Apple : Android Q release date, features and rumors |
- Android Q release date, features and rumors
- Want an LG OLED TV in 2019? Be prepared to drop at least $2,500
- The best Samsung Galaxy Watch Active prices and deals in March 2019
- BenQ's three new 4K projectors offer color accuracy at a discount
- UK government criticized over cybersecurity
- Red Dead Redemption 2 PS4 and Xbox One: what to know about RDR2 on consoles
- Red Dead Redemption 2 on PC: will we see a PC release?
- The best cheap Fitbit sale prices and deals in March 2019
- Nvidia may be about to tease a next-gen graphics card
- How to find the right laptop for you
- Red Dead Online: beta, latest news and multiplayer features
- Best Linux web hosting services of 2019
- The best Vodafone deals in March 2019
- PS5: All the games, specs, news, and rumors for Sony’s Playstation 5
- The best O2 phone deals in March 2019
- The best Three mobile deals in March 2019
- Best PS4 games 2019: essential PlayStation 4 releases
- The best EE phone deals in March 2019
- Oppo phone deals are now available on contract from EE
- Best web hosting resellers of 2019
| Android Q release date, features and rumors Posted: 15 Mar 2019 02:46 PM PDT The Android Q release date is a significant step closer today, as Google has launched the first developer beta. Pixel phone owners will be the first that can wave goodbye to last year's Android Pie and say hello to Android 10. You can expect to download Android 10 Q in August, according to Google's official developer beta timeline. That's in case you don't want to install an unfinished beta. You can also expect new Android Q features to debut at Google IO 2019 on May 7 at the company's keynote in Mountain View, California (we'll be there covering it live). Before Google IO, we have a list of early Android Q features we know about already thanks to the ongoing beta, and an idea of when the software will roll out to various smartphones and tablets. Right now, we're mostly answering these questions through historical data and leaks, and we'll know more concrete facts as Google IO 2019 approaches. Cut to the chase
Android Q release date
Google's Android Q developer beta is already here – at least if you own a Pixel phone and are willing to test out an unfinished mobile operating system.
The Android 10 Q release date timeline (Image credit: Google) Google has outlined six stages to its six-month-long beta process, including the initial release, three incremental updates, one update with final APIs and the official SDK, and then two release candidates. That's all before the final version of Android 10. Its monthly updates should give us an official Android Q release date in August, and historically, that's when we've seen the final update launch in past Android versions. But that doesn't mean every Android phone will have Android Q by August. The roll out to other Android phones will happen throughout 2019 and even into 2020 as various manufacturers add their own features and interfaces to the operating system. There's a chance you'll have to wait months after the initial Android Q release before you see the OS update on your device. That long rollout isn't guaranteed, though: Google's Project Treble has been working to make it easier for phonemakers to update to the latest version of Android (and do it faster). Part of that progress has lead Treble to invite more manufacturers to participate in the Android Q beta, one of the project's team leads revealed on a podcast. Android Q featuresWith the public reveal of the first Android Q developer beta, Google officially confirmed a chunk of features coming in the full update. It's unclear if they're all available in the first release or which will be added in a later beta, but at least we know some of what's coming. Of course, Google is keeping some of the fun new features close to the chest. Some of the more newsworthy ones will probably be revealed at Google IO 2019, while others will be unveiled with further beta versions. However, we may have a heads-up on which features to expect from Google's mobile operating update thanks to leaks. But first, here are features that Google confirmed in its Android Developers Blog post.
Foldable supportThe big feature for 2019 is support for "foldables and innovative new screens," as the Android Developers Blog post put it. This is more a feature for developers, with back-end changes that will help make their apps ready for the big, folding screens of the top-tier phones. But at least we know Google's making sure Android is ready for them. System-wide dark modeAndroid Q's first big leak was by the site XDA Developers, which allegedly got a hold of a January 2019 build of the new OS and showed off what might be coming – including an all-system dark mode, which tech expert Owen Williams confirmed was in the first developer beta. Supposedly, you'll be able to toggle it on in Display Settings, and in the main interface, Settings and Files will turn a dark gray. Other parts like the Volume panel, Quick Settings and Notifications turn black to show up against the darker background. Developers will also get an option that seems to force apps without dark modes to switch to the nighttime-friendly color scheme. Privacy, privacy, privacyThe Android Developers Blog post announcing the developer beta confirmed a heavy emphasis on boosting privacy in Android Q. Users will have more control over app access to location info, shared files and repositories like Photos and Videos. Another helpful change: instead of apps automatically switching focus when they have an Activity in the background (like an alarm or call), appmakers and opt to send high-priority notifications first. These might be some of the most onerous changes for developers in Android Q, which is why, as the Android Developers Blog post reads: "We are bringing these changes to you early, so you can have as much time as possible to prepare." Developer tools for apps: system settings, connectivity, media and moreDevelopers will be able to show contextually-important system settings within their apps, which harnesses the 'Slices' feature that came in Android 9 Pie. So instead of having to navigate to Settings to switch on Airplane Mode or toggle Wi-Fi or Mobile Data on/off, say, you'll be able to do that right within your mobile browser. There are also tweaks to connectivity, including 'adaptive Wi-Fi' that enables high performance/low latency modes, which would be useful for things like online gaming or voice calls. Like all the depth and blur in Pixel camera software? In Android Q, apps can request depth data (JPEG + XMP metadata + depth and confidence map) to, say, offer "specialized blurs and bokeh options in your app," as the Android post suggests. "You can even use the data to create 3D images or support AR photography use-cases in the future." Android Q will also support more multimedia codecs: AV1 to let media providers stream high-quality video, Opus for audio encoding, and HDR10+ for high dynamic range video "on devices that support it" – like, say, the Samsung Galaxy S10 family. As for gaming, the Android Q beta enhances support for OpenGL along with bug fixes and more functionality.
More permissionsXDA's leak also revealed a revamp of permissions, from the general to specific. Users can look at a broad overview of which apps they've given permission for certain things – like, say, location or microphone access. There's a search function that lets you filter by permission item, allowing you to quickly see which apps you've given access to your camera, contacts, location and so on. You can also look at permissions each app has been granted and toggle them individually to set whether access is off, on, or only on while the app is open. Developer tools
There are plenty of new developer tools described by the XDA leak, but it's not clear how all of them will function. Freeform windows return, which lets you enable them after pressing and holding an app icon in the recent apps overview. On the other hand, XDA also found a feature called "Game Updates Package Preference" whose purpose is a bit of a mystery. Another, titled "force desktop mode," seems like it would push Android to an external display, Samsung DeX-style. Not all of the UI is finished, either, making some features – like screen recording – not totally comprehensible. Face ID-style authentication for logins and purchasesAnother dive into the developer build XDA Developers acquired revealed the OS might get a feature iOS users have bragged about for awhile: Face ID. The next version of Android might support phones packing the hardware to use facial scans for authentication. It's unclear just how it will work, or if it would combine sensor readings for a comprehensive scan of facial features. But we did get hints via error codes in one of the OS' APK, which variably tell the user to move the phone in different directions for the device to get a better look at their face. Other strings of code found by XDA are also promising, like one that blatantly informs users they can "Use your face to unlock your phone, authorize purchases, or sign in to apps." Whether phones will be able to use Face ID is another story: they need to have the hardware installed – whether that's sensors or the right specs – for the feature to work.
Goodbye back button, hello (only to) gesture controlsWhile recent Android phones from different brands have tried to push their own gesture controls for years, the OS has always kept its static three-button navigation as an option. Those days might be at an end as that XDA preview build showed only gesture controls, per Tom's Guide. From the looks of it, users may only be able to use the navigation system present in the Google Pixel 3: a small pill at the bottom of the screen that you can swipe in the cardinal directions to get around. It's key to note that Android allows brands to develop their own navigation methods and systems to go along with their overlays, so it's very unlikely that this will be the only way to navigate. This build is also a bit out of date, so who knows if something as integral as OS movement would be finalized that far out. Anything else?There were a couple other additional Android 10 odds and ends from that XDA leak, including a pair of new accessibility settings. Both apply to how long notification messages stay up, and seemingly apply to different kinds of notifications. The first are for "messages that ask you to take action," while the other apparently refers to notifications that pop up with simple reminders. You can toggle these to stay up between 30 seconds and 2 minutes. That's all we've seen for now, but new details will surely come up in the coming beta versions, at Google IO 2019 in May and from any leaks in between.
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| Want an LG OLED TV in 2019? Be prepared to drop at least $2,500 Posted: 15 Mar 2019 01:49 PM PDT LG has announced the US pricing and availability of its 2019 OLED TV series including the C9, E9 and W9 OLEDs. The first of these TVs, the 55-inch LG OLED55C9PUA, will be available in April for $2,500 before jutting up in June for the $12,999 77-inch OLED77W9PUA. Here’s a full breakdown of the pricing structure:
Missing from this lineup, you might’ve noticed, is the entry-level B9 OLED and higher-end Rollable OLED TV R - both of which are still in the works, but it seems LG won’t reveal their pricing and release date until later this year. Is this the year to buy an OLED?Let’s be honest, every year is a good year to buy an OLED if you can afford it. That said, this year’s crop of TVs mirror the pricing we saw last year. That probably means the new models will be relatively expensive if you buy one in April, May or June, but will come down in price toward Black Friday and next year’s Super Bowl. If you can hold out until then, or at least until the B9 OLED comes out sometime in June or July, you could stand to save yourself some money. As far as the comparison between this year’s crop of OLEDs and last year’s goes, LG has been keen to hype the second-gen Alpha A9 processor that offers a multi-step upscaling process for noise reduction, as well as its support of both major personal assistants, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, on this year’s OLEDs. You’ll also find HDMI 2.1 instead of standard HDMI 2.0 ports, which allow you play 4K high frame rate content (4K HFR) with variable refresh rate (VRR) and uses enhanced audio return channel (eARC). That said, if your only concern is picture performance, last year’s comparable LG C8 OLED remains one of the best TVs in 2019 and can now be had for under $1,800, so you can’t go wrong either way.
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| The best Samsung Galaxy Watch Active prices and deals in March 2019 Posted: 15 Mar 2019 01:10 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.
Samsung Galaxy Watch pricesThe 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. You 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 |
| BenQ's three new 4K projectors offer color accuracy at a discount Posted: 15 Mar 2019 11:21 AM PDT BenQ has announced the launch of three new 4K projectors that promise to deliver high color accuracy without breaking the bank. The new models comprise the W5700, W2700 and W1720, which are set to cost around $3300 (£2500 / AU$4000), $1900 (£1500 / AU$2500) and $1300 (£1000 / AU$1800) respectively – not bad for high-spec 4K projectors. However, pricing is still to be confirmed in the US and UK for all three of the models, while Australian pricing for the W5700 and W2700 has already been verified by BenQ.
All three of the new projectors support 4K, and as such, come with a UHD lamp. They also come fully calibrated straight out the box, which means you can start enjoying your 4K movies without messing around with the settings. Super accurate colorThe main calling card of these projectors is their high color accuracy, something that BenQ found was very important to filmmakers when it began the research process for the new models. In a presentation, a spokesperson for the company told us that the company had to make a choice between "favored" and "faithful" color representation – in other words, a choice between highly saturated colors and the colors that the filmmakers intended the viewer to experience. In the end, BenQ opted for the latter, and claims that the W2700 and W5700 models are the first "4K home theater DLP projectors featuring DCI-P3 color." In short, DCI-P3 is the cinematic industry's film projection standard, which covers over 20% more "color space" than the previous standard, sRGB.
The back of the W2700 This, in tandem with BenQ's own CinematicColor technology, means that the W2700 can cover 95% of the color standard, while the W5700 covers the full 100%. In layman's terms, this means colors should look fantastic when you're watching films with these new projectors. As well as that, the W2700 supports a brightness of 2000 lumens and 30,000:1 contrast ratio, while the beefier W5700 puts out 1800 lumens and sports a 100,000:1 contrast ratio. This means that you films should look great, even if you can't watch your films in total darkness; that alongside the factory calibration makes these new projectors fantastic for people who don't want to spend too long setting up. While they share some similarities, the W2700 and W5700 have been designed to suit different scenarios. Created for easy home viewing, the W2700 has a modern, light design that will fit into most living rooms unobtrusively, and features two built in 5W speakers in a 2:1 stereo configuration. 4K viewing on a budgetThe W5700 however, is designed to be used in a dedicated home cinema room, and features a matte black design so that it doesn't detract from the viewing experience in the dark. Finally, we have the cheapest of the new projectors, the W1720, which builds on the success of its predecessor, the W1700. Thanks to a short throw feature, it can beam a huge 100-inch image from just over 3 meters away, and have a 2000-lumen peak brightness, and 10:000:1 contrast ratio. If it's anything like the W1700, this latest model could represent fantastic value for money, but only time will tell – all three of the new projectors are set to go on sale at the end of March / beginning of April.
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| UK government criticized over cybersecurity Posted: 15 Mar 2019 11:13 AM PDT The UK government has made several missteps in its plan to protect the country's critical infrastructure from cyberattacks according to a recent assessment conducted by the National Audit Office (NAO). In our increasingly digital world, the government has grown worried that its critical infrastructure will be targeted by foreign states looking to disrupt daily life. The National Cyber Security Programme is set to be funded until 2021 and so far one of its most successful projects has been the establishment of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).
