Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Apple : What is a Google Chromebook?

Apple : What is a Google Chromebook?

What is a Google Chromebook?

Posted: 15 Jan 2019 02:56 PM PST

You’ve probably seen the term Chromebook mentioned on the internet, and you might be wondering what they are, and how they differ from regular laptops.

In this guide we’ll explain what a Chromebook is, list the pros and cons of the devices, and help you decide whether or not a Chromebook is right for you.

If you’re after in-depth buying advice on specific models, check out our Should I Buy a Chromebook? and Best Chromebook guides.

What is a Chromebook?

Let’s begin with a quick overview of what a Chromebook is. Essentially, Chromebooks are light and cheap laptops that run Google’s ChromeOS operating system.

Most laptops run Windows 10 as their operating system, unless you have a MacBook, which uses macOS. ChromeOS is a lightweight OS, which means it’s not as fully featured as Windows 10 or macOS. In fact, when ChromeOS was first released in 2011 it was extremely barebones, and you needed an internet connection to use apps such as Google Docs.

ChromeOS has evolved since then, so you can now install apps – including Android apps – and use it without an internet connection, but it’s still more limited than Windows 10 and macOS. However, that's one of the reasons why Chromebooks are so appealing to many users.

Because ChromeOS is a lightweight operating system, it doesn’t need powerful components to run, and it can use hardware that Windows 10 or macOS would struggle to run on. This enables Chromebooks to be much more affordable than other laptops.

It also means Chromebooks have impressively long battery lives, easily lasting a whole work day on a single charge.

The first Chromebooks were released by Samsung and Acer in May 2011. While we sometimes refer to the devices as ‘Google Chromebooks’, a number of major laptop manufacturers make Chromebooks, with the likes of Dell, HP and Asus joining Samsung and Acer.

Of course, Google has released its own Chromebooks over the years as well. Interestingly, while most Chromebooks are affordable alternatives to Windows and Mac laptops, Google’s Chromebooks, like the Google Pixelbook, are premium devices that show that a Chromebook can be as powerful, and as beautifully designed, as any MacBook or Windows laptop.

What software can a Google Chromebook run?

Because Chromebooks run ChromeOS, you can’t simply install and run Windows or Mac programs. Instead, you use Chrome apps, or online apps that you can run through the Chrome browser, such as Google Docs.

There’s a decent selection of Chrome apps, and using online apps like Google Docs means you don’t need to mess around installing apps, which means many Chromebooks only need small hard drives – which again helps to keep their price low.

Chromebooks are now also able to run Android apps, giving Chromebook users access to thousands of apps through the Google Play Store. Most modern applications have a version for Android devices, which means Chromebooks can run a huge range of software, from office suites like Microsoft Office to photo editors and even games.

Chromebooks can also run Linux applications, further bolstering the productivity benefits of the devices. Compatible Chromebooks can now use programs that were created for Linux, the open source desktop operating system.

While ChromeOS used to be seen as a limited operating system, the scope of the software you can now run on a Chromebook is truly impressive.

ChromeOS is also a lot less prone to viruses and malware compared to Windows 10; malicious users are more likely to attack Windows 10 devices due to their popularity. Using cloud-based services on a Chromebook also limits the number of files you download and install, and ChromeOS is automatically updated with the latest security patches to keep you safe and secure.

Chromebooks and education

Because of the affordability, long battery life and security of Chromebooks, they've become increasingly popular in the education sector.

They're ideal laptops for students, as they come with pretty much all the software they would need, including word processors and presentation programs. The use of cloud services such as Google Docs also allows for online collaboration between students and teachers, and several manufacturers have made Chromebooks that are specially designed for students, with durable bodies that can survive being tossed into a backpack and carried around all day.

The Chrome Education License also enables schools to provide Chromebooks to students and easily manage the devices centrally, ensuring that only approved apps are installed.

Parental controls can also ensure that students are kept safe from inappropriate online content.

So, to answer to the question 'What is a Google Chromebook?' Essentially, they're affordable laptops with simple designs, that can surprise you with how flexible and adept they are for many day-to-day tasks.

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Apple's new battery cases give iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max longer battery lives

Posted: 15 Jan 2019 02:14 PM PST

Apple has launched a lineup of new battery-packed phone cases for the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max, as spotted by 9to5Mac. For anyone who has  suffering from short battery life on the newest iPhones, these cases are a convenient way to extend device uptime without needing to carry around a battery and cable.

The new Apple Smart Battery Cases cost $129 (around £100,  AU$179) across all three phone models. You can pick one up in either black or white.

Apple claims each case is capable of offering the following extensions on each phone's battery life:


  • iPhone XS - 33 hours talk time, 21 hours internet use, 25 hours video playback
  • iPhone XS Max - 37 hours talk time, 20 hours internet use, 25 hours video playback
  • iPhone XR - 39 hours talk time, 22 hours internet use, 27 hours video playback.

Apart from the convenient addition of power to the iPhones, they also protect the phone by covering up the back glass completely, with a simple cutout for the cameras. The silicone material fits snugly and is easy to slip on the phone, with a microfiber lining on the inside and a soft-touch exterior.

Since the cases are official Apple products, they should seamlessly integrate with your iPhone. Apple notes the phones will display an intelligent battery status while the cases are in use, so you know how much life is left. Each case also supports Qi wireless charging, fast charging with USB-PD chargers, and connectivity with accessories that use the Lightning Connector.

Pre-orders for the Smart Battery Cases are open now, with delivery starting Friday, January 18 on the two iPhone XS models and later in the month for the iPhone XR model.

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iPhone 11 renders show off horizontal triple-camera setup

Posted: 15 Jan 2019 01:51 PM PST

There's a new iPhone 11 leak of a render that gives us an idea how Apple's 2019 smartphone may appear. The good news: it looks a lot better than before.

Last week, notable leaker @OnLeaks revealed a render of a possible prototype for the upcoming iPhone 11 displaying a triple-camera setup set in a square mounting. Today, he released another rendering created with partner CompareRaja that shows off a trio of lenses in a horizontal strip – which could be an alternate prototype for Apple’s next smartphone. 

Shortly after the first leak, a report from the Wall Street Journal claimed that a three-camera iPhone was coming – but it might only be the highest-end (like the iPhone XS Max-equivalent) of three models Apple will announce. The other pair of phones will only have two cameras, which means these leaks likely only refer to the biggest version coming this year.

As opposed to the camera block in the upper-left corner in the first render, this new leak shows off a (much more aesthetically appealing) single line of lenses in a central blister toward the top. The front notch is also slightly (but not noticeably) smaller than that on the iPhone XS.

Other triple-camera phones like the LG V40 have set their rear-facing triple cameras up in a similar horizontal arrangement – but Apple’s big development may be to swap out the rear-facing camera flash for a light ring around the central camera. A microphone also sits below that middle lens.

Multiple leaks or multiple prototypes?

And yet, CompareRaja asserts in its post that both the square block and horizontal line arrangements are legitimate prototypes. All three eventual models for the iPhones slated to come out in 2019 are still in the EVT (Engineering Validation Test) phase, so either of these could be eventual designs for any of them. 

Perhaps each design will be produced as different-tier versions, like this generation’s equivalent of the iPhone XR and iPhone XS Max.

In any case, these are radically different looks for a device from a company known for prizing aesthetics. If we were to pick one of the two, it wouldn’t be a hard choice. 

Other rumors and reports have spun out possible details of Apple’s next devices, like the more affordable iPhone XR-equivalent having only an LED screen while the pricier options get OLED displays. Check out all we know on our iPhone 11 page.

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11 best open world games on PC today

Posted: 15 Jan 2019 01:50 PM PST

The best gaming PCs keep getting more and more powerful every day, and the best PC games are creating entire worlds, so there’s never been a better time to play the best open world games on PC. Even game franchises that used to be entirely linear are starting to embrace the open world format. You just have to look at games like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt or Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and you’ll see what we’re talking about.

There are a ton of traditionally open world franchises that are still out there, of course. Games like Just Cause 4 and Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey are the pedigree of open world game design. There are even a ton of indie games that adapt to this style. 

There are so many amazing open world games out there right now, but they all demand so much of your time, so you should only opt for the very best. Luckily, we spend an inordinate amount of time playing these games, so we went ahead and listed the best open world games you can play in 2019. 

  • Gabe Carey has also contributed to this article

Check out our Linux vs Windows vs Mac - OS comparison video below.

The first two Witcher games were compelling, complex and difficult, but only enjoyed minor success. However, all the word of mouth about the first two games finally paid off when the Witcher 3 came out and absolutely blew up. It was a massive step up in quality, too, and probably one of the best RPGs of all time. You step in the role of Geralt, a mutated monster hunter, or witcher, and search the world for your adopted daughter in a medieval world ravaged by war.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will be turning 4 years old in 2019, but it stands the test of time. It’s still one of the best open world games you can play in 2019 because the well-realized world blows the likes of Skyrim out of the water. Geralt can walk, ride or sail across the war-ravaged lands of Novigrad and Velen, or sail across monster-riddled and frosty islands of Skellige in the North. And, in Blood and Wine, the second expansion, you get to take on a clan of Vampires in the colorful land of Toussaint.

You can forage for herbs, explore under the seas or the back alleys of cities and encounter all kinds of folk and creatures.

And the other elements of the game are spectacularly polished as well - limber, agile combat, a deep levelling system, and a storyline with some unusually-smart storylines.

Last year’s Assassin’s Creed: Origins already felt like a revelation of what an Assassin’s Creed game could be – replacing many of the gameplay mechanics with what felt more engaging, organic and even fun. However, Ubisoft wasn’t done – it has refined everything that made Assassin’s Creed: Origins so great and molded it into the best game in the series so far – Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey.

Placing you in the middle of ancient Greece as either Kassandra or Alexios, you take on the role of a mercenary trying to find their family. Everything else you do is completely up to you – you choose your alliances, you choose your missions, the world is your oyster.

The fantastic RPG mechanics from Origins make a return in Assassin’s Creed odyssey – with some much-needed improvements. In so many ways, this game perfects the legendary series’ formula – making for one of the best open world games of all time.

Yeah, we hear you ‘Forza is a racing series, it doesn’t belong here’ but you’re only half right. Yeah, it’s a racing series, but the Forza Horizon series has always been among the best open world games. And, Forza Horizon 4 takes the winning formula of this off-shoot of the Forza Motorsport franchise and perfects it. 

Not only are all of the systems that were in place in 2016’s Forza Horizon 3 present here, but they’re refined to create one of the smoothest open world racing games we’ve ever had the pleasure to play. 

The map is a little bit smaller than the previous offering, but Forza Horizon 4’s world changes seasons every week, changing how each track plays every time you play it (or, at least until you’ve played it on 4 separate weeks). Simply put, Forza Horizon 4 is one of the most fun racing games on the market, and with all the added open world content – like collectable cars and randomly placed ramps – it’s one of the best open world games on the market.

Grand Theft Auto V has been out for quite a while now, but because we still don’t have Red Dead Redemption 2 on PC, it’s still the best open world game on PC from Rockstar. It’s a huge pastiche of L.A. that you can fly, run or drive across. It’s an amazing achievement and the fact that it works in multiplayer is astounding.

What makes it such a success is the freedom it gives you. When you’re not running around and robbing banks during the campaign, GTA V basically lets you do whatever you want – even if it breaks the game. You can go anywhere, do anything and commit however many atrocities as your wicked heart pleases.

There are also a ton of side activities available. So, in your downtime from creating all kinds of mayhem, you can take up some tennis, yoga, or even kick your feet up and watch some TV. There’s a reason this game is so beloved.

The plot may have made less sense than a mumbling monkey with a mouthful of marbles, but Hideo Kojima's swansong was a masterpiece of layered open world mechanics.

In the twin deserts of Afghanistan and Angola, Big Boss, or Venom Snake, has a range of objectives to achieve. He traverses the areas on foot, horseback, or in a variety of ground vehicles. You can take either lethal or non-lethal weapons, and a variety of AI companions. 

The world itself is believably bleak, weather-torn and heavily-guarded. Uniquely, it learns from your behaviour - overuse a particular tactic, and enemies will adapt. For example, rely too much on headshots and they'll start to wear metal helmets.

Away from the frontline, you can develop Mother Base by building new facilities and airlifting enemy soldiers, prisoners, resources, vehicles, animals and anything else you want to from the battlefield to beef up your armory. 

Bethesda has made a name for itself over the last couple of decades for making some of the best open world games, and Fallout 4 is a fantastic example of why. You’ll be able to traverse a post-apocalyptic Boston, where you’ll explore the ruins of the city in all it’s retro-futuristic glory. 

While the plot ultimately revolves around rescuing your child from their kidnappers, you’ll ultimately forget about it altogether as you do side missions and plunder a ton of loot from super mutants and bandits. 

And, even once you get everything done (if you ever get everything done), Bethesda’s games have a tendency to be immensely replayable thanks to the way different character builds can interact with the world around you.

When Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor released nearly five years ago, it was praised for its portrayal of Tolkien’s Mordor, alongside with its unique nemesis system. The sequel, Middle Earth: Shadow of War takes this concept and turns it up to 11, setting you loose in the last human stronghold in Mordor – and is thus one of the best open world games you can play in 2019.

And, especially after the removal of the microtransactions that plagued the game at launch, the Nemesis system still feels fresh, and the combat is just as good as ever, with a wealth of new skills that you can unlock during its lengthy campaign.

Later on in the game, it will start introducing some RTS elements as you command an army of dominated orcs to retake and hold different strongholds. The Middle Earth series has shown some real innovation, and we can’t wait to see what Monolith Studios will be capable of in the future.

Last year, Ubisoft took one of the most venerated squad-based shooter series in its arsenal, Ghost Recon, and turned it into an open-world delight. You’re set loose in Bolivia, and you’re tasked with taking down a drug cartel that has taken power over the region. You’re then free to pursue this goal however you feel like. 

