Apple : Best Smart TV 2019: every smart TV platform ranked, rated and reviewed |
- Best Smart TV 2019: every smart TV platform ranked, rated and reviewed
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| Best Smart TV 2019: every smart TV platform ranked, rated and reviewed Posted: 24 Jan 2019 03:00 PM PST Smart TVs are so common now that using the word 'smart' almost seems unnecessary. It's rare you'll find a new TV that doesn't come with some form of smart capability - whether that's LG's WebOS, Samsung's Tizen or Google's Android TV that's used on Sony and Hisense TVs. And while the majority of these smart TV platforms function similarly by giving you access to apps, streaming services and basic smart home functionality, they each have their pros and cons - and for that reason we've put together a guide to the best smart TV platforms you'll find on new sets in 2019 and beyond. We've come a long way from the early days of TV smart capability, marked by awful performance, non-existent software updates, and a general lack of manufacturer support. We want to explore what makes new platforms so great and provide you some insight as to which screens have the best performance. Smart TV: The State of the UnionSo just where do we stand on Smart TVs? Do you know your Roku TV from your SmartCast? Your Tizen from webOS? If not, this section is for you. In 2018, there are five main smart operating systems: Android TV, webOS, Tizen, Roku TV and SmartCast that are used by Sony, LG, Samsung, TCL and Vizio, respectively. In the UK, you'll find that Philips also uses Android while Panasonic uses its own proprietary system called MyHomeScreen. The vast majority of TVs use the operating systems listed above - but not all TVs. At lower price points, you probably won't find any of the above as most TV manufacturers offer a narrow proprietary service instead. These will vary between manufacturers, however, by and large, they're not as good as the ones listed above for the sheer reason that they aren't updated as frequently. When in doubt, try to buy one a TV with one of the above. That said, if you're completely undecided on which smart TV to buy, it's worth considering the value of each of these smart systems - which we'll list below. (Scale: Awful, Bad, OK, Good, Better, Best)
Android TV (found on 2019 Sony 4K and OLED TVs) Setup: OK | Ease of use: Good | Speed: OK | Number of apps: Better | Universal search: Better
Android TV is the nearest the smart TV universe has to a standardized operating system, but there are still variations between brand executions. Sony has the most comprehensive Google solution. For UK viewers, it has rather cleverly layered a YouView program guide platform on top, deftly addressing one of Android TV’s big weaknesses – catch-up TV provision. This YouView app ensures that all the main catch-up services are provided, and accessible via a roll-back 7-day EPG. Other supporters of Android TV are Philips (via maker TP Vision) and in the US, Sharp and Hisense. It’s also available on the Nvidia Shield streaming device. While other TV platforms make a virtue of their minimalism, Android stacks the screen with various layers of content: There’s also a row of specific Sony selected content, followed by apps for Netflix, Amazon Video, links to the Google Play Store, Google Play Music, Google Play Movies and TV, YouTube and so on. Owners of Android phones/tablets can use their device to control Android TVs via Sony’s TV SideView app, and Google Assistant continues to get more and more useful with its own Android TV integration. Android TV devices also have Chromecast built-in, which simplifies streaming from mobile Android devices (iOS users can download the AirBuddy app to Google Cast). Controllers from Logitech and Razer also promise gaming without needing a console. There is a caveat though. In our experience, Android is the least stable of the various smart platforms, with Sony TVs exhibiting more than their fair share of failures – it’s not unusual to be notified that various aspects of the Android platform have stopped working, and some of these messages are completely inscrutable (usually the best option is to simply restart the TV). To be fair to Google, this is becoming less of an issue as successive Android TV updates roll out – the latest incarnation is particularly slick on the Nvidia Shield, for example – but there's still room for improvement.
WebOS (found on 2019 LG OLED, Nano Cell and some UHD TVs) Setup: OK | Ease of use: Good | Speed: Better | Number of apps: Bad | Universal search: OK
LG rewrote the rulebook for smart TV platforms with its webOS, starting the trend for minimal, simplified user interfaces back in 2014. Since then it's been gradually refining its offering, leading us to the all-new WebOS 4.5 that's going to make its debut in 2019. The UI, which is still built around a Launch Bar for apps, inputs and features, remains tidy and customizable this year, plus you can change the running order to best suit how you use the set. If you like to Miracast images from your smartphone, grab the Screen Share app with LG's cursor-based Magic Remote and move up further up the pecking order. App support is excellent. Netflix streams 4K with both HDR and Dolby Vision, as well as Dolby Atmos audio when available. There's also Amazon with UHD HDR and YouTube in 4K. Other options include Now TV, Sky Store, Wuaki.TV, plus all the main channel catch-up services. As we’ve seen on earlier webOS builds, these streaming apps remain open and live, even when you navigate away from them. This means you can pause Star Trek Discovery, browse the TV listings for The Walking Dead, and then return to the action. Other cool features recently added to the platform include 360-degree video playback (from 360-degree videos on YouTube), support for both Google Assistant and Alexa, and an OLED still image gallery. LG screens also have Freeview Play in the UK, which means a full larder of catch-up television. For US viewers, there's Netflix, Amazon, YouTube and Google Play TV and Movies, as well as Hulu, VUDU, MLB.TV, and FandangoNow.
Tizen (found on Samsung 2019 QLED and NU-Series TVs) Setup: Good | Ease of use: Good | Speed: Better | Number of apps: Bad | Universal search: Bad
Samsung is another brand keen to keep things simple - its Tizen OS clearly owes much to LG's webOS interface, in so much as it consists of icons, apps and shortcuts all accessible via icons held a horizontal strip across the bottom of the screen. A dynamically changing ‘Recent’ box in the far-left corner cycles between recently used apps and TV channels. But it’s not overly intelligent as it stands right now, but that could change in the future when Samsung integrates its TV AI into Tizen. For now, we like the fact that on-screen icons can be changed: a sense of identity is welcome when it comes to some AV inputs and key apps you use everyday. The OS cuts down on clutter, although this sometimes works against navigation – there are plenty of occasions when it's necessary to go hunting for a specific app. Thankfully that's made easier by a Smart Hub multimedia page that divvies up content from apps and from your own USB sticks/home network. On some of the higher-end TVs, you'll also get Bixby built-in as well as Samsung SmartThings that allows your TV to act as the center of your connected home.
Roku TV (found on 2019 TCL and Hisense TVs) Setup: OK | Ease of use: Better | Speed: Better | Number of apps: Good | Universal search: Best
Despite Android TV and all the proprietary portals available, there's still room for other connected smart offerings. In Europe, Vestel has its own stripped back smart platform, which is used for TV companies it manufactures for, including Toshiba and JVC. It’s unfancy but does the basics. In the US, TV maker Element now offers a screen with Amazon’s Fire TV OS built in. But perhaps the most interesting second-division smart OS is Roku TV. Announced back in 2014 for TCL TVs, Roku TV has found support with low-cost US TV suppliers. Today, you can find Roku TV on quite a few Haier, Hisense, Insignia, Sharp and TCL TV models. As a platform, Roku TV borrows the interface and feature set from the company's popular media streamers, like the Roku Streaming Stick. What that means is that you'll find a universal search function able to scan over 30 different apps like Netflix, Google Play TV and Movies, Amazon, VUDU and more to find you the lowest price on the TV show or movie you want to watch, as well as around 4,500 channels of content to watch. Add to that some neat features like a dedicated app that helps you keep track of upcoming movies and TV shows via the My Feed section, and a private listening mode (via headphones that plug into the remote) when you want to watch TV without disturbing the whole house.
SmartCast (found on 2018 Vizio TVs) Setup: OK | Ease of use: OK | Speed: Bad | Number of apps: Good | Universal search: OK
SmartCast, on paper, is a great idea. It's all the fun extras of the Android TV platform - including the ability to Cast content to your screen - with a more logical layout. When you turn on a SmartCast TV be prepared to see three rows - one featured row that has huge marquee images to point you to specific shows or movies; one row for recommended content and one row for all your apps. If you want to drill down into specific content categories or settings, you can move to one of the other tabs (there's a tab for movies, TV shows, Support and Extras) or go to the top right of the screen to perform a search. Unfortunately, while SmartCast provides a lot of versatility in what you can stream, it's also one of the slower smart platforms and can misbehave on occasion.
MyHomeScreen (found on 2019 Panasonic TVs) Setup: OK | Ease of use: Good | Speed: Better | Number of apps: OK | Universal search: OK
If you live in the UK, Panasonic's My Home Screen 2.0 is one of the most customizable smart TV platforms around. Built on the open-source code of Mozilla’s Firefox TV OS, Panasonic's My Home Screen 2.0 smart TV interface combines an intuitive minimalism with extensive customization options. The platform looks simple but has some inspired functionality: the home screen launches with three buttons (Live TV, Apps and Devices), but you can pin more as required, perhaps for a favorite streaming service, or a specific input. There are now also folders for multiple users, while a My App button on the remote can be customised for faster access to favourite content. A revamped Media Player supports 4K HDR10 and HLG HDR, meanwhile. App provision is good. Netflix streams in 4K with HDR, and Amazon Video and YouTube also offer 4K support. Catch-up TV service support is integrated through the provision of Freeview Play. This includes iPlayer, ITVHub, Demand 5 and All4, and usability is great across the board. The OS is extremely convenient to live with, yet powerful enough to cater for a variety of different users, be they family members who just want their favorite channels pinned to the home screen, or TV enthusiasts keen to dive quickly between multiple sources.
What's the best smart TV?
At the heart of the OLED65E8’s smart features lies webOS: LG’s groundbreaking, oft-copied but never bettered interface. This still does a brilliant job of finding and organizing all the myriad content sources available to modern TV viewers, thanks to its simple, attractive layout, and effortless customizability. LG provides access to all of the main video streaming apps, including the full 4K, HDR implementations of Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and YouTube. UK users can also benefit from Sky’s Now TV platform, as well as Freeview Play, which provides the catch-up TV services of all the main UK terrestrial broadcasters in a handy umbrella interface. LG in Europe has also recently added Rakuten TV, providing the continent with its first film streaming platform that supports both Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos sound. The US, of course, can get such streams from VUDU. WebOS is no longer the be all and end all of LG’s smart features, though. There’s now a much enhanced voice recognition/control system, for instance, which provides straightforward access both to the TV’s features and an exceptionally comprehensive and effective voice search feature. This looks through (some) apps, the internet and the TV listings for answers to your content requests. The OLED65E8 is compatible with Alexa and (following a recent update) Google Assistant, and even has the potential to monitor and control other devices and appliances on your home network via its ThinQ platform. Our only issue with webOS is that the single scrolling bar of icons along the bottom of the screen can start to get pretty long once you’ve added a few of your own apps.
Panasonic’s My Home Screen smart platform is decidedly simple compared to much of the competition, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Currently on its third generation, it remains largely the same as the Firefox OS on which it was originally based. When you press the Home button on the remote, you get a choice of three options: Live TV, Apps, and Devices. This simplicity is the platform’s greatest strength, making it easy to navigate and find things by helpfully storing all the apps in single location; you can also pin your favorite apps to the home page for quicker access. Since the smart platform is relatively simple, it doesn’t require a vast amount of processing power to operate, which makes it responsive, robust, and free from crashes. My Home Screen isn’t fragmented like some platforms, nor does it bombard you with recommendations – it simply delivers all the streaming and catch-up services you need. Thanks to Freeview Play, a comprehensive list of catch-up services are included, covering BBC iPlayer, ITVhub, All4, My5, BBC News & Sport and UK Play. The iPlayer app supports 4K and HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma – the broadcast version of HDR), both of which the BBC trialled during the World Cup. There’s also Netflix, Amazon and YouTube, all of which support 4K and HDR, along with services like Rakuten and Chili Cinema. In fact the only major streaming service missing is NOW TV.
The A9F is unquestionably Sony’s best OLED offering to date, and arguably a strong contender for high-end screen of the year. When it comes to image quality and audio performance it’s deliciously impressive. While we experienced some minor issues with Android Oreo, the UX is now logical and inclusive. It no longer feels like you’re wrestling with an octopus. Oreo introduces plenty of nice new features, including a recently watched content rail, curated recommendations and a favorite channel listing. Thankfully, the UI is also significantly faster than previous Android TV OS implementations. It’s a massive upgrade all round. If you can live with the slightly idiosyncratic design, and afford the asking price, it’s a glorious UHD display.
While the 65Q9FN’s Smart TV system is based closely around the Eden platform Samsung has been busy refining for the past couple of years, expect a few tasty new morsels that add to the experience without taking anything away. For starters there’s now compatibility with Samsung's SmartThings platform, which provides an on-screen hub for monitoring and even controlling other smart devices (fridges, washing machines, lights etc) on your network. There’s also much better integration of the TV listings and live broadcasting into the TV’s content searching features: there are now hour-by-hour show recommendations, for instance, as well as TV shows getting much more prominence in the content browsing menus. Samsung has delivered enhanced interactivity with your smartphones and tablets too, as well as some seriously cool new gaming related features. Overall, a slick, easy to use and helpfully customizable interface belies the impressive sophistication and comprehensiveness of Samsung’s latest smart TV engine.