The UK government's strategy to keep the country safe in the wake of constant cyberattacks involves 12 “strategic outcomes” that cover a number of areas such as understanding, investigating and disrupting threats, defending against evolving cyberattacks, managing and responding effectively, securing government networks and developing cyber skills in the UK. Complex challengeAccording to the NAO, delivering on its strategy was a “complex challenge” and the government was still unsure as to whether it should concentrate efforts to “make the biggest impact or address the greatest need”. The report's section on protecting power plants and hospitals was marked “red” indicating that fewer than 80 percent of its projects to defend these potential targets would be completed on time. These key targets are currently being “actively defended” but since the methods to measure success are still being developed, it has been difficult to gauge their effectiveness. The government has “low confidence” for half of its strategic plans but this is still an improvement on the “very low confidence” these topics were given late last year. The NAO report did highlight the success of the NCSC and its creation of a tool used to block 54.5m fake emails between 2017 and 2018. Via The BBC
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| Red Dead Redemption 2 PS4 and Xbox One: what to know about RDR2 on consoles Posted: 15 Mar 2019 10:58 AM PDT Red Dead Redemption 2 on PS4 and Xbox One released in October last year to overwhelmingly positive reviews, with some even dubbing the western adventure the best console game of 2018. The sequel to one of the Xbox 360 and PS3's best games is gigantic, gun-toting open-world romp through the Wild West which pits you against rival gangs, authority figures and the elements of a brutal world. And while we've only seen Red Dead Redemption 2 on console so far, it looks like a RDR2 PC port could be in the works (if Rockstar isn't too busy focusing on the Red Dead Online beta). So, are you ready to saddle up and ride out on Rockstar's latest western adventure? Here's what you need to know before you hit the dusty trail of Red Dead Redemption 2 on PS4 and Xbox One. Cut to the chase
Red Dead Redemption 2 console FAQsWhen can you play Red Dead Redemption 2 on console? Right now! Red Dead Redemption 2 is available on PS4 and Xbox One. How much did Red Dead Redemption 2 on console make during opening weekend? According to Forbes, Red Dead Redemption 2 on console had a record-setting $725 million launch weekend -making it the second biggest earning opening weekend for a game (second only to GTA V). Is Red Dead Redemption 2 coming to PC? It looks likely that we will see Red Dead Redemption 2 on PC, however Rockstar Games has not officially confirmed if or when this will happen. Red Dead Redemption 2 console reviewsWe didn't had enough time with Red Dead Redemption 2 on console to give it the comprehensive TechRadar review treatment, however we've rounded up the verdicts of those who have below: David Meikelham - * * * * * - Just how good is Red Dead Redemption 2? Over the past few years, I’d argue the only games that deserve to be considered at this same ultra elite level are GTA 5, Metal Gear Solid 5, and The Witcher 3. This is a stone cold 5/5 classic that combines brilliant writing – Rockstar’s Houser brothers deliver another affecting, scythe-sharp script – amazing tech, and one of the most boldly structured plots to ever grace a triple-A title. The story is so well told, you’ll emotionally invest more in a horse during one crucial scene than you did even for Kratos in this year’s stellar God of War revival. If you only buy one game this year, it absolutely has to be this wondrous Wild West quest. Kirk Hamilton - (No score, but incredibly positive review) This game has heart; the kind of heart that is difficult to pin down but impossible to deny. It is a wonderful story about terrible people, and a vivacious, tremendously sad tribute to nature itself. There is so much beauty and joy in this expensive, exhausting thing. Somehow that makes it even more perfect – a breathtaking eulogy for a ruined world, created by, about, and for a society that ruined it. Keza McDonald - * * * * * - There can be no doubt that this is a landmark game. It is a new high water-mark for lifelike video game worlds, certainly, but that world is also home to a narrative portrait of the wild west that is unexpectedly sombre and not afraid to take its time. With very few exceptions, the many stories that Rockstar’s writers have set out to tell about this group of outlaws land perfectly, the enjoyable twists and turns of individual missions and chapters feeding into an exciting, sophisticated and absorbing larger narrative – and the stories that you discover yourself within its world are no less compelling. Luke Reilly - 10/10 - Set in Rockstar’s most authentic and lived-in open world ever, there are so many things to do, so many people to meet, and so many places to explore it’s giddily overwhelming. Red Dead Redemption 2 isn’t just Rockstar’s greatest achievement to date; it’s a game so lacking in compromise it’s tough to know where best to start discussing it.
Matt Bertz - 10/10 - Rockstar Games has outdone itself again with Red Dead Redemption II. The up-close portrayal of the outlaw Van der Linde gang’s unraveling is a compelling companion story that blends seamlessly with the original game, and depth and breadth of the open world is a technical triumph that every gamer should experience. Martin Robinson - Recommended It's been eight years since the last Red Dead Redemption, and five since the release of Grand Theft Auto 5 - time that you can see and feel in every delicately crafted inch of a game of this scope and scale, yet time in which we've been spoilt by the likes of The Witcher 3 and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Rockstar's writers can't quite match the humanity and purpose of the former, nor can its designers match the integrity of the latter. It offers something else besides, though: a richness, detail and technical prowess that is breathtaking, and peerless. Is this Rockstar's greatest game, a new masterpiece alongside the original? There are one too many caveats, and one too many flaws at its heart, to leave me totally convinced. Is this its richest, most beautiful open world? Of that there's not a single doubt. Kallie Plagge - 9 out 10 - While Red Dead Redemption was mostly focused on John Marston's story, Red Dead 2 is about the entire Van der Linde gang--as a community, as an idea, and as the death rattle of the Wild West. It is about Arthur, too, but as the lens through which you view the gang, his very personal, very messy story supports a larger tale. Some frustrating systems and a predictable mission structure end up serving that story well, though it does take patience to get through them and understand why. Red Dead Redemption 2 is an excellent prequel, but it's also an emotional, thought-provoking story in its own right, and it's a world that is hard to leave when it's done.
Red Dead Redemption 2 console release dateRed Dead Redemption 2 is out now for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. But what about a PC version? So far, there's been no official word from Rockstar on a Red Dead Redemption 2 PC outing, with only the console versions so far announced. However, we saw a similar story with the release of Grand Theft Auto V. A roaring success on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, it was several years before it made the jump to the PC, and eventually even crossed console generations with a remastered version of the game turning up on PS4 and Xbox One. Could it be a similar story for Red Dead 2? It's looking likely – the LinkedIn profile of a programmer with previous experience at RockStar shows that the employee has been working on the game from a PC standpoint, with the profile verified by several sources. We'd say a PC version is incredibly likely at some point: indeed, a retail listing has leaked out early suggesting a 2019 PC launch is on the cards. Meanwhile, Red Dead Online is currently in beta testing on PS4 and Xbox One.
Red Dead Redemption 2 console guidesWe've put together a collection of Red Dead Redemption 2 guides to help you on your journey, covering everything from the best weapons to the best hidden Easter Eggs. Check them out below:
Red Dead Redemption 2 console featuresIt's a'65-hour' game with a 2,000-page script In an interview with Vulture, Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser estimated that Red Dead Redemption 2 will take player 65 hours to finish. In addition, Houser revealed the title spans 2,000 pages of script, makes use of 300,000 animations and 500,000 lines of dialogue, and Rockstar employed 1,200 actors for motion-capture work – 700 of whom also recorded dialogue. Interactions are deeper You can now interact with citizens in a way you couldn't before. From calling out to fellow riders to talking your way out of trouble with the sheriff, your actions have consequences. It's up to you whether you choose to escalate or diffuse volatile situations, but negative actions could result in making enemies. Camp life is important Due to the Van Der Linde gang not being the friendliest neighbors, you'll often be forced out of an area and have to set up camp somewhere new. Camp serves as your gang's base, it's where you eat, sleep, play games, and perform chores. You need to pull your weight, fetching food and supplies to keep morale high. You can also take part in activities for fellow gang members which improve your relationship with them. Variety of terrain With the open world deeper than ever before, there are plenty of different regions for you to explore including sprawling forests, scorching deserts, bustling cities, sheer mountains and mucky swamps. These areas are inhabited by appropriate wildlife, with alligators roaming the swamps and eagles circling mountain tops. Weapons are more realistic and unique Each weapon has a unique characteristic and is valuable in different situations. You can customize each weapon down to the material used to craft the weapon and what type of ammunition each gun holds. You also need to keep your weapons maintained, but if you use the same weapon long enough you'll become more efficient and effective with it. Before heading into combat, you need to stock up on the right weapons - your mobile arsenal will be carried around by your horse but you can only hold so many weapons at one time. Choices include the Cattleman Revolver and Springfield Rifle, as well as the more potent Sawed-off Shotgun and Volcanic Pistol that you'll need for close quarters combat. For hunting, you'll want to use the Varmint Rifle to keep hides free from big bullet holes, and the Double-Action Revolver makes a good riding companion due to its quick firing speeds. Speaking of quick firing speeds, Dead Eye mode is back and more brutal than ever.
Befriending your horse is beneficial As you progress, your relationship with your valiant steed will blossom. The stronger the bond, the easier the horse is to control. There are also a wider variety of horses than before, with each horse having a specific purpose (such as racing). There's a new protagonist John Marston is no more. Red Dead Redemption 2 brings players a brand new protagonist called Arthur Morgan and the game will follow this outlaw and the Van der Linde gang as they rob and fight their way across America. That doesn't mean that John is entirely absent. From trailer number three we've learnt that John is in the game, although how major a player he's going to be we're yet to see. Dutch is back The main antagonist from Red Dead Redemption showed his face in this game's second trailer which confirms he'll be back. Whether or not he'll be the same antagonistic force is unclear but we think it's highly unlikely he's going to be a force for good. There's mention of "the sons of Dutch" in the third trailer, and while this is more than likely a reference to the familial nature of the Van Der Linde gang, is there a possibility Arthur Morgan could be Dutch's progeny?
It has single player right now but multiplayer is on the way As you'd expect of a Rockstar game, Red Dead Redemption 2's vast open game world is the backdrop to a thrilling single-player campaign. Though the first game followed the story of one man, that's not the the case with Red Dead Redemption 2. One similarity we do know Red Dead Redemption 2 will have to Grand Theft Auto 5 is its huge online multiplayer world. On the game's website, Rockstar has stated that the world of the single player campaign will "also provide the foundation for a brand new online multiplayer experience." Considering Grand Theft Auto 5's online world is still growing and thriving 4 years after the game's initial release this is an exciting prospect. We imagine the cooperative missions that involve heists, races, gangs and money making will transfer neatly over to the Wild West world of Red Dead Redemption 2. Red Dead Redemption 2 PS4 dealsHere are the best deals for Red Dead Redemption 2 on PlayStation 4: Red Dead Redemption 2 Xbox One dealsHere are the best deals for Red Dead Redemption 2 on Xbox One: (Image credits: Rockstar Games)
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| Red Dead Redemption 2 on PC: will we see a PC release? Posted: 15 Mar 2019 09:52 AM PDT Will we ever see Red Dead Redemption 2 on PC? Rockstar's open-world Western game Red Dead Redemption 2 launched on console to huge acclaim last October, with Red Dead Online now in beta alongside the epic-sized single-player campaign. So far, however, the game is only available on Xbox One and PS4. While that's not exactly a restrictive release, committed PC players have been left twiddling their thumbs in the vague hope of a Red Dead Redemption 2 PC port coming down the line. Players hungry for a high-spec or 4K experience can opt to play the game on the PS4 Pro or Xbox One X, but there's nothing quite like a souped-up PC rig to bring out the finer details and see what Rockstar's game engine can really do. So if you don't have a console from Sony or Microsoft, what are your prospects for getting Red Dead Redemption 2 on PC any time soon? We've run through all the latest rumors pointing to a PC release, and made our best guess as to when we'd expect it to land.
Will we see Red Dead Redemption 2 on PC?Rumors kicked off in mid-October about a possible Red Dead Redemption 2 PC release, after the online retailer MediaMarkt listed a PC version of the game on its website, with a placeholder date of December 31, 2019. The listing has since been pulled, however. Things heated up again after a LinkedIn profile for a Rockstar employee appeared to list credits as a programmer on the PC version of the game – though this, again, was amended after the media attention that attracted. The firmest clues we have appeared when Rockstar released a mobile / tablet companion app alongside the new Red Dead game, mainly as a hub for viewing in-game stats, journal entries, and map locations (see image below).
Red Dead Redemption 2 companion app Some savvy data-mining, though, contained references to PC-quality graphics settings – shadow quality, grass rendering, and the like – as well as lines explicitly naming PC, such as 'PARAM_companionAutoConnectIpPC' or 'CommandIsPcVersion(void)'. You can see the full list on Rockstar Intel. There's also a reference to 'Oculus', which can only really refer to VR capability for the game. Given the option to play the entire game in an immersive first-person perspective, virtual reality would be a natural fit – and Red Dead 2 VR would be most at home on a dedicated Oculus or PC-bound headset.
Red Dead Redemption 2: ripe for VR? Red Dead Redemption 2 on PC: release dateSo when could we see Red Dead Redemption 2 on PC? At this point Rockstar is unlikely to make an announcement anytime soon, as the studio seems to be focusing on Red Dead Online. While 2010's Red Dead Redemption never came to PC, previous Rockstar games like GTA IV or GTA V both took around six months to make the jump to PC after their initial console launch. So that means we could be looking at an April/May 2019 launch date this time around. Given the scale of the the open-world game, it's not wholly surprising for a PC port to follow a few months after – it takes a lot of work to get the game running on different systems. But the longer PC gamers have to wait, the less likely they are to maintain their anticipation. (Image credits: Rockstar Games)
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| The best cheap Fitbit sale prices and deals in March 2019 Posted: 15 Mar 2019 09:51 AM PDT Cheap Fitbit sale prices can save you a lot of money at this time of year as the number one name in fitness trackers are a popular pick to keep you inspired to nail those New Year Resolution fitness goals (it's not too late!). The competition in the fitness tracker world is ever-growing, which is actually good news for lower Fitbit prices as the brand has to push hard to remain competitive in price. And with each fresh iteration of its fitness trackers or smart watches we see further improvements, showing that corners aren't being cut to keep prices down either. New versions usually mean cheaper Fitbit prices on older models too, so there's always a bargain to be had somewhere. This guide to the best cheapest Fitbit deals takes a look at the models still readily available and compares prices at a wide range of retailers. So if the newer ones are looking a bit pricey for your needs, keep scrolling down, and we're sure we'll be able to find you something.
The Fitbit Inspire looks set to eventually replace the Fitbit Alta as a fantastic entry-level fitness tracker that's not too light on features (yes, we're talking abut you, Fitbit Flex 2). The new Inspire is priced similarly to the Alta yet has a bigger screen. It's a proper touchscreen too, instead of the less user-friendly tapscreen on the Alta. There's a new button on the side to act as a 'Back' button in the menus, so navigation of the trackers features are much easier to cycle through. The Fitbit Inspire is better in the wet and can actually be worn while swimming too rather than just being splash and rain-resistant. The casing around the face is now plastic, rather than aluminium, but this makes for a more comfortable wear on the wrist and it's a touch lighter. All in all, while we're seeing the Inspire priced at a similar level to the older Alta, the Inspire is the clear winner.
Like the Fitbit Inspire mentioned earlier, the Fitbit Inspire HR looks set to replace our previous budget-friendly option in the Alta HR. As the name suggests, the main difference between this and the other Inspire model is the inclusion of a heart-rate monitor. It's not a lot of extra money to spend on the feature in all honesty and can be useful in tracking your fitness levels. If that's a feature you could live without though, because you're very aware of your your heart-rate because you can hear it thundering between your ears when running up that hill, then you may as well save yourself some money. The screen on the HR is ever so slightly bigger if you're looking for the right nudge to opt for the upgrade though.
The Fitbit Charge 3 is a marked improvement over the still-impressive Charge 2. The thinner design with softer angles on all sides make it a more comfortable wear. There's a proper touchscreen this time too rather than a tap-to-cycle one. The Charge 3 is waterproof up to 50m, meaning it's absolutely fine to wear while swimming and it has tracking features to use while you do. Add in a heart-rate tracker, multiple apps for loads of different sports and a seven-day charge time (two days longer than before) and the Fitbit Charge 3 prices start to look like excellent value for money. The prices below are for the standard version, if you want to see the special edition version with its woven or silicon straps and Fitbit pay functionality we've rounded up the prices for that one on this guide for every edition of the Fitbit Charge 3.
