Category: Technology

Which System is Best: Xbox, Nintendo, or Playstation?

Posted on | by Computer Warriors

The world of gamers is a big one. There are numerous brands, devices, and enthusiasts with a single goal in mind — setting up the best gaming experience.

Outsiders may not appreciate the captivating adventures gamers enter to explore new worlds, conquer powerful enemies, and complete complex missions. Battles to win and prizes to uncover, the gaming world is filled with possibilities and adventures. Plus, if you and your friends combine forces, there is no telling what great things you can accomplish.

But, the gaming world has its challenges. There is no denying that there is disagreement between PC and console gamers. Even within console gamers, there’s an ongoing debate over what game console system is the best one.

Today there are three types of game consoles most widely known to consumers: Sony’s PlayStation, Microsoft’s Xbox, and Nintendo’s Switch.

But which one of the three is actually the best?

Let’s find out.

Market share

Our first criterion is popularity. According to one study, Playstation 2 is the most popular gaming console around. Having sold approximately 158 million units, PlayStation stands tall at the front of the pack in popularity.

Behind PlayStation comes Nintendo Wii at number four. With just over 101 million units sold, Nintendo proudly ranks number four in the gaming console popularity charts.

But what about Microsoft’s Xbox models?  Xbox 360 comes in at number six with approximately 85 million units sold. Not as impressive as Playstation or Nintendo, but still a respectable number of units sold. 

In the list of popular gaming consoles, Playstation ranks as the most popular, with four models total ranking in the top ten. Nintendo comes in second, its most popular model ranking number four on the list plus three other models ranking in the top ten list. Lastly, Xbox’s most popular unit comes in at number six, with only one other unit making it in as the tenth most popular gaming console. 

Our winning gaming console by popularity: Sony’s Playstation. 

Which console is 2021’s favorite?

Every year, new consoles are released by the gaming world’s favorite manufacturers. But this year, we haven’t seen much from them.

But their releases from past years, such as Sony’s PlayStation 5 (2020), Microsoft’s Xbox Series X (2020), and Nintendo’s Switch (2017) proved to be gold. 

Much of the continuing popularity for these gaming consoles can be attributed to lockdowns that have kept people inside for months. Even adults, many of whom now work from home, find they have some extra time to enjoy some gaming time. Children and adults alike have enjoyed the extra gaming time they’ve been able to enjoy. 

GameSpot found that in the first half of 2021, the Nintendo Switch garnered the most sales. Following the Switch is Sony’s PlayStation 5, a highly-coveted console. 

If you were in the market for a PlayStation 5 this last year, you know how difficult it was to score a unit when it first came out because people were flocking to stores in an effort to secure one for themselves.

With the holiday season coming up, it’s hard to tell which console will be this year’s favorite. 

Once the holiday season and sales have ended, we’ll find out this year’s best-selling game console.

Specifications

In deciding which game console is truly the best, the average consumer may not look at the specs. As someone in the market for a game system, you know it’s the technical specifications you’re after and not just the best looking console.

So we’re going to take a look at some of the pros and cons of the PlayStation 5, Switch, and Xbox Series X, the top three latest and most popular releases.

  1. PlayStation 5

The first on our list is the PS5. It’s a powerful video game machine that looks sleek — much like its predecessors. Sony maintained the monochromatic game console designs seen in their previous releases.

The internet didn’t go crazy over the PS5 for no reason. This monster offers a next-gen gaming experience and a library of games exclusive to the PS Plus Collection. 

Aside from its design and platform exclusivity, the PS5 is praised for its DualSense controller, spatial 3D audio, and impressive SSD. You don’t have to wait a long time for your games to load, no matter how demanding they are.

Output-wise, the PS5 offers [email protected] and [email protected] gameplay. Both are clear enough to show you the shadows of your Uncharted character and water reflections!

Of course, it’s not perfect. Aside from it being hard to find when it first came out, it’s also a bit larger when compared to the old PlayStations.With today’s games taking bigger storage space, the 825GB SSD the PS5 comes with fills up pretty quick.

