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The ultralight Asus ExpertBook B9450 has a magic touchpad and a light for Alexa
The ultralight Asus ExpertBook B9450 has a magic touchpad and a light for Alexa
This story is part of CES, where CNET covers the latest news on the most incredible tech coming soon.
The Asus ExpertBook B9450 is the "world's lightest 14-inch business notebook," Asus says, with a starting weight of 1.9 pounds (0.9 kg), but it's far from the only thing that makes it interesting. Co-engineered with Intel for its Project Athena program, the laptop is designed to deliver the same type of performance experience you get from your phone.
Part of Intel's verification requirements is a battery life long enough to get you through an entire workday; the base model B9450 gets up to 12 hours, but you can get it with a larger battery that doubles that time. And it'll charge up to 60% in 39 minutes.
The components are pretty much the same as what we're seeing from competitors in the category including processor options up to a 10th-gen Intel Core i7-10510. Where this Asus stands out is the design. Along with being light, the magnesium-lithium alloy body is tested to Mil-Spec 810G standards for drops, shocks, vibration, dust resistance and more.
One thing you definitely won't find on others is the NumberPad 2.0, an LED-illuminated numeric keypad that appears on the touchpad when you tap an icon in its upper right corner. What's nicer is you don't have to turn it off to use the pad for cursor control because the software is smart enough to know the difference.
The B9450 has a numberpad built into the touchpad and a light on the front edge for Alexa activity.
Asus
The ErgoLift hinge is nice, too, which puts the spill-resistant keyboard at a more comfortable angle for typing on such a thin laptop. Also, just below the touchpad on the front edge is light that works with the integrated Amazon Alexa support letting you know when the digital voice assistant is active.
Pricing wasn't announced, but Asus expects the ExpertBook B9450 to be available some time in Q1 of this year.
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Apple Watch Series 7 Hits Lowest Price Yet With $120 Off for Amazon Prime Day
Apple Watch Series 7 Hits Lowest Price Yet With $120 Off for Amazon Prime Day
This story is part of Amazon Prime Day, CNET's guide to everything you need to know and how to find the best deals.
The Apple Watch Series 7 is arguably the best smartwatch you can buy right now. And the wearable is part of the Amazon Prime Day sale with a flat 30% discount. This means you can grab the $399 41mm variant for $279, with a $120 discount. The 45mm model is on sale as well. You can get it for the same discount, which brings the price down to $309 from $429.
Best Buy
The Apple Watch Series 7's larger screen and faster charging make an already great smartwatch even better. With more features coming in later this year, thanks to watchOS 9, this is the best time to purchase the Series 7 at a discount.
With faster charging and a larger screen, it might feel like a refinement over the Watch Series 6, but it makes a huge difference. For instance, you get a full-fledged keyboard on the Watch Series 7 because of the larger display. Other upgrades include a more durable design, 33% faster charging and new color options on the Aluminum casing.
With WatchOS 9 adding several new features, including Medications tracking, there hasn't been a better time to buy an Apple Watch. Other features include more advanced fall detection, which can tell if you have taken a sudden tumble during a cycle or workout, plus the option to store digital versions of your ID and more.
If you have been on the fence about buying the Apple Watch Series 7, now is the best time to spend on the Apple Wearable. The $120 discount is the biggest sale offer the smartwatch has received to date and it'll be available only while the stock lasts. If you're after the lowest price we've seen for this smartwatch, move quickly and cash in on the $279 deal.
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Best mobile games to play this Halloween while you're stuck inside
Best mobile games to play this Halloween while you're stuck inside
Halloween is almost here, although it's safe to say it'll be unlike any spooky season we've seen before, with people taking precautions amid the coronavirus pandemic. The horror genre is a staple in the month of October, but a good mystery (with a dash of suspense) can be equally satisfying.
If you're staying in this Halloween (and you've exhausted your horror movie queue) we've pulled together a list of games for you that you can play on your phone or tablet -- no console needed. You can also check out our list of the best games you can play online with friends, and everything you need to know about the latest viral game, Among Us.
Read more: Best game subscription services: How to choose
Night School Studio
Oxenfree stayed with me long after the credits rolled. A group of friends hanging out on a beach take a turn for the worse when the teens accidentally open a ghostly rift. Soon the group is fighting for survival, struggling through time loops, and doubting if everyone is truly who they say they are.
I can't speak highly enough of this choice-based game. The characters had depth and the plot was fascinating. It's a quick game you could play in one sitting, but there's multiple endings so you can always go back.
Platform: iOS | Android
Price: $5 on Android. At the time of publication, the game was free on iOS.
GameSpot
Life is Strange isn't necessarily a scary game, but it's worth including for its mystery and suspense. The choice-based game tells the story of Max, a girl who starts having visions and soon learns she can bend time. With her newfound powers, she might be able to save the town from impending disaster.
When a student goes missing, Max and her friend Chloe start investigating and discover the dark side of their hometown. As Max changes the past, it impacts the future.
