Geek News

HP is getting into the game streaming arena -- though probably not in the way you'd expect. With the aptly titled "Omen Game Stream" app, it'll integrate the feature in all of its gaming PCs later this spring. Basically, you'll be able to take advantage of the powerful hardware from an Omen machine to play games on just about any PC over the internet. It's the sort of thing we've seen from NVIDIA and Valve, both of which offer in-home streaming solutions. With this app, HP could make life a lot easier for gamers who need their Overwatch fix when they're away from their rigs. At the heart of Omen Game Stream is technology from Parsec , which can deliver 1080p gaming at up up 60 frames per second. As usual with these types of solutions, what you're actually seeing is a video of what the more powerful machine is outputting. In a brief controlled demo from HP, the app appeared to deliver a smooth experience while streaming some modern games. But of...

HP's Sprout all-in-one PCs have always been intriguing: they're ideal 3D capture machines, thanks to their unique cameras. But they're also inconvenient if you already have a powerful computer and monitor of your own. That's where the new Z 3D camera comes in. HP basically ripped out the 3D capture feature from the Sprout Pro and turned it into a portable accessory that can be attached to almost any monitor (as long as it has a flat back). It'll let VR artists and other 3D creators easily capture real-world objects, without needing to invest in a specialized PC. Additionally, you'll also be able to capture 2D documents and collaborate over live video with the Z 3D camera. Of course, it can't fit in all of the features from the Sprout computers. There's no desk projection, and consequently none of the unique multitouch features that take advantage of that. But it could still be useful for anyone who needs to add 3D capture to their workflow. Since it...

It turns out HP has another Envy x2 hybrid laptop coming this year, in addition to the Snapdragon-powered model it unveiled last month. As you'd expect, instead of a mobile chip, it features an Intel 7th-generation Core processor (a pity HP couldn't fit in an 8th-generation chip) along with optional LTE connectivity. It's more of a traditional Surface competitor for people who aren't yet ready to adopt a Snapdragon chip for their computing needs. And based on what we've seen, it'll offer up some worthy competition to Microsoft's machines. It's tough to tell the Intel-powered Envy x2 apart from its Snapdragon sibling. They both feature 12.3-inch 1080p screens, and well, they look like Surface clones. The big difference between the two is how their included keyboard cases connect to their screens. This model relies on an origami-like fold to prop up the tablet portion, like the iPad Pro, while the Snapdragon version houses an articulating kickstand. H...

You'd be hard pressed to see a big difference between HP's last Spectre x360 15, and the new version of the convertible it's debuting at CES. Aside from the slightly edgier styling this year, with sharp corners and lines replacing friendlier rounded ones, they look pretty similar. Just like its smaller sibling , the new Spectre x360 15 is mostly an incremental upgrade, with faster hardware meant to make it a better MacBook Pro competitor. That's unfortunate if you were hoping for something truly new, but it's still a solid machine on paper for content creators. The big update this time around: 8th generation quad-core Intel Core processors, as well as your choice of Radeon RX Vega M or NVIDIA GeForce MX150 graphics. The GPU options are a bit disappointing if you were hoping to see more powerful components, like NVIDIA's 10-series lineup, but they're still a step beyond the GeForce 940MX from the last Spectre. HP has also added a fingerprint reader along ...