While the official MSRP/RRP of the new Fitbit Versa Lite is quite a bit less than the starting price of the more feature-rich original Fitbit Versa we've found that the later if often available for a very similar price to the Lite. In these situations is just makes much more sense to go for the full-fat version. However, prices will drop eventually and that's when you should consider the Lite if you don't need the full suite of features. We absolutely love the blue and magenta versions the Lite is available in too. As for features, you get connected GPS via your phone, water resistance up to 50m and a range of fitness apps. However, compared to the regular Versa, you don't get Wi-Fi, onscreen workouts, floor/swimming lap tracking or music storage. So take a look at the latest prices and compare them with the regular Versa if these are features you'd want.
While its feature set isn’t quite on par with that of its bigger brother the Ionic, the Fitbit Versa feels like the same watch but with a lighter and friendlier design and a much lower price point. It brings a clear, bright and beautiful screen, a new and improved heart rate sensor that will apparently be updated with even smarter functionality via a firmware update, smart notifications, contactless payment capabilities, and all the features Fitbit users will have come to know and love.
The Fitbit Alta is a fetching, form-fitting fitness tracker that looks more like a bracelet. But don't let its looks fool you too much. Underneath, it packs in the same Fitbit smarts, like step, exercise and sleep tracking functionalities. To top it off, the battery life is astoundingly good. The display, while quite small offers much more feedback than the LED lights of the cheaper Fitbit Flex 2. For us, this is the best cheap Fitbit option if you don't want to spend a lot on one. The Flex 2 is just too basic on its own.
The Fitbit Alta HR takes the fetching formula of the original and adds heart rate monitoring into the mix. During use, we found it to be surprisingly accurate and the OLED display shows the metrics in a simple, easy-to-read fashion. Much of this package is also available on the Alta, like the usual Fitbit smarts, including step, exercise and sleep tracking functionalities. To top it off, the battery life is astoundingly good. Opt for this model if heart rate-based exercise is important to you. It's mostly the same as the original Alta, but the added functionality for not much extra cash down is a good thing in our book.
The Fitbit Ace is aimed at the kids' market, or more likely, fitness-conscious parents. Thankfully, Fitbit hasn't gone too far down the targeted design route and the Fitbit Ace actually looks very similar to the design of the Fitbit Alta rather than opting for zany colours or ugly armour casing. The Fitbit Ace fitness apps inside have been simplified a little though to make it much more child-friendly and there are star badges to 'gamify' exercise a bit more and give them incentives to be more active. There's a decent level of waterproofing too as the Ace will withstand splashes, rain and even showers - although it won't stand for being submerged in the bath or the swimming pool. The smaller wrist-strap can be a better fit for smaller children too. If your child is a bit older, tech-savvy or growing fast, it may be worth skipping the Fitbit Ace and looking at the regular Fitbit Alta as we find it's generally cheaper nowadays, although it's only water-resistant against mild splashes and rain.
Fitbit Charge 2, another modern spin on a Fitbit classic, is packed with improvements and thoughtful tweaks over the original to make it worth your consideration. First off, the screen has been blown out to display even more information than before, including smartphone notifications – even if the feature is a bit limited. In addition, the Charge 2 features multi-sport tracking through the comprehensive Fitbit app that we know and love. This Fitbit isn't the cheapest model out there, but if it's multi-sport tracking data and on-screen information you seek, the Charge 2 will fit the bill. Better yet, with the Charge 3 out as well now, prices will start to fall on this version.
If the Apple Watch and Android Wear (and now the Fitbit Ionic) smartwatches have caught your eye, but you don't want to sacrifice fitness know-how (or hundreds of dollars), the Fitbit Blaze may be the wearable for you. It boasts a vibrant display that showcases fitness metrics and a healthy share of smartphone notifications. This is one of the most versatile Fitbits that you can purchase at the moment. This model is splashproof, but not waterproof. But, the Fitbit Charge is much smarter than most and is one to consider if being connected is important to you. Connected GPS allows you to track run routes if you have your phone with you too.
The Fitbit Ionic marked Fitbit's move deeper into smartwatch territory. It combines the best Fitbit goal-tracking software with all of the major features of a smartwatch, and it's a little cheaper than an Apple Watch. Plus, it works with both iOS and Android. The built-in GPS technology also means you don't have to take your smartphone out with you to track a route on a run either. You can also upload music to the device and pair it with some wireless headphones for tunes on the go.
Another of Fitbit's wearables is an update to one of its oldest: the Fitbit Flex. The latest Fitbit Flex 2 doesn't do a whole lot to change the familiar look, but the innards have been refreshed to make this the one worth buying over the original. It's smaller, more fashionable, and most importantly, it's water-resistant, which was a first for Fitbit at the time. The lack of a screen might be a bother for some, but if you can adjust, this fitness tracker compensates by being remarkably low-profile. You don't even need to take it off before you hop in the shower. If a no-fuss tracker is on your list, this is your match. We'd give some serious though to spending a bit more and going for one of te alta models mentioned above though instead as the addition of a screen makes things much easier.
If you're someone who works out a ton, you'll want to know about the Fitbit Surge. Competing against Garmin's high-end trackers, the Surge is Fitbit's most robust offering, packing in a long 7-day battery inside, along with a GPS sensor that can track your run or walk for up to 10 consecutive hours. It costs more than many other wearables in the Fitbit range, but it is generally better value than most smartwatches boasting similar specs. The inclusion of GPS, its splashproof design and a battery that can last up to 7 days makes it a smart option for workout enthusiasts. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Nvidia may be about to tease a next-gen graphics card Posted: 15 Mar 2019 09:50 AM PDT Nvidia has been rolling out graphics cards non-stop, with a six total Turing RTX and GTX models now, and the company may be about to tease next-generation GPU technology. Nvidia will reportedly debut its 7nm Ampere GPU architecture during the keynote at its GPU Technology Conference on March 18, according to the latest report from TweakTown. Before you get excited (or angry) about Team Green introducing even more gaming parts, the new GPU architecture will supposedly succeed Volta as Nvidia’s engine for high-performance computing, digital learning and artificial intelligence. Following the launch of the Radeon VII, AMD’s first 7nm graphics card, earlier this February, now would be the perfect time for Nvidia to answer in kind with its own 7nm architecture. There have also been rumors that suggest Nvidia has tapped Samsung to create 7nm transistors using its extreme ultraviolet lithography process.
If Ampere is real and it truly features a 7nm architecture, it should inform the design and features of Nvidia’s next GeForce series. Tensor cores and GDDR6 memory that first appeared on Volta-based GPUs eventually trickled down to Turing, and we suspect that pattern will repeat itself. However, while the timing would make sense, we remain skeptical about these rumors. For one thing, TweakTown’s sources have a hit rate hovering close to 25%. Just looking at Turing’s launch, the publication was incorrect about it being the 11-series, and posted multiple announcement dates that proved to be wrong; that said, the publication was one of the first to rightly call the Turing name. We’ll soon know whether any of this is true, so stay tuned as we’ll be bringing you all the important news GTC 2019, as well as the Games Developer Conference happening all next week.
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| How to find the right laptop for you Posted: 15 Mar 2019 09:45 AM PDT There are so many variations on the types of laptop these days, there really is something for everyone. So the first step is to determine what you really need. Is this a laptop for work, for gaming, for browsing, for kids, or for a little bit of everything? The basic factors you need to take into account are storage, speed, portability and – of course – battery life. The first, storage, comes down to a difference between HDD (hard disk drive) and SSD (solid state drives). The former is the older style, which is slower and more power intensive. The latter is faster, smaller and more battery friendly. An SSD is what you'll find on most modern laptops meaning you'll see the speed and performance increase immediately when you upgrade from the older style. Speed isn't just affected by that drive though so you'll need to take into account how much you want to spend on the processor and RAM, which both affect performance. If you're upgrading, you'll likely see an increase, even with a base level machine, but if you need more juice simply upgrade your power. The result should be faster load times and smoother use even when multitasking. All this now comes in far slimmer and lighter form factors too. The more you spend the more portable the laptop will be, generally. Spend a little more for a premium metal and glass finish that's reassuringly solid in the hand. If battery life is your main concern then you can focus on the most efficient processors, smaller screen and largest battery combination to get what you need. So which is the best laptop for you? There are three categories that you should look into to find your future laptop. Lots of these are found on AO.com where all the above factors are super-charged, meaning you get the latest and greatest when you buy your new laptop. Powerhouse laptops
If you need lots of raw power, for video editing, image manipulation, gaming or intense multi-tasking, then you'll need a powerhouse. These generally come with the latest Intel Core i5 or i7 processors, the latter being the more powerful of the two. That means multi-threading of processes for the most power efficient as well as high-speed performance. The Asus Zenbook S, for example, offers the latest quad-core 8th gen Intel Core i7 processor running up to 4.6 Ghz and backed by a whopping 8GB of RAM – plenty to handle most tasks you throw at it. Alternatively you can go for a more flexible machine, literally, with the Lenovo Yoga C930 which folds back on itself to act like a tablet. This still churns out the power with an Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM.
Image credit: HP This is where the portability combined with power is a nice balance which the HP Envy 13 manages, offering a lightweight build, Intel Core i5 processor and 16GB of RAM plus 512GB of storage. Or go for the Acer Swift 5 for 8th gen Intel Core i5 performance backed with 8GB of RAM and an ultra-lightweight portable build – all without costing you too much. Premium laptops
Image credit: Microsoft It's now possible to get high-end specs and quality build but without blowing your budget entirely. Premium laptops like the Microsoft Surface Go with Platinum Keyboard offer a high-end experience without the top-end price. This tablet with keyboard gives you the best of the tablet experience with all the powerhouse features of a laptop, at a sub-£500 price. A Full HD display, 9-hour battery, Intel Pentium Gold processor and 4GB of RAM make this a perfect portable partner. The HP Pavilion 15 is a classically designed laptop that crams in a 10-hour battery life, massive 1TB hard drive and AMD Ryzen 5 CPU with 8GB of RAM for a decent price. This proves you really don't have to blow the budget to get enough power to do what you need. Other options include the Acer Swift 3 for 8th gen Intel Core i3 performance with 256GB of storage and portability on a budget, or the Lenovo 330s for 8GB of RAM with 16GB of Optane memory backed up an 8th Gen Intel Core i5. Everyday laptops
Image credit: Acer If you don't want to spend too much, may not always need loads of power, but like to have enough to make sure you're covered should that need arise, then an everyday laptop is your best bet. This will cover you for decent battery life and portability while keeping the price down yet still offering a processor and RAM combination to handle most tasks. The Lenovo IdeaPad 330s is a good example of this combination of features as it offers a top-end 8th gen Intel Core i5 processor with 8GB of RAM plus 128GB storage and a wallet-friendly price. Or save more with the Acer Aspire 3 which still offers an AMD A6 with 4GB of RAM and 4GB of RAM plus a hefty 256GB of storage at nearly half the price. Or find a sweet spot in the middle with the HP 14, which deals out a 7th gen Intel Core i3 but which is backed by a hefty 8GB of RAM and pushes the battery to an impressive 12 hour life – all without blowing your budget. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Red Dead Online: beta, latest news and multiplayer features Posted: 15 Mar 2019 09:34 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 last year and was all anyone could talk about for months on end. While you might have expected an online mode to be live from the game's successful 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: The latest Red Dead Online beta update adds Spoils of War team-based capture-style mode.] Cut to the chase
Red 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 latest update to the Red Dead Online beta adds: Spoils of War A team-based capture-style mode for 2-16 players, and the latest addition to the Showdown Series of competitive matches. Extra Showdown XP All Showdown Modes are also delivering 20% XP this week in addition to a bonus of 8x Dynamite Arrows for the first Spoils of War match win. Rare 'Limited Stock' Items
Red Dead Online featuresNew 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
Player 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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| Best Linux web hosting services of 2019 Posted: 15 Mar 2019 09:25 AM PDT Linux hosting is everywhere. Whether you're looking for a simple shared website hosting account or a powerful dedicated server, the chances are that you'll be offered a Linux-based option first. In many cases, you might not care. If your hosting needs are simple, you'll probably choose an account based on the allocated web space, bandwidth and similar features – the operating system is so far down most people's priority list that often it's not even mentioned in comparison tables. But if you're an experienced user, know more about Linux, or you perhaps need to build a technically complex website where you have full control over everything, it's a different story. You might want to choose your preferred distro or control panel. You could need more control over the server and its components. Hosts may throw in all kinds of goodies to get you started – a firewall, mail server, private DNS – and offer quality support to keep your site up and running. Every web host has its own idea of what makes a great Linux package, but we've listed five of our favorite providers to point you in the right direction. Keep reading to find out more.
InMotion Hosting is a professional Linux web host which delivers high levels of power and control right across its range. InMotion's shared hosting includes many beginner-friendly features, for example – free website migration, a bundled website builder, regular backups – but that's just the start. More experienced users will be happy to see support for MySQL and PostreSQL databases, PHP 7, Ruby, Perl and Python, SSH access and more. There are interesting touches wherever you look. You don't just get the option to have WordPress, PrestaShop or Joomla preinstalled, for instance – InMotion throws in WP-CLI to enable managing multiple WordPress installations from the command line. It's a far more capable product than you might expect, considering prices start at $5.99 (£4.30) a month for the two-year plan. It's a similar story as you upgrade. Optional self-managed VPS hosting – from $19.99 (£14.30) a month for the initial term – gives you a choice of OS and a firewall, but after that, you're able to install, optimize and configure the server however you like. Even InMotion's managed VPS hosting still gives you root access for considerable low-level control. For the operating system, you get to choose from CentOS, Ubuntu or Debian. If you encounter some setup issues, the Launch Assist feature gives you a minimum of two hours with an InMotion tech support person to help you solve any problems.
Every Linux host claims to offer the best possible technical support, but separating the experts from the pretenders isn't always easy. One way to identify the most knowledgeable providers is to check their high-end products. You won't get the same level of support if you're buying a basic shared hosting package, but just knowing that level of expertise is available somewhere in the company can be useful. SiteGround is a great example. If the company's standard hosting products aren't enough, it can build enterprise-level solutions from scratch, and SiteGround's website lists some of the technologies it supports: custom private clouds, smart use of Linux containers, replication between databases, and in-depth expertise in WordPress, Drupal, Nginx, Apache, PHP, MySQL, MongoDB, ElasticSearch, Redis, Solr, Memcached and more. This is clearly a provider that knows what it's doing. Home users won't get the same level of support, of course, but even SiteGround's shared hosting plan delivers more than you might expect: free Let's Encrypt SSLs, cPanel and SSH access, Cloudflare integration, unlimited emails and databases, HTTP/2-enabled servers, free daily backups, and 24/7 technical support by phone, chat and a ticket system. Not bad at $3.65 (£2.95) a month plus tax for the initial term, $11.7 (£8.95) afterwards. Ramping up to a VPS-like Cloud Hosting plan gets you a very well-specified CentOS system. MySQL 5, PostgreSQL, 5 PHP versions, HHVM, Apache, Nginx, Exim mail server, a private DNS server setup and Iptables firewall are all preinstalled and managed by SiteGround. Prices start at $67.20 (£48) a month plus tax. Opt for a dedicated server and you'll get high-end extras like Git integration and performance-boosting Nginx-based cache options for WordPress, Memcached and HHVM. You probably won't want all these features – maybe you only need a few – but they do provide a strong indicator of the company's technical expertise. If you're looking for a provider that can support your site and help it grow, SiteGround could be a wise choice.
