Year: 2023

  • Get A Low Priced But Excellent Android Phone From Samsung For Just 4.99 Today

    Get A Low Priced But Excellent Android Phone From Samsung For Just $224.99 Today

    This Samsung Galaxy A13 smartphone packs 64GB of internal storage capacity, gives you access to your network’s blazing-fast 5G service, and has been reduced to just $224.99. Grab it, right now.

    The Samsung Galaxy A13 smartphone is the perfect choice for someone who wants to exist within the Android ecosystem, who doesn’t want to part with a lot of money but wants a performant device, and who wants to pack in a lot of power for their financial outlay. Oh, and it will definitely suit someone who loves what Samsung offers in terms of a device’s UI experience and how Android and the UI layer are configured.

    It comes with a stunning 6.5-inch display offering a Full HD experience. Samsung has also tried to give the A13 5G a long-lasting battery for those users who need to try and go all day. The A13 also offers 15W fast charging when the battery has been depleted.

    Additionally, Galaxy A13 owners can say goodbye to buffering and hello to quick downloading and smooth streaming. The hardware is outfitted with a fast and reliable processor that gives the A13 5G a virtually lag-free 5G experience (network and carrier contract pending, of course).

    The internal 64GB storage is expandable up to an additional 1TB thanks to an external memory card slot. It also comes with a triple-lens camera experience and access to everything that the world’s most popular mobile operating system offers. A great, affordable, all-round device offering an infinite edge-to-edge display experience.

    The direct product link, price, and everything else are listed below. You won’t be asked for any discount codes or promotional coupons. This deal is a straightforward 10% discount on the original selling price.

    Buy: Samsung Galaxy A13 5G Smartphone, Factory Unlocked, 64GB  from Amazon: $224.99 | Original price: $250

    You may also like to check out:

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    You can follow us on Twitter, or Instagram, and even like our Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google, Apple, and the Web.

  • From people in debt to ruined families, online gaming in India needs to be regulated- Technology News, Firstpost

    From people in debt to ruined families, online gaming in India needs to be regulated- Technology News, Firstpost

    This article is a part of a larger series on Online Gaming in India. The previous article deals with why online gaming platforms want their users to believe that their products are a game of skill. Click here to read the article.

    Online gaming has become extremely popular in India and has grown into a massive industry, with millions of people, spending billions of rupees across various games, every year. For the government, it is also a great source of tax revenue. However, the industry is largely unregulated, with little to no government oversight or laws governing it. What this basically means, is that the people involved in online gaming, especially as players have little to no protection against online gaming platforms.

    The dark side of online gaming_ From people in debt to ruined families, online gaming in India needs to be regulated

    There have been many instances where people have ruined themselves financially and even died by suicide because they were addicted to online gambling. Image Credit: Pexels

    Irrespective of what one feels about online gaming, whether one considers them a game of skill or a game of luck, the fact remains that online gaming is highly addictive. There have been several instances where people addicted to online games have bet their life savings on various games. Things take an even uglier turn when people die by suicide because of online games and financial ruination.

    The Insidious Trap
    The manner in which most online gaming platforms, especially fantasy league platforms is something that we need to look at as it reveals a lot of the insidious tactics that these platforms use.

    In their ads, they will often show a “real” customer who would originally be from a very humble background, making it big because of the winnings that they got from the platform. Or a variation of that ad would be a person from a rural setting, belonging to a very middle-class background, “winning” a high-end car.

    The message is clear – if this person can win this big, so can you. The kicker in all of this? All the sob stories that are shown during these campaigns are scripted. 

    A very popular fantasy league platform ran a similar campaign and got the who’s who of cricket to feature in it. The ad campaign was extensively run on TV during the IPL and other shows, as well as on YouTube.

    Furthermore, this fantasy league app then got a ton of YouTube influencers to promote the app using a 15-30 second spot on their videos. On average, these YouTubers would have about a million or so subscribers and average about 2 lakh views per video, which isn’t exactly a lot.

    The shocker is that for this campaign, each YouTuber with about 2-2.5 lakh average views per video was paid a 6-7 figure sum for one integration. Cricketers and actors who promoted this app were paid tens of crores. 

    To push potential customers over the edge, and get them to finally sign up for this, these platforms will run another set of lucrative campaigns – new players will either be issued a small amount of in-game currency, using which they will win because they are playing against bots.

    Or, they will entice users to spend one rupee in the game to win an iPhone or some other prize. The moment a user spends their first rupee on such apps, the developers have broken the most crucial barrier to extort more money out of them.

    The fact that these games are designed in a way that is extremely addictive is another story altogether. Starting from the rush of winning that players are fed initially when they are paired up with bots, in some of these betting games, to the way the UI and the animations are created to amp up wins and playdown losses, making the users lose all sense of perspective and reality.

    These gaming apps also create a sense of urgency and false achievement. Because of this, players get hardwired to play for long hours without breaks, pay high fees and participate in multiple games and tournaments, all with their own real money.

    When things go wrong
    A 29-year-old woman, allegedly ended her life after she lost 200 grams or 20 tolas or sovereigns of gold jewellery and Rs 3 lakh of her sisters’ money in online gambling. During the lockdown, she is said to have become addicted to online gambling, because of which she mortgaged 20 tolas over a period of time, but lost the money in online gambling. She borrowed Rs 1.5 lakh each from her two sisters to redeem the pledged jewels but lost this money as well.

    In another incident, a 39-year-old woman died by suicide, after her unemployed husband, who was addicted to online gaming lost close to Rs 20,000 in online rummy. The money was earmarked for their son’s school fees.

