I recently reviewed the Alienware 16X Aurora (with its Arrow Lake-based processor) and the Alienware 16 Aurora (with its Raptor Lake-based processor), and both were branded as “Series 2” chips—neither were Lunar Lake! That started me down a rabbit hole: What exactly does Intel’s “Series 2” CPU branding mean these days? Turns out, not a whole lot. When Intel unveiled simple branding for its “Series 1” CPUs, it was clear what we were getting. With “Series 2” and the launch of Lunar Lake, I thought Intel Core Ultra Series 2 CPUs were going to be AI PCs with long battery life and NPUs capable of running Copilot+ PC features… but that’s not true anymore. It’s more confusing than that. Intel’s “Series 2” branding doesn’t tell you much. You need to dig into model numbers and CPU architecture details to understand what’s going on—just like in the days before Intel simplified its CPU branding. The promise of Intel’s “Series 1” naming scheme, explained In 2023, Intel shook up its branding and aimed to simplify everything. On the mobile side—this is going to be complicated enough without dragging in desktop processors—you had “Intel Core (Series 1)” chips and “Intel Core Ultra (Series 1)” chips. Intel Core Ultra chips were Meteor Lake chips, early “AI PC” hardware with neural processing units and better power efficiency. The architecture never fully delivered on its grand promises, though: battery life improvements weren’t as massive as we’d hoped for, and the NPUs weren’t powerful enough to meet Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC requirements. They could be branded Intel Core Ultra 3, 5, 7, or 9. Meanwhile, Intel also had Raptor Lake chips—the previous architecture—which were branded Intel Core 3, 5, and 7 (no 9). These chips delivered higher performance for gaming PCs and workstations at the cost of higher power usage. In short, gamers looking for higher CPU performance needed to avoid the “Ultra” branding in Series 1 chips. While the use of “Ultra” to mean “a swanky new AI PC and not a top-performance CPU” was a little odd, the overall naming scheme mostly made sense. You could see “Series 1” and look at “Core Ultra 5” or “Core 7” and understand what you were getting. Then, it all started getting muddled again. As we get into the weeds, it’s important to remember that Intel’s CEO left at the end of 2024, which matches the timeline of when the company’s marketing strategy shifted away from its original simplified branding. The Core i9-14900HX showed holes in the Series 1 naming strategy In early 2024, Intel launched the Intel Core i9-14900HX processor. This was a performance monster—the fastest mobile CPU we ever tested at the time at PCWorld! But the naming was a bit confusing since Intel had dropped the “i” from its Meteor Lake CPUs, yet now it was back. That’s because this HX processor was from the Raptor Lake Refresh architecture, an updated version of a previous architecture. Wait. Didn’t Series 1 already encompass some Raptor Lake chips? Yes… but Intel had gotten rid of the “9” from the Core line, and Intel couldn’t call it a Core “Ultra” because that was reserved for Meteor Lake chips with NPUs. And I bet that the “Core i9” branding looked better for a high-performance gaming-focused CPU than mere “Core 7” branding. Gamers seeking high-end performance would almost certainly look for branding markers like “Ultra” and “9,” but Intel had reserved them for its AI PC chips that prioritized power efficiency and NPU acceleration over top-end performance. Intel’s “Series 2” branding was supposed to be Lunar Lake, right? Intel started using the “Series 2” naming scheme when it launched Lunar Lake chips in September 2024. There was a lot of hype around these “Lunar Lake” chips or “Core Ultra Series 2” processors, as they were what the Series 1 chips should have been. The NPU for AI features aside, they also delivered long battery life that went toe-to-toe with Qualcomm’s Arm-based Snapdragon X chips. I saw so much coverage of Series 2, and so much of that coverage tied the Series 2 branding to Lunar Lake and its battery life and NPU goals. Did I misunderstand Intel’s marketing? Maybe! But if so, I wasn’t the only one who was confused—and that’s my point. It’s gotten messy again. Intel’s Series 2 now includes Raptor Lake and Arrow Lake CPUs All of this brings us back to the laptops I mentioned at the start of this article: the Alienware 16 Aurora and Alienware 16X Aurora. The Alienware 16 Aurora had an Intel Core 7 240H, which was branded an “Intel Core (Series 2)” processor. However, it’s based on the older Raptor Lake architecture, which was already a previous-generation architecture when the Series 1 collection launched with Meteor Lake at the “Ultra” tier. Despite all the AI PC talk, this Series 2-powered laptop had no NPU—you couldn’t even use Windows Studio Effects for webcam effects. A big strike for Series 2 confusion. Meanwhile, the higher-end Alienware 16X Aurora had an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX chip, which was branded an “Intel Core Ultra (Series 2)” chip, just like the newest Lunar Lake chips. However, this one wasn’t Lunar Lake—it was a higher-end gaming chip with better performance, kind of like that Core i9-14900HX that was launched during the Series 1 era but wasn’t slapped with Series 1 branding. To be fair, it’s a great chip for gaming and it does have an NPU, but the NPU doesn’t meet the bar for Copilot+ PC features and it lacks Lunar Lake’s battery efficiency. So, what does all of this mean? Right now, an “Intel Core Ultra (Series 2)” processor can either be a high-end Arrow Lake gaming CPU without the chops to run Copilot+ PC features or a power-efficient Lunar Lake CPU that does meet Microsoft’s Copilot+ requirements. As always, the CPU’s model number and architecture remain key The fundmental point I’m trying to make is that “Series 2” doesn’t tell you much. Even “Core Ultra” doesn’t tell you much! Intel’s website brands these naming schemes as “product collections,” but you really need to look at a CPU’s model name and processor number to understand what you’re getting. “HX” means a powerful Arrow Lake CPU while “V” means a power-efficient Lunar Lake chip, for example. But I thought the simplified branding was meant to do away with that. If Series 2 can include so many different chips with so many different characteristics, I’m not sure what a “product collection” is aside from simply “a collection of CPUs released during a certain era”—and at the end of the day, how helpful is that for consumers? Not very. Shiny new branding, same old confusion Tech journalists have been criticizing confusing CPU and GPU branding for many years, and Intel has always been at the center of that. If Intel had stayed the course with its previous branding, none of this would be surprising—but Intel went out of its way to simplify things, and that simplified branding has already become complex in just a year. That, to me, makes it a failure that misses the mark. Intel once slammed AMD’s Ryzen naming scheme for being “snake oil” that marketed dated architectures as part of modern processor families. As Intel’s own presentation put it back in 2023, talking about AMD’s Ryzen branding: “Can I trust that this is the latest?” “No!” Well, that’s how it feels with Series 2. I struggle to follow all these twists and turns, and I’m a professional tech journalist who reviews laptops! I shouldn’t need an email from Intel PR to grasp what the heck “Series 2” actually means, and neither should you. Read...