Ghost Recon Wildlands may be one of the best open world games when you’re playing by yourself, but where it really shines is when you’re playing with friends. This is because Ghost Recon, at its very core, has always been a tactical shooter that’s built around working with a team of AI companions. So, naturally, when you team up with your friends, this gameplay is elevated to another level entirely. 

Just keep in mind that this game is gorgeous, and demands a pretty beefy setup to run properly, so make sure you keep an eye on those system requirements. 

Far Cry 5 might just be a benchmark of what the best open world games on PC will look like in 2019. Far Cry 5 is unique in the fact that it allows you to truly go anywhere on the map – and do anything. And, it doesn’t water this freedom down by limiting the amount of space you have open to you either, it’s perhaps one of the biggest game maps we’ve ever experienced. 

Far Cry 5 takes place in the middle of the Montana wilderness, and while it does feature a plot that involves cultists or something, that all falls into the background as you wander around and get lost in the massive world. We haven’t finished Far Cry 5, but we don’t think ‘finished’ exists here. 

And, we’re obviously not the only ones that love Far Cry 5. At the Game Awards 2018, Ubisoft announced Far Cry: New Dawn, a direct follow-up – a first for the classic shooter series.

Now that a ton of Yakuza games are coming to PC, PC gamers can finally experience the insanity that is so unique to the Yakuza series. 

Yakuza 0’s map isn’t as capacious as some of the other games on this list, but it is dense with activities. Everywhere you turn either has a mini game, a side quest, or some other kind of content that you can interact with. If you’ve never played a Yakuza game, do yourself a favor and try Yakuza 0 on for size – it’s unlike anything else you’ve ever played, we promise. 

Love it or hate it, the Just Cause franchise has always been about causing random violence and destruction with barely any plot to justify it. And, well, the same is true with Just Cause 4 – we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Just Cause 4 puts you in the middle of Solis, a gigantic South American island to overthrow an oppressive local government, by destroying everything in your path. You’ll take to the sky, sea and more with a wide variety of vehicles and weapons to create mayhem however you want. 

It’s not a particularly deep game, but if you’re looking for some mindless entertainment, it’s not hard to see why Just Cause 4 is one of the best open world games on PC in 2019.

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The best Steam games 2019

Posted: 15 Jan 2019 01:45 PM PST

If you're keen to get into PC gaming, then Steam is the best place for you to hunt for new games. That's because there are more than 23,000 available through the platform - and counting. 

One of Steam’s biggest advantages is that it lets you buy a game, download it and install it as many times as you want. You’ll also have access to automatic updates, as well, so you don’t need to go through the work of redownloading and checking to see if everything’s up to date. 

Like most gaming, movie and TV catalogues nowadays, the only problem is there's too much choice. Sure that's not a bad problem to have, but it does mean that you can get lost in Steam's giant labyrinth of games, become tempted by its frequent sales and end up with a stack of titles you've never booted-up.

Luckily, we here at TechRadar have your back. We’ve gathered up our favorite Steam games, including recent releases and golden oldies. We update this list regularly, so be sure to come back soon for more suggestions.

Kenshi

Some of the best steam games are those that couldn’t really exist anywhere else. Complicated RPGs and strategy games that need the unique features of a gaming PC. And, Kenshi is a perfect example. 

Taking inspiration from the old Mount & Blade games, Kenshi is a sandbox, squad-based RPG where you make your own story. You’re dropped in the middle of a massive world – think Elder Scrolls: Daggerfall huge – and you’re not limited by any of the gameplay systems. You can simply build a home for yourself, or set off on an epic adventure. 

You’re going to get hours upon hours upon hours of gameplay out of Kenshi, because the world is the game, not just a setting. 

What Remains of Edith Finch

This indie smash arrived in 2017, but as it recently won a 'best game' BAFTA award, it’s time to give it another plug. What Remains of Edith Finch is a narrative-led adventure in which you walk, first-person style, around as Edith Finch, exploring the house in which you grew up.

You look over the preserved relics of dead family members and are sucked into vignettes that tell the stories of how various Finches died. This sounds grim, we get it. However, its charming style and magical realism tilt make What Remains of Edith Finch involving and touching rather than depressing. 

It plays out a little like an interactive movie. You can’t fail as such, aside from getting lost, and the entire experience lasts 2-3 hours rather than 20. 

Don’t buy this if you’re going to feel short-changed by its length, but if you’ve played and enjoyed Firewatch, Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture or Gone Home, you’ll love What Remains of Edith Finch.


Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdon

The first Ni No Kuni game was a collaboration with Japanese animation masters Studio Ghibli. Ni No Kuni II is not, but retains the same charming art style. 

It also changes the fighting mechanics. Instead of training up avatars to fight for you, Ni No Kuni II has a fun real-time battle system. You command three fighters with fast, slow and magic attacks, and the ability to dodge. There’s a more action-packed feel this time. 

It’s not all about action, though. While Ni No Kuni II is an action-adventure RPG, you also build up a kingdom, which plays a role in earning bonuses for your characters. This part is surprisingly moreish.

The story is more conventional than that of the first game, which might be down to Studio Ghibli’s limited involvement. However, there’s plenty of fantasy fuel and it’s more involving than your average game.  

Into the Breach

Not every top steam game is an epic open world title that would sell for $60 on PS4 and Xbox One. Into the Breach is an elegant sci-fi strategy blast you can play on your lunch break at work. 

It is made by the team behind Faster than Light, still one of our favourite PC games of the last decade. And for the handheld gaming veterans out there, there are shades of Advance Wars to it too.

Earth has been invaded, and almost taken over, by aliens. In Into the Breach you control groups of mechs sent from the future to reverse this fate. 

That may sound like a mind-bending premise, but it actually proves the plot doesn’t matter too much here. We know Earth will come out tops, it’s just a case of how.

Each encounter takes in an 8x8 block grid, your battlefield. Play unfolds in turns, and your mechs have to stop aliens from destroying too many of the field’s buildings and outposts. It has the tactical purity of chess. As you play you can upgrade your mechs to improve your chances. 

Like FTL, Into the Breach is moreish, smart and deceptively deep. 


Surviving Mars

Some screenshots make Surviving Mars look like The Sims: Red Planet edition. However it’s closer to Sim City meets The Martian.

You build an outpost on a patch of Mars, and have to keep it running to avoid your colonists dying in on the planet’s harsh surface. It’s harder than it sounds. 

Mis-managing resources in Sim City or Civilization may make your inhabitants angry, or lower your income. But in Surviving Mars it can cause a chain reaction that sees life support systems fail. 

You’ll hear “a colonist has died”, and be left scrambling to fix the problem before other inhabitants start dying like bubbles popping as they touch the ground. 

There’s work to be done on Surviving Mars’s interface but its survivalist approach to “city” building is compelling.  

Final Fantasy XV

After the massively-multiplayer Final Fantasy XIV, Square Enix has finally turned back to the series’s single player roots with Final Fantasy XV. It came to PS4 in late 2016 but was only ported to PC in March 2018. 

However, you do get all the DLC released on consoles and, if your PC is beefy enough, better frame rates. 

Final Fantasy XV is a little different to the FF games of old. You travel around an open world packed with Americana-style buildings, all your companions are human and the combat plays out in real time, not as turns. However, you can tell this is a Final Fantasy game just by watching a 15-second clip of it in action. 

New Indie Notable: Descenders

The PC tends to get associated with the kind of games you sit down at for hours. Until your eyes are red and part of you begins to regret your life choices. But it doesn’t have to be that way. 

You can play Descenders in quick blasts. If you can drag yourself away from its moreish-ness, anyway. You’re a downhill free rider who has to get down procedurally generated courses with as much style as possible, prefably using a gamepad. It might remind you of the Tony Hawk games, when they were good, or snowboard console classic SSX. 

The use of generated “tracks” means you can’t master courses, but it’s the mastery of the bike’s physics you’re aiming for anyway. A career mode pits you against a series of courses in the same style of environment, each with objectives. Finish the “boss course” and you unlock a new terrain. But you have limited lives for the whole run. A mix of mobile game style and unforgiving old-school progression mechanics gives Descenders a fresh feel. 

Not every game has to be about destroying aliens or shooting off the faces of unnamed soldiers. American Truck Simulator is like mindfulness meditation compared to those titles. 

You drive a big 18 wheeler-style truck over the long highways of the US, delivering cargo from A to B. Breaking the traffic codes doesn’t end in a GTA-style police chase, just a fine. This is the sort of game you can put on like a cosy slipper after a long day at work. 

There’s a business side to it too, though. At the start you’re a lowly contractor, but earn enough money and you can build your own shipping empire. 

Pillars of Eternity

PC gamers who have been playing since the 90s will remember all the fuss made about the Baldur’s Gate titles. Some of their biggest fans will get teary telling you about the memories of their favourite side characters. 

Isometric role-playing games like Baldur’s Gate don’t cut it in the AAA world anymore, but Pillars of Eternity brings back their essence for the Steam crowd. This is a difficult, slightly throwback-flavoured RPG where you control a band of classic fantasy-style adventurers. It’s made by Obsidian, the team behind Fallout: New Vegas. Pillars of Eternity II is on the horizon too. 

If you like your RPGs fantasy-themed, also consider Torment: Tides of Numenera.

Legend of Grimrock II

Another throwback to a style of game that has disappeared, Legend of Grimrock 2 is a dungeon crawler where you move in blocks, not freely. Why would you want that? It changes your relationship with the environment, making it feel more like an intricate puzzle than just an open world a texture artist has been let loose on. 

There are an awful lot of actual puzzle involved here too, in-between the bouts of classic "dungeons and dragons" style combat encounters. 

Retro as the play style is, Legend of Grimrock 2 looks fantastic, with plenty of outdoors areas to stop you from getting bogged down in dimly-lit dungeons. 

The battle royale that put the subgenre back on the shrinking map

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds

When it comes to in-vogue games, few titles continue to capture the zeitgeist (and fill it full of bullet holes) like PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. It may have one of the worst names ever, but that hasn’t stopped PUBG from putting the ‘battle royale’ subgenre on the map and making itself into a phenomenon. Sure, there’s a lot of hype still surrounding it, but the game behind all the coverage and Twitch fascination is still one of the most addictive on Steam.

That simple premise - parachute into a map with no gear, scavenge for weapons and armour, then fight for survival with a single life in a map that continually shrinks - is still gripping, even if it has a few too many bugs. Whether you’re teaming up with friends or braving its maps alone, PUBG remains one of the most fun shooters on the market right now.

A punishing but rewarding action RPG

Kingdom Come: Deliverance

One of the most recent releases on this list, Kingdom Come: Deliverance offers an experience that’s both warmly familiar and deeply alien. Set in a fictional Medieval Europe, it’s a first-person RPG where dialogue choices shape your world as much as your ability to problem solve and your skills in melee combat. It’s a game of incredible freedom, enabling you to carve a path through its Dark Ages setting however you see fit.

You might get off your face on schnapps and get in a fight with the town drunk; you might start filling your pockets with the gold of unsuspecting townsfolk, Thief-style or stain your blade with blood in the battlefield. Part Elder Scrolls, part Dark Souls, part something else entirely, it’s an action-RPG that punishes as much as it empowers. It also runs best on PC (with the right specs, naturally) so get it on the download pronto.

A Tom Clancy success story that's fun as hell to play

Rainbow Six: Siege

Who knew, way back in 2015, that a Tom Clancy game would become one of the industry’s biggest success stories. But here we are, in 2018, with a game that boasts over 25 million registered players and its third year of consecutive content updates and premium bells and whistles. It’s one of those success stories that keeps on succeeding, and for one very important reason: it’s fun as hell to play.

Dialling back the Rainbow Six formula to its roots - two teams fight in the same map, one protecting an objective while the other attack and fights their way in - no two matches in Siege are ever the same. Barricading doors, breaching through walls, blasting through ceilings and building an operator that’s attuned to your playstyle. It might not be groundbreaking, but add in the limited time Outbreak mode (think Siege plus zombies) and you’ve got one of Steam’s most complete packages.

Celeste is one of the most memorable games we've played in years

Celeste

Coming from the indie team at gave us TowerFall and TowerFall Ascension comes one of the most rewarding pixel platformers in years. As you climb the titular mountain, flame-haired heroine Madeline will battle her innermost demons as much as the harsh and dangerous conditions around her. In its simplest form, Celeste is a tight, 2D, twitch-style platformer, but in reality it’s one of the memorable games we’ve played in many years.

As poignant in narrative as it is unforgiving in mechanics, Celeste comes with over 700 ‘scenes’ to traverse, countless secrets to uncover and a story that will grip you as much as the muscle-memory building formula of its platforming. For a game built around the simple mechanics of jump, air-dash and climb, there’s an incredible amount of depth to be found as you claw your way to the summit in more ways that one.

Get it here: Celeste

Complex combat and tactical breadth make Divinity Original Sin 2 a worthwhile play

Divinity: Original Sin 2

When Divinity: Original Sin 2 arrived in 2017, it had quite the task ahead of it: living up to the legacy of its predecessor, which just so happened to be one of the most accomplished RPGs of all time. Then what does developer Larian Studios do? It only goes and follows it up with one of the most essential additions to the genre in years. Am enchanting fantasy world, a deep and complicated combat model and one of the most gripping stories you’ll experience outside of a 1,000 page tome.

The big selling point, and the main ingredient of Divinity: Original Sin 2’s secret sauce, is the complexity of its combat. You control a party of characters alongside your own custom avatar, and you can utilise each one individually in battle. With countless skills and attributes to mix and match, the breadth of tactics available makes this an imposing yet deeply rewarding way to test your RPG abilities.