Once you get this TCL TV up and running, you’ll be met with the familiar veneer of Roku TV – an egalitarian operating system that handily retains its top spot as (arguably) the best operating system year after year. It’s intuitive to use, if a bit boring, and its lack of ties to a particular streaming platform allow it to point you to all the places content can be found without bias. That last bit is important, especially if you’ve ever used an Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV, both of which would much rather have you stream from their ancillary streaming services over any of the third-party ones. Because Roku doesn’t have ties to a major streaming service – other than a vague deal to include FandangoNow on the home screen of the OS – it doesn’t push you any direction you don’t want to go and happily supports everything from Netflix, Hulu, Sling TV and Amazon, to lesser-known channels like Pluto.tv, tubi, Crackle and others. That’s to say nothing of Roku’s own streaming service that it launched at the end of last year, which provides its own collection of entirely free movies that change in and out every few months. Most aren’t anything to write home about, but you do get the occasional gem in there. While it’d be nice to see the inclusion of artificial intelligence and personal assistants on Roku TV – similar to what LG is doing with webOS and Samsung has done with Tizen and SmartThings – all things considered, this is still one of the best TV operating systems and a fantastic TV overall.
Vizio's 2018 P-Series is a great choice if you're after a TV that performs at an above-average level with great pricing. It has a number of top-shelf features with good black levels, but its operating system is a bit slow. Thankfully, there’s nothing to complain about with the TV’s 4K HDR performance. In fact, considering how much work it takes for other screens to come close to natural colors, the P-Series is supremely good right out of the box.
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| The best gaming PC 2019: 10 of the top gaming desktops you can buy Posted: 24 Jan 2019 12:55 PM PST There are so many great upcoming games this year, titles like Doom Eternal and Metro Exodus promise to be some of the best PC games we’ve seen in years. Not to mention games that are already out, like Resident Evil 2. So, if you want to prepare yourself for the onslaught of great games this year, you should arm yourself with one of the best gaming PCs. No matter which games you plan on picking up, having one of the best gaming PCs for your budget can make all the difference. It doesn’t matter whether you prefer Intel, AMD or Nvidia – most PC makers will let you choose the best processors and best graphics card for your needs anyway. And, now there are Nvidia Turing graphics cards, the best gaming PCs are about to get even better looking. So, we gathered up some of the best gaming PCs on the market, some from popular manufacturers like Alienware and MSI, to more exotic brands like Origin. We put these PCs through rigorous testing to find out which ones will provide the best bang for your buck. These are the 10 best gaming PCs on the market right now, and all of them will be able to destroy any PC game you throw at them.
This isn’t your everyday pre-built gaming PC. The Alienware Aurora R7 feat of engineering in that it packs full-sized PC parts into chassis much smaller than your traditional mid-tower rig. At the same time it’s easily upgradeable and attractive to look at. All of which we would expect considering its extremely high price tag. Luckily, the Alienware Aurora R7 is both of these things and will impress those not ready or willing to build their own gaming PC. Read the full review: Alienware Aurora R7
It’s not uncommon anymore for PC makers to brandish their pre-built desktop rigs as VR-ready. What is unusual is to do so with a computer that’s also ready to conquer any game you throw at it at well over 60 frames per second and for under two grand. That’s exactly what MSI has accomplished with the Infinite A, a tower whose graphical efforts aren’t thwarted by its preparedness for VR, nor is it so expensive that it would see your head turn the other way. Read the full review: MSI Infinite A
If you’re looking for the best gaming PC under $1000, the Intel Hades Canyon Nuc might be right up your alley. This mini gaming PC isn’t just affordable, but it takes up nearly no space – it looks more like a set-top box than a high-end gaming PC. Don’t think it’s weak, though – it packs all the power of the best gaming laptops, with an 8th-generation Intel Core i7 processor and discrete Radeon graphics. Just keep in mind that you’ll have to supply your own RAM, storage and OS. Read the full review: Intel Hades Canyon NUC
Positioned as a ’console killer,’ the MSI Trident 3 looks a lot like an Xbox One S and is more powerful than a PS4 Pro, but at the end of the day, it’s a PC that feels just right in your living room. Complete with all the ports you could ever dream of, the MSI Trident 3’s advantages are clear. Still, in trying to be as thin and light as possible, the MSI Trident 3 comes equipped with a 330W external power supply brick, resembling some of the most less attractive console designs. Read the full review: MSI Trident 3
If you’re buying a pre-built PC, upgrades should be simple, right? That’s the philosophy behind the Lenovo IdeaCentre Y900. Embellished with red lights all over, the front of its chassis is bespeckled with textured patterns that’ll no doubt make your friends jealous. On top of offering support for a VR-ready GTX 1080, the Lenovo IdeaCentre boasts SLI support and room for up to 64GB of RAM, which are thankfully complemented by a convenient tool-less design. Read the full review: Lenovo IdeaCentre Y900
Much like the sublime Dell XPS 13, the Dell XPS Tower is a lesson in packing beefy specs into a svelte chassis. This inconspicuous gaming machine looks a lot like the computer that’s been collecting dust in your dad’s office, rather than something powering the latest PC games. But, beneath that quiet exterior, the Dell XPS Tower is one of the best gaming PCs on the market, with 8th-generation Intel Coffee Lake processors and Nvidia GTX 10-series graphics cards. With the Dell XPS Tower Special Edition,you’re getting one of the best gaming PCs money can buy, without any of the off-putting ‘gamer aesthetic’. Read the full review: Dell XPS Tower Special Edition
When you buy a computer from Origin, it’s almost like you’re building it on your own. You have to be familiar enough with PC components to decide for yourself what goes into the rig and how much money you’re going to spend on it. So, of course, our only real criticism of the Origin Millennium is that you can build a similar model for cheaper. However, because of its subtle design and flexible specs, we’re willing to bet you won’t want to. Read the full review: Origin Millennium
In classic Alienware fashion, the Area 51 Threadripper Edition pushes the limits of both technology and your wallet. It’s wildly powerful, markedly featuring the latest AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X across all of its configurations. The Area 51’s triad-design hasn’t changed much since its introduction back in 2014, but on the inside this machine is essentially tool-less to upgrade, not that you would even need to. Read the full review: Alienware Area 51 Threadripper Edition
We knew that it was only a matter of time before the best gaming PCs started rolling out with the latest Coffee Lake Refresh and Nvidia Turing parts, and the MSI Trident X is here to lead the charge. This small-form factor PC pulls no punches, and will absolutely demolish any game you throw at it, at any resolution. Just keep in mind that the thin metal build might be a bit flimsy for travel, and its price tag is kind of steep. But, if you’re looking for no-holds-barred power that won’t look out of place in your living room, you can’t do much better. Read the full review: MSI Trident X
Corsair has made a name for itself in pretty much every category of PC components, so it’s only natural that it would eventually create one of the best gaming PCs you can buy today. Enter the Corsair One Elite, a high-spec PC in a compact and quiet case that, while expensive, blows the competition out of the water. The Elite is a huge improvement over the original Corsair One, packed with an 8th-generation Core i7 processor, a Nvidia GTX 1080 Ti and more water cooling than you can shake a stick at. If you can afford its high price tag, the Corsair One Elite is one of the best gaming PCs you can buy today. Read the full review: Corsair One Elite Joe Osborne and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article Check out our Linux vs Windows vs Mac - OS comparison video below. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Best computer 2019: the best PCs we've tested Posted: 24 Jan 2019 12:55 PM PST Seemingly by the day, the best computers keep getting more advanced with eight-core processors and high-end graphics cards that can render realistic ray traced lighting. So, if you want to stay current in 2019, investing in one of the best PCs is definitely worth it – even if all you do is surf the web. Good news is buying a PC has never been cheaper. You can easily spend 500 bucks and get a capable PC or even an all-in-one desktop that comes with its own built in screen. PCs are easily upgradable, allowing you to keep the best PCs up to date with one of the best graphics cards, a bigger or faster best SSD and more of the best memory. Still, shopping for the best PC isn’t quite as easy as it may sound. When we decided to put this list together, we had to acknowledge that the best PCs strike a balance between price and performance. So, after comprehensively testing, reviewing and ranking all the PCs on this list, we’ll help you find which PC is right for you.
For lack of a better word, the Dell XPS Tower Edition is stealthy. Looking quite similar to that old computer that your parents had hidden beneath the desk, this boring exterior belies an exciting array of components. Inside you’ll find your choice of the latest in GPU tech, in addition to a blazing-fast 7th generation Intel CPU and a spacious hard drive and/or SSD. Now, the Special Edition is only available in the US, but our readers in the UK and Australia will still be able to buy the regular Dell XPS Tower and beef it up to the same level through Dell’s configuration page. Read the full review: Dell XPS Tower Special Edition
The Microsoft Surface Studio was the best PC for artists when it first launched, so we were excited when Microsoft announced the sequel. Packed with Kaby Lake mobile graphics and Nvidia Pascal graphics, the Surface Studio 2 is way more powerful than the original, and should be able to handle everything you can throw at it for the next few years at least. And, it’s still got that gorgeous PixelSense display with Surface Pen support, making it retain the title of the best PC for artists. Read the full review: Surface Studio 2 See more like this: The best all-in-one PCs
If you’re looking for a great desktop experience, but don’t have a lot of space, look no further than the Intel Hades Canyon NUC. In this tiny bare-bones PC, you have an insanely powerful 8th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, and discrete-class Radeon graphics – once you throw in some RAM and storage, you’ll be able to conquer the best PC games without a care in the world. Sure, it can’t really stand up against a full-sized desktop, but when space is short, or you’d rather just have a PC that looks like a set-top box – it’s totally worth it. Read the full review: Intel Hades Canyon NUC
The Alienware Aurora R7 isn’t just a great gaming PC, but it’s one of the best PCs you can buy today. Not only does it feature fantastic performance with its 8th-generation Intel Core processor and GTX 10 series graphics, but this power is conveniently stored away in its compact chassis. It’s even surprisingly affordable, considering the power on offer, and it’s even easily upgradeable, despite its unique build. With the Aurora R7, Alienware continues its journey back to the top of the best PCs. Read the full review: Alienware Aurora R7 See more like this: The best gaming PCs
Positioned as a “console killer,” the MSI Trident 3 looks a lot like an Xbox One X and PS4 Pro, but it’s a far more powerful PC that feels just right in your living room. Complete with all the ports you could ever dream of, the MSI Trident 3’s advantages are clear. Still, in trying to be as thin and light as possible, the MSI Trident 3 comes equipped with a 330W external power supply brick, resembling some of the least attractive console designs. Read the full review: MSI Trident 3
It’s easy to associate Apple with inflated pricing, but the Mac Mini avoids that altogether. The Mac Mini 2018 isn’t just an attractive small form-factor PC, it’s also crammed full of high-end desktop parts, making it a great purchase for anyone that already has a slew of Mac-ready peripherals. Plus, as opposed to Apple’s recent products, you can upgrade the Mac Mini. Well, just the memory, but you can kit the Mac Mini with up to 64GB of RAM. Read the full review: Apple Mac Mini See more like this: The best Macs
Though at first you might confuse it for a fabric-woven Mac Pro refresh, the HP Pavilion Wave is anything but. This compact Windows machine packs in 6th-generation Intel Core processors and optional discrete AMD graphics with a uniquely integrated Bang & Olufsen speaker. Wrapped in a handsome fabric exterior, this is the perfect PC to have on the desk, as it radiates crisp sound while you browse the web or watch movies. Read the first look: HP Pavilion Wave
It may look like a thumb drive at first glance, but the Intel Core Compute Stick has more than meets the eye. It’s actually a palm-sized PC that can plug into any screen with an HDMI input. It starts out with a lowly 1.33GHz Intel Atom cpu running Linux, but it is configurable up to an Intel Core m5 processor – which makes this one of the best PCs if you need to get some work done on the go, without having to haul around a laptop. Gabe Carey has also contributed to this article
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| Best gaming mouse 2019: the best gaming mice we've tested Posted: 24 Jan 2019 12:55 PM PST If you’ve already got one of the best gaming PCs, it can sometimes be way too easy to just head out and pick up the cheapest mouse you can find. But, we don’t think this is the best way to go about this. Instead, you should pick up the best gaming mouse you can afford – everything attached to your rig should be of comparable quality. While you’re at it, you might want to pick up one of the best gaming mouse pads, too. If you’re looking for one of the best gaming mice, you should look for a mouse that can balance price and performance in a compelling way. Don’t fall for the age-old trap that the best mouse is the most expensive one on the shelf. Note the SteelSeries Rival 600 – at the price of a new AAA game, it has plenty of high-end features and awesome performance. So, we gathered together the best gaming mice we’ve used – all of which have been reviewed and tested by us. No matter what kind of games you're into, you'll find the best gaming mouse for your needs right here on this list.
