Professional Documents
Culture Documents
DECEMBER 2017
INTEL’S 8TH-GEN
CORE CPU
DECEMBER 2017
» DEPARTMENTS » FEATURES
7 News
142 Tech Spotlight 119 What the Kaspersky anti-virus hack really means
EDITORIAL
EXECUTIVE EDITORS Melissa Riofrio, Gordon Mah Ung
SENIOR EDITORS Michael Brown, Brad Chacos, Mark Hachman
COPY EDITOR Sue Voelkel
DESIGN
DESIGNER Rob Woodcock
ADVERTISING SALES
SALES MANAGER Duane Hampson (415/978-3133)
FOUNDERS
FOUNDER David Bunnell
FOUNDING EDITOR Andrew Fluegelman
BACK ISSUES
PCWorld back issues can be downloaded in digital format from www.zinio.com
at $6.99 per issue.
SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES
Access your subscription account online—24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can use online
subscription services to view your account status, change your address, pay your bill, renew your
subscription, get the answers to frequently asked questions, and more.
WEB pcworld.com/customer
EMAIL pcworld@emailcustomerservice.com
(Send your full name and the address at which you subscribe; do not send attachments.)
PHONE In the U.S. and Canada: 800/234-3498
MAILING LISTS
Occasionally we make our magazine subscribers’ names available to other firms whose
products may interest you. To have your name excluded from these mailings, send a request
and your email address to PCWorld Subscriber Services at maghelp@pcworld.com.
CONTACT
PHONE 415/243-0500; FAX 415/442-1891
MAIL Editorial: 501 Second Street #600, San Francisco, CA 94107
STAFF ADDRESS To contact any PCWorld staff member, simply format the address as follows:
firstinitiallastname@idgcsmb.com
PUBLICATION INFORMATION
Volume 35, number 12 PCWorld™ (ISSN 0737-8939) is published monthly at $24.95 for one year (12
issues) by IDG Consumer & SMB, Inc. Copyright 2017, IDG Consumer & SMB, Inc. All rights reserved.
PC World and Consumer Watch are registered trademarks of International Data Group, Inc., and used
under license by IDG Consumer & SMB, Inc. Published in the United States.
Thanks to our work with NFL PLAY 60, we’ve brought fun fitness programs
to more than 35,000 kids. And it can happen here too.
T
here’s still one way consumers 8.1 users an entire year after the launch of
can upgrade to Windows 10 for Windows 10 (until July 31, 2016) to upgrade to
free—and Microsoft will shut it Windows 10 for free. But there was one
down on December 31, even exception: those who used assistive
though a majority of the world’s PC users still technology (go.pcworld.com/assi), such as
use older versions of Windows. screen readers, got an indefinite extension.
Microsoft gave Windows 7 and Windows According to a Microsoft support page (go.
pcworld.com/supo),
the deadline for those
users to upgrade to
Windows 10 for free
expires by the end of
the year, as noted by
Slashgear (go.pcworld.
com/slge). After that,
consumers will have to
pay the full price for a
Windows license, which
costs about $75 from
Amazon for a “system Go to Microsoft’s assistive support page to download the Window’s 10
builder” license for upgrade tool.
Windows 10 Home, and
more for retail Home or Professional versions. technology. And with the improved assistive
You might think that users who don’t use technologies that are built into the Windows
assistive technologies would be excluded 10 OS, those who truly need assistance will
from this loophole. But Microsoft is making its benefit from the free upgrade.
upgrade path extremely generous: “We are
not restricting the upgrade offer to specific Why this matters: Cynics will see Microsoft’s
assistive technologies,” the company says. “If “wink, wink” approach to the assistive loophole
you use assistive technology on Windows, as one that benefits the company: Windows 10
you are eligible for the upgrade offer.” All you users only represent about 30 percent of all PCs,
need to do is visit the assistive support page according to NetMarketShare (go.pcworld.
(go.pcworld.com/supo) in question, assert com/netm), compared to a Windows 7 share of
that you use assistive technologies, and then about 49 percent. Of course, Microsoft’s using
download the upgrade tool to Windows 10. the stick, too: AMD’s latest Ryzen chips won’t
Granted, the assistive loophole deliver official drivers for Windows 7 (go.
represents a morally gray area, especially for pcworld.com/widr), part of Microsoft’s plan to
those who normally wouldn’t need to use restrict modern hardware to Windows 10 (go.
assistive technology. But you might argue pcworld.com/plan). Unless Microsoft extends
that if you’ve ever tried out the Windows the program in some other form, a great freebie
Narrator tool, you’ve used an assistive is going away.
M
icrosoft’s latest Windows 10 first code releases for what’s been referred to as
Insider build for the “Redstone “Redstone 4,” or the update cycle following the
4” update cycle tries to do Fall Creators Update. If Microsoft holds to its
away with the “sneakernet” current schedule, Redstone 4 should be due in
with a feature called Near Share, as well as a the spring.
phone-like autosuggest feature for text typing. Until then, however, Windows Insiders are
Microsoft recently launched Windows 10 part of the testing team trying out new
Insider build 17035 for the Fast Ring, one of the features: Near Share, better tab muting in
Edge, a new Audio settings menu, the something more recent). You’ll need to turn
ability to configure update bandwidth, and Bluetooth on, then make sure that the Near
a few more. Share button in the Action Center is toggled
on. After that, every time you see the Share
Why this matters: Microsoft’s free updates icon, you’ll have the option to share the file
to Windows 10 continue. Now, however, we’re or URL with a nearby device. The recipient
beginning a new, blank slate. Will there be a will get a note in the Action Center to either
theme to Redstone 4? What will be the key accept it or decline.
apps? These are early days, and we’re still (Note: most people don’t “name” their
getting a few scattered, though useful, utilities. PCs, and instead use the generic PC name
Windows assigns. You’ll need to check with
HOW TO USE NEAR SHARE the recipient to confirm the name of their PC.)
It’s pretty easy to just haul out a USB key and
copy a file over—if you have one handy. Near EDGE IMPROVEMENTS:
Share replaces that with Bluetooth, however. BETTER TAB MUTING,
Within Windows 10, you can share just about ePUB SAVING
any file to email, Facebook, and more. Now While the Fall Creators Update added nifty
your PC can seek out nearby PCs and offer features such as ebook annotations and
to share a file, too. PDF improvements, this new update cycle
You’ll need to have the current Insider allows you to save free ePUB books that
build 17035 (or, as new builds are launched, you’re reading online to your local hard
With Edge, you can either toggle the tab into a mute state, or right-click it.
Microsoft has also begun to add generally on the Show Text Suggestions As I Type On
useful technologies, such as eye tracking and Hardware Keyboard setting.
dictation, as assistive technologies for If you do use pen to write using the soft
differently abled people. To this list Microsoft keyboard, you’ll see an improved “space”
has added an optional autosuggest feature— gesture (a vertical line) for adding a space
not autocorrect, but autosuggest. As you between words, and improved handwriting
type, Microsoft will pop up suggestions for recognition.
the next word. It’s a feature typically found on Finally, Japanese users will see something
phones, that now is included in Windows. special: Text suggestions from the Japanese-
The kicker, though, is that you don’t need language AI chatbot Rinna, who will now
to use the soft or touch keyboard to enable suggest phrases as you type. Unfortunately, given
autosuggest—it works with your standard the Tay debacle in the United States (go.pcworld.
hardware keyboard. To enable it, go to com/tayd), don’t look for the same feature to
Settings > Devices > Typing and then toggle come to American users anytime soon.
I
t sounds crazy, but it’s true: Arch-rivals will be an “evolution” of Intel’s 8th-generation,
AMD and Intel have teamed up to H-series Core chips, with the ability to power-
co-design an Intel Core manage the entire module to preserve battery
microprocessor with a custom AMD life. It’s scheduled to ship as early as the first
Radeon graphics core inside the processor quarter of 2018.
package, aimed at bringing top-tier gaming Though both companies helped engineer
to thin-and-light notebook PCs. the new chip, this is Intel’s project—Intel first
Executives from both AMD and Intel told approached AMD, both companies
PCWorld that the combined AMD-Intel chip confirmed. AMD, for its part, is treating the
This slide, taken from an Intel presentation, shows how Intel believes its Embedded Multi-die
Interconnect Bridge is more cost-effective for connecting chips than methods that use an interposer, and
far higher in performance than Multi-Chip Package designs.
An example of the space savings Intel achieved by moving the CPU, Radeon GPU, and HBM inside the
processor package.
INTEL’S GRAPHICS
BUSINESS IS ALIVE
AND WELL
Speculation that Intel might license
or outright buy AMD’s Radeon
business has circulated for years,
especially as AMD has struggled to Intel has dominated the PC graphics market, thanks to the inte-
achieve profitability. AMD, grated graphics cores inside its Core processors.
vice president and general manager within and how does it compare to existing chips?
the Radeon Gaming business unit within How much memory is inside the package?
