Apple : Android Q developer beta might launch today |
- Android Q developer beta might launch today
- Apple sends March 25 event invite, likely to unveil its video streaming service
- Intel Ice Lake release date, news and features
- AirPlay 2 for Roku could bring Apple's streaming service to the set-top box
- Intel Lakefield release date, news and rumors
- The best Samsung Galaxy Watch Active prices and sales in March 2019
- Windows 10 April 2019 Update release date, news and features
- Windows 10 S Mode release date, news and features
- Intel Cascade Lake-X release date, news and rumors
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| Android Q developer beta might launch today Posted: 11 Mar 2019 01:53 PM PDT Android Q, the next version of the mobile operating system, could be launching its developer preview later today, thanks to speculation over a date filter in Google’s bug tracker. A template explaining how to file bug reports for Android Q Beta was spotted by XDA Developers Editor-in-Chief Mishaal Rahman. The sample (which reportedly could be found here but has since been removed) seemed to be directed at OEMs, and advises reporters to check if the issue has already been filed by clicking a link (https://goo.gl/qL5TjA, still working as of publication) leading to a repository – which only lists bug tickets created on or after March 11, 2019.
Expanding betaThis comes hot on the heels of another revelation that Google will add more phone companies to the Android Q beta, as Iliyan Malchev from Google's Project Treble team said on the Android Developers Backstage podcast. Adding more phonemakers to the early testing process could help get their devices on newer versions of Android more rapidly. Project Treble itself is dedicated to making it easier for manufacturers to push the latest version of Android to their devices, so this seems like one move in the holistic effort to get the mobile OS’ ecosystem up-to-date more rapidly and in greater numbers. What will come in Android Q is still a mystery, but an early dev build acquired by XDA Developers suggests a system-wide dark more, more refined permissions and Face ID-style logins could be coming with the next OS version.
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| Apple sends March 25 event invite, likely to unveil its video streaming service Posted: 11 Mar 2019 01:30 PM PDT Apple is ready to yell 'action' to launch its long-awaited video streaming service – a bid to take on Netflix – judging from suggestively-titled invites for its next major launch event that went out today. The Apple keynote will takes place on March 25 with the not-so-subtle title 'It's show time,' according to Engadget and other members of the media. It appears as if Apple is boldly bringing Hollywood to its Silicon Valley headquarters, with the event scheduled to occur at its own Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino. Can Apple lure Hollywood titans like Netflix has? Well, there's a lot of money behind its original video content plan, with budgets exceeding $1 billion to secure big names. Of course, Netflix spent 8 times that much money in 2018, and that's before Disney decided to join the fray. The subscription price of its video streaming service is the biggest mystery, but some reports do claim it'll be cheaper than Netflix, and it's expected to before Disney+ in late 2019. With so many Apple TV and iPhones out there, Apple may have an opening. Apple March 25 event: what to expectApple is poised to introduce new media formats to its growing services ecosystem. First, you can expect an 'Apple News Magazines' service derived from the company's acquisition of Texture. That service, previously dubbed 'the Netflix of magazines,' had bundled together magazines for one low monthly price. Second, Apple's unnamed video streaming service should bring famous faces to the launch event. We've previously reported on deals with Oprah, Jennifer Anniston, Reese Witherspoon, J.J. Abrams, and Steven Spielberg, among others. Like Netflix Originals, Apple could offer TV & movies content programming through its (sometimes barren) TV app. Will there be more? We're currently up to the fifth iOS 12.2 developer beta today, and that means its nearing release. Apple's brand new magazine and video content initiatives could make their debut in the final iOS 12.2 update. There's also a a very outside chance we'll see Apple AirPods 2 and a game streaming service. But there's been a lack of concrete rumors for both, so they may appear at a separate event in the future. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Intel Ice Lake release date, news and features Posted: 11 Mar 2019 01:21 PM PDT The computing world has eagerly waited for Intel to boldly show us something we haven’t seen before – and that might be Intel Ice Lake, the company’s first 10nm CPU family. These processors will see Intel finally move away from its 14nm process, which has been enhanced since the introduction of Broadwell in 2014. With AMD going full steam ahead with 7nm and Ryzen 3rd Generation (and presumably Ryzen Threadripper 3rd Generation), it’s about time for Intel’s processors to evolve. Cut to the Chase
Image Credit: TechRadar Intel Ice Lake release dateIntel Ice Lake was a surprise announcement at CES 2019, and it was an even bigger shock to hear that the processors are scheduled to arrive on store shelves this holiday season in the US. We haven’t heard of a narrower release window than that, so expect these chips to arrive within the last three months of the year for everyone around the world. Until recently, we expected Cannon Lake would usher in Intel’s first 10nm processor, but then the company pulled a fast one and introduced Ice Lake instead. It was a bit of a gotcha moment at CES, when we were fully expecting Cannon Lake to finally get its long-delayed reveal. But then again, Intel introduced its Sunny Cove architecture – from which these Ice Lake CPUs will be derived – a few weeks before the giant tech conference.
Intel Ice Lake priceIntel isn’t anywhere close to announcing pricing for its Ice Lake-series processors, unfortunately. For now, we can only look at how the prices of Intel’s processors have shifted going from Coffee Lake to Coffee Lake Refresh to speculate about how much Ice Lake CPUs will go for. AMD could also be another influence on Intel pricing – although unfortunately Team Red also has yet to announce pricing for its Ryzen 3rd Generation CPUs. So we’ll have to wait and see how the cost of the first 7nm processors will affect Team Blue’s pricing scheme for its own 10nm processors.
Image Credit: Intel Intel Ice Lake specsThe headline feature of Intel Ice Lake is, of course, the new underlying 10nm Sunny Cove microarchitecture. What’s more, these new processors will be the first to the feature next-generation Gen11 graphics. Overall, Intel has promised a 2x performance boost, thanks to the smaller fabrication processes and the die shrink from 14nm. Aside from the chips’ main microarchitecture, Ice Lake CPUs will also come with native support for Thunderbolt 3, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and DL Boost. While Intel has yet to officially announce any exact processor models, it showed off an unnamed Ice Lake U-series CPU at its Architecture Day and at CES 2019. The basic specs of the 15W laptop processor included 4-cores, 8-threads and Gen11 graphics with 64 GPU execution units (EU). The new graphics look like a significant improvement from the Gen9 GPU found in Intel’s current line of processors, which only featured 24 EUs. In fact, the company claims Ice Lake-U will be the first chip with one TFLOP of integrated graphics performance. Additionally, we’ve seen leaked GFXBench and CompuBench benchmarks that show Intel’s Iris Plus Graphics 940 (Gen11) blowing past other 15W parts like the Intel Core i5-8250U and AMD Ryzen 7 2700U. Going on the leaked scores, Gen11 graphics may even be able to keep up with a desktop AMD Ryzen 5 2400G APU. Lastly, Intel also promised that Ice Lake will help devices achieve a battery life of over 25 hours. This is largely thanks to Team Blue performing a top-to-bottom analysis of power draw to reduce energy consumption, and also adding its new 1W display technologies. That’s everything we know about Intel’s ambitions for Ice Lake in the mobile sector, but while we're waiting to learn more we're expecting to hear about Intel's new desktop processors in the summer. Stay tuned, as we’ll be posting regular updates to this page as we hear new rumors, leaks and any official news Intel spoon-feeds us throughout the year.
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| AirPlay 2 for Roku could bring Apple's streaming service to the set-top box Posted: 11 Mar 2019 12:46 PM PDT Roku and Apple may on the verge of closing a deal that would bring AirPlay 2 support to Roku streaming devices, according to sources who are familiar to the matter. The news was first reported by MacRumors, who says that AirPlay 2 would be available via a software update on select Roku players and Roku TVs - but warned that not all devices under the umbrella receive it.
Sonos faced a similar issue when it made AirPlay 2 available on the Sonos Beam and Sonos One speaker, so it's unsurprising that Roku would also run into difficulties putting the software on older devices. If the deal pans out, Roku players would be able to stream movies and TV shows from iTunes via an iOS device, and would be the key to launching Apple's nebulous streaming service on the Roku platform without creating a dedicated Roku app. It's all fair play for AirPlayA Roku deal would make a lot of sense given that Apple recently announced a similar partnership with Samsung to bring AirPlay 2 and iTunes to the TV manufacturer's 2019 TV lineup with announcements from LG, Sony and Vizio shortly afterwards. Apple's goal, at this point it seems, is to broaden the reach of its services so that when the company releases its streaming service, everyone will be able to watch it regardless of which TV or streaming device they use. Unfortunately, however, neither Roku or Apple has confirmed the existence of the partnership, as likely and as imminent as it may be. We'll reach out to the companies to see what we can learn, but they'll likely try to save the announcement for a later date... like this Apple event in Cupertino on March 25 that was just announced.
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| Intel Lakefield release date, news and rumors Posted: 11 Mar 2019 12:39 PM PDT Intel must be feeling the heat from Qualcomm Snapdragon-powered laptops, because the company is now developing its first hybrid processor or system-on-a-chip (SOC). Meet Lakefield, an Intel processor unlike anything you’ve seen before, as it comes packed with more than one type of CPU core to create a better-rounded chip. Additionally, these hybrid chips can even come with their own integrated memory, I/O interface, wireless connectivity and, of course, onboard graphics. In this way, Lakefield operates more like the ARM processor found in your smartphone than the traditional computer CPUs that have been powering laptops and desktop PCs practically since they were invented. Lakefield may well become the biggest game-changer for computers in a very long time. It’s not surprising that Intel isn’t the only one chasing the SOC dream, as AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation chips are also architecturally designed to be hybrid processors. Before this new wave of SOCs hits us, here’s everything you need to know about Intel Lakefield. Cut to the Chase
Intel Lakefield release dateSo far, Intel has only promised that Lakefield will be in production this year. However, Intel has also stated that it’s committed to having 10nm devices on shelves in time for the 2019 holiday shopping season in the US, so we can reasonably expect to see Lakefield-powered products become available sometime between October and December.
Image credit: Intel Intel Lakefield pricePricing on Lakefield processors is going to be really hard to pin down, because as we’ve mentioned these will be Intel’s first ever hybrid processors. Without any pre-existing chips to use as a point of reference, we don’t really have much to base our speculation on. Additionally, it seems like Lakefield will primarily be integrated into laptops and other types of mobile devices, rather than appearing on store shelves as boxed processors. With this in mind, these hybrid CPUs will likely only be available to commercial partners such as system integrators and original device manufacturers – so the chances of you being able to buy standalone Lakefield CPUs are slim.
Image credit: Intel Intel Lakefield specsBefore we get into the nitty-gritty of the makeup of an Intel Lakefield processor, it’s worth discussing the guiding principle or technological revolution behind the company’s first hybrid x86 CPU: Foveros. To start this journey, we’ll first take a look back at where Intel has been. For the most part, Intel’s processors up to now have utilized either monolithic or 2D integration packaging – that is to say, that’s how the chips are built. The former process has been used for the bulk of Intel’s processors, in which the CPU core, integrated memory, I/O and graphics are all integrated into a single die or unit.
