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AMD fires back at ‘Super’ NVIDIA with Radeon 5700 price cuts

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AMD just unveiled its new Radeon 5700 line of graphics cards with 7nm chips at E3 last month, and with just days to go before they launch on July 7th, the company has announced new pricing. In the “spirit” of competition that it says is “heating up” in the graphics market — specifically NVIDIA’s “Super” new RTX cards — all three versions of the graphics card will be cheaper than we thought.

The standard Radeon 5700 with 36 compute units and speeds of up to 1.7GHz was originally announced at $379, but will instead hit shelves at $349 — the same price as NVIDIA’s RTX 2060. The 5700 XT card that brings 40 compute units and up to 1.9GHz speed will be $50 cheaper than expected, launching at $399. The same goes for the 50th Anniversary with a slightly higher boost speed and stylish gold trim that will cost $449 instead of $499.

That’s enough to keep them both cheaper than the $499 Super RTX 2070 — we’ll have to wait for the performance reviews to find out if it’s enough to make sure they’re still relevant.



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The best projectors

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Best 4K projector for home theater

If you want to set up a dedicated home theater in a basement or spare room and need a projector that can handle high dynamic range and wide-color-gamut material, choose the JVC DLA-NX5. This model provides the best combination of high contrast, high dynamic range, rich colors, and increased detail, and it’s more affordable than other 4K projectors. But due to the light requirements of high dynamic range, the image looks best in a completely dark room.

Why we like it

  • The JVC’s high contrast ratio creates deeper blacks than most 4K projectors offer, which allows it to show more details in dark scenes and make everything on the screen pop more, especially HDR content.
  • The wide-color-gamut support allows the projector to show most of the DCI/P3 color gamut from 4K content. This feature lets you see colors in 4K content that you can’t see with lower-performing projectors.
  • The projector’s high dynamic range support lets you see improved detail in highlights and bright areas of images that other 4K projectors can’t show as effectively.
  • A motorized lens with lens shift plus several preset image modes for different screen brands make this projector easier to set up than most others.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

  • It’s very large. Like other 4K projectors, this one needs to be permanently mounted, so you can’t pull it out to watch a movie and put it away after you’re done.
  • It needs a dark room, especially for HDR. If you’re watching in a living room with the lights on, you might not see much benefit over cheaper models.

Image technology: Three-chip LCoS

Resolution: Native 4K (3840×2160)

Lens shift: Vertical and horizontal, motorized

Read more about all our picks in our guide to the best home theater projectors.

Best affordable home entertainment projector

If you don’t want to spend a ton of money but still need a projector that produces a bright, colorful image and works well for both dedicated rooms and those with some ambient light, our pick offers the best combination of performance and value for most people. The BenQ HT2050A offers better contrast, color, and brightness than any projector in its class.

Why we like it

  • It offers the most accurate colors you can get from a projector for under $1,000.
  • It’s bright enough for a living room and can overcome some ambient light if you don’t want to use it in a completely dark room.
  • Out of the box this projector can produce a good image with very little adjustment, which means it’s good for people new to projectors.

Projector

Photo: Chris Heinonen

Flaws but not dealbreakers

  • The fan can be a little loud, but not enough that speakers at a moderate volume can’t cover the noise.
  • It’s not really portable. If you want a projector you can carry around with you, our mini-projector picks are much more portable but can’t produce as large of an image.
  • In some images there’s a slight red tint in 3D mode, which is common to projectors in this price range.

Image technology: Single-chip DLP

Resolution: HD (1920×1080)

Audio: 10 watts per channel

Read more about this pick and others in our cheap projector guide.

Best mini projector

If you need a small, compact projector you can easily put away, or even carry around with you in a backpack, a mini projector (also called a pico projector) might be your best fit. The Anker Nebula Mars II delivers the best combination of features, performance, and ease of use of any mini projector we tested. It offers plenty of connection options, and it features the Android TV operating system to stream services like Netflix and Hulu. Its automatic focus and keystoning, well-laid-out remote, and intuitive mobile remote app make the Mars II the easiest projector to set up and use, and its almost-four-hour battery life was the best of the bunch. Though its picture quality was not the absolute best of the group, the Mars II doesn’t have any major flaws on this front, emitting a picture that’s bright, detailed, and relatively color accurate.