  1. Nintendo Switch

Out of the three game consoles we’re comparing, the Switch stands out. First, it’s the only handheld device that doesn’t need to be plugged into an external display for you to play your games. Plus, it’s three years older than the PS5 and Xbox Series X.

Though the Switch might be smaller compared to the other two consoles, it’s powerful enough to stand against them.

The Switch is a hybrid game console. It can be played handheld or connected to a display. Nintendo wants its throne back from Sony with this feature, and the public loves it!

The seamless transition from a portable console to a home console is definitely a huge success, but that amazing feature has its own drawback. It needs more battery juice to display on bigger screens.

When it comes to playing titles you can play on the PS5 and Xbox, you can’t really expect all the games you can play on the PS5 and Xbox to be played on the Switch. 

  1. Xbox Series X

The PS5’s direct competitor is Microsoft’s Xbox Series X, which came out the same year.

With the Xbox Series X, Microsoft tried to address loading times, graphics, frames, and backward compatibility issues many gamers complained about.

They’ve geared this release up with a storage drive that significantly boosts loading times, even for demanding titles that are known to have long loading times.

Contrary to the PS5, the Xbox Series X has Dolby Vision and Atmos support. This means better display and audio for titles supported by Dolby.

For video playback, it can only produce up to [email protected] and [email protected], depending on the capabilities of your display.

When it comes to backward compatibility, the Xbox Series X fares better than the PS5 because of its wider coverage for old titles not released for its platform.

The downside of the Xbox Series X is that its library of exclusive games isn’t as big as the PS5’s and the user interface isn’t as optimized.

It can be a tad picky when it comes to display panels because it requires compatible displays for gamers to experience the new visual features it comes with.

Final thoughts

Picking the best console for you can be a tough choice, especially if it’s your first time buying one.

What you can do to make deciding a little lighter for yourself is break down your profile as a gamer. Do you like portability, high-quality video, or backward compatibility?

Remember that no game console has everything you want, so make sure you know what you’re looking for so you can find the best console to meet your needs.

The iPhone 13 is Here. Here’s What it Can Do.

Posted on | by Computer Warriors

On September 14, 2021, Apple unveiled its new iPhone 13 line, along with the Apple Watch Series 7, new iPad mini, and iPad.

There are four models of the iPhone 13 :

  • iPhone 13 mini
  • iPhone 13
  • iPhone 13 Pro
  • iPhone 13 Pro Max

The base model is the iPhone 13, coming in five colors: Product Red, Starlight, Midnight, Blue, and Pink. All models come with Ceramic Shield fronts and glass back and aluminum design to protect the phone’s back components. If you’ve dropped your iPhone 8 in the past and see the backglass shatter, don’t expect the same from the new iPhone model. The iPhone 13 can take quite a beating before showing any signs of damage. 

The iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max models come with Ceramic Shield front and textured matte glass back and stainless steel design, providing a smooth grip for iPhone users.

The base storage capacity starts at 128 gigabytes (GB) and the highest is 1 terabyte (TB) for the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max models.

Weight-wise, the iPhone 13 mini is the lightest, weighing 140g (just about the same weight as a baseball). The heaviest out of the four models is the 238g Pro Max, boasting the widest screen of the four.

Comparing the display, all models come with Super Retina XDR and OLED display.

Processing power

All models come with the A15 5-core CPU Bionic chip that includes a 5-core GPU (4-core for non-Pro) and a 16-core Neural Engine. That’s fast enough to run multiple applications optimized for today’s smartphones and should let you run mobile games with the settings maxed out without any issues.

Damage resistance

When it comes to splash, water, and dust resistance, the whole iPhone 13 line is rated IP68 under IEC standard 60529. Meaning, all models can be submerged at a maximum depth of 6 meters for up to 30 minutes without being rendered useless. So you can rest easy the next time you accidentally spill some water on your iPhone 13.

Camera

When talking about iPhones, we can’t forget the camera.