    These two are the first of many cases in Tamil Nadu that led to the previous AIADMK government banning online gaming altogether. And while that decision was harsh and a knee-jerk reaction at best it did show that there is a dire need to regulate such games. The Madras High Court later struck down the ban and asked them to come up with a proper set of regulations instead of banning these games.

    The numerous instances of cheating and fraud
    One of the major issues with the lack of regulation in online gaming in India is the potential for fraud. Because there are no clear laws or regulations governing the industry, players may be at risk of being scammed by unscrupulous individuals or companies.

    For example, players may be promised rewards or prizes that never materialize, or they may be asked to pay money upfront for the opportunity to participate in a game or tournament, only to find out that the event does not exist.

    In many instances, especially with offshore gaming platforms, it has been found that the games were rigged. On many platforms, games such as poker and rummy play out in a way in which new players have a better chance of winning but only at the beginning. As they spend more and more time and money on these games, they start losing.

    To keep these players engaged, the algorithm of these platforms will ensure they win one game or two, just as the interest of the player starts waning. 

    The great debate: Games of skill or games of chance?
    It is critical for online betting games and fantasy leagues to legally appear as games of skill as opposed to games of chance. However, the way these online games need to position themselves to the public, is that anyone can win, and more importantly, win big.

    Most online gaming platforms actually struggle to straddle the thin line between appearing as a game of skill and a game of luck.

    On one hand, these platforms want to be perceived as a game where it is possible to even for the most novice of players to win and to do so, without being perceived as a game of luck. Only then will they be able to get more and more players on board. 

    On the other hand, these games must portray themselves as games of skill, otherwise, they will be taxed at a much higher rate, and will be subject to a lot of other, rules set by the state, that regulate how the gaming industry in the state operates. 

    The need for regulation
    Gaming needs regulation, especially when players have the tendency to become addicted, and when there is a serious financial risk involved. The lack of regulation in the online gaming industry, especially in how the market themselves in India, has led to some serious consequences for individuals and families. A set of proper regulations will go a long way to protect people from the dark side of online gaming.

    More importantly, however, it will be a boon for the industry as well. The states and UTs in India where gambling is not only legal but also regulated, namely, Goa, Sikkim and Daman, show that when the industry is regulated and not just taxed, it prospers really well. Moreover, regulations in online gaming will help the industry to grow exponentially and will allay all fears from potential investors as well.

    This article is a part of a larger series on Online Gaming in India. Click here to read the other articles that are a part of this series.

  • How to View and Improve Your Game’s Frames Per Second (FPS)

    How to View and Improve Your Game’s Frames Per Second (FPS)

    A stormtrooper fishing in a river at sunrise. Fortnite in Unreal 5.1. Header.

    Game performance is measured in “frames per second,” or FPS. High FPS gives you smooth gameplay, while low FPS looks more like a slideshow. Here’s how to see any PC game’s FPS — and increase your FPS in your favorite games.

    In general, you’ll want at least 30 FPS for smooth gameplay. But more is definitely better — you’ll notice games look at lot smoother at 60 FPS.

    How to View a Game’s FPS

    Many games have integrated FPS counters, but they’re almost always disabled by default. To view FPS using an in-game option, you’ll either need to poke around the game’s graphics settings menu or its advanced options menu. If you can’t find it, perform a web search for the name of the game and “view FPS” to see more information about a specific game.

    For example, to see your FPS in Fortnite, head to Menu > Settings > Video, and then turn on the “Show FPS” option at the bottom of the screen. To view your FPS in Overwatch 2, click Options > Video > Details, and then turn on the “Display Performance Stats” option. To show FPS in DOTA 2, navigate to Dashboard > Gear > Options > To Advanced Options, and then enable the “Display Network Information” option.

    You’ll see a small FPS meter somewhere on your screen. Each game shows it in a different position.

    Fortnite Graphics Settings.

    Steam features its own FPS overlay that you can use in any game in your library. If you’re playing a game in Steam, click Steam > Settings > In Game, click the box under “In-game FPS Counter,” and choose a position for the FPS counter on your screen. You’ll see an FPS overlay for all games you play on Steam.

    Open Settings > In-Game, then enable "In-Game FPS Counter."

    You’ll also find options for viewing any game’s FPS in other tools like NVIDIA GeForce Experience and FRAPS.

    RELATED: 4 Quick Ways to See a PC Game’s FPS (Frames Per Second)

    Increase Your FPS by Updating Your Drivers

    It’s important to have the latest graphics drivers for your computer’s graphics hardware, or GPU. Graphics processor manufacturers like NVIDIA, AMD, and even Intel regularly release new versions of graphics drivers that are optimized to make new games play better. You should keep your graphics drivers updated for maximum gaming performance, especially if you play newer games.

    Get the latest drivers from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel, depending on what graphics hardware your PC has inside. These driver installers include tools that automatically check for updates to help keep your drivers updated in the future.

    RELATED: How to Update Your Graphics Drivers for Maximum Gaming Performance

    NVIDIA drivers can be updated with GeForce Experience automatically.

    If you’re not sure what GPU your computer has, Windows 10 makes it easy to check. To view the name of your computer’s GPU, open the Task Manager by right-clicking your taskbar and selecting “Task Manager.” Click the “More Details” option if you see a small window. Click the “Performance” tab and look for “GPU” in the left pane to see the type of GPU your system has.

    Open the Task Manager, then select "GPU."

    If you see an Intel GPU alongside an NVIDIA or AMD GPU here, your computer has both a powerful NVIDIA or AMD GPU for gaming and a power-efficient Intel GPU for other tasks. You must update your NVIDIA or AMD drivers for maximum gaming performance, although you should also update your Intel graphics drivers.

