Author: Anna Galvez

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Tech

Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 Teardown Revealed A “Zero” Repairability Score

It is not uncommon to find modern gadget with a low repairability index. These often include tightly sealed smartphones and, in particular, we talk about Apple products. However, a few have earned the distinction of a repairability score of zero. One of them is the Surface Laptop, the first of Microsoft’s modern, high-end computers. Unfortunately, it seems that the Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 teardown made by iFixIt revealed that the Surface Laptop 2 has a repairability index of 0 out of 10.

At the first generation of the product, the iFixIt team did not know what to expect, beyond X-ray scanners, or how to properly disassemble the product. Unfortunately, this did not go well for the renowned keyboard of Surface Pro, which was destroyed during the process and became unrecoverable. With Surface Pro 2, the team already had the previous experience and knew how to deal with the gadget’s teardown.

They now knew what to do at each step of the process. That is because the Surface Laptop 2 is precisely the same as the first generation Surface Laptop. Even the Surface Pro 6 is not offering many new changes under the hood. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 teardown revealed that the device is pretty much like the previous model of the series.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 teardown by iFixIt revealed a 0 out 10 repairability score

According to iFixIt, Surface Laptop 2 can survive teardown, most of the time without any damage. So, why did it get a repairability index of 0 out of 10?

That’s because, like the first Surface Laptop computer, it was very challenging to open the device without exposing its components to high risks of damaging, during the process. Moreover, none of the parts are modular and easily replaceable. Even the SSD is firmly soldered to the mainboard.

As devices become more and more compact and of a better quality, they also become less user-friendly for third-party repairs, such as at home, or even at a reseller. While laptops have always been an exception, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 2, like its predecessor, is not one of those easily repairable devices.

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Tech

Huawei 5G Folding Phone To Compete With The Samsung Galaxy X in 2019

Since the first rumors emerged in July, many have talked about the Huawei 5G folding phone. Now, Huawei officially announced the coming of the foldable smartphone during the Mate 20 presentation event. The company CEO Richard Yu confirmed that the Chinese manufacturer is indeed developing a bendy device to compete with Samsung Galaxy X in 2019.

“We are working on foldable phones. Foldable 5G phones” stated Richard Yu, Huawei CEO.

However, it is not the first time the Chinese tech company talked about its folding phone plans and the desire to release 5G smartphones. But it is the first time when a Huawei official linked the two devices publicly.

Also, Huawei invested considerable sums of money in the development of 5G networks around the world but faced a blockage from huge markets like the US and Australia, precisely due to those countries’ government which accused Huawei of following the agenda of the Chinese government.

Huawei 5G Folding Phone To Compete With The Samsung Galaxy X in 2019

Previous discussions on the Huawei 5G folding phone suggested that the foldable smartphone might come out in 2019. Also, Samsung plans to launch its Galaxy X, its own bendy phone, in mid-2019. Accordingly, the two companies would directly compete for an emerging market which has already raised the interest of many customers, as well as other producers.

It will be exciting to see how this competition between Huawei and Samsung would end, eventually, and which of the two upcoming foldable smartphones will be better. At first glance, we would say that the future Galaxy X promises more than the Huawei folding phone, but, on the other hand, the Chinese manufacturer has always surprised us.

In the meantime, Huawei launched its new Mate 20, Mate 20 Pro, and Mate X devices, the latter being a gaming smartphone that reportedly would compete with Nintendo Switch.

Categories
Games

Call Of Duty Black Ops 4 Scores $500 Million In Its First Days On The Market

Call of Duty Black Ops 4 raised $500 million in its first three days on sale. A colossal figure that couldn’t be reached by many sagas and gaming companies and that is entirely worthy in a year like this. The very idea that Call of Duty Black Ops 4 sold almost nine million copies over the first weekend is a resounding success. However, it is still, somehow, below the profits made by other CoD title in their early days after launch.

It seems difficult for Activision not to be happy with this data but analysts talk of a “slow” start to this new CoD installment and, as a result, Activision shares have fallen by as much as 9% in the hours following the announcement. So, are we talking about numbers to celebrate or numbers to worry about? To cut to the chase, we could say that neither one thing nor the other, but considering the context of the launch and the recent history of the franchise, we might witness another hugely successful title, eventually.

Call of Duty Black Ops 4 raised $500 million within its first days on the market

The information provided by Activision specifies that Call of Duty Black Ops 4 revenues equals that of the CoD World War II, the previous delivery in the franchise and one of the best and best-selling of the saga in the long term. But if we look back, we can see how the previous delivery of the Black Ops story-arch, the Call of Duty Black Ops 3 scored $550 million in the same timeframe. Also, Black Ops 2 raised $500 million in its first twenty-four hours on sale.