The graphics in Life is Strange are beautiful, even on a smartphone screen. The plot is intricate and accompanied by a great soundtrack. There's also a second installment to check out, called Life is Strange: Before the Storm.
Platforms: Android | iOS
Price: Free to download, but each episode costs between $1-$5 to download. There's also an option to purchase for a season pass that gets you all the episodes for $7.
Kaigan Games/Screenshot by Shelby Brown/CNET
In Sara is Missing, you find a missing girl's phone. The whole app displays as if your smartphone is Sara's, complete with alerts, texts and error messages.
Unlocking Sara's phone plunges you into a world of lies, mystery and secrets. Look through text messages and emails, retrieve lost files and data, watch suspicious videos and search through pictures to piece together Sara's last moments. Your search is guided by the mobile assistant IRIS, which might be hiding a few secrets of its own.
The game has multiple choice-based endings for future replays, hidden subplots and quite a few jump scares.
Platforms: Android | iOS
Price: Free
Annapurna Interactive
Gone Home will suck you in from the very start. You play as Katie Greenbriar, freshly home from a year in Europe. Except when you make it back to your house (in the middle of a thunderstorm no less), your family has seemingly vanished.
Explore all the nooks and crannies of the sprawling house. Collect clues, and unravel what happened to your family while you were gone. This game is quite immersive. When I started playing, I found myself turning on all the lights to stave off the unnerving feeling of being in this deserted house. I felt sadness and frustration as I opened doors and found no one behind them.
This game is perfect to play on a dark Halloween night, but definitely goes beyond spooky season.
Platform: iOS
Price: $5
Jenny LeClue/Twitter
Jenny LeClue is a mystery game you can get with a subscription to Apple's gaming service, Apple Arcade. The narrative-choice game is set in the seemingly idyllic town of Arthurton, where you play as Jenny, a kid sleuth who is eager to prove her worth as a detective. When your mother is accused of murder, you set out to prove the truth. You quickly realize that nothing, and no one, in Arthurton are what they seem as you seek out answers.
Platform:iOS
Price: Included with $5-a-month Apple Arcade subscription
Apple/Screenshot by Shelby Brown/CNET
Neo Cab is a survival game for the digital age embroiled in a mystery. You play as Lina, the last human taxi driver in a world overcome by automation. When you move to Los Ojos to reconnect with your best friend, Savy, things don't go as planned when she vanishes. With no other options, you must keep taking passengers to earn money and get information about Savy's disappearance. Just keep an eye on your Feelgrid bracelet to stay in tune with your emotions and ultimately remain human in this tech-noir game.
Platform:iOS
Price: Included with $5-a-month Apple Arcade subscription
Screenshot by Shelby Brown/CNET
Year Walk is an amazing game to play on mobile. It's based on the Swedish tradition of Arsgang, Year Walking, in which a person may go on a vision quest of sorts, in the dark of the night to see what the year ahead will bring. Thrown into a forest without a tutorial, you have to collect clues and solve puzzles in what is some seriously clever and creative gameplay for an incredible twist ending. Don't forget to pick up the free companion app.
Platform: iOS
Price: $6
Guts United/Screenshot by Shelby Brown/CNET
I Am Innocent is a mystery-suspense game, similar to Sara Is Missing. The gameplay is longer and more intricate, though. You'll investigate a series of murders that somehow link to the disappearance of your sister. No one is who they seem as you dig deeper and unearth secrets.
As in real life, how you interact with the characters can improve or hurt your relationships. You start getting messages from a mysterious person named Ghost, who connects you to a kidnapped person named Finch who needs your help.
Use your resources to enhance photos, collect information, search archives, figure out what happened to your sister and help Finch. There are built-in Tetris-style games that, once you beat them, unlock more information.
Platforms: Android | iOS
Price: Free
Screenshot by Shelby Brown/CNET
This is one of the most gorgeous games I've ever played. Dear Esther has similar underpinnings to Gone Home, but it's more of an interactive narrative. At its very basest description, the game is a walking simulator, but it's so much more than that. As you explore an island, the narrator will "read" you fragments of letters written to Esther. Where you venture triggers different parts of the narrative, so the more times you play, the more you'll understand the whole story.
If you play, go into it with an open mind and just let yourself be immersed in the environment.
Platform: iOS
Price: $2
Microsoft
Explore a haunted hotel, a destroyed pillow factory and an abandoned circus to figure out the surreal town of Thimbleweed Park's secrets.
Thimbleweed Park is a humorous noir parody set in 1987, nostalgic in its pixelated style. If you're looking for a more lighthearted but nonetheless fun game to play, this is it. Play as Agent Ray and Junior Agent Reyes, a Mulder-and-Scully-esque duo, or Frank the ghost, a cranky clown named Ransome, or game developer Delores. Characters can work together, or make solving the murder more difficult for others.
Since its release, the game has become available on Xbox, too.
