /dev/null +++ b/published/pixel4rewrite.txt @@ -0,0 +1,69 @@ +Google's [Pixel 4](https://www.wired.com/story/google-pixel-4-pixel-4-xl/) phones are here. There are two new models to choose from: the Pixel 4 and the larger Pixel 4 XL. If you're trying to decide which one to get and where to buy it, look no further. We've broken down all the ordering options and found the best places to snag a new Pixel 4 before it ships on October 24. + +If you'd like to see what else Google announced, including other new devices like the Pixel Buds earphones, Pixelbook Go laptop, and Nest Mini speaker with Google Assistant, check out [our full coverage of Google's fall hardware event](https://www.wired.com/story/everything-google-announced-pixel-4-event/). + +*Note: When you buy something using the retail links in our stories, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Read more about [how this works](https://www.wired.com/2015/11/affiliate-link-policy/).* + +###Picking the Right Pixel for You + +Google's latest flagship handset comes in two sizes: the 5.7-inch Pixel 4 and the 6.3-inch Pixel 4 XL. Aside from the screen, the hardware is each version is identical. + +Both Phones have OLED displays with the same resolution as last year's Pixel 3. Google has added HDR support, so this year's screens can better represent lights and darks. The new display is UHDA certified, which means it meets the industry standard for showing high dynamic range content. The bigger screen news in this update is the 90-megahertz refresh rate, which should make scrolling through webpages and apps feel even more smooth. + +[#cneembed: script/video/5da6107ebcdfff04c588071f.js?autoplay=0]|||||| + +Also new is the dual camera system. Google has plopped a 16-megapixel telephoto lens alongside the more familiar 12-megapixel wide angle lens. The Pixel 4 camera system still relies heavily on Google's [computational photography](https://www.wired.com/story/google-pixel-3-camera-features/) for many of its features, but the new lens allows for even more camera cleverness. + +The Pixel 4 has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chip with 6 gigabytes of RAM. Both versions of the Pixel 4 are available with two storage capacity options; one with 64 GB of storage and one with 128 GB. If you can swing it, go for 128 GB. If you can only afford the smaller capacity, learn to use the [cloud backup features in Google Photos](https://www.wired.com/story/how-tame-your-smartphone-pic-overload-google-photos/), which can clear up a lot of space. + +Aside from the specs, the Pixel 4 also looks significantly different from last year's model—at least, as much as a rectangular smartphone handset can. The characteristic dual-tone back panel that defined the first three generations is gone. Instead the Pixel 4 adopts a more uniform look on the back that's similar to its high-end competitors like the Apple iPhone and Samsung Galaxy. The Pixel 4 even has a glossy-backed option. Also gone is the rear fingerprint sensor—the Pixel 4 instead relies on face recognition to quickly unlock the phone. + +Here's our quick take on the new Pixel 4: + +- **The [Pixel 4 ($799)](https://www.amazon.com/Google-Pixel-Just-Black-Unlocked/dp/B07YMNLXL3/){: rel=nofollow} is the best phone for most people:** The 5.7-inch display of the Pixel 4 is going to provide more than enough screen real estate for most users, and with all other factors being equal, the base model Pixel 4 gives you the most bang for your buck. + +- **Grab the [Pixel 4 XL ($899)](https://www.amazon.com/Google-Pixel-Just-Black-Unlocked/dp/B07YMG37J4/){: rel=nofollow} if you want better battery life:** The Pixel 4 XL isn't really that huge relative to other hugephones, but the extra bulk does get you a larger battery. With the more power-intensive 90-Hz refresh rate on the display, frankly, you're probably going to want some extra battery power. The Pixel 4 XL has a larger, 3,700mAh battery, which is still on the small size for a phone of this size, but at least bigger than the plain Pixel 4's 2,800mAh battery. + +- **The [Pixel 3A (currently $349)](https://www.amazon.com/Google-Pixel-Memory-Phone-Unlocked/dp/B07R7DY911/){: rel=nofollow} is still the best deal on an Android Phone:** Google did not announce a successor to the Pixel 3A and likely won't until next May, but [Google's Pixel 3A (9/10, WIRED Recommends)](https://www.wired.com/review/google-pixel-3a-and-pixel-3a-xl://www.wired.com/review/google-pixel-3a-and-pixel-3a-xl/) is still a great phone. You get a fantastic camera, the still-fast Snapdragon 670 processor, 64 gigabytes of storage, and 4 GB of RAM. It's not going to be anywhere near as fast or smooth as the Pixel 4, or even the Pixel 3, but it's half the price, and often on sale. It's also fast enough that you probably won't notice a huge difference between this model and its more expensive cousins. + +###Buy a Case + +No matter which phone you end up with, get a case. The Pixel 4 has glass on the front and the back, and it's worth protecting your investment with a case. + +If you don't like the extra size and weight of a case, but still want one, the [Spigen Neo Hybrid](https://www.amazon.com/Spigen-Hybrid-Designed-Google-Pixel/dp/B07TCR26NT/){: rel=nofollow} provides good protection without being overly bulky. If you want really bulletproof protection though, go for an [OtterBox case](https://fave.co/2VKnuLW){: rel=nofollow}. + +###Where to Buy the Pixel 4 Unlocked + +The easiest way to order a Pixel 4 or Pixel 4 XL is from Google. We recommend you *buy your Pixel 4 unlocked* from Google, Amazon, or other retailers. That way you'll be able to use it on any wireless carrier, should you ever decide to switch. When it comes time to upgrade in a couple of years, you'll get more money back for an unlocked phone. + +- **[Google offers a $100 accessories credit with Pixel 4 orders](https://store.google.com/product/pixel_4){: rel=nofollow}:** Buy it unlocked. Google offers up to a $100 credit toward accessories. + +- **[Amazon offers a $100 gift card](https://www.amazon.com/Google-Pixel-Just-Black-Unlocked/dp/B07YMNLXL3/){: rel=nofollow}:** You can get a $100 Amazon gift card with purchase of a Pixel 4 or XL. + +- **[Best Buy offers a $100 gift card](https://bestbuy.7tiv.net/b9nbM){: rel=nofollow}:** Best Buy will give you a $150 Best Buy gift card with the purchase and activation of a Pixel 4 or 4 XL on Verizon, AT&T or Sprint. You can also get a $100 Best Buy gift card if you choose not to activate it. + +- **[Walmart also offers a $100 gift card](https://goto.walmart.com/c/1305164/565706/9383?subId1=pixel4guide&veh=aff&sourceid=imp_000011112222333344&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fbrowse%2Fpixel%2FYnJhbmQ6UGl4ZWwie%3Fcat_id%3D0%26facet%3Dbrand%3APixel%257C%257Cretailer%3AWalmart.com){: rel=nofollow}:** It's tough to find proper info about Walmart's sale, but supposedly you will get a $100 gift card if you order a Pixel 4. + +- **[Pixel 4 from B&H](https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1507476-REG/google_ga01188_us_pixel_4_64gb_smartphone.html){: rel=nofollow}:** B&H has no deals, but it is selling the Pixel 4. + +###Deals From Wireless Carriers + +Below are some major retailer offers, which should all sell unlocked versions of the phone. Again, unlocked is really the way to go, since it frees you up to use any network or sell/gift your phone down the road. Having said that, there are some carrier specific deals out there. They're worth a look if you're not planning to [sell your phone](https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-trade-in-or-sell-your-iphone/) in the future or switch wireless networks. We've linked to the standard Pixel 4 pages. + +- **[Verizon offers a buy-one-get-one deal for new unlimited subscribers](https://fave.co/2VOr2wS){: rel=nofollow}:** Verizon has a couple deals. New and existing customers can trade in an eligible smartphone and save up to $450 on a Pixel 4 (depending on the trade-in value). If you switch to Verizon and pony up for the unlimited plan, and pick up a full price Pixel 4, you can get a second 64 GB Pixel 4 free of charge. Here's a link to the [Pixel 4 page](https://fave.co/2VOr2wS){: rel=nofollow}. + +- **[T-Mobile offers a free Pixel 4 with Pixel trade-in](https://www.t-mobile.com/cell-phone/google-pixel-4){: rel=nofollow}:** You'll need to add a new line and have either a Pixel 2 or 3 to trade in. The original Pixel will get you $500 off. Unfortunately T-Mobile does not currently offer the 128 GB model. + +- **[AT&T offers $700 off with an eligible trade-in](https://fave.co/2nPCknW){: rel=nofollow}:** The catch is that you'll need an AT&T unlimited plan, and you'll need to begin paying off your new Pixel 4 or 4 XL on a "qualifying installment plan" before you start seeing the benefits of the discount. The plan in question means AT&T will begin charging you $28 per month on a 30-month plan, so you'll be charged a total of $840 for your new Pixel. However, after your first three payments, AT&T will start applying a monthly credit for whatever amount it determined you're getting based on your old phone's trade-in value. That credit can add up to as much as $700 total over the 30 months, meaning your phone will cost you as little as $140 in the end. This isn't the best deal since it plays out over two years, but if you want to be on AT&T's network, it's a way to get a cheap Pixel 4. + +- **[Sprint