    On Windows 7, you can find the name of your system’s GPU in the dxdiag tool. To open it, press Windows+R, type “dxdiag” in the run box, and then press Enter. Click the “Display” tab and look to the right of the “Name” entry in the “Device” section.

    The GPU displayed in the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.

    Intel and AMD both have “integrated graphics” cards that are integrated directly into the computer’s CPU. While integrated graphics uses less power, it won’t provide anywhere near the performance of a modern dedicated NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel GPU while gaming. Integrated graphics may still perform okay, especially if you have one of the latest integrated Intel or AMD GPUs and you’re playing an older game or a newer game on lower settings.

    If the latest Intel graphics drivers refuse to install on your PC and you see a message like “the driver being installed is not validated for this computer,” there’s a way to bypass this error and install the latest drivers straight from Intel.

    RELATED: How to Fix “The Driver Being Installed Is Not Validated For This Computer” on Intel Computers

    Boost Your FPS by Tweaking Graphics Settings

    The higher your graphics settings — in other words, the more graphical detail you see in a game —the lower your FPS. If you need more FPS in a game, the easiest way to get it is by decreasing your graphical fidelity. The game won’t look as pretty, but it will run faster and more smoothly.

    Each game has its own graphics options. To find them, open the game’s Options menu and look for a category like “Graphics” or “Video.”  You can tweak individual settings or just use presets. For example, you could lower a game’s graphics settings from High to Medium or Low to improve your FPS.

    You can also lower the game’s display resolution, which will make the picture look less crisp, but boost FPS. This option may be located in a “Video” options menu separate from the “Graphics” settings menu in some games.

    Many older games perform a bit better when they’re set to exclusive “Full screen” mode instead of “Windowed”, “Full screen (windowed)”, or “Borderless windowed” mode, so you can also try enabling full-screen mode to see if that improves the game’s FPS.

    Overwatch 2 graphics settings.

    Some tools can automatically set your PC games’ graphical settings, giving you an optimal combination of graphics and performance without any fiddling.

    If you have NVIDIA hardware, we recommend using NVIDIA GeForce Experience to optimize your games. It is included with your graphics drivers. Just launch the GeForce Experience application from your Start menu and you’ll see a list of game you have installed. Select a game and click the “Optimize” button to automatically use NVIDIA’s recommended settings for that game based on your system’s hardware.

    Even if you want to tweak your settings manually, GeForce Experience optimization is a good starting point. You can still go into the game’s settings and tweak them after using an optimization tool like this one.

    GeForce Experience can optimize settings on a game-by-game basis to maximize performance.

    RELATED: How to Set Your PC Games’ Graphics Settings with No Effort

    Make Sure the Game Is Running on Your Powerful GPU

    If you do have both an integrated Intel GPU and NVIDIA or AMD GPU, you should ensure your demanding games are running on the NVIDIA or AMD hardware and not the slower Intel hardware.

    Most games should automatically launch on the more powerful GPU. However, some games may use the slower GPU by default, resulting in mysteriously low FPS.

    You choose which GPU a game uses on latest version of Windows 10 by heading to System > Settings > Display > Graphics settings. The Task Manager also shows you which GPU an application is using.

    Windows can switch between a dedicate GPU and an integrated GPU to save power.

    RELATED: How to Choose Which GPU a Game Uses on Windows 10

    For PCs with Windows 7 or an older version of Windows 10, you can adjust which GPU a game uses in your graphics driver’s control panel. For example, NVIDIA users can assign applications to different GPUs in the NVIDIA Control Panel.

    More Tips For Boosting FPS

    Here are some other tips for boosting your FPS in PC games:

    Close Background Apps: There are only so many CPU, GPU, and disk resources to go around. If background apps are using resources, less resources are available for the game you’re playing, which means lower FPS. Close background applications — especially applications that are using a lot of resources — while playing a game. You can check which applications are using a noticeable amount of system resources from the Task Manager if you like.

    Plug In Your Laptop: Plug your laptop in while playing games. Windows typically “throttles” your hardware and makes it perform slower on battery power to save energy, so plugging in can dramatically improve your FPS.

    Avoid Recording Gameplay: If your PC is set to automatically record gameplay with a feature like Windows 10’s Game DVR or NVIDIA ShadowPlay, this will reduce your FPS. Disable any gameplay-recording features and you’ll see higher FPS.

    Try Game Mode: Windows 10 has a “Game Mode” that automatically de-prioritizes background tasks and assigns more resources to games while you’re playing them. To enable Game Mode, open the Settings app, then navigate to Gaming > Game Mode, and click the toggle under “Game Mode.” We haven’t seen huge improvements with this feature, but it’s worth a shot. Based on our testing, we don’t recommend using most third-party “game booster” tools.

    Overclock Your Hardware: If you want to make your existing hardware run faster, you can overclock it. You can overclock your GPU and CPU, although overclocking the GPU will be more important for FPS in most games. Note that overclocking makes your computer use more power and run hotter, so it could damage your hardware or just make your system unstable while it’s overclocked.

    RELATED: How to Overclock Your Graphics Card for Better Gaming Performance

    Restart Your PC: If your PC is performing unusually slowly and your FPS is lower than normal for no particular reason, try restarting your PC. Restarting your computer can fix all sorts of problems.

    Upgrade Your Hardware: If you’re not happy with a game’s FPS even after following all these other tips, you can always improve it by purchasing and installing a faster graphics processor — or just getting a new PC with more powerful hardware. Depending on the game and your PC’s hardware, a faster CPU or more RAM may also help.