Platforms: Android | iOS
Price: $10
Playdead
Limbo is a side-scrolling puzzle platformer that is every bit as creepy as it looks. Waking up on the edge of hell, you have to navigate a small boy through nightmarish chiaroscuro landscapes filled with horrific monsters and traps in this dark game of grief, violence and guilt.
Platform: iOS
Price: Free
Heisen Games/Screenshot by Shelby Brown/CNET
In Horror Hospital, you've got to save your friends from ghosts while navigating your surroundings with just your phone's flashlight. As you make your way, your friends will send messages to direct you.
Creep down dirty hallways smeared with bloody handprints, dismembered corpses and overturned beds. Just be careful where you shine your light; you never know what's lurking in the shadows.
The game's graphics aren't top-notch, but it's good for suspense and gentle jump scares. It's like a watered-down version of 2013's Outlast. If you like it, there's a sequel, Horror Hospital 2 on Android and iOS. The developers even made a Horror Forest.
Platforms: Android | iOS
Price: Free
Hidden Layer Games
Inmost immediately drops players into a creepy world inside a mysterious house. Despite the pixel art design and tiny characters, the game is gorgeous and immersive from the start. As you progress and explore in this hidden-object platformer, you'll find that the characters' stories are connected as they fight the forces of evil.
Platform:iOS
Price: Included with $5-a-month Apple Arcade subscription
Boomerang Games/Screenshot by Shelby Brown/CNET
In The Fear you have to find your family in a creepy house after a car accident.
You swerve in the night to avoid a strange figure in the road. When you come to, your wife and child have vanished. Of course, when you make it to the nearest house, the electricity is out. Someone, or something, is following you, spirits lurk, children laugh and there are weird, threatening notes everywhere.
The Fear actually has a solid plot and a good ending. The graphics are better than Horror Hospital and there are effective jump-scares. If you're a fan of this game, Boomerang Games also made The Fear 2 and The Fear 3.
Platform: Android
Price: Free
Apple/Screenshot by Shelby Brown/CNET
From the creators of Limbo, Inside creates an absolutely chilling world without a word of dialogue. The thought-provoking puzzle game is dark and mysterious with an ending that you'll be talking about long after it's over.
Platform: iOS
Price: Free
Apple Arcade
Detective Grimoire and his sardonic partner Sally are on the hunt for the murderer of Freya Fellow in the mysterious Tangle Tower. The clues come pouring in long before you cross the first threshold to find out that the prime suspect is a painting. Investigate, explore, gather evidence, question suspects and solve puzzles to discover the truth.
Platform:iOS
Price: Included with $5-a-month Apple Arcade subscription
Apple
The Bradwell Conspiracy is a narrative-driven first-person game where you have to uncover the truth behind the explosion that destroyed the Bradwell Electronics facility. At the start of the game, you wake up in the rubble with only a computerized voice in your "smart glasses" to guide you. The glasses guide eventually connects you to another person trapped inside the facility, and you must try to escape together.
Platform:iOS
Price: Included with $5-a-month Apple Arcade subscription
If you liked Sara Is Missing and I Am Innocent, Her Story will also be up your alley. It's more in the detective genre than the other two, however. The game's interface is an old computer that's logged into a police database. You'll watch seven interviews from 1994 of a woman being interviewed about her missing husband. As you watch, you can dig deeper in your investigation by searching the database.
If you make a down payment of less than 20% on your home, you'll probably have to purchase private mortgage insurance, or PMI. When you make a smaller down payment, lenders tend to consider you a higher-risk candidate for a mortgage, and the PMI requirement protects your lender in case you default on your loan.
Although PMI makes it possible for prospective homeowners, especially first-time buyers, to qualify for a mortgage with less than 20% down, the monthly premium will add hundreds of dollars to your mortgage payment every month -- so make sure to account for this expense when figuring out your home-buying budget. PMI is required for conventional loans and Federal Housing Association loans, but some loan types, like VA loans, do not require it.
Here is everything you need to know about PMI, how it works, when you need it and how much it will cost you over the lifetime of your mortgage.
What is PMI and how does it work?
PMI offers buyers the opportunity to purchase a home using a conventional mortgage loan with less than the required 20% down payment. PMI protects lenders who offer lower down payment financing options. If you're unable to make a 20% down payment, lenders consider you a riskier borrower with a greater chance of defaulting on your mortgage. If that were to happen, the lender could use the escrowed PMI payments you paid up until default to recoup some of their loss.
The cost of PMI
Borrowers with PMI pay typically between 0.5% and 1.5% of the loan amount on average each year -- or between $30 and $70 monthly per $100,000 borrowed, according to Freddie Mac. For example, if you take out a $250,000 loan with a 5% down payment, PMI would add between $1,188 and $3,563 annually -- or roughly $100 to $300 tacked on to your monthly mortgage payment.
How you pay PMI, whether monthly or yearly, varies by the lender. Some may also allow you to make a partial upfront payment at closing, which can lower your monthly or annual PMI payments.
How to lock in a low PMI Rate
Credit score: The higher your credit score, the better chance you have at locking in a lower mortgage interest rate and PMI premium.