sort of has a deal](https://fave.co/2VLG86p){: rel=nofollow}:** The carrier is offering a leasing deal. Lease a Pixel 4 or Pixel 4 XL and get a second one for $0 per month when you either switch to Sprint or add a new line to your existing account. Sprint is the only vendor allowing you to choose either the 4 or the 4 XL for each of the two lines. + +*** +### More Great WIRED Stories +* The first [smartphone war](https://www.wired.com/story/the-first-smartphone-war/?itm_campaign=BottomRelatedStories_Sections_2) +* 7 cybersecurity threats [that can sneak up on you](https://www.wired.com/story/cybersecurity-threats-that-can-sneak-up-on-you/?itm_campaign=BottomRelatedStories_Sections_2) +* “Forever chemicals” are in your popcorn—[and your blood](https://www.wired.com/story/pfas-forever-chemicals-are-in-your-popcornand-your-blood/?itm_campaign=BottomRelatedStories_Sections_2) +* EVs fire up pyroswitches to [cut risk of shock after a crash](https://www.wired.com/story/evs-fire-pyroswitches-cut-risk-shock-crash/?itm_campaign=BottomRelatedStories_Sections_2) +* The spellbinding allure of [Seoul's fake urban mountains](https://www.wired.com/story/seoul-fake-mountains-gallery/?itm_campaign=BottomRelatedStories_Sections_2) +* 👁 Prepare for the [deepfake era of video](https://www.wired.com/story/prepare-deepfake-era-web-video/?itm_campaign=BottomRelatedStories_Sections_2); plus, check out the [latest news on AI](https://www.wired.com/category/business/artificial-intelligence/?itm_campaign=BottomRelatedStories_Sections_2) +* ✨ Optimize your home life with our Gear team’s best picks, from [robot vacuums](https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-robot-vacuums/?itm_campaign=BottomRelatedStories) to [affordable mattresses](https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-mattresses/?itm_campaign=BottomRelatedStories) to [smart speakers](https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-google-speakers-buying-guide/?itm_campaign=BottomRelatedStories). diff --git a/published/polaroid-lab.txt b/published/polaroid-lab.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a83513c --- /dev/null +++ b/published/polaroid-lab.txt @@ -0,0 +1,33 @@ +The physical world will probably forever retain an emotional primacy digital lacks. I suspect that millions of evolutionary years without screens has primed us to enjoy a Polaroid taped to a bathroom mirror over Instagram any day of the week. + +At least that's what Polaroid is hoping. + +Polaroid Originals' new Lab printer takes images from your phone and turns them into Polaroids. Yes, actual Polaroids just like Dad's (Granddad's?) Polaroid used to spit out in the 1970s. The result is a fun, if pricey way to bring your digital snaps into the real world. + +### Photo Lab in Box + +The new Polaroid Lab is the second iteration of Impossibles [Instant Lab](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/impossible/impossible-instant-lab-turn-iphone-images-into-rea). Polaroid acquired Impossible in 2017 and rebranded it Polaroid Originals. As a result there's no more trademark issues to worry about so Instant Lab has be renamed Polaroid Lab. + +Unlike all [other instant camera and printers](https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-instant-cameras/) we've looked at, the Polaroid Lab does not simply grab an image from your phone using Bluetooth and print it out. Instead you pull up the image on your phone using the Polaroid Originals app and then you lay your phone face down on the Lab. The Lab then takes a picture of the picture on your phone, optimizes the color for printing and then spits out a Polaroid which, like the Polaroids of old, takes about 15 minutes to full develop. + +While the focus of the Lab is analog, it does offer the ability to "embed" a video with your print. Fujifilm recently did something similar with audio in it's [Mini LiPlay camera/printer](https://www.wired.com/review/fujifilm-instax-mini-liplay/) and in both cases it feels very awkward and gimmicky. The problem is that nothing is embedded anywhere, it's just stored a server and anyone who wants to see the video has to install the Polaroid Originals' app. And it's worth noting that anyone with the app installed can view the video, which has some potentially awful privacy consequences that I'd be more worried about if the feature wasn't so utterly useless anyway. I wish the instant camera world would just drop this idea. + +Aside from the video gimmickry, the Lab is dead simple to use. The Polaroids Originals app can select any media file on your phone, and you can edit the image a little with in the app (I suggest increasing brightness). The one quirk of the app is when you edit, there's no preview, the slider covers the image which is, quite frankly, crazy. Since I started testing before the app was publicly released, I assumed this was a beta software bug. However, the final app is out and the lack of preview remains. + +Honestly, while this is a ridiculous design decision, it really didn't bother me much since all I was doing was increasing brightness about 20 percent for every photo. I arrived at this value after some experimenting and a lot of overly-dark prints. + +###Outside the Lab + +The finished prints from the Lab approximate the vibe of old school Polaroids in many ways: washed out colors and soft edges (and I mean that in the best way possible). The Lab got enough right to trigger my nostalgic love of Polaroids, image quality be damned. But in some other ways the look of images from the Lab just didn't work for me. I found some colors, particularly bright greens and blues to be over-saturated in ways that old school Polaroid images never are. They gave certain scenes a garish look that's not really fun, just unpleasant. + +The Lab also introduced considerable vignetting (where the corners become darker) that was not in the original images. I am guess this is due to either the design of the case or light leaking around the phone when it's place atop the Lab. + +Fortunately the best results I had were with images of people, and really that's what most people will probably want from the Lab. It was fun, and a touch disconcerting, to turn snaps of my kids taken yesterday into images that look like they were made in 1983. + +What's missing though is the spontaneity of old Polaroid cameras, which were as much about producing an artifact in the moment as the artifact itself. Separating the fun of making the image -- now the job of your phone -- and the fun of getting it makes getting it somehow less exciting. Or maybe it's the fact that seeing your image on the phone creates a set of expectations that no instant printer can reproduce. + +It's too bad because Polaroid co-founder Edward Land very clear saw the world of ubiquitous cameras coming long before most of us even considered the idea. In a [video made for Polaroid shareholder in 1970](https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=727&v=zbmq9R0dtVg) Land says that one day we'll be taking photos using "something like a wallet." He then reaches in his pocket and pulls out a black object that could easily be mistaken for a smartphone. He goes on to say that "we're still a long way from... a camera that would be, oh, like the telephone, something you use all day long." + +Land's vision is here, but Land, and the modern-day Polaroid, now Polaroid Originals, are not the makers of the camera that's the size of a wallet and as ever-present as a telephone. Instead Polaroid Originals is on the outside, trying to get back in with efforts like the new Lab. And while the Lab is definitely in the spirit of the old Polaroids, and it undoubtedly fun, in the end it feels pricey for the results it produces. + +Fujifilm's SP-3 printer produces better quality images, without the strangely over-saturated blue and greens of the Lab. This is somewhat subjective, but to my eye nearly all the Instax-based options in our [guide to instant cameras and printers](https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-instant-cameras/) produce better images the Lab, including the Polaroid OneStep. On the other hand I like the Lab's images better than most of cameras and printers in our [guide to Zink-based printers](https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-zero-ink-instant-cameras-and-printers-zink/). And the Lab does print larger images than either the Zink or Instax options, so if it's full size Polaroids you're after, the Lab is your best bet. diff --git a/published/which-surface-final.txt b/published/which-surface-final.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..21699dc --- /dev/null +++ b/published/which-surface-final.txt @@ -0,0 +1,110 @@ +Microsoft's Surface brand offers some of the best Windows hardware on the market. Best know for the innovative, tablet-like hardware designs, the software started off a bit rough. In the beginning most of the Surface line ran a stripped down version of Windows that proved unpopular. + +Eight years later, things have changed. Not only is do most Surface devices run Windows Home edition, but it's also become clear that Microsoft was an early innovator in mobile-friendly hybrid PC hardware. It's hard to find a PC-maker today that doesn't ape Surface's kickstand-packing, detachable-keyboard-rocking design. + +Since launching the first Surface ultraportables, Microsoft has expanded the Surface line to include a full family of computers, from a standard laptop to a giant desktop. If you need a portable Windows PC, it's hard to find a nicer physical experience than what Surface offers. The problem is one of choice: with such a diverse family of premium computers, which is best for your needs? Not to worry—we're on this like a Type Cover on a Surface Pro. + +*Updated in Oct. 2019: We've updated our guide with the Surface 3 series hardware.