SteelSeries Rival 600 Easily the best affordable gaming mouse you can buy, the SteelSeries Sensei 310 takes things to a new level. The low cost of admission keeps it on the same level that you’d expect to pay for a new game, while its out of this world TrueMove 3 sensor makes it one of the most performant and sensitive gaming mice on the market today. You can even pick up the SteelSeries Rival 310 if you want comparable performance, but focused more on right-handed users. Otherwise, the Sensei 310’s ambidextrous shape and low price makes it the perfect gaming mouse for anyone to grab. Read the full review: SteelSeries Rival 600
SteelSeries Sensei 310 The SteelSeries Sensei 310 is a gaming mouse like no other, both in terms of price and performance. The low cost of admission keeps it on the same level that you’d expect to pay for a new game, while its out-of-this-world TrueMove 3 optical sensor makes it almost impossible to compete with. This mouse, with no preference when it comes to dexterity, is unparalleled when it comes to real-world sensitivity. You can even pick up the SteelSeries Rival 310 if you want similar performance, but a more right-handed approach to dexterity. Read the full review: SteelSeries Sensei 310
Corsair Dark Core RGB SE In our minds, the best gaming mice are always going to be the ones that deliver excellent performance at a price that doesn’t break the bank. And, the Corsair Harpoon RGB Wireless is the poster child for price-to-performance ratios. At less than 50 bucks, you’re getting a wireless mouse that doesn’t suck, has RGB lighting and long battery life. The ergonomics are specifically for right-handed users, but at this price, with this level of performance, there’s little to complain about. Read the full review: Corsair Harpoon RGB Wireless
Logitech G903 Undeterred by years of ridicule for their comparatively higher latency, the Logitech G900 of yesteryear proved once and for all that wireless gaming mice don’t have to suck. Though it’s merely a slight upgrade to that model, the Logitech G903 only reassures us of that conviction. Gracing a slightly altered G900 design with Logitech’s on PowerPlay mouse pad that doubles as a wireless charger, the Logitech G903 is a pricey, yet rewarding investment. Read the full review: Logitech G903
Roccat Kone Aimo At first glance, you’d be forgiven for assuming the Roccat Kone Aimo would be an unwieldy hardcore-only gaming mouse. You’d be wrong. Even with the plethora of buttons and mouse furniture sticking out, the Roccat Kone Aimo is a surprisingly ergonomic peripheral, which means more comfort shouldn’t be an issue for even the longest gaming sessions. Packed with one of the most in-your-face RGB lighting setups we’ve ever seen in a pointing device, along with 10-programmable buttons, this is one of the best gaming mice on the market right now. Read the full review: Roccat Kone Aimo
Cooler Master MasterMouse MM520 If you need one of the best gaming mice, but are looking to save some cash at the same time – the Cooler Master MasterMouse MM520 might be what you’re looking for. It won’t win any beauty contests, but packing quality Omron switches and a reasonably sensitive sensor capable of up to 12,000 DPI, it’s easy to look past the unappealing design – especially if you use a claw grip. Read the full review: Cooler Master MasterMouse MM520
Razer Naga Trinity If you’re gearing up to represent either the Alliance or the Horde in World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth, you’re going to want to take a look at the Razer Naga Trinity. Razer’s Naga mice have always been aimed at MMO gamers, but the company wasn’t content to just appeal to that one niche. With the Naga Trinity, you’ll get 3 easily swappable side plates so that you can change your mouse to fit the game you’re playing. Aadd in the insane 16,000 DPI 5G Sensor and Razer Chroma RGB lighting, and you’ll top the DPS meters, and your gaming setup will look nice while you do it. Read the full review: Razer Naga Trinity
HyperX Pulsefire Surge If you find yourself snickering at some of the ridiculous gaming mice available in 2018, you should take a look at the HyperX Pulsefire Surge RGB. Featuring extremely reliable Omron switches and gorgeous RGB lighting – not to mention its unbelievable 16,000 DPI sensor – you’re getting one of the best gaming mice for a great price. Plus, it’ll fit into any office, at least once you turn down the lighting effects. Read the full review: HyperX Pulsefire Surge RGB
Corsair Glaive RGB If you’ve got big hands, it can be hard to find the best gaming mouse for you. They’re either too small, too light or a bit of both. And, then some of the big mice out there are packed with gratuitous buttons and weird shapes that make them look like some kind of Transformers extra. The Corsair Ironclaw fixes all of that, it’s an attractive mouse for big-hand users that you won’t have to hide whenever you have company. It’s robust, too, so you don’t need to worry about breaking it if you’re a bit too rough with it. Read the full review: Corsair Ironclaw RGB
Creative Sound BlasterX Siege M04 You don’t see sound card manufacturers trying their hands at making the best gaming mouse every day – but that’s exactly what Creative did. The Creative Sound BlasterX M04 is actually one of the best gaming mice you can buy in 2018 – the 12,000 DPI rating means it’s quick and responsive. The RGB lighting scheme is great, too, controlled by Creative’s own Sound Blaster Connect software. The Creative Sound BlasterX Siege M04 is a winner in form and function. Read the full review: Creative Sound BlasterX Siege M04
How to choose the best gaming mouseEven though you’ll definitely find the best gaming mouse here, doing so will take some effort. There’s a ton of complicated technical jargon that goes into the best gaming mice – terms like polling rates and DPI ratings. You’ll want a higher number of both, but these two terms mean drastically different things. For newcomers to the world of PC gaming, that DPI is shorthand for ‘dots per inch.’ The higher the number, the wider the range wherein you can specify your how sensitive your mouse is. If you don’t have a lot of desk space available and you want accuracy and precision, then opt for a gaming mouse featuring a higher DPI rating. Of course, you can always toggle a lower DPI too. Meanwhile, a high polling rate gives you faster response times. The polling rate is measured in hertz, so it usually ranges from around 125 to 1,000Hz. The latter means that your mouse’s position is reported to your computer 1,000 times per second. Other key gaming mouse factors you’ll want to consider are ergonomics – particularly if you’re left-handed – and RGB lighting.
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| Best RAM 2019: the top memory for your PC Posted: 24 Jan 2019 12:50 PM PST Even if you have an absolute unit of a computer, you’ll eventually run into any kind of slow down over time. Even on the best PCs, operating systems like Windows 10 and macOS Mojave are getting more and more demanding all the time. If your PC is starting to show its age, you may want to consider picking up some of the best RAM to give your PC a healthy speed boost. However, when you go out looking for the best RAM, you’ll notice that the market is filled with all different capacities, speeds and even sizes of memory. Anyone that isn’t familiar with the PC hardware scene will have run into some trouble looking for the best RAM. Luckily, we here at TechRadar have your back – we’ve found all the best RAM that we’ve tested over the last year or so. Whether you’re looking for a quick and easy upgrade that’ll let you open more Chrome tabs, or if you’re trying to run the best PC games better, you’ll want the best RAM you can get, and that’s why we’re here.
Best RAM: Corsair Vengeance LEDCorsair is one of the most trusted names when it comes to the best RAM on the market. Its Vengeance series, especially, has something for everyone with its LED DDR4 offerings. On top of giving PC builders that extra touch of vibrant lighting, this RAM has robust heat spreaders that maximise cooling for higher overclocking and maximum performance. Corsair’s Vengeance LED DDR4 series also features CL16 latency and whopping 3,466 MHz speeds, so it’s just as fast and responsive as it is aesthetic.
Best DDR4 RAM: G.Skill Trident Z RGBAt this point, everyone kind of knows about G. Skill and its Trident Z RGB series of RAM. This is some of the best RAM not just because it’s fast, but the top of every DIMM features a full-spectrum rainbow wave light bar that you can use to match your RGB lighting across your entire system. Trident Z RGB DDR4 RAM features CAS latencies between 14 and 19 which is awesome enough, but with speeds up to 4,266, it’s almost perfect. No matter your aesthetic, it’s hard to argue with the G. Skill TridentZ RGB as the best RGB RAM.
Best DDR3 RAM: Kingston HyperX PredatorKingston’s high-performance HyperX has some of the best DDR3 RAM on the market and the Predator models is particularly tuned for and extreme-performance that’s further expandable with XMP profiles. The Predator DDR3 series achieves CL9 to CL11 latencies and speeds between 1866MHz to 2666MHz.
Best Budget RAM: Kingston HyperX FuryThis Kingston HyperX Fury is auto overclocked memory that won’t empty your wallet. This smart DDR3 or DDR4 RAM auto-detects system components to overclock to the highest speeds possible, optimizing performance for all of Intel’s latest chipsets. It comes with latencies between CL14 and CL16, and has speeds between 2,133 and 2,666MHz. While it’s inexpensive, it really can have a huge impact on the performance of your rig.
Best High-end RAM: Corsair Dominator PlatinumIf you need to perform a lot of high-intensity tasks, the Corsair Dominator Platinum is the best RAM for you. The chrome heat spreaders not only allow for premium performance, but they also allow for maximum bling. The massive heatsinks might get in the way of more low-profile builds, but if you’re running your RAM at 4,000MHz, things can get pretty toasty. On the low end, Corsair also offers a low-latency C14 version of the Dominator Platinum at 2,400MHz.
Best double capacity memory: G.Skill Trident Z RGB DCSometimes, especially when you’re looking for the best gaming components, ‘go big or go home’ is the best advice. And, when you want more RAM than you’ll know what to do with, you’re going to want to go with the G.Skill Trident Z RGB DC memory. The DC stands for double capacity, as in, 32GB per stick. Now, this is definitely not the fastest memory in the world, right now it’s only available in up to 3,200 MHz, but if you need a lot of RAM without taking up too many DIMM slots (like if you have a big CPU cooler or a Mini-ITX board), you can’t go wrong with the G.Skill TridentZ RGB DC.
Best gaming RAM: Adata Spectrix D80If you’re going for an all-out no-holds-barred build, and you want the flashiest hardware so that your desktop can illuminate your office, you’re going to want the Adata Spectrix D80. Not only is it available in frequencies up to 5,000MHz, but it’s liquid-cooled, which means you shouldn’t ever have to worry about it overheating on you. The Adata Spectrix D80 is going to be the best RAM for gaming in an RGB-lit cavern.
Best RGB RAM: HyperX Predator DDR4 RGBHyperX has always been a huge name in desktop memory, and it’s not hard to see why. The DIMMs they release always feature the latest technologies without pushing the price higher than it really needs to be – and the HyperX Predator DDR4 RGB is yet another example. Not only is this ram fast, but it looks good, too – with Infrared Sync tech that promises to actually synchronize the lighting between DIMMs. And, with its stylish black heat spreaders, this is the best RAM if you want your gaming PC to reach max aesthetic.
Best Low-Profile RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPXCorsair’s Vengeance LPX RAM is made for users who want the maximum performance with minimum footprint. This low-profile RAM is essential for PC builds with massive CPU coolers. Despite being so low-profile, they still feature an eight-layer heat spreader to cool while overclocking. While its thin design doesn’t allow for LEDs, but you can get it in three colors: black, red or blue.
Best Mac RAM: G.Skill Mac RAMJust like their dedication to laptop and desktop RAM, G.Skill has RAM upgrades for Macs, too. Adding more memory on the Apple Store is needlessly expensive, so going with a third-party kit can help you save a ton of money – assuming that your machine is one the last remaining MacBooks or iMacs that are still upgradable. These SO-DIMM have a CAS latency between 9 and 11 and have between 1,333MHz and 1,600MHz. The best bang for the buck seems to be the G.Skill DDR3-1333 for Mac.
Best Laptop RAM: Crucial Ballistix SportCrucial is by far the best RAM for laptop systems. This manufacturer has designed its Crucial Ballistix Sport SODIMMs for efficient battery life while still delivering fast speeds for multi-tasking. It’s ideal for anyone wanting to speed up the best laptops, and this memory likely offers higher memory speed than anything coming stock in your laptop. Just make sure your laptop actually lets you upgrade the RAM – repairability is falling out of fashion these days. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Best processors 2019: top CPUs for your PC Posted: 24 Jan 2019 12:50 PM PST AMD and Intel are finally in fierce competition once more, making the processor market exciting for the first time in years. This is possible because AMD has dominated the market with AMD Ryzen 2nd Generation, and it looks like it will continue with Ryzen 3rd Generation. Intel has responded with 9th-Generation Coffee Lake Refresh chips like the beastly Core i9-9900K. So, the eternal battle of Intel vs AMD is ongoing, so there’s never been a better time to buy one of the best processors. And, we say that because the best processors are coming in every shape and size right now. If you’re trying to save some cash, while still getting good enough performance, you’ll want to take a look at the Ryzen 3 2200G. However, if money is no object and you simply want the most power possible, you might want to take a look at HEDT chips from AMD’s Threadripper 2nd Generation and Intel’s Basin Falls Refresh lineups. You can’t throw a stone without hitting one of the best processors right now, so finding the right one isn’t as easy as you may think. Fortunately, even if the latest and greatest silicon is out of your reach, there are still plenty of great Kaby Lake processors out there. So, get ready to experience amazing PC performance, as we’ll cover all the best processors we’ve reviewed over the last year or so.
For the longest time, AMD has fell behind Intel. Luckily, those days are over with the Ryzen 2700X. This time around AMD brings the first 12nm processors and the performance to back it up, demolishing Intel when it comes to price-to-performance. If you’re looking for one of the best processors that’ll give you great performance without costing an arm and a leg, you can’t do much better than the Ryzen 7 2700X. Read the full review: AMD Ryzen 7 2700X
The perennial war of AMD vs Intel has been heating up like crazy over the last few years, and Intel has come back with a mighty Coffee Lake Refresh swing, in the Intel Core i9-9900K. Packing eight cores and 16 threads, it has more cores than any mainstream processor that Intel has ever released. And, the performance shows that it’s worth it – it can go head to head with some of AMD’s Ryzen Threadripper chips. If you’re looking for raw performance, the Intel Core i9-9900K is easily one of the best processors you can go for. Read the full review: Intel Core i9-9900K
If you’re looking for one of the best processors for content creation, but are on a budget, look no further than the AMD Ryzen 5 2600X. With 6 cores and 12 threads and a base clock of 3.6GHz, you’re getting way better performance than the pricier Intel Core i5-8600K – with a gorgeous RGB CPU cooler included. Sure, the gaming performance over the blue team is marginal at best, but when you start multi-tasking – and who doesn’t always have 100 chrome tabs open – the value starts to show itself. Read the full review: AMD Ryzen 5 2600X
If you’re looking to put together a gaming PC on the tightest budget, the AMD Ryzen 3 2200G can take you a long way. While it doesn’t feature the hyperthreading capability of its predecessor, the Ryzen 3 1200, the introduction of integrated graphics makes this APU one of the cheapest ways to experience casual PC gaming. We were even able to play Overwatch at 4K Ultra-HD resolution at ‘Epic’ settings. Read the full review: AMD Ryzen 3 2200G
If you’re building one of the best gaming PCs, and you don’t really care about creating content or streaming, the processor you’re going to want to pay attention to is the Intel Core i5-8600K. It might not have as many cores as its AMD Ryzen counterparts, but that doesn’t matter, gaming is mostly about that single-threaded performance. With this processor, you’ll be able to run all the latest games without having to worry about bottlenecking your GPU – just don’t be surprised when rendering and encoding video takes longer.