Down payment: The closer you can get to a 20% down payment, the lower your PMI rate will be and the faster you can get rid of it.
Occupancy: Owner-occupied properties get lower PMI rates than rental or investment properties.
When can I stop paying PMI?
PMI is typically no longer required once you have at least 20% equity in your home -- whether from paying down the principal or an increase in your home's value. In fact, your lender is required to cancel your PMI once your mortgage balance hits 78% of your home's original purchase price.
However, some lenders may have further requirements you must meet before satisfying your PMI obligations. These might include making a set number of mortgage payments, getting a new appraisal or owing less than 80% of your loan principal.
Though this process may differ slightly by lender, you can usually request PMI cancellation in writing once you have reached the 80% loan-to-value threshold. You must meet specific requirements as laid out by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, including:
A record of good payment history
Current loan status (not in default)
The equity must not be subject to a subordinate loan
Proof of value, if requested (achieved through an appraisal)
Borrowers with Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac mortgages have a different threshold for removing PMI if the mortgage is between two and five years old. For these borrowers, the equity must be at least 25% before PMI can be terminated.
The benefits of PMI
Although PMI adds an additional expense to your monthly mortgage payments, in some cases, it may be worthwhile. Here are a few benefits of PMI:
You can buy a home sooner: For many potential homeowners, high down payment requirements make owning a home seem unachievable. With down payment requirements as low as 3%, borrowers can buy a home sooner.
You're able to build wealth sooner: Owning a home can help increase your net worth. Purchasing a home sooner with the help of PMI may also help you build equity faster, which could, in turn, help you eliminate PMI sooner.
It's only a temporary cost: Once you've reached an 80% LTV ratio (75% for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans), you can request the removal of PMI. If you do not request it, lenders are required to automatically remove PMI when you reach 78% LTV.
PMI is currently tax-deductible: If you file an itemized tax return, you can currently deduct private mortgage insurance from your tax return through the end of 2021. This tax break was revived in the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 and extended through 2021 in the Consolidated Appropriations Act in January 2021.
Downsides of PMI
Although PMI can help you secure a mortgage with a lower down payment, there are some disadvantages to consider.
It's an extra premium: No matter how low your PMI interest rate, you'll still be paying an extra expense each month.
PMI rates may be high: PMI rates are set based on your credit score, home occupancy, down payment amount, and equity appreciation. A high PMI rate might raise your monthly mortgage payment by more than you can comfortably afford.
Canceling PMI takes time: You are still required to pay PMI until the lender cancels it at 78% LTV. When requesting cancellation sooner, you'll often need to make a formal request in writing, which can take time to process and remove. You also may have to pay for an appraisal if your lender requires one.
Do all home loans require PMI?
Though PMI is typically required only for conventional mortgages, other specialized mortgage types have their own version of it -- with their own sets of requirements.
Conventional mortgages: If you put down less than 20% on a conventional loan, expect to pay PMI. There are some non-PMI options, but those typically include higher interest rates, which could actually cost you more in the long run.
FHA loans:FHA loans allow you to borrow with as little as 3.5% down and have a monthly insurance premium or MIP. Depending on your lender, your MIP may require upfront payment at closing and monthly or annual payments thereafter. Borrowers who make a down payment of 10% or more must pay MIP for 11 years, while borrowers who put down less than 10% must pay PMI for the life of the loan.
USDA loans: Although USDA loans do not require a down payment, there is a mortgage insurance requirement, with upfront and annual fees attached. An upfront fee of 1% of the loan value is due at closing and annual fees of 0.35% are due annually. Though USDA mortgage insurance cannot be canceled, it is typically more affordable than FHA MIP and interest rates tend to be lower.
VA loans: There is no mortgage insurance requirement for VA loans, but borrowers will have to pay a one-time origination fee between 1.4 and 3.6%, depending on the down payment amount. This fee can typically be rolled into the loan amount.
ARM loans: An ARM, or adjustable-rate mortgage, may also include PMI. The initial cost may be higher, but you may be able to build equity faster, allowing you to remove PMI faster than with a fixed-rate mortgage.
Is PMI worth the expense?
There's a trade-off here. PMI increases your monthly mortgage payment but can allow you to buy a house with a lower down payment. That noted, you may be able to forgo PMI if you get a different type of loan such as a USDA, VA or non-PMI conventional loan -- or saving up for a larger down payment. If you decide to go the PMI route, compare private mortgage insurance rates from a variety of lenders before making a commitment.
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How to Prep for Hurricanes, Wildfires, Storms and Other Natural Disasters
How to Prep for Hurricanes, Wildfires, Storms and Other Natural Disasters
Wildfire season has already wiped out more than 5 million acres of land in the US so far this year. With a report of heightened risks of blackouts throughout large parts of the country this summer -- and climate change introducing more frequent and more severe storms -- we wanted to provide an overview of the most common natural disasters in the US.