* + +##The Best All-Arounder + +[#image: /photos/5aa84ed1f156f371db608ecf]|||||| + +**[Surface Laptop 3 (i5, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD), $999](https://fave.co/2pPXIdg){: rel=nofollow}** + +This device isn't as swish as the transforming, flexible computers that made the Surface brand famous, but if you need a laptop, you *need* a laptop. Kickstands and clicky magnetic keyboard covers don't work well in every situation, so we're going with the Surface Laptop 3 as the best pick for most shoppers. No, it's not a tablet, but the Surface Laptop is a *killer* notebook computer. + +Featuring a gorgeous, 13.5-inch high-resolution display, a lovely-feeling keyboard, a stellar glass trackpad, and a slim case, the Surface Laptop is well-built and easy to handle. Ports are one place the Surfaces skimps, but in 2019 you now get a USB-C port along with your good, old-fashioned USB-A port. The old DisplayPort has been removed to make room for that USB-C. It also has a magnetic charging port. If you're a klutz who trips over your power cord all the time, this can be a lifesaver. It severs the connection between the wall plug and the computer before the laptop goes flying across the room like a Frisbee. + +In 2019 Microsoft added a 15-inch model to its Surface Laptop line (see [our full review]()). The 15-inch model uses an AMD Ryzen chip rather than the usual Intel variety. Microsoft says it worked closely with AMD to tune the chip for the best possible performance. It's not going to edit your next 4K feature film, but it's plenty powerful enough for most of us. + +Microsoft also gives users some great tech standards, like a Windows Hello IR camera that lets you log in to Windows with your face lickety-split. Once you get used that, it's hard to go back to typing in your password like some sort of paleolithic protohuman. When we [tried the original Surface Laptop in 2017](https://www.wired.com/2017/06/review-microsoft-surface-laptop/), we gave it our WIRED Recommends seal of approval and a score of 8/10 and we anticipate liking the sequel as well. + +**Buy the 13-inch Surface Laptop 3 (i5, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD) from [Microsoft](https://fave.co/2pPXIdg){: rel=nofollow} or [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YNKGWMT/){: rel=nofollow}. The 15-inch model (AMD, 8GB RAM, 128 GB SSD) is also available from [Microsoft](https://fave.co/2pPXIdg){: rel=nofollow} in the base config and [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/New-Microsoft-Surface-Laptop-Touch-Screen/dp/B07YNLKTW9/){: rel=nofollow} stocks the slightly more expensive model (AMD, 16GB RAM, 256 GB SSD).** + + +##The Best 2-in-1 + +[#image: /photos/5aa850bcf156f371db608ed1]|||||| + +**[Surface Pro 7 (i5, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD), $1,199](https://fave.co/2qCTG8x){: rel=nofollow}** + +The original Surface design, with its kickstand and keyboard cover, is still a joy all these years later. The upcoming Surface Pro 6 is a mobile device that bridges the gap between laptop and tablet pretty well. + +No matter which configuration you land on, each Pro has more performant 10th-generation Intel chips, and an improved 12.3-inch high-res touchscreen with a document-friendly 3:2 aspect ratio. You also get a USB-A port, a magnetic charging port, a Windows Hello-compatible webcam, and a MicroSD slot for expanding the onboard storage. The Pro 7 update adds a long-overdue USB-C port, but it does not support Thunderbolt 3. + +If you want your Pro purchase to last as long as possible, spring for the $1,199 configuration which will get you a faster i5 chip and a larger hard drive. + +**Buy the Surface Pro 6 (i5, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD) from [Microsoft](https://fave.co/2qCTG8x){: rel=nofollow} or [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/NEW-Microsoft-Surface-Pro-Touch-Screen/dp/B07YNJ6BQL/){: rel=nofollow}.** + +*There's a slight catch. If you want the full Surface tablet experience, you'll need to buy one of Microsoft's Type Cover keyboards. This accessory is essential, but not included. Tack on an additional [$129 for a simple black cover](https://fave.co/2PfAicb){: rel=nofollow}, or [$159 for a fancier, Alcantara-covered](https://fave.co/2MJTuwR){: rel=nofollow} version.* + +##The Best for Students + +[#image: /photos/5bc4dfd32ba3661093860d44]|||||| + +**[Surface Go (Pentium 4415Y, 8 GB RAM, 128 GB SSD), $549](https://fave.co/2NA4quc){: rel=nofollow}** + +The most affordable, smallest member of the Surface lineup is the 10-inch Surface Go. Not only is it a smaller Surface tablet, it’s significantly cheaper than the Pro. If your needs are minimal, or you prefer tiny computers, this is what you should buy—despite its slower Intel chips, we enjoyed using it, and gave it a [7/10 when we reviewed it](https://www.wired.com/review/review-microsoft-surface-go/) in 2018. + +Because of its excellent Surface Pen compatibility, Go is awesome for notetaking, and with a Type Cover attached, it's a surprisingly good, if tiny, laptop. It might not be able to take on the [iPad Pro](https://www.wired.com/gallery/the-best-ipad/) in terms of sheer computing power or battery life, but Surface Go is nicely priced and good enough for college students, or anyone for a second machine to take with them. + +The tantalizingly-priced $399 version might not be a great pick if you need Surface Go to serve as your main computer. Its smaller, slower storage drive and limited RAM might make multitasking and demanding apps feel slower. If you can, spring for the $549 config instead. Like Surface Pro, Go does not include a [$100 Type Cover keyboard](https://fave.co/2NAeOCb){: rel=nofollow} or [Surface Pen](https://fave.co/2OfeXAe){: rel=nofollow}, so remember to pick those up with your tablet purchase. + +**Buy the Surface Go (Pentium 4415Y, 8 GB RAM, 128 GB SSD) from [Microsoft](https://fave.co/2NA4quc){: rel=nofollow} or [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Surface-Go-Intel-Pentium/dp/B07FDKZQTY/){: rel=nofollow}.** + +##The Best for Power Users + + +[#image: /photos/5aa84df82ba43111d1213e28]|||||| + + +**[Surface Book 2 15-inch (i7, Nvidia dGPU, 16 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD), $2,499](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/config/surface-book-2/8MCPZJJCC98C/BHHZ?cid=surfacebook2interstitial){: rel=nofollow}** + +This transforming powerhouse is the only Surface device with an optional graphics chip that'll boost core performance, speeding up everything from Adobe Premiere to SolidWorks. The screen undocks from the keyboard, so you can use the display as a tablet for brief stints when watching movies or annotating documents with the Surface Pen. When our team [reviewed this laptop](https://www.wired.com/review/review-microsoft-surface-book-2/), we gave it our WIRED Recommends seal of approval and a score of 8/10. + +Available in versions with 13.5 and 15.6-inch screens, Surface Book 2 is the closest analog to Apple's MacBook Pro series. Thanks to standard quad-core Intel processors and an optional discrete Nvidia 10-series graphics chip inside the keyboard dock, you'll get amazing performance for a portable. Plus you get the expected suite of Surface goodies—Windows Hello, a gorgeous high-res screen, a luxurious backlit keyboard, and a big, silky-smooth glass trackpad. + +Because the Surface Book 2 hasn't been refreshed as of October 2019, keep an eye out for deals. We've see the 15-inch model (i7, Nvidia dGPU, 16 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD) going for as low as $1800 ($700 off) on Amazon. + +**Buy the Surface Book 2 15-inch (i7, Nvidia dGPU, 16 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD) from [Microsoft](https://fave.co/32KLeCz){: rel=nofollow} or [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Surface-Book-Intel-256GB/dp/B076HZCQY9/){: rel=nofollow}.** + +*If you have cash to burn on a *really* nice Windows laptop, the 15-inch version has the fastest Nvidia 1060 graphics chip and the biggest, highest-res screen available on a portable Surface. The 13-inch is great, too, but the cheapest version is poorly equipped, going without Nvidia graphics, and has a measly 128 GB SSD—not enough space for your Lightroom library, much less all your go-to pro apps.