Apple : Save 63% on a 3 month VPN deal with IPVanish - just $13.50 |
- Save 63% on a 3 month VPN deal with IPVanish - just $13.50
- Dell Memorial Day sale: save up to 50% on TVs, laptops, monitors, and more.
- Google wants Android phones and Chromebooks working more closely together
- Hearts vs Celic live stream: how to watch 2019 Scottish Cup final today from anywhere
- The best bank holiday sales and deals available at Amazon, John Lewis, Argos, Boohoo and more
- Our top five Bank Holiday SIM only deals: from £3.99p/m up to huge data SIMO deals
- The best Beats headphones 2019: prices, sales and cheap deals
- Best endpoint security software of 2019: Secure your business perimeter
- Best social media management tools of 2019
- TalkTalk and Plusnet area leading the way with the best cheap broadband deals this Bank Holiday
- Some OnePlus 7 Pro users are reporting issues with the phone's touchscreen
- These new exclusive Samsung Galaxy S10e deals are the best value around
- Indy 500 live stream: how to watch the 2019 IndyCar race online from anywhere
- F1 live stream: how to watch the 2019 Monaco Grand Prix online from anywhere
- How to watch the Isle of Man TT: live stream the IOMTT 2019 from anywhere
- Best gaming mouse 2019: the best gaming mice we've tested
- Huawei ban: the global fallout explained [Updated]
- eBay voucher code knocks 15% off all tech for today only - iPads, consoles, TVs and more
| Save 63% on a 3 month VPN deal with IPVanish - just $13.50 Posted: 25 May 2019 06:50 AM PDT Usually when signing up for a new VPN deal, the longer you sign up for, the better the price. But with IPVanish's new offer, a short term contract could end up saving you more in the long run. Offering 63% off its three month contract, IPVanish is allowing you to stay safe online without having to commit to a long term contract. But if you finish your three months and want to continue, the news only gets better. As part of this offer, IPVanish won't increase the price if you decide to stay. That means you can pay just $13.50 every three months for as long as you want, the rest of your life if you're that committed to online safety! Considering we rank IPVanish as one of the best VPN providers around, this is a deal offering brilliant value along with top of the line software. Between the quick speeds, large number of locations to use and most importantly, Netflix capability, IPVanish is one of the best options out there. Do hurry though, like all good things in life this offer won't be hanging around for long. You have until June 1 to get this discounted price.
VPN deal: 63% discount on IPVanishWhat can you do with a VPNThere are traditionally two main reasons you might want to get a VPN - protecting yourself online and avoiding internet restrictions. In terms of online safety, a VPN uses encryption technologies to mask your IP address so you can't be tracked. Simply, it makes it a lot harder for you to be traced on the internet. Their other use is a bit wider in its functionality and realistically more popular. VPNs can allow you to work around restrictions online which means watching your favourite channels in other countries, getting cheaper deals on flights and trains and watch any country's Netflix no matter where you are. See also:
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| Dell Memorial Day sale: save up to 50% on TVs, laptops, monitors, and more. Posted: 25 May 2019 06:34 AM PDT The 2019 Memorial Day sales have officially arrived, and that means Black Friday-like prices from a plethora of retailers. Dell's Memorial Day sale is one of the biggest events of the year and includes doorbuster deals on laptops, TVs, monitors and more. You can save up to 50% off through Monday with new discounts added every day. Shop more of Dell's Memorial Day deals below that include huge savings on laptops and monitors. The discounts end on Monday, so make sure to take advantage while you can. The best Dell Memorial Day deals:Shop more deals with our roundup of the best Memorial Day sales of 2019. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Google wants Android phones and Chromebooks working more closely together Posted: 25 May 2019 06:30 AM PDT You've already got several options when it comes to linking an Android phone with a Chrome OS laptop, but it's not on the same scale as, say, Apple MacBooks and iPhones. Now it looks as though upgrades are in the pipeline. New code snippets reported by Chrome Story point towards Android and Chrome OS working more closely with each other in the future, though as yet there's no official word when these changes will arrive. Among the features potentially on the way is the ability to click a phone number on a Chromebook to instantly call it on Android, the option to share Wi-Fi passwords between devices, and a universal clipboard feature.
Those are all tricks that work between iOS and macOS and Google obviously wants its mobile and desktop operating systems working more closely together. OneChrome to rule them allFor now these look like works in progress, and Google hasn't said anything officially about them (they weren't flagged at Google IO earlier this month). It could be some time before they actually go live. For some extra peace of mind, the connections between Android and Chrome OS are end-to-end encrypted, foiling anyone who might be trying to eavesdrop on what you're copying between devices. For now the upgrades are labeled "OneChrome" but that could change. They might get packaged in with other Android and Chrome OS integrations, such as instant tethering from a registered phone. Chrome OS already has the capacity to run Android apps of course. There are signs that Google engineers are planning to improve this feature too, and potentially allow the sideloading of Android apps on to Chromebooks. Via XDA Developers This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Hearts vs Celic live stream: how to watch 2019 Scottish Cup final today from anywhere Posted: 25 May 2019 04:38 AM PDT Did you know the Scottish Cup is the oldest national football trophy in the world? Top stat, hey? Well if you've landed on this page, we don't doubt for a minute that you already knew that little titbit. And it probably also means that you're interested in seeing who wins this weekend's big 2019 Scottish Cup final. Well, we can help you there with our Hearts vs Celtic live stream tips. Saturday 25 May is arguably the biggest day in the 2018-19 Scottish football calendar and all of the action is ready to kick off at 3pm. The big story of the day (sorry Hearts fans) is to see whether Celtic will pull off an unheralded third successive domestic treble, having already won the league (although Rangers weren't far behind) and beaten Aberdeen 1-0 in the Scottish League Cup Final. Celtic have won the competition 38 times before and Neil Lennon's team will obviously go in to the game as big favourites. Heart of Midlothian on the other hand are eight-time winners themselves. Can they somehow pull of a major upset here? Below we'll talk you through how to watch on domestic television, online and even if you're outside the UK this weekend. So wherever you are, you'll be able to get a Hearts vs Celtic live stream as it happens.
How to live stream FA Cup final in the UK for free:Live stream the Scottish Cup final from outside your countryIf you're abroad for the game and find that you can't watch your home coverage online because it is geo-blocked, we have a handy alternative to allow you to watch as if you were back on your sofa.
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| The best bank holiday sales and deals available at Amazon, John Lewis, Argos, Boohoo and more Posted: 25 May 2019 04:13 AM PDT The second set of May's Bank Holiday Sales are now live at all the best retailers and we're here to roundup the hottest deals and tell you who is having the best sales events from now and throughout the long weekend. This way you can have a quick look and then get back to chilling - hopefully in the sun. If you've landed here from the USA, not to worry you can get some great deals this weekend too over in our roundup of the best Memorial Day sales. There's lots to choose from in the world of tech and beyond too this bank holiday weekend. So sit back and check out our picks which include TVs, laptops, consoles, fashion brands, furniture and smart home gadgets. Digging out discounts is what we do, not just every bank holiday or Black Friday, but every day of the week, so you know we'll steer you to the best ones. Bank holiday sales aside, this is a quiet time of year for great deals, so be sure to grab anything that takes your fancy as you might be waiting a while again for a decent deal, although we're expecting to share some fantastic offers in our Amazon Prime Day deals roundup later in July. To stay tuned on all our regular deal updates, bookmark our deals page or follow us over on Twitter.
