21/09/2021 - 20:27

The U.S. DoD's contract handling is being brought into question... again. What you need to know The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) recently put its JEDI litigation headaches behind it by canceling the contract. However, even though the fight between Team Amazon and Team U.S. government & Microsoft is over, Oracle is not satisfied. Oracle argues the DoD is repeating the same mistakes all over again, simply under the guise of a new contract. Though the matter's been formally wrapped for some time now, the U.S. Department of Defense's JEDI contract conundrum is still fresh in terms of the lineage of Pentagon-authorized cloud contracts. And now, Oracle is arguing the DoD's new Joint Warfighter Cloud Capability (JWCC) contract is repeating the JEDI cycle all over again, just under a new name. For context, to summarize the lengthy story of JEDI: Microsoft was awarded a cloud contract by the Pentagon. Amazon sued, claiming that it was unrightfully discriminated against in the aw...

21/09/2021 - 20:00

Microsoft's world-renowned productivity app suite is getting a 2021 version. Microsoft Office, Microsoft's suite of productivity apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, has been immensely popular among both individuals and businesses for many, many years. The apps within Microsoft Office are some of the best Windows 10 apps available for completing work and schoolwork, and because of that, Microsoft Office has become the global standard for productivity. Every once in a while, Microsoft releases a new version of Office and its apps that feature several enhancements and additions. These improvements make the already-great Office user experience even better, which naturally leads to increased work efficiency. The latest version of Microsoft Office to release was the 2019 variant, but Microsoft has recently announced that a new 2021 version of Office will launch in the near future. Here's everything you need to know about Microsoft Office 2021, including when it's releasing, where you'...

21/09/2021 - 19:53

Halo Infinite returns with another two weekends of multiplayer testing. Microsoft has provided eager Halo fans the latest opportunity to trial its next mainline entry via the Halo Infinite beta. The test, formally dubbed the Halo Infinite multiplayer technical preview, provides the first taste of its arena and Big Team Battles modes ahead of a launch later this year. It delivers action across various multiplayer maps, alongside new weapons and equipment to master. The preview marks the latest of multiple planned flights designed to trial various aspects of the title before launch. Microsoft is hosting two sessions over the coming weeks, accessible on an invite-only basis, with three days of multiplayer action on the docket. Here's everything you need to know about the Halo Infinite beta schedule, including planned testing dates and times. Halo Infinite beta dates and start time Halo Infinite beta download size Halo Infinite beta maps and modes How to play the Halo Infinite beta ...

21/09/2021 - 19:11

SteelSeries has the ghostliest of accessories available right now. What you need to know SteelSeries' Ghost collection is now available for purchase for a limited time only. The two items currently for sale in the collection are the Apex 7 TKL Ghost Edition keyboard and Aerox 3 Wireless Ghost Edition mouse. The mouse will set you back $99, and the keyboard will cost $149. SteelSeries' Ghost collection is here to make your gaming a bit more ghoulish, just in time for the month of Halloween. On offer are the Apex 7 TKL Ghost Edition keyboard and Aerox 3 Wireless Ghost Edition mouse, both of which will cost you a pretty penny. The keyboard has a detachable magnetic wrist rest, a built-in OLED Smart Display, and per-key RGB illumination. It also sports a Series 5000 Aircraft-grade aluminum frame. It'll cost you $149. Take note that a lot of its features are what you'll find in the best gaming keyboards. As for the mouse, it has a 200-hour battery life (in Bluetooth mode) and suppo...

21/09/2021 - 19:00

Versatile convertible Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (9310) From $1,098 at Dell Pros 11th Gen Intel "Tiger Lake" CPUs 16:10 aspect ratio displays Dual Thunderbolt 4 and Wi-Fi 6 Thin and light premium build Supports active pen for inking Cons RAM and SSD not upgradeable Starts at a higher price Dell's XPS 13 2-in-1 offers more versatility thanks to a convertible design, and it's packing Intel's 10nm+ 11th Gen Core processors (CPU) and fast RAM for excellent performance. It might not have user-upgradeable hardware, but for many people it will be the go-to pick. Especially if you need active pen support. Stunning Ultrabook Dell XPS 13 (9310) From $1,000 at Dell Pros 11th Gen Intel "Tiger Lake" CPUs 16:10 display options Premium build that's thin and light Upgradeable SSD Cheaper starting price Cons No converting to tent, stand, or tablet modes No inking support The standard XPS 13 is a proven Ultrabook that's seen a slight hardware update for the 9310 model. It's not as v...