* + +###Caveats + +Even though the Surface lineup has never been as diverse as it is now, there are still some imperfections that may impact your enjoyment of a shiny new Microsoft computer. The first annoyances begin when you add a device to your cart. If you're grabbing a Surface hoping to use the famous, [fabulous Surface Pen](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/d/surface/8ZL5C82QMG6B/){: rel=nofollow} with it, you'll need to buy it separately. In years past, Surface Pro and Surface Book included the pen, but no longer. + +Ports are another mixed bag for Surface. The October 2019 refresh finally added USB-C ports to the Surface Pro, X and Laptop models, though there's still no support for Thunderbolt 3. You get the connector support, but not the full speed. + +Despite the USB-C ports, Microsoft stuck with its magnetic Surface Connect charger (confusingly, you *can* charge with USB-C as well). If you miss Apple's MagSafe era this isn't a bad thing, but if you're looking forward to a one-connector future, Microsoft hasn't delivered on that yet. + +If you're a little short on cash but still want to pick up a Surface, check out the [Surface All Access program](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/b/surface-all-access){: rel=nofollow}. Microsoft lets you buy a new Surface on an installment plan, for as little as $25 per month, and packs in Office 365 for the entire two years you’re paying off your device. Surface Pro and Go also get a Type Cover out of the deal. Unfortunately, Surface All Access is only available in Microsoft’s physical retail locations, and not online. + +##Reasons to Wait + +The lineup has been refreshed for the fall of 2019, so it’s a great time to buy. We don’t expect updates to the Surface family until 2020. + +##Get Microsoft Complete + +If you're rough on your gadgets, plan on buying the [Microsoft Complete extended warranty](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/accessories/microsoft-complete){: rel=nofollow}. Starting at $149, this gives you additional warranty coverage and accidental damage protection. You get two accidental damage claims, with only a $49 deductible, whether you take your device to the local Microsoft Store or ship it in for repairs. Given how much a Surface costs, it's worth the peace of mind to add this protection to your new device. + +**Shop for [Microsoft Complete](https://fave.co/33TnHPQ){: rel=nofollow}** + +*** +[#iframe: https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/4736898/WIRED-Holiday-Gifts-Survey](533x430) + +*** +###More WIRED Buying Guides + + - Which [MacBook Pro Should You Buy?](https://www.wired.com/story/which-macbook-should-you-buy/?mbid=BottomRelatedStories) + + - The Best [Amazon Fire Tablet](https://www.wired.com/story/best-amazon-fire-tablet/?mbid=BottomRelatedStories) + + - Our Favorite [Affordable Smartphones Under $500](https://www.wired.com/story/best-cheap-phones/?mbid=BottomRelatedStories) + + +*** +*When you buy something using the retail links in our product reviews, we may earn a small affiliate commission. [Read more](https://www.wired.com/2015/11/affiliate-link-policy/) about how this works.* + +Want more news and reviews you can use? [Sign up for the Gadget Lab newsletter.](https://www.wired.com/newsletter/?name=gadget-lab&source=ArticleLink) diff --git a/published/which-surface.txt b/published/which-surface.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..21699dc --- /dev/null +++ b/published/which-surface.txt @@ -0,0 +1,110 @@ +Microsoft's Surface brand offers some of the best Windows hardware on the market. Best know for the innovative, tablet-like hardware designs, the software started off a bit rough. In the beginning most of the Surface line ran a stripped down version of Windows that proved unpopular. + +Eight years later, things have changed. Not only is do most Surface devices run Windows Home edition, but it's also become clear that Microsoft was an early innovator in mobile-friendly hybrid PC hardware. It's hard to find a PC-maker today that doesn't ape Surface's kickstand-packing, detachable-keyboard-rocking design. + +Since launching the first Surface ultraportables, Microsoft has expanded the Surface line to include a full family of computers, from a standard laptop to a giant desktop. If you need a portable Windows PC, it's hard to find a nicer physical experience than what Surface offers. The problem is one of choice: with such a diverse family of premium computers, which is best for your needs? Not to worry—we're on this like a Type Cover on a Surface Pro. + +*Updated in Oct. 2019: We've updated our guide with the Surface 3 series hardware.* + +##The Best All-Arounder + +[#image: /photos/5aa84ed1f156f371db608ecf]|||||| + +**[Surface Laptop 3 (i5, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD), $999](https://fave.co/2pPXIdg){: rel=nofollow}** + +This device isn't as swish as the transforming, flexible computers that made the Surface brand famous, but if you need a laptop, you *need* a laptop. Kickstands and clicky magnetic keyboard covers don't work well in every situation, so we're going with the Surface Laptop 3 as the best pick for most shoppers. No, it's not a tablet, but the Surface Laptop is a *killer* notebook computer. + +Featuring a gorgeous, 13.5-inch high-resolution display, a lovely-feeling keyboard, a stellar glass trackpad, and a slim case, the Surface Laptop is well-built and easy to handle. Ports are one place the Surfaces skimps, but in 2019 you now get a USB-C port along with your good, old-fashioned USB-A port. The old DisplayPort has been removed to make room for that USB-C. It also has a magnetic charging port. If you're a klutz who trips over your power cord all the time, this can be a lifesaver. It severs the connection between the wall plug and the computer before the laptop goes flying across the room like a Frisbee. + +In 2019 Microsoft added a 15-inch model to its Surface Laptop line (see [our full review]()). The 15-inch model uses an AMD Ryzen chip rather than the usual Intel variety. Microsoft says it worked closely with AMD to tune the chip for the best possible performance. It's not going to edit your next 4K feature film, but it's plenty powerful enough for most of us. + +Microsoft also gives users some great tech standards, like a Windows Hello IR camera that lets you log in to Windows with your face lickety-split. Once you get used that, it's hard to go back to typing in your password like some sort of paleolithic protohuman. When we [tried the original Surface Laptop in 2017](https://www.wired.com/2017/06/review-microsoft-surface-laptop/), we gave it our WIRED Recommends seal of approval and a score of 8/10 and we anticipate liking the sequel as well. + +**Buy the 13-inch Surface Laptop 3 (i5, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD) from [Microsoft](https://fave.co/2pPXIdg){: rel=nofollow} or [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YNKGWMT/){: rel=nofollow}. The 15-inch model (AMD, 8GB RAM, 128 GB SSD) is also available from [Microsoft](https://fave.co/2pPXIdg){: rel=nofollow} in the base config and [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/New-Microsoft-Surface-Laptop-Touch-Screen/dp/B07YNLKTW9/){: rel=nofollow} stocks the slightly more expensive model (AMD, 16GB RAM, 256 GB SSD).** + + +##The Best 2-in-1 + +[#image: /photos/5aa850bcf156f371db608ed1]|||||| + +**[Surface Pro 7 (i5, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD), $1,199](https://fave.co/2qCTG8x){: rel=nofollow}** + +The original Surface design, with its kickstand and keyboard cover, is still a joy all these years later. The upcoming Surface Pro 6 is a mobile device that bridges the gap between laptop and tablet pretty well. + +No matter which configuration you land on, each Pro has more performant 10th-generation Intel chips, and an improved 12.3-inch high-res touchscreen with a document-friendly 3:2 aspect ratio. You also get a USB-A port, a magnetic charging port, a Windows Hello-compatible webcam, and a MicroSD slot for expanding the onboard storage. The Pro 7 update adds a long-overdue USB-C port, but it does not support Thunderbolt 3. + +If you want your Pro purchase to last as long as possible, spring for the $1,199 configuration which will get you a faster i5 chip and a larger hard drive. + +**Buy the Surface Pro 6 (i5, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD) from [Microsoft](https://fave.co/2qCTG8x){: rel=nofollow} or [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/NEW-Microsoft-Surface-Pro-Touch-Screen/dp/B07YNJ6BQL/){: rel=nofollow}.** + +*There's a slight catch. If you want the full Surface tablet experience, you'll need to buy one of Microsoft's Type Cover keyboards. This accessory is essential, but not included. Tack on an additional [$129 for a simple black cover](https://fave.co/2PfAicb){: rel=nofollow}, or [$159 for a fancier, Alcantara-covered](https://fave.co/2MJTuwR){: rel=nofollow} version.* + +##The Best for Students + +[#image: /photos/5bc4dfd32ba3661093860d44]|||||| + +**[Surface Go (Pentium 4415Y, 8 GB RAM, 128 GB SSD), $549](https://fave.co/2NA4quc){: rel=nofollow}** + +The most affordable, smallest member of the Surface lineup is the 10-inch Surface Go. Not only is it a smaller Surface tablet, it’s significantly cheaper than the Pro. If your needs are minimal, or you prefer tiny computers, this is what you should buy—despite its slower Intel chips, we enjoyed using it, and gave it a [7/10 when we reviewed it](https://www.wired.com/review/review-microsoft-surface-go/) in 2018. + +Because of its excellent Surface Pen compatibility, Go is awesome for notetaking, and with a Type Cover attached, it's a surprisingly good, if tiny, laptop. It might not be able to take on the [iPad Pro](https://www.wired.com/gallery/the-best-ipad/) in terms of sheer computing power or battery life, but Surface Go is nicely priced and good enough for college students, or anyone for a second machine to take with them. + +The tantalizingly-priced $399 version might not be a great pick if you need Surface Go to serve as your main computer. Its smaller, slower storage drive and limited RAM might make multitasking and demanding apps feel slower. If you can, spring for the $549 config instead. Like Surface Pro, Go does not include a [$100 Type Cover keyboard](https://fave.co/2NAeOCb){: rel=nofollow} or [Surface Pen](https://fave.co/2OfeXAe){: rel=nofollow}, so remember to pick those up with your tablet purchase. + +**Buy the Surface Go (Pentium 4415Y, 8 GB RAM, 128 GB SSD) from [Microsoft](https://fave.co/2NA4quc){: rel=nofollow} or [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Surface-Go-Intel-Pentium/dp/B07FDKZQTY/){: rel=nofollow}.