    RELATED: How To Upgrade and Install a New Graphics Card in Your PC

  • Cyber Security Today, Dec. 7, 2022 – Rackspace hit by ransomware, employees are still falling for the fake IT colleague scam, and more

    Cyber Security Today, Dec. 7, 2022 – Rackspace hit by ransomware, employees are still falling for the fake IT colleague scam, and more

    Rackspace hit by ransomware, employees are still falling for the fake IT colleague scam, and more.
    Welcome to Cyber Security Today. It’s Wednesday, December 7th, 2022. I’m Howard Solomon, contributing reporter on cybersecurity for ITWorldCanada.com.

     

    Texas-based cloud provider Rackspace Technology has admitted suffering a ransomware attack last week. Affected are customers of the company’s hosted Microsoft Exchange service. Rackspace said Tuesday it believes the attack was limited to its Exchange servers. It is helping Exchange customers shift to the cloud-based Microsoft 365 as quickly as possible. As of the recording of this podcast, Rackspace couldn’t say if any customer data was affected.

    Separately, researchers at Palo Alto Networks released a background paper on the Vice Society ransomware gang. It regularly targets school boards, colleges and universities. IT and security teams may find the description of this group’s tactics and tools useful.

    Telecommunications and business process outsourcing companies are being targeted by a threat actor impersonating corporate IT staff. That’s according to researchers at Crowdstrike. They say the attacker uses phone calls and text messages to trick employees into logging on to a fake company website, where their usernames and passwords are collected. Or they are fooled into downloading a tool allowing the attackers to get remote access to their computers. If employees have multifactor authentication protecting their credentials, the attacker either persuades the victim to share their one-time passcode or they pester the employee with text messages on their smartphone asking for approval multifactor authentication until the staffer gives up. What’s most concerning is if this attacker can access the target organization’s multifactor authentication console they add their own mobile devices to an employee’s account to help the compromise. In one case the attacker was able to access a company’s Azure Active Directory to identify privileged users. The report emphasizes the importance of IT and security teams protecting Active Directory and watching for newly created or modified accounts. It also speaks to the need for regular employee cybersecurity awareness training. A link to the full report with more recommendations is in the text version of this podcast.

    An open-source ransomware toolkit dubbed Cryptonite has been removed from the GitHub repository, where anyone could have got hold of it. Not only has the source code been deleted, 41 forks have also been removed. According to researchers at Fortinet, there’s one other interesting thing: At least one variant isn’t ransomware. While it does encrypt data, there’s no way to unscramble it. The researchers don’t believe this  was intentional. Because of the way this sample’s code was written, if the program crashes or closed there is no way to recover the encrypted files. Over-simplicity of code and a lack of quality assurance by the crooks are to blame. As a result that version of the malware can be spotted by anti-virus software.

    Finally, crooks don’t worry about the cost of software quality issues, but organizations do. And according to a new survey by the Consortium for Information and Software Quality, it costs a lot. The company estimates software quality issues may have held the U.S. economy back by US$2.4 trillion this year. This includes the costs of cyber attacks due to vulnerabilities, problems with open-source software components in applications and software development rework costs. Solutions include applying software quality standards when developing applications, assessing third-party components in software and applying patches promptly.

    Follow Cyber Security Today on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or add us to your Flash Briefing on your smart speaker.

  • The Sci-Fi Video Game Everyone Should Play at Least Once

    The Sci-Fi Video Game Everyone Should Play at Least Once

    The first time Outer Wilds made me say “holy shit” out loud was unforgettable.

    I’d gotten into my spaceship for the first time. Still confused, still unsure. What’s happening here? What is this video game about? How does this all work? Where am I supposed to be going

    Still, I followed the prompts. I approached my spaceship — a rickety wooden shack of a thing. I pushed some buttons, and soon I was afloat, soaring effortlessly into the darkness of space. Still confused. Still unsure. What the hell is going on here? I don’t get this at all.

    Then, in the distance, a planet. A vivid green dot splotched in the void. “I’ll head there I guess,” I said to myself, more out of confusion than anything else.

    Struggling against the controls of the ship, I headed toward the green planet, eventually hurtling into its dense green atmosphere at top speed. “I can’t see shit,” I whispered, but then I emerged from the fog. 

    I couldn’t believe my eyes.

    Green whirlwinds in Giant's Deep

    Giant’s Deep still blows my mind to this day.


    Annapurna Interactive

    I only had a split second before I splashed headfirst into the ocean, but I saw it. This was a water planet, toylike in size. But that didn’t startle me — it was the whirlwinds. Six of them at least, competing with one another in an otherworldly storm on the waves. As I floated back to the surface, water streaming down the windows, my eyes turned into saucers.

    The wind whipped as the competing whirlwinds galloped across the surface, so powerful they launched entire islands into the atmosphere — literally into space — before they crashed back onto the planet. I’d never seen anything like this in a video game. I’d never seen anything like this before, period. But this was Outer Wilds. In Outer Wilds, the blisteringly imaginative becomes normalized.

    “Holy shit.

    Outer Wilds is a video game about exploring space, but it’s also a mystery to unravel. Following in the footsteps of the Nomai, an alien race that perished thousands of years ago, Outer Wilds is a game that has you playing space detective, investigating the ruins of an extinct civilization in an attempt to find exactly what the hell happened? The twist: Outer Wilds is centered on a Groundhog Day-esque time loop. You have precisely 22 minutes to investigate before the sun implodes, taking your entire solar system with it. All that remains: The knowledge you acquired during those precious few minutes.