Bank holiday sales: quick links
If you're after something specific that's not included above, you'll probably find it in one of our other regular updated deals hubs. We've got a massive list of super cheap TV deals, or maybe it's time for a new cheap laptop? If gaming's your thing and you're looking for a new console we've got you covered for a cheap PS4, or maybe Xbox One deals, or maybe you're after a Nintendo Switch bundle? We've seen some fantastic mobile phone deals too. Bank holidays are also usually a great time to get a cheaper Sky TV deal. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Our top five Bank Holiday SIM only deals: from £3.99p/m up to huge data SIMO deals Posted: 25 May 2019 03:48 AM PDT Like many of the best pairings in life - fish and chips, Batman and Robin, man and his dog - we can't help but feel like the market's incredible selection of SIM only deals, and all of the free time the Bank Holiday weekend will be providing you were a match made in heaven. If you're now in the position where you need to grab a SIMO, whether that's to pair with a brilliant SIM-free phone you're planning on getting in the Bank Holiday sales, or to put in your phone now your contract is up, this weekend is the time to do it. With offers ranging from the UK's cheapest SIM to some of the most impressive big data offers we've seen on the market, there is pretty much a SIM only deal to suit any needs. We've listed the top five options down below so you can choose the one that works best with your budget.
The top SIM only deals this weekend:
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| The best Beats headphones 2019: prices, sales and cheap deals Posted: 25 May 2019 03:39 AM PDT If you're looking to buy some Beats headphones but aren't sure which ones to get or where to find the best prices, you've come to the right place! We've compared every model still readily available to show you what each pair of Beats headphones does best to help you decide on a pair. Various Beats headphones are regularly on sale throughout the year, so there's no need to hold onto your cash for those Prime Day deals in summer or even longer until Black Friday as you're never far from a great deal coming along. Apple owns the Beats by Dre brand nowadays and is keen to regularly update the series with new options, meaning prices soon drop on previous models. Beats used to mainly specialise in over/on-ear headphones -and they're still a huge part of its business- but recent years has seen the Beats headphone name evolve into one of the leading names in in-ear headphone design too as users look for more discrete Beats or options more suited to the gym or running.
This guide to the best Beats headphones covers in-ear, over-ear and on-ear headphones. There are plenty of wireless options to consider too which you may well want to as many modern smartphones (especially iPhones) are ditching the old legacy 3.5mm port. So whatever option suits you best, you're bound to find the best Beats for you below. Our handy price comparison tools next to each model will show you where to find the cheapest prices for each model - prices are updated every 10 minutes!
If you have a modern iPhone and want one of the best pair of headphones in the business made especially for Apple's new phone, you really should take a look at the Beats by Dre Solo 3 Wireless range. In addition to a fantastic wireless connection and punchy sound you're getting a huge battery run-time. A single charge can last for up to 40 hours which could last you for an entire week's worth of commuting between charges.
The newest Studio entry in the Beats by Dre headphone range is the Beats Studio 3 Wireless. The Studio 3 is the best noise cancelling set of headphones Beats has ever made. The battery has massively improved too, as you can enjoy music for up to 22 hours, or even 40 with the active noise cancelling tech turned off. The Beats Studio3 Wireless headphones are a great match for users of modern iPhones missing 3.5mm jacks - you can pair them with any smartphone though thanks to the Bluetooth technology. The Studio 3 is available in multiple colors including: red, matte black, white, porcelain rose, blue and shadow grey.
Long after their reveal alongside the iPhone 7, these eagerly awaited Beats inner-ear headphones were finally released in February 2017. These wireless headphones are a perfect match for iPhone owners missing the 3.5mm port. We're particularly impressed by the quick charge feature that gives you two hours of playback from a single five-minute charge. Eight hours from a full charge isn't too shabby either.
There are two versions of the urBeats 3 in-ear headphones to look out for. One with a Lightning connection for modern iPhones and these ones with the traditional 3.5mm jack. It gets better too, as Beats have released a few newer in-ear options since the urBeats 3, meaning the prices has come tumbling down in recent months, making these the cheapest Beats on the market. They're not the best Beats on the market, although the bass performance is impressive from such small buds.
The earphones themselves are the same as the ones above, but they come with a Lightning connector on the end instead of a 3.5mm jack. This is ideal if you want something to use on a modern iPhone or MacBook as we're seeing those items ditch the old headphone port nowadays. The urBeats 3 with Lightning connector is one of the cheapest in the Beats range too, often with massive discounts compared to the original launch price. They do generally cost a touch more than the 3.5mm versions though.
The Beats Pro over-ear headphones aren't as appealing for day-to-day use as they used to be thanks to the latest Solo 3 and Studio 3 lines offering a better overall experience, usually for less money too. If you're actually looking for some Beats headphones to use as a DJ or for listening at home they excel in loud environments. The metal frames are incredibly durable too as the rest of the Beats line favour plastic designs.
Do you lead an active lifestyle that requires the lightweight feel of in-ear headphones without the massive cans on your head? Then the Beats by Dre range has you covered for that, too, because not all models about that authentic studio design. With an improved 12-hour battery life, you're all set for multiple workouts packed with hours of adrenaline-pumping tunes.
The Beats EP headphones are the cheapest on-ear headphones in the Beats by Dre lineup and are a fine place to start if you've had your eye on the colorful stylings for a while. They're wired via a 3.5mm jack, but at least you'll never have to worry about them running out of battery juice. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Best endpoint security software of 2019: Secure your business perimeter Posted: 25 May 2019 03:27 AM PDT Everyone knows the importance of having security software on their PC, but most business owners likely have set-ups that normal anti-virus software won't be able to cover adequately, especially in a business with multiple PCs. This is where endpoint security software comes into play, providing all the main features of consumer anti-virus, but with additional protections to protect not just your computer but also your network and associated server access. Even better, endpoint security usually comes with more control options, not list whitelists and blacklists for applications, as well as a central control panel to enforce company policies. Other options can include filtering website access, as well as deploying security solutions remotely to other devices on your business network. Each entry in this list has been carefully chosen for its business features, such as remote installation and central management. The best endpoint security service will have enterprise-level protection against threats, but that doesn't mean they have to cost a lot of money, either. The price per installation can sometimes be cheaper than even our recommended best antivirus package. So, what's on offer? We've checked out eight of the best endpoint security tools around in order to find out. Most offer discounts if you buy a two or three-year package, so where possible we ordered them by their 10 PC, two-year package prices to maximise your savings. All prices below are for one-year and five end points. You can of course customise these on the vendor's website.
Avast Business Antivirus Pro is an excellent business endpoint security software suite, giving you various tools such as antivirus, Firewall, email protection, anti-spam and the ability to sandbox applications for complete security. Avast Business Antivirus Pro (as opposed to the standard Avast Business Antivirus) also includes Sharepoint and Exchange protection, as well as a number of tools for your servers. The AV protection you get is generally rated as good by independent testing, with Avast's engine blocking 99.7 per cent of threats in AV-Comparative's Real-World Protection report. The free version of this security package has long been considered one of the best, but If value for money and simplicity are key factors, Avast Business Antivirus Pro could be a sensible choice. Our EXCLUSIVE Avast business antivirus deal
Symantec Endpoint Protection's first benefit is the company's Insight file reputation technology, an effective way to detect and block even the very latest undiscovered threats. Other layers of protection include AV, behaviour monitoring, intrusion protection, a firewall, and the 'Power Eraser' to remove stubborn threats and repair your system. Symantec's security policy options are a real highlight. You can set application blacklists or whitelists, control file and Registry access, restrict and control access to external media, and more, then monitor systems and enforce policies from a central console. While there's no bundled protection for mobile devices, the package runs just about everywhere else: PCs, Macs, and a host of virtual environments and Linux distros.