Linux hosting is available from just about everyone, but anything less than a dedicated server is often fully managed by the provider (they set up, manage and maintain the OS and all its components for you). That's great for beginners, but more experienced users might be frustrated by the lack of features and control. Hostwinds' unmanaged VPS packages allow you to take complete charge of your workspace. You can choose from a range of operating systems, including CentOS, Ubuntu, openSUSE, Debian and Fedora. You can tweak and set up the operating system however you like, configure your own backup scheme, and more. Unmanaged packages bring responsibilities, too. If there's a missing update or some mystery software issue, you'll be the one who has to fix it. But that shouldn't be too intimidating for Linux users, and many elements of Hostwinds' packages remain simple and easy-to-use (site management via cPanel, automated WordPress and other installs via Softaculous, and so on). Even better, as you're not paying for management, Hostwinds gives you a 50% discount on every package. Normal managed Linux VPS packages range from $10.99 (£8.5) for 1 CPU core, 1GB RAM, 30GB disk space, 1TB traffic, up to $526.99 (£404) for 16 cores, 96GB RAM, 750GB disk space, 9TB traffic – but the unmanaged range runs from $4.99 (£3.60) to $328.99 (£249.50) - currently there is a 53% discount on managed packages and 10% for unmanaged. There's no long-term contract required, so you can try the service for as little as a month to see if it works for you.
Part of the appeal of Linux hosting should be the level of control you get over your working environment, but this doesn't happen with every provider. Often you're presented with a standard base environment – typically CentOS and cPanel – with no standard ability to choose anything else. Liquid Web has been providing quality VPS and dedicated hosting packages for years, and one reason for this success could be its flexibility. Whatever you're after, the company offers in-depth low-level control over your server specifications. You're not stuck with a single version of CentOS, for instance. Liquid Web offers CentOS 6 (optionally with CloudLinux) and 7, as well as Debian 8, Ubuntu 14.04 and 16.04. The CentOS 7 images can include cPanel or Plesk, and plans are available in a mix of self-managed, core-managed and fully-managed variations. There's even more power over some supplementary features. While other hosts might throw in a standard backup plan, Liquid Web enables choosing how many daily backups you'd like to retain, or it can squeeze as many backups as will fit into a defined amount of disk space. Both options are charged at a very reasonable $0.12 per GB per month, so you only pay for whatever you use. However your server is configured, Liquid Web's excellent support is on hand 24/7/365 to resolve problems as quickly as possible. And we do mean quickly: if, say, there's a hardware failure, the company promises it will be replaced within 30 minutes of the problem being identified. What's more, Liquid Web backs up these promises with an impressive service level agreement. If the company doesn't respond to an initial helpdesk ticket within 30 minutes, you'll be credited with 10 times the amount they missed it by, and there are similar clauses to cover you for power outages, network failure and more.
Choosing the right Linux host can be difficult, especially if you're a hosting newbie and unsure of which features you might need. One option is to gain some experience by signing up with a flexible budget host like OVH. The company doesn't have the best support and we wouldn't recommend it for business-critical sites, but you do get a huge amount for your money and it's a very cheap way to learn more about your Linux options. Do you need a wider choice of operating systems, for instance? OVH VPS plans support Arch Linux, CentOS 6, CentOS 7, Debian 7, Debian 8, Debian 9, Fedora 26, Ubuntu 14.04 Server and Ubuntu 16.04 Server, along with Kubuntu 14.04 Desktop if you need a user interface. You're not restricted to cPanel as a website manager, either: OVH also supports CozyCloud, Plesk Onyx, Vesta CP and Virtualmin. OVH says you can have WordPress, Drupal, Joomla! and PrestaShop pre-installed, conveniently, although there's no mention of a general Softaculous-type one-click application installer. Still, with full root access you should be able to manually set up whatever you need. What's really impressive here is the price, which starts at just $4 (£2.99) per month, excluding the VAT. OVH isn't the best Linux host by any means, but it does provide a very cheap way to experiment with different distros and control panels to find out what works for you. It’s well worth a look for Linux newbies or anyone who feels they need more hosting experience before handing over the big money. You might also want to check out our other website hosting buying guides:
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| The best Vodafone deals in March 2019 Posted: 15 Mar 2019 09:23 AM PDT
Vodafone is one of the biggest networks in the world and by far one of the most powerful brands in the UK. Not surprising when they so frequently offer excellent tariffs on flagship handsets like the iPhone XR, Galaxy S9 and the market's other favourite phones. Vodafone seems to go through fits and spurts when it comes to how competitively it's priced. It can go from the cheapest on the market, to pretty poor on our mobile phone deals comparison charts. Unfortunately, Vodafone seems to be going through one of its more expensive periods. We've seen prices across devices rise on Vodafone lately, especially the bigger devices like the iPhone XR and Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus. However, there are still tonnes of great deals floating around, it just takes more searching and luckily we've done that part for you. If Vodafone appeals to you though - or if you want to bag a Red Entertainment package that gives you a year's subscription to Spotify Premium, NOW TV Entertainment or the Sky Sports app - then that's where this page comes in! We've rounded up all of the best Vodafone phone deals so that you don't have to, just take a look at TechRadar's bespoke comparison chart below.
Samsung's newest release, this phone is rocking a completely flat, notch-less screen with a pin hole camera, giving it a unique style. Whether it's the triple cameras on the back, fast processor or reverse charging, there is a lot to love here.
Samsung's brand new budget flagship, the S10e features high-end specs for an affordable price. If you want the best Samsung has but don't want to have to pay through the roof to get it, this is the way to go. With all of the same features as the S10 with a few cutbacks, this is a high-end phone with mid-range pricing.
The iPhone XR hits a sweet spot between high tech and reasonable pricing. It looks a lot like its more powerful brethren - both in appearance and on the spec sheet - and boasts a glorious 6.1-inch Liquid Retina display and A12 Bionic chipset without a £1,000 price tag.
OK, so the Samsung Galaxy S9 doesn't make massive strides on the S8, but that doesn't mean it's not still one of the premier Android phones on the market. The cameras in particular are awe inspiring and tangible improvements have been made to the biometrics and position of the fingerprint scanner.
Oh gosh, Apple went and did it. After years upon years of incremental upgrades, it finally made something special to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the iPhone. For the iPhone X it has dropped the bezel altogether, while the 5.8-inch Super Retina HD is scarily good - and then it tweaked things a year later for the XS. Marvellous!
Samsung has now well and truly put the flaming memory of the Note 7 behind it. If the Note 8 was exceptional (6.3-inch infinity display and 6GB RAM), then the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is even bigger and better (6.4-inch infinity display and 8GB RAM). If you want the best big screen Android phones on the market, then look no further.
Thanks to the spectacle that was the iPhone X launch, the reception for the iPhone 8 was a little bit flat. Perhaps unfairly - it improves on the iPhone 7 with wireless charging and an improved camera. Plus, it's quite a bit cheaper. So if you're looking for the best iPhone but balk at the iPhone X expense, try the 8 on for size instead.
There's no doubt that the Samsung Galaxy S8 is a fantastic phone. The lightning fast chip-set and abandonment of a large bezel around the screen makes it the premier Android experience. And now that the S9 is here, it's no longer even that expensive.
The iPhone SE looks and feels exactly the same as the iPhone 5S. But instead of sporting two-year-old hardware it's been updated, with a faster CPU and graphics, and the 12MP iSight camera straight out of the iPhone 6S. It's a modern iPhone in the shape of an old iPhone, for people who like the old iPhones but want more up-to-date hardware.
The Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL are relatively new devices on the flagship scene but they have very quickly become two of our favourites. Powerful processors, loud speakers, but most importantly they have what is arguably the best cameras you can get on a phone right now.
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| PS5: All the games, specs, news, and rumors for Sony’s Playstation 5 Posted: 15 Mar 2019 09:21 AM PDT Now that the PS4 is officially reaching the end of its life cycle (that's direct from Sony), our thoughts are inevitably turning to the PS5 – so what exactly is in store for the Sony PlayStation 5 and when can be expect it to release? Sony is currently keeping tight-lipped when it comes to specific plans for the PS5: but we know that a PlayStation 5 release date will definitely be revealed in the coming months, thanks to Sony Interactive Entertainment's President and CEO Shawn Layden confirming as much in an interview with Golem.de. In addition, Sony president Kenichiro Yoshida confirmed the company is working on a next-generation console in an interview with the Financial Times. Back in May, Sony Interactive CEO John Kodera revealed to the Wall Street Journal that the PlayStation 5 would not be releasing until at least 2021. However, a report from Ace Securities claimed the PS5 could release as soon as Christmas 2019 - earlier than the Xbox Two. Even though we don't know exactly what to expect from the PS5 (or if that'll even be its name), we do know that the rumors, wish lists and alarmingly convincing 'leaked' renders in the run up to a console reveal are a big part of the fun. One such rumor is that the PS5 could be backwards compatible with the PS4, PS3, PS2, and original PlayStation, meaning its games library could stretch right back to the glory days of the mid 90s. In that spirit, we've gathered together everything we most want to see from the PlayStation 5 and what its stand-out features might be when it arrives.
Image credit: Sony PS5 release dateWith no official word yet a PlayStation 5 release date, and Sony officially confirming it won't be at E3 2019, it's difficult to pin down exactly when we might get to see a PS5 console. Some analysts are predicting the PlayStation 5 release date could be around 2020 or 2021, for example, while others say 2019 – so just the three-year window, then. Speaking to GamingBolt, Michael Pachter said that though he thinks the PS5 will be a half-step and will be backwards-compatible with the PS4 Pro, he doesn't think we'll see it until "2019 or 2020 but probably 2019". This would make sense as it would fall in line with predictions for when the 4K TV market in the US will reach 50%. "I think Sony has probably got the next console cycle lined up already," he says, "I think they already know what they've got to do." A report from Ace Securities also claimed the PS5 could release as soon as Christmas 2019 - but that seems a bit optimistic to us. More recently Pachter clarified this claim, saying that Sony would most likely release the new console in 2020. He added that at this time he thinks the PS4 Pro will become the base model PlayStation and will see a reduction in price. Meanwhile a recent report from Kotaku's Jason Schreier backs up this thinking. He spoke to a number of developers about likely release dates with most of the conversations pointing to a 2020 release. He writes: "There is information about the PlayStation 5 floating around at both first- and third-party companies, but it’s far more limited than it would be if the console’s release was imminent." A recent Wall Street Journal report points to a release around three years away, with Sony's John Kodera stating: “We will use the next three years to prepare the next step, to crouch down so that we can jump higher in the future." Not long after this, Sony's new CEO, Kenichiro Yoshida, released a three-year business plan for the company which predicted the company's profits would dip in the run up to 2021. This is the kind of dip that may come as the PlayStation 4 reaches market saturation, before the launch of the PS5. So mark your calendars for 2019, 2020 and 2021 then...
Image credit: Sony PS5 competitionAlthough we're hideously impatient for news of a PlayStation 5 release date, we can't fault Sony for taking another few years to really milk the last of the PS4, given it's huge and loyal player base. After all, the PS4 Pro is still relatively new to the market and its direct competitor, the Microsoft's Xbox One X, is an even more recent release. Thanks to recent leaks, we already know Microsoft is working on the next Xbox, which is likely to be announced at E3 2019. So it's likely Sony is also deep into development of the PS5. According to gaming industry analyst Hideki Yasuda (via T3), and his firm Ace Economic Research Institute, "the introduction of the PS5 will be at the end of 2019". A 2019 release would be much earlier than expected and could give Sony a real advantage as the next generation console would release before the Xbox Two. If we're honest, we can't really see any urgent need to start a new generation right now. And given Microsoft's growing commitment to backwards compatibility, we think it's key for Sony to really think carefully about its next steps. Despite Yasuda's report, a two to three-year wait make a lot more sense to us. However, it could be Sony is trying to throw Microsoft a sucker-punch from left-field by releasing earlier than expected. In addition, Slightly Mad Studios has announced it is working on a high-powered next-generation console called the 'Mad Box'. PS5 news and rumorsSolid news on the PlayStation 5 is pretty thin on the ground at the moment, but as always, we do have rumors about what could be coming down the line – and we've collected and assessed them right here. Patent suggests backwards compatibility According to a newly-uncovered patent, the PlayStation 5 may be capable of emulating the PlayStation 4, PS3, PS2 and original PlayStation, aka the PSX as well as souped up next-gen titles. Kenichiro Yoshida confirms next-gen In an interview with the Financial Times, Sony president and CEO Kenichiro Yoshida said: “At this point, what I can say is it’s necessary to have a next-generation hardware." Ace Economic Research Institute report Gaming industry analyst Hideki Yasuda, from Osaka-based firm Ace Economic Research, has claimed in a recent report that the PS5 could arrive in time for Christmas 2019 (via T3). The report estimates that "the introduction of the PS5 will be at the end of 2019". If this is true, then it'll be a massive blow to Microsoft who has confirmed the Xbox Two (codenamed "Xbox Scarlett") will not launch until 2020. PS5 game development is in full swing Daniel Ahmad, analyst with Niko Partners, has been in discussions with sources at first party Sony development houses, and believes that PS5 games are now the sole focus for the majority of in-house Sony teams. With dev kits in the wild, this makes a lot of sense – but Ahmad states also that the PS4 line-up has been secured for the time being too. Looking at the PS4 back catalogue, don't be surprised then if there ends up being plenty of cross-generational PS4-to-PS5 titles, too. John Kodera talks life cycles PlayStation's John Kodera has been discussing the future of the PS4 at a Sony Corporate Strategy Meeting and, by extension, inadvertently creating space for prospective PS5 release year rumors. During the meeting, Kodera made it clear that Sony is still very much behind the console but warned that sales are expected to slow this year, in line with expectations as market saturation approaches. As a console gets to this point in its lifecycle, it's natural to start looking forward to the next iteration. Kodera stated that the time passing from now until 2021 would be a period where Sony would hunker down – which suggests that a new big idea could be around the corner. Perhaps 2021 will be the time to expect the PS5? No E3 2018 appearance Now that E3 2018 has come and gone, we know there was no mention of the PS5 during the event. Instead, Sony offered up deep dives into four of its biggest upcoming games: Death Stranding, Spider-Man, The Last of Us 2 and Ghost of Tsushima. Watch this space for E3 2019. Eurogamer tech analysis A recent report from Eurogamer has attempted to narrow down a possible release date based on when technologies advanced enough to justify a generational leap will be available to Sony. The most important things that will need to advance will be the console's processor and its memory and in both cases, Eurogamer has determined that we're unlikely to see a new console released before the very end of 2019. Even if Sony did manage to push its console out at this date, the cost of production would make the PS5 far too expensive, making it more likely that we won't see the console released until the end of 2020, if Sony has any intention of making it an appealing proposition.