8x8 launches The Power of You campaign, spotlighting customer achievements and experiences over product features in a human-centred approach. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Sets up quickly and easily, integrates well with the SimpliSafe ecosystem.  Petite, attractive hardware.  Cons Camera has no real technology upgrades over older gen hardware.  AGOP drops video quality down to a grainy 720p. Monitoring service is extremely costly and may not be as effective as desired.   Our Verdict SimpliSafe’s new outdoor camera enables its new active response system, but it provides literally no other reason to upgrade from the previous camera.  Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: SimpliSafe Outdoor Security Camera Series 2 Retailer Price Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices SimpliSafe is one of the most venerable smart home security companies, and while it regularly refreshes its hardware, it does so device by device, rather than upgrading the entire system at once. Makes sense, because it has at least 16 different components you can mix and match with your existing SimpliSafe base station or add on to one of its hardware bundles.  The latest upgrade to the SimpliSafe family is a new version of the SimpliSafe Wireless Outdoor Security Camera, which was released in 2021. The SimpliSafe Outdoor Security Camera 2 keeps the overall look and feel of the original, while making a few changes that offer some compelling upgrades.  Features and design Quite a few things remain the same: It’s still—surprisingly—a 1080p camera with IP65 weatherproofing (meaning it’s dust-proof and resistant to water jets sprayed from any direction) and a 140-degree field of view. Infrared night vision is included, along with a small spotlight, built-in two-way audio, and a 90 dB siren, while a magnetic base allows for easy repositioning. The camera can be powered either by its internal battery (SimpliSafe says it will last for up to 3 months), a microUSB power cable, or an optional solar panel ($80).  If you don’t want or need SimpliSafe’s active response service, there’s really no reason to upgrade from the older, cheaper outdoor camera. Again, none of camera’s core features offer any major changes, and were it not for the sizeable ridge that now juts out beneath the lens housing, you might not notice any difference at all between the SimpliSafe Wireless Outdoor Security Camera 2 and its predecessor.  The new SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera 2 looks and works almost exactly the same as the previous version.Christopher Null/Foundry Setup If you already have a SimpliSafe system, setting up the camera is a simple affair that should take only a few minutes of onboarding. I set up a new hub from scratch for this review. Including all the unboxing, setup, tutorials, and upgrades, preparing a small system of hub, keypad, two sensors, and two cameras took about 45 minutes, with only one hiccup requiring an indoor camera to be reset. The camera still works in conjunction with most other SimpliSafe gear, which means it will automatically record if the system is armed and one of the sensors is triggered. (SimpliSafe last updated its motion and entry sensors in 2023.) My only real complaint is that, bizarrely, SimpliSafe cameras still use dated microUSB connectors and cables for power instead of more modern (and symmetrical) USB-C.  AI-powered threat detection The biggest upgrade to the camera is its support for SimpliSafe’s Active Guard Outdoor Protection (AGOP), a new service that uses AI to detect potential threats on video, then alerts live (human) agents to view the camera feed and take action. Agents can speak to trespassers, sound the siren, or turn on the spotlight—or all three—and dispatch police if the situation warrants it.  Of course, to take advantage of this new feature, you will need one of SimpliSafe’s upper-tier monitoring plans. The Core plan ($32/month) doesn’t include AGOP. The Pro plan ($50/month) includes the AGOP service but only from 8pm to 6am local time each day. You’ll need the Pro Plus plan ($80/month, gulp) if you want 24/7 monitoring. Other than that, all the plans are about the same, including unlimited cloud storage for up to 10 cameras, agent intervention on indoor cameras, and emergency dispatch services.  Performance I tested AGOP on the new Outdoor Camera 2 by arming the system and walking through the camera’s frame multiple times, as well as having my wife do so.  What’s supposed to happen, per SimpliSafe, is that a SimpliSafe agent should connect to the camera’s speaker and let the intruder know they’re being monitored and recorded, then ask, “How can I help you?” What did happen during my testing is none of that: Not once did a voice come over the speaker at all. SimpliSafe’s Active Guard Outdoor Protection (AGOP) service uses AI to detect potential threats on video, then alerts live (human) agents to view the camera feed and take action. Christopher Null/Foundry The videos were, however, successfully monitored by SimpliSafe, as the app’s Timeline indicates when a clip is viewed by the company’s agents. Nearly all of these were categorized within a few minutes as “Common activity” and apparently dismissed as harmless. It wasn’t until I put on a baseball cap and ran through the frame—as suspiciously as I could—that the clip was categorized as “Person on property,” after which I received an email from SimpliSafe to that effect, along with a still from the video. The vetting process takes a few minutes to complete for each occurrence.  The results might have been different had I run through the frame wielding a machete or repositioned the camera so it could spot me picking the lock. But SimpliSafe formally advises against simulating such criminal scenarios, as their agents can opt to call police directly in the event of serious emergencies. (Besides, there are limits to what I am willing to do for PCWorld.) The bottom line is that while testing AGOP to its fullest extent may not be wholly possible, it clearly doesn’t quite work the way it is marketed.  AGOP also comes with some caveats. It only works with outdoor cameras (as the name implies) and it makes some mandatory changes to the camera’s settings in the process, notably dropping video quality down to 720 by 1280 pixels (720p), turning on IR night vision, and activating the status light. Medium motion sensitivity and people-only motion detection are also mandatory. As well, cameras with AGOP enabled must also be connected to wall power and can’t be running on battery power or have a solar connection. The only camera feature that the user has any real control over is the activity zone setting, so you can block out areas you don’t want monitored. Of these constraints, the resolution drop is the most notable: 720p video is grainy and pixilated, and at a distance it’s difficult to make out faces with any level of reliability. Night vision is similarly washed out and murky.  Should you buy the SimpliSafe Outdoor Security Camera 2? The $200 asking price for the camera (much less if you shop around) is of course misleading, as you’ll spend a minimum of at least $600 more each year on monitoring. If you don’t want or need the AGOP service–and it’s tough to say whether it’s worth that outlay–there’s really no reason to upgrade from the older, cheaper outdoor camera, which can be had for as little as $73 at this writing.  This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best security cameras. Read...