If reliable protection is a top priority, Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security needs to be on your shortlist. Bitdefender products are loved by the independent testing labs, highly rated for malware detection, removal, performance and usability. Most of the features work automatically – antimalware, firewall, web advisor, URL filtering – but you can also customise the product to control user actions. You're able to restrict access to certain websites and applications, block the transmission of sensitive information, remotely deploy the product to unprotected systems, and allow or deny users the ability to modify their security settings. All this is managed from a central console where you can control and monitor remote users, create and apply custom security policies by user, location (the product adapts when users are outside the company), and more.
Avira Antivirus for Endpoint is the company's main small business product. It takes all the core features you'd expect – AV, baseline network protection, web filtering – and extends them with file server protection and optimisation, along with application whitelisting and blacklisting. Avira's Online Essentials web console lets you manage your devices. This is simpler than some of the high-end competition, but that's not necessarily a disadvantage, and there's some useful functionality here: drive partition reports, licence management, remote deployment, and assorted mobile phone tools (antitheft, phone finder, and more). Avira Antivirus for Endpoint doesn't have the longest of feature lists, but it's easy to use, and offers excellent protection, regularly matching competitors like Bitdefender and Kaspersky in AV-Comparative's Real World tests.
Kaspersky Endpoint Security Cloud is a small business product, which comes ready to protect Windows PCs, file servers, Android and iOS devices. The desktop side of the package has all the usual quality Kaspersky modules – AV, antispam, a firewall, more – but the mobile security technologies are even more impressive. There are tools to detect insecure devices, control password rules, manage camera use, filter unwanted calls and texts, and remotely lock or wipe data from lost devices. That’s topped off with an easy-to-use web console managing network and Bluetooth configuration, internet access policies, device settings and more. The most recent version added support for Mac devices, further extending protection. There's impressive levels of protection, too. Kaspersky Endpoint Security Cloud came first out of four contenders in AV-Comparatives' October 2016 Business Security Test, detecting and blocking 100% of known malware and exploits. The package also produced an above-average five false positives, so overall, it put in some impressive results.
Webroot SecureAnywhere products stand out immediately for being incredibly lightweight: they're tiny (2MB disk space), install so quickly you'll barely notice (from 5 seconds), and consume the absolute minimum of system resources. Scans are fast, too, and because just about everything is done in the cloud, there are no bulky updates or definitions to download – you're always up-to-date. Other features include behaviour monitoring, an outbound firewall, along with identity and privacy protection. These don't always have the power and options of other tools, but they're implemented with real intelligence, and generally cope well with day-to-day tasks. A cloud-based console enables tracking all your installations, and the package runs on just about any Windows or macOS system. Factor in the price and Webroot looks very appealing to us, but it really is a product you need to try for yourself to understand the benefits. If you're interested, grab a copy of the trial and see what it can do for you.
F-Secure Client Security Standard is a popular endpoint protection tool, highly rated by the independent testing labs. AV is just the start. There's also a firewall, intrusion detection, web filtering, online banking protection and device control. If you need more, the Premium edition adds a software updater to scan for missing patches, and an option to restrict a user's web access by category. Whatever version you buy may be deployed and managed from a central console. There are some issues here, in particular the fact that F-Secure's engine is more likely than most to flag legitimate software as malicious. But overall F-Secure Client Security Standard offers good protection for a reasonable price, and it's certainly a product worth thinking about. Only available through value added resellers and specialist online retailers
Sophos Endpoint Protection Advanced is a powerful tool which uses many technologies to keep you safe. It blocks dangerous URLs, and is capable of detecting and removing exploit code, analysing behaviour to uncover even the very newest threats, and identifying endpoint connections with malicious servers to find compromised systems. The results can be impressive, with the core engine doing an above-average job of blocking zero day threats, yet raising almost no false alerts at all. There's a price to pay for this kind of safety, though: Sophos Endpoint Protection's background activities can noticeably impact your PC's performance. There are some business-friendly features to compensate, including DLP along with device and application control, although other packages give you more at a much lower cost.
What's the difference between consumer and business AV?Consumer AV products might be suitable if you operate your business from a single computer and a smartphone, but if you’re using multiple devices and have many employees accessing company assets from a variety of locations, then you’ll need business-grade protection. Business AV has more features, such as business-grade firewalls, and protects more parts of your IT infrastructure. This includes endpoint protection for PCs, Mac, Linux, mobile and virtual environments as well as server protection. It will also give your IT department a lot more control over how it’s used, ensuring you have the best safeguards possible for your business. Do I need endpoint security software?If you have more than a few employees, then probably. While the evidence suggests that free AV products are effective at safeguarding against threats and providing basic protection, they do lack certain features. With more people and more endpoints for a cyberattack to target, the additional protections such as the ability to manage (and restrict) user activity will make an incident less likely to occur. And given the consequences of a data breach, it might not be worth skimping just to save some money. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Best social media management tools of 2019 Posted: 25 May 2019 03:21 AM PDT Companies spend a lot of money these days creating killer content for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and the various other social media platforms out there. Whatever business you're in, reaching your customers, clients and readers relies a huge amount on the ubiquity of social media sites. But there's no point spending time and resources on fantastic Facebook posts and tremendous tweets if you then don't know how to effectively monitor their impact and influence. Counting how many followers you have only tells part of the story. Getting the most out of your chosen social media platforms is as essential to your business as finding the right CRM system. That's why we've picked out five really useful social media analytics tools that will help you understand which of your posts are working, and which get a thumbs down.
Snaplytics Snapchat was released in 2011, so there are relatively few marketing tools available for the platform compared to big names like Facebook and Twitter. The app works through the creation of short-lived 'stories' with which users can interact. Snaplytics is designed to help you manage this by taking regular snapshots of your Snapchat account and offering you Insights. The creators maintain groups of 20 accounts for each category, allowing you to benchmark your own account's success. You can also use Snaplytics' library of previously created content to view past efforts, see how well users engage with them, and republish if you wish. If you have a more complex marketing campaign, Snaplytics also supports scheduling stories ahead of time for later publication. You can organize stories with tags, allowing you to easily keep track of them as your campaign grows. Snaplytics' dashboard has been liberally praised online for its elegance, as has the app's ability to display marketing performance on a platform by platform basis. There's a free 14-day trial, after which you must contact the Snaplytics team for a quote. This is the only real criticism of the app, as a tiered pricing structure would be more useful for marketers working to tight budgets and deadlines.
Sprout Social Sprout Social is probably first and foremost known as a one-stop shop for managing and scheduling all of your social media accounts through one simple-to-use platform. Very handy indeed for your company's social media administrator when they're trying to juggle Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and more at once. But it doubles up as a powerful tool for analysing your data, too. You can sort by various demographic and geographic measures to quantify exactly what content is working for which followers. Sprout can manage multiple accounts and monitor keywords across all social media so that you know when your brand is being discussed. It also helps your company respond to customers by directing messages to the people within the organisation who need to action them. You can try Sprout Social for free with its 30-day trial. If you like it, prices then start from $99 (£75, AUS$124) per user per month.