Image credit: CD Projekt Andrew House talks the next generation Former Sony chief, Andrew House, has been speaking about what the next generation of consoles could look like at the GamesBeat conference recently. Though House refused to comment specifically on the PlayStation 5 itself, he did say that he believes physical discs will stick around for a while yet, as a result of the need to continue tapping into developing markets where downloadable titles may not be quite as compatible with limited internet infrastructure. In other markets, however, he thinks that streaming games will be a big part of the next generation of consoles. House also stated that he thinks the PS4 and the PS4 Pro still have a long life in them yet. This doesn't necessarily cancel out the rumors that the PS5 will be with us in the next one to two years; if the reports that the console will be backwards-compatible are true then the PS4 generation will remain relevant long into the lifecycle of the PS5. Regardless, given that House was unwilling to comment on the PS5 despite being pushed, these details can only be considered speculation at the moment. The SemiAcccurate report SemiAccurate (via ResetEra) is claiming that it's received some leaked information on the yet-to-be-announced console and says that the number of dev kits which have been distributed suggests the console could be released sooner than expected. In addition to this, SemiAccurate also reports that Sony will use this console to push its VR efforts even further, with VR-tech baked in at the Silicon level, and will sport a GPU based on AMD's Navi architecture with a CPU that's potentially a custom item from AMD's Zen line. Though SemiAcccurate has a decent track record with its reports, having accurately reported Nintendo's Nvidia partnership for the Switch and the PS4 specs back in 2012, we still say take this with a pinch of salt. Though the specs sound plausible, a 2019 release date seems a little far-fetched. Regardless of how many developer kits that Sony has distributed, it feels too soon after the release of the PS4 Pro for the next PlayStation console just now... and we're getting towards the end of 2018.
Image credit: TechRadar The Marcus Sellars claims Renowned leaker Marcus Sellars has been making some bold claims on Twitter recently (via GameRant), alleging that PS5 development kits are already in the hands of third-party developers. He also claimed that Nintendo is planning a Direct stream for March 8 (something which has since proven to be accurate). In fact, Sellars has been accurate with his claims a few times: recently he revealed Metroid Prime 4 was being developed by Bandai Namco. However, Sellars didn't provide any evidence to back up his claims so they really can't be taken as anything more than rumor at the moment. Something which may be interesting in relation to this, though, is that recently CD Projekt Red revealed that their upcoming title Cyberpunk 2077 was being developed for current and next generation consoles which came as a great surprise to many. Whether this means they're one of the third-party developers at work with these rumored kits is yet to be confirmed. Even if development kits are in the hands of developers, this doesn't mean the PS5 is coming any time soon. It could still be another couple of years before any kind of reveal in terms of hardware. The patent Something that does help Sellars case is a recently updated patent for backwards compatibility that's been filed by Sony. Originally filed in 2015, the patent was updated in February to say “Backward compatibility testing of software in a mode that disrupts timing.” This is no guarantee that Sony is actually working on the technology for the PS5 (it could be creating an entirely separate peripheral that makes backwards compatibility possible) but it's not impossible that this could be for a new generation console. The PlayStation Plus news Though there's been no official word from Sony on the development of a PlayStation 5 just yet, a recent announcement in relation to the PlayStation Plus service has ignited some speculation. It's been announced that from March 2019, PS Plus will no longer offer free PS3 or PSVita games and will instead focus on PS4 titles. This has led to some wondering over whether or not Sony is attempting to phase out these older generation titles in preparation for a new generation. This is, of course, pure speculation but it's interesting that Sony would be willing to reduce its game offering to only two games (as it informed Polygon) without any other excuse than wishing to focus on titles for an already highly successful console. Whether Sony is truly making way for the PS5 or whether it's going to offer a higher quality of PS4 game is unclear and it seems we'll have to wait a while to find out what the final plan for PS Plus is. PS5: Can we have proper 4K gaming?The PS4 Pro offers a tantalising hint of what 4K gaming could be like. But the stark fact remains: it still doesn’t have the grunt to do native 4K consistently. Its “checkerboard” technique of taking single pixels and using each to render four pixels in 4K resolution is clever, and it can do native 4K output, but it often has to sacrifice resolution to keep performance consistent. Chris Kingsley, CTO and co-founder of developer Rebellion, dangles an even more ambitious technological carrot in front of a putative PS5: “Obviously new hardware should be able to support 4K TVs and possibly even 8K TVs at a push!” Native 4K support, surely, will be a basic requirement of the PlayStation 5. And if Sony cracks that particular problem with alacrity, it could even mean that a PlayStation 5 will arrive sooner than anticipated.
PS5 games Aside from 4K visuals, if recent showings at GDC 2018 are anything to go by we certainly can expect the next generation to offer incredible visual advancements in terms of character models. During GDC, we got a glimpse of what the next generation of games might look like and it's left us extremely excited for the PS5. Real-time ray tracing was revealed to be the next big thing in rendering while Epic Games gave us a taste of how it might be used to create the most lifelike characters ever. Using its capture technology, the Unreal Engine creator displayed a future with character models so realistic they bring us close to crossing the uncanny valley. Watch a performance from Andy Serkis below to see just how capable these new development technologies are: “Honestly, between five and ten years from now, I don't think you're going to be able to tell the difference between the real and the virtual world,” Epic CTO Kim Libreri told GamesIndustry.biz, “You'll see hardware that can support these kinds of capabilities pretty shortly, and then, finally, the greatest blockbuster with the most complicated effects, within ten years, you'll be able to do that in real-time.” When Libreri tells us we'll see hardware that can support this technology "pretty shortly" we can't be sure, but we like to think she's talking about the yet-to-be-announced PS5. PS5: The VR effectSony became the first console manufacturer to embrace virtual reality, thanks to the PlayStation VR, but if you examine PlayStation VR closely – and observe how it operates on the PS4 Pro – it invites speculation about how a PlayStation 5 console might take VR to a new level. Currently, PlayStation VR operates at lower resolution than the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive – but, as it stands, even its current incarnation almost pushes the base PlayStation 4 beyond its limits. Running a PlayStation VR on a PS4 Pro brings improved frame-rates, which are very handy indeed in terms of the overall VR experience, but even the PS4 Pro can’t overcome the resolution constraints set by the PlayStation VR headset.
So it’s a good bet that, presuming PlayStation VR is successful (and it already appears to be catching on) Sony will want to return to the market with a second, markedly higher-tech iteration: which would provide an obvious selling point for the PlayStation 5. And if a PlayStation VR 2 headset could be sold without an external black box, it should be markedly cheaper, further accelerating VR’s march into the mainstream. A recent report from SemiAcccurate, which claims that the PS5 will have virtual reality capabilities built-in at silicon level, suggests this will indeed be the case.
PlayStation VR Rebellion’s Kingsley makes another good point about second-generation VR. “Anything that reduces the leads has to be a good thing,” he says. The umbilical cord which currently attaches VR headset-wearers to their consoles or PCs obviously goes against VR’s entire immersive nature, and we’re already beginning to see, for example, a third-party implementation for the HTC Vive that renders it wireless. It’s a safe bet that the capacity for running a wireless PlayStation VR 2 will be built into the PS5. But Kingsley’s PlayStation VR 2 wish-list goes further: “Wide vertical and horizontal field-of-view would be top of my list, and of course, that would require 4K resolution per eye, and high dynamic range would be great too.” HDR and wider fields of view should be achievable but sadly, we don’t reckon full 4K VR is likely to be a possibility even for the PS5. As Kingsley points out, that would require 4K rendering per eye, which equates to 8K rendering overall, which we expect to be beyond the PS5’s capabilities. That said, perhaps Sony will find some clever technological bodge to get around that before it releases its fifth PlayStation console.
Ratchet and Clank What form will the PS5 take?It has been suggested that future consoles like the PlayStation 5 could take radically different forms to current ones, thanks to advances in cloud computing and game streaming, doing away with the components that make today's devices so bulky. However, we reckon it's unlikely that Sony will take a more Nintendo-like approach and put the PS5 in a tiny box. One reason for that is that with the PS4, Sony has only just committed to using what are basically the innards of a PC – the first three PlayStation variants used proprietary components (and which in the PS3 impacted sales). Developers, certainly, were massively relieved that the PS4 took the PC route.
“Developers want the ability to make the best games using the minimum amount of effort. We want to focus on being creative and getting things to just work,” Kingsley says. “So the hardware should be based around current console hardware, which is in turn based on PC hardware. We always want fast CPUs and GPUs, but lots of fast RAM is also very important – it’s no use having fast processors if they are starved of data.” All the above are achievable, but will the PS5 still have a hard disk? Sony Computer Entertainment President and CEO Andrew House spoke at the PS4’s launch about how deciding to put hard disks and 8GB of RAM in the PS4 were both “billion-dollar decisions”. The fact that Sony has now made external hard drive support possible for the PS4 and Pro is a step in the right direction and this is something that could be carried over to the PS5, which will undoubtedly have to deal with even larger 4K assets. It seems certain that Sony is very keen to hear what its community thinks – recently a group called PlayStation Voice sent out surveys to members of its closed community asking them what their expectations of the PS5 are. One community member posted the email they received and found themselves removed from the group for breaking its non-disclosure agreements. According to PSU, PlayStation Voice is a community run by third-party consumer insight agency, Join the Dots. Once information has been gathered, it's fed back to clients (the client in this case presumably being Sony PlayStation). Admittedly, this doesn't tell us much about PS5 itself, other than that things are likely to be still in the very early stages. While it's unlikely that Sony would use the information gathered from its communities to decide exactly which features will be included in the console, the ideas of fans can certainly spark a good deal of inspiration.
PS5 and streaming gamesOf course, if games were just streamed to the PS5 that problem would disappear entirely, and Sony already has a game-streaming service in the form of PlayStation Now. So why isn’t this more of a definite feature rather than something on our wishlist? Well, Sony is remaining tight-lipped about PlayStation Now uptake figures, but we suspect they are pretty unimpressive. It has certainly had issues with setting the right subscription charges, given that PlayStation Now effectively gives backwards compatibility – a “luxury” that was previously free for owners of PlayStation 2s and 3s.
But the biggest issue is broadband speeds. Even 4K TV requires a minimum of 25Mbps broadband in order to provide satisfactory streaming, and it’s doubtful whether 4K game streaming – with extra information on top of the visual side – would even work reliably at such speeds. There would be nothing to stop Sony launching a small form-factor cloud-based version of the PS5 console for those with mega-fast broadband, perhaps with a mobile phone-style subscription model that has an upfront hardware costs (something Microsoft is thinking about). But for the PS5 to sell anything like its predecessors, there would have to be a conventional version with similar innards to the PS4. Chancellor Philip Hammond has previously announced an infrastructure investment aimed at bringing fast broadband and 5G mobile data to the UK – but the earliest that would have an impact would be 2021, and the PS5 will almost certainly arrive before then. Perhaps its first mid-cycle update, though, will be a streaming version which takes advantage of burgeoning 5G networks?
PS5 games PS5: optical discs or not?The rise of downloadable games, which continue to eat into the physical disc market, means that pundits have been predicting that consoles will go discless for about a decade now. However, our guess is that the PS5 won’t be the first system to risk venturing down that road, at least not until it catches wind of Microsoft doing the same thing. Sony has taken a lot of (justifiable) flak for not putting a 4K Blu-ray drive in the PS4 Pro – making it a less attractive purchase for film and TV buffs than the Xbox One S or the Xbox One X. Surveys continue to show that gamers are still attached to the possibility of buying games on physical discs – not least because they can then sell them (a practice that the games industry hates), and keep hard disk space usage at a manageable level. If Sony were to axe the Blu-ray drive from the PS5, gamers would expect several terabytes of storage in compensation. Kingsley gives a developer’s view on the topic: “I think the days of delivering films and games via disc are on the decline, as most people are going digital; however, some people like physical discs, so who knows whether that decline will level out and remain present but at a lower level than now?” Download figures have been on the rise over the last year but EA CFO Blake Jorgensen has said that he thinks consoles and disc drives will continue to stick around. “Consoles and disc drives probably stay around for a long period of time [...] I think it's the consumer deciding what's the easiest way for them to buy a game. “And it may mean they no longer have a store down the street from them so they decide to buy it [digitally] maybe it's easier for them to do.”
PS4 So when can we expect the PS5?Given that the PlayStation 4 was launched in 2013 and Sony’s previous consoles arrived in six-year intervals, it would be easy to project that it will launch the PlayStation 5 in 2019 at the earliest. The sort of technology available then should easily allow full native 4K games without saddling the PS5 with a massive price-tag and, by 2019, 4K TVs will be the norm, rather than the exception, in the average household.
So it would be a surprise if Sony doesn’t want to capitalize on that at the earliest possible juncture. However, Kingsley points at the PS4 Pro, and reckons that could have an effect on the length of the current console cycle: “It’s a difficult one to judge, but overall I think it’s fair to say that the overall cycle will lengthen slightly.” Especially if the PS4 Pro wildly outsells the base PS4, which admittedly isn’t something we anticipate happening once it has reached a critical mass of households with 4K TVs. So perhaps 2020 might be the year in which Sony unleashes the PS5 on the world, as the first native 4K console with wireless VR... as long as Microsoft doesn’t get there first. What games can we expect to see on PS5?If the backwards compatibility patent mentioned above is actually applied, we can expect to see the whole PS4 library available to play on the PS5. Or, perhaps we'll see another round of remasters as we did when moving from the PS3 to the PS4. However, we imagine there will be some games being developed specifically for this new PlayStation 5 console generation and the extra power it's likely to offer. Already we've seen CD Projekt Red mention that it's developing for this generation as well as the next, and alongside the rumors that there are already developers kits out in the open, we think there's a good chance that Cyberpunk 2077 will be one of the early PS5 titles. Check out our PS4 vs PS4:PSVR compared and explained video below.
