Microsoft ends Surface Plus financing program

One way to get easy access to a Microsoft Surface device was through the Surface Plus financing program. Financed by Stockholm-based online financial services provider Klarna, the program was targeted towards students and other people who needed a more affordable way to purchase a Surface device. This program let them spread payments over a 24-month period. It also let customers upgrade to the latest device after 18 months with the caveat that the previous device is still in good working condition. But it seems “after much thought and consideration” Microsoft is shutting down this program. The company stopped taking enrollments at the end of August.  

If you are an existing customer though, this change won’t affect you. You are still covered by your existing financing plan. You will also still be able to upgrade your Surface device under the plan’s terms. It also doesn’t affect existing warranty plans. And for those who availed the Surface Plus for Business payment plans, that one still looks like it’s going to continue. 

Source: TechCrunch 

These are the PC system requirements for playing ‘Shadow of the Tomb Raider’

Wondering if your machine can handle the upcoming Lara Croft-led game? Square Enix recently released the official PC system requirements for Shadow of the Tomb Raider. It wouldn’t take much to start playing the game. The minimum requirements include an Intel Core i3-3220, 8GB of RAM, and either an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660/1050 or an AMD Radeon HD 7770 graphics card. Now, if you want the best experience possible, Square Enix recommends a beefier Intel Core i7-4770K or Ryzen 5 1600 processor, 16GB of RAM, either a GTX 1060 6GB or RX 480, and 40GB of hard disk space. Aside from being available on the PC, Shadow of the Tomb Raider is coming to the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 starting September 14th. 

Source: TweakTown 

Huawei takes on Qualcomm with new Kirin 980 processor

While it is meant to best its previous generation processor, Huawei’s newest system-on-a-chip, the Kirin 980 is actually setting its sights on its competition, specifically the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845. Qualcomm’s chip is after all powering all the latest flagships, outside of Huawei’s own devices. And it wants to remind the market that they have stepped up their game. It’s the first 7nm processor to pack in 6.9 billion transistors into a chip not bigger than a thumbnail. Compared to the 10nm process, it’s said to perform 20 percent better and be 40 percent more efficient.

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Latest Google Pixel 3 XL leak comes from back of a Lyft

It's remarkable how crazy this year's been for major smartphone launch leaks. No major smartphone manufacturer has been spared by early and embarrassing looks at their upcoming products and now Google has had another major Pixel 3 XL leak from the most unlikely source.

We get to see a real-live Pixel 3 XL, this isn't from a stolen pallet of devices or from a publicly accessible video stream but from the back of a Lyft. Someone with early access to the device left it in a Lyft car they were riding. Coincidentally, the Lyft driver mistook the lost phone for his own Pixel 2 XL (what are the chances). The driver noticed the large notch on the face of the the phone and realized he was looking at a still unannounced Google Pixel XL.

The story has a happy ending as the owner and the Pixel 3 XL were reunited, but not before the Lyft driver took a bunch of photos of the device and shared it with the world at larger. So here we are,another look at what Google has in store come October.

Source: Android Police via Engadget