Brandwatch There are quite a few social listening tools that we could have picked out for this list, but we've gone with the internationally-renowned Brandwatch. The Brandwatch Analytics tool puts its ear to the ground to eavesdrop on to the information that could be imperative to your company from Facebook, Twitter, blogs, forums, news and every other corner of the web. Social sentiment analysis shows the tone of the data collected from the profiles you've connected with, and it's easy to tap into pertinent trends and themes emerging from the internet that could tip the balance in your company's favour. We particularly like Brandwatch's personal approach from the premium Enterprise plan, where you get a dedicated account manager who will give you bespoke advice.
Buffer Rather like Sprout Social above, Buffer is another all-rounder that lets you post to your platform and then analyse the results. One of its major plus points is just how simple and straightforward it is to use, while also giving you flexibility. The fact it provides analytics in real-time makes instantly judging the impact of your content a doddle. Use the "Top Post" icon to compare different forms of content to see which works best for each network. While the Buffer app also allows for seamless Google Analytics integration for tracking the success of your marketing campaigns. If you're flying solo, then you can get Buffer absolutely free, while the reasonably priced Pro plan allows connections to 8 social accounts and costs only $15 (£11, AUS$20) per month.
Hootsuite Hootsuite aims to provide an all-in-one platform for social media management across multiple sites. As expected, there's an option to search and filter through existing social media, in order to find brand mentions, insights, and demographic information. Additionally, with any of Hootsuite's plans you have the option to schedule posts from multiple profiles across multiple social media sites. This allows you to ensure any marketing campaigns are properly timed and targeted when and where you need them to be. This is especially when posts can be tagged to ensure you store them in the right place for use at the right time. There's also an analytics feature so you can track and measure performance against KPIs. Reports are customizable, so you can ensure you display and read the data you need to and stay focused on that. This is especially as Hootsuite is built to work for teams, not just individuals. A number of integrations are also available, such as Asana, Slack, Mailchimp, Trello, and Zendesk, ensuring that you can work productively and efficiently when it comes to building your social media marketing and communications campaigns. There are 3 different plans available, depending on the number of users required, with Professional, Team, and Business plans allowing 1, 3, or 5 users respectively, as well as up to 10, 20, or 35 social media profiles to be managed accordingly. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| TalkTalk and Plusnet area leading the way with the best cheap broadband deals this Bank Holiday Posted: 25 May 2019 02:44 AM PDT Ah, the Bank Holiday weekend, famously put in place as an additional day off work to organise your brand new broadband deal. Probably. While we may not know the exact history behind this work-free day, we do know that there are some brilliant cheap broadband deals to grab this weekend. Two offers especially stand out for those looking to reduce their bills: TalkTalk and Plusnet. The two big name ISPs are offering broadband at a price of just £17 a month. In both instances there is nothing to pay upfront and you'll be getting average speeds of 10Mb with Plusnet and 11Mb with TalkTalk. These aren't the cheapest broadband deals on the market, that prestigious title goes to the slightly less known Onestream. But for internet from a recognisable name, TalkTalk and Plusnet currently take the grand prize. You can see both of these affordable internet packages below or check out our guide to the best broadband deals to see everything else - fibre maybe? Or even broadband and TV deals for those really splashing out.
These two affordable broadband deals in full:What other options are available?Want your internet, plus something to appease your love of binge watching TV? Sky has just launched a brand new 'Sky Essentials' package. That means unlimited broadband, free UK calls and a Sky+ Box, considering Sky isn't always the most affordable option, this is a pretty great offer. Or if you need faster speeds, going with a fibre broadband deal will cost you more in the long run but the jump in speeds will save you from buffering hell. For the best value fibre package, we would recommend going with Vodafone's Superfast 1 package. With average speeds of 35Mb and costs of £21 a month, this is fibre from a big name at its best price. Think fibre internet should have some incentives? Well going with BT could score you not just superfast speeds of 50Mb but also a £70 M&S voucher and a £30 pre-paid Mastercard - the overall best value when incentives are taken into account. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Some OnePlus 7 Pro users are reporting issues with the phone's touchscreen Posted: 25 May 2019 02:30 AM PDT Some OnePlus 7 Pro models are apparently exhibiting hardware problems just days after release, in the form of phantom touchscreen taps that apps seem to respond to but which haven't been made. As reported by Android Police, the mysterious ghost touches don't seem to correspond to one particular app or one particular scenario – it's almost like they come out of nowhere. Whether or not you've already got a OnePlus 7 Pro to hand, you can check out the forum posts, Twitter tweets and YouTube clips that describe and demonstrate the issue. At this stage it's hard to say how widespread it is.
Updates, updates, updatesAll eyes are now on OnePlus to see if this is a problem it can solve in a reasonable timeframe. The OnePlus 7 Pro has already had a major software update pushed out to it, in part to improve the gaming experience. The phone is also due another update in the next few days that should help the flagship handset take better photos, especially in low light conditions. It's at least reassuring that OnePlus is actively pushing out patches for the OnePlus 7 Pro at a steady rate – but less reassuring that there seem to be a relatively high number of bugs and issues that need addressing. The OnePlus 7 Pro screen has a faster-than-normal refresh rate of 90Hz for extra responsiveness, which might be part of the phantom tap problem. We'll update you as and when new details emerge. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| These new exclusive Samsung Galaxy S10e deals are the best value around Posted: 25 May 2019 01:51 AM PDT Through a combination of the blistering sun, the confusingly never-ending supply of bank holidays and a collection of brilliant TechRadar exclusive Samsung Galaxy S10e deals, there has never been a better time to be British...right? Wouldn't include Samsung's Galaxy S10e in your British summertime patriotism? Well you might change your mind when you see how good these offers are. With two S10e contracts - both with no upfront costs and costing just £34 a month - they're already a pair brilliantly priced offers. Throw in the decent amount of data that both offer and they become the best value options on the market. What's more, they're both absolutely and truly EXCLUSIVE to TechRadar readers only! You can see all of the details of these two exclusive offers down below so you can see which one suits your needs better. A quick scan through our guide to the best mobile phone deals around will show you that it really doesn't get much better than this.
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| Indy 500 live stream: how to watch the 2019 IndyCar race online from anywhere Posted: 25 May 2019 01:30 AM PDT It's almost time for one of the world's biggest motor races. Memorial Day Weekend marks the unofficial start of summer in the US and while many people will be firing up their grills for the first time this year, racing fans will be eagerly awaiting the start of the Indianapolis 500. And the best news is that you can watch every minute of the racing action - no matter where in the world you are - thanks TechRadar's guide to getting an Indy 500 live stream. The race itself takes its name from the 500 miles of track that 33 Indy Cars will cover over the course of 200, 2.5 mile laps. The Indy 500 is one of the most famous auto races in the world and was first held in 1911. Since then the race has remained mostly unchanged and has been held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indiana. In a surprising turn of events during the qualifiers last Sunday, two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso failed to qualify for this year’s Indy 500. He had planned to complete the motorsport Triple Crown this year by adding an Indy 500 win to his Monaco Grand Prix and Le Mans victories. However, during Alonso’s final chance to qualify in the Last Row Shootout he was knocked out of the race by 23-year-old Kyle Kaiser. Alonso may be out but the race must go on and Simon Pagenaud, Ed Carpenter and Spencer Pigot will start first in row 1 followed by ED Jones, Colton Herta and last year's winner Will Power in row 2. Whether you’re a die-hard fan of IndyCar racing or just want to tune into the 103rd Indianapolis 500 this Memorial Day, we’ll show you how to live stream the Indy 500 event online from anywhere in the world.
