Intel Kernel Security Flaw: You might lose up to 30% performance…

A terrible start for 2018 and Intel. A security flaw was discovered in Intel hardware, and the fix could be VERY costly. Depending on what processor is in your computer, you might see performance losses anywhere from 5% to 30%. Yikes. And yes, even you Mac users will be affected. Here’s the scoop on Intel’s Kernel Security flaw. Pretty sure my next PC build will be an AMD…

*** UPDATE ***

Intel press release acknowledging the issue.
Google press release detailing affected products
.
AMD press release explaining why AMD CPU’s aren’t affected the same way.

ARM official response to exploit on mobile processors.

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Ajit Pai is not the enemy. Ajit Pai is a distraction. #NetNeutrality

Following the FCC vote repealing Title II regulation, we saw a ton of funny memes and outraged discussion aimed at FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. Problem is, he doesn’t care. He’s a figurehead and a distraction. Now that we’ve made it through the initial outrage, it’s time to focus our energy more productively.

Handy list of ISP abuses before (and after) Net Neutrality
Ajit Pai leaked video, joking about being a puppet FCC Chairman for Verizon
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Is it time to Boycott Disney? Gambling in Marvel Future Fight and Star Wars Battlefront 2 Rant!

Is it time to boycott Disney? We can complain about micro-transactions, paywall characters, cool down clocks, and now slot machine loot boxes, but these game mechanics make way too much money for any developer to ignore. If the video game industry can’t police itself on fleecing customers, and introducing gambling to kids, then politicians will need to get involved. I do not want that to happen…

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How Samsung Screwed Up their Phones in 2017

No manufacturer is perfect, and even the biggest smartphone companies can make mistakes. We’re going to work through, company by company, discussing what I thought was the biggest misstep from each tech manufacturer.

How Samsung screwed up their phones in 2017! Did I call it? Did this company make a bigger faux pas? Drop me a comment down below!

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How Android Police and GSMArena (and Others) Get Smartphone Audio Wrong

Tech reviewers have a lot on their plates. A smartphone isn’t a “phone”. It’s a catch-all mobile computing platform. Tech reviewers need to be multi-disciplined in their commentary. Of course, it’s impossible for an individual to be an expert in all areas, so we all rely on assistance for the subjects we might be less well versed. Sometimes we’re guided by other reviewers. Sometimes we get good materials from manufacturers to guide our coverage. Regardless, no reviewer is an island.

In experiencing numerous gadgets throughout a career, it’s also easy to fall into patterns. We’ve encountered so much data, and observed so many trends over time, that we might not always be rationally dissecting a product, as much as we might be intuitively or emotionally arriving at our conclusions.

Smartphone audio is an excellent example of a topic which is often overlooked. Worse, when it is discussed, it’s frequently considered in a subjective fashion.

“I like the sound of phone A, but I don’t like the sound of phone B.”

It’s not uncommon for a reviewer’s opinion of the phone overall to influence that opinion on the audio produced.

“I like phone A, so I prefer the sound on phone A.” 

Like most aspects of technology, when viewing a product subjectively, we’re more apt to appreciate the familiar, and grade a product based on that familiarity. We strive for objectivity, but hearing or seeing something different than what we’re used to will feel foreign.

“I’m used to the sound on phone A, so phone B sounds wrong”.

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Top 5 Phones of 2017: SomeGadgetGuy’s Totally Subjective and Biased List!

The top 5 smartphones of 2017! Well, at least, here’s my subjective list of the phones I PERSONALLY had the most fun reviewing in 2017. That’s probably more important anyway right?

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360VLOG: Newegg Studios! Take a look around!

360VLOG! Trisha joins me for a quick tour around our set for Newegg Now! The studio is well stocked, and it’s amazing producing a live show with such a great team. Want to see a little behind the scenes? How about the whole set in 360 degrees!

This vlog shot on the Kodak Pixpro Orbit360 4K.

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Buy a new mid-range phone, or last year’s flagship? Twitter responds!

It’s a common debate for savvy shoppers looking to buy their next phone. Should you buy a new, less expensive phone, or should you buy a flagship phone from the year before. Opening up this question on Twitter over the weekend, I got some excellent response from people, bringing up numerous ideas to consider.

Overwhelmingly, people responding seemed to side with buying a year-old flagship: Continue reading “Buy a new mid-range phone, or last year’s flagship? Twitter responds!”