Stellaris is a new evolution of the strategy genre

Stellaris

The grand and operatic strategy genre has produced some true classics on PC, experiences consoles have consistently struggled and failed to emulate. From Crusader Kings to Europa Universalis, these are games with tactics and guile expected in bucket loads from the off. 

Well, it just so happens the developer of those very games has taken that deeply immersive concept and transported it to the dark ocean of space. Enter Stellaris, an evolution of the genre that takes the space exploration of EVE Online and Mass Effect and hits the hyperdrive button.

You’ll travel through myriad procedural galaxies, filled with thousands of planets and countless alien species, each one possessing unique traits, economies and social strata. Whether it’s the power (and consistent balancing act) of interstellar diplomacy or the deep customisation of starship designs, there’s a wealth of sci-fi lore and mechanics to delve into with Stellaris.

Dota 2 has a simple but intoxicating set up

Dota 2

By far one of the oldest games on the list - well, that is if you consider 2013 old - Valve’s MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) is still one of the most addictive titles on Steam. It’s also the only game on this list that’s free-to-play, so you don’t even need to have a healthy bank balance to enjoy its moreish battles. Valve has been consistently updating and overhauling the game since launch, making it one of the most evolved MOBAs on the market.

If you’ve never played it before, it’s a simple yet intoxicating setup: two teams of five players face off in a large map. Each one is defending a base with an ‘Ancient; inside that must be protected at all costs. Find your opponent’s base and raze it to the ground to win. What plays are are brilliant hero v hero showdowns, brutal ambushes, tactical plays and nonstop action. 

Get it here: Dota 2

Cuphead is as challenging as it is stunning

Cuphead

Run and gun platformers have carved a niche out for themselves on mobile, but they’re a rarity on PC. Thankfully, this one was built to be a Microsoft exclusive with Xbox One in mind and the result is one of the most unique gaming experiences you’ll ever have. Designed to capture the look and atmosphere of 1930s cartoons, Cuphead places you in the shoes of the titular hero and tasks you with battling across three distinct words and bosses that will capture your imagination with their ingenuity that crush your resolve with their difficulty.

Recommending a notoriously tough game might sound counter-intuitive, but the steep difficulty curve is part of its charm. With a unique soundtrack and those standout visuals at your side you’ll earn every stage clearance like piece of territory in a war, each victory feeling that bit more rewarding. Brutal and beautiful in equal measure, Cuphead is a must have Steam title.

Subnautica may be new but it's making waves

Subnautica

Another relatively fresh release on this list, Subnautica is already making waves (pardon the pun) despite having only dropped in January of this year. A survival game set in the depths of an ocean on an alien world, it’s unique twist on the classic template makes for a game that’s both captivating to watch and challenging in its many interconnected mechanics. You’ll explore shallow reefs, dangerous trenches on the seabed and everything in between, all the while managing your precious oxygen supply.

Oh, and there’s an entire ecosystem of alien marine life to contend with. Plenty of these fishy and mammalian critters want to add you to their menu, so you’ll need to outsmart and avoid them while searching for resources to build new equipment and tools. Like all the best survival games, the very best materials lie in the most dangerous of places. Dare you swim deep enough to find them?

Wolfenstein II is visceral and dazzling

Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus

With so many multiplayer shooters getting a focus in this feature, it seemed high time to pay homage to one of the best single-player FPS games ever. MachineGames gave Wolfenstein a bloody, alt-history revival in the form of 2014’s The New Order, so it had its work cut out for it when it came to bettering all that visceral Nazi slaying. Then along comes 2017’s The New Colossus, dialling up the violence and the depth of storytelling it would make most Call Of Duty titles look at the floor with embarrassment.

What makes The New Colossus so essential is how it doesn’t deviate from its formula, but excels on it in almost every way. Bigger and more challenging bosses; intense set-pieces; myriad weapons that spit glorious death; a story that asks far more questions and presents some bold answers. It’s also rock hard, and consistently unforgiving, so lock and load at your peril...

The best survival horror game for your Steam library, Resident Evil 7 is refreshingly terriflying

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard 

It’s not often a franchise as iconic as Resident Evil gets a new lease of life - especially when you consider the zomb-loving licence had descended into a lifeless farce over the past decade – but here we are with a genuinely frightening horror game with the words ‘Resident Evil’ in the title. What a world, eh?

While us PC folk aren’t allowed to scare ourselves half to death in VR yet (RE7 is a PSVR at the moment), that doesn’t mean it’s any less terrifying. Dropping the third-person perspective that’s felt tired and rote for many a year, RE7 embraces the first-person view that’s helped Outlast and the like re-energize the horror genre, and boy does it make for one chilling 8-10 hour scare fest.

With Capcom’s big budget, a creepy swamp setting (honestly, just go with it) and a storyline that feeds back into the series’ winding mythology, you’d be crazy not to add this to your Steam library.

The sixth entry in the Civilization series combines all the best elements of its predecessors – and there are a lot

Sid Meier’s Civilization VI

How could we put together a list of the games to play on Steam and not include the latest offering from the master of turn-based strategy and tactical simulation? The Civilization series has been through many a form over the years, but entry number six takes all the best bits from those previous incarnations, smoothes off the edges and serves up one of the most rewarding turn-based video games ever made.

There’s nothing quite like building a nation from its fledgling roots and nurturing it into a cultural powerhouse, and Civilization VI gives you more freedom and control than ever. Removing the pre-set paths that hampered the still stellar Civ V, Civ VI transforms into a landscape that rewards plucky explorers and confident conquerors with the opportunity to expand their budding society with new technologies and alliances. Sid Meier’s name alone is part of PC gaming’s lofty heritage, so owning this little doozy is a no-brainer.

A modern classic, Undertale is full of choices, and engaging in or avoiding combat can have a real impact later in the game

Undertale

Undertale is one of those games that stays with you. A work of digital art whose charm and creativity never fail to lose their edge, regardless of how many times you play it through. And considering just how many innocuous JRPGs are out there right now, that’s a pretty impressive feat in unto itself.

So why is Undertale so brilliant? It takes all of the best elements from the ever-evolving RPG genre and creates a world built on choice, consequence and compassion. As a child dropped into an underground world filled with terrors, you’ll have to face many a monster to make it home. How you face them, and what choices you make, define your journey. 

And its Telltale-esque consequence system doesn’t just extend to dialogue choices – you can choose to spare monsters after a fight, forging potential vital alliances for later in the game. You can even end fights by telling your opponent jokes. It’s a game of such warm and affable quality you’d almost believe it was a JRPG from the earliest heydey of the genre.

Get it here: Undertale

Its superb blend of brilliant writing, challenging gameplay, and well designed missions makes The Witcher 3 our pick for the best action-RPG on Steam

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

For years, one game sat atop the dark and misty mountain of action-RPGs. Skyrim was its name, and no other franchise, be it Dragon Age or Dark Souls, could even come to close to unseating its cast-iron grip upon the genre. Then along came Geralt of Rivia, riding atop The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt with a confident swagger, ready to give The Elder Scrolls a good thrashing.

If you’re looking for a game that strikes a perfect balance between length of play (you could easily spend 100+ hours across its incredibly diverse map – one that’s a good 20% bigger than poor old Skyrim) and sheer quality, The Witcher 3 is a must. There are just so many virtues The Witcher 3 has to its name – brilliant writing, unforgettable quests, genuinely challenging beasts and a pair of DLC expansions (Hearts of Stone, and Blood and Wine) make this one of the best games of this and any other generation.

If you've played Limbo, you'll know what expect from haunting platformer Inside

Inside

Inside will break you heart. Let that be your warning going in.

Don’t see such words as a deterrent, but rather as a mystery to be uncovered scene by heart-wrenching scene. Created by the same studio that made the wonderful 2.5D platformer Limbo – you know, the one about a little boy stuck in a nightmare world where a giant spider chases him endlessly – it should come as a huge shock to learn that Inside will leave you just as tearful as its predecessor.

Thing is, Inside is a brilliant piece of art. Without a scrap of dialogue, you’ll explore a world in a similar platforming vein to Limbo, overcoming various ingenious environmental puzzles and evading both the flashlights of an oppressive government and the shadow of a conspiracy that’s clearly not going to end well.

But it’s worth every second. There’s a reason it won many a GOTY award in 2016, so you’d be a fool not to add this to Steam library. Just remember to pack a few tissues.

Rocket League's central premise is football with rocket-powered cars – and it's every bit as fun as it sounds. One of the best muliplayer experiences available on Steam

Rocket League

Once upon a time there was a little game on PlayStation 3 called Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars. It was all about using remote control-esque cars to knock a giant football around a makeshift pitch. Thing is, no one played it and the game slowly faded into obscurity.

Then Rocket League came along, which was basically the same thing, albeit with tweaked physics and a greater focus on multiplayer. One trip into PlayStation 4’s PS Plus lineup later and the game went supernova.

And with good reason, too. It’s simple concept just works – it’s a place where skill shines through as you boost your little RC car and hit the motorised equivalent of a bicycle kick. It’s glorious, offering one of the best ways to play online (whether with friends or a bunch of randoms). Come on, who doesn’t want to spend their evening chasing a football with a car? FIFA? Pfft.

Portal 2's fiendish physics puzzles are complemented by a superb story, with voice actors including Stephen Merchant and JK Simmons

Portal 2

Portal, back in its day, was a game-changer. Sure, it sounds like we’re filling out boots with hyperbole, but back in 2007 all those portals, companion cubes and sociopathic AIs were blowing our minds on loop. Then Portal 2 came along and made the original look like a crossword puzzle in The Sun.

Okay, the first Portal is still amazing, but Portal 2 took a genuinely revolutionary concept and redefined it. Everything in this game works perfectly - the ebb and flow of its story, the growing complexity of the puzzles and the new ways you’re forced to make your mind think with portals. It’s even got Stephen Merchant and JK Simmons in it!

Portal 2 manages to take a brilliant recipe and somehow make it even more delicious, sprinkling in all new depths of platforming and puzzle flavour. If you haven’t played it, buy it now. If you have, play it again.

Get it here: Portal 2

Experience Stardew Valley's changing seasons and various enchanting festivals while making friends with the oddball locals

Stardew Valley

Charming indie farming RPG Stardew Valley sees you moving from the bustling city to your grandfather's old, run-down farm near sleepy Pelican Town. It's up to you to uncover the secrets of the mysterious town while growing a thriving farming empire.

Stardew Valley's pixelated graphics, unique soundtrack and kooky characters make for a relaxed and fun game which combines elements such as farming simulation, adventure, dating simulation and crafting. 

Get ready to become emotionally attached because once you step foot in Pelican Town, it's hard to ever leave.

Get it here: Stardew Valley

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Windows 10 S Mode release date, news and features

Posted: 15 Jan 2019 01:44 PM PST

Windows 10 S Mode was first unveiled as a standalone operating system back in May 2017. However, after some mixed reception, the slim OS has been evolving ever since. Most of this criticism came down to the restrictions it places on anyone trying to install any programs not found on the Windows Store.

Windows 10 S Mode will limit you to apps found on the Microsoft Store, rather than just letting you install what you want. Luckily for any PC traditionalists out there, you can shift out of it whenever you want for free, so you don’t have to use it. But, Windows 10 S Mode still makes sense for the right kind of user and device – something like the Microsoft Surface Go.

Windows 10 S Mode also takes advantage of the Windows 10 October 2018 Update. Along with a handy new ‘Your Phone’ app that lets you sync your Android phone with your PC, you’re also getting a cloud-connected clipboard, which should be awesome for anyone that works on multiple Windows 10 S devices.

Windows 10 S Mode is a core part of the Windows ecosystem these days, so we’re going to dive in and explore everything you need to know about the lightweight OS. Be sure to keep this page bookmarked, as we’ll keep it updated with all the latest Windows 10 S Mode news.

Cut to the chase

  • What is it? Windows 10 without x86 and x64 apps
  • When is it out? Available now
  • What will it cost? Free to all schools using Windows 10 Pro

Windows 10 S release date

Windows 10 S first launched on May 2, 2017, with devices using the OS trickling out over the following months. And, now, Windows 10 S is bigger than ever, a fact that we expect Microsoft to celebrate with new Surface devices at Tuesday’s press event – these lower-spec Windows 10 devices are more versatile than ever before.2

Microsoft has plans to allow users to switch out of S Mode through a simple UI switch, but that’s not quite ready yet. If you’re looking for a quick and easy way out of S Mode, just head to the Windows Store on your device and search for ‘switch out of S Mode’. As for when the switch will get implemented, no one knows, but Microsoft may sneak it in at a later date – we don’t think it’ll be in the October 2018 Update, though.

Now, as for the reveal of Windows 10 S itself – Microsoft’s event invitation was titled ‘#MicrosoftEDU’, making no misgivings about its aims with the new OS. While Windows 10 S is not for individual sale, it is issued to IT administrators in education as well as laptops found in stores and online.

It’s no coincidence that Windows 10 S is focused on the education sector, where Google’s Chromebooks are experiencing outlandish success.

Windows 10 S price

Windows 10 S essentially doesn’t cost a dime. The cost of the lightweight OS is more than likely subsidized by hardware makers, assuming they’re not getting it for free. Basically, you don’t really pay for Windows 10 S Mode, instead you’re paying for the hardware running it (with, again, whatever Microsoft is charging its partners to license the software).

Save for premium devices like the original Surface Laptop, you can find devices running Windows 10 S Mode starting at just $189 (about £146, AU$251) and cap out around $299 (about £239, AU$396). PC makers across the board, including Dell, HP, Asus, Acer and Lenovo all have Windows 10 S Mode-powered devices in their stables.

But, now that Windows 10 S Mode is a thing, it’s a toggle that doesn’t cost anything extra. Both Windows 10 Home and Pro S Mode users are able to go to the Windows Store and opt out of S Mode, though the conversion only works one way – out of S Mode – right now. Though, there will be a switch in the settings app of a future build, that will let users go back and forth.  