    Outer Wilds is a mystery that reveals itself in a traditional video game manner — through audio logs, written notes and so on — but the execution is so inspired you barely notice the tropes. Through its inventive locales and subtle puzzles, Outer Wilds consistently inspires a level of awe unlike any video game I’ve ever played. 

    Outer Wilds has you traveling back and forth to a handful of different planets, each more bizarre than the last. Each is laden with strange advanced technology left behind by the Nomai. A clue found on one planet might lead you to a new locale in a planet you visited previously. Slowly you worm yourself deeper into these dazzling environments, and into a deeper understanding of the mystery you’re trying to solve. There’s no shooting, no complex platforming. In Outer Wilds the currency is knowledge, knowledge players use to figure out their next step and, consequently, solve this strange mystery on a meta level. The result: a constant, revelatory joy, a series of “holy shit” moments that make Outer Wilds unforgettable.

    A black hole at the center of Brittle Hollow in Outer Wilds

    Brittle Hollow features an all-consuming black hole at the center of the planet.


    Annapurna Interactive

    Outer Wilds is constantly evoking awe. There’s Giant’s Deep, the aforementioned planet with its competing hurricanes, but there’s also Brittle Hollow, a world collapsing before your eyes. Descending deep beneath the surface you watch as entire sections of the planet are swallowed by a black hole vibrating at its center. One false step and you yourself could fall through it. 

    And what happens when you fall through a black hole in Outer Wilds? Well, it would be rude to spoil the surprise. But it’s as mind-bending as you might expect.

    Outer Wilds is punctuated by its holy shit moments. A quantum moon that disappears when you stop looking at it. Technology that allows you to warp instantaneously between two far-flung points. Twin planets connected by a pillar of sand that flows endlessly back and forth, dramatically reshaping both planets like a complex hourglass. 

    In Outer Wilds, a pillar of sand connects two planets

    A constantly pouring pile of sand transforms both planets as time marches on.


    Annapurna Interactive

    But unlike the cool, clinical sci-fi of, say, Interstellar or Arrival, Outer Wilds is a homely, almost acoustic invention: a small-scale snow globe of a universe, precisely imagined and executed. As if it expanded wholesale from the collapsing atoms in Bon Iver’s beard. That’s part of its charm. Its most outlandish moments inspire awe because they’re grounded in a world that’s familiar to us, almost anachronistic.

    You sail into space in a craft made of wood, wearing a spacesuit that looks like it was built in the 19th century. Your home planet is a hipster’s dream, like a shrunken vision of the Canadian wilderness or a Grizzly Bear music video. Outer Wilds’ unique cast of characters swing on hammocks on alien planets and play the banjo at campfires as the universe collapses around them.

    It all leads to this overwhelming feeling: You’re trapped in a universe where your traditional ideas don’t make sense. Where gigantic sci-fi ideas of space travel feel just beyond your primitive brain. All you can do is stare — in awe — as the sun implodes in a brilliant blue flash, your time loop complete. Before you awake once more with a gasp, ready to explore the strange universe of Outer Wilds all over again with fresh eyes.

  • Asus RT-AX86S vs RT-AX86U vs RT-AX86U pro: Odd Variants

    Asus RT-AX86S vs RT-AX86U vs RT-AX86U pro: Odd Variants

    This post is a quick matchup of the Asus RT-AX86S vs RT-AX86U vs RT-AX86U Pro. Together they make up confusing Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 options.

    In mid-August 2020, I published an in-depth review of the RT-AX86U and called it “arguably the best Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router” for a good reason — the router has been one of the best.

    Things moved along rather quietly until mid-2021 when Asus released the RT-AX86S, which looks the same as the RT-AX86U yet is very much a different router on the inside. The company called them the RT-AX86 series — lumping both on the same product page — making things even more confusing.

    And then, in late 2022, Asus did it again by introducing the RT-AX86U Pro, which is basically the RT-AX86U plus a slightly faster CPU.

    I’ve received many questions about the RT-AX86U vs RT-AX86S and then about the RT-AX86U vs RT-AX86U Pro.

    Initially, folks seem to want me to say that the first pair is the same, possibly so they’d feel better getting the S due to availability or cost difference. And with the second pair, many were confused — rightfully so.

    This post will help with those questions. The gist is if pricing is the same, then there’s no reason not to get the Pro version. And The RT-AX86S can be a good choice for a non-demanding home.

    But overall, the RT-AX86U is the safest choice. I will not test and review the S and Pro versions separately.

    Dong’s note: I first published this post on February 3, 2022, and updated it on December 3 to add information about the latest variant, the RT-AX86U Pro.

    The Asus RT-AX86U is one of the best Wi-Fi 6 routersThe Asus RT-AX86U is an Excellent Gaming Router
    Asus RT-AX86S vs RT-AX86U vs RT-AX86U Pro: From these angles, you certainly can’t tell which one is which.

    Asus RT-AX86S vs RT-AX86U vs RT-AX86U Pro: Identical-looking, but one is an (almost) entirely different router

    By the look, most of us can’t distinguish the RT-AX86S from the RT-AX86U, and it’s even harder to tell the RT-AX86U vs RT-AX86U Pro apart.

    All three share the same shape, color, number of antennas, etc.

    And the resemblance goes beyond the look. They also share the same set of network features and settings. Apart from Asus’s core feature set, they both include valuable gaming-related features.

