Space

NASA’s Perseverance rover has yet to collect any rock and soil on the red planet, but the space agency already is working hard on the Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission so it can bring any samples it collects to Earth. The space agency this week announced it has awarded the Mars Ascent Propulsion System (MAPS) contract to Virginia-based Northrop Grumman for the development of a Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV), a critical part of the effort to bring samples collected by Perseverance to Earth. Worth up to $84.5 million, the contract will see Northrop Grumman provide mission apparatus for NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, which is responsible for the MSR mission’s MAV element. Perseverance, which arrived on the Martian surface a couple of weeks ago, will spend the next two years exploring inside Jezero Crater for signs of past life . Should the rover come across any rock and soil samples of interest, the plan is to cache them for transportation to Earth as … [Read more...] about NASA lays groundwork for ambitious Mars Sample Return mission

Spectre and XPS have been the most premium laptop brands for years now, and the most recent entries in those lines have taken things to another level. The HP Spectre x360 14 and the Dell XPS 13 are undoubtedly two of the best laptops you can buy . Don’t let HP’s name fool you: The HP Spectre x360 14 uses a 13.5-inch 3:2 display and is officially in the same class as the Dell XPS 13 . They also both now use a 16:10 aspect ratio, making for a similarly shaped design. Comparing them makes sense beyond just their displays, though — if you’re looking for a 13-inch laptop, then these two machines should be at the top of your list. Design The convertible 2-in-1 Spectre x360 14 and clamshell XPS 13 couldn’t be more different in their aesthetic approaches. The Spectre wants to not only stand out in a crowd, but it also wants to be the center of attention with its gem-cut design and brightly colored accents (the color depends on the model). The XPS 13, on the other hand, wants to … [Read more...] about HP Spectre x360 14 vs. Dell XPS 13: Two amazing laptops, compared

This past September, Intel announced the introduction of its 11th-gen Tiger Lake processors, which, coupled with its Xe integrated graphics, would go under the platform name of Intel Evo . This platform was designed to allow ultraportable laptops to get the best performance in terms of graphics when it comes to gaming and design. Along with this new platform, Intel also announced a certification program; in order for a laptop to wear the Intel Evo badge, it would have to meet key experience targets for responsiveness, instant wake, long-lasting battery life, and fast charge, as well as include Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, Thunderbolt 4 ports, USB-C charging. Almost immediately afterward, Acer unveiled its first Intel Evo–certified laptops in the form of its new version of the Swift 5 Ultrabook and two new iterations of its Swift 3 laptop. The new Swift machines became available in November, with the Swift 5 starting at $999 and the 13.5-inch (3:2 aspect ratio) and 14-inch (16:9 … [Read more...] about Acer Swift’s impressive Intel Evo–certified laptops are just $770 Amazon

What a difference a year makes, especially for 5G. The new mobile network tech, which seemed almost futuristic a year ago, is widely available today, especially in big cities where the 5G rollout has been prioritized. As such, the AT&T 5G network has expanded and covers more than 14,000 cities and towns throughout the U.S. (see our 5G coverage map for details). If you have 5G coverage, it’s likely on a sub-6 network, which is more available right now. Sub-6 relies on lower frequencies to deliver a larger wireless network, but with a tradeoff in speed, which may be only marginally faster than 4G. Another 5G variant called mmWave (millimeter wave), differs in that the network’s radio waves are much faster than sub-6 networks, offering multi-gigabit speeds at various points. It relies on frequencies that can travel short distances but cannot penetrate obstacles like walls or windows. Sub-6 frequencies travel further, sometimes a distance of miles, but the connections can’t … [Read more...] about The best 5G phones for AT&T

Increasingly, we are asked to sign forms online, but signing a digital document can get tricky. Digital signature apps bypass the tiresome print-sign-scan cycle of signing digital documents and allow you to quickly and easily put digital pen to digital paper, signing online documents with your name, a preset signature, or whatever scrawl you can manage on your phone, tablet, or laptop touchscreen. Digital signature apps are great timesavers because any important agreements you get in your inbox can be digitally signed and returned by email. Digital signature apps are not something you use every day, but they do come in handy when the occasion arrives. Whether you keep it on your device all the time or just install it when needed, here are some of the best digital signing apps for iOS and Android . Adobe Fill & Sign If you need an Adobe-certified app to sign your document, then Adobe Fill & Sign is the best one out there. Signing a document is easy — just create a … [Read more...] about The best digital signing apps for iOS and Android