How to watch the 2019 Indy 500: live stream in the USRacing fans in the US with a cable subscription can watch this year’s Indy 500 on NBC. This will be the first time since 1965 that the race will not be broadcast on ABC after the network lost the rights so you can bet that NBC will be going all out with its coverage of the Indy 500. The network will begin broadcasting the event at 11am ET (8am PT, 4pm BST) though the race will start an hour and a half later at 12.30pm ET. You can also stream the Indy 500 via the NBC Sports live streaming website on desktop and mobile but you will have to enter your cable provider’s credentials to get access to this stream. If you’d prefer to watch the Indy 500 without commercials along with every practice leading up to Sunday’s big event, you can do so by purchasing the NBC Sports Gold IndyCar Pass. Usually the annual pass costs $64.99 but NBC is offering a deal ahead of the Indy 500 where you can get it for just $39.99. In addition to additional coverage of the Indy 500, you also be able to watch every Indy Lights race this year with the ability to stream full races on-demand or watch a shortened 30-minute Fast Forward recap. Get an Indy 500 live stream from outside your countryWith plenty of US viewing options (As well as details on how to watch the Indianapolis 500 in Canada and the UK below, too), you shouldn't have any trouble watching at home. The problems begin if you're away travelling outside the US this weekend. Try and tune into the NBC or any other domestic stream and you'll soon discover a big fat geo-block in your way. Annoying, but you can easily swerve around it with VPN. A Virtual Private Network allows you to change the IP address of your laptop, phone, tablet or - if you have one with you - TV streaming device. Set it to one back in your country (it's surprisingly easy to do), and suddenly you'll be able to watch an Indy 500 live stream as if you were sat back on your sofa. How to live stream Indy 500 in the US without cable - and for FREEIf you don’t have a cable subscription, don’t worry as there are still plenty of other ways to watch the 2019 Indy 500 on NBC without subscribing or purchasing a digital antenna for your TV. To simplify things for you, we’ve listed all of the streaming services that will give you access to NBC below.
- Discover our pick of all the US's best sports streaming sites
How to watch the 2019 Indy 500: Canada live streamIf you live in Canada and want to watch this year’s Indy 500 on TV, Sportsnet has you covered and the network will begin broadcasting the race at 12.45pm ET (9.45am PT). If you’d rather stream the event on desktop, mobile or on your favorite streaming device, you can do so by signing up for Sportsnet’s own streaming service, Sportsnet Now. Sportsnet expanded the service last year by adding a new tier called SN Now+ which costs $27.99 per month.
How to watch the 2019 Indy 500: UK live streamIf you plan on watching the Indy 500 in the UK this weekend, Sky Sports F1 is your destination where it follows on from the Monaco Grand Prix in a big motor racing double header this Sunday. Alternatively, grabbing an £8.99 day pass to Now TV will let you live stream the Indy 500 and events from Monte Carlo (as well as all other Sky Sports coverage over 24 hours). Outside the UK this weekend? Remember that you can use a VPN to change your IP address to one in the UK where you’ll be able to watch the Indy 500 from any of the streaming services we’ve listed above.
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| F1 live stream: how to watch the 2019 Monaco Grand Prix online from anywhere Posted: 25 May 2019 01:00 AM PDT So far at the Monaco Grand Prix, so business as usual. Mercedes have had the best of things on the streets of Monte Carlo so far. You can watch the super challenging Monaco Grand Prix in all its Formula 1 glory with the teams taking to the tight streets of this tough street circuit. This guide shows you exactly how to watch the race with an F1 live stream from anywhere in the world. The 2019 F1 season has reached that inevitable point where the streets of Monaco are shut to Sunday drivers and, well, all drivers except the very best of Formula 1. This course is filled with tight turns, steep hills and even a very loud tunnel section. It's challenging to say the least. Last year Daniel Ricciardo was the winner of this race with Sebastian Vettel taking the top spot the year before, Hamilton the year before that and Rosberg before that. So this is clearly an exciting race where the winner could be anybody. That said, this season sees Hamilton leading the drivers table with Valtteri Bottas then Max Verstappen behind and Vettel down in fourth. If Hamilton can win the 2019 Monaco Grand Prix, that will be his third time taking the title which puts him alongside only two other legendary British drivers and knights of the realm: Sir Stirling Moss and Sir Jackie Stewart. You can catch all the Monaco Grand Prix racing action live from anywhere you are, using this guide. Read on to find out how to live stream this F1 race.
How to watch the Monaco Grand Prix from outside your countryTo see how you can stream F1 live from the Monaco Grand Prix in the UK, Australia, the US, Canada and New Zealand, then scroll a little further down this page to see the broadcast options. But if you try and tune in to your native stream from outside your country, you'll quickly discover that it's geo-blocked.
How to stream F1 live from Monaco in the UK:
How live stream the Monaco Grand Prix in Australia
How to watch the Monaco Grand Prix in the US:
How to watch a Monaco F1 live stream in the Canada:
How to get an F1 live stream in New Zealand
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| How to watch the Isle of Man TT: live stream the IOMTT 2019 from anywhere Posted: 25 May 2019 12:32 AM PDT This year is the 100th Isle of Man TT. Last year saw the 135mph barrier broken in the final lap of the final race by Dean Harrison and Peter Hickman. What a IOMTT battle that was. So, yup, 2019 is going to have to really come up with some stunning racing to top that exciting finale. To see if it does, follow our instructions to get yourself an Isle of Man TT live stream - no matter where in the world you happen to be - although. With greats returning this year, including John McGuinness, Michael Dunlop and Ian Hutchinson, the racing should be eye-melting with its speed and daring. Since 1907 motorcycle fans have flocked to the tiny Isle of Man to race and watch as bikes hurtle along the public roads at mind bending speeds. This works as a time trial meaning each bike heads out alone to try and complete the course fastest. This means minimal chance of crashes, but inevitably each year is met with lots of on- and off-bike action. Let's be honest, the Isle of Man isn't the easiest place to get to and staying there during the TT isn't cheap, so for most, watching the action via broadcast is the best bet. We've pulled together everything you need to know so you can enjoy the action from wherever you are. The coverage breaks down into four days of racing once the real event kicks off – here's how you can see them. But be warned...getting an actual Isle of Man TT live stream is a bit of a misnomer again this year, with only highlights being available of the week.