Here we'll detail what weather events are most likely to occur, as well as when and where. We'll also share resources on how to prepare for a major climate event and what to do in the aftermath of one.
Keep in mind that due to the shifting severity of the climate crisis, the "season" for some of these disasters is also evolving. Wildfire season used to generally take place between May and October, but in recent years devastating fires have occurred late in the year and early before the "official" season has begun.
Use this information as a general guide so you can plan ahead where you live -- and know what to expect if you travel to another region in the US during a natural disaster season.
Common natural disasters
Let's explore the most frequent natural disasters in the US, when their seasons typically take place and where they occur. Again, keep in mind that these events can happen at any time of year, but are most active during a particular season. We'll also link to resources detailing how to prepare for one of these weather events, and what to do if one affects your home.
Hurricanes
Hurricanes, also knowns as tropical cyclones, have slightly different seasons in the US depending on the region, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. On the Atlantic coast, hurricane season begins June 1 and runs through Nov. 30. Eastern Pacific hurricane season lasts a little longer, starting on May 15 and continuing through November. A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration report predicts this year's Atlantic season will experience above-average hurricane activity.
Read about how to prepare for hurricane season in this guide.
Floods
Flooding is the most frequent natural disaster in the US, according to Ready.gov, and isn't limited to a particular area or region of the country. Similarly, floods don't take place during a particular season, as rain and snow events can lead to a sudden overflow of water at any time. Flash floods are projected to worsen this century due to climate change, based on an April study published in Nature.
Learn how to protect your home from water damage in our flood prevention checklist.
Tornadoes
In the US, tornadoes are most likely to occur in the Southeast and Midwest regions. While there's no set tornado season, the majority take place in the spring and summer, with May being the most active month for tornadoes.
Find out how to use your phone to stay safe during a tornado or other natural disaster.
Wildfires
Wildfires mainly affect the western US, where drought conditions increase the risk. This year, though, we've already had wildfires in states like New Hampshire and Arkansas. New Mexico has been particularly hard-hit this year, with over 600,000 acres lost to wildfires so far. Most wildfires happen between May and October, but have experienced more earlier and later in the season in recent years.
There are a lot of steps you can take to protect your home if you live in an area prone to wildfires. Start with our comprehensive guide on how to prepare for wildfire season.
Droughts
Large parts of the western US are currently experiencing drought. The US Drought Monitor lists many of those areas as "severe," "extreme" or "exceptional," with exceptional being the most serious level of drought. The drought conditions in the southwestern US are the worst in over 1,200 years, according to a study by UCLA. Satellite images of Arizona and Utah's Lake Powell show clear signs of the lake's decreasing water levels over time.
Read more about the drought affecting the West, including the current conditions and how to track them to stay up to date.
Earthquakes
Earthquakes can happen during any time of the year and most take place in an area known as the "Ring of Fire," according to the US Geological Survey. This area extends well beyond the US, but encompasses the entire West Coast all the way to Alaska. Most US earthquakes occur in Alaska and California.
Check out our earthquake preparedness guide to learn more about how to stay safe during an earthquake.
Final thoughts
Shifting weather patterns mean we have to adapt to the increase of storms and other natural events. Fortunately, there are many steps you can take to protect yourself and your home from a natural disaster. Here are some additional resources:
For even more details on natural disasters and how to prepare beforehand or respond after an event takes place, check out Ready.gov.
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Intel's Profit Plunges as We Stop Buying All Those PCs
Intel's Profit Plunges as We Stop Buying All Those PCs
With the COVID spending spree on PCs at an end and consumers spooked by the economy, Intel's profit and revenue plunged in the second quarter, the chipmaker said Thursday. Intel's own problems, like delays in data center chip upgrades, also were a major factor.
Analysts were appalled. "Intel's Q2 takes the prize for the worst we have seen in our career," Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon said in a research note Friday.
SIG Susquehanna's Christopher Rolland was equally pessimistic.
"For decades, Intel was able to cover up a litany of failed projects, poor acquisitions, and strategic foibles by pushing Moore's Law and process leadership," he said. "Unless they regain this leadership (we think unlikely), or change strategic direction, we expect growth, profitability, and cash flow problems to persist at Intel."
The results show how hard it will be for Intel to claw its way back to the cutting edge of chip manufacturing and lead the US semiconductor industry to reclaim clout lost to Asia. Intel's near-term problems pose real risks to its long-term plans.
The problems led Chief Executive Pat Gelsinger to issue an apology for the company's poor showing.
"This quarter's results were below the standards we have set for the company and our shareholders," Gelsinger said in a statement. "We must and will do better."
Revenue dropped 17% to $15.3 billion in the second quarter, and Intel's profit of 29 cents per share, excluding some charges like stock-based pay and inventory write-downs, was a 76% decrease compared with the same period a year earlier. Both results were well below Intel's own forecasts and analyst expectations. Including those charges, Intel posted a loss of $454 million.