** + +##The Best for Power Users + + +[#image: /photos/5aa84df82ba43111d1213e28]|||||| + + +**[Surface Book 2 15-inch (i7, Nvidia dGPU, 16 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD), $2,499](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/config/surface-book-2/8MCPZJJCC98C/BHHZ?cid=surfacebook2interstitial){: rel=nofollow}** + +This transforming powerhouse is the only Surface device with an optional graphics chip that'll boost core performance, speeding up everything from Adobe Premiere to SolidWorks. The screen undocks from the keyboard, so you can use the display as a tablet for brief stints when watching movies or annotating documents with the Surface Pen. When our team [reviewed this laptop](https://www.wired.com/review/review-microsoft-surface-book-2/), we gave it our WIRED Recommends seal of approval and a score of 8/10. + +Available in versions with 13.5 and 15.6-inch screens, Surface Book 2 is the closest analog to Apple's MacBook Pro series. Thanks to standard quad-core Intel processors and an optional discrete Nvidia 10-series graphics chip inside the keyboard dock, you'll get amazing performance for a portable. Plus you get the expected suite of Surface goodies—Windows Hello, a gorgeous high-res screen, a luxurious backlit keyboard, and a big, silky-smooth glass trackpad. + +Because the Surface Book 2 hasn't been refreshed as of October 2019, keep an eye out for deals. We've see the 15-inch model (i7, Nvidia dGPU, 16 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD) going for as low as $1800 ($700 off) on Amazon. + +**Buy the Surface Book 2 15-inch (i7, Nvidia dGPU, 16 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD) from [Microsoft](https://fave.co/32KLeCz){: rel=nofollow} or [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Surface-Book-Intel-256GB/dp/B076HZCQY9/){: rel=nofollow}.** + +*If you have cash to burn on a *really* nice Windows laptop, the 15-inch version has the fastest Nvidia 1060 graphics chip and the biggest, highest-res screen available on a portable Surface. The 13-inch is great, too, but the cheapest version is poorly equipped, going without Nvidia graphics, and has a measly 128 GB SSD—not enough space for your Lightroom library, much less all your go-to pro apps.* + +###Caveats + +Even though the Surface lineup has never been as diverse as it is now, there are still some imperfections that may impact your enjoyment of a shiny new Microsoft computer. The first annoyances begin when you add a device to your cart. If you're grabbing a Surface hoping to use the famous, [fabulous Surface Pen](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/d/surface/8ZL5C82QMG6B/){: rel=nofollow} with it, you'll need to buy it separately. In years past, Surface Pro and Surface Book included the pen, but no longer. + +Ports are another mixed bag for Surface. The October 2019 refresh finally added USB-C ports to the Surface Pro, X and Laptop models, though there's still no support for Thunderbolt 3. You get the connector support, but not the full speed. + +Despite the USB-C ports, Microsoft stuck with its magnetic Surface Connect charger (confusingly, you *can* charge with USB-C as well). If you miss Apple's MagSafe era this isn't a bad thing, but if you're looking forward to a one-connector future, Microsoft hasn't delivered on that yet. + +If you're a little short on cash but still want to pick up a Surface, check out the [Surface All Access program](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/b/surface-all-access){: rel=nofollow}. Microsoft lets you buy a new Surface on an installment plan, for as little as $25 per month, and packs in Office 365 for the entire two years you’re paying off your device. Surface Pro and Go also get a Type Cover out of the deal. Unfortunately, Surface All Access is only available in Microsoft’s physical retail locations, and not online. + +##Reasons to Wait + +The lineup has been refreshed for the fall of 2019, so it’s a great time to buy. We don’t expect updates to the Surface family until 2020. + +##Get Microsoft Complete + +If you're rough on your gadgets, plan on buying the [Microsoft Complete extended warranty](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/accessories/microsoft-complete){: rel=nofollow}. Starting at $149, this gives you additional warranty coverage and accidental damage protection. You get two accidental damage claims, with only a $49 deductible, whether you take your device to the local Microsoft Store or ship it in for repairs. Given how much a Surface costs, it's worth the peace of mind to add this protection to your new device. + +**Shop for [Microsoft Complete](https://fave.co/33TnHPQ){: rel=nofollow}** + +*** +[#iframe: https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/4736898/WIRED-Holiday-Gifts-Survey](533x430) + +*** +###More WIRED Buying Guides + + - Which [MacBook Pro Should You Buy?](https://www.wired.com/story/which-macbook-should-you-buy/?mbid=BottomRelatedStories) + + - The Best [Amazon Fire Tablet](https://www.wired.com/story/best-amazon-fire-tablet/?mbid=BottomRelatedStories) + + - Our Favorite [Affordable Smartphones Under $500](https://www.wired.com/story/best-cheap-phones/?mbid=BottomRelatedStories) + + +*** +*When you buy something using the retail links in our product reviews, we may earn a small affiliate commission. [Read more](https://www.wired.com/2015/11/affiliate-link-policy/) about how this works.* + +Want more news and reviews you can use? [Sign up for the Gadget Lab newsletter.](https://www.wired.com/newsletter/?name=gadget-lab&source=ArticleLink) diff --git a/scratch.txt b/scratch.txt index 5a87673..e69de29 100644 --- a/scratch.txt +++ b/scratch.txt @@ -1,40 +0,0 @@ -Yep. I work in academia and have some graphing, data analysis and molecular visualisation software that I use daily that will not be 64-bit ready for the foreseeable future, if ever (also some gnarly little freeware apps that I use less often but are profoundly useful when needed). - -, borrows some features from its mobile cousin iOS. Think of it as the best of all iWorlds. - - -Cataline will be public on Monday Oct 7, at 10AM PCT. - -Overnighting 15in pro. Sign agreement. - -10.15 build # 19a578c - -Talk to Lauren about Mac Catalyst - -multi year effort, some apps work better than others, Jira - -side car continuity wireless tech that work together,air drop, etc side car is newest, use your ipad as a second screen. put photoshop palletes on one and canvas on the other, bluetooth for pairing wifi to transfer data. - -Voice control now works with Siri for recog text, open notes dictation, sys>>access>>pref - -English and on mac all system languages (siri is only english), ios english - -Apple Music - - pure music, not podcasts - - For you tab is personalized for you - - if you're using it on iPad/iPhone it'll look familiar - - browse is music discovery editor curated - - moods focus, workout, chill etc - - What happens to your music library? You music is in the Music Library. - - all the same library controls, no functionality removed - - purchases still happen through itunes store enable or disable in pref - - Music looks like iTunes - - -Devices, when plugged in now just charge, there's no launching of iTunes. Finder now controls syncing. - -Podcasts app is Mac Catalyst app, brought over from the iPad, but organized differently. Podcasts search no includes Siri transcribed transcripts. So if you search for something you search against not just publisher notes, but what was actually said in the episode, results with snippet for context. episodes become more discoverable. - -share apple tv channels - - diff --git a/toughbook-notes.txt b/toughbook-notes.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 7834817..0000000 --- a/toughbook-notes.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3 +0,0 @@ -Toughbook 55 - -succeeds the 54, still in-market. diff --git a/which-surface-final.txt b/which-surface-final.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 21699dc..0000000 --- a/which-surface-final.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,110 +0,0 @@ -Microsoft's Surface brand offers some of the best Windows hardware on the market. Best know for the innovative, tablet-like hardware designs, the software started off a bit rough. In the beginning most of the Surface line ran a stripped down version of Windows that proved unpopular. - -Eight years later, things have changed. Not only is do most Surface devices run Windows Home edition, but it's also become clear that Microsoft was an early innovator in mobile-friendly hybrid PC hardware. It's hard to find a PC-maker today that doesn't ape Surface's kickstand-packing, detachable-keyboard-rocking design. - -Since launching the first Surface ultraportables, Microsoft has expanded the Surface line to include a full family of computers, from a standard laptop to a giant desktop. If you need a portable Windows PC, it's hard to find a nicer physical experience than what Surface offers. The problem is one of choice: with such a diverse family of premium computers, which is best for your needs? Not to worry—we're on this like a Type Cover on a Surface Pro. - -*Updated in Oct. 2019: We've updated our guide with the Surface 3 series hardware.