How to watch the Isle of Man TT in the UKThe Isle of Man TT action will be aired in the UK via your TV aerial through ITV4 - which is edited, not live - at 9pm BST from June 1 to June 8. That gives you options since ITV4 is available on various TV mediums like Freeview or a set-top box but also online. ITV allows you to watch ITV4 online via its own site meaning any device that has a browser should be able to play it. That also means you can enjoy the content via the ITV Hub app on your mobile device or even smart TV. You can't watch ITV4 from abroad though, if you're on holiday for example. That requires a little lateral thinking... How to stream the Isle of Man TT coverage from outside your countryITV is one of the vast majority of broadcasters that geo-block their transmissions so that they can't be watched online from abroad. That means if you want to live stream Isle of Man TT 2019 highlights as described above, you'll need to use a VPN. It's surprisingly easy to do...just follow these three steps:
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| Best gaming mouse 2019: the best gaming mice we've tested Posted: 24 May 2019 05:46 PM PDT If you already own one of the best gaming PCs on the market, it's tempting to grab the cheapest mouse you can find at your local big box store. But, this isn't a wise move. Gaming peripherals are a big part of how immersive and smooth your gaming experience is, and you need to put the same level of commitment into picking a good gaming mouse as you do with the bigger, more expensive purchases. Everything attached to your powerhouse rig should be of comparable quality. Oh, and while you’re at it, you may want to pick up one of the best gaming mouse pads as well. As far as your potential gaming mouse, keep an eye open for one that can balance price and performance, while packing in some unique features. There’s an age-old myth that the most expensive mouse on the shelf is going to be the best one, but that’s just not true. Just take a look at the SteelSeries Sensei 310 – it has all the performance you could ask for at less than the price of a new AAA game. So, we put together a list of the best gaming mice we tested and reviewed in the last few months. No matter what kind of games you're into, you'll find the best gaming mouse to satisfy your gaming needs right here on this list. Be sure to keep checking back, as we'll be adding to this list throughout the year.
Image Credit: TechRadar When it comes to the best gaming mice, features, balance and performance are all there in equal measure in the SteelSeries Rival 710, which easily tops our list. This heavyweight gaming mouse might be a bit expensive, but when you weigh that price tag against the customizable OLED display, haptic feedback – great for you MOBA players – and excellent build quality, the SteelSeries Rival 710 is easily worth the price and more. The kicker? Everything is modular, even down to the sensor, so you never have to feel like you’re missing out on the latest tech. Read the full review: SteelSeries Rival 710
Image Credit: TechRadar The SteelSeries Sensei 310 is a gaming mouse like no other, both in terms of price and performance. The low cost of admission keeps it at about the same price that you’d expect to pay for a new game, and with that, you also get its out-of-this-world TrueMove 3 optical sensor, making it almost impossible to compete with. This mouse, with no preference when it comes to dexterity, is unrivalled when it comes to real-world sensitivity. You can even pick up the SteelSeries Rival 310 if you want similar performance, but a more right-handed approach to dexterity. Read the full review: SteelSeries Sensei 310
Image Credit: Corsair In our humble opinion, the best gaming mice are always going to be the ones that deliver excellent performance at a price that won’t burn a massive hole in your pocket. And, the Corsair Harpoon RGB Wireless is the poster child for price-to-performance ratio. At less than 50 bucks, you’re getting a wireless mouse that doesn’t suck, has RGB lighting and touts a long battery life. The ergonomics are specifically for right-handed users, but at this price and with this level of performance, there’s little to complain about. Read the full review: Corsair Harpoon RGB Wireless
Image Credit: Logitech Aesthetically, you generally have two main options when you’re shopping around for the best gaming mouse: you can pick up a high-performing mouse that looks like it would fit in the office, or you can pick up a mouse that looks like something out of a Sci-Fi film. The Logitech G502 fits firmly in that later category. But, don’t let that scare you away. With adjustable weights and a jaw-dropping 16,000 DPI sensor, this gaming mouse backs its otherworldly looks with excellent performance. It’s not perfect if you have huge hands, but beyond that, this one has our vote for one of the best gaming mice out there. Read the full review: Logitech G502 Hero
Image Credit: TechRadar We’ve given the Roccat Kova Aimo high scores for solid build quality, customizability and great gaming performance that gets even better after some tweaking in the Roccat Swarm software. It’s white version looks uncannily like those scary robots from iRobot, but the solid black one is smart-looking and will definitely fit any set-up. LED light fans might find it wanting in terms, but this gaming mouse’s ambidexterity more than makes for its very minimal flaws. All things considered, it’s one of the best gaming mice we’ve tested this 2019 so far. Read the full review: Roccat Kova Aimo
Image Credit: Cooler Master If you need one of the best gaming mice, but are looking to save some cash at the same time – the Cooler Master MasterMouse MM520 might be an ideal option and a terrific addition to your gaming set-up. It won’t win any beauty contests, but packing quality Omron switches and a reasonably sensitive sensor capable of up to 12,000 DPI makes it a great value, which in turn makes it’s easy to look past the unappealing design – especially if you use a claw grip. Read the full review: Cooler Master MasterMouse MM520
Image Credit: TechRadar Have you been sticking it out in World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth? You’re going to want to take a look at the Razer Naga Trinity. Razer’s Naga mice have always been fan favorites in the MMO community, but the manufacturer didn’t just stop there. With the Naga Trinity, you get three easily swappable side plates, so that you can change your mouse to fit the game you’re playing. Add in the insane 16,000 DPI sensor and Razer Chroma RGB lighting, and you’ll be topping the DPS meters in no time. Read the full review: Razer Naga Trinity
Image Credit: TechRadar If you find yourself snickering at some of the ridiculous-looking gaming mice available in 2019, you should take a look at the HyperX Pulsefire Surge RGB. Featuring extremely reliable Omron switches and stunning RGB lighting – not to mention an incredible 16,000 DPI sensor – you’re scoring one of the best gaming mice for an excellent price. Plus, it’ll fit into any office, at least once you turn down the lighting effects. Read the full review: HyperX Pulsefire Surge RGB
Image Credit: Corsair Got big hands? Then you’re probably here looking for a gaming mouse that’s right for them. We understand; most of the best gaming mice on the market are either too small or too light, or even a bit of both. To make matters worse (for you, at least), some of the big mice out there are packed with gratuitous buttons and weird shapes that make them look like they just walked straight out of a Transformers movie. The Corsair Ironclaw takes care of all of that. It’s an attractive mouse for big-hand users that you won’t have to throw inside your desk drawer whenever you have company. It’s tough as well, so you don’t need to worry about breaking it if you’re a bit too rough while gaming. Read the full review: Corsair Ironclaw RGB
Image Credit: Michelle Rae Uy When you take stock of all its useful features, it might shock you that the Gigabyte Aorus M5 will only set you back $69 and change. This good-looking gaming mouse, among the best value gaming mouse we’ve gotten our hands on this year, is not only highly customizable, and offers great ergonomics and fun RGB lighting. It also boasts an adjustable weight distribution system, on-the-fly DPI adjustments and Omron switches tested for 50 million clicks. And it doesn’t even end there. If you’re in the market for a mouse that gives you more bang for your buck, this is it. Read the full review: Gigabyte Aorus M5
How to choose the best gaming mouseWhile you’ll definitely find the best gaming mouse of your gaming dreams, doing so will take a bit of time and some effort. There’s a ton of complicated technical jargon that goes into the best gaming mice – terms like polling rates and DPI ratings that a regular buyer might not be familiar with. For the record, you’ll want a higher number of both, but these two terms mean drastically different things. For newcomers to the world of PC gaming, when you see the term DPI, that is shorthand for ‘dots per inch.’ The higher the number, the wider the range wherein you can specify your how sensitive your mouse is. If you don’t have a lot of desk space available, but you still want accuracy and precision, then opt for a gaming mouse featuring a higher DPI rating. Of course, you can always toggle a lower DPI too. Meanwhile, a high polling rate means you’re getting faster response times. The polling rate is measured in hertz, so it usually ranges from around 125 to 1,000Hz. The latter means that your mouse’s position is reported to your computer 1,000 times per second. Other key gaming mouse factors you’ll want to consider are ergonomics – particularly if you’re left-handed – and RGB lighting. Bill Thomas, Gabe Carey and Michelle Rae Uy have also contributed to this article
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| Huawei ban: the global fallout explained [Updated] Posted: 24 May 2019 04:35 PM PDT Update: The latest Huawei ban news sees the embattled Chinese electronics giant losing relationships with more essential component suppliers, as well as key retailers refusing to stock its phones. It's not all bad news, as details emerge of a possible Google Play Store rival and Huawei execs pledging to find a way around the chip issues. Huawei has found itself at the center of a global tussle between the US and China after Trump administration placed the Chinese brand on the ‘entity list’, limiting the business US companies could do with it. This has worldwide implications. It led to Google blocking Huawei’s future access to Android updates, UK-based chip designer ARM has ceased all activities with the brand, and multiple retailers and networks around the world have had to stop dealing with Huawei for fear of sanctions from the US government. There has been a slight reprieve though, as on May 20 the US Commerce Department issued a temporary license for Huawei to work with businesses in the US, meaning US companies can resume partnerships with the brand on a short term basis.