The 13 line comes with a Pro 12MP camera system that has wide and ultra-wide cameras. The Pro line has telephoto as an addition. For all models, video recording quality can be up to 4K at 60fps. Crystal clear, right? Pack that with beefy storage, and you’re good to go on your vlogging adventures!

Non-Pro models

Since Apple started releasing Pro models in addition to their iPhones’ base models, fans are quick to compare and find the best models. 

The non-Pros are considered entry-level, as they come with the latest features without the additional Pro features. They also cost less than their Pro counterparts.

  1. iPhone 13 mini

The 13 mini model has the smallest viewing area with 2340×1080 resolution. Albeit small, it’s clear enough to display sharp images with excellent viewing angles. There’s only 5.4-inch to look at, but the small size allows you to fit the phone into small pockets and it’s easy to hold. 

When it comes to battery life, the 13 mini is the smallest battery. You can play up to 17 hours of non-live videos and 13 hours of streaming videos. When streaming audio, the mini’s battery can play up to 55 hours worth of audio.

  1. iPhone 13

I can’t say this is the base model because it’s not the entry-priced one, but because it’s called the iPhone 13, we’ll call it the line’s base for reference.

It doesn’t differ much from the mini version, but it weighs 18g more and has a 6.1-inch display at 2532×1170 pixels. That’s a bigger display with clearer images. If Apple didn’t up the resolution on this model, we’d be looking at the mini with the smaller but clearer display. 

In terms of battery life, the 13 fares better than the mini. It has a battery beefy enough to stream 19 hours worth of non-streamed video and 15 hours of streamed video. When playing audio, you can trust the 13 to play for up to 75 hours.

Pro models

The Pro models carry features you can’t find in the non-Pros. Some people prefer pros for the size, storage, and camera.

But if you’re not looking for those, we suggest you look into the non-Pro to save a few hundred bucks. If you want a feature-packed smartphone, then here’s the breakdown of the 13 Pro models.

  1. iPhone 13 Pro

Headlining the Pro line is the 13 Pro. It weighs 203g and has a 6.1-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2532×1170, much like the iPhone 13.

Battery-wise, the 13 Pro can play up to 22 hours of video and 20 hours of video streamed. Like playing audiobooks of music for long periods? You’ll have no issues with the 13 Pro’s 75-hour audio playback capacity.

  1. iPhone 13 Pro Max

The 13 Pro Max is the heaviest, biggest, and most expensive model of the 13 line. It has a 6.7-inch display at 2778×1284. Talk about being big and clear, right?

While most of the features are similar to the 13 Pro, the difference lies in the battery capacity. The Pro Max can play up to 28 hours of non-streamed video non-stop and up to 25 hours of streamed video. 

For music and audiobook lovers out there, you won’t have issues with the 13 Pro Max because it can play up to 95 hours of audio. 

All in all

With how the iPhone 13 models are looking like and how the public received them, it’s safe to say they are very popular. Given the next-level features that come within even the entry models, you can’t go wrong with any iPhone 13 model.

When picking the right iPhone 13 model for yourself, the features should always be the first one you should look at.

Don’t know what features to start looking at? Start with the battery capacity and go from there.

5 Signs Your Smartphone Battery Is Dying

Posted on | by Computer Warriors

There’s nothing more annoying than having a smartphone that’s designed for portability but needs to stay close to a wall socket.

You bought a feature-packed smartphone you can take anywhere with you but years — sometimes even months later, you notice that there are more times you keep it plugged in than not.

You look back and realize, “Are these smartphones really built to act like this?”

The answer is yes. Batteries aren’t supposed to last forever. They’re meant to decay in health due to use. And we also can’t deny that most of us are heavy users. We don’t even care if we’re using our phone while it’s plugged in, right?

But if you’re trying to look for explicit signs that’ll tell you about your smartphone battery’s decaying state, I compiled a list of signs you should be on the lookout for.

  1. Your phone always dies on you

Imagine being outdoors with your friends and you want to play some music and take pictures. About 15 minutes later while the phone is connected to a Bluetooth speaker, the music stops.