Image credit: Intel Intel recently introduced 2D integration with its Kaby Lake G processors, which placed Intel CPU cores with discrete-class AMD graphics next to each other. Although the two separate components are ultimately built into a single package, they’re connected through the use of Embedded Multi-die Interconnect Bridge, which enables high-speed communication. Foveros is essentially an evolution of this 2D integration, in which other components can be stacked on top of each other in a form of logic-on-logic integration. The influence Foveros has had on the design on Intel’s Lakefield processor can be easily seen thanks to a recently released video that dissects the hybrid processor. We can clearly see the 12mm square package is stacked like a sandwich, with integrated memory sitting on top of the chip’s main components. The CPU itself includes a mix of different cores, including one big 10nm Sunny Cove core for performance and four, smaller 10nm Atom cores for low-energy tasks. This mix of differently performing CPU cores will supposedly allow small-form-factor devices to deliver both performance and power efficiency at the same time. What's more, this chip comes with Intel’s Gen11 integrated graphics, as well as interfaces for cameras and hardwired connections, or I/O – not to mention the integrated memory sitting on top of all these components.
Image credit: Intel Despite their stacked nature, Intel Lakefield processors will still fit into the smallest of devices. At its CES 2019 keynote, Intel demonstrated how its hybrid processor can be fitted onto a motherboard no larger than a Roku Streaming Stick. Intel has said that Lakefield can scale from low-power systems to full PC performance machines. This wide range of devices includes traditional notebooks, 2-in-1 (convertible or detachable) laptops, and even dual-screen laptops. Devices similar to the Intel Tiger Rapids and Asus Project Precog could get this new hybrid processor. That’s everything we know about Intel Lakefield so far, but we’re sure to learn more about Intel’s innovative hybrid processor soon. Stay tuned to this page, as we’ll be bringing you the latest developments as we learn about them.
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| The best Samsung Galaxy Watch Active prices and sales in March 2019 Posted: 11 Mar 2019 12:16 PM PDT Samsung's announcement of its new Galaxy S10 phone wasn't the only new product information to drop. The tech retailer also announced its newest Galaxy smartwatch - the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active. The newest Samsung wearable is available now for purchase, so we've rounded up the best prices and deals from several retailers below. As the name implies, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active is focused on fitness, and its new design and features reflect that. The ultra-lightweight Galaxy Active comes in one size and features a 1.1-inch display. The fitness watch continually monitors your heart and will send alerts when an abnormal heart rate is detected. The Samsung watch can also help with your sleep and stress, analyzing your sleep patterns and sending you breathing exercises when high stress levels are detected. The Galaxy Active will also help you keep on track with your health and fitness goals by tracking up to 39 exercises and displaying your health summary on the smartwatch display. The waterproof watch comes in four different colors and has a battery that lasts for days on a single charge.
The Samsung Galaxy Active Watch currently retails for $199.99/£229. The main reason the Active Watch is cheaper than the original Samsung Galaxy Watch ($329 / £279 for the 42mm model) is that the Active is missing the rotatable bezel, a core feature from the Samsung Galaxy Watch. So navigation of the menus and features is handled by the touchscreen and two side buttons. If you plan on using the Samsung watch just for fitness purposes, then the Galaxy Active is a great alternative at a lower price. You'll find all of the prices from several retailers below. For a limited time, Walmart is even offering a free charging pad if you pre-order the Galaxy Watch Active before March 17. Amazon UK is also offering a free charging pad if you order before April 19. Samsung UK is not only offering a free charging pad (must order before March 20), but will also knock £80 off your order if you trade in your old watch. Samsung Galaxy Watch pricesYou can also find out more about the Samsung smartwatch with our Samsung Galaxy Watch Active review. If you're interested in Samsung's newest phone you can find the best Samsung Galaxy S10 prices and deals in the US, and we've got you covered for UK pre-order deals of the Galaxy S10 too. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Windows 10 April 2019 Update release date, news and features Posted: 11 Mar 2019 12:15 PM PDT The Windows 10 April 2019 Update will be the first major update for Microsoft's constantly-evolving Windows 10 operating system this year. Also known as Windows 10 version 1903 or 19H1, the Windows 10 April 2019 Update is yet another part of Microsoft’s plan of releasing major free tentpole updates that bring new features, tools and apps to Windows 10. This update will follow in the footsteps of the Windows 10 October 2018 Update and the April 2018 Update. These both brought a number of new features to Windows 10 – even if the most recent of which is having trouble getting people to download it. These updates, along with others, aren’t strangers to controversy. Still, these updates have helped Windows 10 reach 800 million users. And, it looks like the Windows 10 April 2019 Update is going to be a big one. Not only are there a wealth of confirmed features like a system-wide Light Mode and the ability to pause updates, but we’ve seen rumors that the new Windows 10 build will be able to play native Xbox One games. We’re hoping that the Windows 10 April 2019 Update will manage to arrive, as the name suggests, in April, avoiding some of the problems that plagued earlier updates. However, the April 2018 Update was infamous for missing its April launch date, as was the October 2018 Update, so we’ll have to wait and see. With the launch of the Windows 10 April 2019 Update approaching, Microsoft has begun releasing early versions to Windows Insiders – who are customers who have signed up to try out the latest version of Windows 10. Because of this, we've got a good idea of what sort of new features are coming with the Windows 10 April 2019 Update. So, read on to find out all the latest news, rumors, features and release date details about the Windows 10 April 2019 Update. Cut to the chase
Windows 10 April 2019 Update release dateWe don't have an official release date for the Windows 10 April 2019 Update, but going by the name, we can have a good guess. So, it's very likely that it will be ready to download at some point during April 2019. However, we won't say that's a complete certainty. That's because last year's April 2018 update only just released in April. After a few delays, it emerged on April 30, which is cutting it a bit fine. Meanwhile, the October 2018 Update was even more tardy, finally releasing on November 13 – and that's not counting the times the update rollout was paused while Microsoft fixed numerous Windows 10 October 2018 Update problems. With any major update to an operating system, delays and problems can arise, so the April 2019 release date isn't guaranteed. But, given that Microsoft has called given it the April 2019 Update title could mean that it’s finally confident that it will release the update during that month, as it won’t want the embarrassment of releasing a Windows 10 update with an outdated name again. Windows 10 April 2019 Update nameWe've known about the Windows 10 April 2019 Update for a while now, though it was mainly referred to as Windows 10 version 1903 and by its codename Windows 19H1. The 19H1 codename gave us a clue to the release date and possible name, as it suggests the update will be released in the first half of 2019. Rumours had been swirling that Microsoft would choose April 2019 Update as the name, following on from its April 2018 Update last year. Another recent rumor all-but confirms the name of the update as the Windows 10 April 2019 Update, as a reference to the April 2019 Update was spotted in the Windows Powershell tool when the "Get-VMHostSupportedVersion" command is run. This reference, which was found by Twitter user Tero Alhonen, is the strongest evidence so far that it will be called the Windows 10 April 2019 Update. Of course, Microsoft could always change the name of the update before it's released, especially if it looks like it will be delayed until later in the year. However, considering the evidence, including Microsoft's past naming conventions and the fact it wants it out in the first half of 2019, we're pretty confident it will be called the Windows 10 April 2019 Update. Windows 10 April 2019 Update confirmed featuresBecause an early version of Windows 10 April 2019 Update is available for Windows Insiders (like ourselves) to try, we've got a good idea of some of the new features that will be heading to Windows 10 with this update. As always with early versions of these Windows 10 updates, this list doesn't have every new feature, but we'll update it when major new features are announced. Also, bear in mind that some of these features may be removed from the final version of the Windows 10 April 2019 Update for various reasons. A new Light theme
Image Credit: Microsoft The Windows 10 April 2019 Update will bring a new Light desktop theme, making a nice contrast to the Dark theme that we're used to with Windows 10. Not only does it make the taskbar and Start Menu lighter, but new icons have been created that better suits the new Light theme. Best of all, you can mix and match parts of the Light and Dark theme to get a look that best suits your tastes. A better Start menu
Image Credit: Microsoft Microsoft has continued to tweak the Start Menu, and the changes it's made in the Windows 10 April 2019 are definitely welcome. First of all, the Start menu when you first use the update is much less cluttered, with tiles and shortcuts for pre-installed apps not taking up as much space. However, there are still a number of apps and games that come pre-installed, and there are probably some that you don't want to use. With the Windows 10 April 2019 Update, you can now uninstall more pre-installed apps that you used to. Another notable change comes in the form of switching the Start menu to have its own dedicated process – StartMenuExperienceHost.exe rather than it being hosted by ShellExperienceHost.exe. That might sound like a complex change under the bonnet, but the only noticeable ramification for the user will be that the Start menu runs more smoothly, and is protected from potential issues which might be caused by other areas of the OS. The end result is a more reliable Start menu, according to Microsoft, and a more responsive one too, because Start doesn’t suspend itself any longer, so that makes for a slightly quicker launch time. Cortana is no longer integrated into the search box
Image Credit: Microsoft In the Windows 10 April 2019 Update, Cortana will be separated from the search box in the taskbar. As well as splitting search and Cortana on the taskbar, settings for these two have also been split up in Windows 10, along with group policies. So now when you click search, you get a straightforward operating system search. And if you want to summon Cortana, you have to use her separate icon. You can now pause updates
Image Credit: Microsoft The Windows 10 April 2019 Update will allow people using Windows 10 Home edition to pause Windows updates for a set number of days. This is a very handy feature that allows you a bit of breathing room when an update is released. It gives you time to check out to make sure that the update is working correctly, and if there are issues, you can pause the update until they've been fixed. In a perfect world, a new Windows update would arrive without any problems, but as we've seen in the past, that rarely happens. This features has been available to Enterprise and professional Windows 10 users, so it's good to see it come to the Home version as well. Reserved space for updates
Image Credit: Microsoft One of the more controversial features that the Windows 10 April 2019 Update brings is that it will now reserve 7GB of space on your hard drive which will be used to store temporary files. While some people may not like Windows 10 helping itself to yet more storage space on your hard drive, the idea is that this will make downloading Windows 10 updates easier in the future, and will prevent people experiencing an error where an update fails to install due to lack of space. Windows Sandbox lets you experimentIf you're running Windows 10 Professional, then the new Windows Sandbox tool could be of interest. It allows you to easily run a virtualized version of Windows 10 in a window, allowing you to run software and test out settings and code without it affecting your main Windows 10 installation. This is only a taste of the new features that are coming to Windows 10 with the April 2019 Update. We'll continue to update this list as we discover more.