Why we like it

  • The Mars II produces a bright, accurate image with good contrast ratio and detail for this category of projectors.
  • The built-in battery gives you nearly four hours of playtime, and the built-in speakers mean you don’t have to add a Bluetooth speaker.
  • The Mars II automatically focuses and vertically keystones its image so that it’s always optimized for your desired throw distance and angle, no matter where you place it.
  • It includes standard HDMI and USB ports, plus a 3.5 mm audio output to connect an external speaker.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

  • It’s big for a mini projector (you can fit it in a backpack—but you won’t be able to fit much else).
  • It’s image quality isn’t quite as good as that of other mini projectors we tested.

Projector

Photo: Sarah Kobos

Image technology: DLP

Resolution: HD (1280×800)

Audio: 10 watt × 2

Battery: nearly four hours

You can read more about this projector and others in our full guide to portable mini projectors.

Best projector for small spaces

In order to create a large image most projectors need to be positioned far from the screen. This distance is called the throw distance, and can be anywhere from 8 to 15 feet, depending on the projector and desired image size. Short-throw projectors are convenient for small rooms or other situations where space is limited. The BenQ HT2150ST can sit much closer to the screen than a standard projector, and is bright enough to use in a room with some ambient light.

Why we like it

  • It works in spaces other projectors can’t, producing a 100-inch image with only a couple feet of space.
  • It produces a bright image that can work in a room that gets some ambient light.
  • Its integrated speaker and small size make it easy to store when not being used.

Projector

Photo: Chris Heinonen
Flaws but not dealbreakers

  • The short-throw lens can cause some fringing artifacts that you might notice.
  • It’s bright, but the colors aren’t as accurate as those of the non-short-throw BenQ HT2050A.

Image technology: Single-chip DLP

Resolution: HD (1920×1080)

Audio: 10 watts per channel

You can read more about this projector here.

An awesome 1080p projector for a dedicated home theater

If you don’t need 4K, the Sony VPL-HW45ES is an awesome choice choice for a home theater projector. It offers great contrast, accurate colors, low input lag for gaming, a flexible lens for an easy install, quiet operation, and plenty of light output—all at a relatively affordable price. It’s best in a dedicated, light-controlled room, where the image can pop while the letterbox bars disappear in the dark, leading to a more immersive viewing experience overall.

Why we like it

  • The built-in image reference preset produces a remarkably accurate picture right out of the box, without the need for professional calibration (unless that’s what you want).
  • With the input-lag-reduction feature turned on, it has one of the lowest lag rates of any projector that we’ve tested.
  • It has excellent image quality, including a contrast ratio that produces blacks that are five times darker than our entry-level projector pick’s.

Projector

Photo: Chris Heinonen
Flaws but not dealbreakers

  • It lacks a few necessities for homes with automation setups, including an Ethernet port and a 12-volt trigger output.
  • It doesn’t have any analog video inputs, so if you have a device that connects via composite, S-Video, or component, you’ll need to invest in a receiver or other adapter that converts analog to HDMI.
  • It also requires a separate sound system to play audio.

Image technology: Three-chip SXRD

Resolution: HD (1920×1080)

You can read more about awesome projectors here.

A great screen for the money

If you have a projector, you should get a screen. Most modern projectors are bright enough to throw a decent image on just about any close-enough-to-white surface, but you won’t get accurate colors without a proper screen. A screen has less texture than a wall, plus it will add pop to the image, because paint almost always has less gain (that is, it reflects less light) than a screen, meaning the image will appear dimmer than is ideal. The Silver Ticket 100″ performs as well as screens costing thousands of dollars.

Why we like it

  • The Silver Ticket 100″ can display accurate colors with good viewing angles without hotspots.
  • Its performance is nearly as good as that of models costing far more.
  • It’s easier to assemble than many of its competitors.