What is Windows 10 S?

Microsoft intends Windows 10 S to serve as a lightweight, more secure version of Windows 10 for lower-end devices. While in “S Mode,” Windows 10 will only support apps that are downloaded from the Windows Store.

This talk of a version of Windows that can only download Microsoft-approved apps is familiar, isn’t it? Microsoft believes it has mastered this approach since the turbulent days of Windows 8 RT and Windows 8 with Bing – both of which tried to position Microsoft as the sole provider of apps through curation.

The good news is that this allows for a startup time of under 5 seconds as opposed to the 30 - 40 second startup time of Windows 10 Pro. Not only that, but configuring settings (such as Wi-Fi, webcam, etc.) across an entire classroom of students is as easy as inserting a USB stick in each of their laptops.

Being in competition with Google’s Chrome OS, Microsoft has, of course, also positioned Windows 10 S as a more secure PC operating system. However, its resilience to viruses is mostly a side-effect of the inability to install apps not approved by Microsoft. Historically, Windows viruses have tended to erupt from untrustworthy internet downloads.

Should you find a must-have app that isn't available in the Microsoft Store in Windows 10 S you can switch from Windows 10 S to Windows 10 Home or Pro by just going to the Windows Store and searching for “switch out of S Mode”. Microsoft used to charge a fee for this service, but now it’s free for everyone.

Microsoft will also allow users that upgrade to Windows 10 Pro to move back down to Windows 10 S. And, now that Microsoft is rumored to be working on a Windows 10 Lean Mode, which will be even more lightweight and locked down. 

Oddly enough, the shiny new Surface Laptop 2 now ships with Windows 10 Home, not in S Mode like the previous.

That said, what can you expect to see included in devices running Windows 10 S? Well, the Edge browser, OneNote and Windows Ink are all givens. The standard Movies and Groove Music apps, as well as Maps and Mail and Calendar are shoo-ins, too. 

Of course, we won’t see x86/x64 program support on a Windows 10 cloud operating system until 2019 when the aforementioned Polaris is expected to touch down and implement a ‘virtualization container’ for each of your favorite legacy applications. That means that, yes, should everything work out perfectly, there will be a Windows 10 cloud OS that can emulate the .exe’s of the past.

Despite its constraints, Windows 10 S still features File Explorer, and although many of the laptops that come with the lightweight OS pre-installed may ship with smaller capacity SSDs, Microsoft’s forthcoming introduction of OneDrive Files On-Demand will make it so files can be stored in the cloud, but still viewed the same way as locally stored content.

All things considered, there are still questions looming around in regard to the viability of Windows 10 S. Fortunately, as new developments emerge to (hopefully) address those criticisms, you can count on us to cover them right here on this page.

Bill Thomas and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article

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AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3rd Generation release date, news, and rumors

Posted: 15 Jan 2019 01:30 PM PST

Now that AMD has revealed its its first 7nm Ryzen 3rd Generation processors, what will the future look like for Threadripper 3rd Generation – its next line of HEDT processors?

Now that AMD Ryzen is nearly two years old at this point, and we’ve seen Team Red come out with winning CPU after winning CPU, we’ve been asking ourselves where things go from here. 

AMD announced its 7nm Zen 2 architecture at CES 2019, and it should dramatically improve performance, while keeping power consumption low. This is definitely exciting news for the Ryzen 3rd Generation processors, but we’re here specifically for the next line of Threadripper chips.

Cut to the chase

  • What is it? AMD’s next line of HEDT processors 
  • When is it out? Likely Summer 2019
  • What will it cost? TBD

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3rd Generation

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3rd Generation release date

While AMD hasn’t come out and announced the release date for its next Threadripper chips, the last two Threadripper generations have been pretty consistent, so we have a basis for speculation. 

Both the original Threadripper and Threadripper 2nd Generation launched in August of 2017 and 2018, respectively. We’re fairly sure that AMD is going to follow the same general release schedule this time around, but, obviously we don’t know that for sure. 

AMD showed off its Zen 2 architecture at CES, launching mid-2019, likely in Q2 or Q3, in the form of consumer-focused Ryzen chips. AMD didn’t have any information regarding Threadripper, but we still think that Threadripper will at least be teased at Computex 2019, with a release date showing up sometime this summer.

We’ll update this article as soon as we hear more substantial rumors about the release date.

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3rd Generation

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3rd Generation price

Now, so far ahead of AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3rd Generation’s launch, we don’t have any official pricing information, but we can look at past generations to get an idea of what AMD’s next HEDT chips will cost. 

The original lineup of Threadripper topped out with the $999 (£999, AU$1,439) AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X, but the second generation introduced surprisingly lower priced replacements. There were also two higher specced – and higher priced – additions. We believe Threadripper 3rd Generation will follow the latter model.

The prices of AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2nd Generation chips are as follows: 

  • Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX: $1,799 (£1,639, AU$2,679)
  • Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX: $1,299 (£1,159, AU$2,039)
  • Ryzen Threadripper 2950X: $899 (£809, AU$1,415)
  • Ryzen Threadripper 2920X: $649 (£583, AU$1,019)

AMD could very well surprise us and introduce an even higher-end SKU, but we don’t think that’s likely. Stay tuned, and we’ll update this page as soon as we hear any Threadripper 3rd Generation price information.

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3rd Generation

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3rd Generation specs

With AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3rd Generation, we expect to see a huge bump in core counts, efficiency and per-core performance with Threadripper 3rd Generation. If you need a refresher on last year’s Threadripper lineup’s specs they’re as follows:

  • Ryzen Threadripper 2920X: 12-cores, 24-threads, clocked at 3.5GHz to 4.3GHz
  • Ryzen Threadripper 2950X: 16-cores, 32-threads, clocked at 3.5GHz to 4.4GHz
  • Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX: 24-cores, 48-threads, clocked at 3.0GHz to 4.2GHz
  • Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX: 32-cores, 64-threads, clocked at 3.0GHz to 4.2GHz

We’re sure that with the move to 7nm, AMD is going to massively improve specs. But, with Threadripper 3rd Generation, or Castle Peak, rumors are thin on the ground. However, there is plenty of buzz about the AMD Ryzen 3000 series, not to mention the 64-core AMD Epyc server CPU.

While we’ve seen speculation that suggests a 16-core Ryzen 3000 processor, that hasn’t been confirmed. What has been confirmed, though, is a new 8-core Ryzen processor that matches the Intel Core i9-9900K’s Cinebench score, getting 2,023 points.

AMD also showed off the system power in its test, the whole system ran at just 130W during the Cinebench run, compared to the Intel system’s 180W. We don’t know what frequency this chip was running at, but this high performance combined with the high efficiency is promising for whatever Threadripper chips come from Zen 2. 

What’s more, the chip AMD showed off revealed that 8-core chiplets are smaller than the IO die. What this means for Threadripper is many more cores in the same amount of space. It’s possible that we could see a 64-core Threadripper chip in 2019.

It wouldn’t even be the first 64-core processor in AMD’s lineup. AMD recently showed off its latest Epyc processors, based off its Rome microarchitecture, with up to 64-cores. 

If AMD is able to bring those high core counts to Castle Peak HEDT processors, we could see AMD absolutely dominate Intel’s Basin Falls Refresh. And, if Intel can’t answer with anything but 14nm silicon, AMD might claim the HEDT throne like it did when it topped Intel’s mainstream sales.

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How Roccat built the Titan switch inside the brilliant Vulcan keyboard

Posted: 15 Jan 2019 12:51 PM PST

Gaze upon our list of the world's best keyboards right now, and you'll find the Roccat Vulcan 120 Aimo near the top (as of this writing). Roccat's latest mechanical keyboard is largely thanks to its new Titan mechanical key switch that makes a powerful impact upon first glance.

Unlike just about any other keyboard in existence, the keys are only capped at the top, thus revealing the intricate inner housing beneath. Not only does that give the Vulcan 120 and its brethren a unique visual edge, but it also allows the vibrant RGB LED lights to shine through the transparent switch in a way that adds a unique, singular glow. 

Roccat's overall aesthetic here is more industrial than in-your-face (although maybe a bit sci-fi, as well), and the end result is one of the best-looking keyboards we've ever laid eyes on.

But looks aren't everything; in fact, if the keys don't feel and act right, then looks mean nothing at all for a keyboard. Luckily, Roccat's Vulcan is the complete package featuring the company's new proprietary mechanical Titan switches. Built to find the middle ground between the two most popular types of Cherry MX switches, albeit, with speedier responsiveness, the end result is a keyboard that's great for gaming, typing and essentially anything else.

And it all started with those Titan switches. To find out how Roccat designed the tech inside our new favorite keyboard, we spoke with product head and Roccat Studios Taipei general manager Thaddäus Tetzner about building a mechanical switch that looks good, feels right, and delivers a new sweet spot that's ideal for all types of computing.

Roccat fuel

When Roccat first began the project about three years ago, they had a multipronged plan of attack. First, they wanted to highlight the Titan switch itself within the keyboard design, and not have that integral part be buried behind a bulky keycap. After all, it's the defining feature of a mechanical keyboard. Why hide it?

"We didn't really like that the mechanical keyboard switch is always treated like an internal, mechanical part—not something that you show or that's visible, so it's not part of the cosmetics of the products," said Tetzner. Many internal parts aren't made to be beautiful simply because they'll never be seen by consumers. Roccat's team thought that they could find a better way and highlight the Titan switch without hiding it. "It was not apparent for us why it has to be ugly," he added.

Visually, there's nothing quite like the Roccat Vulcan. Mechanically, however, the company didn't start entirely from scratch with the Titan switch; it's more refinement than revolution, unlike Razer's recent Optomechanical hybrid switch.

Instead, Roccat and partner TTC tried to find a middle ground in type feel between two of the most common Cherry switches, Brown and Red. The speedy, linear Red switches are considered best for pure gaming purposes, while the tactile Brown switches allow for more diverse usage, such as typing articles and papers. Roccat saw an opportunity to bridge that gap and create an even better all-around typing experience.

"We felt that between the Red and the Brown types, between linear and tactile, there was still an opportunity to have," Tetzner explained. "We felt that the gap was too big and the compromises of making a Brown tactile type faster or just making a Red type faster, and not the sweet spot we perceived in the middle of that – between those two. Nobody really went there."

Feeling it out

That's a fine goal, but making that happen was no easy feat. The sensation felt when pressing a key is such a subjective thing, especially when you consider the different applications of a keyboard. That's even true just within gaming, as different games reward different kinds of inputs and reaction speeds. "A hardcore Quake Champions player will have a very different opinion on the best switch than maybe a PUBG player," said Tetzner.

Extensive user testing was needed to try and quantify the ambiguous concept of type feeling, and ensure that they were getting the kind of result that they wanted. Lengthy reliability testing was also necessary to determine that the new switches could hold up to potentially years of usage and not give up the ghost too soon – something that could derail the entire product line if left unchecked.

When it came to making the keys feel so speedy and responsive, Roccat opted against significantly shortening the distance to actuation – that is, how far the key can be pressed before registering the input. That's a straightforward way to do so, of course, but Tetzner and his team felt like the end result would be compromised. You'd feel the difference right away, so Roccat stuck with a 1.8mm actuation point. That is shorter than the Cherry standard of 2.0mm, but not dramatically so.

More importantly, Roccat focused on minimizing contact bouncing and tweaking the debounce rate. When the metal plates inside of a switch make contact, they bounce and vibrate – so manufacturers use a brief debounce delay and then check again for contact, ensuring that one key press doesn't count as two or more. However, that metal can wear down a bit over time, and many manufacturers use a longer debounce rate to ensure that their keyboards remain effective over the longer haul. It's a trade-off.

But for the Titan switch, Roccat refined its components to trim down the bounce as much as possible and used a faster debounce rate to ensure that keystrokes feel speedy and precise without needing to trim the physical travel distance.

"We wanted to give you the same benefit of speed without touching that part that makes, in our opinion, the switch not feel as good," said Tetzner. "Basically, the idea is: instead of making it too short, we save the time somewhere else and still keep typing feeling good."

A true titan

According to Tetzner, development of the Titan Switch proved to be a relatively smooth process, with their core aims holding true all the way through manufacturing. Only the internal makeup of the switches saw any significant overhaul during the testing process, as they had to solve new ways to assemble the key components to ensure both reliability and attractiveness. "The traditional way is something that basically destroys the aesthetics but is easy to manufacture," he said.

It was clearly worth the effort. As our review and best gaming keyboards list placement both suggest, the Vulcan 120 Aimo – Roccat's current top-tier keyboard wielding the Titan switch – is one of the best keyboards you can buy today. And that certainly won't be the last we see of the Titan \switch.

The current version is dubbed the Titan switch tactile, and Tetzner suggests that other variants could be coming based on demand, including versions that are more akin to Linear or Clicky switches from other makers. He's also thinking ahead to second- and third-generation editions of the Titan Switch. There's still room for improvement and innovation in this market, Tetzner said, both from Roccat and competitors, but he can't help but hope that the Titan Switch itself ends up influencing followers.

"We do believe that the Titan switch will create a new kind of trend," he surmised, noting its balance between mechanical and industrial design. "The love and the detail, for even something like the debounce rate, is also something that will hopefully leave its mark on the industry."

  • If you liked this, you're going to love our look behind Razer's Optomechanical switches

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Microsoft moves further into healthcare with new partnership with Walgreens

Posted: 15 Jan 2019 12:41 PM PST

Microsoft is moving further into the healthcare space with a new partnership with the Walgreens Boots Alliance, the parent company of the Walgreens, Duane Reed and Boots pharmacy chains and the healthcare products company Alliance Healthcare.

The aim of the seven-year agreement between the companies, detailed in today's announcement, is to “develop new health care delivery models, technology and retail innovations to advance and improve the future of health care.”