Image Credit: TechRadar Helpful error messagesThe Blue Screen of Death is infamous at this point, popping up whenever Windows runs into a critical error, but they’ve never been very useful to average users. But, it looks like that might be changing with the Windows 10 April 2019 Update. Microsoft is finally changing error messages to be more helpful – they’ll now tell you how to fix the problems. The error message will pop up when a problem is encountered, and users should see options to try and fix it. The error messages will also have a link to a knowledge base, rather than forcing users to rely on Google for answers. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Windows 10 S Mode release date, news and features Posted: 11 Mar 2019 12:14 PM PDT Windows 10 S was initially revealed as a standalone operating system way back in May 2017, but the lightweight version of Windows 10 faced some mixed reception upon release. However, in the years since, the slim OS hasn’t stopped evolving, and has helped Windows 10 reach an impressive 800 million installs. Still, much of the criticism has boiled down to restrictions it places on anyone trying to install third party programs. But, now that you can switch out of Windows 10 S Mode, it’s a much more attractive OS. However, despite its restrictions, Windows 10 S Mode makes a lot of sense for the right kind of user and device – either with the Surface Go, or if you manage to get Windows 10 running on a Raspberry Pi 3. And, even for people using dual-screen devices, we’ve seen reports that Microsoft is working on “Windows Lite”, which will reportedly function similarly to a Chromebook. Windows 10 S Mode will also be able to take advantage of any Windows 10 updates, like the October 2018 Update (even though that update is being adopted pretty slowly), the upcoming Windows 10 April 2019 Update, and even the untitled 2020 update that just started beta testing. That means you get neat features like the April Update’s “Light Mode” and useful storage space tools, not to mention the possibility of playing Xbox One games natively. Windows 10 S Mode is a major component of the Windows 10 experience these days, so we thought it would be a good idea to dive in and explore everything the lightweight operating system can do. Be sure to keep this page bookmarked, and we’ll update it with any Windows 10 S news that shows up. Cut to the chase
Windows 10 S release dateWindows 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. There are plans to allow Windows 10 S users to switch out of S Mode through a UI toggle, but that’s not available at the time of writing. Luckily, you can still easily switch out of S Mode – just head to the Windows Store on your device and search for ‘switch out of S Mode’. As for when we’ll see the switch get implemented, who knows? However, Microsoft may sneak it in at a later date – we don’t think it’ll appear in the April 2019 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 priceWindows 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.
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| Intel Cascade Lake-X release date, news and rumors Posted: 11 Mar 2019 12:12 PM PDT In 2017, Intel reacted to the threat of Threadripper by pumping out high core count (HCC) Skylake-X processors in the consumer space. And, while processors like the Core i9-7980XE outperformed the highest-end Ryzen Threadripper 1950X, they were also much more expensive, leading more enthusiast consumers to go with AMD’s high-end desktop (HEDT) solution. We expected Intel to follow Skylake-X with Cascade Lake-X, but while Cascade Lake seemed to be destined to exist as a microarchitecture for server-grade hardware, Cascade Lake-X leaks have hinted at a future HEDT release. We’ve already seen some Cascade Lake processors in the small business-focused Intel Core Xeon E processors, so we can’t wait to see what Cascade Lake-X turns into. Just because Cascade Lake is focusing on server chips right now, doesn’t mean that there isn’t excitement to be had, or that it won’t turn into HEDT products later on down the line. So, keep this page bookmarked, as we’ll update it with all the latest information. Cut to the Chase
Intel Cascade Lake-X release dateEven though we’ve finally got word from Intel about Cascade Lake server processors, the release schedule for Cascade Lake-X is kind of a mess. There are some Cascade Lake Xeon processors hitting the street today. Intel has released the Xeon E-2100 line processors, aimed at small businesses, with up to 6 cores. Intel also hinted at up to 48-core server-grade Cascade Lake processors hitting the market in early 2019, according to a report from Ars Technica. We can’t wait to see what those higher-end chips can do. We’ve also seen a leak from the Chiphell forums that hints at a Cascade Lake-X reveal at Computex 2019. This leak refers to these new chips as LGA 2066 parts, which would put them in the same league as Intel’s new Basin Falls Refresh processors. That’s all we know for now, but something tells us that there will be much more to Cascade Lake over the next few months, so stay tuned for all your Cascade Lake release date information.
Intel Cascade Lake-X priceThis is where things might get uncomfortable, so brace yourself. Intel doesn’t exactly have a history of releasing HCC and HEDT processors for what we would call ‘reasonable’ prices. So, we expect the pricing of Cascade Lake-X to fall in line with, or exceed Skylake-X’s pricing. However, the early days of Cascade Lake looks reasonable, with the small business-targeted pricing being pretty reasonable. The prices of the Cascade Lake Xeon E-2100 line is as follows:
When it comes to the eventual Cascade Lake-X chips, and the Xeon W chip the prices are going to be much higher. So, we’ve taken the liberty of listing the pricing of Skylake-X processors below.
Intel Cascade Lake-X specsAssuming for a second that the 28-core CPU showed off at Computex is indicative of what we can expect from Cascade Lake-X, things are about to get bananas. Skylake-X offered significantly higher core counts than the previous generation of HEDT processors because it was manufactured on a smaller die. Cascade Lake-X doesn't have the same advantage as it’s still based on 14nm++ manufacturing. So while it will be able to offer slightly higher core counts, core clocks and power efficiency than Skylake-X, the leap in performance isn’t going to be as breathtaking. Still, Intel could use this process refinement to deliver a better value proposition – maybe offering a 10-core CPU for under $1,000. This could attract plenty of enthusiasts over to this server and enterprise platform, rather than more affordable mainstream CPUs. Intel has finally revealed the Intel Xeon W-3175X, which is a 28-core processor, meant for high-end server solutions. We don’t quite know what it’s going to be able to do, as it won’t be coming out until December 2018, but we do have specs for the Xeon E-2100 series of processors, which are targeted at small business-grade servers. Those specs are as follows:
That’s all we know for now, so now we just have to wait for Intel to reveal what’s in store – and we’ll be sure to update this page the second we know more.
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| Save £144 on this feature-filled Virgin TV and broadband deal Posted: 11 Mar 2019 11:52 AM PDT When Virgin Media discounts its broadband and TV deals, it doesn't do things by halves. And in the world of Virgin price cuts, this is one not to be missed. Cutting the price of its Full House bundle by £12 a month, you'll save a massive £144 on your internet and TV package if you strike while the deal iron is red hot. With the Full House offer you get over 230 channels, including Disney, National Geographic and - most importantly for football fans - all BT Sport channels in HD just in time to watch coverage of the Champions League. Virgin backs this up with super fast internet speeds of 108Mb or, in other words, blisteringly fast broadband- all for just £45 a month. So if you want to get your hands on Virgin's latest offer then read on to see how to get it. But don't wait around too long, this offer ends on March 24 and Virgin's offers can be slightly temperamental in what they offer - its next broadband deal might not quite compare.
Virgin's broadband and TV deal in full:What do I get with the Full House Bundle?With Virgin's Full House Bundle you're getting not just the super fast fibre speeds Virgin is famous for, but also a huge array of channels, over 230 in fact. On top of live TV, Virgin also includes exclusive box sets such as Walking Dead for all of your binge-watching needs. The incredibly fast average internet speeds of 108Mb and inclusive weekend calls is a great way to finish off this package. Is Virgin fibre broadband available in my area?We are now at the point where around 60% of the UK households are able to receive superfast Virgin broadband. It's easy to find out if you're one of the those lucky people. Head to our dedicated Virgin broadband deals page (or the price comparison chart at the bottom of this page), enter your postcode where indicated at the top of the page and if deals show as available then you're laughing. If no results are returned, then head to our best fibre broadband deals page instead and do exactly the same thing to see whether you can get superfast fibre broadband with another provider, such as BT Superfast. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The best WordPress hosting 2019 Posted: 11 Mar 2019 11:50 AM PDT Getting started with WordPress website hosting doesn't have to be expensive, after all the 15-year old WordPress is free (and open source). Even the cheapest shared hosting plan usually comes with a one-click WordPress installer, allowing the greenest of blogging newbies to have their first post ready in less than 60 seconds (we tried it). Managing a blog over time is much more challenging, though. You'll need to find your own themes and plugins. And also keep them, and WordPress itself, up-to-date (although you can even get that done automatically). Blogs are often targeted by malware, so it's important you have some way to detect and remove any threats, and you'll want regular backups to help get a broken blog working again. There's a long list of hosting companies offering WordPress plans, but we've picked out five of the best to point you in the right direction. Whether you're a first-time user or a big business, there's something for you here, and with prices starting at around a pound per month, it's well worth taking the time to find out more. These are the best WordPress hosting services of 2019
Budget WordPress hosting can have a lot of appeal, but it usually won't deliver the features, performance or reliability that high traffic sites need. If you're the demanding type, opting for a premium hosting plan will give you much better results. Bluehost has created its own VPS-based architecture to deliver optimum WordPress performance via NGINX, a custom PHP-FPM setup and intelligently allocated resources through KVM hypervisor. (If you're not a hosting geek, this just means Bluehost has taken the time to optimize the low-level setup of its platform for WordPress, rather than simply making do with a standard configuration.) The company doesn't waste time by pretending to offer ‘unlimited’ resources, and instead tells you exactly what you're going to get. For the WP Standard plan, this means 30GB storage, 1TB bandwidth, and key resources – 2GB RAM, two CPU cores – which are allocated to you, and not shared with anyone else. Premium features include SiteLock Pro to keep your website malware-free, SiteLock CDN to optimize performance, a dedicated IP, and the ability to manage multiple sites with the excellent ManageWP. New Bluehost accounts will also get a free service called Blue Spark, which is designed to help newcomers with everything WordPress related. This isn't cheap, with even the baseline Standard plan costing $19.99 (£15.20) a month for the initial term, rising to $39.99 (£28.60) afterwards. But you are getting a lot for your money, and if you're more interested in power than price, Bluehost has even more available. The top-of-the-range Ultimate plan, for instance, gives you four CPU cores, 8GB RAM, 240GB storage and a monster 4TB bandwidth. SiteLock Enterprise handles all your security and CDN needs, and there's a wildcard SSL thrown in. Ultimate costs $49.99 (£35.70) a month initially, $129.99 (£93) after that, but that's a fair price for this spec, and Bluehost offers a 30-day money-back guarantee if you feel the service doesn't deliver. There are also shared WordPress hosting plans available with fewer features and lower performance but they are cheaper, starting at $2.95 ($7.99 on renewal) per month. Furthermore, a managed hosting solution called WordPress Pro that has been optimized for WordPress websites is also available, with prices starting at $19.95 per month.
Managed WordPress packages can often feel overpriced. Many hosts charge significant premiums for impressive sounding claims – optimized servers, malware scanning – that are difficult to evaluate or confirm. The UK-based Tsohost isn't interested in any of that, instead focusing on providing the core WordPress essentials at a very fair price. The baseline Startup plan gives you a free domain name, will migrate your existing site, includes Let's Encrypt SSL support and has no limits on bandwidth. You get daily backups and can restore any of the last 30 days with a click. There's 24/7 support via ticket and email, and phone and live chat is available from 7am to midnight. You get a hundred 200MB mailboxes, and the plan restricts you to 15GB storage and 100,000 page views a month. If that's enough for you, the plan costs ~$4.15(£3.16) a month paid annually, or ~$3.8(£2.92) if you pay for two years upfront. If that's just too underpowered, opting for the Business plan gets you 50GB of storage, 100x1GB mailboxes, and up to 500,000 page views over a maximum of eight websites. That's significantly more capable, yet still very reasonably priced at ~$11.50(£8.78) a month, ~$9.62(£7.33) a month paid annually or ~$8.65(£6.59) a month paid biennially. The ~$31.50(£23.98) a month (~$26.20 a month paid annually or ~$23.60 a month paid biennially) eCommerce plan supports 100GB storage, 1,000,000 page views and unlimited 10GB mailboxes. Tsohost doesn't offer all the frills and extras you'll get with some products. There's no talk of SiteLock malware protection, optimized WordPress add-ons or a custom CDN. But it's hard to complain at this price, and Tsohost is still delivering a capable service with more than enough power for smaller sites.