In the same way, and going back to older CoD titles, Modern Warfare 3 harvested $400 million on its first day (and 775 million after the early five days) and the first Black Ops earned $360 million on its launch day. Call of Duty Black Ops 4 is a bit behind these titles, for the moment, but when taking into account factors such as the chosen release date and its current competition, $500 million raised in its first days is by far outperforming many other games released this year.

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Tech

iPad Pro 2018, MacBook Air, and Mac Mini To Be Presented By Apple At The Event on October 30th

Apple has sent out press invitations to attend the company’s event set for October 30th, in New York. We expect Apple to announce new tablets, computers, mini-PCs, and some accessories, as well. More specifically, the Cupertino-based company could reveal its new iPad Pro 2018, MacBook Air, and the new Mac Mini PC.

iPad Pro 2018

As Apple already launched its new iPhone 2018 devices and Apple Watch series, the new generation of iPad Pro 2018 tablets are expected to roll out during the upcoming event.

Apple, thinking about the 2-in-1 and convertible tablets that come from Windows, and without having a Mac with a touchscreen as an alternative, still considers that its iPad Pro tablets can replace PCs.

We expect two new iPad Pro 2018 models with screen sizes similar to the current ones, somewhere between 10 and 13 inches and high resolution. We don’t think Apple will jump to OLED displays for reasons of cost and panel supply. They will reduce the size of bezels to improve the screen-to-body ratio, enhance the potential of the Apple Pencil, and upgrade accessories such as the keyboard.

MacBook Air

After updating the MacBook Pro, the best-selling Apple personal computer series, it would be time to upgrade the MacBook Air line, as well. Apple is today a mobile company, more than anything else, and they don’t care much about their other products.

MacBook Air hasn’t been updated regarding hardware for years and, although it is still one of the Apple’s cheapest Mac notebook, it has been outperformed by its competitors and by new formats such as 2-in-1 and convertible tablets.

According to some rumors, a MacBook Air would be presented during the Apple event on October 30th. Also, it might boast a screen of between 12 and 13 inches with “Retina.”

Mac Mini

It’s been four years since the smallest and cheapest Mac notebook has been updated, and as a result, some of the world’s biggest technology news and reviews portals recommended users not to buy these computers.

Tim Cook tried to lower the criticism by stating that “it’s not time to share the details, but Mac Mini will be an important part of the company’s product line in the future.” Accordingly, a Mac Mini 2018 could come labeled as a Mac Mini Pro and might boast the eighth generation Intel Core, DDR4 memories, among others.

Categories
Crypto News

British Security Firm G4S Emerged On The Cryptocurrency Custody Services Market

The British security firm G4S, known for its bank protection and securities transport services, announced that it would offer a new facility for the safekeeping of cryptocurrency holdings in offline vaults. The company explained, without giving many details, that its method of protecting cryptos consists of disconnecting them and then dividing them into fragments that, independently, have no value.

Dominic MacIver, a risk analyst at G4S, noted that the company’s customers had expressed concerns about a possible solution to raise the security levels of cryptocurrency holdings.

“Our security solution is based on vault storage. Not only that we disconnect the digital assets, but we also divide them into fragments that, independently, have no value. We store them securely in our high-security vaults, out of reach of cybercriminals and armed robbers,” said Dominic MacIver, Risk Analyst at G4S.

Through a press release published earlier this week on the company’s official blog, the company indicated, through its spokesman, that the arrival of crypto coins has as its objective “to redesign the fundamental architecture of money.” However, MacIver pointed out that this new panorama has come with risk situations.

British security firm G4S emerged on the cryptocurrency custody services market

In this regard, the G4S Risk Analyst, MacIver, mentioned that “the sector has attracted the same old threats as the financial systems, including thieves, swindlers, market manipulators, and many others.”

Cryptocurrency custody services have been increasing within the cryptocurrency ecosystem. Companies that make a living in this niche, as well as outside companies, are looking for an opportunity to do new business. In this new group of corporations, several announcements stand out. One of the most recent was made by the financial services firm Fidelity, which announced this week that, in 2019, it would enter the world of management services and custody of cryptocurrencies for institutions.

Among the companies in the cryptocurrency custody services ecosystem, there is BitGo, which on September 13th, received authorization to offer custody services through its subsidiary BitGo Trust. The safekeeping of cryptocurrency holdings is also common among large crypto exchanges like Coinbase.

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