Gigarefurb Refurbished Laptops News

The next two Windows 10 updates, code-named “19H2” and “20H1,” reflect Microsoft’s recent decision to split the major Windows 10 feature releases into two: a full-fledged update, with new features, and a secondary patch update. We’ve already had the major “19H1” update, known officially as the May 2019 Update, so we’re now looking forward to the minor 19H2 patch and then the major 20H1 feature release. Here’s what we know so far about both of them.

As of July 2019, the upcoming 19H2 feature will focus on “quality enhancements,” while the “20H1” feature will return to more substantive improvements. If the latter hews to Microsoft’s usual schedule, it’ll drop in March or April of 2020. Interim beta builds will provide further hints about what’s coming, and we’ll continue to cover them. Meanwhile, here’s where we stand on each release as of early August:

New features for Windows 10 19H2

Microsoft has aimed the 19H2 release primarily at enterprises, but two potential features from recent builds are intriguing:

A change to enable third-party digital assistants to voice-activate above the Lock screen

Previously, Windows 10 voice control was the domain of Cortana. But with Amazon Alexa’s integration into Windows as a Cortana skill, it appears you’ll be able to yell at a laptop or desktop running Alexa, similar to the way you’d command a smart speaker.

A fix to reduce the inking latency based on device capabilities

According to Microsoft, Windows apparently “decided” on its own what the inking latency could be depending on the typical hardware configuration, rather than the actual capabilities of the device. An odd decision to make in the first place, but one that’s apparently been rectified. With the 19H2 release, OEMs will be able to set this themselves. 

New features for Windows 10 20H1

Microsoft’s May 2019 Update felt light on new features compared to prior releases. At this point—with many, many months to go—20H1 feels the same. Still, there’s plenty of time for Microsoft to shift gears, especially if the majority of its developers are still fixing bugs in time for the 19H2 release.

For now, there’s a grab bag of upgrades and new additions. This isn’t an exhaustive list, but rather the more interesting features as of August, 2019.

A new Terminal app and Windows Subsystem for Linux

Because Microsoft is publishing new apps on its own schedule, the new Terminal isn’t specifically tied to any new release. Windows Subsystem for Linux 2, a faster version of WSL1, was released for Windows 10 Pro. Though it was added to the Insider program in June, it’s on the 20H1 track. 

The Apple Watch holds the title of the best selling smartwatch, and a version of it adorns wrists all over the world – but it’s still not perfect. The Apple Watch 4 is the company’s most elegant device yet – it sits near the top of our best smartwatch list – and it’s packed with lots of brand new top-end features too.

The Series 4 saw Apple introduce an ECG monitor as well as fall detection and a refreshed design that ensures existing straps can still be used while offering more screen space.

So why are we already excited about the Apple Watch 5? If the last few years are anything to judge by, it won’t be long until we hear from Apple about a new device.

At the moment we’re expecting it to be called the Apple Watch Series 5, and below we’ve put together all of the rumors we’ve seen so far. There aren’t many rumors yet though, so more importantly you’ll find a selection of improvements we’d like to see on the next smartwatch from Apple.

Apple Watch 5 release date and price

We don’t currently know when the Apple Watch 5 will launch, but we can take an educated guess. It’s worthwhile buying the Apple Watch 4 right now as the device is only a couple of months old and we don’t expect to see a refresh from the company until September 2019.

The Apple Watch 3 and Apple Watch 4 were both introduced in September of their respective years, so we’d expect the company to follow a similar suit for its next device.

Often Apple introduces devices and then releases them 10 days later too, so once you’ve heard about the Apple Watch 5 it probably won’t be long until you can buy one.

When it comes to price, we have no real reason to believe the price is set to increase from the RRP of the Apple Watch 4. That watch started at  $399 / £399 / AU$599 for the smallest GPS version, and $429 / £429 / AU$649 for the larger one 44mm one. 

If you want mobile internet, you’ll be able to buy the smaller watch for $499 / £499 / AU$749 and $529 / £529 / AU$799 for the larger watch. There may be some fluctuation when it comes to the Apple Watch 5 price, but this is the clearest indicator of how much it’ll cost you when it launches.

Apple Watch 5 news and rumors 

So far we’ve yet to hear much about the Apple Watch 5, but one report may give us a hint at what we’ll see. The first important report comes from trusted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has said the company may be set to introduce a “new ceramic casing design” on at least one model.