AMD. “It’s completely semicustom...I Will the new Core-Radeon modules
wouldn’t say that we’re going to take this and incorporate AMD-specific features such as
learn something from it. This is Intel’s project, VSR, Eyefinity, and Async Compute? And,
and we’re helping them execute on it.” of course, how much will it all cost?
Last January, speculation rose that Intel The latter two questions can be answered
and AMD had signed a Radeon licensing deal in broad strokes. The idea, according to an
(go.pcworld.com/deal), prompting talk that AMD representative, is that these notebooks
Intel might be preparing to lay off or won’t be priced in the value segment at all,
otherwise get rid of its own integrated but in the neighborhood of $1,200 to $1,400
graphics development teams. Walker denied apiece. Meanwhile, Intel executives say that
it. “Not at all,” he said. notebook PCs based on the new H-series,
“As we drive mainstream thin and light to Core-Radeon modules will move gaming-
15mm and lower, the Intel UHD solution is still class graphics down from systems 26mm
the market leader in terms of how graphics thick, to thin-and-light PCs at 16mm and
gets delivered on a PC platform,” Walker even 11mm thick—that’s slimmer than the
added. Nor has Intel licensed the EMIB original 13-inch Apple MacBook Air, and
technology to AMD, he said. priced accordingly.
AMD representatives went further, stating An AMD representative also said that
that there is no patent or IP licensing in place there’s nothing prohibiting any AMD graphics
between the two firms at all. technology like VSR from being included in
the Core-Radeon chip—but that in terms of
WHAT’S NEXT? specifics, it’s up to Intel to decide.
ANSWERING THE According to Intel representatives, we’ll
QUESTIONS get more of those answers closer to launch. For
Unfortunately, we still don’t know the answers now, however, there’s the simple surprise that
to several basic questions: How fast will these the two sides came together to make this
new cores run? How many variants of these happen. For those who have watched the
new Core-Radeon chips will there be? What acrimonious AMD-Intel relationship play out in
Intel Core architecture—Kaby Lake, or Kaby court, in the market, and behind closed doors
Lake-R—are they based upon? Does HBM2 for several decades, even a limited contract
memory confirm that the Radeon core is seemed out of the realm of possibility. But now,
based upon the AMD “Vega” architecture, who knows what the future holds?
I
ntel dropped a bombshell recently, leaving AMD led to speculation that he
confirming that the company has hired would head to Nvidia or Intel, the other two
AMD’s former graphics guru, Raja leaders in the PC graphics space. What
Koduri, heading up a new group to wasn’t known, though, was whether he
design high-end discrete graphics for “a would be involved in PC graphics, or
broad range of computing segments.” something tangential, such as AI.
Koduri, who will start in December, will Intel, though, apparently hasn’t given up
head up the newly-formed Core and Visual on the PC. Intel representatives declined to
Computing Group, Intel said. Koduri’s confirm whether Koduri’s new role as head of
the Core and Visual Computing Group will have a very strong graphics team and will
specifically include PC graphics, but his new continue our focus on building great
title certainly implies it. products,” an AMD spokesman said in a
“We have exciting plans to aggressively statement to VentureBeat. “We also have
expand our computing and graphics industry-leading graphics [intellectual
capabilities and build on our very strong and property] IP and, if necessary, will
broad differentiated IP foundation,” said vigorously defend it.”
Murthy Renduchintala, Intel’s chief In addition, an AMD spokesman told
engineering officer, in a statement. “With PCWorld: “It is standard practice for all AMD
Raja at the helm of our Core and Visual employees to sign an agreement that
Computing Group, we will add to our includes post-employment confidentiality and
portfolio of unmatched capabilities, advance non-solicitation obligations. Other companies
our strategy to lead in computing and are familiar with this requirement and they
graphics, and ultimately be the driving understand their legal obligation to protect
force of the data revolution.” and maintain the confidentiality of AMD’s
Koduri has 25 years in the graphics information and ensure compliance with
business, most recently leading AMD’s non-solicitation obligations. AMD fully
effort to develop its own high-end anticipates that any well-represented and
graphics chip, known as “Vega” well-advised company would not seek to
(go.pcworld.com/vega). taint their own intellectual property by
“I have admired Intel as a technology attempting to use or access AMD’s
leader and have had fruitful collaborations confidential information or IP. The industry
with the company over the years,” Koduri said is well aware that AMD has industry-leading
in a statement. “I am incredibly excited to join graphics IP and, if necessary, we will
the Intel team and have the opportunity to vigorously defend it.”
drive a unified architecture vision across its
world-leading IP portfolio that help’s What this means for you: Oh, wow. Oh,
accelerate the data revolution.” WOW. Nvidia and AMD just got some new
AMD, who will now have to find a competition in the graphics space. What
replacement for Koduri, seemed to imply that isn’t known in whether this will include the
the newfound spirit of detente that began PC, but it could. Color us really, really,
with a joint Intel Core-AMD Radeon chip (see excited—but let’s hope that the
page 13) may be over. Now, the two competition happens in the marketplace,
companies could be back at it in court. “We and not the courtroom.
G
oogle is taking aim at one of data, consume power, and make unwanted
the biggest scourges of the noise while browsing,” Google wrote in a
modern web. Starting in blog post (go.pcworld.com/auto). “To
January 2018, the Chrome address this, Chrome will be making autoplay
browser will automatically block noisy more consistent with user expectations and
autoplay video on webpages. will give users more control over audio.”
“One of the most frequent user concerns In Chrome 64, autoplaying videos will
is unexpected media playback, which can use be blocked by default unless they’re muted,
A
devastating flaw in Wi-Fi’s WPA implementations—and “works against all
(go.pcworld.com/wipa) modern protected Wi-Fi networks,”
security protocol makes it according to Mathy Vanhoef (go.pcworld.
possible for attackers to com/vanh), the researcher that discovered it.
eavesdrop on your data when you connect to That means that if your device uses Wi-Fi,
Wi-Fi. Dubbed KRACK, the issue affects the KRACK likely impacts it. Fortunately, major
Wi-Fi protocol itself—not specific products or tech companies are moving quickly to patch
already protected.
Until those
updates appear
for other devices,
consumers can still
take steps to
safeguard against
KRACK. The
easiest thing
would be to
simply use a wired
ethernet
connection, or
stick to your
cellular
connection on a phone. That’s not always can help you pick out a trustworthy
possible though. provider. And again, keep your antivirus
If you need to use a public Wi-Fi hotspot— software (go.pcworld.com/s0ft) up to
even one that’s password-protected—stick date to protect against potential code
to websites that use HTTPS encryption. injected malware.
Secure websites are still secure even with Going forward, the Wi-Fi Alliance
Wi-Fi security broken. The URLs of (go.pcworld.com/a11i) will require testing for
encrypted websites will start with HTTPS, the KRACK WPA2 vulnerability in its global
while unsecured websites are prefaced by certification lab network, so new devices will
HTTP. The Electronic Frontier be protected out of the box.
Foundation’s superb HTTPS Everywhere
browser plug-in (go.pcworld.com/http) can DEVICE AND ROUTER WI-FI
force all sites that offer HTTPS encryption to SECURITY FAQ
use that protection. Alternatively, you can Is my phone at risk?
hop on a virtual private network (VPN) to KRACK is a different sort of attack than
hide all of your network traffic. Don’t trust previous exploits, in that it doesn’t go after
random free VPNs, though—they could be devices, it goes after the information you use
after your data as well. PCWorld’s guide to the them to send. So while the data stored on
best VPN services (go.pcworld.com/serv) your phone is safe from hacking, whenever
KRACK-blocking
updates for Ubuntu
(go.pcworld.com/
untu), Gentoo (go.
pcworld.com/ntoo),
Arch (go.pcworld.
com/chli), and Debian
(go.pcworld.com/
bian) distributions.
A patch is also available
for OpenBSD (go.
pcworld.com/open).
I have automatic
updates turned on.
How do I know if my
mobile device has been updated? the coming weeks, with some already being
The quickest way is to check the system’s implemented.
Software Update tab in your Settings app to Netgear (go.pcworld.com/netg), Intel
see when the most recent version has been (go.pcworld.com/inte), Eero (go.pcworld.
updated. More helpfully, Owen Williams is com/eer0), and business-focused networking
keeping a running list of companies that have providers already have KRACK router patches
distributed patches on his Recharged blog available. Eero’s is rolling out automatically as
(go.pcworld.com/char). It’s a stellar resource. an over-the-air update. The popular DD-WRT
open router firmware has designed a patch
What about my router? (go.pcworld.com/dwrt), but it isn’t available
First, you should check to see if your router to download yet. Expect it soon.
has any pending firmware updates. Most
people aren’t as vigilant in updating their So should I turn off Wi-Fi?
routers as they are with their phones or PCs, That’s probably not a viable option for most
so log in to your admin page and install any people, but if you’re completely panic-
waiting updates. If there aren’t any, it’s a good stricken, then the only way to be completely
habit to check back every day, since safe is to avoid using Wi-Fi until you know
companies will be rolling out patches over your router has been patched.