    I detailed their similarities in this post on Asus Wi-Fi broadcasters, but here are some highlights of these three:

    • AiMesh 2.0 support: Either can work as the primary router or a satellite node in an AiMesh setup.
    • AiProtection: Built-in free online protection for life.
    • Flexible port configuration: Both support Dual-WAN, Link Aggregation (WAN and LAN), and a Game Port.
    • Adaptive QoS: Both have a robust QoS feature.
    • AX5700 Wi-Fi specs: 3×3 AX on the 2.4GHz band (861Mbps) and 4×4 AX on the 5GHz (4804Mbps).

    That said, just like all Asus Wi-Fi 6 routers, these three routers seem to have more in common than they do in differences.

    But when you look closer, especially at their hardware specs, you’ll see how they are quite distinct, especially in the case of the RT-AX86S.

    Asus and your privacy

    Upon turning on some features on an Asus router, you will run into this scary warning:

    “By using AiProtection, Traffic analyzer, Apps analyzer, Adaptive QoS/Game boost, Web history, you agree to the Trend Micro End User License Agreement. Please note that your information will be collected by Trend Micro through AiProtection, Traffic analyzer, Apps analyzer, Adaptive QoS, and web history.”

    Asus Privacy Message
    That ominous privacy warning

    If you read the entire EULA, you’d understand what it entails. But since nobody wants to read that boring, yet important, document, and some might not appreciate its wording, let me put this in simple terms:

    These features only work because their provider scans the router’s traffic. That’s like if you want to be protected in real life, you will need to have somebody, like a bodyguard, to watch over you. In networking, protection requires extra connections — there’s no way around that.

    I won’t pretend I know what TrendMicro or Asus does with the information it might have access to — I don’t know — but (personally) I’d be more worried about how and what Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, or Google (in that order) does with my data, which is collected the moment I turn a particular device on.

    But yes, using these features will inherently cause privacy risks. The good news is that they are turned off by default, and you’re never coerced into turning them on.

    So, use them or not use them, it’s your call. Just remember, you can’t have them both ways. Generally, privacy and security are a matter of degree.

    Asus RT-AX86S vs RT-AX86U vs RT-AX86U Pro: Hardware specifications

    Name ASUS RT-AX86S ASUS RT-AX86U RT-AX86U Pro
    Wi-Fi Technology Dual-band AX5700 Dual-band AX5700 Dual-band AX5700
    2.4GHz Wi-Fi Specs
    (channel width)
    3×3 AX: Up to 861 Mbps
    (20/40MHz)
    3×3 AX: Up to 861 Mbps
    (20/40MHz)
    3×3 AX: Up to 861 Mbps
    (20/40MHz)
    5GHz Wi-Fi Specs
    (channel width)
    4X4 AX: Up to 4804 Mbps
    (20/40/80/160MHz)
    4X4 AX: Up to 4804 Mbps
    (20/40/80/160MHz)
    4X4 AX: Up to 4804 Mbps
    (20/40/80/160MHz)
    Backward Compatibility 802.11a/b/g/n/ac 802.11a/b/g/n/ac 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
    AP Mode Yes Yes Yes
    AiMesh-ready Yes Yes Yes
    Gigabit Port 4x LAN 
    1x WAN
    4x LAN 
    1x WAN/LAN
    4x LAN 
    1x WAN/LAN
    Multi-Gig Port None 1×2.5Gbps LAN/WAN 1x 2.5Gbps LAN/WAN
    Link Aggregation Yes
    (LAN and WAN)
    Yes
    (LAN and WAN)
    Yes
    (LAN and WAN)
    Dual-WAN Yes Yes Yes
    USB 1x USB 2.0,
    1x USB 3.0
    2 x USB 3.0 1x USB 2.0,
    1x USB 3.0
    Mobile App Asus Router Asus Router Asus Router
    QoS Yes Yes  Yes 
    Parental Control Yes Yes  Yes 
    Processing Power 1.8GHz dual-core CPU,
    256MB Flash,
    512MB RAM
    1.8GHz quad-core CPU,
    256MB Flash,
    1GB RAM
    2GHz quad-core CPU,
    256MB Flash,
    1GB RAM
    Built-in Online Protection Yes 
    (AiProtection)
    Yes 
    (AiProtection) 
    Yes 
    (AiProtection)
    Dimensions
    (with antennas)
    9.52 x 3.93 x 12.79 inc. 
    (242 x 100 x 325 mm) 
    9.52 x 3.93 x 12.79 inc. 
    (242 x 100 x 325 mm)
    9.52 x 3.93 x 12.79 inc. 
    (242 x 100 x 325 mm)
    Dimensions
    (without antennas)
    9.52 x 3.93 x 6.45 inc. 
    (242 x 100 x 164 mm)
    9.52 x 3.93 x 6.45 inc. 
    (242 x 100 x 164 mm)
    9.52 x 3.93 x 6.45 inc. 
    (242 x 100 x 164 mm)
    Weight 1.8 lbs (814.5 g) 1.8 lbs (814.5 g) 1.8 lbs (814.5 g)
    Release Date
    (US market)
    September 22, 2021 August 11, 2020 TBD
    US Price
    (at launch)
    $250 $280 TBD
    Hardware specifications: Asus RT-AX86S vs RT-AX86U

    RT-AX86S vs RT-AX86U: Some gaming-changing differences

    Indeed, flip them around, and you’ll notice that the RT-AX86S does not have a 2.5Gbps Multi-Gig port on the back. Instead, all its network ports (one WAN and 4 LANs) are all Gigabit.

    sus RT-AX86S vs RT-AX86U: It's quite clear which is which when you look at their back.
    Asus RT-AX86U vs RT-AX86S (bottom): It’s pretty clear which is which when you look at their backside.

