At least some manufacturers have followed through on putting old GPUs back on the market again. Japanese vendor Kuroutoshikou has restarted sales of the GTX 1050 Ti, with a 4GB card retailing for 22,800 yen, or roughly $200. The card in question, the GF-GTX1050Ti-E4GB / SF / P2, originally sold for $140 when the GTX 1050 Ti launched in late 2016. There are absolutely no new features, capabilities, or functions to report regarding the new card, which is by Palit. The GTX 1050 Ti offers gamers a chance to return to the halcyon days of 2016, when we were also (coincidentally) discussing an ongoing GPU shortage.
Windows 10X, the simplified Windows variant Microsoft intended for dual-screen devices before the company unexpectedly pivoted last year, is now expected to ship by the second half of 2021. Microsoft reportedly wants to sign off on a shipping build by late spring. Windows 10X is intended to be an OS for low-end hardware selling into embedded and educational markets. Windows Central the company delayed Windows 10X back from an intended launch last year to put an additional coat of polish on the operating system. Windows 10X is a stripped-down version of Windows 10. Win32 applications were originally supposed to be supported in Windows 10X via Microsoft VAIL (Virtualized Application Interface Layer), but this support was removed last year when Microsoft decided to drop support for high-end conceptual dual-screen devices (like Surface Neo) and refocus it as a competitor for low-end Chromebook hardware.
OnePlus has , but there’s not much about them the internet doesn’t already know thanks to the numerous leaks and teasers. The OnePlus 9 Pro is the flagship OP phone, and the OnePlus 9 is a slightly more budget-oriented version of the phone. While the is almost a thousand bucks, the is more than $200 less expensive. OnePlus is also finally talking about its long-rumored smartwatch, but it doesn’t run Wear OS. The OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro have a lot in common. They both run Android 11 with the latest Snapdragon 888, they’ve got OP’s trademark alert slider, 65W charging, 8 or 12 GB of RAM, 128 or 256GB of storage, and there’s no headphone jack (sorry).
AMD’s 6700 XT launch last week gives us a bit of an unusual opportunity. Typically, generational GPU comparisons are a bit limited because core counts, texture units, and ROP configurations don’t align perfectly between the families. AMD’s Radeon RX 6700 XT is an exception to this rule, and it allows for a tighter comparison of RDNA versus RDNA2 that would otherwise be possible. The Radeon 6700 XT and 5700 XT both feature 40 CUs, 160 texture mapping units, and 64 render outputs. (2560:160:64). The 5700 XT has a wider memory pipeline with a 256-bit memory bus and 14Gbps GDDR6.
If you want to enjoy a movie these days, you’ve got to do it at home. Thanks to the we’ve all been staying home over the last year, so we’ve logged a whole lot of Netflix hours. Wishing you had better sound to enjoy blockbuster films from the comfort of your couch? It might be time to invest in a new sound system like , which typically costs $999 but is available now for 57 percent off at just $419.99. These days, sound systems don’t have to take up tons of space. The Klipsch Reference Theater Pack Surround Sound System has an impressive 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon thanks to its ability to deliver superior acoustic performance while keeping a super small footprint.
LG has been trying to turn its mobile unit around for the last several years, but it has yet to pull out of the red. In early 2021, leaks suggested LG was . Now, a new South Korean report ( by Bloomberg) says LG has tried and failed to find a suitor, and the next step might just be to shut down the division entirely. According to the always popular sources familiar with the matter, LG approached a number of companies about acquiring its smartphone operation. One such suitor was Volkswagen, which purchased batteries from LG until recently. The negotiations with VW were not smooth, and both companies eventually walked away, and the same was true of separate talks with Vietnam-based Vin Group.
Today you can get a highly versatile laptop from Dell with over $700 marked off the retail price. This system is perfect for work, but it also has a 100 percent sRGB compatible display for editing images and a GPU that’s powerful enough to keep the average gamer happy. Intel Core i7-10750H 15.6-Inch 1080p Laptop w/ Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 GPU, 8GB DDR4 RAM and 256GB NVMe SSD for $949.00 from Dell (List price $1,712.86) 25-Inch 2K USB-C Monitor + $100 Gift Card for $389.99 from Dell (List price $519.99) for $229.99 from Amazon (List price $319.99) for $101.40 from Amazon (List price $129.99) 38mm w/ GPS & Cellular for $159.00 from Amazon (List price $379.00) 27-Inch 1080p 75Hz IPS Monitor for $129.99 from Dell (List price $259.99)
SpaceX is one of several companies that want to launch megaconstallations of communication satellites into Earth orbit, and that has NASA and other space agencies a little spooked. With that many new objects up there, the chances of a collision skyrocket. SpaceX now has more than 1,000 Starlink nodes around Earth, and NASA has that will ensure those satellites (and future ones) don’t get in the way of any of its missions. The accord, (PDF), is what’s known as a “nonreimbursable agreement.” That means no money changes hands, but both parties are getting something they want. The document explains that SpaceX is in a unique position right now, and that gives NASA authority under the Space Act to negotiate an agreement that ensures it can fulfill its mission.
Over the last few months, we’ve seen Intel go on the marketing offensive against Apple and the M1 in multiple ways. Much of the discussion I’ve seen around Intel’s various ads and marketing decisions has been critical of them in one respect or another. I didn’t necessarily expect much when I clicked on the company’s new comparison page for x86 PCs versus the M1. I’m not endorsing Intel’s decision to bring back Justin Long or rendering a verdict on its performance or battery life claims versus Apple. I also don’t agree with all of Intel’s arguments. With that said, Intel does raise some very solid points in favor of an x86 PC over an M1-based Mac.