Most web hosts offer only a few WordPress plans, and even these might be set up to point you in a particular direction. You'll often see an underpowered plan, an overpriced one, and a special deal on the mid-range plan they really want you to buy. That makes it easy to decide, but it also limits your upgrade options if your site grows over time. InMotion Hosting is unusual in offering six WordPress plans, covering everything from small personal blogs to resellers and big business. Figuring out which is the best product for you will take a little more thought, but at least there's room to upgrade – or downgrade – if your circumstances change. Better still, InMotion hasn't artificially limited the low-end plans by removing key features. Even the baseline WP-1000S plan – which costs $6.99 (£5.3) a month initially (1-year plan), $9.99 (£7.70) on renewal – gives you 40GB storage, unlimited bandwidth and email addresses, preinstalled WordPress, SSL, backups, automatic updates, SiteLock security, cPanel site management, and extras like BoldGrid and WP-CLI. The only significant issue is InMotion's suggestion that the plan works best for blogs with up to 20,000 monthly visits, and even that won't be a problem for many smaller sites. Upgrading your plan gets you some extras – premium themes and plugin subscriptions, a dedicated IP address, support for hosting more sites – but it's mostly about giving you more resources. For example, the top-of-the-range WP-6000S plan supports 1,200,000 monthly visitors across up to 20 sites for $114.99 (£87.6) a month initially (1-year plan), $142.99 (£110) on renewal. There are cheaper deals around, but in previous reviews we've found InMotion to be reliable, professional and honest, and any price premium is likely to be worth paying. You don't have to take our word for it, though – an exceptional 90-day money-back guarantee gives you plenty of opportunity to find out for yourself.
Web giant 1&1 IONOS seems to have a hosting product for every possible need, and WordPress is no exception. Novice users can try out its service for a nominal $1(£0.75) a month over the first six months ($9 or £6.90 afterwards), yet the plan still outperforms many competitors. The bundled 25GB of storage means you won't be running out of space in a hurry, for example. There are no bandwidth or visitor limits, and you can set up as many email accounts as you need. 1&1 IONOS offers the core WordPress management functions that you would expect: a setup wizard, preinstalled plugins, automatic updates and 24/7 support (including by telephone). Also, you get a personal consultant free of charge. All this is built on a capable platform – NGINX, PHP 7.2, OPcache, up to 2GB RAM guaranteed – to enhance your blog's performance. There's SSL included and even a free domain thrown in, which is ridiculously good value at this price. If you're a WordPress novice, it might be worth taking out the plan for an initial year, claiming your free domain and taking the time to learn how the blog works. When you time is up, renew if you're happy, or if you're not, use your knowledge and experience to find a better plan. 1&1 IONOS isn't just about newbies, though: there's value for more demanding users, too. In particular, the Pro plan gives you 5 managed Wordpress sites, 200GB SSD storage space, 50 databases (1GB max), and 500 email accounts. Bonus features include a CDN and SiteLock malware scanning, as well as RailGun content delivery network, and the price looks good at $1(£0.75) a month for the first six months, $15(£11.50) on renewal.
Choosing the best WordPress hosting package can seem like a complicated business, with a stack of low-level details and issues to consider. But it doesn't have to be that way. If you don't have special requirements then opting for a reliable web hosting company will get you capable mid-range products that can handle everything most users need. HostGator generally delivers powerful hosting plans for a fair price, and its managed WordPress range is no exception. Its Starter product may only cost $5.95 (£4.25) for three years, $9.95 (£7.10) afterwards, but you still get a free site migration, an SSL certificate, automatic malware detection and removal, unlimited email addresses and unmetered storage and bandwidth, and it can handle up to 100,000 visits a month. Ramping up to the high-end Business plan gets you more CPU power, support for up to three sites and 500,000 visits a month, yet still costs only $9.95 (£7.10) a month initially (first three years), $22.95 (£16.40) a month afterwards. Smart caching and a CDN are on hand to enhance your website's performance, 24/7 support helps keep your site up and running, and surprise bonus features include free domain privacy to protect from identity theft and reduce annoying spam. We've had good experiences with HostGator's service, but if you're not so lucky, there's a generous 45-day money-back guarantee. As with other hosting companies, this won't cover any domain registration fees, but it's still a better deal than you'll often find elsewhere. You might also want to check out our other website hosting buying guides:
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| FIFA 20: release date, news, new modes and everything else there is to know Posted: 11 Mar 2019 10:58 AM PDT Goal, goal, goal. Football, football, football. No ‘soccer’ shenanigans here folks – we’re talking about the beautiful game, FIFA 20, the 2020 season’s updated footie simulator. We’re yet to have confirmation that there’s a new FIFA game on the way from developers at EA Vancouver. But with it being one of the most successful sporting game franchises of all time, and it having had an annual release since 1993, it’s as safe a bet as you can get in the world of gaming. So, with a FIFA 2020 game all but certain, what can we expect from the next FIFA game? How’s Alex Hunter’s ‘Journey’ from amateur to pro going to conclude? And when can we expect to play FIFA 20? Read on for all the news and expectations for a new FIFA game below.
Cut to the chase
FIFA 2020 release date expectationsLike the changing of the seasons (and the football seasons themselves), there’s an annually expected launch window for FIFA games. For more than a decade, FIFA games have launched towards the end of September, and it’s expected that FIFA 2020 will be following the same schedule. The previous two FIFA games landed on the final Friday in September (29 September, 2017 and 28 September, 2018) which would align FIFA 2020’s release for Friday 27 September 2019. Note that FIFA games launch with a title suggesting the year ahead – FIFA 20 may come out in 2019, but its FIFA 20 / 2020 naming will reflect the coming season.
FIFA 20 trailersThere is no FIFA 20 trailer yet. We’re expecting to see footage of the game at the pre-E3 2019 EA Access event – we’ll update this page with any trailers that are revealed as soon as they become available. While you wait, enjoy this documentary on 'The Science of the Penalty Shoot-Out' from our friends at FourFourTwo. FIFA 20 gameplay development updatesSo far, the EA development teams have been pretty tight lipped about progress on FIFA’s development. We know it’s coming, they know we know it’s coming, so that window for hype has a finely oiled hinge that only swings open when EA is ready. We do have EA Sports Global Manager, Community Engagement Team guru Corey Andress however giving the first hint of action at what’s to come though back at the end of February, suggesting the company is gearing up for this year’s big sporting release: That’s all for now though – once the dev teams start opening up on what’s coming this year, we’ll keep this section filled with their latest insights into FIFA 2020. FIFA 20: what we want to seeFIFA titles make incremental improvements over the years – it’s rare to see one massively change the formula, and FIFA has been in a pretty stable state for the best part of a decade now. If you’ve played a recent edition, you’ll be able enjoy the latest one, with a few months work needed to master its new systems. FIFA is in a good place then, with FIFA 20 set to be built on solid foundations – but that’s not to say we can’t look forward to some improvements. Here’s a handful of things we’d like to see changed.
The end of the ‘Journey’ – and the start of something new? FIFA introduced a character-driven story mode back in FIFA 2017, focussing on fictional upcoming star Alex Hunter, and it’s now a much-loved staple of the game. Hunter’s story concludes with FIFA 20, so we’d like to see something new and expanded with which to carry on that legacy. EA’s Madden series has a narrative-focussed Longshot mode – it’d be great to see that idea carry over into EA’s other big sporting title. Dynamic weather For a while there, EA’s mantra seemed to be that anything rival Pro Evolution Soccer could do, FIFA could do better. But EA’s never picked up Pro’s dynamic weather systems. Just like in real life, rainy weather can blow in mid-game, changing the pace and flow of play in the Pro series. It’s a realistic consideration, and one that’d have a subtle but welcome effect to moment-to-moment tactics in FIFA 20. Career Mode changes Career Mode is FIFA’s answer to a managerial system. It’s not Football Manager, but it’s a great way of building up a lengthy relationship with each year’s entry into the franchise. It could do with a spruce up though to its core systems after its flashy-but-shallow FIFA 18 UI overhaul. Some extra depth to the managerial challenge is what we’re really after – player wage negotiations, stadium changes for smaller clubs on the rise, that sort of thing. It’d be great to bring back the Player / Manager career option of FIFA 13, too. Build-your-own team mode Fans have been crying out for this one for years – bringing back the old-school ability to create your own team, from branding and kit right down to player names and attributes. We’re guessing EA isn’t keen on this as it’d give you the ability to make updated squad information on the game even years after release. But it’d be great to be able to make a team made up of just work colleagues or online mates, for instance, and see them bring the cup home.
FIFA 2020: Early Access? FIFA as a subscription?EA has been toying with different sorts of distribution models for a while now, with its EA Access subscription model, and its Origin Premier service, letting players try out the firm’s top games for a monthly fee. With the launch of FIFA 19, EA allowed gamers to play FIFA 19 nine days before the game’s general release, and we’d expect to see the same occur for FIFA 20. What’s potentially interesting though is the possibility of FIFA becoming its own live service, with EA offering a subscription fee for the game, or elements of the game, being constantly updated rather than as an annual release. It’d let the company drip-feed updates, as well as keeping team sheets and player likenesses up to date, and remain competitive to titles like the free-to-play phenomenon Fortnite, which follows a similar model of constant updates. To be clear, EA has not stated that this is to be the case for FIFA, but with the franchise such a powerful draw, and the idea of games-as-a-service becoming more of an industry standard, don’t be surprised if a future FIFA game takes this route. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice release date, trailers and news Posted: 11 Mar 2019 10:41 AM PDT Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is an upcoming action-adventure in development by FromSoftware - AKA the studio that brought us Dark Souls and Bloodborne. Set in ancient-Japan, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice sees you take on the role of shinobi Sekiro as he seeks revenge on the samurai who left him for dead and kidnapped his lord. From what we've seen in the preview, Sekiro looks to be a stunning, dark and violent single-player which will please fans of Dark Souls as well as those who enjoy a game with a bit of edge. So, without further ado, here's everything we know so far about Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. [Update: Check out our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice preview.] Cut to the chase
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice release dateSekiro: Shadows Die Twice is due to release for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC on March 22, 2019. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice trailersCheck out the Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice official launch trailer ahead of its release on March 22: Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice was revealed at E3 2018. You an watch the reveal trailer below: PlayStation Undergound treated us to an extended look at gameplay in the video below: Want to know why Sekiro is on a mission for revenge? Here's a closer look the Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice's story: Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice news and features
No RPG elements Unlike FromSoftware's Souls series, Sekiro will not feature any role-playing elements such as character creation, classes, or gear upgrades. Instead it's a fairly straight-forward hack n' slash. No multiplayer Sekiro is entirely a single-player title, so don't expect to be slicing up enemies with a friend anytime soon.. There are stealth elements If you get within range of an enemy without being spotted then you an land a fatal blow. It's not as simple as it sounds... Shinobi deathblow This is an instant fatal attack. Deathblow techniques are unlocked are acquired throughout the game.