You run to where your phone is. It’s dead. Again.

You know you just fully charged the thing, but why did it die this early? Well, you’re definitely looking at a case of a decayed smartphone battery that needs replacement.

This is the number one sign that your phone’s battery needs to be switched up, or you might have to change the way you use your phone if you don’t want to get a smartphone battery replacement just yet.

You always have to carry around a power bank with you if you want to remain away from the wall socket most of the time.

If this situation persists, the best decision is to get your phone checked at a reliable cell phone repair store that will give you good estimates for quality battery replacement services.

  1. Your smartphone is old

Another sign that your battery isn’t good anymore is when your phone is 5-10 years old. Say, you’re using a phone that came out 8 years ago and you’re wondering why its battery won’t last you more than an hour.

Even if you took care of your 8-year old phone like a baby, batteries don’t last forever. You might have kept it stored somewhere and didn’t use it for years, but it’ll still decay. It probably might not turn on again unless you get a new battery.

So yes, your phone’s age is a factor to consider when assessing its battery health. Just because a phone is free of scratches and you’re a careful user, doesn’t mean it’ll work as if it’s new.

Get a new one. It doesn’t have to be the iPhone 13, but you can check out other models that are still very useful based on today’s tech needs. Just make sure you’re transacting with reputable stores as you browse.

  1. Your phone never gets 100% charged

I’ve gone through this myself, and I admit it’s very confusing and stressful. When charging your phone, you’d expect the battery percentage to go up as time passes. But when your battery is nearing its last days on earth, the percentage decreases even when it’s plugged in!

That’s pretty mind-boggling, especially when you see it for the first time.

This occurrence is a big “GET YOUR PHONE FIXED” sign to us users because our battery isn’t even acting the way it’s supposed to. Something must be really wrong with it, right?

There are also instances wherein phones get charged to 100% but once you unplug it and use it for 10 minutes, the battery goes down to 10%. Yikes.

So get it fixed before your battery bloats and explodes (yes, that happens).

You don’t even have to wait for this to happen. Most of today’s smartphones have a feature in the settings where you can check battery health. It should tell you when the health is dangerously low and you need a replacement.

  1. Things get hot

Don’t get me wrong, there are many things that cause phones to heat up. It could be the weather, the app you’re running, your phone case, and sometimes, your battery.

This is a serious implication that your battery is dying. When you’re charging your phone, it shouldn’t run hot when the battery is healthy.

It also shouldn’t be hot when you’re only running your messages app, for example. Because they’re not very demanding on hardware, your phone shouldn’t be hot on your hands when you’re running just that.

It’s even worse if your phone gets hot while you’re not using it! But if you left it somewhere hot, like on top of your car that’s parked under the sun, it should be hot (please don’t do that).

If these things happen to you, it’s definitely time to get your smartphone battery checked out and replaced by a professional.

  1. It looks deformed

Smartphone batteries get bloated due to many factors. Damage, overcharging, overuse, and many others are just one of the few. Fortunately, today’s smartphone batteries are built to withstand most things users overlook.

If the back or front of your phone rises up or takes a weird shape, your battery is bloated and you need to get it replaced as soon as possible. I even strongly advise you to stop using it until you get it repaired.

If not, you’ll risk damaging other components in your smartphone, or worse, your battery might explode. Whatever’s inside your smartphone battery is toxic, and manufacturers are always sure to include that in the battery and phone’s packaging to tell you.

Check if your phone has light leaking in weird places or if it feels weird in your hands. You’ll know it because you always have your phone in your hands. Put it flat on the table and spin it around. If it spins full circle, then something’s wrong. It should be flat and shouldn’t spin around.

All in all, if your phone looks AND feels different, you should 100% get it checked out by a professional. Since most diagnostics are free, you don’t have to worry about paying for a phone check-up.

But if something needs urgent fixing (like your battery), then it’s always a good measure to prepare for getting some cash out for service.

What should you do?