It could have been a happier day for Intel. Congress approved the CHIPS and Science Act on Thursday, which will provide $52.7 billion in subsidies to chipmakers if President Joe Biden signs it, as expected. That'll lower the cost of a new chip fabrication plant, or fab, to $7 billion instead of $10 billion. Those investments are key to Gelsinger's turnaround plan to catch up to chipmaking rivals in 2024 and then reclaim its manufacturing lead in 2025.
But that turnaround looks a long way away. Current problems include a sudden drop in spending on PCs as worries about inflation and the economy combined with Intel's losses to rivals like AMD in data center sales. Intel's strength in data center chips also is threatened by AMD's more competitive chips and Amazon Web Service's embrace of its own Graviton processors, a member of the Arm family that also powers smartphones and Apple's Macs.
Revenue from Intel's PC business dropped 25% to $7.3 billion. Its data center unit's revenue dropped 16% to $4.6 billion. But Chief Financial Officer Dave Zinsner said the second and third quarters are the "financial bottom for the company."
Intel expects a grim third quarter, too. As a result, the company lowered its expectations for full-year revenue to a range of $65 billion to $68 billion, well down from its earlier guidance of $76 billion. In response, it's pruning its capital expenditures by $4 billion for the year, now down to $23 billion.
When he took over as CEO in 2021, Gelsinger promised clear-eyed assessments of the company's successes and failures, and on a conference call with analysts, he detailed some failures.
Among the problems: Quality problems forced Intel to revise its new Sapphire Rapids server chip, delaying shipments; its new graphics chips were hampered by Intel's immature software; and it is losing share in the server market.
"It's not the facts we like, but it's what we see," Gelsinger said.
He and Zinsner encouraged analysts and shareholders to keep Intel's long-term recovery plan in mind, saying the company is in a growth industry and has weathered economic downturns before and has now laid a foundation for a long-term turnaround. Upgraded manufacturing processes remain on schedule or ahead of schedule.
"We remain firmly on track to achieve process parity in 2024 and superiority in 2025," Gelsinger said.
That effort to improve manufacturing dovetails with support for the CHIPS Act in Congress and the White House. Allies -- including Intel, which lobbied hard for the bill -- see it as an effort to restore US semiconductor industry strength. Two other companies lead today's cutting-edge processors, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) in Taiwan and Samsung in South Korea. Intel hopes the CHIPS Act will help increase the US share of chipmaking from today's 12% to an eventual 30%.
The company expects its prospects to improve in the fourth quarter. That's when PC makers likely will increase chip purchases and new products like the Raptor Lake PC chip will go on sale. That processor will arrive in the fall for desktop PCs and toward the end of the year for laptops, Gelsinger said, and improve performance more than 10% compared with the current Alder Lake chips.
He's got some convincing to do.
Intel's "long term targets remain outlandish," Rasgon said in a research note earlier this week, which downgraded his expectations for the chipmaker's prospects. "Frankly, anyone owning the stock is not there for the near term...but rather strapping into a 5+ year nebulous story that is just barely getting started."
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D-Link's AC2600 router protects devices with McAfee security
D-Link's AC2600 router protects devices with McAfee security
It seemed there was a huge new security story every week last year. D-Link took notice. It teamed up with McAfee to create the new AC2600 security router (DIR-2680) for all your connected devices.
Available in the second quarter of 2018 for $250 (about £185 or AU$320), the dual-band router uses the McAfee Secure Home Platform, which automatically protects your network and devices.
The DIR-2680 includes:
Setup via D-Link Wi-Fi app and remote management with McAfee app
Parental controls, downloadable antivirus software and real-time threat monitoring
McAfee's Global Threat Intelligence, which instantly blocks malware and malicious websites
MU-MIMO for fast simultaneous connections to multiple devices
Intel Home Wi-Fi Chipset, which allows 128 devices to connect at once
The extra security from an industry leader like McAfee is a big draw. You get a five-year license for parental controls and a two-year license for the McAfee software, which is better than most security routers. Keeping your devices and data secure is important today, so having a router like the DIR-2680 will give you a little extra peace of mind.
What to expect from the smart home at CES 2018 : We take a look at the smart home and appliance trends we expect to see this year.
CES 2018 :CNET's complete coverage of tech's biggest show.
Galaxy A52 5G review: Samsung's best budget phone with flagship features
Galaxy A52 5G review: Samsung's best budget phone with flagship features
With the Galaxy A52 5G, Samsung found an appealing balance between price, features and making smart compromises. It's the latest good sub-$500 5G phone and joins the nearly half a dozen phones from Motorola, OnePlus and TCL. The Galaxy A52 5G costs $500 or £399 (it isn't sold in Australia but that converts to AU$740). That's at the higher end of what's considered an affordable phone. The A52 5G also straddles the line between being a good affordable 5G phone and a fantastic one. The only other sub-$500 phones that do that are the iPhone SE, which doesn't have 5G, and the Google Pixel 4A 5G, which is now almost a year old.