    This extra Multi-Gig port is a significant difference because it allows the RT-AX86U to work as a satellite in a wired Multi-Gig AiMesh setup. You can’t do that with the S version. Also, if you have Gigabit or even Gig+ broadband, the U version can fully handle that.

    What is Gig+

    Gig+, or Gig plus, conveys a speed grade faster than 1Gbps but slower than 2Gbps. So, it’s 1.5Gbps, give or take, and it’s not fast enough to be qualified as Multi-Gig.

    Gig+ generally applies to the sustained speeds of Wi-Fi 6 or 6E (via a 2×2 at 160MHz connection) or Internet speed, not wired local connections.

    What’s more, the RT-AX86U has much more powerful processing power, running a quad-core CPU and double the amount of RAM. That sure will translate into better performance and responsiveness.

    And finally, the RT-AX86U has two USB 3.0 ports, while one of the S version’s ports is USB 2.0.

    RT-AX86U Pro vs RT-AX86U: Some minor differences

    The RT-AX86U Pro is somewhat on the other side of the RT-AX86U from the RT-AX86S. It’s a slightly more powerful router (with 2GHz of extra clock speed on the CPU) yet has only one USB 3.0 port.

    Asus RT AX86UAsus RT AX86U Pro
    Asus RT-AX86U vs RT-AX86U Pro (right): From the back, you’ll note that the latter’s 2nd USB port is a USB 2.0 instead of USB 3.0. That’s the only noticeable visual difference between the two.

    I haven’t tested the Pro, but it’s safe to say, in real-world usage, chances are it will be the same as the older version.

    The faster CPU doesn’t hurt, but it won’t help much, considering the small increment. And the second slower USB port cancels out whatever little extra that CPU offers.

    The takeaway

    Asus didn’t confirm this, but my take is the S in the RT-AX86S is short for “stripped-down.” This new router has way less to offer than the RT-AX86U.

    This type of router release has happened before, though.

    Years ago, I reviewed the RT-AC88U and thought it was the coolest thing ever, primarily because of its 8 Gigabit LAN ports.

    Subsequently, Asus released the RT-AC3100, which shares the same Wi-Fi specs but has four fewer LAN ports. Since the RT-AX88U is an AC3100 router, folks were confused between the two at the time — and probably still are today.

    Like the RT-AC3100, I’m confident the RT-AX86S is a good router. If you don’t need the Multi-Gig port or care about extra processing power, it will give you the same experience as the RT-AX86U.

    But if you ask me to say that these two are the same, the answer is always a hard no. And I’d pick the RT-AX86U in a heartbeat, even if it’s more expensive.

    As for the fight between the RT-AX86U vs the RT-AX86U Pro, the “Pro” notion of the latter is a bit arbitrary. There’s not much extra to qualify the new hardware for the moniker. But that’s just semantics. Chances are the two are the same in real-world usage, and I wouldn’t consider the Pro if it costs noticeably more.

    It’s worth noting, though, that you can use all three and use them in an AiMesh setup for a large home — if so, get your home wired first for the best performance. In that case, you know which you should use as the primary router.

    Looking for other matchups in Wi-Fi solutions? Check them all out here.

  • Grocery delivery app Getir bags rival Gorillas in a .2B acquisition • TechCrunch

    Grocery delivery app Getir bags rival Gorillas in a $1.2B acquisition • TechCrunch

    To get a roundup of TechCrunch’s biggest and most important stories delivered to your inbox every day at 3 p.m. PDT, subscribe here.

    We’ve made it to Friday, folks. If you’re anything like me, that means finishing the workday with a well-deserved nap and reruns of “The Office.” Tweet, toot or Post at me about your favorite way to end the week.

    Mark your calendar for a Twitter Space event on Tuesday, December 13 at 1 p.m. PST/4 p.m. EST featuring Builders VC investor Andrew Chen, who will speak with Walter about the role tech reporting plays in shaping ecosystems.

    See you Monday! — Christine

    The TechCrunch Top 3

    Startups and VC

    More layoffs this week as Ingrid reports on Primer, an e-commerce infrastructure startup based in the U.K. that announced it would lay off one-third of its staff amid some restructuring to manage current and proposed commerce market conditions.

    Meanwhile, Haje believes you need the perfect summary slide for your pitch deck and has found some for you (requires a TechCrunch+ subscription).

    And we have three more for you:

    How to respond when a VC asks about your startup’s valuation

    Man fell to the ground on a banana peel.

    Image Credits: boschettophotography (opens in a new window) / Getty Images

    When a VC inevitably asks about your valuation expectations, it is a trick question: If your response is too high, it’s a red flag, whereas a lowball figure undervalues the company.

    “We’re letting the market price this round” is an appropriate reply, but only if you’ve already gathered substantial data points from other investors — and can fire back with a few questions of your own, says Evan Fisher, founder of Unicorn Capital.

    “If that’s all you say, you’re in trouble because it can also be interpreted as ‘we don’t have a clue’ or ‘we’ll take what we’re given,’” said Fisher.

    Instead of going in cold, he advises founders to pre-pitch investors from their next round and use takeaways from those conversations to shape current valuations.

    In the article, Fisher includes sample questions “you will want to ask every VC you speak with,” along with other tips that will help “when they pop the valuation question.”

    Three more from the TC+ team:

    TechCrunch+ is our membership program that helps founders and startup teams get ahead of the pack. You can sign up here. Use code “DC” for a 15% discount on an annual subscription!

    Big Tech Inc.