Aside from getting a new battery or a new smartphone, there’s nothing you can really do. You can’t save something that’s dying and is meant to go that way in the first place.

The only thing you can do that’s close to saving yourself from smartphone battery problems is to practice proper phone usage when it comes to charging.

Today’s phones are built to avoid overcharging, so you don’t have to worry about it. But they’re not built for using off-brand chargers that run hot and sometimes catch fire.

Since most batteries are made for extreme use, just make sure you’re using authentic charges that won’t endanger you or your phone.

I know there are a lot of attractive offers on smartphone chargers, but it wouldn’t hurt to get one from your phone’s manufacturer.

When the time comes that you need to get a new battery, just call up your trusted cell phone repair store and let them do the work for you!

What Are Freemium Apps?

Posted on | by The Computer Warriors

Freemium – the combination of free and premium. This paradox is a common business model for several mobile applications. In today’s post, we discuss what it means, how it works, and why companies use this model.

Not A New Concept

The freemium model is where the base app or program is free, but advanced features are hidden behind a paywall. Some services are subscription-based, and others require a one-time payment. This model is popular among companies that create digital products. Microsoft Office or Adobe allowed users a 30 day trial of the program before requiring a purchase. With the rise of smartphones, the model exploded with application developers.

Everywhere You Look

One way to convince application users to purchase an app or a subscription is to monetize it with ads. It’s a win-win for the developer. However, if ads annoy you (like most people), you will have to pay for them to go away. Think of Spotify or Pandora as an example. Other examples include productivity apps and cloud storage apps.

Applications connect you’re your App Store or Play Store account, making purchasing within the app a breeze. The ease of tapping a button to purchase additional content has been a highlight on the news when parents discover their children ran up crazy credit card bills on in-game purchases. In addition, companies use microtransactions, giving users the ability to access custom or exclusive content.

Looking Ahead

The freemium model is here to stay for the near future. Firstly, this model is an extremely effective and sometimes sneaky way to generate money. It also allows the developers to reach a broader customer pool and decreases the chances of piracy of their software. Lastly, a benefit for the user is it will enable you to try software or app before making the plunge in purchasing it.

If you found this article interesting or helpful, check out our other posts!

Bing Wallpaper

Posted on | by The Computer Warriors

Windows 10 displays incredible landscape photos from all over at the sign-in screen. These images are pulled directly from Microsoft’s Bing browser. Microsoft released a tool that will automatically select these images as your desktop wallpaper.

Bing’s Daily Photo App

To get started, download the official Bing Wallpaper application. Once downloaded, install it and let the program run. To finish the installation, you will be prompted to Set Bing as my homepage and Set Bing as my default search provider.  After it installs, it automatically selects an image and sets it as the desktop background.

The application runs in the background and starts whenever your computer starts. It downloads and sets a new wallpaper every day. If you don’t like a particular wallpaper, you can change it. Look for the icon in your taskbar. Click on it, and toggle the wallpapers through the popup window.

If you found this article interesting or helpful, check out our other posts!

Outlook’s Sweep Tool

Posted on | by The Computer Warriors

Microsoft Outlook built a handy tool in its online interface that makes keeping your inbox tidy a breeze. Find out more about the Sweep tool below.

What is Sweep?

The Sweep tool is an alternative way to set rules for what happens to emails from specific senders. The Sweep function runs once every 24 hours and allows you to create rules for any folder in your email account, not just your inbox. To use this tool, open up Outlook Online and sign in to your email account.

How to use Sweep

Firstly, open up an email from your inbox or another folder. Once opened, look for the Sweep button in the message toolbar. There will be a broom icon next to it.

This tool is a moving tool. Once you select the Sweep button, a new window will appear. This will allow you to choose what you want to do with the messages from the sender. In addition, you can change where the messages go by clicking on the drop-down next to Move to.

Sweep Options

The first and section options are very powerful in a sense they can move large numbers of messages at any given time. If you start a new categorization system, this is a quick way to jump-start the sorting process. The first option will move any emails from the sender to your desired folder. The second option does this but also moves future emails from that sender to the folder.