Earlier this summer, Google launched a range of new AI features for its Google Forms survey tool. Now, the company has announced that Google Forms will be getting even more AI features. Once you create a survey in Google Forms and complete at least two survey questions, Gemini will now be able to suggest new questions and answer options for your survey. Google The new question suggestion button will appear under your own questions, and with one click Gemini will generate two to four new questions for your survey. The new AI feature has already started rolling out to Rapid Release domains, while Scheduled Release domains will start getting the feature on August 19th. It may take up to 15 days after rollout begins before the new feature arrives on your account. Read...

Samsung has an insanely large 57-inch gaming monitor with impressive specs, and it just dropped to the best price we’ve seen all year. Act fast to score the Odyssey Neo G9 for just $1,500, which is a massive $800 discount down from its crazy-high $2,300 MSRP! At 57 inches, this beast is wider than many TVs. It’ll overtake your desk and then some, but you’ll love every second of it for its incredible 7680×2160 resolution—the equivalent of two 4K monitors side by side, except with this one you don’t have an annoying bezel line down the center. Throw in the 1000R curvature and you have an elegant display that wraps around your vision, minimizing strain and maximizing immersion. The Odyssey Neo G9 isn’t just for gaming immersion, but also for gaming responsiveness. Even at this size, it offers an impressive 240Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time that feels smoother than butter (assuming your PC is powerful enough to push that many frames at this resolution). And with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, you get no tearing or stuttering. It features three HDMI, a DisplayPort, and two USB-A ports, too. If you want to be on the cutting edge, you need the world’s first dual 4K monitor—but why pay full price when you can score it with an $800 discount? If you’d rather go for something smaller, though, check out our roundup of the best monitors right now. Save $800 on Samsung`s insane dual 4K gaming monitorBuy now at Amazon Read...

Windows Explorer has always seemed like a part of a small car’s toolkit: perfectly usable, but limited to the basic functions. Over the years, Microsoft has repeatedly revised the software and added a search function that, upon closer inspection, proves to be surprisingly complex. However, the operating concept of Explorer is still not intuitive and tends to hinder smooth working. Software companies and independent developers therefore seized their opportunity early on and presented alternatives for more powerful file managers, which are often referred to as “commanders.” There are two different types of file managers: On the one hand, there are programs which, like Windows Explorer, only offer one window. They are clearer as there are fewer control elements such as icons and menus. On the other hand, you will also find many programs that work with a two-window view. In this case, you’ll have to first find your way around the interface, but they make copying processes easier. Free Commander XE Free Commander is available in 32- and 64-bit versions. However, only the 32-bit version is free to use. Free Commander combines its functions in a modern, largely self-explanatory interface. Free Commander The program features a dual-window view, with tabs in each window that provides one-click access to available drives. The layout has large, modern-looking icons, the design of which makes it easy to deduce the assigned function. Free Commander also includes commands for packing and unpacking ZIP files, for synchronizing two folders, or for changing attributes and timestamps. A convenient option allows you to set favorite folders for quicker access. Multi Commander The developers of Multi Commander are also fans of two-window technology. Their file manager is available in 32- and 64-bit versions as well as a portable version that lets you copy onto a USB stick. Multi Commander helps you work productively with numerous auxiliary tools such as batch renaming.Multi Commander Using the mouse and keyboard differs slightly from Windows Explorer, so there may be a short adjustment period. However, Multi Commander is a fast and extremely feature-rich tool. It can, for instance, rename multiple files in one go, edit metadata in audio and video files, create backups of files and folders, and even play audio files directly within the file manager. Multi Commander is by far the most comprehensive of the free tools. The SE version, which is available in the Microsoft Store, has the advantage of automatic updates. Double Commander Double Commander comes from the open source scene. The program is available in 32- and 64-bit versions as well as portable versions. Double Commander combines a wide range of features with fast, easy usability.Double Commander The concept of the user interface is reminiscent of Free Commander: tab bars are arranged above the two windows, allowing you to quickly switch to the installed drives. A special feature of the program is that it can create symlinks, i.e. symbolic links to files and folders, as well as hard links. Additional functions include calculating and verifying checksums, synchronizing folders, splitting large files, and, of course, all the usual commands for marking, copying, and moving files. The interface, with its small icons, is not as clear as the one in Free Commander, but it adheres to Windows standards and is therefore quickly understood. One Commander One Commander leaves it up to the user to decide whether they prefer to work with a single or dual-window view. The buttons at the bottom of the program window allow you to switch the view quickly. One Commander mirrors Windows Explorer’s functionality but adds a customizable two-window view.One Commander The program is also flexible in other ways. For example, it offers a dark mode and an download alternative icon packages from the website upon request. Its operation is similar to Windows Explorer. Folders and files can be copied and cut via the right-click context menu. Marking is done by pressing the Shift or Ctrl keys while clicking. One Commander offers direct access to the OneDrive folder and remembers which folders were last opened in a history. Overall, however, the feature set doesn’t extend much beyond what you’re used to in Windows Explorer. The main advantage of One Commander is its dual-window view. Paid file managers In addition to the free program, there are also paid options for file management. Here are some of the most notable ones: Total Commander: A long-standing classic in the field, Total Commander still impresses with its clear, dual-pane layout and features such as an FTP and LAN client, an advanced search function, and built-in archive support. SpeedCommander: This is the second major classic among file managers. It can connect to network drives and FTP servers and