Projector

Photo: Silver Ticket Products
Flaws but not dealbreakers

  • It offers no gain, so it won’t make your projector image brighter.
  • It’s a neutral screen, which means it reflects back any ambient light as well, so it needs a dark room.

Available sizes: 92 to 200 inches

Aspect ratio: 16:9 or 2.35:1

Gain: 1:1

Read about screen materials and our testing methods in the full guide to the best projector screen.

This guide may have been updated by Wirecutter. To see the current recommendation, please go here.

When readers choose to buy Wirecutter’s independently chosen editorial picks, Wirecutter and Engadget may earn affiliate commissions.

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MoviePass temporarily shuts down service to work on its app

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MoviePass says it will credit customers for the number of days that the service is down, and no new subscribers will be enrolled. “There’s never a good time to have to do this,” said CEO Mitch Lowe. “But to complete the improved version of our app, one that we believe will provide a much better experience for our subscribers, it has to be done.”

Movie ticket subscription services are clearly a challenge to run. This spring MoviePass competitor Sinemia shut down shortly after customers said their accounts were wrongfully terminated. MoviePass has experimented with new plans, offering its original $9.95 unlimited plan, free movie tickets in exchange for watching ads and more. It’s hard to say whether the benefits of improving the app will outweigh the headache of interrupting the service.



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Research group says America’s favorite TV size is now 65 inches

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One main reason for that seemingly odd trend is that manufacturers hoarded vast inventories of TVs ahead of a planned 25 percent tariff on Chinese products. However, the US and China cooled their trade war somewhat after a meeting between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping at G20, with Trump confirming the US would not impose that tariff for now. That left manufacturers with mountains of TVs they had to shift, and reducing prices is a key way to clear out the backlog.

Elsewhere, you might see a dip in prices on 32-inch displays this month, as those are said to be in oversupply too. The report also suggests some manufacturers will increase the ratio of production of 55-inch displays, as much as 4 percent year over year, which could also lead to a price drop in screens at that size.

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New trailer for ‘Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution’ is full of Pokémon nostalgia

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The original Pokémon The First Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back was a hit with children but a critical flop, though it still has a strong pull of nostalgia over a whole generation of Pokémon fans. Particularly in Japan, where the movie was received better than it was in the West.

The new version, Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution, moves away from the hand-drawn animation style of the original that many people grew up with but will keep the same plot, featuring cloned psychic Pokémon Mewtwo, which seeks revenge on humanity for mistreating him.

The trailer also reveals two voice actors who will reprise their roles from the original movie, Sachiko Kobayashi as Voyager (previously Miranda) and Kōichi Yamadera as Mew. And the film will feature a soundtrack by Rita Ora, who starred in Detective Pikachu as well.

The Pokémon franchise has gained huge momentum of late, with the ongoing popularity of the Pokémon Go game and the surprise hit of Detective Pikachu with audiences worldwide. The animation of Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution hits the same spot between cute and creepy that Detective Pikachu did, so maybe that success can be replicated with this time around.

The film will be released in Japan on July 12th, and will be coming to the West in the form of an English dub later this year.

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Gogoro brings its on-demand electric scooter rentals to Taiwan

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The Taiwan-based company already sells its Smartscooters in Taiwan, and it operates ridesharing programs in Berlin and Paris. In those cities, Gogoro works with Coup (a subsidiary of automotive-parts supplier Bosch). In Taiwan, GoShare will be fully owned and operated by Gogoro, and the pilot fleet will include about 1,000 Smartscooters.

The GoShare app will show riders nearby, available scooters, as well as their remaining battery capacities. Riders will use the app to upload their driver’s license and payment info. Facial recognition tech will authenticate their identification, and when they’re ready, the app will unlock their ride. When riders are done, they can park the two-wheeled EVs wherever it’s legal to park scooters. Gogoro hopes the end-to-end approach that uses the Gogoro Network, Gogoro Smartscooters and GoShare app will make the ridesharing system easier to use and operate, and therefore more appealing to cities around the globe.

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VW will reportedly share its electric car platform with Ford

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The companies are poised to talk about extending the partnership at a July 11th meeting, according to one of the sources.