W
indows phones are really, security updates, etc.,” Joe Belfiore wrote on
truly dead. This weekend, Twitter (go.pcworld.com/belf), in response
Microsoft’s VP of operating to a conversation sparked by a user asking
systems confirmed the whether it’s time to move on from the
writing on the wall. “Of course we’ll continue Windows Mobile platform.“ But building new
to support the platform [with] bug fixes, [features and hardware] aren’t the focus.”
DONATE STUFF.
CREATE JOBS.
I
ntel’s ntel’s 8th-generation Core CPUs ground breaking 8th-gen mobile CPU.
solve a problem for the superlight Quad-cores once confined only to much
(sub-three-pound) laptops that are larger and heavier laptops can now be stuffed
becoming increasingly popular. Up into a tiny laptop, or so the company claims.
to now, these laptops could handle only But can the 8th-gen CPUs actually give
dual-core CPUs, because quad-core CPUs you the performance you expect and you’re
created more heat than their slimmer profiles paying for? Or this is this just a cynical
could manage. That’s all changing with Intel’s attempt to sell you on some quasi-
”quad‑core” for you next laptop? much more powerful quad‑core CPUs and
To find out, read on. GPUs inside. That’s right, we’re pitting
smaller, lighter laptops with lower‑power
LAPTOP CPU REVIEWS 15‑watt TDP CPUs against large laptops with
AREN’T EASY: HOW WE 45‑watt TDP CPUs, but they’re all quad‑core.
DID IT One last important important point we’ll
Unlike desktop CPUs, laptop CPU make: All of the laptops here were updated
performance has always been a tricky task, with the latest version of Windows 10
as isolating the CPU is nigh impossible. available to them, as well the latest drivers
Different laptop manufacturers will set the and BIOSes. This is actually a very critical step
CPU to run at different speeds based on how for trying to dive into direct CPU
much cooling they stuff into it, or how loud comparisons, because drivers and BIOS
they want the fans to run at. versions can have huge impacts on
Basically, trying to compare an 8th‑gen performance. A laptop can launch and six
Dell XPS 13 to a 7th‑gen Acer or HP months later, the OEM could decide to
introduces so many variables out of your increase or decrease the performance based
control that it can be difficult to render a final on customer complaints about temperature,
decision. There is one way to get you closer, fan noise or performance.
though: Compare the same laptop models With that said, only the XPS 13 laptops
made by the same manufacturer.
That’s exactly what we did this time, using
Dell’s newest XPS 13 with a Core i7‑8550U
inside ($1,300 and up on Dell.com (go.
pcworld.com/xp13)). To this, we compared
a Dell XPS 13 with a 7th gen Core i7‑7500U.
For context we also lumped in the original
Broadwell‑based XPS 13 from 2015.
Although outfitted with “only” a Core i5,
we included it because it was also the
model that first ushered in the zero‑bezel
“Infinity bezel” design.
And because we all want to know how the
8th gen hangs with “real” quad‑core CPUs, Intel’s 8th-gen Core i7 promises to bring quad-
we also include two Dell XPS 15 models with core performance to ultra-portable laptops.
Essentials
Product collection 8th Gen Intel 7th Gen Intel 5th Gen Intel 6th Gen Intel 7th Gen Intel
Core i7 Core i7 Core i5 Core i7 Core i7
processors processors processors processors processors
Launch date Q3 17 Q3 16 Q1 15 Q3 15 Q4 17
Performance
Number of cores 4 2 2 4æ 4
Number of threads 8 4 4 8 8
Bus speed 4GT/s OPI 4GT/s OPI 5GT/s DMI2 8GT/s DMI3 8GT/s DMI
had Windows 10 Fall Creators Update in the newest XPS 15, but no, it’s the new
installed. Microsoft, it appears, did not deem Core i7-8550U in the XPS 13.
the XPS 15s worthy. Okay, what’s really going on here? Well, if
you look at the detailed specs in the Intel ARK
CINEBENCH R15 chart (or click go.pcworld.com/c0mp to see
PERFORMANCE them) you can see that the new Core
Our first test is Cinebench R15. It’s a popular i7-8550U has a higher turbo boost speed of
test built by Maxon and is based on the 4GHz, compared to the 3.8GHz boost speed
engine that runs its professional Cinema4D of the Core i7-7700HQ. Cinebench R15
3D rendering engine. The test concentrates clearly shows that boost speed can pay off.
on the CPU and is heavily
multi-threaded.
Cinebench R15.038
The results speak for Multi-core performance
themselves. Anyone who
Dell XPS 15 9560
714
thought Intel couldn’t pull off a Core i7-7700HQ
GEEKBENCH 4
POV Ray 3.7 PERFORMANCE
Single-threaded performance While both POV Ray and
Cinebench hone in on CPU
Dell XPS 15 9560
391
Core i7-7700HQ performance while rendering
Dell XPS 15 9550
Core i7-6700HQ
386 or ray tracing, Geekbench 4
Dell XPS 13 9360
365 tends to be a little more
Core i7-8550U
Geekbench has been controversial at times speak well for the 8th gen Core i7-8550U. It
(go.pcworld.com/cont), it’s mostly only when runs dead even with the 6th-gen quad-core
enthusiasts try to point to it as proof that a Skylake chip. And yes, it simply leaves the
tablet chip is as fast or faster than a desktop dual-core chips in the dust.
chip. We won’t rehash all of that, but we will Moving on to Geekbench’s single-core
say the test is far more relevant when it’s kept performance test, we again see the spunky
on the same CPU microarchitecture. That is, XPS 13 hanging with the XPS 15. For the most
of course, what we do here, as we stick solely part, the test puts all of the Core i7 CPUs in
to testing XPS 13 and XPS 15 laptops. the same neighborhood. We’d tend to agree
The results in Geekbench’s multi-core test with that assessment, too because you’d be
hard-pressed to tell the
difference between a 7th-gen
Geekbench 4.10
Multi-core performance Core i7 and an 8th-gen Core i7
when using, say, Outlook.
Dell XPS 15 9560
Core i7-7700HQ
14,584
Dell XPS 15 9550
Core i7-6700HQ
13,684 7-ZIP
Dell XPS 13 9360
Core i7-8550U
13,679 PERFORMANCE
Dell XPS 13 9360
As another sanity check on the
8,334
Core i7-7500U
performance results we saw from
Dell XPS 13 9343
Core i5-5200U
5,869 the previous tests, we also ran
LO N G E R B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T E R P E R F O R M A N C E
the internal benchmark for 7-Zip,
a free file compression utility. (If
you’re still using Window’s build
in compression/decompression
Geekbench 4.10
Single-core performance utility, go download 7-Zip now.
It’s much, much faster.) The
Dell XPS 15 9560
4,695
Core i7-7700HQ results from this real-world
Dell XPS 13 9360
Core i7-8550U
4,495 application pretty much mirrors
Dell XPS 15 9550
4,399 what we’ve seen already: a
Core i7-6700HQ
very challenged laptops, we often see pretty quad-core XPS 15 laptops, though having a
large hits to performance as it heats up. larger, beefier laptop with a much larger
The results here are, frankly, impressive. cooling system remains an advantage. Still,
We say that because the Core i7-8550U has a for the size of the XPS 13, its performance in
processor base frequency of 1.8GHz. That’s Handbrake is very, very respectable.
basically the minimum clock speed the CPU
would run at under the worst-case scenario, GAMING PERFORMANCE:
and certainly something we thought it would SAME OLD, SAME OLD
hit with a long workload. The 8th-gen Core i7-8550U’s gaming
Instead, the 8th-gen Core i7-8550U performance is nothing to write home about.
inside the XPS 13 again surprises us by And it shouldn’t be, as it’s very much the
destroying the 7th-gen dual-core Core same graphics core as the previous chip. We
i7-7500U. For the most part, it hangs with the ran 3DMark’s Skydiver 1.0 test and then
focused on the graphics
performance results. This ignores
Handbrake 0.9.9
Encode (sec) the extra x86 cores it has, so
consider it a pure test of the
Dell XPS 15 9560
2,743
Core i7-7700HQ graphics subsystem. The 8th-gen
Dell XPS 15 9550
Core i7-6700HQ
3,033 chip’s UHD 620 graphics core
Dell XPS 13 9360
3,567 come out slightly ahead of the
Core i7-8550U
M
icrosoft Office is the king of license. The ribbon interface, introduced a
office productivity suites, but decade ago, has many fans, but others pine
it doesn’t inspire warm, fuzzy for the static menus of the early aughts. And
feelings in all users. Parsing then there’s Office’s hefty price tag.
the ever-expanding list of features can feel like Fortunately, alternatives abound, ranging
stepping into a cockpit without a pilot’s from web apps to freemium and open source
Open Office has excellent compatibility with Office formats and can export to PDF from all three apps.