* - -##The Best All-Arounder - -[#image: /photos/5aa84ed1f156f371db608ecf]|||||| - -**[Surface Laptop 3 (i5, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD), $999](https://fave.co/2pPXIdg){: rel=nofollow}** - -This device isn't as swish as the transforming, flexible computers that made the Surface brand famous, but if you need a laptop, you *need* a laptop. Kickstands and clicky magnetic keyboard covers don't work well in every situation, so we're going with the Surface Laptop 3 as the best pick for most shoppers. No, it's not a tablet, but the Surface Laptop is a *killer* notebook computer. - -Featuring a gorgeous, 13.5-inch high-resolution display, a lovely-feeling keyboard, a stellar glass trackpad, and a slim case, the Surface Laptop is well-built and easy to handle. Ports are one place the Surfaces skimps, but in 2019 you now get a USB-C port along with your good, old-fashioned USB-A port. The old DisplayPort has been removed to make room for that USB-C. It also has a magnetic charging port. If you're a klutz who trips over your power cord all the time, this can be a lifesaver. It severs the connection between the wall plug and the computer before the laptop goes flying across the room like a Frisbee. - -In 2019 Microsoft added a 15-inch model to its Surface Laptop line (see [our full review]()). The 15-inch model uses an AMD Ryzen chip rather than the usual Intel variety. Microsoft says it worked closely with AMD to tune the chip for the best possible performance. It's not going to edit your next 4K feature film, but it's plenty powerful enough for most of us. - -Microsoft also gives users some great tech standards, like a Windows Hello IR camera that lets you log in to Windows with your face lickety-split. Once you get used that, it's hard to go back to typing in your password like some sort of paleolithic protohuman. When we [tried the original Surface Laptop in 2017](https://www.wired.com/2017/06/review-microsoft-surface-laptop/), we gave it our WIRED Recommends seal of approval and a score of 8/10 and we anticipate liking the sequel as well. - -**Buy the 13-inch Surface Laptop 3 (i5, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD) from [Microsoft](https://fave.co/2pPXIdg){: rel=nofollow} or [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YNKGWMT/){: rel=nofollow}. The 15-inch model (AMD, 8GB RAM, 128 GB SSD) is also available from [Microsoft](https://fave.co/2pPXIdg){: rel=nofollow} in the base config and [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/New-Microsoft-Surface-Laptop-Touch-Screen/dp/B07YNLKTW9/){: rel=nofollow} stocks the slightly more expensive model (AMD, 16GB RAM, 256 GB SSD).** - - -##The Best 2-in-1 - -[#image: /photos/5aa850bcf156f371db608ed1]|||||| - -**[Surface Pro 7 (i5, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD), $1,199](https://fave.co/2qCTG8x){: rel=nofollow}** - -The original Surface design, with its kickstand and keyboard cover, is still a joy all these years later. The upcoming Surface Pro 6 is a mobile device that bridges the gap between laptop and tablet pretty well. - -No matter which configuration you land on, each Pro has more performant 10th-generation Intel chips, and an improved 12.3-inch high-res touchscreen with a document-friendly 3:2 aspect ratio. You also get a USB-A port, a magnetic charging port, a Windows Hello-compatible webcam, and a MicroSD slot for expanding the onboard storage. The Pro 7 update adds a long-overdue USB-C port, but it does not support Thunderbolt 3. - -If you want your Pro purchase to last as long as possible, spring for the $1,199 configuration which will get you a faster i5 chip and a larger hard drive. - -**Buy the Surface Pro 6 (i5, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD) from [Microsoft](https://fave.co/2qCTG8x){: rel=nofollow} or [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/NEW-Microsoft-Surface-Pro-Touch-Screen/dp/B07YNJ6BQL/){: rel=nofollow}.** - -*There's a slight catch. If you want the full Surface tablet experience, you'll need to buy one of Microsoft's Type Cover keyboards. This accessory is essential, but not included. Tack on an additional [$129 for a simple black cover](https://fave.co/2PfAicb){: rel=nofollow}, or [$159 for a fancier, Alcantara-covered](https://fave.co/2MJTuwR){: rel=nofollow} version.* - -##The Best for Students - -[#image: /photos/5bc4dfd32ba3661093860d44]|||||| - -**[Surface Go (Pentium 4415Y, 8 GB RAM, 128 GB SSD), $549](https://fave.co/2NA4quc){: rel=nofollow}** - -The most affordable, smallest member of the Surface lineup is the 10-inch Surface Go. Not only is it a smaller Surface tablet, it’s significantly cheaper than the Pro. If your needs are minimal, or you prefer tiny computers, this is what you should buy—despite its slower Intel chips, we enjoyed using it, and gave it a [7/10 when we reviewed it](https://www.wired.com/review/review-microsoft-surface-go/) in 2018. - -Because of its excellent Surface Pen compatibility, Go is awesome for notetaking, and with a Type Cover attached, it's a surprisingly good, if tiny, laptop. It might not be able to take on the [iPad Pro](https://www.wired.com/gallery/the-best-ipad/) in terms of sheer computing power or battery life, but Surface Go is nicely priced and good enough for college students, or anyone for a second machine to take with them. - -The tantalizingly-priced $399 version might not be a great pick if you need Surface Go to serve as your main computer. Its smaller, slower storage drive and limited RAM might make multitasking and demanding apps feel slower. If you can, spring for the $549 config instead. Like Surface Pro, Go does not include a [$100 Type Cover keyboard](https://fave.co/2NAeOCb){: rel=nofollow} or [Surface Pen](https://fave.co/2OfeXAe){: rel=nofollow}, so remember to pick those up with your tablet purchase. - -**Buy the Surface Go (Pentium 4415Y, 8 GB RAM, 128 GB SSD) from [Microsoft](https://fave.co/2NA4quc){: rel=nofollow} or [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Surface-Go-Intel-Pentium/dp/B07FDKZQTY/){: rel=nofollow}.** - -##The Best for Power Users - - -[#image: /photos/5aa84df82ba43111d1213e28]|||||| - - -**[Surface Book 2 15-inch (i7, Nvidia dGPU, 16 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD), $2,499](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/config/surface-book-2/8MCPZJJCC98C/BHHZ?cid=surfacebook2interstitial){: rel=nofollow}** - -This transforming powerhouse is the only Surface device with an optional graphics chip that'll boost core performance, speeding up everything from Adobe Premiere to SolidWorks. The screen undocks from the keyboard, so you can use the display as a tablet for brief stints when watching movies or annotating documents with the Surface Pen. When our team [reviewed this laptop](https://www.wired.com/review/review-microsoft-surface-book-2/), we gave it our WIRED Recommends seal of approval and a score of 8/10. - -Available in versions with 13.5 and 15.6-inch screens, Surface Book 2 is the closest analog to Apple's MacBook Pro series. Thanks to standard quad-core Intel processors and an optional discrete Nvidia 10-series graphics chip inside the keyboard dock, you'll get amazing performance for a portable. Plus you get the expected suite of Surface goodies—Windows Hello, a gorgeous high-res screen, a luxurious backlit keyboard, and a big, silky-smooth glass trackpad. - -Because the Surface Book 2 hasn't been refreshed as of October 2019, keep an eye out for deals. We've see the 15-inch model (i7, Nvidia dGPU, 16 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD) going for as low as $1800 ($700 off) on Amazon. - -**Buy the Surface Book 2 15-inch (i7, Nvidia dGPU, 16 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD) from [Microsoft](https://fave.co/32KLeCz){: rel=nofollow} or [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Surface-Book-Intel-256GB/dp/B076HZCQY9/){: rel=nofollow}.** - -*If you have cash to burn on a *really* nice Windows laptop, the 15-inch version has the fastest Nvidia 1060 graphics chip and the biggest, highest-res screen available on a portable Surface. The 13-inch is great, too, but the cheapest version is poorly equipped, going without Nvidia graphics, and has a measly 128 GB SSD—not enough space for your Lightroom library, much less all your go-to pro apps.