Neither VW nor Ford is willing to discuss the finer points of negotiations, although spokespeople for both said they were making progress.

If the agreement holds, this could have a far-reaching effect on both companies as well as the industry at large. VW would land one of its largest rivals as a customer, guaranteeing a major influence over the near future of EVs and autonomous driving. Ford, meanwhile, could fast track its electrification plans and focus more on the finer points of design than the basics. As for drivers? A deal would reduce the amount of variety in EV and driverless options, but the commonality could improve the economies of scale and make the technology more affordable.

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Konami says Sony made the call to drop ‘PES 2019’ from PS Plus freebies

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“This decision was made by Sony and so please make an inquiry to Sony,” Konami bluntly told GameSpot. When Sony announced the swap, the European brand manager for PES told the same publication that Konami was caught by surprise. “I cannot really tell you what happened because I just found out today, in the morning when I opened my laptop. I can’t really explain,” Lennart Bobzien said.

Sony didn’t offer any deeper explanation on the call in its own statement. “We have decided to make a change to the PS Plus games lineup this month, and will be offering Detroit: Become Human Digital Deluxe Edition instead of PES 2019,” it said. “This was a decision we decided to make as a company, and we apologize for any inconvenience.”

It’s possible some kind of late contractual issue might have led to the switch, as Eurogamer suggests, though Sony might simply have been trying to placate fans who weren’t pleased about the inclusion of PES. In any case, Sony seems to have annoyed Konami as well as players who were looking forward to picking up the soccer sim as part of their PS Plus plans. Others had also bought Detroit: Become Human at a discount in last month’s Days of Play sale, so Sony might have ticked off those gamers with the swap too.

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IHMC’s Atlas robot can navigate its own way through tight spaces

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When Boston Dynamics created the Atlas robot for a DARPA challenge in 2013, it could walk but its steps had to be determined by a human operator and inputted through a user interface. The robot has been considerably improved since then and has shown an impressive degree of agility, but it still had a tendency to fall when walking. Especially when a surface is uneven, it’s hard for legged robots to calculate where to place their feet to keep their balance upright.

New software now from the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC) lets Atlas walk with a human instructing it. The software surveys the environment using the robot’s sensors and segmenting it into sections. Each section is then interpreted into a series of polygons to create a model of the environment, so the robot can plan out each of its steps to get from its starting point to its goal.

This means Atlas can cover both flat and rough terrain and squeeze between narrow spaces. This is important for the aim of aiding in disaster areas, in which fallen rubble makes it difficult for traditional rescue services to get access.

Another robot developed by NASA’s Johnson Space Center, called Valkyrie, has a similar trick up its sleeve, planning only a few steps ahead as it moves. This means it can adapt to changes in its path or goal very quickly.

Combining the two insights from both Atlas and Valkyrie, robots can now walk over flat ground, stepping stones, stairs and piles of cinder blocks. It looks like robots could be acting as first responders and delivering packages sooner than we thought.

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Extreme E reveals the car that will race across glaciers and deserts

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The machine is an absolute beast. It uses a niobium-reinforced steel alloy tubular frame and chunky 940mm wheels with, depending on the terrain, winter or summer tyres supplied by Continental. The racing juggernaut weighs 1,650kg and can go from nought to 62MPH (100KMH) in 4.5 seconds. That already-impressive time can also be achieved at gradients of up to 130 percent, according to the Goodwood editorial team. And here’s the best part — this isn’t the car’s final form. Twelve teams will be given this “base” version to tweak and develop throughout the competition.

The full dozen should be delivered by March 2020. The teams will then test their vehicles throughout the year and, if all goes to plan, start racing in early 2021. Extreme E hopes the competition will spark discussion about climate change and how electrified vehicles can help protect the environment. Running the races could prove tricky, however. The organizers have already realized that its dream courses will be in harsh, remote locations with little power, connectivity and infrastructure. To solve this problem, it bought a massive boat — the RMS St. Helena — that will be converted into a floating paddock and scientific research hub.

It’s easy to be skeptical. The team has already delivered one EV motorsport, however — so maybe they deserve the benefit of the doubt?

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