Open Office works with most Microsoft and it can read and write existing Word,
formats including DOCX, XLS, PPT, and XML. Excel, and PowerPoint files. It does so
flawlessly most of the time, even with
Hands on complexly formatted documents like resumes
If you still remember how Microsoft Office and multi-column newsletters. Occasionally, it
looked circa 2003, Open Office’s interface will hiccup as when it removed all the
will seem eerily familiar. The component embedded images from a Word doc I had
programs make no concessions to the trendy open. But those instances usually only require
ribbon interface, using only old-school menus minor tweaks to correct. You can also export
and toolbars. That’s good news if you’re still files to PDF from all three programs.
sore over Microsoft’s decade-old UI Where Open Office diverges from
makeover, but it can take some readjusting if Microsoft’s productivity suite is in
you’re now accustomed to tabbing around collaboration. MS Office’s tight integration
your document and spreadsheet programs. with OneDrive and Outlook allows you to
By default, Open Office uses the Open easily share and work on files with others
Document standard for native files, but you without leaving the respective program.
can change it to save to Microsoft formats, Open Office supports document review
The subscription-based G Suite, which adds The suite still shines brightest as a
more business-oriented features, is available collaborative tool for written documents,
in three pricing tiers for organizations. thanks to features like real-time commenting,
revision tracking, and deep integration with
Hands on Google Drive cloud storage. It’s also
Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides maintains a intimately connected to Google search,
consistent look across its three component allowing you to search for information
apps. Elegant and unadorned, the interface relative to what you’re working on from
has clearly labeled menus with intuitive within the individual apps.
toolbar icons. All three apps also have a
healthy set of hotkeys—accessible by typing Standout features
Ctrl-/ on a PC or Command-/ on a Mac—for • Excellent collaboration tools
those who prefer to keep their fingers on the • Tight integration with other Google
keyboard. products
Any files you work on in the suite have to • Simple, fast interface
be stored in Google Drive, the search giant’s
popular cloud storage. New Docs, Sheets, Missing features
and Slides files are automatically created in • Extensive formatting options
your Drive account, and you can also upload • Offline editing capabilities
Microsoft Office files for editing. All your
changes are saved to Drive as long as you’re Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides is best for:
online; you can install a Chrome browser Road warriors, collaborative teams, and
extension (go.pcworld.com/chbe) to edit anyone else who needs the flexibility to work
files offline, but it requires some configuring from multiple locations will get the most out
and it only works with native Docs, Sheets, of Google’s office suite. If your needs run to
and Slides files. creating large, intricate documents; mail
The respective apps do an admirable job merges; or serious number crunching, you’ll
of importing Word and PowerPoint files, likely find the suite’s capabilities limited and
though you sometimes have to tweak should look elsewhere.
elements in the latter. Importing Excel files to
Sheets is more of a mixed bag, with KINGSOFT WPS
spreadsheets containing basic functions OFFICE 2016
translating more faithfully than larger, more Price: Free with ads, or $30 per year without
complex ones. Platform: Windows, Linux
You can customize WPS Office’s interface to use a ribbon toolbar or static menus a la Office 2003.
LibreOffice is best for: trusty PC version of Word, you can open a doc
LibreOffice should be the choice of open in the web version of the app—no conversion
source enthusiasts. Having relative feature required—and dive right in. As these apps are
parity with Open Office, it comes down to the made for down-and-dirty editing, you’ll notice
release frequency of new features and fixes, some omissions on the tool ribbon—the
and LibreOffice wins that race hands down. Designs, References, and Mailings tabs are
As of this writing, Open Office’s last update gone from Word, for example—but all the basic
was a year ago; LibreOffice’s latest release functionality is accounted for.
came last month. That makes LibreOffice the As with Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides,
obvious choice for businesses, schools, and Office Online works right inside your browser.
anywhere else security is important. And if Also like the Google suite, it requires your
you’re a Linux user, you may already be using documents be uploaded to the cloud—in this
LibreOffice as it’s now included with many case to Microsoft OneDrive—before you can
Linux distributions. edit them. If you lose internet access, there’s
no way to work on those files offline without
MICROSOFT OFFICE ONLINE one of Microsoft’s paid Office products.
Price: Free These slimmed down-versions of the big
Platform: Online three productivity apps are aimed primarily at
home users, so you won’t find pivot tables,
Not to be outdone by Google’s free online fancy formatting options, or more advanced
office suite, Microsoft offers its own gratis business-oriented capabilities. Many file
web-based apps in Microsoft Office Online formats that are supported in the desktop
(go.pcworld.com/mioo). The suite includes versions of the apps—.csv files, as one
Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote and example—are not supported here. You can,
is accessible to anyone with a desktop however, collaborate in real-time in any of the
browser. There are mobile versions of each apps with other Office users, including taking
app for iOS and Android, and a dedicated
extension for Google’s Chrome browser.
As with Google Docs, Sheets,
Hands on and Slides, Office Online works
The app interfaces for Office Online look and right inside your browser. Also
navigate pretty much like their desktop like the Google suite, it requires
counterparts, and therein lies the appeal. If your documents be uploaded to
you’re on the road or otherwise away from your the cloud...
Microsoft Office Online is best for: If you believe less is more, SoftMaker’s
Office Online is an excellent way to work with FreeOffice (go.pcworld.com/freo) may the
Missing features
• Cloud support WPS Office offers the best Office-like experience.
• The ability to save
modern Office formats that can be tailored to your preference for
either the ribbon toolbar or the static menus
FreeOffice is best for: of Office 2003. It’s also the only desktop
In terms of both format compatibility and suite in our roundup that included integrated
features, FreeOffice is a fantastic Office cloud storage for easily sharing and
alternative for anyone concerned with just collaborating on files.
the three core programs. But the inability to
save files in DOCX, XLSX, or PPTX formats RUNNER UP: GOOGLE
keeps it from being a truly viable Office DOCS, SHEETS, AND SLIDES
replacement. If that’s a deal breaker, you Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides simply
can still purchase one of the paid versions can’t be beat for collaboration. Its
for a full Office-like experience. document review features and integration
with Google Drive make it our go-to
WINNER: KINGSOFT solution for anyone who routinely needs to
WPS OFFICE 2016 co-author documents with others in real
Kingsoft’s WPS Office 2016 delivers the most time. It also has tight ties with other Google
Office-like experience of all the suites we products, including, of course, search,
tried. Built around its own versions of Word, giving it capabilities you won’t find in any
Excel, and PowerPoint, it offers excellent other office suite. Its relatively spartan
compatibility with all Microsoft Office interface is a welcome respite from Office’s
formats and features a customizable interface busy toolbars, too.
A
ntivirus software ranks nearly as You could visit your favorite website when
crucial as a PC’s operating it’s unintentionally displaying malicious ads.
system. No matter how careful You may accidentally click on a phishing
you are, some threats can’t be email (it happens!). You could also get caught
prevented without the additional help of an by a zero-day threat, where an undisclosed
antivirus program—or a full antivirus suite. bug in Windows, your browser, or an installed
AVAST PREMIER
Price: $80
alternative that is almost equally as good for its Internet Security program (go.pcworld.
$20 less—Avast’s $60 Internet Security com/insp). Priced at $70, it’s one step down
product is easily supplemented with free from the company’s flagship product, AVG
software to replace Avast Premier’s Data Ultimate, and lacks a number of Ultimate’s less
Shredder and Software Updater features. crucial features. For example, you don’t get
AVG’s PC tune up package or third-party
AVG INTERNET SECURITY desktop software updater. That’s hardly a loss,
Price: $70 though, as you can find free programs to
dump cached folders taking up too much
AVG has a big advantage in the free antivirus space or monitor software updates. The
space since it owns both Avast (acquired in important security features are all included in
2016 (go.pcworld.com/ac16)) and its the $70 security suite, however, including
homegrown product, AVG Free. The hope is antivirus, firewall, and phishing protection.
you’ll love the free stuff so much that you’ll Unlike Avast, AVG opted not to include a
upgrade to one of its paid products. password manager as part of its various
In the case of AVG, most people go with security packages. Instead, you have to fork
Conclusion
AVG leaves a lot to be desired when it comes
to app design, especially compared to Avast.
Given that the same company owns both
development teams, we hope to see some
improvement. Nevertheless, AVG gets high
marks for security, has enough features to
satisfy most users, and doesn’t drag on your
performance. Comodo wants to change your default homepage
and search engine.
COMODO INTERNET
SECURITY PRO 10 Certainly, some users might like all that.
Price: $40 Comodo Secure DNS is a popular choice
among security enthusiasts who don’t want
When we previously looked at Comodo’s to use their ISP’s default service. Other
Internet Security Pro, the company had a security suites also route your DNS through
habit of bundling software with its security their services. As for the browser, Comodo
suite—and that trend hasn’t changed with Dragon is a Chromium-based browser that
Internet Security Pro 10. Underneath the some users might enjoy, and I guess there’s
hassle of warding off extra installs, however, is nothing wrong with Yahoo if you ignore
a security suite that does a good job of that whole appalling security issue (go.
detecting threats. pcworld.com/apse).