However, this only lasts until August 19 and it's unclear how Huawei will be able to gain the full license to work with US companies while the government considers it a threat to national security. The temporary permit hasn't seemed to lead to a rekindling of efforts from companies like Panasonic or Microsoft, and more brands are following suit. So it seems, for now, that this is nothing more than a delay to a hugely difficult time for Huawei and in a few months the company will no longer be able to offer access to crucial Google apps or work with vital technologies. The company has already seen growth slow in the month of April as the ban began to cast a shadow, but since then other brands have pulled out of relationships with Huawei, so it's expected that May will offer even worse results. Moreover, Huawei ban has spread to its involvement in the Wi-Fi Alliance and SD Association. It has been suspended from both, so the company's ability to shape the future of these core technologies is in now question. In the face of all of these setbacks, Huawei's founder Ren Zhengfei maintained a positive outlook for the brand, stating: “We will certainly be able to continue serving our customers. Our mass production capacity is huge, and adding Huawei to the Entity List won't have a huge impact on us. We are making progress in bidding worldwide.” What does the ban mean if I have a Huawei phone?Perhaps the most useful piece of information about current Huawei phones is Google's statement issued to TechRadar: “We are complying with the order and reviewing the implications. For users of our services, Google Play and the security protections from Google Play Protect will continue to function on existing Huawei devices,” a spokesperson told us. That's good news if you’ve just spent large amounts of money on a Huawei P30 Pro: as alluded to above, current devices from the Chinese brand will continue to get security updates and access to the Play Store for the foreseeable future, as Google has promised not to leave those out in the cold. The temporary lifting of the ban will also allow the two brands to prepare better Android support for current and future models, meaning that Huawei will be able to do business as it has been – so current customers will be able to benefit for longer. Google has since resumed its relationship with Huawei, to enable it to deliver benefits for longer. Huawei has also said to TechRadar that it will continue to do all it can to support the phones currently out in the wild, and is looking at other implications of Google's decision. The company told us: “Huawei has made substantial contributions to the development and growth of Android around the world. As one of Android’s key global partners, we have worked closely with their open-source platform to develop an ecosystem that has benefited both users and the industry.
The Honor sub-brand of Huawei is also subject to the same constraints. Image credit: TechRadar "Huawei will continue to provide security updates and after-sales services to all existing Huawei and Honor smartphone and tablet products, covering those that have been sold and that are still in stock globally.” Huawei Australia has echoed the sentiment, also claiming that “those that are planning to buy a Huawei device in the near future” will not have to worry about the sanctions, according to Huawei Australia’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Jeremy Mitchell. We've asked for comment regarding the recent lifting of the ban, but Huawei declined. Whether this will allow the flexible Mate X to launch with 'full fat' Android remains to be seen, but that's likely to be a huge target for the bran. It's spent enormous sums marketing that model since the unveiling in February and is keen to lock in its reputation as a technological leader. It looks like the bendable phone will, at least, be delayed though - the CEO of UK network EE said, during the launch of its 5G networks, that the brand had temporarily paused stocking the phone while it worked to understand the implications of the trade ban. UK retailer Dixons Carphone has followed suit, halting plans to bring the 5G handset to launch as planned while the UK gears up to enter the next phase of connectivity. So while the fact remains that current models will be offered speedy updates, it's unclear how long these will last for, and the fact networks are already getting jittery about the sanctions isn't going to make anything easier for Huawei. While most smartphone brands will honor security updates for two to three years after launch of a new handset, one might expect this to be much shorter in the case of Huawei phones, given these restrictions from Google. What about future Huawei phones?
Image credit: TechRadar The move from Google means it will no longer work with Huawei directly on issuing updates to its system, and won't give the company access to the Google Play Store. This is a potentially critical blow to the Chinese brand, which only recently spoke out about its plans to be the world's largest smartphone manufacturer. This means that if Huawei wants to keep using the Android operating system, it will need to use the Android Open Source Platform (AOSP), which is a free system that any brand can use as an underlying foundation for its products. However along with the Google Play Store it won’t have access to the core Google apps like YouTube, Google Maps and Chrome – these are core elements of Google's business that it's not duty bound to make available to anyone. Without access to the Play Store, Huawei would be forced to work directly with developers to get them to create versions of their wares for its phones. This situation would be similar to that of Amazon’s Fire OS, which is based on AOSP but has its own app store, as the retail giant seeks to control the platform its Fire tablets and Echo devices run on. If Huawei does have to use AOSP, the consequences could be devastating, as access to a fully-stocked app store is crucial to the success of any modern smartphone – Nokia and Microsoft failed to make Windows Phones a viable alternative to Android and Apple’s iOS, even though both brands poured millions into developer tools and enticing the top app creators onto their platform. However, Huawei has claimed that it's been developing its own alternative to Android for nearly seven years, calling it a ‘Plan B’ that’s ready to go should it lose access to the services listed above - naming it the HongMeng OS, and stating its alternative operating system will be launched either at the end of 2019 or the beginning of 2020, and would work across “mobile phones, computers, tablets, TVs, cars and smart wearable devices.” In the latest statement to TechRadar, Huawei said: “We will continue to build a safe and sustainable software ecosystem, in order to provide the best experience for all users globally,” which sounds like it already wants to generate some positive hype around its alternative OS. However, Huawei also said it would rather continue working with brands like Google and Microsoft (whose Windows operating system runs on Huawei laptops) to offer the best experience - a sentiment it has since offered around all its suppliers, hinting strongly that it hopes to resume actions when this ban is lifted. Huawei is also claiming that it can still create smartphones and other equipment with the components it has stockpiled before the ban, as well as creating new partnerships around the world. The brand has continued to state it believes working with international partners remains the best course of action - although has confirmed it's looking at how to manage as much as possible within its own country.
