LA'S COVID-19 RESPONSE RUNS ON DATA SCIENCE

When people ask what’s different about the fight against COVID-19 compared with previous pandemics, one answer is data science. We know more—in real time—about infectious disease transmission, treatment efficacy, and the results of prevention programs than ever before, while mobile platforms inform and engage (most) citizens at an individual level.

Intel Launches 11th Generation Core ‘Tiger Lake' Laptop Processors

Intel’s next-generation Tiger Lake processors, unveiled this week, will bring refined artificial intelligence processing and dramatically improved graphics performance to new premium ultraportable laptops this fall.

ECS Liva Z3 Plus: Affordable Mini PC

The ECS Liva Z3 Plus may not look like much of a system, but packed inside this not-quite-palm-size device is a Core i5 desktop capable of running office tasks with ease.

DO UV LIGHT PHONE SANITIZERS REALLY WORK?

The best ways to protect yourself against COVID-19 and other contagious illnesses include frequent hand washing, social distancing, and using appropriate personal protective equipment such as masks.

Samsung Goes Big on Power, Size, and 5G With Galaxy Note20, Note20 Ultra

Are you ready to get to work? Samsung’s new Galaxy Note20 and Galaxy Note20 Ultra phones are refinements on the Galaxy S20 lineup that add an S Pen stylus, fix some notorious camera issues, and link up better with your Windows 10 PC.

How to Use Your Big-Screen TV for Online Learning (and Fun)

The computer is where many of us spend a good part of our day working.

What to Do When Your Laptop Has No Sound

There’s nothing like cranking up some tunes to keep your momentum going during the workday.

BLACK HAT 2020: THE SCARIEST THINGS WE SAW

Every year, hackers and researchers flock to Las Vegas for the Black Hat security conference to see and share the latest in security research. This year, though, everyone had to stay at home because of COVID-19—but there was still plenty to be worried about at this year’s conference.

Your Personal Health Data Is Not Safe

Electronic medical records are an incredible boon to healthcare.

Election Engineering: How US Cybersecurity Experts Are Making Sure Your Vote Will Count

In 2016, we saw how foreign powers could affect US elections. Now the nation is scrambling to secure the system in the midst of a pandemic.

Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus: Wireless Charging

Amazon’s Fire tablet lineup has long been a favorite of ours as good, simple value for the money.

10 Things Every Parent With a Connected Kid Needs to Know

Parents reading this story probably remember life before the internet—but your kids don’t.

THE FASTEST ISPS OF 2020

With so many of us working from home right now, the need for a speedy broadband connection is more important than ever. To see which internet service providers offer the most throughput, we took our annual look at the tests performed on our PCMag Speed Test. Let’s dive in and see which ISP comes out on top.

Marshall Emberton: Small but Powerful Portable Speaker

Depending on your priorities, Marshall Emberton is either the ideal portable Bluetooth speaker or a little overpriced. We’ll explain: For $149, the Emberton is a little smaller and less powerful than the competition.

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14: Excellent Value

The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14 punches far above its weight.

WHAT IS A SMART HOME HUB? AND DO YOU NEED ONE?

The Internet of Things (IoT) initiative that connects smart home devices such as doorbells, lights, locks, security cameras, and thermostats has made it easy for everyone to install and use these gadgets in their homes.

How to Use Vintage Lenses with Mirrorless Cameras

When you buy a camera that can change lenses, you’re actually limiting your choices when it comes to choosing lenses. For the most part, Canon cameras work with Canon lenses, Nikon lenses with Nikon cameras, Sony lenses work with Sony; you get the idea.

Motorola Moto e: Best Budget Phone

Though it’s been mere months since Motorola released its budget-friendly handsets, the Moto G Power ($249.99) and Moto G Stylus ($299.99), the company is back with an even more affordable model. The Moto e is the company’s least expensive smartphone, with an attractive, durable design, a big display, and admirable performance for the price. Of course, Motorola makes some compromises to get the price this low, but it doesn’t change the fact that the Moto e is the best affordable phone we’ve tested so far this year, and it’s now our Editors’ Choice in that category.

THE BEST FREE PC GAMES

Free-to-play games have become increasingly popular over the years, and it’s easy to understand why. They’re now so robust that you never feel handcuffed for not plunking down real cash. In case you’re wondering why developers wouldn’t charge anything for the game itself, they generally make money with in-game ads and selling virtual objects.

WILL WE EVER BE ABLE TO UPLOAD OUR BRAINS?

We’re in an era of remarkable high-concept situation comedies, with shows such as “The Good Place” using the 22-minute joke-packed framework to explore some of humanity’s deepest issues. Premiering on Amazon Prime in May was “Upload,” a show created by Greg Daniels of “The Office,” and it looks to be a contender.

Most Americans Reject COVID-19 Contact-Tracing Apps

COVID-19 is invisible, but the people who are diagnosed with it are not. And so for epidemiologists to do their disease detective work to prevent more cases, people are their most valuable clues. One way to follow these clues is through contact tracing. Yet a study from Avira finds that the majority of Americans are against apps that would allow this.

How to Report Abuse on Social Media

We live in divisive times, which is why you should know how to protect yourself on social media. People use these platforms to freely express their ideas and opinions, and some can be deemed controversial, offensive, misleading, or just plain inaccurate. For those reasons, the major social networks all offer options for reporting posts and users for a variety of infractions.

Dell G5 15 SE (2020): A Solid Budget Offering

The market for budget gaming laptops is ultra-competitive these days, with the latest components from AMD, Intel, and Nvidia allowing for better performance than ever at lower prices.

COVID-19 Creates Soaring Demand for PCs

The coronavirus and the ensuing need to work from home is creating skyrocketing demand for PCs, according to research firms. Canalys attributes the surge to businesses upgrading their workforces with new laptops and IT equipment.

15 AFFORDABLE SMALL TOWNS IN THE US WITH FAST INTERNET

Millions of Americans have been working from home during the COVID-19 crisis.

Kensington Pro Fit Ergo Wireless Keyboard: Affordable Ergonomic

It’s tough to make an ergonomic keyboard feel approachable.