When you install Internet Security Pro 10, But here’s the thing: Most people will click
you have to read every screen very carefully. If through the install screens without reading
you don’t, the program will attempt to set them, and software companies count on that.
your browser’s homepage and search engine It’s just...unseemly. Plus, the attempt to switch
to Yahoo, change your DNS provider to your search engine and homepage makes all
Comodo (go.pcworld.com/dnsp), set the other extra software look hostile. This
Comodo Dragon (go.pcworld.com/cmdr) as approach is just not a good idea, even when
your default browser, and import all the data acknowledging that companies are trying to
from your current default browser. make a buck. There has to be a better way.
than one percent and within the PCMark 8 appeared under various names, but currently
benchmark’s typical margin of error. it’s known as Windows Defender Security
We also didn’t see any real difference in Center (go.pcworld.com/wdsc) (WDSC).
performance during our Handbrake test, What started out as a basic antivirus detection
which puts far more stress on a system. It took feature has slowly grown into something that
our test PC one hour, fifteen minutes, and 30 resembles a security suite. It doesn’t have
seconds to transcode a 3.8GB MKV file. With anything close to the features you’d see in a
Norton installed, the time was twenty-two third-party suite, but it does a fair job at
seconds faster at 1:15:08. antivirus and malware scanning.
Briefly, however, WDSC has five sections:
Conclusion Virus & threat protection, Device performance
Norton is extremely user friendly and well & health, Firewall & network protection, App
organized, and it doesn’t interfere too much & browser control, and Family options.
with users’ day-to-day activities. That last part The crucial section is Virus & threat
is key since security programs work best protection. This is where you can manually
when they stay out of your way. The software start a full scan, enable real-time protection,
also has some handy extras, like the online or carry out an offline scan for removing
backup and password manager that make it particularly nasty bits of malware.
an all-in-one security suite. Device performance & health, meanwhile,
You certainly have to pay for the privilege, just gives your PC a general health report card
however. Symantec will give you a
really nice discount for your first
year—45 percent off—but don’t
be fooled, as you’ll ultimately be
paying $110 for the privilege of
running Norton Security Premium.
WINDOWS
DEFENDER
Price: Free
like video chatting, web browsing, and word average user, however, should look for a more
processing, and recorded the score. feature-rich third-party solution.
Afterward, we switched WDSC back on and
started a full system scan before running BEST OVERALL ANTIVIRUS
PCMark 8 again. SUITE: NORTON SECURITY
The results fell in line with the best third- PREMIUM
party options: Windows Defender had no real Norton Security Premium is an old name in
effect on performance. Running Windows 10 security, but it has an easy-to-use interface,
with Defender off garnered a PCMark score of highly-rated protection, and a number of
2498. Once it was back on, the score went helpful extra features. It’s on the higher end
up to 2516—right within the margin of error of the price spectrum at $110 per year (your
for PCMark 8 results. first year is discounted to $55), but you can
That story also held true in our install it on up to 10 devices.
Handbrake performance benchmark, which
puts far more strain on system resources. BEST BUDGET ANTIVIRUS
With Windows Defender turned off, we were SUITE: AVG INTERNET
able to transcode a 3.8GB MKV file on the SECURITY
Android Tablet preset in one hour, 14 AVG Internet Security does an excellent job of
minutes, and 21 seconds. With Windows protecting your PC, but it’s interface could be
Defender turned on, it took one hour, 15 a lot better. Nevertheless, with unlimited
minutes, and 30 seconds. That difference is installs for $70 per year, it’s hard to beat this
so small it’s insignificant. popular security solution.
Conclusion
Windows Defender is a fine
basic security solution. For
advanced users who are
hyper-aware about all the
various threats out there, this
free option might be enough if
they also periodically scan their
systems with something like the
free version of Malwarebytes
(go.pcworld.com/mlwb). The
T
his GeForce GTX 1070 Ti review launch of the GeForce GTX 1070 (go.
probably exists only because pcworld.com/gt70) and GTX 1080 (go.
AMD’s Radeon Vega 56 exists. pcworld.com/gt80) in May, 2016. The more
Nvidia’s GTX-10 series powerful card received price cuts since
debuted nearly a year and a half ago with the then—to $500, theoretically (go.pcworld.
Here’s how we described ACX 3.0 in Ti lineup—including the beefy, high-end $500
that review: FTW2 model (go.pcworld.com/ftw2)—lists
the exact same clock speeds. And if you look
“The new generation of EVGA’s vaunted at the clock speeds on custom GTX 1070 Ti
custom-cooling solution features a pair of graphics cards from other manufacturers, they
massive 100mm fans that shut off in low all do too. What gives?
power scenarios and contain double ball- Simple: Nvidia isn’t allowing customized
bearings that help them last up to four times GTX 1070 Ti cards to be overclocked out of
longer than competing cards, EVGA claims. the box—presumably to keep overclocked
Those sit over a full-sized set of heat sink fans, versions of this step-down card from
with the GPU itself covered by a large copper challenging the top-end GTX 1080. Here’s
plate with six heat pipes of various sizes what Nvidia’s Bryan Del Rizzo said when I
snaking out of it.” asked about it.
You’ll see how effective ACX 3.0 performs “GeForce GTX 1070 Ti lives in the small
later in our review. But perhaps the most price band between the GTX 1070 and GTX
interesting part of the EVGA GTX 1070 Ti SC 1080. Given the number of products in this
Black Edition’s spec sheet is its clock speed category we are aiming to simplify the
rating: 1,607MHz base/1,683MHz boost stack-up, and let gamers get the extra
“plus.” In fact, every card in EVGA’s GTX 1070 performance through manual overclocking.”
Using Precision XOC’s auto-overclocking tool for the EVGA GTX 1070 Ti SC Black Edition is easy.
The EVGA Precision XOC Scanner ran for 17 to the SC Black Edition’s 217W. Cooling and
minutes, and then applied a solid +101MHz available power can play a major difference
overclock to the card. In practice, that in overclocking.
resulted in clock speeds of 1,924MHz to If you accidentally close the Precision XOC
1,949MHz running The Division at 4K Scanner or want to run the auto-overclocking
resolution, and up to 1,974MHz at 1440p. tool again, you can do so by clicking the
You could no doubt push performance yellow arrow icons in the software’s interface
higher by manually tinkering with the card’s until you’re on the Basic OC Scanner page,
power target, overclock, and memory then clicking Run. It’ll restart the process.
speeds, but a 101MHz boost is respectable Whew, that was a long diversion—but a
indeed, and we used EVGA’s configured necessary one if you buy a custom GTX 1070
overclock to test the GTX 1070 Ti SC Black Ti. Let’s dig into how this hardware handles!
Edition in our performance benchmarks. A
card like the EVGA GTX 1070 Ti FTW2 ($500 OUR TEST SYSTEM
on Amazon (go.pcworld.com/70ti)) could We tested the GTX 1070 Ti and EVGA’s GTX
presumably hit even higher marks, as it 1070 Ti Black Edition on PCWorld’s dedicated
includes EVGA’s revolutionary iCX cooling graphics card benchmark system (go.
technology (go.pcworld.com/icxt) and a pcworld.com/dedi). Our testbed’s loaded
235-watt maximum power draw, compared with high-end components to avoid
POWER, HEAT,
NOISE, CLOCK Ashes of the Singularity
SPEEDS 4K/high: Blue = DX11 Green = DX12 (average fps)
Power Nvidia GTX 1070 63.8
We test power under load by (Reference)
56.9
plugging the entire system into a Radeon RX Vega 56 65.7
47.8
Watts Up meter, running the
71.9
intensive Division benchmark at 4K Nvidia GTX 1070 Ti
(Reference) 64.1
resolution, and noting the peak 73.1
EVGA GTX 1070 TI SC
power draw. Idle power is Black Edition 66.1
launched in August. Sure, there’s a Sapphire Radeon Vega reference cooler sounds like a
Vega 56 for $400 at Microcenter (go. damned hurricane. That alone makes it
pcworld.com/ve56) right now, but that’s impossible to recommend over EVGA’s (in
in-store pickup only and on “sale” from $530. reality) identically priced GTX 1070 Ti, which
As I’m writing this on November 1, there’s a delivers more performance while staying cool
single XFX Vega 56 available for $400 on and running awfully quiet.
Amazon (go.pcworld.com/xfxv) and $420 on If Radeon Vega 56 ever hits its suggested
Newegg (go.pcworld.com/xfxr), but all price and custom Vega cards become
others cost more than $500... (go.pcworld. available for $450 or less, the FreeSync
com/alt5) and it just turned up at those prices variable may tip the scales back in AMD’s
today. I’ve been tracking Vega 56 prices on favor. But that’s not the way of the world
Newegg since the GTX 1070 Ti’s today.
announcement last week, and most sold for
$470—$20 more than Nvidia’s Founders SHOULD I BUY THE
Edition card, and the same price as the GEFORCE GTX 1070 TI?
superior EVGA GTX 1070 Ti SC Black Edition. So should you buy the GeForce GTX 1070 Ti?