includes a link to the Windows formatting function. The dual-pane interface is clear and well-structured, and drives can be accessed directly via buttons. XYplorer: XYplorer adopts the single-pane style of Windows Explorer but includes an option to display a second pane. It expands the Explorer feature set with scripting capabilities and lets you add files and folders to a favorites list. The paste function is also significantly enhanced—for instance, copied files can be pasted directly as ZIP archives to a chosen location. Although the program may seem modest at first glance, its full potential becomes clear with continued use. XYplorer supports one or two windows and features scripting and a folder favorites list.Xyplorer Q-Dir The Q in Q–Dir stands for Quad, indicating the most outstanding feature of the program. It opens four windows at the start, which you can then arrange horizontally and vertically in various patterns or reduce it to three or two. Q-Dir’s standout feature is its four-window interface, with design and controls highly customizable to your preferences.IDG The functionality of this free software largely mirrors that of Windows Explorer. For example, Q-Dir uses Windows file manager’s context menu. However, users can customize the layout and the visible elements to a much greater extent than in Explorer. As an added feature, Q-Dir offers the option of making folders quickly accessible via a favorites list. Common Windows Windows tools such as the command prompt or PowerShell can be accessed directly from the file manager, and the software can also print folder structures and start scanning processes. File Voyager The manufacturer of File Voyager advertises the program as the “Swiss Army knife of file management” to emphasize its comprehensive functionality. File Voyager stands out with a modern two-window interface and built-in audio, photo, and video viewers.File Voyager However, the range of functions is actually not that extensive. What is impressive about the software is the modern interface with its three-dimensional controls, clear organization, and two-window view. Like the programs from Microsoft’s Office suite, File Voyager works with ribbons instead of menus. If you click on a menu, a new ribbon appears with new commands. Below the ribbons is a small bar that you can use to send the selected files to TeamViewer, to the installed mail program, to the Documents folder, to the desktop, to a zipped folder, or to a device paired via Bluetooth. However, not all of these shortcuts worked in our test. In addition to the usual commands for selecting, copying and moving files, File Voyager comes with an extensive selection of viewers and its own pack function. It also includes its own audio and video players, which play the selected files in one pane to be previewed in the other. The developers have adopted the required codecs from the open source player VLC. The image and video preview can also be enlarged to full screen. File Voyager is one of the best, if not the best, free Explorer alternative on the market. However, the good impression is spoilt by an instability that was observed several times in our test. For example, the tool often pauses for a long time or even freezes when reading drive or folder contents. File manager for Android File managers aren’t just available for Windows, they’re also used on smartphone and tablets. Due to the smaller screen size, their layout looks different, and dual-pane views are rare. However, the core features are usually there. Google Files: Google’s file manager comes pre-installed on all newer Android devices. It displays the most recently viewed files on the start page and organizes the files on the smartphone into the categories “Downloads,” “Images,” “Videos,” “Audio,” “Documents,” and “Apps.” The user can also mark files as favorites or move them to a secure folder, which they can protect with a PIN or pattern. The device’s file system can be accessed through “Internal storage,” while “Other storage” provides access to cloud services like OneDrive, Google Drive, and Dropbox. Total Commander: Unlike its Windows counterpart, Total Commander for Android is free of charge. The app provides all the necessary file actions and can also organize the files according to various criteria such as size or creation date. Photos can be edited directly in the app. Files can also be sent directly to other network devices using the small WLAN transfer add-on program. X-plore: This file manager offers a wide range of functions: it can create ZIP archives, serve as an FTP server and Wi-Fi access point, and access network shares. If desired, the app can create a password-protected vault for storing sensitive data and access the most important cloud services. The only point of criticism are the small icons with barely legible labels. Total Commander’s Android app is free yet offers a wide range of features.IDG Read...

Australian skateboarder Chloe Covell, just 15 years old, features as a playable character in the new Tony Hawk`s Pro Skater 3 + 4 video game. 9news.com.au caught up with Chloe to learn all about the experience. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Dual-screen design works as laptop, all-in-one, tablet, and more Two gorgeous, contrast-rich OLED displays Outstanding audio performance Good CPU and integrated graphics performance Cons Bluetooth keyboard feels awkward in laptop mode Only 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage (though upgrades are available) Physical connectivity is limited to Thunderbolt / USB-C Short battery life Our Verdict The Lenovo Yoga Book 9i is a unique Windows 2-in-1. Though it’s okay as a laptop, and can also be used as a tablet, it’s perhaps best understood as a portable all-in-one. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Lenovo Yoga Book 9i Retailer Price Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices Lenovo has a long history of bizarre concepts. But unlike many companies that send strange prototypes straight to store shelves, Lenovo often sticks with these oddballs—and the Yoga Book 9i is just the latest example. The latest version of the company’s dual-screen 2-in-1 isn’t a dramatic departure from prior models. It’s still a portable all-in-one that pairs its dual OLED displays with an included Bluetooth keyboard, mouse, and stylus. However, the newest Yoga Book 9i has surprisingly capable CPU performance underneath the hood. Lenovo Yoga Book 9i: Specs and features The Yoga Book 9i Gen 10’s basic specifications don’t look amazing on paper. It has just 16GB of RAM and a 512GB solid state drive. Most Windows devices sold above $1,000 have 32GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage. However, the Yoga Book 9i’s Intel Core Ultra 7 255H deserves some attention. It has a total of 16 cores, six of which are performance cores—and as the benchmarks will show, it’s a big upgrade over laptops with an Intel Core Ultra 7 256V or 258V inside. CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 255H Memory: 16GB LPDDR5X Graphics/GPU: Intel Arc 