Initially the primary competition for the Intel Core i7-7700K, the AMD Ryzen 7 1800X still stands up today, even though it’s been succeeded by the Ryzen 7 2800X. Its high core count, when compared to the intel Core i7 7700K means that it's much better suited to VR workloads, and now that it’s dropped significantly in price, it’s more affordable than ever before. If you’re building a VR rig, do yourself a favor: save some cash without giving up on too much performance with the Ryzen 7 1800X. Read the full review: AMD Ryzen 7 1800X
The naming convention is confusing, given that the Intel Core i7-7820X is part of Intel’s “Skylake-X” series rather than the X-class chips built on the 14nm Kaby Lake node, but semantics matter very little when you get to go hands-on with an Intel CPU boasting this many cores. Although the fact that you’ll need a new motherboard to use this octa-core monster might be enough to scare some users off to Ryzen, Intel loyalists shan’t mind the upgrade.
If you’re the kind of user that demands world-class performance, and you couldn’t care less about cost, the Intel Core i9-9980XE is the best processor for you. With 18-cores and 36-threads, it absolutely destroys everything else on the market right now, if only just barely. Multi-threaded applications and workstation-class projects are going to breeze by with this chip. However, if you need to ask how much it costs more than once, it might not be for you. Read the full review: Intel Core i9-9980XE
If you opt for the Intel Pentium G4560 over a Core i3 chip, you won’t even notice the slight loss of performance – you’ll be too busy counting all the money you saved. As the first Pentium processor in a long time to feature hyper-threading, the G4560 shows us what low-end CPUs have been missing for so long. And, in benchmarks it proves that it’s easily adjacent to the more expensive Intel Core i3-7100.
One of the only things that we were left wanting when AMD’s Ryzen processors blew up is that they didn’t support integrated graphics. However, the Ryzen 5 2400G changes everything for mainstream PC users. With impressive AMD Vega graphics, it’s a fantastic APU that will be perfect for anyone looking to build a home theater PC. And, now that AMD has slashed the price you can get your 4K action on cheaper than ever. Read the full review: AMD Ryzen 5 2400G
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| The best graphics cards 2019: all the top GPUs for gaming Posted: 24 Jan 2019 12:50 PM PST Now that Nvidia Turing heavy hitters like the RTX 2080 Ti and RTX 2060 are here, the best graphics cards are more powerful (and expensive) than ever before. So, do you splurge on an expensive flagship graphics card? Or, do you pick up a more budget friendly GPU like the Radeon RX 590 – perfect for 1080p gaming? No matter what you do, you’ll be able to use the best graphics cards to play the best PC games from Hitman 2 to Resident Evil 2. Remember that the best graphics cards can vary wildly depending on what kind of PC you’re planning to build, so finding the best one can be hard. Luckily, we went ahead and gathered together all the best graphics cards on the market, at every price point and use case. So, before you go out to pick up one of the best graphics cards, we’ll help you find the perfect one for your rig.
One of the biggest complaints we had about Nvidia Turing when it first launched was the astronomical prices. But, with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060, Nvidia brings value to the Turing lineup – or, at least, more value than was there already. With the RTX 2060, you’ll be able to run pretty much everything at 1080p with max settings, comfortably experience 1440p and you’ll even be able to break into 4K. And, then there’s the RTX features – even at this level, ray tracing is possible at 1080p. Read the full review: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060
If you’re on the market for one of the best graphics cards, and you’ve got some cash to burn, you might want to consider the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti. Without a doubt, it’s the most powerful graphics cards on the market, as long as the price doesn’t scare you away. And, the first actual game with Ray Tracing is finally available, Battlefield V. While you can turn RTX On, just keep in mind that it’ll hamper performance a bit. Read the full review: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti
If you want to stick to QHD, with some brief forays into 4K, you might want to check out the RTX 2070. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 brings the new Turing architecture to the mid range with performance that dwarfs the GTX 1070 that came before. Not only will you be able to play everything at 1440p, but you’re going to get insane performance – up to 120fps in Shadow of the Tomb Raider. However, you should consider that the RTX 2070 is significantly more expensive than its predecessor, so that trade off in price-to-performance may not be worth it – especially if you’re coming from a Pascal card. Read the full review: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070
The AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 is the best graphics card for Full HD gaming you can buy today – your benchmarks put it above the GTX 1070. And, now that it’s fallen in price to what we would call an ‘acceptable’ level, there’s never been a better time to pick one up. While it’s arguably a bit overkill for Full HD gaming, the RX Vega 56 will come in handy for 144 to 240hz monitors and future-proofing against increasingly demanding games. You can also expect a fantastic 1440p experience with this card.
If you’re trying to play the best VR games, you’re going to need the best graphics card for the job. And, these days, that’s going to be the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080. Packed with the latest Turing architecture and the VirtualLink VR connector, you won’t have to worry about choppy VR performance making you sick. And, outside of VR, you should be able to play all your favorite PC games at 1440p and 4K without breaking a sweat. Read the full review: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080
If you’re setting out to build a microATX or a mini-ITX gaming PC, you shouldn’t have to settle for a low-end GPU. You can find mini graphics cards like the Zotac GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Mini. And, sure it’s not the latest and greatest GPU out there anymore, but the 1080 Ti has a lot of life left in it. Plus, when you can get that power in a card that’s just 211 x 125 x 41mm, the loss in performance is totally worth the beautiful mini PC you’ll get.
The Nvidia GTX 1050 might not look like much on paper, what with only 2GB of video memory onboard, but this affordable GPU plays games better than you would think. If you’re willing to drop settings to medium, you can play Overwatch, CS:GO and other popular competitive shooters well above the silky smooth 60fps mark. Thanks to its compact size, it’s also perfect for small builds and entertainment center-bound streaming PCs.
Any eSports player will tell you that high frame rates are far more important than beautifully rendered graphical details – and that’s where the Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti shines. In a time where graphics cards cost as much as rent, it’s an affordable, but potent GPU that can play most eSports games well above 60fps. It’s a bit pricier than the lower-end Nvidia GTX 1050, but you’ll appreciate the extra power behind this card to play future eSports titles, as well as the odd AAA title. Read the full review: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti
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| Best webcams 2019: the top webcams for your PC Posted: 24 Jan 2019 12:50 PM PST While many of the best laptops and all-in-one PCs have HD webcams built in, desktop PC users are generally left behind. That doesn’t mean there isn’t a way around it though – you can pick up one of the best webcams yourself for a similar – or even better – experience than their laptop brethren can offer. So, what should you look for in the best webcams? Well, like most things, it’ll boil down to how you use it. Are you looking to become the next Twitch celebrity? Or, do you just want to have some friendly video calls every now and then? No matter what you’re looking for, we’ll help you find the best webcam for your needs. From webcams with quirky and beautiful aesthetics to traditional cameras that are all about that sweet fidelity, we found the best webcams you can buy today. So, sit back, relax and get ready to find the best webcam for your needs.
Logitech's newest webcam, the Logitech G922 Pro Stream features the same classy design as the C920 before it, but it’s especially interesting for gamers this time around. The C922 still boasts excellent 1080p video quality when it comes to hosting video calls, and its automatic low-light correction makes it a great cam for streaming with the lights off. It also supports background removal, making it ideal for budding YouTubers.
The Razer Kiyo isn’t just a weird-looking webcam, it’s one of the best webcams for streaming – something that’s all the rage these days. However, with the Razer Kiyo, Razer has stripped away a lot of the fancy bells and whistles that higher-end webcams offer and focused on what matters most to game streamers – good image quality and lighting with the special Light Ring. This ensures that you don’t need to spend a ton of time configuring your stream – just plug in the Razer Kiyo and get to work.
If you need something cheap and cheerful for Skype, Messenger, Facebook or AOL, Microsoft's LifeCam range offers decent performance for a low price. You don't get 1080p video at this price point, but you do get automatic color correction, a noise-cancelling unidirectional microphone and a stand to fit laptops and desktops alike. It's a cheap way to solve the problem of a PC without a camera or even with a camera that isn't up to snuff.
If you’re trying to do some live streaming, or you’re trying to capture the magic of the real world, Mevo might be right up your alley. If you’re an aspiring journalist, you’re going to want to keep an eye on the Mevo or the Mevo Plus, as either of these webcams will let you capture footage live, no matter where you are in the world – as long as you can connect to a mobile network. As an bonus, Mevo is small and inconspicuous enough to not distract your subject in the middle of an interview.
Aimed at pro users with large displays, the LifeCam Studio features a familiar combination of 1080p recording and 720p live video calling. It rotates 360 degrees, and can be mounted on a tripod with autofocus. The wideband mic delivers crystal clear sound and Microsoft’s TrueColor system will shift the exposure dynamically to keep you well lit. It’s a great choice for business conferencing and presentations. Read the full review: Microsoft LifeCam Studio
Have you ever looked at webcam in disgust because it doesn’t push the same amount of pixels as your smartphone? Well, you’ll love the Logitech Brio Webcam. With a 4K UHD resolution and HDR, the Logitech Brio has brought high fidelity to the world of the best webcams. And, if that wasn’t enough, it also features Windows Hello functionality and an easy to use stand which will let you position it wherever you need.
Creative may not be the first company you think of when you’re looking for the best webcams, but after the Creative Labs Senz3D, that will change. This space-age webcam has more features than you can shake a stick at, and the high-tech 3D scanner and facial tracking tech promises to lead to some intriguing things in both AR functionality and even gaming. It isn’t cheap, but you’re getting all the bells and whistles with this Creative webcam
The C930e claims to be Logitech's most advanced HD webcam and it's also one of the most expensive ones on the market. But, unlike traditional webcams, which rely on the PC to do the heavy lifting, this unit does the video encoding itself, which should in turn result in better video quality. The wide, 90-degree field of view means it’s well-suited to business videoconferencing and presentations, and of course it’s Skype-certified for PC and Mac.
Samsung smart TV’s aren’t compatible with most of the best webcams. Luckily, though, Samsung has its own proprietary camera for its H, HU, JS and JU models. We wouldn’t recommend buying one for Skype, as the smart TV version of Skype is no longer supported, but if you want to use Samsung’s own gesture control features and its virtual mirror for fitness apps, then it’s your only real option.
If you’re looking for a full HD webcam without the full HD webcam price, this little webcam is currently pretty cheap. Bolstering resolutions up to 1080p HD while supporting 12MP stills, a noise-cancelling microphone and low-light compensation, this camera is feature-packed yet frugal. There’s no autofocus and you don’t get a big bundle of software, but the low, low price more than makes up for any shortcomings.
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| Nvidia Turing release date, news and features Posted: 24 Jan 2019 12:50 PM PST The wait for Nvidia’s next-generation Turing graphics cards was excruciating, but finally, the latest and greatest GPU architecture is here. It was a long wait, but the sheer power of Nvidia Turing was definitely worth it. Now that we finally have Turing-powered Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti, RTX 2080, RTX 2070 and RTX 2060 cards in our hands, we know they’re the best graphics cards for the games we’ll be playing for the next few years. Nvidia Turing will be behind some creative work too, thanks to the recently introduced Nvidia Titan RTX. Real time ray tracing is the premiere technology with Nvidia Turing, bringing this holy grail of graphics tech to a mainstream GPU for the first time. This could bring about a revolution in the way the best PC games are rendered. But, we’ve seen some rumors that there could be Nvidia Turing GPUs that don’t support RTX features, coming out as soon as mid-February. These cards would obviously be more affordable, bucking the trend of high prices. Be sure to keep this page bookmarked, as we’ll update it with any new Nvidia Turing information or rumors we find. Cut to the chase
Nvidia Turing release dateAll of the currently-announced Nvidia Turing GPUs are now out in the wild – the RTX 2080 Ti, 2080 and 2070. Though, the RTX 2080 Ti still has limited availability, and you’ll likely have to pay more than MSRP to get your hands on one for a while. And, at CES 2019, we didn’t just finally get an RTX 2060 announcement, but also over 40 gaming laptops sporting Nvidia RTX graphics. The best gaming laptops of CES 2019, like the Alienware Area 51m, were all packing the latest Nvidia Turing graphics, and they’ll start hitting the market in the latter part of January 2019. And, if you were looking for a graphics card that you won’t have to take out a personal loan to afford, word on the street is that some non-RTX Turing cards are coming out starting next month. Rumors point to a February 15 launch for the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, late February for the GTX 1660 and a March release for a GTX 1650. We’ll be sure to update this article as soon as we get some official word on these graphics cards’ release dates.