Combat Combat requires a little more patience and strategy than you may be used to. While the aim is to take down an enemy's health, really you want to get them out of posture to make them vulnerable and give yourself an opening for a fatal death blow. Tools While the right-hand katana is fixed, you will have a range of prosthetic tools to attach to the other hand such as a torch and grappling hook. (Image credits: FromSoftware/Activision)
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| Red Dead Online: beta, news and multiplayer features Posted: 11 Mar 2019 10:35 AM PDT Red Dead Online's beta is well underway. But with such a massive open-world to explore in Red Dead Redemption 2's single-player story, why should you be excited about the game's online mode? Rockstar's open-world Western game, a prequel to 2010's Red Dead Redemption, was released to wide critical acclaim and is basically all anyone in our office – or yours, probably – has been talking about for weeks. While you might have expected an online mode to be live from the game's launch, it makes sense that Rockstar wants you to focus on the main story – and boy is there a lot of it – before waltzing into a less narrative-driven multiplayer experience in Red Dead Online.
Rockstar has proved itself at converting a massive single-player game into a lively online experience, as shown in the launch of GTA Online in 2013, which has become almost as massive a phenomenon as the mainline GTA V game it spun off from. So what can you expect from Red Dead Online, and how can you access it? [Update: Red Dead Online beta update rolls out Free Roam events.] Cut to the chase
Red Dead Online beta accessRed Dead Online beta accessYou can access the Red Dead Online beta by selecting the 'Online' option from the Red Dead Redemption 2 title menu (at the top-right hand side of the screen).
Read Dead Online latest updateThe next Red Dead Online Beta update will be implemented on March 11. Here's what is coming: New Weapon: Evans Repeater Can now be picked up directly from the Rawson, Wheeler & Co catalogue or at any gunsmith. Fool's Gold event This new event sees you battling other players to wear the Golden Armor, taking down opponents while wearing it to earn points. You can also score points by taking out a rival player that’s wearing the Golden Armor, which then puts the armor up for grabs to whoever reaches it first. Other Free Roam events
Care package This week, all Red Dead Online Beta participants receive a special care package (redeemed either at your camp’s lockbox or at any post office across the five states). Here's what is in the package: 60x High Velocity Pistol Ammo, 60x High Velocity Repeater Ammo, 2x Fire Bottles, 8x Fire Arrows, 2x Jolly Jack’s, 2x Potent Horse Medicine and 1x Lake Lure.
Red Dead Online featuresPlayer visibility Reducing the visibility of blips over long distances – your map position won’t display to other players unless you are nearby (within 150 meters) and if you are slightly further away you will only appear when firing your weapon. Overly aggressive players will become more visible to other players with a progressively darkening dot that incrementally shifts from blue to dark red. Your visibility increases through bad deeds such as attacking and killing other players or their horses outside of a structured mode, free Roam mission, event or competition. The shorter the time between bad acts, the more your visibility increases - to warn others of your misdeeds. If you decide to be more wholesome, then your dot will gradually return to normal. The introduction of posse-wide parleys and improving feuds will mean that you'll be able to initiate parley that applies to your attacker’s entire posse after just a single kill. Alternatively, if you’d rather challenge your opponent, you can initiate a feud, posse Feud or leader feud after one kill, quickly turning a dispute into a timed mini-deathmatch for rival players to fight out amongst themselves in free roam, earning points for each kill on the opposing player. Bounty hunters and law balancing If you rack up a high bounty then you will have a chance of being targetted by NPC bounty hunters who will attempt to kill you and collect their reward. Criminal behavior will have bounty values and honor consequences that scale based on the severity of the crime. Daily challenges Daily challenges will see you complete individual objectives that cover every aspect of life on the frontier to earn gold nuggets and XP. Challenges will range from foraging for herbs, selling items at a fence, hunting and skinning animals, clearing hideouts, winning feuds and more. First update A week after the public beta went live, Rockstar released a statement on the game's status, which stated the developer's main focus right now is improving the in-game economy and bugs. "Your feedback from these early days will be instrumental in helping formulate updates to every aspect of the experience," the statement read. "Our current areas of focus include the in-game economy, which will require some additional balancing in order to ensure all activities are appropriately rewarding and fun, as well as some persistent bugs that are causing some players to be kicked from sessions. "The game has been developed so that we will be able to quickly make any adjustments like these, and we plan to get updates out as early as the end of this week with more updates to come next week. Feedback from the community has been invaluable, and we will continue to keep you regularly updated as things progress." Rockstar then rolled out its first set of "adjustments" to the Red Dead Online beta which aimed to a create a "more balanced, fun and rewarding overall experience, across all modes and missions". This included increasing cash and gold payments, reducing prices of weapons and balancing the values of select pelts, skins and fish. Gun Rush mode Rockstar added a battle royale Gun Rush mode, which sees up to 32 players "scrambling to gather weapons and ammunition in a rapidly shrinking play area". Rockstar added a attle royale Gun Rush mode, which sees up to 32 players "scrambling to gather weapons and ammunition in a rapidly shrinking play area".ke changes based on player feedback such as adding daily challenges, upgrading the law and bounty system, changing parley and decreasing proximity-based player blips. In addition, Rockstar is "working on lots of new content" that is due for release this year. This includes all-new missions, dynamic events, more competitive modes, and new weapons and clothing. Finally, Xbox One players can also now access the red chestnut Arabian horse, alligator skin ranch cutter saddle and the high roller double-action revolver. Multiplayer modes There were five competitive multiplayer modes at launch, however the beta currently doesn't allow you to pick which mode to partake in. The five modes are as follows:
Character customization Red Dead Online's character customization is very detailed, with options to adjust everything from your age to your facial dimensions - allowing you to make your perfect cowboy or cowgirl. A range of activities Now that we've been able to take part in the beta, we know Red Dead Online allows you to take part in a variety of activities such as co-operative story missions, treasure maps, PvP, hunting, fishing and free-roam missions. Based on Red Dead Redemption 2 gameplay An official announcement for the online service read: "Using the gameplay of the upcoming Red Dead Redemption 2 as a foundation, Red Dead Online will be ready to be explored alone or with friends, and will also feature constant updates and adjustments to grow and evolve this experience for all players."
Red Dead Online: what we want to seeAll the minigames We definitely hope the minigames will be playable online with your friends – card games, knife games, drinking games, and all that other wholesome fun you cowboys get up to. A slow, slow pace One of the things we love about Read Dead Redemption 2 is the thoughtful pace – so we're hoping the online mode doesn't go too octane for the rustic cowboy setting. We want to take a slow trot to the saloon before beating our friends at poker, or lying in the undergrowth while we wait to rob an incoming train – not a 6v6 deathmatch on flaming ponies.
Maybe some zombies though Okay, as much as we love the core Read Dead experience, the last game's Undead Nightmare DLC was a fantastic adventure in its own right, raising the dead in what felt like a serious Western blended with a camp horror movie. It was too good an experiment not to resurrect this time around – we hope. Cross-platform play We haven't seen cross-platform play for a Rockstar game before, though the CEO Strauss Zelnick has been open about his desire to overcome traditional console distinctions for online play. We'd love to see PS4 and Xbox One owners play together in Red Dead Online's wild west, though Sony have also proven themselves a stickler on this point in the past – even if it eventually succumbed to pressure on Fortnite cross-platform play. (Image credits: Rockstar Games)
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| The best cheap TV sales and 4K TV deals in the UK - March 2019 Posted: 11 Mar 2019 10:25 AM PDT We've been super busy this week adding lots of highlights of the very best cheap TV sales. TV prices on some fantastic Ultra HD 4K TVs have been dropping nicely in recent months in the UK. We've got you covered if you're looking for TV deals in the US too. We've tried to find something for everyone here. So we've got you covered for multiple size categories and we've looked at both ends of the pricing scale so you can get a cheap TV on a low budget, or you might find a higher quality set for a lower price than you expected - although those super new 8K models aren't coming down any time soon. Not to worry though, as some of these HDR 4K TV deals will make your jaw drop. And with the bleak weather and long nights doggedly sticking around and your Netflix watch list getting longer and longer all the time you may as well settle down for the rest of winter and enjoy them with a lovely TV. Netflix, Amazon, Sky TV and the like are all increasing their 4K content too so you won't be short on Ultra HD content to watch. We keep our eye on the latest TV deals throughout the year, so we're poised to find you the best price whenever the need to replace your old TV arises. We're fully behind the 4K TV movement too as a competitive market has seen prices reach affordable levels much quicker than when HD tellies first came around. One look at the prices below and you'll see what we mean. So much so, we'll rarely even mention regular HD TVs here seeing as Ultra HD TV deals are so cheap today. Finding you the best cheap TV dealWe've split our carefully curated 4K TV deals into different size categories immediately after our pick for cheap TV deal of the week. Whatever your budget, we're sure we can find something for you. Note: all of our selected TV sales highlights are for 4K/Ultra HD TVs and include a built-in freeview tuner as standard. Pretty much every deal comes with Smart TV functionality built-in along with HDR technology. If they don't, we'll clearly mention it.
The best cheap TV deals you can buy today
Extra retailer cheap 4K TV sales links:Not found the right cheap TV for you today? Or maybe you'd prefer to directly browse the TV sales 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 luck 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 sales at multiple stores. More large screen 4K TV salesIf you're after more seriously large TV deals, we should warn you, they don't come cheap. However, if you want to see some more large screen TV deals -we're talking about 65 to 85-inch TVs- we'd recommend heading over to AO.com, John Lewis, Currys and Amazon as they seem to stock more models than most UK retailers. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Get a free copy of The Division 2 when you buy the Ryzen 5 2600X at Walmart Posted: 11 Mar 2019 10:17 AM PDT Upgrade your processing performance with the powerful AMD Ryzen 5 2600X that's currently on sale at Walmart. For a limited time you can get Ryzen 5 2600X in a bundle deal that includes a free copy of Tom Clancy's The Division 2 for $169.99. The CPU usually retails for $229.99, so with this deal, you're saving $60 on the Ryzen 5 and receiving a free copy of The Division 2. The AMD Ryzen 5 2600X delivers speed and power for serious gamers at a reasonable price. The Ryzen 5 2600X features six cores and 12 threads of power, a base clock of 3.6GHz and a boost clock of 4.2GHz. The processor also features an AMD Wraith Spire cooler which delivers optimal thermal performance. The Division 2 game that's included in this bundle deal allows you to team up with elite agents to restore order in Washington D.C. and save the country on the brink of its collapse. Learn more about the Ryzen 5 with our AMD Ryzen 5 2600X review and also shop our best cheap gaming laptop deals under $1000 that are currently going on. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Best movies on Netflix UK: the best films to watch in March 2019 Posted: 11 Mar 2019 10:10 AM PDT These days Netflix may have serious competition from the likes of Amazon Prime and Now TV. But despite Amazon creating some great news shows and Now TV providing us with the best Sky has to offer, Netflix is still our favourite place for movies and TV shows. There are lots of reasons why that's the case, including its (mostly) intuitive interface, offline modes, original series and films, huge catalogue of movies and, most importantly, the fact it's constantly updated week-on-week with some of the best entertainment on the planet. Every day Netflix adds at least a movie or two, and every week at least three or four of them tend to be worth watching. This is what sets it apart from Amazon Prime, which has a great back catalogue, as well as lots of mediocre and, quite frankly, rubbish movies in its vaults. It's great news that Netflix keeps its catalogue of movies topped up with fresh, award-winning and super entertaining titles. But what this constant stream of great flicks also means is that many of us spend a lot of time scrolling through anything and everything the service has to offer. And, as many of us are all too aware, often the dilemma of so much great stuff to choose from (which is known as ‘decision fatigue’ in psychology circles) leaves us feeling fed up. In an attempt to put an end to what we’re coining ‘Netflix fatigue’ once and for all, we’ve created this extensive list to the best movies that Netflix UK has to offer you right now. That's right. No more endless scrolling and no more movie-induced anxiety that you've made the wrong choice. We'll be updating this cinematic hall of fame at least once a week, so be sure to keep it bookmarked so you can find out what's hot and ready to be watched on Netflix in the UK right now. Coming soon to Netflix
Fyre Festival: The Greatest Party That Never Happened Image credit: Netflix If you’ve been signed up to Netflix for a while now, you’ll be well aware there are lots of mediocre movie choices. But if you only have time for the best of the best, don't waste those all too precious minutes searching through the site's extensive and exhausting back catalogue. Instead, delve straight into this guide. To make your life easier (and enable your worrying Netflix addiction), we’ve divided more than 40 movie recommendations up into categories that we're sure will suit every taste. We’ve got indie and horror through to kids and documentaries. And make sure you keep checking back. Unlike Netflix's TV output, which seems to stay on the streaming platform for longer, movies on the streaming site tend to appear and disappear quickly. Enjoy!