140V NPU: Intel AI Boost up to 13 TOPS Display: 2x 14-inch 2880×1800 OLED 120Hz Storage: 512GB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD Webcam: 1440p Connectivity: 3x Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C Networking: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 Biometrics: Facial recognition Battery capacity: 88 watt-hours Dimensions: 12.4 x 8.25 x 0.63 inches Weight: 2.69 pounds without keyboard, 3.45 pounds with keyboard, 4.25 with all accessories included Operating System: Windows 11 Home Additional features: Bluetooth keyboard, mouse, and stylus Price: $2,079.99 MSRP Despite the limited RAM and storage, the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i’s $2,079.99 MSRP feels like a good value. After all, this laptop has two OLED displays and ships with a Bluetooth keyboard, mouse, and stylus. That’s a lot of extra kit most laptops don’t provide. Interestingly, Lenovo’s website currently lists a Yoga Book 9i with 32GB of memory and a 1TB of storage for $2,099.99. You read that right: you can double the RAM and storage for $20. The catch is that you can’t change or upgrade this variant but, for the vast majority of shoppers, it’s an obvious upgrade. The Yoga Book 9i is worth buying, but only for a very specific and unique shopper. Lenovo Yoga Book 9i: Design and build quality IDG / Matthew Smith The Lenovo Yoga Book 9i is a sleek, futuristic piece of kit. It’s basically two thin slabs of glass connected by a broad, blue-chrome hinge which also contains the 2-in-1’s sound bar. While the top and bottom of the device are finished in a matte blue, the edges are gloss, which adds a touch of luxury. It’s worth mentioning that the new Yoga Book 9i is slightly different from its predecessors, though you wouldn’t know it at a glance (or even a long, close look). The prior model’s 13.3-inch OLED displays have grown to 14 inches. That means the laptop is slightly wider and deeper than before, too, though no thicker at 0.63 inches in profile. The weight officially comes in at just 2.69 pounds, but that doesn’t include the accessories. If you bundle in the keyboard, carrying case, and pen, the total weight increases to 3.55 pounds. That’s heavy for a 2-in-1 with a 14-inch display, though perhaps expected given that the Yoga Book 9i has two of them. Build quality is top-notch. The Yoga Book 9i’s chassis is among the most rigid in the Windows arena. While the upper display will flex if purposely twisted, it doesn’t noticeably flex when in normal use. The lower chassis, meanwhile, seems chiseled from solid stone. I put it under as much tension as I felt comfortable with and saw absolutely zero movement across the device’s lower half. That’s not to say it’s more durable than other 2-in-1s. There are certain risks to a dual-display laptop, and an increased potential for display damage is one of them. Still, Lenovo has done as much as it can to remove that concern. The result is a 2-in-1 that feels luxurious. Lenovo Yoga Book 9i: Keyboard, trackpad, mouse, and stylus IDG / Matthew Smith Lenovo markets the new Yoga Book 9i as a “portable creative studio.” What does that mean? Well, it’s complex. The dual-display 2-in-1, detachable keyboard, kickstand, mouse, and pen work together to provide many versatile modes. Let’s start with good old-fashioned clamshell laptop use. In this mode, you have the choice between using the bundled detachable keyboard or not. If used, the keyboard sits on top of the lower display and a virtual touchpad can be summoned on the display’s surface (alternatively, you can just use the upper touchscreen). Magnets are used to prevent the keyboard from sliding around while typing. The keyboard is good but, since it sits on top of the lower display, the keys are raised noticeably above the virtual touchpad surface, which feels awkward. It was fine for long typing sessions but more awkward when I had to frequently use the touchpad, as the virtual touchpad provides no tactile sensation when my fingers are inside (or outside) its boundaries. Alternatively, you can ditch the physical keyboard and use a virtual keyboard on the lower touchscreen. It’s summoned with an eight-finger tap, and the keyboard appears where you touch, allowing slight adjustment forward, backward, left, or right. That helps for finding a comfortable position. Still, the lack of tactile feedback makes for a flat, wooden experience, and I had difficulty typing at high speed with accuracy. Perhaps a few weeks or months with the device would eventually build my muscle memory, but it still felt tough after a solid week of use. The Yoga Book 9i gets even more creative when you move beyond clamshell use and into the unique modes only 2-in-1s can offer. It can be used as: A portable desktop all-in-one. The keyboard carrying case becomes a stand for the dual displays, which can sit flat side-by-side. The bundled Bluetooth keyboard and mouse can be used just as if the 2-in-1 was a desktop computer. Stacked mode. The same as above, but with the displays placed one above the other (vertically) instead of side-by-side. A tablet. Fold over the displays and one surface becomes usable as a 14-inch Windows tablet. A stylus is included. A desktop drawing and writing tablet. Fold the device flat on a tabletop surface with both displays facing up. Stylus and touch input can be used to draw, and to navigate Windows. Tent mode. Fold the upper display back to act as a kickstand for the lower display, which remains usable. This is great for watching YouTube, Netflix, and other streaming content. The surprise is that most of these modes work well. Tablet mode is the only one that stumbles, and for reasons common to most Windows 2-in-1s; the Yoga Book 9i is too large and too heavy to use as a tablet for more than a few minutes. I found the portable all-in-one modes particularly convincing. You can post up anywhere you have access to a flat surface and use the Yoga Book 9i like a desktop computer. The dual 14-inch displays even provide a display space that comes close to a 24-inch desktop monitor though, of course, with a split between them. The real question, of course, is whether you’ll take advantage of that. The Yoga Book 9i’s design isn’t great if you just want a laptop to use like a laptop. The typing experience is less enjoyable, the virtual touchpad is annoying, and it’s cumbersome to pack both the laptop and the detachable keyboard. But if you’re a business traveler, student, or otherwise need to do a lot of work while also away from your permanent desk setup, the Yoga Book 9i has advantages. It’s a portable desktop in a laptop form factor. It’s important to note, too, that the Yoga Book 9i’s design marks it as different from the Asus ZenBook Duo (and vice versa). While both are dual-screen laptops, the ZenBook Duo has a Bluetooth keyboard with integrated touchpad that fully covers the bottom display in laptop mode. As a result, the ZenBook Duo feels much more like a traditional laptop. The ZenBook doesn’t ship with a mouse, though, and the larger Bluetooth keyboard with integrated touchpad