Nvidia Turing priceAlthough the Nvidia Turing series started with the Quadro RTX GPUs, we're far more interested in the graphics cards available for consumers. If you wanted to check out these enterprise-leaning parts head on here, otherwise read on for the prices of the announced consumer cards below:
Overall, the prices for Nvidia's newest graphics cards seem to have risen with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti taking the place of Nvidia’s past Titan cards. This shift up can sadly be seen across the entire lineup. It should be noted that these GTX Turing cards aren’t even confirmed to exist by Nvidia at the time of this writing. So, obviously you should take the pricing of these rumored cards with a gigantic grain of salt. Not to mention that the prices on the store for the RTX 2080 Ti and RTX 2080 were a bit higher than what Nvidia CEO and founder Jensen Huang revealed at the Nvidia Geforce Celebration at Gamescom 2018 – at the time of writing. For instance, the 2080 Ti was initially revealed at $999, but that price isn’t currently reflected in the online store – or anywhere else. So far it doesn’t seem as though the same pricing bump will be applied. In fact, GTX Turing cards may even be affordable according to these following rumored prices:
Nvidia Turing specsThe headline feature of Nvidia Turing is the inclusion of ray-tracing tech that can render more realistic visuals and lighting in real time without having to fall back on programming tricks. These specialized RTX cores essentially calculate how light and sound travel in a 3D environment at a rate of up to 10 GigaRays on the RTX 2080 Ti. These specialized cores will also supposedly allow Nvidia Turing-based graphics cards to process ray tracing up to 25 times faster than Pascal. When these RTX Cores aren’t in use for processing ray tracing, they’ll essentially switch off, ceasing to draw any power. In addition to these RTX cores, the Turing Architecture will also feature Tensor Cores, like the ones found in Volta. These specialized cores enable artificial intelligence and neural networking so that Turing cards get better at rendering over time – something previously exclusive to supercomputers. With the ability to deliver 500 trillion Tensor operations a second, this technology accelerates deep learning training and inferencing. This will allow Nvidia to offer Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS), which could be a version of super sampling that won’t bring your computer to its knees. Even for games that don’t support this new DLSS tech, these AI-fueled cores should deliver traditional anti-aliasing much more efficiently – up to eight times. As with Volta, Nvidia Turing is adopting GDDR6 memory – up to 11GB in the RTX 2080 Ti, which can clock in at up to 14Gbps, quite the leap over the Pascal-powered Nvidia Titan Xp that clocked in at 11.4Gbps. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti is an absolute behemoth of a GPU. With 4,352 CUDA cores, 11GB of GDDR6 VRAM with a 352-bit memory bus and 18 billion transistors, it’ll be capable of 4K Ultra gaming at high refresh rates for years to come. It’s no wonder it comes with such a high price tag. The more mainstream RTX 2080 and RTX 2070 are both also quite impressive and absolutely destroy the previous generation of GPUs. The former will feature 2,944 CUDA cores, 8GB of GDDR6 memory and clocks in at a 1.5GHz base frequency. The 2070, though is be a bit weaker, coming with 2,304 CUDA cores 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM and clocked at a 1,410Mhz base frequency. And, while the RTX 2060 is basically just a cut-down RTX 2070, with the same TU106 GPU, but with 1,920 CUDA cores, 6GB of GDDR6 VRAM and a boost clock of 1,680 MHz, it’s still a formidable graphics card. We have seen some rumors that suggest non-RTX Turing cards are on the way. The GTX 1660 Ti is rumored to be based on the same TU116 GPU as the GeForce RTX 2060 and utilize GDDR6 video memory, but will have its RT and Tensor cores disabled on a hardware level. The GTX 1660 and GTX 1650 will be purportedly architecturally similar to the GTX 1660 TI, but they’ll use older memory.. We spotted a list of speculated specs over at Wccftech, which are as follows:
Now, we have seen some rumors of a GTX 1650, too, but we’re not sure what the specs are going to look like. It should be noted, too, that these lower-end Turing cards are rumored to be on the same board as the RTX 2060, so they should have the same 192-bit memory bus. Nvidia Turing PerformanceAnd, as long as you have the high-end specs to back them up, the new Turing RTX cards are able to perform much faster than their Pascal equivalents, and will be able to push it even further once DLSS or deep learning super sampling is more widespread. And, thanks to the AA improvements in the Tensor cores, we’re seeing about a 20-40% increase in games that don't support DLSS. In our benchmarks, the GeForce RTX 2080 outperforms the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti by about 11% and the Nvidia GTX 1080 by a more impressive 32% in Middle Earth: Shadow of War in 4K. This performance difference is even more massive when you look at the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti which not only is 20% faster than the RTX 2080 in the same title, but beats out the last-generation 1080 Ti by a massive 30%, destroying the GTX 1080 with a 45% performance delta. Unfortunately, the Nvidia RTX 2070 is less impressive. While it does absolutely wipe the floor with the GTX 1070, it is essentially neck in neck with the GTX 1080 – barely hitting a 10% performance increase at 4K in Shadow of the Tomb Raider. At its price point we were hoping for more, especially after seeing the RTX 2080 and RTX 2080 Ti’s impressive performances. The RTX 2060 is obviously the weakest of the bunch, but you shouldn’t dismiss it outright. The mid-range Nvidia Turing card far outclasses the GTX 1060, but what’s more surprising is that it surpasses the GTX 1070 Ti – for a lower asking price. We were able to get 90 fps in Shadow of the Tomb Raider at 1080p, whereas the 1070 Ti lagged behind at 86 fps. That’s not a huge difference, but the 2060 is $100 cheaper at launch. In traditional games, there’s no question that Nvidia Turing marks a total upgrade from Pascal. And, over time as drivers mature and users get ready to start overclocking their Turing cards, the difference is only going to grow. That’s not to mention the inclusion of incoming DLSS and ray tracing in games, which should only increase the Nvidia Turing performance gap. When it comes to ray tracing, there’s only one title that supports it right now: Battlefield V. And, in that title, the Nvidia Turing cards use a hybrid rendering technique – combining both traditional rasterization and ray tracing in order to produce playable frame rates. Nvidia utilizes “Bounding Volume Hierarchy,” or BVH to track large portions of the scene being rendered for whether or not a ray is being bounced. The RTX cores will then dig deeper into these large rendering zones until it finds the polygon that’s getting hit by the light ray. This method impacts performance far less than tracking each ray live, but it’s still very demanding. In our own testing, you’ll be stuck at 1080p if you’re looking for smooth gameplay with ray tracing turned on. However, with Nvidia’s latest RTX drivers, it’s claiming to increase performance by up to 50% for ray tracing. We’ll be sure to test this and report back, but we have to wait for the new Battlefield V patch to do it. As for how these non-ray tracing Turing GTX cards are going to perform, we’ve seen some leaked Ashes of the Singularity benchmarks that show the GTX 1660 Ti scoring about 20% higher than the GTX 1060, at a similar price point. If that’s true, it would fall in line with how the rest of the Turing lineup performs.
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| The best mobile plans for business 2019 Posted: 24 Jan 2019 12:45 PM PST Welcome to our guide to help you compare business mobile phone deals on all of the best handsets and from all the best UK networks. Whether you're after the new iPhone 8, Sony Xperia XZ, iPhone SE or Samsung Galaxy S9, a free phone, lots of data, the lowest possible monthly cost or all of the above, we'll help you find the perfect deal. Check out our list of the best business mobiles in the UK for 2018. We've also compiled alternative guides if you're interested in the best business SIM-only deals as well as the best business broadband and best mobile broadband deals. Underneath that you can browse through our individual handset guides for all of the best mobile phone deals out there. Best business mobile deals by network
Best business SIM-only dealsVodafone
The cheapest around for data-hungry users Unlimited minutes | Unlimited texts| 20GB data | 12-month contract | £20 Should you agree to sign a 12-month contract, then Vodafone’s Red bundle is possibly the best offer in the UK. You get unlimited data, minutes (usable both in the UK and in the EU) and a whopping 20GB data to use with an extra 4GB to be used in the EU in 40 countries; you can always opt for the WorldTraveller option which allows you to use your UK allowance in an additional 58 countries worldwide for a fiver a day. Vodafone also offers a 30-day money-back warranty. Check out this deal on Vodafone’s website O2
Terrific for globe-trotters Unlimited minutes | Unlimited texts| 32GB data | 12-month contract | £23 The Telefonica-owned company offers one of the most impressive packages in the line-up. It is also the most expensive although you get far more than most. Not only do you have unlimited minutes and texts in the UK and across Europe (well, there is a fair usage limit of 2,000 minutes and 2,000 texts in the EU), you also get 3GB to use in the EU and 120 UK to EU minutes. Great if you travel a lot to mainland Europe. O2 also offers a 30-day optional contract for an extra £2 per month. This deal has got a lot better in recent months, as it has upped the data to a huge 32GB, while cutting the cost to £23 a month. View this deal on O2’s website EE
It has a unique selling point Unlimited minutes | Unlimited texts| 30GB data | 12-month contract | £16 O2 might win when it comes to versatility but EE almost grabs the top spot when it comes to sheer value for money. This deal is a brilliant offer that gives you a huge 30GB of data for £16 a month. EE has upgraded its network to superfast 4GEE and you can even share your plan with three co-workers on the same bill; Note that, unlike many competitors, tethering and VOIP are allowed. View this deal on EE’s website Compare all the best business SIM-only deals
A couple of the best phones for businessiPhone 7 dealsPrices just absolutely dived on the iPhone 7. Great news, considering it remains an excellent way to own an awesome Apple phone for meagre amounts of money. This for £28 pm from EE is the pick of the bunch. And once you've bought it, be sure to dive into the best iOS business apps. See more ace prices with our best iPhone 7 deals and best iPhone 6 deals
BlackBerry KeyONE dealsBlackberry spent many years in the wilderness, but its return with the BlackBerry KeyOne is a massive return to form. The best deal out there bar none is this one on O2 where you get 4GB of data for £25 per month, with an upfront cost of £33.99. Click for more brilliant BlackBerry KeyONE deals
Buying a mobile phone - what you need to knowOf course you want to find the cheapest price for your new smartphone - and our comparison chart at the top of the page will narrow that down for you - but we know there are likely to be dozens more questions you'll want answering. Keep reading below, where we answer some of the key commonly asked questions about buying a new mobile.
Can I keep my old number?You can indeed, and it's really easy - so no need to send one of those texts to everybody in your phone book telling them your new digits. What you need to do is grab a PAC - or Porting Authorisation Code - from your old network. We've listed the direct numbers you need for the four major networks below. As soon as they've sent it to you, which should be within a day or two, you just need to give it to your new network. Voila - brand new phone with the same old number. Easy. It becomes slightly less easy if the deal you pick out above is on the same network as your current one. They won't let you keep your number, so you have to use this workaround. Buy a free pay-as-you-go SIM from any other network and tell your network that you're moving. They'll release the PAC code, which you then give to the substitute network. Then, you immediately get another PAC code from them. Take that to your old network, and they'll move your number to your new contract. Long winded, but worth it.
Which phone network is best?Loyalty is an admirable trait, but could end up costing you money when it comes to the perfect phone deal. If you don't mind leaving your comfort zone, you may find that heading to one of the other major networks may well be worth it...
Despite what Richard Branson's adverts might suggest, EE is the Usain Bolt of phone networks. Nobody else can come close to EE's 4G speeds in the UK. So if you rely on fast internet while away from WI-Fi, then EE is the obvious choice. Plus, EE gives you three free months of BT Sport (or more if you get a Max plan) when you sign up, as well as six months of Apple Music. The EE coverage checker will confirm how strong it is where you live.
The biggest lure to O2 is the network's Priority rewards (well, that and Sean Bean's mellifluous tones). From cheap lunches and free coffees to first refusal on big gig tickets, O2 is the network for regular goodies. Plus, they have 1000s of Wi-Fi hotspots in shops and cafes that you can connect to. Use the O2 coverage checker to see whether you'll be able to access 4G.
Good news for jet-setters - Vodafone lets you use your data, calls and texts allowances in 50 countries around the world without charge. But things really start to get good when you splash out on its bigger Red Entertainment data plans, as Vodafone will give you your choice of a NOW TV Entertainment Pass, Spotify Premium or Sky Sports Mobile subscription. Click to check if Vodafone covers your home.
3 remains the king of the big data deals, and still the only one of the big four networks to offer unlimited, uncapped, all-you-can-eat delicious data. We also like that you can use 4G to make calls and texts via the dedicated Three inTouch app, and you can connect to Wi-Fi in the London Underground if you ever find yourself in the capital. But 4G coverage isn't as strong as the other networks - check whether your postcode is covered with the Three coverage checker.
What phone contract length should I get?Well if you're buying a new phone plan with a contract, you haven't got much choice. It's 24 months or nothing, these days. If you don't want to be tied down to that kind of commitment, then you'll have to go down the SIM only route and buy the handset separately - we've rounded up the best SIM free phone deals to help you make your chocie.
How much phone data do I need?The answer to this one will be different for everybody. If you only really carry your phone for emergencies, then go for the minimum amount of data and save a packet. If you like to scroll through Facebook on the bus and stream Spotify, you'll need a bit more. And if you frequently stream videos and download masses of files, then 30GB or even unlimited may be worth paying extra for. As well as checking your phone to see how much you tend to use a month at the moment, the below guidelines will also help you pick out the perfect plan:
Should I get unlimited calls and texts?Actually these days, the vast majority of phone contracts feature unlimited calls and texts. We do see some of the cheaper plans sometimes limit them, but even if they do, you can use your data allowance on popular apps like WhatsApp, Skype and Hangouts to make calls and texts if your minutes run dry.