* - -###Caveats - -Even though the Surface lineup has never been as diverse as it is now, there are still some imperfections that may impact your enjoyment of a shiny new Microsoft computer. The first annoyances begin when you add a device to your cart. If you're grabbing a Surface hoping to use the famous, [fabulous Surface Pen](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/d/surface/8ZL5C82QMG6B/){: rel=nofollow} with it, you'll need to buy it separately. In years past, Surface Pro and Surface Book included the pen, but no longer. - -Ports are another mixed bag for Surface. The October 2019 refresh finally added USB-C ports to the Surface Pro, X and Laptop models, though there's still no support for Thunderbolt 3. You get the connector support, but not the full speed. - -Despite the USB-C ports, Microsoft stuck with its magnetic Surface Connect charger (confusingly, you *can* charge with USB-C as well). If you miss Apple's MagSafe era this isn't a bad thing, but if you're looking forward to a one-connector future, Microsoft hasn't delivered on that yet. - -If you're a little short on cash but still want to pick up a Surface, check out the [Surface All Access program](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/b/surface-all-access){: rel=nofollow}. Microsoft lets you buy a new Surface on an installment plan, for as little as $25 per month, and packs in Office 365 for the entire two years you’re paying off your device. Surface Pro and Go also get a Type Cover out of the deal. Unfortunately, Surface All Access is only available in Microsoft’s physical retail locations, and not online. - -##Reasons to Wait - -The lineup has been refreshed for the fall of 2019, so it’s a great time to buy. We don’t expect updates to the Surface family until 2020. - -##Get Microsoft Complete - -If you're rough on your gadgets, plan on buying the [Microsoft Complete extended warranty](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/accessories/microsoft-complete){: rel=nofollow}. Starting at $149, this gives you additional warranty coverage and accidental damage protection. You get two accidental damage claims, with only a $49 deductible, whether you take your device to the local Microsoft Store or ship it in for repairs. Given how much a Surface costs, it's worth the peace of mind to add this protection to your new device. - -**Shop for [Microsoft Complete](https://fave.co/33TnHPQ){: rel=nofollow}** - -*** -[#iframe: https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/4736898/WIRED-Holiday-Gifts-Survey](533x430) - -*** -###More WIRED Buying Guides - - - Which [MacBook Pro Should You Buy?](https://www.wired.com/story/which-macbook-should-you-buy/?mbid=BottomRelatedStories) - - - The Best [Amazon Fire Tablet](https://www.wired.com/story/best-amazon-fire-tablet/?mbid=BottomRelatedStories) - - - Our Favorite [Affordable Smartphones Under $500](https://www.wired.com/story/best-cheap-phones/?mbid=BottomRelatedStories) - - -*** -*When you buy something using the retail links in our product reviews, we may earn a small affiliate commission. [Read more](https://www.wired.com/2015/11/affiliate-link-policy/) about how this works.* - -Want more news and reviews you can use? [Sign up for the Gadget Lab newsletter.](https://www.wired.com/newsletter/?name=gadget-lab&source=ArticleLink) diff --git a/which-surface.txt b/which-surface.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 21699dc..0000000 --- a/which-surface.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,110 +0,0 @@ -Microsoft's Surface brand offers some of the best Windows hardware on the market. Best know for the innovative, tablet-like hardware designs, the software started off a bit rough. In the beginning most of the Surface line ran a stripped down version of Windows that proved unpopular. - -Eight years later, things have changed. Not only is do most Surface devices run Windows Home edition, but it's also become clear that Microsoft was an early innovator in mobile-friendly hybrid PC hardware. It's hard to find a PC-maker today that doesn't ape Surface's kickstand-packing, detachable-keyboard-rocking design. - -Since launching the first Surface ultraportables, Microsoft has expanded the Surface line to include a full family of computers, from a standard laptop to a giant desktop. If you need a portable Windows PC, it's hard to find a nicer physical experience than what Surface offers. The problem is one of choice: with such a diverse family of premium computers, which is best for your needs? Not to worry—we're on this like a Type Cover on a Surface Pro. - -*Updated in Oct. 2019: We've updated our guide with the Surface 3 series hardware.* - -##The Best All-Arounder - -[#image: /photos/5aa84ed1f156f371db608ecf]|||||| - -**[Surface Laptop 3 (i5, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD), $999](https://fave.co/2pPXIdg){: rel=nofollow}** - -This device isn't as swish as the transforming, flexible computers that made the Surface brand famous, but if you need a laptop, you *need* a laptop. Kickstands and clicky magnetic keyboard covers don't work well in every situation, so we're going with the Surface Laptop 3 as the best pick for most shoppers. No, it's not a tablet, but the Surface Laptop is a *killer* notebook computer. - -Featuring a gorgeous, 13.5-inch high-resolution display, a lovely-feeling keyboard, a stellar glass trackpad, and a slim case, the Surface Laptop is well-built and easy to handle. Ports are one place the Surfaces skimps, but in 2019 you now get a USB-C port along with your good, old-fashioned USB-A port. The old DisplayPort has been removed to make room for that USB-C. It also has a magnetic charging port. If you're a klutz who trips over your power cord all the time, this can be a lifesaver. It severs the connection between the wall plug and the computer before the laptop goes flying across the room like a Frisbee. - -In 2019 Microsoft added a 15-inch model to its Surface Laptop line (see [our full review]()). The 15-inch model uses an AMD Ryzen chip rather than the usual Intel variety. Microsoft says it worked closely with AMD to tune the chip for the best possible performance. It's not going to edit your next 4K feature film, but it's plenty powerful enough for most of us. - -Microsoft also gives users some great tech standards, like a Windows Hello IR camera that lets you log in to Windows with your face lickety-split. Once you get used that, it's hard to go back to typing in your password like some sort of paleolithic protohuman. When we [tried the original Surface Laptop in 2017](https://www.wired.com/2017/06/review-microsoft-surface-laptop/), we gave it our WIRED Recommends seal of approval and a score of 8/10 and we anticipate liking the sequel as well. - -**Buy the 13-inch Surface Laptop 3 (i5, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD) from [Microsoft](https://fave.co/2pPXIdg){: rel=nofollow} or [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YNKGWMT/){: rel=nofollow}. The 15-inch model (AMD, 8GB RAM, 128 GB SSD) is also available from [Microsoft](https://fave.co/2pPXIdg){: rel=nofollow} in the base config and [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/New-Microsoft-Surface-Laptop-Touch-Screen/dp/B07YNLKTW9/){: rel=nofollow} stocks the slightly more expensive model (AMD, 16GB RAM, 256 GB SSD).** - - -##The Best 2-in-1 - -[#image: /photos/5aa850bcf156f371db608ed1]|||||| - -**[Surface Pro 7 (i5, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD), $1,199](https://fave.co/2qCTG8x){: rel=nofollow}** - -The original Surface design, with its kickstand and keyboard cover, is still a joy all these years later. The upcoming Surface Pro 6 is a mobile device that bridges the gap between laptop and tablet pretty well. - -No matter which configuration you land on, each Pro has more performant 10th-generation Intel chips, and an improved 12.3-inch high-res touchscreen with a document-friendly 3:2 aspect ratio. You also get a USB-A port, a magnetic charging port, a Windows Hello-compatible webcam, and a MicroSD slot for expanding the onboard storage. The Pro 7 update adds a long-overdue USB-C port, but it does not support Thunderbolt 3. - -If you want your Pro purchase to last as long as possible, spring for the $1,199 configuration which will get you a faster i5 chip and a larger hard drive. - -**Buy the Surface Pro 6 (i5, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD) from [Microsoft](https://fave.co/2qCTG8x){: rel=nofollow} or [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/NEW-Microsoft-Surface-Pro-Touch-Screen/dp/B07YNJ6BQL/){: rel=nofollow}.** - -*There's a slight catch. If you want the full Surface tablet experience, you'll need to buy one of Microsoft's Type Cover keyboards. This accessory is essential, but not included. Tack on an additional [$129 for a simple black cover](https://fave.co/2PfAicb){: rel=nofollow}, or [$159 for a fancier, Alcantara-covered](https://fave.co/2MJTuwR){: rel=nofollow} version.* - -##The Best for Students - -[#image: /photos/5bc4dfd32ba3661093860d44]|||||| - -**[Surface Go (Pentium 4415Y, 8 GB RAM, 128 GB SSD), $549](https://fave.co/2NA4quc){: rel=nofollow}** - -The most affordable, smallest member of the Surface lineup is the 10-inch Surface Go. Not only is it a smaller Surface tablet, it’s significantly cheaper than the Pro. If your needs are minimal, or you prefer tiny computers, this is what you should buy—despite its slower Intel chips, we enjoyed using it, and gave it a [7/10 when we reviewed it](https://www.wired.com/review/review-microsoft-surface-go/) in 2018. - -Because of its excellent Surface Pen compatibility, Go is awesome for notetaking, and with a Type Cover attached, it's a surprisingly good, if tiny, laptop. It might not be able to take on the [iPad Pro](https://www.wired.com/gallery/the-best-ipad/) in terms of sheer computing power or battery life, but Surface Go is nicely priced and good enough for college students, or anyone for a second machine to take with them. - -The tantalizingly-priced $399 version might not be a great pick if you need Surface Go to serve as your main computer. Its smaller, slower storage drive and limited RAM might make multitasking and demanding apps feel slower. If you can, spring for the $549 config instead. Like Surface Pro, Go does not include a [$100 Type Cover keyboard](https://fave.co/2NAeOCb){: rel=nofollow} or [Surface Pen](https://fave.co/2OfeXAe){: rel=nofollow}, so remember to pick those up with your tablet purchase. - -**Buy the Surface Go (Pentium 4415Y, 8 GB RAM, 128 GB SSD) from [Microsoft](https://fave.co/2NA4quc){: rel=nofollow} or [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Surface-Go-Intel-Pentium/dp/B07FDKZQTY/){: rel=nofollow}.