Microsoft and the Walgreens Boots Alliance will work together on research and development to build new healthcare technologies and the two could even possibly operate joint R&D centres in the future.

Starting this year, Walgreens Boots Alliance will also pilot in-store digital health corners under its new partnership with Microsoft.

Countering Amazon

The deal is another example of Microsoft countering Amazon which has also moved into healthcare space recently through a partnership with JP Morgan Chase and Berkshire Hathaway to bring new healthcare solutions to all three companies' employees.

Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella appeared on CNBC alongside Wallgreens Boots Alliance's CEO Stefano Pessina and explained that discussions between the two companies started three years ago, saying:

“They went through a pretty rigorous process of really finding the right partner who can bring both world-class technology, but also that trust, in order to be able to help them build this ecosystem. Because ultimately, this is about broad partnerships that need to be harnessed by Walgreens in order to deliver the services that they are envisioning. They needed to find a partner who on the technology side has the capability to do that ecosystem orchestration and is trusted.” 

Walgreens Boots Alliance will also migrate the majority of its IT infrastructure to Microsoft's Azure cloud platform and will rollout Microsoft 365 across its global network of stores and 380,000 employees.

Via GeekWire

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The best Instagram image downloader 2019

Posted: 15 Jan 2019 12:39 PM PST

Instagram is all about sharing: you take photos and share them online with your followers. But what about when you want to save photos and videos you encounter on the image-based social network?

There are hacks you can use to download images directly from Instagram without the need for additional tools, but you'll find things much easier if you turn to a dedicated utility

 This may take the form of a website that can grab the images you point it at, a browser plugin that lets you download photos on the fly, or it could be a standalone program that you can use to download single images or entire collections. Here we take a look at five such tools so you can find the one the best suits your needs.

When you start using these downloaders, just try to be considerate of other people – many images will be subject to copyright, so keep that in mind. 

1. Image Downloader for Instagram

If you tend to browse Instagram on your computer rather than your phone, and you're a Chrome, Firefox or Opera user, this extension could be just what you've been looking for. Image Downloader for Instagram does exactly what the name suggests, making it incredibly simple to grab images you like.

The extension adds a download button to all Instagram images, and clicking this will automatically download an image to your default download location. Only the highest resolution versions of images are downloaded, so there's no need to worry about poor quality pictures. There are no settings for you to fiddle with, but a toolbar button gives you the option of toggling the extension on an off if you want.

Image Downloader for Instagram works very well, but it is simple. Not only are there no options to configure, but it is only capable of downloading one image at a time, and it can't download videos. Still, for those with basic needs, it is ideal.

2. Free Instagram Download

DVDVideoSoft has a history of providing tools for downloading content from various website – including YouTube and Skype – so it comes as little surprise that it is also responsible for an Instagram downloader.

Free Instagram Download is incredibly simple to use. Just copy the URL of an image or video, paste it in to the program and you can start downloading. You can download images one by one, or build up a download list and grab them en masse. There are also options available that mean that once you paste a URL into the program, the download will start automatically.

If you upgrade to the paid-for version of the software you will enjoy better performance, and there is the promise that the ability to download everything from a user account at some point in the future. 

3. DownloadGram

It may well be that you don't download Instagram images often enough to warrant installing a dedicated piece of software – so you may be interested in using a website to take care of your downloads instead. And this is exactly what DownloadGram is.

This is a website designed with the sole purpose of downloading Instagram images in mind. All you need to do is copy the address of an image or video, and you'll be given the chance to save it to your hard drive.

To save you from having to keep visiting the site, you have the option of installing a bookmarklet to your browser toolbar which will enable you to download images and videos with a quick click of a toolbar button. It's simple and no-frills, but that's often all you need!

4. 4K Stogram

4K Stogram is a standalone program for Windows, Linux and macOS that makes it easy to download anything you want from Instagram, or – as the developer points out – to back up your own account.

The tool works by enabling you to 'subscribe' to an account, hashtag or location (these are essentially constantly updated searches. You can then browse and download images and videos, but you are limited to subscribing to two searches in the free version of the program.

If you're willing to pay for an activation code for 4K Stogram – $9.99/£9.54 (about AU$18) for a three-computer license – you'll gain access to a handful of extra capabilities. Paying for a license will enable you to not only subscribe to an unlimited number of users, but also to download Stories. But even if you stick with the free version of the tool, it's a pretty capable piece of software.

5. Free Instagram Downloader

Another website that enables you to download from Instagram, using the descriptively-named Free Instagram Downloader means there's no need to install any software to grab photos and videos from the social network.

Unfortunately there's no browser bookmarklet available, so you'll have to visit the site every time you want to download something, but this is small price to pay. The process of downloading is very simple – just enter the name of the user you are interested in, and you'll be presented with all of the images that have been uploaded. You can then opt to download individual images, select several pictures, or download everything as a zip file. It's a simple tool, but it does what you need, so there may be no need to look any further.

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Alexa-enabled Polk Command Bar now works in multi-room with Echo devices

Posted: 15 Jan 2019 12:00 PM PST

The Polk Command Bar turned heads last summer, squeezing Amazon's Alexa assistant into a soundbar that appeared to have an Echo Dot embedded inside it. Today it's getting even closer to the Amazon device family by introducing a new feature that's a first of its kind for soundbars.

Polk has today announced that the Command Bar will be getting support for Amazon's multi-room music (MRM) ecosystem, allowing it to work alongside Echo speakers to bring synced audio right across a home where other MRM-enabled devices hang out.

Being a third-party soundbar, it's the first of its kind to offer any such functionality.

One-stop bar

There's lots going on with the Polk Command Bar to make it worth considering over other, less intelligent soundbars.

As well as full Alexa integration that lets you ask Alexa the answers to questions, control smart home units, set timers, play music and more, the Polk Command Bar also has a notch built in to house a Fire TV Stick, with a dedicated HDMI port allowing you to talk to Amazon's streaming dongle.

4K-capable with support for Dolby Vision and HDR10, it also comes with a wireless 6.5-inch subwoofer, while the bar itself makes use of two 1.25 x 3.25 full-range drivers and two 1-inch tweeters. It's available now, priced $299.95 / £249.

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This automotive giant debuted one of the coolest driving demos ever

Posted: 15 Jan 2019 11:48 AM PST

Photo credit: Valeo

Sometimes, a simple tech demo shows so much promise it’s hard to know where to begin. At CES 2019 in Las Vegas, the French firm Valeo held a demo with an operator in one room, seated in front of three monitors and a driving wheel. He controlled a vehicle in a parking lot just outside a window. It was like driving a remote control car... with a real car.

Equipped with what a rep called partial autonomous controls, the proof of concept was mostly about how a hotel valet might drive your car to a parking spot or perhaps someone would learn how to drive a car without any real danger, at least to themselves (but possibly to the car).

Yet, I couldn't help but envision a future when this type of remote control driving was not only an occasional diversion for fun – say, driving a Chevy Corvette on a race track at high speeds – but helped a car traffic control center assist self-driving cars, jumping in if the weather causes too many problems for the on board sensors.

Valeo

Photo credit: Valeo 

Sadly, Valeo's reps didn't let me drive the car remotely. They mentioned something about liabilities and insurance issues. I get that. Having a journalist driving a $50,000 test car in front of a few monitors probably doesn’t make sense, especially at CES. 

I first started talking about a car control center about 10 years ago. It would operate in a similar way to an air traffic control center in that human operators would keep track of all autonomous cars, helping with traffic flow patterns. They might decide to adjust the speed of all cars, based on an algorithm that says a certain speed will avoid traffic delays. Of course, mishaps will happen, so these operators could also assume control of cars at will.

Driverless fun

In the demo, a 2018 VW Atlas moved around in a circle in an area about the size of a small parking garage. The remote driver was able to pull forward, then maneuver into a parking spot. Of course, everything the driver sees is replicated to the remote operator. You can see behind the car, to the side – and the autonomous tech and collision avoidance is still active.

Another rep mentioned how the demo wasn't ready for everyday drivers to attempt. It takes some training and practice to learn the controls, and obviously one wrong move could lead to a serious accident, even on a closed course. My thoughts raced quickly to all of the things you could do to help passengers in the future, and to entertain yourself.

Valeo

Photo credit: Valeo 

For that race track concept, imagine driving at insane speeds on a track with protected barriers – trying to beat the top 'score' with a BMW M5 around a track. It’s what you might call the best video game ever. And this is where things get interesting. Could this be a launchpad for even more entertainment – remote controls for monster trucks, boats, trucks, forklifts, and anything else that could become a driverless vehicle with all of the technology we can muster?

Of course, the autonomous controls are important. At a stage where physical vehicles drive themselves, remote operation will become essential as a back-up.

I liked how the demo showcased the future of driving, when most cars (likely by about 2040 or 2050) won’t have a steering wheel or a gas pedal. It felt like a step forward.

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Pandora finally gets voice commands on iOS and Android

Posted: 15 Jan 2019 11:37 AM PST

Long after Siri, Cortana, Alexa, Bixby and a half-dozen others, Pandora has finally announced a new 'voice assistant' helper called Voice Mode for its iOS and Android apps that will begin rolling out to devices starting today. 

Voice Mode, which is really a set of specified voice commands rather than a robust assistant in the vein of Siri or Alexa, can be activated by saying “Hey Pandora” while the app is open. It's only available to a million or so users (a percentage of the iOS and Android userbase), which Pandora will monitor and fix issues before rolling the feature out over the next few months, according to TechCrunch.

Powered by SoundHound's Houndify Voice AI platform, Voice Mode is designed to play a specific artist, album, radio station or playlist when asked to, but it can also be used to match your mood when you give it commands like “play music for relaxing” or “play workout music”. This request is then personalized by Pandora's algorithm and you'll then hear a personalized result that's tailored to your music tastes... sometimes.

In our short time playing around with the app, results were hit or miss. Some requests went smoothly (asking “Hey Pandora, who is this?” was a useful feature when we weren’t right next to our phone) while others - like “Hey Pandora, give this song a thumbs up” - didn’t really work as intended. 

Don't worry, Siri, you're safe for now.

Putting the 'personal' back in personal assistants

What separates Pandora’s Voice Mode apart from the other umpteen competing helpers already on the market is that it will return personalized results. Ask it to play new music, for example, and it will play new music that it knows you’ll like, rather than feeding you the same new music playlist it feeds everyone else.

If you've been using Pandora's app to listen to podcasts, you'll even be able to apply the service's patented personalization algorithm to get its assistant to recommend new podcasts based on what you've already heard.

Rolling Voice Mode out to iOS and Android is really just the first step for Pandora’s 'virtual helper' – it could really come into its own if Pandora decides to deploy it on smart speakers sometime down the road. 

If you want to check out the Pandora personal assistant for yourself, download the Pandora app and press the search icon in the top right-hand corner. 

Source: Medium

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How IBM Watson will improve your morning commute

Posted: 15 Jan 2019 11:06 AM PST

Photo credit: Joe Miller

IBM Watson isn't known as a consumer-grade bot that works like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. It’s really meant to showcase the massive supercomputing prowess of the famous tech icon (and play Jeopardy). 

Yet, at a recent demo at the CES 2019 convention in Las Vegas, the powerful 'super assistant' proved helpful in an autonomous shuttle that did not have a steering wheel, brakes, or a gas pedal. It’s proof that self-driving transportation will be powered, at least in part, by your voice.

No manual needed

The demo took place in a parking lot and involved a company called Via, together with Comet and Aurrigo – showing not just how a shuttle might work but how you could request one as well. (Aurrigo operates autonomous shuttles in highly controlled settings like a college campus, but IBM Watson is not currently available in the shuttles.)

The idea is that, when someone jumps into one of these pods, they probably won’t know anything about how to run a touchscreen or even start the vehicle. They might be unfamiliar with how any of it works.

Photo credit: Joe Miller

In my test, the small enclosed space (about 100 feet in a parking lot) was meant to show how a shuttle might respond to voice commands about a destination, like New York or London. An operator on board activated the shuttle and used a safety switch to provide the power, but I spoke to Watson myself by saying “Hello Watson” and stating my destination.

I instructed the bot where to go, then asked about the weather. (I noticed the bot does not respond to any variations like Hey Watson or just Watson.) Almost immediately, the bot released the brakes and silently powered up the electric motor. Away we went, driving about 5mph. The pods can speed along at up to 25mph but of course this was a highly contained demo.

Reaching the destination about 75 feet away, the pod slowed down and came to stop right on cue. I asked Watson to take us to London next. It was all fairly seamless even though we all know level four self-driving vehicles like this without operator controls won’t become a reality in uncontrolled settings for some time. Most of them drive along concrete barriers today. 

Deep conversation

A super powerful bot could be quite useful in the future, when we won’t be preoccupied with driving and paying attention to traffic. 

If the bot can engage with us at a much higher level, we will be more productive. I’d like to be able to ask the bot to discuss a complex topic with me, or to let me dictate an entire article (correcting my mistakes and making grammar suggestions), and even help the kids with algebra. Alexa and the Assistant are not quite there, but if Watson actually becomes an automotive assistant, it might help us adjust to the idea that we’re mostly along for the ride.

And, it helps us feel more relaxed. It was a curious feeling in the self-driving shuttle knowing that a much more powerful bot than Alexa was controlling the ride.

 Photo credit: Joe Miller

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Sony Alpha A6400 officially announced

Posted: 15 Jan 2019 10:56 AM PST

Following a flurry of rumors, Sony has officially taken the wraps off its new mid-range Alpha A6400 APS-C mirrorless camera. 

As the name suggests, the A6400 is not a direct replacement for the Alpha A6500, but instead replaces the Alpha A6300, with the aging Alpha A5100 and A6000 remaining in Sony's mirrorless lineup. 