The third option enables you only to keep the most recent emails from a given contact. This is a great option for event reminders or companies that email all the time. However, it is limited when it comes to a person’s contact because they could email you multiple times about different topics.  The last option allows emails to be in your inbox for a few days, then will move the emails after ten days.

If you found this article interesting or helpful, check out our other posts!

Twitter Blue

Posted on | by The Computer Warriors

Twitter recently announced Twitter Blue, a subscription model that gives subscribers additional features to the popular social media platform. In today’s post, we discuss its feature so you can decide whether or not it’s worth the $3 per month subscription fee.

Additional Features With Twitter Blue

Undo Tweet

Nothing is more frustrating than sending a tweet only to notice a typo. Currently, the only way to fix it is for the user to delete and write out a new tweet. A customizable timer (up to 30 seconds) allows you to preview your tweet prior to it being sent with this new feature. Unfortunately, tweets can not be edited once posted; you will need to delete and repost in these situations.

Twitter Support

Subscribers of Twitter Blue get access to a dedicated support team. This means users will get problems resolved must faster than free users. However, this does not extend to harassment or abuse reports.

Bookmarks Folders

Twitter has a feature called Bookmarks that allows users to save tweets. For free users, this is on a giant collection that isn’t searchable. Twitter Blue adds folders to the Bookmarks section. The folders are color-coded, and when you save a tweet, you can select where it goes.

Reader Mode

Twitter Blue offers a Reader Mode which makes reading threads more manageable. Reader Mode removes the Twitter UI resulting in the thread appearing more like an article. Usernames, profile pictures, timestamps, retweet counts are removed. These removals help make the thread more readable.

Twitter Blue Pricing

Twitter Blue costs $3 per month. There is only one subscription option and no tiers to choose from like other subscription services. While it’s been launched in Australia and Canada, a timeline for availability in the US has not been announced at the time of this writing.

How To Sign Up For Twitter Blue

Signing up for Twitter Blue is easy. Open up the app from any device and tap the three-lined icon in the top left. In the side menu that appears, find and select the Twitter Blue option.

If you found this article interesting or helpful, check out our other posts!

What Is An Aspect Ratio?

Posted on | by The Computer Warriors

When looking for a new computer monitor or searching for a movie on IMDB, you’ve probably come across the phrase “aspect ratio.” Aspect ratio is heavily used throughout the photography and video industry. But what does aspect ratio mean?

What Is Aspect Ratio?

Aspect ratio is a mathematical basis at its core. It is the ratio of the width and height of a four-sided shape. Like any ratio, the aspect ratio of a rectangle doesn’t relate to its physical dimensions. Instead, it describes how the width and length of an object to one another. For example, a perfect square must have equal width and height, so their aspect ratio would be 1:1. The aspect ratio gets displayed in whole or decimal numbers. For example, 3:2 or 1.5:1.

You can determine the height and width of an object by using the aspect ratio. For example, 16:9 refers to the width equaling 16 and the height equaling 9. The 16:9 aspect ratio is used for most television content, even though displays come in a variety of aspect ratios. For example, with movies, you’ll commonly see aspect ratios of 1.85:1 (widescreen) and 2.39:1.

Making Aspect Ratio Work For Device

If you want to fit an individual piece of content to a device, you can use an aspect ratio calculator. This can be helpful when trying to apply a wallpaper background to a phone or computer. Using this tool, you can make sure the wallpaper fits properly (correct resolution) and won’t stretch on the screen. (You can download most wallpapers in multiple resolutions).

If you found this article interesting or helpful, check out our other posts!

iOS 13 Details

Posted on | by The Computer Warriors

Apple’s World Wide Developer Conference took place on Monday. Apple unveiled a bunch of new hardware and software. One piece of information we have been waiting on are details on iOS 13. In this blog post, we wanted to cover all the significant changes that are coming to Apple’s mobile device lineup.