The best Netflix Originals movies
Image credit: Netflix Bird BoxEveryone is talking about Bird Box right now, not least because of the spate of dangerous copycat challenges it has inspired on social media platforms. Starring Sandra Bullock, this sci-fi flick follows her and her children as they battle a mysterious phenomenon causes mass suicides once witnessed.
Image credit: Netflix OkjaOkja is a fantastic movie that proves Netflix really does know what it's doing when it comes to commissioning films. Made by Bong Joon Ho, one of the greatest directors around, the film is the strange tale of a little girl and her best friend, a giant animal called Okja. The friendship is threatened when a CEO (a superb Tilda Swinton) wants to take Okja for nefarious means. The whole movie may well be an ode to animal activism but it's such a refreshing movie that you don't mind it preaching to you on occasion. Now you have this on-board Netflix, can you please grab the UK rights for Snowpiercer - another superb Bong Joon Ho movie that never saw the light of day in Britain.
Image credit: Netflix The Ballad of Buster ScruggsThis anthology of six short films by the Coen brothers takes places in the 19th-century Old West in the years after the American Civil War. Starring James Franco, Tom Waits, and Zoe Kazan, the Ballad Of Buster Scruggs switches rapidly between sentimental, pastoral scenes of the West and brutal violence.
Image credit: Netflix AnnihilationThis is exactly the sort of movie that Netflix should be making. It’s uncompromising sci-fi that has a smart smattering of horror running through it. Based on the hit series of books The Southern Reach Trilogy, the movie focuses on a group of scientists who go into Area X, a quarantined section of Earth where strange things are going on. Natalie Portman is superb and refreshing in the lead role.
Image credit: Netflix RomaFrom the director of Gravity and Children of Men, Alfonso Cuarón, Roma is the story of a housekeeper Cleo, as she and her family come up against social hierarchy and political turmoil in 1970’s Mexico. This semi-autobiographical film is said to be inspired by Cuarón’s own upbringing, and has been widely acknowledged as one of the best films of 2018, winning two Golden Globes for Best Director and Best Foreign Language Film. Best drama movies on Netflix
Image credit: Film4 American HoneyA coming-of-age tale about a teen called Star who joins a group of travelling magazine sellers as they journey across the American Midwest. It's trying to be quite gritty throughout, but the road trip story and dreamy shots (like the one above) make it much more heart-warming. Sasha Lane truly shines in the lead role and Riley Keough and Shia LaBeouf are also on top form as they play two of the teen magazine sellers she warms to - and clashes with.
Image credit: Fox Searchlight Pictures JackieNatalie Portman takes the lead role in this biographical drama about the life of Jackie Kennedy, which takes place after her husband John F. Kennedy’s assassination in 1963. It’s a compelling but difficult watch at times, all about grief, trauma, consoling her children and Jackie’s struggle to create a legacy for her husband after his tragic death. As well as Portman, the movie has a great cast, including Greta Gerwig, Billy Crudup, Peter Sarsgaard and John Hurt - it was the final film that was released just before Hurt passed away in 2017.
Image credit: Canal+ Personal ShopperPersonal Shopper is a strange, but captivating movie. It shows off the acting prowess of Kristen Stewart who is superb as an American 'personal shopper' living in Paris who caters to the needs of an infuriating supermodel. And it just so happens, Stewart's character is also a medium who starts to interact with what she believes is her not-long dead brother. Personal Shopper is one movie which doesn't let you really know what it wants to be until the end - and that is what makes it great.
Image credit: 20th Century Fox SelmaA heartfelt and considered look at Martin Luther King Jr's struggle to gain equal voting rights, campaigning in racially-charged Alabama, Selma was one of the finest films of 2014 and was rightly nominated for a Best Picture Oscar as a result. It may have missed out on the top gong, but David Oyelowo's performance as the civil rights leader is a powerful one, with a supporting cast recreating the inspiring story with great respect.
Image credit: Columbia Pictures Taxi DriverMartin Scorsese's flick Taxi Driver follows the story of a lonely veteran (played by Robert DeNiro) living in New York who becomes a taxi driver and slowly descends into madness watching the corruption and depravity of the city around him. It's not an easy watch, but it's a true classic and considered one of the greatest movies of all time. Best romance movies on Netflix
Image credit: Lionsgate La La LandDirector Damian Chazelle (Whiplash) does it again with La La Land, creating a fantastic musical romance about two creatives trying to make it big in Los Angeles. One is an aspiring actress (the fantastic Emma Stone), while the other (Ryan Gosling) is a jobbing jazz musician hoping for his big break. The song and dance routines are a wonder to watch, but this isn't just a film that relies on gimmickry - it's a well told modern day love story.
Image credit: Focus Features Pride and PrejudiceThe 2005 version of Jane Austen's classic tale of romance stars Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen as the young, stubborn and witty Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy.
Image credit: Columbia Pictures When Harry Met SallyThe ultimate romantic film? Perhaps. It’s definitely one of the best watches you are likely to have. When Harry Met Sally is an all-time classic, brimming with confidence that only comes when you nail the acting, script and direction. Sally is played by Meg Ryan, someone who has been friends with Harry (a pristine Billy Crystal) for years but lost contact. They meet up again, when their lives are a little different, and the rest is history. Rob Reiner does a fantastic, subtle directing job here but top marks go to the script by the late Nora Ephron.
Image credit: Netflix To All The Boys I've Loved BeforeThis teen romance follows high schooler, Lara Jean, as she tries to navigate school after five secret love letters are sent out to her crushes by mistake. Based on the young adult trilogy by Jenny Han, the film quickly became one of Netflix’s most successful Original films, after its release in October 2018.
Image credit: StudioCanal CarolCarol is a gripping drama that sees protagonist Therese (Rooney Mara) enchanted by Carol (Cate Blanchett), a glamorous older women she spots browsing in a Manhattan department store. Based on the 1952 novel, The Price Of Salt by Patricia Highsmith, it’s a story of forbidden love that reportedly received a ten-minute standing ovation at its Cannes Film Festival screening. Best comedy movies on Netflix
Image credit: Universal Pictures The World's EndThe World's End is the worst of the Cornetto Trilogy but that's only because the other two are the superb Shaun Of The Dead and Hot Fuzz. The premise is great: Gary King (Simon Pegg) gets his old friends together to relive a pub crawl of their childhood. The only problem is, everyone has grown up into self-respecting adults except him. But none of this matters when the group of lads get themselves into a very strange situation. Full of fantastic sight gags that made Baby Driver the success it was, The World's End doesn't quite hit the high notes it should but it has a lot of fun trying in the process.
Image credit: Universal Pictures Popstar: Never Stop StoppingThis mockumentary stars Andy Samberg as Conner ‘Conner4Real’ Friel, a breakout popstar loosely based on Justin Bieber. The Spinal Tap-esque film follows Conner as he tries to hang on to success following dismal album sales, exposing the banality of YouTube stardom in the process.
Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures The Hangover (Part I, II & III)A group of friends go to Las Vegas for a stag do and chaos ensues. The movie begins with their pre-drinking the night before and quickly moves onto the hangover the morning after. We have to piece together what happened the night before as they do and it's as gruesome, gross and hilarious as you'd expect. Because the first movie was such a hit there's now a trilogy of movie and all of them follow roughly the same formula. Hey, if it ain't broke, why fix it?
Image credit: Warner Bros. The GooniesThis classic 1985 comedy follows a band of plucky kids as they take on a property developing company that threatens to destroy their home, and inadvertently find a pirate treasure map that leads them on a swashbuckling adventure.
Image credit: United Artists Some Like It HotSome Like it Hot is a classic, and for good reason. Winner of numerous Academy Awards and Golden Globes, and featuring three of Hollywood's greats at the top of their game, it's a hilarious movie, with unforgettable central performances. After witnessing the Valentine's day massacre, two male musicians try to escape town in disguise, as women. If you've never watched it, treat yourself. If you have, you don't need any convincing to watch it again.
Image credit: Columbia Pictures Dr. StrangeloveStanley Kubrick's 1964 satirical dark comedy classic has landed on Netflix. This dark comedy explores the fears around the Cold War between the US and Soviet Union, and the threat of impending nuclear disaster. Directed, produced and also co-written by Kubrick, the story centres around a US Air Force general who decides to order a nuclear attack on the Soviet Union. It then follows the action of a bomber after it's set off, as well as the heated debates about calling off the whole operation before the general brings about the end of the world. Okay, so it might not be the light and easy watch you were looking for on a lazy, hungover Sunday. But it's a classic that's one of Kubrick's best. The best action movies on Netflix
Image credit: The Weinstein Company The Hateful EightArguably one of Tarantino's best movies, The Hateful Eight is a gory Western set some time just after the American Civil War. As you'd expect from a Tarantino flick, the cast is one of the best bits. Samuel L. Jackson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Michael Maden, Tim Roth and Kurt Russell take the lead roles as a ragtag bunch of criminals, bounty hunters and who knows what else who take refuge in a stagecoach stopover during a blizzard.
Image credit: Sony Pictures Classics Crouching Tiger, Hidden DragonA masterpiece in both filmmaking and fight choreography, Ang Lee's superb Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon tells the tale of a Chinese warrior who steals a sword off of a master swordsman and the cat-and-mouse chase that ensues. Chow Yun-Fat may have been the star of the movie when the was first released, but it is Michelle Yeoh and Zhang Ziyi that steal the show. A follow-up was produced by Netflix, which is worth a watch but has none of the charisma of its enigmatic predecessor.