The Alpha A6400 features a 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS sensor with a front-end LSI, which combined with the same BIONZ X image processor found the Alpha A9, A7R III and A7 III sees the A6400 deliver an ISO sensitivity up to 102,400 and processing speeds 1.8x faster than the A6300. Sony also believes color reproduction has been greatly improved. 

Sony claims the Alpha A6400 features the world's fastest autofocus at just 0.02 sec, while for the first time in an Alpha camera Sony is introducing Real-Time Eye AF with AI-based subject recognition. This promises to be even more accurate than Sony's current Eye AF system, which now features a right or left eye priority setting in the menu. 

Not only that, but the A6400 also gets Real-Time AF Tracking with AI-based subject recognition, another first for an Alpha camera.

Focusing is based around a 425-point phase-detect system that's supplemented by a further 425 contrast-detect AF points, with 84% coverage of the frame. To partner this advanced AF system, the A6400 can shoot at up to 11fps with both AF and AE (the buffer is 116 JPEG shots). Should you want to shoot silently, you can do so at 8fps. 

Made for vlogging

As you can see from the photos, the body of the Alpha A6400 follows a similar form factor to other A6000-series cameras, with a relatively large handgrip and a reasonable amount of body-mounted controls. It does differ slightly though, with the addition of a flip-out 3.0-inch touchscreen display that rotates outwards 180-degrees. 

This is going to be a big draw we believe for vloggers when you factor in that the A6400 can also shoot 4K video (using 6K oversampling) at 100Mbps. On top of this, there's also S-log3 and S-log2 support for post production, as well as 4K HDR (HLG) recording. The A6400 also has a microphone jack and is compatible with XLR adapters also, while if you want, 4K video can be transferred directly to your smartphone thanks to the new Imaging Edge Mobile app.

The Alpha A6400 also features a high-resolution XGA OLED electronic viewfinder, while the magnesium alloy body covers are sealed against dust and moisture. 

The Sony Alpha A6400 will available from early February and will be priced at $900 /£950 body only, £1,000 with a 16-50mm power-zoom kit lens or £1,300 with the 18-135mm lens. In Australia, the price has been set at $1,499 for the snapper body alone, while the 16-50mm f/3.5 kit will set you back $1,699.

US pricing is still to be confirmed.

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The best cheap TV deals and sale prices - 4K TVs for less

Posted: 15 Jan 2019 10:15 AM PST

We're into prime shopping territory now and that means this is a great time to get a cheap 4K TV deal! So if you're ready for the world of Ultra HD take a look at the highlights of the best TV sale prices below. We've thoroughly searched through the early sales to bring you the best offers on the net. So whether you're looking for an XL 4K TV to serve as the focal point of your home theater system, a modestly sized set for the bedroom or kitchen, or an entry level TV for the kids, you're sure to find something that meets your specifications and budget.

You will find all of our carefully curated deals below. We've divided them into three different size categories immediately after our pick for the best cheap TV deal of the week. These days you really don't have to pay much more to get a Ultra HD 4K set instead of an older-style HD one. If you're after the hottest tech in TV though, you may want to take a look at the cheapest OLED TV prices.

Whether you want a small TV with a price tag to match or something to show all the colours of the rainbow (and a few million more) with HDR, we've found plenty of options. Read on to find the TV you want at a great price!

cheap 75-inch TV deals prices sales Sceptre

TechRadar's cheap TV deal of the week

Cheap TV deals (40-49 inch)

Cheap TV deals (50-59 inch):

Cheap TV deals (60-85 inch):

More cheap TV sales:

Not found the right cheap TV for you today? Or maybe you'd prefer to directly browse the TVs at your favourite retailers instead of our highlights of the best cheap TV deals? We're updating this page on a regular basis, so you may have better look another day. If you want to take a look for yourself now though, here are the direct links to a the full collection of TV deals at multiple stores. 

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HSBC says it has completed $250bn FX trades using blockchain

Posted: 15 Jan 2019 09:59 AM PST

Blockchain appears to be gaining traction in the banking sector with HSBC announcing that it has settled $250bn worth of forex trades using the technology in the last year.

In a statement, the bank revealed that it has settled over three million forex trades and made over 150,000 payments using blockchain since February.

HSBC did no provide any data on forex trades settled using traditional processes though it did say that those settled by blockchain represented a “small” proportion of its business overall.

The finance industry has previously been reluctant to adopt blockchain but this new data may be enough to convince those who are hesitant about implementing the emerging technology.

From investment to implementation

Banks and other financial institutions have invested heavily in blockchain with hopes that it could help simplify their operations and cut costs in processes from settlements to payments.

However, few banks have moved from the testing stage to implementation of the technology in large-scale projects citing high costs, uncertainty over regulation and the risk of disruption to their existing systems as the reasons they have not moved forward.

According to HSBC, blockchain technology has allowed it to automate manual processes and has reduced its reliance on external technology.

In a statement to the Financial Times, the banks head of forex and commodities Richard Bibbey explained how its FX Everywhere project is helping to increase the efficiency of transactions, saying:

“HSBC . . . conduct[s] thousands of foreign exchange transactions within the bank, across multiple balance sheets, in dozens of countries. FX Everywhere uses distributed ledger technology to drastically increase the efficiency of these internal flows.”

Via Reuters

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The best iPhone X cases

Posted: 15 Jan 2019 09:28 AM PST

While you won't catch Apple selling the iPhone X now that the company has unveiled the new iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, but you can still buy the previous model at a lower cost elsewhere. It's still a pricey device, though, and nobody likes it when their high-end phone's fancy screen (or glass back) cracks from a bad drop. The best way to keep your phone in one piece is to wrap it in an affordable case that could save you hundreds in repair costs.

Whether you want a rugged iPhone X case to protect the phone from any (and every) misadventure or just a basic plastic sheath to add a bit of armor while still showing off the device's slick looks, there’s a case out there for you. 

Here are our top picks, spanning from affordable, simple protection to complex cases that will make it a lot harder accidentally harm your fancy iPhone X.

Torras ultra-thin case

The Torras ultra-thin case is exactly what it sounds like: barely a layer between the phone and the environment. While that's not nearly the protection a heftier, multi-material case would offer, this one is better than nothing – and it keeps your phone slim so you can slip it into a pocket or a small bag.

The case has a small lip around the phone blister – which should fit both iPhone X and iPhone XS sizes. You can pick one up for $10 on Amazon here.

Swarovski jeweled case

As the newer iPhone XS phases out the old iPhone X, so are the latter's cases nudged out the door with discounts. Just so with this Swarovski-brand case, which - sadly - doesn't include real crystals, but it does have a shiny jeweled back to give that impression.

You can snag one of these for $59 (£45, AU$81) for a sweet 29% off the list price (and the semi-camoflauged color is even a bit cheaper) on Best Buy's website.

Under Armour Handle-It Case

Need a case for running? Athletics clothing company Under Armour has a specialty case with two elastic bands to slip through your hand to ensure you don't drop your iPhone X.

Even if you do, the tough rubber-looking exterior and padding inner lining offer protection from bumps, drops and scrapes. You can pick one up for $39 on Best Buy's website.

LOHASIC iPhone X leather slim case

For those of you who want a classy leather look without a full folio-style front cover, this case is for you. It comes in multiple colors over a metallic gold or black frame. 

Given its low cost, this probably isn't the highest-quality leather case you could pick up, but it's a nice look for a bargain price. Pick up the LOHASIC iPhone X slim leather case for $16 (£12, AU$22) on Amazon here.

Olixar Ultra-Thin Gel Case

This is one of the cheapest iPhone X cases on the market right now and it should protect your phone from the odd scratch. 

We don't think it'll be able to do much to protect your device if you drop it though and the gel material probably won't feel as comfortable on your palms as the glass that's on the back of the iPhone X.

TOZO Ultra Thin Hard Case

TOZO claims this is the world’s thinnest hard-shell case for the iPhone X and while we can’t be sure whether that’s true or not, it’s certainly very slim at just 0.35mm thick.

That makes it a great choice if you don’t want to add any bulk to your fancy new phone, especially given the low price of this case, which should make it all the more appealing if your bank balance is hurting after buying the iPhone X itself.

However, while it will offer some protection against scrapes, we’re not confident that a case this thin will do much to protect your phone from drops.

JETech Protective Case with Kickstand

With the JETech Protective Case you’re getting a lot of case for not very much money at all. It’s a black TPU case – so far so basic, but it has a carbon fiber design, giving it a bit of flair, and a textured frame for extra grip.

This JETech case also has a built-in metal kickstand, so you can prop your iPhone X up for hands-free viewing, while air cushion technology gives you more drop defense than you might expect.

Ultimately it’s a fairly plain case, and you can get more protection elsewhere, but it looks to strike a good balance between features and price.

Spigen Ultra Hybrid Case

Sometimes the simplest option is the best option, and the Spigen Ultra Hybrid iPhone X case is certainly simple.

It’s available in a range of colors, but they all include a transparent back, so you can see your iPhone X in full while keeping it protected.

It’s just a simple polycarbonate hard case, but it’s slim, has pronounced button covers so the buttons are easy to find and press, large cut-outs that can fit most cables, and it’s made from a non-slip material, so you’re less likely to drop your phone.

If you do still drop it though the case sports air cushioned corners, which should help keep your iPhone X in one piece.

ESR Marble Pattern Cover

Most of the options we’ve covered so far have been fairly plain, but the ESR Marble Pattern cover really stands out, with a marble design in black, blue, grey or white.

Beneath the surface it’s a thin and light TPU case, and there’s nothing clever going on here, so you’re only getting basic protection, but it includes a smooth, anti-scratch and anti-fingerprint finish, raised lips to protect the screen and camera, and a low price tag.

Spigen Neo Hybrid

The Spigen Neo Hybrid case offers a combination of hard and soft protection to keep you iPhone X safe from nicks and falls. And, it does all that with a slick design, combining grippy PU plastic with a herringbone pattern and hard PC with a metallic paint job. It offers design and protection both at an affordable price.

Totallee Thin iPhone X Case

This one may be one of the best looking cases we've seen for the iPhone X so far and the super thin design means the case shouldn't make your phone much bulgier in your pocket.

It's uncertain how protective that vertical camera cut-out will be, but here you'll get the choice of a variety of colors including a bold blue and green. Those aren't colors you can buy the new iPhone X in.

Tech21 Evo Tactical

Unlike the choice above, the Tech21 Evo Tactical won't protect the screen of your iPhone X, but you can always buy a screen protector to ensure you don't scratch up that 5.8-inch bezel-less display.

The design of this case should help protect it from drops too, plus you can also use wireless charging without having to peel the case off your phone.

X-Doria Defense Lux iPhone X Case

Combining style and protection, the X-Doria Defense Lux case has an anodized aluminum frame with built-in air pockets to absorb shock.

In fact, the case exceeds military drop test standards, so it should keep your iPhone X safer than most, but it also looks good, not just thanks to the aforementioned metal frame, but also because of the back, which comes in a choice of ballistic nylon, black leather, carbon fiber or wood.

That’s an interesting selection of materials, each of which will give the X-Doria Defense Lux case a quite different appearance to most other iPhone X covers.

Incipio Esquire Slim case

We get it, you don't want to use a case. But if you're tossing the idea around, you might want to try the Esquire Slim case, which is one of the most low-profile options we've found so far.

The fabric yields a very soft, cotton-like feel and slides into the pocket easily. It covers each of the iPhone X's corners, but leaves the buttons exposed for ease of use. Despite its high-quality design, this one comes surprisingly cheap.

Urban Armor Gear Feather-Light Rugged Case

You might understandably want to put protection first when buying an iPhone X case, and if so the Urban Armor Gear Feather-Light Rugged Case should make for a good option.

It combines a hard outer shell with a soft, impact-resistant core, plus skid pads on the back, which add up to a case that can meet military drop test standards.

It also sports a visually striking – albeit rather rugged – design, and as the name suggests it’s surprisingly light, thanks to a honeycomb structure which also aids its drop protection.

Wireless charging and contactless payments also work through the case, so you’re not losing any functionality.

Otterbox Strada case

The Strada series is perhaps one of Otterbox's classiest case sets yet. The Strada iPhone X case features all-around protection thanks to a multi-layer design and a folio cover for the screen.

It's built to absorb shock from falls and protect against scratches and scrapes. Meanwhile, a leather exterior gives it a premium look to compliment the iPhone X, even if it is covering up most of the phone's design. Plus, a card holder will let you keep a credit card with your phone.

See the Otterbox Strada iPhone X case at Amazon here.

Speck Presidio Grip case

It may not be the prettiest case, but the Speck Presidio Grip case offers protection for your iPhone X on the back and sides, while a raised edge can help keep the screen from hitting the floor. 

On top of protecting your iPhone X from falls, the Presidio Grip case will also help you avoid the falls in the first place. It has rubberized grips that will give you a better hold on your phone so it doesn't slip out of your hand.

See the Speck Presidio Grip iPhone X case at Amazon here.

Incase Facet case

This case features a design that strikes a nice balance between a soft, silicon case and a hard case. 

Unlike other cases, this one doesn't have button cutouts or pronounced areas, but they are noted for easy navigation. This results in a low-profile option that has a slick ripple design on its back and a felt material on the inside to prevent scratches.

Available in several colors, this one could be good for those who are looking for a rubbery-feeling case that isn't too loud visually.

Moshi StealthCover for iPhone X

This case is slim once again, but it's made of metal and has a magnetic clasp on the side to ensure your phone screen won't easily get scratched up.

It also has a military-grade drop protection certificate, so you can be certain this case will protect your iPhone X the time you inevitably drop it.

OtterBox Statement Series Case for iPhone X

The OtterBox Statement Series Case at once wants to show your phone off and show itself off, as you can tell from the back, which is mostly transparent but has a large section of colored leather at the bottom.

