iOS 13.5 is released. Why do you HAVE to upgrade ?

Finally iOS 13.5 update is here and are you thinking whether you need to update your iPhone? We think yes, it's worth the upgrade. This update from Apple is very COVID focused update. Didn't quite make sense? Let me ask you this question, in the recent times if you are frustrated when your phone doesn't unlock as Face ID couldn't recognize you because of the mask then you are not alone. I am sure these are times you might have missed that beloved touch ID more than ever before. Apple has addressed this issue in the latest release iOS 13.5. You ask how? They go by reducing the delay of showing the passcode screen if the Face ID doesn't recognize for any reason, not only that the latest update also lets you to enter PIN from the get-go making the whole process little less frustrating. Now moving on to serious stuff, after down pouring requests coming from across 22 countries in 5 continents Apple released an API embedded into this update which allow health agencies and app developers to develop contract tracing apps which can alert customers when one comes near a positive tested COVID patient. This feature is not enabled by default, but you can enable it by going on to Settings > Privacy > Health > COVID-19 Exposure Logging. This update let alone does not carry any such contact tracing apps but it allows app developers to use this framework and develop applications that can alert users if they are in close proximity to a positive  tested patient. Google is already making strides in developing applications along those lines but using their own Android OS. Apple stressed that the database to store whether or not a person is tested positive for COVID is done without harming customer's privacy at any cost. Apple and Google have already informed that these APIs are meant to help communities in these difficult time and have no interest to carry forward these features post pandemic. Last but not least, iOS 13.5 is added with another perk with respect to group Facetime. If you are the one not happy about seeing change in the size of tiles when new speaker is added to group Facetime then this update is for you, it prevents that tile resizing. I never had any problems with tile resizing as long as I see my friends and family in the call. So this one is subjective. I have already updated my iPhone to iOS 13.5 and it's holding pretty good in terms of switching from Face ID to traditional PIN mode if need be and Im happy with that. 

Source: Apple

Intel's 10th Gen Comet Lake (i9-10900K) !

Intel's brand new 10th Gen Comet Lake desktop processor has made their way into markets. It's no secret that Intel has plans from long time to come up with 10 Gen mainstream desktop CPU aimed with huge gaming specs. Now that it's out lets see the numbers that this desktop CPU has to offer.

Tech Specs:

Intel has jacked up i9-10900K to staggering 10 cores/ 20 threads, with processor clocking at base frequency of 3.7 GHz, shooting the frequency up to 5.3 GHz with the boost making it the most powerful gaming processor. With the processor running at such base clock frequency of puts lot of top-line processors to shame. Intel went by it's most successful and money making SkyLake architecture to build i9-10900K processor. This chip is equipped with Intel's new Thermo Velocity Boost (TVB) technology to keep the thermals under control at 70 C. Now the only number that matters to the most if not everyone is how much this bad boy costs? It's $488. Having such impeccable numbers is not just the end of story and it doesn't mean this chip can outrun all and/ or any other processors in the market. It also largely depends on mother board manufactures to full utilize the true potential of this chip (of course that's true with every chipset) or just disregard the Intel's specifications and go about under utilizing this monster. But all in all on the paper Intel's i9-10900K is most powerful processor desgined yet.

Source: Intel

Dell announces XPS 15 and XPS 17 2020

Finally it's official! Dell announced 15 inch and 17 inch XPS series laptops. They will be made available for purchase from May 13, 2020. Redesigned XPS 15 starts at a price point of $1300 and you can lay your hands on XPS 17 if you have $1500 (exclusive of taxes of course). Lets see what these two laptops have to offer.

XPS 15:

Looks like Dell finally heard what their customers want. XPS 15 was almost untouched without any major redesign from last 4 years. Now they have upped their game by adapting four sided razor thin bezels increasing screen to body ratio significantly compared to its predecessor, we are talking about 92.8% screen to body ratio looks almost magnificent border-less panel. XPS 15 comes with Infinity Edge display offering 16:10 aspect ratio. You have a choice of picking up the laptop with 4K resolution or FHD, both include top mounted 780p front facing camera. It's fair to say they pulled this off without disturbing aesthetics that signature XPS lineup offered till now which is pretty impressive. Starting at $1300 Dell XPS 15 is packed with some serious hardware as well. You can configure XPS 15 with up to 9th gen Intel's i9-10885 H processor, upgradable RAM from 8 GB to 64 GB, storage up to 2TB Pcie NVME SSD. Laptop comes with 2 USB-C Thunderbolt 3 ports, 1 USB-C 3.1 and an SD card reader. Unfortunately you don't get to see any USB-A ports this year on this laptop. Coming to graphics, users have an option to choose between Intel UHD integrated graphic or Nvdia GeForce 1650 Ti. Talking about battery there are two options, 86 watt hour battery and 56 watt hour. Dell says 86 watt hour battery can have your laptop running up to 25 hours with FHD+ configuration. We will have to wait and see on that. Overall that's broad range of options within "ok" price point in my opinion.

XPS 17:

This big boy is definitely in-charge of XPS 2020 lineup. But not many realize or does not know that this is the smallest 17 inch laptop in the market. You ask how! Remember the screen to body ratio that we were talking about with XPS 15, Dell went with the same form factor for XPS 17. It's astonishing to see that XPS 17 looks smaller than few other 15 inch laptops on the market. This one comes with similar screen specs as that of XPS 15 i.e. 16:10 aspect ratio and with an option of 4K res or FHD. If seen under the hood, you will be pretty happy to find upgradable RAM up to 64 GB and Pcie NVME storage of up to 2 TB. Starting at $1500 XPS 17 is jacked up in terms of graphics options. You can choose between rock solid Nvdia GeForce 1650 Ti-Max or monstrous RTX 2060. Another huge step up from it's smaller cousin XPS 15 is it has improved air-flow and custom vapor chamber to keep thermals of the laptop at check. XPS 17 houses 4 Thunderbolt USB-C 2 ports and an SD card reader.