Image credit: New Line Cinema The Lord Of The Rings trilogyThe full LOTR trilogy is now available to stream on Netflix, and we haven’t heard a better excuse to spend an entire Saturday parked in front of the TV. The epic fantasy adventures based on the novel by J R R Tolkein, were some of the most ambitious films ever to be made, with a budget of $330 million. If you haven’t seen them before, they are a must watch – and if you have, watch them again. [Update: February 8 sees The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey land on Netflix. Martin Freeman plays Bilbo Baggins in this, the first film of The Hobbit trilogy.]
Image credit: Marvel Studios / Walt Disney Avengers: Age of UltronWhen Tony Stark’s (Robert Downey Jr) plan to revive an ancient peacekeeping programme goes wrong, he and the rest of the Avengers must assemble once more to stop an evil villain from exterminating the human race. Packed full of adventure and thrilling fight scenes, this superhero film will appeal to even people who hate comic books.
Image credit: Miramax Kill Bill: Vol 1 and 2Quentin Tarantino’s bloody brilliant kung-fu opus should have been one big movie. But its distributors got cold feet, which meant we actually got two quite different films. The first is pure Shaw Brothers schlock. A revenge tale that follows Uma Thurman’s Bride looking to kill people on her hit list, for murdering her husband and family on her wedding day and leaving her for dead. The second film is a touch more subdued, but no less brutal - starting with a flashback of the infamous wedding and then furthering The Bride’s mission to ‘kill bill’. If you can, watch them together as it’s an epic movie that should be consumed in one sitting. Best sci-fi movies on Netflix
Image credit: Paramount PIctures Star Trek: BeyondJustin Lin directs the latest installment of Star Trek with bombast. And thank goodness he does, because the explosions and flash camera angles manage to mask some of the cracks in this film. Don't get us wrong: Star Trek Beyond is a lot of fun, but feels a little smaller than the first two rebooted movies. There's more humour, though, and the cast still shine.
Image credit: Netflix Black Mirror: BandersnatchAn interactive adventure that puts the viewer in control of key decisions throughout the film, with various routes the film can travel through, Bandersnatch is a natural evolution of Black Mirror's paranoid depictions of technology – as well as Netflix's growing interest in interactive media on its streaming platform, such as Minecraft: Story Mode. In typical Black Mirror fashion, no stone has been left unturned with the creation of a website for the company Tuckersoft, which features in the episode. However, it's best not to explore the site until you've watched the feature-length episode in case you inadvertently stumble across any spoilers.
Image credit: Warner bros. GravityAlfonso Cuaron's Gravity is a cinematic masterpiece. We're pretty sure you could watch it without sound or subtitles and still be in absolute awe of the aesthetics. But if you did that you'd also be missing out on a well-paced drama starring George Clooney and Sandra Bullock full of twists and turns all about things not going quite as planned in space. It also has an exceptional soundtrack and visual effects. It's one to turn all the lights off for and watch on the biggest screen in your house - you won't be disappointed.
Image credit: Film4 Attack The BlockThis British sci-fi flick by Joe Cornish (of The Adam and Joe Show), sees John Boyega in his breakout role as a tough inner-city kid, whose alongside his friends, tries to defend his South London estate from an alien invasion. Cheeky, fast-paced, and endearingly familiar to anyone who grew up south of the river, it’s a fantastic directorial debut from Cornish, and what would prove to be an extremely successful debut for Boyega.
Image credit: Universal Pictures Back To The Future trilogyGiven it was made in 1985, the effects of Back To The Future still stand up today. Actually, so does everything about the movie. It's a fantastic old-school romp that showcases Michael J Fox as one of the most affable actors around. Spielberg may have only produced the movie but his fingerprints are all over it. Back To The Future is a classic that is endlessly fun and re-watchable. Best horror movies on Netflix
Credit: Universal Pictures Get OutAward-winning horror movie Get Out has landed on Netflix this month. It's a very smart, very unnerving story about a young black man (played by Daniel Kaluuya) who uncovers a deeply disturbing secret when he's visiting his girlfriend's parents.
Image credit: United Artists CarrieStephen King’s classic tale of the trials and tribulations of high school, fitting in, oh and having extremely powerful telekinetic powers has landed on Netflix, bringing the unforgettable and gruesome bloodbath of the 1976 imagining to the small screen.
Image credit: Columbia Pictures MiseryJoining Stephen King’s Carrie on Netflix comes another classic story from the horror author’s creepy collection: Misery. Bringing the tale of the story, which will be making anyone who has seen it wince right now, straight to your living room. The movie follows a famous author who is rescued from a car crash by a fan. We won’t spoil what happens next, but you can probably guess it’s not exactly the warm, homely kind of recovery you’d expect after you’ve had an accident. It’s certainly not one for the faint-hearted, so prepare to hide behind a cushion for about 50% of the running time.
Image credit: Lionsgate Cabin In The WoodsThis super-smart horror from Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard is a movie that tries its hardest to turn the horror genre on its head, with continual knowing nods to movies of the past and a post-modern spin of the well-worn 'cabin in the woods' theme. Don't go into this movie expecting a normal film-watching experience but do expect to have fun watching a highly original script at play.
Image credit: Wigwam Films Under The ShadowThanks to Netflix's sometimes surprising rights, Under The Shadow has popped on to the service around the same time as the movie's Blu-ray release. We're glad it has. It's a fantastic horror film set in Tehran in the '80s, focusing on a mother and daughter seemingly terrorised by otherworldly beings in an apartment block. The dread in this film is slow release but palpable, making it a terrific, scary watch.
Image credit: Netflix HushHush has a brilliant premise. Directed by Mike Flanagan it revolves around a killer who tries to get the best of a girl in the house on her own. So far so 'every horror movie ever made', but the girl who is being stalked happens to be deaf. Yes, the home invasion genre is getting tired, but Hush manages to quietly breathe new life into it. Best documentary movies on Netflix
Image credit: Netflix Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never HappenedBilled as a luxury music experience on a private island, Fyre Festival was tirelessly promoted by social media influencers – but ended up being a complete and utter disaster, with multiple lawsuits being brought against the promoters. This illuminating documentary explores what went wrong, and it’s a must-watch.
Image credit: Netflix Jim and AndyJim Carey has always been an actor that takes things to extremes - whether it's his face gurning or physical comedy. But nothing was quite like what he did in Man On The Moon, the Milos Foreman directed biopic of Andy Kaufman. Mixing exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes footage of Carey that the studios didn't want released, this is one revealing documentary about the things people do to make people laugh.
Image credit: Netflix What Happened, Miss Simone?This Netflix exclusive documentary is a heart-wrenching look at one of the greatest singers of all time. While the highlights are definitely seeing Simone sing live - there's a huge amount of never-before-seen archive footage - it's the eye-opening truths about her troubled life that hit home hardest.
Image credit: Magnolia Pictures BlackfishOne of the most important documentaries of the decade, Blackfish charts the life of killer whale Tilikum, who sadly died in early 2017. Kept in captivity as a 'performance mammal' at SeaWorld, the doc explores the unsightly side of why keeping whales in captivity is a terrible idea. Blackfish had such an impact that SeaWorld decided to phase out its orca shows and rebrand itself. Powerful stuff.
Image credit: Netflix 13thNetflix bagged its first Bafta thanks to this stunning documentary. 13th looks at race and the US criminal justice system, showcasing numerous injustices in the way African Americans have been treated in the system. The documentary was made by filmmaker Ava DuVernay, who also made the superb Selma. The best animated movies on Netflix
Image credit: 20th Century Fox Fantastic Mr FoxWes Anderson’s quirky directing is a perfect fit for Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Fox. Lovingly crafted using stop animation that’s voiced by Anderson alumni, and George Clooney, the film works well as a kids animation, but it’s adults that will get the biggest kicks. Director Anderson is going back to stop animation for his next feature - let’s hope it’s half as good as the fantastic Fantastic Mr Fox.
Image credit: 20th Century Fox The Peanuts MovieCharlie Brown and his dog, Snoopy, are iconic cartoon characters, and in this new computer-generated film, which was co-written and co-produced by Charles Schulz's son and grandson, is a brilliant continuation of that legacy, pleasing existing fans and winning over new ones in a tale that sees Charlie Brown try to impress Little Red-Haired Girl. It's the first Peanuts feature film in 35 years, but the wait was worth it.
Image credit: Universal Pictures The Secret Life Of PetsOne for the kids (and big kids) amongst us, The Secret Life of Pets is about two pet dogs who find themselves outside and have to fend off a gang of sewer-dwelling angry animals known as "The Flushed Pets" who really want to stage an attack on humans. It's as ridiculous and entertaining as it sounds.
Image credit: Paramount Pictures The Spongebob Squarepants MovieStarring Alec Baldwin and David Hasselhoff, The Spongebob Squarepants Movie takes all the charm and surreal humour of the original TV series and brings it to the big screen – and now the small screen, thanks to Netflix. It’s just as weird and wacky as you might expect, with clever jokes that even adults can enjoy.
Image credit: Netflix The Little PrinceThis charming English-language French film is an absolute feast for the eyes, with enchanting stop-motion animation and a moving story based on the beloved original 1943 book by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Hackers steal 6TB Citrix data haul Posted: 11 Mar 2019 10:05 AM PDT Iranian-backed hackers have managed to steal vast amount of data from Citrix which handles sensitive projects for the White House communications agency, the US military, the FBI and many US businesses. The US-based software company came under attack in December and again last week according to the cybersecurity firm Resecurity which first notified the company and law enforcement agencies regarding the attacks. The assault on Citrix was carried out by the Iranian hacking group Iridium which employed brute force attacks to guess the firm's passwords. According to Resecurity's president Charles Yoo, Iridium was also behind recent cyberattacks against a number of government agencies, oil and gas companies as well as other targets.
The hackers were able to extract at least six terabytes of data and possibly up to 10 terabytes of data during the two attacks on Citrix where compromised employee accounts were used to gain access to its data. Citrix hacksWhile evidence that the hackers were able to breach US government networks has not been found yet, the attacks show how an attacker could potentially obtain sensitive government information through a third-party such as Citrix. According to a statement from the company, the FBI informed its leadership that the firm had come under attack from “international cybercriminals” and that it was currently taking action “to contain this incident”, saying: “While our investigation is ongoing, based on what we know to date, it appears that the hackers may have accessed and downloaded business documents. The specific documents that may have been accessed, however, are currently unknown. At this time, there is no indication that the security of any Citrix product or service was compromised.” Citrix has not yet released many important details related to the attack such as the time period over which it occurred or how many employee accounts may have been compromised. Via NBC News
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| Best soundbars for TV shows, movies and music in 2019 Posted: 11 Mar 2019 09:56 AM PDT There are many reasons why it's worth upgrading your entertainment set-up at home with a top-of-the-range new soundbar. The best being that, if you're lucky enough to own on of the latest 4K TV screens, you really deserve to invest in a device that'll deliver the top quality sound to match. TV displays are getting slimmer and slimmer by the day. Although this means they're more likely to fit in awkward spaces and cause anyone who's visiting your home to gasp in amazement, it does mean their built-in speakers tend to be lacking. That's why the obvious answer is an all-singing, all-dancing speaker system. If you're one of those people who admires the slim aesthetic of your new TV over everything else, then a good soundbar is your best option. The top ones won't stick out next to your shiny new slim screen like a normal stereo system would – the best soundbars are built to be just as aesthetically pleasing as they are aurally pleasing. The majority of soundbars on this list are made to sit in front of your screen, but they can also be wall-mounted above or to the side of it as well - giving you ultimate choice as to how your home entertainment set-up looks. Not only are they slim and powerful, soundbars are also a good solution for smaller homes and rooms with little space that wouldn't be able to squeeze a 7.1 channel speaker system in. Despite most only featuring front-facing speakers, soundbars are able to confidently project sound in a way that makes it seems as though there's booming audio coming from most directions. The problem with soundbars these days is there are lots to choose from. If you don't find the right one for you, you can end up with a soundbar that doesn't fit with your home theater setup – or barely sounds better than your TV's built-in speakers. Read on below for the best soundbars available to buy in 2019, whether you're after Dolby Atmos support, multi-room audio, or any variety of other advanced features alongside your soundbar's premium audio experience.