The GTX 1070 Ti probably wouldn’t exist if Even though we recommend it over the
Vega 56 didn’t exist, but it’s cards like the Radeon RX Vega 56, it’s still a complicated
EVGA GTX 1070 Ti SC Black Edition that make question influenced by the cryptocurrency
Vega 56 moot in today’s bizarre market. The problem, as miners drive up prices. Why do
world is still waiting for custom cards month men decide?
after Vega’s launch. In the meantime, the If you look at PCWorld’s guide to the best
A
dobe Premiere Elements 2018 It’s this easy access that makes Adobe
offers most of the same basic Premiere Elements our top-rated consumer
video-editing features you’d paid video editor. Read all of our video-
find in other consumer editing software reviews (go.pcworld.com/
packages, but it separates itself from the vesr) to find out how we tested, what to
pack with tutorials and automatic curation look for, and more.
and content-creation features that very The main video-editing interface is broken
nearly (but not quite) do all the work for into three views: Quick, Guided, and Expert.
you, as long as you don’t mind if your Quick and Expert are basic versions of the
videos look generic. same video-editing experience you get in most
C
all of Duty: WWII isn’t a remaster, is less “World War II as it actually existed”
but it feels like one. As the gate and more “World War II as it existed in video
crashed open on my landing games between 1999 and 2008-ish,” a
craft and I sprinted desperately Greatest Hits Collection spanning from the
onto Omaha Beach, I half-expected to hear original Medal of Honor through to Allied
people yelling for Lieutenant Powell, star of Assault, and eventually Call of Duty 1, 2,
2002’s Medal of Honor: Allied Assault—the and 3.
first game I remember doing the iconic It was the decade where everyone got
D-Day opener. sick of World War II games, but absence
This one stars a “Davis” instead, but that’s does indeed make the heart grow at least
no big deal. 15 years on, Call of Duty: WWII a little fonder.
hedgehogs on D-Day, the water bursting real. Hearing the ping of an emptied M1
around me, the plink-plink-plink of a German Garand, seeing that familiar gray-green color
machine gun tapping on barricades, then up grading, hearing the rumble of Panzers
and over the earthworks, storming the coming over a hill—I missed it.
bunkers full of Nazis—it looks like I remember Hell, Sledgehammer’s even taken this
Allied Assault looking, brings back that throwback one step further, eschewing
same adrenaline rush. rechargeable health in favor of medkits—the
Then I look at how Allied Assault actually first time since Call of Duty 2. In terms easier
looked and…oh. to grasp, that means it’s the first time Call of
The same is true of Hurtgen Forest and the Duty has used medkits for health since
rest. Ideas that were only hinted at in the past before the release of the Xbox 360.
can now be fully realized—for instance, the
way artillery shreds a 50-foot pine tree, turns it FIGHT ON THE BEACHES
into six-inch chunks of shrapnel. Trees (and Multiplayer feels just as retro, at least by 2017
limbs and houses and so on) explode in WWII standards. I don’t typically spend much time
in a way they didn’t and couldn’t in 2005. talking about Call of Duty’s multiplayer, in part
Maybe that’s enough. Technological because the last few iterations just haven’t
advances perhaps highlight how little Call of appealed to me much at all. But I found myself
Duty’s progressed in other respects, but only playing and actually enjoying WWII over the
to those who were here for the World War II weekend in a way I haven’t since maybe...
game glut the first
time around.
There’s an entire
new generation of
people playing
games now
who’ve never
played something
like Call of Duty:
WWII.
And for those
of us who were
there, the Side note: WWII also features Call of Duty’s best behind-enemy-lines stealth
nostalgia is still mission since Chernobyl.
it’s my kind of dumb, I guess—at least until Regardless, it’s a drag and I don’t see
Battlefield makes a World War II game again. myself going back much, especially given
As for the now almost decade-old that the proper multiplayer mode’s been
Zombies mode, it’s probably the weakest part somewhat redeemed.
of 2017’s offering, which is surprising since it
was the part of Infinite Warfare I enjoyed most. BOTTOM LINE
WWII ditches the zany tone of last year’s Nostalgia is fine. Nostalgia is good. I enjoyed
“Zombies in Spaceland” for a more classic my time with Call of Duty: WWII and I’m
Nazi Zombies feel, darker and more ominous. continuing to enjoy its multiplayer off-and-on.
And that’s fine in theory, but the zaniness But nostalgia is also weird—a strange and
helped mask some of the repetition. I’ve uncontrollable force where you know what
played WWII’s zombie campaign three times you’re playing is somewhat mediocre,
and while it’s a similar labyrinth of unlockable somewhat disappointing, and you just don’t
doors, collectible weapons, and bizarre traps, care because you grew up shooting virtual M1
it just lacks a certain spark. Garands and it feels good to shoot one again,
Part of the problem I think is that the to hear that ping and see some dumb Nazi’s
zombies feel spongy, which clashes with helmet pop off. Call of Duty: WWII is
WWII’s weapons. Shooting a Nazi Zombie mediocre. I enjoyed it anyway.
with a chunky World War II-era combat The question now, of course, is whether
shotgun only for it to shrug off the blow 2018 brings Call of Duty: WWII Pt. Two. I’m
and keep coming at you? A bit of a fine if it does, but the series can’t just coast
cognitive disconnect. along on another Greatest Hits Collection
next year—it needs
to take some actual
risks, dig a bit
deeper. We can’t just
do Band of Brothers
forever, especially if
our characters can’t
be one iota as
interesting as even
the least interesting
character in Band
of Brothers.
T
he 4K gaming-capable Xbox disastrous E3 2013, with news of an always-
One X just might be the thing online console, Sony’s price coup, and Don
that lifts Microsoft out of its Mattrick out there talking about people using
gaming console rut. Before the Xbox 360s on nuclear submarines. Microsoft
Xbox One even released there was that never really recovered, branded by fanboys as
being underpowered compared to the (or save) the more vibrant white-and-black
PlayStation 4, and with each controversy over color scheme from last year’s Xbox One S.
the Kinect or resolution upscaling or what It’s compact, though. Measuring 11.8 x
have you, the Xbox’s hole only got deeper. 9.4 x 2.4 inches, the Xbox One X is drastically
The Xbox One X could fill in that hole a smaller than the launch Xbox One (13.1 x 10.8
little. For the first time since 2005, Microsoft x 3.1 inches) and only a hair larger than the
has the most powerful gaming console on the slimmer S model (11.5 x 9 x 2.5 inches). Pretty
market—powerful enough that it surprised incredible, considering the X’s more powerful
even me, a devout PC gamer (go.pcworld. hardware. Even better: Like the S, the Xbox
com/pcga). One X packs the power supply inside the
This little box packs some power. case. Say goodbye to that launch Xbox One
and its enormous power brick. The X has an
SIZING DOWN unadorned 5-foot power cord.
And the Xbox One X is little. That’s as good a Despite being shrunk down, it’s also
place as any to start this review, because it’s a quieter. It’s hard for me to do a 100-percent
compliment I would never pay to the original fair comparison with the original Xbox One at
Xbox One and its vintage VCR aesthetic. this point because mine is going on four years
A quick aside: We’ll be comparing the old, but I guarantee it was never this quiet.
Xbox One X to both the original Xbox One Even after hours of playing, the Xbox One X is
and 2016’s Xbox One S in this review. Some almost whisper-silent when placed on the
of the Xbox One X’s “new” features debuted other side of the room—none of that
on the S last year, such as
HDR support, but because
that was more of a
placeholder model and
provided less incentive to
upgrade it only makes sense
to cover them again here.
The Xbox One X isn’t
necessarily more eye-
catching—it still has that
“generic cable box” look to
it in my opinion. I wish
Microsoft had opted to reuse Comparing 2013’s Xbox One to the Xbox One X.
THE 4K FACTOR
Okay, but gaming. How
does the Xbox One X
function while gaming?
After all, that’s the reason to
upgrade. The Xbox One S
already had size covered, as
well as the physical power
frames-per-second output is more reminiscent face is magically crisper, the reflections better,
to me of playing on the PC than the 4K Visuals the eyes more alive.
mode. That goes doubly because of how far A/B testing the actual game is easy too.
people (usually) sit from the TV. I’m not Feel free to expand the screenshots above,
convinced 4K is really necessary. It’s a great and you should be able to see the difference.
selling point for Microsoft, but even sitting We’ve also captured some video (embedded
five feet from a 55-inch Samsung 4K TV, the in the next section, since it also contains PC
difference 60 frames
per second made
was way more
noteworthy than the
graphics
enhancements of
Visuals mode. Your
mileage may vary
though—I know
some people
aren’t as sensitive
to frame rate.
Either way, the Gears of War 4 on the original Xbox One. Note the aliasing on the shotgun
game looks better shells, how static the smoke looks, and how indistinct the background looks…
than the original
Xbox One. I had both
consoles plugged
into different HDMI
ports so I could swap
back and forth. Even
the main menu of the
original Xbox One
version is uglier, with
protagonist JD Fenix’s
face blurry and
jagged. Swap over to
the Xbox One X, his …and a similar screenshot on the Xbox One X, in 4K-native “Visuals” mode.