The Google Play Store is a key part of attracting users. Image credit: TechRadar. ”Huawei has been working hard on developing its own AppGallery and other software assets in a similar manner to its work on chipset solutions.” Ben Woods, Chief of Research at CCS Insight, told TechRadar. ”There is little doubt these efforts are part of its desire to control its own destiny.” If Huawei loses access to the Google Play Store, it would take an enormous amount of investment to attract developers to create app options that would keep users of its smartphones happy – and you have to wonder whether the brand would feel it was worth continuing to make phones at all when faced with that kind of hurdle. The same would also apply to Honor, the sub-brand of Huawei phones, in the future. Honor might have tried to distance itself from its parent company, but it’s been confirmed that it will be subject to the same sanctions. However, the launch of that brand’s Honor 20 smartphone went ahead as planned and made no mention of the issues facing its parent company – so it’s clear that devices currently created and in the supply chain are still going to be supported in the Android ecosystem. Since the news of the Android suspension, more details have emerged about Huawei's plans for the App Gallery on the HongMeng OS: it's been reported that the brand is offering app developers access to Chinese users, as well as financial incentives to networks to add its app portal to phones. Developers would be able to simply and quickly tweak their Android apps to work on Huawei's platform, and theoretically have access to a huge Chinese user base - although it remains to be seen whether Huawei phones will continue to be sold in strong enough numbers worldwide for developers to update and maintain their apps. What of the ARM news, is it truly damaging?A huge issue facing Huawei is that chip designer ARM isn't going to work with the brand for the short term. That may seem odd, as it's a Japanese-owned brand headquartered in the UK, but as its designs use US-based technology, there's a fear this could fall foul of the trade restrictions. If the Huawei ban means it can't use ARM reference designs in its chipsets, it would be incredibly difficult and costly for the brand to replace them - and it may prove to be impossible, which would cast further doubt over the future of Huawei's phone arm. A Huawei spokesperson told the BBC: "We value our close relationships with our partners, but recognize the pressure some of them are under, as a result of politically motivated decisions. "We are confident this regrettable situation can be resolved and our priority remains to continue to deliver world-class technology and products to our customers around the world.” The upcoming Kirin 985 chipset is not believed to be affected, which would mean Huawei might be able to release another cycle of smartphone before the ban truly causes issues, but partners and networks are already starting to react to the US' trade license suspension. However, the loss of ARM support might take a little longer to be felt than previously thought: Huawei has apparently been granted a permanent license over key ARM technology from a few months ago, after it saw potential trouble ahead. This would allow it to keep using these key chip designs for the foreseeable future in its phones, laptops and infrastructure equipment. What about other brands? What does this mean for the wider smartphone world?
Image credit: TechRadar While these sanctions don’t currently affect other brands, the message being sent is clear: global politics can have dramatic implications for the manufacturing and marketing of consumer devices that have become indispensable for billions of people. While there’s currently no issue with brands headquartered in other parts of the world, a similar sanction could see other smartphone manufacturers forced into a costly rethink. A few years ago Samsung seriously threatened a breakaway move from Google’s Android operating system, as it felt the search giant had too much control over the operating system on its Galaxy smartphones. It worked to develop the Tizen OS, which is still used on devices like Samsung's Galaxy smartwatches, triggering negotiations with Google about allowing more freedom for manufacturers. (It’s worth noting that while Samsung did release smartphones based on Tizen, they were budget models, and didn’t come anywhere close to the success of its Galaxy phone range). The big beneficiary here could be Apple – President Trump has long advocated for the brand to move its operations from China to the US, and exempted Apple from the trade tariffs imposed on China so that the brand wouldn’t have to raise its prices. Huawei has been a thorn in Apple’s side of late, with the rise of the Chinese brand seeing it usurp its Cupertino-based rival in the worldwide rankings and become a serious competitor in the premium smartphone space – and Trump clearly wants to see the US tech giant do more of its business back home. However, moving its operations from China would be incredibly costly for Apple, and it would still need to source many components from Asia to build future iPhones, so it’s unclear what the effect would be, both on the company and the US economy. The loss of Huawei as a major player in the global smartphone market could also have a wider impact on the smartphones other vendors are pushing out. The Chinese brand’s aggressive development of new technological capabilities has forced rivals to significantly improve their devices and push out new advancements of their own, and any diminution of its influence would likely slow the rate of development. Huawei’s smartphone camera prowess has arguably kickstarted a race to offer cameras that deliver ever-better sharpness, color and overall image quality in the last two years – the quality of the pictures it's possible to take on a premium phone has improved dramatically as the brand's P series has relentlessly pushed the boundaries of what’s possible. The company is also in a race with Samsung to bring out the first widely available foldable phone – and the Huawei Mate X’s mere existence surely forced the South Korean brand to speed up its development of a bending handset, meaning consumers will get access to the technology earlier (although Samsung probably would have rather waited to deliver the Galaxy Fold…). So is it all over for Huawei?There is a glimmer of hope for Huawei’s continued use of Android and the capabilities that offers. The recent ban lifting means there's a real chance that negotiations can be entered into with the US government, allowing the brand to prove itself 'safe' and move out from the middle of the trade war between China and the US. This is far from certain, but things certainly look a lot less bleak for the brand. Google has also confirmed that it's ‘reviewing’ the situation, and the implications of the US sanctions – it doesn’t want to limit the reach of its Android ecosystem, and US brands like Qualcomm are going to be severely impacted by the Huawei restrictions, so will likely lobby to have this decision re-examined. However, if Google is forced to cut Huawei off from future Android security updates and access to the Play Store, then it could not only make things difficult for Huawei, but may cause consumers to view any Chinese brand with suspicion – and given the proliferation and technological prowess of the latest phones coming out of that country, that would also have a huge impact on the industry. So while this move seems to only affect Huawei right now, it’s going to have a knock-on effect for the entire industry, and will most likely have implications for the next smartphone you buy – and it could also mean the rise of a new mobile operating system, and potentially a serious challenger to Android. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| eBay voucher code knocks 15% off all tech for today only - iPads, consoles, TVs and more Posted: 24 May 2019 04:03 PM PDT Update: that's all folks, midnight has passed and the code's expired. We'll be sure to let you know when another rolls into town. All is not lost for this weekend though as we've roundup all the hottest May bank holiday sales and deals for you. Original story follows: Today's new eBay voucher code is a great chance to save some money on a huge range of electronics. You'll have to be quick though as the voucher code expires at midnight tonight. While 10% and the occasional 15% off eBay voucher codes to appear quite often this one's something of a rarity as it's not tied to a select handful of retailers. And when those codes come around, they're not usually the best ones either. Today though the code can be used for any tech deal regardless of the retailer. We've already spotted some fantastic bargains on the eBay pages from top tech merchants like Currys, Argos and AO.com. If you miss out though, or don;t find anything today, be sure to take a look at our coverage of the best Bank Holiday sales. There are cheap iPads, discounted Nintendo Switch bundles, ridiculously low Fire TV Sticks and more. We'll keep adding them below as we find them. There are some minor caveats to consider with today's ebay voucher code, but nothing to stop you saving some big bucks on a range of electronics from a huge selection of professional online merchants. eBay voucher code of the week
So where do you start? We've added some highlight deals and sections below to take you through a range of categories to give you a head start if you have something specific in mind. Quick tip, if you want to work out the discounted price before you go through the checkout process, fire up the calculator app on your phone and times the price by 0.85 to see the sum you'll pay. Don't forget though, the maximum discount would be £60 as per the terms of the eBay deal.
eBay deal highlights
We've got you covered with an extensive range of deal pages such as TV deals and cheap laptops. Nothing take your fancy? Check out our full range of deal pages to see if you can find the tech discount you've been waiting for. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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