The A52 5G has a high refresh rate display, years of OS and security support, a good main camera and good battery life. It has features that the more expensive Galaxy S21 and S21 Ultra lack like: a headphone jack, expandable storage and the inclusion of a wall charger in the box.
Read more: The best USB-C PD chargers of 2021
Like
120Hz high refresh-rate display
Good battery life on 5G
Wonderful software upgrade support
Simple, clean, unified design
Good main camera with OIS
Don't Like
Fingerprint sensor is too low on screen
Macro camera is mediocre
Duplicate apps
4K video recording lacks stabilization
As with any phone, even a good one, not everything is roses and sunshine. The in-screen fingerprint reader is so annoying to use that I preferred to enter my PIN to unlock the phone. The mediocre macro camera seems like a frivolous add-on that is only there to boost the total number of cameras on the phone. More is definitely not better. There are many duplicate apps like Samsung's version of an internet browser and photo gallery app in addition to the ones from Google.
But after two months, when I step back and consider everything, the Galaxy A52 5G is an all-around good phone with some great features and a few minor and annoying flaws. It's a solid buy for $500, but as I write this review, you can get a Galaxy A52 5G unlocked on Samsung's website for $425, which makes it even harder to pass up.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Galaxy S21 Ultra-inspired looks in a plastic reality
The build is good. It's not premium and that's fine, because it feels good. When you tap on the back you can definitely tell it's plastic. (So don't tap on the back.) The look of the phone is clean. It has curved plastic edges, symmetrical thin bezels around the screen and a matte finish. The camera bump loosely echoes the one on the Galaxy S21 Ultra, in the same way my haircut does Kit Harrington's.
Over two months, the phone collected its share of nicks along the sides. The matte finish back definitely doesn't look fresh or new. Most people will inevitably put the phone in a case, so that shouldn't be an issue.
The A52 5G is rated IP67 for water and dust resistance and can be submerged under three feet of water for up to 30 minutes.
Galaxy A52 5G has a 120Hz high refresh rate display
On the front is a 6.5-inch full-HD display with a hole-punch cutout for the selfie camera. The display is high-refresh rate and can be set to either 120Hz or 60Hz. At 120Hz, animations look smooth, gaming feels more immersive and even mundane things like scrolling through a feed look crisp. The display is without a doubt the best feature on the phone.
Brightness is good. Most displays on budget phones have horrible brightness, especially outdoors. Topping it all off is a slab of Gorilla Glass 5. Beware if you leave your phone screen down on a table and unattended. The coating will make it slide off a seemingly flat surface all on its own.
Let me level some expectations. This display isn't as good as the one on the Galaxy S21. But it is really good for $500.
The biggest downside to the design and display is the in-screen optical fingerprint sensor. The position of it feels low for one-handed use. I can rarely get the fingerprint reader to unlock the phone on the first attempt. I find it easier to just swipe up and enter a PIN.
There are four cameras on the rear of the Galaxy A52 5G: A main wide-angle camera, an ultrawide camera, a macro camera and a depth camera.
Sarah Tew/CNET
The Galaxy A52 5G has four rear cameras, but only the main one is good
There are four rear cameras on the A52 5G, one of which is a depth-sensor that works with the main camera to give you some absolutely fun and ridiculous AR effects and decent portrait mode photos.
The macro camera is a bit of an odd duck. It allows you to focus close like on the foam of a cortado. But the margin of error between your subject being in-focus and out-of-focus is incredibly thin. I wish there was focus peaking available to see when you have focus on your subject.
Patrick Holland/CNET
There's a macro camera. And (sigh) we've seen this from other phone companies. It's not that most people probably won't use a macro camera on a phone, it's that compared to the main camera on the A52 5G, the macro camera isn't great. It allows you to focus closer, but you need to be steady. You're just a handshake or breath away from being out of focus. I wish there was focus peaking on the macro camera to help you see when your subject is in focus and when it's not. Pro Mode offers focus peaking but for the main camera only.
The ultrawide camera is fun. It gives you a great exaggerated perspective.
Patrick Holland/CNET
The A52 5G has a decent ultrawide-angle camera. The main camera has optical image stabilization and a 64-megapixel sensor that combines pixels for a 16-megapixel photo with good detail and brightness.
In good light, image quality from the ultrawide camera is decent. It's still a step behind the main camera in terms of dynamic range and image noise.
Patrick Holland/CNET
Photos from the main camera are good. Your personal taste will vary when it comes to the amount of color saturation. To me, it's a touch oversaturated but still looks good.
Red cars go faster, right? Colors from the A52 5G are punchy.
Patrick Holland/CNET
The A52 5G did well grabbing focus on a very curious beagle.
Patrick Holland/CNET
This shot really pushed the A52 5G to its limits. Highlights start to blow out, but details are pretty good in the leaves.
Patrick Holland/CNET
The A52 5G doesn't have a dedicated telephoto camera and instead relies solely on digital zoom. I took this photo with 3x digital zoom.
Patrick Holland/CNET
In lower light situations, you start to see the main camera's weakness. There is a Night mode to help, and photos look decent but you're not going to get the same results as Night mode on the Galaxy S21.