** - -##The Best for Power Users - - -[#image: /photos/5aa84df82ba43111d1213e28]|||||| - - -**[Surface Book 2 15-inch (i7, Nvidia dGPU, 16 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD), $2,499](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/config/surface-book-2/8MCPZJJCC98C/BHHZ?cid=surfacebook2interstitial){: rel=nofollow}** - -This transforming powerhouse is the only Surface device with an optional graphics chip that'll boost core performance, speeding up everything from Adobe Premiere to SolidWorks. The screen undocks from the keyboard, so you can use the display as a tablet for brief stints when watching movies or annotating documents with the Surface Pen. When our team [reviewed this laptop](https://www.wired.com/review/review-microsoft-surface-book-2/), we gave it our WIRED Recommends seal of approval and a score of 8/10. - -Available in versions with 13.5 and 15.6-inch screens, Surface Book 2 is the closest analog to Apple's MacBook Pro series. Thanks to standard quad-core Intel processors and an optional discrete Nvidia 10-series graphics chip inside the keyboard dock, you'll get amazing performance for a portable. Plus you get the expected suite of Surface goodies—Windows Hello, a gorgeous high-res screen, a luxurious backlit keyboard, and a big, silky-smooth glass trackpad. - -Because the Surface Book 2 hasn't been refreshed as of October 2019, keep an eye out for deals. We've see the 15-inch model (i7, Nvidia dGPU, 16 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD) going for as low as $1800 ($700 off) on Amazon. - -**Buy the Surface Book 2 15-inch (i7, Nvidia dGPU, 16 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD) from [Microsoft](https://fave.co/32KLeCz){: rel=nofollow} or [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Surface-Book-Intel-256GB/dp/B076HZCQY9/){: rel=nofollow}.** - -*If you have cash to burn on a *really* nice Windows laptop, the 15-inch version has the fastest Nvidia 1060 graphics chip and the biggest, highest-res screen available on a portable Surface. The 13-inch is great, too, but the cheapest version is poorly equipped, going without Nvidia graphics, and has a measly 128 GB SSD—not enough space for your Lightroom library, much less all your go-to pro apps.* - -###Caveats - -Even though the Surface lineup has never been as diverse as it is now, there are still some imperfections that may impact your enjoyment of a shiny new Microsoft computer. The first annoyances begin when you add a device to your cart. If you're grabbing a Surface hoping to use the famous, [fabulous Surface Pen](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/d/surface/8ZL5C82QMG6B/){: rel=nofollow} with it, you'll need to buy it separately. In years past, Surface Pro and Surface Book included the pen, but no longer. - -Ports are another mixed bag for Surface. The October 2019 refresh finally added USB-C ports to the Surface Pro, X and Laptop models, though there's still no support for Thunderbolt 3. You get the connector support, but not the full speed. - -Despite the USB-C ports, Microsoft stuck with its magnetic Surface Connect charger (confusingly, you *can* charge with USB-C as well). If you miss Apple's MagSafe era this isn't a bad thing, but if you're looking forward to a one-connector future, Microsoft hasn't delivered on that yet. - -If you're a little short on cash but still want to pick up a Surface, check out the [Surface All Access program](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/b/surface-all-access){: rel=nofollow}. Microsoft lets you buy a new Surface on an installment plan, for as little as $25 per month, and packs in Office 365 for the entire two years you’re paying off your device. Surface Pro and Go also get a Type Cover out of the deal. Unfortunately, Surface All Access is only available in Microsoft’s physical retail locations, and not online. - -##Reasons to Wait - -The lineup has been refreshed for the fall of 2019, so it’s a great time to buy. We don’t expect updates to the Surface family until 2020. - -##Get Microsoft Complete - -If you're rough on your gadgets, plan on buying the [Microsoft Complete extended warranty](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/accessories/microsoft-complete){: rel=nofollow}. Starting at $149, this gives you additional warranty coverage and accidental damage protection. You get two accidental damage claims, with only a $49 deductible, whether you take your device to the local Microsoft Store or ship it in for repairs. Given how much a Surface costs, it's worth the peace of mind to add this protection to your new device. - -**Shop for [Microsoft Complete](https://fave.co/33TnHPQ){: rel=nofollow}** - -*** -[#iframe: https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/4736898/WIRED-Holiday-Gifts-Survey](533x430) - -*** -###More WIRED Buying Guides - - - Which [MacBook Pro Should You Buy?](https://www.wired.com/story/which-macbook-should-you-buy/?mbid=BottomRelatedStories) - - - The Best [Amazon Fire Tablet](https://www.wired.com/story/best-amazon-fire-tablet/?mbid=BottomRelatedStories) - - - Our Favorite [Affordable Smartphones Under $500](https://www.wired.com/story/best-cheap-phones/?mbid=BottomRelatedStories) - - -*** -*When you buy something using the retail links in our product reviews, we may earn a small affiliate commission. [Read more](https://www.wired.com/2015/11/affiliate-link-policy/) about how this works.* - -Want more news and reviews you can use? [Sign up for the Gadget Lab newsletter.](https://www.wired.com/newsletter/?name=gadget-lab&source=ArticleLink) diff --git a/wishlist.txt b/wishlist.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 43e2fb4..0000000 --- a/wishlist.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,37 +0,0 @@ -Instax Mini LiPlay - -Instagram your walls with this pocket-size instant camera and printer in one. The LCD screen allows you to preview before printing, so only the winners end up on your wall. The glass lens produces sharp images, or you can use images from your phone, printed with the app. - - -YubiKey for iOS -https://www.yubico.com/product/yubikey-5ci - -The YubiKey now works with iPhones. Unlike a laptop, you don't even need to insert the YubiKey into your phone. Instead the hardware key taps NFC authentication to identify you to apps on your iPhone. Some of our favorite security apps are already compatible, including the LastPass password manager. - -Raspberry Pi 4 (which we still need sent over, if you have it handy) -https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/raspberry-pi-4-model-b/ - -A $50 desktop computer? Yes please. The Raspberry Pi created and defined a new era of DIY computing and now the fourth generation wants to conquer the desktop too. It's not quite there, but with 4GB of RAM and support for dual 4K displays, it's tantalizingly close. And it's plenty powerful enough to handle whatever DIY project you throw at it.. - -DJI Robomaster S1 -https://www.dji.com/robomaster-s1 - -DJI took some time off building drones to create the coolest robotic vehicle we've tested. Designed for robotics competitions, the Robomaster S1 is fun to build and even more fun to program and drive. More of a STEM project than a laser-shooting, remote-controlled car, it is still a laser-shooting robot ready to do battle with other drivers. - -Breville Super Q -https://www.breville.com/us/en/products/blenders/bbl920.html -Breville brings the commercial blender to your kitchen. The powerful motor and surprisingly quiet operation make the Super Q a versatile and powerful tool. Not making sauces to feed dozens? No problem. The personal blender cup lets you churn out a smoothie for one with ease. - -"Sandworm" by Andy Greenberg -https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/597684/sandworm-by-andy-greenberg/ - -WIRED's own Andy Greenberg brings you a globe-spanning detective story in search of the new digital battlefield (spoiler: it's everywhere). Sandworm looks at where the digital and physical battlefields begin to merge and how that's going to shake up our world. - -Form Goggles -https://www.formswim.com/ -Runners have it easy, just glance at your wrist to see your workout stats. Now swimmers can see the same data just as easily with Form Goggles. The heads-up display brings real-time access to your workout stats without breaking your stroke—time, stroke rate, pace, distance, and more all float in front of your eyes. - - -Peek & Push -https://stellarfactory.com/shop/games/peek-and-push -This 2-player strategy game taps is little like playing dominoes blindfolded. You can peek to see which tiles are where, and then keep track of them as you and your opponent "push" them around the board. Create a set or run before your opponent does, and you win. -- cgit v1.2.3-70-g09d2