21/09/2021 - 18:08

Halo Infinite doubles down on its new tier-based battle pass. What you need to know Halo Infinite won't ship with a traditional XP-based ranking system like past Halo games, 343 Industries has confirmed. Halo Infinite progression centers around paid and free battle pass tracks, its new tier-based approach to cosmetic rewards. The game will also have "Ranked" playlists with associated "skill ranks" at launch, coupled with exclusive rewards. The studio hasn't ruled out an XP ranking system for its future post-launch updates, stating the team is "actively exploring" what's ahead for multiplayer. Halo Infinite won't have a dedicated XP-based multiplayer ranking system at launch, developer 343 Industries has confirmed. The studio has stated that the title won't ship with "an entirely separate, incremental system" for progression akin to recent Halo games, focusing on its new battle pass. With Halo Infinite slated to debut on Dec. 8, 2021, 343 Industries has provided a deeper insight...

21/09/2021 - 18:00

For those who want to break into the wireless headset space without breaking their bank balance. LucidSound proves itself time and time again to be among the more consistent headset manufacturers on the market. Their LS35X has enjoyed favorable placements on our best Xbox Series X, S headsets roundup for many months, and I think this budget-tier offering may also find its way onto there very soon too. Recently, Microsoft launched a budget wireless Xbox headset which fell short on sound quality across the board. While LucidSound's LS15X does make some compromises, it absolutely nails the fundamentals and defies its price point with very impressive audio and features, giving you a significant saving in the process. LucidSound LS15X review: Price and availability What's good What's not good The competition Should you buy? LucidSound LS15X ...

21/09/2021 - 17:37

Minecraft is about to get a little bit better on every platform around. What you need to know While Mojang Studios works hard on the next major update for Minecraft, the current release continues to improve. The Minecraft: Bedrock Edition 1.17.30 patch update is now releasing on all platforms, with plenty of fixes and changes. This release is still part of 1.17 'Caves and Cliffs Update' Part One, so don't expect any significant new features here. However, this release does feature some experimental features from the 1.18 'Caves and Cliffs Update' release that people can now test. Minecraft players all over the world are currently enjoying 1.17 Caves and Cliffs Update Part One, while Mojang Studios tirelessly develops the second half of the major release. Today, however, players who aren't at the forefront of early Minecraft betas and snapshots can pick up a new patch update with the release of Minecraft: Bedrock Edition 1.17.30, which is currently rolling out to all platforms. A...

21/09/2021 - 17:35

From now until Sept. 27, you can buy one Oculus Quest 2 VR headset through the Oculus website and save $100 on a second one. This includes the 128GB version and the 256GB version, and you can even buy one then the other. The minimum amount of money you're going to pay here is $498 when you buy two $299 128GB headsets and save $100 off that total. While the Oculus Quest 2 isn't suffering from the same stock issues it had during last year's holiday season, you definitely won't find a deal like this at retailers like Amazon or Best Buy where it's still going for full price no matter how many you buy. Oculus Quest 2 | Save $100 Explore the VR headset's extensive content library and even play games built for older generations with backwards compatibility. Has a high-resolution display and a super fast processor. All you need is a Facebook account to use it. Save $100 at Oculus The Oculus Quest 2 is a standalone VR headset. All you need is the hardware you're paying for, and you ca...

21/09/2021 - 17:30

The latest weekly maintenance has not gone well. What you need to know The Division 2 has had a weekly maintenance schedule pretty much since launch and usually, things go without trouble. That can't be said of the September 21 maintenance which has quite literally broken the game for many players. Ubisoft has acknowledged the issue with accessing characters and is working on a fix. If you were hoping to sit down and relax with a little jaunt to Washington or New York in The Division 2 today, you'll probably want to rethink your plans. After the regular weekly maintenance, an issue has occurred which it's fair to say is a game-breaker. Because many players can't access their characters. And without that, you can't play the game. Ubisoft Support has acknowledged the issue: Hey Agents! We are aware that some players are unable to access their characters after the latest maintenance. We are currently investigating this issue. Thank you for your patience!— Ubisoft Support (@Ubi...