XBOX ONE X
HAS AN EDGE
IN HDR side looks like a layer of soap scum was
Another area where the Xbox holds an scrubbed away. The difference is that
advantage over PCs at the moment: HDR. noticeable.
High Dynamic Range, or HDR, actually The problem: It’s hard to demo HDR. If
debuted with last year’s S model so it’s not you watch HDR-ready content on a screen
brand-new, but it’ll be new to most Xbox that’s not HDR-equipped, it will just display
One X buyers, I assume. So far there are only in the color range you’re accustomed to.
a few tentpole Xbox titles, though luckily Games also need to be mastered specifically
Gears 4 is one of them. It’s more subtle than for HDR, which means there aren’t a ton of
4K, but again is likely to be more important games utilizing it even if you own an HDR-
moving forward. ready TV.
I won’t go into tons of detail, but HDR or It looks great though, and is a major
High Dynamic Range essentially increases benefit to both the Xbox One X and S
the amount of colors your TV shows, and provided you have capable hardware.
increases the contrasts between light and “Capable hardware” is also why I say it’s
dark areas. In Gears 4 this means better- an advantage over PCs at the moment:
looking explosions especially—brighter and While both Nvidia and AMD technically
more vibrant, with a better range of oranges support HDR output, HDR adoption by
and reds. Gears 4 even includes a nifty monitors has been slow, to say the least.
mode where you can split the screen, the left That’ll probably change in 2018, but then
showing an HDR-enhanced image and the again I also thought it would change in
right showing the standard version. The HDR 2017, so…
T
he Razer Phone (go.pcworld. deliver a great experience for all kinds of
com/rp) is a bit of a puzzle. It’s not “content consumption,” not just gaming. But
surprising that it exists, given that it’s a weird message when Razer’s core
Razer, best known for PC hard- audience is gamers—and Razer is still pushing
ware and peripherals, acquired smartphone gaming partnerships that take advantage of
maker Nextbit in January of 2017 in order to the Razer Phone’s unique screen.
produce this device. Nor is it surprising that,
based on our hands-on time with the device at a THE RAZER PHONE’S FIRST:
recent briefing, the Phone seems to be equal A 120HZ SCREEN
parts Nextbit’s Robin (go.pcworld.com/epnr) The Razer Phone is packed with a 120Hz,
and Razer’s laptop line, touting impressive specs 1440x2560, 5.72-inch LCD panel. If you’ve
at a reasonable price of $699. ever used a high framerate PC display, you
What’s confusing is what it isn’t. Razer says know the difference a faster refresh rate can
this isn’t meant to be a gaming phone. Rather, have on simple tasks—not just games.
it’s a phone for gamers, Razer fans, and Thumbing through feeds, switching apps,
Android enthusiasts, meaning it’s intended to and “consuming content” all felt
super-smooth. I even got to track the refresh your attention? Members from the same team
cycles with Razer’s own built-in version of that came up with the custom-cooling solutions
FRAPS (yes, I asked, and yes, you can turn it on in the Razer Blade line (go.pcworld.com/trbl)
in the final version). The panel uses some of the also had a hand in custom cooling for the Snap-
same adaptive refresh technology as Nvidia’s dragon 835. Razer says its cooling solution allows
Gsync and AMD’s Freesync, so when you’re the 835 to run longer before throttling down,
idle you also aren’t wasting precious battery. and when it does, it doesn’t throttle as low.
Speaking of battery, the Razer Phone packs
a 4,000mAh one inside its 197-gram body. That, SHARED DESIGN
paired with the newer Qualcomm Snapdragon LANGUAGE
835, help it last for long “content consumption” Razer also wants the Razer Phone to feel right
sessions. The phone also features 8GB of dual at home with the company’s other hardware
channel LPDDR4 RAM clocked at 1,600MHz. offerings—and it does. The engineers worked
Razer really knows its audience when it lists with some of the same teams that helped make
detailed specs like that for a device. Razer’s refined Razer Blade laptop series. At
How about another PC-centric spec to catch first glance it looks much like the Robin that
Julius Gaines, SINCE 1933. He’s got a curious intellect that can’t be satiated.
Now, he and 1 in 6 seniors face the threat of hunger and millions more
live in isolation. So pop by, drop off a hot meal and say a warm hello.
Volunteer for Meals on Wheels at AmericaLetsDoLunch.org
FEATURE
WHAT THE
KASPERSKY
ANTI-VIRUS
HACK REALLY
MEANS
DECEMBER 2017 PCWorld 119
FEATURE THE K ASPERSK Y ANTI-VIRUS HACK
K
users worldwide can’t be Now that we know Kaspersky antivirus
happy about recent news software can turn against you, the next ques-
linking the company’s antivi- tion is whether we can do anything about it.
rus products to spying. The We talked to security experts to find out more.
Russian government reportedly used the
Moscow-based company’s software to steal KASPERSKY’S PURPORTED
sensitive information from American intelli- DATA EXFILTRATION: A
gence agents. TIMELINE
The incidents remind us that the security The Kaspersky story heated up earlier this fall.
products we trust to protect our PCs have On October 5, The Wall Street Journal reported
more or less full access. “Every cloud-based (go.pcworld.com/wsjr) that hackers working
anti-virus has the potential and the ability to for the Russian government in 2015 stole
delete files, to modify files,” said Jake Williams, documents detailing how the U.S. attacks
Founder and President of Rendition Infosec. foreign computer networks and defends
“They have the ability to launch new processes domestic ones. The Russian hackers used
as well as terminate existing processes.” Kaspersky Anti-Virus to identify the data and
It’s bad if someone hacks your computer. target it on the home computer of a National
If someone hacks your computer and uses Security Agency contractor, the Journal said.
your own antivirus software to take over, that’s A few days later The New York Times
a disaster. “Looking at all of this together,” reported (go.pcworld.com/nytr) that the
Williams concluded, “It becomes clear that if Americans only found out about the pur-
whoever’s running your anti-virus doesn’t ported Kaspersky data leak from Israeli spies.
have your best interests at heart they can The Israelis, the Times said, hacked into
researchers and talents in the world,” said The reality, however, is that Russian intelli-
Amit Serper, principal security researcher for gence is not interested in the average Ameri-
Boston-based infosec company Cybereason. can’s family photos or personal diaries. As
Good works aren’t enough to absolve Williams pointed out on Twitter (go.pcworld.
Kaspersky, however. That’s why the company com/oot), technicians working on your PC at a
wants third parties to audit its code. But even local computer shop pose a higher risk of data
that won’t satisfy most critics. “I think it’s theft than Russian intelligence via Kaspersky or
entirely for show, and I think they know that,” other software.
Williams said. “It’s not a question of ‘is the “Personally, I don’t think that Kaspersky is
code itself secure?’ I would argue that Kasper- a threat to the home user,” Serper said.
sky is probably some of the most secure A/V Williams also wouldn’t advise that most
code out there right now. It’s a matter of how home users dump Kaspersky—he hasn’t even
they use the code that’s going to be con- advised any of his family and friends to delete
trolled by the Kaspersky command center.” the software. “But if I have a brand-new
Serper offered similar sentiments, but machine,” Williams added. “And I’m trying to
added that the data is what most concerns decide should I install Kaspersky or not? I’m
him. “What data is collected [from user PCs]? not sure that I would.”
How is it collected? How is it saved? How is it That’s not only because of the worries
catalogued? I think it’s a data science question, about espionage, Williams says, but the
and not a software engineering question.” question of Kaspersky’s long-term fate in the
U.S. market given current tensions.
WHAT HOME USERS CAN DO Whatever your decision, the worst option
We may never know whether Kaspersky Lab is would be to give up on antivirus altogether.
a willing accomplice for Russian intelligence. “Are you worried about the .01 percent of the
What you can do, however, is stick to the Advanced Persistent Threat groups [elite and
basics of PC security and understand your state-level hackers] that are probably not
“threat model”—the realistic threats that you interested in you,” Williams said. “or are you
confront as an everyday computer user. If worried about the 99.9 percent of stuff that’s
you’re an engineer working on infrastructure going to hurt you? The reality is A/V keeps
projects, a research scientist, or even a most of that stuff away.”
journalist, then Russian spying on your Besides, this problem is not likely to
machine might be part of your threat model, disappear—if anything, more consumer-grade
says Williams. Those people may want to software may soon end up in the cross-fire.
avoid Kaspersky products. Before reports of Kaspersky surfaced, hackers
linked to China infiltrated and delivered than a product that is sparsely used.”
malware via the popular PC utility CCleaner Serper reminds us to keep our machines
(go.pcworld.com/ccli). Williams believes we’ll and software up to date. Vulnerabilities and
see more state-level hackers accelerate their hacking methods that get leaked are much
computer hacking programs thanks to recent easier to pull off because many people
high-level leaks of infiltration methods such as don’t patch their machines to fix critical
Vault 7 (go.pcworld.com/v7) and the Shadow vulnerabilities.