Kuo also believes Apple will bring support for the ECG monitor to more countries with the Apple Watch 5 – although that may also be a software upgrade for the Apple Watch 4 – as well as a new way to charge your watch.

He believes Apple will adopt two-way wireless charging on its next generation of smartphones, which would mean you’d be able to place your Apple Watch on the rear of an iPhone 11 and charge it up using the phone’s battery.

Elsewhere, it has been reported that Apple is working on a sleep tracking feature, so the Apple Watch 5 might finally be able to track your sleep without you needing to download a third-party app.

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Given that much of the hardware should already be in place, it’s possible that sleep tracking will also come to older models as a software update. However, the report says that the feature should arrive by 2020, so we might not see it until the Apple Watch 6.

A report from Reuters has also claimed Apple will be looking to Japan Display to make OLED panels for the Watch 5. That’s unlikely to have any effect on the end product, but it’s interesting to see the company is already preparing its manufacturing deals ready for this year’s device.

A patent filed by Apple shows a system that monitors chemicals in the air to ‘smell’, which could track your body odor or sense air quality where you’re exercising.

A glucose monitor manufacturer has also confirmed it’s making a device specific for the Apple Watch, which may mean we’re closer to seeing an unobtrusive version of tech included on a future Apple smartwatch.

Another rumor suggests the Apple Watch 5 may be the first Apple wearable to come with Wi-Fi Assist technology on board too.

That’s unlikely to be on the Apple Watch 5, but the new accessory may specifically work on the next-gen Apple Watch.

Another report suggests Apple may be readying itself to switch over to microLED technology from the traditionally used OLED tech on its Apple Watch range.

That is unlikely to happen for the Apple Watch 5 though as the company is said to only be in the early stages of the switch now, so it’s likely whatever Apple Watch we see in 2020 will be the first to include it.

It’s thought the company is switching to microLED to help improve the watch’s battery life.

Little else is known about the Apple Watch 5. Consistent rumors surface every year with Apple patenting round screens and a variety of other technologies, but at the time of writing we have no reason to believe these are true for this smartwatch.

Apple Watch 5: what we want to see 

A new smartwatch from Apple hopefully means some meaningful innovation. 

The Apple Watch 4 was a big change for the wearable line, but we’re hoping for even more on the next-generation smartwatch. Here’s what we’re hoping for:

1. Improved battery life 

The Apple Watch doesn’t have the worst battery life for a smartwatch, but neither does it have the best. 

The Apple Watch Series 4 does have the best battery we’ve seen on a smartwatch from the company so far… but we always want more.

Apple may be able to improve its processing tech to eek more out of the battery that’s already inside or perhaps the company will include a larger cell to result in improved battery life. 

Apple may even take a radical step and include a low battery mode like we’ve seen on other watches, such as the TicWatch Pro.

2. A wider selection of apps

This is something that would improve the entire Apple series of wearables. We’ve seen some major players drop support for Apple Watch including Instagram and Slack, and we’d like to see Apple invest in getting those users back onto watchOS.

If it can’t get the big name services, we’d like to see Apple get developers more involved in the platform to create innovative apps for the service that compete with Tizen and Wear OS.

3. And something special for Spotify

2018 saw the debut of a Spotify app on your Apple Watch, but it’s not what everyone wanted. You can currently only use it to control music on other devices, meaning you can’t download albums or playlists directly to your watch.

Apple Music does allow that on the Apple Watch, so why can’t the company include similar support for Spotify? In fact, we’d like to see the company embrace support on its wearable for Tidal, YouTube Music and a variety of other streaming services too. It’d be a major step for Apple to open up like this and in return it’d mean a lot for certain users.

4. Better sleep tech 

Apple’s sleep tracking technology isn’t the best on the Apple Watch, and we have found it doesn’t always track each night’s sleep with great accuracy. We’d like to see the company focus on improving this feature that some find essential on their smartwatch.

You can buy a variety of different sleep monitors that can be installed under your sheets, and we’d like to see Apple embrace its top-end heart rate tracking tech to rival some of these.

5. A slightly thinner design 

It’s another one we’re always asking for, but the Apple Watch does still feel thick on your wrist. The Series 4 in 44mm does feel thinner because it’s larger, but it’s still a thicker device than some other smartwatches money can buy.

Apple may be able to trim it down a touch further too by including smaller processing tech and perhaps a new battery tech. We don’t know how Apple can do it,  but we’d like it to.