    We are over here with our mouths open upon learning that crypto news publication The Block received some significant — and undisclosed — loans from former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried’s company Alameda Research. As a result, CEO Michael McCaffrey is out and Bobby Moran, the company’s chief revenue officer, takes the role but as Jacquelyn and Alex write, the now conflict of interest will take some time to repair, if it can even be done.

    As we wait for the Federal Trade Commission to send news of Microsoft’s fate with Activision, Kyle writes that the cloud services giant acquired a different company, this time Lumenisity, a startup developing high-speed cables for transmitting data.

    And three more for you:

  • S.Korea discusses control over crypto listings after WEMIX delisting

    S.Korea discusses control over crypto listings after WEMIX delisting

    South Korean financial authorities are discussing possible mandates for companies to pursue direct approval from regulators to list their cryptocurrencies on local digital assets exchanges, news outlet The Herald Business reported on Monday.

    See related article: South Korea’s Wemade shares drop, WEMIX token plunges after delisting verdict

    Fast facts

    • Currently, cryptocurrency exchanges themselves are responsible for reviewing new token listings in South Korea, a process that regulators believe may increase risks and losses for investors, the local media reported.
    • Such a bill may be included in South Korea’s upcoming Digital Asset Basic Act, an all-encompassing regulatory framework on digital assets, but regulators are divided on the suggestion, according to The Herald Business.
    • Developments in South Korea followed the nation’s top four exchanges’ delisting of WEMIX last week, the native token of local blockchain game maker Wemade Co., after the developer misreported circulation numbers of its cryptocurrency. 
    • A similar screening process exists in neighboring Japan, where the Virtual and Crypto assets Exchange Association (JVCEA), a self-regulatory body that oversees local crypto exchanges, examines new crypto listings on Japanese exchanges.
    • The JVCEA is reportedly looking to ease the vetting process as early as later this month, to a point where tokens will be exempt from the examination if they have previously been listed in the local crypto market.
    • Under local law, a new stock offering in South Korea is reviewed by the Financial Services Commission (FSC). The FSC has not responded to Forkast’s queries on the reported development.

    See related article: S.Korea central bank puts hand up to regulate stablecoins

  • We asked, you told us: Most of you missed the Galaxy Note line this year

    We asked, you told us: Most of you missed the Galaxy Note line this year

    Galaxy Note 20 Ultra screen S Pen

    Hadlee Simons / Android Authority

    It’s been about a year since Samsung officially discontinued the Galaxy Note series and two years since the last one came out due to Samsung skipping the high-end device in 2021. For some, the disappearance of the Galaxy Note has been a hard pill to swallow. Despite the Galaxy S22 Ultra technically being the successor to the Note, as Roh Tae-Moon told The Verge, it’s not quite the same.

    Knowing how popular the Note was, we decided to ask all of our readers how they felt about the absence of the handset. Did you miss the Galaxy Note line this year? We gave you two choices, yes or no.

    Well, after 2,532 votes, you guys told us exactly how you feel about the Note line being gone. Let’s dive into the results.

    Did you miss the Galaxy Note line this year?

    Results

    By the looks of it, 1,577 of you say you do miss the Galaxy Note line. That makes up more than 62% of the respondents. While 955 (over 37%) of you said you didn’t miss the retired phone.

    We get it. The Note line was a great way to get a cheaper flagship that also carries the S Pen. Although the S Pen has been given to the device’s spiritual successor, the Galaxy S22 Ultra is about $200 more expensive than what the Galaxy Note 20 sold for.

    The Note series first launched in 2011, helping to popularize large-screen smartphones. If you remember, back then a lot of Android phones measured under 5-inches. It was the antithesis of what everybody else was doing at the time. As people began to embrace the form factor, the Galaxy Note eventually become a staple in the South Korea-based tech giant’s portfolio.

  • Gentler Streak adds 2022 Activity Recap, Apple Watch Ultra Action Button support

    Gentler Streak adds 2022 Activity Recap, Apple Watch Ultra Action Button support

    The Apple Watch app of the year, Gentler Streak, has just been updated to version 2.7.5. This update adds the 2022 Activity Recap, which shows a roundup of the user’s workouts throughout the year. The app follows the trend of other platforms that have also released a recap of people’s activities online, such as the most listened tunes, most watched shows, etc.

    Here’s how the developers describe the 2022 Activity Recap, which is a free feature for all old and new users:

    Find out just how active you were in 2022 with this animated activity recap. See the Yorharts you’ve collected, the distance you’ve covered, total hours actively spent off the couch… to help spread the word, and motivate your friends, we’ve created a neat SHARE option!

    In addition to Gentler Streak’s 2022 Activity Recap, this update supports Apple Watch Ultra‘s Action Button. You can now start a workout and pause/resume it with the new Apple Watch button.

    Gentler Streak team
    The team behind the Apple Watch app of the year. Image source: Gentler Streak

    Last week, Gentler Streak was awarded by Apple the Apple Watch app of the year. Katarina Lotrič, co-founder and CEO, shared how it felt to get this recognition:

    When we found out we were stunned, speechless and in a way still are. I don’t think it has sunk in yet what we have achieved in this short amount of time. For a small independent team of four this came as a huge shock, a positive one obviously. We see it as an extraordinary confirmation of our work, our vision, our relevance in time and place, and are super happy our message and philosophy is now being spread across the globe. There’s still so much we want to and will bring to life, and we are looking forward to every minute of it. I think it’s safe to say we are just getting started. 

    Gentler Streak is free to download on the App Store but requires a subscription to take full advantage of it. The Premium Monthly is $7.99, Premium Yearly is $49.99 with Family Sharing included, and a lifetime membership costs $139.99.