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| The best O2 phone deals in March 2019 Posted: 15 Mar 2019 09:21 AM PDT
O2 has been killing it with deals recently, we've been seeing some of our absolute favourite offers coming up with this provider in the start of 2019. While offers from O2 themselves aren't too strong, 3rd party retailers (like Mobiles.co.uk and Carphone Warehouse) have been throwing out consistently strong deals with O2. The company has been one of the best networks in the UK for some time. It's the network that's renowned for its extra Priority reward giveaways. And if you switch to the O2 network you obviously want to be sure you're getting the best deals that O2 has to offer, and that's where this page comes in! We've rounded up all of the best O2 phone deals on the best handsets - from the iPhone XR and Samsung Galaxy S10 down to the cheaper P20 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S9. And if you're still not sure about O2, you can browse the best phone deals at other networks, too - simply head to our best mobile phone deals page. And if the deal you've found is being offered by retailer Mobiles.co.uk and costs at least £10 upfront, then make sure you enter our exclusive 10OFF discount code at the checkout to knock a tenner off.
Samsung's newest release, this phone is rocking a completely flat, notch-less screen with a pin hole camera, giving it a unique style. Whether it's the triple cameras on the back, fast processor or reverse charging, there is a lot to love here.
Samsung's brand new budget flagship, the S10e features high-end specs for an affordable price. If you want the best Samsung has but don't want to have to pay through the roof to get it, this is the way to go. With all of the same features as the S10 with a few cutbacks, this is a high-end phone with mid-range pricing.
The iPhone XR hits a sweet spot between high tech and reasonable pricing. It looks a lot like its more powerful brethren - both in appearance and on the spec sheet - and boasts a glorious 6.1-inch Liquid Retina display and A12 Bionic chipset without a £1,000 price tag.
OK, so the Samsung Galaxy S9 doesn't make massive strides on the S8, but that doesn't mean it's not still one of the best Android phones on the market right now. The cameras in particular are awe inspiring and tangible improvements have been made to both the biometrics and position of the fingerprint scanner.
Oh gosh, Apple went and did it. After years upon years of incremental upgrades, it finally made something special to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the iPhone. For the iPhone X it has dropped the bezel altogether, while the 5.8-inch Super Retina HD is scarily good - and then it tweaked things a year later for the XS. Marvellous!
Samsung has now well and truly put the flaming memories of the Note 7 in the past. If the Note 8 was exceptional (6.3-inch infinity display and 6GB RAM), then the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is even bigger and more powerful (6.4-inch infinity display and 8GB RAM). If you want the best big screen Android phones on the market, then look no further.
Thanks to the spectacle that was the iPhone X launch, the reception for the iPhone 8 was a little bit flat. Which we think is unfair - it improves on the iPhone 7 with wireless charging and an improved camera. Plus, it's quite a bit cheaper. So if you're looking for the best iPhone but the price of the iPhone X is too much to cope with, try the 8 on for size instead.
There's no doubt that the Samsung Galaxy S8 is a fantastic phone. The lightning fast chip-set and introduction of its infinity screen makes it the premier Android experience. And now that the S9 is here, it's no longer even that expensive.
The iPhone SE looks and feels exactly the same as the iPhone 5S. But instead of sporting two-year-old hardware it's been updated, with a faster CPU and graphics, and the 12MP iSight camera straight out of the iPhone 6S. It's a modern iPhone in the shape of an old iPhone, for people who like the old iPhones but want more up-to-date hardware.
The Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL are relatively new devices on the flagship scene but they have very quickly become two of our favourites. Powerful processors, loud speakers, but most importantly they have what is arguably the best cameras you can get on a phone right now.
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| The best Three mobile deals in March 2019 Posted: 15 Mar 2019 09:16 AM PDT
Three mobile has for a long time been well known in the UK for offering good deals, especially for customers looking for some seriously big data bundles. In the early days, the network was blighted by poor reception in many areas but these days Three mobile doesn't have any such issues and its prices can be stellar. So take a look at our comparison tool to see what you can get for your money with Three. And below that we've also handpicked the best the network has to offer on flagship handsets such as the iPhone XR and Samsung Galaxy S10. And if you're perfectly happy with your current handset but are at the end of your contract, then we heartily recommend that you consider the 100GB Three SIM only deal for £20 per month Want to browse the best phone deals at other networks too? Simply head over to our best mobile phone deals page.
Samsung's newest release, this phone is rocking a completely flat, notch-less screen with a pin hole camera, giving it a unique style. Whether it's the triple cameras on the back, fast processor or reverse charging, there is a lot to love here.
Samsung's brand new budget flagship, the S10e features high-end specs for an affordable price. If you want the best Samsung has but don't want to have to pay through the roof to get it, this is the way to go. With all of the same features as the S10 with a few cutbacks, this is a high-end phone with mid-range pricing.
The iPhone XR hits a sweet spot between high tech and reasonable pricing. It looks a lot like its more powerful brethren - both in appearance and on the spec sheet - and boasts a glorious 6.1-inch Liquid Retina display and A12 Bionic chipset without a £1,000 price tag.
OK, so the Samsung Galaxy S9 doesn't make massive strides on the S8, but that doesn't mean it's not still one of the premier Android phones on the market. The cameras in particular are awe inspiring and tangible improvements have been made to the biometrics and position of the fingerprint scanner.
Oh gosh, Apple went and did it. After years upon years of incremental upgrades, it finally made something special to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the iPhone. For the iPhone X it has dropped the bezel altogether, while the 5.8-inch Super Retina HD is scarily good - and then it tweaked things a year later for the XS. Marvellous!
Samsung has now well and truly put the flaming memory of the Note 7 behind it. If the Note 8 was exceptional (6.3-inch infinity display and 6GB RAM), then the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is even bigger and better (6.4-inch infinity display and 8GB RAM). If you want the best big screen Android phones on the market, then look no further.
Thanks to the spectacle that was the iPhone X launch, the reception for the iPhone 8 was a little bit flat. Perhaps unfairly - it improves on the iPhone 7 with wireless charging and an improved camera. Plus, it's quite a bit cheaper. So if you're looking for the best iPhone but balk at the iPhone X expense, try the 8 on for size instead.
There's no doubt that the Samsung Galaxy S8 is a fantastic phone. The lightning fast chip-set and abandonment of a large bezel around the screen makes it the premier Android experience. And now that the S9 is here, it's no longer even that expensive.
The iPhone SE looks and feels exactly the same as the iPhone 5S. But instead of sporting two-year-old hardware it's been updated, with a faster CPU and graphics, and the 12MP iSight camera straight out of the iPhone 6S. It's a modern iPhone in the shape of an old iPhone, for people who like the old iPhones but want more up-to-date hardware.
The Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL are relatively new devices on the flagship scene but they have very quickly become two of our favourites. Powerful processors, loud speakers, but most importantly they have what is arguably the best cameras you can get on a phone right now.
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| Best PS4 games 2019: essential PlayStation 4 releases Posted: 15 Mar 2019 09:12 AM PDT The Sony PlayStation 4 is an incredible console, and possibly even Sony's greatest achievement to date (at least until the PlayStation 5 arrives). To make the most of it though, you need a library filled with the best PS4 games, and that's where we come in. With more apps and features than any other console to date, the power to show you both incredible gameplay and entertainment thanks to 4K UHD and HDR, and some of the greatest games to ever grace a Sony console, the PlayStation 4 is an impressive package. A huge part of the success of the PS4 has been due to the exclusive PS4 games Sony has offered.
Image credit: TechRadar For example, it’s the only console on the market with the likes of Spider-Man, Horizon: Zero Dawn, Shadow of the Colossus and God of War, all of which are available right now, and games like The Last of Us Part 2, Death Stranding and Ghost of Tsushima that are all expected to be released over the next few years. Aside from the first-party franchises, don't forget the fantastic PlayStation 4 games from the likes of EA, Ubisoft and Epic Games that are available too, all of which contribute to a pretty monumental catalogue on the PS4. Whether you're lording it over your mates with the premium 4K PS4 Pro, or happily fragging away with an original PS4 until the PS5 launches, the PlayStation 4 has a game for everyone. So, to help you sort out which games are worth your while, we've compiled a list of the newest and best PS4 games in alphabetical order – a round-up of the very best PS4 games. We've done our best to include something from every genre, from AAA down to indie gems and have posted our findings here for you to enjoy. Should you not find something to binge here today, check back in with us in a few weeks – with every new release we're updating and revising our choices! Best PS4 games FAQ: quick questions answeredWhat is the most popular ps4 game? Well, that depends what you really mean by popular. There are lots of different genres, so what's popular to those who live shoot-em-up games will be totally different to what's popular amongst role play lovers. Having said that, if we're talking about the best-selling games right now, at the time of writing Game's best-selling list features everything we've included below. So you know you're getting one of the top titles if you follow our advice. What's the best PS4 game to buy right now? Again, that'll depend on your tastes. For MCU lovers, Spider-Man is a no-brainer. FIFA 19 is our top pick for those who like playing football games and God of War is great for world-building and narrative. What are the best PS4 exclusives? In this list, Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age, God of War and Spider-Man are some of the top-ranking PS4 exclusives available right now, all appealing to a diverse range of gamers – if you're after an exclusive, there's something for everyone. Is PlayStation better than Xbox? Good question. And it depends what your habits are and what you're looking for from a console. We've put the two consoles head-to-head in our PS4 vs Xbox One: Which console is best showdown, which is the best way to compare the two because we cover everything you'd need to know about each console. But in short, they're both premium consoles that have a lot to offer – especially if you're into gaming and 4K content. If you're looking to get into VR gaming, then the PS4 is better, but other than that, there's not much in it between the two. So flip a coin? Assassin's Creed Odyssey
Image credit: Ubisoft Assassin's Creed Odyssey is the latest edition to the epic action RPG franchise. Odyssey is set during the Peloponnesian War and sees you stepping into the sandals of either Alexios or Kassandra as they try to uncover the truth about their history while navigating the turbulent world of Ancient Greece as a mercenary. Odyssey is a graphically stunning PS4 game which will take you to the heart of Ancient Greece – easily securing it a place in our collection of the best PlayStation 4 games. Just make sure you have the time to play it because there's over 100 hours of content to enjoy here. Check out our Assassin's Creed Odyssey review diary for more. PS4 Pro Support? PS4 Pro enhanced. Assassin's Creed Origins
Image credit: Ubisoft After a year away, Assassin's Creed is back and bigger and better than ever. In Assassin's Creed Origins you go back to ancient Egypt, before the brotherhood and before the Templars, where you play as the original assassin Bayek. Assassin's Creed is a series that was growing increasingly stale, but with Origins the formula has been refreshed with new RPG mechanics, story-driven side quests and a far more free-flowing combat system. Whether you're new to the series or a seasoned fan, Assassin's Creed Origins is absolutely worth playing and really earns its place on our best PS4 games list. Read our full review of the game and our tips and tricks guide. PS4 Pro support? HDR. Battlefield 1
Image credit: Electronic Arts In Battlefield 1 for the PlayStation 4, DICE takes players back in time to World War One and by doing so completely rejuvenates the once stagnating franchise. Battlefield 1's historical setting helps it to stand apart from the rest of the modern military shooters on the market, with all new weapons, vehicles, and level designs that feel fresh and capture the chaos and brutality of war. The game offers a poignant and entertaining single-player campaign that sets a new standard for first-person shooter. Broken into six sections, each following a different character and front line location, the campaign never feels dull or repetitive. The single player campaign even feeds neatly into Battlefield 1's multiplayer mode which, while familiar, also benefits from the much-needed breath of life that the change in setting gives. Graphically impressive, entertaining, and sometimes touching, Battlefield 1 is a return to form for the series. PS4 Pro support? Increased resolution and detail. Bloodborne
Image credit: Sony Computer Entertainment From Software's enigmatic and notoriously challenging Souls titles all hold critical and fan acclaim, but none are as stylistically interesting as the quasi-Industrial era Bloodborne. It plays like an RPG set indelibly on a hidden difficulty mode with all the helpful text pop-ups removed – which is to say it requires more than a modicum of patience from the player. But that's the point: in Bloodborne for the PS4, you get out what you put into it. Victory's all the more rewarding when you've watched your enemy, memorized his attack patterns, struck at the opportune moment and prevailed via the game's impeccable melee combat. PS4 Pro support? No. Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy
Image credit: Activision Crash Bandicoot is one of the classic gaming IPs and a revered figure on the PlayStation platform. We were absolutely delighted, then, when he made his debut in a PlayStation 4 game with the remaster of the N. Sane trilogy. If you like your nostalgia in big dollops, Crash Bandicoot N. Sane trilogy is a remaster well worth picking up. This is the same levels, gameplay, and the iconic music is still there but it's been given a lovely new lick of paint. At TechRadar we think it's a great example of the way classic games should be resurrected. PS4 Pro support? Yes. 1140p at 30fps. Dark Souls Remastered
Image credit: Bandai Namco Dark Souls is an iconic series in the gaming world and with this PS4 remaster you have the chance to go back to where it all started in 2011, but with improved visual fidelity and performance – all the better to see those horrific and punishing enemies that are coming relentlessly for your blood. This is the same original game with all of its DLC, but that's no bad thing. Dark Souls is a fantastic, must-play title and it's great to see it as one of the best PS4 games around (in part because the frame rate bump to 60 fps makes it a much smoother and more exhilarating gameplay experience). PS4 Pro support? Yes. 4K at 60 fps. Dishonored 2
Image credit: Bethesda Softworks Following the surprise 2012 hit Dishonored wasn't going to be an easy task, but Dishonored 2 has more than lived up to its expectations as one of the best PS4 games we've ever had the pleasure to play. Picking up 15 years after the events of the original, Dishonored 2 takes players back to the Victorian Steampunk city of Dunwall. This time, though, you have the choice of whether or not you want to play as the original title's protagonist Corvo, or his equally-skilled protegee Emily. Dishonored 2 doesn't differ wildly from the first game, but there was nothing wrong with Dishonored in the first place. What we get is a vastly improved and close to perfected take on it. Anyone who likes their games filled with atmosphere, character, and a bit of wit and intelligence will find Dishonored 2 worth picking up for the PlayStation 4. You can read our full review here. PS4 Pro support? Yes. 2560x1440 at 30fps. FIFA 19
Image credit: Electronic Arts FIFA is, for many console owners, a highly anticipated annual event. The latest and arguably greatest instalment in the football sim series has arrived in the form of FIFA 19, and it's straight into our list of the best PS4 games. Whether you're looking to play against others online, build up a management career on your own or play a cinematic story mode that'll give you an insight into the dramatic life of a premier league footballer, FIFA has a game mode just for you. The best thing is, there's always more than enough to throw yourself into and agonize over until the next game rolls around with further incremental improvements to convince you to upgrade. You can read our full review of FIFA 19 right here and make sure you're the best on the pitch using our tips and tricks guide. PS4 Pro support? Yes. 4K and HDR. Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age
Image credit: Square Enix Final Fantasy 12 is one of the most under appreciated and anomalous Final Fantasy games, first released in 2006. With this remake, Square Enix gives players a chance to take a second look at the game, this time running much more smoothly, with fewer obvious faults and cracks. In The Zodiac Age you'll find a beautiful game world, fast and exciting combat, and a sweeping storyline that's an example of the JRPG genre at its best. Whether you're a fan of Final Fantasy or not, 12 is enough of a series outlier that it's a good place to dip in and see what you might be missing. It's a PlayStation 4 exclusive, too. PS4 Pro support? Yes. 2560x1440 resolution. Fortnite Battle Royale
Image credit: Epic Games Fortnite Battle Royale has had a meteoric rise since its release in 2017, and it's not hard to see why. The free-to-play battle royale PS4 game offers players an energetic and enjoyable online multiplayer experience , with a concept that pretty simple to get to grips with: just be the last person standing. Constant content updates keep Fortnite feeling fresh over a year since its launch so it easily gets a place on the best PlayStation 4 games list. PS Pro support? Yes – 60 fps. Grand Theft Auto V