This gives the case a far more distinctive, high-end look than your average transparent case, and being from OtterBox you can trust that it’s well-built. In fact, it’s passed over 24 tests lasting more than 238 hours to ensure it offers maximum protection.

iPhone X Leather Folio Case

This official Apple case is perhaps unsurprisingly one of the most expensive, but it goes some way to justifying the price tag, as it’s crafted from French leather, and unlike the Ullu case above it covers the front of the phone as well as the back, with a wallet-like design.

That means you get more protection and Apple’s also made use of the flap on the front by adding a couple of slots, which you can use to hold cash and cards.

The case will also wake your iPhone X up when you open it, and put it to sleep when closed, and it doesn’t prevent the phone from being wirelessly charged.

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120GB of data for £20 per month - this Virgin Mobile SIM only deal is the UK's new best

Posted: 15 Jan 2019 09:25 AM PST

In the battle for the best SIM only deals, Three has held the crown for quite a while now. But Virgin Mobile has just swooped on and taken the title temporarily with an absolutely incredible limited time offer. 

Virgin has topped Three's 100GB of data for £20 offer by chucking on another 20GB of data on top. Yes, that means you can now get 120GB of data for that price. To give you an idea of just how much that is, its enough to watch roughly four hours of SD Netflix every single day each month (not that we would necessarily advise that).

We can quite happily tell you that you will not get a better big data SIMO deal anywhere else in the UK right now -  but it will only be available until the end of the month. You can see this offer in all its glory down below and we fully advise grabbing one before it goes - these kind of deals don't come around everyday.  

The brilliant Virgin Mobile SIM only deal in full:

Why go for a Virgin Mobile SIM only deal?

Virgin Mobile proudly claims on its website that it has a faster average 4G speed than O2, Vodafone and Three and a 99% 4G coverage. On top of that the provider offers spending caps and data rollover although we're not entirely sure how much you'll need that when you have 120GB of data to use each month.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Best PlayStation VR games: the best PSVR games around

Posted: 15 Jan 2019 09:20 AM PST

You may have visited Pandora before, but never quite like with Borderlands 2 VR. The full sci-fi shooting loot-em-up returns with VR headtracking and motion support on PlayStation VR, and lands as one of the best shooters on Sony's virtual reality platform. Read on for the full details.

Roughly two years on from its launch, the PlayStation VR for the PS4 and PS4 Pro remains the best-selling virtual reality headset on the market. And for good reason – Sony has committed to putting excellent, high-quality games out on the system, and has done so on hardware that puts entry price at just as an important standing as performance.

After all, if people can't afford virtual reality, how will they be able to play the games in the first place? And as the PlayStation VR has proved to be such a mainstream hit, it should come as no surprise that developers have been busy building great games for users to try out. We're collecting the very best PlayStation VR games right here for your convenience.

To date we’ve seen a lot of the best VR games, including those not originally intended for the Sony console, get reconfigured for the PSVR. On top of that, the PSVR has been getting its own range of exclusive gaming titles. We expect more and more great games will be landing on the platform over the next few months, so keep everything crossed that you can.

Once you've picked up a shiny new headset (and hopefully some awesome Move controllers), it can be difficult to pick the best PlayStation VR games out from the increasingly large pile of current titles.

We’re here to help with our recommendations of some of the best PSVR games around at the moment (and the ones we’re most excited about landing soon), and our picks cover a wide range of genres and playing styles. 

We’re always on the lookout for brand new PSVR games, so be sure to keep checking back for our latest picks of what’s new and what’s worth it. We’ll also make sure you know when there’s an upcoming game that looks too good to miss, so you can get your hands on it as soon as it's been released. 

So whether you want to know what it feels like to be Batman or want to travel to a war-torn alien planet, or even face mortal dread with the most engrossing Resident Evil experience around, there’s something for you in VR.

Here’s a detailed look at the best PlayStation VR games for 2018 (so far).

Developer: Gearbox

Price: $49.99, £39.99

Does it require Move controllers? No

First person shooting meets Diablo-style loot hunting in the Borderlands games, and the superb Borderlands 2 VR now brings virtual reality action into the mix, too.

Sci-fi treasure hunters in a Mad Max world, Borderlands 2 in VR takes the frantic action of the original games to a whole other level by putting you right into the center of its colorfully violent world. You'll collect countless unique weapons, battle waves of bizarre foes and explore a land as mad as its shooting action is varied.

What could have been a nauseating puke-fest in virtual reality has actually been adapted with aplomb here. Whether you're playing with a DualShock controller or Move wands, the game offers ample options to make the game suit your comfort level, from full locomotion through to teleportation and peripheral vision hazing. A lengthy adventure that's well worth a look, even if you've mastered it on a flatscreen previously.

Developer: Japan Studio

Price: $39.99, £24.99

Does it require Move controllers? No

If you own a PlayStation VR headset (which, if you're reading this, we're guessing you probably do) stop what you're doing, head over to your PS4, and buy Astro Bot: Rescue Mission. If the PlayStation VR was awaiting a killer title, it now unarguably has one. Astro Bot: Rescue Mission isn't just a great VR platformer, it's a great platforming game full stop.

Full of the kind of inventiveness we've come to only expect from Nintendo's Mario series, Astro Bot: Rescue Mission plays with the VR format with such wild imagination, it makes other efforts look lazy. Weaving levels all around the player, and using scale to both disarm and delight your expectations, it's quite unlike anything you'll have ever played before.

It's hard to put the Tetris Effect experience into words. Essentially you play regular games of Tetris, except that the environments you're playing in change. Each level has its own distinct flavor - with music and visuals tailored to its theme. For example, you can play an underwater level and you will hear soothing underwater noises, while sparkling, whales float around your head. 

It's a psychedelic and hypnotic experience, and one that everyone should have the privilege to play.

Developer: Vertigo Games

Price: $39.99, £32.99

Does it require Move controllers? No, but recommended

Resident Evil 7 isn’t the only great VR zombie game, as Arizona Sunshine has proved by mixing a bit of humor with a whole lot of zombies. The game throws players into the arid Southwest of the United States, an area overrun with zombies. It’s lonely out there, but there’s hope on the horizon of other humans that haven’t been infected.

Arizona sunshine offers a variety of zombies, some tougher than others, and a host of weapons to help put them down. The campaign can be played in co-op, and there’s also a multiplayer Horde mode. An essential PSVR game for fans of the undead.

Developer: Schell Games LLC

Price: £19.99, $24.99

Does it require Move controllers?: No, but with so many things you can interact with, the Move controllers will offer a lot of extra freedom.

The fantastic I Expect You to Die will have you feeling like a classy Cold War-era spy, like James Bond as played by Sean Connery or Roger Moore, not Daniel Craig. The game puts you into the role of a special agent tasked with getting yourself out of exceedingly sticky situations, all without moving from your seat.

It makes excellent use of VR, as you can pick up and play with objects all over your environment, whether or not doing so actually helps you complete your objective. 

There are several levels (with the potential of the developer adding more later, as has already been done), and each sets you in a unique environment that plays out much like an escape room. You’re faced with a series of puzzles, and your actions will determine whether you live or die. 

The puzzles are great, and many can be solved multiple ways, lending the game some replayability. This is also a fun one to watch your friends try, as you’ll enjoy the shock on their faces when they encounter traps, such as a cabinet full of hand grenades.

Developer: Ployarc

Price: $30, £25

Will it require Move controllers? No

A family-friendly VR adventure, Moss offers the immersion of a virtual reality experience with the fun of a platformer and sense of wonder of a Zelda game. 

Developed by a team made up in part of former Bungie employees, you'll direct an intrepid, sword-wielding rodent through forests and ruins, guiding her through enemy filled rooms while taking direct control of environmental elements to solve puzzles.

It's the perfect use of VR from a third-person perspective, giving you dual control over a hero avatar and as an omnipotent influence on her surroundings. It makes great use of perspective too, with a 'Honey I Shrunk the Kids' look at a world from a mouse's scale. Definitely one to play on your PlayStation VR.

Developer: Survios

Price: £19.99, $29.99

Does it require Move controllers?: Yes

Some people might have an impression of VR players slowly sinking into their couch as their virtual body flourishes and their real world body withers away. That couldn’t be further from the truth for players of Sprint Vector. 

This game is like Mario Kart meets Jet Set Radio, as players are thrust into a cartoonish world where they have to race against other players on sci-fi roller blades.

The key to the movement is players swinging their real-world arms back and forth in a running motion. No motion in the real world means no motion in the game. And, to get going fast, you really need to hustle. This game is as much a workout as any game from the Wii generation, so don’t be surprised if you break a sweat and get a bit of cardio in playing Sprint Vector on your PSVR.

But it’s not just a work. It’s also fun, as a goofy announcer keeps everything lighthearted even while racers try sabotaging one another with a handy arsenal of weapons.

Developer: SUPERHOT Team

Price: £19.99, $24.99

Does it require Move controllers?: Yes, though a non-VR version of the game is also available and truly excellent.

It’s always a delight when a game developer takes a tried-and-true genre and introduces a new gameplay mechanic that flips it on its head. That was the case when SUPERHOT was released, as the first-person shooter was slowed way, way down. 

In the game, time only moves when the player moves, and that can make for some fantastic Matrix-esque moments. All of that gameplay has translated excellently into virtual reality with SUPERHOT VR. 

You’re plopped right into the middle of truly precarious situations, such as standing empty-handed before three enemies with shotguns who have you dead-to-rights, with only your wits and time on your side. 

While the story only takes a couple hours to play through, there’s plenty of replayability in SUPERHOT VR, as you can try to play through different ways, or take on challenge modes. It’s also a great VR party game, as players can swap in and out to show off their moves. Pick it up for your PlayStation VR today.

Developer: Red Storm Entertainment

Price: £39.99, $49.99

Does it require Move controllers?: No – Star Trek: Bridge Crew can actually be played fully outside of VR by those who do not have PSVR or occasionally want to stay in the real world, but the most immersive experience is naturally had in VR.

Star Trek: Bridge Crew puts Star Trek fans right where they’ve always wanted to be: on the bridge of a Federation starship, or even in the captain’s seat. But it doesn’t put you there alone. 

This is actually a multiplayer, cross-platform game. Players on PSVR, Oculus Rift and HTC Vive can all play together, and as we've said, even non-VR players can join in.

Each player has a role to play, specifically Captain, Helm, Tactical or Engineer. A crew of four can take on the story mission of finding a new home world for the Vulcan population, or procedurally generated missions can offer endless playability.  

If you want to explore space with a few friends but can’t wait for Elon Musk to make it happen, Star Trek: Bridge Crew is a great alternative. As a bonus, the game is often on sale, so you may not have to pay full price.

Developer: Bethesda Game Studios

Price: £49.99, $49.99

Does it require Move controllers? No. DualShock controllers give a more comfortable, familiar control system for what's quite a complex game, but Move motion controllers let you swing a sword, and there's no arguing that that's not cool.

You've played Skyrim, right? The benchmark for open world gaming for so long, it's been hard to ignore, a cultural phenomenon of sorts. The RPG has now been reworked for Sony's PSVR headset, and, while not perfect, it's well worth experiencing.

There's nothing quite like the scale of Skyrim in VR, with 100s of hours of RPG gaming letting you explore a huge map filled with secrets, quests and dragons to fell. Whether standing at the foot of a mountain or going toe-to-toe with a troll, the presence VR adds to the world is superb. Even if you've played through the game multiple times, it's still something quite special to actually be standing in Solitude, or climbing the steps of Bleak Falls Barrow with your own two feet.

However, while the world remains superb, the transition to VR hasn't been perfect. Move-controller sword swinging feels clumsy, menu navigation is a chore, locomotion can be tricky to master and many visual compromises have been made to meet the demands of VR visuals. For anyone that's played a more recent remaster of Skyrim, it'll feel a bit more rough and ready than you're used to.

Leave your expectations at the door though, and it's a unique return to Bethesda's still-excellent core game, with some new bells and whistles thrown in.

Developer: Polyphony Digital

Price: £44.99, $69.99

Does it require Move controllers? No, but getting a racing wheel elevates the experience.

It's the daddy of racing sims, so it's fitting that Gran Turismo Sport, the franchise's first foray on the PS4, should embrace that most immersive of console peripherals – the PlayStation VR headset.

You'll get in the cockpit of a huge selection of beautifully realised vehicles, each modelled exactly as they appear in real life, before taking them out onto the circuit for head-to-head races.

A side-helping to the brilliant main Gran Turismo Sport game, the VR mode has still been obviously meticulously crafted, with a discreet in-game HUD, useful mirrors and some fine-stitched racing gloves sitting over your digital hands. It makes an already drool-worthy racer extra tempting, and is a must-have for PSVR owners. 

Developer: SIEA/Impulse Gear

Price: £49.99, $49.99 / £74.99, $79.99 with PS VR Aim

Does it require Move controllers? No, but it's better with the PS VR Aim add-on.

Like sci-fi? Love shooters? Laugh in the face of super-gross giant space spiders? Then PlayStation VR's Farpoint is for you. 

The PSVR exclusive sees you shooting your way through alien environments in glorious VR, and makes use of Sony's new gun controller to let you realistically aim at your extra-terrestrial foes. You can dodge and duck behind cover to avoid incoming fire, and while the game follows a fairly linear path, you're free to explore the levels at your leisure. Despite giving you free control over the movement of your character, Farpoint somehow manages to avoid the motion sickness issues that have plagued similar titles.

We had a blast with Farpoint. Though short at six-or-so hours of single player story mode to complete, its multiplayer mode gives it some extra replayability, as does the pinpoint-accuracy of its visceral gunplay. For more on the game, read our Farpoint verdict here.

Developer: Capcom
Price: $60/£50
Does it require Move controllers? No.