can feel a bit awkward when you set it to use like an all-in-one. Lenovo Yoga Book 9i: Display, audio IDG / Matthew Smith Lenovo’s dual-screen design means the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i features two stunning OLED displays. Each provides a resolution of 2880×1800 for an all-in resolution of 2880×3600. Combined, the dual 14-inch OLED displays provide a little less than 180 square inches of display space, which is just barely less than a 21.5-inch 16:9 monitor. The OLED displays provide all the benefits typical of the breed. They have a wide color gamut, unsurpassed contrast, and excellent sharpness. Movies, games, and photos look wonderfully vibrant and detailed. The displays also provide a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz, so motion clarity is excellent. Fast-paced games look crisp and scrolling text is easier to read than on a 60Hz alternative. It’s not all good news. Like most OLED panels—and particularly touchscreens—the Yoga’s displays have a glossy, mirror-like finish that readily reflects your surroundings. Even modest ambient lighting will cause noticeable and distinct reflections. The panel brightness is impressive with a maximum around 465 nits, but that’s still not enough for comfortable use outdoors or opposite a bright sunlit window. Audio performance is a perk the latest Yoga Book 9i carries over from its predecessors. The speakers are nestled in the hinge, which acts as a soundbar and delivers strong, clear, enjoyable, and direct sound. This design also has the benefit of making the audio useful in most of the Yoga Book 9i’s many modes, since the speaker remains pointed at the user in most situations. Tablet mode is the exception, as your hands are likely to partially obstruct the speaker. Compared to the alternatives, the Yoga Book 9i’s audio is among the best in its class. While it’s been a few months since I last heard the MacBook Pro 14’s excellent speakers, my memory suggests the Yoga Book 9i can match it. Lenovo Yoga Book 9i: Webcam, microphone, biometrics A camera hump above the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i’s top display provides room for a 1440p webcam and dual-array microphone. Both are solid. The webcam is sharp, detailed, and provides good color saturation, while the microphone picked up my voice clearly even when I spoke softly. You won’t find a physical privacy shutter, but Lenovo provides an electronic privacy switch which, strangely, is all alone on the laptop’s forward right flank. Biometric login is available through Windows Hello facial recognition. It works well, though no better or worse than with the hundreds of other Windows laptops that offer the feature. A fingerprint reader is not available. Lenovo Yoga Book 9i: Connectivity The Lenovo Yoga Book 9i goes all-in on modern connectivity. It has just three physical ports, all of which are Thunderbolt / USB-C ports that support 40Gbps of data, DisplayPort, and Power Delivery. All the ports can charge the laptop or connect to an external display. With that said, the lack of USB-A, HDMI, Ethernet, or even a 3.5mm audio jack presents obvious limitations. You’ll need an adapter or dock to connect a wired keyboard and mouse, use an older monitor, or even to use wired headphones. Whether that works for you will depend on the peripherals you use day-to-day, but I suspect most people will still have at least one device that requires one of these ports. At least Lenovo doesn’t skimp on wireless connectivity. The laptop supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, the latest version of each wireless standard. Remember, too, that the Yoga Book 9i ships with a Bluetooth keyboard, mouse, and stylus in the box. While the lack of USB-A is a bummer, it helps that the 2-in-1 ships with everything you need to type, point, and draw wirelessly. Lenovo Yoga Book 9i: Performance The latest Lenovo Yoga Book 9i (Gen 10, for those counting) is available with just one processor: the Intel Core Ultra 7 255H. And it’s worth your attention. It’d be easy to confuse the Core Ultra 7 255H with something like the Core Ultra 7 256V. After all, they have very similar names; the 256V might even seem more premium. Yet the opposite is true. The 255H has more cores than the 256V (16 vs. eight), and more of those cores are performance cores (six vs four). The 255H also has a higher Turbo clock speed, twice as much cache, and is rated to use significantly more power. IDG / Matthew Smith Our first benchmark is PCMark 10, a holistic system benchmark. Here the Yoga Book 9i scores a respectable 7,520. That’s a mid-pack result among the competitors chosen, but they are rather stiff competition—the HP OmniBook Ultra 14 in particular ranks among the most powerful 14-inch Windows laptops without discrete graphics. The Yoga Book 9i also scored a small win over the Asus ZenBook Duo, despite the Asus having a chip that ranks higher in Intel’s line-up. IDG / Matthew Smith The Lenovo Yoga Book 9i truly blazed away in Handbrake, where it transcoded a feature length film in just under 14 minutes. As the graph shows, this is an exceptionally quick result in this test, and it’s the one benchmark where the Yoga Book 9i takes an edge even over the HP OmniBook Ultra 14. IDG / Matthew Smith Cinebench R23, a heavily multi-threaded CPU benchmark, speaks favorably of the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i. It reaches a score of 14,836 which, as the graph shows, is defeated only by the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 in the HP OmniBook Ultra 14. The Yoga Book 9i notches another win over the Asus ZenBook Duo, as well. IDG / Matthew Smith Clearly, the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i performs well in CPU tests. But what about GPU benchmarks? The Yoga Book 9i does well here, too, though it doesn’t stand out from the pack. Intel’s 140V is a strong integrated graphics option that can generally go toe-to-toe with AMD’s Radeon 890M in similar laptops and 2-in-1s, and the Book 9i is no exception. The Yoga Book 9i posted scores that were a hair behind some other Intel-powered laptops PC World recently tested, but the differences are rather small. In any case, the Yoga Book 9i can be expected to play many games from the prior console generation at 1080p and medium to high detail, with a framerate of 30 to 60 FPS. Older and less demanding games—whether it’s an indie action-RPG like Grim Dawn or the best-selling classic Minecraft (without ray-traced eye candy on)—can exceed 60 FPS. The Yoga Book 9i is an extremely strong performer overall. While the HP OmniBook Ultra 14 with AMD Ryzen AI 9 395HX was quicker in multi-threaded CPU performance, the Yoga Book 9i otherwise scored victories in many tests. Notably, it matched or beat the Asus ZenBook Duo. The ZenBook Duo is less expensive with an as-tested MSRP of $1,699, but ships with an Intel Core Ultra 9 285H. That proves, once again, that a device’s spec sheet can’t tell the full story about its performance. Lenovo Yoga Book 9i: Battery life and portability There’s a lot to like about