Image credit: Rockstar Not only is it the best sandbox game on the PlayStation 4 platform, GTA V is also the best golf game, the best tennis sim, the undisputed virtual yoga champ, one of the best racers... it's even a pretty serviceable MMO. We're used to scale and scope from Grand Theft Auto, but what Trevor, Franklin, and Michael bring us is a staggeringly well-realised city seen from three entirely different perspectives. Trevor, the maniacal rampage killer whom we discover to be in all of us when we play a Rockstar game; Franklin, the classic rags-to-riches character with street smarts and the ability to pull off a bandana; and Michael, the troubled criminal with a dysfunctional family and a beer gut to show for his life of violence. However you play GTA V – a multiplayer muckabout, a story-driven third-person actioner, a flight sim – it reveals itself to be the best game on both this generation and the last. One of the very best PS4 games. PS4 Pro support? No. God of War
Image credit: Sony Interactive Entertainment One of the most highly anticipated PlayStation 4 exclusives of 2018, God of War has lived up to the hype. Taking Kratos from Greek to Norse mythology, making him a father, and focusing on narrative as well as completely revamping combat has made God of War a welcome refresh for the franchise. In our full review, we called God of War "the best game in the series" for many reasons, but the stand-out is that this is a game with heart and it's not to be missed if you're interested in the best PS4 games. PS4 Pro support? Yes. 4K at 30 fps and HDR. Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
Image credit: Ninja Theory Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice is developer Ninja Theory's first attempt at publishing its own game and it's quite an achievement. The game follows Senua, a Celtic warrior suffering from psychosis who travels to Hell to rescue her lost lover. The game uses an interesting mix of binaural audio and innovative visual techniques to communicate Senua's experience with her psychosis to the player, resulting in a game that's likely to be quite different from anything else you've played recently. Disturbing, insightful and extremely enjoyable to play, this is a game worth taking a look at if you're interested in the best PS4 games. You can read all about our experience with the motion capture tech behind Hellblade right here. PS4 Pro support? Yes. Dynamic resolution adaption for stable frame rates. Horizon Zero Dawn
Image credit: Sony Interactive Entertainment Horizon Zero Dawn is the first-party open-world game that Sony has desperately needed. While Uncharted and The Last of Us have long given PS4 players a fantastic linear experience, Horizon Zero Dawn – developed by Guerrilla Games – gives you the keys to a massive, detail-rich and utterly jaw-dropping open world. Set in an aesthetically prehistoric post-apocalyptic environment inhabited by robot dinosaurs, the game puts players in the shoes of Aloy, who hunts these creatures and scraps them for parts. It's part Jurassic Park, part 10,000 B.C. and part Asimovian sci-fi epic all rolled into one. Once you get through the sprawling campaign, check out The Frozen Wilds DLC that sends Aloy up north to the frozen wastes of The Cut, the home of the Banuk Tribe. The Frozen Wilds elevates an already exceptional PS4 game and is well worth the price of entry. PS4 Pro support? Yes. 4K, 30fps and HDR support. Kingdom Hearts 3
Image credit: Square Enix Kingdom Hearts 3 is finally here. Just 14 years after Kingdom Hearts 2, Square Enix has blessed us with the latest core game in the franchise which sees Disney and Final Fantasy coming together in a fantasical and charming adventure. If you're a fan of a fun, action-packed RPG which doesn't take itself too seriously then Kingdom Hearts could be for you. But be prepared, the story can be a bit tricky to wrap your head around. Still not convinced? Then check out our Kingdom Hearts 3 review. PS4 Pro Support? Yes. HDR and 4K at 60fps. Life is Strange
Life is Strange is an episodic graphic adventure which tells the story of Max, who moves back to her hometown and reunites with her best friend Chloe – someone who is a bit more rebellious than she remembers. On top of trying to navigate the difficulties of teenage life, Max discovers that she has the ability to rewind time at any moment and only she can prevent a storm on its way to destroy her hometown. Rather than focusing on combat, the crux of Life is Strange is the choices Max (AKA you) makes and the effect these choices have on the overall story. A stunning PS4 game for those who appreciate an engaging story. The prequel, Life is Strange: Before the Storm, is equally mesmerizing. PS4 Pro support? No. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Image credit: Konami Okay, so Hideo Kojima's last game for Konami – and his last ever Metal Gear game – might be a little tough for the MGS n00b to get to grips with, but it's still one of the best stealth-action games ever crafted. It's undoubtedly worth a spot on our list of the best PS4 games. The open-world shenanigans will satisfy all your behind-enemy-lines / Rambo fantasies and probably confuse you with crazy plot twists and a million characters all with the same gravel-toned voices. But hey, that's all part of its charm, right? PS4 Pro support? No. Monster Hunter: World
Monster Hunter is a classic franchise that's been going for a long time, but with its return to console it's been given a new lease of life and dragged kicking and screaming into 2018. Whether you want to play solo or team up with a group of up to three friends, this game has you enter a stunning game world that feels genuinely dynamic and alive in order to hunt down monsters. For research, of course. There's a learning curve here, and the Dark Souls-style combat has the potential to frustrate, but this is the most accessible Monster Hunter game we've seen in years. If you've been looking for a chance to break into the series, this is it. In our review we called the game "a bold and confident new chapter" and gave it a "play it now" recommendation. Thinking of becoming a Monster Hunter yourself? Make sure you check out our full survival guide. PS4 Pro support? Yes. Can choose between 60 FPS, 4K resolution, or prioritized graphics. All with HDR support. NieR: Automata
If you want to play a game that will feel different to anything else you've played recently, we heartily recommend NieR: Automata as one of the best games for PlayStation 4 right now. Though it's a sequel to 2010 game Nier, you don't have to have played the first game to enjoy this one. Set in a dystopian future, the story of the game revolves around a war between machines created by alien invaders and the remnants of humanity. Humanity has fled Earth to seek refuge on the Moon, but has sent combat droids down to fight for them. You play as one of these droids, 2B, accompanied by another droid called 9S. Combat in this game is intensely satisfying, the game world is stunning with a huge sense of scale, and the story is strange (sometimes to a fault) but incredibly entertaining. You won't be disappointed, trust us. PS4 Pro support? Yes. 1080p at 60 fps. Night In The Woods
Image credit: Infinite Fall Night in the Woods is an unconventional side-scrolling adventure game that follows on 20 year-old Mae, who drops out of college to move back home with her parents. With a story based on dialogue choices and tasks, it's a classic coming-of-age tale, with stunning minimalist graphics and laugh-out-loud interactions that will leave you completely hooked on this charming indie game. PS4 Pro Support? No. Overcooked 2
Image credit: Team17 Fans of the original Overcooked will not be disappointed by the second instalment in the chaotic couch co-op series, with all new challenges, recipes, and characters to take on with up to three other people. This time your task is to defeat the 'Un-Bread' (zombie baked goods) that have taken over the Onion Kingdom, by battling through brand new recipes including sushi, pizza, and burgers in increasingly chaotic kitchens. To add to the frantic fun, you must battle obstacles including random fires, collapsing floors, and interfering passers by, all while getting your orders out to the pass in time. Things get complicated incredibly quickly, and relationships, friendships, and family bonds will be tested as you work together to complete your recipes on time, making it a fun and challenging couch co-op game that will make you truly understand the meaning of "too many cooks spoil the broth". PS4 Pro support? No. Overwatch
Image credit: Blizzard Entertainment Overwatch has without a doubt been one of our favorite games to come out of the last year. It's a classic team arena shooter from Blizzard, setting two six-person teams of wildly different characters against each other in a bright and cartoonish science fiction universe. Great graphics, tight maps, and a good roster of characters to enjoy playing. Overwatch is good old fashioned fun and we thoroughly recommend it. PS4 Pro support? Yes. 1080p with 60 fps. 4K UI overplay. Red Dead Redemption 2
Image credit: Rockstar Games Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption 2 has taken 2018 by storm, giving us the gun-toting, western open-world we were hoping for. You play as Arthur Morgan, a gunslinger in the notorious Van Der Linde gang as he navigates the trials and tribulations of the changing west. Red Dead Redemption 2 is certainly game which will keep you busy. Between story missions, mini-games, activities and side quests, you will find yourself sinking plenty of hours into this title without even noticing it. And with Red Dead Online in beta testing it won't be long until players can properly team up with a posse of friends to play.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
Image credit: Capcom Your gaming collection isn't really complete if it doesn't have a quality horror title and if we had to suggest one for our best PS4 games list it'd be the newest instalment in the Resident Evil franchise. Resident Evil is the franchise that put survival-horror games on the map and though it lost its way slightly in later titles, the newest game is a return to form for Capcom. By going back to the survival-horror basics and getting them dead on, Capcom has made Resident Evil 7 a genuinely frightening and exhilarating gaming experience. If you have the stomach for the gore, it's absolutely worth playing. The PlayStation 4 version of the game has an added bonus for PS VR owners – a virtual reality adaption of the game which Capcom has absolutely nailed. However, you'll need to be brave to play it all the way through. Don't miss our full review of the game. PS4 Pro support? Yes. 1080p supersampling and HDR. Resident Evil 2 Remake
Image credit: Capcom Capcom's remake of survival horror classic Resident Evil 2 has gone down a storm with fans and newcomers alike, and it's no surprise. With gorgeous new graphics but the same brain-scratching puzzles and terrifying zombies, Resident Evil 2 is definitely a remake done right. Check out of Resident Evil 2 remake review. PS4 Pro Support? Yes. 4K resolution at 30fps or a lower resolution at 60fps. Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration
Image credit: Microsoft Studios Has it really been 20 years since we first saw Lara in action? How the time flies when you're upgrading from a 32-bit resolution to upwards of 4K. But no matter how many years go by, Lara still manages to find a place in our hearts. Despite being the sequel to a prequel about the young life of the Lara Croft, Rise of the Tomb Raider feels like the pinnacle of the series. The reboot – which saw a brave new direction for the franchise – seemed a lot of the time to be little more than a bit of light Uncharted cosplay, but Rise is a far more accomplished game. There's now a genuine open world which feels like there is always something to do, and something more than just harvesting up collectibles in exchange for a light dusting of XP. There are also tombs. Yes, that might seem a fatuous thing to say given the name, but the previous game gave them short shrift. In Rise though they are deeper and more plentiful. Plus, on top of everything else, it's got VR support, which is pretty neat considering that there aren't many PlayStation VR titles around these days. Welcome back to PlayStation, Lara, we've missed you. PS4 Pro support? Yes. 3 display modes available; choose between 4K at 30 fps, 1080p at 60 fps or 1080p at 30 fps with enriched visuals. Shadow of the Colossus
Image credit: Sony Computer Entertainment Shadow of the Colossus is a classic PlayStation title, a game that performed graphical marvels when it was released on the PlayStation 2 in 2005. Now it's been remastered with 4K and HDR support, and this time around the game world is more beautiful than ever, while keeping the original's emotional weight and gameplay. It's an easy pick for our best games for PS4 list. For those looking for a gaming experience quite unlike any other, Shadow of the Colossus is a must-play. In our full review of the title we called it "a journey well worth taking once, and somehow even more worthwhile second time around" PS4 Pro support? 2 modes: cinematic with 4K, HDR and 30 fps or performance with 60 fps. Marvel's Spider-Man
Image credit: Insomniac Games Swinging its way onto our best PS4 games list, Marvel's Spider-Man is likely the best comic book-based video game in the entire PS4 library by a country mile (sorry, Batman: Return to Arkham). While Arkham did a great job bringing the brooding caped crusader to life on our home consoles, it failed to provide us any insight about Bruce Wayne's actual life when he takes off the cowl. This is different, if only because it shows us two sides of the same hero – the affable Peter Parker and the heroic, self-sacrificing Spider-Man – in the same game. Tie into that the best traversal mechanics since Spider-Man 2 on the PS3, and you have all the markings of a spectacular (and dare we say AMAZING) Spider-Man game. Don't miss our full Spider-Man review! PS4 Pro support? 4K HDR. Strange Brigade
Image credit: Rebellion Developments Titanfall 2
Image credit: Electronic Arts The original Titanfall was a great game, but unfortunately it didn't come to the PlayStation. Fortunately, its sequel, Titanfall 2, improves on it every conceivable way: the motion is more fluid, there are more distinct titans to choose from and, hold onto your hats here, there's actually a single-player campaign that might take the cake for the best first-person shooter story of the year. This game's pedigree is inherited from one of this generation's smartest and most unusual shooters. The original Titanfall married ninja-fast on-foot combat to the gloriously thuggish thrill of piloting giant mechs, which are summoned from orbit a few minutes into each match. The skill with which Respawn has balanced this mix of styles in the sequel is remarkable – Titans have firepower in excess but they're easy to hit, and maps offer plenty of places for infantry to hide. These ideas coalesce into one of this year's most remarkable entries in the genre and is well-deserving its own shot in the spotlight as well as a Game of the Year nomination. PS4 Pro Support? Yes. Higher resolution and more stable frame rates. The Last Of Us Remastered
Image credit: Sony Interactive Entertainment Many games have offered us post-apocalyptic visions of the future, but none have been as brutal, as believable, or as touching as Joel and Ellie's story. It was near-perfect on PS3, but with current-gen's increased performance ceiling Naughty Dog found ways to ramp up the visual fidelity to 'drop the controller and stare' levels. A radical tonal departure from Uncharted's jovial treasure-hunting escapades, The Last Of Us Remastered demonstrates the California studio's ability to strike a darker mood, populating the overgrown ruins of its setting with a cast characterised by murky morals but still getting you to care for them like your own bessies. If you love this one, make sure you keep an eye on all the latest news surrounding its sequel: The Last of Us Part 2. It's likely to be another cracking PlayStation 4 game. PS4 Pro support? Yes. Choice of 4K at 30 fps or 1080p at 60 fps with HDR. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Image credit: CD Projekt Geralt didn't have the smoothest of entries to PS4, but after some heavy patching and a lot of angry words about visual downgrades, we're left with an RPG boasting tremendous scope and storytelling. Oh, and combat. And don't forget Gwent, the in-game card game. And there's the crafting to get stuck into. And the alchemy. You're rarely short of things to entertain yourself with in The Witcher 3's quasi-open world, then, and all the better that you're in a universe that involves the supernatural without leaning on the same old Tolkien fantasy tropes. It's invigorating stuff. Netflix has announced it's working on a Witcher TV series with Henry Cavill taking on the role as Geralt, so if you haven't jumped into the fantasy RPG then now is the perfect time. PS4 Pro support? Yes. 4K resolution or improved performance at 1080p. Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
Image credit: Sony Computer Entertainment Uncharted 4: A Thief's End hasn't been out for very long, but we can already tell that this is going to be a Game of the Year contender come December. The game was tasked with an impossible task by bringing a satisfying close to Naughty Dog's classic adventure series and delivered something well above our expectations. Exceptionally high production values, an engaging story about a wayward brother and an adventure to remember, Uncharted 4 has them all in spades. Though Naughty Dog's Uncharted journey has finally reached its destination, you're guaranteed to treasure the memories it created forever. If you're a PS4 owner, it would be criminal not to take this ride. It's undoubtedly one of the best PS4 games there is. PS4 Pro support? Yes. 2560 x 1440 resolution with HDR and 30 fps in single-player. Wipeout Omega
Image credit: Sony Interactive Entertainment This bundle of anti-gravity goodness features some of the best versions of Wipeout from over the years. It's not an exhaustive collection of the different games, but it is a great, remastered trio of games that brings you the best of Wipeout racing and chaotic car combat. Multi-player mode is fantastic, but the game's AI improves as you do, meaning some of the later levels are eye-watering challenges. Here's some Wipeout Omega collection tips and tricks to get you started with this excellent PS4 game. PS4 Pro support? Yes. HDR and 4K at 60fps. Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
Image credit: Bethesda Softworks Looking for an incredible single-player shooter for PS4? Look no further than the 2017 wonder that was Wolfenstein II. Picking up from where the original game left off, this game is a timely social commentary and a superbly silly adventure all rolled into one well-written package. With tight mechanics and a story worth caring about this is one of the most satisfying first-person shooters we've played in a long time. In our full review we called it "expertly crafted" and recommended that you play it now. PS4 Pro support? Yes. 2560x1440p.