How much phone memory do I need?You're likely to be one of two kinds of person: Person 1: You like all your photos, music, downloads and other media to be saved directly on to your phone. If that sounds like you, 16GB or 32GB handsets may not be enough and you should use our comparison chart to find the most affordable 64GB, 128GB or 256GB models. Person 2: You're a stream demon. You've got subscriptions to Spotify and Netflix and you save all your Word docs and snaps into the cloud. Save your money and go for a cheaper, lower memory handset. OK person 3, calm down - you fall somewhere between the two, right? If you can afford to get a smartphone with more memory, that is probably safest. But don't forget that most phones do allow you to insert an additional SD card if you run out of space - most phones apart from iPhones, that is.
Are refurbished phones good to buy?Refurbished phones can provide a alternative to a new handset if you're budget is a shoestring. 'Refurbished' often means that the previous owner simply changed their mind about the phone soon after buying it, so it's still practically brand new - and the potential savings can be substantial. If you do spy an unbelievable deal on a refurbed phone, the main thing to make sure of is the warranty. Double check that you are properly covered for a decent length of time. A year's warranty is preferable.
TechRadar's unbiased and independent mobile phone deals comparisonThanks for visiting TechRadar's mobile phone deal comparison page! Our price comparison system includes 2.47 million mobile phone contracts from all of the major networks and resellers so that you can always find the one that suits you best. Unlike some other major sites, our philosophy is to always display you with the absolute cheapest deals for the criteria you select. So you'll always be able to see the cheapest prices for the best phones with contracts with the most generous data allowances.
How does TechRadar make money from affiliates?If you buy a phone after visiting this page, TechRadar will be paid a small commission by the network or reseller you buy from. This money is paid by the site you buy from and thus does not affect the amount you pay for your phone contract. If you go direct to the site you buy from, you would pay the same amount. The money that TechRadar makes from this free service allows us to improve our product comparison tools and pay the editors who trawl through all the sites and select the best deals every month. While some sites out there will be paid larger fees for pushing people to specific deals that aren't necessarily the cheapest, TechRadar will always find you the absolute cheapest deal. Trust and integrity is important to us, so if you ever think we're not displaying the very best deals let us know.
How do we order these mobile phone deals?Our mobile phone deal comparison tools sift through millions of different deals and surfaces the ones we think are the very best. Essentially that means finding deals that work out the cheapest over a 24 month contract while still supplying at least 1GB of data, as you've told us that 1GB is your absolute minimum. If you need more data, use the filters and we'll display the cheapest prices for your increased amount. On this specific page, we have many mobile phone options displaying in one comparison table. In this case, we try and find you a balance between paying the cheapest price and getting the best phone for your money.
How do the mobile phone deals comparison tools work?The comparison tools you find on the page above will hopefully be very easy to use. You can select what your budget is, whether it be upfront cost or monthly fee or both. And you can say how much data you need or how many minutes and texts. You can even filter by network if you really want to be on a specific carrier. The deals will automatically update as you drill down in your search, always favouring the cheapest options over the more expensive ones. If you ever want to refresh and start your search again, simply select the 'CLEAR ALL FILTERS' option to begin again from scratch.
What is TechRadar?TechRadar is Europe's largest technology reviews website with over 22 million visitors every month. It's our aim to provide you with the very best buying advice, always. If you'd like to read reviews of the mobile phones you see on this page, you can visit TechRadar's reviews homepage.
How do we select which networks and resellers to display?TechRadar strives to include all mobile phone deals from all UK networks and resellers so that you can search through all the available deals in the UK without having to look on all the websites separately. However, for sites to be included they need to supply us with a feed of their deals. This is the only reason why a phone reseller or network wouldn't appear in our system – but the vast majority do.
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| Anthem release date, trailers, hands on preview and news Posted: 24 Jan 2019 12:40 PM PST Anthem, BioWare's new upcoming cooperative, team-based IP, looks like a change of pace for the makers of Dragon Age and Mass Effect, with a focus on cooperative PvE combat popularised by the likes of Destiny. It was a big surprise when it was first announced at last year's E3 2017, and with pressure mounting on a game that could make or break the developer's fortunes, BioWare has kept its cards close to its chest. From the short trailer shown at EA Play keynote we got a tiny glimpse of the game world's wall: the only thing that separates the civilized world from a dangerous and savage animals. Flying exosuits (called 'Javelins') also seem to play a big part in surviving in the wilderness, and a player might jump into them as part of the game. But what is this Anthem we keep hearing about? We don't know much about the artifact at the heart of the BioWare's new game but, according to the studio's director Casey Hudson, that's going to change before the game goes out in February. [Update: We've gone hands on with Anthem during an extended play-through session at EA. We've recorded our thoughts below and have updated this article with the information we learned at the event.]
Cut to the chase
Anthem trailersThere's no better entry point to dive into the world of Anthem than a gameplay trailer. The latest one released from EA goes in greater depth with the game's combat, rewards and equipment cycle that will fuel gameplay. Check it out for yourself below: Nvidia revealed an exclusive 4K Anthem gameplay trailer at CES 2019 which showcased never-before seen Javelin, enemies, and environments. Check the trailer out below: Want more backstory on Anthem? BioWare has been cagey with details, but according to studio head Casey Hudson, that's intentional. To start filling in some of the mysteries of the world, BioWare released a trailer that debuted during The Game Awards on December 6. Check it out for yourself below. E3 2018 brought a brand new cinematic trailer for Anthem which shows the incredible exosuits in action, with some smooth flying and a look at the sort of enemies you'll be taking on with your team. You also get a first look at the Scars, an insect-like race you'll be battling throughout the game world – though we've also heard of another opposing warlike faction called Dominion who should pose a considerable threat of their own. For those worried about the somewhat generic 'mech suit' design in the trailer, there will reportedly be a lot of room for customization and cosmetic upgrades (no loot boxes, thankfully). Anthem release dateWhen it was first announced at E3 2017, Anthem was slated for a Fall 2018 release... but then the game got delayed. We now have a new, firm exact date in hand: February 22, 2019. The release date comes after a report emerged from Kotaku that the game will be delayed until early 2019, citing three sources close to the project. There is, the report says, now a feeling in BioWare that the future of the company is tied to Anthem and its success. It's for this reason that work on the studio's other titles, Star Wars: The Old Republic and the next Dragon Age, is now reportedly being done by much smaller teams. Hands on impressionsSpending close to eight hours in the world of Anthem felt like an eternity... in a good way. In that time we were finally able to get a good sense of what the game is, why it's definitely unique for a BioWare game and how it differs from Destiny. While the general story arc does sound similar to Destiny (the last bastion of humanity is under assault from a primeval, intergalactic entity) there's enough to differentiate one from the other. In Anthem, the world is under siege from a technological artifact called the Anthem of Creation. It's a lot less like the Traveler in Destiny and a lot more like the Anteverse from the Pacific Rim franchise that spawns kaiju. These monsters appear in all shapes and sizes and, occasionally when things get real bad, monstrous giants appear from the Anthem to threaten all of humanity. In Anthem, not only are you fighting against the spawn from the eponymous artifact, but you're also up against a force of human mercenaries working for a cult leader who wants the Anthem of Creation for himself so that he, more or less, can become a lesser god. (They're called the Dominion and their details are still a bit sketchy.)
So who's going to put an end to this faction before things get out of hand? You, of course. Well, you and a bunch of your friends. To put the beatdown on the forces of evil, you'll need a suit of armor and a literal arsenal of weaponry. Thankfully, that's legitimately everywhere in Anthem and producing it appears to be the primary function of everyone in the entire world. As a Freelancer, basically a super soldier that defends the last bastion of humanity, you'll go out on missions to rescue valuable persons, fight the crop of enemies that spawn from the Anthem and stop the Dominion from ruining your home of Fort Tarsis. In between missions you'll walk around the Fort (in a weird first-person mode) where you can gather intel, upgrade your armor and pick up side-quests. Importantly, when you're walking around Fort Tarsis, it's just you. You won't see mobs of other players like you do in Destiny, and that means the characters around the town can actually interact with you in meaningful ways. There are more characters than we can even list (or, at this point, remember) but they all have personality and interests beyond being a sedentary shopkeeper.
Unlike Destiny, which feels more like a multiplayer, stats-driven Halo, than a fast and ferocious shooter, Anthem's combat is fast-paced and action-packed. Each of the game's four classes have a different play style but they're all equally useful in combat. To that end, expect three specials that, at least on consoles are mapped out to the shoulder buttons, and one ultimate ability that can be used to decimate enemies. That last part sounds especially Destiny-esque, I know, but you have to trust that in practice combat feels more fluid with aerial dodging and constant explosions rather than slower, cover-based shooting. In between the battles, Anthem offers a surprisingly full world to explore. Rather than huge empty battlefields, Destiny has resources aplenty as well as wildlife and pop-up events happening all the time. Admittedly, there's not as much of these extras as we've seen in other BioWare games where it feels like every nook and cranny of the world has been just stuffed with loot, but what's there is better than the bland, sterile worlds we've seen elsewhere.
The main gameplay cycle looks like this: You spawn in town to talk with the next quest giver. Along the way you're given some solid lore about the world around you and you'll meet (and grow to like) the various town people you interact with at Fort Tarsis. (Just don't get too attached - unlike other BioWare games there's no courting a mate here.) Once you've got a quest, you'll spend some time outfitting one of your suits for the mission (you get one additional class at level two, and then the other two later in the game so you're never stuck with your first pick) and partner up with friends or randos via the game's matchmaking system. You can turn the latter off if you want a single-player experience, but the game's executive director, Mark Darrah, thinks it's a game best tried in multiplayer before you switch to single-player. Missions run between five and 20 minutes long (at least the ones we were able to play) and you'll run, gun and loot along the way. After a mission, you can either head back into Fort Tarsis to get another quest, or hang out with your friends in the newly unveiled Launch Bay that supports up to 16 players at a time. You'll then upgrade your gear and head out on another mission. Does this sound a bit similar to the structure of Destiny? Yeah. It does. But the hook is that combat and controls will feel so new and different that you'll overlook the similarities, ignore the fact that BioWare deviated from its formula and immerse yourself in a well-realized world that the company has built from the ground up. News and rumorsAnthem public demo dates A free free-launch demo of Anthem will be available for Xbox One, PS4 and PC from February 1 to February 3. However those who have pre-ordered the title, or are members of Origin or EA Access, will gain access to the Anthem VIP demo from January 25 to January 27. Players will start the demo at level 10 but will be capped at level 15. Commander Shepard will live on In celebration of N7 Day (the unofficial Mass Effect holiday), Anthem and Mass Effect lead producer Michael Gamble tweeted an image of N7 armor being worn in the Fort Tarsis hub. However, Gamble didn't release any details about when or how this skin will be made available to players It will support 3D Audio Through the PlayStation Platinum headset. Dolby Atmos confirmed? In an interview with the game's executive producer, Mark Darrah, we confirmed that Anthem will support Dolby Atmos. That being said, Darrah couldn't confirm whether the game would launch with Atmos support right out of the box or if it would come further down the road. (The same was said for Dolby Vision.) It's going to be a graphically-demanding game As earlier rumors suggested (see below), Anthem was indeed shown off at this year's E3, and it was a stunning looking game that ran in 4K resolution and 60 frames per second. That's all very impressive, but what kind of machine will you need to play Anthem at that kind of graphical level? Well, according to Mark Darrah, the game’s executive producer, the E3 demo was running on a PC with two Nvidia GTX 1080 Ti graphics cards. While we expect Anthem to get optimized before its release, we'd still expect you to need a powerful PC to play at 4K and 60FPS. EA hasn't confirmed if the Xbox One X or PS4 Pro will be able to match that performance. EA Play EA Play brought us the best look at Anthem that we've had yet. What we learned is that the game is considered by EA to be "the evolution of a Bioware game" that doesn't bolt on story content to a multiplayer game, but rather integrates those things together in a shared world. It's a little different from the standard BioWare fare since it seems it won't have any player romances available. You play as a 'Freelancer' who can control the exosuit that we've seen, and you're tasked with protecting the people of Tarthis from a force trying to control the Anvil of Creation. The world is reshaped all the time and, because you're a pilot, you can change out your suit depending on your mission. Exosuit types include the Ranger, Colossus, Storm and Interceptor. We learned that the game won't have loot boxes and will instead be an online world that expands with more stories as time goes on. Part of the condition of this, however, is that the game won't be playable offline. After the show Mark Darrah confirmed on Twitter that "you need to be online to play" adding that there will also be no PvP modes available at launch, if they're being considered at all, since he added that it's not guaranteed. Darrah also responded to fan's queries online, saying that players could create multiple Freelancers for each user account, and would be free to use any of the four exosuits that had been showcased.