6. Support for Android 

Here’s the one on the list we’re almost certain won’t happen, but we’re including it anyway. We’d like to see the Apple Watch 5 include support for Android devices. 

In the five years since the announcement of the original Apple Watch we’ve always wanted this, but the company has kept compatibility limited to its own iPhone line.

Android Wear started out as a platform for those with Android phones, but a few years in the company opened it up for support with iPhone. That has been a major boon for the company and at last count over a third of its users were on iPhone. Wouldn’t that mean a surge in sales for the Apple Watch if it suddenly worked with Android devices?

Apple has made one of the best smartwatches money can buy, why not share it with everyone? It probably won’t happen, but we can dream.

7. Another gamechanger 

You might not be able to use the feature right now, but allowing for a electrocardiogram (ECG) easily on a smartwatch is a gamechanger for anyone who’s worried about their heart health. We’d like to see Apple follow that up with another feature that makes our jaws drop on the Apple Watch 5.

That’s an easy task, right? It’s thought the new ECG feature on the Apple Watch 4 is set to be embraced on a variety of competing smartwatches from other manufacturers coming in 2019 proving Apple is a trendsetter with this tech.

We don’t currently know what that next thing will be, but we’re sure the brains at Apple are already trying to come up with that new tech. Perhaps a device that’s suitable for those who suffer from diabetes? Only time will tell.

Go to Source

There are several things that can cause 100% disk usage in Windows, and it can be a tricky problem to solve. But help is at hand: here are all the common reasons why it happens and how you can fix it.

When a process, or a combination of processes, demand too much of your computer’s hard disk everything can slow to a crawl. It’s probably the unresponsiveness that’s led you to check Task Manager where you’ve discovered that your disk is maxed out.

Finding the problem is just the start though: you still need to fix whatever is causing it to get back to normal.

Method 1. Restart your computer

The first thing to try – as with most Windows problems – is to turn it off and on again. It sounds too simple, but it can often cure issues that you might otherwise spend a long time investigating.

Be aware that you can’t use the Shut Down option if you have Windows 10, as this saves the system state so it can start up faster. And that means problems don’t go away.

Instead, use the Restart option which shuts down everything properly and performs a ‘clean’ restart.

After that, if the problem persists, leave your computer alone for an hour or so to do whatever it needs to. It might be that the weekly virus scan or a scheduled backup is happening.

These shouldn’t cause such a problem, but if you have an older computer with a relatively slow hard disk, it might be more noticeable.

In this case, it can be worth upgrading your old disk to a much faster SSD. We have found this can fixe the problem in aging laptops with old, slow hard drives.

Before you change your drive, run a scan for viruses using whichever software you have installed: malware might well be the issue. You do have antivirus software don’t you?

Method 2. Task Manager

If you haven’t done so already, look in Task Manager to see which app or process is thrashing your disk.

A quick way to launch it is to press Ctrl+Shift+Esc together. Click the ‘More details’ arrow if Task Manager isn’t displaying the full interface, then click on the Disk column header to rearrange the list so it’s ordered by Disk Usage with the highest at the top.

This might be all you need to identify which app is thrashing your disk, but more often than not it will be a Windows service rather than an app causing the problem.

If it is an app, right-click on it and choose End Task. This should stop it and you should see disk usage drop right down. Obviously this isn’t a solution if you need to use the app in question, so it’s worth searching online to see why that app or Windows service might be constantly maxing out your hard drive. 

You might even find no evidence of a high disk load by any process. In which case, proceed to the next methods.

Method 3. Storage driver

And if you can’t see any process using a lot of disk resources, it could be that your computer is using the wrong storage driver. Microsoft is well aware of the problem and this is the ‘official’ solution to the 100% disk utilisation problem.

In a nutshell, it’s a firmware bug in some SSDs which causes Windows to think it hasn’t completed a task and resets the device repeatedly.

The fix is to disable ‘MSI’ mode, but only if you are running the inbox AHCI driver. Step-by-step instructions can be found on Microsoft’s website.

However, of all the Windows 10 laptops and PCs we’ve seen with 100% disk usage, none have suffered from this particular problem.

Method 4. Update Windows

Similar to restarting your PC, you’d be surprised at how effective updating Windows fixes problems. We have fixed at least one Windows 10 laptop with 100% disk usage by installing the latest updates.