Trying to decide which PS4 set-up to get? Watch Jon and Gerald discuss the differences between the PS4, PS4 Pro and PS4 VR. Trying to decide which PS4 set-up to get? Watch Jon and Gerald discuss the differences between the PS4, PS4 Pro and PS4 VR. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The best EE phone deals in March 2019 Posted: 15 Mar 2019 09:11 AM PDT
EE is the UK's fastest 4G network and for that reason many people want to switch to it. But you want to make sure you're getting the best deal when you do, right? Well we've tracked down all of the best EE phone deals currently available. Now that we're well into 2019 we've been seeing plenty of great EE deals to kick-start the year. The other thing working in EE's favour is that it frequently has some of the best mobile phone deals on flagship devices including the iPhone XR and Samsung Galaxy S10. All the EE phone deals in our comparison charts are updated daily so that they remain current, in-stock and represent the best value currently available. Still want more money off? If the perfect EE plan for you is offered by Mobiles.co.uk, then you're in luck as the retailer is currently offering a further £10 off the upfront cost of the handset if you enter the code 10OFF at the checkout.
Samsung's newest release, this phone is rocking a completely flat, notch-less screen with a pin hole camera, giving it a unique style. Whether it's the triple cameras on the back, fast processor or reverse charging, there is a lot to love here.
Samsung's brand new budget flagship, the S10e features high-end specs for an affordable price. If you want the best Samsung has but don't want to have to pay through the roof to get it, this is the way to go. With all of the same features as the S10 with a few cutbacks, this is a high-end phone with mid-range pricing.
The iPhone XR hits a sweet spot between high tech and reasonable pricing. It looks a lot like its more powerful brethren - both in appearance and on the spec sheet - and boasts a glorious 6.1-inch Liquid Retina display and A12 Bionic chipset without a £1,000 price tag.
OK, so the Samsung Galaxy S9 doesn't make massive strides on the S8, but that doesn't mean it's not still one of the premier Android phones on the market. The cameras in particular are awe inspiring and tangible improvements have been made to the biometrics and position of the fingerprint scanner. And not to mention you can get the S9 quite cheap right now.
Oh gosh, Apple went and did it. After years upon years of incremental upgrades, it finally made something special to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the iPhone. For the iPhone X it has dropped the bezel altogether, while the 5.8-inch Super Retina HD is scarily good - and then it tweaked things a year later for the XS. Marvellous!
Samsung has now well and truly put the fiery memory of the Note 7 behind it. If the Note 8 was exceptional (6.3-inch infinity display and 6GB RAM), then the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is even bigger and better (6.4-inch infinity display and 8GB RAM). If you want the best big screen Android phones on the market, then look no further.
Thanks to the spectacle that was the iPhone X launch, the reception for the iPhone 8 was a little bit flat. Perhaps unfairly as it does improve on the iPhone 7 with wireless charging and an improved camera. Plus, it's quite a bit cheaper. So if you're looking for the best iPhone but are avidly avoiding the prices of the likes of the iPhone X and XS try the 8 on for size instead.
There's no doubt that the Samsung Galaxy S8 is a fantastic phone. The lightning fast chip-set and the introduction of the infinity screen makes it the premier Android experience. And now that the S9 is here, it's no longer even that expensive.
The iPhone SE looks and feels exactly the same as the iPhone 5S. But instead of sporting two-year-old hardware it's been updated, with a faster CPU and graphics, and the 12MP iSight camera straight out of the iPhone 6S. It's a modern iPhone in the shape of an old iPhone, for people who like the old iPhones but want more up-to-date hardware.
The Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL are relatively new devices on the flagship scene but they have very quickly become two of our favourites. Powerful processors, loud speakers, but most importantly they have what is arguably the best cameras you can get on a phone right now.
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| Oppo phone deals are now available on contract from EE Posted: 15 Mar 2019 08:51 AM PDT With Samsung, Apple and Huawei having a very firm, expensive grasp on the world of mobile phone deals right now, we are always eagerly awaiting the next competitor to come through and shake things up. The latest company to try and win a spot on the UK phone stage is Oppo. You might be sitting there, wondering what an Oppo is, and you're not alone...or more specifically, you're not alone in the West. Oppo currently stands as the fifth biggest smartphone brand in the world but it hasn't really tried to make a push in non-Asian markets - until 2019. Oppo launched in the UK back in January but only offered SIM-free devices, then in February it became available on Carphone Warehouse's network - iD Mobile. Now thanks to Carphone and Mobiles.co.uk, it is finally available to purchase with a contract on a major network, EE. There is currently three devices available - Oppo Find X (the flagship), Oppo RX17 Pro (the mid-range option) and the Oppo RX17 Neo (the budget option). We've listed the best deals for each of these devices on EE below so you can see which one suits your needs best. Or if you're an EE fan but you're not quite sure about Oppo yet, check out our best EE phone deals for all of the options from this network. The best Oppo deals on EE:
What other affordable flagships are available?When it comes to high-end, affordable flagships there is quite a few options. Whether that be a OnePlus 6T deal in all of its high-end affordable glory, a Honor 10 deal with its incredibly low prices or a Samsung Galaxy S8 deal - offering recent Samsung innovation without the price tag. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Best web hosting resellers of 2019 Posted: 15 Mar 2019 08:44 AM PDT Website hosting is normally a service you'll buy just for your own use, but sometimes it pays to think bigger. If you're running your own business, for instance, perhaps as a developer or web designer, offering web space as an extra service to your customers could make a lot of sense. Many web hosts offer reseller schemes where you can buy a block of resources – disk space, bandwidth, a number of cPanel accounts – to divide and sell in any way you like. Costs can be very low, sometimes just $1.40 or $2.80 a month per account, so you could bundle hosting in other business products with very little impact on your bottom line. There are some significant issues to think about. For example, reseller hosting may look cheap, but that's because you'll probably have to be the first line of support for your customers. If they encounter any questions or technical difficulties, you’ll be their first port of call. You can pass anything complicated onto the web host, but they won't deal directly with clients for you. You will get more help in other areas. Many reseller accounts come with a free licence for WHMCS, an industry standard application to manage and automate hosting setup, billing and support. You're usually able to customize the control panel with your own branding, and the best hosts have special reseller tutorials and support to help keep your business running smoothly. There's no single way to identify the best reselling plans, because this varies depending on the products you're hoping to sell. Your first step should be to identify web hosts who provide the range of plans and support you need, and then compare whatever reselling schemes they offer. To help you understand what to look for, we've listed five interesting reseller products from some top industry names. Check them out to get a feel for the features you should look for, and the prices you might expect to pay.
[Great exclusive offer from Inmotion Hosting - Get a free upgrade to the R2000S plan when you buy the R1000S plan by TechRadar's #1 rated Web Hosting provider] InMotion is a capable web host which offers a vast range of products and services, including one of the most comprehensive reseller hosting plans around. These start simply and with minimal restrictions. The R-1000S plan costs $13.99 a month initially ($29.99 on renewal) for 80GB of disk space and 800GB of bandwidth, but there's no limit on the number of cPanel accounts you can create, and everyone gets unlimited (within the available disk space) subdomains, email addresses, databases and FTP accounts. Buying through TechRadar means that you will get an automatic upgrade to the R-2000S slice with 50% extra bandwidth and storage space. Ramping up to the Reseller VPS-1000 plan gets you 4TB bandwidth, 4GB RAM and free SSL. There's still no limit on the number of cPanel accounts you can create, and the service is priced at $41.64 a month for the first term, $54.99 on renewal. While this is a little more expensive than some, InMotion offers plenty of extras and benefits. There's a free licence to WHMCS, the industry standard package for managing your client's billing and support. A bundled eNom Domain Reseller account allows selling top-level domains and SSL certificates, and white labelling support allows you to create custom hosting packages, use anonymous name servers and apply your own branding via customizable themes. Perhaps InMotion's real advantage is its excellent support, something that will be very important when you're trying to solve problems for your clients. In our experience the company offers a high quality service, although there's no need to take our word for it: the exceptional 90-day money-back guarantee means there's plenty of time to check it out for yourself.
Calculating disk space requirements is a challenge for every hosting reseller. Many plans allocate less than 1GB per user, but will that really be enough, and what happens if you need more? Tsohost's Reseller Hosting plan aims to help you sleep easier by providing unlimited storage and bandwidth for up to 100 sites. That's not bad for only $44 (excluding VAT) a month. Unsurprisingly, there's a small catch: your customer's 100 sites are limited to a total of 1,000,000 page views per month, or an average of 10,000 each. We suspect that's less likely to be an issue than disk space, as most personal and small business sites won't get close to this limit, but it's something to bear in mind. The plan doesn't come with a WHCMS licence, or any other assistance with billing, marketing or support. The company bills you for the reseller plan, and it's your responsibility to bill your own customers. If that's not an issue for you, Tsohost does offer some compensations. The core service is a decent one, including Let's Encrypt SSL support for all your customers, daily backups – not something you always see with reseller accounts – and a single free domain name for your own business, if you need it. Tsohost also allows customizing your client control panel with your own branding, and even supports custom nameservers to hide any trace of the Tsohost name.
Many hosting reseller plans are focused on the most basic and underpowered products. That may keep the price low, but the lack of features will also make it more difficult to sell the plans later. SiteGround's reseller plan is a little more ambitious. Every user gets 10GB of disk space and cPanel site management, and there's unlimited bandwidth, email addresses, databases, and FTP accounts. Highlights include Spam Experts-based spam filtering, free Let's Encrypt SSL, daily backups and an integrated Cloudflare CDN. These accounts cost more than the very low-end competition, but they're hardly expensive, with prices starting at $3.5 a month over a year. There's more good news in SiteGround's pricing structure. Other companies often ask you to pay upfront for the resources to support perhaps hundreds of clients, whether you need those resources right at the outset of your venture, or not. SiteGround allows purchasing plans in much smaller numbers – five to get started, 11 or more to get the best price – and these are only activated when you sell them. If you buy 20 plans now, for instance, they'll never expire. Whether you sell them in days, weeks or months, each one will still get you a full year of hosting from the date the account is launched or renewed. How you manage and run the business is up to you, but SiteGround offers a simple control panel to review your accounts (there's a tutorial here), and a white label option and private DNS upgrade ensures you can use your own branding everywhere.
Established way back in 2002, Krystal is a UK-based company which offers various simple reseller accounts for its shared web hosting. Krystal's product has a decent specification. A mid-range block of 50 cPanel accounts comes with 100GB of storage, and you get unlimited bandwidth, MySQL databases, mailboxes and subdomains, a bundled website builder, free SSL certificates, plus weekly and monthly backups. The bundled WHM (Web Host Manager) and WHMCS billing system allow you to manage your customers’ cPanel accounts, automate billing and more. These are all white label versions, too, which means customers will only ever see your branding. Krystal's Trinity plan is probably the best value, giving you 50 cPanel accounts with 100GB storage for $35 a month on the annual plan (at the moment you pay $1 for the first month). There's a single free domain if you need one (that's one domain for the entire plan, not per cPanel account), no setup fee, and you're protected by a 60-day money-back guarantee in case something goes horribly wrong. The Infinity plan allows unlimited cPanel accounts and doubles the storage to 250GB. We're not sure whether that's worth the $82 a month price tag (annual plan), but it's available if you need it.
As we've seen, reselling web hosting generally involves some significant work in customizing your plans, marketing and selling products, and providing technical support to your clients. GoDaddy's reseller program gives you much more assistance. Signing up gets you a pre-built customizable store with your own branding (there’s no mention of GoDaddy), bundled credit card processing to handle orders, and afterwards, customer service via GoDaddy's own teams. You're able to resell all the major GoDaddy products, including domain names, hosting, SSL certificates, managed WordPress plans, GoDaddy's Website Builder, and more. The plans provide some help with sales and marketing. Your store can use a range of customizable promotions, including giving discount prices to specific customers, and detailed sales reports help focus your efforts where they'll deliver the best results. The Basic reseller plans gets you all this and a 20% discount off GoDaddy's retail prices for $8.99 a month. But the Pro reseller plan offers a 40% discount for only $14.99 a month, well worth the extra unless you have very few customers. There are no commission rates or fixed margins – you can set your preferred price for anything in the range. GoDaddy's Reseller Profit Estimator is an online calculator to help you understand how much money you could make, and whether you would be better off with the Basic or Pro reseller plans. The GoDaddy approach doesn't give you the freedom you'll benefit from with other resellers, where you're completely free to divide up resources in any way you like. But it's also very easy to set up, and if you want a simpler way to get into reselling, it could be a wise choice. You might also want to check out our other website hosting buying guides:
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