Resident Evil 7 is a bit of an anomaly on this list: the next entry in the long-running horror series takes the experience into first person for the first time, but, more impressively, can be played in its 18 hour entirety in VR. 

This means that the game is one of the longest PlayStation VR experiences available right now, but you'll need a lot of courage to make it through the game this way, since by all accounts Resident Evil 7 is one scary game – especially in virtual reality. 

However, if you're able to stomach the scares you'll be rewarded with one of the finest horror games of this generation, and a true return to form for the Resident Evil series.  

Developer: Criterion / DICE
Price: Free (if you own Battlefront)
Does it require Move controllers? No.

It may only last 20 minutes, but what a fantastic third of an hour it is. Star Wars Battlefront's X-Wing VR mission, even as an extended tech demo, is a perfect example of what VR is capable of. Putting you right in the cockpit of a lovingly modelled X-Wing fighter, it transports you directly into a key element of the Star Wars universe.

Handling like a dream as you dart between asteroids and take on a fleet of Tie Fighters, and you'll get all the feels when John Williams' iconic score begins to swell. Put this near the top of your shortlist for the best PlayStation VR games.

Developer: Tarsier Studios

Price: $19.99/£15.99

Does it require Move controllers? No.

Statik, by Little Nightmare developers Tarsier Studios, is one of the cleverest VR games out there. 

It sounds simple enough. Each level sees you play as a research participant who wakes up with their hands trapped inside various different contraptions. 

Each button on the controller seems to do something on the device, but it's never really clear what. You'll have to experiment with trial and error to escape from each of these contraptions, and the puzzles get fiendishly difficult. 

But what's really impressive is how the game plays into the constraints of the PlayStation VR when used with a DualShock controller. It's camera isn't good at tracking over large distances, so the game has you sitting in a chair. The fact that you're using a controller makes you feel as though your hands really are trapped inside a box, even if you can move your hands freely in the real world. 

Statik is a game that's great at showing off the simpler pleasures of VR, and it's easy to get completely absorbed in its puzzles. 

Developer: Monstars + Enhance Games
Price: $30/£25
Does it require Move controllers? No.

Who'd have guessed that a 15 year old Dreamcast game would turn out to be one of the killer apps for Sony's PlayStation VR headset? The second time that the classic shooter has been updated, Rez Infinite adds VR head tracking into the mix, putting you at the center of its Tron-like wireframe soundscapes.

It's always been a game that lets you "get in the zone", but with VR head tracking, Rez Infinite becomes almost hypnotic. With an ace, pulsing trance soundtrack that builds to a thumping crescendo as you shoot down polygonal enemies, you find yourself fully immersed in the futuristic landscape as it zips past your floating avatar.

With an insane sense of speed and spot on head-tracking enemy targeting, it's easy to completely lose track of reality whilst playing Rez Infinite, and it'll be hard to stop yourself dancing along to the grooves your shots produce. Packing in all the additional content of the earlier HD re-release of Rez, it's still a relatively short VR experience at just around an hour long. 

But, like a good album, it's something you'll want to dive into again and again. Just be careful that you don't do a "Jeff Bridges in Tron" and find yourself so hooked that you'll never want to leave.

Developer: Rocksteady Studios
Price: $20/£16
Does it require Move controllers? Yes.

Batman: Arkham VR is probably the best introduction to PlayStation VR as a platform. While there isn't a ton of gameplay in the traditional sense, it's an amazing visual showcase that demonstrates the power of the platform. 

The opening sequence of the game draws you into in by leading you from the top floor of Wayne Manor down to the basement wherein you suit up as the Batman for the first time. 

What you're paying for here are the vistas and the incredible level of immersion as you solve crimes throughout Gotham and come face-to-horrifying-face with Batman's greatest adversaries. 

There's few things scarier than looking the Joker in his beady bright green eyes or standing mere inches away from Killer Croc, and Batman: Arkham VR is one of the only experiences in the world that offer just that.

Developer: London Studio
Price: $40/£30
Does it require Move controllers? Yes.

There’s a vast majority of gamers out there who are going to get PlayStation VR Worlds without ever heading to the store to pick it up. Sony’s decision to include it in the PlayStation VR Launch Day Bundle was, in many ways, one of the most brilliant decisions the company made with its VR headset. On the disc you’ll find a number of short, self-contained experiences that demo polished game ideas that could one day be expanded into full titles. The standout titles include Danger Ball, The London Heist and Scavengers Odyssey, but the remaining games – Ocean Descent and VR Luge – aren’t all that bad, either. 

There’s a reason Sony picked PlayStation VR Worlds to be packaged with every Launch Day bundle – it’s probably the best title to use to ease friends and family into virtual reality, rather than tossing them into the deep-end with a game like Thumper. The demos here can be a bit overwhelming at times – I’m looking in your direction, VR Luge – but if they’re feeling the motion sickness you can always bring them back to something like Danger Ball or Ocean Descent to get them back on their feet.

Developer: Rebellion
Price: $50/£50
Does it require Move controllers? No.

Chances are, the original Battlezone might have passed you by if you're under 40 – Atari's 1980 arcade game doesn't quite hold the same iconic status as Pong. However, it's generally considered to be the very first VR game, which is why British developer Rebellion bought the rights from Atari so that it could remake it for modern VR headsets. 

The result is one of the best VR experiences we've had to date. The gameplay is fun (think a futuristic take on World of Tanks), but it's the striking-but-simple graphics that are the key to the overall enjoyment. There's two main modes here – offline campaign and online multiplayer. While we didn't have time to try it with a bunch of buddies online, the offline campaign mode feels pretty well fleshed out. There's quite a number of tanks to pick from and unlock and while gameplay can err on the repetitive side, it's enough to lock you in for a few hours at a time.

While a lot of VR games try to go as realistic as possible, Battlezone's Tron-like game world is incredibly absorbing, and better yet it's one of the few titles on the platform you'll be able to enjoy alongside your friends thanks to the game's inclusion of co-operative play.

Developer: Sony
Price: Free
Does it require Move controllers? No.

Even the coldest of hearts will be melted by The Playroom. The game's cast is comprised of little robots who are tossed into peculiar, fun and even Mario-esque situations for your amusement. If I'm being totally honest, the whole game looks and plays like a Mario Party game and is perfect for larger crowds. 

In one mini-game, the player with the VR headset is a monster, while four players using a TV and DualShock 4 controllers try to avoid the debris he throws at them. In another, one player wearing the headset is tasked with sucking up ghosts from a haunted house while players outside of virtual reality locate the spectres and shout directions on where to shoot. There are also toybox demos where you just look into a miniature house and observe the droids as they go to the gym, go swimming, watch TV and so forth. 

But honestly the best part of Sony's The Playroom VR is its price – it's free to download, which makes it one of the best bargains anywhere on the PlayStation Store.

Developer: kokoromi
Price: $30
Does it require Move controllers? No.

SUPERHYPERCUBE is a legitimately fun game, like not “by VR’s standards” fun, but real honest fun. The goal here is to rotate blocks to get them to fit through an opening of a certain size and shape. Sneak the piece through and you’re rewarded with another block that will then create the next puzzle a bit harder. If you can’t, the blocks that can’t fit through the opening jettison off your cube and you start from square one. 

Where SUPERHYPERCUBE went right is that it didn’t try to do anything complex – like Tetris, Candy Crush and Breakout! the idea here is simple: don’t mess up. But the simple idea is enhanced by the perspective provided by VR – by allowing you to look at your floating cube from every angle you appreciate the times you solve the puzzle and simply laugh when it doesn’t work out. 

The only things SUPERHYPERCUBE is missing are a killer soundtrack and a few more modes to pad out the solve-it-or-start-over gameplay. A mode where you start with a cube comprised of 40 blocks or shaped like various mundane objects would’ve gone a long way to making it feel like a more complete, robust experience. Still, all that aside, it’s worth picking up.

Developer: Uber Entertainment
Price: $20/£15
Does it require Move controllers? Yes.

If you've been looking for PlayStation VR's sleeper hit, Wayward Sky is it. An isometric puzzle game that's aimed at younger gamers, Wayward Sky has you solving puzzles to reunite a young female pilot with her father. At times heartfelt and funny, other times heart-achingly sad, Wayward Sky is a rather emotional journey. 

Setting emotions aside for a minute, the game may not do the best of jobs leveraging virtual reality's new perspective, but the few times it does – usually when operating a piece of machinery – are effective at making you feel more immersed.

That said, it can be tough to tell who the game is targeting. While kids would make the most sense given the game's lighter atmosphere and sometimes overly simple puzzle mechanics, Sony doesn't recommend children under the age of 12 use its virtual reality headset. So unless you're willing to fly in the face of Sony's warning – or embark on the journey yourself while a little one watches along on the TV – you might need to skip past this patch of sky. 

Developer: Steel Crate Games
Price: $15/£12
Does it require Move controllers? No.

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes doesn’t sound like much fun on paper. While one person puts on a headset to look at an overly detailed bomb in a nondescript room, the other player uses the TV screen to read a dense direction manual on how which wires to cut and buttons to push to make sure you get to the next level. But underneath its seemingly boring exterior lies a tremendously fun exercise in teamwork, communication and sometimes sheer dumb luck as you make last-minute decisions to stop a bomb from going off.  

Levels that start off easy – usually with two or three puzzles to solve and a few minutes to solve them – have a tendency to escalate quickly. Part of the game’s charm is that whenever you start feeling good about your skills as either a decoder or disarmer, something else comes up that ruins your day. In that way it’s fun trying to stay calm under pressure and getting a laugh when it all, inevitably, blows up in your face.

Developer: Drool
Price: $20/£16
Does it require Move controllers? No.

Never have the words “Rhythm Hell” been a more apt description for a game. Thumper pushes you by sending wave after wave of obstacles your way that require button combinations set to a certain beat. If the flashing lightshow isn’t enough, the game’s aesthetics and boss battles are like something set out of Dante’s Inferno: hellish visages of what life in the afterlife might look like for all the naughtiest gamers. 

While the music in Thumper is never totally recognizable, it’s instantly catchy causing you to bob your head to the beat and curse loudly when the game sets aside all care for your emotions and just throws everything and the kitchen sink at you all at once.

Thumper is, admittedly, a bit on the intense side visually – so it’s probably not the best thing to show off to mom and dad or little ones. But if you’ve gone through Rez Infinite and you’re looking for a musically inspired hellscape, Thumper should be the next game on your list.

Developer: Supermassive Games
Price: $20/£15
Does it require Move controllers? Yes.

One of our favorite aspects of PlayStation VR is just how many different genres of games it has. DriveClub in VR will satiate racing game fans' need for speed, while GNOG will put fans of puzzle games face-to-face with a dozens of colorful enigmas to solve. 

Unlike either of those, Until Dawn: Rush of Blood joins Resident Evil 7 in being one of PlayStation VR's first forays into the horror genre, one that straps you into a carnival-esque rollercoaster and sends you hurtling through of funhouse of horrors. 

While the controls are fairly limited – basically shoot anything and everything that moves – the real "fun" to be had in Rush of Blood comes from tumbling from one jump scare to the next with a deathgrip on both the controller and your bladder. 

Trust me kids, nothing is scarier than almost peeing your pants in a room full of your friends.

Developer: Double Fine Productions
Price: $20/£15
Does it require Move controllers? No.

If you're looking for a laugh while play testing your new PSVR, check out Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin, a game written by the weird, twisted mind of Tim Schafer. While we've always loved the stuff Schafer has done, Rhombus of Ruin takes his writing to a new dimension. (Get it? Fine. We're not funny.) 

What you'll find here behind the clever jokes and Schafer's lovably strange humor is a straightforward puzzle game that can be played in just over an hour. The puzzles aren't exactly mind melting, and the experience might be a bit too short for the price of entry, but if you can't wait another minute for Psychonauts 2 or want a more laid-back experience while you're still learning the ropes of virtual reality, this is a trip to the inner psyche worth taking.

Developer: Sony London Studio

Release window: 2018

Will it require Move controllers? Yes.

After rocking the PlayStation VR launch with VR Worlds and its standout cockney-shooting gallery mode The Heist, Sony London Studio is following it up with a full-length dive into London's underworld.

In Blood and Truth you'll play as a former special forces operative exploring the murky world of London's criminal elite on a mission to save his family. Taking its cues from big-budget action movies, it wants to make you feel like the hero of your own film.

From the demo we've seen so far, Sony London Studio again nails its VR gunplay, but it's the little details that look set to make the game shine. As good looking as any game that's yet hit the PlayStation VR headset, Sony London Studio offers an intuitive world where partaking action movie tropes (like shooting at the feet of a tight-lipped informant unwilling to spill the beans), are rewarded just as you'd expect them to be. If you've got a PSVR headset, we think it should be top of your wishlist.

Developer: Owlchemy Labs

Release window: 2018

Will it require Move controllers? Most likely.

Fans of Job Simulator have a new game to look forward to in Vacation Simulator. It’s looking to be more of the same humor, paired with quirky gameplay as you try your best to participate in a vacation.

We don’t have many details on the game yet, other than a brief look at it here, and that it should release in 2018 on multiple VR platforms. As long as Owlchemy Labs keeps doing their thing, we have no doubt Vacation Simulator will be a fun little romp in VR.

Developer: Bandai Namco Studio / Project Aces

Release window: 2018

Will it require Move controllers? Likely not.

Being in a cockpit is one of the most natural settings for VR, and Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown drops players in the cockpits of a fighter jet for some extreme dog-fighting. The Ace Combat series has had a fairly consistent track record of coming out with compelling dog-fighting games, and the upcoming title will hopefully prove that little has changed.

It’s unclear just how much gameplay will actually be in VR, as Ace Combat 7 won’t be a strictly-VR game. But, a package that comes with a complete game and offers a special VR mode on top is a good package in our eyes. Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown is slated for release in 2018 on PlayStation VR.

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