Compatibility

Apple is updating its hardware requirements for iOS 13. As a result, Apple is removing software compatibility for its older iPhones and iPads. Devices compatible with iOS 13 include iPod 7th Generation, iPhone SE, iPhone 6S series (6S and 6S+), iPhone 7 series (7 and 7+), iPhone 8 series (8 and 8+) and iPhone X series (X, XS, XR, XS Max). That means the iPhone 6 series and iPhone 5 series will not be able to be updated past iOS 12 or older.

The iPad is also getting a makeover. Apple is breaking away from using iOS on iPads like iPhones. Instead, they will be getting their own iPadOS. This will give the iPad more flexibility with features that would not work on an iPhone. Some of these features will be included with the iPad Air (3rd Generation), iPad Air 2, iPad Mini 4 & 5, iPad 5 & 6, and the iPad Pro series (9.7, 10,11.5, and 12.9).

New Features

Apple showcased several features at the conference, but usually, they save a few features for release. We should find out more information in September when Apple announces the new iPhone. Beneath are some of the highlights of iOS 13.

Dark Mode: A popular feature that turns a bright screen into a dark screen. Other brands have had this feature for some time, and it has been highly sought after by Apple users. Core apps like Photos, Music, Calendar, and others will have dark mode support.

Swipe Keyboard: In addition to Dark Mode, another feature that finally has arrived to the iPhone is a key that allows the user to trace out the spelling of a word instead of spelling it. This feature makes one hand texting easier.

Find My: Apple has combined Find My Friends and Find My Phone into one app. This can help locate your phone faster if you use it.

Privacy: Another new feature is called Sign in with Apple. It will allow you to sign into apps without having to add your email address. The goal of this feature is to prevent third-party apps from tracking you online. Most noteworthy, you can also have an email address that will auto-forward to your actual email, making it harder for third-party apps to track you.

Siri: Apple’s voice assistant will be getting a few upgrades. Apple is changing how Siri sounds to make her more natural sounding to our ears. AI software will help her speak with few non-human sounding modulations and fewer gaps.

Other Noteworthy Changes

  • Mail will be getting different fonts and a mute option
  • Notes will have a new view and the ability to share folders
  • Ability to add attachments to your calendar
  • Face ID will unlock your phone 30% faster
  • 38 new languages to the keyboard
  • Apps will open 2x faster
  • Downloads are 50% smaller, and updates are 60%

Furthermore, these are just a few of the new features iOS 13 has to offer Apple users. We will continue to follow the new features and update our post as they are announced.

If you found this article interesting or helpful, check out our other posts!

Are Macs Safer Than PCs?

Posted on | by The Computer Warriors

Are Macs safer than PCs? Apple has long portrayed their devices safer since PCs only get viruses. They went so far to create a commercial insinuating that Macs didn’t get infections.

During 2012-2013, a study showed that an estimated one-third of all computers were infected with malware. If you isolated Macs, the number of infections was only 3%.

What Does ‘Safer’ Mean?

The reason that there are fewer threats designed to attack the Mac might surprise you. Worldwide three-quarters of all computers run some form of the Windows-based operating system. Computers running the Mac OSX only made up about 12% of the market.

As a result, cybercriminals are more likely to go after PCs because they make up a larger share of the market, and thus are more valuable. Macs will not get a PC virus because the virus or malware must be coded differently. However, this does not mean they are any more secure.

Does It Matter?

The claim that Macs are safer may sway some users into purchasing a Mac device. However, just because there are fewer threats out there for Mac, the user still needs to be vigilant. Cybercriminals are employing social engineering techniques to help steal information. At that point, the user becomes the weakest cog in the system, not the computer. It would be like turning off your alarm, unlocking your door, and welcoming a thief into your home.

By paying attention and not clicking unfamiliar links, the user can reduce the chances of being infected. Apple and Microsoft are continuing to develop built-in defenses in their operating systems.

Staying vigilant and installing a robust third-party anti-malware program is the best way for every user to keep their device safe. Contact your local Computer Warriors to consult with one of our technicians about our memberships plans that can help keep you safe!

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