It'll have a big focus on story Anthem's developer BioWare has promised a big story for Anthem after Mass Effect Andromeda fell short of fan expectations. Writing in a blog post, the studio's general manager Casey Hudson emphasised the importance of world, character and storytelling and promised that they would be a part of Anthem, "a game designed to create a whole new world of story and character that you can experience with friends in an ongoing series of adventures." Hudson goes on to say that though it will be unlike "anything you've ever played", if it's done as planned it will still feel "very distinctly BioWare" – and that he'll continue using the blog to update fans on the development process of the game. Our World, My Story One of the ongoing refrains from Anthem's development is the idea of 'Our World, My Story'. For players, that means your time will be split between the outside world – a shared multiplayer environment where you team up with other Freelancers for exploration and combat – and Fort Tarsis, where you develop a single-player experience unique to you. Fort Tarsis will act as a home hub of sorts, where you face your own decisions and actions, accept contracts and missions, form platonic relationships, and generally act out more of the role-play elements expected from BioWare's usual IPs. By the sounds of it, events in the outside world will affect the individual experiences you have back at the Fort, though how this spins out is anyone's guess. EA meets its Destiny in Anthem
The premise we know so far is that humanity is holed up in a bastion, cut off from the outside world. Venturing out, it appears, requires a suit of armor that will help fend off the wilds of the Pandora-esque planet. EA is describing it as "a shared-world action RPG where Freelancers challenge the wilds past the wall, exploring a vast world filled with savage beasts and ruthless marauders, but also teeming with amazing technology and forgotten treasures". If this sounds like Destiny, you're not crazy. "Players will be able to join with their friends to unravel the world's mysteries and defeat the forces plotting to conquer humanity." Okay, this is Destiny. "Throughout their journeys, players can outfit their Freelancers with powerful Javelin exosuits, each of which are equipped with unique weapons and abilities. Freelancers can customize their Javelin with gear they earn and craft throughout the adventure, and leave a lasting mark on the world". Admittedly, the word Freelancers make the game sound a bit more like a Borderlands game than Destiny, but considering that your class is determined by which Javelin you have on, we're still seeing Destiny written all over it. When Anthem was first announced, taking on Destiny 2 seemed like a tall order, but now that Destiny 2 appears to be having some growing pains, Anthem may be able to seize on a dissatisfied playerbase. Life after AndromedaAnthem will be BioWare's first title after the somewhat polarizing Mass Effect: Andromeda. Anthem will, apparently, be a science fantasy game more in the vein of Star Wars and offerings from the Marvel universe, rather than hard core science fiction title like Mass Effect BioWare Edmonton general manager Aaryn Flynn has revealed. In a recent interview with CBC Flynn said that like these franchises Anthem will be a game in which "you see a lot of amazing things happening but we don't worry too much about why they are happening or how they are happening; the science of it.“ BioWare has dipped its toes into the science fantasy genre before with titles such as the RPG Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and the online multiplayer game Star Wars: The Old Republic. Anthem will, apparently, be along these lines and "much more about just having fun in a game world that is really lush and exotic and really sucks you in." Unlike Mass Effect, which Flynn says was a "more a real hard core science fiction IP". Taking this into account, alongside the game's more online multiplayer leanings, and it seems like BioWare is certainly attempting to step into a space currently dominated by games such as Destiny. It'll be exciting to see what else a developer with so accomplished a background in lore-heavy single player storytelling can bring to this genre.
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| The best SIM deals for business in 2019 Posted: 24 Jan 2019 12:37 PM PST Thanks to the rise of BYOD (bring your own device), many companies have found that you don't need to supply handsets to its employees, but instead offer SIM cards that they can use with their existing handsets. If your company is thinking of doing that, then you've come to the right place. We’ve looked at the best SIM only deals from all the main mobile phone operators in the UK (the four big networks and three MVNOs) and, in no order of preference, here are the ones we think are the best for micro, small and medium businesses. (Note that Three doesn’t do SIM-only for businesses and is therefore excluded from our listing). It should also be noted that companies do not have to report anything to HM Revenue and Customs or deduct or pay tax and national insurance if they provide the employees with one SIM card (or mobile phone) and the phone contract is between the employer and the service provider. Vodafone
The cheapest around for data-hungry users Unlimited minutes | Unlimited texts| 20GB data | 12-month contract | £16.67 Should you agree to sign a 12-month contract, then Vodafone’s Red bundle is possibly the best offer in the UK. You get unlimited data, minutes (usable both in the UK and in the EU) and a whopping 20GB data to use with an extra 4GB to be used in the EU in 40 countries; you can always opt for the WorldTraveller option which allows you to use your UK allowance in an additional 58 countries worldwide for a fiver a day. Vodafone also offers a 30-day money-back warranty. Check out this deal on Vodafone’s website O2
Terrific for globe-trotters Unlimited minutes | Unlimited texts| 20GB data | 12-month contract | £24 The Telefonica-owned company offers one of the most impressive packages in the line-up. It has also got a major price drop, falling to just £24 a month (down from £30). Not only do you have unlimited minutes and texts in the UK and across Europe (well, there is a fair usage limit of 2,000 minutes and 2,000 texts in the EU), you also get 3GB to use in the EU and 100 UK to EU minutes. Great if you travel a lot to mainland Europe. O2 also offers a 30-day optional contract for an extra £2 per month. View this deal on O2’s website EE
It has a unique selling point Unlimited minutes | Unlimited texts| 15GB data | 12-month contract | £17 O2 might win when it comes to versatility but EE almost grabs the top spot when it comes to sheer value for money. It undercuts its main rival by nearly £10 per month yet offers the same core features (unlimited data and texts, but data is slightly less at15GB). EE also upgraded its network to superfast 4GEE and you can even share your plan with three co-workers on the same bill; Note that, unlike many competitors, tethering and VOIP are allowed. View this deal on EE’s website BT
Not the most attractive package on offer Unlimited minutes | Unlimited texts| 20GB data | 12-month contract | £30 EE is now owned by BT and yet somehow, the former easily trumps the latter when it comes to value for money. Just to put things in context, the equivalent BT package to the one above costs a whopping £72 a month, that’s an extra £52 compared to EE’s (or a 260% premium). You can choose to double your 4G speed to up to 60MBps for £4 per month and you will get access to five million BT Wi-Fi hotspots. This deal has also just got much better, as data has been doubled from 10GB per month to 20GB, without any additional costs! View this deal on BT’s website The People's operator
Great for intra-team voice communication 1000 minutes | Unlimited texts | 2GB data | 30 day rolling contract | £9.99 TPO is a MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) that piggybacks on Three’s network to deliver its service. All its plans offer 10% of the value of the monthly spend to a nominated cause or charity, which is a rather laudable and uncommon marketing strategy. A 10-person SME can therefore, effortlessly donate a whopping £300 over the course of a year. This and the fact that calls between TPO colleagues are free could well entice SMBs towards this relatively new player. View this deal on TPO’s website The Co-operative
Ideal for short contracts Business Unlimited | Unlimited minutes | Unlimited texts | 3GB data | 12-month contract | £17 Perhaps the newest MVNO here, Co-op is better known for its supermarkets and its financial services. Like TPO, Co-op supports a few social and ethical projects and since it is a co-operative, its customers can become members as well. Its unlimited bundle – which is powered by EE - comes with no limit texts and minutes. Additional 1GB data bundles will cost £1.67 at a time. Note that a sharer bundle is also available but without the data component. View his deal on The co-operative business telecoms Virgin Media Business
Excellent for dual-play Big Data | Unlimited minutes | Unlimited texts| 3GB data | 12-month contract | £11.67 If you plan to get mobile SIM-only services packaged with broadband, then the Big Data offer from VMB is worth looking at. The mobile service is underpinned by EE’s infrastructure and therefore like Co-op, provides with unlimited minutes and texts. Save £2 per month per SIM package if you opt for VMB’s Managed Internet Access package. Sadly, there is no sharer package for teams. View this deal on Virgin Media Business’ website This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The best mobile broadband deals of 2019 Posted: 24 Jan 2019 12:30 PM PST Welcome to our list of the best mobile broadband deals of 2019. If you do a lot of remote working and commuting, then getting the best mobile broadband deal for your needs is essential. While free Wi-Fi hotspots may be present at almost every cafe, library and public space, the quality and speed of these free Wi-Fi networks leaves a lot to be desired. Plus, there are legitimate security concerns with using free networks like that, especially if you're using them for work. On this page, you'll find links to the best mobile broadband deals currently available in the UK; the market is currently very competitive with some surprising names popping up. For the sake of clarity, we will be including tethering as an option. Tethering allows you to use your smartphone as a wireless Wi-Fi hotspot; you could even be looking at having an old or cheap smartphone as a hotspot or even use a dual-SIM smartphone like the OnePlus 3. Note that prices usually increase every year in line with the RPI (Retail Price Index). The best mobile broadband deals of the monthThese are the deals we recommend most highly. We try to pick out a deal for everyone, whether you're after the cheapest possible option or the best balance between allowance and cost over one month and 12/24-months deals.
For light users and European travellers
Three | 12GB | No contract | £27.99 We would recommend going the PAYG route if you're a light user for three reasons. Firstly, it gives you the flexibility to use more or less data each month. Secondly, you are not tied into any contracts and thirdly, PAYG beats any entry-level broadband-only SIM offers. We recommend the Three 3G/4G PAYG Trio Data SIM preloaded with 12GB of data and in theory, can even be used abroad as part of the popular Feel At Home scheme. It allows you to get online abroad at no extra cost in 42 destinations worldwide with new countries being added regularly. Check the terms and conditions with Three as these change frequently. It is also cheaper to buy it from Mymemory than purchasing it straight from Three.
For medium users
Three | 20GB per month | 12-month contract | £20 per month Planning to use up to 20GB of data a month? Then pay monthly is your better option; otherwise, stick to the 12GB offer above. This deal means you get 20GB for the price of 10GB per month and is the ideal data tariff. Remember it's a 12 month deal. You can get the SIM delivered within three working days. Three also offer this deal as a monthly rolling contract, but the price does increase to £23 a month.
For heavy users
Vodafone | 30GB per month | 12-month contract | £25 per month If you need even more than 20GB of data a month, then Vodafone offers 30GB of data allowance every month for only £25, that's only £1.20 per GB. All Vodafone 4G Data SIMs come with Vodafone Global Roaming, giving you the freedom to use your UK data in 110 destinations worldwide. For an extra £5 a day, you can use your UK data allowance in our 60 Roam-further destinations – and you’ll be charged only on the days you use your device. Vodafone also offers contracts with up to 50GB of data each month for seriously heavy users. There are also options for monthly rolling contracts, which give you a bit more flexibility without tying you in for 12 months.
For international travellersIf you often travel internationally and want to freely use the internet without having to think of costs, then it is hard, if not impossible, to beat Knowroaming's offering. It is offering a global SIM card for as little as $9.99 (about £8) with an unlimited data package costing only $7.99 (about £6.50) per day in more than 90 countries. We tried it during a recent trip to Japan and it worked flawlessly. The SIM comes with a free US and UK number with the option to purchase additional foreign numbers. There's an app to track your real-time usage and as a bonus, you get to use WhatsApp for free worldwide (that includes calls, photo and video messaging). Now that's a deal we can't say no to.
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| The best powerline adapters 2019: top picks for expanding your home network Posted: 24 Jan 2019 12:30 PM PST In our list of the best powerline adapters of 2018 you'll find the best devices for plugging into your home's power supply to turn it into a high-speed network. The best powerline adapters are useful tools for making sure that every device in your home has access to the internet, especially if they rely on a wired internet connection. Rather than trailing Ethernet cables throughout your home or office, you can use powerline adapters to spread the network throughout your building. It can also eliminate Wi-Fi blackspots, as many of the best powerline adapters have built-in Wi-Fi that can help extend your wireless network. The best powerline adapters are also incredibly easy to install - just plug one into a power socket by your router or modem, and connect it via an Ethernet cable. Then, place a second adapter where you want to supply the network or internet to, and connect any devices to the second adaptor. You can add more adapters throughout the building, and their network speeds are much faster than Wi-Fi, and thick walls and floors won't affect them. You will need the power lines in your building to be in good working order, however. Some Wi-Fi adapters also include Wi-Fi antennae for bringing wireless networks into difficult to reach parts of a building. There's a large range of power line adapters available to buy, so to help you we've created this list of the very best power line adapters.
The Devolo Magic 2 WiFi is the latest series of adapters from the German company that allow you to use your home's power lines to transmit network data. It uses a new standard – G.hn – which promises much faster speeds. In fact, Devolo claims that Magic 2 can reach theoretical speeds of up to 2,400Mbps, a big leap over its last-generation Devolo dLAN 1200+ (below), which was capable of up to 1,200Mbps. It is expensive, but you get the best powerline speeds we've seen so far. It's also worth noting that because of the new technology, the Devolo Magic 2 WiFi isn't backwards compatible, so it won't work with any of the other adapters in this list.
The Devolo dLAN 1200+ WiFi ac is one of the fastest powerline adapters on the market, able to reach speeds of 1.2 gigabits a second - though you should note that you won't often get those kinds of speeds, as there are numerous factors that can affect powerline speeds. Still, this is a very fast powerline adaptor, and the fact it can also broadcast dual-band wireless ac networks makes this a very versatile powerline adaptor. The adaptor also has a pass through power port, which means you won't lose a power socket - just plug other devices into the adaptor itself.
The TP-Link AV2000 takes the award for fastest power line adaptor, with a maximum speed of 2000Mbps - though of course actual speeds will be lower. Still, it offers fantastic speeds, along with built-in dual band wireless ac networks and a pass through socket. In the starter kit you'll get two adapters, one has a single Ethernet port, which you should use to connect to your modem or router, and the second one has two Ethernet ports for connecting wired devices.
Asus may not be the first company that comes to mind when you think about networking devices, but it makes some very good products - such as the Asus 1200Mbps AV2 1200 Wi-Fi Powerline Adapter. As the name suggests this is a very fast powerline adaptor that is also able to broadcast a Wi-Fi network as well. Unlike other powerline adapters with Wi-Fi, the Asus 1200Mbps AV2 1200 Wi-Fi Powerline Adapter has external antennae, which allow you to angle them for increased coverage - though it does mean the units themselves look a little bit ugly compared to some of its competitors.