What's the best soundbar for the money?We can't stress this enough: when it comes to soundbars, there’s a lot of choice. Despite being called soundBARS, they tend to come in different shapes and sizes. They also range in price from under £100/$100 to over £1,000/$1,500. The cheaper the model you go for, the more basic the connections are likely to be. Whereas more expensive ones add superior HDMI inputs (including 4K/HDR passthrough), wireless audio streaming (e.g. Bluetooth and AirPlay), better power, more refined speaker drivers, and decoding of Blu-ray sound formats. Of course a full surround setup is the premium solution to bad sounding televisions, but if you're short on space (as well as budget) then a soundbar offers a good compromise. More than that, these days higher-end soundbars will also include the latest and greatest audio technologies like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. So it’s not like you’re getting a sub-standard experience, just a different one. Design is also important, with some models able to sit in front of your TV on a stand while others may need a separate shelf, or to be mounted up on the wall. But whatever your budget, there are some cracking good acoustic upgrades to be had that can give your TV the sound it deserves.
Image credit: Samsung Not content with dominating the TV world, Samsung now seems to have its sights set on becoming the number one brand for home entertainment audio, too. All this effort has already delivered outstanding results in the shape of both the HW-K850 and, especially, HW-K950 Dolby Atmos soundbars, as well as a range of ground-breaking multi-room wireless speakers. But, above everything stands the South Korean manufacturer's HW-MS650. No other one-body soundbar has combined so much raw power with so much clarity, scale and, especially, bass, or excelled so consistently with both films and music. It’s the sort of performance that only genuine audio innovation can deliver - and with that in mind, it’s well worth its $450/£599 price tag. Read the full review: Samsung HW-MS650 Soundbar
Image credit: Sony The Sony HT-ST5000 is the priciest soundbar you’ll find here, but for the money you’ll get an exceptional piece of equipment that offers support for Dolby’s spatial Atmos tech – on top of dealing exceptionally well with more conventional surround sound. The build quality and design of the soundbar is exceptional, and its general audio performance impresses with its clarity and spatial presentation. Still, the lofty price tag might turn some users off, and most people will get everything they need from less expensive units like the Samsung HW-MS650 above. But, if you want to have the best high-end soundbar around, the HT-ST5000 is the best soundbar you can buy today. Read the full review: Sony HT-ST5000
Image credit: Q Acoustics The Q Acoustics M4 soundbar doesn’t immediately set pulses racing with its slightly prosaic looks, ‘mere’ 2.1-channel sound and lack of any HDMI support. However, you only have to hear what the M4 can do with both music and movies for your doubts about it to evaporate almost instantly. In fact, it sounds so good that it starts to make the idea of trying to deliver more channels from an affordable soundbar look a bit silly. In fact, though, it sounds so much better than pretty much any rival soundbar in the same price bracket that it’s actually ridiculously good value - especially if you care about music as much as you care about movies. Read the full review: Q Acoustics M4 Soundbar
Image credit: Samsung The Samsung HW-N950 is something special. It's the latest flagship soundbar from the company, but the first to benefit from Samsung’s acquisition of Harman Kardon – a partnership that's already paying dividends. The HW-N950 is a whole-hearted upgrade on our previous award-winner, Samsung's HW-K950 – which long held the #6 spot on this list. Most importantly, the N950 now supports both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, compared to the K950 which was disappointingly limited to the former. With that in mind, the Samsung HW-N950 is simply one of the best soundbars that we have heard to date – and one of the only soundbars that really delivers a 7.1.4-channel immersive audio experience. The use of wireless rear speakers and a subwoofer, make the N950 easy to install and setup and allow the N950 to deliver object-based audio as the content creators intended, without resorting to psychoacoustic trickery. Read the full review: Samsung HW-N950
Image credit: Philips The Philips Fidelio B5 is an impressive bit of kit, and it's the perfect soundbar for someone who appreciates good cinema sound but has no interest in tearing up their living room to install a 5.1 surround sound system to use only every now and then. The B5 enables you to pick and choose your movie moments, and do it on a whim. And it creates a pretty decent surround sound experience too, using both Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS Digital Surround decoding. The combination of convenience and good audio – the raison d'etre of the soundbar – with its transformative surround sound capabilities makes the Fidelio B5 a great option for the movie fan who can't face all the aggravation of a proper 5.1 installation. Read the full review: Philips Fidelio B5
Image credit: Sonos The Sonos Playbar is a non-HDMI device that uses optical to hook up to a TV. Used simply on its own it delivers a massive sonic boost to your TV listening, but operating it does require using a smartphone or tablet app. The benefit is that it can seamlessly segue in to a Sonos wireless system, and can even act as the front three speakers in a 5.1 setup with two Play:1s acting as rears. Unfortunately although it's optical-only setup will be great for most, it does exclude owners of TVs that lack this connector, which has pushed it a little further down this list. Read the full review: Sonos Playbar
Image credit: Sonos The Sonos Beam is a fantastic soundbar for its price, one that takes full advantage of the Sonos ecosystem and is a joy to use (and set up, if your television has HDMI ARC). Its smaller form factor means it’s a device that will sit comfortably next to a 32-inch TV but it’s got enough of a footprint to not be dwarfed by a much bigger set. The Sonos Beam doesn’t offer earth-shattering bass and the lack of Dolby Atmos support will irk some, but at this price point it'd be more of a surprise if it had been included. The voice control may be Alexa-only for now, but it works well and if you have adopted some of Amazon’s TV toys, it really is worth experimenting with. Read the full review: Sonos Beam
Image credit: Denon With its nine drivers are arranged in trios for left, center and right channels and a virtual surround mode to create the illusion of having more speakers around the room, the HEOS Bar is pretty much whatever you want it to be. Blessed with such a balanced soundscape, the HEOS Bar proved immediately adept with music, and has a consistently warm yet refined sound quality that's all its own. The fact that it lacks the opportunity to tweak the audio settings is not as important as we had feared. Music sounds superb, especially lossless tunes, from which HEOS Bar drags out a lot of detail. However, we did notice on a couple of occasions that the first half-a-second was cut-off songs. Read the full review: Denon HEOS Bar
Image credit: Focal Focal, most known for its excellent sounding speakers (and the recently released Focal Listen headphones), is late to the soundbar space, but its Focal Dimension was worth the wait. The Dimension soundbar is simply gorgeous, with its piano black accents and aluminum unibody construction. At $1,399 (£799, AU$1,699) it's not exactly cheap, but you're paying for excellent build quality, sound and design. Read the full review: Focal Dimension
Image credit: Bose Boasting high-end design, Bose's slim soundbar looks superb, and sounds above average. At 97.9cm wide, it’s best partnered with larger screen sizes (50-inch+) and priced at £599/$700/AU$999, it offers great sound. There are caveats regarding usability and price, but overall it warrants a cautious two thumbs up. It's also worth mentioning that, as this isn’t a 2.1 package, there’s no subwoofer supplied – although Bose will sell you a wireless Acoustimas sub and the ST300 can be partnered with the brand’s Virtually Invisible (i.e. small at 10cm) 300 surround speakers. The system is also compatible with the Bose SoundTouch wireless multiroom system which includes smaller Bluetooth speakers. Read the full review: Bose SoundTouch 300
Image credit: Credit You know, it just didn't feel fair comparing the Creative X-Fi Sonic Carrier to other soundbars on this list. It'd be like comparing jet-skis to yachts. That being said, if you have the deep pockets to afford it, the Creative X-Fi Sonic Carrier is in a different league of soundbars. It features 17 speakers set in an 11.2.4-channel or 15.2-channel configuration that can put out well over 110 dB of sound and supports Dolby Atmos right out of the box. Is $4,000 too much to spend on a soundbar - even one as genuinely awesome as the Creative X-Fi Sonic Carrier? Probably. But is a few grand worth spending to turn your basement or garage into a club / near-cinema-quality home theater? Yeah. It is.
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| The Amazon Echo Spot goes portable with the I-box Vault dock Posted: 11 Mar 2019 09:36 AM PDT With the popularity of the Amazon Echo Spot and Google Home Mini, it can feel as though smart speakers are getting smaller all the time – but that doesn't mean they are getting any more portable. If you've ever bemoaned the fact that you have to keep your smart speaker plugged in at all times, you'll be pleased to know that British tech company I-box has announced the launch of five new portable docks that enable cordless operation of the Amazon Echo (2nd Gen), Echo Dot, Echo Spot and the Google Home Mini.
Perhaps most interesting of the new devices is the I-box Vault, which allows you to use the Echo Spot on the move for up to eight hours. The Vault also promises to improve the sound of the mini screen-equipped smart speaker with 12W speakers and a bass radiator built into the dock. Making the Echo Spot portable also has the added bonus of allowing you to wander around your home as you make video calls, as well as letting you stream music and listen to radio stations outside – so long as you're within Wi-Fi range. As well as the Vault, I-box have also launched the I-box Run and the I-box Release, which work with the latest Amazon Echo Dot. While the Run simply acts as a portable battery base for the Echo Dot, the Release adds 12W stereo speakers and a passive bass radiator, just like the I-box Vault. Both the Run and the Release have a USB charging port, whereas only the Release features an auxiliary audio input to give you another connectivity option when it comes to playing your music.
The Amazon Echo Spot. (Image credit: Amazon) Release your smart speakerIf the larger Amazon Echo (2nd Gen) is your smart speaker of choice, the I-box Surge is the battery base for you; like the Vault, it offers 8 hours of mains-free playback for your Echo. What if you prefer Google? You'll be pleased to know that i-box has also announced the I-box Move, which provides eight hours of portable battery life for your Google Home Mini, giving you access to Google Assistant's smarts on the go. All five of the new docks come with a USB charging port, which means they can double up as an emergency source of battery for a depleted smartphone – handy if you frequently commute long distances. The Release, Surge and Vault are available now priced $77.99 (£59.99 / around AU$110), $49.99 (£39.99 / around $75) and $79.99 (£59.99 / around AU$110) , respectively. The Move and Run will both be available on March 30 for £39.99, with US and Australian pricing to be confirmed. Although I-box is a UK company, the battery bases are available to buy through Amazon or the I-box website, which ships internationally. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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