To check if Windows is up to date, open up Control Panel and go to System and Security, then click on Windows Update.

In Windows 10 open the Settings app (Start menu > cog icon) and then click on Update & security.

You might see a ‘Check now’ button or ‘Install now’ if updates are already downloaded. 

Method 5. Disable Windows Features

Uncommonly, a Windows feature will be the cause of the problem. Some people have found that Search causes high disk usage and disabling the feature fixes it.

Others say that disabling Superfetch, BITS, the Print Spooler or even sound effects can cure it.

However, although you can go down this route, it isn’t one we recommend. Turning off features such as the Print Spooler means you won’t be able to print until you enable it, and none of these should be the fundamental problem: they don’t cause 100% disk usage under normal circumstances.

Still, if you want to temporarily disable a service to see if the problem goes away do this:

Press the Windows key and R together. Type services.msc in the box which appears and hit Enter.

Now, the Services window will open. Scroll through the list and find the one you want, right-click on it and choose Stop.

Method 6. Reinstall Windows

If all else fails, and this is a very extreme course of action, you can reinstall Windows.

Windows 10 has a few options that make this easy. One is ‘Reset this PC’ which lets you keep all your documents and files, but you can also completely wipe your hard drive and start again from scratch.

You’ll need a backup of all your stuff before you do this, and it’s worth reading our separate guide which explains how to reinstall Windows 10.

Go to Source

The Realme 5 is just a few days away from going official, and we’ve received additional information around the chipset powering this new mid-ranger.

The Realme 5 and 5 Pro will be unveiled on August 20 as the company’s latest mid-range smartphones and will succeed the Realme 3 series. They are skipping the “4” as it is considered an ill omen in China. The only significant detail about the phone we knew till now was the inclusion of a quad-camera setup on the back, but a new Geekbench listing has left little for us to wonder.

#LeapToQuadCamera! 4+48+586+119RT and tag 4 friends to make your #Quad5quad to guess what these numbers mean and win big!Stay tuned as we launch #realme5series live at 12:30 PM, 20th August! pic.twitter.com/LEISsFeNJBAugust 12, 2019

 Realme 5 specifications 

(Image credit: Geekbench)

The most crucial detail is the Snapdragon 665 chipset powering the device. It is an 11nm octa-core processor, that is also expected to fuel the upcoming Xiaomi Mi A3. There’s also 4GB of RAM.

The other exciting bit is the quad-camera arrangement on the back, potentially making the Realme 5 the most affordable smartphone with four cameras. There’s a 48MP primary shooter, an 8MP ultrawide camera, a macro lens, and a depth sensor, making it a very versatile camera package. The Realme 5 series will not sport the highly-anticipated 64MP image sensors. That phone is slated for a pre-Diwali launch.

The display is likely to be an LCD panel with an HD+ resolution and a waterdrop notch housing the front camera. The battery will be in the ballpark of 4,000 mAh. The Realme 5 will come in colors such as blue, white, and a gradient finish.

 Realme 5 price 

Realme’s primary series of phones have always been priced at around the Rs 10,000-12,000 mark, and the Realme 5 is expected to follow suit. The Realme 5 Pro will share the stage and should occupy the Rs 15,000 segment.

We will have the official information on August 20 when these phones get launched in India.

Go to Source

Windows PCs could be at risk from a major security flaw triggered by one of the platform’s most popular software offerings.

A leading security researcher has highlighted a vulnerability that would allow hackers to take over control of an entire PC simply by loading some malicious code using Notepad.

Once exploited, this could allow hackers to gain access over all processes within the system. The flaw dates all the way back to the time of Windows XP, meaning a wide range of devices could still be at risk.

Noted

Google Project Zero expert Tavis Ormandy discovered the flaw, which exploits a shortcoming in the Windows Text Services Framework that oversees keyboard layouts and text input.

A component within the system, CTextFramework, can be hacked through apps that interact with it to process showing text on screen. Ormandy found that the security protocols governing the system can be easily bypassed, allowing hackers to escalate their access privileges and gain access to multiple systems across the victim’s device.

These are the kind of hidden attack surfaces where bugs last for years,” Ormandy said. “It turns out it was possible to reach across sessions and violate NT security boundaries for nearly twenty years, and nobody noticed.”

The flaw, officially known as CVE-2019-1162, is included as being patched in Microsoft’s monthly Patch Tuesday security release, which should be installed as soon as possible.