the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i. It’s versatile, attractive, and performs well in benchmarks. However, the laptop has one major weakness. Battery life. IDG / Matthew Smith I measured just seven hours and nine minutes in PC World’s standard battery test, which loops a 4K trailer of the short film Tears of Steel. This test was conducted in laptop mode, though my testing suggests that the mode used doesn’t have an impact on battery life. This result both did—and didn’t—surprise me. Lenovo ships the Yoga Book 9i with an 88-watt-hour battery, which is massive for a 14-inch Windows 2-in-1. That alone would seem to suggest excellent endurance. However, that battery must support two screens, both of which are OLED (in general, OLED tends to be more power-hungry than LCD-IPS). And the Intel Core Ultra 7 255H is a beefy Intel chip. While that bodes well for the Yoga Book 9i’s performance, it also means higher power consumption. It’s worth mention that the new Yoga Book 9i doesn’t last as long as past models. The version I tested in 2023 endured the PC World battery test for 10 hours and 23 minutes. On the flip side, though, the new Yoga Book 9i is much quicker than that predecessor, delivering 50 percent to over 100 percent greater performance in benchmarks. The older model might be worth a look if you prefer battery life, but the new model takes a huge lead in performance. The Asus ZenBook Duo also deserves mention, as it’s also a dual-screen laptop, and lasted a bit longer on battery in dual-screen mode. On top of that, the Duo can last up to 15 hours and 40 minutes in laptop mode, as only a single screen is used in that mode. That’s possible because the Duo’s Bluetooth keyboard includes a touchpad and fully covers the lower display in laptop mode, allowing Asus to disable the lower display in that mode. Lenovo’s reliance on a virtual touchpad in laptop mode means the lower display remains on in laptop mode, which negatively affects battery life. It’s technically possible to use Windows’ settings to force the Yoga Book 9i’s lower display off when in laptop mode, which presumably could increase battery life. However, doing this means the laptop lacks a touchpad, which is hardly ideal.  Lenovo Yoga Book 9i: Conclusion The Lenovo Yoga Book 9i is a laptop that’s also a 2-in-1, and an all-in-one, also a tablet. It ships with not only the laptop itself but also with a Bluetooth keyboard, mouse, and stylus. This versatility makes it a unique offering, and while the Yoga Book 9i’s $2,079.99 MSRP is hardly inexpensive, it feels like good value considering everything the Yoga Book 9i delivers. Yet the Yoga Book 9i isn’t without compromise. Lenovo’s decision to use a Bluetooth keyboard that lacks a touchpad—instead of a keyboard and touchpad combination, as found with the Asus ZenBook Duo—is consequential. It’s arguably better when using the Yoga Book 9i as an all-in-one, but inarguably worse when using the Yoga Book 9i as a laptop. The Yoga Book 9i also struggles with disappointing battery life that reduces its portability. The Yoga Book 9i is worth buying, but only for a very specific and unique shopper. It’s unique in providing a great portable all-in-one experience alongside a decent, though compromised laptop mode. That makes it a good choice if you often move between offices or desks and can post up with a connection to a power outlet. But if you mostly want to use your device as a laptop, and will only occasionally use the all-in-one mode, the Asus ZenBook Duo is the better choice. Read...

This may come as a surprise: Though I work at PCWorld, I don’t build computers. Well, I can. I have. But it’s one thing to buy a few thousand dollars’ worth of parts and then build a desktop on a budget that’s not my own, versus plonking down several hundred precious dollars and messing around inside of a desktop when I have several perfectly good laptops very nearby and might screw it all up. Plus my wife says that I have to run to Costco. Enter the Framework Desktop. If you have the time, money, and desire, you can build a desktop PC from scratch! It’s fun and rewarding. For the suburban parent who will happily change their wiper blades but not their oil, the Framework Desktop offers configurability for little effort. Building an Ikea bookshelf is complicated compared to this. Framework has sold multiple generations of its laptops, all with the same goal in mind: offer the flexibility of a desktop, but inside a laptop form factor. But a desktop poses a different challenge: How do you keep up with a desktop that is already configurable almost down to the screws? Here, I would say that Framework dodged the question. But that’s kind of immaterial, since the result is a highly detailed, simplified process of putting together a desktop PC. The easiest Desktop you`ll ever build Framework Desktop Best Prices Today: $2515 at Framework The Framework Desktop ships in either a pre-built or DIY Edition. I reviewed the latter, and you’ll see more photos and a performance evaluation in a separate article. This story focuses just on the build process, to show you what it’s like to put it together. And it doesn’t get easier than this. Building the Framework Desktop: Out of the box I remain convinced that two opposing forces are always pulling on my psyche: my father’s German ancestry, which finds a deep satisfaction in engineering and then executing the proper solution; and my mother’s Irish roots, which simply asks the question, Does it work? If the answer is yes, then it’s off to the pub. Framework satisfies both. The Framework Desktop is all packed together, with each part encased in a labeled, cardboard box. Note the scannable HTML glyph that links to the manual.Mark Hachman / Foundry For one, Framework has the most well-documented manual I can recall seeing. And that’s weird, because the DIY Edition requires hardly any effort. There’s so little “D” in the “I,” I almost wanted more. Even Framework says that putting it all together should take about 45 minutes. That seems insanely long. I took about 30, not only because I was worried I’d make a mistake but also because I have the manual dexterity of a golden retriever. Essentially, the DIY Edition is a flat-packed PC. All of it ships inside a box, inside which are more boxes: the case, the CPU fan, the side panel, colored tiles, an SSD (assuming you ordered one), the power cable, and that’s about it. Ikea provides an Allen wrench; Framework gives you a long two-headed, reversible screwdriver with a Torx and a Phillips head. On one of the boxes is a link to the manual, which you can leave open on your phone or tablet. (You can follow along what I did, here.) There really aren’t that many parts. Framework even included a prototype handle (center, bottom) which I didn’t use.Mark Hachman / Foundry Each step is almost excessively documented, with multiple photos describing each of the 45 steps. But wait: Framework devotes four steps simply to unscrewing each of the two thumbscrews on the top of the Desktop and removing the top panel. Building a “normal” desktop involves buying a CPU, applying and spreading thermal paste, affixing a cooler of some sort, and more. There’s none of that here. Not only is the CPU already affixed to the motherboard, but Framework pre-installs the motherboard and memory, which comes soldered down. Really, the entirety of the building process involves screwing on the 120mm CPU fan with four screws, plugging it in, inserting the SSD and replacing the heat spreader…and that’s it. The remainder is simply opening up the case, closing it, and installing Windows. That actually takes the most time, as Microsoft downloads updates that can take a while to install. (Framework doesn’t supply an SSD with Windows pre-installed, though it will sell you a Windows license to install yourself — there’s another, well-documented guide to do so.) Virtually all of the hardware also comes with little visual cues: an arrow pointing to the proper position, plus actual “Top” and “Bottom” labels etched into the plastic or metal itself. That’s not necessary, but so very reassuring if you’re uncertain about what you’re doing. Framework ships most of the Desktop pre-assembled. This is right out of the box, with cables tried and the CPU radiator already mounted.Mark Hachman / Foundry Finally, don’t forget the USB-C expansion cards that plug into the chassis base, or the tiles that allow you to customize the front to your own aesthetic. I’ve never been a fan of laptop stickers, but the tiles (with small vents for airflow) are something I didn’t think I’d appreciate as much as I do. Building the Framework Desktop: What I didn’t like Not everything’s perfect. If I were building a PC, I’d prefer to install the SSD into the motherboard, and then the motherboard into the case. Framework asks you to do the opposite. What that means is that you’ll need to unscrew the heat spreader, allowing it to pop up, then insert the SSD, all by poking and prodding at the M.2 slot, way at the bottom of the inside of the case. I’d prefer to connect the SSD first, then place the motherboard inside the case. That’s not an option with the Framework Desktop.Mark Hachman / Foundry That led to a minute or two of chasing the tiny Torx screw around the case after it popped out of the heat spreader and rolled around, until I fished it out with a tweezers. Framework’s screwdriver is very slightly magnetic, enough that it can barely hold the screw in place while I lowered it into the case. I was very much reminded of playing Operation while trying to line everything up. (Framework also solders down the memory, so that you can’t install, replace, or upgrade it.) Framework’s Desktop also includes an optional secondary slot for additional storage on the back of the motherboard, accessible via its own side panel. That panel, like the plastic panels you see here in my photos can be removed easily just by pulling them slightly out and upwards. Framework gives you a choice between an optional translucent plastic side panel or one that matches the black aluminum used on the rest of the chassis.Mark Hachman / Foundry I also wasn’t totally pleased by how the top panel clips on to the case. On one try, it would clip in easily; on another, it would simply refuse to line up properly for a few minutes. Thankfully, we cut that portion from our associated YouTube video, where I’ll give you another look at what’s inside the case and how the Desktop performs overall. Aside from a few moments of feeling like an idiot, I had no issues putting the Framework Desktop together, and I doubt you will, either. The handholding this company is willing to do should make you feel like you’re well taken care of. The thumbscrews on the top of the Framework Desktop must be unscrewed for access to the side panels and the interior. The holes didn’t match up easily with the screw holes in the chassis, one of the few times I felt a little frustrated. Note the small but visible arrows to help you align the panels correctly.Mark Hachman / Foundry The other challenge to be aware of is the software drivers. If you purchase a Windows license, you’ll be asked to install it. Normally, a motherboard includes a set of pre-installed drivers or firmware to help facilitate that process; Framework’s desktop drivers had yet to be validated by AMD, which meant that I had to install a package of beta drivers alongside the Windows installation. If for some reason those drivers aren’t available, it’s not that big of a deal. You can install Windows without needing to connect to the internet, then add the license key later. You can also do what I did, which was to discover that I had forgotten to install the Wi-Fi driver, so I simply connected an Ethernet cable instead and added the driver afterwards. Don’t forget the tiles, which come in a variety of designs and colors.Mark Hachman / Foundry Everything worked perfectly, though AMD later provided an updated driver that really unlocked the processor’s performance potential. Given that Framework ships its products in batches — and those batches may take a few weeks to process — I’d expect those issues to be worked out well before you receive your finished Desktop. Building the Framework Desktop: Looking ahead One of the strengths of the Framework experience is that the company is looking forward to the day not when you buy a Framework device, but when you upgrade it. Though Framework hasn’t published a guide to upgrading the Desktop’s mainboard, it almost certainly eventually will. It already offers you a guide to removing the Desktop’s mainboard and installing it in another mini-ITX case, after all. After inserting the tiles, you can slide in the I/O expansion cards, too. The gray latch on the underside of the chassis helps secure them.Mark Hachman / Foundry Eventually, AMD will manufacture a successor to the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ processor, and you may want to swap the existing “Strix Halo” processor out and replace it with AMD’s latest chip. And that’s the foundation of Framework’s platform: You may be able to pick and choose from future upgrades, but you’ll choose to remain within Framework’s framework. There’s a lot to be said for that approach. We live in a world where so many companies are building in fine print and gotchas, service charges and subscriptions and labyrinthine contracts. Instead, Framework goes out of its way to be as simple and helpful as it can, and that’s something I can relate to. I’ve reviewed many, many products over my years as a technology reporter, and I can’t think of a single one that goes to such lengths to document how to use it as much as Framework does. Framework’s Desktop gives off a vibe of “helpful nerds who enjoy explaining technology” — which is very much what I think PCWorld has always tried to achieve. The point is that you don’t have to be a nerd to buy a Framework Desktop, however, and that’s one of its best features. Read...

NetDocuments launches AI-powered features in its cloud DMS for legal teams, enhancing document editing, metadata profiling, and workflow automation within Microsoft Word. Read...