PCWorld Apr-15

Watch the video at go.pcworld.com/winvid YOU KNOW THAT moment in spy thrillers when the hero suddenly realizes the scope of the evil genius’s nefarious plan? I had a moment like that at Mobile World Congress, when I sat down to talk with Greg Sullivan, Microsoft’s Windows Phone Director of Public Relations. Not that anything he said was evil. He just made me stop short and realize why Windows 10 really could change everything for Microsoft. The reason why is encapsulated in one number: 1.5 billion. That’s how many Windows users exist worldwide, according to Sullivan. “We expect many will upgrade,” Sullivan said. How many? “Very many,” he repeated, with a dastardly smile. Now’s the time when the hero puts together all the clues. A lot of people will upgrade to Windows 10. Windows…

EVERY MARCH, THE biggest hardware makers in the world converge in Barcelona, Spain, dragging their latest and greatest gadgets with them. The avalanche of new smartwatches, phones, and tablets stretches far and wide; just trying to see each device is difficult, much less touch them all. But a small handful of gadgets inevitably stand out from the crowd. This year was no different. These are the best smartphones, watches, and gadgets we saw at Mobile World Congress 2015. Samsung Galaxy S6 With the Galaxy S6 (go.pcworld.com/s6) it’s like Samsung is giving us almost everything we ever asked for—even if they’re taking away the removable battery and SD card slot in the process. It’s got a gorgeous metal and glass body, a touch fingerprint sensor you don’t have to swipe, an impressive new camera…

APPLE’S AUDACIOUS NEW 12-inch MacBook (go.pcworld.com/mb) is a beautiful example of an elegant, laser-focused laptop, from its ultra-svelte chassis to its fanless design and its cutting-edge layered batteries. But such a ruthless focus on streamlining requires sacrifice—sacrifice personified by the 12-inch MacBook’s spartan exterior, which sports only an audio jack and a single Type-C USB connector. These are the technologies that died so that the 12-inch MacBook may live. Adiós Fans Laptop fans help processors stay cool while they’re performing tasks—but Intel’s been on a quest to eradicate fans for years, and the 12-inch MacBook is the epitome of that. The new MacBook uses a modestly clocked Core M “Broadwell” processor. While PC makers typically pair Core M with a fan, Apple’s sticking to a 5-watt version that doesn’t use a fan at all.…

TWO YEARS IS eons in tech time, and that’s how long we’ve had to wait for a new Chromebook Pixel. Yes, this is a new version of the super-premium, high-priced flagship that debuted to oohs, ahhs, and whys in early 2013, when most Chromebooks were little cheap plastic things, and desktop applications dominated. Not everyone saw the potential of a high-priced browser box (go.pcworld.com/hmm). Fast-forward two years: Chromebook sales are strong, and we’re living more in the cloud than ever. As “Pixel 2” rumors (go.pcworld.com/p2) swirled in recent weeks, we honestly wondered how much more this machine could have than it already does. Now we have our answer. There’s no sign of tablet-like functionality as rumored, but this new Pixel is once again touting a vision of greater online things to come.…

AFTER A LONG delay, Valve’s bid to replace your living room console with a true-blue gaming PC is finally taking shape. Valve and its partners revealed a whopping 15 new Steam Machines during GDC, and virtually every price point and internal component configuration was covered. (They’re all small, though—these are supposed to fit in a home theater cabinet.) Valve’s so serious that it even launched a new hardware section in the Steam store. Watch the video at go.pcworld.com/steamvid If you’re looking for impressions and video of the new Steam Machines, Gordon Mah Ung has you covered. Here, we’ll take a peek at each and every new Steam Machine announced, from iBuyPower’s $450 SBX to crazy $5000 rigs from Falcon Northwest and Origin. PCWorld’s massive graphics card performance round-up (go.pcworld.com/gcards) can help you…

IF YOU WANT the Nexus 5, you won’t find it in the new Google Store. Google confirmed it’s done selling the last-generation flagship, a real downer for those who want a stock Android device that’s a more practical size (and price) than the Nexus 6. While our Nexus 6 review (go.pcworld.com/6rv) found a lot to like in this gargantuan sized phone, it’s definitely not for everyone. Alternatives to Nexus 5 If mining the used phone market for a Nexus 5 or recently retired Google Play Edition device isn’t for you, then let us offer some alternatives: If it’s the stock Android experience and timely updates you’re after, the Moto X (go.pcworld.com/mx) is a solid option. With a 5.2 inch 1080p AMOLED screen it’s a real looker, and the few add-ons Motorola includes are…