If you're looking for a nice, cheap but reliable powerline adaptor, than the TP-LINK AV600 is a great choice. It's a lot less money than many of the adapters on this list, but it still manages to offer plenty of features. For example, it can broadcast Wi-Fi, and with a Wi-Fi clone button, you can easily extend your existing wireless network. it also features two Ethernet ports, and the second adaptor in the set includes a pass through socket so you don't lose out on a power socket when using the adaptor. While the 600Mbps top speed isn't as high as others on this list, it's still enough to transfer big files and stream media around your home.
This is an excellent entry-level power adaptor that does a very good job at transmitting your network traffic over your powerlines. It doesn't boast the highest speeds, nor does it have Wi-Fi or a passthrough socket, but it does the job well considering the price, and its low cost means it's easy to add adapters to your network in the future.
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| Apple patent hints that future iPhones and Apple Watches could detect harmful gases Posted: 24 Jan 2019 12:27 PM PST Apple has been granted a patent for a harmful gas detector that could one day end up in the company’s lineup of devices like iPhones, iPads and/or Apple Watches. Given how lethal some gases are, like carbon monoxide (CO), it’s obvious why Apple would want to install a detector in its products – especially future Apple Watches, given how the company’s pitched the ECG-capable Apple Watch 4 as a suitable device for older health-conscious users.
The patent, per Patently Apple, describes a “miniature gas sensing device encased in an enclosure” In diagrams, this “enclosure” is alternately represented by a dummy iPhone and Apple Watch inside which one or more tiny gas sensors can be integrated.
The gas sensor would supposedly be able to detect more than just CO, per Patently Apple: "Apple's patent claim #9 points to a "target gas comprising of at least one of ozone (O.sub.3), nitrogen dioxide (NO.sub.2), nitrogen monoxide (NO), sulfur dioxide (SO.sub.2), carbon monoxide (CO), methane (CH.sub.4), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and wherein the components of a gas mixture other than the target gas comprises poisoning species including siloxanes, sulfates, phosphates and chlorides, and/or interfering species such as water vapor." Gas detectors in more placesThere’s clear utility in packing an iPhone or Apple Watch with a gas detector, especially since these devices are frequently near or attached to users as they sleep. It could be challenging to fit devices with these sensors while still making them waterproof, since the gas sensor may need its own hole in each device, as 9to5Mac points out. But these sensors could just as easily find their way into the HomePod or other domestic-focused products that Apple may design down the line. In any case, the patent was filed “back in 3 2018” (presumably March 2018), according to Patently Apple. Who knows when this technology could enter Apple devices, or if it will.
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| Best A3 printers 2019: top printers for large printouts Posted: 24 Jan 2019 12:20 PM PST Welcome to our list of the best A3 printers for printing out large lab-quality printouts at home of at the office. If you need large-scale printouts, for example for portfolios or displays, then a standard A4 printer just isn't going to cut it. The best A3 printers, which we've listed in this guide, can handle much larger printouts, which – crucially – not compromising on print quality. Because of the larger size of the printouts, the best A3 printers will ensure that image quality remains as high as possible. However, one thing you might notice when searching for the best A3 printer for your needs is that they can be more expensive than regular printers. That doesn't mean you need to spend a fortune, as our price comparison tool will help you get the best price for the A3 printer of your choice. So, let's take a look at the best A3 printers in 2019. If you need to make large printouts, these are the very best choices you should consider.
Buying an A3 printer doesn't mean you have to break the bank, which is why the Canon PIXMA iP8750 A3+ Wi-Fi Photo Printer is our pick of the best A3 printer in 2019. It can print high quality photos and images at up to A3+ size, and while the print outs are big, the design of this printer isn't, making it an attractive addition to a home or office. There's plenty of connectivity options, including wireless ones, and print speed is excellent as well.
Running on eight dye-based inks, the Pro-100S adds grey and light grey inks to the usual, colour-friendly mix of CMYK plus light cyan and light magenta. Cartridge capacity is 13ml. There's a slight warmth in the balance of colour photo printing, which can be flattering for skin tones, but the Epson dye-based printers are a little cool. The Pro-100's accuracy for mono images is better, thanks to the extra grey inks. It outputs A3+ borderless prints in under four-and-a-half minutes using top-quality mode, making it the fastest A3 photo printer on test. It reigns supreme for super-smooth results on glossy paper, but prints on matte media lack the robustness of those created with pigment-based printers.
This is an incredibly versatile four-in-one device that can print, scan, photocopy and fax, making it an excellent addition to any office. The fact that it can print up to A3 means it's a great choice if you require printing out large documents or photos. It's also pretty well priced, making it a good investment for growing companies.
Epson's large(ish)-format printer has a maximum print size of A3 rather than A3+, which equates to 16.5x11.7 inches instead of 19x13 inches. The regular A3 aspect ratio is also a worse fit for 3x2 format SLR images. A full-size, top-quality print just under six minutes. Unlike the others, this one features card readers, a touchscreen display and an A4 scanner built into the lid, adding all-in-one credentials. If A3 printouts aren't quite big enough, then the Epson SureColor SC-P800 is the printer for you. It is capable of handling huge A2-sized prints, as well as A3, and while it is expensive, it can give you the flexibility your company needs when printing out large documents. This won't be a printer for everyone's needs, but if you're looking for something that can print large, and print well, then it definitely could be a worthy investment.
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| The best cheap printers 2019: top budget picks Posted: 24 Jan 2019 12:15 PM PST Welcome to our list of the best cheap printers of 2019. If you're looking for the best cheap printers that strike the perfect balance between affordability and features, while maintaining excellent print quality, then this guide will help you choose the perfect budget printer for your needs. The printer market is extremely competitive, especially at the budget end. In one way this is good, as it gives you plenty of choice when looking for the best budget printer for your needs. However, the sheer amount of budget printers available can be daunting. From color printers and monochrome choices, to ink jet and even laser printer, there is a huge choice. Oh, and let's not forget wireless and all-in-one budget printers as well. This can make looking for the best cheap printer for your needs a rather confusing process, which is where this guide comes in. We've picked the top cheap printers that offer brilliant value for money, while also printing out good quality images and documents quickly and quietly. Meanwhile, our very own price comparison tool will scour the internet to make sure you get the very lowest prices for these already cheap printers. One important thing to keep in mind when buying a cheap printer is that some manufacturers lower the price of the printer to entice people to buy, but keep the price of its consumables (such as ink cartridges) high, making their money back that way. This means some apparently cheap printers end up being quite expensive over the course of their lifetimes.
The Deskjet 3630 is a fantastic printer that shows how the best cheap printers can offer print quality that can rival more expensive devices. Like some budget printers, the standard ink cartridges can be quite expensive, but if you use it a lot, HP's Instant Ink subscription service ends up being much better value for money, meaning this is a brilliant cheap printer that actually remains cheap throughout its life. Read the full review: HP Deskjet 3630
The HP Envy 5540 All-in-One printer is a cheap all-in-one printer that offers printing, scanning and photo printing, supports not just USB but Wi-Fi, Wireless Direct and AirPrint wireless printing, and it even offers automatic double-sided printing. Basically, it comes with an over abundance of features that you'd expect to find on much more expensive printers. Sure, it's a bit pricier than the other cheap printers in this list, but the features and print quality of the HP Envy 5540 more than justify this slightly higher price. It's certainly a cheaper option to buying a printer, scanner and photocopier separately.
The HP Deskjet 2130 All-in-One printer is another great example of a cheap all-in-one printer. It's cheaper than the HP Envy 5540 (above), but the lower price does mean you don't get quite as good a print quality as HP's other printer. It's also a bit slower, and feels a little cheap at times. However, if you only want a cheap printer for occasional use (rather than heavy-duty printing), and also need a scanner and photocopier, then the HP Deskjet 2130 All-in-One printer is probably the best cheap printer for you.
The M2070W is our pick for the best cheap printer for business users. It offers some brilliant features considering its low price, such as NFC printing from compatible smartphones, online document sharing, and a clever Eco system that supplements the usual toner saving mode with a feature to remove images from documents by replacing bitmaps with sketches. It has print speeds of 20ppm, a clever scan to mobile feature and an effective print resolution of up to 1200dpi. It only prints in monochrome, but for most businesses that will be fine, and the low price makes this a brilliant budget choice for the office.
The Brother HL-3140CW is another brilliant cheap laser printer, and in fact is one of Amazon's best-selling laser printers, and with good reason – for very little cash you're getting a superb wireless color laser. Sure, some compromises have been made to keep the price of this printer as low as possible, so it doesn't have automatic duplexing or an Ethernet port, but the HL-3140CW delivers superb print quality, reasonable mono running costs and good wireless features for a very low price. If you're looking for a business printer and you're on a tight budget, then the Brother HL-3140CW will prove to be a worthwhile addition to your office.
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| Organisations waste resources storing useless IT hardware Posted: 24 Jan 2019 11:54 AM PST New research from the Blancco Technology Group has revealed the staggering cost of organisations storing old, outdated IT equipment in their data centres. The firm surveyed 600 data centre experts from APAC, Europe and North America to discover that two in five organisations that store their data in-house are spending over $100,000 to store useless IT hardware that could pose a security or compliance risk to their business. Surprisingly more than half of these companies (54%) have been cited at least once or twice by regulators or governing bodies for non-compliance with international data protection laws. Organisations could incur fines of up to $1.5m for HIPAA violations due to storing data past its retention date and these fines are multiplied by the number of years each violation has been allowed to persist. Potential for misuseBlancco's study, The High Cost of Cluttered Data Centers, highlights how global organisations are paralysed by fear of reputational damage. The risk that sensitive data stored on old IT hardware being breached or misuses could severely affect an organisation's reputation as well as the trust of its customers. Organisations are spending vast amounts of money storing these devices even though this practice is in direct contradiction to data protection laws and regulations such as GDPR. Vice President of Enterprise and Cloud Erasure Solutions at Blancco, Fredrik Forslund provided further insight on the risk of storing outdated IT equipment, saying: "Global organizations are unnecessarily wasting vast sums of money from noncompliance and onsite storage fees – charges that could be easily mitigated. This points to a huge lack of education within the sector about what to do with hardware that is faulty or has reached end-of-life. Organizations are letting this hardware pile up in fear of data leakage, resulting in loss of efficiency, increasing capital costs, possible noncompliance and potential security risks."
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| Sonos' first headphones are rumored to be wireless and high-end Posted: 24 Jan 2019 11:22 AM PST Sonos could be producing a pair of high-end wireless headphones, a new rumor suggests, which would be the first time the pioneer of multi-room audio ventured from the safer shoals of large, powerful speakers for in-ear audio. The details on the high-end headphones are slim at the moment but, according to a report from Bloomberg, the headphones will likely have multiple virtual assistants that would function similarly to the audio maker’s Sonos Beam and Sonos One speakers, and would focus on competing with Sony, Apple, Bose and Sennheiser by offering high-end audio performance. While the headphones aren’t expected to be unveiled until later down the road, Bloomberg’s sources suggest that Sonos could target a price point of around $300 (£200, AU$400). That high-end hustleShould that price point turn out to be accurate, that would put it in direct contention with the Sony WH-1000XM3, Bose QuietComfort 35 II and Sennheiser Momentum Wireless – three headphones that have absolutely dominated the high-end wireless space. The other problem with putting out a pair of wireless over-ear headphones by next year? Apple could be looking at the same time frame to release its rumored over-ear headphones as well as its second-gen Apple AirPods 2 - two hotly anticipated headphones that already stand to shake up the industry without any help from Sonos entering the mix. We'll reach out to Sonos to try and confirm the report ourselves, and update this story when we hear back.
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| AWS secures company data on the go with WorkLink launch Posted: 24 Jan 2019 11:02 AM PST In an effort to help secure company data on employee devices, AWS has announced a new product called Amazon WorkLink that gives users access to company intranet and internal web apps without sacrificing security. The new fully managed service allows IT admins to provide employees with one-click access to internal sites for just $5 per month per user regardless of whether or not their running AWS. Once WorkLink is installed on a user's device, employees can use any browser of their choice to navigate to an internal website. The service then uses a secure container to convert the site into an interactive vector graphic which is sent back to a user's smartphone. What makes AWS' new product so appealing is the fact that nothing is stored or cached on the device. This makes mobile device management unnecessary since there is now no need to wipe an employee's smartphone if it is lost or stolen as there is no company data stored locally on the device. Securely accessing internal contentA company's IT team can use either a VPN to connect from an AWS Private Cloud to on-premise servers or it can use AWS Direct Connect to forego a VPN all together. Amazon WorkLink is compatible with all SAML 2.0 identity management providers such as Okta and Ping Identity and since the service is fully managed, it is able to handle scaling as well as any updates in the background. Vice President of Productivity Applications at AWS, Peter Hill explained why the company developed its new solution in a press release, saying: “When talking with customers, all of them expressed frustration that their workers don't have an easy and secure way to access internal content, which means that their employees either waste time or don't bother trying to access content that would make them more productive. With Amazon WorkLink, we're enabling greater workplace productivity for those outside the corporate firewall in a way that IT administrators and security teams are happy with and employees are willing to use.” WorkLink will eventually be available for both Android and iOS but for now the app is only available on iOS and currently only works with Safari with support for Chrome coming in the next few weeks. While AWS' new solution will protect company data from being cached on employee devices, pairing it with a VPN will provide the most complete security solution. Via TechCrunch
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