Via The Register

Go to Source

Hundreds of workers were paid to transcribe voice recordings of Facebook users, it has emerged.

Facebook is the latest company to confirm it has used third-party workers to do such work, following Google, Apple, Microsoft and Amazon.

The practice had been halted “more than a week ago”, Facebook said.

Workers were given audio of people’s conversations but were not told how it was obtained, according to Bloomberg, which was first to report the news.

Facebook said the recordings were being transcribed manually so that artificial intelligence systems used to automatically transcribe conversations could be improved.

It added this had been done only when users had opted in to transcription services and given permission for microphone access.

“Much like Apple and Google, we paused human review of audio more than a week ago,” a spokeswoman said.

Facebook’s lead supervisory authority on data protection within the EU is Ireland’s Data Protection Commissioner.

“We are now seeking detailed information from Facebook on the processing in question and how Facebook believes that such processing of data is compliant with their GDPR [General Data Protection Regulation] obligations,” a spokeswoman told BBC News.

Earlier this month, Apple and Google said they had paused the practice of getting workers to listen to voice recordings of users so they could be transcribed.

Microsoft also confirmed voice recordings of users of Skype’s automatic translation service were also analysed by humans.

The data regulator in Luxembourg is also currently in discussions with Amazon about its similar use of workers to check some Alexa voice recordings.

Go to Source

If you want to bring rich, detailed, and immersive sound into your living room with a minimum of components and fuss, Samsung’s HW-Q70R soundbar should be near the top of your shopping list. At $700, the HW-Q70R is as pricey as some higher-end soundbars we’ve reviewed, but given that Samsung’s top-of-the-line soundbar sells for twice as much, $700 appears to be the new mid-range.

Price tags aside, the HW-Q70R soundbar and its wireless subwoofer make for an easy way to get dazzling Dolby Atmos and DTS:X surround sound, while a convincing pseudo-surround mode adds surprising depth to other content. If you want true surround sound, however, you’ll need to drop an additional $100 for Samsung’s SWA-8500S wireless rear speaker kit (available on Amazon). Samsung did not send the kit for review.

Configuration

Boasting Harman Kardon-designed audio (Samsung acquired Harman International in 2017), the HW-Q70R is a 3.1.2 soundbar, which means it has dedicated left, right, and center drivers (with the center channel being particularly important for delivering clear dialog); up-firing left and right drivers for immersive, object-based Dolby Atmos and DTS:X with audio height cues achieved by bouncing sound off your ceiling; and a wireless subwoofer for deep bass response and low-frequency effects in movie soundtracks.

Measuring 43.3 x 2.3 x 3.9 inches, the main soundbar unit can sit directly in front of your TV, or you can mount it on the wall with the included bracket, while the 15.9 x 15.9 x 8.1-inch subwoofer can sit nearby on the floor.

Inputs and outputs

On the bottom of the soundbar, you’ll find a pair of cavities where the various ports and buttons sit. A button on the left-hand side lets the soundbar connect to your Wi-Fi network (with a little help from the Samsung SmartThings mobile app), along with a microSD service port and a 19V DC power port. The cavity on the right-hand side hosts one HDMI input, one HDMI-ARC (so your TV can send audio from its onboard tuner and video-streaming apps back to the soundbar), and a TosLink (optical) digital audio input.

Setup and installation

Setting up the HW-Q70R was a fairly straightforward process. Once I’d placed the soundbar in front of my TV, I connected the power adapter and then plugged the included HDMI cable into the soundbar’s HDMI output (which supports 4K 60Hz video and HDR passthrough) and connected the other end to one of my TV’s HDMI inputs. I then connected my Apple TV 4K (which is capable of Dolby Atmos audio output) to the soundbar’s HDMI input.

Ben Patterson/IDG

Since the HW-Q70R only has a single HDMI input, you’ll need to manually swap out the cable if you want to switch to another video source (such as a game console or a Blu-ray player).This is essential if you want Dolby Atmos output via the lossless Dolby TrueHD format (a Toslink connection cannot provide enough bandwidth)..

If you don’t want to be switching cables all the time, you can also connect all your video sources to your TV, and then send audio back to the soundbar using HDMI-ARC. The drawback to relying on ARC for audio is that you’ll have to settle for lossy Dolby Atmos via Dolby Digital Plus. If the speaker supported Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC, which offers more bandwidth), this wouldn’t be an issue.