Brokers hack (go.pcworld.com/sbh). As usual, basic common sense and security
practices are your best defense. Rely on good,
STAYING SAFE WITH popular software, pick an antivirus that you
ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE trust, regularly patch your operating system
To counter these potential problems, Wil- and software, and don’t forget to use a reliable
liams advises home users to stick to big-name ad blocker in your browser to guard against
products as a way to benefit from a digital some common web-based attacks. That may
version of herd immunity. “For a product that’s not defend you against all possible intrusions,
widely used,” he said, “a back door in that but it’s the most reasonable approach short of
product will be caught much more quickly wearing a tinfoil hat and running Linux.
N
ow that Google’s Instant Apps a handful of apps, dozens of apps and games
(go.pcworld.com/inap) have will soon be available in instant form. But
made it to the Play Store, you what exactly are Instant Apps? And how do
can expect to see a lot more of you get them on your phone? We’re here to
them. While the initial rollout is limited to just help you get started:
WHAT ARE INSTANT APPS? purchasing, and videos, just like they would
Instant Apps are the next step in app in a regular app. However, Instant Apps can
evolution, a universal Android solution that be specifically targeted, so a developer could
brings the speed and power of a native app choose to deliver a certain portion of their
with the ease and immediacy of a web app. app to a user at a specific time. That would
They look and operate just like one of the effectively “lock” the rest of the app until the
apps that are installed on your phone, but you user decided to download the full version.
don’t need to download anything.
DO I NEED TO BE ONLINE TO
SO INSTANT APPS DON’T USE INSTANT APPS?
LIVE ON MY PHONE? Like Progressive Web Apps, Instant Apps can
Correct. Using an Instant App is similar to be designed to work online, but some
browsing a webpage. Once you close the features would be accessible only when
window, it disappears. connected to a network.
DO I NEED TO
SET UP
ANYTHING TO
USE THEM?
You need to enable Instant
Apps for your account on
your phone. Open the
Settings app and find your
Google Account settings.
Go to Instant Apps, flip the
toggle on, and tap Yes, I’m
Setting up Instant Apps is as easy as flipping a switch. In on the next screen.
HOW DO I KNOW I’M USING friend and they’ll be able to launch directly
AN INSTANT APP? into that section of the app even if they
Well, the point is that you’re not supposed to haven’t previously installed it.
know when you’re running an Instant App.
They launch just like a regular app would, and HOW DO I FIND AN INSTANT
offer the same experience. But there are a APP?
couple of telltale signs. For one, most Instant Unless you’re specifically searching for one
Apps will include a link to download the full in the Play Store, it’s actually kind of
app at the top of the screen. Also, if you’re in random. Someone may send you a link that
a browser when you open an Instant App, opens up in an instant app, or you could do
the address bar will disappear when you a Google search that sends you to one. To
click an Instant link. test it out, type NYT Crossword into the
Chrome browser on your Android phone
CAN I SHARE INSTANT and tap on the result with the word
APPS? Instant next to it. Open that link, and you’ll be
Yes, and in fact that’s their main advantage. If taken to the New York Times Crossword app
you see an article you like in the Buzzfeed with the ability to work on the current day’s
app, for example, you can share it with a mini-puzzle.
Hollar is one of the Instant Apps available to try in the Play Store.
P
utting up a TV antenna is one of satellite company. And if you decide to
the best steps you can take to subscribe to an online TV provider, you won’t
breaking your reliance on pay TV. need to worry about which ones carry your
Most areas of the U.S. have local channels (not all of them do).
access to several dozen TV channels As a bonus, they’ll make your big-screen
broadcast over the air for free. TV shine with a better picture than cable or
A TV antenna will bring them to your TV, satellite can deliver. This is possible because
so you won’t be stuck with the “local those transmissions are typically compressed
broadcast TV fee” charged by your cable or in order to preserve bandwidth, so the service
might need to go larger and put an antenna in antennas are designed to cover one, two or
your attic space or on your roof. three bands. Not every antenna covers them all.
Compared to the roof, an antenna in the The real channel number helps you figure
attic will probably receive slightly less signal this out. After TV stations went digital, some
because it’s enclosed, but it might be no longer transmit on the channel number
enough to get stable TV reception. If you they announce on air. For example, channel 5
hate the look of an outdoor antenna, then in San Francisco is actually broadcasting on
experiment. An attic-mounted antenna will channel 29. That’s why the real channel is
also be easier to maintain. important in antenna selection.
The direction of the TV transmitter tower is Be prepared to put up with a lot of
also important. If you’re using an indoor marketing speak when checking out
antenna, you’ll want to put it in a window facing antennas. For the record, there is no such
that direction. If you’re using an outdoor thing as an “HD” antenna or “digital”
antenna, it will show you which way to point. As antenna—the format of the signals being
signals get weaker, going from green to yellow received doesn’t matter—and take those
to red, the direction is more important. If you “miles” range claims in the product
want to tune in weaker stations from towers in specifications with a grain of salt. No
different directions, you’ll probably need a manufacturer can guarantee their antenna will
rotator. This motorized device will turn the pull in a signal from a given number of miles
antenna so that it’s oriented
to pull in those weaker
signals.
Knowing the real
channel number will help
you select an antenna. TV
broadcasting in North
America is spread across
three frequency bands: low
VHF (channels 2 through
6), high VHF (channels 7
through 13), and UHF
(channels 14 through 50).
Because of the different The RCA Skybar is designed to resemble a soundbar and can be mounted
frequencies in use, beneath a wall-hung flat-screen.
for it with an amplifier. But if a large antenna cable from interference, and an outer sheath to
still won’t pull in the station without picture protect the cable from the elements.
breakup, a signal amplifier might help. You Don’t be tempted to save a few dollars
also might need one if you have an reusing old coax. Buy new coax in the length
excessively long run of cable, say from a you need. Try to avoid coupling two cables
distant spot on a piece of land to a house. together, as each union will result in a little
A rotator will turn the TV antenna in any signal loss. The most common type of cable
direction with the click of a remote. These are for TV is called RG-6.
useful if you want to receive stations from
several different locations. A FINAL WORD OF ADVICE
Predicting which antenna will work with
WHAT TYPE OF CABLE DO I certainty is almost impossible. The
NEED FOR A TV ANTENNA? information garnered from sites like TV Fool
The connection from your antenna to your TV is will provide a strong indication of what should
every bit as important as the antenna itself. You work, but there are other variables at work.
need a high-quality coaxial cable (“coax” for In some areas, such as cities or hilly places,
short) for the job. Coax has a center wire that signals can bounce off obstacles like buildings
carries the signal and is surrounded by a plastic and cause interference, trees can grow leaves
insulator. An outer braid shields the center in the spring and block stations you got fine in
the winter, and atmospheric
conditions can alter the way
signals reach your house.
Moving an antenna just
a little to one side or up
and down a window can
have a big effect on
reception. If you’re putting
up an external antenna,
one side of your roof might
bring in nothing while the
other side provides perfect
reception.
Be prepared to
A piece of coaxial cable cut and ready for a connector to be attached. experiment.
D
eleting your Facebook account The good news is, you have two options
may be a fantasy you entertain for fulfilling this fantasy: deactivation, which
briefly every time you see one can be undone, or full-on deletion—and
too many intrusive ads or even then, you have a chance to change
political posts (go.pcworld.com/poli) on your your mind.
feed. We understand. Here’s how they both work.
DEACTIVATE YOUR
FACEBOOK ACCOUNT
Deactivating your Facebook account puts it
on hiatus. Your profile will be removed from
the site, as will most of what you posted to
Facebook, though messages and other things
will stick around).
Deactivation can be undone. Facebook
will retain your data in case you decide to
come back. You can always reactivate your
account later by logging in to Facebook. If
you’re not sure you want to leave
permanently, this is a great way to try the Go to your Facebook Settings and select General
Facebook-free life before you make a final to find the deactivate option.
decision.
To deactivate your account, log in to then on the next screen select General from
Facebook. At the top of your Facebook page, the list along the left side of the window.
click the down-arrow icon at far right. Choose Once there, go to the Manage Account
Settings from the menu that appears, and section at the bottom to find the option to
Facebook tries to talk you out of deactivating your account, natch, by reminding you of all your friends
who will miss you if you leave.
You have 14 days after deleting your account to log back in and save it from obliteration.
H
ow can I type emoji on my PC (go.pcworld.com/4all), a new emoji
keyboard? It’s a question that keyboard will make adding emoji to Twitter,
you’ve probably asked, given Facebook, and other apps a snap.
up on, shrugged, and then While there’s nothing wrong with a good
pulled out your smartphone. Now, with old-fashioned smiley-face :) or GIF, an emoji is
Windows 10 and the Fall Creators Update a simple way to add a bit of fun to your
Microsoft’s emoji keyboard in Windows 10 tablet mode, within the older Creators Update.
Watch the
video at
go.pcworld.
com/lsw
Jedi Challenges
Wars: Jedi
Challenges is
augmented
reality done right. It’s affordable at $199, it’s easy to set up
and use, and the games are fun. The kit includes an authen-
tic-looking Jedi lightsaber, a tracking beacon for orientation,
and an augmented reality headset that you pair with a com-
patible smartphone.