In mixed lighting, the main camera does OK. Details start to look soft and noise correction starts to make skin tones smudge.
Patrick Holland/CNET
In low light, details start to look soft almost like a painting with all the noise reduction the A52 5G applies.
Patrick Holland/CNET
Night mode can create some eye-catching shots. But things look very processed compared to Night mode photos from the Galaxy S21 and S21 Ultra.
Patrick Holland/CNET
The A52 5G can record 4K video which in good light is good but as it gets darker, image noise and artifacts become more apparent. Curiously, you can't use the optical image stabilization when recording 4K video. But if you drop down in resolution to 1,080P video, you can use Super Steady which works very well. Take a look at the video below to see sample clips shot with the Galaxy A52 5G.
The selfie camera has a 32-megapixel sensor and Samsung's full-arsenal of face-smoothing, jawline-defining and eye-enlarging tools. And then there's Fun mode that lets you use Snapchat AR filters without using Snapchat. You can use Fun mode with the main and depth cameras on the back or the selfie camera. Fun mode actually lives up to its name.
With Fun mode, I can finally be the brunette with cat-eye glasses I've always wanted to be.
Patrick Holland/CNET
To put this all into perspective, both the iPhone SE and Google Pixel 4A 5G have better overall camera systems for photos and videos -- both also have fewer cameras. That speaks less about the A52 5G's camera prowess and more about what Apple and Google are able to put into their phones.
Peppy Android performance for the price
The A52 5G has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G chip with 6GB of RAM. It runs Android 11 and at the time I'm writing this, runs the July 2021 software update. Performance is good. It's not blazing fast which is apparent with the small delay that occurs when I open the camera from the lock screen, or rotate the phone between portrait and landscape.
In benchmark tests it scored ahead of the Google Pixel 4A 5G and just behind the Motorola One Ace 5G. See the results of our benchmark tests below.
GEEKBENCH V.5.0 SINGLE-CORE
Note:
Longer bars indicate better performance
GEEKBENCH V.5.0 MULTICORE
Samsung Galaxy A52 5G
Note:
Longer bars indicate better performance
3DMARK SLINGSHOT UNLIMITED
Samsung Galaxy A52 5G
Note:
Longer bars indicate better performance
It has Samsung's OneUI 3 interface, which I enjoy using. It's clean and friendly to one-handed use. There are several duplicate apps, which is annoying. But all Samsung phones, no matter the price, do as well. One of the best parts of the Galaxy A52 5G is that you get three generations of Android OS updates and at least four years of security updates. This is still a rarity for Android budget phones.
5G for less than $500 and good battery life
As the name indicates, this is a 5G phone that works on sub-6 5G networks in the US. I tested it in Greenville, South Carolina on T-Mobile and speeds were just OK. Despite an onscreen 5G indicator, many times the phone was actually connected to 4G LTE. This has everything to do with T-Mobile's coverage as the same thing happened when I tested other phones on T-Mobile here.
The A52 5G has a 4,500-mAh battery. Samsung claims two days of use when fully charged. I reliably got one day with the display at 120Hz. On days with lighter use or when the display was set to 60Hz, it easily lasted a day and a half.
Even with the screen's refresh rate set to 120Hz, the Galaxy A52 5G lasted 17 hours and 40 minutes in our battery tests.
Sarah Tew/CNET
In our CNET battery tests with continuous video playback in airplane mode, it lasted a respectable 17 hours, 40 minutes and that was with the display set to 120Hz. That's longer than the OnePlus 9 Pro and the iPhone SE. In the same test, Motorola and its budget phones scored four of the five longest times of any phone this year. Keep in mind, none of these Motorola phones have a high refresh rate display.
It doesn't have wireless charging which is a wise omission, but it does support 25-watt fast charging. It's just that the included charger is only 15 watts.
Samsung Galaxy A52 5G specs vs. Motorola One 5G Ace, Google Pixel 4A 5G, Apple iPhone SE
Samsung Galaxy A52 5G
Motorola One 5G Ace
Google Pixel 4A 5G
Apple iPhone SE (2020)
Display size, resolution
6.5 inch FHD+ Super AMOLED, Infinity-O Display (1080 x 2400 pixels), 120Hz
6.7-inch FHD+ LCD, 2,400x1,080 pixels
6.2-inch FHD+ OLED; 2,340 x 1,080 pixels
4.7-inch Retina HD LCD; 1,334x750 pixels
Pixel density
407ppi
394ppi
413ppi
326ppi
Dimensions (Inches)
2.95 x 6.29 x 0.33 inches
6.54 x 3 x 0.39 in
6.1 x 2.9 x 0.3 in
5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 in
Dimensions (Millimeters)
75.1 x 159.9 x 8.4mm
166.1 x 76.1 x 9.9mm
153.9 x 74 x 8.2 mm (Sub-6 only); 153.9 x 74 x 8.5 mm (mmWave + Sub-6)
